USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Chelmsford > Town annual report of Chelmsford 1923 > Part 6
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We justly give deserved praise to the men of the fire service of the Town for their loyal, prompt, effective work fighting the fires they have had to contend with. You, who have seen the firemen of the several companies at work on local fires, know the spirit, merit and usefulness of the depart- ment. Their deeds there speak the precious mettle of America.
Respectfully submitted, ARNOLD C. PERHAM, JOHN E. HOGAN, LOREN J. ELLINWOOD, Board of Fire Engineers,
REPORT OF SEALER OF WEIGHTS AND MEASURES
Total tests made 1296
Total fees collected. $ 81.67 Total expense. $138.48
Respectfully submitted,
C. A. AIKEN,
Sealer.
77
REPORT OF THE BOARD OF HEALTH
At the beginning of the year, the Board was badly handicapped by having two new members, but we feel that we have accomplished as much as could be expected.
The Rules and Regulations adopted by a former Board were published, thus giving the Board power to enforce the law.
Arrangements were made with the owners of land at the North village on the north side of the Groton road for a public dump.
An article will be in the Warrant for the Annual meeting for permission from the Town to establish a dump at the old Middlesex canal for the East village. This is not as convenient as we would like, but it is the only place which can be secured at the present time.
Dumps are badly needed in the South and West villages and at the Westlands. If some one living in these villages has or knows of a piece of low land which is convenient to the village and can be secured for a dump he will do a great favor to the residents of these villages by letting the Board know about it.
In May the Board tried to have the Selectmen use one of the Town trucks in cleaning up such rubbish (ashes excepted) as the citizens would put out on the roadside in boxes and barrels, but were unable to do so. An article will be in the Warrant for the Annual meeting calling for a small appropriation, thus giving the citizens a chance to express their wishes in the matter.
During the year arrangements were made with the School Committee to have the School Nurse act as Agent of the Board in regard to communi- cable diseases only, thus giving the Nurse a better opportunity to follow up work in the homes. We regret that by an oversight her salary was not paid, but the money was turned back into the treasury. An article will be in the Warrant to pay her salary. ยท
Arrangements were made with the School Committee to have the school barges disinfected every Friday night during the school terms, to prevent as far as possible the spread of contagious diseases.
An understanding with the School Committee has been arranged by which the two boards meet several times a year to plan the work in which both boards are interested. We find this to be a great help in our work and are very glad of the cordial support which the School Committee has given us.
During the scarlet fever cases at the South village we found that no one could tell just what had been done in previous cases with school and library books used by scarlet fever and diphtheria patients. Everyone supposed that they had been destroyed, but no one was sure. By vote of the Board, the agent will in the future personally destroy such books, reporting in writing to the Board and Superintendent of Schools, also to the Trustees of both libraries. Thus what was formerly everybody's business and so very apt not to be done is now the duty of the agent.
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A sewerage is badly needed at the North. We hope some action will be taken in the near future by the residents of this village in the matter.
During the late fall a sewerage system was begun at the North village which, when completed, will make the conditions at Vinal square very much better.
Beaver Brook, running through the Centre village, was condemned and the Town ordered to clean it out. This matter will come before the voters at the Annual Town Meeting.
We recommend that the Town should have a milk inspector to look after the milk and butter supply.
During the late summer and early fall there were several complaints to the Board about the pigs kept in the East village. On several nearby farms herds of twenty to seventy pigs of all ages were found, with almost no care or consideration of the rights of the citizens. When the wind was in the right direction, the odors were very annoying, even out on Gorham St. Gradually on one farm after another the conditions were remedied until late in the fall they were in much better shape. With the coming of warm weather the work will be continued and no one will be allowed to keep swine without a permit.
If the Board is to do good work and enforce the health laws it is abso- lutely necessary that transportation be furnished to the Board.
In November, the School Committee and the Board asked for a return Tuberculosis Clinic in December, there being some seventy cases to be examined, of which twenty-eight will be re-examinations. Owing to the late date of application and the resignation of one of the state experts, and the many Towns asking for clinics, it was found necessary to have it go over until the winter term of school. We are assured, however, that we can have another clinic in the spring term.
We are very glad that so many parents are to have their children Schicked as a preventative of diphtheria. This treatment will be given in the early spring. The absence of both school physicians seemed to make this advisable.
There were 232 cases of reportable diseases reported to the Board during the year.
In closing we wish to say that this is your Board. You elected it. Without your votes the members would not be on the Board. Each year you have a chance to replace one-third of it. It will be as efficient as you want it to be and your wishes will be made known by the amount of money you vote for its use.
