USA > Massachusetts > Norfolk County > Braintree > Town annual report of Braintree, Massachusetts for the year 1956 > Part 8
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Receipts from all sources, 1956 8,803,412.16
$10,840,063.76
Paid on Selectmen's Warrants
$9,173,971.79
Cash Book Balance, December 31, 1956 1,666,091.97
$10,840,063.76.
(Details of Receipts and Expenditures are shown in Accountant's Report)
OUTSTANDING FUNDED DEBT, DECEMBER 31,1956
First Sewer Loan, 31/2 % due 1957-1961
$ 70,000.00
Sewer Loan, 214 % due 1957-1958
10,000.00
Sewer Loan, 112% due 1957-1959
15,000.00
Sewer Loan, 1.40% due 1957-1961
25,000.00
Sewer Loan, 1.90% due 1957-1961
49,000.00
Sewer Loan, 2.20% due 1957-1963
70,000.00
Sewer Loan, 2.10% due 1957-1964
40,000.00
Water Main Bonds, 11/4% due 1957-1961
60,000.00
Water Construction Bonds, 11/4 % due 1957-1961
15,000.00
Water Standpipe Bonds, 2.10% due 1957-1969
39,000.00
High School Addition Bonds, 214% due 1957-1968
482,000.00
High School Remodeling Bonds, 21/4 % due 1957-1958
32,000.00
Highway Garage Bonds, 214% due 1957-1958 12,000.00
Elementary School Bonds, 1.75% due 1957-1970
460,000.00
Elementary School Bonds, 1.90% due 1957-1972
1,066,000.00
Elementary School Bonds, 2.10% due 1957-1974
600,000.00
Elementary School Bonds 2.10% due 1957-1974
144,000.00
Elementary School Bonds, 2.40% due 1957-1976
480,000.00
Electric Light Bonds, 1.75% due 1957-1972
1,120,000.00
Library Bonds, 2.10% due 1957-1972
160,000.00
South Junior High Bonds, 2.10% due 1957-1975
1,090,000.00
$6,039,000.00
TAX TITLES
Tax Titles Held by Town, January 1, 1956
$ 9,155.49.
1956 Takings
5,554.54
1956 Subsequent Taxes added to Tax Titles
6,254.05.
Total
$ 20,964.08
Tax Titles Foreclosed in 1956
$ 1,552.04:
Tax Titles Redeemed in 1956
7,135.70
Tax Titles Held, December 31, 1956
12,276.34
Total $ 20,964.08
.89
TRUST FUND TRANSACTIONS-1956
Principal of Fund
Dec. 31, 1956
Balance
of Income
Jan. 1, 1956
Inceme
Receipts
Payments
from Income
Balance
of Income
Dec. 31, 1956
Stabilization Fund $1,000.00 $
180.78
$ 35.67
$
$ 216.45
Henry H. Musick Tr. 250.00
75.51
9.83
85.34
Chas. E. French Tr. 2,419.50
128.96
77.01
205.97
Hannah R. Hollis Tr. 100.00
22.85
3.69
26.54 804.50
George W. Kelley Tr 200.00
24.91
6.78
31.69
Joseph S. Miller Tr.
123.66
39.18
4.91
44.69
Julia A. Minchin Tr.
100.00
31.68
3.97
35.65
Anna M. Penniman Tr. 500.00
22.61
15.54
16.00
22.15
Avis A. Thayer Tr.
500.00
41.63
16.36
57.99
Charles Thayer Tr. 20,329.06
709.84
651.57
714.00
647.41 35.66
Colbert School Tr 25,000.00
9,518.78
1,053.61
10,572.39
Colbert Library Tr 40,443.76
1,089.86
1,478.55
1,380.00
1,188.41
Minerva P. Martin Tr 300.00
26.79
9.86
36.65
Mary F .: White Tr 10,665.50
159.98
327.19
487.17
Balance
Income
Deposit
Payments Balance
Apr. 10, '56
1956
1956
1956 Dec. 31, 56
*Pond St. Cemetery $23,244.01
$343.70
$506.25
$842.00 $23,251.96
*Fund turned over to the town April 10, 1956 by the Pond Street Cemetery Association
CONTRIBUTORY RETIREMENT SYSTEM
Cash Balance, January 1, 1956
$ 3,887.41
Cash Receipts for 1956
145,053.00
Total
$ 153,940.41
Payments made on Vouchers of Retirement Board $ 140,227.38
Cash Balance, December 31, 1956
13,713.03
$ 153,940.41.
