USA > Massachusetts > Plymouth County > Middleborough > Town annual report of Middleborough, Massachusetts 1923 > Part 8
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Town Hall Agent, E. Kimball Harrison
Forest Warden, Harry J. Goodale
Trustees of the Public Library,
Walter L. Beals Walter Sampson Nathan Washburn
Town Counsel, Nathan Washburn
Police, Special
Arthur S. Hall
Warren E. Jefferson Elmer F. Gay William Chamberlain
Paul F. Anderson
A. Tremaine Smith Samuel Hathaway Isaac S. Maxwell S. Edward Matthews James J. Vigers Ralph Sampson Louis C. Littlejohn Jesse C. Wilbur E. Kimball Harrison
126
James E. Keegan
Harry A. Moore Keeper of Lockup, Alden C. Sisson Patrolman, Thomas L. Pittsley
127
REPORT OF THE INSPECTION OF MILK
To the Board of Selectmen :
Gentlemen :
I herewith submit my annual report as Inspector of Milk for the year ending Dec. 31, 1923.
After careful investigation of reports that dealers were selling cows in Middleboro that had not been tested with tuberculine, I am convinced that producers are complying with section three of the Milk Regulations of the Depart- ment of Health, and are insisting that a certificate stating that the cow had been tested and found to be free from tuberculosis, before they consent to purchase.
There were three collections of samples of milk during. the summer, and analysis of those samples demonstrated that eighty percent was good wholesome milk, and that twenty percent was below the standard required by the laws of the Commonwealth. The dealers who were furnish- ing milk below standard were notified and requested to sub- mit samples of milk from each of their cows, and analysis of these samples indicates what cows were giving the poor milk. One producer had five cows out of twelve giving milk so low in butter fat that the milk could not legally be sold in the Commonwealth.
Sixty dairies were inspected during the past year. Forty were in condition to score 60 points out of 100. The first inspection 10 required two inspections, and five re- quired three inspections.
There were sixty-six licenses and 23 producers' per- mits issued in 1923.
Respectfully submitted,
J. H. WHEELER,
Inspector of Milk.
128
REPORT OF THE INSPECTION OF SLAUGHTERING
To the Board of Selectmen :
Gentlemen :
I hereby submit my annual report as Inspector of Slaughtering for the year ending Dec. 31, 1923.
Owing to trouble between the holder of the Slaughter- ing license (the Board of Health voted to grant one only) and the owner of the slaughter house, no slaughtering was done in Middleboro, except a few hogs which were killed on the premises of the people who raised them.
There were eleven hogs and one veal killed in Middle- boro in 1923.
Respectfully submitted, J. H. WHEELER, Inspector of Slaughtering.
129
REPORT OF THE MOTH DEPARTMENT
It gives me pleasure to report that the Moth Depart- ment for 1923 accomplished a large amount of work economically and efficiently.
In the early spring, before the leaves had advanced to a size large enough to spray, th crew cleared and destroyed a great deal of wild cherry brush along the roadside, upon which the tent caterpillar lives through the winter in the egg stage. The destroying of the brush also destroyed the egg clusters, thus helping to control this pest. The ques- tion has been asked as to why we can not more effectively combat this caterpillar, and the reason is that we have relied upon the one spraying to take care of both the tent caterpillar and gypsy moth. We have found this one spray- ing to be impractical because the tent caterpillar hatches out and starts feeding very early in the spring, and should be sprayed at that time, while the gypsy moth spraying should be done later. A spring campaign of creosoting for the tent caterpillar has been planned, which, I expect will show a marked improvement.
The spraying for the gypsy and brown tail moths is more important than that for the tent caterpillar, and must be done when the pupa or caterpillar is not too far advanced. If the spray is used too late, the poison, Arsenate of Lead apparently has no effect except possibly as a stimulant, therefore, all of the available equipment, consisting of two 4 H. P. sprayers mounted on trucks and one 10 H. P. horse drawn sprayer, were brought into use to cover the two hun- drer miles of Town roadway before the pupa was too large. During the spraying season it was noticed that there was. a marked decrease in the number of parasites seen. Prob- ably these parasites have moved on to more heavily in -..
