USA > Massachusetts > Plymouth County > Middleborough > Town annual report of Middleborough, Massachusetts 1933 > Part 6
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Licenses. Licenses have to be watched very carefully. The Attorney General handed down a decision in the Tran- sient Vendors' law which places more responsibility upon each Sealer. Each license issued by the town of Middle- borough starting Jan. 1, 1934, must be accompanied by a set of two plates and a badge plainly marked. This is an order from the State Department, Division of Standards.
Clinical Thermometers. All thermometers have been listed and a duplicate sent to the State Department as a permanent record. Some little time was required in carry- ing out this order.
Scales. The scales of the merchants in our town are as a whole in excellent condition and no where among them do I find any indication of dishonesty.
Oil Jars. All oil jars now coming thru are sealed by the factory where made and have to be rechecked by the Sealer. No new jars should be bought without the Mass. Seal blown into them. To buy Sealed jars is the cheapest in the long run and should be bought in preference to the unsealed ones.
Town Scales. The town scales are at present out of commission. During the year, your Sealer, thru consider- able effort and labor on his part, was able to get the State Dept. Division of Standards to send their big auto test truck to Middleboro to test out the Town Scale and other platform scales so we could have here in town a Master Scale. It was a very interesting process and one of great help to the
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Department. The town scales at this time would not stand up under the test and are now condemned. The under portions of the scale is fast deteriorating from rust, and unless something is done at once, the scales will be of no value .. Some of the smaller iron rods are completely rusted off. Water stands in the pit nearly all the time. The Honorable Board was notified thru Mr. Goodale at the time they were. condemned.
Time. The Sealer's time is taxed a little more each year by the extra requirements from the State Department, and it is impossible to stay within the appropriation and do the work as it should be done. The detail work required by the State increases each year.
Summary of work performed in 1933 by your sealer.
Articles sealed-1374. Non-sealed-28. Adjusted- 133. Condemned-23. Trial re-weighing-1931. No. correct-1892, underweight-23, overweight-16.
Inspections. Paper cartons-20. Peddlers Licenses -- 18 Milk jars-90. Food markings-200. Bread labels-460. Milk cans-25. Clinical Thermometers-20. Peddlers Scales 18. Ice scales-9. Junk scales-2. Ice cream cans-15. - Oil Insp .- 190. Gas retests-109. Pumps stops Meters Reweighing-1931. Bread-209. Butter-362. Candy-55. Flour-264. Grain-93. Dry Com .- 506. Fruit & Vege- tables-222. Hay-20. Meat-69. Coal in paper-30.
A number of complaints have been looked up and adjusted.
All Bakers Licenses have been checked. Warning has been given in a number of instances and all have been cheer- fully complied with.
Gasoline permits and licenses have been checked and found lawful.
In closing, permit me to thank the Honorable Board, Mr. Goodale and Chief Sisson, also all other persons, for the wonderful co-operation, and to every one who has helped make this year a success.
LOUIS C. LITTLEJOHN, Sealer of Weights & Measures.
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REPORT OF THE MOTH DEPARTMENT
To the Honorable Board of Selectmen Middleborough, Massachusetts.
Gentlemen:
In presenting the report of the Moth Department for the year ending December 31, 1933, I feel that it may be considered a report of progress and accomplishment.
Possibly a brief record of the pests which we combat may best summarize our work for the past year.
The Gypsy Moth, our most destructive and prevalent pests, were numerous in Middleboro but from our own obser- vations and from the State records they were less than of a. year ago. Because of the great decrease in private spraying, we were able to concentrate our forces in the infested areas and hold down the moths considerably. We found also that the parasites, wilt disease and starvation aided us much more than in the past two years. As in 1932 the heavy infestations were in Rock and South Middleboro, with some slight outbreaks in Thomastown, East Middleboro and in the vicinity of Everett and North Streets.
The outlook for 1934, as far as Gypsy Moths are concern- ed, is favorable.
