USA > Massachusetts > Plymouth County > Plymouth > Town annual report of Plymouth, MA 1897-1899 > Part 10
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Alfred Baylies and. Sproat. James and Margaret Foley. Thomas R. Edward
Celao and Adele Acorsi. Frank and Mary Stott. Thomas and Abigail T. Goodwin. Isiah and Elizabeth Wright. Sherman and Lucina Mitchell. James and Margaret Smith. Robert and Jane Gibbs.
27,
Roseanna Thomas,
79
[Brockton.
27,
Hiram Ryder,
CAUSE OF DEATH.
NAME OF PARENTS.
NAME.
DATE.
1.
2,
8,
9,
18 Old Age, Obstr'et'n of b'w'is, Cerebral Hemorrhage, died in Heart Disease,
[Kingston. Apoplexy,
18,
22,
28, 28, Euphemia Bartlett,
89
4
-
Old Age, Old Age,
92
4
12
5
22
10
6
5
Accidental Drowning, Accidental Drowning,
Hiram and Euphemia Holmes. Thomas and Mercy Marsh. Samuel and Olive H. Bartlett. Albert and Georgie Gulifer. Albert and Georgie Gulifer. -
PLYMOUTH PUBLIC TIDDADV
1
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-
- Stillborn,
29,
30,
30,
30,
Hannah McMahon, Harvey S. Bartlett, Leon Soule, Earle Soule,
SUMMARY.
The following are the statistics of births, marriages and deaths registered in Plymouth for the year ending December 31, 1898.
BIRTHS.
Number registered,
183
Males,
97
Females, 86
The parentage is as follows :
Both parents born in- United States,
87
Italy,
I4
Germany,
20
Sweden,
6
England,
3
Russia,
I
British Provinces,
I2
Western Islands,
2
France,
I
Bavaria,
I
Wales,
I
Mixed, one American,
28
Mixed, neither American,
7
MARRIAGES.
Number of marriages registered in 1898,
85
Both parties born in- United States, Germany,
55
I
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Italy,
8
Sweden,
2
British Provinces,
2
Western Islands,
2
Prussia,
I
Mixed, one American,
I2
Mixed, neither American,
2
DEATHS.
Number of deaths registered, 177, of which 48 oc- curred out of town, burial taking place in Plymouth.
Born in-
United States,
146
Ireland,
I3
Germany,
I
Scotland,
I
British Provinces,
8
Italy,
3
England,
2
Unknown,
3
PLYMOUTH PUBLIC LIBRARY.
REPORT OF THE DIRECTORS.
The Directors of the Library respectfully make the fol- lowing report of the work of the Library during the past year and of its present condition, viz. :-
Bound volumes added for circulation in 1898, 406
Bound volumes withdrawn from circulation in 1898, 54
Total gain in volumes for circulation in 1898, 352
Bound volumes added for reference in 1898, 56
Total number of bound volumes added in 1898, 408
Unbound volumes and pamphlets added in 1898, 5I
Total number of additions in 1898, 459
Number of volumes for circulation, Jan. 1, 1898, 9,860
Number of volumes for circulation added during 1898, 352
Total number of volumes for circulation, Jan. I,
1899, 10,212
Volumes in Reference Department, Jan. I,
1898, 2,207
Volumes added in 1898, 56
Total number of volumes for reference, 2,263
Total number of bound volumes in Library, Jan.
1, 1899, 12,475
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Books given out for circulation from Jan. 1, 1898, to Jan. 1, 1899.
History,
1,250
Biography,
1,008
Travels,
1,030
Poetry,
309
Literature,
1,738
Fiction,
29,455
Science,
856
Theology,
I71
Miscellaneous,
45I
Total circulation for the year, 36,268
The following magazines and periodicals are provided in the Reading Room for the use of the public, viz. :-
Harper's Monthly.
Harper's Weekly.
Harper's Round Table.
Atlantic Monthly.
Century Magazine.
Scribner's Magazine.
New England Magazine.
McClure's Magazine.
Engineering Magazine.
St. Nicholas.
Review of Reviews.
