USA > Massachusetts > Plymouth County > Plymouth > Town annual report of Plymouth, MA 1884-1889 > Part 6
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There are now three hundred pupils in the building, and not a cheerful, healthful, comfortable, or convenient room ! It is to be hoped that the citizens of Plymouth will not neglect this subject longer. There is no doubt
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that other interests, very dear to them, will be seriously threatened within the next decade of years, unless there be some exhibition of enterprise in the way of public improvements. It is to be hoped that there will be no dispute about location ; but that there will be a generous concession of smaller privileges to the greater and common good. The present building, in my view, should be totally abandoned for all school purposes, and in its stead a new one built of suitable size to accommo- date all the schools now located there, and which may be sufficient for a century to come.
I cannot close this report without a word upon the higher functions of education. The teacher who holds that mental training is the chief work of the school- room, is no true educator, and will make a lamentable failure. Character building is the only result which can satisfy the requirements of human nature. This is the most difficult part of the work, and where teachers most frequently fail. They are too prone to clip down their responsibilities to the little sphere of the school. Did they realize more their concurrent responsibilities with the parents, we should have grander results from the prodigious efforts now made to educate the young. We find now a spirit of irreverence ; a lack of true self respect ; of respect for others ; of respect for things and beings higher than those of earth ; a lack of propriety in conduct and manners on the street and in public places ; a singular lack in all these things, which did not so
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plainly characterize the children and youth of a former generation.
There is no end to the duty of moral instruction in the public school. I care not by what name it is called, whether preaching or lecturing, as it sometimes is in derision, it should be the beginning, the middle, and the , end of the great work.
Respectfully submitted,
T. D. ADAMS.
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STATISTICS.
SCHOOLS.
GRADES.
TEACHERS.
Salaries.
Enrollment.
Average
Average
Attendance.
Number between 8 and 14 years.
Green,
High School,
Charles Burton,
$1,500
150
136
128
40
48
Green,
Grammar,
Seth S. Crocker,
1,000
50
42
40
34
North,
Grammar,
Charles F. Cole,
800
49
41
39
48
Chiltonville,
Grainmar,
Elmer E. Sherman,
600
48
40
36
32
So. Plymouth,
Grammar,
Mary L. Holmes,
400
37
24
21
25
North,
Intermediate,
Helen F. Pierce,
380
55
49
43
53
Wellingsley,
Intermediate,
Addie F. Bartlett,
360
27
24
22
22
Russell Street,
Third Grade,
Emma Davee,
360
46
41
36
46
Green,
Third Grade,
Carrie I. Mace,
360
39
36
34
39
Russell Street,
Third Grade,
Alice F. Blanchard,
360
40
37
33
40
Russell Street,
Second Grade,
Augusta M. Morton,
320
65
59
53
62
Green,
Second Grade,
Mary A. Aldrich,
320
62
58
48
62
Cold Spring,
Primary,
Frances E. Hovey,
280
34
32
28
18
Cold Spring,
Sub-Primary,
May J. Ellis,
280
31
22
18
3
South Street,
Primary,
Ellen M. Douglass,
280
31
28
26
27
South Street,
Sub-Primary,
Judith C. Howland,
280
56
42
37
1
School Street,
Primary,
Priscilla Perkins,
280
57
48
44
17
Oak Grove,
Primary,
May H. Chandler,
280
55
38
35
6
North,
Primary,
Anna A. Jones,
280
49
43
37
45
North,
Sub-Primary,
Grace D. Chandler,
280
55
47
35
5
South Street,
Primary,
Jennie C. Whitten,
280
27
22
18
10
Spring Street,
Primary,
Nelia D. Burbank,
280
39
32
28
2
Spring Street,
Sub-Primary,
Mary A. Moning, One term,
$6 per wk.
33
32
30
4
Cliff,
Primary,
Martha W. Whitmore,
260
30
25
22
12
Chiltonville,
Primary,
Susie F. Churchill,
260
32
25
22
17
Russell Mills,
Primary,
Mary A. Morton,
260
25
17
16
12
So. Plymouth,
Primary,
E. A. Ward,
260
33
24
22
22
South Pond,
Ungraded,
Katie W. Sampson,
260
29
25
24
13
Long Pond,
Ungraded,
Nellie F. Pierce,
260
19
14
13
9
Ellisville,
Ungraded,
Jennie H. Paty,
$62 per wk.
