USA > Massachusetts > Plymouth County > Plymouth > Town annual report of Plymouth, MA 1884-1889 > Part 18
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Robinson,
2
4
:
: Sagamore and Mayflower Street.
Summer,
10
8
Spooner,
3
From
Court,
Between Court and house of Silas D. Brown,
Samoset.
4
6
.. end of 4 inch pipe and Oak Street.
Samoset,
inch. Bet etween Chestnut, and house of All .... 2 .. .. 1
.. Russell and the Reservoir,
10
Pleasant and Sagamore,
. 4 Billington and intersection of High Street.
High and Market Street.
Nelson,
Between Court and R. R. Station.
1
Mayflower and Sagamore,
4
Between what Streets or Place,
Samoset,
4 inch. Between Chestnut and house of William B. Taylor,
4
From house of William B. Taylor 174 feet,
3 end of 4 inch pipe to house of Peter M. Nelson,
Summer,
Billington Street through land of H. I. Seymore to house of E. S. Paulding,
4
2
66 main pipe to Oak Grove Cemetery, Between School Street and house of William Thomas,
South Russell,
2
Market and South Russell Street,
School,
4
Mayflower and house of Emanuel Fratus,
Stafford,
3
end of 3 inch and land of Samuel Barnes,
Spring,
2
Summer Street and Samuel Loring's factory,
Sandwich,
6
Pleasant and South Green Street,
South Green,
2
2
Robinson and Massasoit. From Robinson about 100 feet, Massasoit to Jefferson Street. From Massasoit about 150 feet,
South,
2
3
66
3
Sandwich and house of J. F. Towns, (Clark house) end 2 inch pipe and land of E. F. Sherman, Branch to tenement house of Thomas Caswell, Sandwich and house of Mrs. Nathaniel Bartlett,
Sandwich Road,
4
2
end 4 inch pipe and house William Beckman,
2
: Cliff Road and house J. F. Howland,
2
Cliff Road and South District Road,
South District Road,
3
6 Warren Street and stable of Reuben Leach. end of 3 inch pipe and house of Ellis Whiting,
Suction pipe,
12
main line and pump,
South Depot Ave.,
2
North Ave., and South Ave., and up to block of C. G. Davis,
61
Sagamore,
2
South Green Street and Wellingsley Corners, Sandwich and Pleasant Street,
4
..
Summer and High Street,
4
4
end of 2 inch pipe and house of Mrs. Jerusha Doten.
4
66
2
Location. Street.
Diameter of Pipe.
Between what Streets or Place.
Sever, Seaside,
2
Court and Wadsworth's lane,
1
Court and factory Plymouth Cordage Company,
..
2
Court and Cordage Company boarding house,
I'nion,
-2
.. Water and house of R. Swinburn,
:
..
house of R. Swinburn and hydrant.
..
Vernon,
2
Court and house of Myles S. Weston,
..
4
house of Myles S. Weston and Allerton Street, Allerton and house of Thaddeus Faunce,
. .
-
house of Thaddeus Faunce and Highland Place. North and Leyden Street,
Water,
1
:
62
Winslow,
2
From
Summer Street,
Washington,
·)
Whiting,
4
Winter,
2
house of Thomas Bartlett and house of Lucy M. Holmes,
Sandwich and Clifford House stable
Warren, Wharf,
2
From Sandwich Street to Helen Morton's stable,
1
H. Morton's stable to head of Morton's Wharf. Water Street to Jesse Atwood's Wharf, 34 feet.
Yours respectfully,
R. W. BAGNELL,
Superintendent.
A
Ar
R R
T
B
tl
..
2
2
Sandwich and Town Brook.
North and Brewster Street,
Willard Place,
Between Pleasant and Mayflower Street, South and Mount Pleasant Street.
Sandwich and house of Thomas Bartlett,
1
1
2
..
hydrant and house of Mrs. McGlue.
2
. . Mrs. McGlue's house and Fremont Street.
:
3 inch. Between Russell and house of R. Bramhall,
63
REPORT OF THE OVERSEERS OF THE POOR.
