USA > Massachusetts > Plymouth County > Plymouth > Town annual report of Plymouth, MA 1903-1905 > Part 24
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0.4
Cambridge
Fresh Pond
.18
6.88
.0053
.0227
.0055
.59
.0245
.0004
.36
3.2
Concord
Sandy Pond
.02
2.37
.0011
.0131
.0014
.26
.0018
.0000
.17
0.4
Danvers
Middleton Pond
.54
3.81
.0017
.0193
.0025
.32
.0016
.0000
.73
1.2
Falmouth
Long Pond
00
2.90
.0014
·0099
.0009
.92
.0006
.0000
08
0.2
Hingham
Accord Pond
19
2.90
.0010
.0128
.0013
.58
.0016
.0000
.36
0.3
Lynn
Birch Pond
.34
3.98
.0051
.0245
.0043
. 46
.0044
.0001
.50 1.1
Lynn
Breeds Pond
.36
3.51
.0039
·0208
.0034
.47
.0028
.0000
.51
0.8
Lynn
Glenhewis Pond
.25
3.08
.0062
.0291
.0084
.37
.0019
.0000
.41
0.4
Lynn
Walden
.39
3.50
.0034
.0286
.0066
.39
.0021
.0000
.58
0.7
Lynn
Hawkes
.38
4.37
.0034
·0248
.0034
.48
.0031
.0001
.61
1.4
New Bedford
Little Quitticas Pond
.25
3.34
.0015
.0169
.0022
.49
.0014
.0000
.45
0.6
New Bedford
Great Quitticas
.43
3.42
.0017
.0180
.0026
.49
.0010
.0000
. 62
0.6
Plymouth
Little South Pond
.01
2.48
.0012
.0139
.0019
.68
.0016
.0000
.11
0.1
Salem
Wenham Lake
.12
5.47
.0047
0187
.0039
.75
.0062
.0002
.30
2.2
Taunton
Assawompsett Pond Elders Pond
.26
. 3.16
.0021
.0183
.0026
48
.0016
.0000
.50
0.5
Taunton
.05
2.75
.0011
.0160
.0022
.47
.0017
.0000
.27
0.4
Fall River
North Watuppa Lake
.15
3.35
.0013
.0180
.0025
.52
.0018
0001
.37
0.6
FREE
TOTAL
SUS- PENDED
Oxygen
-ICI-
-132-
DESCRIPTION OF TWO TESTS, OF ONE WEEK EACH, PUMPING FOR HIGH AND
LOW SERVICE.
For a week beginning Monday noon, August 7, and con- tinuing until Monday noon, August 14, and for a week be- ginning Monday noon, January I, and continuing until Monday noon, January 9, all the water used by both high and low service was pumped. The counter of the pump was read every hour while the pump was running, and the heighth of water in each reservoir was read every hour, day and night, during the test. From this data it was possible to calculate the amount of water used by the whole Town each hour * (making no allowance for the slip of pump).
*The Barr pump was used during both tests, and since it has been in use only 18 months I believe the loss due to " slip" to be negligable.
The last census gave a total population of the Town of about 11,000, and from this an estimate of 10,000 consum- ers on the pipe line was made. Now, if we divide the total consumption each hour by 10,000 we have the consumption per capita per mour, and multiplying by 24 we have the rate of consumption per capita per day for each of the twenty- four hours of the day.
With the data thus obtained a chart shown on Plate I. was constructed, each horizontal space representing one hour and each vertical space representing four gallons of water per person per day. This chart reveals some interest- ing facts and, I believe, merits careful study.
The total quantity of water pumped during the week in August was 8,983,000 gallons, which gives the average con- sumption per person per day as 128.3 gallons.
The total quantity of water pumped during the week in January was 6.700,000 gallons, or an average consumption per person per day of 95.7 gallons.
-133-
Now, if we assume that the average consumption of a week in August, combined with the average consumption of a week in January, will give us a correct average daily per capita consumption for the year, we have as a result :
128.3 gallons per capita per day, August.
95.7 gallons per capita per day, January.
224.0
IT2 gallons per capita per day for the year.
