USA > Massachusetts > Plymouth County > Middleborough > Town annual report of Middleborough, Massachusetts 1924 > Part 5
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H. J. GOODALE
Town Manager and Superintendent
73
WATER DEPARTMENT
Operating Account
Construction Mains and Service
$3,589.60
Clerk
1,050.00
Meters New and Repaired
2,273.48
Maintenance Mains and Services
4,675.84
Light
29.06
Telephone
112.99
Miscellaneous
1,173.72
PUMPING STATION
Salaries
3,910.33
Power
5,551.31
Oil
1.00
Miscellaneous
910.41
$23,277.74
Water Department
Appropriation
$24,955.00
Paid Interest
$2,257.00
Bonds & Interest
5,807.00
Paid Bonds
3,500.00
Expense
23,277. 74
Balance
1,727.26
$30,762.00
$30,762.00
Total Receipts
28,800.34
SUMMARY OF STATISTICS FOR THE YEAR ENDING DEC. 31, 1924
Population by Census of 1920, 8,453. Date of construc- tion 1885 .. By whom owned-Town of Middleboro. Source of supply-Well south of village near Nemasket River. Mode of supply-Pumped direct overflow to standpipe.
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PUMPING STATISTICS
1. Builders of Pumping Machinery, two Goulds Electrically Driven Centrifugal main units, 1 Gould driven by Moore Steam Turbine, and 1 De Laval complete turbine and pump-auxiliary units.
2. Description of fuel used :
(a) Electric Power of Main Units
(b) Bituminous coal for auxiliary units.
(c) Price per K. W. H. . 025
(d) Average price of coal per gross ton, de- livered 9.80
K. W. H. Consumed for the year 184,263
3. Coal consumed for the year 78,913
4. Total pumpage for the year, passed through meter 131,610,000*
5. Average Static head against which pumps work in feet 295
6. Average dynamic head against which pumps work in feet 300
7. Number of gallons pumped per K. W. H. Main pump only 688.76
8. Duty equals gallons pumped (41 x 8.34 lbs.) x 100 x dynamic head (6) divided by total K. W.
H. Consumed 172,327,700
9. Cost of pumping figured on Pumping Station expenses $10,373.05
10. Per million gallons pumped 78.81
0.227
11. Per million gallons raised one foot dynamic *Of total amount 4,697,000 gallons were pumped by steam
STATISTICS OF CONSUMPTION OF WATER
1. Total population 1920 Census 8,453
2. Estimated population on lines of pipe 5,340
3. Estimated population supplied 5,250
4. Total Consumption for the year 131,610,000
75
5. Passed through meters, gallons 110,131,537 .84
6. Percentage of consumption metered
7. Average daily consumption 360,575
8. Gallons per day to each inhabitant
6,734
9. Gallons per day to each consumer 6,868
282
11. Cost of supplying water per million gallons, figured on total maintenance $149.59
Total cost of supplying water, per million gallons figured on total maintenance plus interest on bonds, and bonds. $193.33
STATISTICS RELATING TO DISTRIBUTION
SYSTEMS
Mains
1. Kind of pipe-cast iron, wrought iron.
2. Sizes 1 inch to 16 inches.
3. Extended during year feet
404
4. Total now in use, miles
21.30
5. Length of pipe less 4 in., in diameter
.166
6. Number of hydrants in use
154
7. Number of stop gates smaller than 4 in.
1
8. Number of blow offs
10
9. Range of pressure on mains 84-120
Services
10. Kind of pipe-wrought iron, cement lined, cast iron.
11. Sizes-1/2 inch to 6 inches
12. Extended
1068.6
13. Total now in use, miles
13.98
14. Number of service taps added
18
15. Number now in use 1,255
16. Average length of service 55.18
17. Number of meters added 21
-
12.
10. Gallons per day to each tap
76
18. Number now in use
1,276
19. Percent of services metered
99
20. Percent of receipts from metered water 96
21. Number of motors . 4
0
TOTAL LENGTH OF MAIN PIPE
16 in. 12 in. 10 in. 9,362.0 7,403.5 71,743.2
8 in.
