USA > Massachusetts > Plymouth County > Plymouth > Town annual report of Plymouth, MA 1875-1879 > Part 6
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This Summer the head on the pipe, or what is the same thing, the difference of level between the water in the pond and in the reservoir, has been less than five feet. The difficulty has been simply, that pipes have been laid to supply houses where you should not have laid them with the expectation of a contin- uous supply without pumping. There being no levels on record of the pond, of the reservoir, or of any of the streets, pipes have been laid within one, two, or three feet of the level of the pond, and of course such pipes cannot deliver water when the Town is using more than about seven thousand gallons per hour, that is during most hours of the day.
The consumption of the Town probably averages over two hundred thousand gallons per day, and we have observed it to reach fifteen thousand gallons per hour, or at the rate of three hundred and sixty thousand gallons in twenty-four hours, for several hours in succession. By keeping a careful record, say every two hours, from 6 A. M. to 10 P. M., during each day, of the height of water in the reservoir, together with a weekly record, say, of the height of the water in South Pond, the quantity used by the Town of Plymouth can now be calculated.
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The conclusion I come to, then, as regards the capacity of the main pipe, is, that it can hardly be said to lack capacity when it has been doing within seven per cent. of all it ever was in- tended to do, and has never been worked up to its intended loss of head of six feet.
The real difficulty with the Plymouth Water Works is that South Pond is not up as high as it should be, for the proper supply of the Town. The central part of the Town has only forty, or at most fifty, feet head on the pipes, when there should be one hundred. The parts on the hill have from five or six feet to no head at all on the pipes, and some lying still higher can not be supplied from South Pond at all, without pumping the water to them.
In pumping, in some shape or other then, lies your remedy. A temporary relief would be afforded by raising the water level in the present reservoir. The water level could be kept say at grade 109 or 110, (the top of the paving is about grade 108), and would thus supply all your present lakers. But the relief, I take occasion to say, would be only temporary.
The present exigency, passed away and out of sight, would be out of mind ; pipes would again be laid higher and higher so long as water ran in them at any time, till very shortly, with but the slight loss of head that would arise from an increased consumption, certain parties would again be out of water. To raise the water level in the reservoir to grade 109 or 110, would require a small pump set anywhere near the line of the present main, and the putting in of a check valve in the main, and then letting the pump draft from the pond side and force into the pipe on the opposite side of this valve; that is, letting the pump pump water around and by the check valve. Should the pump for any reason stop work, the check valve would open of itself, and the Works be reduced to their present capacity.
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A Worthington No. 6 pump, marked in price list $625, would answer the purpose. The cost of setting depends of course on the manner adopted of operation; whether with a separate boiler or by buying steam of some works or factory. The total cost of operating ought not to exceed fifty to seventy-five cents per day.
These figures will show at once that to lay a larger pipe from the pond merely to relieve the existing trouble, is out of question. The loss of head is now only five feet in the three miles of pipe. The utmost that could be done, were it not an impracticable project, namely : to run an open canal in one slope from the pond to the reservoir, would require at least two or three feet loss of head or of slope, in the three miles, while this little pump will place the water in the reservoir four or five feet higher than the source it starts from. But if a little pump will do so much, a larger one will do more yet.
There are about Plymouth several hills which command the Town; and a reservoir placed upon one of these would supply any part of the settled, or about to be settled, portions, and give, besides, a much better head on the pipes already laid. This is Plymouth's true remedy, and one to which she must come now or later.
The advantages of such higher source for the distribution pipes will suggest themselves to many. It is not only that parts of the Town, now barely fit for habitation, will then be in demand for building sites, but the increased safety against con- flagrations, all over the Town, will be an advantage that will di- rectly accrue to all, by reason of a lowering of the rates of in- surance. Insurance Companies know very well the difference between a one hundred feet head on the pipes and one of forty, or three feet, and so do firemen and hosemen. With a one hun- dred feet head, and in all but large cities, there is scarcely any
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need of fire engines at all, as hose and hook and ladder com- panies will suffice.
