USA > Massachusetts > Plymouth County > Duxbury > Town annual report for the town of Duxbury for the year ending 1951-1955 > Part 44
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Duxbury again shows a normal annual growth.
1953
1954
Number of houses
1,967
2,012
Number of polls
1,271
1,311
Duxbury residents have made some changes in their livestock, but an overall survey indicates no great increases. The various changes are as follows:
1953
1954
Horses
15
9
Cows
80
101
Neat Cattle other than Cows
92
90
Swine
8
3
Sheep
35
22
Fowl
6,385
7,106
Goats
14
12
The sub-division of land in Duxbury has continued and 2,331 people owned all the real estate in 1954, whereas in 1953 2,284
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people owned all the real estate in this town. Land values in Dux- bury have increased as follows:
1953
1954
Value of buildings
7,522,795
7,878,785
Value of Land
2,045,225
2,075,485
Totals
9,568,020
9,954,270
1953
1954
Number of acres assessed
13,423
13,254
Each year the acreage assessed in Duxbury varies somewhat by reason of corrections on the town map and by reason of the fact that all assessments are in fractions of acres and the combin- ing of lots results in a slight variation because of the fact that so many parcels contain a number of square feet which do not rep- resent an even fraction of an acre. For example, the present Pro- tective By-Law requires 40,000 square feet in a lot and many people convey exactly 40,000 square feet. This would be assessed to the owner as .92 of an acre although .92 of an acre actually contains 40,075.20 square feet. The total acreage of the land in Duxbury subject to assessment is reduced when a new road is cut through a development and later accepted by the town.
Personal property included in the 1954 list amounted to $805,030 as compared to the $739,230 listed in 1953. This would indicate an increase of $74,800. in tangible personal property in Duxbury, but this figure was inflated with the inclusion of ma- chinery owned by corporations. Shortly after the list was pre- pared the law was changed whereby certain types of machinery owned by corporations was excluded from tangible personal prop- erty subject to taxation. Based on this fact it may be assumed that
PHOTO BY GILBERT E. FRIEDBERG
LANDING SCALLOPS AT MATTAKEESETT COURT
57
the tangible personal property in future years may be considerably under the $800,000 mark.
The total real estate in 1954 was $9,954,270
and the total personal property was 805,030
making the total taxable real estate and
tangible personal property $10,759,300.
In 1954 Duxbury paid $8,817.45 towards the support of the Plymouth County Hospital. The town was required to raise the sum of $10,964.85 towards the support of the hospital, and in due course $2,147.40 of that sum will be returned to the Town Treasurer.
County tax paid was $30,827.13. This money contributes to the support of the Registry of Deeds, the Plymouth Superior and District Courts, county highways and other county level agencies.
Duxbury paid $1,081.45 towards the State parks and reserva- tions system.
The cost of auditing the town's accounts dropped from $1,053.99 in 1953 to $863.08 in 1954. Each year the office force endeavors to improve its accounting methods to reduce the cost of the audit to the minimum.
Municipal costs in Duxbury have increased over 1953 so that the taxes assessed were larger than the previous year as follows:
1953
1954
Personal
$ 31,786.89
$ 35,825.41
Real
411,424.86
442,970.91
As stated above, however, a part of the personal property tax could not be collected by reason of the change in the law regarding the exclusion of certain machinery owned by corporations.
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Again this year the Board inspected all real estate in Duxbury and endeavored to equalize valuations in each neighborhood.
Under Chapter 531 of the Acts of 1952 entitled "an Act Pro- viding for the Construction of a Sea Wall in the Town of Duxbury", as amended by Chapter 20 of the Acts of 1953 entitled "An Act Relative To The Construction of a Sea Wall in the Town of Dux- bury" passed by the General Court of Massachusetts, the Depart- ment of Public Works was authorized and directed, for the pur- pose of the protection of the shore in the Town of Duxbury, to construct a Sea Wall in said Town of Duxbury in two sections. Pursuant to the provisions of Chapter 531, special assessments in the sum of $18,065. were levied on the parcels of land which re- ceive special benefit from the construction of the Sea Wall.
