USA > Massachusetts > Plymouth County > Middleborough > Town annual report of Middleborough, Massachusetts 1925 > Part 8
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August P. Johnson, Shoeworker, Centre St.
Maurice A. Jones, Cranberry grower, Tispaquin St. Walter R. Kingman, Shoeworker, Forest St. Lewis A. Kinsman, Peddler, Soule St. Vietor Landstrom, Plumber, Wareham St. William E. LeBaron, Mechanic, Wareham St. Mason H. Leggee, Shoeworker, Lovell St.
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George D. Lee, Bookkeeper, Pearl St. George W. Leland, Florist, Cherry St. Loren M. Littlefield, Shoeworker, Wareham St. Harold A. Lovell, Salesman, School St. Frederick G. Maddigan, Salesman, Forest St. Nelson A. Manwaring, Shoeworker, Nemasket St. John J. Martin, Clerk, Webster St. Leroy E. Mawhinney, Clerk, Taunton St. Donald McFarlin, Brass Worker, So. Main St. Ulric G. Millette, Shoeworker, Arch St. Harry A. Moore, Engineer, Plymouth St. Thomas B. Nichols, Shoeworker, Rock St. Christian Nielsen, Shoeworker, Sproat St. Joseph S. Oates, Painter, Highland St. Lyman H. Osborne, Carpenter, Centre St. Edmund A. Packard, Clerk, Everett St. H. Dexter Parrish, Shoeworker, Pearl St. Leon D. Perkins, Woodworker, Shaw Ave. Henry R. Pierce, Machinist, Everett St. Leo A. Quindley, Shoeworker, Plymouth St. Horace J. Randall, Laborer, Purchase St. Earl C. Raymond, Shoeworker, Carey St. Lorenzo W. Rice, Shoeworker, Everett St. Joseph I. Roberts, Shoeworker, Wood St. Irving L. Robinson, Manager, Coombs St. Hugh J. Rogers, Shoeworker, Arch St.
Henry W. Sears, Jr., Lumber Dealer Court End Ave.
Charles L. Shaw, Farmer, Summer St. Harrie B. Shores, Shoeworker, E. Main St. Wilfred Shuman, Foreman, Webster St.
Albert F. Soule, Manager, Reland St. Henry L. Soule, Merchant, Oak St. Forrest B. Standish, Shoeworker, Pleasant St. Myles H. Standish, Farmer, Tispaquin St. Howard H. Stiles, Shoeworker, North St. Alfred B. Studley, Merchant, No. Main St. Percy L. Sutton, Salesman, Lane St. .
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Herbert S. Sylvester, Advertising, Pearl St. S. Frank Tinkham, Shoeworker, Plymouth St. Forrest E. Thomas, Insurance Agt., Everett St. Joseph B. Thomas, Wood dealer, Chestnut St. Walter C. Thomas, Grocer, Smith St. Claude H. Turkington, Farmer, Pleasant St. Francis Turner, Shoeworker, Vaughan St. Roy M. Turner, Shoeworker, Benton St. Foster T. Wade, Merchants, Barrows St. David R. Walker, Manufacturer, So. Main St. Orville C. Walker, Plumber, Taunton St. Charles N. Warren, Woodworker, Pearl St. William C. Westgate, Fireman, Walnut St. William W. Wheeler, Shoeworker, Pearl St. Lester A. White, Farmer, Plymouth St. William S. Wilder, Insurance Agent, Myrtle St. Harold A. Williams, Merchant, Courtland St. James J. Wilmot, Painter, Plymouth St. Nelson B. Winberg, Mechanic, School St. Harold F. Wood, Salesman, Plymouth St. Lewis J. Wood, Watchmaker, Peirce St. Roger Wood, Clerk, High St.
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REPORT OF TREE WARDEN
As the Town Manager is the Tree Warden, there is no salary expense in this department. The total amount spent has been for labor in removing dead trees, and the dead limbs from others.