The Brown Tail Moths, at one time our most predomin- ating and disasterous pests, are apparently on the decrease throughout this section of the state. During the winter months while they were hibernating, the department visited the infested sections of town and clipped these brown tail webs and then burned them. In the spring these spots were again visited, the trees sprayed and checked as another control measure. Colonies were found in abundance on Marion Road and in Warrentown with slight infestations near the Star Mills and in other scattered localities.
The Elm Leaf Beetle was particularly noticeable in all sections of town during the past year. The Department
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fought this pest with an arsenical spray wherever and when- ever possible. This pest, apparently on the increase, must be controlled or our Elm trees will be threatened.
No traces of the new Dutch Elm Blight have been found thus far in town. A thorough investigation by State authori- ties in conjunction with this department having covered the town during the summer months.
The Satan Moth was seen on but few occasions during the past year. The damage which they inflicted was slight. A few were found in South Middleboro and some in the cen- tral part of the town.
The Tent Caterpillar situation was better than a year ago due probably to the fact that much roadside cutting of the wild cherry and brush had been accomplished during the previous winter and due to an application of spray by this department as soon as the leaves were large enough to hold the spray.
The Fall Web Worm, the unsightly tent caterpillar of our late summer and fall months, was present in about the same quantity as of a year ago. The departm nt clips these where possible and destroys all egg clusters when found during the winter.
When desired the Moth Department gladly sprays the orchards, cranberry bogs and shrubbery of all interested parties; this work being done at a small cost to the owner.
Our spray equipment consists of three pieces of Fitz- henry Guptill sprayers, one four hundred gallon tank and two two hundred gallon tanks. These pieces of apparatus are all motorized. The equipment is all in good order though the department greatly needs a new truck to replace the one purchased in 1926.
Before closing, mention must be made of the aid which the town is receiving through the Government in the form of the C. W. A. project. A force of local men have been at work in the sections of woodland not usually visited by this department, creosoting gypsy moth egg clusters and thus helping considerably. This work is foreign to the usual
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town work and should in no way cause the town to let up on its yearly program of Gypsy Moth control. While this is going to press, another group of men are beginning work gathering Brown Tail Moth webs as a new C.W.A. project.
In closing, I desire to thank the officers of the town, the departments and the people of the Town of Middleborough for all thoughtfulness which the department received during this past year.
Very respectfully, GEORGE WARD STETSON.
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INSPECTOR OF ANIMALS
December 30, 1933
Board of Selectmen,
Middleboro, Mass.
Gentlemen:
I now submit my 1933 report as Inspector of Animals.
The result of the animal inspection of all neat cattle, swine, sheep and goats, is as follows :-
Total number of premises inspected
245
66
" cattle owners
238
66
" cattle
1363
66
" swine
174
66
" sheep
52
66
" goats 23
The cattle were divided as follows :-
Pure Bred
Grade
Bulls
14
18
Cows
93
946
Young Stock
58
225
Oxen
9
Total
165
1198
These animals all appear to be healthy and the conditions under which they are kept are in most cases satisfactory.
With the exception of 42 head in 16 herds the cattle in Middleboro are all under test. This number has been re- duced by testing since the Animal Inspection, and the Divi- sion of Animal Industry expect to test the remainder early in 1934.
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The other activities of your Inspector during the year, were as follows :----
Permits to ship cattle into town from out of State 23
Cattle shipped on these permits 206
Permits returned not used
5
Cattle quarantined
1
Dogs
0
Cattle reacting to T. B. test
45
Premises inspected for proper disinfection
29
Respectfully submitted,
LESLIE N. CLARK,
Inspector of Animals.
110
FOREST WARDEN
The number of forest fires and the cost of extinguishing them has been the smallest for a number of years.
This was due to the vigilance of the observer in the Obser- vation Tower, the quick response of those whose duty it is to extinguish these, and to the unusual rain fall in the late summer and fall.
The total number of fires was 25, the largest covering about 3 acres, and the total expense of the department was $230.61.
