USA > Massachusetts > Plymouth County > Plymouth > Town annual report of Plymouth, MA 1903-1905 > Part 5
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At a regular monthly meeting held Oct. 9th, the resigna- tion of Joseph W. Hunting, as a member of the Board of Health, and also as its agent, was received and accepted. Mr. Hunting served the town faithfully for many years in varying capacities on the Board of Health, sometimes as secretary, sometimes as inspector, or as a member, but what- ever his nominal position, his gigantic proportions, sonor- ous bass and brass buttons represented the strong arm of the law and hypnotized unwilling delinquents into obedi- ence, but to his associates, the hearty, whole-souled "Cap-
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tain" was full of genial good nature, and always zealous for the welfare of his town.
At a joint meeting of the Selectmen and Board of Health held Oct. 17th, Dr. Herman L. Molter was chosen to fill the vacancy caused by the resignation of Mr. Hunting from the Board, and on the same date Dr. Molter was appointed sec- retary to fill the vacancy caused by the resignation of Mr. John F. Callanan from that office.
At a meeting of the Board of Health held Oct. 22nd, Herman W. Tower was appointed agent of the Board to fill the vacancy caused by the resignation of Mr. Hunting.
In accordance with the vote of the Town adopting Chap- ter 103 of the Revised laws of the State of Massachusetts, the Board of Health placed certain plumbing regulations in effect in November, by publishing them. These regulations were carefully prepared, after consulting the plumbing regu- lations of many other towns of about the size of Plymouth, and with the assistance and advice of practical plumbers. Thus far they have been working very satisfac- torily, and have amply proved, even in so short a time, the necessity for just such supervision of plumbing. Michael D. Welch and Arthur L. Bailey are certified by the Civil Service Commission, and are regularly appointed inspectors of plumbing, according to the law.
The following persons have been granted Master Plumb- ers's licenses :
H. P. Bailey & Bro. Hathaway & Sampson.
C. T. Harris & Son.
W. H. H. Weston.
William W. Myrick.
The following persons have been granted journeymen plumber's licenses :
Arthur A. Sampson.
John E. Sullivan.
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William Carr.
Freeman L. Brown.
Thomas F. Harney.
Henry Rheinhardt.
H. P. Bailey.
Philip Mahler.
Arthur L. Bailey.
Fred P. Bailey. Fred R. Spates.
Each year, with its added number of pupils in the public schools, urges more insistently the necessity for efficient medical inspection. Children in attendance at the public schools are constantly developing diseases which are sown broadcast among their companions, because the unskilled eye of the teacher cannot detect the signs of danger until the harm is done. Not only is this true of acute contagious diseases, where the harm is quickly done, but of those insid- ious chronic diseases which find so prolific a field in the fertile soil of the school room. At present any pupil whose physical condition is questioned by the teacher, is referred to the chairman of this Board, and if sufficient evidence is found to warrant it, the pupil is sent home and not allowed to return without a certificate of health. This is well enough as far as it goes, but it is a makeshift at best, prac- tically leaving the medical inspection of the schools to the teachers, a task for which they are not paid. There should be a physician or physicians appointed, whose duty it should be to visit the schools at regularly stated intervals, noting any indications of disease among the pupils, and immedi- ately removing any with suspicious symptoms. It should also be his duty to advise and direct the teacher, wherever the health of the pupils is concerned, and he should inform the parents in all cases where, in his judgment, the pupils need any sort of medical assistance.