The condition of many of our trees is a serious menace to our citizens, as many are soft maples and have reached their limit of life, so that during each storm, many limbs snap off and fall into the streets. In the near future a large sum of money will be needed to remove these trees. Then too, nearly all of our trees are gradually starving to death owing to our waterproof roads and sidewalks. The parts of the tree from which it gets its nourishment are the small fibers at the end of the roots. These extend out under the roads where they can get but little moisture, and on the other side they extend under the well kept lawns, the grass from which is raked up and carried off. Thus the grass deprives the tree of nourish- ment on one side, and the road on the other. Under these conditions the trees have but little chance to survive.
Anticipating the time when it will be necessary to replace these trees, we have started a nursery at the Pumping Sta- tion.
Respectfully submitted,
H. J. GOODALE,
Tree Warden.
132
REPORT OF THE MOTH DEPARTMENT
It gives me pleasure to submit my annual report of work accomplished by the Moth Department for the year 1925.
During the early spring, just as the first leaves of the Wild Cherry and Beach Plums were appearing, the main roads of the town were sprayed with Arsenate of Lead, to control the Tent Caterpillar. This early spraying, combined with the one that was done in 1924, has practically cleaned the roadsides of this unsightly pest and it is expected that we will not have to repeat this spraying for 1926.
The spraying of the roadsides with Arsenate of Lead to control the Gypsy and Brown Tail Moths was started as soon as the oak leaves had grown to about the size of squirrels' ears. At this time the eggs of the Gypsy Moth have hatched and the young larvae are starting up the trees looking for their first food, and if they can get a little taste of the arsenic poison at this stage of their life it will clean them out, while later on when they have nearly gained their full growth a much larger and stronger dose is necessary. This spraying will never completely control these pests, but will prevent them from defoliating the roadside trees. That section of the town bounded by Center, Clay and Vernon Streets in North Middleboro had the heaviest infestation, and the De- partment has put in more work there than the value of the land or trees infested would seem to warrant, but if we can keep the infestation centralized in that locality without further spread, the work done there will be well worth while.
Because of the lack of funds we have not been able to do any fall creosoting, although I, personally, have scouted the sections that have previously given us trouble, and outside of the forementioned Vernon Street area, the sections of Mar- ion Road, Miller and Purchase Streets show the next heaviest
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infestations. When the spring creosoting of private property starts in 1926, these streets will get a very thorough looking over. So few egg clusters were found on the other streets that I believe the spring spraying will be adequate to keep the Gypsies in check for another year.
During the spring creosoting of private property fewer nests of the Brown Tail Moth were found than in previous years. In fact, only two places showed very many nests; one was on Taunton Ave., near the Lakeville line where we got 274 nests, and the other on Marion Road near the Roches- ter line where we found 73 nests. These nests were all found on old, high apple trees and could have been controlled if the trees had been sprayed in the spring with Arsenate of Lead.
The Elm Leaf Beetle appeared quite strong this year, and necessitated a later spraying, which was started about the tenth of July. North Middleboro was particularly hard hit, and the beetles had too much of a start before they were dis- covered. An earlier spraying will be more effective, and it is planned to start the 1926 campaign on this pest directly after the fourth of July. The automobile traffic being so heavy on North Main and South Main Streets that we planned to spray the elm trees early in the morning before the ma- chines got too numerous. We started the sprayers about 5 A. M., and worked them until 10 or 10.30 A. M. This plan took longer to finish the work but we had fewer complaints of the spray dripping on the machines.
During the first week of July, at the request of the Gypsy Moth Laboratory at Melrose Highlands, I inspected seventeen private places in different parts of the town, looking for signs of the Silk Moth on Willow and Poplar trees. None were found.
