Town annual report for the town of Duxbury for the year ending 1901-1910, Part 3

Author: Duxbury (Mass.)
Publication date: 1901
Publisher: The Town
Number of Pages: 1404

USA > Massachusetts > Plymouth County > Duxbury > Town annual report for the town of Duxbury for the year ending 1901-1910 > Part 3

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

F. B. KNAPP, Chairman. For the Committee.

REPORT OF THE BOARD OF HEALTH.

To the Citizens of the Town of Duxbury:

Your Board of Health have during the past year, endeavored to carry out the laws regarding health and sanitation published for their guidance by the State Board of Health, and thank you for your ready acquiescence to their by-laws and regulations. That so little opposition was encountered was very gratifying. In the matter of vaccination there are, of course, a few who are prejudiced against it, not alone in Duxbury, but presumably elsewhere. Did these good people, however, fully understand what vaccination has done for the human family, their preju- dice would be instantly removed, and doubtless they would be the first to acknowledge their error, and thus encourage those whose lives are devoted to combating disease and its causes. And in this connection it must be borne in mind that we incur more risks now than we did formerly. One increased source of danger, which renders greater precautions necessary, is the greater exposure to disease, caused by the traveling facilities which now obtain. This alone should discourage antagonism to those laws on the statute books designed to prevent the spread of contagious and infectious diseases. Another source

of danger in country towns is the cesspoll. A French savant has stated that in the United States there are more deaths caused in small towns by drinking impure water than in the cities by drinking bad "rum." Let us see to it that our neces- sary evils are as far removed from the water we drink as possi- ble, and that they are made inoffensive. The number of cases of measles the last two years in the west part of the town sug- gests to this Board that perhaps parents think too lightly of this disease. Measles is not so fatal as other contagious dis- eases, but it is none the less serious, for its effects are often felt through life in impaired sight or hearing, or some other grave affliction. And the Board take the liberty of calling the attention of parents to these well known facts, confident that they will exercise more care in the future. The mother of several children knows how true is that old adage, "A stitch in

-42-

time saves nine." The moment you notice symptoms of sick- ness in your children, call in medical advice. That one stitch may save you and your neighbors money enough to give you all warm clothing for the winter, while delay means not only expense, but incalculable mental and physical suffering. With ordinary care, epidemics in Duxbury are unlikely, as nature has endowed the town with everything to promote good health, but still there is no need to tempt providence, and your Board of Health asks for your continued support in their efforts to prevent sickness.

There were reported to this Board during the year the fol- lowing cases of contagious diseases :

Measles, 21 cases

Typhoid fever,

2 cases

Scarlet fever,

3 cases

Diptheria,

2 cases

All recovered.

The average age of mortality for the past year is nearly 68.

In order to insure the daily removal of garbage from those residences which are occupied only in the summer, an appointee of the Board of Health will visit every cottage and carry off the garbage at a nominal cost.

For general information the Board of Health bylaws and reg- ulations are herewith published, as follows :

EXTRACTS FROM PUBLIC STATUTES.

P. S. Chap. 80. Sec. 18.

"The board of health of a town shall make such regulations as it judges necessary for the public health and safety respect- ing nuisances, sources of filth and causes of sickness within its town. * * Whoever violates any such regulation shall forfeit a sum not exceeding one hundred dollars."

P. S. Chap. 80. Sec. 20.

"The board shall examine into all nuisances, sources of filth and causes of sickness within its town * * and shall destroy, remove or prevent the same as the case may require."

P. S. Chap. 80. Sec. 21.

"The board shall order the owner or occupant at his own expense to remove any nuisance, source of filth, or cause of sickness found on private property, within twenty-four hours,

-43-

or such other time as it deems reasonable : and if the owner or occupant neglects so to do, he shall forfeit a sum not exceeding twenty dollars for every day during which he knowingly permits such nuisance or cause of sickness to remain after the time prescribed for the removal thereof."

P. S. Chap. 80. Sec. 78. Acts of 1884. 98. Sec. I. Acts of 1890. 102.

"When a houesholder knows that a person within his family or house is sick of small-pox, diphtheria, scarlet fever or any other infectious or contagious disease dangerous to the public health, he shall immediately give notice thereof to the board of health of the city or town in which he dwells, and upon the death, recovery, or removal of such person, such of the rooms of said house and such of the articles therein, as, in the opinion of the board of health, have been subject to infection or conta- gion shall be disinfected by such householder to the satisfaction of said board of health. Any person refusing or neglecting to comply with either of the above provisions shall be punished by a fine not exceeding one hundred dollars."

