USA > Massachusetts > Plymouth County > Plymouth > Town annual report of Plymouth, MA 1903-1905 > Part 7
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Lewis Court,
242
4
143.60
5935
$3,732.93
Pumping Station, 16 and 20 in.,
1,347.62
$5,080.55
The following distribution pipe has been discontinued : 4,654 feet of 2-inch pipe on River street.
GATES DISCONTINUED.
Three 2-inch gates on River street.
.
SERVICE PIPES.
Sixty-seven new service pipes have been laid at a cost of $405.59.
All takers from old 2-inch pipe on River street have been changed to new 6-inch pipe at a cost of $134.63.
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NEW WATER TAKERS.
Ninety-one families, 185 water closets, 79 bath tubs, 32 hose attachments, 11 laundry tubs, 2 stores, I greenhouse.
LEAKS.
Fifty-four leaks have been repaired in main and distribu- tion pipes at a cost of $496.81.
LABOR.
Extensions,
$1,159 09
Services,
125 48
Making pipe,
278 35
Pumping station,
154 85
Laying new pipe, pumping station,
335 00
All other labor,
3,238 95
$5,291 72
Received for labor,
$648 75
Received, shutting-off services,
61 50
$710 25
Net cost of labor.
$4,581 47
WATER FOR STREET SPRINKLING.
The Water Department has furnished water for street sprinkling the past season to 21 standpipes. 15 of which are on the high service, and 6 on the low service.
The total amount of water used for street sprinkling, as accurately as could be determined from records of loads taken by the drivers of the watering carts, was 5, 115,000 gallons. By a simple proportion we obtain the probable amount used from the high service as 3,653,000 gallons.
It is the intention of the Street Department to erect two additional standpipes on the high service the coming season, and 4,000,000 gallons is probably a fair estimate of the
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amount of water that will be used. At 15 cents per 1,000 gallons this water would cost $600, and the Water Depart- ment is justly entitled to an appropriation for this amount.
HYDRANTS.
Number of public hydrants on high service, I22
Number of public hydrants on low service, . 36
Number of private hydrants, 35
Total number of hydrants available, 193
STOCK AND TOOLS ON HAND.
Inventory at shop and storehouse,
$3,000 00
Inventory of pumping station, 1,150 00
Furniture, stationery, office, 350 00
$4,500 00
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SCHEDULE.
-
Showing the number of feet of each size pipe and number and size of gates.
SIZE IN INCHES.
LENGTH OF
PIPE IN FT.
No. of Gates.
No. of Check
Valves.
·No. of Air Cocks.
No. of 10 - inch
Blow- offs.
No. of 6-inch
Blow - offs.
Blow-offs.
No. of 2-1nch
Blow - offs.
No. Hydrants.
20
190.0
1
1
16
7,515.0
2
1
1
2
12
11,203.5
29
5
2
15
10
34,275.0
54
2
8
1
3
30
8
4,799.0
13
2
10
6
30,712.0
58
5
3
3
32
4
90,946.0
173
7
3
3
7
65
3
9,262.0
19
1
1
2
2
42,361.5
8
3
5
2
1
1,352.0
7
3-4
973.0
2
241,841.0
471
3
37
2
9
8
18
158
Respectfully submitted.
A. E. BLACKMER, Superintendent.
14
8,252.0
6
1
8
No. of 4- inch
PUMPING STATION RECORD FOR THE YEAR 1903.
MONTHS.
Hours Run.
Total lbs. Fuel Used.
No. Revolu- tions.
No. of Gals. Pumped.
Av. Head
Dynam.
No. Gals. Pumped with 1 1b. of Fuel.
Average Duty.
Inches. TT Rainfall.
Average Temperat're
Daily Aver- Daily Av- erage Fuel used Pounds. age Water Pumped. Gallons.
January,
155
37,730
250,700
11,913,264
73
315.17
19,223,481
4.43
36.87
21.77
384,298.83
1,208.06
February,
135.3
33,430
221,600
10,530,432
73
344.91
20,998,810
5.36
37.53
22.6
376,086.85
1,193.92
March,
145.5
34,300
235,600
11,195,712
73
326.45
19,874,928
7.94
49.7
33.96
361,152.