10
7
6
8
Cedarville,
Ungraded,
Hepsie E. Pierce,
360
26
21
18
21
West District,
Ungraded,
Nellie M. Smith,
$6 per wk.
6
6
5
Gurnet,
Ungraded,
Myra C. Holmes,
$62 per wk.
3
3
3
1
Carrie E. Small,
700
Lucia Bartlett, 25 weeks,
437₺
Cynthia E. Merrill, 15 weeks,
2433
Russell Street,
Grammar,
Aaron H. Cornish,
1,000
50
45
Membership.
Paid T. D. Adams for Superintending Schools, Instruction in Music, and Composition Work, one term of fifteen weeks, at the rate of $1,500 a year, $562.50.
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SUMMARY OF STATISTICS.
Whole number of pupils in Public Schools 1,405
Average number belonging 1,185
Average attendance. 1,040
Number between eight and fourteen years. 809
Number over fifteen years. 125
Number under five years 14
Months the schools were in session.
10
Number of teachers in the schools 37
Number of teachers in Primary Department 15
Number of teachers in Intermediate Department. 8
Number of teachers in Grammar Department 5
Number of teachers in Ungraded Schools 6
Number of teachers in High School 3
ANNUAL REPORT
-OF THE-
TOWN OFFICERS
- -OF THE-
TOWN OF PLYMOUTH
-FOR THE-
FINANCIAL YEAR ENDING JANUARY FIRST,
1885.
PLYMOUTH : AVERY & DOTEN, BOOK AND JOB PRINTERS. 1885.
ANNUAL REPORT
- -- OF THE-
TOWN OFFICERS
- OF THE-
TOWN OF PLYMOUTH
-- FOR THE -
FINANCIAL YEAR ENDING JANUARY FIRST,
11885.00
PLYMOUTH : AVERY & DOTEN, BOOK AND JOB PRINTERS. 1885.
PLYMOUTH PUBLIC LIBRARY
13 108-1275
REPORT OF THE SELECTMEN.
The Selectmen submit the following report for the year eighteen hundred and eighty-four :
The Treasurer's books have been examined and found correct, and all payments properly vouched.
The Treasurer is charged for the year with :
Cash on hand, Jan. 1, 1884
$15,079 13
Cash from-
Trustees of Duxbury & Cohasset Railroad Sink- ing Fund 23,921 19
Loan from Plymouth Savings Bank 7,500 00
Loan from Plymouth Five Cents Savings Bank .. . 7,500 00
Transfer from abatement account 1,078 81
Dog fund from the County 587 57
School fund from the State
235 19
Sale of school books
607 28
Poor reimbursements
1,223 10
Water rents, labor and materials 13,842 13
Pedlers' licenses
13 00
Interest on Training Green fund 26 42
Interest from delinquent taxes
363 55
Dividend from Old Colony National Bank
400 00
Agawam and HalfWay Pond fishery
270 00
Rebate of interest on loans
8 61
Sale of lots in Vine Hills Cemetery
390 79
Amount carried forward. $73,046 77
4
Amount brought forward. $73,046 77
Road Department reimbursements 621 14
State aid refunded 1,827 50
National Bank tax from State of Massachusetts .. 2,941 89
Corporation tax 7,347 22
Insane Poor reimbursements 357 87
Contingent reimbursements .
279 75
Interest from Warren Fund
50 00
Fire Department reimbursements
4 06
Taxes, 1882 1,170 04
Taxes, 1883 .
5,271 65
Taxes, 1884
61,555 47
School Department reimbursements
6 75
School Department, reimbursements from Mur- dock Fund
18 25
Poor Department, reimbursements from Murdock Fund 18 25
Sale of herring brooks
19 00
Indigent aid refunded.
