USA > Massachusetts > Plymouth County > Plymouth > Town annual report of Plymouth, MA 1890-1893 > Part 9
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Number at hospital Jan. 1, 1891 15
Admitted during the year 4
Discharged during the year 2
Died during the year
2
Remaining Jan. 1, 1892
15
We recommend that there be raised for the support of the poor for the ensuing year $6,500, and for the insane poor $2,200.
GEORGE H. JACKSON, Overseers
CHARLES P. HATCH, of Poor.
CHARLES H. ROGERS,
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PARK COMMISSIONER'S REPORT.
Expended at Morton Park in the year 1891 for - Labor and teaming $548 76
Police service
20 00
Printing reports 15 00
Manure
7 50
Tools and grass seed
7 15
$598 41
Appropriation
$500 00
Wood sold to poor department
82 50
Five cords wood sold to sundry per-
sons
15 00
Overdrawn 91
$598 41
Other expenses for trees, labor, teaming, tools, lumber, surveying and stone for corner bounds have been incurred to the amonnt of $183.00, which has been paid by the Com- missioners personally.
The view of Billington Sea from Hathaway's Point and its approaches is considered to be the finest that the Park affords.
The Sand-spit as a play-place for children, and the breeze which always comes from the water in hot weather, aid in making this Point very attractive.
To open these attractions, a road has been built this year from Hospital Cove through the edge of the woods to Hathaway's Point, thence continuing northerly and easterly to the Red-Spring Road. This new road is about 1,700 feet
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in length, and runs wholly through woods and over "Sunset Knoll," giving beautiful views of the pond through most of that distance.
The Road from Hathaway's Point to the Red-Spring Road is the Commissioner's ideal of what the most of our park roads should be. The ordinary width is only enough for one carriage, but there are enough wider places for convenient turn-outs. In a few years' time the undergrowth and the growing together of the tops of the trees over the road will give it the artless appearance of an ordinary woods-road.
That a visitor may naturally find the entrance to this road at Hospital Cove, a road about 200 feet long was made from Hospital Cove to connect with the road to The Land- ing. This short cut does not take away much, if any, of the beauty of the approach to Hospital Cove by the old semi- circular road, and will permit the old road to become nar- rower and somewhat more overgrown and attractive.
The gunning stand at Hathaway's Point has been per- mitted to remain to the end of this year on condition that it shall be used no more hereafter. The building is to be left for the use of the Park.
Work has been begun upon a road which, it is expected, will be finished in the Spring of 1892, to begin on Summer Street, just beyond " Witch Hollow," thence to follow the top of a ridge of land leading toward Little Pond Grove, to connect with the old road near the Grove.
Pleasant Valley road, the trees from which have been cut a year or more, it is hoped may be worked the coming Spring to give access to more of our best woods, and aid in dividing the woodlands into smaller tracts for better protec- tion against the spread of fires.
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The road in Little Pond Lane has been much improved in places by stone ballasting and good gravel covering, and much has been done to improve the roads elsewhere.
The foot-paths have been improved. It is hoped that they may be extended in the Spring and Summer of 1892, so that the whole circuit of the Park may be made on foot without using the roads, except to cross them or walk in them for very short distances where the character of the grounds makes it difficult or unnecessary to have more than a common way for a road and a path.
Corduroy Path has been a great attraction this year. By this path the swamp is crossed "dry shod," and the charm- ing scenes about the source of Town Brook are reached by a walk of a few hundred feet.
The visitor who rides to the Park loses much, unless he stops here and there to follow the foot-paths, of which Cor- duroy path is but one, that lead to the depths of the woods and to places which give the most attractive water views.
Let us call upon our imagination to see the beautifully clear and usually broad stream that Town Brook was when our Pilgrim Fathers landed their goods upon its banks. In the mile and a half of its length from Billington Sea to the harbor, with a descent of 65 feet, there were a number of rapids with here and there a pool. The gulches, broad banks and long hill-slopes were shaded with a variety of trees and shrubs ; and well-worn paths wound up and around the long valley. All that remains, holding much of the natural beauty of this once picturesque stream is the part now in the Park, between the source of the Brook and "Bill Holmes' Dam."
The banks on the shores of Little Pond, having been dug away somewhat in places for gunning stands in former years
and washed, through the most of this year, by unusually high water in the pond, were worn away so much as to injure some of the best trees and bring many others in danger. To prevent further damage, considerable labor has been ex- pended in restoring the banks. While doing this, much soil was available to spread upon the ground around the grand old pitch pine trees which form a part of the old grove. They are thrifty now ; with proper care some of them may remain a century longer.