P. S. Chap. 80. Sec. 79. Acts of 1884. 98. Sec. 2. Acts of 1891. 188.

"When a physician knows that a person whom he is called to visit is infected with small-pox, diphtheria, scarlet fever or any other disease dangerous to public health he shall immediately give notice thereof in writing over his own signature, to the selectmen or board of health of the town : and if he refuses or neglects to give such notice he shall forfeit for each offence not less than fifty nor more than two hundred dollars."

Acts of 1894. 491 Sec. 29.

"Every person, * who has knowledge of or has good reason to suspect the existence of any contagious disease among any species of domestic animals within the limits of this Commonwealth, or that any domestic animal is affected with any such contagious disease, whether such knowledge is ob- tained by personal examination or otherwise, shall immediately give written notice thereof to the board of health of the city or town where such diseased animal or animals are kept, and for failure so to do shall be punished by a fine not exceeding five

-44-

hundred dollars, or by imprisonment in jail not exceeding one year."

Acts of 1894. 491 Sec. 15.

"Whoever knowingly sells or offers or exposes for sale or has in his possession with the intent to sell for food, any diseased animal, or any product thereof, or any tainted, diseased, cor- rupted, decayed or unwholesome carcass, meat, fish, vegetables, produce, fruit or provisions of any kind, or the veal of a calf killed under four weeks old, shall be punished by imprisonment in jail not exceeding sixty days, or by a fine not exceeding one hundred dollars, or by both such fine and imprisonment."

P. S. 47. Chap. 9.

The school committee shall not allow a child who has not been duly vaccinated, to be admitted to or connected with the public schools.

REGULATIONS.

ARTICLE I. No child afflicted with a contagious disease shall attend public school.

ART. 2. No child from any family in which a case of scarlet fever or diphtheria shall occur, shall attend public school, except on the certificate of the attending physician that four weeks have elapsed since the commencement of the last case in each family.

ART. 3. No person shall be allowed to throw or leave any dead animal substance or decaying vegetable substance, lobsters or fish offal in any highway, dock, stream or pond, or any oyster or clam shells, or tin cans of any kind on any dump, street or public place within the town. Animal or fish substance shall be buried at least two feet in depth.

ART. 4. No fish, slaughter house offal, or other decaying animal matter shall be left upon lands for purpose of fertiliza- tion without being ploughed in or otherwise rendered inoffen- sive within twenty-four hours.

ART. 5. No person shall bring into or convey through said town the bones, entrails or refuse part of any animal, the refuse of any slaughter house, any offensive vegetable matter or swill, except in close vehicle or vessels which shall wholly prevent the escape of all odors or effluvia therefrom.

ART. 6. No person shall, between the first day of June and the first day of October next following, remove through the

-- 4.5-

highways contents of any cesspool, vault or privy, except in a tight box-cart or wagon, or at any other time than between the hours of ten o'clock p. m. and six o'clock a. m. next following, without a special permit from the Board of Health.

ART. 7. All cesspools, water closets, privies and privy vaults must be built sufficiently secure and tight to entirely prevent their contents from being visible to the public : and their con- tents must be removed sufficiently often to prevent them from becoming dangerous or offensive. The daily application of dry earth or some chemical deodorant is advised.

ART. 8. All cases of small-pox, diphtheria, scarlet fever, typhoid fever, measles or any other diseases dangerous to pub- lic health, shall be immediately reported to the Board of Health by the physician in charge of such cases.

ART. 9. The emptying of sewers into the bay is forbidden.

'From the fact that the population of the town of Duxbury is increasing each summer, the board of health feel sure that the citizens and summer residents will co-operate with the Board in their efforts to enforce the above statutes and regu- lations, and to prevent those epidemics which arise from a care- less disregard of the laws of hygiene, and that where needed, to improve the sanitary condition of the town and protect the health of the community.

In future no healthy child entering the public schools can do so without producing a certificate of vaccination.

ALFRED E. GREEN, Chairman. JOSHUA N. CUSHING, Clerk. W. S. FREEMAN.

Duxbury, Jan. 1. 1901.

Board of Health.

REPORT OF CEMETERY TRUSTEES.