A stand pipe or works that pump directly into the pipes, does not appear to me to be advisable under the circumstances. The pump should be located near the Town in your case, to save in the cost of fuel, and this will be found an important ele- ment in the decision of these questions. I mention these two plans of water supply in connection with your case, principally to show that I have considered them.
In the appendix you will find a list of levels that have been taken during the prosecution of the present inquiry. A few words in explanation will suffice :
From a few rough measurements, I concluded that the top of the curbing around the Canopy over Plymouth Rock was about 16.8 ft. above mean low water mark. The grand bench or starting point was accordingly taken at the middle of the outer edge of the north-west corner stone of this curbing, and is supposed to be 16.8 ft. above the point from which all the levels are counted, which point is not far from mean low water of the sea. In this way the heights of any point or points can be at once compared with theheights of any other points. You will also receive with this report a profile of the ground level on the line of the main pipe or conduit, from South Pond to the reservoir, and a map of the Town that has drawn on it the location and size of the pipes, gates, and hydrants that had been set up to the middle of July. Your Superintendent can make additions to it as pipes are laid and gates and hydrants set, so that it shall always show the condition of your Works. As you will have noticed, the conclusions of this report are :
1. That your Water Works are in good condition.
2. That a temporary and partial relief can be afforded by a small pump.
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3. That a decided and permanent remedy can be afforded by a larger pump and the construction of a new and higher lo- cated reservoir.
All of which is respectfully submitted.
I remain, gentlemen, faithfully yours, CLEMENS HERSCHEL, Hydraulic Engineer.
APPENDIX.
List of elevations of various points on and about the Plymouth Water Works, above an assumed low water mark of the sea.
The grand bench, or starting point, is the middle of the outer edge of the north-westerly corner stone of the curb around the Canopy over Plymouth Rock, and this is supposed to be above mean low water-mark of the sea
FEET. 16.800
This being so, we have above the same low water- mark :---
North Street, near Spooner's Alley.
A hydrant cover on North street, near Spooner's Alley . . . 43.812
Court Street, opp. head of North Street.
The outside corner of the westerly edge stone, that is next the cesspool cover, on Court street, opposite the head of North street
57.766
North-easterly Corner of Court House Fence.
The north-easterly corner of the granite base post at the north-easterly corner of the Court House fence, (corner of Russell and Court streets).
TI ing p gate 61.758
At the Reservoir.
The top of a spike driven into the fence post next northerly from the south-easterly corner of the reser- voir lot
113.162
The top of the paving in the Reservoir, about 108.000
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Corner of Russell and Prospect Streets.
The top of the lower spike in the Elm, near the cor- ner of Russell and Prospect streets . 103.191
Cistern on Russell Street.
The top of the brick cistern in front of Mr. Battles' house, on Russell street 101.934
Russell Street.
The south-easterly corner of the hitching post in front of E. B. Holmes' house, on Russell street. 86.783
Corner of Stoddard and Russell Streets.
The easterly corner of a gate or hydrant cover on the corner of Stoddard and Russell streets. 72.026
The westerly corner of a gate or hydrant cover in the middle of the street, near the above. 69.586
Corner of Summer and High Streets.
The top of the guard post in front of the drinking fountain, at the corner of Summer and High streets . . ..
40.404
" Benson's Hill."
The south-easterly corner of a gate or hydrant cover, near the top of " Benson's Hill," Summer street . 79.282
The highest part of the road on "Benson's Hill" .. . 83.5
Deep Water Bridge.
The top of a stone on the middle of the easterly end of Deep Water Bridge 88.448
At South Pond.
The top of a spike driven into the top of a sheet pil- ing plank in the Easterly Row, within six inches of the gate house in South Pond 106.160
Corner of Davis and Prospect Streets. The top of a spike driven into a post at the south- westerly corner of Davis and Prospect streets 100.158
Davis Street.
The sill of Mr. Brown's house, on Davis street 107.936
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Chestnut Street.
