USA > Massachusetts > Plymouth County > Plymouth > Town annual report of Plymouth, MA 1897-1899 > Part 4
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275 00
Profits of maintenance,
3,347 93
.
Private lines,
480 75
HH.
Reservoirs,
28 81
Meters,
85 37
Plan of works,
741 09
Gates, Balance,
55 50
. Cost of works to date,
$257,269 74
2,782 01
Town appropriations,
$140,031 48
$6,876 80
From profits,
117,238 26
$257,269 74
$5,140.00 paid yearly on principal. Bonded debt, $92,880.00 at 4 per cent.
75
U. Private services,
275 00
F. No charge made for water used by the Town.
K. Gross receipts, $20,066 10
EXPENDITURES.
AA. Management and repairs, $7,718 17
BB. Interest on bonds, 3,860 00
$6,876 80
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DISTRIBUTION.
1. Kind of pipe used: Wrought iron, cement-lined wrought iron on Beach.
2. Sizes, from 2-inch to 20-inch.
3. Extended 2,922 feet.
4. Discontinued, none.
5. Total now in use, 36 miles, 4,757 feet.
6. Cost of repairs per mile, $9.38.
7. Number of leaks per mile, 1.
8. Small distribution pipes, less than four inches : Total length, 10} miles.
9. Hydrants added, 2.
10. Number now in use, 95 public and 25 private.
11. Stop gates added, 6.
12. Number now in use, 325.
13. Small stop gates, less than four inches: Total, 129.
14. Number of blow-offs, 22.
SERVICES.
16. Kind of pipe : Lead and cement-lined.
17. From one-half inch to one inch. .
18. Extended, 452 feet.
20. Total now in use, 5 miles, 3,468 feet.
21. Service taps added, 51.
22. Number now in use, 1,711.
23. Average length of service, 173 feet.
24. Average cost of service, $4.50.
27. Motors and elevators added, none.
28. Number now in use, 1.
77
REPORT OF THE COLLECTOR OF WATER RATES.
Gentlemen :- I hereby submit the annual report of the Collector's Department of the Water Works for the year 1897.
The Collector is charged as follows :
Arrears.
$1,790 24
Water rates. 19,429 51
Labor and material
407 33
Miscellaneous
72 94
$21,700 02
CR.
Abatements.
$447 58
Rates uncollected. 1,041 66
Labor and material uncollected
144 68
Total collections 20,066 10
$21,700 02
Water is supplied to 1,751 families, 776 water closets, 242 bath tubs, 84 stores, offices and shops, 12 urinals, 165 stables, 397 horses, 122 cows, 2 cemeteries, 11 engines, 10 fish and meat markets, 1 water motor, 3 laundries, 4 banks, 6 churches, 12 manufactories, 2 photograph rooms, 6 saloons, 4 bakeries, 7 hotel and boarding houses, 2 hot houses, 3
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printing offices, 6 public halls, 2 banquet rooms, 2 billiard rooms, 2 cigar manufactories, gas works, N. Y., N. H. & H. · Railroad engines, 1 electric plant, woolen mills, and County buildings, public Town buildings, fire purposes, and watering streets.
Yours respectfully, N. REEVES JACKSON,
Collector of Water Rates.
SUPERINTENDENT'S REPORT.
To the Board of Water Commissioners :
GENTLEMEN :- I respectfully submit my twenty-fourth an- nual report, and the forty-third report of the Plymouth Water Works for the year ending December 31st, 1897.
PIPES LAID DURING THE YEAR 1897 AND COST OF SAME.
NO. OF FEET
SIZE.
COST.
WHERE LAID.
281
4 inch.
$154 73
Stafford Lane from Stafford Street.
210
4 4
99 15
Extension up Hamilton Street.
972
4 .
454 74
Extension up Cherry Street.
158
4 4
91 06
Towns Street from Stafford Street.
1,262
4 4
666 91
Newfield Street from Summer Street.
34
4
66
26 66
Extension up Murray Street.
,922
$1,493 25
Total number of feet and cost.
80
STREET MAINS.