This year a still greater number of private jobs of spray- ing of orchards and cranberry bogs was done than ever be- fore. The spray books show actual work done on 237 private jobs, an increase of 42 over last year, and 107 over 1923. All of this private spraying has been done by request, we furnish Arsenate of Lead, an effective poison for all leaf eating in-
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sects, and charge only actual costs. Unfortunately the Arse- nate of Lead spray will not control all the insect pests that prey upon fruit trees. It is effective only upon leaf eating insects. Aphides or plant lice and scale can be controlled. only by the use of contact poison such as nicotine sulphate and diseases can only be controlled by a fungicide. I am in hopes of incorporating a Lime-Sulphur solution with the Arsenate of Lead spray for the orchards in 1926. This is a good fungicide and will constitute a control measure against the diseases of fruits, and also help check the aphides, red bugs, mites and scale.
All tools of the department are in good working order, but we are beginning to feel the need of some new equipment. The Ford ton truck is over three years old and in sad need of replacement. The two small power sprayers which do all our private work and most of the roadside work are some thirteen years old, and have nearly outlived their efficient usefulness.
Having the knowledge of a crew of experienced men, the Moth Department is capable of correctly planting, grafting and pruning your orchards or shade trees, do cement cavity work, or remove trees at an actual cost far below that of the much advertised "Tree Doctors."
In conclusion I will state that the personnel of the Moth Department is vitally interested in the wellbeing of the town of Middleboro, and any knowledge or assistance that it can give is yours for the asking.
Respectfully submitted,
JESSE CARPENTER, JR.
Local Moth Superintendent.
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INSPECTION OF SLAUGHTERING
As no person applied for a license to slaughter in Mid- dleboro during 1925, no slaughtering was done in town ex- cept a few swine that were killed by the people who raised them, upon their premises.
There were fourteen swine and one veal slaughtered in the past year.
Respectfully submitted,
J. H. WHEELER,
Inspector of Slaughtering.
136
REPORT OF THE INSPECTOR OF MILK
The Inspector of Milk has given a great deal of time and attention in trying to ascertain whether cows have been sold in Middleboro, which have not been tested with tubercu- lin within one year. I am informed that cows are brought into the town and sold, that have not been tested. Your in- spector has followed cattle dealers who had cows in their trucks, to learn whether the cows were to be delivered in town, and if so, whether the dealers had a certificate stating that the cows had been tested with Tuberculin within a year, but could not get any evidence that the milk regulations of the Board of Health were being violated.
The Inspector visited and inspected 65 dairies; 90 per cent of the dairies were in excellent condition, and were granted a permit on first inspection ; 7 per cent required two inspections 3 per cent were inspected three times before given a permit to sell milk.
There are 3000 quarts of milk consumed in Middleboro each day, of which 35 per cent is pasteurized.
Respectfully submitted,
J. H. WHEELER,
Inspector of Milk.
137
MIDDLEBOROUGH PUBLIC LIBRARY
REPORT OF LIBRARIAN
To the President and Board of Trustees,
Middleborough Public Library
Gentlemen :
I have the honor to present herewith the 50th Annual Report of the Middleborough Public Library.
The year 1925 has been a memorable one in the history of the Middleborough Public Library, for on October twenty- seventh and twenty-eighth of this year, the library celebrated its Fiftieth Anniversary.
On October twenty-seventh the library held open house for the public, tea being served in the Trustee's room in the afternoon.
On October twenty-eighth the Old Colony Library club met at the library during the day. In the evening the follow- ing program was presented, enjoyed by over two hundred people :
Pageant of Bookland
Written by Miss Jane Bennett
Presented by children of Middleboro.
History of the Middleborough Public Library
Mr. Walter L. Beals
Anniversary poem
Mr. Charles H. Bates
During the celebration, Mr. Walter L. Beals presented to the library a large portrait of his father, Mr. Joseph E. Beals, who was a founder and Trustee of the library.
A registration and clipping book has been made to keep as a record of the celebration.