The undersigned, Overseers of the Poor, submit the following report :
The inmates of the Almshouse have been well cared for, and made comfortable.
The calls for aid have been in excess of last year, and that, with the expense incurred in increasing our steam-heating aparatus, which we found it necessary to do, and repairs that were actually needed, in that part of the house occupied by the Superintendent, has been the cause of exceeding our appropriation.
Balance undrawn, January I, 1886 $378 78
The Town raised for support of the poor the past year 6,500 00
Received from other towns and other sources 1,389 22
Received from Murdock Fund 18 25
8,286 25
Overdrawn
416 77
$8,703 02
Amount expended
$8,703 02
INSANE POOR.
Amount expended . $2,699 85
Amount overdrawn, January 1, 1886. $102 46
Amount appropriated for insane poor. 1,725 00
Amount reimbursed . 841 39
2,668 85
Overdrawn
$31 00
64
POOR AT ALMSHOUSE.
Number of inmates, January 1, 1886
15
admitted during the year . 9
66 discharged during the year 9
died during the year . .. . 1
6. remaining January 1, 1887 14.
INSANE POOR.
Number at the hospitals, January 1, 1886 11
admitted during the year 5
discharged during the year 1
66 died during the year 0
66 remaining January 1, 1887 15
The roof of the old part of the Almshouse needs to be slated, as the shingles on it are very poor, and dangerous in regard to fire, as it caught on fire twice from sparks that came from the Summer Street fire the past Winter, and we would recommend that an appropriation of $7,000 be made, which we think will be sufficient for the support of the poor for the year, and the slating of the roof. We would also recommend for support of insane poor, $2,000.
GEORGE H. JACKSON, Overseers JOHN CHURCHILL, of
CHARLES P. HATCH, Poor.
65
REPORT OF THE BOARD OF HEALTH FOR THE YEAR 1886.
The usual regulations were adopted by the Board and duly published in the Old Colony Memorial and Free Press. An agent was appointed in the Spring who was instructed to exam- ine all privies, drains, cesspools, vaults and cellars in the thickly settled parts of the town and report their condition to the Board. On his complaint, and that of others, one hundred and thirty notices were issued to householders to abate presumed nuisances on their premises, and these notices were, with few exceptions, promptly attended to. In a few instances second notices were sent and all requirements were finally satisfactorily met.
The sewage system of the town has been examined by the Board with some care, and where positive nuisances existed, through want of connection with it, radical action has been taken and the needed extension secured. The Board of Health for the year 1878, consisting of Arthur Lord, William P. Stod- dard, J. B. Brewster, F. N. Knapp and C. H. Howland, to whose intelligent and well-directed services the town is indebted for the dissemination among its people of a knowledge of what is needed to secure and preserve its freedom from preventable diseases, invited the State Board of Health to examine Shaw's Brook, crossing Court Street south of Samoset Street, which had become a receptacle for the drains and water closets of the
5
66
houses in its immediate neighborhood. The brook was subse- quently examined by Charles F. Folsom, the Secretary of the State Board, who, in an official letter, advised either the con- struction of an adequate sewer, or an abatement of the nuisance by forbidding any further deposit of sewage in its bed. During the last year the Plymouth Board, finding it difficult to deal with the still unabated nuisance under any authority afforded them by law, adopted the simple method of procuring the signatures of the abutters to an agreement that the Board might construct a sewer, with all needed connections, and apportion among them the expense. Under this agree- ment a sewer was constructed and paid for, and the nuisance which has so long existed has been satisfactorialy disposed of.
In consequence of complaints concerning the district east of the Winslow House, and north of North Street, stimulated by the occurrence of several cases of scarlet fever in its immediate vicinity, the Board pursued the same course there, and secured the construction of a suitable sewer to meet the wants of the Winslow House, the houses in Jackson Place, the tenements in the rear of North Street, and such houses on the northerly side of North Street itself, as might find it impracticable to enter the North Street sewer. This sewer, under an arrangement with Dr. Brewster, crosses his land and enters the sewer in Brewster Street, which has an outlet on the shore.
