USA > Massachusetts > Plymouth County > Plymouth > Town annual report of Plymouth, MA 1903-1905 > Part 14
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10 00
Inspection of plumbing,
950 60
Printing, 90 25
Nurses in contagious diseases, and expenses,
256 05
Boards for placards,
5 00
Telephone and express,
7 10
Burying animals,
30 00
Medicines, disinfectants, supplies furnished in con- tagious diseases, 38 20
Horse hire, 45 75
C. W. Lanman, ice suspected of typhoid,
291 80
Anthony Atwood, ice suspected of typhoid,
IIO 00
For expenses incurred with the burning of the Finney barn, 81 25
Aid in contagious diseases.
6 00
$2,188 47
Received for licenses,
$14 50
Received from sale of formaldehyde, 9 20
$23 70
$2,164 77
Appropriation,
1,000 00
Deficiency, $1,164 77
The inspection of plumbing-an expense of $950, which was additional to the expense of the regular work has caused a considerable deficiency.
We recommend an appropriation of $1,800 for the com- ing year with an additional $1,164.77 for the deficiency.
JOHN F. CALLANAN, H. L. MOLTER, PERCY LOTHROP.
Board of Health.
PLYMOUTH PUBLIC LIBRARY.
REPORT OF THE DIRECTORS.
The directors of the library make the following report of the work of the Library during the past year, and of its present condition.
Bound volumes added for circulation in 1904, 228
Bound volumes added for reference in 1904, 47
Unbound volumes and pamphlets added,
Total number of additions. 396
Number of volumes for circulation, Jan. 1, 1904. 12,190
Number of volumes for circulation added in 1904, 228
12,418
Withdrawn from circulation in 1904.
I2I
Total number for circulation, Jan. I. 1905. 12,297
Number of volumes in reference
department, Jan. 1, 1904. 2,658
Volumes added in 1904, 47
By binding pamphlets, 5
Total number of volumes for reference. 2,710
Total number of volumes in library. Jan. 1, 1905, 15,007
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Books given out for circulation during 1904-
General Works,
694
Philosophy, 43
Theology, 200
Sociology,
182
Language,
24
Natural Science,
323
Useful Arts,
150
Fine Arts.
278
Literature,
783
Travels.
522
Biography,
738
History,
593
Fiction. 21,946
Total circulation for 1904, 26,476
Periodicals provided for the use of the public-
Harper's Monthly.
Harper's Weekly.
Atlantic Monthly.
Century Magazine.
Scribner's Magazine.
New England Magazine.
McClure's Magazine.
St. Nicholas.
North American Review.
Forum.
Popular Science Monthly.
Scientific American.
Scientific American supplement.
Cosmopolitan.
Bookman. Outlook. Country Life (English) Country Life in America.
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World's Work.
Review of Reviews.
Everybody's Magazine.
Masters in Art.
Literary Digest.
Youth's Companion.
New York Tribune.
Boston Transcript.
Woodland and Roadside.
Old Colony Memorial *.
Plymouth Observer *.
American Journal of Archaeologyt.
Forestry and Irrigationt.
Woodland and Roadsidet.
Indian's Friendt.
Museum of Fine Arts Bulletin, gift of the Museum.
Library Journal, to be had on application.
Public libraries, to be had on application.
*Gift of the publishers.
*Gift of Dr. Helen Morton.
The directors desire to express their gratitude to the la- dies of the "Book Club" who, with their customary gener- osity, have kindly donated to the Library during the past year, 55 volumes of the best works of fiction, biography and history.
By means of the "Bodley Library," the Library has been able to have the use of a large number of the best works of fiction, without making them a permanent addition to the Library at a large expense.
Miss Mary G. Bartlett and other friends have made ad- ditional gifts to the large collection of mounted photographs
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which now number over 5.000, and comprise one of the most valuable and useful features of the Library. The use of the Reading Room has largely increased, and the public are cordially invited to avail themselves of its use for quiet read- ing both day time and evening.