130
fested areas, and if this is true we will get little or no . help from them. The gypsy moth lives through the win- ter or dormant stage in the egg. We destroy these by painting with creosote and during this work we have found no heavily infested areas, although they were fairly numer- ous on trees we could not spray during the spring, because of their close proximity to houses, gardens, pastures or hay lands. Approximately every oak, elm and maple tree on the highways had at least one egg mass, from 200 to 400 indi- vidual eggs. This great number of eggs in one mass will easily explain the importance of creosoting. It was also noticed that because of the extremely dry summer, a large amount of the egg masses were close to, or on the ground, making the work more difficult than usual.
During the spring creosoting of private property a large number of brown tail moth nests were found, but not nearly as many as in previous years. These nests are quite difficult to get because they are usually found on the tops of the trees where the pests bind a few leaves to the branch and live through the winter in the pupa stage.
The elm tree beetle was present, but not to any great extent, being controlled by the Arsenate of Lead spray in the spring.
Having all tools and equipment in first class condi- tion, also a crew of experienced and capable men, we were able to do considerable private spraying of orchards and cranberry bogs. The books show actual work done on 130 private jobs. We are planning to be able to handle even more work than this in the spring. We furnish the Arsenate of Lead and charge the work at actual cost. Other poisons and insecticides can be used if furnished by the owner. Besides this spraying we are in a position to cor- rectly prune orchards and do cavity work of shade trees. The department is at all times willing to give advice as to the proper care of fruit or shade trees.
In conclusion, I hope that the tax payers of the Town
131
of Middleboro will feel free to call upon us for any of this kind of work.
Respectfully submitted, JESSE CARPENTER, JR., Local Moth Superintendent.
132
MIDDLEBOROUGH PUBLIC LIBRARY LIBRARIAN'S REPORT
To the President and Board of Trustees of the Middle- borough Library :
Gentlemen :
I have the honor to submit a report of the Middleboro Public Library for the year ending December 31, 1923.
Following the form adopted by the American Library Association, all statistics are presented in tabulated form. ,It seems advisable, however, to give a brief resume of those phases of library activity which cannot be pigeon- holed.
As a glance at the statistical tables will show, the day when libraries served merely as storehouses for books has long since passed. Aside from reading for pleasure, people are reading for definite technical instruction. There is an ever-increasing number of requests for material on metal- work, engineering, carpentry, textiles, dairying, apple-grow- ing and poultry raising. Not only townspeople, but those in other states have availed themselves of the resources of the Library. This is especially true in regard to gene- alogical questions, the Library having received requests from Maryland, Nebraska, New York and New Jersey.
The schools are a very potent factor in the growing use of the Library. Depository collections of pictures and maps as well as books are available for classroom use. The Forest St. school has deposits of books for over-night use at home. Classes from this school have made several visits to the Library where they were shown books and given brief talks on the care of books and on "Library manners."
During the year the various members of the staff have
133
attended district library meetings and round table discus- sions. In June, Mrs. Mertie E. Witbeck was granted six weeks leave of absence in order to attend the Summer Ses- sion of the School of Library Science, Simmons College. where she took courses in classification and cataloging.
In June, the by-laws limiting the number of books to two per person were suspended, and adult borrowers given the privilege of drawing an unlimited number of books with the exception of recent fiction.
Through the courtesy of the Massachusetts Library Commission the local Library has received travelling libraries of books in Armenia, Greek, Italian, Polish and Portuguese. There has been a gratifying response on the part of the non-English speaking townspeople in the use of these collections. By means of the system of Inter-library loans, the Library has been able to borrow from Taunton, Boston and Brockton, a number of books for special ref- erence use.
Chief among the gifts which have been presented dur- ing the past year, are a grandfather clock and five paintings from Mrs. H. Tracy Hanks; a set of "Art of the World as shown at the Columbian Exposition" from Mr. E. H. Ruhl; and a set of the first seven volumes of the "Nemasket Ga- zette" from Master John J. Wood. Mrs. H. LeBaron Samp- son very kindly presented a palm for the decoration of the lobby.
Among the purchases of the year may be mentioned the 1922 edition of the New International Encyclopedia in twenty-four volumes, and an eight volume history of the World War, compiled for the American Legion from offi- cial documents of the participating countries.
In July the Library received a long needed cleaning by a group of workers from a Boston cleaning firm. The task was one of no mean proportions and the cost was by no means slight. In order that the excellent work done by the cleaning firm might not be in vain, a woman has been engaged for one-half day each week to aid in keeping the
134
building in a clean and inviting condition.