1,106.45
April,
157
35,030
255,900
12,160,368
73
347.14
21,134,577
7.45
52.9
36.1
405,345.6
1,167.66
May,
2193
46,370
367,200
17,449,344
73
376.3
22,909,896
.67
67.54
562,882.06
1,495.8
June,
154
42,120
332,700
15,809,904
73
375.35
22,852,048
4.76
66.23
45.32 51.33
526,996.8
1,404.
July,
230
47,630
380,300
18,071,856
73
379.
23.074,278
2.44
78.74
61.48
582,963.09 513,216.
1,371.93
September,
192
42,430
322,500
15,325,200
73
361.18
21,989,360
1.45
70.13
52.6
510,840.
1,411.66
October,
185
36,950
269,700
12,816,144
73
346.85
21,116,921
6.32
58.7
44.48
413,424.
1,191.93
November,
154
31,690
235,800
11,205,216
73
353.58
21,526,556
3.22
46.86
28.7
373,507.2
1,056.33
December,
201
37,450
278,000
13,210,560
73
352.75
21,476,025
3.98
35.29
21.41
426,147.09
1,208.06
Totals,
2,131}
467,660
3,484,800
165,597,696
53.46
-
Average Dynamic head for year, 73 ft. Average duty for year, 21,557,607. Average number of gallons pumped with one pound of
fuel, 354.09. The above is correct to the best of my knowledge.
-
W. A. H. JONES, Engineer in Charge.
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1,536.45
August,
203
42,530
334,800
15,909,696
73
374.08
22,774,738
5.44
71.09
54.77
Max.
Min.
-
ANNUAL REPORT
OF THE
SCHOOL COMMITTEE
FOR THE YEAR 1 903.
SCHOOL COMMITTEE.
- -
INCREASE ROBINSON, 1904
FRANK H. PERKINS,
1904
J. HOLBROOK SHAW, 1906
WILLIAM S. KYLE,
1906
ARTHUR E. LEWIS, 1905
ELIZABETH THURBER, 1905
Chairman, William. S. Kyle.
Secretary, Elizabeth Thurber.
The committee meet regularly at their rooms in Town square on the first and third Wednesdays 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.
CALENDAR FOR 1904.
Winter term began Monday, Jan. 4, 1904. Summer term begins Monday, April 4, 1904. School year ends Friday, June 24, 1904. Fall term begins Tuesday, Sept. 6, 1904.
REPORT OF THE SCHOOL COMMITTEE.
FOR YEAR ENDING DEC. 31, 1903.
Financial Summary.
Credited this department ---
Appropriation for general school purposes,
$37,500 00
Interest Murdock fund,
18 25
Books sold,
35 75
Unexpended balance, Oak Street building,
60 24
Appropriated for heating and ventilation,
Cornish school building,
1,500 00
$39,114 24
Overdraft,
1,428 13
$40,542 37
Expenditures-
Salaries,
$26,928 35
Janitors,
2,716 69
Truant officer,
100 00
Fuel,
3,470 51
Books and supplies,
1,676 67
Repairs,
2,810 83
Transportation,
645 88
Freight and carting,
133 55
Printing,
76 45
School furniture and furnishing, 298 22
Plymouth 9
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Building supplies,
109 80
Incidentals, 275 02
Heating and ventilating appara- tus, Cornish school building, on account, 1,300 40
$40,542 37
* *
A comparison of the above with last year's financial statement will show that an increase in the item of fuel alone more than accounts for the overdraft of $1,428.13. There were minor increases in other items, and a notable decrease of nearly $1, 100 in the expense for books and supplies. The year's figures for this item cannot, however, be regarded as a normal outlay, as its annual average for the past six years is more than a thousand dollars greater. The committee knew that an overdraft was impending, and wishing to keep it as small as possible, deferred purchases that would have brought this item of books and supplies up to the average outlay therefor.