The following is a statement of the expenditures made by the Board of Health during the year :
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Agent and inspector, salary,
$166 66
Secretary, salary and expenses,
25 65
Labor on public dumps,
9 00
Services of physician for contagious diseases,
40 00
Inspection of plumbing,
58 28
Printing,
49 25
Nurses in contagious diseases,
163 50
Boards for placards,
4 00
Telephone,
25
Burying animals, etc.,
7 88
Medicine, disinfectants and supplies furn- ished in contagious diseases,
87 65
Settlement of suit of Beckford & Bruce,
875 00
$1,487 12
Received for I gal. formaldehyde,
$4 00
Received for plumbers' licenses, 13 50
Received for butcher's license, I 00
$18 50
J. HOLBROOK SHAW, H. L. MOLTER, JOHN F. CALLANAN,
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 1903, 1,739
Bound volumes added for reference in 1903, 103
Unbound volumes and pamphlets added, 82
Total number of additions, 1,924
Number of volumes for circulation Jan. 1, 1903, 10,609
Number of volumes for circulation added in 1903, 1,739
12,348
Withdrawn from circulation in 1903,
158
Total number for circulation Jan 1, 1904,
12,190
Number of volumes in reference
department, Jan. I, 1903, 2,555
Volumes added in 1903, 103
Total number of volumes for reference, 2,658
Total number of volumes in library, Jan. I, 1904, 14,848
Books given out for circulation during 1903- General works,
726
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Philosophy,
Theology,
63 165
Sociology,
221
Language.
21
Natural Science,
352
Useful Arts,
158
Fine Arts,
294
Literature,
776
Travels,
748
Biography,
719
History,
708
Fiction, 23,361
Total circulation for 1903, 28,312
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). Youth's Companion. New York Tribune.
Boston Transcript.
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Plymouth Free Press (Gift of the publishers). Old Colony Memorial (Gift of the publishers). Union Signal (Gift of the local W. C. T. U.) Literary News.
Library Journal. (To be had on application. )
Public Libraries. (To be had on application. )
About 1,500 of the volumes added to the circulating de- partment were bequeathed to the library by the late Mrs. Lucy Josephine Parker. The supplementary volumes of the Encyclopædia Brittanica have lately been purchased for the library, and the directors have endeavored to provide the most useful reference books for the use of the public.
Miss Mary G. Bartlett and other friends have added to the large collection of photographs, which now amount to about 5,000 in number, all mounted, catalogued and syste- matically arranged in large cabinets, presented by friends of the library, of similar construction to those in the Boston Public library. A gift of $100 for the purchase of books has been received from an unknown donor through Miss Caroline B. Warren. Col. Andrew H. Russell of the U. S. army, a native of Plymouth, has presented to the library a copy of the Report of the Philippine Commission, a valuable illustrated book on the trees and woods of the Philippine islands, and several hundred photographs illustrating the life of the army and of the people in those islands. Mrs. Lydia G. Lothrop and the donors of the library building, Mrs. Lydia G. R. Allen, Mrs. Marion R. Townsend and Mr. Thomas Russell, have lately presented a beautiful and valu- able mantel clock for use in the reading room. The new building has now been in use over a year, and has proved to be most satisfactory, central in location, easy
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«of access, with book stacks well lighted and within easy reach of the librarian, and with a reading room with excel- lent light and ventilation, comfortable chairs and an atmos- phere of rest and quiet which has attracted a steadily in- creasing number of our citizens and our summer visitors.
For the Directors, WILLIAM HEDGE,
President.
Feb. 1, 1904.
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REPORT OF SUPERINTENDENT OF CEMETERIES.
Following is the report of the Superintendent of Ceme- teries and Burial Hill.
The usual annual work in the cemeteries has been done, I think, in thorough manner. Needed fencing has been added the past year and more will be built from time to time, until the entire grounds are surrounded with a suit- able fence.
Since the last report a large area bordering on Samoset street has been cleared from trees and, with some grading, will be available for burial purposes. this added territory sufficing for the wants of the town for some time to come.
With the opening of new avenues, and the grading neces- sary on this new plot, comes increasing expense in properly caring for the cemeteries. I recommend an appropriation of $1,000.00 for the ensuing year.
I again call attention to the dilapidated condition of the main entrances from Summer street and Samoset street. The town ought to have pride enough to provide suit- able and appropriate gates for these entrances. at the same time they should be provided for by a separate appropriation, so as not to handicap the necessary work provided for by the regular appropriation.
Burial Hill received an appropriation of $500.00 at the last annual meeting, which would have been ample, but for the fact that a large part of this appropriation was used for a hand railing at the School street entrance; this was not
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anticipated by your superintendent, and resulted in cutting short necessary work upon the rest of the Hill.