Interments in Ashdod cemetery, 4 Interments in town cemetery, 38 Of this number 27 died in town and 15 were brought for in- terment.

Number of lots taken and built by citizens, 6; sold, o.

CASH ACCOUNT.

DR.

Jan. I. Cash on hand Town cemetery, $II 84

Jan. I. Cash on hand Standish cemetery, 18 65

May I. Town appropriation, 250 00

June I. Special appropriation,

50 00

June I. Donation,

2 00

Dec. I. Special fire protection, 200 00

$532 49

Paid as per vouchers :

Town cemetery,

$261 26

Standish cemetery,

6 50

Special avenue repairs,

50 05

Fire protection,

200 00

Cash on hand,

14 68

$532 49

In making this report the Trustees would again call the at- tention of the necessity of a name for the town cemetery, and recommend that it be called Mayflower.

The special appropriation was applied to Oak avenue, and although the amount was not sufficient to finish the work, a marked improvement is noticed.

Respectfully submitted, ELISHA PETERSON, Secretary.

The above account has been examined and found correct. F. B. KNAPP, Auditor.

DUXBURY FREE LIBRARY.

The library has this year done a more extended work than ever before. The number of volumes has increased to 3,118, with 25 of the current periodicals. There have been taken out during the year 5,898 books, an increase of over 25 per cent above 1899, as shown in the following table.

1899

1900

January,

369

263

February,

264

334

March,

303

470

April,

334

372

May,

212

466

June,

35I

524

July,

597

755

August,

762

829

September,

403

615

October,

362

442

November,

358

390

December,

315

438

Totals,

4,630

5,896

The library is well patronized by the summer residents, but chiefly by the permanent inhabitants. It is, however, notice- able that fewer books are taken out during the worst months of the winter, the very time when there is most leisure for reading. For this reason and for the greater convenience of those who live at a distance, it has been decided to start a little branch library in any part of the town where some responsible person will volunteer to act as branch librarian and another to transport the boxes of books once a week. The attention of the voters is called to the fact that a complete set of the Statutes and Acts is in the library, as well as books on political economy and kindred subjects.

SHADE TREE DEPARTMENT.

REPORT OF THE TREE WARDEN.

All thoughtful persons realize the importance of shade trees along the public thoroughfares. Aside from their value as ornaments to the landscape and comfort to the wayfarer, they serve as a protection to the road itself, increase the value of abutting property, thereby adding to the taxable assets, and, by rendering our roads attractive, furnish an inducement for people to make their homes among us.

The recent tree warden laws were designed to promote : (I), the planting of new trees, where desirable; (2), the caring for those already upon the public ways and their protection from injury from every source; (3), the selection and preservation of natural forest trees; (4), the creation of an interest in such matters in individuals, that they may aid in the good work, for the efficiency of the warden must depend largely upon the support and encouragement he receives from the people.

These laws have been welcomed by progressive communities and will undoubtedly result in much good, as their, purpose be- comes known.

No towns need them more than do the small rural ones as a protection of their natural shade against the inroads of the telegraph, telephone and electric companies, and the vandalism of thoughtless people. It should be clearly understood that all trees, forest or otherwise, spiked or not, situated upon the public land, are public trees, and may not be injured, cut down or pruned without the sanction of the warden. This applies with equal force to individuals, road workers, and corporations, and must be enforced by the wardens, to whom large powers are given for the purpose. Such is the law, and much depends upon his good taste, skill and judgment in the discharge of his duty.

Early in the spring there were purchased and planted upon or adjacent to the public land, one hundred young trees. These were located at various places throughout the town, where they seemed most needed : generally at some junction of the streets,

-49-

in front of the depots or public buildings, or near some cluster of houses. From these, and other places, it was the idea to extend rows of trees in future plantings. Each tree was se- curely guyed to protecting posts in such manner as to hold it firmly, without injury. Later on they were mulched, watered, sprayed for insect pests, and given such care as circumstances seemed to warrant. The trees were mostly elms, with a few maples, horsechestnuts, and willows, and often had to be placed where circumstances were against them and where they must struggle for life. Yet, notwithstanding this and the severe droughts of the past season, a recent inspection indicates that over ninety per cent. of them are alive.

