USA > Massachusetts > Plymouth County > Middleborough > Town annual report of Middleborough, Massachusetts 1905 > Part 4
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B
Between 20 and 30 years
6
Between 30 and 40 years
7
Between 40 and 50 years
11
Between 50 and 60 years
.
14
Between 60 and 70 years
.
·
26
Between 70 and 80 years
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25
Between 80 and 90 years
·
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16
Between 90 and 100 years
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2
Age unknown
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2
DOGS.
Number licensed in 1905
.
.
· 602
Males
.
.
555
Females . .
.
47
·
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.
.
.
·
.
.
.
.
.
.
100
Males
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.
·
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.
.
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67
REPORT OF BOARD OF HEALTH.
I herewith submit my report for the year ending December 31, 1905 :
The following is a classified list of complaints received by the Board.
Rubbish
22
Overflowing cesspools
55
Defective drains
·
17
Unclean premises
·
.
12
Hog pens
.
.
8
Offensive privies
.
19
133
CARE OF OUR GUTTERS.
There has been a decided improvement during the last year. The Board decided to place some barrels upon our streets to be used by our merchants and also for persons that go to the post-office and stores and open their letters from the office, their parcels from the store and throw their paper and en- velopes upon the street. They seemed to look with wonder at those shiny barrels and wondered what they were for. We had them lettered and they gradually began to learn and are now doing quite well. There has been but one disturbed which was the one placed upon Centre street. A certain person thought it would look better on his ash heap ; he went and dumped it there. The writer of this article was obliged to go and get it. I then got a chain, staple and padlock and made it fast to an electric light pole and as long as such persons are allowed to live in a civilized community the town will have to buy a padlock now and then.
The town owns a cart for cleaning gutters ; it never has been used but one year ; it should be used as a matter of less expense ; it should come under the Board of Health and money enough should be appropriated for the same.
68
THE PUBLIC DUMP.
The town never has been obliged to pay for a hole to fill up and yet persons will go and think that hole is to be left and they dump around it. I want them to understand that the hole is to be filled up and unless people dump where they ought to the town will very soon be without a public dump.
BAKERIES.
The bakeries have been examined as required by law and have been found as usual in a clean and neat condition.
MILK.
Whilst other towns and cities have had much trouble on the milk question I think that our milk on the whole is still improving. More care has been used in the handling and carrying of the milk, glass jars have taken the places of cans, and wooden stopples and cans seldom ever appear. Glass jars that you see on the steps as a rule have been washed which is a decided improvement.
CONTAGIOUS DISEASES.
There have been during the past year thirty-two cases of contagious diseases, twenty-four of scarlet fever, one of meningitis, four of typhoid fever, and two deaths, and three diphtheria cases.
SPITTING.
The board had a polite invitation to come into Boston to listen to an address to the Local Board of Health by Dr. Durgin of Boston. Most of his address was on spitting and the danger that comes from it and I should like to have had the whole town there to see if they would do better. Our constables to-day don't seem to recognize but one crime and that is drunkenness, and when an officer will stand upon the sidewalk and spit his own filth what can you expect of the ordinary man.
69
TUBERCULOSIS.
CONSUMPTION, AND HOW TO PREVENT IT.
Consumption causes more than a thousand deaths in Boston every year. But able physicians tell us that, if we follow certain directions, we can help to stamp out this disease.
Consumption is not inherited. It does not belong to our climate. It is very often cured. It is actually on the decrease.
Consumption is usually carried by the poison which comes from the consumptives' sputum, or spit. Sick persons should take care to burn their spit, or put it into the water-closet.
The trouble now is that consumptives spit upon the floor or in the street.
The poisonous sputum then dries, and goes as dust into other people's lungs. A little spit is enough, when scattered in dust, to infect dozens of people.
THINGS BAD FOR WEAK LUNGS.
Dust and smoky or dusty places are bad. Dark, damp, or crowded rooms are bad.
Dirty shops and stores, dirty saloons and dance-halls, dusty kinds of business, like marble-cutting, sorting feathers, or making cigars, are bad for weak lungs. To sit bent over one's sewing or other work is bad.
Self-indulgence and intemperance are very bad. Vice which weakens the strong kills the weak.