I consider an appropriation of at least $500.00 as im- perative for the coming year, if the town cares to make even the semblance of an attempt to preserve the attrac- tions of this historic spot. Several cases of vandalism have occurred during the year, and this proves a difficult matter to prevent, since your superintendent cannot be on the Hill at all times.
A new fence has been constructed adjoining the Russell street school grounds. The gate at the Russell street en- trance is hardly in keeping with the elaborate approach at Town square, and I recommend that a neat and inexpen- sive iron gateway be placed there, for which the town should make a special appropriation.
Respectfully submitted,
E. F. STRANGER,
Superintendent of Oak Grove and Vine Hill Cemeteries and Burial Hill.
FIFTEENTH ANNUAL
REPORT OF THE PARK COMMISSIONERS.
To the Inhabitants of the Town of Plymouth-
The various Parks, under the charge of this Board, have received usual care and attention during the past year. No extensions have been made, and no notable improvements have been undertaken. The roads and paths in Morton Park have been kept in good condition, and the public use of the same has shown an increasing appreciation of their value.
The bridge at "Bill Holmes's" dam has been a source of some anxiety, on account of its dilapidated condition. Temporary repairs have been made from time to time, but it is very unsatisfactory and its use should be discontinued as soon as practicable. It was hoped that the stone arch referred to in the last annual report would have been com- pleted during the past year, but lack of sufficient funds has prevented undertaking the same. A number of gen- erous contributions have been made to this fund, but a suffi- cient amount has not yet been received to warrant making a contract for its construction. The plans are made, and the foundations have been put in place and the approaches have been partially graded. It is hoped that the Board may be put in position early in the coming season to com- plete this very much needed improvement. It was Mr. Morton's desire that this work should be paid for by private
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contributions, and the Board have not asked the Town for any appropriation for this purpose.
Many of the plantings in various parts of the Park have shown excellent growth during the year. `The Beech trees are particularly worthy of admiration. They were of spec- ial interest to Mr. Morton who took great care of them, and knew them, every one. The young Hemlocks near Brook path are also well worth becoming intimately acquainted with.
Training Green has been kept in good condition, but should receive special attention, before long. An applica- tion of wood ashes two years since, gave excellent and last- ing results. The Commissioners state with brief comment, that as a result of a bonfire on the "night before the Fourth" a large space in the lawn near the Soldiers' Monument was so completely burned that a special replanting of grass had to be made. It seems that some act of hoodlumism must be recorded of this locality every year.
Burton Park and Bates Park repay the intelligent care that they receive.
Beach Park, since the change of Eel river back to its former channel, by the General Government, is again resum- ing its former condition.
Some public interest has been expressed during the year in regard to securing shore rights for public use. This town, bordering for more than twenty miles on the ocean owns comparatively only a few feet of shore lands. The owner of certain lots of land on Plymouth Beach will give the same to the Town if the other owners will do the same. Many reasons will suggest themselves to every one why this stretch of land should be public property.
The financial report is annexed hereto, and made a part hereof. Some special work has been done at Morton Park this year, which has caused most of the overdraft in the Park account.
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The commissioners ask for the usual appropriation of seven hundred and fifty dollars for parks, and a slightly increased appropriation, one hundred and seventy-five dol- lars, for Training Green, to cover the increased cost of car- ing for the plank walks now that it is impossible to store them near the Green during the summer season.
WALTER H. SEARS.
THOMAS R. WATSON, GEORGE R. BRIGGS,
Park Commissioners.
Park Account.
CR.
By appropriation for overdraft in 1902,
$71 25
By appropriation for 1903,
750 00
By sales of wood,
37 00
Overdrawn,
120 27
$978 52
DR.
To labor at Morton and Burton
Parks,
$773 57
To care of Bates Park,
72 70
To care of Beach Park,
19 36
To tools,
13 62
To printing,
15 50
To plank walks (mostly for Train- ing Green)
12 52
To overdraft, 1902 account,
71 25
$978 52
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Training Green Account.
CR.
1
By balance from 1902 account.
$20 70
By appropriation,
100 00
Overdrawn,
16 63
$197 33
DR.
To labor and care of Green,
$197 13
To sundries, 20
$197 33
REPORT OF TREE WARDEN.
TREE WARDEN ACCOUNT.
CR.