During the year another sewer has been laid, though not under the direction of the Board, from the house of James D. Thurber on Court Street, to Cushman Street, and through the latter street to Allerton Street, having, under an arrangement with Roswell S. Douglass, its outlet through the Woolen Mill sewer at the shore.
Still another short sewer has been laid in Court Street, leading from the house of Leavitt T. Robbins, now building at the corner of Samoset Street, to Shaw's Brook, already mentioned
1
the mit acc faci Art Sto com exar hen was awar
repo C L Cz AI Stree Sa R Ve So Se Ch H Sto Bar Hi Rin Sp Max Sch
67
İn 1879 the town voted at its annual meeting to appropriate the sum of $350, to be expended under the direction of a com- mittee to be appointed by the moderator, in obtaining an accurate survey and plan for future extension of sewerage facilities. Under the direction of this committee, consisting of Arthur Lord, J. B. Brewster, Charles O. Churchill, William P. Stoddard and Charles H. Howland, Mr. L. F. Rice, a thoroughly competent engineer, was employed, who, after an exhaustive examination of the requirements of the town, made a compre- hensive report, accompanied by plans and specifications, which was published in the Old Colony Memorial. The Board are not aware that any action has been taken by the Town on this report. The plan of Mr. Rice included the following streets :
Court, from the house of William Gooding to North Street.
Lothrop.
Cushman.
Allerton, from a point 150 feet north of Cushman, to Russell Street.
Samoset, from Allerton to Court Street.
Railroad Avenue.
Vernon Street, from Allerton to Court Street.
Russell.
South Russell.
Sever.
Chilton Street, before its extension.
Howland. Stoddard Place.
Bartlett Place.
High. Ring Lane. Spring. Market.
Mill Lane. School.
1
·
CD
f y te ed he in de ter ent
no s D
ne
adi
68
Summer, from Oak to Market Street.
Leyden. Town Square.
Main.
North, to outer end of Long wharf.
Middle.
Carver.
Water, from North Street to Sandwich Street. Winslow, 187 feet.
Water Cure.
Sandwich, from Market Street to Fremont Street.
Bradford.
South Green.
North Green.
Pleasant,from Market Street to South Street.
Robinson, from Mayflower to Pleasant Street.
Mayflower, from Robinson to Washington Street. South, from Sandwich Street 370 feet.
Fremont, and across private land, Barnes Lane and Bradford Street to Water Cure Street.
Massasoit. Sagamore. Jefferson. Franklin.
Washington.
The system proposed by Mr. Rice covers a distance of 30,077 feet, and was estimated by him to cost, with all necessary man holes, lamp holes, street basins, and three properly constructed outlets, to wit: at the railroad station, the foot of Howland Street, and at Long Wharf, $37,181.71. It will be noticed, however, that this system extends no farther south than Fre- mont Street. Its extension to Hobs Hole Brook, with branches in Mt. Pleasant and Winter Streets, would add about 2000 feet to the distance, and about $2,000 to the cost, making the entire
Th
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Fr Street
to
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ne
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Thr Throw Thro Throw
On H On Su On Ple On Ro On Ma On San
the
69
cost about $39,000. It is probable, however, that with the omission of such features as a system adapted to the require- ments and means of such a town as Plymouth would not necessarily demand, this estimate might be reduced to $30,000.
There have been already constructed the following sewers, most of which have been adopted by the Selectmen in behalf of the town, and have become a part of the town system.
On Court Street, from the house of James D. Thurber to Cushman Street.
On Cushman, through its whole length.
Samoset Street and Railroad Avenue, from Samoset House to the shore.
In Shaw's Brook, from Allerton Street to the shore.
On Court Street, from the house of L. T. Robbins to Shaw's brook.
From the houses of Mrs. T. Hedge, Dr. Jackson and William H. Nelson to the shore.
From the House of Correction, through Court and Howland Streets to the shore.
Through Chilton Street to the shore.
Through Brewster Street to the shore.
On Court Street, near South Russell Street, to North Street. Through North Street to the shore.