H. J. GOODALE,
Forest Warden.
111 TREE WARDEN
With the small amount of money allotted to this de- partment it was impossible to do but little to improve the condition of our shade trees. We did, however, remove several dead trees and trimmed out a considerable number of dead limbs from the trees on a few streets, and cut off the low lying branches on other streets that interfered with the use of the sidewalks, especially during wet weather.
Thru a C.W.A. project we were allotted $915.00 on Dec. 5th, for the employment of six men and a foreman, up to Feb. 15, 1934. These men were immediately put to work and have been doing that which was very much needed but which the town has not felt it could afford to do.
There is needed an added appropriation in order that new shade trees may be set out to replace those which time has destroyed.
The beauty of our New England towns, is their trees, and this beauty should not be allowed to decay.
H. J. GOODALE,
Tree Warden.
112
REPORT OF DOG OFFICER
Number of Males licensed 599
Number of Females licensed 235
Number of Dogs picked up
59
Owners found for
11
Homes found for
6
Number of Dogs killed
42
Respectfully submitted,
ROBERT E. HEWITT,
Dog Officer.
113
APPOINTMENTS MADE BY THE SELECTMEN AS OF MARCH 1st, 1933.
February 27, 1933.
Office
Name
Term expires
Town Accountant
Waldo S. Thomas
Sept. 8, 1936
Assessor
Benjamin C. Shaw
March 1,1936
Board of Public Wel-
fare and Old Age Assistance
Laura B. Whittemore March 1, 1936
Registrar of Voters
Michael H. Cronan March 1, 1936
Tr. of Public Library
Grace H. Noble
March 1, 1936
Thomas H. Kelley
March 1, 1936
H. Jane Bennett
March 1, 1936
Inspector of Plumbing John J. Pearson
March 1, 1936
Tree Warden
Harry J. Goodale
Burial Agent
Dog Officer
Inspector of Animals
March 1, 1934
Insp. of Slaughtering
Leslie N. Clark
March 1, 1934
Inspector of Milk
John T. Connor March 1, 1934
Inspector of Wires Sealer of Weights & Measures
Louis C. Littlejohn March 1, 1934
Town Counsel
Nathan Washburn
March 1, 1934 March 1, 1934
Keeper of Lockup
Alden C. Sisson
Dr. Edward L. Perry
Dr. A. Vincent Smith
Field Driver & Pound Alden C. Sisson
Keeper Town Hall Agent Fence Viewer
Constable
March 1, 1934
March 1, 1934
E. Kimball Harrison E. Kimball Harrison Frederick S. Weston Frank S. Thomas Ernest S. Pratt E. Kimball Harrison Harry E. Allen
March 1, 1934 March 1, 1934 March 1, 1934 March 1, 1934 March 1, 1934 March 1, 1934 March 1, 1934 March 1, 1934
Soldiers' Physician
Ralph Sampson
March 1, 1934
March 1, 1934 Kendrick H. WashburnMarch 1, 1934 Robert E. Hewitt March 1, 1934 Leslie N. Clark
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Office Constable
Name Alden C. Sisson Harold P. Arnold
Term Expires
March 1, 1934
March 1, 1934
Collector of Water, Gas & Electric and all other
departmental bills Samuel Breck
March 1, 1934
Public Weighers
Garrett E. Whitty
Lewis F. Harding
Ernest S. Pratt
Ralph D. Kelley
Elliot H. Perkins
Lura A. Bradford
Howard T. Lincoln Annie Place
George F. Keyes
Vernon Briggs
Paul E. Gamache
Ivan B. Sparrow
John E. McManus
Alden C. Sisson
John R. Dutra
Louis C. Littlejohn
Albert F. Soule
Harold P. Arnold
Charles Ruhmpohl
William F. Fickert
William E. Gardner
Robert A. Clark
Lawrence H. Thomas
Marion Pratt
William Maxwell
Special Police Officers
Warren E. Jefferson
Ralph Sampson
Paul F. Anderson
William O. Casey
Samuel Hathaway
Patrick McMahon
Alton T. Smith
James A. McDonald
John T. Connor
LeRoy E. Mawhinney
George Besse
Jesse Carpenter, Jr. .