SECURITIES HELD DECEMBER 31, 1956
$5,000. Aluminum Company of America
3 % Due 1979
10,000. American Tel. and Tel. Co.
23/4% Due 1980
5,000. Boston Edison Co.
234 % Due 1980
3,000. Central Maine Power Co.
234% Due 1976
3,000. Central Maine Power Co.
31/2% Due 1970
5,000. Central Vermont Public Service Corp.
33/8 % Due 1982
4,000. Consolidated Edison Co. of N. Y. Inc.
25/8% Due 1977
5,000. Dayton Power & Light Co.
31/4% Due 1982
5,000. Detroit Edison Co.
234% Due 1985
5,000 Fall River Electric Light Co.
334% Due 1983
5,000. General Motors Corp.
314% Due 1979
3,000. Georgia Power Co.
33/8 % Due 1982
4,000: Illinois Bell Telephone Co.
31/8% Due 1984
4,000. Illinois Bell Telephone So.
3 % Due 1978
5,000. Indianapolis Power & Light Co.
27/8 % Due 1979
Charles C. Hill Tr. 100.00
31.69
3.97
N. H. Hunt' Tr. 24,376.99
804.50
1956
1956
90
20,000. International Bank 31/2 % Due 1969
5,000. Montana Power Co.
27/8 % Due 1975
3,000. Narragansett Electric Co. 3 % Due 1978
2,000. New England Power Co. 23/4 % Due 1979
4,000. New England Tel. & Tel. Co. 3 % Due 1974
4,000. New Jersey Bell Telephone Co.
31/8 % Due 1988
4,000. New Jersey Power & Light Co. 27/8 % Due 1979
5,000. New York Telephone Co. 234% Due 1982
7,000. New York Telephone Co. 33/8 % Due 1996
4,000. Niagara Power Corp.
2 3/4 % Due 1980
5,000. North Shore Gas Co.
4 % Due 1975
4,000. Pacific Gas & Electric Co.
27/8 % Due 1980
4,000. Pacific Tel. & Tel. Co.
31/8% Due 1983
6,000. Pacific Tel. & Tel. Co.
31/4 % Due 1979
1,000. Pacific Tel. & Tel. Co.
35/8 % Due 1991
5,000. Pennsylvania Electric Co.
33/8 % Due 1972
4,000. Philadelphia Electric Co.
27/8 % Due 1978
5,000. Public Service Co. of N. H.
314 % Due 1973
5,000. Southern California Edison Co. 27/8 % Due 1976
5,000. Southern California Edison Co.
35/8 % Due 1981
2,000. Southwestern Bell Tel. Co. 234 % Due 1985
2,000. Westchester Lighting Co. 31/2% Due 1967
3,000. West Penn. Power Co.