Respectfully submitted,
ABBOTT L. EMERY, Chairman,
GEO. A. MCNULTY J. C. OSTERHOUT
79
REPORT OF THE AGENT OF THE BOARD OF HEALTH
Mr. Emery, Chairman of Board of Health, Chelmsford, Mass.
Dear Sir :
Kindly accept the following report which includes a record of com- municable diseases from September 1. 1923, to January 1, 1924.
SEPTEMBER
Typhoid fever
1
Whooping cough
5
Chicken-pox
2
OCTOBER
Scarlet fever
2
Tuberculosis
1
Whooping cough
1
Chicken-pox
12
Mumps
11
NOVEMBER
Scarlet fever
1
Diphtheria
1
Mumps
5
Chicken-pox
30
DECEMBER
Scarlet fever
4
Chicken-pox
3
Whooping cough
Mumps
2
Peril omsllar abscess
1
Dog bite
1
Since health means wealth in any community the Board of Health commissioned me to aid in carrying out the rules governing isolation and quarantine.
I have received a cordial welcome in each home where the Chelmsford people have given me their hearty co-operation.
Respectfully submitted,
MARY E. SHEEHAN, R. N.
80
REPORT OF INSPECTOR OF ANIMALS
The regular annual inspection of cattle, sheep and swine was made early in the year and report of same together with the report on stable conditions was submitted to the State Dept. of Conservation. There were 935 dairy cows, 191 young cattle, 22 bulls, 220 swine, 8 goats and 3 sheep inspected in 220 stables. 13 cows were quarantined and 11 of them killed because affected with tuberculosis and the other two were released.
Five dogs known to have bitten persons were quarantined and held under observation for a period of two weeks and then released, no rabies having developed. Several persons were bitten by unknown dogs, but, for- tunately, no serious effects followed. We have been fortunate in not having any cases of rabies in town this past year as some of our neighboring towns have.
Some action should be taken to rid the town of all stray and unlicensed dogs thereby lessening the danger to our citizens if there should be an out- break of rabies.
Any information desired by cattle owners relative to the tuberculin testing of their herds by Federal and State authorities to obtain the so-called accredited herd will be gladly given.
Cattle owners are realizing more and more the advantage of eliminating tuberculosis from their herds by their willingness to co-operate with the Federal and State authorities as well as this office.
ARNOLD C. PERHAM,
Inspector.
Dec. 31, 1923.
REPORT OF INSPECTOR OF SLAUGHTERING
Chelmsford, Mass., December 31, 1923.
Board of Health.
Gentlemen :
Herein find report of the Inspector of Slaughtering from January, 1923, to January, 1924, inclusive.
The following number of animals have been slaughtered by licensed butchers and owners upon their own premises, and inspected by mne :
275 cattle; 649 veal; 783 hogs; 1145 sheep. Of these the following number and amount were condemned: 12 veal; 11 hogs; 9 cattle; and approximately 450 pounds of meat for various reasons.
All inspections have been reported to the State authorities as required.
Respectfully submitted,
W. S. HALL, Inspector.
81
REPORT OF CEMETERY COMMISSIONERS
To the Honorable Board of Selectmen :
The Cemetery Commissioners herewith submit their annual report :
In Forefathers' cemetery, the grass has been trimmed and mowed, the avenues and paths cleaned. The old slate section has been mowed several times. The perpetual care lots have received the usual attention.
In Pine Ridge cemetery, nearly five months of steady work has made a great change in its appearance. More space has been cleared and new avenues and paths have been marked out. Many more lots have been measured and staked out. Space has been reserved for flower beds, and shrubs. In what is called the Town Section, this has been graded and a space reserved for each grave and in this section has been twenty burials. At the head of each grave is a marker with a number referring to the name which is duly recorded on the Cemetery Record book.
The Hart Pond cemetery has had splendid general upkeep. All the brush and waste has been cleared away and gives a much neater appear- ance. In the old section the sunken graves have been filled in and the grave stones reset.
At the West and Riverside cemeteries, the general work has been done.
There has not been money enough to keep these cemeteries in the con- dition they should be. It was Benjamin Franklin who once said : "Show me your cemeteries and I will tell you what kind of people you have."
CHAS. SCRIBNER, B. F. DEAN, R. P. ADAMS,
Cemetery Commissioners.
REPORT OF INSURANCE FUND COMMISSIONERS
January 1, 1924
On Deposit :
Merrimack River Savings Bank, Lowell. $1,375.10
City Institution for Savings, Lowell. 1,572.93
Lowell Five Cent Savings Bank, Lowell. 1,218.75
U. S. Liberty Bond. 1,000.00
$5,166.78
WALTER PERHAM, Treasurer,
Insurance Fund Commissioners.