6 in.
2 in.
1 1/2 in. 1 in. 40.9
4.6
Total 112,487.0
Total length of miles
21.30
Number of hydrants added-2 total
154
Number of gates added-0 total
240
Number of blow offs-1 total
10
Service connections made, 18 total
1,333
Number of services now taking water
1,280
Feet of service pipe put in during the year
1,450
Feet of service pipe within street lines
31,245
Motors in use
0
Meters set during the year
22
Meters now in use
1,276
Meters
5/g-in.
34-lıi.
13-in.
1-in.
112-in. 2-in.
3-in.
Crown
1
1
1
Nash
72
7
1
3
2
Empire
7
2
1
3
Hersey
104
1
5
2
1
Trident
223
3
1
1
Union
2
King
14
Worthington
174
Keystone
27
1
American
366
3
Watch Dog
13
Gem
1
Lambert
229
Neptune
2
1
1
1,234
13
9
13
1
4
2
Total
1,276
4 in. 14,615.2 832.7
400 8,084.9
PUMPING STATION RECORD, 1924
Main Pump Time Pumping
Coal used, Pounds
Filter Supply Time Pumping
Month
Electric
Steam
Daily
Average
Gallons
Pumped
Daily
Average
K. W. H.
Daily
Power
Station
Electric
Steam
Daily A
Average
K. W. H.
Filter
Pump
Daily
Average
January
217-48
7-1
12,937,000
417,322
18,599
600
1,400
4,868
365-10
11-47
3,480
112.2
February
200-53
6-56
11,821,000
407,620
17,059
588.2
5,016
330-
11-23
3,178
109.5
March
174-30
54-35
7-23
12,146,000
391,806
14,797
477.3
22,525
3,052
271-
52-45
10-27
2,619
84.5
April
193-15
6-26
11,365,000
378,833
16,507
533.5
2,448
295-42
9-51
2,863
95.4
May
182-20
5-53
10,607,000
342,180
15,459
498.7
882
279-20
9-1
2,670
86.1
June
178-7
5-50
10,409,000
346,966
15,165
505.5
284-10
9-28
2,702
90.1
July
201-12
6-29
11,638,000
375,409
16,924
545.9
235-35
10-30
3,147
101.5
August
138-49
81-20
7-6
10,792,000
348,129
11,674
376.6
26,914
328-37
3-5
10-42
2,979
96.1
September
176.2
5-52
10,026,000
334,200
14,627
487.6
600
305-10
10-10
2,707
90.2
October
169-40
5-28
9,804,000
316,258
14,340
462.6
2,458
296-10
9-33
2,614
84.3
November
162-15
5-21
9.421,000
314,033
13,659
455.
3,679
289-
9-38
2,559
85.3
December
183-30
5-55
10,644,000
343,355
15,453
498.5
5,071
308-40
9-57
2,847
92.2
Total
2168-21
135-55
131,610,000
184,263
50,839
28,074
3,678-34
55-50
34,365
94-
Daily Average for Year
6-18
359,590
503.4
10-12
77
Greatest Number of gallons pumped in 1 day, 538,000, Jan. 28, 1924. Least number of gallons pumped in one day, 198,000, Nov. 2, 1924. Of the Total Pumpage, 4,697,000 gallons were pumped by steam.
hr .- min.
hr .- min.
hr .- min. hr .- min.
Main Pump
Average
Heater
78
RAIN FALL AND TEMPERATURE RECORD 1924
Temperature Degrees Precipitation
Month
Highest
Lowest
Mean
Rain and
Melted Snow
Inches
Snow
Inches
January
58
-3
29.3
4.37
51/2
February
45
0
24.4
3.52
75/8
March
58
16
34
3.81
1034
April
69
23
44.5
5.61
134
May
72
32
53.3
2.02
June
95
31
56.3
2.11
July
92
45
68.9
1.12
August
91
43
67.3
7.14
September
87
31
58.9
3.26
October
73
15
49.5
.13
November
71
9
40.7
1.46
3/8
December
62
- 2
27.8
2.04
3/4
Totals
36.59
263/4
79
OVERSEERS OF THE POOR
In reviewing the work of the past year, we find no great change in the general conditions from those existing for several years. On the Farm we had to contend with the dry season, which in a measure, reduced the yield of our crops. We have devoted special effort to obtaining boarders for the Home, and through the efficient management of our Matron, we are able to make a very satisfactory showing, as may be seen by reference to the financial report. While we have not, as last year, kept a record of the farm produce used in the Home, it is evident that with a family of 33, the amount used must have been quite large.
