USA > Massachusetts > Essex County > Ipswich > Town annual report of Ipswich 1945 > Part 7
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After making a survey of what I consider to be es- sential work for the year 1946, I am requesting an ap- propriation of $3500.00. This amount asked for is without. precedent in the history of the department. However, every tax payer is very familiar with the fact that the cost of labor and materials to carry on any project is likewise without precedent. The recent world conflict, with it's strenuous demands upon all people in the production of mil- itary supplies for our armed forces, has caused a large in- crease in salaries, and quite naturally a much higher price must be paid for all materials purchased by the consumer. The Town likewise, found it necessary to raise the wages of labor to a point where they might be commensurate with the increased cost of living. Under such conditions, I feel that this is only another reason why the budget of this department should be increased.
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IPSWICH TOWN REPORT
I am personally asking for an increase in the annual salary of the tree warden. It is my honest conviction that this office is underpaid for the service rendered to the townspeople. At present it is paying $330 per year. Com- bined with the office of moth superintendent it is supposed to offer a man a living wage the year round. With living costs up beyond reason, it is indeed discouraging to even attempt to get by financially, particularly if one has had the courage to raise a large family. My request for a $260 increase is included in the budget request for 1946.
Dutch Elm Disease.
This disease is slowly gaining a foothold in Massachu- setts. At present, twenty four towns in western Massa- chusetts have a total of eighty five trees which have been killed by the disease. It has been found in ten states of the Union, but not until 1941 were elms in this state known to be affected. More recently the disease has been found in eastern Canada and in Vermont. What the fate of the elm tree will be ultimately is largely a matter of con- jecture.
Since the elm bark bettle is the carrier of this fungus disease, the following suggestions for arresting its progress are timely :
1. Destroy all elms affected by this disease. (None here as yet) .
2. The bark should be removed and burned promptly from any cut elm wood.
3. Avoid piling elm wood in the open unless it is peeled.
4. Don't transport elm wood with bark attached.
5. Spray elms to control leaf-eating insects.
6. Keep elms as healthy as possible.
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IPSWICH TOWN REPORT
An extensive program of brush cutting was carried out this year. Nearly eight miles of public highways were covered, cutting out undesirable shrub growth which har- bors insect pests each year. If the budget request for 1946 is granted at the annual town meeting, this essential work will continue during the coming year. We have many miles of rural streets, some of which are badly grown up to stout growth which should be removed before the cost of such a project becomes prohibitive.
Line clearing activities were carried on again this year to a considerable extent for the local light department and for the fire department. I take this opportunity to thank Mr. Mallard and Mr. Atherley for their co-operation in this important work.
To all others who have taken an interest in the work of the tree warden and assisted me in the preservation of one of our greatest assets I extend my sincere appreciation. May your interest increase threefold during the years to come.
Respectfully submitted, C. GARDNER CAVERLY,
Local Tree Warden.
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IPSWICH TOWN REPORT
Report of Clam Commissioner
To the Citizens of the Town of Ipswich:
I wish that I could say that the clam industry was in good condition for the coming year, but to say that would be wishful thinking.
In my opinion there are several reasons for the con- ditions that exist. First there is the mussel problem. A survey of the clam beds show that at the rate they are in- creasing it will be but a very few years before we will be without any flats left to dig on. At least two thirds of our winter flats are now gone and a deep inroad is being made on our off shore flats.
Secondly, there is the sea gull problem. A careful survey of this problem shows that the gulls will take more small clams from the flats in one month than all the clam- mers combined in a year. To the ordinary person this does not look dangerous, but to the clammer it is very bad. When a bed of clams is opened for digging the digger does what is called culling or in other words he picks the best clam and leaves the smaller ones to grow which in former years meant good clamming later, but now since the gulls have been so prominent they jump into the hole that the clam- mer leaves and eat every small clam that is left. Instead of having good clamming ahead, the flats are barren.
Thirdly, the out of town digging problem. Under our laws any person in the State may dig one bushel of clams for his own family use without a permit. Now this does
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not sound bad on paper, but the fact is when there are from fifty to two hundred of these diggers on the flats every Sunday through the warm months and they use every kind of an instrument known to man, you can imagine how much damage is done.
The fact is our flats cannot stand up under this con -- dition. The above figures are from actual count and not guess work.