For the Directors,
WILLIAM HEDGE, President.
Plymouth, Feb. 1, 1905.
SIXTEENTH ANNUAL
REPORT OF THE PARK COMMISSIONERS.
CR.
Appropriation for overdraft,
$120 27
Appropriation for 1904,
750 00
Income of Morton fund,
100 00
Sale of wood,
39 87
Reimbursement (error in bill)
4 50
$1,014 64
DR.
Overdrawn, 1903,
$120 27
Payments, 1904,
549 OI
Balance to credit account,
345 36
$1.014 64
The modest appropriation made by the town for its pub- lic parks is little more than enough to keep them in tolerable order. The money is mostly expended for repairs of roads and for maintenance, which includes cutting the grass at Bates' Park, the care of the waiting room at Beach Park, etc.
In order to develop a seedling, and consequently long lived, growth of trees at Morton Park, which shall take the place of the stump growth that soon decays, it has been cus- tomary to cut out each year from a section of the park the in- ferior stump growth.
This work has been paid for in part by the sale of the wood so cut, but the trimmings yield less merchantable wood
Plymouth 6
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from year to year because the proportion of voung sprouts to be removed increases.
If we depend upon natural seeding in the growth will eventually become white and pitch pine, for the seedling de- ciduous trees now growing are relatively few in number and will be insufficient to make a suitable variety for a public park. The white pine trees have been systematically en- couraged, and groves of these and of pitch pines may well find places in the park, but it is not desirable to make the whole park of this character, and the time may come when the pines will need to be kept within bounds.
As the oaks will not replace themselves in kind, except with a constantly deteriorating growth of coppice, your com- missioners desire to plant small seedlings, of oak and other trees suitable to the location, so that, when the stump growth fails, a mixed stand of seedling trees shall take its place in condition to improve for generations and to restore to this park the beauty of the primeval forest.
During the winter of 1903-4 the usual thinning was done, but the work caused a considerable overdraft of the account, much to our regret. It is not easy to carry on the park work spasmodically. The men employed naturally wish to make each day count, and unless they can depend upon work in the parks, they must seek it elsewhere. It seemed best, therefore, to give up all work this winter rather than to overdraw again and, partly for this reason, there is a bal- ance to the credit of the account. The balance is increased by the income from the Morton fund, which income is to be used for special purposes by the terms of the gift.
Sufficient contributions were received during the year from the friends of the park and of Mr. Morton to make pos- sible the building of the proposed bridge over the brook, above "Bill Holmes Dam," and the approaches thereto. The stone arch and roadway were finished during the summer and the old way, with its sharp grade and unsafe wooden bridge, was discontinued. The parapets of the bridge are
ยท
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contracted for, and a simple fence, with stone posts con- tributed by the town, is to extend along the approaches. It is hoped that it will be possible to place a tablet on one of the parapets with a suitable inscription.
The visitor to Morton Park, in our generation, needs no inscription to hold the name of its founder in grateful and affectionate remembrance. Nathaniel Morton gave to it so much of his time and of himself that, to those who knew him, the beauty of this place must always recall his gener- osity, foresight and public spirit. But while the park it- self is his most fitting memorial, it is desirable that a per- manent record of his services be made on "Morton Bridge."
During the coming year it will be necessary to build a cul- vert under the road across the south-easterly end of "Cotton Factory Meadow" in accordance with the terms of agree- ment made with the owners of the adjacent land when this part of the park came into possession of the town.
In the summer of 1904 Mr. Henry Hornblower placed a small building on Beach Park for the purpose of storing boating utensils. Assuming that there would be no objec- tion, he moved this building onto the park lands at his own risk. When he found that the park commissioners could give him no permission to occupy park lands, he admitted that he has no rights there. and agreed to remove the build- ing whenever he shall be requested to do so by your commis- sioners. There has been a general improvemnt in the ap- pearance of this part of Beach Park since Mr. Hornblower's building was placed there, but your commissioners reserve the right to order its removal at any time.