27/8 % Due 1979
30,000. U. S. Savings Bonds
21/2% Due 1957
3,000. U. S. Savings Bonds
21/2 % Due 1958
17,500. U. S. Savings Bonds
21/2 % Due 1959
15,000. U. S. Treasury Bonds
30,000. U. S. Treasury Bonds
31/4 % Due 1983 3 % Due 1995
35 shares Chase Manhattan Bank, New York 252 shares First National Bank of Boston
80 shares Manufacturers Trust Co., New York
74 shares National City Bank of New York
200 shares National Shawmut Bank of Boston
106 shares Rockland-Atlas National Bank of Boston
10 shares Newton-Waltham Bank and Trust Company
5 shares Harvard Trust Company, Cambridge 60 Paid-up Shares Braintree Cooperative Bank 40 Paid-up Shares Holbrook Cooperative Bank
10 Paid-up Shares Home Cooperative Bank 5 Paid-up Shares Lawrence Cooperative Bank 20 Paid-up Shares Lincoln Cooperative Bank
25 Paid-up Shares Marblehead Cooperative Bank
40 Paid-up Shares Mattapan Cooperative Bank 25 Paid-up Shares Melrose Cooperative Bank 20 Paid-up Shares Middleborough Cooperative Bank 10 Paid-up Shares Orange Cooperative Bank 10 Running Shares Orange Cooperative Bank Series 124 20 Running Shares Pilgrim Cooperative Bank Series 134 40 Paid-up Shares Pittsfield Cooperative Bank 50 Paid-up Shares Quincy Cooperative Bank 20 Running Shares Quincy Cooperative Bank Series 187
10 Running Shares Randolph Cooperative Bank Series 123 30 Paid-up Shares Randolph Cooperative Bank
55 Paid-up Shares Sandwich Cooperative Bank 10 Paid-up Shares Shirley Cooperative Bank
: 91
25 Paid-up Shares South Shore Cooperative Bank 25 Paid-up Shares Stoughton Cooperative Bank 25 Paid-up Shares Ware Cooperative Bank
$ 4,000. Deposit Abington Savings Bank
10,000. Deposit Boston Five Cents Savings Bank
35,000. Deposit Braintree Savings Bank
4,000. Deposit Cambridge Savings Bank
5,000. Deposit Cohasset Savings Bank
5,000. Deposit Holyoke Savings Bank
1,000. Deposit Mechanics Savings Bank 4,000. Deposit Middlesex Institution For Savings
5,000. Deposit Millbury Savings Bank
4,000. Deposit Natick Five Cents Savings Bank
4,000. Deposit Palmer Savings Bank
5,000. Deposit Provident Institution for Savings
5,000. Deposit Randolph Savings Bank
5,000. Deposit Salem Savings Bank
15,000. Deposit South Weymouth Savings Bank 7,500. Deposit Springfield Institution for Savings
5,000. Deposit Suffolk Savings Bank for Seamen and Others 10,000. Deposit Ware Savings Bank
10,000. Deposit Wareham Savings Bank
10,000. Deposit Weymouth Savings Bank
10,000. Deposit Whitman Savings Bank
10,000. Deposit Worcester County Institution for Savings
1,000. Deposit Second Federal Savings & Loan Association of Boston 1,000. Deposit Suffolk First Federal Savings & Loan Assn. of Boston Respectfully submitted,
THELMA C. HEDLUND, Treasurer
: 92
Fire Department HARRY T. SEARS Chief of Fire Department Superintendent of Fire Alarm
In 1956 out of a total of 864 calls of all descriptions, 56 fires resulted with a loss totaling $70,038.93 with a property valuation involved by fire of $1,697,350.00.
Fire prevention is considered one of the most im- portant duties of the Fire Department. A special effort has been made to increase the number of inspections of all classes of buildings. In 1956 a total of approximately 2,000 inspections were made. Fire prevention should be carried out the entire year. With your help we can still lower our fire losses and minimize the physical danger to our citizens.
The three fire stations are in very good condition and require only the usual maintenance to keep them in good repair.
The Fire Alarm System is in very good condition ex- cept for the installation of a new conductor cable at the Central Station. Ten new fire alarm boxes were added to the system in 1956, consisting of eight street boxes and two master fire alarm boxes for school and factory pro- tection.
The apparatus and equipment are in very good con- dition except to modernize one of our older engines. This will give the Town three class A engines equipped to fight all types of fires.
Mutual Aid plays a very important part in the pro- tection of life and property. We are grateful to have automatic Mutual Aid with our neighboring city and towns.
Our two way radio purchased in 1951 with one mobile unit added each year until all apparatus are radio equipped, provides instantaneous and reliable communi- cation between Fire Headquarters and fire apparatus and men, contributing to the efficiency of the Fire Service.
We still have two second class school buildings not protected by automatic springler systems. I have re- quested the School Committee to continue the sprinkler
93
A CHILD LOST HIS LIFE IN THIS FIRE, NEVER LEAVE YOUR CHILDREN UNATTENDED
94
program of one school building a year until all second and third class school buildings are protected by auto- matic fire alarm and sprinkler systemss.