2
This is an extremely large per capita consumption, prob- ably 40 per cent. or 50 percent. larger than it should be,
A glance at our chart will confirm the fact that large waste is constantly going on. At those hours of the day when the legitimate consumption of water must have been very small at no time was it less than 26 gallons per person per day, and usually more than that, varying between 30 and 40 gallons per person per day. This means that between 300,000 and 400,000 gallons of water daily are going to waste.
In order to know more accurately our total consumption a very desirable acquisition to our system would be a 14-inch Venturi meter to our low service line at the pumping sta- tion. The record of this meter, combined with our pumping station record, would give us very closely the total yearly consumption.
In this closing let me quote a paragraph from the report of the Massachusetts State Board of Health for 1900, as follows :
"It is interesting to note that while the consumption of water in many of the municipalities in which more or less careful records of consumption are kept is quite large and continues to increase-studies and estimates of the quantity of water used in many other cities and towns in which the water is supplied wholly by gravity, and no attempt to meas- ure the quantity used is made, show that the quantity sup-
-134-
plied to such cities and towns is probably very much larger, on the average, than in cases where all of the water is pumped or records of the quantity used are kept.
"In some places, in which no measurement of the quantity of water suppled is kept, there are indications that the quan- tity used in proportion to the population is excessive. While pumping records may not be very reliable evidence in all cases of the quantity of water supplied to a city or town, they, nevertheless, serve as a whole to give a very fair indi- cation of the quantity of water being used, and show quite clearly when the quantity supplied is becoming excessive. In cases where water is supplied by gravity it is generally considered unnecessary and often a waste of money to at- tempt to make any continuous and approximately correct record of the quantity of water used.
"There is no doubt, however, that in many such cases a knowledge of the excessive use of water would lead to a great reduction in waste and to a saving in the cost of con- struction and operation of the works far greater than the expense of making the necessary measurements."
All of which is respectfully submitted.
A. E. BLACKMER, Superintendent.
PUMPING RECORDS, 1905.
MONTHS
Hours run fuel used
Total lbs. No. revo- No. gallons lutions
pumped
Av. head
dynamic
No. gals. to 1 1b. coal
Average duty
Rain in inches
Average temperature
Max.
Min.
age water gallons Daily aver- Daily aver- age fuel pounds
January
194
44,600
302,738
15.904.046
356.5
24,063,049
4.50
33.6
16.6
513.033.
1438.7
February
221
48.225
355,600
18,067.820
374.6
25,281,756
2.16
28.6
11.6
645.279.
1722.3
March
11916
40.270
330,000
17,985,000
446.6
30,137,689
2.87
43.0
22 2
580,161.
1299.0
April
1751/2
32,225
278,400
15.272,800
473.9
31.981,945
2.32
.53.5
35.0
509,093.
1074.1
May .
2373/4
40,350
390,200
21.265,900
527.0
35.563,161
1.11
64.2
46.1
685,996.
1301.6
June .
2193/4
38,150
381,800
20,808,100
545.4
36.805,487
8.01
71.4
52.9
693,603.
1271.6
July .
259
44,725
463,200
25,244.400
564.4
39,823,358
1.78
80.6
62.8
814,335.
1442.7
August
2433/4
43,915
449,500
24,497,750
557 8
39,358,401
2.99
74.1
58.6
790,250.
1146.6
September
1861/4
35,375
325,300
17,728,850
501.1
35.355,110
6.93
69.7
51.1
590,691.
1179.1
October
.
1773/4
32,625
302,300
16,475 350
504.0
35.559,720
1.72
61.5
39.4
531.462.
1052.4
November
1541/4
30,325
254,900
13,892,050
458.1
32,321,245
2.04
47.7
31.0
463,068.
1010.0
December .
1491/4
31,575
248,000
13,516,000
421.9
29,767,154
4.21
41.4
24.8
436,000.
1018.5
23373/4
462,360
4,081,938
220,658,066
83
40.64
-I35-
.
.
.
.
.
WATER ANALYSES, LITTLE SOUTH POND, PLYMOUTH.
Parts in 100,000.
DATE OF
APPEARANCE
RESIDUE ON EVAPORATION
AMMONIA
NITRO- GEN AS
No.
COLLEC- TION.
EXAMIN- ATION.