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The Library has seen many changes since being opened in 1875. It has grown in size from its first location in the north room of the Town Hall to its present home. The num- ber of volumes has increased from 2,000 to 28,000, and the number of book borrowers has increased from 725 to 4,550. The circulation of books has grown from 17,000 per year to 72,796.
The annual circulation of books in a library should be at least five times the population. With Middleboro's popula- tion of 9,136 and 72,568 books issued, the circulation is over seven times the population of the town. These statistics indi- cate that the Library is reaching more and more people every year, but no librarian is satisfied till the library reaches every person in the community.
The Library is being used more and more for study and reading by students. An increasing number of out-of-town students have taken advantage of the special student priv- ileges, enabling them to secure books from the library. At least one room of over forty pupils of the ninth grade in the School Street School is 100 per cent, every child having a library card.
Instruction in the use of the library has been given to the Civics class of the High School, and to nearly 100 pupils of the ninth grade of the grammar school, these classes each receiving one lesson a week for five weeks. At the end of the five lessons an examination is given, credit being given the children by the teachers for this work.
The community room has been in constant use this past year. The Extension Classes in Dressmaking and Millinery have held afternoon and evening classes. The Cabot Club has had two lectures-one on china and another on Christmas cards, with an exhibition of cards. The District Nursing Association holds its monthly meetings here. The Home Ex- tension Work Division of the Massachusetts Department of Agriculture has held several meetings and demonstrations here.
There are collections of books at East Middleboro and
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South Middleboro which are much appreciated by residents in those communities. Large deposits of books to be used in the school rooms have been taken by most of the teachers in town.
Book talks have been given by the former librarian, Miss Palmer, and the present librarian, at the Cabot Club, the Men's classes of the Methodist and Congregational churches, and the Parent Teachers' Association of South Middleboro.
Miss Palmer attended the Librarian's Institute at Hyan- nis in May. Miss Louise Pratt was granted a six weeks' leave of absence during the summer to attend the Summer School of Library Science at Simmons College. Other mem- bers of the staff have derived benefit and pleasure from attending round tables and meetings in Boston and surround- ing cities.
The library has been the recipient of many gifts during the year. Besides gifts of valuable and interesting books and magazines from individuals, a geographical globe was pre- sented the children's room by the Civics Committee of the Cabot Club.
Miss Palmer, librarian for two years, left on August fifteenth to become Reference Librarian of the New Bedford Public Library. The present staff of the library is as fol- lows : Librarian, Mrs. Mertie E. Witbeck; Assistant Librar- ian, Miss Florence A. Robinson; Cataloger, Miss Louise B. Pratt; Assistant, Miss Gwendolyn M. Mackillop.
The Librarian expresses her appreciation of the helpful- ness and efficiency of the staff, and the unfailing support of the Trustees.
Respectfully submitted,
MERTIE E. WITBECK,
Librarian.
Number of days open Circulation
308
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Central Library
Fiction
43,472
Non-fiction
7,352
Magazines
4,119
Foreign books
116
Juvenile
Fiction
9,153
Non-fiction
7,072
16,225
Total
71,284
East Middleboro
1,152
South Middleboro
360
Total branch circulation 1,512
Total circulation for all
72,796
Number of volumes at beginning of year
27,526
Number added by purchase
927
Number added by gift
87
Number added by binding (magazines)
85
Total number added 1,099
28,625
Number lost or discarded
531
Number of volumes December 31, 1925 28,094
Number of magazines to be found in reading rooms
100
Number of newspapers to be found in reading rooms New cards issued
12
Adults 212
Children
128
Total 340
Number of registered borrowers, December 31, 1925 4,550
-
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REPORT OF THE SEALER OF WEIGHTS AND MEASURES
I herewith submit the reports of the Weights and Meas- ures department for the year 1925.
State Standards :
The State Standards are in excellent condition with the exception of the Standard Yard Measure which the state has condemned and ordered the town to replace it with a new one of approved type.