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TRAINING GREEN. CR.
Appropriation to cover 1903 overdraft, $16 63
Appropriation for 1904, 175 00
Overdrawn, 1904,
6 55
$198 18
DR.
Overdrawn, 1903,
$16 63
Expenditures, 1904, 181 55
$198 18 Training Green was well cared for as usual by Mr. Branch E. Blackmer. The grass was thoroughly rolled with a heavy roller, which work caused a small overdraft, as the account shows.
We recommend the usual appropriations of $750 for parks, and $175 for Training Green.
Appended is the account of the cost of Morton Bridge to date.
CR.
Jan. I.
Deposit in bank to credit of account, $65 00
Amount of cash subscriptions. 568 00
DR.
Paid for stone work, $175 00
Paid for filling approaches, 393 00
Bills payable, 7 49
Balance applicable to completion of
bridge. 57 51
$633 00
To the cost of building the approaches should be added a day's work freely contributed by each of the men engaged thereon.
REPORT OF FORESTER.
CR.
Undrawn balance,
$1,749 02
Appropriation,
250 00
$1,999 02
DR.
Expenditures,
$510 65
Balance to credit of account,
1,488 37
$1,999. 02
During 1904 thirty-seven fires in the woods were reported, and put out with the help of men paid by the town. Fire- wards also started for two fires which proved to be a short distance beyond the limits of the town.
The bills paid by the town on account of these thirty-seven fires amounted to $405.05, or an average of $10.95 per fire. In addition to this there were small expenses for chemicals which can only be estimated, perhaps fifty cents per fire.
While there was a slight increase in the number of fires over 1903, the amount charged to the contingent account for extinguishing them was thirty per cent. less than in that year.
Of these fires nineteen were traced to the Plymouth and Middleboro R. R. and these cost the town $182.85, exclusive of chemicals, or about forty-five per cent. of the total ex- pense. This amount will probably be refunded by the rail- road company, in accordance with their usual custom, as a matter of justice and policy.
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One fire escaped from a cranberry bog where employees were burning brush, and the cost of this fire added to that of the railroad fires, makes the sum in which the town should be reimbursed one-half the cost for the year.
Most of the other seventeen fires were undoubtedly caused by the carelessness of persons passing through the woods or along the roadways. There is reason to believe that sev- eral were of incendiary origin. The only one that was traced with certainty was set by a young boy attempting to do a little cooking. As the act was not malicious, he was not prosecuted.
The most serious fire of the year started from the rail- road at the bridge over the Plympton road, and was driven by a strong west wind to Sparrows Hill, a change of wind to southwest, sending a branch fire toward the north part of the town. When this fire started few of our regular men were within reach, and the apparatus had to be sent out with a scratch crew after some delay. In consequence of the delay and the strong wind, the fire crossed the fire belt on the Carver road before the equipment could be put in action, and the burned area was largely increased in consequence. This fire cost the town $108.49, and the railroad company sent large gangs of men at its own expense.
The other eighteen railroad fires attended by our men cost , the town, on an average, only $4.13, a record which shows that the men were vigilant and prompt, and worked effective- ly as a rule.
The town is largely dependent on the public spirit and love of the woods of many citizens for services which are never paid for. There is no record of the time devoted to watch- ing for fires at dangerous seasons, and the services of the fire wards and earnest workers are seldom properly reward- ed by the payment allowed for their time. These men con- tinue to serve from year to year, notwithstanding personal inconveniences and sacrifices, but it is difficult to find re-
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cruits for this service to take the places of those who are compelled to give up the work.
The death of Benjamin Whiting, and the resignation of Samuel Bradford, removed from the force two men who had worked long and faithfully for the town. Mr. Bradford was in active service up to the time of his resignation, and had given of his time unstintedly. He certainly had earned the right to retire.