Fourth, in my opinion there should be a change in some of our rules and regulations especially number four. I think that the Clam Commissioner should have full power ยท to open and close flats at his discretion without any notice except a bulletin board where he can post daily what flats are open. In this way I think production would be in- creased one hundred percent.
I think if corrections were made in the above con- ditions we would very soon be back where we belong, the leading Clam Town in Massachusetts.
We have a fairly good seeding in the flats that are left free of mussels. It will be at least another year before they will be large enough to dig.
The year 1945 has been far above normal, but this is due to the high prices rather than the production.
The green crab situation is now under control due to the fact that there is now a market for them and many men are engaged in catching them through the Fall and Spring months.
There has been some agitation about the digging of small clams this year, but in my opinion this has been very
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much over rated. In company with State Wardens, I have made several investigations but we found that in most cases. they were unwarranted.
There were two hundred permits issued this year and from all indications this figure will be greatly increased in the coming year.
I again recommend that action be taken in regard to a road and landing in what is known as the Back River.
I wish at this time to thank the Board of Selectmen, the Town Counsel and especially the Chief of Police and his officers for their splendid co-operation in the year just closed.
Sincerely,
HENRY SHAW
Clam Commissioner-
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IPSWICH TOWN REPORT
Report of Board of Health
To the Citizens of Ipswich :
The year of 1945 proved to be one of the busiest years that the Board has faced. In January there was a serious outbreak of scarlet fever which was the worst that the town has experienced in several years. The outbreak is well defined in the Agent's report and we refer you to his report on the outbreak and its control.
We had one serious case of infantile paralysis which at the present time is progressing slowly. Although there were three cases reported as infantile paralysis, one was received as a revocation and one had an out of town settle- ment so that there was only one case credited to Ipswich. We feel that we were fortunate as other surrounding com- munities had more serious outbreaks of infantile paralysis than we had.
There has been an increase in syphilis and gonorrhea and this is also well defined in the Agent's report.
The poison ivy program put into effect during 1945 proved to be successful. The areas covered were back of the Winthrop school, the playground, one section of Line- brook road and Argilla road. We recommend the continu- ance of this program.
Your Board again cooperated with the Chamber of Commerce in their "Clean-up Week" and we appreciate the cooperation and the work being sponsored by the Chamber
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IPSWICH TOWN REPORT
of Commerce in the line of cleaning up the town during their campaign in May.
A study on the sewerage conditions is being made by a student Amam Imam of Iraq from the Massachusetts In- stitute of Technology. A request was made by his pro- fessor that he be allowed to come to Ipswich for his study and thesis on a sewerage plan. The Board feels that many benefits will be derived from his study and sug- gestions have already been made that have proved to be beneficial not only to the Board but to the sewerage com- mittee and other departments in the town.
Garbage
The garbage condition was a source of continual nuisance from January until August at which time the Board broke the contract with Mr. DeCosta. It was neces- sary for the department to hire a truck and men to clean up the condition. The Board has been working under this set-up as of last August and we feel that the condition has improved under this arrangement. The new equipment for the collection of garbage and rubbish was received the last of December and is now in operation and the Board feels that it will eleminate many of the nuisances.
Our restaurant and lunch room program has improved continuously but we feel that regulations will be necessary for further improvements. We also feel that for the benefit of the town, the adoption of ice cream rules and regulations and the requirement of a permit for the sale of ice cream will eliminate certain conditions that now exist in the Town of Ipswich.
The Board wishes to commend Mrs. Muriel Meyer who has served the Board in the capacity of Child Hygiene and
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IPSWICH TOWN REPORT
Tuberculosis Nurse. Her devotion to the students in the school, her clinic and follow-up work is not only deeply ap- preciated by the Board of Health but also by her patients as well.
The milk shortage during the fall months was notice- able in the town, however, the quality of the milk during the shortage was maintained at a high level.
The diptheria clinic sponsored by the Board with the cooperation of the school authorities again proved to be one of our successful functions. ,At the present time the majority of the students in the schools have been inoccu- lated against diptheria.
The Patch Test on tuberculosis was put into effect in the school system with the cooperation of the school authorities and proved to be another successful program and we recommend its follow-up program.
Tuberculosis
Although the cost of tuberculosis again arose in 1945 we were fortunate in receiving subsidy on all our tuber- culosis cases so that the actual cost to the town was in the vicinity of $1000.00.
