USA > Massachusetts > Plymouth County > Plymouth > Town annual report of Plymouth, MA 1903-1905 > Part 22
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TOWN OF PLYMOUTH, CEMETERY DEPARTMENT.
Perpetual Care.
Section I-Any person holding, occupying or interested in any lot in a public burial place of the town, may deposit with the Town Treasurer any sum of money not exceeding one thousand dollars, which sum so deposited shall forever be held as a fund for the purpose of providing for the pre- servation and care of such lot and its appurtenances. The person making such deposit shall at the same time designate
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in writing the name of the cemetery in which the lot to be cared for is located, the number and specific location of the same, and the name of the person in whom the right or title thereof stands; and the Town Treasurer shall deliver to such depositor a receipt setting forth the same, and the pur- pose of said deposit.
Section 2-The income from each deposit, already made or to be hereafter made, shall be expended under the direc- tion of the Superintendent of Cemeteries, in providing for the preservation and care of the lot designated with such deposit, or the appurtenances thereto belonging, as pro- vided in section I.
Section 3-A separate account shall be kept with each deposit thus made, all labor or material being charged to each account, and the interest on each account being credit- ed, as received, semi-annually, from the Town Treasurer.
Section 4-All deposits shall be invested by the Town Treasurer under the direction of the Selectmen.
INSPECTION OF ANIMALS.
The first of October I started to make an inspection of cat- tle and barns of the town. I have inspected 177 barns where cattle were kept, and examined 376 cows; 103 young cattle; 22 sheep; 12 bulls; 25 goats; 856 pigs. I found eight cows affected with tuberculosis, and they have been killed by the state. There are many places where cattle are stabled too closely, and with little or no light.
Most of the cattle were in good condition and the stables, except in four cases, were fairly clean.
We have had two out breaks of hog cholera here this year, but very few pigs having it each time. We had twelve of them destroved.
June 17 I released from quarantine four cows belonging to Mr. Levy Mayer, which came from Vermont.
The following questions were asked about each stable :
Do the animals appear free from contagious diseases ? Are they otherwise apparently healthy? Are they kept clean ?
: Is their general condition good, poor or bad ? Number of cattle in this stable? Width of space allowed
to each, feet ?
Width of open space in front of cattle, feet ? Of space behind cattle, feet ?
How high-studded is lintel feet ? Do cattle face barn floor ?
If yes. is there a partition in front of animals ?
Is partition permanently closed, or open in warm weath- er?
Plymouth 6
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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 ?
Is soil under stable wet or dry?
Has stable good light, bad light or no light?
Has it good ventilation, bad ventilation, or no ventilation ?
Is stable clean, unclean, or filthy ?
What is done with the manure ?
What is the source of water supply ?
Is the quality of 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 ?
I have inspected at the slaughter house the past year 129 pigs; 46 calves; 7 cows; 4 oxen, and at private places, 202 pigs; 14 calves ; 15 cows. A total of : 331 pigs; 60 calves ; 22 cows; 4 oxen.
I have had to condemn two cows and one pig as unfit for food, and I had them buried.
FREDERICK H. BRADLEY,
Inspector of Animals.
BOARD OF HEALTH.
ANNUAL REPORT OF THE BOARD OF HEALTH,
1905.
During the past year there have been ten cases of diph- theria, ten cases of scarlet fever, four cases of typhoid fever, eighteen cases of measles and four cases of meningi- tis-making a total of forty-six cases of contagious dis- eases, which is a smaller number than has occurred before for a good many years.
Early in January we received a notice from the State Board of Health that several persons had come to this town who had been exposed to small-pox on the steamer which brought them to this country from Europe.
When they were located, all but one had an eruption of the skin, which, although resembling chicken-pox, still was suspicious enough to warrant the taking of every precau- tion.
Acting on the advice of the State Board, the houses in which these persons were living were quarantined and watched by several officers, until it was evident that the dan- ger was past, and all who came in contact with these per- sons were vaccinated, and the houses were thoroughly fu- migated.
In April two cases of meningitis occurred in the northern part of the town, and in June two more, which, although not more than we have had every year, still caused some uneasiness in the neighborhoods in which they existed, no doubt in a great measure due to the spotted fever scare that existed at that time all over the country.
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During the past year the expense for the inspection of plumbing was $636.30, about one-third less than the pre- vious year.
The Inspectors of Plumbing are Mr. M. D. Welsh and Mr. Arthur Bailey. The following is a report of their work for the year :
Number of inspections, 214.
Number of permits issued, 126.
New work, 33.
Additions to old work, 93.