The heating and ventilating system at the Cornish school building, for which $1,500 was appropriated, cost $1,626. The final payment of 325.60 is yet to be made.
At the beginning of the fall term it was found that many more children were entitled to admission than our school rooms could accommodate. The congestion, while greatest at the north, was a serious problem at the centre of the Town also. An increase of pupils was, of course, expected, keeping pace with our constantly expanding population. Your committee was aware that more school room would soon be needed, and in its last report so informed the Town. It was hoped, however, that adjustments could be made that
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would provide for the expected increase for another year. An addition of 120 children to the September enrollment made that impossible, however, and after providing for as many as could be cared for by transfers, even to the extent of overcrowding, it was necessary to open a new school. The Sever street church building was secured (the only available place suitably located) and fifty pupils were installed there under Miss O'Brien. These temporary expe- dients were far from satisfactory, however, and, in order to secure relief as soon as possible, plans for new buildings at both the North and the Centre were secured and articles pro- viding for their construction inserted in the warrant for a special Town meeting called in December. The facts set forth above were duly presented to "the committee of fifteen" prior to that meeting, as required by the Town, and their indorsement of our plan for two new buildings asked for. A few hours before that Town meeting the report that a large Parochial school would shortly be established at the North was confirmed by direct and positive evidence such as your committee could not disregard. It was believed that such an institution would probably draw from the public schools to such an extent that the need of a new building in that section would, for a time at least, be obviated. Under these circumstances a sense of duty to the taxpayers led us to ask at that time only for the building needed at the centre of the town, as this could be made to provide for both sections for a short time while awaiting developments as to the Parochial school. For reasons that need not be reviewed in this report, your committee's recommendations were not adopted, the Town at that meeting directing them instead to submit plans, specifications and estimates for considera- tion at the annual meeting. That vote has been complied with and the subject again awaits the town's considerate action.
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Relative to school needs at the North, the committee is now of the opinion that the prospect of a Parochial school is too remote to warrant delaying longer the relief needed for its overcrowded schools, and local provision for such of its pupils as are now assigned to the centre of the Town. Your committee, therefore, urge the immediate construction of a four-room addition to the Frederick N. Knapp building, which the dimensions of its recently enlarged lot now make possible without undue reduction of the playground. The location is convenient for the grades to be provided for, and this scheme not only saves the outlay for a lot but will make the cost of construction, as well as the running expense of heating and care, considerably less than would be required for a building of the same capacity located elsewhere. A reference to the plan now at the Town house will show a convenient arrangement of the rooms, full provision for all the hygienic requirements, and an exterior of pleasing out- line and proportion. The adoption of this plan would cost the Town at least two thousand dollars less than a suitable four-room building elsewhere, besides the expense of a lot, while the annual cost of maintenance would be at least three hundred dollars less than that of a separate building.
The estimated cost of this addition, including heating apparatus and sanitaries, is $11,500. The plan has the approval of the State authorities.
If the Town does not adopt the above recommendation, but prefers a separate building and a different location, two lots, ample in size and convenient in location, can be secured. One is part of the land now or formerly owned by Mr. C. J. Stegmaier, situated on the easterly side of Court Street, near Castle Street. It has a frontage of 80 feet and runs back in a gradual slope about 380 feet. The price asked is $1,400. The other location is on Standish Avenue, near Cherry
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Street, being part of the estate of Mr. H. Reidle This is a practically level lot, 127 feet on the avenue and 293 feet deep. It can be bought for $1,800. A depth of 200 feet, with same frontage, is offered at $1,400. Very little, if any, grading would be needed upon this land, while the Court Street lot would require an outlay of several hundred dollars for grading and drainage, owing to its situation and slope.
We again urge the pressing need of a new school building at the centre of the Town. This is required for the relief of overcrowded rooms and to provide for twenty-five pupils of that district now at Sever Street, and for nearly as many others now being transferred. In the matter of a suitable lot the committee finds itself limited to a choice between two locations, one being the Town lot on South Russell Street. the other on the corner of Allerton and Clifton Streets, which, however, the owner is unwilling to sell for school purposes. This lot is 107 feet by 94, and is assessed for $1,800. It can, of course, be taken for school purposes if the Town decides to do so, but as it is less desirable than the · Russell Street lot, both in size and situation, and would cost considerably more, your committee prefers the latter and recommends its selection for the proposed building.