THINGS GOOD FOR WEAK LUNGS.
Fresh air in plenty prevents consumption. Sunshine kills the germs.
Choose sunny rooms. Open the windows and let the air in. Keep the house clean. If a consumptive has moved out of a room, have the Board of Health disinfect it.
Be in the open air as often as can be. Outdoor work is vastly better than indoor work. Keep your feet dry.
Breathe with deep, long, full breaths, so as to carry the fresh air to every corner of your lungs. Do this always for
70
several minutes in the morning and at night. Breathe through the nostrils, and not through the open mouth.
Spend your money for simple and well-cooked food,- good fresh meat, eggs, oatmeal, rice, and other vegetables, and for bread and butter, milk, and fruit.
Do not spend money for beer or other liquors, or for quack medicines, or " cures."
Live a regular life, and keep the bowels regular. Get plenty of sleep.
Daily bathing is good.
Keep clean company and a clear conscience.
Courage is very important.
SPECIAL CARE OF YOUR HOUSEHOLD AND CHILDREN.
Do not sleep in the same bed with a consumptive.
Whenever any one of your family has been ill, or seems weak or run down, build up the strength at once with nour- ishing food, extra rest and sleep, and fresh air.
If one has a bad cold or a cough, and it does not grow better very soon, go at once for a physician. Don't wait till it is too late.
The doctor is worth ten times as much to help ward off disease as he is to cure it.
THE CARE OF OUR SCHOOLS.
The care of our schools has continued as usual and we still believe that much good results from the same. We have the co-operation of the superintendent, committee and teachers.
INSPECTION OF DRESSED BEEF.
The work with every year seems to increase ; when the in- spection became a law we had one licensed slaughter house, we now have six. The inspector has examined over six hun- dred hogs this year and sixty beef and condemned one.
71
CLOSE OF THE YEAR.
And in conclusion as I sit down to write my annual report and review the work of the year and with new things and new work to do, I feel that I have done as well as can be done within the means that I have to work with.
JAMES A. BURGESS.
Below are the expenses for the year 1905 :
Bert J. Allan, for services
$25 00
C. W. Maxim, for one wagon body
50 00
So. Mass. Tel. Co.
20 50
Edward Beach, care of public dump Edwin McQuiggen
3 33
Austin J. Peters, stamp outfit
1 75
Melvin & Badger, for formaldehyde
4 85
Ferdinand C. Landgrebe, for labor
3 00
George Card, for burying animal .
1 00
Wood & Tinkham, printing .
1 75
P. R. Harlow, lettering barrels
3 00
Matthew Cushing, lime
3 02
Bryant & Soule
2 00
Clara G. Thomas, clerical work
3 00
J. & G. E. Doane, for one brass sprayer
0 85
James A. Burgess, 763 days labor at $3 00 per day
229 50
Expenses for contagious diseases : J. F. Shurtleff, M. D., for medical attendance
$7 50
Smith & Hathaway, for disinfectants
1 90
Taylor, formaldehyde, formaldehyde outfit
2 90
M. H. Cushing & Co. .
10 75
James A. Burgess, for services
100 50
James A. Burgess, for expenses
26 04
Total amount
$513 85
Balance from last year
.
$49 24
Appropriation
.
.
450 00
Melvin & Badger .
·
.
0 10
Licenses
17 00
$516 34
Balance
2 49
.
11 67
.
.
·
·
.
72
VALUATION OF PROPERTY.
Night soil cart
$75 00
Cart cleaning gutters
10 00
Formaldehyde fluid lamp ·
35 00
Two iron barrels and tools
.
.
.
.
22 50
$142 50
BERT J ALLAN, THOMAS S. HODGSON, JAMES A. BURGESS,
.
.
Board of Health.
73
AUDITOR'S REPORT.
In this my fourth report as auditor of the town of Middleboro I wish to state that I find the same lax and careless methods in some departments as in the past, although there have been improvements in some things. I referred to this in my last report, and have made suggestions which will result in further improvement. The Treasurer's pay- ments are properly vouched. and the correct cash is on hand.