The street mains are in good condition. July 24th light- ning struck J. E. Luscomb's house on corner of Jefferson and Mayflower Streets and followed the service pipe out into the street and took off his stop and run about 400 feet on the main pipe. New pipe, cement and labor cost $161.02.
LEAKS.
There have been fifty leaks in main pipes, ten in 10-inch pipe, seven in 8-inch pipes, one in 6-inch pipe, seventeen in 4-inch pipes, one in 3-inch pipe, and fourteen in 2-inch pipe, repaired at a cost of $389.10. March 26th let on high ser- vice and kept on until April 20th ; the increased pressure caused a number of breaks, and again November 10th, and kept on until November 20th. We had a few breaks, that is the cause which brings the amount of repairs more than usual. It has cost to maintain the beach pipe this year $69.22.
SERVICE PIPES.
The street mains have been tapped for new supplies in fifty-one places at a cost of $231.71. Add those in use as per last year's report 1,664, making 1,715. Deduct four services that have been discontinued, leaving a total of 1,711 services in use. The street length of service pipes is 29,868 feet. There have been nine leaks in the service pipes this year ; the cost of repairs being $30.27.
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GATES.
Six new gates have been set this year. One 4-inch set on Cliff Street, junction Old Sandwich Road, at a cost of $13.75. One 4-inch set on Stafford Street above Stafford Lane branch at a cost of $13.75. One 4-inch set on Staf- ford Lane, junction Stafford Street. One 4-inch set on Cherry Street. One 3-inch on Towns Street, junction Stafford Street. One 4-inch on Newfield Street, junction Summer Street. The cost of the last four gates is in the extensions to which they belong. All gates have been in- spected and put in good condition.
.
RESERVOIRS.
Both high and low service reservoirs are in good condi- . tion.
The weeds have been cut down and removed, both inside and outside of the enclosure at a cost of $40.80.
BUTMENTS AT THE PONDS.
The butments at Little South Pond and Great South Pond have been inspected and found in good condition ; there has been no expense on them this year. The butment at Lout Pond is in good condition ; the race-way has been dug out, and there is two feet more of water than last year, at a cost of $31.00.
6
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TELE-HYDROBAROMETER.
There have been some repairs on the transmitter at the reservoir and the batteries have been charged. The thunder storm of July 24th damaged the transmitter, and the receiver at the office which have been repaired at a cost of $19.15.
PUMP STATION.
The boilers have been regulary inspected, and are in good condition. The boiler room and the cellar have had a coat of albamural on the walls and ceiling, at a cost of $4.88. The roof of the boiler room has been repaired at a cost of $19.00. The boiler furnace of No. 2 boiler has had new arches and check peices at a cost of $37.66. The pump has had a coat of paint and varnish at a cost of $5.50. There have not been any repairs on the chambers this year. Every- thing is in good condition.
NEW TAKERS.
There have been added to the water-takers this year 48 tenements, 66 water closets, 14 bath tubs, 9 stables, 3 urinals, 3 stores, and 2 barber shops with four chairs.
BOXES.
Forty service boxes and nine gate boxes have been re- placed by new ones at a cost of $72.45.
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DRINKING FOUNTAINS AND STAND PIPES.
There are five stand pipes for sprinkling the streets and seven drinking fountains. There has been no addition this year. All are in good condition.
WORKSHOP.
There has been a new tin roof put on the shop at a cost of $141.94, painting the roof cost $13.60, carpenter work cost $11.92, total cost of roof $167.46. There have been a few minor repairs on the shop and stable at a cost of $10.05.
LABOR.
Whole amount expended during the year :
For labor-
On extensions $493 35
Trenching for service pipes 82 65
Reservoirs and butments at ponds 71 80
All other labor
2,004 45
Whole amount expended $2,652 25
Amount received for trenching $277 41
Amount received for shutting off ser- vices 75 50
352 91
Total cost of labor during the year, less refunded, $2,299 34
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SCHEDULE.
Showing the number of feet of each size pipe and number and size of gates.
SIZE IN INCHES.
LENGTH OF
PIPE IN FEET.
No. of Gates.
No. of Check
Valves.