TURBID- ITY
SEDI- MENT
COLOR
TOTAL
LOSS ON
IGNITION
FIXED
FREE
TOTAL
I IN SOL-
In Sus-
Ipension
Nitrates
Nitrites
OXYGEN
CONSUMED
HARDNESS
52360
Dec. 7
None
None
.01
3.10
1.60 1.50 .0020 .0152 .0126 .0026 .72 .0000 .0000
.07 0.2
53217
Mar. 14
None Slight scyclops V. Slight V. Slight
.01
2.30
0.65 1.65 .0008 .0094 .0090 .0004 .73 .0010 .0000
.13 0.2
54838
June 20
June 21
.01
2.25
0.50 1.75 .0014 .0130 .0102 .0028 .66 .0010 .0000
.09|0.3
56645
Sept. 12
Sept. 12
V. Slight Slight
.00
2.80
1.25 1.55 .0006 .0178 .0158 .0020 .70 .0030 .0000
.09-0.0
58550
Dec. 12
Dec. 12
None
V. Slight
02
Faintly un- None None pleasant V. Fainly Faintly vegetable None vegetable Distinctly vegetable Faintly vegeta- ble, aromatic Faintly Distinctly un- unpleasant pleas't uroglena
2.80 1.10 1.70 .0020 .0140 .0120 .0020 .68 .0010 .0000
.09|0.0
-136-
ODOR COLD
ODOR Нот
ALBUMINOID
CHLORINE
UTION
1904 Dec. ? 1905 Mar. 14
--
2,000,000 gallon Duplex direct acting "Barr" pump.
ANNUAL REPORT
OF THE
School Committee
FOR THE YEAR
1905.
SCHOOL COMMITTEE.
INCREASE ROBINSON, 1907
FRANK H. PERKINS,
1907
J. HOLBROOK SHAW, 1906
WILLIAM S. KYLE, 1906
JOSEPH T. COLLINGWOOD, 1908
ELIZABETH THURBER, 1908
Chairman, William S. Kyle.
Secretary, Elizabeth Thurber.
The committee meet regularly at their rooms in Town square on the first and third Wednesday of each month at 7 p. m.
Superintendent of Schools, FRANCIS J. HEAVENS. Office hours, 4 to 5 p. m., each school day.
Truant Officer, A. W. HOGAN.
STANDING COMMITTEES.
Finance-Messrs. Robinson and Kyle.
Repairs-Messrs. Robinson, Shaw and Collingwood.
Janitors and School House Supplies-Messrs. Perkins and Collingwood.
Heating and Ventilation-Messrs. Shaw, Kyle and Robin- son.
Text Books and Course of Study-Miss Thurber and Mr. Perkins.
1
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SCHOOL SESSIONS.
High School-8 a. m. to I p. m.
North Schools, Grammar and Primary-Morning session, 9 to 12 o'clock; afternoon session, 1.30 to 3.30 o'clock. Centre Schools-Morning session, 9 to 12 o'clock; afternoon session, 2 to 4 o'clock (except from Nov. I to Feb. 15, when the afternoon sessions are from 1.30 to 3.30 o'clock. )
The sessions of the other schools are as prescribed from time to time by the committee.
CALENDAR FOR 1905 AND 1906.
Winter term began Tuesday, Jan. 2, 1906.
Summer term begins Monday, April 2, 1906. School year ends Friday, June 22, 1906. Fall term begins Tuesday, Sept. 4, 1906. Fall term ends Friday, Dec. 21, 1906.
VACATIONS.
March 24, 1906, to April 2, 1906.
June 23, 1906, to September 4, 1906. December 21, 1906, to January 2, 1907.
HOLIDAYS.
Every Saturday, Washington's Birthday, Patriots' Day, Memorial Day; from Wednesday noon before Thanks- giving, the remainder of the week.
REPORT OF SCHOOL COMMITTEE
FOR YEAR ENDING DECEMBER 31, 1905.
Financial statements for year ending December 31, 1905.
