USA > Massachusetts > Plymouth County > Plymouth > Town annual report of Plymouth, MA 1900-1902 > Part 5
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The city of Springfield, by its city forester, William F. Gale, had 15,000 trees sprayed in the spring of 1900, a larger proportion of them than of ours being small trees. To do the work sixty-five men were employed the most of the time for six weeks, making thirteen working gangs, each with a team carrying pumping machinery and materials; two of the pumps being driven by steam power. Some
trees were sprayed twice. The trees had been trimmed and
scraped in previous years. The total cost of labor and ma- terials for spraying was four thousand, two hundred and twenty-six dollars, or an average cost of about thirty cents per tree, but some trees cost over five dollars to spray them. Mr. Gale believes it is economy in the end to do the work thoroughly and spray all the elms in a district so much in- fested with beetles as ours is. To work to advantage we would probably need as many as three gangs of men, each with team and pump worked by man power.
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Estimate of appropriation needed for 1901 :
For trimming trees in early spring, $300 00
For scraping trees in March, 250 00
For pumps, hose and other tools, 200 00
Labor and materials for spraying leaves in May and June, 500 00
Final spraying to kill the grubs,
150 00
Total.
$1,400 00
and services of tree warden, ?
Trimming trees before spraying would reduce the amount to be sprayed and facilitate the movement of men in the trees.
I take this opportunity to thank the Selectmen for their unwavering support of all measures which I have felt it the duty of the tree warden to try to carry out, also to thank the citizens for their general approval of the methods used in trimming trees on the line of the electric road, where the necessities of the case required what, without full investiga- tion, might seem to be too much trimming. I must decline further service at the end of the current term.
NATHANIEL MORTON,
Tree Warden.
PLYMOUTH, MASS., December 31, 1900.
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 1900, 425
Bound volumes withdrawn from circulation in 1900, 37
Total gain in volumes for circulation in 1900. 388
Bound volumes added for reference in 1900. 87
Total number of bound volumes added in 1900, 475
Unbound volumes and pamphlets added in 1900, 86
Total number of additions in 1900, 561
Number of volumes for circulation, Jan. 1, 1900, 10,502 Number of volumes for circulation added during 1900, 388
Total number of volumes for circulation, Jan. I. 190I. 10,890
Volumes in Reference Department, Jan. I,
1900, 2,324
Volumes added in 1900. 87
Total number of volumes for reference, 2,4II
Total number of bound volumes in Library,
Jan. 1, 190I. 13.30I
Books given out for circulation during 1900- History. 1,052
Biography, 825
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Travels,
857
Poetry,
325
Literature,
1,717
Fiction,
28,349
Science,
753
Theology,
152
Miscellaneous,
385
Total circulation for the year,
34,415
The following magazines and periodicals are provided in the Reading Room for the use of the public, viz :----
Harper's Monthly.
Harper's Weekly.
Atlantic Monthly.
Century Magazine.
Scribner's Magazine.
New England Magazine.
McClure's Magazine.
St. Nicholas.
Review of Reviews.
North American Review.
Forum.
Popular Science Monthly.
Scientific American, and Supplement.
Cosmopolitan.
Youth's Companion.
New York Tribune.
Plymouth Free Press. (Gift of the publishers. )
Union Signal. (Gift of local W. C. T. U.) Magazine of Art.
Library Journal. Public Libraries.
The last three to be had on application to the Librarian.
By joining the Library Art Club, the Library has been able, during the year, to give exhibitions in the Reading
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Room of many fine collections of photographs of various sub- jects, such as the art collections of Rome and Florence, the country and manner of life in Japan, the Sandwich Islands, etc., etc.
Towards the close of the year Miss Mary G. Bartlett of Plymouth generously presented to the Library her collection of about 3,000 photographs of the finest paintings, works of art and specimens of architecture of Europe, collected by her during her annual trips abroad during the past ten or twelve years.
This beautiful and valuable gift is now being arranged, classified and indexed, and, when ready for the use of the public, will prove to be a most valuable addition to the Li- brary.
Since the beginning of the new year the Library has re- ceived another gift, the most valuable and important in its history. Mrs. Lydia G. R. Allen, Mrs. Marion R. Town- send, and Mr. Thomas Russell of Boston, the children of the late William G. Russell and Mary Ellen (Hedge) Russell, both natives of Plymouth, desirous of erecting in Plymouth a memorial to their parents, offered to present to the Library, for its use, a Memorial Building costing about $20,000.