Working Equipment :-
The 20 ton Auto Truck Scales installed at the town barn in 1924 are working perfectly, and have been found to be extremely useful in weighing trucks and heavy loads, also for reweighing loads of coal. The Working test weights are in good condition with the exception of one set which should be renickled. The 50 lb. test weights used on big scales have been painted and are in good condition. The gasolene and oil test measures, with one exception, are in extra good con- dition. All measures were newly painted this past year. Nine peddlers were warned against evasion of the law, and all cases were cheerfully remedied.
Supplies :-
Outside the ordinary office and field supplies for the com- ing year, one new gasolene test measure will be needed, and also one standard yard measure, approved type.
The Department of Bureau of Standards of Massachu- setts has ordered renewed activity in regard to Transient Vendors, to see that licenses are taken out and the law en- forced. In order that this work may be done to the state's satisfaction the sealer should be given more time to attend to his duties as sealer.
Work performed in 1925.
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Pieces sealed 1294; adjusted 161; condemned 16.
Re-inspections : 404 pieces were re-inspected and found lawful. 53 Gas Pumps with 222 stops were retested and found within tolerance.
Inspections of the following found all complying with Massachusetts State Laws: Paper cartons, milk jars, coal certificate, food marking, bread labels, peddlers' scales, ice scales and junk scales.
Respectfully submitted, LOUIS C. LITTLEJOHN, Sealer of Weights and Measures.
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HIGHWAY DEPARTMENT
Owing to the limited amount of money available this year, the results obtained by this department are not as satis- factory as we could wish, there being numerous pieces of road sadly in need of repair, but owing to limited funds they had to be neglected this year.
We have tried however, to stretch our money as far as possible, and have succeeded in obtaining some very good results. The more important pieces of work were done on Barrows St., Clifford St., School St. Extension, Frank St., Lane St., North St. from Rice St. to Oak St., Oak St. near North St., Pleasant St. from Plymouth St. to Center St., Titicut St., and Vine St. Each of these streets was given a six inch coat of gravel, and after being thoroughly compacted with water and the roller, they were given a coat of tar. After sufficient time had elapsed to allow the tar to penetrate the gravel a coat of 85% asphaltic road oil was applied for a wearing surface. This method of completing the surface of gravel roads we find gives the best results and will last from two to three years, depending on the amount of traffic. When the surface does begin to show wear, a very light treatment of 85% oil will restore the surface without having it roll up in bunches.
Long Point and Marion Road.
At the last annual town meeting the town appropriated $2,000 to be spent on these roads; to this there was added $4,000 by the State, $2,000 by the County and $2,000 by the Peirce Trustees, making a total amount available of $10,000, Work was begun on Long Point Road at the Lakeville-Middle- boro line, and extended on Long Point Road to Marion Road, and on Marion Road nearly to Perry St., a distance of two miles.
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The road was widened to 18 feet, all the soft places filled with stone, and the whole width given a coat of gravel 6 inches in thickness when rolled. The surface was then treated with a coat of tar and 85% asphaltic oil. There remains one and three-quarters miles of road to be similarly constructed, and when completed there will be a good road connecting the state road between Middleboro and New Bedford with the state road from Middleboro to the Cape. We hope the town will make this appropriation the coming year.
The work of Mr. Haire, who has charge of the South Middleboro section, has been very satisfactory, particularly the amount of work he has done on Purchase and Rocky Meadow Streets.
Sidewalks
The policy of building a certain amount of cement walks each year was continued this year, and with the money avail- able new walks were constructed on the east side of South Main Street from Wareham St., to Webster St., and on the west side from Nickerson Ave., to Courtland St. Consider- able work was also done in resurfacing the present tar walks on School St., Pearl St., High St., and Arch St.
Respectfully submitted,
H. B. RAMSDELL,
Supt. of Streets.
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INSPECTOR OF ANIMALS
As Inspector of Animals for Middleboro from March 1, 1925, I would report there has been very little disease conta- gious or infectious which called for services of an inspector during my term of office to date.