The Board of Examiners of Plumbers consists of Wil- liam Brown, Thomas Harney and Percy Lothrop.
This Board has examined three applicants during the year.
The following were given a journeyman plumber's license :
Arthur Sampson. John E. Sullivan. Henry Reinhardt.
H. P. Bailey. Philip Mahler. Fred P. Bailey.
Sykes Hey. Albert Rich. Frank A. Sampson. Fred R. Spates.
The following were given master plumber's licenses :
William W. Myrick. Ernest L. Bassett. Hathaway & Sampson. W. H. H. Weston. H. P. Bailey & Brother. William Carr.
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Reginald Morton. C. T. Harris & Son. Arthur Bailey. John E. Sullivan.
The following were given a license to slaughter neat cat- tle and swine :
Fred Wood.
Albert Parker.
Morris Resnick.
Joseph Pettizini.
J. W. Towns.
Alton A. Wood.
Stephen Leach.
Eben B. Jordan.
Costantino Barafiddi.
Sabastian Cavicchi.
Josiah Beckford.
Henry C. Thomas.
The usual number of complaints against nuisances was received, and the following were abated :
Sewer water.
I4
Privies,
5I
Unclean yards,
12
Unclean Houses,
5
Dumping rubbish,
9
Piggeries,
4
Miscellaneous,
IO
105
It has been necessary to order several persons to connect their houses with the public sewer.
One house was condemned on account of being unsani- tary and unsafe for human habitation.
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A new by-law has been added to Rules and Regulations of the Board of Health, viz .: "No barrel, box or other con- tainer that is used for garbage, swill or other decaying matter, shall be allowed to stand within twenty feet of any sidewalk or public way."
The following is a statement of the expenditures of the Board of Health for 1905 :
Aid in contagious diseases,
$141 86
Agent and Inspector, salary and expenses,
225 00
Secretary, salary and expenses,
33 34
Labor on public dumps.
74 00
Services of physicians,
86 76
Inspection of plumbing,
636 30
Printing,
4 50
Nurses in contagicus diseases,
66 00
Telephone and express,
2 85
Burying animals,
21 50
Medicines, disinfectants and supplies furnished in contagious diseases,
86 15
Horse hire,
54 50
Examination of plumbers,
21 00
Jacob Morse, loss of milk 112 days (during typhoid fever epidemic),
336 00
Special police,
40 96
$1,830 72
Received for licenses,
$25 50
Received from sale of formaldehyde, 21 25
$46 75
$1,783 97
Appropriation,
1,600 00
Deficiency,
$183 97
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We recommend an appropriation of $1,800 for the coming year, and $183.97 for the deficiency.
PERCY LOTHROP, FREEMAN MANTER, 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 1905, 325
Bound volumes added for reference in 1905, 90
Unbound volumes and pamphlets added, IOI
Total number of additions, 516
Number of volumes for circulation, Jan. I. 1905, 12,297
Number of volumes for circulation added in 1905, 325
12,622
Withdrawn from circulation in 1905, I30
Total number for circulation, Jan 1, 1906,
12,492
Number of volumes in reference depart- ment, Jan. I, 1905, 2,710
Volumes added in 1905, 90
Total number of volumes for reference, 2,800
Total number of volumes in library, Jan. 1, 1906, 15,292
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Books given out for circulation during 1905-
General Works,
700
Philosophy,
64
Theology,
163
Sociology,
167
Language,
35
Natural Science,
380
Useful Arts,
205
Fine Arts,
376
Literature,
762
Travels,
627
Biography,
776
History,
706
Fiction, 21,790
Total circulation for 1905, 26,75I
Periodicals provided for the use of the public ---
American Journal of Archæology, gift of Dr. Helen Mor- ton.
Atlantic Monthly.
Bookman.
Century Magazine.
Cosmopolitan.
Country Life in America.
Everybody's Magazine.
Forum. Forestry and Irrigation, gift of Dr. Helen Morton. Harper's Monthly.
Indian's Friend, gift of Dr. Helen Morton.
Library Journal.
McClure's Magazine.
Masters in Art.
Museum of Fine Arts bulletin, gift of the Museum. Musician, gift of Miss Rose S. Whiting.
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New England Magazine.
North American Review.
Our Dumb Animals, gift of S. P. C. A.
Popular Science Monthly.
Public Libraries.
Review of Reviews.
St. Nicholas.
Scribner's Magazine.
World's Work.
Country Life.
Harper's Weekly.
Literary Digest.
Old Colony Memorial, gift of the publishers.
Outlook.
Plymouth Observer, gift of the publishers.
Scientific American.
Scientific American supplement.