325 56
Widows' reimbursement
17 00
Billiard licenses 18 00
Land rent .. 6 00
Violation of town by-laws
10 00
Circus license 37 50
Collector's tax sales 67 10
Lighting street reimbursement 20 50
Burial Hill reimbursement 16 68
Fresh Brook reimbursement 16 50
$155,070 45,
5
The Treasurer is credited with payments as follows :
By paid-
Trustees Duxbury & Cohasset Railroad Sinking
Fund.
$1,500 00
Duxbury & Cohasset Railroad loan
40,000 00
State tax
5,620 00
National Bank tax ..
4,145 84
Corporation tax
186 24
County tax 4,524 15
Vine Hills Cemetery 453 13
Widows' distribution 150 00
Water Works, interest on loans and extensions. 12,917 84
Watch and police
1,253 52
Treasurer 600 00
Sexton
125 00
Town debt and interest account
4,981 39
State aid
1,338 00
Schools
22,580 69
Roads and bridges
10,283 21
New roads
3,742 22
Insane poor
1,966 80
Poor
7,710 35
Fire Department.
2,953 20
Burial Hill
266 68
Contingent
4,068 61
Lighting streets and Town House
1,339 81
Assessors 782 78
Plymouth Public Library 1,000 00
Agawam and Halfway Pond Fishery
44 85
Warren Fund 22 58
Collector of Taxes . 477 71
Indigent soldiers' aid 996 55
Amount carried forward $136,031 15
6
Amount brought forward. $136,031 15 Abatements
1,790 06
New Grammar School Building 8,288 54
Market Street widening
2,000 00
Burial Hill enlargement 1,700 00
Repayment of tax sales
56 32
Fresh Brook
15 30
Cash on hand
5,189 08
$155,070 45
The overdrawn balances of the several appropriations are as
follows :
$8,288 54
Roads and bridges
153 11
Schools
613 22
Indigent soldiers aid
500 15
Watch and police.
9 03
Insane poor
100 66
New roads
742 22
$10,406 93
The undrawn balances of the several appropriations are as follows :
$10 78
Abatements
1,255 27
Assessors
67 22
Vine Hills Cemetery
453 50
Poor
424 92
Water Works
1,017 82
Town debt and interest account
383 59
Fire Department
50 86
Lighting streets and Town House
22 27
Contingent 173 45
Amount carried forward $3,859 68
Collector's tax sales
New Grammar School-house
7
Amount brought forward. $3,859 68
Warren Fund .
1,095 56
Widows fund
67
Collector of Taxes
22 99
Fresh Brook Fishery 11 91
Training Green Fund 676 01
$5,666 82
TOWN DEBT.
WATER LOAN.
70,000 six per cent. bonds, payable June 1, 1885. . $70,000 00
20,000 six per cent. bonds, payable Aug. 1, 1894. . 20,000 00
Note to Plymouth Savings Bank, due April 1, 1890, 5 per cent . 6,000 00
Note to Plymouth Five Cents Savings Bank, due
August 2, 1890, 4} per cent. 6,000 00
$102,000 00
DUXBURY AND COHASSET RAILROAD LOAN.
Note to Plymouth Savings Bank, due
April 1, 1894, interest 4 per cent. $7,500 00 Note to Plymouth Five Cents Savings Bank, interest 4 per cent., due
April 1, 1894 7,500 00 15,000 00
TEMPORARY DEBT.
Note to Plymouth Savings Bank, pay- able April 13, 1888, interest 4 per cent 5,000 00
Amounts carried forward.
$5,000 00 $117,000 00
8
Amounts brought forward .... $5,000 00 $117,000 00
Note to Plymouth Five Cents Savings Bank, payable March 20, 1888, 4 per cent. interest 6,700 00
Note to Plymouth Savings Bank, pay- able Sept. 18, 1886, interest 4 per cent 10,000 00 Note to Plymouth Savings Bank, on
demand, interest 4 per cent 11,000 00 Notes to sundry parties, on demand, in- terest 5 per cent 4,900 00
37,600 00
ENGINE HOUSE LOAN.
Note to heirs of Timothy Manter, on
demand, interest 5 per cent $300 00
Note to Plymouth Savings Bank, on de- mand, interest 5 per cent 1,000 00
1,300 00
Undrawn balances of the several departments .. .