We appreciate and share the reluctance to reduce a play- ground, even to make room for a school building, and we therefore urge the taking or purchase of a part of the estate adjoining the town lot on Russell Street which will add about 3,500 feet more to the playground than the proposed building will require. This adjoining land contains 6,650 square feet and is offered at $1,500, cleared of the small building now standing thereon. Placed on any part of this town lot the schoolhouse would be farther away from other buildings than would be possible anywhere else in the com- pact district it is to serve; the exterior risk of fire would
-
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therefore be extremely remote, while its proximity to other schools would lessen the expense for care and secure desir- able advantages besides. Complete plans of a four-room building proposed for this lot are now at the Town house. Its estimated cost is $13,500.
The heating system at the High School building has now become insufficient to meet the requirements of comfort and health, except in moderate weather. The transfer of the ninth grade to that building made necessary the constant use of all the rooms and it is now difficult, if not impossible, to secure a healthful degree of heat throughout the whole building, particularly in such long continued cold weather as we have had the present winter. The addition of a small steam boiler would warm the halls and anterooms and obvi- ate the present forcing which furnaces weakened by a dozen years of constant use are not in condition to endure much longer. The sanitaries at this building are also giving out and will soon need extensive repairs, if not entire recon- struction. The system installed at this schoolhouse is never used where access can be had to a sewer. It probably would not have been adopted here if drainage had then been at hand. It is expensive to maintain, coal fires being con- stantly required for ventilation when the heating furnaces are not in use, and the necessary renewal will be so costly that in the judgment of your committee it would be wise economy to abandon the system altogether and replace it with some of the simple modern methods connected with the sewer. This change would also remove the rank offensive- ness peculiar to the present system, which at times is an unbearable nuisance to the neighborhood. Repairs are being made at small expense which may obviate for a short time the need of radical changes, but provision for both the heat-
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ing and sanitary needs of this building will probably have to be made by another year.
Fire insurance on the High School building, and fixtures therein, is carried to the amount of $23,000. All but $3,000 of this will expire in a few months. The expense of renewal will exceed $300, and will, as heretofore, have to be paid from the regular appropriation for schools. These policies, which run for three years, are written at a reduced rate and therefore contain the eighty per cent. clause. This makes the Town a co-insurer with the companies on any valuation above $28,750. The present committee did not arrange this insurance; it has simply continued it, believing that to be the purpose of the Town. This is the only property insured by the Town and unless instructed otherwise the committee must assume that no change of policy is desired in this matter.
Several study classes were organized in December, giving opportunity for special work to such teachers and others as cared to benefit thereby. These classes are being maintained four evenings each week at the school committee's rooms, under the direction of the Superintendent, the arrangement being as follows, viz. :-
Monday, English Literature, conducted by Miss May Southgate.
Tuesday, History, conducted by Miss Lucia Bartlett.
Wednesday, German, conducted by Miss Mary E. Booth. Friday, Current Topics, conducted by Mr. Kenney.
These classes are so interesting that the full capacity of the rooms is required to provide for those attending. The committee wish to thank most cordially the teachers and
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others above named for the valuable service voluntarily and gratuitously given to this helpful educational work.
During the past year three illustrated lectures upon birds . were given to crowded audiences at the High School by Mr. William Rogers Lord, an author and lecturer of note, two being afternoon talks to the younger children, the other an evening lecture to the older pupils and the public. Such lectures are not merely entertaining; they cannot fail to be far-reaching in educational and moral influence upon the impressionable natures of the young.
Several evening addresses by prominent educators are now being arranged for and will soon be given at the High School, to teachers and the public generally. upon subjects of educational interest and value. No part of the expense of these lectures is taken from the school appropriation, the Town's contribution being merely a small outlay for gas- light, and the use of the school building.