This generous offer was immediately and gratefully accepted by the Library, and a most desirable lot on the southerly side of North street, including the row of historic linden trees on the front, has been secured for the location of the new Building, which will be erected at once.
For the Directors, WILLIAM HEDGE, President.
PLYMOUTH, Feb. 1, 1901.
Plymouth 6
1
REPORT OF THE BOARD OF HEALTH. FOR THE YEAR ENDING DEC. 31, 1900.
Thirty-three complaints have been made and investigated by the Board this year, and such remedies applied to the faulty conditions as were practicable. In ten instances it was found necessary to require owners to connect their prop- erty with the sewer provided by the town, instead of using primitive and defective methods of disposing of their sew- age. These requirements of the Board have all been met. In one instance property was found, upon investigation, to be in such an unsanitary condition that it was ordered aband- oned until it could be rendered suitable for habitation in the opinion of the board.
The record of contagious diseases reported to the Board is as follows :-
Diphtheria, I
Scarlet Fever, II
Typhoid Fever, 4
Measles, 3I
Making a total of 47 as compared with 198 last year. The larger number for that period is due, however, to an epidem- ic of measles, 183 cases having been reported. Typhoid fever is decreasing, twice as many cases having been re- ported last year, while scarlet fever shows seven more cases this year. Against one case of membraneous croup and two of diphtheria last year we have but one case of diph- theria this year.
The State Board of Health now offers to provide gratui- tously to local boards culture tubes and antitoxin for the
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early and accurate diagnosis and treatment of diphtheria, re- quiring only in the case of the former that the physicians who make use of them keep a careful record of their cases on blanks provided for the purpose. In the case of the an- titoxin, however, not only is a record to be kept, but its use is to be confined to persons unable to pay for it. Your Board has been provided with culture tubes and antitoxin since the month of August, but unfortunately the culture tubes deteriorate, and it has been very difficult to replace them when necessary, as the demand for them from the State Board has been so great. They may be obtained by physi- cians who desire to use them at Cooper's pharmacy.
The complaints of vile odors arising from the man-holes of the main sewer, noted in the report for last year, resulted in a visit by one of the engineers of the State Board, Mr. Hyde, who inspected the sewers and found them perfectly efficient. but requiring a little more thorough and frequent ยท flushing, as they were becoming more or less clogged with a fungus growth in places where the current is not strong. There has been no further trouble in this direction.
Analyses of the water of Elder Brewster Spring have been made from time to time, as advised by the State Board, and it has been found uniformly potable.
In various vacant lots throughout the town one notices cer- tain disfiguring and possibly disease breeding accumulations of refuse. No sooner is one eye-sore removed than two break out in its place. The cast-off material which furnish- es these unsightly places is a legitimate and certain product of the activities of the time, and there is absolutely no pro- vision for its disposition. The Board of Health proposes to provide two public dumps, one to be located in the south, and one in the north part of the town, to direct the deposi- tion of all proper material upon them, and to see that they are maintained in good condition, the refuse being occasion- ally burned as it accumulates. The site for one of these
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dumps has already been secured near the "pest house" lot, and will be put into suitable condition for use as soon as the frost is out of the ground.
The desirablity of having some sort of isolation hospital ready in case of emergency is impressed upon us at present by the prevalence of small-pox in towns at no great dis- tance from us. It is obviously unwise to wait until the necessity arises, and then hurriedly construct a building which is inadequate, the time when it would have been use- ful very likely having. passed before it is completed. The
first cases of small-pox occurring in a community are gener- ally among transients who are living in public houses or other quarters where isolation would be impossible, but even with every advantage in the way of isolation any case in the midst of a community is a menace to that community. There should then be some sort of building, however simple, erect- ed well outside the thickly settled portion of the town, which could be made ready in a few hours for the reception of any case of contagious disease which it might seem best to isolate.
Respectfully submitted.
J. HOLBROOK SHAW,
FREDERICK D. BARTLETT, JOSIAH MORTON.
Board of Health.
SUPERINTENDENT OF CEMETERIES. REPORT.
The following is respectfully presented as the report of the Superintendent of Cemeteries for the year 1900.
During the past year no radical changes have been at- tempted in the management of our cemeteries, the main ob- ject being to give a more permanent character to the work done, making such changes in former methods as would con- tribute to that end. I think I can safely say that there has been a material increase in the natural beauty and attractive- ness of the cemeteries, and that the appropriations have been carefully expended. There are, however, many things which ought to be done if we, as a town, are to rank any- where near our neighboring communities in the condition of our burying places.
The receiving tomb, concerning which action was taken, still remains to be built.
The fences around the cemeteries are very much out of repair, and should be attended to.
