USA > Massachusetts > Plymouth County > Plymouth > Town annual report of Plymouth, MA 1880 > Part 2
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The change of location of the pump to a point nearer the source of supply than was anticipated, when the matter was under consideration and acted on by the Town, will add to its cost, but the Commissioners do not anticipate an overdraft ex. needing five hundred dollars, for which provision has been made as already referred to. The Town, at the meeting au- thorizing the expenditure, appropriated the sum of twelve thou- sand dollars, to bo provided for by loan ; of this amount, eight thousand, five hundred and twenty-one dollars and seventy-one cents has been expended from the treasury, and will be funded when remaining bills are paid and the accounts closed,
22
Schools.
DR.
To payments in 1879
$17,407 06
balance of old account 109 88
$17,516 94
CR.
By appropriation. $16,000 00
Massachusetts school fund
217 72
one half dog fund
231 21 .
sundries
5 00
sale of school books ..
679 28
$17,133 21
Overdrawn $373 73
The expenditures op account of schools, as compared with last year, show an increase of two hundred and thirty-nine dollars and ninety-six cents.
For details of expenditure reference may be had to the report of the School Committee, accompanying the report of the Superintendent of Schools. The same appropriation as last year, viz ; sixteen thousand dollars, is recommended.
Poor.
CR.
By balance old account $188 17
appropriation
7,000 00
reimbursements",
1,752 86
$8,941 03
DR.
. To payments in 1879
$8,878 70
Undrawn
$62 33
23
The net expenditures on account of this department are seven thousand, one hundred and twenty-five dollars and eighty-four cents, against six thousand, nine hundred and sixty-five dollars and forty-five cents last year, and are classi- fied as follows :
Aid supplied to those living in other towns, but
-
1 having their settlement here $474 50
Aid supplied outside almshouse 3,554 78
329 70 Legal expenses . . .
Printing bills
.
17 00
Medical attendance ·
181 92
Salary of secretary
100 00
Meals supplied to five hundred and seventeen tramps 77 85
Expenses of almshouse, containing twenty-two inmates, not including the keeper and his family
2,390 09
$7,125 84
The bill for legal services was for expenses incurred in conducting a suit against the Town of Wareham, to determine the settlement of Donald McLeod, and recover for a bill of supplies amounting to two hundred and seventeen dollars and forty-eight cents, furnished him and his family, The suit was decided in faver of this Town, in the Superior Court, but on an appeal to the Supreme Court the verdict of the lower court was set aside, and a verdict rendered for the defendant Town.
The Overseers report that a less amount of aid has been disbursed for the last two months than for the corresponding months of last year. But with the increase of prices and uncertainty as to the demands which may be made upon them, ask for the same appropriation as last year, viz .; seven thou- Band dollars,
.
-
24
Insane Poor,
OR,
By balance from old account. $264 78
appropriation ,
1,450 00
reimbursements 279 40
$1,994 18
DR.
To payments to Taunton Lunatic
Hospital
$1,193 05
payments to Worcester Asylum .. 173 46
payment to E, M. Whiting. ....
52 00
$1,418 51
Undrawn. $575 67
There are at present nine persons in the hospitals, supported by the Town, an addition of one since the commencement of the year, which will require an appropriation of one thousand dollars in addition to the balance to the credit of the account and is recommended.
Fire Department.
DR. :
To payments in 1879
$2,316 49
Cn.
By Appropriation . . .
$2,200 00
balance of old account. 11 49
sundries ,
2 75
$2,214 24
Overdrawn
$102 25
25
The payments for the year have exceeded those of last year in the sum of two hundred and ninety-one dollars and ten cents, The difference principally arises from purchase of hose, amount- ing to one hundred and ninety-five dollars, and fuel and gas bills incurred in the new building, amounting to sixty-six dollars and fifty-seven cents. .
The Engineers, in their report of last year, called the atten- tion of the Town to the necessity of providing some means for supplying the water used in sprinkling the street other than from the hydrants. The continual use during the summer months subject them to great wear and occasions bills for repairs, which the department do not feel warranted in assum- ing. In most places using water for sprinkling the streets, stand pipes are erected at convenient distances for that pur- pose, and it is recommended that the Town adopt that plan, and instruct the Water Commissioners to carry the same into effect.