In addition to these, there were placed at the disposal of the warden by the Duxbury Rural Society, about fifty other trees, of a smaller and different kind, which were located chiefly upon private land adjacent to the highways, or given away for that purpose. Of this lot were a number of sweet chestnuts, which proved to be less adapted to local conditions. The warden found small need of planting trees in the more thickly settled part of the village, largely owing to previous work of the Rural Society, to whom much credit is due for town improvement in many ways.

The total cost of said work was approximately $100, of which about one-half was for trees and material, and the bal- ance for labor and care. A comparison with similar work elsewhere will, I think, show it to be well within the minimum costs reported, and with equally good results.

As most people are aware, the tent caterpillar is a pest which yearly destroys much vegetation, and renders our highways unsightly. An effort was therefore made to lessen this evil by an early destruction of their nests, and a removal of the ma- terial upon which they thrive. To this end, all scrub growth of wild cherry and apple was removed as far as feasible, and the better and larger trees pruned into shape and freed from this insect. As a direct result they bloomed freely, without loss of foliage, and are now in much better condition to be cared for than formerly.

Nearly twenty miles of territory were thus gone over in the spring, with fairly satisfactory results. Hundreds of small trees were removed, and thousands of nests destroyed. Later in the year, this work was further continued, and part of the same and much more roadway so treated. After the leaves

Daxbary 4

-50

have fallen pruning can be done to better advantage. The egg clusters upon the twigs are readily seen, and can be easily removed. If more people would devote a little time to such work in their own premises, their orchards would be the gainer.

Where nothing better was to be had, certain of the best young cherry trees were left to grow until something better can re- place them. If properly cared for, they will be a benefit and not a nuisance.

No direct provision having been made for pruning, the war- den did not consider it advisable to divert any material part of the appropriation to this purpose, except in regard to the pest- breeding trees. Yet while pursuing this work, and in remov- ing scrub growth, other roadside trees received some attention, and many natural oaks, maples, birches and locusts were trimmed into shape to become of future value for shade and ornament. And at the same time the streets and walks were more or less cleared from interfering branches or dangerous limbs.

Some years ago a law was passed providing for the marking of roadside trees with a spike furnished by the State, which was to designate them as public trees and preserve them from destruction. Later statutes are held (by the Attorney-Gen- eral) to render this unnecessary, by making all trees upon the public land public trees and subject to the laws concerning them. However, in cases where the public boundaries are ill - defined, they may prove of value as a warning to woodsmen in cutting not to encroach upon the public domain. To this end a number of such M spikes have been placed upon forest trees in the wooded districts. In some cases the trees so marked may prove to be outside the public roadway-bound- aries which are often very indefinite, and not to be determined without question and survey. Where such is shown to be the case, the warden will remove the spikes when desired to do so by the owner of the land, but it is to be hoped that it will not be required. Some of our roads are now cleared to their legal width, but are bordered with magnificent forest trees on abutting premises, which everyone will recognize as most desir- able for shade and beauty. Yet at any time the owner is liable to cut them down, leaving the road utterly bare. The question arises as to what may be done to avert such a misfor- tune, for such roads are considered to be one of the town's chief attractions, and part of its capital. I can see no present way

-51-

save by creating an interest in such matters, and by endeavor- ing to show that it is manifestly to the best interests of the town, and to the abutter most of all, that such trees be preserved in any general cutting of woodland. Their value to the road and public is far greater than their value as lumber, and I hope owners may come to see and appreciate this, and act accord- ingly.

To further this end, I would suggest that, with the general approval of the town, the warden be requested to place upon such forest trees as he thinks should be preserved, within fifteen feet of the public highways, some simple distinguishing mark that will in no wise injure them, to indicate to the owner that they are desirable as shade trees, and trust to his good will to allow them to remain as such.

I am led to believe that most people are public-spirited enough to comply with such a request ; the more especially if it became the custom. This mark, however, will convey no rights to the town, and may be totally disregarded by the abutter, yet I think may serve a good purpose.

The chief commercial asset of our town is its natural beauty of location, and there are few things that will add more to this than good and attractive roads. It pays well to look after them, and it is cheaper in the end to care regularly for our road- side shade than to neglect it until circumstances force a general cleaning up, when the good and bad is alike destroyed, and the roads are again left bare.

The smallness of the appropriation, the area to be covered, and the quantity of work that needs to be done, must be con- sidered in measuring results; yet the warden has tried to ac- complish something in many ways and places, and to show that money spent in such work is well expended and that it should be continued.