No. Air Cocks.
| No. of 10-inch
Blow-offs.
| No. of 6-inch
| No. of 4-inch
| Blow-offs.
| No. of 2-inch
Blow-offs.
No. Hydrants.
20
65
2
2
1
1
14
8,252
6
1
8
1
2
12
141
3
10
1.9,749
20
2
5
1
1
6
00
4,732
11
10
9
13,167
26
2
4
76,847
127
3
11
7
58
3
9,562
19
2
42,840₺
104
3
5
2
1
1,177
6
₹
780
1
Total,
184,827₺
325
3
23
2
2
5
13
95
Thirty-five miles and 27 feet and 6 inches of main and distribution pipes ; the street length of service pipes being 29,864 feet, with the main and distribution pipes, makes a total of 214,691 feet of pipes, or 40 miles and 3,491 feet.
1
16
7,515
-
| Blow offs.
2
15
1
2
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HYDRANTS.
Hydrants on high service, 59 ; hydrants on low service, 36 ; post hydrants, 52; flush hydrants, 43 ; private hydrants, 25. Whole number of hydrants available, 120.
STOCK AND TOOLS ON HAND.
INVENTORY.
The amount of stock, tools and fixtures on hand December 31st, 1897, is $2,830.65.
Yours respectfully,
R. W. BAGNELL, Supt.
PUMPING RECORD FOR THE YEAR 1897.
MONTHS.
HOURS RUN.
COAL USED IN PUMPING, HEATING AND BANKING.
NO. OF REVOLU- TIONS.
NUMBER OF GALLONS PUMPED.
· AVERAGE DUTY.
AVERAGE HEAD.
pounds of coal per day. No. of Gallons Average No. of pumped with one pound of coal.
January,
120
17,600 lbs.
156,500
7,436,880
23,258,291
66 feet.
422.54
567.74
February,
114
15,800
139,500
6,627,280
23,087,655
419.44
564.28
March,
127
18,400
155,000
7,365,600
22,034,113
400.3
593.54
April,
155
19,700
207,500
9,860,400
27,550,622
500.52
656.66
May,
115
15,450
150.000
7,128,000
25,394,549
461.35
498.38
June,
226
23,450
271,000
12,877,920
30,227,963
549.16
781.66
July,
179
20,250
212,500
10,098,000
27,448.241
498.66
653.22
August,
186
20,100
213,000
10,121,760
27,718,507
503.57
648.38
September,
162
17,800
189,000
8,981,280
27,773,000
66
504.56
593.33
October,
155
17,700
188,500
8,957,520
27,862,171
506.18
570.96
November,
175
20,600
66
224,500
10.668,240
28,505.636
66
517.87
686.66
December,
151
18,750
184,000
8,743,680
25,668,118
466.32
604.83
Totals,
1865
225,600 lbs.
2,291,000
108,868,320
Average head for year, 66 feet of dynamic.
Average duty for year, 26,562,583.
Average number of gallons to one pound of coal, 482.57. Average number of pounds of coal per day, 618.08.
The above figures are a report of the year 1897, and are correct to the best of my knowledge.
W. A. H. JONES, Engineer in Charge.
.
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NINTH ANNUAL REPORT OF THE PARK COMMISSIONERS
To the Inhabitants of the Town of Plymouth.
The appropriations made by the Town for parks for the last two years have been lump sums.
The Commissioners have thought it best to devote a special sum to each park, and to keep an account of the expenses for each park.
At the beginning of the year the balance between our undrawn and overdrawn park accounts was $30.69 undrawn, which agreed with the balance of the Town Treasurer. The balance undrawn on the four park accounts this year is $170.48.
MORTON PARK ACCOUNT.
Part of appropriation of 1897
$350 00
Expended for ---
Overdrawn balance of 1896
$15 65
Labor
286 30
Lumber for bridge.
15 81
Stakes and wire to protect trees
13 17
Stone for bounds to Little Pond Lane
7 00
Tools
3 20
Undrawn 8 87
$350 00
88
BURTON PARK ACCOUNT.