Vine Hills Cemetery.
OR.
By balance from old account. , $409 77 ..
cash from lots sold previous to 1879
103 95
cash from lots sold in 1879. 219 75
៛733 47
DR.
To payments in 1879 356 98
Undrawn
$376 49
There has been sold during the year, twenty-two lots, nmenyting to two hundred and eighty-eight dollars and twenty- fry cents, four of which remained unpaid when the account jras closed, amounting to sisty- eight dollars and fifty cents.
?
. .
26
There are also seven lots sold in previous years, remaining unpaid, and for which deeds have not been given, amounting to one hundred and twenty-three dollars and ninety-five cents.
The balance, standing to the credit of the account, will provide for the care and improvement of the grounds, and no appropriation is recommended.
Lighting Streets and Town House.
CR.
By balance from old account $98 44
appropriation
1,100 00
$1,198 44
DR,
To payments in 1879 1,068 32
Undrawn $130 12
There are forty-three street lanterns burning gas, an addi- tion of ten during the year, which have been erected in much needed localities on the main streets, at private expense, the Town assuming the care and lighting of the same .. Three have been changed from oil to gas, making with the additions an increased annual expenditure of $105.
There are in addition fourteen lamps, burning either oil or illuminating gas, on the main streets, and six not on the main streets for which the oil only is furnished, incurring, in all, an annual expenditure of $1,090.
Petitions have been presented to the Selectmen for addi- tional lamps on some of the main streets, which, if granted, will require an appropriation of $1,050 to meet the current expenses of the year, including the balance to the credit of the depart ment. 1,
27
Contingent.
OR.
By balance from old account.
$175 70
sundries .
2 55
appropriation
3,000 00
sewer rights
75 00
armory rent refunded
250 00
$3,503 25
DR.
To payments in 1879
$3,340 86
Undrawn
.
$162 39
Water Works Building Account,
DR.
To cost of building.
$918 44
OR
By amount charged to Water Works
$918 44
Treasurer.
OR.
appropriation .
$500 00
DR.
To payments, 1879
-
1 $500 00
28
Sexton.
CR.
$125 00
By appropriation
DR.
125 00
To payments in 1879
Collector of Taxes.
DR.
To commission collecting $9,094.52, taxes prior to 1879, at one per
$90 09
cent., ,,
450 00
salary for 1879
$540 09
CB
By appropriation ..
less one per cent. on $7,279.18,
taxes of 1879, uncollected ...
72 79
$522 79
$17.80
Overdrawn.
1
Widows' Fund.
CR.
By one-third dividend of Old Colony National Bank .. ·
$12530 5 8
balance old account
$180 8
. DR.
To payments, 1879
$180-0
$0
Uadrawn
$450 00
-
29
Burial Hill.
CR.
By appropriation . · $100 00
balance of old account
55 21
hay sold .
1 75
$156 96
DR.
To payments in 1879
$126 44
Undrawn.
$30 52
Warren Fund. OR.
By balance from old account.
$1,031 60
interest.
50 00
·
$1,081 60
DR.
To payment in 1879.
32 62
Undrawn
$1,048 98
Abatements. OR.
Bir balance old account $2,307 11
1,470 92
overlay in 1879
$3,778 03
DR.
-
payments in 1879
$1,379 30
Undrawn
$2,398 73
1
30
Sewerage Plans and Surveys.
1
OR.
'By appropriation.
$350 00
DR.
To payments in 1879 $432 95
Overdrawn
$82 95
Water Works Pumping Station. CR.
By appropriation.
$12,000 00
DR.
To payments in 1879 $8,521 71
Undrawn
$3,478 29
Water Works Extension. CR.
By appropriation $750 00 reimbursements. 150. 9(
balance charged to' Water Works 307.21
$1,208 11 DR. To payments in 1879 $1,208:1
31
Herring Money,
CR.
By balance from old account. $83 25
DR.
To payments in 1879
$80 95
Undrawn
$2 30
Training Green Fund.
CR.
By balance from old account
$534 05
interest, 1879
24 28
$558 33
DR.
To payments in 1879
.....