5,666 82
Gross debt
$161,566 82
LESS.
Uncollected taxes, 1883
$1,639 21
Uncollected taxes, 1884 . . 8,758 56
Indigent aid due from State of Massa- chusetts 496 39
State aid due from State 1,338 00
Cash on hand 5,189 02
17,421 18
Net debt Jan. 1, 1885 $144,145 64
Net debt Jan. 1, 1884 . $164,186 41 Decrease of the debt in 1884 $20,040 77
9
Payments have been made during the year on the principal of outstanding bonds and notes of the Town to the amount of $26,300. The receipts from the sinking fund and surplus reve- nue, with the difference in the overdrawn balances from last year, have aggregated $29,766.06; against this the overdrafts on account of Almshouse and North Grammar School-house, amounting to $9,725.69, covered into general indebtedness, has left as applicable to the reduction of the debt, the sum of $20,040.77 ; making the net indebtedness $144,145.64, as against $164,186.41 reported last year. To provide for the payments of the above amounts of $26,300, the sum of $23,921.19 was re- ceived from the Trustees of the Duxbury & Cohasset Railroad Sinking Fund; $1,078.81 by transfer from abatement account, and the balance from the appropriation for town debt.
The loan on account of the Duxbury & Cohasset Railroad Company of $40,000 became due April 1, 1884, of which $25,000 has been retired. The balance has been provided for by a loan of $15,000 on ten years at four per cent. interest, with liberty to apply $1,500 annually towards the payment of the principal, which will retire the loan at maturity by continuing the annual appropriation of $1,500 as a sinking fund. The expenditures in most of the departments have been in excess of former years, creating a deficiency of $10,406.93, of which $8,288.54 is on ac- count of new Grammar School-house, for which an appropria- tion of $7,500 was made at the annual meeting, but no provision was made for its payment.
To provide for these deficiencies, and the increase in the ap - propriations consequent upon the small balances remaining to the credit of the several departments, will materially increase our rate of taxation the present year, unless our expenditures are kept within the strict limit of necessity, and resort is had to borrowing to cover in part the deficiency of last year. We are rapidly approaching the limit where taxation will bear heavily
2
10
upon our industries and real property, as with prevailing low rates of interest and consequent diminished income from in- vested property, and small profits from business operations, makes taxation even at our present rate to many a serious bur- den, and should not be increased.
The cash balance in the treasury at the close of the year was $5,189.02, against $15,079.13 in 1883, while the only source of revenue to meet it-the uncollected taxes-is only $2,316.87 in excess of last year, showing that the expenditures for the 1 year have exceeded the receipts in nearly the difference repre- sented by the above figures.
There has been expended on account of indigent aid, $996.35. The amount allowed by the State will leave a deficiency of $500.15 to be provided for.
TOWN DEBT AND INTEREST ACCOUNT.
Jan. 1, 1884. CR.
By balance from old account $292 82
By appropriation 4,700 00
By rebate of interest on loan 8 61
By interest received from delinquent taxes 363 55
$5,364 98
CONTRA, DR.
To payments of interest on Duxbury &
Cohasset Railroad loan. $1,700 00
To interest on temporary loans . 1,770 74
By interest on loans in anticipation of taxes 210 65
To payments on principal of notes
1,300 00
4,981 39
Undrawn balance
$383 59
11
With the payment of a portion of the Duxbury & Cohasset Railroad loan, and refunding the balanco at a lower rate of in- terest, the sum of $1,100 less will be required to meet interest on outstanding indebtedness.
To provide for payment of $1,000 on Engine House loan and interest on temporary loans will require an appropriation of $3,200, which is recommended.
ROADS AND BRIDGES.
DR.
To payments in 1884.
$10,283 21
Jan. 1, 1884. CR.
By balance from old account $808 96
By appropriation 8,500 00
By appropriation 200 00
By reimbursements
621 14
10,130 10
Overdrawn . $153 11
The expenditures for roads and bridges the past year is $10,- 283 21, against $8,899.19 in 1883, and less the earnings of the teams in other departments, $9,562.07, against $8,120.04 in 1883. The difference is chiefly explained by exceptional ex- penditures for the following purposes, viz .: For purchase of a horse, $270; paid Patrick Taylor for injuries on the highway, $375 ; and $275 to E. & J. C. Barnes for removal of building, and land taken to widen Water Street-in all, $920.