North American Review.
Forum.
Popular Science Monthly.
Scientific American.
Cosmopolitan. Youth's Companion.
Great Round World.
New York Tribune.
Plymouth Free Press. (Gift of the publishers. )
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Magazine of Art. Library Journal. Public Libraries.
The last three to be had on application to the Librarian. In behalf of the Directors, WILLIAM HEDGE, Secretary. PLYMOUTH, Feb. 1, 1899.
TENTH ANNUAL. REPORT OF THE PARK COMMISSIONERS.
To the Inhabitants of the Town of Plymouth-
It has seemed desirable to expend more money upon some parks than was anticipated by the Commissioners, but the total expense this year for parks is less than the amount authorized by the town.
PARK ACCOUNT.
The undrawn balance from 1897 was $170.48
Appropriation, 1898, 500.00
Bath-house permits,
3.00
Cash for wood sold,
1.88
675.36
EXPENSES FOR MORTON PARK.
Roads,
Walks,
$231.15 57.16
Trimming trees and clearing up grounds,
57.86
Cutting wood,
31.4I
Setting out trees,
19.58
Repairs to buildings and seats,
21.13
Printing,
7.50
Gravel Screen,
7.25
Pump,
2.57
Signs,
1.40
$437.01
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FOR BURTON PARK.
Preparing ground and setting out and
hoeing shrubs,
$47.55
Shrubs.
57.15
Stock for fence,
9.33
Fence and trees,
6.30
Manure,
36.00
$156.33
FOR BATES PARK.
Walks and shrubbery,
$9.33
2,200 brick,
22.00
Building brick gutters,
17.90
Board walks,
6.25
$55.48
FOR BEACH PARK.
Painting settees,
$4.50
Repairing water pipe,
.75
Care of park,
15.00
$20.25
Balance undrawn,
6.29
$675.36
There are ten or more cords of wood at Morton Park yet unsold.
TRAINING GREEN ACCOUNT.
Appropriation,
$160.00
EXPENSES.
Ashes,
$ 1.00
Rolling lawn,
11.60
Gravel walks,
20.18
Board walks,
9.43
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Painting settees,
2.47
Bolting and trimming trees,
2.50
Labor and care of B. E. Blackmer, Overdrawn,
125.00
$12.18
$172.18
$172.18
MORTON PARK.
The money expended for Morton Park has been little more than enough to maintain the roads and paths without improvement. Excellent material for roads has been found at the northeast end of the Park, but so little in other parts that it has been impossible with the means at our com- mand to cart to the southeast end of the Park enough mate- rial for putting the roads in good condition. The plan pursued of removing inferior trees to give room for the white pines and other seedlings has already made these more beautiful trees a prominent feature in some parts of the park. The predominant wood on the upland is of sprout growth or coppice, mostly oak, being in this case a growth from roots whose tops have been chopped off many times, each growth inferior to the one that preceded it. The natural growth of our oak for- ests from the seed would produce trees larger, taller and longer-lived than any we now have of sprout-growth. These trees would have few limbs low enough to obstruct a free passage among them, and would restore the unrivalled beauty of the primitive forest. To change all the coppice to seedling-growth would require many years, but by re- moving some portion of the coppice each year, of the least desirable trees, we should leave room for the seeds of the better trees to sprout, and should thus in time renew the natural forest. Not the oak alone would be renewed, but pine, beech and other desirable trees
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would come in to give variety to the scenery; and more- over, seed could be planted where natural seeding should be found deficient. The value of the cut wood should nearly equal the cost of destroying the stump-growth.
The late Charles Eliot, of the recent firm of Olmstead, Olmstead and Eliot, in a paper on "Vegetation and scenery in the Metropolitan Reservations of Boston," writes thus in regard to coppice growth: "The interior of a high cop- pice-wood is seldom as beautiful as the interior of a seed- ling-forest, not to speak of an open grove. It lacks the pleasing variety of natural woods, composed as such woods usually are of numerous competing kinds of trees and un- derwood. The crop-like or artificial nature of sprout- growth is obvious at a glance, and cannot be concealed by an occasional though rare luxuriance of undergrowth or pretty play of light and shade. On the other hand, the general appearance of the ordinary sprout-growth, when it is seen from a distance in any broad view over the reservations, is as dull and tame as is its usual appearance close at hand."