C. F. ALLEN,

Tree Warden.

DISBURSEMENTS.

Old Colony Nurseries, 100 trees, $32 25

. Louis Bailey, cedar posts,

9 00

Levi Cushing, cartage,

4 00

Walter Cushman, labor,

6 20

-52-

William Frazer, labor, 6 20

George Torrey, cart and labor, 9 45

Thomas McNaught, labor, 4 00

Lumber, nails and sundries,

5 19

C. F. Allen, supervision and labor,

13 80

$90 09

Total to May planting of 80 elms, 10 Norway maples, 5 horsechestnuts, 5 W. willows, 10 syca- more maples, 38 chestnuts.

Soule and Glover, labor and material,

5 96

Thomas McNaught, labor, May, $10; June, $3.10, Dec., $10.20, 23 30

George Torrey, cart and labor, May, $8.40 ; June, $6.48 ; Dec., $11.90,

26 78

Henry Lewis, labor, 10 00

Wendell Phillips, labor,

10 00

C. F. Allen, labor and supervision, May, $10 ; June

and July, $8.40 ; Dec., $15.47,

33 87

$200 00

REPORT OF RURAL SOCIETY.

The Rural Society has kept on in its good work as far as its limited funds would allow, but we need a more active interest among the citizens. Our membership is now largely made up of summer residents and outsiders interested in the old town. We now make an appeal to our permanent residents, and ask them to join the society, with their co-operation, their interest, and their subscription of fifty cents a year. Miss M. S. Samp- son, secretary, will mail to any one interested our bylaws and objects of the society.

Work on the trees this year has been done by the tree war- den, the society having given through him to the town forty- eight trees. The watering trough at the Liberty Pole has been kept supplied with water, but unfortunately the one at Hall's Corner has not been used for several years, for the only reason that the society has been unable to get a supply of water from those having windmills near.

The society has flower gardens at the library, where were

-- 53-

beautiful tulips in their season (of which there are many more planted for this year), and a geranium bed for summer flower- ing.

A. The street lanterns, as a general thing, are not a success, owing to the failure of the people to whom they are loaned to keep their agreement to light them.

B. The Round Pond Reservation has had nothing done to it this year. It is hoped in time that more may be added to our natural park, either by gift or purchase.

C. The triangle opposite Millbrook schoolhouse has been given to the society to be preserved as public ground. It is in process of being improved and grassed over, and a few trees and shrubs set out. We hope to make it an ornament to the town. If more of these little reservations at the crossroads in different parts could be set apart for all time, much would be accom- plished towards making the town more attractive.

Preservation of trees and shrubs already growing by the roadsides is especially important; they mean so much more than any number of small trees set out, which take years to grow. If in cutting off road lots which border on the roads, some of the trees could be left, how much more attractive and cool the roads would be.

The only benefit which the society had last year was the lawn party at Mrs. Knapp's, and the loan collection held last summer. In this collection there were many articles of local and historical interest, very kindly loaned by people of the town

NOTE.

As by vote of the town passed March 6, 1900, the follow- ing list of taxable property is printed, and in connection your Assessors thought advisable to add a map of the town, which has been revised to comply to the changes made up to date, the changes being made by Mr. Laurence Bradford, free of expense to the town, Mr. Bradford being the successful com- petitor for a design for the town seal; also furnished the cut for printing on this report.

Part Second

VALUATION OF POLLS AND ESTATES

OF THE TOWN OF DUXBURY

For the Year 1900

Dux A

LIST OF PERSONS ASSESSED POLL TAX ONLY FOR 1900.

Armstrong, John Anderson, Frank W. Anderson, Henry A. Alden, John W.

Bartlett, Chas. B. Beadle, William Buskirk, Lewis Van Baker, Henry P. Baker, Walter Bradford, Chas. C. Bellevance, Arthur Bailey, Edward R. Burgess, William J. Bates, George T. Burgess, Chas. G. Burgess, John P. Bryant, Franklin Bradford, Gershom Bliss, Herbert H. Bickford, Frank W.

Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.

Town annual report for the town of Duxbury for the year ending 1901-1910, Part 3

Author: Duxbury (Mass.) Publication date: 1901 Publisher: The Town Number of Pages: 1404

Author: Duxbury (Mass.)
Publication date: 1901
Publisher: The Town
Number of Pages: 1404