Youth's Companion.
Boston Transcript.
New York Tribune.
The Directors again desire to express their gratitude to the ladies of the "Book Club" who, with their customary generosity, have kindly donated to the Library during the past year many volumes of the best works of fiction, biogra- phy and history, also to Mrs. F. A. Hatch for 40 bound volumes, to Mrs. Sarah Keith for 30 volumes, to Miss Rose S. Whiting for 5 volumes, and to Capt. C. C. Doten for several volumes of the messages and papers of the Presi- dents. The Encyclopædia Americana, which is particularly good on scientific subjects, has been added to the Reference Department.
The use of the large collection of over 5,000 mounted photographs has increased, and they have proved to be of great advantage for art study, class work, and in the prepa ration and illustration of various papers and lectures.
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The Reading Room has been patronized more than ever during the past year, and its many advantages for quiet reading and study are being largely appreciated by the public.
For the Directors, WILLIAM HEDGE, President.
Plymouth, Feb. 1, 1906.
SEVENTEENTH ANNUAL REPORT OF THE PARK COMMISSIONERS.
PARK ACCOUNT.
CR.
By balance from 1904, account,
$345 36
By appropriation,
750 00
By sale of grass,
3 75
$1,099 II
DR.
To labor,
$766 97
To 1575 young trees.
52 50
To lumber,
8 37
To cedar posts,
5 60
To ashes,
I 50
To tools,
28 52
To printing,
15 50
To balance to credit, 1906, account,
220 15
$1,099 II
Owing to the income of the Morton fund, the account showed a good balance unexpended at the beginning of the year. By the terms of Mr. Morton's gift a portion of the income is to be used for specified purposes. Your com- missioners believe that the rest of that income should be used for improvements that would have commended them- selves to the donor, and not for general care and repairs. We believe that the town is proud of its parks, and that it gladly and lovingly will appropriate each year the money
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that may be needed to maintain them in accordance with the plans of our generous benefactor to whose unremitting ef- forts we owe them.
Acting on this theory, a considerable number of young trees were planted during the year, and are doing well. The list includes one hundred spruce, one hundred hemlock, five hundred canoe birch, and six hundred and seventy-five red- oak seedlings. Two hundred willows, in variety, were planted on the banks of the approaches to "Morton Bridge."
Mr. Morton's method of cutting out the weaker stump growth, and later breaking off the new sprouts, has worked exceedingly well, and the work has been continued. This has encouraged the development of white pines, which have sprung up in satisfactory numbers among the oak .stump growth; but, in order to insure a variety of good trees in the future, it is necessary to plant other kinds, for only seedling trees can reach a full development. It is desirable that considerable plantings should be made annually for a num- ber of years that a sufficient stand of trees may grow up to take the place of the present oak coppice, which is necessarily short-lived when compared with seedling trees. Oak, ma- ple, chestnut and some other suitable kinds of seedlings are inexpensive, while desirable evergreens and other useful and beautiful trees can often be obtained in small sizes at satis- factory prices.
The small parks have had their usual care and the funds at our disposal have been sufficient to provide a needed top- dressing for the grass plots at Bates Park. ,
Morton bridge has not been finished on account of the dif- ficulty in securing suitable stone. It is hoped that the bal- ance available will suffice to finish the bridge as planned.
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TRAINING GREEN ACCOUNT.
CR.
By appropriation,
$175 00
DR.
To labor, etc.,
To balance,
$154 69 20 31
$175 00
Training Green has been well cared for by its faithful cus- todian, and the small balance to the credit of this account can be expended advantageously.
We recommend the usual appropriations of $750 for parks, and $175 for Training Green.
THOMAS R. WATSON, WALTER H. SEARS. GEORGE R. BRIGGS, Park Commissioners.
REPORT OF FORESTER.
-
FORESTER'S ACCOUNT.
CR.
Bv balance from 1904 account, $1,488 37
By money received for work, etc., 19 97
$1,508 34.
DR.
To bills for equipment, 152 84
To bills for repairs,
9 75
To bills for soda.
12 60
To bills for acid,
8 00
To bills for printing,
10 00
To contingent account,
8 20
To balance credited 1906 account, 1,308 95
$1,508 34
Dry weather in April and May caused an unusual num- ber of fires,-especially in April, when the fire wards went to twenty fires, five of which were set by locomotives. In May the railroad was responsible for eleven fires, while there were six others. There were ten other fires reported during the year.
The first serious fire was set by a locomotive on the morn- ing of April 2, and burned over a considerable tract but de- stroyed little valuable wood as most of the land had been burned over in recent years.