As there seemed to be no chance that a fire wagon could be properly located at Manomet, several small equipments were distributed among persons who consented to serve as fire wards there. Portions of this district can be easily reached by the wagon at Indian Brook. An equipment of this kind makes an admirable protection for buildings in a country village, and if the wagon cannot be properly located at Manomet it should be stationed at Eel River. Every year cases come to the attention of the forester, where in- cipient house fires are put out by fire wards with the aid of our extinguishers.
During the year the State established the office of state forester, and the governor appointed a trained forester to the office. It is, perhaps, natural that the first care of the new official should be to stimulate forest growth, and to guard against the insect ravages which are so serious in the neighborhood of Boston. Later we hope there will be time to systemize the work of preventing and extinguishing fires; for, if this danger can be minimized, we can hope for earnest endeavors towards the re-forestation of our waste lands and the judicious use of the timber that remains standing.
The last two winters have been so severe and accompanied by so much snow that little work could be done to advantage on fire belts. For this reason the balance to the credit of the forester's account, is sufficient for probable expenses, and no appropriation is asked for.
G. R. BRIGGS, Forester.
REPORT OF TREE WARDEN.
TREE WARDEN ACCOUNT.
CR.
Undrawn balance,
$510 62
Appropriation,
500 00
$1.010 62
DR.
Expenditures.
$847 51
Balance to credit of account, 163 II
$1.010 62
Following the policy outlined in my last report, a careful search of the town was made for the nests of brown-tail moths. It would seem that these should be easily removed, but it was found difficult to conduct the search so thoroughly as to result in extermination. Owners of trees can help greatly by removing and burning nests on their own premises, or by locating the nests and notifying the tree- warden. or the men conducting the search. Our work was helped by the backward spring. and we believe very few nests escaped destruction.
During the summer a strong north wind brought a cloud of moths into the town. Other' towns and cities to the north of us had similar visitations on the same night. These moths, attracted by the arc lights. gathered mostly in the
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central parts of the town, and doubtless laid many eggs there. The nests are easily seen on the fruit trees in our gardens, and occasionally on shade trees. It is important to cut off and destroy these nests. They do not appear more numerous than last year, and it is certainly good policy to destroy them each year, and so prevent the distressing and disgusting results of a reign of these caterpillars.
After the brown-tail's nests were destroyed something was accomplished toward ridding our roadsides of tent-caterpil- lars by removing most of the infected and diseased wild cherry trees.
A number of young trees were set out during the year, noticeably on Bay View avenue, which now boasts two rows of thrifty, young maples. Two sturdy young elms of con- siderable size, kindly given to the town by Mrs. Charles L. Jones and Albert R. Raymond, were planted on either side of Court street, near Chilton street, to replace old trees that had died.
There are always places where it is desirable to plant larger trees than can readily be obtained at nurseries, and contributions of such are always acceptable when they can be secured with good roots.
The elm leaf beetle was held in check with comparatively little trouble, the work being mostly confined to spraying the trunks of trees with kerosene emulsion in midsummer.
Judging from the experience of last year, the sum of one thousand dollars should be available for the work of the tree warden. There is a balance to the credit of the account of about one hundred and fifty dollars, and an appropriation of eight hundred and fifty dollars is recommended.
G. R. BRIGGS, Tree Warden.
INSPECTION OF ANIMALS.
During the spring and summer months we have had two days a week for slaughtering animals at the slaughter house, Mondays and Thursdays.
In May a butcher's license was granted to E. D. Jordan to slaughter pigs at his place in Chiltonville.
June Ist. I was called to Manomet to see a cow suspected of tuberculosis. June 14th, a complaint was received about some calves being killed on Sandwich street, and sold, which were too young. The persons were informed in regard to the law, and were granted a license to slaughter animals.
In June a license was granted to Fred Wood of Manomet to slaughter animals in Manomet.