The large reduction in insurance premiums has in many cases been the prevailing reason for installing auto- matic sprinklers. Oftentimes the annual savings is suf- ficient to pay for the sprinkler system. Regardless of the question of safety which should be the most important feature for the safety of our school children and school buildings, sprinkler protection is an excellent investment.
STATE LAW-Upon the approach of any fire ap- paratus which is going to a fire or responding to an alarm, every person driving a vehicle on a way shall immediately drive said vehicle as far as possible toward the right hand curb or side of said way and shall keep the same at a standstill until such fire apparatus has passed. No person shall drive a vehicle over a hose of a fire de- partment, without the consent of a member of such de- partment. No person shall drive a vehicle within eight hundred feet of any fire apparatus going to a fire or responding to an alarm, nor drive said vehicle or park or leave the same unattended, within six hundred feet of a fire or within the fire lines established thereat by the fire department. Violations of any provisions of this section shall be punished by a fine of not more than one hundred dollars.
Fuel oil in excess of ten gallons shall not be kept in a structure without a permit having been obtained from the head of the Fire Department. In 1956 there were 804 in- spections of fuel oil burner installations. These installa- tions are increasing every year. A person, firm or cor- poration shall not install nor alter a fuel oil burner in- stallation until a certificate of competency has been ob- stained from the State Fire Marshall.
A permit is required from the head of the Fire Department for the installation and storage of Liquified Petroleum Gas systems. Twenty-six permits were issued in 1956 for such installations, forty-one permits for blast- ing and 532 permits for fires in open air.
Supervised drills and schooling in the Fire Depart- ment are carried on throughout the year to keep abreast of the most advanced fire fighting techniques and equip- ment.
95
We used 23,100 feet of 21/2" hose: 11,750 feet cf 11/2" hose: 58,510 feet of booster hose: 1,891 feet of ladders. Our engines pumped water a total of 102 hours. We received calls for 167 building fires, 65 resuscitator calls, 307 grass, woods and dump fires, 1 train wreck, 1 plane crash, 27 automobile fires, 44 false alarms, 18 out- of-town calls and 234 miscellaneous calls.
In closing I wish to thank the Honorable Board of Selectmen and all others who have assisted the Fire De- partment in carrying out its duties.
96
South Shore Mosquito Control Project COMMISSIONERS
JOHN B. CLAPP, Chairman, Hingham PAUL FINNEGAN, Secretary, Scituate GEORGE F. BROUSSEAU, Braintree HOWARD BATES, Cohasset GEORGE STARR, JR., M.D., Duxbury PAUL C. ROSS, Hull CHARLES P. DUFFEE, Marshfield THOMAS BARSTOW, Norwell DR. RICHARD M. ASH, M.D., Quincy HENRY F. GODIN, Weymouth
The Town of Braintree appropriated $5,600 for mos- quito control in 1956. This money was used for mosquito control in the Town of Braintree by the South Shore Mos- quito Control Project, a cooperative effort embracing the City of Quincy and Towns of Braintree, Cohasset, Duxbury, Hingham, Hull, Marshfield, Norwell, Scituate and Wey- mouth.
Type of Control Program
The basic program of control continued to be based on drainage in the off-season and larvaciding of all areas found to be breeding during the mosquito season. This program was supplemented by application of D.D.T. dust to selected areas during the period when the swamps were frozen. This dust upon the melting of the ice and snow falls to the bottom of the pools and swamps and is in a position to be effective against the mosquito larvae. The use of a fog generator to combat flying mosquitoes supple- mented the main program.
Encephalitis
In late August the public became aware of the disease Eastern Equine Encephalomyelitis.
This disease is brought on by a virus and is trans- mitted by mosquitoes. It is a disease of birds which, under certain circumstances, spills over to man and horses.
The disease was first recognized in man in Massa- chusetts in 1938. It has since been recognized southward along the Atlantic seaboard and in the Gulf states.
97
The severe outbreak in humans and horses during the summer of 1938 in Massachusetts was followed by a lull until 1953 and 1954 when some horses were affected. Not until 1955, when four cases were recognized, did the disease in man reappear in this state. This past summer (based on virus recovery, serological evidence, and clini- cal pictures) the disease was recognized in twelve humans and definite diagnosis is pending in one case. In addition, 41 horses and 17 pheasant farms were infected. A survey of wild birds revealed virus in six birds.