Miss Laura Dean of East Middleboro has kindly con- tinued her volunteer services in distributing the depository collections sent her. Mr. Henry Burkland of the South Middleboro school has organized a branch library for the accommodation of people living in that vicinity, the branch being housed in the school building. Although first insti- tuted for the use of the school only, this station receives de- pository collections from the central Library and is open to the public on Thursdays, both afternoon and evening. Miss Margaret Mostrom, a pupil at the school, is in charge of the care and distribution of books and magazines.
The Librarian wishes to express her thanks to all who have contributed either in tangible fiifts or in spirit to the work of the Library, and especially to the publishers of the Middleboro Gazette for their courtesy in printing notices and items pertaining to Library matters. To the members of the Board of Trustees and to her co-workers on the staff, the Librarian acknowledges with warm appreciation the spirit of co-operation and the earnest effort which have con- tributed so largely toward the service the Library offers to the community.
Respectfully submitted,
E. LUCILE PALMER,
Librarian.
Population served (1920) 8,453
Terms of use Free for reading and reference Total number of agencies, consisting of
Central Library South Middleboro Branch
East Middleboro Depository Collection
Other agencies Number of days open Hours open each week
School Buildings 306 72
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Total number of staff-full time 4 Part time 1-page duty
Number of volumes at beginning of year, approximately
25,700
Number added by purchase
725
Number added by gift
73
Number added by binding
42
Total
26,832
Number lost or withdrawn
292
Number at end of year
26,540
Total number of volumes lent for home use
¿ : 64,709
Number by classes-
:
General
3,619 ;
Philosophy
256
Religion
144
Sociology
309
Philology
47
Science
488
Useful arts
765
Fine arts
731
Literature
1,196
History
·
607
Travel
808
Biography
641
Fiction
37,454
YF
9,766
YNF
7,704
Foreign
84
New cards issued
340
Adults
154
Children
186
.
1
REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES OF THE PUBLIC LIBRARY
The year 1923 has been an active one for the Trustees
136
of the Middleborough Public Library, more matters having been brought to their attention for action than has usually been the case.
The resignation of Miss Mary M. Eddy, who had served us so well as Librarian for eleven years, was received to take effect May first. After consultation with the State De- partment of Libraries it was considered advisable to employ a trained librarian and Miss E. Lucile Palmer of Dighton, then an assistant in the library of Adelbert College of West- ern Reserve University at Cleveland, Ohio, was engaged. As Miss Palmer could not take up her new duties until June 15th Miss Eddy very kindly consented to remain until that date.
It being necessary to increase the amount of salary paid to the librarian and also to the assistants, the Peirce Trustees agreed to make up the difference for the balance of the year. It appears, however, that the increased com- pensation given to the assistants is not as much as is paid in other libraries and, if the efficiency of the library is to be maintained, it will be necessary to make a further increase.
Many changes have been made in the rules and opera- tion of the library which, although undertaken by way of experiment, seem to be of sufficient value to warrant their adoption as permanent improvements. Among these may be mentioned the opening of branch libraries, chiefly through the schools, and the increase in the number of books that may be taken out by one person at one time. The library has also been thoroughly cleaned for the first time in several years.
More complete information may be found in the report of the Librarian.
Respectfully submitted for the Trustees,
WALTER L. BEALS, Clerk.
137
REPORT OF DOG OFFICER
To the Board of Selectmen :
Number of female dogs licensed ,
309
Number of male dogs licensed
578
Number of breeders' licenses
3
Number of kennel licenses
1
Number of dogs killed
2
Number of arrests 0
887
Respectfully submitted,
J. C. WILBUR, Dog Officer.
138
REPORT OF THE ASSESSORS
This year's work has closed with more satisfaction to us and the taxpayers than for a great many years. The land values were raised materially throughout the busi- ness district and a small per cent on all other parcels, which met with approval in most every instance.
Through the efforts of the Assessors' Association the State furnished each town and city in the Commonwealth a copy of the registration of each automobile between Janu- ary 1st and April 1st, thus enabling us to make assessments on owners of automobiles that never have been assessed before because they claimed no ownership previous to April 1st, and we had no way to prove different. With the present method, no abatements can be obtained until we are satisfied the tax is paid elsewhere. We sincerely hope the State will see fit to continue sending these blanks.