Our constant friend, F. W. Brewer Esq. of Hingham, sent us in the Spring some excellent white pine and Scotch- larch trees. We also set out other small white pines, pitch pines, pin oaks, scarlet oaks and a few holly ; but our tree planting this year has hardly been enough to be very cred- itable to us.
We have had good success in transplanting pitch pine trees four feet to five feet in height, notwithstanding the opinion of horticulturists of long experience that we could not safely transplant pitch pines over two feet in height. In places where small trees are likely to be trodden down, a tree four feet high may protect itself, so that very great gain is made by setting out the larger trees.
We are well aware that white pine is often preferred to pitch pine by landscape architects and others whose opinion we value ; but pitch pines thrive unusually well at Little Pond Grove; their branches more naturally run upward, and offer less obstruction to distant views of the pond; and, as the pitch pines already have a good start, we think that for this locality they are to be preferred to the white pine. This grove now gives promise that a quarter of a century hence it will not be easily rivalled as a pine grove from be- neath which it is desirable to get distant views.
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At many places in the Park, white pine, pitch pine, walnut and beech seedlings are coming in naturally, and less de- sirable trees are being cut away to make room for these, as fast as they need it.
Between Red Spring road and the northwest end of Little Pond white pines predominate and give promise of a fine white pine grove ten years hence.
The nut trees, especially the sweet chestnuts, set out three years ago, are doing well. For the general care of Morton Park, to keep the roads and paths in order and ex- tend them but little, an expenditure in 1892 of as much as $500 will be required.
To continue to improve the Park to as great a degree in the year 1892 as has been done in 1891 will require about $700.
In some parts of the Park, the oaks which have grown from old stumps have lost their vigor and are beginning to decay. In such places, if the Town desires to improve the Park further, it seems wise to plant new trees, very small and at very little cost by the thousand.
An expenditure of one hundred dollars per year for this purpose might be made to good advantage. The whole of the several lots of land, acquired by gift and appropriated by the Town for Morton Park, comprises a tract of about one hundred and fifty acres, a description of which by boundaries and measurements will be placed on file with the Town Clerk previous to the annual Town meeting, at which meeting the Town will be asked to accept and allow the same for the purposes of a public Park.
There is a prospect that at no very distant time much of Plymouth Beach will be occupied for summer cottages and other private purposes, and the general public be deprived of privileges they now enjoy, unless some action is taken to
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prevent it. It seems to be desirable that the part of the Beach most accessible should be permanently secured for public use.
Some, and possibly all, the land that is needed for such purpose is already owned by the Town.
The boundaries and measurements of the following desig- nated pieces of land will be placed on file with the Town Clerk previous to the annual Town meeting, at which meet- ing the Town will be asked to accept and allow or appro- priate the same for public parks.
First-Two adjoining pieces of land on Whiting Street, at Jumping Hill, so-called.
Second-Land at the corner of Allerton and Vernon streets, dedicated to public use by Moses Bates in 1856.
Third-A part or parts of Plymouth Beach on both sides, of the highway at the lower bridge of Eel River.
Respectfully submitted,
NATHANIEL MORTON, ) GEORGE R. BRIGGS, Park
WALTER H. SEARS,
Commissioners ..
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Report of the Committee on Training Green for the Year 1891.
Expended for -
Lumber for board walks
$60 28
Making board walks. 22 23
The general care of the Green, cutting grass and sprinkling. 125 00
Labor on gravel walks
21 91
Grass seed and ashes
3 71
Signs
5 10
Carting and replacing board walks
12 25
Rolling and smoothing grass plots. 9 00
$259 48
Received from -
Contingent fund $82 51
Appropriation.
150 00
Overdrawn 26 97
$259 48
The tidy appearance of the grounds throughout the year has been very creditable to Mr. Branch E. Blackmer, who has had the care of them.
The Committee desire to thank the principal and teachers of the High school for their aid in carrying out the regula- tions for the use of the Green, and the scholars for their careful observance of them.
We recommend an appropriation of $180 for the year 1892.
NATHANIEL MORTON, GEORGE R. BRIGGS, Committee.
WALTER H. SEARS,
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FIRE DEPARTMENT.
To the Selectmen of Plymouth:
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GENTLEMEN-The Board of Fire Engineers respectfully present their annual report for the year ending December 31st, 1891.
The Working Force.
The working force of the department consists of six engineers and one hundred and thirty-eight men, organized as follows : Two Steamer Companies of 30 men each ; one Hand Engine Company of 20 men; one Hook and Ladder Company of 16 men ; one Chemical Engine Company of 8 men and four Hose Companies of six men each.