Immediately upon the appearance of the disease in a horse in the area, the Project began extensive fogging and larvaciding operations, starting in the area of the horse case. This work continued around the clock. Shortly after this, the Massachusetts Department of Health warned that danger existed and that a program of aid from the Commonwealth was being set up.
Since this Project was the only existing agency in the position to supervise the needed work, insecticide and air- plane service was provided to the Project for use in the ten town area. Spray material was provided for air spray, ground application by Project equipment, and ground work by any equipment made available by the towns through the local Boards of Health and the Town Departments possessing such equipment.
The overtime labor for the Project's part in this emer- gency work was paid for from the regular appropriations. This work was in excess of that planned, based on money available to the Project. This extra night, week-end, and holiday work severly strained the basic budget of the Project, and as a result, less ditching work than planned was possible.
The results of such a program against such a disease are hard to determine since it is impossible to tell how many infected mosquitoes were killed and thus prevented from passing the disease to humans.
With present knowledge of the disease, it is equally impossible to predict the future picture of the disease in this area. Our only present attack is to reduce the mos- quito population to as low a level as possible during the critical period. The following areas of action are steps in the right direction: Encouraging towns bordering the Project to attack the mosquito problem since area wide
98
control is more effective than scattered work, urging all residents to help out on their own property, and stepping up the Project's ability to combat influxes of mosquitoes on the wing.
Under the present financial conditions, the Project, as well as towns not in organized districts, will always have to turn to the Commonwealth for emergency funds in the event of encephalitis outbreaks. The alternative, which is an approach that makes a lot of sense, is more wide spread mosquito control in southeastern Massachu- setts on a sound financial basis.
We feel that the extra hours and monies spent in this emergency were well and properly expended and surely gave us greatly added protection. The fact that there was in existence in the area hardest hit by the disease an or- ganization set up to do such work was fortunate. Because of this, there was no delay in planning air spray work and in getting ground work started. The immediate and whole- hearted efforts of the Health, Tree, and Public Works Departments of the various towns added considerably to the results.
Aerial Spraying
The spring spraying of all fresh water swamps too large to be treated by hand was done in the latter part of April. Spot spraying was done in various areas through- out the summer when large open areas were found to be breeding mosquitoes.
2,386 acres were sprayed in the Town of Braintree. In August and early September, during the encephalitis emergency, 1,350 acres were sprayed by air.
Ground Spraying
The ground crews circulated on a schedule through- out their sections of the Project. They varied from this circuit to treat in the vicinity of complaints or to treat places found to be breeding by the superintendent or the inspector. They then returned to their rounds.
During the encephalitis emergency, crews worked overtime and weekends to keep up with requests for service.
Inspections
Throughout the breeding season the superintendent checks the known breeding areas to know where to direct
66
air and ground spraying or drainage work. In the heavy breeding season (June-September) an inspector helps with this work.
In past years, some attention has been paid to yard by yard inspections for house mosquito breeding. This year this work was expanded and will have to be expanded in the future, since newspaper and radio items concerning this important phase of the work have not yet reached all persons.
One inspection of sixty-four (64) houses in an isolated section showed sixty-seven (67) containers capable of breeding mosquitoes. Of these, forty-six (46) were pro- ducing mosquitoes at the time. Similar results obtained in other sections checked.
Such a situation assured a neighborhood of mosqui- toes as long as the containers are around and full of water in spite of work done by the Project in surrounding swamps.
Catchbasin Spraying
Two catchbasin units were operated the past season. A third, ordered in May, was delivered too late to be of use this season, but will be used next year.
These units are compressed air sprayers mounted on three-wheeled motorcycles.
In addition to the above units, ground crews sprayed basins with hydraulic sprayers from trucks to fill in for the unit not delivered in time.
Drainage
The drainage program proceeded in both salt and fresh water breeding places.
The past year was the first in which the salt marsh ditching machine was used extensively. It was delivered in late summer last year and used only in the fall.
The machine has increased the pace of our work on the marshes and seems to offer greater help when it is modified to fit the marshes in this particular area.