The Town voted at the annual meeting an appropriation of $200 to improve the sidewalks on Cushman and Allerton Streets, for the convenience of travel to the Monument grounds,
12
Arrangements were made with the abutters to contribute a por- tion of the expense, so that the sum expended for that purpose did not exceed the appropriation, but the work necessitated a change of grade and the working of the street to conform to it, which cost, including paved gutters, about $500.
There has been an extra amount of work required of the Road Department in the working of Carver Street and grading and covering of Lothrop Street, consequent upon the working of the new road from Court to its junction with Lothrop Street. The repairs both in the central and outlying districts have been larger than usual.
There has been expended for permanent improvement of sidewalks and street crossings, including the work on sidewalks on Cushman and Allerton Streets, $1,571.82, not including the labor of the men and teams employed on the highways ; so that the sum has largely exceeded the amount authorized for such work, viz : $1,200.
The resetting of edge stone and change of grade from oppo- site the Green to Fremont Street, involved a larger expenditure than was contemplated, and partly accounts for the increased outlay.
The expenditures on sidewalks have been large for the past few years, and to make necessary repairs on walks already laid will still require it. The walks on the main street, between Fremont and Samoset Streets, are to a great extent covered with concrete, making on one side of the street a continuous walk between those points.
The results do not warrant the Selectmen in recommending the continued use of it for permanent improvement of side- walks.
It wears out rapidly ; is not uniform in quality. In many places it is rough and objectionable to walk on-more so than occasional mud would be on a gravel walk. On streets where
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the travel is light, and liable to wash, it can be used with better results. The sidewalks, outside of the thickly settled portions of the Town, can be kept in as good condition with ashes and gravel at a fraction of the cost of concrete, and considering the expense, and the objections which experience has shown in its use, the former, it is believed, will be found in the end to be the most economical and satisfactory method which can be adopted.
For permanent improvement of sidewalks within the central part of the Town, brick will without doubt be found, as it is in cities and large towns where the travel is great, to be the most durable and economical pavement.
The property belonging to the Road Department is in good condition, consisting of five horses, four of which have been purchased within the past two years are young and well adapted for the work. The equipment, in other respects, is complete, and very little outlay will be required the present year.
An appropriation of $9,500 for the current year is recom- mended.
NEW ROADS.
DR.
To payments in 1884
$3,742 22
CR.
By appropriation
3,000 00
Overdrawn $742 22
The expenditures on account of new roads have largely ex- ceeded the estimates, and have been occasioned by change of plans in the working of Carver Street which were not contem- plated when the appropriation was recommended,
.
14
The original plan submitted to the Town involved the widen- ing of the street on the east side to its connection with the angle in the wall opposite the church lot; also the building of a wall the entire length, and a flight of stone steps at the foot of Mid- dle Street.
For this work a contract was made with C. V. Pendleton for $1,300. As the work progressed, it became evident that ad- ditional width would improve the street, and to satisfy what appeared to be a general demand, the changes were made, and the widening extended to Leyden Street, as the additional work could be done, while the contractor was on the ground with the men and tools, much cheaper than it could be done if delayed another year and finished under a separate contract.
The sum expended, including land damages, fencing, etc., was $3,386.90. There was also expended for the working of the road from Court to Lothrop Street $322.57, and $32.75 for sur- veys and plans for new roads, for which petitions had been pre- sented and were pending action by the Selectmen.
Petitions have been presented for the laying out of town ways from Court to Water Streets, South to Mount Pleasant Street, and from Warren Street, across Eel River, to the Beach, on which hearings have been granted.