In 1953 the value of motor vehicles reached a high peak of $994,980. and in 1954 the value was $1,227,980.00. This figure of course covers all cars registered in Duxbury and does not take into consideration the reduction caused by the transfer or sale of automobiles. The actual value of the cars in town on any one day would be considerably less than this. Excise taxes of $56,709.70 were assessed and this too is an over-all figure which was greatly reduced by the abatements granted because of sale and transfers.
The tax rate in 1954 was $44.50 on each thousand dollars of valuation.
Respectfully submitted,
PHILIP W. DELANO
CHARLES R. CROCKER
FRANCIS W. PERRY
Assessors of Duxbury
59
REPORT OF BOARD OF HEALTH
I herewith submit my report as agent for the Board of Health.
The communicable disease picture for the year showed a con- siderable decrease from 1953. Measles ran rampant during June and July, but none of the cases were too serious. The figures for the year were as follows:
Chicken Pox
39
German Measles
2
Measles
107
Poliomyelitis
1
Infections Hepatitis
2
Scarlet Fever
3
Food Poisoning
1
Tuberculosis
1
Venereal
1
Dogbite
6
May we again urge all parents to report all communicable cases to the health agent when they are so mild as not to require a doctor's services. Doctors are required to report all the cases they do see.
The School Dental Program is having a successful year. More work is being done for those who could not easily obtain it else- where.
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The Health Code adopted last year has helped to simplify the work of the Board.
About 300 pounds of rat bait was distributed during the year to people from all sections of town. It is our wish that more people would take advantage of this program.
A special article in this year's warrant will bring the Well- Child Conferences, Aid to Crippled Children and other services, originally begun by the Nurse Association, under the direct con- trol of the Board of Health. This seemed like a good business move since the Town has been paying the cost of these services for some years past. The Board appreciates the work of the Nurse Association in starting and maintaining these services over the - years.
We are grateful to the State Department of Public Health for their assistance and cooperation in the inspecting and licensing of eating establishments, chicken farms and the like.
Respectfully submitted,
GEORGE R. STARR, JR., M.D.
61
DUXBURY FREE LIBRARY ANNUAL REPORT FOR 1954.
To the Trustees of the Duxbury Free Library:
On June 16, 1954 the present librarian completed two years as librarian of the Duxbury Free Library and at the end of De- cember, 1954 the Library has been under her direction for two and one-half years.
Numerous and varied have been the activities of the past two and one-half years and in spite of the many handicaps under which the work has been carried on, the librarian is able to experience a certain measure of satisfaction in the steady growth, month by month, in the use of the library by people of all ages. At the end of December, 1954 the circulation figures for the year reached 41,596, the largest circulation for which there are any records. This figure was a gain of 7,897 over the circulation figures for 1953 and 19,344 more than for 1952. For 1952 there were ac- curate records for only the last six months of the year.
The total registration now stands at 1985. In 1954, 602 borrowers were registered and 508 of these registered for the first time.
These figures show that the use of the library has just about doubled since 1952, and this growing use of the library has taxed all of its resources and the strength of the staff as well.
It is imperative in the face of the demands made upon the library that more help be provided and more new books be made available. The library is an accepted and integral part of the
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community's educational and recreational life. The citizens ex- pect to get what they ask for at the library and if given the chance to say so, are anxious that adequate funds be voted for its support. New people are coming every day. Every month our business increases. It cannot be taken care of without the money to do a . reasonably good job.
Because of this growing use of the library, the re-cataloguing problem is still a very large one. During the past year there has been almost no time at all to deal with this phase of the work. It is a problem which will have to be solved as time goes on. It is very difficult to render satisfactory service to the public in a library of between thirty and forty thousand books with no ade- quate catalogue. Hours are used up in hunting for things which would be found instantly if the books were properly catalogued. And one is never absolutely sure whether the library owns the book or not.
An outstanding development of the 1954 library year has been the growth of the work with the schools. This work began to be a definite part of the library programme during 1953 and has now become firmly established. On Thursdays the library is visited by teachers and pupils from the Elementary School, from 10:30 A.M. until after 2:00 P.M. Each class spends a study period in the library. The librarian and assistants help the boys and girls to find special books for assigned subjects, books covering a sub- ject in which they are interested for themselves and "just a good book to read." They are taught to use the reference books and to browse through the books for their own enjoyment.
Often over 100 children come on Thursdays and on one Thurs- day in November 376 books were issued; that was the largest library day in 1954. These visits enable the boys and girls to get library cards; to become acquainted with the library and to realize that the library is just as important a part of their school life as the school-room. And in later years it will continue to play an im- portant part in their lives.