The entrances are in poor shape, especially the one on Sa- moset street, and the avenues are in need of extensive repairs.
The water supply is inadequate, but can be easily remedied if acted upon in a systematic manner.
There is each year a large amount of work which must be done in clearing up and removing rubbish, leaves, etc .; this is not in the nature of permanent improvement, but must of necessity take a large part of the annual appropriation. Burial Hill occupies a peculiar place in the Town's burying grounds, and visited, as it is, each year, by thousands of people from all parts of the country, should present a better appearance, simply as a matter of pride on the part of the
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town. Part of the daily work here during the summer months consists in removing the refuse scattered from one end of the Hill to the other by visitors. This seems diffi- cult to regulate, since the practice has been permitted visitors to eat lunches within its borders, and no rules govern their action.
There are many old and historic gravestones which need protection, and some method other than the unsightly iron covering now used might be adopted, since there is a process by which the original shape of the stones and the lettering can be restored, and at the same time preserve the stones from the action of the weather.
The care of Burial Hill has been as thorough, the past year, as the small amount available from the appropriation, would allow.
There is need of fixed rules and regulations to govern our cemeteries, thereby avoiding conflict of authority, which now often arises.
I would also recommend that appropriations be made for each cemetery or burying ground separately, and each ap- propriation be kept for expenditure for that cemetery alone for which it is appropriated; this action would make the work of planning and carrying on the work much more sat- isfactory to the Superintendent, and would be more econom- ical for the town.
In conclusion it seems proper to say that we ought, as a town, to feel genuine pride in having these "homes of the dead" cared for and kept in good repair, each year adding a little to the permanent advancement of their general condi- tion, and without any large expenditure, but by concerted ac- tion, and individual interest, the people of Plymouth might have their cemeteries compare favorably with those of other and larger towns.
Respectfully submitted,
E. F. STRANGER. Superintendent, Of Oak Grove and Vine Hill Cemeteries and Burial Hill.
POLICE DEPARTMENT.
To the Honorable Board of Selectmen:
Gentlemen-I have the honor to submit the following report of the Police Department for the year ending Decem- ber 31, 1900:
Total number of arrests, 268
Males, 256
Females, 12
Residents, 176
Non-residents, 92
Adults, 255 Minors, 13
Number of fines imposed,
123
Sent to jail. 36
Sent to State farm, 7
Sent to Sherborn, 5
Cases appealed,
25
Cases discharged,
28
Placed on file, 2
Placed on probation, 70
Amount fines imposed, $2,808 00
Amount fines paid, 1,279 30
Cases now in Superior Court, 14
Classified as follows :
Assault,
24
Drunk,
I38
By-laws, 6
Liquor laws, 36
Insane, I
Larceny,
I3
Non-support. 4
Adultery, 2
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Pedler laws,
12
Setting fires.
2
Breaking and entering,
7
Disturbing peace, 6
Fornication,
I
Lewd and wanton,
I
Bastardy,
I
False balance.
I
Stubborn child,
2
Vagrant.
3
Concealing stolen goods.
I
Capias,
I
Disorderly house,
I
Trespass, 2
Contempt of court.
I
Perjury, I
The force consists of four regular men, as follows : Joseph T. Collingwood, Michael Casey, Samuel Ferguson, Augus- tine J. Hogan.
At the present times the officers are on duty twelve hours per day, and the entire town is left in the charge of one man after twelve o'clock at night. With the addition of one officer the hours of labor could be reduced to a fair day's work, or ten hours, and the town would be more properly guarded at the time when the most serious offences are likely to be committed.
The accommodations at the lockup are not in keeping with the progressive spirit of the town, it having been constructed many years ago, when the population was much less than it is at present. It consists of three dark cells. with little or no ventilation, and without a single sanitary convenience. Men and women have to be treated alike under the present condition, and although their stay is short there has often been four, five and even six locked in these small quarters from Saturday until Monday. This should
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not be, as a man under arrest .should be entitled to humane accommodations, and I strongly urge that you take meas- ures to secure an appropriation to effect a radical change in this department.
The fact of the Third District Court being in Plymouth makes it more necessary that our lockup should at least be up to the average.
I desire to return my thanks for the courteous manner in which I have been treated during the year.
Respectfully submitted,
JOSEPH T. COLLINGWOOD, Chief of Police.
PLYMOUTH, MASS., Jan. 1, 1901.
FIRE DEPARTMENT.
To the Selectmen of Plymouth:
Gentlemen-The Board of Fire Engineers respectfully present their annual report for the year ending Dec. 31, 1900.