Undrawn balance of 1896
$22 61
Part of appropriation 50 00
$72 61
Expended for-
Labor
$2 80
Stakes
1 00
3 80
Undrawn
$68 81
BATES PARK ACCOUNT.
Part of appropriation.
$50 00
Expended for-
Overdrawn balance of 1896.
$36 08
Labor
1 38
37 46
Undrawn
$12 54
BEACH PARK ACCOUNT.
Undrawn balance from 1896 $59 81
Part of appropriation. 50 00
Received from bath-house permits. 3 00
$112 81
Expended for-
Labor
$4 90
Stock and labor repairing platform .. 26 90
Plumbing. 75
32 55
Undrawn
$80 26
S9
TRAINING GREEN ACCOUNT.
Balance from 1896 . .
$2 61
Appropriation. 200 00
$202 61
Expended for labor
$33 15
Printing 7 50
Grass seed, $5.00; ashes and hen manure, $19.20 24 20
Removing tree, $22.95 ; two new trees,
$0.80; bolting tree, $1 .. 24 75
Labor and care of B. E. Blackmer. . . 125 00
214 60
Overdrawn.
$11 99
MORTON PARK.
The location of a part of Little Pond Lane, as an addition to Morton Park, was accepted and allowed by the Town April 3, 1897. The lands taken by this location were con- veyed to the Town by deeds of Mrs. Mary R. Watson and Mrs. Caroline C. Finney, recorded in book 743, pages 14 and 15, Plymouth Registry. The additional land thereby gained without expense to the Town, at the junction of Little Pond Lane and Summer Street, makes it easy to form an attrac- tive entrance to the park. This entrance is very little more than one mile from the central post-office of the Town, so that twenty minutes' walk will take one from the business centre of the Town to the border of our park which practi- cally contains 500 acres of land and water and is equal if not superior in natural beauty to any similar tract in our township.
90
The larger part of the labor of grading this entrance to Little Pond Lane has already been done. The money avail- able to be expended upon the other roads and paths was no more than enough to keep them in repair. The bridge at " Bill Holmes' Dam " has been covered with new plank this year.
Some laurel-leafed willow cuttings have been set along the margin of the brook. The fine lot of ten to twenty-year- old pitch-pines at the old grove, and the chestnut and white pine groves continue their exceptionally rapid growth.
One of the finest beech trees in the park has been seri- ously damaged by gatherers of autumn foliage, who cut off half way to the trunk, all the lower limbs on one side. When a large beech tree has had room to grow unstinted, its lower branches bending to the ground form one of its chief beauties, and by the mutilation of the lower branches the tree is injured past recovery.
The Commissioners wish to avoid restrictions on the free use of the park by the public, but they earnestly ask all persons to consider the injury that trees may suffer through the acts of thoughtless pleasure-seekers.
It is necessary to cut off the lower limbs of some trees standing very near the roads, especially some of the white pines whose low-spreading limbs and thick foliage, if allowed to remain, would shut out inland views which it is very de- sirable to maintain. It may be interesting to some of our readers to know what seems to us, after eight years' ex- perience, to be the best way to trim white pines in order to make smooth trunks and the best lumber. The history of the trimming of one tree is all that is necessary to show how the healing principle in the tree acts in closing up a wound caused by removing a limb.
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A thrifty young white pine stood so near a road that several of the lower limbs touched the wheels of passing vehicles. Four years ago these limbs which were about one- fourth to three-eighths of an inch in diameter were cut off with a knife as close to the trunk of the tree as was possible without scarring the bark of the trunk, or the enlarge- ment that often forms where the limb joins the trunk. Two years ago several limbs upon other sides of the tree were cut off, special care being taken to cut into the bark of the trunk enough to leave a scar about twice the diameter of the limb. New bark has closed over the places where limbs were cut off two years ago, but where the limbs were so carefully cut four years ago, holes about half an inch in depth have been formed in the trunk of the tree by its natural growth.
This method of cutting into the bark of the trunk has been used on other trees in trimming limbs of all sizes up to four inches in diameter, and the scars are becoming covered with new bark so rapidly that we are convinced that a perfect covering will soon result.