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It matters considerably, also, that the library shall have the books which the children request. In urging them to use the li- brary, it must be borne in mind that they must not be disappointed by not finding the books in which they are interested. If boys and girls are anxious to read, adults must not let them down. Yes, we need more books for the juniors!
After 2 p.m. the library is visited daily by Junior and Senior High School pupils who come to do their reference work, to get books for outside reading and "just a good book" for themselves.
All in all 1954 has been such a busy year for the library that it is difficult to say anything else about it. The librarian and staff feel that first of all the needs of the public must be met; the library must be a useful place and one to which all will enjoy coming. To attain these ends all have striven mightily and it is hoped that in 1955 the means will be found whereby we can go further and do more.
Since the first week in October the "Great Books" discussion group have been meeting two evenings a month in the Library. In this way the library has extended its services in another direc- tion and thereby given extra pleasure and comfort to the com- munity.
The librarian wishes to extend her thanks and appreciation for all of the help which she has received during the past year to the Trustees, to the Staff, to the Duxbury Community Garden Club and to all those who have sent gifts of books and flowers to the library; all of which has contributed much to the pleasure of working in the Duxbury Free Library.
Respectfully submitted,
MINNIE BURKE FIGMIC
Librarian.
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REPORT OF THE TREASURER OF THE DUXBURY FREE LIBRARY, INC. As of December 31, 1954
INCOME ACCOUNT
RECEIPTS
On Hand Jan. 1, 1954:
In Bank $ 000.00
Lucy Hathaway Fund (in Town Treas.) 169.96
Harding Fund (in Town Treas.) 100.00 $ 269.96
From various trust funds :
Wright
3,246.37
Winsor
645.82
Hathaway
93.57
Duxbury Hall
233.40
4,219.16
From Librarian Petty Cash
275.00
From Book Sale
354.22
From Donation
10.00
From Town of Duxbury
4,000.00
$9,128.34
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EXPENDITURES
Wages
$4,262.01
Books
1,848.00
Insurance
401.60
Repairs and Improvements
266.49
Fuel Oil
703.70
ยท Electricity
291.47
Other Operating Expenses
179.50
Janitor Service & Grounds
705.00
8,657.77
On Hand December 31, 1954:
In Bank $373.09
Lucy Hathaway Fund (in Town Treas.) 7.25
Harding Fund (in Town Treas.)
90.23
470.57
$9,128.34
Respectfully submitted,
BARTLETT B. BRADLEY, Treas.
The undersigned committee, appointed by the Trustees, has examined the accounts for the year ended December 31, 1954, and verify same as a true and correct statement.
W. B. COFFIN
C. R. EDDY
66
REPORT OF THE PLANNING BOARD
To the Honorable Board of Selectmen and Citizens of Duxbury :
STATISTICS
Building Permits for new construction:
1946
1947
1948
1949
1950
1951
1952
1953
1954
32
51
36
64
85
75
66
59
67
Additional data under "New Subdivision Control Law":
1953
1954
Permits New Construction
59
67
Subdivisions Considered
9
62
Approved
7
62
Plans (not subdivisions) Endorsed
131
52
Miscellaneous Items Referred to Board
6
8
(1 Last 3 months only)
(2 Three of these small - driveways only )
Thanks to the cooperation of the Selectmen, the Planning Board was able to move into its new office adjacent to the Board of Public Welfare in the Abbot house. The added convenience of a regular meeting place with adequate filing space is incalculable. Thanks also to the ability and devotion of our member, Charles H. Wansker, we are the proud owners of an "early American" pine Map Cabinet which should serve as a safe and efficient reposi- tory for our growing file of plans for an indefinite period.
The proposed voluntary house numbering scheme was "killed" by the Town Meeting.
A Public Hearing on the proposed Building Code resulted in a recommendation to the Town Meeting that a special committee
67
be appointed by the Moderator to bring in a report at the next Town Meeting.