Through Main Street, from North to house of Dr. Hubbard.
Through Town Square and Leyden Street to the shore.
Through Le Baron's Alley to Leyden Street.
Through Winslow Street in part.
On Market, from Town Square to the Mill pond.
On High, from Spring Street to Market Street.
On Summer, from the Davie house to Market.
On Pleasant, from house of E. C. Chandler to Mill pond.
On Robinson, from Mayflower to Pleasant Street.
On Mayflower, from the top of the hill to Robinson Street. On Sandwich, from the Carver house to the Mill pond.
70
On Sandwich, north of Mt. Pleasant Street, through private land to the shore.
These sewers, estimated at about 10,000 feet in length, or one-third of the required system, would leave about $20,000 as thie probable cost of its completion. No one will deny that it is desirable that within the shortest practicable period this system should be constructed. A good sewage system is the corollary of a water system, and in every town possessing a system of water supply, a method should be adopted for the purpose of getting rid of it, or sooner or later a high rate of mortality must be the result. Six hundred thousand gallons of water are poured into Plymouth daily. Of this amount, two hundred thousand gallons are supplied to the woolen mill and find their way easily into the harbor, leaving four hundred thousand gallons to be accounted for. What becomes of this large amount may be approximately estimated by the examina- tion of a few statistics obtained by the Board. Out of 1,413 takers of water, only 158 deliver their excrementitious matter into the sewers, and 218 their sink water. It is fair to estimate that at least two-thirds of four hundred thousand gallons, or two hundred and sixty-six thousand gallons, are poured into the ground each day through the medium of cess- pools or vaults, gradually saturating it, until in time they will become generators of discomfort and disease. The statistics obtained by the Board are confined to the district lying between Cold Spring and Hobs Hole Brook, and extending as far west as the cemetery. They will be found in a tabulated form together with some statistics relating to preventable diseases, near the end of this report. The Board recommend, as a necessary step towards the completion of the proposed sewage system, that the selectmen be instructed to contribute a third, or a quarter, or some other portion of the cost of the construction of sewers hereafter laid in accordance with the plans of Mr. Rice, and within the limits of his system extended to Hobs Hole Brook.
a SI B we OD wat en op ter bolo inco imp basi
not :
71
The Board call the attention of the town to the fact that at present there are fifteen sewer outlets on the shore between Lothrop Street at the north, and Fremont Street at the south. Whether injurious to health or not, they are unpleasant neigh- bors, and the air from the sea, with which in the heat of the Summer we greedily fill our lungs, is taintedaby their noxious breath. It seems to have been a folly to prevent the location of the Standard Fertilizer Company on Plymouth Beach, a mile and a half away, while we tolerate the existence of so many plague spots at our very doors. The Board recommend, as a second step towards the completion of the sewage system, that a committee be appointed to report, at an early day, plans and specifications and estimates for the construction of an intercepting sewer along the harbor front, with a main outlet extending under Long Wharf and emptying into the channel. The Board further recommend that the selectmen be instructed to provide existing street entrances to the sewers with catch- basins, and plank partitions and hanging traps, which, while admitting surface water, shall effectually keep back the sewer smell.
There are a few suggestions made by Mr. Rice, which the Board think it desirable to repeat in this report. House con- nections should be constructed of a six-inch pipe, with a fall of one foot in fifty, and furnished with traps. Neither soil nor water pipes should be built in the partitions. From the lower end of the soil pipe there should be a communication with the open air, and the pipe should be extended up through the roof, terminating in either a goose neck or a ventilator. If house- holders will observe these rules, they will be spared much inconvenience, and finally, serious sickness. It is a common impression that water in water-closets and traps under set basins and bath tubs will insure safety, but no greater error can be entertained. They may keep back odor, but they can- not keep back gas, and it is the inodorous gas which causes
72
disease. Between Cold Spring and Hobs Hole Brook, there are 436 drains which empty into closed vaults, and 15 houses where water-closets do the same. In these vaults noxious gas forms, and demands and obtains an outlet. Without suitable ventilation, bath rooms and sleeping and living rooms become their certain recepticles. The householder who relies on an old well, or a cesspool, for the deposits from his water-closet and sink, invites desease, and may be sure, sooner or later, of the acceptance of his invitation.