William Watson
Harry W. Hull
Harold Moranville
Louis C. Littlejohn
Myron A. Bump
Robert E. Hewitt
Arthur B. Caswell
James J. Vigers Wallace S. Grant
E. Kimball Harrison John J. Sullivan
Norman Carmichael
Herbert W. Batchelder
Arthur L. Smith
John S. Cobb
Robert E. Taylor
Alexander Heath Jeffrey Hubbard
115
Measurer of Wood, Bark and Lumber
William F. Clark
Henry W. Sears, Jr.
Albert T. Savery Levi O. Atwood
Frederick S. Weston Gilbert F. Simmons
Frank S. Thomas
Ernest I. Perkins
I. Mendall Boehme Forest S. Churbuck William G. Wilcox Edgar Wilcox Herbert E. Dodge
N. S. Cushing, Jr. Robert R. Melville Benjamin C. Shaw Albert Deane
Ernest S. Pratt Myron W. Baxter
Harrison F. Shurtleff
Charles N. Warren
Leo A. Quindley Ernest L. Standish
116
REPORT OF THE MARIA L. H. PIERCE LIBRARY FUND
Middleboro, Mass., Jan. 1, 1934
To the Honorable Board of Selectmen,
Middleboro, Mass.
Gentlemen :---
Allow me to report that another year has been made happier for the residents of our Town Infirmary by the thoughtfulness of our former townswoman, Maria L. H. Pierce as expressed in the terms of her will and carried out by your Trustee. Because of financial conditions, the in- come was not as large as in former years, so our activities were, of necessity, curtailed. Sickness was more common than usual, because we had more feeble, elderly people than we usually have. Special treats were provided for the sick, plants were sent for all the dining rooms at Easter time, and, following his custom, Santa arrived on Christmas Eve with a tree and presents for each inmate.
Each year, I am more impressed with the uniqueness and the generosity of this fund and each year, I appreciate anew the privilege of being allowed to administer it.
Very truly yours, LELAH M. HATHAWAY,
Trustee Maria L. H. Pierce Fund
117
INSPECTOR OF WIRES REPORT
Board of Selectmen, Middleboro, Mass.
Gentlemen,
I herewith submit my sixth annual report as Inspector of wires in the Town of Middleboro ending December 31, 1933.
Total number of Electrician Report Cards Received 505
Number not passed until corrections were made 24
Number of miles traveled on making inspections 1333
I have attended ten meetings of the Massachusetts Asso- ciation of Electrical Inspectors held at Boston and at the Annual Meeting in June, I was elected chairman of the Executive Committee.
With the 1933 National Electrical Code going in effect January 1, 1934 this has meant a lot of study for all who have to work under wiring regulations.
With the constant changes in wiring methods, and new materials and devices which are being put in use, these codes or rules and regulations for the installation of electric wiring must be revised to permit their use.
There has been the usual calls from those who propose to do their own wiring, while there are a few exceptions, very few seem to be able to install wiring and have it meet the requirements of the current issue of the Electrical Code which is used as the base of all inspections, by this Depart- ment.
A wiring system properly installed, may be rendered defective and unsafe by the addition of another outlet in an improper manner, and it is for this reason that I insist that any additional wiring be reported to this Department, on regular forms, as required in our By-Laws.
The case of prosecution in the Local Court the past year for violation of our By-Law, for not reporting additional
118
wiring to this Department, should serve as a warning, that this Department must be notified before doing any wiring whether it be an entire new installation or only alterations or additions.
There has been a number of complaints of radio dis- turbance and in many cases the trouble was traced to the wiring within the complainants own house, where the wiring had not been kept in proper repair, or where there was a defective switch, socket, or loose wire or connection.