On the afternoon of April 17 three fires were set, at about
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the same time and in the same neighborhood, on the South Meadow road. Some of our men were soon on the spot, but while they could control one or two of these fires, three at once were too many and one fire crossed the West Pond road and threatened the cottages at the west end of Billington. These fires were all stopped during the night and did not burn valuable woodlands.
On Mav 3 a fire started close to the Carver line in the west and southerly part of the town, with a dangerous wind blowing. This fire would have been confined to a small area had it been reasonably accessible. The men first on the spot nearly succeeded in stopping it but a small, unoccupied build- ing caught fire in some way at a distance from the point where our men were at work, and the sparks from this build- ing spread the flames which soon ran into a heavy growth of pine, causing a big fire. This was stopped during the after- noon and night at the swamps and bogs back of Billington and at the fire-lane along the Watercourse, but it burned a considerable amount of white pine land, and probably did more damage in Plymouth than any fire since the great fire of 1900.
On May 5 fires were set by the locomotives of both the "down" and "up" freight trains, near Darby, and these fires burned rapidly towards Kingston. Our men stopped the easterly fire; the other burned across the Kingston line but seemed to be within control during the night. This fire in- creased again in the morning and continued for several days, causing heavy damage in Kingston and Plympton, finally coming back into Plymouth from the neighborhood of Rocky Nook.
While each of these fires was stopped in Plymouth on the day it started, most of them required careful watching for many days.
There seems to be no decrease in the number of fires set by locomotives. Our men went to twenty such during the
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year, and doubtless there were others extinguished by the section men.
The value of fire-lanes was proved by the fire of May 3. This fire would certainly have crossed the Watercourse, had not the underbrush and low limbs been removed from the pine woods on the west side of the road. It seemed hardly possible that the fire would not jump the road, but the scarcity of fuel on the ground in the fire-lane prevented the flames from running up into the tree-tops, these very tops forming a screen which in great measure sifted the sparks from the hot blast and smoke that poured across the road. Only in a few instances did sparks kindle dry material on the east side of the road and these incipient fires were quickly put out.
A number of extinguishers were purchased during the year which enabled us to place a larger number on each wagon and to increase the number of small equipments.
The uninhabited condition of the westerly side of our township, except at Darby, makes it difficult to reach promptly many fires which originate near the Carver line. It would be a great advantage if the town could have a senti- nel and small equipment at Sparrows' Hill during the dan- gerous season. A station there, especially if equipped with a telephone, would be extremely useful.
As there is a considerable balance to the credit of the de- partment. no appropriation is asked for this year. It is probable that an appropriation will be needed in 1907.
G. R. BRIGGS. Forester.
Plymouth
7
REPORT OF TREE WARDEN.
Tree Warden's Account.
CR.
By balance 1904 account,
$163 II
By appropriation for 1905, 800 00
$963 II
DR.
To labor, loam, and horse hire, $508 83
To bill for 86 trees,
54 35
To bill for cedar posts,
12 00
To bills for tools and materials, 5 73
To salary of tree warden,
100 00
To balance to credit 1906 account,
282 20
$963 II
Most of the work for the year was devoted to holding in check the various insect enemies which have done so much damage in our State in recent years.
The Elm-Leaf Beetle.
This insect has been so much reduced in numbers that, for the last three years our work has been chiefly confined to de- stroying the larvæ as they come down from the trees to pupate, either by trapping them behind bands of felting placed around the trunks of the trees or by spraying the trunks and the ground about the trees with kerosene emul- sion. It is only an occasional tree that requires the more troublesome and expensive treatment of spraying the foliage.
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The Browntail Moth.
A considerable amount of work was done early in the year in searching for and destroying nests of this moth. To do this effectively it is necessary to enter upon private prop- erty and as this has been done for several seasons land-own- ers have ceased to regard our men with suspicion.
As the crusade against this moth was begun before the pest was firmly established in the town, it has been possible to prevent it from doing serious damage by the expenditure of a few hundred dollars each year and without making any charge to the owners of the land on which the nests were found.
In some parts of the town there are less nests this year; in other places the number has increased. The increase is most noticeable in the southerly parts of the town where there are more old pastures whose many clumps of bushes have afforded shelter for the nests. A thorough search of such pasture lands has not been possible within the limits of our appropriation, but under the new law which enlists the help of land-owners it will be possible to do much better work in the out-lying districts.
The Gypsy Moth.