The cover of an air valve on Chestnut street 101.856
Prospect Street.
The sill of Mr. Ryan's house on Prospect street . 100.390
The window sill of Mr. Peterson's house on Prospect
101.354 street
Hill just back of the Town.
The top of the hill west of the Rivet Works 153.523
Hill next to Oak Grove Cemetery.
The top of the Stoddard Hill, that is easterly from the Vine Hills and Oak Grove Cemeteries . . 139.952
Corner of Franklin and Mayflower Streets.
The top of the stone guard post on the southerly corner of Franklin and Mayflower streets 102.082
On South Street.
The south-easterly corner of a stone step of Joseph Taylor's house, on South street. .
97.139
On Sandwich, near Winter Street.
The south-westerly corner of a hydrant or gate cover in front of H. Whiting's house on Sandwich, near Win- ter street 45.525
On Sandwich Street, near house of Wm. Beckman. The top of a rock on the easterly side of road near the crown of the hill, near house of Wm. Beckman, above Samuel Cole's, on Sandwich street 103.036
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OVERSEERS OF THE POOR.
The undersigned, Overseers of the Poor, submit their report.
The past year has brought distress to the Poor. The dull times and depression of business of all kinds, has made it im- possible at times for the Poor to obtain labor or the means of support.
The Overseers have been called more frequently, and by larger numbers than in preceding years, to help those in poverty and distress.
To dispense charity in the numerous cases that have been presented, with not too liberal or too sparing hands, has been our endeavor. That we have always succeeded we dare not as- sert, and that we have sometimes been deceived we shall not deny. We have nevertheless done what seemed to us proper and discreet in the management of the charities of the Town.
The Poor, who are inmates of the Almshouse, we not hesitate to claim, are kindly and considerately treated, carefully looked after, are comfortably clad, and are furnished with good and abundant food.
We all should feel great satisfaction that the unfortunate Poor in the Almshouse are in such gentle and considerate keep- ing, and that the money devoted to that institution, is so bene- ficiently expended.
Tramps the past year have been expensive to provide for, and their treatment perplexing to the Overseers. The number provided with food and lodging is 314, an increase of 136 over the year preceding. The evil increases rapidly, and we know not where a remedy is to be found.
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We trust the Legislature will take up the subject at their present session, and provide some law that will cure the evil.
We have followed the example of other towns, and furnished food and lodging for tramps for the night, deeming it safer to have them in keeping, than to let them roam the streets, or sleep in barns.
If the Town will suggest any wiser course to pursue, the Overseers will be glad to be instructed, and to be relieved of the responsibility.
We have commenced one suit at law during the year. The City of Boston denied the settlement, and refused to pay for the support or take from our Almshouse Florian Burgess, and we were obliged to bring an action. After the case was fully pre- pared and about to be tried, Counsel for Boston became satis- fied that we could prove our case, and paid the bill and costs, and took the pauper to Boston.
The Town raised for the support of the Poor $6,500, and for Insane Poor $1,500.
The amount expended during the year for the Poor is $6,241.59. We owed on last year's account $55.41, and we have a balance of $203 to our credit.
The amount expended for the Insane Poor is $1,081.27 ; over- drawn last year's account, $338.39; balance to our credit, $117.89.
We recommend that the Town raise for the current year for the Poor department $6,500, and for the Insane Poor $1,250; $250 less than the preceding year.
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We give below some statistics :
POOR AT THE ALMSHOUSE.
Number of inmates Jan. 1st, 1875. 21
Number of inmates Jan. 1st, 1876. 21
Number of males. .
13
Number of females 8
Number of inmates discharged during year. 9
Number of inmates died during year 1
Number of tramps provided with food and lodging 314
INSANE POOR.
Number of Insane Poor Jan. 1st, 1875 5
Numbes of Insane Poor Jan. 1st, 1876. 6
Number of Insane Poor discharged
0
Number of Insane Poor admitted. 1
Number of Insane Poor died 0
W. H. WHITMAN, Overseers LEMUEL BRADFORD, of
JESSE HARLOW, Poor.