Rule 6 of the Middleboro Gas & Electric Plant requires all persons using electricity, to keep their wires and fixtures in good repair, at their own expense, and the Town will not be liable for any damage resulting from failure to do so.
To all those, and the Town Manager, who has been of great assistance to me in fulfilling my duty, I am,
Respectfully yours,
RALPH SAMPSON,
Inspector of Wires.
119
HIGHWAY DEPARTMENT
Not as much graveling was done this year as in previous years as our appropriation was reduced $2,500.00 for this work. However much needed work was done on the fol- lowing streets:
Wall Street
2000 ft.
Rocky Meadow Street
1500 "
Precinct Street
1500 "
Auburn Street
1500 “
Plain Street
500 "
Fuller Street
2000 "
Cedar Street
1300 "
Winter Street
2000 “
Raven Street
500 “
Short Street
500 “
Miller Street
1000 "
Thompson Street
200 “
Plymouth Street
1000 "
Cross Street
500 “
Lane Street
500 "
Wood Street
800 "
Marion Road
1500 "
LeBaron Avenue
300 “
Total
19,100 ft.
Plymouth Street from the Green towards Waterville was graveled, rolled and a coat of dust layer was applied for a distance of about 3000 feet.
Lane Street at the west side was widened and graveled and two catch basins put in to take care of the drainage.
The parking space was scarified, shaped and rolled and calcium chloride applied.
Some work was done at St. Luke's Hospital by our de- partment, aided by men sent by the Welfare Board.
120
A new method was used on Thomas Street, where a hard surface was constructed. This is called a "Mixed in Place" method, and consists of, first: Scarifying and Scraping the present surface, then Scarifying again, then a disc harrow is used to thoroughly loosen the surface for a depth of four inches, then an application of Tar Retread is applied at the rate of 1 gal. to the square yard, this is mixed with the harrow, then a mixing hone is dragged thru which blades the mixture four to eight times, after which the road is rolled and in ten days a seal coat is applied making a road surface about three to four inches deep or much deeper than our old method of penetration with Tar.
This above type of construction was also used in North Middleboro on Centre Street making these two roads hard, dustless and very smooth riding. The distance treated on Thomas Street was about 11/2 miles, and on Centre Street, 4500 feet.
We expect to do more of this work this year on our out- side roads as something must be done to hold our gravel roads together as the increasing automobile traffic makes them very rough. Our oiling appropriation was increased to care for this work this year.
OILING
The State and County each gave one-third to the cost of putting a hard surface on Thompson Street which was done by our Department using Emulsified Asphalt and cover- ing with 34 inch crushed stone after which it was rolled.
Cushman, Miller, Perry Streets, and Marion Road were each, surface treated with Asphalt and sand, a distance of five miles.
A short section of Plymouth Street, north of Muttock Bridge, was treated with Tar Retread and honed, correcting a rough and dangerous condition. Hillside Avenue, Forest, High and Jackson Streets, were each treated with a seal coat of Tar Retread.
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Asphalt dust layer was applied to Plymouth, Sachem, Arlington, Centre, Coombs, and Tispaquin Streets, and to Star Avenue.
In all we used the following amount of material:
Tarvia Retread
35,870 gal.
Asphalt
10,224
Dust Layer
3,048
Emulsified Asphalt
13,000 66
PATCHING
About the usual amount of Patching was done on our hard surfaced roads. On this work we used 4750 gal. of material.
SIDEWALKS
No new sidewalks were built this year but our gravel and ash sidewalks were rebuilt on several streets. Under the C. W. A., cement sidewalks are being built on Court End Avenue, giving about twenty men employment.
BRIDGES
A very heavy rain occurred on April 12, which made it necessary to build a new bridge on Walnut Street beyond Atwoods Mill which was done by our department.
The bridge flooring over the Railroad on W. Grove Street was rebuilt and working in conjunction with the New Haven bridge crew, we laid a new floor deck and covered same with Asphalt Planking making a smooth and safe riding surface.