APPARATUS.
The apparatus consists of three steam fire engines, two chemical engines, two hook and ladder trucks, and four hose carts. All in good order.
HOSE.
We have about 6,000 feet of two and a half inch cotton rubber-lined hose in the department. Some of it is in poor condition; 500 feet of new hose has been purchased the past year.
BUILDINGS.
The buildings used by the department are in fair condi- tion.
HYDRANTS.
Two new post hydrants have been located and connected the past year, making a total on old system of 56 post and 4I flush, 97 in all-62 on high service and 35 on low service. Private hydrants, 35. Eleven new post hydrants have been set on Main and Market streets, on the new 12 inch high service main; 13 on Standish ave., 5 on Sandwich street, be- tween Jabez Corner and Bramhall's store, all of which are now ready for service, making a total of 161 hydrants avail- able.
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FIRES AND ALARMS, 1900.
May I-Alarm from Box 62; no damage.
May 20-Alarm from Box 37, Robbin's lumber yard, burning of old hulk on shore.
May 20-Alarm from Box 35; same cause.
May 28-Alarm from Box 41, chimney fire in old Cox house on Sandwich street; no damage.
June 2-Alarm from Box 37. Mill Village, fire on roof; damage $5.00.
June II-Alarm from Box 54. fire in Central House, Main street : damage $1,000.00.
June 20-Alarm from Box 45. fire in building off Sand- wich street, owned by Elmer Harlow; damage $450.00, in- sured $300.00.
Sept. 25-Alarm from Box 25, house on Billington street; no damage.
Oct. 6-Alarm from Box 43, at 8.50 p. m., followed at 8.55 by second alarm, for fire in building on Sandwich street, owned by Seth W. Paty, occupied by Dorr's bakery and Badger's grocery store; damage. $500; house of Winslow Allen, damaged about $350. insured for $500.
Nov. II-Alarm from Box 25, fire in barn owned by Ro- gan Bros .. on Newfields street; loss $1,800, insured $1,000. Nov. 24-Alarm from Box 42, for fire in barn on May- flower street, owned by Samuel Nelson; damage about $500, insured for $800.
Nov. 26-Alarm from Box 41, for fire in stable off Sand- wich street, owned and occupied by Sproul & Holmes; dam- age. about $300.
Dec. 2-Alarm from Box 23, for fire in house on Mill Lane. owned by Josiah Baxter: damage about $50. in- sured.
The fire alarm system has worked well the past year, and the expense for repairs and maintenance has been small.
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FINANCIAL.
CR.
By appropriation. 1900,
$5,200 00 DR. To payments, 1900, 4,931 36
Undrawn balance,
$268 64
APPROPRIATION.
We estimate that an appropriation of $5,000 will meet the expenses of the department the coming year, and is recom- mended. We also recommend an appropriation of $1,000 for the purchase of new hose.
H. P. BAILEY, Chief. D. M. BOSWORTH, Clerk.
ENGINEERS.
H. P. Bailey. George E. Saunders.
Albert E. Davis. D. M. Bosworth. F. H. Lanman.
WATER COMMISSIONERS.
JOHN W. CHURCHILL-Term expires, 1903.
EVERETT F. SHERMAN-Term expires, March, 1903. GEORGE W. BRADFORD-Term expires, March, 1902. HORACE P. BAILEY-Term expires, March, 1902. JOHN H. DAMON-Term expires, March, 1901.
Superintendent- Richard W. Bagnell.
Assistant Superintendent-Charles H. Sherman.
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 WATER COMMISSIONERS.
The Water Commissioners herewith submit their forty- sixth Annual Report.
RECEIPTS.
Balance on hand Jan. 1, 1900, $6,620 59
Water rates, 21,814 67
Labor and material,
601 99
Miscellaneous,
151 87
Premium on loans,
621 00
Notes issued June 1900,
30,000 00
Overdrawn balance,
7,847 94
$67,658 06
EXPENDITURES.
Extensions by vote of Water Commissioners, $4,123 13
Maintenance,
II,090 57
Bonds and interest,
10,277
I5
Construction of plant,
5,221 58
Construction of new work,
36,945 63.
$67,658 06
MAINTENANCE.