FIRE DEPARTMENT.
To the Selectmen of the Town of Plymouth :
In conformity with the act to establish a Fire Department in the Town of Plymouth, I submit my First Annual Report :
FIRES.
There have been four fire alarms the past year, the total loss amounting to about $2,000.
PLYMOUTH PUBLIC LIBRARY
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MANUAL FORCE.
The manual force of the Department consists of one hundred and sixty men, exclusive of the Board of Engineers, which con- sists of six men.
' APPARATUS.
The apparatus of the Department consists of two steam and two hand engines, with hose tenders, one hook and ladder car- riage, and four hose carts, in use, and two hand engines and hose tenders in reserve. There are also two force pumps, one situated at Samuel Loring's factory, the other at F. B. Cobb's mill.
HOSE.
There is in use 3,400 feet of hose, in good order, also 300 feet ordinary, which I think is sufficient for the year.
The Town will notice by the Selectmens' report that the En- gineers have overdrawn their appropriation, which is accounted for as follows :
At the April meeting, the Town passed a vote instructing the Engineers to locate one of the old engine houses and one of the hand engines at Sea Side, and voted an appropriation of $1,200 to defray the expenses of the same, but neglected to instruct the Selectmen to borrow the money. However, the Engineers, thinking it was the wish of the Town to have the work done, went on and bought a lot of Mr. Thomas Jackson, moved the Rapid Engine House and Engine into it, had both House and Engine put in thorough repair, moved the hose cart, formerly kept in a small building belonging to Mr. Wait Wadsworth, and placed it in the same house, and provided it with two hundred
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feet additional hose ; the whole cost for moving, repairs, hose, &c., amounting to about six hundred dollars.
It was found, also, that Steamer No. 1 (having been run about five years,) was very much out of order, needing new valves, &c., and that No. 2 needed some additions. This, to- gether with a deficiency of four hundred dollars at the com- mencement of the year, will, I trust, satisfactorily account for the overdraw.
I believe now the Department is in complete order, needing nothing of consequence but a suitable house for the Steamers, which I earnestly recommend as soon as the Town can furnish it.
There was a little misunderstanding between the Board of Engineers and the members of Steamer companies at the com- mencement of the year, viz : The companies wanted an addi- tion of ten men to each Steamer. They were finally each pro- vided with a horse to assist in drawing the engines to and from fires, which settled the difficulty.
Notwithstanding the unsettled state of affairs at the com- inencement, the firemen have always been ready, and have at all times been promptly on hand at every alarm, and have done their duty cheerfully. I would here say, that I believe Ply- mouth has as good a set of firemen as any town in the Com- monwealth, and their services should be, and I trust are, appre- ciated by the citizens at large.
To meet the expenses of the ensuing year, I would recom- mend an appropriation of $3,500.
Respectfully submitted,
HENRY WHITING, Chief Engineer.
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BURIAL HILL.
To the Selectmen of the Town of Plymouth :-
GENTLEMEN :- The Annual Report of the Burial Hill Com- mittee is respectfully submitted.
Undrawn balance on hand January, 1875 $32 95
Appropriation 250 00
$282 95
Cash paid sundry bills. $291 62
Overdrawn 8 67
$291 62
Last year an appropriation was asked for and obtained, to locate and define places of historic interest on the Hill, and in- crease the number of seats or benches.
That work has not been done, and we feel that an explana- tion is due the Town for this neglect.
The estimate for concreting was made by Mr. Harlow, not including the preparation of the ground. We understood it different.
The fence of the north-east corner of the Hill was proven to be in a worse condition than reported, and finding a favorable opportunity to stop up a long disputed thoroughfare, and pre- vent that part of the Hill from being a play ground, it was deemed advisable to rebuild the fence. This prevented doing the work intended without exceeding by the whole cost the money available. Believing it to be a necessity to do the work referred to, we recommend an appropriation of three hundred dollars for that purpose and for the general repairs and care of the Hill.