Eight hundred small white pines and a few black wal- nuts have been set out this year at no expense except for the labor of transplanting. The many white pines and sweet chestnuts set out in previous years are growing finely.
The gale of Nov. 26th and 27th blew down several of the largest pitch-pines of the old grove and many trees in other places. The principal loss is in the grove.
BEACH PARK.
The damage to Beach Park by the gale is very great. The sea broke over the whole of it, washing away the crown of the beach and floating off and destroying the pavilion, band-stand and waiting room. Nothing has been saved from the wreck except the settees, many of which are dam- aged. These were found more than a quarter of a mile
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from the beach, on or near the floor of the waiting-room in which they had been stored for the winter.
The new course Eel River has found to the sea divides the park into two parts, the northerly, which is the greater part, having no town-way to reach it.
While in doubt what may be done by the general gov- ernment, the state or the town in repairing the beach, it seems desirable to adopt if possible some inexpensive plan whereby the drifting sands may be accumulated and the park may be raised to a level higher than has ever been reached by the sea.
There appears to be as much sand on the beach as for- merly, but it needs to be collected at the middle of the beach to form an effective barrier to the encroachment of the sea. The prevailing dry winds blow toward the sea and tend to carry the body of the beach that way. The sea throws weed and drift stuff upon the beach, and sand also from the ever falling cliffs toward Manomet. These two forces acting on opposite sides of the beach, tending to build it up, may need little yet constant assistance to hold the sand and sea- drift by which the top of the beach can be built up rapidly and be kept secure against damage when it once gets high enough not to be overrun by the sea.
BURTON PARK.
The importance of a plan for the improvement of Bur- ton Park led to securing the services of Mr. B. M. Watson. His plan, generously presented to the town, was unhesitat- ingly approved by this Board, and has been carried out in de- tail so far as practicable this year.
The exposure to which all planting is liable adjoining a highway and opposite the grounds of public schools obliged the erection of a temporary fence to protect the plants while young. As the fence does not surround the cultivated ground it is not a complete barrier, but is more
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properly a prominent notice that all persons are requested not to cross the planted ground nor molest the shrubs. It is a pleasure to be able to say that this request has been all that was necessary for the required protection, a fact that in itself is a credit to the schools and the neighbors.
With a few years of good care this park, which com- mands a fine view of the sea, will become an attractive hill- side.
BATES PARK.
The principal improvement to Bates Park this year was the making of brick gutters in the part of the main walk which is so steep as to make good earth gutters un- practical. Six inches of additional soil is needed over one- third of the surface of this park to produce a good growth of grass throughout the season. When this is added a small annual outlay will maintain Bates Park as a beautiful grass lawn with few shrubs and trees.
TRAINING GREEN.
The late storm caused much damage to three of the trees on Training Green. Dogs have come there as usual though very unwelcome as they persist in digging holes in the lawn and doing other damage.
Under the faithful care of Mr. Blackmer this park has become more and more attractive.
PARK REGULATIONS.
The following rules have been adopted by the Park Commissioners, under the authority vested in them by the statutes :
Rule No. 1 .- Any person killing a bird or other ani- mal, robbing a nest, discharging firearms or setting a fire within the limits of the park lands belonging to the Town,
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without permission of the Park Commissioners, will be sub- ject to a fine not less than three dollars nor more than twenty dollars for each offence. Beach Park is excepted from this rule.
Rule No. 2 .- No person shall be allowed to use any public park or any portion thereof for the erection or main- tainance of any building, or for the storage or deposit of property of any kind without the consent in writing of the Park Commissioners.
Rule No. 3 .- No person shall be allowed to camp at night on any public park without the consent of the Park Commissioners.
The penalty for violating either of the above rules is a fine of not less than three dollars nor more than twenty dollars for each offence.