Appropriations for the new Mt. Pleasant schoolhouse, $25,000 00
Additional for furnishing same, 1,250 00
Received from sale of scrap, etc., 58 40
$26,308 40
Expended :-
Robert Wilson on account build- ing contract, $16,305 00
C. T. Harris & Son, account con- tract, plumbing, 500 00
C. T. Holmes, account contract, heating, 2,000 00
Gay & Proctor, account, archi- 1 tect's com., 750 00
Surveying, grading, etc., 891 08
Insurance during construction, 72 00 J. B. Collingwood & Sons, furnishing, 212 25 E. E. Babb & Co., furnishing, 256 25
$20,986 58
Undrawn balance,
$5,321 82
-14I-
Memo of unpaid bills applying to above :-
R. Wilson, balance contract, $2,935 50
C. T. Holmes, balance contract, 607 88
C. T. Holmes, extras, 21 30
C. T. Harris & Son, balance contract, 320 00 C. T. Harris & Son, extras, 84 00
Architect, balance commission, 426 30
J. D. Jewett & Co.,
175 00
E. E. Babb & Co .. desks, etc.,
793 00
Norton Door Check Co.,
31 50
John F. Waters, 23 25
W. N. Snow, 70 00
Less undrawn balance as above,
$5,487 00 5,321 82
Indicating an excess above appropriation of, $165 18
Appropriation for heating apparatus and plumbing at High School, $2.500 00
Paid Hathaway & Sampson, plumbing contract, $738 00
Paid Hathaway & Sampson,
heating contract, 1,681 89
$2,419 89
Balance undrawn, $80 II
Credited School department :-
Appropriation for general school purposes, $46,000 00
Part interest. Murdock fund, 18 25
Rent of Ellisville schoolhouse, 25 00
Supplies sold, 17 40
$46,060 65
Expenditures :-
Salaries. Fuel and light,
$31.306 02 4,215 54
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Books and supplies,
2,961 12
Repairs,
2,61I 80
Janitors,
3,004 22
Truant officer,
100 00
Transportation of pupils,
504 49
Freight and carting,
265 49
Printing,
104 95
Schoolhouse sundries,
98 84
Census expenses,
38 73
Heating apparatus, repairs, etc.,
463 34
Incidentals,
226 20
$45,900 74
Amount undrawn,
$159 91
It will be noted that while the unpaid bills on account of the Whiting Street school building are $165.18 in excess of the balance of the appropriation, this sum is more than off- set by undrawn balances of other appropriations credited the department.
On Feb. 16th the Mt. Pleasant schoolhouse was totally destroyed by fire. This brought before the committee the perplexing problem of finding room for the 150 pupils thus deprived of school privileges. A part of the large labora- tory at the High School was made ready for one class; two rooms were secured at the South street engine house, and the remainder of the pupils were cared for in schools at the centre of the town. All were thus provided for in a few days after the fire with very little loss of comfort or of con- venience until the opening of the new building on the third instant. The committee wish to thank the firemen most cordially for so kindly giving up their social quarters in or- der that the children might be provided for.
-143-
There being spare rooms at the new building it was thought best to close the South street school for the present and transfer its pupils to Whiting street; a move of obvious advantage to the children, as well as a saving to the Town. It was also decided to bring to Mt. Pleasant a sufficient number of fifth and sixth grade pupils within reasonable dis- tance in order to secure the educational gain of having sep- arate class rooms for each of these grades. 250 pupils with six teachers are now provided for at this building, all its class rooms being occupied.
The new heating apparatus installed at the High School meets every requirement, and the piping is of ample size to serve in case of any enlargement of the building. The antiquated sanitaries, which had long been a menace to health, were removed during the summer vacation and re- placed by modern closets connected with the sewer. As in- dicated by the financial statement, the expense of these im- provements was within the appropriation. The increase in High School membership, and a gain in the ninth grade so great as to require an assistant teacher, crowd the capacity of this building severely, and make some enlargement an obvious necessity of the near future, as suggested in former reports.
In the building of school houses in the recent past pro- vision has been made for probable needs of the future, and while waiting for that inevitable increase the committee has thought it an advantage to utilize all the vacant class rooms in the new buildings by transferring thereto the pupils in adjacent schoolhouses. This plan leaves unused at the present time single room buildings on Oak, Spring, Alden and South streets. It is quite certain, however, that some
-144-
of these vacated school rooms will be required ere long, and meantime the Town saves the expense of care and main- tenance, and the transferred children have the benefit of the best hygienic comforts and conveniences.