CHAS. RAYMOND, AUGUSTUS ROBBINS, C. F. BRADFORD, LEWIS EDDY, EDGAR C. RAYMOND,
Committee.
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AGAWAM AND HALF-WAY POND FISHERY.
The Committee on the Agawam and Half-way Pond Fishery would respectfully submit their annual report for 1875 :
The privilege for taking herring at Agawam was sold on the 27th of March, at public auction, to Geo. Sanford, for $805 00
Same day, at Half-way Pond, to B. H. Holmes, for. . 6 00
2) 811 00
One half to the Town of Plymouth $405 50
Expenses of the Committee after closing our 1874
report were for services and cash paid out. 25 50
$380 00
Bills for services and cash, 1875 :
B. H. Holmes. $13 81
P. C. Chandler 6 00
R. W. Bagnell . 6 00
Avery & Doten
5 00
Kimball Howes 5 75
Wareham Committee, for services
25 00
A. C. Chandler, horse and carriage hire
18 00
Thomas Peirce, labor on river
6 00
85 56
$294 44
Credit by cash received of Wareham, it being one- half of Thomas Peirce, Esq.'s bill against the Town for services in 1874 3 00
$297 44 Town. debtor, to one barrel herring to Mrs. Micah Holmes . 64
Cash paid Treasurer to balance $296 80
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Thomas Peirce, Esq., to Town, Dr. :
Half-Way Pond Herring Weir $14 00
Credit by bill paid by Herring Committee 6 00
Due from Thomas Peirce, Esq .. $8 00
The condition of the Fish-Way is in better running order than it has been for the last thirty years, and will need no extra repairs for many years.
All of which is respectfully submitted,
B. H. HOLMES, R. W. BAGNELL, Committee.
P. C. CHANDLER, )
PETROLEUM OIL.
To the Selectmen of the Town of Plymouth :
The following Annual Report of the Inspector of Petroleum Oil is respectfully submitted :
Whole number of barrels of oil tested . 34
For Allen Holmes 3
Leach & Co 3 J. C. Bates 28
JOSIAH C. FULLER, Inspector. Plymouth, Jan. 1, 1876.
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PLYMOUTH WATER SCRIP SINKING FUND.
The Trustees of the Plymouth Water Scrip Sinking Fund submit the following as a final report of the condition of the same June 30, 1875, the trust having expired by limitation and cancellation of the Bonds which became due June 1, 1875 :
DR.
To cash received from the Town' Treasurer in seven annual payments. $9,500 00
To dividends and interest received on the same 2,253 19
To profits from investments 298 35
$12,051 54
CR.
By 12,000 Plymouth Water Scrip Bonds,
costing
$11,975 05
To accrued interest on same
76 49
$12,051 54
The Bonds have been cancelled by the Trustees, and await the action of the Town as to the disposition which shall be made of them.
WILLIAM H. NELSON, ) WM. T. DAVIS, Trustees. GEORGE G. DYER,
Plymouth, Jan. 1, 1876.
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DUXBURY & COHASSET RAILROAD SINKING FUND.
To the Selectmen of Plymouth :-
GENTLEMEN :- The undersigned herewith present a state- ment of the condition of the Duxbury & Cohasset Railroad Sinking Fund :
RECEIPTS.
1875.
June. From Town Treasurer $1,500 00
From former Trustees . 1,026 54
July. Dividend of Plymouth Savings Bank 29 13
Oct'r. Dividend of ten shares O. C. National Bank 40 00
Dividend of five shares Webster Nat'l Bank 15 00
1876.
Jan. Dividend of Plymouth Savings Bank. 28 49
$2,639 16
PAYMENTS.
1875.
June. For ten shares O. C. National Bank. $1,250 98
For five shares Webster National Bank. . . 1876.
550 00
Jan. Deposited in Plymouth Savings Bank 838 18
$2,639 16
JNO. J. RUSSELL, GEORGE G. DYER, ISAAC BREWSTER,
Trustees.