We shall be pleased to show to any persons interested the results of several different ways of trimming white pine trees.
BATES PARK.
The part of the appropriation devoted to Bates Park was nearly all used in paying the overdraft of that park of the year 1895, caused by covering a part of it with soil. It could not be given proper care this year without again overdrawing its account, to the detriment of other parks, which need all the undrawn balances, besides a share of the usual annual appropriations.
92
BEACH PARK.
Beach Park with its 1,400 feet in length of sea beach, its. pavilion and waiting-rooms, has well served its purpose.
The planked driveway may need to be renewed soon. It has been covered with boards to try to preserve it a year or two longer without other expense.
BURTON PARK.
The appropriation came too late to make improvements designed for Burton Park last spring. This park does not need the closely clipped lawn as do Training Green and Bates Park. The best results can be obtained from this rugged piece of hillside by the addition of a few trees and many shrubs to the wild grasses and flowers which cover the most of its surface. This park can be made an attractive as well as a prominent feature in the landscape, as seen from Sandwich Street.
TRAINING GREEN.
Seeding anew and giving a good coat of wood ashes to the parts of Training Green where worms had destroyed the grass roots in 1896, and using hen manure on the other parts, renewed the grass upon the whole of the Green. The season was without the usual long drought so that the Green never looked better throughout a summer than it has this year.
It is a matter of congratulation that the Green is serving its purpose so well. It has been suggested that the Green might serve its purpose better if more trees should be grown to shade the walks, and enough seats be placed to make it a pleasant resort in warm weather. Even the few seats now
93
used upon the Green are detrimental to its ornamental value, but their use as resting places for the infirm, and those waiting for electric cars, seem to make it right to retain them. Should the Green become a pleasure resort it would be impossible to protect the grass, or to keep the walks and lawns clean, without the constant service of one or more per- sons, the expense of which would be too great to bear. "No man can serve two masters ; " neither can this small plot of ground, kept as a spot of special beauty, with convenient crossings for travel, be devoted to any other purpose with- out losing most of its present value.
We ask you to appropriate the following sums for the year 1898 :
For Morton Park. $350 00
Bates Park 50 00
Beach Park
50 00
Burton Park 50 00
$500 00
Training Green
$160 00
Respectfully submitted,
NATHANIEL MORTON, ) Park GEORGE R. BRIGGS,
FRANK H. LANMAN, 7
Commissioners.
PLYMOUTH, Dec. 31, 1897.
-
REPORT OF BOARD OF HEALTH.
PLYMOUTH, Feb. 1, 1898. To the Board of Health :
GENTLEMEN : I have the honor to submit my annual re- port for the year ending Dec. 31, 1897.
During the spring months the usual inspection was made from the Kingston line to Jabez Corner, and 98 privies and cesspools ordered cleaned.
A number of complaints have been made, all of which have been attended to, and where it was needed the places were ordered cleaned.
There has been but four (4) cases of diphtheria during the year, one of which was fatal; nine (9) cases of typhoid fever, four of which were contracted out of Town and came here sick ; sixty (60) cases of scarlet fever, most of which were in a very mild form.
There were seven houses ordered to be connected with the sewer during the year, all of which orders were com- plied with.
Very respectfully yours,
J. W. HUNTING,
Inspector.
REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON THE OLD HIGH SCHOOL HOUSE.
Under Article 13 in the Warrant for the last Annual Meeting of the Town : -
"To see what the Town will do with the vacant High School House lot and buildings thereon, situated on Pleas- ant Street at the head of Training Green, so called."
It was voted-
"That the subject matter be referred to a Committee of fifteen to be appointed by the Moderator, who shall report to the Town at as early a date as possible what disposition shall be made of the old High School lot and building, and what the cost of erecting a new building thereon, and of re- pairing the old building would be, and such other informa- tion relative thereto as may be of service to the Town."