82
REPORT OF FOREST WARDEN
During the past year the work of the Forest Warden Dept. and the Fire Dept. has been combined as much as possible. The district fire chiefs were each appointed deputy forest wardens in their districts, with authority to issue fire permits and have charge of all forest fires. They were instructed to co-operate with the fire observer on Robbin Hill and to extinguish the brush and grass fires in their districts with as little expense as possible. Most fires were handled by a.few men rather than by the whole fire company and the fire trucks were not used except when the fire was of a threatening character.
Four deputy forest wardens other than the district fire chiefs were appointed as follows : Donald Adams, Fred L. Fletcher, Walter Merrill and Fred Merrill, and did good co-operative work in their different localities.
About 350 permits were issued for fires in the open air. Several fire calls were received where persons were found to be burning brush without the necessary permit and in each case the parties paid the expense of extin- guishing the fire rather than go to court. Permits are required from March 1 to December 1.
There were 74 fires during the year, of which 37 were grass fires and 37 were brush and woodland fires. Twenty-seven of the fires were caused by the railroad locomotives.
An inspection of all the property of the department was made late in December. It seems quite probable that an auto truck would be advisable in the near future for this department.
A. C. PERHAM,
Forest Warden.
Dec. 31, 1923.
REPORT OF APPRAISERS
Personal property at Town Farm.
398.55
Household goods at Town Farm.
8,705.00
Highway department
2,905.50
Moth department
5,005.60
North fire department.
6,107.35
South fire department.
1,561.60
Westlands fire department.
279.00
West fire department.
2,239.50
East fire department.
1,546.85
Weights and measures.
166.00
A detailed list is on file in the Accountant's office.
JOHN F. PARKER,
ALBERT H. DAVIS,
EMILE E. PAIGNON,
Appraisers.
$1,500.25
Centre fire department.
83
Report of the Trustees of the Adams Library
The Board of Trustees met at the Library, February 17, 1923, and organized for the work of the ensuing year. Officers and committees were chosen as follows : Chairman, Albert H. Davis; Secretary, Mrs. E. R. Clark ; Treasurer, Rev. Wilson Waters; Librarians, Katherine and Margaret Hall ; Purchasing Agent, Mrs. E. R. Clark. Committee to approve bills, A. H. Davis and A. H. Park; Prudential Committee, Wilson Waters and Otis P. Wheeler ; Committee on periodicals and general oversight of the Library, A. H. Davis, Frances Clark, Wilson Waters.
The affairs of the Library have been conducted in a satisfactory manner and the Trustees feel that the purpose for which the Library exists is being fulfilled.
The death of Mr. Otis P. Wheeler has removed a member of the Board, whose presence at its meetings will be greatly missed. From the minutes of the Board the following quotations are taken :
"The Trustees of the Adams Library desire to put on record their sense of loss in the death of Otis Parker Wheeler, who was for thirteen years a member of their Board. He was a quiet, courteous and conservative man, and a lover of good books, always interested in the welfare of the Library and regular in attendance at the meetings of the Board when not prevented by ill health. * *
* He was faithful, kindly and genial."
New book shelves have been placed on either side of the main entrance, on which are placed recently purchased books and others for the convenience of patrons. Also a new and ample bulletin board has been placed in the rotunda, on which is posted information relating to recent purchases or other matters of interest to borrowers.
A glass case with appropriate stand is also seen in the rotunda. It contains an interesting collection of Indian arrow heads and other imple- ments gathered in this vicinity by F. R. Dickinson, who loaned them for exhibition.
A. Heady Park has given the Library similar objects to add to the collection already in the Library.
Mrs. Charles F. Emerson of Hanover, N. H., has presented to the Library an elegantly bound copy of a folio edition of the Bible, printed in 1822, which once belonged to Owen Emerson of Chelmsford.
Mrs. Henry Bartlett has given the Library eight volumes pertaining to Botany and Gardening ; also a portfolio containing numerous excellent photographic reproductions of the works of Michel Angelo, and a large number of smaller photographs of works of art in the Boston Art Museum, with several pamphlets relating thereto.
Mr. Charles E. Bartlett has donated to the Library an ancient flint-lock rifle and a sword which came from the Dadmun estate.
Books have been received from Rev. Wilson Waters, and from several publishing houses.