Chapter 322, Acts and Resolves of 1904 reads in part " It shall be the duty of City and Town Auditors at least once every year to audit the accounts of the trustees of any property, the principal or income of which was bequeathed or given in trust for the benefit of the city or town, and to examine the funds, securities and evidences of property held by such trustees. City and Town Auditors shall include in their annual reports a report of such auditing and investiga- tion." In compliance with the above I have audited the accounts of the Trustees of the Peirce Estate, and find them all right, all payments having the proper voucher for the same.
I have inventoried the securities, and find the personal property held by said trustees as follows :
Stocks
$317,627 66
Bonds
.
.
.
73,506 77
Bills Receivable
55,436 56
Saving Banks . .
3,000 00
Other holdings including cash
14,680 29
Total
$464,251 28
PERCY W. KEITH,
January, 1906.
Auditor.
.
.
.
.
.
.
74
REPORT OF MUNICIPAL LIGHTING PLANT.
To the honorable board of Gas and Electric Commissioners:
I herewith submit the twelfth annual report of the plant for the year ending December 31, 1905.
The total number of customers on the above date was 283 against 263 last year, divided as follows : electric 165; gas 43 ; electric and gas, 75, a gain of twenty customers during the year.
The total sales for the year were $15,066 25, as follows :
Commercial electric $5,581 88
Domestic electric . 2,678 12
Commercial arc 1,687 00 Gas
3,568 11
Jobbing 1,551 14
The increase over 1904 sales as follows :
Commercial electric $341 13
Domestic electric . ·
240 47
Commercial arc 152 58
Gas 197 60
The 5 per cent discount allowed for prompt payment was $560 51
Last July the open street arcs were replaced by the en- closed arcs and to confirm the statement made last year that there would be a saving by so doing, wish to state that for the last six months of 1905 there was used for enclosed arcs 254 carbons, at a cost of $7 43 against 3,706 carbons at a cost of $33 77 for a corresponding period of 1904 with the open arc, together with a saving of about $10 00 per week in wages for care of lights. Two arc lamps have been added, one at the corner of Grove and Main streets and one at the corner of N. Main and E. Main streets, replacing the clusters of incandescents.
75
Poles have been set for the extension of the incandescent street lights on Everett street and cross-arm purchased for. the extension of light on S. Main street to the R. R. bridge but not having money to purchase wire at that time and at the present price of wire, namely 212 cents per pound, do not think it advisable to expend money for that purpose, which if put into meters, would materially increase the in- come of the plant.
In relation to the gas, there is not much to say, except the necessity of larger mains and some other process of manufacture, whereby gas can be sold at a lower rate and the extension of mains to parts of the town where there might be some who would take gas for heating and cooking purposes.
It is sincerely hoped that the present investigating com- mittee will recommend to the town a change at that end which will be for the better.
189 meters are now installed. The income could be materially increased by the installation of about fifty more if the same could be procured. The cost of meters, owned by the town up to the present time has been $3,037 79, all of which, with the exception of $489 19, has come out of the appropriation for construction, thereby reducing that appro- priation intended for new work, and consequently the outside construction has suffered to that extent.
Inasmuch as the contract system has been abused in the past, and believing that the most equitable plan for the consumer and the plant, is that all consumers should have meters and that if necessary a sliding scale should be established, would recommend an appropriation of $650 00 separate from the construction account to be used exclusively for the purchase and installation of electric meters.
I wish to call your attention to the fact that the generator used for the commercial and domestic lighting is now over- loaded and the odor of burning shellac caused by the excessive heating of the coils emphasizes the fact that some Saturday or Monday night during the heavy load the machine will give out and then the consumers will not be as well off as when the steam engine broke down last November.
76
The breaking of the steam engine ought to bring more forcibly to the attention of the voters the necessity of some spare motive power at the electric plant.
Had it not been for the much slandered gas engine at that time the commercial as well as the domestic lighting would have been out during the repairing of the steam engine.
The management still have unbounded faith in the producer gas outfit as outlined in last year's report, and perhaps more after hearing the results and reports from plants installed during the last year.
As the accident to the steam engine was one that could not be foreseen, consequently could not be prevented, and the expense of repairing same was extraordinary repairs, such a large amount should not be expected to come out of the income, therefore think the sum of $325 00 should be appropriated to cover the same.