$4 50
Undrawn
$553 83
Duxbury & Cohasset Railroad Sinking Fund.
OR.
By appropriation
$1,500 00
DR.
Taamount paid Trustees $1,500 00
32
Fresh Brook.
CR.
By balance from old account . $102 22
. cash from D. Clark 8 50
DR. $110 72
To amount transferred to South Plymouth receiv-
ing tomb account $100 00
Undrawn
$10 72
South Plymouth Receiving Tomb.
CR.
By appropriation,
$100 00
amount from Fresh Brook fish-
ery .
100 00
$200 00
DR.
To payments in 1879 $136 00
Undrawn
$64 00
Watch and Police.
CR.
By balance from old account $88 09
appropriation
1,150 00
$1,238 09
DR.
To payments in 1879 $1,068 32
Undrawn
$169 77
D
33
Assessors.
CR.
By appropriation
$800 00
DR.
To payments in 1879
$787 00'
balance of old account
59 78
846 78
Overdrawn
$46 78
Guide Boards.
The guide boards of the Town are reported in good con- dition.
.
Appropriations,
The following appropriations for the current year are recommended :
Roads and bridges
$6,100 00
New roads
500 00
Schools
16,000 00
Contingent
3,000 00
Poor
7,000 00
Insane poor
1,000 00 .
Fire department
2,400 00
Burial Hill
100 00
Sexton,
125 00
Collector of Taxes
450 00
Amount carried forward ....
$36,675 00
3
34
Amount brought forward. $36,675 00
Duxbury & Cohasset Railroad sink-
ing fund. 1,500 00
Treasurer 500 00
Lighting streets and Town House ..
1,050 00
Watch and police
1,000 00
Assessors
950 00
Town debt
5,000 00
DEFICIENCIES.
Schools .
$385 00
Sewerage
82 95
467 95
$47,142 95
The revenue, not otherwise appro- priated, is as follows :
Corporation tax
$2,800 00
Bank tax
1,600 00
. Miscellaneous receipts
300 00
4,700 00
$42,442 95
Leaving the sum of $42,442.95, which it is recommended be raised by taxation for the expenses of the current year.
WILLIAM H. NELSON, 1. 1 Selectmen Plymouth.
HENRY WHITING, DAVID CLARK, C. B. STODDARD, JOHN CHURCHILL, 1
PLYMOUTH, February 14, 1880.
1
ABSTRACT OF RECORDS FOR 1879.
VOTED-That the Selectmen be requested not to grant any licenses for the sale of intoxicating liquors the present year.
VOTED-That the Water Commissioners have authority to furnish water to the County for a fountain in Court Square, at such times, and in such quantity, and under such regulations as may be deemed expedient.
VOTED-That the salary of the new Tax Collector be $450, and that he be instructed to collect the back taxes, and that he be allowed one per cent. for the same, and that one per cent. shall be deducted from his salary from all taxes of the year, 1879, remaining unpaid Jan. 1, 1880.
VOTED-That the Selectmen and Messrs. Daniel J. Robbins and John J. Russell be authorized and instructed to settle with Lemuel Bradford, and his bondsmen, in relation to any indebt- edness that said Bradford is under to the Town as its former Collector of Taxes. That this Committee be authorized to bring any suit or suits at law against Mr. Bradford or his bondsmen if they shall find it necessary.
VOTED-That the Town appropriate the sum of $350, to be expended under the direction of a committee, to be appointed by the Moderator, in obtaining an accurate survey and plan for future extension of sewerage facilities.
36
VOTED-That the Water Commissioners are hereby author- ized to contract for the erection of a building and shed, for use of the Water Works, on the unoccupied land in rear of the Steam Fire Engine House at a cost not exceeding ten hundred dollars, said sum to be drawn from the income from water rents, and the Selectmen are instructed to hiro such a sum in anticipation of receipts as may be needed for the payment of the costs of said building.
VOTED-That the Water Comissioners cause to be laid on Fremont street a four-inch cement pipe, and connect the same with the pipe on Union street, and they are also authorized to extend the water pipe on Mount Pleasant street to South street, and the sum of $750 is hereby appropriated for the aforesaid work.