84
The Trustees have used $500 of the Town appropriation this year to pay the expense incurred in employing the services of experts to recatalogue and reclassify the library books, and also to mend 200 or more volumes which need repairs. This last will require about two weeks' work by an expert. When all this is accomplished, the Library will be in better con- dition than for a number of years. Something more than $150 has been expended for re-leathering the chairs in the reading room, which had served there for thirty years.
The Librarian reports 119 new borrowers.
Number of books in the Library.
12,332
The circulation for the year has been
Fiction
11,714
Non-fiction
2,760
Total 14,474
To replace worn out books.
45
Books discarded
50
Received by gift.
14
ALBERT H. DAVIS,
A. HEADY PARK, FRANCES CLARK, LUELLA H. S. CLARK, WILSON WATERS,
Trustees.
REPORT OF THE TREASURER OF THE ADAMS LIBRARY
RECEIPTS
Balance on hand, Dec. 31, 1922.
$ 8.15
Received from the Town Treasurer.
2,000.00
Received from the Librarian's account.
12.32
$2,020.47
EXPENDITURES
Books
$ 235.17
Repairs
227.05
Librarian's salary
500.00
Gas
81.05
Fuel
172.00
Water
12.00
Care of building and grounds
85.27
Binding
103.32
Periodicals
72.00
Books to So. Chelmsford.
20,00
Recataloguing, mending books, etc.
500.00
Treasurer's bond
1.32
Postage
8.79
Balance, Dec. 31, 1923.
$2.020.17
WILSON WATERS,
2.50
Treasurer.
85
North Chelmsford Library Corporation
REPORT OF TRUSTEES
The regular meeting of the North Chelmsford Library Corporation was held at the Library Rooms, December 20, 1923. Various reports were heard and accepted, and officers elected.
283 books were sent to the bindery.
Library was opened 150 sessions.
Circulation this year was 25.321.
34 books were presented by the late Mrs. A. E. Duncan.
157 new books were bought, making 191 books added to Library this year. There are now 8,825 books in the Library.
Cards were issued to 65 new subscribers, making a total of 813 names, representing that number of borrowers.
We have endeavored in all ways to assist the pupils of the High School and 7th and Sth grades. We trust that the teachers will make their par- ticular wants known, that we may so far as it lies in our power comply with their requests.
We are still furnishing books to West Chelmsford and are giving very good satisfaction there.
During the year it has been our sad misfortune to have our president, H. T. Ripley, and secretary, O. P. Wheeler, taken from our midst. May we always cherish their memory as always being faithful and willing to promote the good and welfare of the Corporation.
Respectfully submitted,
ARTHUR O. WHEELER,
MRS. SARAH E. SHELDON,
H. ELLEN SARGENT.
REPORT OF THE TREASURER OF THE NORTH CHELMSFORD LIBRARY CORPORATION
RECEIPTS
Balance from 1922.
$ 16.28
Town appropriation
1,200.00
$1,216.28
EXPENDITURES
Librarian and assistant.
$ 415.92
Books
146.91
Fuel
164.25
Light
45.87
Bindery
184.15
Supplies
33.78
Transportation of books to West Chelmsford.
42.00
Printing
30.75
Insurance
78.08
Repairs
21.38
Miscellaneous
15.06
$1,178.15
Balance on hand
38.13
$1,216.28
STEWART MACKAY, Treasurer.
86
Warrant for Annual Town Meeting
FEBRUARY 4, 1924, AND FEBRUARY 11, 1924
Middlesex, ss.
To Fred I. Vinal, a Constable of the Town of Chelmsford,
Greeting :
In the name of the Commonwealth aforesaid you are hereby required to notify and warn the legal voters of said Chelmsford to meet in their several Polling Places, viz: Precinct 1, Town Hall, Chelmsford Centre ; Precinct 2, Town Hall, North Chelmsford ; Precinct 3, Historical Hall, West Chelmsford; Precinct 4, School House, East Chelmsford ; on Monday, the fourth day of February, 1924, being the first Monday in said month, at 12 o'clock noon, for the following purposes :
To bring in their votes for the following officers: Moderator for one year, Town Clerk for three years, one Selectman for three years, one Over- seer of the Poor for three years, one Assessor for three years, Town Treas- urer and Collector of Taxes for one year, one member of the Board of Health for three years, one Constable for one year, one School Committeeman for three years, two Trustees of Adams Library for three years, one Trustee of Adams Library for one year (unexpired term), Tree Warden for one year, one Sinking Fund Commissioner for three years, one Cemetery Commissioner- for three years, one Park Commissioner for three years, all on one ballot, and to vote on the following question : "Shall license be granted for the sale of certain non-intoxicating beverages in this town?"