There has been laid from the gas house to the Geo. E. Keith Co.'s new factory a new gas main of 593 feet of 4 in. pipe and 682 feet of 3 in. pipe, with fittings and valves for the continuance of main on Centre street, west of Lane street and other streets which it now passes and also fittings opposite each house.
The total expense will be about $700 00.
STATEMENT OF ACCOUNTS.
BONDS.
1905.
Mar. 6
Appropriation
$2,000 00
1905. Dec. 31 Expended
$2,000 00
NOTES.
1905.
1905
Mar. 6
Appropriation
$5,000 00
Dec. 31
Expended Balance
$5,000 00
" 15
66
750 00
66
750 00
$5,750 00
$5,750 00
INTEREST.
1905.
1905.
Jan. 1
Balance
$33 33
Dec. 31 1906.
Expended
$2,890 23
Mar. 6
Appropriation
2,861 34
Jan. 1
Balance
4 44
$2,894 67
$2,894 67
77
COMMISSIONERS' SALARY.
1905.
Jan. 1 Balance
$150 00
1905. Dec. 31 Expended $300 00
Mar. 6 Appropriation
150 00
$300 00
$300 00
GAS ENGINE ACCOUNT.
1905.
1905.
Jan. Balance
$2,276 35
Dec. 31 Expended
$2,220 15
1906.
Jan. 1 Balance 56 20
$2,276 35
$2,276 35
SUBURBAN LIGHTING ACCOUNT.
1905
Jan. 1 Balance
$69 62
1905. Dec. 31 Expended $391 63
1906.
Mar. 6 Appropriation
400 00
Jan. Balance 77 99
$469 62
$469 62
DRAINAGE ACCOUNT.
1905.
1906.
Jan. 1 Balance
$300 00
Jan. 1 Balance
$300 00
CONSTRUCTION ACCOUNT.
1905.
Jan. 1 Balance
$161 92
1905. Dec. 31 Expended $3,228 00
Mar. 6 Appropriation
3,150 00
1906. Jan. 1 Balance 83 92
$3,311 92
$3,311 92
MAINTENANCE ACCOUNT.
1905.
Jan. 1 Bal. Town Treas. $418 57
Cash in office 49 10
Cash in office 449 00
Dec. 31
Gas income 3,429 46
C. I. “ 5,063 50 D. I. 2,536 26 1,491 48
C. A. Jobbing income
1,700 86
Sale of old dynamo 100 00
Sale of old boiler 40 00
$14,829 23
1905. Dec. 31 Expended 1906. Jan. 1
$14,358 49
Bal. Town Treas.
21 74
$14,829 23
78
Appropriations needed for 1906 :
Commissioner's salary .
$150 00
Suburban lighting
450 00
Bond .
2,000 00
Note . .
5,000 00
Note ·
.
750 00
Note .
750 00
Interest
2,709 22
Construction
1,000 00
Electric meters needed 650 00
Repair steam engines
325 00
New gas main
700 00
Respectfully submitted,
GEO. A. PHILBROOK,
General Manager and Superintendent.
We accept the report of the General Manager as sub- mitted and endorse the recommendations made by him.
Respectfully submitted,
JOHN A. MILLER, HENRY W. SEARS, T. S. HODGSON,
Commissioners.
79
THIRTY-SECOND ANNUAL REPORT
OF THE
Trustees of the Public Library
For the Year 1905.
The second year of the Library in the new building has been a very active one, and the work has seemed to meet the popular appreciation. The Library staff, as at present constituted, consists of Mrs. Adelaide K. Thatcher, librarian ; Misses Alice M. Alden, Florence A. Robinson, Marion K. Tillson and Mary M. Eddy, assistants.
The Library is open every week day (except holidays) from 2 to 9 o'clock in the afternoon, and on Sundays from 2 to 7 o'clock afternoons.
The Library holds a membership in the Library Art Club, from which it receives pictures, artistic and illustrative, which are hung upon the walls of the Art Gallery. The pictures are changed once in three or four weeks, and are very interesting collections, which the public is invited to examine and enjoy without charge.
An exhibition of photographs by local amateurs and others is contemplated for the coming year, and it is desired that all persons interested in such an exhibition confer as early as possible with Dr. E. S. Hathaway of the Board of Trustees.