Apparatus.
The apparatus of the department consists of two steam fire engines, located in the Engine House on Main Street ; one hand engine, located at Seaside ; one hook and ladder truck and ladders, located under the Town House on Market Street ; one chemical engine located on Main Street ; four independent hose carriages, located as follows : one on Summer Street, one on Watson's Hill, one on Whiting Street, one on Court Street in north part of Town. All of the above apparatus is in good order.
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Hose.
We now have in the department about 5,000 feet of cotton rubber-lined hose, all in good condition.
Buildings.
The buildings used by the department are in good repair, except the one occupied by the Hose Company in the north part of Town, near what is known as Hall Town, and it is the desire of the Board of Engineers to build a new hose house, on the lot lately purchased for that purpose, the coming year if possible.
Hydrants.
Two new post hydrants have been set the past year, one on Water Street, to replace an old one, and one on Lincoln Street near the new High School-house, making in all 86 now owned by the Town. There are also 4 hydrants owned by the Woolen Co., and 4 owned by the Cordage Co., to be used for fire on their premises. There are now 52 hydrants on high service and 34 on low.
Reservoirs.
The five reservoirs belonging to the town are all tight and in good order and condition.
Fire Alarms in 1891
have been few, and, in fact, none worth reporting, as the loss has been hardly anything. The department have responded
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as follows: March 20, alarm from Box 37 for fire in locom- motive cab ; April 28, Box 62, fire on roof of house, Union Street ; June 23, Box 23, fire on roof S. Bradford's cooper shop ; July 27, Box 23, slight fire on roof house of James Hall . August 25, Box 35, fire in hen house at Hall Town. Loss on above very small.
Finance.
CR.
By appropriation .
$4,700 00
DR.
To payments 1891
3,050 86
Balance unexpended.
$1,649 14
Appropriation.
It is estimated that an appropriation of $3,000.00 will meet the expenses of the department the coming year and is recommended.
New Lot.
A piece of land has been purchased the past year at the north part of the town from Mr. John F. Hall for the sum of $350 (three hundred and fifty dollars), as the Town voted at the meeting in April, and we recommend that a building for hose in that locality be erected on this lot the coming year.
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Conclusion.
In conclusion we desire to say that the department have responded to all alarms promptly, as usual, and have done all that was required of them as firemen, to our satisfac- tion.
For the Board of Engineers,
H. P. BAILEY, Chief,
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REPORT OF THE BOARD OF HEALTH
For the Year Ending 1891.
The rules and regulations adopted by the Board were duly published in the Old Colony Memorial and Free Press. During the year there have been 45 complaints of nuisances made and notice has been duly sent to householders to abate said nuisances upon their premises, and with very few ex- ceptions they have been properly attended to without further notice. In some cases a second notice, or a personal call from the Chairman, or Secretary, has been necessary.
Very few cases of contagious diseases have been reported to theBoard this year, which the Board think is largely due to the fact that early in the season an agent was sent throughout the thickly settled portions of the Town, and all places which were in a bad state of sewerage were reported to the Board and they were at once attended to, and made as clean and healthy as possible.
The contagious diseases reported to the Board for the past year were 9 in number, namely : 3 typhoid fever ; 4 scarlet fever ; 2 diphtheria.
There has been only one death from contagious disease, that one being from typhoid fever.
We would still urge upon the Town the great necessity of a better system of sewerage in the centre of the Town, especially through Court and Main streets, that of Main Street being very bad. The sewer in Main Street being laid as a private sewer, and badly laid, is a source of trouble
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two or three times a year. We would recommend that the Town'lay a public sewer throughout Main Street, and Middle Street, as per plan at Town House.
Respectfully yours,
CHAS. H. HOLMES, Chairman, E. D. HILL, Physician, ALONZO WARŘEN, FRANK B. HOLMES, HENRY HARLOW, Secretary,
Board of Health.
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REPORT OF THE WATER COMMISSIONERS
For the Year Ending December 31, 1891.
RECEIPTS.
Water rates
$16,629 90
Labor and material.
315 11
Balance last year
139 06
$17,084 07
EXPENDITURES.
Construction
$2,107 00
Maintenance
5,234 82
Bonds and interest
9,336 00
$16,677 82
Balance
$406 25
Maintenance.
GENERAL EXPENSES.
Superintendent
$874 98
Collector
450 00
Labor
1,265 61
Horse hire
465 00
Oil, canvas, etc
60 47
Pipe
60 00
Hardware and plumbing
96 14
Lumber
41 41
Printing .