Respectfully submitted,
LAWRENCE M. KING FRANK L. COLLINS, M. D. ERNEST J. SMITH, D. M. D.
219
IPSWICH TOWN REPORT
Communicable Disease Reporter
To the Board of Health:
Gentlemen:
Following is a list of contagious diseases reported to the Board during the year.
Anterior Polimoyelitis (Infantile)
3
Chicken Pox
7
Dog Bite
7
German Measles
1
Pneumonia Lobar
4
Malaria
2
Measles
41
Mumps
16
Meningitis Tubercular
1
Meningitis Spinal
1
Scarlet Fever
90
Tuberculosis
6
Whooping Cough
41
Syphilis
8
Gonorrhea
11
Total 239
One infantile reported to the Board, credited to the Town of Manchester.
One revocation received on infantile, total number of infantile for Ipswich, one case.
Number of deaths from communicable diseases, two.
Respectfully submitted,
PAUL M. JODOIN,
Reporter of Communicable Disease.
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IPSWICH TOWN REPORT
Sanitary Agent's Report
To the Board of Health:
Gentlemen :
I submit the following report for the year ending December 31, 1945.
Licenses granted :
Overnight cabins and camps
6
Collection of garbage and swill
2
Collection of tallow and soap grease
5
Day Nursery
1
Cleaning cesspool
1
Methyl and Wood Alcohol
10
Funeral directors permits
5
Burial permits granted
64
Permits to keep pigs
5
Contagious disease posted
90
Complaints garbage
114
Nuisances, and complaints
71
Nuisance notices forwarded
39
Property Inspections
50
Clam Shucking Houses inspected
19
Store inspections
24
Restaurant Inspections
31
Overnight cabins inspected
37
Bakery Inspections
3
Soda fountains inspected
12
Funeral Homes inspected
5
Day Nursery School inspected
1
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IPSWICH TOWN REPORT
Condemned during the year:
Meats 39 pounds Lobster meat 1 pound
Vegetables, 1/2 bushel parsnips, 1/2 bushel beans, 5 pounds beets, 4 pounds peppers, 10 pounds cucumbers.
Candy 9 pounds
Pastry 2 pies, 4 pounds cookies.
Ice cream 2 quarts Fruit 1 dozen oranges
Permits for sending clothes to Greece 65.
Interviews held during the year on health problems 176
Gentlemen :
The year of 1945 was an especially busy year not only in communicable diseases but in other health matters of importance. A serious outbreak of scarlet fever developed a week after the December school vacation of 1944 in the third grade of the Winthrop school with 12 cases being reported within a period of 3 days and from then on spread throughout the various districts in the town. The total number of cases was 90 of which 56% occurred in 12 families. One case was brought in from Chicago which resulted in 9 cases developing from that contact; one case came in from the United States Navy, one from Gloucester so that although the number of cases was high, so far as the local outbreak was concerned it really was not as bad as was assumed. Considerable work was done by the school nurse and school doctor as well as by the State Department of Health and Dr. Archibald, all of whom I wish to thank for their splendid assistance. It should be stated here that the Board of Health work under the regulations of the State Department, which regulations since 1943 have per- mitted adults not to remain in the home and the Board has had no case where the mother contacted the disease during confinement with the case. The first thing that is
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IPSWICH TOWN REPORT
called to the attention of the Board is the closing of schools because of an outbreak of communicable diseases. I wish to state at this time that we had three definite outbreaks of scarlet fever each following the school vacations of December, February and April. The record shows that the contact was made out of school and we find that it is much easier to control the disease with the children in school.
Venereal Diseases
We have had an increase in venereal diseases during 1945. This is no doubt due to the interchanging of popu- lation from the South to the North and the influx of man- power from one part of the country to another. It can also be laid to the investigation and case findings developed by the State Department of Health and through the help of the local board.
Infantile Paralysis
We had one serious case of infantile paralysis which. was one of the serious cases throughout the State. I wish at this time to call the attention of the citizens to the great assistance given to us in this case by the National Infantile Paralysis Fund as they entered this case in an excellent manner and relieved the Town of a tremendous. expense.
I also want to thank the American Red Cross for their support in other cases that were handled during 1945. The Town of Ipswich has received great benefits from these two organizations.
