USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Lincoln > Town Report on Lincoln 1898-1902 > Part 22
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We feel that if the board has made any mistakes they have been due to a too lenient dealing with the situation rather than otherwise. Prompt and effectual, though severe, measures in the end are the most economical and safe. If we can save one family from the expense of one sick child, we have done a good deal ; but we have done a good deal more when we have prevented the spread of a danger- ous disease among many families and many children.
We are glad to report that no case of diphtheria has proved fatal ; and we must attribute this circumstance largely to the use of anti-toxin. All but one of the patients have, at the date of this report, been discharged from the regulations of the board. That discharge depends upon two " negative cultures," as they are called, taken consecutively from the throat of the patient. The only way to find out if the germ is in the throat is to look for it ; and the way to look for it is to remove with a swab the deposit on the tonsils. This deposit is then placed in a tube containing a substance upon which the diphtheria germs will grow, if any are there. After an opportunity has been given to them to grow, an examination is made under a miscroscope, and the diphtheria germs, if they exist, can be plainly seen. This process is called "tak- ing a culture" from the throat; if no diphtheria germs ap- pear under the misroscope, it is called a negative culture. It is found, as a practical matter, that it is not safe to rely upon one process of this kind, but that it should be repeated at least twice and produce negative results both times, before it can be said there are no diphtheria germs in the patient's throat. For that reason, the board has not discharged any patient until two negative cultures have been obtained. This conforms with the best practice everywhere. The board has sent all cultures from the throats of patients to the State Board of Health for examination. The examin-
135
ations have been made in the State Laboratory by an expert bacteriologist employed by the State.
We wish to call attention to the fact that we have pro- cured from the State a supply of anti-toxin which we will furnish free to any physician for use within the town.
The board has carefully disinfected, free of charge to the owners of houses, all rooms where patients have been sick with diphtheria. For this purpose we use formaldehyde solution, which is vaporized by a special apparatus procured by the board a year ago, which appears to furnish the best method known, entirely supplanting the obsolete methods of fumigation by sulphur and washing with corrosive sublimate.
House Drainage.
During the year the board has had occasion to investigate two cases of defective house drainage, where the cess-pools and pipes leading into them had become clogged and filled, and the ground satufated with filth. The conditions were immediately called to the attention of the owners who finally obeyed the requirements of the board, and the places were put in sanitary condition. In one instance we were com- pelled to order the house vacated before any steps were taken to remedy the defects.
While the dangers from defective drainage and from foul and over-flowing cess-pools may not be as great in a thinly- settled town like Lincoln as in a thickly settled community, such dangers ought not be permitted to exist, and the board will be grateful to any person calling its attention to cases where plumbing and house drainage are defective.
Water.
During the year application has been made to the board for an examination of the water of three different wells used for drinking purposes. The examination has been completed in two instances, but not in the third. In these two instances samples of the water were taken and sent to the State Board
136
of Health for analysis. In one case, that of a well situated in the middle of the town and used by persons in the neigh- borhood, the State Board reported that the water was evi- dently badly polluted and was liable to be very injurious to the health of those who might use it for drinking. Accord- ingly the board forbade the use of water from this well for drinking or cooking purposes. The water of the well in the second case was found also to be badly polluted and the use of it was forbidden for drinking and cooking purposes. The use of the water in the third well has also been forbidden for drinking or cooking purposes pending investigation. All of these were cases of old wells which had undoubtedly be- . come contaminated by years of saturation of the adjacent soil with house and barnyard sewage. We wish to caution the townspeople against using the water of any well which they suspect has become contaminated.
Swine.
There have been no complaints during the year with regard to keeping swine within the town of Lincoln. The regula- tions of the board which have been adopted and published seem to be sufficient to protect the inhabitants of the town from any annoyance from this cause arising within our town limits. Two curious cases, however, exist, with which the board has been unable to cope under its regulations. Certain persons have established piggeries in Wayland, just over the Lincoln town line. Complaints have been made by inhabi- tants of Lincoln that these piggeries are a nuisance. We have had several conferences with the Board of Health of Way- land with a view to dealing effectually with these nuisances, but no action has yet been taken. Doubtless it will be the effort of the board next year to adopt measures which will be satisfactory to the inhabitants of both towns.
SAMUEL H. PIERCE, ¿ Board of Health JOSEPH S. HART, of Lincoln.
137
RECEIPTS AND EXPENDITURES OF THE . BOARD OF HEALTH.
RECEIPTS.
Appropriation
$300 00
EXPENDITURES.
1900.