27 84
Coal and gas.
19 00
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Stationery and stamps
$37 52
Carting
14 24
Incidentals
33 97
$3,446 18
Pump.
Engineer
$799 99
Coal
646 49
Boiler insurance
100 00
Repair boiler and chimney .
67 74
Telephone.
20 00
Stove coal and wood
30 00
Oil and packing
23 22
Coal shed repairs
64 47
Lumber
7 73
Incidentals
29 00
$1,788 64
Bonds and Interest.
Bond paid on issue of June 1, 1885. $2,800 00
Bond paid on issue of August 1, 1890 1,300 00
Interest paid on issue of June 1, 1885 2,632 00
Interest paid on issue of August 1, 1890 1,404 00
Interest paid on issue of August 1, 1894
1,200 00
$9,336 00
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Construction.
North street extension
$28 60
Winter street 66
287 88
Thomas' swamp
789 69
Lincoln street 66
204 58
Services
231 63
Private services 305 37
Telephone line and telehydro barometer 235 62
High school service
23 63
$2,107 00
As last year the running expenses of the department, new pipe laid and maturing bonds and interest have been paid from the receipts and there is a small balance on hand. The works are in general good condition. No extraordinary re- pairs have been needed except that the telephone line to the pump station, which was cheaply and therefore poorly put up in the first place, has been entirely rebuilt with a metal- lic circuit. Additional wires were also strung for an appara- tus in the Superintendent's office which indicates and records the height of water in the reservoir, so that the present or past height of the water can be determined. The Town voted October 20th to lay pipe in the Russell Mills neigh- borhood from the house of Walter C. Courtney to the house of Robert F. Davidson, but it was impossible to lay it last Fall as the vote was passed so late in the season, but it will be laid as soon as practicable in the Spring. A pipe was also laid, under a vote of the Town, on Lincoln street from Sand- wich street to a point opposite the new High School-house. The Building Committee of the school-house construed the vote to mean that the Water Commissioners should also lay
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the service pipe to the school-house at the expense of the Water Department. To avoid a dispute about so small a matter a majority of the Commissioners voted to lay it, which was done at an expense of $23.63. - Although the amount is small, the Commissioners feel that the Water Department should not bear this expense as the pipe is on school land and is the same as the service pipe of any indi- vidual. There is no division of the water accounts in which such an expenditure can be properly entered, and the Water Department should not be made to pay bills so the Building Committee can make a better showing. The Com- missioners therefore recommend that the new High school building appropriation pay the Water Department the sum of $23.63. The Commissioners feel further that each de- partment should stand on its own bottom, and that credit should be given the Water Department for water supplied to the various departments of the Town. They therefore recommend that the School Department, Poor Department, Town House, and Street Department, pay the Water Depart- ment for water furnished. Of course this will be only a charge in the book-keeping and not really cost the Town a cent, but the Water Department will have its proper credit. All other departments of the Town are paid for work done for any other department, and there does not seem to be any reason why the Water Department should not be so paid. The total cost of our works to date is $239,995.88, of which the Water Department has paid from profits of main- tenance $88,378.95, and the Town by direct appropriation has paid $33,416.93, leaving bonds now outstanding, $118,- 200, If proper credit is given the Water Department it will probably show that the works can pay the outstanding bonds and repay the direct appropriations made by the Town.
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The Town on June 29th also passed the following vote .:
Voted, That whenever, after the present year, Charles L. Willoughby shall satisfy the Water Commissioners of his intention to make immediate improvements on Plymouth Beach, said Commissioners be instructed to lay on said beach, to a point midway between Broad Channel and Beach Pier, at a cost not exceeding $5,000, a water pipe of such size and material as they shall think advisable, either by the way of Cliff street or from the head of the Beach, as they may consider expedient, upon the condition that said Willoughby shall sign an agreement binding himself and his heirs to take and pay for, at current rates, water for any houses on said beach now or hereafter owned by him or them, and in addition thereto to pay annually a sum not ex- ceeding one hundred dollars to meet any difference between the water receipts along the line of said pipe and the annual interest at 42 per cent. on the cost of laying said pipe, and further voted that the Selectmen be authorized to draw their warrant for such sum of money, not exceeding $5,000, as may be necessary to carry this vote into effect, and to borrow money from time to time for said purpose, and to issue notes therefor upon such terms and for such time, within the requirements of law, as they shall deem ex- pedient.