VOTED-That the Selectmen be instructed annually, here- after, to include in their estimate of appropriations for high- ways a reasonable sum to be specifically applied to the perma- nent improvement of the sidewalks of the Town.
VOTED-That the Town refuse to pay the Town of Sandwich for any claim for the education of any children.
. VOTED-That the Water Commissioners are hereby author- ized and directed to procure a steam pump of such manufacture as they may consider expedient and for the interest of the Town. The said pump to be connected with the South Pond water pipe, and located at such point as they may find best for the working of such pump, unless, in their judgment, an arrangement more advantageous to the Town can be made by the purchase or lease of a water privilege on Town Brook or Billington Sea, and pumping the supply water used by the Town by water power.
37
VOTED-That the Selectmen are hereby authorized and directed to borrow a sum, not exceeding $12,000, for such length of time and at such rates as they may consider expedi- ent ; and the same shall be applied to the payment of the cost of the improvement of the Water Works as now voted and the bills contracted for this work shall be paid by orders of the Selectmen on the Town Treasurer, said bills being first approved by a majority of the Water Commissioners.
VOTED-To reconsider so much of the vote passed April 14, 1821, as related to the disposition of the larger moiety of the yearly income accruing from the sale of the rights of the Town in the waters of Town Brook.
TOWN OFFICERS.
SELECTMEN-William H. Nelson, David Clark, Henry Whiting, Charles B. Stoddard, John Churchill.
TOWN CLERK -Curtis Davie.
TOWN TREASURER-Curtis Davie.
COLLECTOR OF TAXES-John Churchill.
ASSESSORS-John Harlow, Josiah A. Robbins, Gideon Perkins. OVERSEERS OF THE POOR-William H. Whitman, John Churchill, Lemuel Bradford.
SEXTON-Clement Bates.
WATER COMMISSIONERS-Charles O. Churchill, Samuel H. Doten, William W. Brewster.
SCHOOL COMMITTEE-William H. Whitman, Charles B. Stod- dard, Frederick N. Knapp, James D. Thurber, Nathaniel Morton, George G. Dyer.
SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS-Charles Barton.
AGAWAM FISHERY COMMITTEE-Peleg C. Chandler, Augustus Robbins, Jesse R. Atwood.
CONSTABLES-John Atwood, Barnabas Hedge, Lewis S. Wadsworth, James B. Collingwood, Freeman Manter, William E. Baker, Stephen Holmes.
BURIAL HILL COMMITTEE-Selectmen.
TRUSTEES DUXBURY & COHASSET RAILROAD SINKING FUND- John J. Russell, George G. Dyer, Isaac Brewster.
SURVEYORS AND MEASURERS OF LUMBER-Nathaniel Brown, Leavitt T. Robbins.
·
39
INSPECTOR AND SEALER OF LEATHER -.- John Churchill.
SEALER OF WEIGHTS AND MEASURES-Christopher T. Harris. PLYMOUTH BEACH COMMITTEE-Selectmen.
SURVEYORS OF HIGHWAYS-Selectmen.
FIELD DRIVERS AND FENCE VIEWERS-Arthur Lord, William W. Brewster, Albert N. Fletcher, Henry Harlow, Edgar Dwight Hill, John J. Shaw, William C. Chandler, Joseph F. Towns, Lewis S. Wadsworth.
COMMITTEE ON SHELL FISH-Jesse R. Atwood and Selectinen. SUPERINTENDENT OF WATER WORKS- . Richard W. Bagnell.
COLLECTOR OF WATER RATES -- Willard Wood.
COMMITTEE ON FIRE IN THE WOODS - Franklin B. Cobb, Henry Whiting, William T. Davis, Gustavus G. Sampson, Thomas Peirce, Horatio Wright, Otis W. Burgess, Truman Sampson, Barnabas Hedge, Leavitt T. Robbins, Ezra Finney, Ziba Ellis, Samuel Bradford, Benjamin Ward, David Clark, Aaron Sampson, Nathaniel Brown, Lemuel Bradford, Stephen Doten, M. V. B. Douglas, Samuel H. Doten, Thomas Sampson, A. J. Atwood.
POUND KEEPERS -- Oliver T. Wood, Hosea C. Bartlett.
WATER SCRIP SINKING FUND-William H. Nelson, George G. Dyer, William T. Davis.