April 14. Jos. S. Hart, cash paid for burying horse, owner unknown 5 00
Jos. S. Hart, disinfecting after
glanders . 4 00
Jos. S. Hart, disinfecting (Boyce) after diphtheria 6 00
June 9. Jos. S. Hart, distributing notices, 7 00
Melvin & Badger, supplies 4 90
Aug. 11. Jos. S. Hart, disinfecting after glanders, (Wheeler) 4 00
Nov. 10. Melvin & Badger, supplies 12 90
Wilfred Wheeler, flowers, Dr. Kidder funeral 12 50
24. Jos. S. Hart, M. D., taking 17 diphtheria cultures 17 00
Expressage
1 25
Dec. 22. Jos. S. Hart, M. D., taking 26 diphtheria cultures 26 00
Expressage
2 36
Disinfecting, after diphtheria, (Welch) 3 00
B. S. Tolman, serving notices . 4 50
.
138
1901. Jan. 12. Smith, Ludden & Ludden, ser- vices to date 40 00
J. S. Hart, M. D., disinfecting room (Shepard ) . 3 00
J. S. Hart, M. D., disinfecting room (Rooney) 3 00
J. S. Hart, M. D., disinfecting room (White) .
3 00
J. S. Hart, M. D., taking 7 diphtheria cultures
7 00
Expressage 1 10
26. Jos. S. Hart, M. D., taking 6 diphtheria cultures 6 00
Expressage 63
$174 14
RECEIPTS
$300 00
EXPENDITURES
174 14
.
-
UNEXPENDED BALANCE .
$125 86
139
Report of Flag Staff Committee,
On July 29, 1899, the town appointed this committee, with instructions to erect a flag-staff upon the Common or upon the Town Hall, and to procure a flag therefor. An appropriation of $500 was made for this purpose.
Considerable difficulty was experienced in procuring a suitable staff, but one was finally obtained, and the com- mittee began to erect it in the spring of 1900. There was considerable controversy about the proper location, and the committee gave a hearing on April 20, 1900, in order to obtain an expression of opinion upon the part of the citi- zens. Finally, in the latter part of April, the committee decided that, in all the circumstances, the best location was in front of the West entrance of the Town Hall, but in attempting to place the staff in this position they were opposed by the selectmen, who called an emergency town meeting on May 1, 1900, for the purpose of designating a location for the flag-staff or discharging the present com- mittee.
At the meeting the committee made the following report, which was accepted by vote of the town, and which explains the situation.
REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE.
"At the outset the committee desire to state that they welcome the action of certain public spirited citizens in call- ing a meeting to relieve the committee from the duty of deciding a difficult question. The committee prefer that the town should itself assume the responsibility. The com- mittee regrets that it is unable to report that it has fully completed the work entrusted to it by the town. It can. however, report progress.
140
"'After much delay in finding a suitable staff, and only after a search through Massachusetts, Vermont and New Hampshire, the committee at last procured what it was look- ing for, - a strong and stout staff which with the top-mast will stand 125 feet above the ground. They also succeeded in making a contract with the Lexington Flag Pole Com- pany such that the entire cost of the staff, setting it in cement with a crib to stay the bottom, and of a flag 30x20 feet would be four hundred (400) dollars, or one hundred (100) dollars less than the appropriation made by the town.
"The difficulties of the committee began when they pro- ceded to select a location and erect the pole. After much deliberation in view of the different opinions entertained by citizens of the town the committee decided to give a public hearing upon the question of location, which hearing was accordingly held on the evening of April 20th, 1900. Forty- two persons appeared and about ten expressed opinions and twenty-six of them voted that the staff should be erected on the reservoir lot. The committee is limited by the original vote of the town (July 21, 1899) to a site on the common, but if they had felt that the vote passed at the hearing was fairly expressive of the sentiment of the town they would have requested the selectmen to call a town meeting to give them authority to erect the pole on some other site than the common. The force of the vote at the hearing, however, was much weakened by the statements made privately to members of the committee, during the next few days, by those who had voted for the reservoir site that upon reflec- tion they thought they were mistaken and that the common was the proper place. The committee, therefore, decided to proceed under the original instructions of the town and erect the staff on the common. The contractor was
directed to go on with the work, but to the surprise of the committee the selectmen forbade the pole to be erected on the spot selected and served upon the contractor a solemn warning in writing, forbiding him to carry out the instruc-
141
tions of the committee. The contractor declined to proceed further and in this condition of affairs this town meeting is called.
"We repeat that we are glad that the town will now have an opportunity to take into its own hands the decision of a question which has given the committee no small annoyance and which the committee probably never could decide to the satisfaction of all the citizens of the town.