We ask for a general appropriation for all the parks of $500.00, and a special appropriation for Beach Park, to be used in case it is necessary to take means to prevent further destruction to this park and, indirectly, to other property adjoining.
Also an appropriation for Training Green of $180.00. Respectfully submitted, NATHANIEL MORTON, GEORGE R. BRIGGS, FRANK H. LANMAN, Park Commissioners.
. PLYMOUTH, MASS., Dec. 31, 1898.
REPORT OF BOARD OF HEALTH.
To the Board of Health:
GENTLEMEN :- I have the honor to submit my annual re- port for the year ending Dec. 31st, 1898.
During the spring months the usual inspection was made and eighty-seven (87) privies and cess-pools ordered cleaned.
There have been thirteen (13) cases of Typhoid Fever during the year, four (4) of which were fatal; two (2) cases of Diphtheria, one on Court street, and one at Ellisville; there have been no cases of Scarlet Fever reported during the year.
There were eleven (II) houses ordered to be connected with the sewer during the year, all of which, with one ex- ception, have been complied with. That one has been va- cated and will remain vacant until the orders of the Board have been complied with.
Very respectfully yours, J. W. HUNTING,
Inspector.
WIDENING MIDDLE STREET.
The committee appointed at the Town Meeting, March 14th, 1898, to consider the matter of widening Middle street, submits the following report :
The committee considers it inexpedient to take any ac- tion under Articles II to 15 inclusive, which apply to widen- ing principally upon the north side of the street, as in their opinion the delay has made such widening impracticable.
The committee is of the opinion that it is more desirable to widen upon the south side, and in order to bring the mat- ter before the Town for action has recommended the Select- men to lay out the street substantially in accordance with the plan which it has proposed and delivered to them.
It also recommends that the bequest of the late J. Henry Stickney in aid of the widening of Middle street be accepted by the Town and applied to that purpose.
E. B. ATWOOD, C. B. STODDARD, NATHANIEL MORTON,
THOMAS N. ELDRIDGE,
W. H. H. WESTON, B. W. GOODING, H. P. BAILEY,
WILLIAM W. BREWSTER,
CHARLES H. HOLMES, E. D. HILL.
PLYMOUTH, MASS., February 9, 1899.
STANDISH AVENUE REPORT.
The committee appointed at the annual Town Meeting of 1897 to consider the question of the layout of Standish Av- enue across the Plymouth & Middleboro Railroad, beg leave to submit the following report :
Standish Avenue was laid out by the Selectmen from Samoset street, at a point near Chestnut street, to Spooner street. There were two layouts, the first extending from Samoset street to Alden street, and the second extending from Alden street to Spooner street.
Both layouts were accepted by the Town, but it was af- terwards found that the layout across the Plymouth & Mid- dleboro Railroad required the assent of the County Commis- sioners, which consent had not been obtained. The layout now before the Town is therefore of only so much of the road as is within the location of the railroad. The accept- ance of the layout from Alden street to Spooner street is good and valid except as to the short distance across the railroad. The layout from Samoset street to Alden street has already been worked by the Town and the land damages therefor paid. The northerly section of the road has been graded from Cherry street to Spooner street, and of the to- tal damages of $1,600, awarded on the layout from Alden street to Spooner street, $675 have already been paid, leaving a balance of $925, to be paid on account of land damages.
Your committee have carefully examined the layout of said road and are decidedly of the opinion that the street was laid out in the best and most appropriate place, and that no change should be made in the location thereof. They have also examined into the question of land damages and are of the opinion that the damages awarded by the Selectmen are
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ample and sufficient. Your committee have also obtained an estimate from responsible parties, not only for the erection of the bridge across the Middleboro Railroad, but also for working the road itself, and according to these estimates the expense of building the bridge, working the road and paying the land damages will not exceed six thousand dollars; the road to be worked fifty feet wide, with bridge twenty feet wide.
To-day Plymouth has only one road leading to the north and no argument seems necessary to show the advisability of a second road. Standish Avenue, when completed, will be one of the finest roads in Plymouth, the grades between Samoset street and Spooner street will be less and better than on Court street, and the view from the road cannot be sur- passed. A considerable number of house lots have already been sold on the road, and the completion of the road will without doubt cause the erection of many new houses.