We regret to note the continued misfortune of losing a large proportion of our teachers from causes beyond our con- trol. Resignations amounting to nearly thirty per cent. of the entire force occurred during the past year. Some minor advances in salary were made in subordinate posi- tions below the High School, but we are still far below the State average in our salary list and must increase it if we would lessen the annual loss that is so serious a detriment to our schools:
"Courses of study are important, good text books are es- sential, good school buildings are necessary, and all the ap- pliances which may be used to further education; but none of these alone, nor all of them together, can make a good school; but the good teacher can make a good school if any or all these aids are lacking." and in order to secure such teachers. and to keep them, we must have a salary list some- what nearer the average of the Commonwealth.
In a letter to the committee under date of March 21, Su- perintendent Heavens expressed a wish to be relieved at the end of the school year in order to devote himself to other pursuits. No formal action was taken upon the matter for some time, but, in view of his many years of acceptable ser- vice, and the recognized value to our schools of long exper- ience and familiarity with the local situation, the committee were reluctant to accept the resignation, doubly so as it was known that several important matters were impending. The principal of the High School had decided to change his
-145-
profession, several of his assistants were also to leave, and many vacancies in the lower grades were in prospect.
Furthermore we had reached a point when Evening Schools are obligatory by law, and the business of providing them was a task of the near future, while the new statute re- lative to illiterates was to become operative shortly. This unusual combination of circumstances, calling for much work as well as for wisdom born of experience, made the time very inopportune for a change in the superintendency, for even under ordinary circumstances the situation and con- ditions peculiar to Plymouth would make the task of any new superintendent quite perplexing, and very much longer to get well in hand. than in the case of compact towns. The committee therefore persuaded Mr. Heavens to continue for the present, making an arrangement by which he main- tains a general supervision of the schools, giving at least one- half his time to the service, an assistant relieving him of a part of his former duties. Miss A. L. Bartlett, a success- ful teacher of long service in various grades in our schools, was chosen for that position and has filled it efficiently. This arrangement involves no increase in the expense of su- pervision.
.
In compliance with a law requiring towns with a popula- tion of ten thousand and over to maintain evening schools, rooms were made ready at the Knapp and Cornish build- ings, and at this writing 180 pupils are enrolled with ten teachers, tri-weekly sessions of two hours each being main- tained.
A new law became effective January I, which, in brief, re- quires a specified educational test of all minors employed in any factory, workshop, or mercantile establishment. All such emplovees, between the ages of sixteen and twenty-one years, who are unable to read at sight, and to write legibly
Plymouth
IO
-146-
simple sentences in English, are obliged to attend evening schools, the younger illiterates being compelled to leave work and attend the day schools. This law also provides that those who pass the examination must be provided with certificates to that effect as they cannot be legally employed without one. The enforcement of this law has required a very large amount of labor and is not yet completed.
It is obvious that in a community such as ours, compris- ing many foreigners of small means and limited earning capacity, the operation of this law is likely to result in some degree of hardship in the case of those obliged to give up work and to attend the day schools for a time; but its en- forcement is imperative, no latitude or discretion being al- lowed the school authorities. It is, however, a measure of obvious importance, enacted in the interest of public safety. and progress, and even in the few cases, where for a short time hardship may result from its operation, the law must. in the long run prove beneficent and valuable.
Bi-monthly meetings of the committee have been held throughout the year, and also many other conferences on special business: and while minor differences have arisen as to matters of administrative detail, the committee has been united in a spirit of constant solicitude for the welfare of the schools as well as in a purpose to expend with judicious prudence the large appropriation placed in its hands.
The cost of maintaining our schools is a continually growing item in our annual tax levy, but it is not out of proportion with our gain in numbers, nor has there been any undue increase in the per capita cost, or in the percentage of our valuation required for current expenses in recent years; furthermore a comparison with towns of approxi- mately the same population and valuation as ours will in-
-147-
dicate to any fair-minded taxpayer that a conservative policy has marked the administration of this department.