By appropriations, By reimbursements,
$1,372 12
6 30
$1,378 42
DR.
To balance 1902 account,
$372 12
To labor,
342 98
To insecticides.
35 IO
To trees,
13 35
To cedar posts and stakes,
2 00
To printing,
2 25
To salary and rent spraying outfits,
100 00
To balance to credit of acct.,
510 62
$1,378 42
The last report of the Tree Warden expressed the belief that the elm leaf beetle was so well under control that it would not be necessary to spray the majority of our trees in 1903; this proved to be the case. While constant care will be necessary in the future, including spraying of the trunks of elm trees with kerosene emulsion in mid-summer and the foliage of infected trees (generally English elms) with arsenical poison, it is not probable that general and ex- pensive spraying will be necessary during the coming season.
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Early in the spring larvæ of the brown-tail moth were discovered in several parts of the Town, even as far south as Cedarville. These larvæ have caused much injury to the trees and discomfort to the inhabitants in some parts of the state and it is important that the brown-tail should not get a footing here. There was only a week or two after the discovery of the nests before the larvæ would be scattered over the trees; so it was necessary to act quickly and to interest as many of our townspeople as possible in the work of inspecting the trees and gathering and destroying the nests. These nests were confined to fruit trees, with one or two exceptions, making it necessary to examine all orchards and gardens as well as roadsides. The total number de- stroyed was not large, but, being scattered over a wide area, they were sufficient to seed our territory thoroughly. The nests can be easily seen in winter and removed without dam- age to the trees on which they hang; they should be cut off and burned during suitable days in February and March.
Since the State has failed to make appropriations for the suppression of the gipsy moth this most destructive insect has increased rapidly and will probably spread over the whole state in a few years. A colony was found in Bridge- water last summer.
The work of prevention will be much less expensive than attempts to eradicate any of these pests after they have become sufficiently numerous here to be noticeably destruc- tive. For this reason a circular will be distributed to prop- erty owners and all interested, giving information how to find and destroy the eggs or larvæ of the various insects which are likely to multiply in dangerous quantities. I ask the careful reading of these circulars by our townspeople and their co-operation with the Tree Warden and his depu- ties in preventing these insects from gaining a footing here. In this way we can protect our fruit trees as well as our shade trees.
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Some work was done last spring in destroying the nests of tent caterpillars along our roadsides. This caterpillar does a good deal of damage each year and is widely distrib- uted. If they are not allowed to remain on the roadside trees the owners of orchards will have some encouragement to protect their own trees. It is proposed to clean the road- side trees by destroying the eggs or cutting or trimming the wild cherry trees which harbor so many.
Several trees were removed during the year, after due notice of a hearing as required by law, where they were in the way of more desirable trees, and some trimming was done as usual. More work of this kind can be done to advantage.
Our trees continue to be injured by horses left untied in the streets. Drivers of delivery wagons and pedlers seldom take the time to secure their horses when they leave their wagons. It is not often that sufficient evidence can be obtained to prosecute successfully a driver whose horse has damaged a tree, and when conviction is secured the pen- alty is not always sufficient to prevent similar carelessness by the same driver. It is the policy of the Tree Warden to prosecute every case where proof can be established, and he desires the help of all who notice injuries of this kind to trees. It is important to know the time and date of the injury and the person in charge of the horse at the time.
In consideration of the unexpended balance to the credit of the account, I recommend an appropriation of $500 for 1904. Unless some unforseen expenditures are necessary, this sum will suffice, and should all go well, a part may be saved. A thorough search for brown-tail and gipsy moths will cost more than our short campaign against the brown- tail last year: by fighting the tent caterpillar at the same time we shall have something to show for our money if we are fortunate enough to be free from the more dreaded pest.
G. R. BRIGGS, Tree Warden.
REPORT OF FORESTER.
FORESTER'S ACCOUNT.
CR.
By balance from 1902 account, $1,809 99
By appropriation, 500 00
$2,309 99
DR.