Owing to the depressed business conditions, there have been an unusual number of calls for help.
In closing we wish to thank the Charitable Societies of the Town, and the District Nurse for their co-operation in our work.
WILLIAM M. HASKINS, ADELAIDE K. THATCHER, CHARLES S. CUMMINGS.
80
ANNUAL TOWN MEETING, JAN. 21, 1924
The meeting called to order at 11 o'clock a. m. by the Moderator.
The warrant was read by the Town Clerk. Voted; That the polls be closed at 8 o'clock p. m.
The following election officers were appointed and duly sworn to the faithful performance of their duties.
Henry W. Sears
Walter L. Beals
Kenneth B. Keedwell
Luke F. Kelley
Richard E. Cobb
E. Kimball Harrison
Marian B. Drake
Mabel B. Sears
The polls were promptly opened at 11.30 o'clock A. M. and the following was the result of the balloting;
MODERATOR FOR ONE YEAR
Fletcher Clark Jr. had seven hundred ninety four (794). Luke Kelley had one (1) Mrs. Adelia Richards had one (1)
Blanks, one hundred ninety five (195)
TOWN TREASURER AND COLLECTOR OF TAXES
William W. Brackett had eight hundred thirty four (834) Blanks one hundred fifty seven (157)
81
SELECTMAN FOR THREE YEARS
Frederick G. Maddigan had three hundred sixty seven, (367). Alton G. Pratt had six hundred seventy six, (676). Harrison F. Shurtleff had one hundred forty five, (145). Chester E. Weston had five hundred fifty seven, (557). Blanks two hundred thirty seven (237).
SCHOOL COMMITTEE FOR THREE YEARS
George W. Stetson had eight hundred six, (806). Lorenzo Wood had seven hundred ninety, (790). Blanks, three hundred eighty six, (386).
Shall license be granted for the sale of certain non-intoxi- cating beverages in this town;
Yes; two hundred seventy two, (272). No; five hundred sixty five, (565). Blanks, one hundred fifty four, (154).
ADJOURNED TOWN MEETING, FEB. 11, 1924.
Meeting opened at 7.30 P. M.
Article 15. To see if the town will vote to amend its vote as passed under Article No. 1 in a warrant for a special town meeting, duly called and held on April 23, 1923, said Article being "Article No. 1-To see if the town will vote to build and furnish a new High School building in the town, appropri- ate and raise money for the same by loan or otherwise, and act thereon."
So that the entire vote as amended may read as follows;
"Moved that the Town build upon the North Main Street Lot, a High School Building, at an expense not to exceed $190,000, in substantial accordance with the plans submitted by the architect Edward I. Wilson, and reported at this meet-
82
ing by the committee and that the Town raise and appropriate the sum of $190,000, therefor, and for the purpose of building a High School Buliding as provided in this motion, under Article I of this warrant the sum $2,000, is to be raised and in- cluded in the current tax levy for the year 1924, and the treas- urer, with the approval of the Selectmen be and he hereby is authorized and empowered to borrow the sum of $188,000 and to issue bonds or notes of the Town therefor, said bonds or notes to be payable in accordance with the provisions of Sec- tion 19 of Chapter 44 of the General Laws of the Common- wealth, so that the whole loan shall be paid in not more than twenty years from the date of the issue of the first bond or note, or at such earlier date as the Treasurer and Selectmen may determine."
The first of such payments shall be made not later than one year from the date of the first bond or note issued therefor.
Moved that check list be used.