The Committee appointed in compliance with the above vote, submit the following report :
Though no reference is made in the vote to the proposed use of a new or reconstructed building, it was assumed by the Committee from the character of the discussion which preceded the passage of the vote that a building for armory purposes, and incidentally for town elections, was intended. On this assumption the Committee have considered the question submitted to them. Plans and estimates for a re-
96
constructed building containing a hall or drill room fifty-one feet by one hundred and three, and also for a new building with a hall fifty-three fcet by ninety, were obtained from a competent architect as a preliminary to further action. Ac- cording to these plans and estimates the cost of reconstruct- ing the old building and moving it northwesterly so as to ad- mit of widening Franklin Street and northeasterly to the line of Pleasant Street and extending it to the rear line of the lot, including heating, lighting, water and sanitary equipments, exclusive of furniture, would be ten thousand dollars. The cost of a new building as planned by the architect, covering so much of the lot as would admit of the widening of Frank- lin Street, and also fully equipped, would be thirteen thousand dollars.
After an examination, however, of these plans and esti- mates by the Committee, a sub-committee was appointed to confer with the Adjutant General and to examine such an armory now in use as would, in his opinion, meet the re- quirements of law, and be in every way satisfactory to him and the Armory Inspectors of the Commonwealth. At his suggestion the Committee examined the armory in Wake- field, built of wood and containing a drill room sixty feet by ninety and a head house sixty by forty, with commodious rooms for the company, their officers and arms and equip- ments. The cost of this armory, exclusiue of land, was eighty-one hundred and eighteen dollars. The front eleva- tion of the building was not sufficiently ornamental to suit the sub-committee, and in their opinion a somewhat higher studded drill room would be an improvement. With these exceptions the building was in the highest degree satisfac- tory to the Committee, and, in their opinion, could be dupli- cated, with the improvements suggested, at a cost not exceeding ten thousand dollars.
97
The Committee, in further considering the matter sub- mitted to them, desire, first, to present the data bearing on the question of the necessity for another armory than that now in use ; second, to present such data as shall enable the Town to decide between the reconstruction of the old High School building and the erection of a new building, and third, to recommend what disposition shall be made of said old building. They do not feel called upon by the vote of the Town to make any other recommendation than that above mentioned, but they hope that the data presented will enable the Town to act understandingly on all questions relating to either a reconstruction or a new armory.
The defects referred to are chiefly the totally inadequate rooms for the company and officers, and arms and equip- ments, and incidently the noise made by the operations of the bowling allies in the basement. The latter defect may possibly be remedied by the useof packing beneath the floor, but to remedy the former a large expenditure would be required for enlargement"and reconstruction.
On the other hand the annual cost of the Town for either a reconstructed building or a new armory on the School House lot would be as follows :
Interest 43 per cent. on $10,000 . . $450 00
Heating and lighting . . 200 00
Repairs 50 00
$700 00
Less reimbursement from the State, which the Committee are satisfied would be al- lowed, of . 400 00
7
98
The Committee find that during the last year the expense to the Town of the present armory was as follows :
Rent . $600 00
Heating and lighting . 370 00
$970 00
Of which sum there has been reimbursed by the
State the sum of 200 00
Leaving as the net expense . $770 00
The reimbursement by the State has been reduced from $400 to $200, and the Committee have become satisfied from representations by the Adjutant-General of the radical defects of the present armory, that after this year, it shall continue in use, no further reimbursement will be allowed. The last reimbursement of two hundred dollars was allowed by the Adjutant-General against the advice of the State Inspectors With this reimbursement cut off the annual expense to the Town of the present armory would consequently be $970.
Leaving a net cost to the Town of $300, against $970 under the present arrangement. No reference is here made on the one hand to the rent of the rink and other halls now paid for town meetings, nor, on the other hand, to the share of the salary of the janitor of a new armory, which it would be fair for the Town to pay in consideration of his services in connection with said meetings. It would be safe, how- ever, to say that one of these items would offset the other.
It is probable that the money required could be borrowed at the rate of four per cent., thus reducing the annual cost of a new armory to $250; but if the Town thought it ex- pedient to insure the building, the annual premium of one
99
per cent. on $8,000, the insurable limit on a building costing $10,000, would be $80-which, added to $250, would make the annual cost to the town $330 instead of $300, as stated in the above estimates.
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