The health of the town, judged by its bill's of mortality, has been good. During the last twelve years the number of deaths in each year has been as follows :
1875
92
143 in 1,000
1881
122
173 in 1,000
1876
173
28
66
1882
115
163
1877
118
183 66
1883
107
153
1878
124
193
1884
124
18 66
1879
118
183
1885
126
171
1880
139 193
1886
121
17
66
In this table a population of 6,370 is used from 1875 to 1879 ; of 7,093 from 1880 to 1884, and of 7,239 from 1885 to 1886, according to the census of 1875, 1880 and 1885.
The last report of the State Board of Health gives the death rate in 1885 in nineteen cities, nearly all of which are enjoying complete sewage systems, as follows :
Boston,
24.09 in 1,000.
Worcester, 17.38 in 1,000.
Lowell,
18.45
Cambridge, 20.57
Fall River, 19.55
Lynn, 16.68 66
Lawrence, 15.16
New Belfast, 23.68
Somerville, 16.68
Salem, 19.21 66
Springfield, 18.24
Holyoke, 19.14
Chelsea, 19.49
Taunton, 17.87 66
Gloucester, 16.73
Haverhill, 18.37 66
Newton, 13.79
Waltham,
16.19
Hol nort Bro sout refer with disea rent used
its Col bet
sca
foll
18 18 188 18
1 1 1 18 18 18
18
1
r
1
63
Malden, 15.27
73
In 12 of these the rate was higher than that of Plymouth, while the average of the whole was 18.24 in 1,000, against a rate of 17.33 in Plymouth.
The following table will show the number of deaths since 1875, inclusive, from the two preventable diseases, diphtheria and typhoid fever, and from consumption :
Diphtheria.
Typhoid Fever.
Consumption.
1875
2
4
13
1876
28
2
23
1877
18
0
19
1878
0
1
15
1879
8
1
20
1880
5
0
20
1881
4
4
10
1882
2
6
16
1883
1
1
15
1884
1
3
12
1885
0
1
15
1886
7
1
15
The number of cases of diphtheria, typhoid fever and scarlet fever reported to the Board during the year, was as follows :
Typhoid Fever. 3
Diphtheria. 22
Scarlet Fever. 55
The three cases of typhoid fever were on Court Street and its outlets. Of the 22 cases of diphtheria, seven were north of Cold Spring, four between Cold Spring and Town Brook, nine between Town Brook and Hobs Hole Brook, and two south of Hobs Hole Brook. Of the 55 cases of scarlet fever, 10 were north of Cold Spring, 14 were between Cold Spring and Town Brook, 19 between Town Brook and Hobs Hole Brook, and 12 south of Hobs Hole Brook. The table of statistics already referred to is here given, and if repeated from year to year with a classification and localization of deaths from preventable diseases, it is quite possible that the greatest number of pre- ventable diseases will be found to occur where cesspools are used instead of sewers.
74
Number of tenements east of the Cemetery, between Cold Spring and Hobs Hole Brook .. 729
Number of tenements between Cold Spring and Town Brook 480
Number of privies in the same distriet
290
Number of tenements in the same district depositing excrementitious matter into sewers 136
Number depositiv ato cesspool~ ~~ hults 15
Number depos ag sink water into vaults 255
Number depositing sink water into sewers 218
Number depositing sink water on the surface
14
Number of tenements between Town Brook and Hobs Hole Brook 233
Number of privies in the same district 225
Number of tenements in same district depositing ex- crementitious matter into sewers 22
Number in the same district depositing sink water into vaults. . . 181
Number depositing sink water on the surface. . 14
Before closing this report, the Board wish to call the attention of the Town to the increasing number of cottages on the shores of the ponds furnishing the water supply, and to the propriety of taking some action to prevent pollution. Section 98 of Chapter 80, of the Public Statutes, provides that the State Board of Health shall have the general supervision of all streams and ponds used by a city or town, as sources of water supply, with reference to their purity, and that upon the application of a city or town to the Board, alleging the pollution of its water supply, the Board shall give notice and grant a hearing, and upon proof of such pollution, issue an order to prevent the same. It is recommended, that the Water Commissioners be instructed to apply to the State Board in behalf of the town, in order that it may be ascertained whether
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a t
Pz
wit pres
it
75
such pollution is going on, and if so, that it may be effectually stopped.