The Commissioners are satisfied that Mr. Willoughby in- tends to make sufficient improvements on Plymouth Beach to comply with the above vote, and the pipe will probably be laid the coming Spring. The Commissioners have not as yet decided upon the size or material of the pipe, as it is very difficult to determine what kind of pipe is the best for such a locality. Rights of way for the pipe will have to be obtained from the land owners, but this can be easily done. Instead of making our own pipe, a patent pipe made by the
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Connecticut Pipe Manufacturing Company has been used this year, and if it proves satisfactory, its use will be con- tinued. It is a cement-lined wrought iron pipe, but has an additional wrought iron covering over the cement covering. It comes all ready to lay, so that the only work done in the trench is to make the joints. The cost laid is approximately the same, but the pipe ought to be much stronger and more serviceable on account of the double iron.
The term of the Chairman of the Commissioners expires this year, and he declines a re-election. On retiring from the Board he would recommend that a fair compensation be paid members of the Board, especially the Chairman, as the duties require a large amount of time. He would also recommend that the number of Commissioners be reduced to three.
Reports of the Superintendent, Collector and Engineer are appended, and made a part of this report.
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Respectfully submitted,
CHARLES S. DAVIS, EVERETT F. SHERMAN, H. P. BAILEY, JAMES MILLAR, SAMUEL BRADFORD,
Water Commissioners.
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SUMMARY OF STATISTICS.
Published by Request of New England Water Works Association.
PLYMOUTH (MASS.) WATER WORKS.
Population by census of 1890, 7,314.
Date of construction : 1855. By whom owned : Town.
Source of supply : Great and Little South Ponds and Lout Pond.
Mode of supply : Gravity for low-service, and pumping for high-service.
Pumping.
1. Builders of pumping machinery : Worthington.
b. Bituminous.
2. Coal : d. Brand, various.
6. 84.95 per ton.
3. Coal for year : 209,460 pounds.
4. Total fuel : 209,460 pounds.
5. Total water pumped : 100,124,640 gallons.
6. Average static head : 65 feet.
7. Average dynamic head : 66 feet.
8. Number of gallons pumped per pound of coal : 478.01.
9. Duty of pump : 26,311,582.
Cost of Pumping, Figured on Pumping Station Expenses, viz .: $1,788.64.
10. Per million gallons against dynamic head into direct pipe : $17.88.
11. Per million gallons raised one foot high (dynamic) : $0.27.
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Cost of Pumping. Figured on Total Maintenance, viz .: $10,470.82.
12. Per million gallons raised against dynamic head into direct pipe, $104.70.
13. Per million gallons raised one foot high (dynamic) : $1.58.
Consumption.
Statistics on consumption cannot be given, as part of sup- ply is by gravity.
FINANCIAL.
MAINTENANCE.
RECEIPTS,
A. Water rates, domestic,
B. Water rates, manufacturing,
$15,518 64 1,114 50
AA. Management and repairs,
BB. Interest on bonds,
5,236 00
C. Total water receipts,
$16,633 14
CC. Total,
$10,470 82
D. Miscellaneous,
6 50
DD. Profit for the year, 6,168 82
E. Total receipts,
$16,639 64
Paid bonds, $4,100 00
Carried to construction account, 2,068 82
F. No charge made for water used by Town.
K. Gross receipts,
$16,639 64
EE, Total,
$16,639 64
.CONSTRUCTION.
S: Balance last year,
FF. Extension of mains,
$1,310 75
305 37
GG. Extension of services,
231 63
2,068 82
Extension of private services,
305 37
HH. Reservoir, etc.,
235 62
$2,513 25
Balance, High School services, 23 63
W. Cost of work to date,
239,995 88
$2,513 25
Town appropriations,
$151,616 93
Bonded debt, $20,000 at 6 per cent. 98,200 at 4 per cent,
From profits,
88,378 95
$239,995 88
$118,200
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$ 139 06
U. Private services, Profits of maintenance,
406 25
EXPENDITURES.
$5,234 82
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Distribution.
1. Kind of pipe used : wrought iron, cement-lined.
2. Sizes from 2-inch to 20-inch.
3. Extended 1,625 feet.
5. Total now in use, 294 miles.
4. Discontinued, none.
6. Cost of repairs per mile, $6.89.
7. Number of leaks per mile, 1.19.
8. Small distribution pipes, less than four inches : total length, 73 miles.
9. Hydrants added, 1.
10. Number now in use, 86 public and 8 private.
11. Stop gates added, 6.
12. Number now in use, 274.
13. Small stop gates, less than four inches ; total, 98.
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