"Personally the committee hope that whatever it does the town will vote to place the flag staff on the common and not in some other place. It ought to be near the political cen- ter, near the public buildings, where the people assemble on public occasions and not located at so remote a point as to be wholly disconnected from the spot about which all of the traditions and associations of the town as a municipality center. The common is the place for all public demonstra- tions. If the reservoir lot is chosen, although nothing can be said against it in point of elevation, the flag and staff will constitute merely a landmark to enable persons in other parts of the county to know where the Town of Lincoln is, but the flag will be so remote that it will lose all significance as a part of any public demonstration by the towns-people.
"The difficulty with which the committee has struggled has been to find a suitable location on the common. Three principal spots have been suggested. The first, which the committee preferred, is south of the town hall between it and the chestnut tree, but this place was found to be so encumbered with trees as to prevent safely hoisting or lowering the flag without tearing it. Not that there would be much danger on calm days, but when a brisk wind is blowing the flag in raising or lowering would be carried against the trees and torn. No one who has not tried it knows the force exerted by the wind on a large flag. The committee rejected this location because it did not wish to take the responsibility of placing the staff in a position such that the town might frequently be called upon to buy a new flag. If the committee had felt sure that the town would be
142
satisfied with the position south of the hall taking the chance of destroying the flag, we should certainly have erected the pole in that place. Nevertheless the committee believe that in spite of the danger, this position south of the hall has much to recommend it. It is on the common, it is near the public buildings ; it is practically the most elevated point on the common and it is emphatically the best position if the town will assume the risk to the flag which the committee was not willing to do.
"The second location considered is at the foot of the com- mon near the junction of the roads.
"This location is satisfactorily clear of trees but it was rejected by the committee because of the loss of elevation from 20 to 25 feet. It is foolish to pay money for a high staff and then put it in the lowest place we can find.
"The third location considered by the committee is in front of the hall opposite the main entrance. This location was accepted not so much from choice as because there was no other with so few objections. It was strongly recom- mended by the contractor employed by the committee,-in fact we ought to give him the credit of first suggesting it. It is on the highest point on the common ; it is at a proper distance from the public buildings; there are no trees to interfere with the flag; and the part of the pole inserted in the ground together with the crib supporting it would be protected by the concrete of the area in front of the hall. There were other positions on the common besides those named but none of them were worthy of consideration.
"The committee do not wish to make a defense of their choice of a position for the flag-staff. All that they can say is, that they have acted with the best judgment they had in dealing with a difficult question and they feel confident that any citizen of the town, who in their position had the same responsibility would have come to the same conclusion.
"Nor do the committee wish to make any complaint against what seems to them a most unwarrantable interfer- ence with their work by another board of town officers.
143
This committee was appointed by the town on the 29th of last July to do a certain work. In doing it they were res- ponsible not to the selectmen or any other board, but they were solely responsible to the town. If the committee made any error of judgment or any mistake in regard to the historical question whether the point selected is on the com- mon or within the technical limits of a road, they have acted throughout in good faith with the best information they could get, and it would have been but common courtesy for the board of selectmen who were not entrusted by the town with any of the responsibility, to have refrained from arrogating to themselves the adjudication of all the ques- tions involved and from attempting to enforce their decrees by physical force and intimidation of the committee and their contractor.
"In view of the foregoing facts, the committee make the following recommendations :
(1) That the town direct the committee to erect the flag-staff on the common.
(2) If the town is willing to take the risk of injury to the flag by trees, that the committee be directed to erect the staff on that part of the common between the south end of the hall and the old chestnut tree.
(3) If the town is not willing to take this risk, that the committee be directed to erect the staff west of the hall opposite the main entrance.
In accordance with the recommendations of the foregoing report, the town voted, (87 to 16), that the committee be directed to erect the staff on that part of the Common be- tween the south end of the hall and the old chestnut tree, provided that the staff be set at least twenty feet away from the hall.
Accordingly, the committee proceeded to erect the staff. Its total height, when the top-mast is raised is 129} feet from the ground ; the length of the lower mast, including 82 feet under ground, is 80 feet ; the total length of the top- mast is 66 feet, which includes 8 feet overlapping the lower
144
mast ; the diameter of the lower mast at the ground is 20} inches and of the top-mast at the top is 10 inches. The lower mast is of pine ; the top-mast is of spruce.