A new wire guard fence was built at the approach to the bridge over the river on State Farm Road. The usual amount of repairing was done to the various fences over our brooks and culverts, also at Centre Street near Washburns Mill, where someone is always tearing the fence boards off, causing the taxpayers needless expense.
122
SEWERS AND DRAINS
New sewers were laid into the Thompson Tire Co. and Cushing Grain Co. on Wareham Street and an extension was laid on Sproat St. The usual amount of stoppages were corrected.
One much needed improvement was accomplished, that is the raising of several manholes to the road surface, as they had been covered up beneath the surface a good many years and were hard to locate when it became necessary to clean our main sewer.
The Highway and Sewer Department lost a very valuable workman, Frank Fred, who was killed by an automobile hit-and-run driver on November 20, 1933. Mr. Fred had worked for the Town about 35 years in Highway and Sewer work, and had helped construct'a great many catch basins, also cement sidewalks in which work he was very proficient. He was well liked by all those who came in contact with him in his daily work, he had a friendly disposition towards all, and will long be remembered by his fellow workmen, and his many friends.
SNOW AND ICE
The unexpected happened this year in Snow work as we had six storms to work on, the last one, December 26, being very severe, and requiring much work plowing our streets and sidewalks and as our appropriation for this work was reduced this year again, it was necessary to work our Snow Crew three nights and days to plow our streets.
The storms in February and March required a great amount of sanding on account of icy conditions.
EQUIPMENT
Our equipment is all in good condition, with the exception of two Trucks which we hope to replace this year.
We are also in need of another snow plow to be used in the outside district.
Respectfully submitted, PAUL F. ANDERSON,
Supt. of Streets.
123
1933 REPORT PLYMOUTH COUNTY EXTENSION SERVICE FOR MIDDLEBORO
The rapidly changing economic conditions of the past year have created many pressing problems for all farmers of the county. The Extension Service has been called upon more frequently than ever before to furnish information and advice that the farms of the county might be operated as efficiently as possible, that families might use their re- sources to the best advantage and that boys and girls might learn, through 4-H clubs, to assist in meeting the problems of their parents.
Through county-wide and local meetings, tours and demonstrations, through circular and personal letters, farm and home visits, office and telephone calls, and through such other agencies as the "Farmer" and newspaper articles information, instruction and advice have been made avail- able to farmers of all classes, to the homemakers of the Coun- ty and to 4-H club members. Over 3000 farmers and in all nearly 7500 different individuals in Plymouth County have been in direct contact with the Extension Service during the past year.
The farmers of Middleboro have been actively interested in all of the countywide projects of the Extension Service and have taken full advantage of them.
Over 400 men were carried on the agricultural mailing lists and received information on crop, livestock, and poultry management and production during the year. Cranberry growers were furnished copies of a carefully prepared pest control chart. 69 personal visits were paid to individual farmers in the town during the year to give advice on various problems. In addition three dairy meetings were held in town with Professors Donaldson and Branch of the State College as speakers, two orchard meetings were held and
124
speakers were furnished for several meetings of local or -. ganizations held in town.
Home section programs have been carried in three sec- tions of the town. Middleboro was chosen as a center in the county-wide project in remodelling clothes. Six local groups were represented in this subject. Three canning demonstrations, a series of meetings in home grounds im- provement and two series in home furnishing, are included in the year's work.
The 4-H club enrollment during the past year showed an increase of 40% over the previous year with 263 boys and girls enrolling in the following projects: clothing, food, gar- den, handicraft, homecraft, outdoor cookery, music and poultry.
Clubs were organized in the following communities of Middleboro-Fall Brook, Waterville, North and South Middleboro, and Middleboro Center. The quality of work produced by club members in these communities has con- tinued to improve from year to year and this year was not an exception for the work improved more than ever. This. was due to a large extent to the excellent work of the 4-H local leaders.
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