The subjoined report of the Superintendent speaks for it- self and it is hoped will receive the thoughtful consideration it deserves. 1
Respectfully submitted,
WM. S. KYLE. ELIZABETH THURBER, J. HOLBROOK SHAW, INCREASE ROBINSON, FRANK H. PERKINS, JOSEPH T. COLLINGWOOD,
December 31, 1905.
Committee.
SUPERINTENDENT'S REPORT.
To the School Committee of Plymouth :-
The report of the Superintendent of Schools for the year 1905, is herewith respectfully submitted. The report shows an increased number of pupils, over last year, a greater regu- larity of attendance, a larger number of teachers in the school service, more and better school accommodations sup- plied by the new building, and a slightly increased school expenditure for each pupil in the average membership.
SCHOOL CENSUS.
The School Committee is required by law to ascertain an- nually the number of children between the ages of five and fifteen years residing in the town on the first day of Septem- ber. This census, taken in September, gave the following returns, which are compared with like returns for the year 1904:
Number of children between the ages of 5 and 15 years-
1904
1905
Boys,
906
893
Girls,
876
920
Totals,
1782
1813
Increase for the year, 3I.
Number of children between the ages of 7 and 14 years- the compulsory school age :
-149-
1904
1905
Boys,
646
654
Girls,
636
645
Totals,
I282
I299
Increase for the year, 17.
These census figures show the small gain of only 31 chil- dren between the ages of 5 and 15 years, and but 17 be- tween the ages of 7 and 14 years.
This small gain in numbers, compared with the large in- crease in the number on the school rolls in September over the number found there the preceding year, leads to the con- clusion that the Census Enumerators have not secured all the names that belong on their books.
1905
1906
1835 Present number of pupils enrolled, Jan. 4, 1917
24
Number of school buildings in use,
22
53 Number of school rooms in use, including High School, 55
54 Number of teachers regularly employed, 56
6 High School, 6
15 Grammar schools, 17
29 Primary Schools, 29
4
Ungraded Schools, 4
3 Special teachers, one each in music, drawing and Sloyd, 3
57 Total, 59
ATTENDANCE.
To meet the requirements of the State Board of Educa- tion the following statistics cover the period of the school
-150-
year, from September to July, 1904-1905, and are compared with the same items for the preceding school year :
1904 .- 1905.
1903 .- 1904. 1.816
Whole number of pupils enrolled for the year,
1,906
Number under 7 years of age,
354
354
Number between 7 and 14 years,
1.326
1,231
Number between 14 and 15 years,
94
95
Number over 15 years.
132
136
Average membership of all the schools.
1.776.2
1.663
Average daily attendance,
1.651
1.530
Per cent. of attendance,
93
92
Number days absence of pupils,
24.299
25.252
Number cases of tardiness,
5.626
5,103
Number of dismissals before close of school session,
1.495
1,967
Number of cases of truancy reported by teachers,
45
Number of days of teachers' absence from school,
225
82
Number of visits made by Superintendent,
1,066
1,084
The number of children enrolled in the schools at the pres- ent time is 1917, with 57 teachers, who are housed in 22 school buildings, including a small school at the Gurnet.
These figures show a substantial gain in the average mem- bership over the gain in the whole enrolment for the year, and a considerable increase in the average daily attendance, gives us a slight gain in the per cent. of attendance.
FINANCIAL STATEMENT.
The items given below are based upon the expenditure for school purposes during the financial year 1905. The finan- cial and attendance periods are not therefore identical, but since each covers a full year, the one period being only a lit- tle in advance of the other, the returns they furnish are fairly reliable.
I. Assessed valuation of real and personal property in Plymouth, May 1, 1905, $9,604,902
2. Per cent. of valuation expended for cur- rent expenses of schools in 1905, .00445
3. Expense per pupil on average membership, $24 06
4. Expense per pupil on same for schools of State, 1904-1905, $28 49
1,906
1,816
-15I-
5. Expense per pupil on average member- ship on total expenditure for schools in 1904-1905, $25 85
6. State average on same basis, 1904, $39 60
7. Average monthly wages of men teachers in Plymouth in 1905, $95 83
8. Average monthly wages of men teachers of the State, $149 05
9. Average monthly wages of women teachers in Plymouth in 1905, $47 16
IO. Same paid women teachers in the State, 1904-1905, $57 22
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