It is our purpose to meet all taxpayers more than half way, therefore, at this time we would call their attention, and especially those who own personal property, to the ne- cessity of filing a statement of their tangible personal prop- erty on or before May 15th of each year in order to claim adjustment without a penalty of 50 per cent as provided by the General Laws, Chap. 59, Section 61. These statements must be filed according to the values as of April 1st, and they may be obtaind at the office, or will be mailed upon request.
Early this year we made a request for $500 to continue our plans and blue prints, which are well underway and are used daily to good advantage, but after due considera- tion the Appropriation Committee allowed us $500 for an - Expert Appraiser to help us in equalizing the values of buildings and land. He came in August and spent a month
139
drafting plans of houses, and getting all the information possible about them, then working out the probable fair assessment that should be placed on them, and in no instance did he find our values very far out of proportion. He has made a good start and if this work could be con- tinued a little each year it would not be long before our Town would be completed and our values more equal, then the taxpayer with all improvements could not complain against his neighbor who has none. This appropriation made for an Expert Appraiser should not be made in lieu of the one for Plans and Blue Prints, as the Plans and Blue Prints are far the most valuable.
The question of transportation for the Assessors has always been a hard one to solve as no one could afford to give their autos to be used for 15 cents per mile, for the reason that some days they would not travel more than three or four miles and would make at least a dozen stops, which everyone knows, uses up a car very quickly. This year a Ford car was purchased from the appropriation and when the season work was completed, sold it, turning the money back to the Town. This method has proven more satisfactory to all and less expensive to the Town.
It is our aim to make proper assessments and not make hardships on any taxpayer, and it is our intention, with our limited facilities, the coming year to get as much data as possible, of each parcel and try to equalize the values more thoroughly.
Respectfully submitted, BENJ. C. SHAW JAMES F. GARDNER ERNEST S. PRATT
Assessors of Middleborough.
140
REPORT OF INSPECTOR OF WIRES
To the Board of Selectmen :
There have been 194 jobs inspected, and with the ex- ception of 17 were passed on first inspection. These 17 were passed after alterations to conform with rules of Na- tional Code of Underwriters.
Respectfully submitted,
J. C. WILBUR, Inspector of Wires.
141
REPORT OF SEALER OF WEIGHTS AND MEASURES
1
To the Honorable Board of Selectmen :
I herewith submit the report of the Weights and Measures Department for the year 1923. The department this year has made a very creditable showing, almost doubling the amount of work accomplished in 1922, and doubling the receipts of that year. The Town scales located at the town barn were found to be in an unsafe condition and were grossly inaccurate, hence were condemned. It would be a useless expenditure to attempt to repair this antiquated scale as it is much too small to accommodate any auto trucks. I would respectfully recommend that the Town purchase a 20-ton Auto Truck Scale, similar to those in use by over 85 per cent of the cities and towns for public weighing scales. I would also recommend that these scales be erected at 13 Forest St., and that the beam be housed from the weather.
The State standards are in excellent condition, as is the working equipment. A new standard yard measure has been asked for by the State Department to take the place of the one now in the cabinet (condemned). There have been several court cases for short measure and short weight. Warnings have been given to several not comply- ing with the law.
The growing need of a man to give his entire time for the service of the people is more apparent this year than ever before. Both dealer and purchaser need to have a square deal.
Work performed this year as follows:
There were 1310 pieces sealed; 42 pieces condemned ; 7 pieces adjusted ; 5 pieces non-sealed.
142
There were 194 reweighings; 183 found correct; 2 un- derweight and 9 overweight.
There were 846 reinspections all proving O. K.
Seven peddlers' licenses were inspected and found to be in form.
Eight peddlers' scales were inspected and found sealed.
Respectfully submitted,
LOUIS C. LITTLEJOHN,
Sealer of Weights and Measures.
143
REPORT OF TREE WARDEN
The toatl amount spent in this department this year was for labor only, as the Warden receives no salary.
Many dangerous and dead trees have been removed and a large number of dead limbs taken down to avoid danger to pedestrians.
A great deal of trimming has also been done to assist in preventing interruption to the lighting service and to increase the effectiveness of the street lights. There have been many complaints of dark and damp houses and of the injury to roofs caused by overhanging limbs. These have been eliminated so far as possible.