(The polls will be open from 12 M. to 8 P. M.)
And to meet in the Town Hall at Chelmsford Centre on the following Monday, the eleventh day of February, 1924, at 9.30 o'clock in the forenoon, then and there to act upon the following articles, viz :
ARTICLE 1. To hear reports of Town officers and committees; or act in relation thereto.
ARTICLE 2. To raise and appropriate such sums of money as may be required. to defray Town charges for the current year.
ARTICLE 3. To see if the Town will authorize the Selectmen to act as its. agent in any suit or suits which may arise during the current year ; also in such other matters as may arise requiring in their judgment the action of such agent, and to employ counsel therefor.
ARTICLE 4. To see if the Town will authorize the Treasurer, with the approval of the Selectmen, to borrow money in anticipation of the- revenue of the current financial year.
87
ARTICLE 5. To see if the Town will vote to appropriate from money already in the hands of the Treasurer a sum not exceeding Sixteen Hundred Sixty-five and 73/100 Dollars ($1,665.73) with which to meet unpaid bills of 1922 and 1923; or act in relation thereto.
ARTICLE 6. To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of Five Hundred and Seventy-five Dollars ($575) for State Aid; or act in relation thereto.
ARTICLE 7. To see if the Town will vote to appropriate from money already in the hands of the Treasurer a sum not exceeding Two Thousand Dollars ($2,000) to be used as a Reserve Fund at the discretion of the Finance Committee, as provided in General Laws, Chapter 40, Section 6; or act in relation thereto.
ARTICLE 8. To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of Four Hundred Dollars ($400), or some other amount, and elect a director, the money to be expended by and the director to serve in co-operation with the County Agricultural Trustees of the Middlesex County Bureau of Agriculture and Home Economics under the pro- visions of Sections 40 to 45, Chapter 128, General Laws of Massa- chusetts ; or act in relation thereto.
ARTICLE 9. To see if the Town will vote to raise or borrow the sum of Twelve Thousand Dollars ($12,000), or what other sum, for the purpose of continuing construction of the Boston Road and the Acton Road, and of repairing the Billerica Road and the Carlisle-Concord Road. two-thirds of the expense to be borne equally by the Common- wealth and the County of Middlesex ; or act in relation thereto.
ARTICLE 10. To see if the Town will authorize the Selectmen to sell or exchange the gravel loader now belonging to the Town, and will raise and appropriate a sufficient sum with which to purchase a new one as part of the highway equipment ; or act in relation thereto.
ARTICLE 11. To see if the Town will appropriate from money already in the hands of the Treasurer the sum of Twenty-five Dollars ($25) with which to pay land damages awarded by the County Commissioners in relocating the Square, so called. at Chelmsford Centre; or act in relation thereto.
ARTICLE 12. To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate a sum of money sufficient to complete the grading and provide shrubbery at the Town Hall in North Chelmsford ; or act in relation thereto.
ARTICLE 13. To see if the Town will indemnify the Commonwealth of Massachusetts against any and all claims for land, grade, or drainage damages which may be caused by or result from the laying out, con- struction, or reconstruction of any State highway in the town during the present year, and will authorize the Board of Selectmen to sign an indemnity agreement in behalf .of the Town; or act in relation thereto.
88
ARTICLE 14. To see if the Town will vote to remove the pump and water- ing trough at the south end of Central Square, so called, at Chelmsford Centre, and raise and appropriate a sum sufficient for the purposes ; or act in relation thereto.
ARTICLE 15. To see what action, if any, the Town will take relative to the pump, watering troughs, trees, and fence at Central Square, Chelms- ford Centre, with a view to improving the appearance of the Square and the promotion of the public safety and convenience, and raise and appropriate a sum sufficient for the purposes; or act in relation thereto.
ARTICLE 16. To see if the Town will appoint a committee to investigate conditions as to the heating of the Town buildings at North Chelms- ford, with a view to a central heating plant, and report their con- clusions at a subsequent meeting of the Town; or act in relation thereto.
ARTICLE 17. To see if the Town will vote to authorize the Selectmen to contract with the Lowell Electric Light Corporation for all night public street lighting service, and will raise and appropriate a suffi- cient sum of money to meet the expense thereof; or act in relation thereto.
ARTICLE 18. To see if the Town will vote to authorize the Selectmen to contract with the Lowell Electric Light Corporation for furnishing electric light service at the North Village from darkness to daylight, and will raise and appropriate a sufficient sum of money to meet the expense thereof ; or act in relation thereto.
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