During the month of July. Dr. Lothrop and I spent four mornings going about looking at the sanitary arrangements of stables where cows are kept and milk offered for sale.
In August Dr. Lothrop of the Board of Health, and I visited the cow stables on Sandwich street.
In September thirteen cows were brought from out of the state for E. D. Jordan, which I identified and released from quarantine. September 12, Dr. Lothrop and I visited the stables on South street and vicinity.
At the first of October I received a notice from Dr. Austin Peters, Chief of Cattle Bureau, to make an inspection of the cattle in my district to be completed before November 15.
The following questions were to be answered in regards to each stable :
Size of building in which cattle are stabled; Feet long? Feet wide? Feet high ?
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Size of stable or part of building devoted to cattle; Feet long? Feet wide? Feet high ?
Is soil under stable wet or dry ?
Is stable on north, south, east or west side of building?
Is stable on ground floor, on floor over cellar, or in cellar or basement ?
What is width of open space in front of cattle? Of space behind cattle ?
Number of cattle ocupying this stable?
Has stable good light, bad light, or no light ?
Has it good ventilation, bad or no ventilation?
Is stable clean, unclean or filthy ?
What is done with manure?
What is source of water supply ?
Is water good, fair or bad?
Has tuberculosis been located in this stable during the past year ?
If yes, have premises been properly cleansed and disin- fected ?
What improvements have been made since last inspec- tion ?
Do the animals appear free from contagious disease?
Are they otherwise apparently healthy ?
Are they kept clean ?
Is general condition good, poor or bad ?
Inspected 174 stables, 376 cows, 21 sheep, III young cattle. 17 bulls, 241 goats and 789 pigs.
Most of the cattle were in good condition and kept fairly clean, a few stables are over-crowded, with little or no light, and in some places the drainage is far from what it should be, the stables are not kept as clean as they should be, and in many cases the manure is allowed to remain in the stable too long before being removed.
On October 24 three cases of glanders were found in Kingston, and the public watering troughs in Plymouth
,
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were shut off for three weeks and thoroughly washed sev- eral times.
During the winter months we have been using the slaugh- ter house every day except Saturday and Sunday.
November II thirteen head of cattle arrived for E. D. Jordan, from other states and were released from quaran- tine.
During the past year I have inspected the following num- ber of animals :
At slaughter house. 56 calves, 8 head cattle, 172 pigs.
At private residences. II calves, 14 head cattle, 87 pigs.
Total inspected for year, 67 calves, 22 head cattle, 259 pigs.
FREDERICK H. BRADLEY,
Inspector of Animals.
EIGHTH ANNUAL REPORT
OF THE
CHIEF OF POLICE
FOR THE
Town of Plymouth
For the Year Ending Dec. 31
1904
POLICE DEPARTMENT.
To the Honorable Board of Selectmen-
I have the honor to present for your consideration a de- tailed statement of the service rendered by the Plymouth Police Department for the year ending Dec. 31, 1904.
Arrests.
Males.
Females.
Total.
No. in January,
25
2
27
No. in February,
IO
2
12
No. in March,
II
2
I3
No. in April,
IO
2
12
No. in May,
68
2
70
No. in June,
54
I
55
No. in July,
62
62
No. in August,
75
3
78
No. in September,
5I
I
52
No. in October,
72
I
73
No. in November,
40
4
44
No. in December,
19
19
Total,
497
20
517
Offences for which arrests were made.
Males.
Females.