Tuberculosis
There has been a tremendous increase in tuberculosis due to war conditions such as fatigue and food rationing. School authorities have put into effect the Patch Test which
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IPSWICH TOWN REPORT
is a case finding test. Further study after the Patch Test is recommended by X-ray and physical examination.
Sanitary Conditions
The garbage condition gave us trouble from January until August 1945. The collection was very poor and the figures in the above report will show that of the numerous complaints received, many garbage conditions that existed were not reported. However, all in all the conditions be- came so acute in August that it was necessary for the Health Department to assume the collection of garbage under their own program.
The rubbish conditions which we had hoped to elim- inate during the summer time has not developed because of priorities and obstacles which the Board ran into in the securing of a new truck and body for the disposal of both the rubbish and garbage.
Sewerage conditions in the town, are still acute and the real and only solution will be the installation of a sewer system.
I wish at this time to recommend to the Board the im- mediate adoption of restaurants and food-handlers regu- lations. I feel that this will eliminate certain conditions that at the present time are utterly impossible to enforce.
Respectfully submitted,
PAUL M. JODOIN,
Agent.
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IPSWICH TOWN REPORT
Report of Milk Inspector
To the Board of Health:
Gentlemen :
I submit the following report for the year ending December 31, 1945.
Number of milk licenses issued to stores, restaurants, etc. 41 Number of milk licenses issued to milk dealers 17
Number of pasteurize licenses granted 4
Number of producers permits granted 12
Number of ice cream licenses granted
1
Number of oleomargarine licenses granted
12
Number of dairies scored 16
Number of dairies rescored 2
Number of dairies not approved
4
Number of milk samples collected
67
Number of milk samples tested for butter fat 54
Number of milk samples tested for solids 53
Number of milk samples tested for bacteria, plate count 65 Number of milk samples tested by microscopic Breed Test 38
Number of milk samples tested by phosphate test 9
Number of cream samples collected 12
Number of cream samples tested for butter fat 12
Number of cream samples tested for bacteria, plate count 12
Number of ice cream samples tested for butter fat 10 Number of ice cream samples tested for bacteria, plate count 10
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IPSWICH TOWN REPORT
Number of sediment test (for milk) 57
Empty bottles checked for bacteria, plate count 2 Number of pasteurizers checked during the year 12
Milk rooms inspected during the year
16
Respectively submitted,
PAUL M. JODOIN,
Milk Inspector.
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IPSWICH TOWN REPORT
Report of Child Hygiene
Report of the Well Child Conference for the year 1945:
Number of babies present 40
Number of babies present for the first time 3
Number of physical examinations given 40 .
Number of follow-up visits made
9
MURIEL E. MEYER, R.N.
FRANK L. COLLINS, M.D.
Report of the Patch Testing 1945:
Enrollment:
Senior-Junior-Freshmen Classes
201
Number Patch Tested
177
Number refusing test
9
Number absent at that time
15
Number with a positive reaction
1.07
Number with a negative reaction
68
Number of tests not read
2
Number of children x-rayed
109
Number of teachers x-rayed
11
MURIEL E. MEYER, R.N.
227
IPSWICH TOWN REPORT
Report of Inspector of Animals
Board of Health,
Ipswich, Mass.
Dear Sirs :
No. of cows brought into Town 105
No. of Dogs restrained 7
None restrained since July 1st
G. LORING WOODBURY,
Animal Inspector.
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IPSWICH TOWN REPORT
Report of Inspector of Slaughtering
To The Ipswich Board of Health:
The number of animals inspected for the year of 1945 was as follows:
4 pigs 3 veal calves
1 Sheep
(1 beef cow-2 yrs. old)
Respectfully submitted,
HILMER H. LINDGREN,
Slaughter Inspector.
229
IPSWICH TOWN REPORT
Report of Board of Public Welfare
To the Citizens of Ipswich:
Herewith is the annual report of your Board of Public Welfare for the year ending December 31, 1945.
On April 27, 1945, we lost a most valuable member of the Welfare Board in the death of Nelson Pascoe. His work on the Board was outstanding until the day of his death and the town benefited greatly by his vast knowledge , of social work gained in the years he was a member of the Board.