The most important, considering the outlay required, was the petition for a road from Court to Water Street. A hearing was had in December, 1883. The laying out was not urged by the petitioners on the grounds which the law recognizes as justifi- cation for taking private property for public purposes (viz : that the public necessity and convenience require it), but on the grounds that the land through which the road would pass was needed for building purposes, and that the road, if laid out, would improve and beautify that section of the Town. No gen- eral demand for the road presented itself. The Selectmen, after carefully considering the matter, were unanimous in the opinion
15
that they were not warranted in taking private property invol- ving so large an expenditure for such purposes ; that the road was neither demanded on the grounds of public necessity or convenience ; that it would impose a burden on the Town at a time when large expenditures were being incurred on account on enlargement and building of school-houses, and when the Town could least afford it, and with no probability that conditions would be less favorable for laying out the road at some future time, if needed, and for these reasons rejected the petition. The petition was carried on appeal to the County Commissioners, who have laid out the road, and served notice on the Town to work the same within the present year. The matter will be re- ferred to the Town for its action at the annual meeting.
The laying out of a town way from South to Sandwich Street was a condition in the purchase of the school-house lot, and becomes a necessity, not only to the children attending the schools, but to the occupants of several houses lately built upon a way already laid out, which will form a connection with the new road and Mount Pleasant Street. The laying out will be reported to the Town at the annual meeting.
The Selectmen have deferred action on the petition for a town way from Warren Street to the Beach, as the project now be- fore the Town involve more than can wisely be assumed the present year.
An appropriation for unfinished work on new roads will re- quire the sum of $1,000, which is recommended.
16
WATER WORKS. CR.
Jan. 1, 1884- By balance from old account
$93 53
By receipts from water rents, labor and materials 13,842 13
$13,935 66
DR.
To payments in 1884 12,917 82
Undrawn $1,017 84
The amount to the credit of this account shows a gain over last year of $924.29, and a balance to the credit of the account of $1,017.82, which, under a vote of the Town, will be appro- priated to the Water Scrip Sinking Fund. Since the Fund was created in 1876, the net receipts from Water Works contributed to it has been $1,759.43, the last payment of which, $1,000, was received in 1880, since which time the income has not exceeded the expenditures, so that no additions have been made to it ex- cept from the accumulations and 21 4-5 shares of Central Mas- sachusetts Railroad Preferred Stock, valued at $261.60, which were received from the Trustees of the Duxbury & Cohasset Railroad Sinking Fund as the balance of an investment in the bonds of that road, which had depreciated to such an extent that it was thought advisable to retain them and turn over to the Sinking Fund until the completion of the road, when it is hoped that they will appreciate in value and be available to meet the loan maturing in 1890. The first loan, issued in June, 1855, to provide for the construction of the Water Works, will become due June 1 of the present year. The loan incurred on account of Pumping Station was a temporary loan for ten years, and will become due in 1890. The Selectmen, in making pro-
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e
a
b
02
a
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vision for these loans at maturity, recommend to the Town that the loan of $12,000 be provided for by setting apart the present Sinking Fund, which, with the balance available from the in- come of Water Works the past year, now amounts to $3,694.37; that the sum of $2,000 annually, for the years 1886 to 1889, in- clusive, be taken from the income of Water Works and added to the Sinking Fund, which, with the accumulations, will amply provide for the loan at maturity. To provide for the loan of $70,000 becoming due the present year, it is recommended that bonds of the Town be issued, payable in thirty years, such pro- portion of the bonds becoming due in 1890 and each year there- after as will retire the loan at maturity. By making these pro- visions the requirements of the law can be complied with with- out imposing any direct tax, as, with the refunding of the debt, which it is reasonable to anticipate can be funded at a rate not exceeding four per cent., the annual saving in interest charges will nearly provide for the requirements of the sinking fund un- til 1890. The amount thereafter to be applied in payment of maturing bonds will require $2,500 annually for the succeeding ten years until 1900, and $3,000 annually thereafter, which will retire the loan at its maturity in 1915.
The interest account will be diminishing annually in the sum of $100 with the payment of the maturing bonds, and at the expiration of ten years will more than provide for the additional sum of $500 falling due after that time. The interest charge at the expiration of the first ten years, or in the year 1900, on a basis of four per cent. on the outstanding loan, will be $1,800 annually, and decreasing thereafter $120 each year, against an interest charge of $4,200 on the present loan.
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