This, the worst enemy of the trees, because it feeds on nearly all varieties, has at last been found in Plymouth,-an egg cluster here and there in various parts of the town. About fifty such clusters have been located and destroyed by scouts sent here by the State and by our men who, in the company of one of the State's experts, spent a number of days in this work. Doubtless there are more egg clusters, but as few of our townspeople have seen the eggs, they are not likely to discover any when searching their lands in ac- cordance with the notice recently sent out by the selectmen.
It is not safe to take risks with so dangerous an enemy and
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the town must be prepared to do considerable work in searching lands which may not be infested.
The female moth cannot fly and naturally the pest spreads slowly, but in these days of travel it is easy for a caterpillar falling upon a conveyance of some kind to be carried to a considerable distance where it may pupate and emerge a moth. Perhaps automobiles may account for the egg clus- ters recently found at points on Cape Cod, even as far down as Orleans.
By the law of 1905, the owner of any infested land may be required to expend one-half of one per cent. of its assessed valuation in any year, if necessary, in destroying gypsy and browntail moths thereon. Should a greater expenditure be necessary the town pays the balance and, in certain cases, can collect part of such payments from the State.
It is important, therefore to keep a separate account of the cost of such work. The treasurer has, therefore, opened a new account called "Gypsy Moth Account" and, in order to provide for contingencies, I recommend that an appro- priation of one thousand dollars be made to cover the ex- pense of work done in accordance with the new law referred to.
Nearly one hundred young trees were set out on our streets in the spring of 1905 and more planting should be done the coming season. Necessary trimming has also been done from time to time.
Attention cannot be called too often to the culpable care- lessness and indifference of those who leave horses on the streets where they are likely to injure shade trees. Each year young trees are destroyed and older ones seriously in- jured by horses, and abuttors often prefer to screen offend- ers than to aid the tree warden in bringing them to justice. It is not persecution to insist that drivers of horses should respect the trees, and public opinion should not tolerate the
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indifference of those who will not take reasonable and sim- ple precautions to prevent damage which is unnecessary.
For the ordinary purposes of the department I recommend an appropriation of two hundred and fifty dollars.
G. R. BRIGGS, Tree Warden.
NINTH ANNUAL REPORT
OF THE
CHIEF OF POLICE
FOR THE
TOWN OF PLYMOUTH
, For the Year ending December 31st,
1905
POLICE DEPARTMENT.
Plymouth, Mass., Jan. 27, 1906.
To the Honorable Board of Selectmen of Plymouth, Mass.
Gentlemen: I hereby respectfully submit a report of the doings of the Police Department for the year ending Dec. 31. 1905 :
Number of Arrests.
Number in-
Males. Females. Total.
January,
29
2
3I
February,
13
I
14
March.
22
22
April,
37
I 38
May,
18
I
19
June,
II
2
I3
July,
20
2
22
August,
18
18
September,
24
24
October,
18
3
2I
November,
18
18
December,
I2
I
I3
Total,
240
I3
253
Offences for which arrests were made :
Affray.
2
2
Assault,
18
18
Assault on officer,
3
3
Assault with dangerous weapon,
I
I
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Bastardy,
4
4
Building bonfire in streets,
8
8
Breaking and entering,
3
3
Dipsomaniac,
2
2
Disturbance of the peace,
15
3
18
Drunk,
125
125
Embezzlement,
I
I
Extinguishing street lights,
6
6
Idle and disorderly,
2
2
Intimidation,
I
I
Illegal selling,
3
3
Illegal keeping and exposing for sale,
I
I
Insane,
3
I
4
Larceny,
16
I6
Lewd and lascivious conduct,
2
I
3
Liquor nuisance,
8
I
9
On suspicion,
I
I
Peddling without license,
3
I
4
Rape,
2
2
Receiving stolen goods,
I
I
Runaway child,
I
I
Street walker,
I
I
Stubborn child,
I
I
2
Tramp,
I
I
Trespass,
2
2
Truancy,
3
3
Vagabond,
2
2
Vagrant,
I
I
Violation clam laws,
2
2
240
I3
253
Applied for lodging,
6
Males,
240
Females,
I3
Adults,
24I
1
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Minors.
Resident.
12 167 86
Non-resident,
Number of fines imposed,
I34
Amount of fines collected,
$1,662.42
Committed to jail for non-payment,
23
State Farm. Bridgewater,
6
State Lancaster School,
I
State Women's Reformatory Prison, Sherborn,
I
State Dipsomaniac Hospital, Foxboro,
2
State Taunton Insane Hospital,
4
State Waverly Home for feebleminded,
I
Appealed cases,
IO
Defaulted,
4
Discharged,
35
Placed on file,
7
Put on probation,
18
Nationality of persons arrested :
England,
II
France,
13
Germany,
8
Ireland,
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