The total length of the road from Samoset street to Cherry street is forty-nine hundred feet, the maximum grade being five per cent.
Your committee strongly recommend the acceptance of the layout across the Plymouth & Middleboro Railroad as laid out by the Selectmen and reported to the Town, and also recommend a vote authorizing the issue of bonds to an amount not exceeding six thousand dollars to pay for work- ing said road and for the land damages now unpaid.
CHARLES S. DAVIS, JOHN H. DAMON. CHARLES C. DOTEN, ELKANAH FINNEY, BENJAMIN A. HATHAWAY, GIDEON F. HOLMES, JOSEPH W. HUNTING, NEHEMIAH L. SAVERY, THOMAS D. SHUMWAY.
WATER COMMISSIONERS.
EVERETT F. SHERMAN-Term expires March, 1900. JAMES MILLAR-Term expires March, 1899. HORACE P. BAILEY-Term expires March, 1899. INCREASE ROBINSON-Term expires March, 1900. JOHN H. DAMON-Term expires March, 1901. Superintendent-Richard W. Bagnell.
Water Registrar-N. Reeves Jackson.
Engineer at Pumping Station-W. A. H. Jones.
All applications for water must be made at the office of the Water Commissioners.
Superintendent's office in rear of Engine House, Main Street.
Telephone call, 54-3.
Rates payable at the Town Treasurer's office, semi-annu- ally, in advance. May I and November I.
Meeting of the Commissioners to examine bills and claims against the Department, the FIRST WEDNESDAY EVENING of each month.
Bills against the Department must be rendered on or be- fore the first Wednesday of each month, or they will lie over until the following month.
Approved bills paid by the Town Treasurer at the Town office.
REPORT OF THE WATER COMMISSIONERS.
The Water Commissioners herewith submit their forty- fourth Annual Report.
If the Town is to use or waste a large quantity of water, the system of piping must be materially changed and en- larged, or in case of a conflagration we may find ourselves without means of effectually supplying water for fire hy- drants.
In this connection the Commissioners call the attention of the Town as in their reports of 1896 and 1897, to the desira- bility of laying a 14-inch main from the present pipe of this size near A. J. Atwood's store on Summer street, around through Summer, Market, Main and Court streets, as far . north as Allerton street.
This would require 5200 feet of pipe, and with new hydrants, located at proper distances apart, would greatly improve the fire service.
In case the Town decides to build Standish Avenue the present year, the Commissioners have made an estimate of the cost of laying a pipe in the street, as follows: For a IO-inch pipe with gates and hydrants, $11,000.00; for an 8-inch pipe with gates and hydrants, $10,000.00. Either pipe would give the north part of the Town a satisfactory supply of water for ordinary uses.
In case of fire the 10-inch pipe would give, if properly connected, one-half more than the 8-inch pipe.
The south part of the Town is also dependent for its supply on a pipe only 4 inches in diameter. This pipe when at first laid as far as Jabez Corner gave fair domestic ser-
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vice: since this time the pipe has been extended more than three miles without any increase in size.
Much valuable property is entirely dependent for fire pro- tection on this wholly inadequate supply. When the draft is small. the suppply is still fair. but as the Summer service begins the head is diminished to such an extent that houses on the high ground have difficulty in getting any water at all.
WATER RATES.
The Commissioners believe that the whole question of water rates should receive more careful attention, and that the rates should be revised.
The present rates are in many cases unjust and inequi- table. A certain portion of the expense of maintenance should be borne by the Town at large. a certain portion by the future inhabitants. the balance by the present popula- tion. To arrive at a fair distribution of the proportion to be borne by each requires careful study. It seems proper in any case. that the waste of water should be prevented, and that no part of the Town should suffer for lack of water by the wasteful use of others.
The Commissioners believe it will be desirable to place meters on certain classes of service during the coming year in order to ascertain more carefully whether water is being wastefully and unwarrantably used.
RECEIPTS.
Water rates.
S20.610.80
Labor and material.