Progress continues on the Study Map of the Town. All ap- proved subdivisions have been plotted on the Map and our pro- fessional Consultant's staff is now engaged in indicating on it all accepted streets and all possible information regarding ways, either public or private, in existence prior to the adoption of the Subdivision Control Law. This information will, we hope, be of some assistance, because if a lot of land contains the required area (40,000 square feet effective June 25, 1954), and the required frontage on an existing way (200 feet effective June 25, 1954) , the owner may secure a building permit from the Selectmen without the necessity of obtaining approval for a subdivision from the Planning Board.
If, however, the division of a larger lot into two or more smaller lots requires the provision of one or more new ways, then it becomes a subdivision and requires the approval of the Planning Board. The guiding principles which your Planning Board is attempting to follow are contained in a recommendation to the Board, from our Consultant, James L. Harris, Architect, as follows:
SUBDIVISION LAYOUT
An analysis of the functional requirements of various types of town roads aids in establishing a series of street layout patterns that can be used as a guide in subdivision approvals. Although it is not possible to separate automobile and pedestrian traffic completely, any needless hazard to pedestrians should be avoided. The streets that supply access to places of residence, predominantly the single family house in the case of Duxbury, should, in so far as possible, be planned to fulfill only that single function. A hier archy of roads develops with the "access to residences" street at the bottom building up to the main artery such as Route Three.
Ideally the "access to residences" street is the street 1) where there is no through traffic; 2) where automobiles move at low
68
speeds; 3) where only a limited number of families are served by any one street so that intensity of traffic remains low; 4) where children playing in or near the street is not as serious as on through streets with higher speed traffic; 5) where traffic noise in residential areas is kept to a minimum; 6) where lower specifi- cation for road construction can be justified; 7) where mainten- ance costs are lower because of lighter traffic; 8) where utility lines can be designed accurately for future loads without having to overdesign for possible extensions; 9) where driveways may open directly onto the street without undue hazard.
The next level of streets should be those that bring traffic to the "access to residences" streets. Here it is desirable to have no houses fronting the street. It may or may not be used as more than a spine off of which the smaller streets spring. If it is a link between more heavily travelled streets, the disadvantage exists that to a certain degree the increased traffic presents a barrier and hazard to pedestrians. This may or may not be serious depending upon the intensity of traffic.
Next is the main skeleton of traffic flow within Duxbury which carries traffic within the town i.e. traffic from origins in Duxbury to outside points; traffic to destinations in Duxbury from outside points; some through traffic. These flows occur on reasonably heavily travelled roads where speeds to the legal limit and above are the general rule rather than the exception. Ideally houses should not face such routes; driveways should not have access to them; parking should not clutter the pavement; only a minimum of slow moving traffic should be generated and a minimum of stoppings and turnings. There is need for a network of this type of road. By judicious choice of those roads to be improved the overdevelopment of high specification and higher speed routes can be avoided. The town's road system should concentrate traffic on as few streets as possible to maintain as low an initial construc- tion cost and subsequent maintenance cost as possible.
Main through traffic is now concentrated on Route Three and to a lesser degree on Route Three A. Here it is very necessary to
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reduce the amount of slow moving traffic and the frequency of access interruptions.
Obviously the traffic pattern in Duxbury cannot be revamped overnight to conform to such a functional plan, but as the town grows these objectives should be used in order to achieve as nearly as possible a simple, economical, and workable pattern of traffic.
WELL DONE
There could not be adequate recognition given to the services of our former member, Percy L. Walker, even were this entire space to be given over to a report of his activities in Planning on behalf of the Town. A bare recording of the immense reluctance and regret with which his resignation was ultimately accepted, out of deference to his desire to lighten his load a bit, will have to suffice.
Acknowledgement
The Planning Board wishes to acknowledge the co-operation and aid of the Board of Selectmen in the enforcement of zoning and planning regulations. The Highway Superintendent, the Superintendent and Commissioners of the Water District, and the Agent of the Board of Health, have been always co-operative and helpful where consideration of Highway, Water, or Sanitary fa- cilities were involved in subdivision control.
We continue our hope that the citizens will call to our atten- tion areas in which the Planning Board can be of service in pre- serving that which we consider valuable in Duxbury and in direct- ing its growth and change in a satisfactory manner.