General Relief
Now that the war has virtually ended, there is a slack in certain types of employment which in time may increase our welfare rolls. Certain cases we have with us always, even during times of increased industrial production. These people are unable to care for themselves or to work when work is available.
Old Age Assistance
Old Age Assistance shows an increase in expenditures due to greater liberalization of the law, especially that part increasing the exemptions of children. The Legislature has just increased this exemption to children contributing to parents and therefore there is an increase in the budgets of these recipients to take up the slack. The citizenship requirements have not changed, as was expected. The re- duction of the exemptions of children is bound to increase the Old Age Assistance rolls.
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IPSWICH TOWN REPORT
Recipients aided January 1, 1945, 117
Applications received during year 21
138
Approved
20
Not approved
1
137
Closed during the year for the following reasons :
Death
10
Sufficient Income
2
Moved out of town
2
Private employment
3
17
Total Cases as of December 31, 1945
120
Aid to Dependent Children
The total case load as of December 31, 1945, was 4. Recipients being aided January 1, 1945 7 New Cases 0 7
Cases Closed 3
Total cases as of December 31, 1945 4
We wish to thank all those whose co-operation has en- abled us to keep expenditures at a minimum. We wish espe- cially to thank Mr. Edward S. Cogswell, our Town Clerk, for his very valuable aid in securing vital statistics so necessary in determining eligibility for various categories of relief.
Respectfully submitted,
GEORGE R. HOVEY, Chairman WILLIAM T. DUNBAR WALTER E. CALLAHAN
WALTER E. CALLAHAN, Agent.
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IPSWICH TOWN REPORT
Report of Superintendent of Streets
To the Honorable Board of Selectmen:
Gentlemen:
I herewith submit the annual report of the Highway Department for 1945.
In addition to the general maintenance, the Highway Department has several other departments through the year.
The streets in center of the Town have been swept and debri collected twice a week and some weeks they had to be swept three times. The streets on the outskirts where they are thickly settled were swept and collected three times during the year.
After the different storms the streets were checked and any damage done was repaired. There were a number of different kinds of storms this year, namely, rain, wind, snow, sleet, and tidal storms, and they all caused a good deal of damage.
Graveled streets were graveled and graded as time allowed. The department put a number of yards of gravel on six of our rural roads to help eliminate the muddy con- dition that existed there in the springtime. For several weeks this spring they were impassable. They were New-
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IPSWICH TOWN REPORT
bury Road, Leslie Road, Plains Road, Old Right Road, Paradise Road, and Mile Lane. Seventeen of the gravel roads were treated with calcium chloride where the dust created a nuisance.
Several sections of guard rail had to be replaced, re- paired and painted.
Minor repairs were made on four of our ten bridges.
Willowdale Bridge needs a great deal of repair work, such as new stringers, planking, pointing up, and guard rail, as it is dangerous at the present time.
Permanent construction would be advisable as repair work would not allow a very heavy load over it.
Choate Bridge needs pointing up as several pieces of granite have moved and cracked with the increasing loads that pass over it. This being the oldest stone arched bridge hereabouts every precaution should be made to preserve it.
The street needs widening at this point and the side- walks extended outside of the bridge on both sides. There is a bad bottleneck for the traffic there which causes a num- ber of accidents as well as near accidents.
The drainage system of 67,461 feet and 187 culverts were checked and repaired where needed.
A section of the culvert where Farley's Brook enters under Market Street had to be replaced. Another section will have to be rebuilt as the roots of the tree have des- troyed the old structure, leaving the street and sidewalk in a dangerous condition. If the tree is to remain there
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IPSWICH TOWN REPORT
it will not be advisable to rebuild any structure of a per- manent nature close to the tree. It will have to be a temporary structure.
Catch basins, manholes, and drop inlets were checked and cleaned also repaired as needed.
Two hundred sixty one (261) tons of patch was used on seventy six (76) streets to patch pot holes as they ap- peared.
So much rain fell in the fall of 1945 before the heavy frosts came, there will be an unusual amount of frost boils in the spring when the frost comes out of the ground making a great number of breakups in the Highways. The Topsfield Road will be one road that will show the worst effects from the punishment it takes with the heavy trucks going over it now.
Permanent construction is needed on this end of Tops- field Road as it is very bad and has dangerous curves and a light base for the heavy increasing traffic it receives.
The 1945 snow fall has gone away above the average years. December broke all records for December.
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