On Memorial Day, 1900, the flag was first raised with ap- propriate ceremonies in which the committee was assisted by Post 180, of the G. A. R. The exercises, which took place in the open air, were opened with prayer by the Rev. H. C. Cunningham. Then followed the sounding of the reveille, on a bugle, by Musician Charles F. Foreman, of Co. I, 6th Reg't Infantry, M. V. M., while the flag was raised to the top of the mast. While it was floating there, " The Star Spangled Banner " and other selections were sung by the school children, after which the flag was lowered to half-mast and kept there in honor of the day.
The Rev. Mr. Cunningham then made an address suitable to the occasion, after which the members of the G. A. R. paraded, and the company dispersed.
The committee is glad to say that it kept within its appro- priation, but it regrets that the obstruction which it met from other town officers compelled it to spend more money than would otherwise have been necessary.
JOS. S. HART, Committee GEO. B. CUNNINGHAM, on
WALLACE M. BROOKS, Flag-staff.
145
Receipts and Expenditures of Flag Staff Committee.
Receipts.
Appropriation,
$500 00
Expenditures.
1900.
April 14. Walter H. Sears, drawing specifications,
5 00
June 26. Lexington Flag Pole Co., staff & flag, as per contract,
400 00
Lexington Flag Pole Co., extras,
12 50
Jos. S. Hart, postals, printing, etc., 5 35
1901.
Jan. 12. Smith, Ludden & Ludden, services,
35 00
Total,
$457 85
Receipts,
$500 00
Expenditures,
457 85
Unexpended balance,
$42 15
146
Report of Tree Warden.
The Tree Warden submits the following report :
The full amount of the sum appropriated to be spent upon the care of the shade trees has not been expended, as it has been found impossible to secure a man of experience able to prune the large trees. The few trees that have been trimmed have been well done, but I think that with a larger appropriation the work in the future could be accomplished to much better advantage. With a sum large enough to em- ploy a mau all the year round, the large trees that remain un- trimmed could be attended to, the smaller ones that need pruning, cared for, and the tent caterpillars that infest the cherry trees on the roadsides, exterminated. The planting of shade trees and the setting out of suitable shrubs on denuded banks could be done when the time came, without interfer- ing with the trimming work. Two sets of ladders, 45 and 33 feet extension, a set of saws and pruning tools are needed, and it seems best that these should be bought without en- croaching upon the sum needed for the actual work upon the trees. The larger trees, when once put into good shape, wounds tarred, and all holes which are so situated that they catch water, tinned, will need but little attention afterwards, so that any sum spent in giving them the best attention and treatment at first will be a saving in the end. The man at work in the trees needs a helper to remove fallen limbs and handle ladder.
Lincoln is among the towns of this State that are still in- fested with the gypsy moth, and although the pest has been held in check by the State employees, at present they are likely to and will show themselves in large numbers just as
147
soon as a colony has increased in such proportion as to make their ravages known. By employing a trained man these insects can be held in check and watched. The trees of neighboring towns have been attacked by the elm leaf beetle and sooner or later Lincoln trees will also be infested. A careful watch will have to be kept upon these also. An ap- propriation of $650.00 would, I think, cover our needs.
HENRY BROOKS,
March, 1901.
Tree Warden.
148
JULIUS E. EVELETH, Treasurer, in account with the BEMIS LECTURE FUND.
1900.
DR.
Jan. 1. Balance on dep. with Boston Safe Dep. and Trust Co.
$ 73 20
66 Boston & Prov. R. R. Corp., div. 47, 48, 49, 50 200 00
60 Boston & Lowell “ 66 121, 122 . . 400 00
Old Colony 66 Co., 87,88, 89, 90 140 00
Boston & Albany “
103, 104, 105, 106
160 00
66 N. Y., N. H. & H. “
66 81, 82, 83, 84 40 00
66 Fitchburg 66 66 66 103, 104, 1 105 00
Wet End St. Railway 6:
4,5. 132 00
66 Am. Bell Tel. 66 98, 99, 100, 30, 31, 32 345 00
Interest on bank balance 1 72
$1,596 95
1900.
CR.
Jan. 1. E. P. Elliott, reading $ 60 00
3.