499 votes cast Yes 332 No 167
Moved; That the moderator appoint a committee of ten mėn, none of whom shall be officers of the town, who with the board of Selectmen shall make a careful and exhaustive exami- nation of the various needs of the town, including a school building, that will arise within the next 5 years requiring un- usual expenditures of money and shall report to the town at the adjournment of this meeting or as soon there after as possi- ble, for what purpose and in what amounts the town can most wisely expend the sum of $200,000, which amount re- presents practically the borrowing capacity of the town. Not voted.
Moved; That the selectmen be directed to enter into negotiations with the owners of the land at the S. W. corner of High and Station Streets, to purchase as much of said land as in their judgment is necessary for the erection of a fire engine house, for practice grounds and for police headquarters and they are authorized to offer them the Maximum amount allowed by law, viz; the average assessed value for the last three years plus 25 per cent and report to the town at the ad- journed meeting February 18th. Not voted.
83
Adjourned Town meeting Feb. 18, 1924. Meeting called to order by moderator Clark at 7.30 p. m.
Article 3; Voted ;- To raise such sums of money by tax or otherwise as may be necessary to defray the expenses of the town for the current year, appropriate the same and to act anything in relation to the assessment and collection of taxes for the year.
Article 5; Moved that a committee of three be nominated and elected at this meeting to make so far as possible an un- biased report for the consideration of the voters on the merits, financial and otherwise, of the old and new system of town government. No official of the town head of departments, or employee of the town shall be elected to serve on this com- mittee. The members of this committee shall have placed before them the financial accounts, book or books of records, contracts or other papers desired by them of every depart- ment of the town, for the three years previous to the change from the old to the new system of town government, also all financial accounts, book of books of records, contracts or other papers desired by them of every department of the town, from the time the town management system was adopted to the time when they will make their reports to a special town meeting, called for the purpose of receiving their report. If they shall consider it advisable, they may before making their report to the special meeting have it published in the Middleborough Gazette, and have it printed and distributed to every voter. The expense of printing and placing this report in the possess- ion of the voters, shall be paid by the town.
Amended by Mr. Thomas, that no employee or officer of the Town for the last six years be elected to that committee.
Article 4; Voted: To authorize the Town Treasurer with the approval of the Selectmen or a majority thereof to borrow during the municipal year beginning January 1st, 1924, in anticipation of the revenue of said year, such sums of money as may be necessary for the current expenses of the town but not exceeding the total tax levy of the preceding financial year, as provided in Section 3, Chapter 719. General Acts 1913,
84
and amendments thereto, giving the notes of the town therefor payable within one year from date thereof, all debts incurred under authority of this vote to be paid from the revenue of the present municipal year.
Article 6; Voted :- To accept Shaw Avenue as laid out by the Selectmen as a Town way.
Article 19; Voted :- That the committee be given further time on by-laws and directed to report at an adjournment of this meeting or some future meeting.
Article 11; Voted :- Not to employ a Town Engineer.
Article 13; Voted :- To appropriate fifteen thousand dollars ($15,000) to be spent under the direction of the Select- men, providing the State or the State and County will appro- priate an equal sum for resurfacing on Plympton Street, from the Green to Eddyville.
Article 22; Voted :- That further consideration be given until the next meeting on gas extensions.
Article 17; Voted :- That the town appropriate the sum of twelve hundred dollars ($1,200.00) for repairs and improve- ments at the High School building.
Moved :- That when we do adjourn that we adjourn to March 3, 7.30 P. M.
Adjourned at 9.40 P. M.
WILLIAM W. BRACKETT, Town Clerk
SPECIAL TOWN MEETING MARCH 1, 1924
Article 1; To see if the Town will vote to amend its vote as passed under Article 1, in a warrant for a special Town meet- ing, duly called and held on April 23, 1923, such Article 1 being.
"To see if the Town will vote to build and furnish a new High School building in the Town, appropriate and raise money for the same by loan of otherwise and act thereon". So that the entire vote as amended may read as follows.