Balance last year,
308.1I 2.743.61
$23.662.52
EXPENDITURES.
Construction.
$2.989.II
Maintenance.
9.129.63
Bonds and interest,
8.794.40
Balance,
2.749.38
$23.662.52
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MAINTENANCE.
Salaries,
$1,500.00
Diaphrams,
6.75
Horse hire and yard hydrants,
16.80
Labor,
1,869.68
Coal, gas and oil,
35.85
Repairs to shop, telephone, etc.,
75.85
Reservoirs, lumber and tools,
86.92
Repairing picks, carting, and service covers,
75.21
Traveling expenses,
6.60
Freight, gate boxes, and service boxes,
181.85
Boundary stone, 25.00
Plumbing, lead and packing,
127.55
Telephone and register dials,
51.70
Repairs on shop, and Beach pipe,
55.75
Making plans of Works,
1,656.73
Express and meters,
27.70
Stationery, stamps and printing,
109.62
Repairing harness,
22.38
Cement pipe,
1,102.68
Corporations and stops,
88.88
Painting wagons and care of horse,
127.00
Cement and lumber,
75.84
Gates,
39.09
Hose,
21.13
Hay, grain and straw,
120.83
Shoeing horse, and shingling check valve house,
25.65
Incidentals,
24.17
$7,557.2I
PUMP.
Engineer,
$825.00
Coal,
297.07
Repairs on boiler room, tools and fittings,
35.34
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Telephone,
36.00
Coal for house,
35.75
Oil, packing and waste,
85.30
Repairs on pump station,
25.81
Account book,
15.00
Carting ashes,
20.45
Thermometer,
19.95
Rain gauge,
12.10
Meter,
21.55
Wood for pump,
35.50
Labor cleaning boilers and lumber,
20.80
Incidentals,
21.58
$1,507.20
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
Bond paid on issue of August 1, 1894,
800.00
Bond paid on issue of February 3, 1894,
240.00
Bonds paid,
$5,140.00
Interest paid on issue of June 1, 1885,
1,848.00
Interest paid on issue of August 1, 1890,
1,040.00
Interest paid on issue of August 1, 1894,
704.00
Interest paid on issue of February 3, 1894,
62.40
$3,654.40
Bonds and interest paid,
$8,794.40
Respectfully submitted, INCREASE ROBINSON, E. F. SHERMAN, H. P. BAILEY, JAMES MILLAR, JOHN H. DAMON,
*
SUMMARY OF STATISTICS. PLYMOUTH (MASS.) WATER WORKS.
(Published by request of the New England Water Works Association.)
Population by ceusus of 1895 : 8,000.
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.
I. Builders of pumping machinery : Worthington.
2. Coal: (b) Bituminous; (d) Brand, various; (e) $4.50 ยท per gross ton.
3. Coal for year : 230,332 pounds. Wood for year : 14,100 pounds.
4. Total fuel, 244,432 pounds.
5. Total water pumped, III,567,456 gallons.
6. Average static head : 65 feet.
7. Average dynamic head : 66 feet.
8. Number of gallons pumped per pound of coal : 484.37.
9. Duty of pump : 26,661,662.
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COST OF PUMPING, FIGURED ON PUMPING STA- TION EXPENSES, VIZ., $1,507.20.
IO. Per million gallons against dynamic head into direct pipe : $13.50.
II. Per million gallons raised one foot high (dynamic) : $0.20.
COST OF PUMPING, FIGURED ON TOTAL MAIN- TENANCE, VIZ .; $9,129.63.
I2. Per million gallons raised against dynamic head into direct pipe : $81.83.
13. Per million gallons raised one foot high (dynamic) : $1.24.
FINANCIAL.
MAINTENANCE.
RECEIPTS.
EXPENDITURES.
A. Water rates, domestic, B. Water rates, manufacturing.
$19,060.18 1,550.62
BB. Interest on bonds,
$9,385.13 3,654.40
C. Total water receipts,
$20,610.80
D. Miscellaneous,
308.11
DD. Profit for the year,
$7,879.38
E. Total receipts,
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