BOARD OF HEALTH - Arthur Lord, William P. Stoddard, Charles H. Howland, E. D. Hill, James D. Thurber.
COMMITTEE ON INLAND FISHERIES - Thomas D. Shumway, Charles B. Stoddard, David H. Gilbert.
VALUATION.
Real estate $2,760,750 00
Personal 1,300,697 62
$1,061,447 62
Number of polls, 1,643.
Tax on polls, $1.76.
Rate of taxation, $1.20.
Number of horses, 434.
Number of cows, 457.
Number of sheep, 136.
Number of dwelling houses, 1,133.
1
1
TOWN MEETING.
Copy of articles in warrant for Town Meeting, to be held in DAVIS HALL, on MONDAY, March 15th, 1880, at eight and one half o'clock, A. M .:
ARTICLE 1. To choose a Moderator.
ARTICLE 2. To choose all necessary Town officers.
ARTICLE 3. To choose a committee to regulate the fisheries in Agawam and Halfway Pond rivers, and to take such other action relating to the same as may be necessary.
ARTICLE 4. To choose a Water Commissioner.
ARTICLE 5. To hear the report of the several officers and committees of the Town, and act thereon.
ARTICLE 6. To revise and accept a list of Jurors prepared by the Selectmen.
ARTICLE 7. To see if the Town will authorize the Treasurer, under the direction of the Selectmen, to borrow money in anticipation of taxes, and for disbursement under the provisions of the law relating to State aid, and to defray the expenses of the Town after January 1, 1881.
ARTICLE 8. To see if the Town will authorize the Collector of Taxes to use all means of collecting the taxes which a Town Treasurer, when appointed a Collector, may use.
ARTICLE 9. To make the necessary appropriations to defray the expensos of the Town, and for other purposes, and to raise such sums of money as the Town shall deem expedient.
42
ARTICLE 10. To see if the Town will authorize the Select- men to sell and convey lots in the Burial Ground at Manomet Ponds, and apply the proceeds to the care and improvement of the grounds.
ARTICLE. 11. To see if the Town will appropriate the sum of five hundred dollars, to be expended for improvements in Vine Hills Cemetery, as petitioned for by Charles E. Barnes and others.
ARTICLE 12. To see if the Town will instruct the Water Commissioners to construct a high service reservoir, of a capacity of not less than twenty-five hundred thousand gallons, and appropriate a sum of money for the purpose, as petitioned for by John T. Hall and others.
ARTICLE 13. To see what action, if any, the Town will take with regard to the suit of the Town against the sureties of the late Collector of Taxes, as petitioned for by Lysander Dunham and others.
ARTICLE 14. To see if the Town will instruct the Water Commissioners to erect stand pipes, at convenient distances, to supply the water cart, for use in sprinkling the public streets.
ARTICLE 15. To see if the Town will appropriate the sum of one hundred and twenty-five dollars towards defraying the expenses of Decoration day.
ARTICLE 16. To see if the Town will reconsider its vote fixing the number of Water Commissioners at three.
1
ARTICLE 17. To take such action with regard to the number of Water Commissioners, and the election of the same, as the Town may consider expedient, as petitioned for by Winslow Drew and others.
1
1
REPORTS.
REPORT OF THE BOARD OF HEALTH.
SThe Board of Health respectfully submit the following re- port for the year 1879 :
The Board of Health elected at the annual meeting of the Town, March 19, 1879, organized by the choice of Arthur Lord as chairman, William P. Stoddard, secretary, and Dr. E. D. Hill, physician.
The regulations adopted by the Board of Health the previous year were published in the OLD COLONY MEMORIAL and FREE PRESS once a month from June to October. All complaints of existing nuisances which were made to the Board were promptly attended to, and, in the majority of cases, a single notice to the party complained of was sufficient to lead to the removal of the nuisance.
The Board pursued the plan of personal investigation of the drains, cess-pools and vaults in the more thickly settled portions of the Town; the causes of complaint were examined, and the householders required to remedy the defect. One of
44
the largest corporations, at the request of the Board, entirely reconstructed the vaults connected with their tenement houses, and, by their liberal action, removed all complaints, and greatly benefited tho inmates of their tenements. The most impor- tant action which the Board took was in relation to the manu- facture of fertilizers, or guano, from fish or other animal matter.