"Moved that the Town build on the North Main Street lot; a High School building at an expense not to exceed one hundred and ninety thousand dollars, ($190,000) in substantial accord-
85
ance with the plans submitted by the architect Edward I. Wil- son and reported at this meeting by the committee and that the Town raise and appropriate the sum of one hundred ninety thousand dollars ($190,000) therefor. And for the purpose of building a High School building as provided in this motion under Article 1 of this warrant, the sum of five thousand seven hundred seventy nine dollars ($5,779) is to be raised and in- cluded in the current tax levy for the year 1924, and the Treas- urer with the approval of the Selectmen be and hereby is authorized and empowered to borrow the sum of one hundred eighty thousand dollars ($180,000) and to issue bonds of notes of the town therefor, said bonds of notes to be payable in ac- cordance with the provisions of Section 19, of Chapter 44 of the General Laws of the Commonwealth, so that the whole loan shall be paid in not more than twenty years from the date of the issue of the first bond or note or at such earlier date as the Treasurer and Selectmen may determine."
The first of such payments shall be made not later than one year from the date of the first bond or note issued therefor.
Moved; That the meeting proceed to vote upon this motion in the following manner viz: By using printed ballots provided for the purpose in accordance with the so called Australian method upon which the question before the meet- ing is printed together with the words "Yes and No" opposite each of which is a space in which to mark a cross in the same manner as provided in voting for State and Town Officers and questions submitted to the voters at elections.
Persons desiring to vote for the amendment to mark a cross in the space opposite the word "yes". Persons desiring to vote "no" to mark a cross on the space opposite the word "no." And that the check list be used.
Votes cast
1,358
Yes
506
No
851
Blanks
1
Adjourned at 8.40 P. M.
WILLIAM W. BRACKETT, Town Clerk.
86
ADJOURNED TOWN MEETING MARCH 3, 1924 7.30 P. M.
Voted that when we adjourn that it be to March 29.
Article 5; Moved; that the Selectmen be added to the Committee on fire department accommodations and that the committee thus constituted be requested to procure sketches of a proposed fire station suitable in their judgment for the needs of the town, together with estimates of the probable cost of the same, and to report at the adjournment of this meeting. Voted.
Moved; that a committee of five be appointed by the moderator to consider the matter of school accommodations and report at the adjournment of this meeting.
Amended that the Selectmen be that committee.
Amended that the school committee be added.
Voted; that the selectmen be a committee to investigate and report on the advisibility of the sale of the town farm, at a subsequent meeting.
Adjourned at 8.30 P. M.
WILLIAM W. BRACKETT, Town Clerk
ADJOURNED TOWN MEETING MARCH 29, 1924
Article 5; Voted; That if no report was made on school building the committee be discharged.
Voted; That future town meetings be on a Monday night instead of Saturday.
Voted; That a committee be appointed to report at some future meeting as to the expense involved to put the fire station in proper condition.
Committee, Howard C. Holden, Alexander Heath, and Edward H. Cromwell.
87
Article 3; Voted; $1,250. extra for the removal of snow.
Voted; The sum of $20.00 be appropriated for services of Moderator.
Article 12; Voted; The sum of $200.00 for use of the Trustees, Plymouth County Aid to Agriculture.
Article 12; Voted; The sum of $328,163.00 31/100 less estimated receipts and balances of $88,726.00 49/100 less the estimated corporation and bank tax and less the amount to be received from the State income tax and plus the State and county tax, be raised on the estimates and polls of the town and that it be assessed, committed and collected in accordance with the statutes and the by-laws of the town.
Adjourned at 8.55 P. M.
WARRANT FOR A SPECIAL TOWN MEETING, MAY 14, 1924
Plymouth S/S
To E. Kimball Harrison, or either of the Constables of the Town of Middleborough.
Greeting :
In the name of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts you are hereby required to notify and warn all the inhabitants of the town qualified to vote in town affairs, to meet at the town hall of said town Wednesday, May 28, 1924, at seven thirty P. M. to act on the following articles, viz.
Article No. 1; To see if the Town will vote to rescind its vote on Article 1 of the Special Town Meeting, held April 23, 1923, whereby it voted to appropriate one hundred and ninety thousand dollars for the purpose of building a new high school building on the North Main St. lot.