Salaries,
$1,874 94
Rubber boots,
19 50
Horse hire,
498 59
Labor,
2,257 96
Coal, gas and oil, 48 00
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Repairs to shop, 278 79
Reservoirs, lumber and tools,
187 72
Repairing picks, carting, and service covers,
273 10
Insurance,
197 20
Freight,
140 23
Electric fan and lights,
57 77
Plumbing, lead and packing,
192 20
Telephone,
46 00
Traveling expenses,
40 00
Surveying and hose,
30 40
Screens at pond,
7 14
Stationery, stamps, printing, and express,
133 38
Corporation and stops,
130 30
Lanterns and office chair,
15 00
Repairing wagons, and care of horse,
7 44
Cement,
148 67
Gates,
165 61
Paid for 4 inch pipe,
1,777 80
Waste and mittens,
22 06
Repairs.
313 32
Incidentals,
12 24
$8,875 27
PUMP.
Engineer's salary,
$825 00
Coal.
1,029 28
Repairs on boiler room, tools and fittings,
67 96
Telephone.
36 00
Coal for house, 22 50
Oil, packing and waste,
64 66
Repairs on pump station,
90 50
Carting ashes, 27 50
Pumping nights,
16 40
Wood for pump,
35 50
$2,215 30
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BONDS AND INTEREST.
Bond paid on issue of October 2, 1899, $1,500 00
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.
$6,640 00
Interest paid on issue of October 2, 1899,
$393 33
Interest paid on issue of June 1, 1885,
1,624 00
Interest paid on issue of August 1, 1890,
936 00
Interest paid on issue of August 1, 1894, 640 62
Interest paid on issue of February 3. 1894,
43 20
$3,637 15
Bonds and interest paid,
6,640 00
$10,277 15
The Commissioners have laid. under the vote of the Town, from the high-service reservoir to Sandwich street, via the Nook road, 5.400 ft. of 12 inch pipe; in Market, Main, and Court streets, 3,000 ft. of 12 inch pipe; in Stan- dish ave., Oak, Spooner, and Court streets, 9,200 ft. 10 inch pipe: from Jabez Corner south on Sandwich street, to Bram- hall's Corner, 6,400 ft. of 6 inch pipe; with the necessary gates, and hydrants, at a cost of $36,945.63.
There remains to be laid : On the Nook road. 1200 ft. 12 inch pipe; on Court street, I,200 ft. 10 inch pipe; from Jabez Corner to Spring Hill, 5,200 ft. 10 inch pipe, and 2,500 ft. 4 inch pipe, for connections with cross streets, at an estimated cost of $20.000.00.
The Commissioners have exceeded the appropriation by a considerable amount, from the following reasons :
The price of material required having greatly advanced.
No provision was made by the Committee for connecting the 12 inch pipe on the Nook road with the reservoir.
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The Commissioners found in laying the pipe on Standish ave., Oak, Spooner, and Court streets, that the distance was 3,100 feet more than the report of the Committee called for, causing an additional expense of $5,000.00.
The Commissioners would call the attention of the town to the necessity of a new pump at the station in the near future, to insure the high service a constant supply, and for fire protection.
The present pump has been in constant use twenty years, and any serious accident would deprive the residents on high service of water.
Respectfully submitted, E. F. SHERMAN, H. P. BAILEY, JOHN H. DAMON, GEORGE W. BRADFORD, JOHN W. CHURCHILL.
Plymouth 7
SUMMARY OF STATISTICS. PLYMOUTH (MASS.) WATER WORKS.
Published by request of the New England Water Works Association.
Population by census of 1900, 10,000. 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) $5 per gross ton.
3. Coal for year : 306,518 pounds. Wood for year, 13,- 500 pounds.
4. Total fuel, 320,018 pounds.
5. Total water pumped, 130,233,312 gallons. .
6. Average static head, 65 feet.
7. Average dynamic head, 66 feet.
8. Number of gallons pumped per pound of coal, 424.87.
9. Duty of pump, 24,626,739.
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COST OF PUMPING, FIGURED ON PUMPING STATION EXPENSES, VIZ. : $2,215.30.
10. Per million gallons against dynamic head into direct pipe, $17.01.
II. Per million gallons raised one foot high (dynamic), $0.25.
COST OF PUMPING, FIGURED ON TOTAL MAINTENANCE, VIZ .: $12,601.45.
12. Per million gallons raised against dynamic head into direct pipe. $96.36.
13. Per million gallons raised one foot high (dynamic), $1.46.
FINANCIAL.
MAINTENANCE.
RECEIPTS.
EXPENDITURES.
A.
Water rates, domestic,
$20.511.41 1,454.32
AA. Management and repairs, BB. Interest on bonds,
$11,090.57 3,637.15
C. Total water receipts,
$21,965.73
D. Miscellaneous,
602.80
DD. Profit for the year,
$7,840.81
E. Total receipts,
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