The work of the Library is told in the Report of the Librarian.
80
The Report of the Treasurer gives the receipts and dis- bursements for the year, which, we think, have been made with the strictest regard for economy. The coal bills rep- resent the amounts paid for coal consumed in 1905, and for the supply put in for 1906. The lighting bill for December and some other bills belonging in 1905 had not been pre- sented at the date of this Report and consequently had not been paid.
REPORT OF THE LIBRARIAN.
To the Trustees of the Middleboro Public Library :
Gentlemen-Herewith is submitted the thirty-second annual report, which is a record of the second year's work in the new building ; that the Library is more and more ap- preciated is evident from the increased circulation, and the greater number of persons who are using the reading rooms and reference books.
The circulation of books for home reading during the year, amounted to 49,336 volumes, a gain of 4,926 over last year. Of these, 30,119 were fiction, and 19,217 non-fic- tion ; in the latter class are all books not strictly " stories ". The largest daily circulation was 396, and the smallest 36.
Volumes Added.
The total number of additions were 812 exclusive of State documents and reports. Many valuable works of reference have been added; among them may be mentioned Sargent's Silva of North America, in 14 volumes ; Histo- rian's History of the World, 25 volumes. Lamb's Bio- graphical dictionary of the U. S., 7 volumes; Library of Literary Criticism of English and American Authors, 8 volumes ; International Library of Famous Literature, 20 volumes ; The World's Best Poetry, 10 volumes; Cyclo- pedia of Applied Electricity, 5 volumes ; Century Diction- ary of Music, 20 volumes, and the Audubon books, 7 vol- umes, which were purchased from the Peirce estate. Twenty-one volumes are worn out and have been discarded ;
81
as far as possible they will be replaced. The Library now numbers 13,591 volumes counting the public documents.
Binding.
There have been rebound 318 books, and the leading magazines of 1903 and '04. At present, 150 volumes and magazines are at the bindery.
Registration.
The total number of town residents enrolled as borrowers of the Library, from the opening of the new building to date is 1,949. Of these 410 have drawn cards this year. Nearly all of the teachers have special cards, with which they can take as many books as they wish for school work.
Reading Room.
This department still continues the Sunday opening from 2 until 7 P. M. There are about 80 magazines, leading daily and weekly newspapers, 7 religious weeklies which came to us as gifts. Several new periodicals will be added the coming year.
Young People's Room.
Almost in the light of an experiment for our library, it has grown to be a great success ; Saturdays, particularly, it is hardly large enough to accommodate all who wish to read or select books. 18,540 volumes have been drawn on cards from this room alone ; 11,374 fiction, and 7,166 non-fiction. The addition of new books the coming year will necessitate moving some of the older volumes into the main stack room.
A pleasant feature of many up-to-date libraries is the talks and story telling given to the children for an hour Saturday afternoon ; these are almost always given by vol- unteer friends, and have proved to be most attractive. I am sure there are many young women in our town who could do this in a charming manner. The Library manage-
82
ment would be glad to receive any suggestions in regard to the matter. Any suggestion toward a wider scope of use- fulness will always be welcomed. The Library aims to offer a steady, attractive influence towards reading, and toward the worth while in books. It should have some of the critical faculty of the book reviewer in its selection and recommendation of books, some of the business advertising methods in making its findings known to its readers, and much of the sympathy of a friend in directing the attention of the needy person to the right lines of reading.
Gifts.
U. S. Life-Saving Reports. E. T. Jenks.
Medford, Past and Present. . George Brayton.
History of Turner, Me. H. S. Sylvester.
Genealogical Advertiser and N. E. Register, 5 vol. Joseph E. Beals.
Southworth Genealogy. W. H. Southworth.
Reports from Smithsonian Institute, &c. John Murdoch. Nine vols. Vital Records from the Secretary of State.
I would thank all who have in any way contributed toward the success of the Library.
Respectfully submitted,
ADELAIDE K. THATCHER.
Jan. 1, 1906.
REPORT OF THE TREASURER.
GENERAL EXPENSE ACCOUNT.
$57 92
Received "dog licenses"
1,119 86 166 85
interests on deposits
.
.