Respectfully submitted,
OLIVER L. BARKER,Clerk KENNETH G. GARSIDE CHARLES H. WANSKER ATHERTON LORING, Chairman
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REPORT OF THE TREASURER
Receipts and Disbursements for 1954
Receipts
Balance, January 1, 1954
$556,119.57
Total Receipts
876,650.44
Total Cash
$1,432,770.01
Disbursements
Paid on Selectmen's Warrants
$1,084,640.51
Balance, December 31, 1954
348,129.50
$1,432,770.01
Respectfully submitted,
JOSEPH T. C. JONES,
Treasurer.
71
REPORT OF THE SOUTH SHORE MOSQUITO CONTROL PROJECT
To the Citizens of Duxbury:
Submitted herewith is the report of the South Shore Mosquito Control Project of its activities in the Town of Duxbury for the year ending December 31, 1954.
The Town of Duxbury appropriated the amount of $5,500 for mosquito control for 1954. This money was to be used for mos- quito control in the Town of Duxbury by the South Shore Mosquito Control Project, a cooperative program for mosquito control em- bracing the Town of Duxbury and Towns of Braintree, Cohasset, Hingham, Hull, Marshfield, Scituate, Weymouth and the City of Quincy.
Below is a summary of the first season's operations.
TYPE OF CONTROL PROGRAM INSTITUTED
A control program designed to wipe out the majority of the mosquitoes while they are in the larval or "wiggler" stage in the water was chosen. This type of control has been shown to be most effective and most economical by experience in New England, else- where in the United States and in other parts of the world. It is felt that such a program carried forward on a scientific basis will afford better control at less cost than a program of combatting the adult mosquitoes after they have emerged, spread, and begun to bite.
The program depends on drainage to reduce breeding areas to a minimum, chemical treatment of water which breeds mos-
72
quitoes and cannot be drained, and provision for adult control in situations where the above methods cannot be used, such as near water supplies and fish streams and when control is difficult because of terrain or difficult weather conditions such as were experienced this past spring and during the hurricanes this past fall which damaged our control substantially in addition to blocking many streams with fallen trees and debris.
A control program such as this builds up in efficiency as time goes on since drainage is improved, more of the smaller and troublesome breeding areas are found and dealt with, and a gradual cumulative effect of D.D.T. or a reduction of population is noted.
TYPES OF MOSQUITOES AND CONTROLS USED
In general there are four types of mosquitoes in this area: spring fresh water forms, salt water and brackish water breeders, . house mosquitoes and flood water mosquitoes.
The spring fresh water mosquitoes breed in general water resulting from melting snow and spring rains. This water collects in woodland swamps and pools and overflows from streams.
The treatment for these forms is early spring aerial spray for large areas and simultaneous ground treatment with pack sprayer in smaller areas. In addition, a new technique, pre-hatch dusting in the winter will be utilized. This promises to become a major factor in the control of these mosquitoes.
Salt and brackish water mosquitoes breed in areas flooded by the tides or formerly flooded and now wet by rains. The species involved depend on the concentration of salt in the water.
The keystone of control of the salt and brackish water breeders is drainage which is in existence on most of our salt marshes and in many cases only needs to be put in good shape after the winter storms have blocked the ditches with debris. Treatment of areas
73
found to be breeding is done on the ground by pack sprayer. In brackish areas which are not washed continually by tides, pre- hatch dusting may prove to be valuable.
House mosquitoes breed in many types of standing water dur- ing the summer, especially in containers around the yard, around dumps, in catch basins, in quarries and in polluted streams and ponds. Treatment is by pack sprayers. These mosquitoes breed continuously so such water, especially if polluted, is best kept toxic to mosquito larvae at all times in the breeding season.
Flood water mosquitoes breed in the flood plains on rivers or streams and in such places as roadside ditches or pools. These mosquitoes breed in the water present after heavy summer rains, hatching occurring after each considerable rain. Ground treat- ment seems to be a very efficient method from recent tests.
SURVEY OF BREEDING AREAS
A survey of the three new towns based on topographical maps was made by the superintendent and one of the foremen. With this as a basis, the areas marked for possible breeding were checked for standing water and mosquito larvae just before the aerial spray program was begun. At this time additional breed- ing places were located and mapped. In addition residents re- ported many small but important mosquito sources as well as a number of large areas not on maps or noticable from roads or pathways.
This type of survey will be made again this year so as to get nearer to 100% of the breeding places mapped.
Such work must be done each year both during the breeding season and during the off season as new areas are created by de- velopment of an area and old ones are reduced or altered in char- acter by many forces at work in the community.
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