It will be advisable, when budget figures allow, to have a back-hoe to complement the work of the marsh ditcher and allow certain fresh water work to be done.
100
At present, there are no contractors with machines cap- able of going onto salt marsh without the use of mats, which procedure is both costly and beset with chances of miring the machine. It is, however, possible to rig a back- hoe on a machine similar to our marsh ditcher and be free to move anywhere, within reason, on our marshes.
Adult Mosquito Control
Adult mosquito control is the killing of the flying stage of the mosquito after they have emerged, as opposed to the larval stage which exists in the water.
This year, as in the past, the Project has operated a Todd Insecticidal Fog, Applicator, commonly called a Tifa. This machine emits a fog, consisting of very fine droplets of insecticide, which drifts with the air currents over the area, wiping out adult mosquitoes.
The previously mentioned air spray during the en- cephalitis emergency was in the nature of an adult pro- gram.
Plans for Winter
Throughout the months between the past and coming mosquito breeding seasons much attention will be given to ditching. Work on the salt marsh will be done in the fall and early spring and the colder winter months will be spent in the more protected fresh water areas.
When snow and ice conditions are right, prehatch dusting, as was done the last three years, will be done. The success of the past work along these lines makes it feasible to expand this program to as much as help and weather permit.
In addition to the ground dusting noted above, it is planned to make a small scale experimental prehatch application of D.D.T. dust from the air.
Plans for Next Year
All phases of the work carried out in the past will continue. Catchbasin spraying will be strengthened by the addition of the third unit. Expansion of the fogging operations will be possible, where needed, with a second fogging machine.
101
Problems to be Solved
The problem of drift in of adult mosquitoes from un- controlled areas should be lessened since part of our bor- ders will be protected by the new Norfolk County Project. There is further help in sight from a group of Plymouth County towns to the west of us. They might well be or- ganized by next year. The still unresolved situations in this connection are the Hingham Naval Ammunition Depot and the M.D.C. area of the Blue Hills. The N.A.D. is an uncontrolled area in the middle of our Project and the M.D.C. property affects Quincy and Braintree. We will continue to work in these areas on an emergency basis to give a measure of protection to our population affected by their mosquitoes and will continue to try for support from these organizations.
Board of Appeal Under Zoning By-Law
During the year 1956 the Board heard 44 petitions : allowed 27; denied 13. No action was required on 4 of the petitions for reasons of withdrawal by the petitioners.
HERBERT J. REDMAN, Chairman EARL R. GRANT ROBERT A. WOODSUM MERVIN B. HILL
102
Town Forest Committee
To the Members of the Board of Selectmen:
Improvement of the Town Forest continued through 1956 as planned, and with favorable weather conditions it was possible to build two footbridges where trails cross the brook that runs through the forest. Construction of these bridges had been scheduled for 1955, but had to be postponed because of the heavy floods in that year.
A bright spot in the year was that vandalism, re- sulting in considerable damage to the forest in past years, has reduced to a minimum. We hope that this condition will continue, as the possibility of vandalism is a factor that must always be considered in creating facilities in the forest that would benefit those who use them in a proper manner.
Members of the Braintree Town Forest Committee attended the annual meeting for Massachusetts Town Forest Committees sponsored each Fall by the Massachu- setts Forest and Park Association. The meeting this year was held jointly in Natick and Wellessley. Natick in particular is making extensive use of its town forest in connection with the study of natural history in its schools, and we feel that the Braintree forest affords the same opportunities to our schools, if they wish to use it.
In conclusion, the Town Forest Committee, would like to point out again, as it has in the past, that the forest's value as one of Braintree's recreational assets will become increasingly obvious as the town continues to be built up, industrially and residentially. The fact that the Town Forest is completely surrounded by resi- dential property makes it unlikely that the town would ever be asked to consider giving part of it up to industry, as has hoppened to part of another of the town's recre- ational areas in the past year. Your committee considers the relatively small sum spent on the Town Forest one of the best long-range investments the town can make.
Respectfully submitted, HARRY C. LAKE DONALD C. WILDER JEANETTE MOHNKERN
Town Forest Committee
103
Sewer Department Commissioners
WILLIAM G. DYER, Chairman
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