4 69
Enoch Pratt fund
400 00
town appropriation
200 00
fines, etc., at library
36 50
old furniture sold
2 50
H. C. Beals fund
52 00
·
$2,040.32
On hand January 1, 1905
"other licenses" ·
.
83
Paid Librarian
·
.
$450 00
assistants
371 10
janitor
424 50
for coal .
370 24
lighting bill
280 41
telephone
17 61
express bills
6 50
insurance
50 70
work on lot and lawn
15 90
repairs, supplies, stationery, printing, etc.
53 36
$2,040 32
Balance
$0,000 00 ·
PEIRCE BOOK FUND.
On hand January 1, 1905
$52 07
April 1. Received from Peirce Trustees .
958 37
for book sold
1 00
October 3. Received from Peirce Trustees
1,003.85
$2,015 29
Paid for books
$1,483 63
papers and magazines
211 16
binding and rebinding
177 75
art club
10 00
express
6 95
engravings
3 00
Library of Congress cards
25 00
$1,917 49
Balance January 1, 1906
Respectfully submitted,
JOSEPH E. BEALS,
Secretary and Treasurer.
.
$97 80
·
.
84
BOARD OF TRUSTEES, 1905-1906.
David G. Pratt
Term expires 1906
Kenelm Winslow
.
.
66
66
1906
George Brayton
66
66 1907
Edward S. Hathaway
.
.
66
66
1907
Andrew M. Wood
66
66
1907
Calvin D. Kingman, President
66
66
1908
W. H. Southworth
66
1908
Nathan Washburn
66
1908
66
1906
Joseph E. Beals, Secretary
.
.
.
.
ANNUAL REPORT
OF THE
SCHOOL COMMITTEE
OF THE
TOWN OF MIDDLEBOROUGH, MASS.,
FOR 1905.
LEE
C
OUTH AR
NTY, M
T
PLYMOUT
ASS
H
*
INCORPORAT
MIDDLEBORO, MASS .: MIDDLEBORO GAZETTE OFFICE. 1906.
2
TOWN OF MIDDLEBORO.
IN SCHOOL COMMITTEE.
Feb. 1, 1906.
Voled: That the reports of the Superintendent of Schools, Principal of the High School, Supervisors of Music and Drawing, be adopted and presented to the town by the School Board.
CHARLES H. BATES,
Secretary.
3
SCHOOL COMMITTEE.
Organization, 1905-1906.
REV. W. C. LITCHFIELD, Chairman.
CHARLES H. BATES, Secretary.
Members.
WILLIAM A. ANDREWS, 57 So. Main Street, Term expires 1906 NATHAN WASHBURN, 70 So. Main Street, Term expires 1906 E. T. P. JENKS, 26 North Main Street, Term expires 1907 CHARLES S. TINKHAM, Pleasant Street, Term expires 1907 REV. W. C. LITCHFIELD, 1 Southwick Street, Term expires 1908 WARREN H. SOUTHWORTH, 7 West Street, Term expires 1908
Superintendent of Schools. CHARLES H. BATES, 103 So. Main Street. Telephone, 46-5. Office, Room 7 Town Hall. Telephone, 45-6.
Office Hours, school days : Mondays and Fridays, 4 to 5 P. M. ; Tuesdays and Thursdays, 8 to 9 A. M. ; Wednesdays, 6.30 to 7.30 P. M.
Regular meetings of the Committee are held in Room 7 Town Hall, on the first Thursday of each month, at 8.00 r. M.
All bills against the school Department should be sent to the Secretary's office not later than the Wednesday preceding the first Thursday of each month.
4
Sub-Committees.
High, Union Street and West Side Schools, W. H. SOUTHWORTH Forest Street, Rock, South Middleboro and Highland Schools, REV. W. C. LITCHFIELD
School Street, Fall Brook, Wappanucket and Marion Road Schools, NATHAN WASHBURN Waterville, Green and Thomastown Schools, WILLIAM A. ANDREWS Pleasant Street, Plymouth Street and Purchade Schools,
CHARLES S. TINKHAM Nemasket, Thompsonville and Soule Schools, E. T. P. JENKS
5
REPORT OF THE SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS.
TWENTY-FIRST IN THE SERIES.
MIDDLEBORO, MASS., Jan. 13, 1906. To the School Committee of Middleboro :
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