The cattle of Middleboro as a whole are very healthy, and it is pleasing to note that by inspection, rules, regula- tions, etc., employed, Middleboro cattle, particularly milch cows, are in a good state of health, and the percentage of tuberculosis is very low due largely to methods used to sup- press and eventually eradicate it.
My predecessor in office the lamented Dr. W. H. Haskell worked very hard to complete the last annual inspection when ill health almost overtook him before his task was finished, and one of his last desires in this life was that he might be able to complete this work, knowing full well his weakened condition, and by the books, he had succeeded, as they show : Number Barns Inspected 212
Number cattle (cows) inspected
682
Number Young Stock Inspected
154
Number Bulls inspected
19
Number Pigs inspected
43
898
Total Hens Inspected
14,900
Respectfully submitted,
C. R. BORDEN, D.V.S.,
Inspector of Animals.
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FOREST WARDEN REPORT
A total of 76 grass and forest fires has been reported this year ; 17 of these were set by railroad locomotives and 59 by carelessness of individuals. Two hundred and twenty nine acres were burned over with an estimated loss of $110.00. While there were 12 more fires this year than last, the acre- age burned over was 63 less, and the estimated loss was $4700.00 less.
These figures surely indicate that the men responsible for extinguishing these fires are on to their job and were it not for the fine co-operation of the Fire Department and all the deputies, the loss would have been much larger, as there were several opportunities for bad fires, but prompt response to the call stopped them in time.
Respectfully submitted,
H. J. GOODALE,
Forest Warden.
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ELECTION OFFICERS
PRECINCT 1
Warden-Bert J. Allan
Deputy Warden-Robert C. West
Clerk-Percy W. Keith Deputy Clerk-Ernest I. Perkins Inspector-Benj. E. Holmes Deputy Inspector-Harold F. Pratt
Teller-James F. Gardner
Deputy Teller-Horace W. Macomber
Officer-Josiah T. Carver
PRECINCT 2
Warden-Henry W. Sears
Deputy Warden-Sylvanus L. Brett
Clerk-Walter L. Beals Deputy Clerk-Luke F. Kelley Inspector-Henry B. Schlueter Deputy Inspector-Kenneth B. Keedwell
Teller-John J. Mahoney Deputy Teller-Ralph W. Maddigan Officer-E. Kimball Harrison
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MIDDLEBORO FIRE DEPARTMENT REPORT OF THE CHIEF
To the Honorable Board of Selectmen :
Gentlemen :
I have the honor to present herewith, for your considera- tion, the fifth annual report of the Chief of the Middleboro Fire Department, for the year ending December 31, 1925, in accordance with Section 21 of Chapter 592, Acts of 1920.
APPARATUS
The apparatus of the department consists of the follow- ing :-
1 Maxim 500 Gallon Pumping Engine, purchased June 28, 1920.
1 Knox Combination Chemical and Hose Car, purchased October 14, 1912.
1 Maxim City Service Ladder Truck, purchased October 11, 1915.
1 Maxim Hose Car, purchased May 12, 1914.
All are well supplied with ladders, 3 gallon hand ex- tinguishers and the most necessary appliances for aiding the extinguishing of fires.
ORGANIZATION
The personnel of the Department remains the same as at the close of last year :
One Call Chief.
One Call Deputy Chief and two Assistant Call Deputy Chiefs.
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One Permanent Captain.
Three Call Captains.
Four Permanent Drivers.
Forty-six Call Men and nine Substitute Members. One Fire Police. A total of 68 members.
OPERATION OF THE DEPARTMENT ALARMS
Box
16
Mileage
25
Squad
59
Mileage
446.5
Still
79
Mileage
124.2
Warden
75
Mileage
429.1
Out of town
9
Mileage
69.2
Total 238
1094.0
Total mileage of Engine Company 1 in 1925-664.9
Feet of
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