In conclusion, the Board suggest a few simple and approved rules.
1. In the thickly settled parts of the town no pump nor well-water should be used for drinking and cooking, under any circumstances. The ground has become spongy, and lost its filtering power. In the ( tir thickly settk , parts such water must be avoided, if the pump or well is in crise proximity to cesspools, vaults, barn-yards, pigstyes, or other contaminating influences.
2. If a case of typhoid fever or diphtheria should occur in a family where a privy is used, the deposits should be dis- infected daily by the free use of chloride of lime, diluted with nine parts of plaster of paris. Loamy or clayey earth is a fair substitute, but sand should be avoided, as it is not a dis- infectant.
3. If a vault or cesspool or old well be used for the deposit of either excrementitous matter or sink water, it should be ventilated at once, either by a chimney projecting through the ground, or by the extension of the soil pipe through the roof.
4. Milk used in the family should come from a dairy where it is certain that no human excrementitous matter is deposited within leaching distance of any stream, or spring, or brook, from which the cows drink.
5. Clothing may be disinfected by a four hours' immersion in a two per cent. solution of carbolic acid.
6. A sick room after death may be disinfected by fumigation with sulphur in such manner as the attending physican shall prescribe.
Respectfully submitted,
JAMES B. COLLINGWOOD. E. D. HILL. CLARK FINNEY, JR. CHARLES H. HOLMES. WILLIAM T. DAVIS.
PLYMOUTH, Feb. 19, 1887.
76
FIRE DEPARTMENT.
BOARD OF ENGINEERS.
H. P. BAILEY, Chief.
P. S. BURGESS, Clerk,
W. E. CHURCHILL, ---
A. E. DAVIS,
Assistants.
W. E. BAKER,
G. E. SAUNDERS,
TO THE SELECTMEN OF PLYMOUTH :
GENTLEMEN: The Board of Engineers respectfully present their annual report for the year ending December 31, 1886 :
THE FORCE OF THE DEPARTMENT
consists of a board of six Engineers and 128 men, organized as follows :
Two steamer companies of 30 men each ;
One hand engine company of 20 men ;
One hook and ladder carriage, 16 men ;
One chemical engine, 8 men ;
Four independent hose carriages, 6 men each.
APPARATUS.
The apparatus of the Department consists of Two steam fire engines ; One hand fire engine ; One hook and ladder carriage ; One chemical engine ; Four independent hose carriages.
All the above in good working order.
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77
HOSE.
We have in the Department at the present time about 5,000 feet of cotton rubber-lined hose, all or nearly all in good order.
BUILDINGS.
All the buildings in the Department are now in good order, all having been painted the past year.
HYDRANTS.
Two new post hydrants have been purchased and located the past year, making in all 64 belonging to the town. All in good working order, all having been tested in November last.
RESERVOIRS.
The five reservoirs belonging to the town are in good condi- tion, except the one in Shirley Square, which has been leaking badly the last two months and will need repairing soon.
FIRES.
The Department have responded to five alarms the past year as follows :
February 12, 8 o'clock P. M., barn belonging to William Stewart. Total loss ; no insurance. Loss about $200.
February 23, alarm at 6 P. M., small shed in rear of shoe factory. Loss, $50.
July 20, small building on New Water Street owned by Barnes, Craig & Shannon, occupied by Moor & Swift. Loss on building and stock, $1,300 ; partly covered by insurance.
July 25, alarm at 1.40 A. M., for small fire on Main Street, in building owned by Edward Barnes and others, occupied by P.
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