Article No. 2; To hear the report of the special com- mittee on school accommodations, appropriate money for the
88
same and act thereon.
Article No. 3; To hear the report of the special committee on accommodations for the fire department. Appropriate money for the same and act thereon.
Article No. 4; To raise and appropriate such sums of money by loan or otherwise as may be required to carry out any action taken under either of the foregoing articles.
Article No. 5; To see if the town will authorize Selectmen to petition the County Commissioners to lay out widen, or relocate Plympton Street from the junction of Plymouth and Plympton Streets to the junction of Plympton and Carmel Streets.
Article No. 6; To hear the report of any committee and act thereon.
CHESTER E. WESTON THEODORE N. WOOD LYMAN P. THOMAS ERNEST L. MAXIM
Selectmen of Middleborough.
Plymouth S. S.
Pursuant to the instructions contained in the above war- rant I have notified and warned the inhabitants of the town of Middleborough qualified to vote as expressed in said warrant to meet at the time and place and for the purpose specified by causing an attested copy of the same to be published in the Middleborough Gazette on the 16th day of May, 1924, that day being more than seven days before the time hereby speci- fied for said meeting.
E. KIMBALL HARRISON,
Constable.
89
SPECIAL TOWN MEETING MAY 28, 1924
REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON SCHOOL ACCOMMODATIONS
By vote of the town on March 3, the selectmen and school board were appointed a committee to investigate the matter of school accommodations. Upon taking up its duties the com- mittee felt that in view of the attention already given to the matter by successive committees in the past few years it ought to attack the problem in a somewhat fundamental manner, and to take advice from the highest possible sources. It was accordingly decided to consult the firm of Kilham, Hopkins & Greeley, architects of Boston and New York, who have had a very wide experience in surveys of educational needs and the planning of school accommodations; and in order to check the results obtained, Mr. Charles G. Loring of Boston, a man also of broad training in similar lines was also retained. Mr. Greeley of the first named firm, and Mr. Loring, came to Middleboro separately and made careful surveys of the local educational system, each rendering an independent report based on their own findings. When the two reports were opened and read at the same meeting by the committee, they were found to be in agreement in every important particular. Mr. Greeley's report which was more comprehensive than the other, was adopted as a basis for discussion, and a subsequent conference was held with Mr. Greeley, in which some of its phases were taken up in detail.
After considerable deliberation the committee has adopted as its own recommendations, substantially those of the Greeley report. In those deliberations much thought and discussion were given to the proposal to increase accommodations by building an addition to the present High school building. This plan was rejected for the following reasons:
1. It is not architecturally sound. Modern school build- ing construction, which utilizes practically all interior space, could not be added to the present building so as to present a sightly appearance.
90
2. If an addition similar in architecture were built, the space which would necessarily be unused both in basement and attic would make the cost per pupil of such accommoda- tions, altogether too high.
3. If any addition whatever were built, the whole building both the old and new portion would fall under the present requirements of the department of public safety, which would involve an extra outlay of at least $25,000.
It may be stated that both this estimate of the excess out- lay and the general proposition that it is not feasible to add new construction to the present high school building are con- curred in by Mr. Greeley, Mr. Loring, two other competent architects experienced in school construction, and the head of the state department of public safety.
As a basis for its recommendations, your committee has taken the probable requirements on Sept. 1, 1926. The num- ber of pupils in each grade on that date has been figured and space for them, plus reasonable allowances allotted.
The accommodations thus required are as follows:
At the West Side School, 6 rooms.
At Forest Street school, 3 rooms.
At Union Street school, 3 rooms.
At School Street school, 8 rooms.
Other accommodations for grades up to and including grade 6, 8 rooms.
For grades 7-12 which includes the present High school grades, accommodations for approximately 650 pupils.
To meet these requirements at West Side the present accommodations are sufficient.
For providing the others we recommend that the portable building now at School street be removed to Forest street, that the rear room on the first floor of the Union Street building be enlarged to standard size, that the present High school building be remodeled in order to fit it for occupancy by grade schools, and that a new building capable of housing grades 7-12 be
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