To equipment, $89 22
To labor,
351 21
To supplies,
IO 56
To advertising,
10 00
To salary and expenses of Forester, 100 00
To balance to credit of acct.,
1,749.00
$2,309 99
The principal item in expenditures for this account is for work done in establishing a lane, clear of underbrush, from the junction of Samoset Street with the North Carver road to West Pond, and another along the Long Pond road from South Pond village to the burned land. These lanes aver- age one hundred feet in width and border the roads on the west side. The first should furnish a good base to stop a fire coming from Carver; the second a line of defence for the Russell Mills neighborhood, "The Forges" and the val- uable woodlands near "Quaker Tavern."
The customary spring drought was unusually severe in
Plymouth 7
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1903 and the whole country was alarmed by startling reports of extensive forest fires which caused great damage. Plymouth certainly had her full share in point of numbers, thirteen fires being reported during May alone, but we were fortunate in having none which burned 'long or which destroyed much valuable wood. , One unoccupied and neglected house was burned.
Most of our fires were caused by locomotives on the Mid- dleboro railroad and at one time it became almost a daily occurrence for the engine of the "up freight" to set a fire before reaching Darby station. The fire wards in that sec- tion were on the watch whenever it was possible for them to be in the neighborhood while the trains passed by, and they extinguished a number of fires so promptly that the damage and expense were trifling. The management of the railroad did not seem able to prevent the fires, but they sent men to help put them out and established a patrol to follow the trains. In view of the danger from locomotives I recom- mend that a fire lane be established on the north side of Sam- oset Street and the Carver road to the Carver line. This would probably make it possible to confine a fire originating at the railroad to the comparatively narrow strip of land ly- ing between it and the roads mentioned,-a strip which has now little valuable wood owing to the many fires which have visited it.
Some of the most valuable woodlands in Plymouth lies in the vicinity of the Manomet hills, and there is no road running north and south through this region. As soon as practicable a lane should be established along this range; this with the several roads crossing the hills would increase the chance of fighting a fire there successfully.
Several fires near Russell Mills were undoubtedly of in- cendiary origin and it is probable that the fire of May third, at the southerly end of the Town, was caused in the same way. The latter fire was spread over a wider area than
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necessary by injudicious and unlawful back firing by parties from a neighboring town.
I have not been able to establish the two lookouts that I have several times recommended, equipped for taking ob- servations to locate fires by triangulation, and connected by telephone. It is not proposed that the Town should build and own both of these stations nor that they shall be occupied by paid observers. The co-operation of private parties is necessary and we must await the pleasure and convenience of persons who may furnish suitable locations.
At present fires are located roughly by reports received by telephone from observers in the towns or villages from which the fire is visible. Such assistance as can be obtained in this way is often very useful and shows how valuable accurate ranges from two well known points and made by experienced observers would be. Whenever it is possible to equip two such stations at a reasonable expense we should be in a position to do so.
I have not succeeded in finding a suitable location for a fire wagon in Manomet. Such a wagon, if properly han- dled, would probably be of great service should a fire occur in the village, but it should be placed where there is a tele- phone and where horses are always available, as well as the men needed to take charge of it. The wagon is ready if Manomet will furnish the location.
The Massachusetts Forestry Association endeavored to have a bill passed by the Legislature of 1903 which would result in the employment by the State of a trained forester whose business it should be to accomplish in all possible ways the protection of our forests and woodlands from fire, their reasonable and profitable use and the re-forestation of those lands which can be most profitably used for growing timber. For some reason the committee to which this mat- ter was referred failed to report a bill; but public opinion is being educated rapidly to the importance of this movement
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and it seems unlikely that the Legislature now in session will ignore the recommendation of the Governor for legisla- tion of this character and the strong demands of the friends of this bill for its enactment. If such a law is passed, more thorough and effective methods of protecting the woodlands of the State will come into general use and the State will probably take some share in the expense of organizing a suitable force to superintend the work of forest preserva- tion in a systematic way. Plymouth should be greatly in- terested in the success of the proposed bill, for its large area of woodlands may, with judicious care and develop- ment, become more valuable to future generations than they were to those before 11s.
The unusually severe winter, with its encumbrance of snow, has rendered work on fire-lanes impracticable up to February. The months to come may be favorable, however, and so may next winter. We should be prepared to take advantage of all opportunities to do desirable work of this kind and to keep the lanes already established in condition.
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