Plymouth, Feb. 1, 1876.
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TOWN OFFICERS.
Selectmen - William H. Nelson, Lemuel Bradford, David Clark, Henry Whiting, Charles B. Stoddard.
Town Clerk-Leander Lovell.
Town Treasurer-Curtis Davee.
Collector of Taxes-Lemuel Bradford.
Assessors-John Harlow, Josiah A. Robbins, Gideon Perkins.
Overseers of the Poor-Lemuel Bradford, William H. Whit- man, Jesse Harlow.
Sexton-Clement Bates.
Water Commissioners-Charles O. Churchill, Charles G. Da- vis, Samuel H. Doten.
School Committee-William H. Whitman, Charles B. Stoddard, Charles G. Davis, Lemuel Bradford, 2d, Benjamin A. Hatha- way, George A. Tewksbury.
Superintendent of Schools-Charles Burton.
Agawam Fishery Committee-B. H. Holmes, P. C. Chandler, Richard W. Bagnell.
Constables-John Perkins, Barnabas Hedge, Harvey W. Wes- ton, John Atwood, Lewis S. Wadsworth.
Burial Hill Committee-Charles Raymond, C. F. Bradford, Lewis Eddy, Edgar C. Raymond, Augustus Robbins.
Trustees Duxbury & Cohasset Railroad Sinking Fund-Jno. J. Russell, George G. Dyer, Isaac Brewster.
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Surveyors and Measurers of Lumber-George H. Jackson, Nath'l Brown, Leavitt T. Robbins.
Inspector and Sealer of Leather-John Churchill.
Sealer of Weights and Measures-Josiah D. Baxter.
Plymouth Beach Committee-Thomas B. Sears, Henry Whit- ing, Charles Burton, Josiah D. Baxter.
Surveyors of Highways-Selectmen.
Field Drivers and Fence Viewers-J. F. Towns, Nathan B. Perry, Ezra Finney, Lewis S. Wadsworth, Stephen Doten, Lewis W. Thrasher, Hosea C. Bartlett, William Manter, Charles Ray- mond, John Courtney, William Brown, Joseph Savery, Barna- bas Hedge, Ephraim F. Churchill, James T. Thrasher.
Committee on Shell Fish-Barnabas Hedge, Augustus Rob- bins, John T. Hall, John Wade, George H. Hall.
Superintendent of Water Works-Richard W. Bagnell.
Committee on Fire in the Woods-F. B. Cobb, Henry Whiting, Alanson Thomas, William T. Davis, Gustavus G. Sampson, Thomas Peirce, Horatio Wright, Isaac N. Barrows, Otis W. Burgess, Truman Sampson, Henry Whiting, Jr., Barnabas Hedge, L. T. Robbins, Ezra Finney, Ziba Ellis, Samuel Brad- ford, Jr., Ephraim Dunham, David Clark, George W. Cobb, Aaron Sampson, Nathaniel Brown, Lemuel Bradford.
Pound Keepers-At the Almshouse, Oliver T. Wood; at Chil- tonville, John Courtney ; at Manomet Ponds, Hosea C. Bartlett, Sidney Blackmer.
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VALUATION.
PERSONAL PROPERTY $1,369,769 00
REAL ESTATE 2,612,350 00
$3,982,119 00
Valuation of Bank stock taxed by the State, not
included in above valuation 506,154 96
Valuation of corporation tax taxed by the State. 324,603 64
Total valuation $4,812,877 60
Number of polls, 1,664.
Gain in number of polls from last year, 31.
Gain in real estate, $95,050.00.
Loss in personal property, $23,750.00.
Tax on polls, $2.00.
Rate of taxation, $1 36-100.
Number of dwelling houses, 1,050.
Increase since last year, 37.
Number of horses, 468. Number of cows, 386. Acres of land taxed, 49,141. Number of inhabitants, 6,334. Number of families, 1,447.
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