There are many streets on which a portion of the trees should be removed in order that those remaining may have a better chance to develop. This would improve the appearance of the streets and would not reduce the amount of shade.
Respectfully submitted,
H. J. GOODALE, Tree Warden.
144
FOREST WARDEN REPORT
A total of 48 grass and forest fires has been reported this year. Of these, 29 were set by railroad locomotives and 15 by carelessness of individuals.
All the fires this year have been small, due to the watchful eye of Mr. Matthews, the observer in the fire tower, and the faithfulness of the Deputy Wardens.
Another thing which tends to reduce the size of the forest fires is the equipping of one of the fire trucks with hand extinguishers, chemicals, brooms, shovels, etc. This truck answers all forest fire calls and when the deputies arrive at the fire they have sufficient equipment to use, which has proven of great value this year. The equipping of this truck has obviated the necessity of furnishing further equipment for the Deputy Wardens.
Respectfully submitted
H. J. GOODALE,
Forest Warden.
1
145
REPORT OF THE HEALTH OFFICER
To the Board of Selectmen,
Gentlemen :
I herewith submit my annual report as Health Officer for the year ending Dec. 31, 1923.
In February, 1922 the Health Officer began a move- ment to have the pupils in the public schools Schick tested and immunized for diphtheria. A representative of the Department of Public Health, Boston, came to Middleboro and demonstrated the Schick test on a number of pupils. to the parents of the children attending the Forest St. school, and the physician of Middleboro. At that time no Schick testing had been done in adjoining cities and towns, and parents who attended the demonstration thought the test was in the experimental stage and were loath to give their consent for the immunizing, therefore the movement was abandoned until it had been tried out in other places. Since the date mentioned, the cities of Boston, Brockton, and New Bedford have Schick tested and immunized all the pupils in the public schools, and no sickness was re- ported by parents from the tests. Owing to the many cases of Diphtheria in Middleboro this winter the school physi- cian and the Health Officer have planned to have another demonstration of the Schick test, and hope the parents of Middleboro will co-operate by giving their consent to the test.
CONTAGIOUS DISEASES
Prior to nineteen hundred and twenty-two there was so much trouble from unreported cases of contagious dis- eases that the writer decided to incorporate some plan to
146
eliminate the unreported cases among school children, and in accordance with this plan the Health Officer requested the School Committee to appoint him Attendance Officer for the public schools. Upon receiving the appointment the Health Officer attended a teachers' meeting and re- quested the teachers to notify him when a pupil had been absent for more than two days. Upon receiving the notice the Health Officer visits the home of the absent pupil to ascertain the cause of his absence. If the pupil is sick and a physician is attending the case, the Health Officer reports to the teacher the cause of the pupil's absence. If the pupil is sick and a physician has not been called, if the Health Officer suspects the pupil has a contagious disease, he requests the parents to call a physician. By this method all cases of contagious diseases contracted by children attending school are discovered and reported.
Jan. 1, 1923 there were five Middleboro patients in the Sanatoriums for tuberculosis. Two more were admitted during the year. Of this number two died, two were dis- charged as improved cases, and three are in Sanatoriums. Two children of school age have been reported as positive of tuberculosis, and three who are suspected of having the disease are under the supervision of the Health Department.
Following is a summary of contagious diseases as re- corded by the Health Department :
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7 NO Anterior Poliomyelitis 0
Chicken Pox
Diphtheria
Opthamia Neonatorum 0
Pneumonia-Lobar 0
Malaria 1
Measles 3 61
Mumps 14
Scarlet Fever 13
Septic Sore Throat 0 0
Pulmonary Tuberculosis 1 0
Typhoid Fever 0 0
1 2
March
0
11
0
0
0
0
104
15
3
0
1
0
April
0
90
9
1
0
2
55 26
26 11
10
0 1
0 2
0
June
0
3
1
0
1
0
0
0
0
September
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
October
0
6
1
0
November
0
19
9
0 0
0 0 4
0 0
0 5
21
14 7 5
0 0
-1
0 0 0
Total
7
199
28
2
5
4 264 155
70
1
5
3
73
There were no cases of the following diseases re- ported during the twelve months ending December 31, 1923 : Dysentery, epidemic cerebro-spinal meningitis, sup- purative conjunctivitis, trachoma, influenza, rabies, small pox, tetanus, venereal, encethalitis lethargica.
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