Fadette Orchestra, concert 132 61
50 00
31. L. F. Copeland, lecture
60 00
Feb. 7. R. L. Garner, 60
55 00
May 11. John M. Tyler,
30 00
July 14. Salem Cadet Band, concert
107 00
Sept. 4. 66 66 107 00 60
Oct. 8. Tyrolean Concert Troupe, concert
75 00
66 18. Geo. Riddle and Svendsen Trio
100 00
31. Edward Whymper, lecture
100 00
Nov. 15. A. C. MacLay,
65 00
24. E. C. Foster, 66
150 00
Dec. 11. A. J. Palmer, 66
75 00
6:
22. Albert Armstrong,
50 00
H. A. Sherman, teaming
18 00
F. M. Dempsey, 6: 7 50
9 00
·F. E. Cousens,
26 25
R. H. Blodgett & Co., printing
43 50
Boston Safe Deposit & Trust Co., rent of safe . 10 00
A. P. L. Jackson, usher
5 50
M. F. Underwood, 11 00
N. E. Piano Co., tuning . 2 90
Balance on deposit Roston Safe Deposit & Trust Co , 246 69
$1,596 95
Horace Tuttle, 66
18. Rev. Peter MacQueen, lecture
149
The Fund of $30,000.00 stands invested as follows :
Fifty shares Boston & Lowell R. R. Corp.
Twenty shares Boston & Providence R. R. Corp.
Twenty shares Boston & Albany R. R. Co. Twenty shares Old Colony R. R. Co. Twenty shares Fitchburg R. R. Co., pref. Five shares N. N., N. H. & H. R. R. Co.
Thirty-three shares West End St. Ry. Co., pref.
Forty-six shares Am. Tel. & Tel. Co. Respectfully submitted,
JULIUS E. EVELETH, Treasurer.
I have examined the accounts of the Treasurer of the Bemis Lecture Fund and find the report correct. S. RODMAN SNELLING, Auditor.
150
JULIUS E. EVELETH, Treasurer, Commissioner Trust Funds IN ACCOUNT WITH
The George G. Tarbell Legacy to the Lincoln Library. DR. 1900.
To dividends on 8 shares Boston & Lowell R. R. Corp. $64 00
*% 13 West End St. Ry., pref. 52 00
" interest on Caroline A. Nye's note 50 00
66 " Charles S. Smith's " 60 00
$226 00
1900.
CR.
Jan. 1. By cash paid John F. Farrar, Treas, Lincoln Library $226 00
The Fund is invested as follows :
Eight shares Boston & Lowell R. R. Corp.
Thirteen shares West End St. Ry., pref. Caroline A. Nye's note Feb. 4, 1890, 5 years at 5% interest, $1,000 00 Charles S. Smith's note, on demand at 4% interest, 1,500 00
Respectfully submitted,
JULIUS E. EVELETH, Treasurer.'
I have examined the accounts of the Treasurer of the Trust Funds and find them correct.
S. RODMAN SNELLING, Auditor.
151
JULIUS E. EVELETH, Treasurer, Commissioner Trust Funds IN ACCOUNT WITH
The George Russell Legacy to the Lincoln Library.
1900.
DR.
Feb. 1. To cash in National Bank of the Commonwealth . . $251 06
" dividends on 7 shares Fitchburg R. R., pref. 31 50
66 66 in settlement of John Landahl mortgage .. 84 35
366 91
1900.
CR.
Feb. 1. By cash in National Bank of the Commonwealth $366 91
The Fund is invested as follows :
Seven shares Fitchburg R. R. pref. Cash on deposit as above.
Respectfully submitted,
JULIUS E. EVELETH, Treasurer.
I have examined the accounts of the Treasurer of the Trust Funds and find them correct.
S. RODMAN SNELLING, Auditor.
152
JULIUS E. EVELETH, Commissioner Sinking Funds IN ACCOUNT WITH Charles S. Wheeler, Treasurer of Lincoln.
DR. 1901.
Jan. 31. To cash received from C. S. Wheeler, Treasurer . $1,000 00
CR 1901.
Feb. 1. By cash in National Bank of Commonwealth . 1,000 00
Respectfully submitted,
JULIUS E. EVELETH, Commissioner Sinking Funds.
I have examined the accounts of the Commissioner of the Sinking Funds and find them correct.
S. RODMAN SNELLING, Auditor.
153
Report of the Treasurer of Lincoln Cemetery Committee.
Feb. 1, 1900, balance ,
$129 50
Received from H. E. Barnes on account of sale of lots.
100 00
July 15, dividends on two shares Fitchburg R. R. pref.
4 00
Oct. 1,
6 6
2 50
Oct. 1, 66 " three Union Pacific '. 6 00
Jan. 1, " two Fitchburg 65 ..
2 50
244 50
Purchased March 31, 1900, three shares Union Pacific
Rail Road, prefered stock'at $74.75 224 25
Balance February 1st, 1901,
$20 25
CHARLES S. SMITH, Treasurer.
Dr.
REPORT OF TREASURER OF LINCOLN LIBRARY.
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