Information having been received that the Standard Fer- tilizer Company had purchased a tract of land at the Beach, and had obtained permission from the Harbor Commissioners to build a wharf near the turn in the channel, a careful inves- tigation was made into the methods of manufacturing gnano employed by the company, and the effect of such mannfacture on the health and comfort of the community. It was found that the Board of Health in Boston had been compelled to take stringent action in regard to this Company upon the com- plaints of citizens frequently made to that Board.
And, after full inquiry, it was deemed advisable to adopt a regulation forbidding the exercise, after date, of the trade or employment of manufacturing fertilizers or guano from fish, or other animal matter, within the limits of the Town of Plymouth, except at such place or places as may have been or may here- after be assigned by the Board ; such trade or employment being, in the opinion of the Board, a nuisance, hurtful to the inhabitants, the exercise of which is attended by noxious and injurious odors.
Soon after the adoption of this regulation, application was made by the Fertilizer Company for permission to erect build- ings and carry on their business upon Plymouth Beach. After a full hearing before the Selectmen, it was decided not to grant the request of the petitioners, and they were given leave to withdraw.
The mortality of the Town has been less in 1879 than in previous years, and the percentage of deaths less. The num-
1 :
€
45
ber of deaths the past year was one hundred and eighteen. Two persons have died who were over one hundred years of age. An analysis of the deaths shows a diminution of the preventable diseases as compared with previous years, and that a larger proportion of aged people have died.
The following table contrasts the years of 1877, 1878 and 1879 :
1877.
1878.
1879.
Under five years of age.
27
17
29
Between seventy and ninety years.
29
42
39
Over ninety years.
1
2
Causes of Deaths in the Years :
1877.
1878.
1879.
Consumption
15
15
20
Diphtheria.
17
0)
S
Cholera infantum, diarrhea
and
Teething.
8
6
1
Typhoid fever
0
1*
1.
Dysentery.
2
0
1
Scarlet fever
0
1
2
The other principal causes of death during the year are : cancer, four ; heart disease, twelve ; pneumonia, eight.
Two cases of small pox were reported by the attending physicians to the Board. The patients were carefully isolated, and all the usual precautions taken to prevent a spread of the disease. As the small pox hospital was not in a suitable con- dition for the reception and care of patients, and the disease appeared in a thinly settled community, remoto from the centre of the Town, it was not deemed advisable to remove the patients.
Fortunately the cases were not of a severe character, and the patients soon recovered, and as no further cases were reported, the disease was probably confined to those two instances.
*This case was reported to the Board of Health by the attending physicians as arising from a defective sink drain.
46
The attention of the Town was called by the Board of 1878 to the expediency of a repeal of chapter sixty-three of the acts of 1809, entitled : "An act to empower the inhabitants of the Town of Plymouth to choose a Board of Health, and for removing and preventing nuisances in said Town." And we recommend that the Board of Health for the ensuing year be instructed to petition the Legislature for the repeal of that chapter.
The fact that questions have arisen as to the right of the Board to enforce its regulations, except under the provisions of that act, and that the General Statutes and supplementary acts in relation to the public health and suppression of nuisances are full and clearly defined by judicial interpretation, make it, in the opinion of the Board, advisable to act only under those general provisions of law, and not under a special statute applicable only to Plymouth.
The expenditures of the Board, amounting in all to $69.15, have been approved by the Selectmen, and paid from the con- tingent fund.
The admirable and comprehensive report made to the com- mittee of public sewerage, by the engineer, Mr. L. F. Rice, who has made a special study of that subject, and a particular and exhaustive examination into the requirements of the Town, has been published in the OLD COLONY MEMORIAL, and the plans and specifications are now on file at the Town House.
The necessarily large expense which the adoption of the recommendation and plan made by Mr. Rice, in that report, would involve, is an obstacle, which, in the present condition of the public treasury, owing to the expensive system of pumping recently adopted by the Town, must prevent the immediate construction of a general system of sewerage.
The construction of the proposed system of sewers for North, Main, Middle, Leyden and Court streets, from Main
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