Total
Assault,
20
20
Assault on officer,
4
4
Assault with dangerous weapon,
2
2
Arrested on capias,
I
I
-96
Arested on suspicion,
6
6
Attempt at rape,
I
I
Bastardy,
3
3
Bonfire in street,
I
I
Riding bicycle on side- walk,
3
3
Breaking and entering,
I
I
Disturbance on cars,
2
2
Disturbance of peace,
I4
14
Disorderly,
I
I
Disorderly house,
I
I
Drunk,
36I
5
366
Embezzlement,
2
I
3
Evading car fare,
I
I
Fast riding on bicycle,
3
3
Felonious assault,
I
I
Forgery,
I
I
Fornication,
I
I
2
Indecent exposure,
I
I
Inmates disorderly house,
2
2
Insane,
6
7
13
Interfering with officer,
I
I
Keeping minor from school,
I
I
Larceny,
7
I
8
Liquor nuisance,
4
4
Lodging,
3
3
Non-support,
3
3
Peddling without license,
3
3
Resisting officer,
I
I
Stubborn child,
2
2
Tramps,
5
5
Using threatening lan- guage,
I
I
Violation town by-laws,
18
I
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Violation clam laws, 4
4
Violation game laws, 6
6
Violation Lord's day,
I
I
Violation State Law,
2
-
497
20
517
Males,
497
Females,
20
Adults,
500
Minors,
I7
Residents,
273
Non-residents,
244
Number of fines imposed,
385
Amount of fines imposed,
$3,123 29
Amount of fines paid,
2,229 05
Committed to jail for non-payment of fines,
12
Committed to State Farm, Bridgewater,
9
Committed to Lancaster School,
I
Committed to women's reformatory,
Prison at Sherborn for 2 years,
5
Committed to Westboro,
I
Committed to Waverley,
2
Committed to Dipsomaniac Hospital, Foxboro,
2
Committed to Taunton Insane Hospital,
IO
Defaulted,
. II
Discharged,
27
Placed on file,
8
Put on probation,
20
Appealed cases,
12
Nationality of persons arrested :
Canada,
5
England,
18
Finland,
24
France,
19
Germany,
15
Plymouth 7
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Ireland,
28
Italy,
29
New Brunswick,
5
Portugal,
14
Russia,
IO
Scotland,
8
Sweden,
2
Syria,
3
United States,
304
Unknown,
33
Total,
517
Roster of the police force :
Benj. F. Goddard,
Michael Casey,
Augustine J. Hogan,
Samuel J. Ferguson,
Edward Manter, William H. Goedecke,
Freeman Manter.
During the present year the Police Station has been en- larged, affording more light, better circulation of air and improved sanitary conditions. Two portable steel cages of modern construction, each containing two cells, have been added, making at present seven cells, a much needed and marked improvement.
Since 1902 the police force has been increased until there are now seven men. The town has grown rapidly in popu- lation and more men are needed to properly patrol the
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streets than formerly, for a crime is very seldom committed in the presence of an officer.
The life of a community is sometimes guaged by the pol- ice court record, as well as by its manufactures, for where there is life and business activity, there must also be the inevitable accompaniments of vice and crime.
Strangers visiting the town, while remarking on its acti- vity, have also commented on the general peace and good order. I assume that this is not owing wholly to police supervision, or through fear of the law, but rather an evi- dence of the earnestness of our citizens to have a peaceful and orderly community.
Respectfully submitted, BENJ. F. GODDARD, Chief of Police.
REPORT
OF THE
Water Commissioners, Superintendent
AND
Collector of Water Rates
OF THE
TOWN OF PLYMOUTH
1904
WATER COMMISSIONERS.
JOHN H. DAMON-Term expires March, 1907. JOHN W. CHURCHILL-Term expires March, 1906. EVERETT F. SHERMAN-Term expires March 1906. CHARLES T. HOLMES-Term expires March, 1905. HORACE P. BAILEY-Term expires, March, 1905.
Superintendent-Arthur E. Blackmer.
Assistant Superintendent-Richard W. Bagnell.
Water Register-N. Reeves Jackson.
Engineer of Pumping Station-George H. Phillips.
Assistant Engineer at Pumping Station-Albert E. Cas- well.
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-119-3.
Rates payable at the Town Treasurer's office, semi-annu- ally, in advance, May I and November I.
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