Most of our schoolhouse interiors, particularly those of the lower grades, are sadly bare of adornment; mere orna- mentation is not meant, but the adornment that has a refin- ing influence upon the aesthetic side of child nature. A few good pictures, suggestive and pleasing in subject, some of the excellent portrait-prints of famous persons the children learn about, and other attractive objects appropriate for such a place, would brighten and refine the school room and have an educational influence and effect upon the sense of the beautiful that is dormant but responsive in many a little one's nature. Your committee would be glad to supply this need if means were at hand, but they do not feel warranted in using for such a purpose any part of the regular appro-
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priation. Here is an excellent opportunity for some public spirited citizen to establish a fund (it might bear the donor's name or perpetuate some worthy memory), the income of which shall be devoted to the appropriate adornment of our school rooms. This would add a new element of interest and charm and abiding value to our educational work, and few objects into which money can be transmuted are more worthy of consideration than such as make our schools more attractive and enhance the effect and influence of their work.
The unrelieved barrenness of most of our school grounds also appeals strongly to that finer sense of value and fitness that is not satisfied to limit its interest to the utilities alone. In the case of new buildings, where grading is necessary, part of the appropriation may legitimately be used upon the grounds. but no part of the annual appropriation for schools can be spared for such a purpose, even if it could be so used with propriety.
A little grading and sodding, and the setting out of a few well selected shrubs and flowers, would transform this dis- creditable aspect of most of our school grounds into such attractive conditions as betoken a thoughtful good taste. This is work that in most cases the pupils themselves might be led to do with a great deal of pleasure. Resourceful teachers will see in this suggestion an opportunity to awaken in the minds of their pupils an interest and pride in the sur- roundings of their schools; and such teachers will readily find ways to organize and direct that interest in the practical work required. In the case of the older pupils the work suggested would be a fine exercise of the civic spirit that prompts to willing and glad service for the public good; and the inculcation of this spirit may well be a part of our public school training. In the lowest grades little more
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could perhaps be done, without assistance, than the planting of a few flowers, but even that could be correlated with the school work and made a source of pleasure as well as of per- petual interest and profit to the children.
The business of the school department relates it more or less closely to almost every home in the community. It has therefore, many problems to consider which in the nature of things cannot be solved without some friction or criti- cism or occasional faultfinding. Notwithstanding this, it is the constant endeavor of your committee to give to every detail of its duty a conscientious, impartial and considerate service; having at heart not only the interests and welfare of the schools as a whole, but at the same time a desire and purpose to impose no burden upon the tax payer that is not demanded by necessity, suggested by economy, or justified by the general good of our schools. We are asking this year for a comparatively large appropriation, but in our judgment every dollar of it is necessary, and we trust the Town does not need the assurance that whatever is placed in our hands will be spent judiciously.
Two additional teachers became necessary and have recently been added to the rolls; at least three more will be required for the new schools, already referred to, which it is believed the Town will see the imperative need of supply- ing. This with increased janitor service, and additional expense of maintenance, makes it clear to your committee that $40,000 will be required to run the schools next year, and that sum is respectfully asked for.
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The report of the Superintendent of Schools, which fol- lows, contains observations and suggestions of value with which your committee are in full accord. It will be read with interest by all those who have a thoughtful regard for whatever concerns the welfare of our public schools.
Respectfully submitted,
WM. S. KYLE , ELIZABETH THURBER, J. HOLBROOK SHAW, FRANK H. PERKINS, INCREASE ROBINSON, ARTHUR E. LEWIS.
Plymouth, Mass., Feb. 15. 1904.
SUPERINTENDENT'S REPORT
To the School Committee of Plymouth-
The past year has been an uneventful one to the schools. Nothing has come to seriously interfere with quiet, success- ful work. Crowded school rooms in some localities have been a disturbing factor in some schools, and will continue to be increasingly so until more school room is provided. There has been an increased number of pupils over last year, and a larger corps of teachers. While there has been an increased expenditure for the support of schools, the expense for each pupil in the average membership has remained about the same.
The school census, which was taken according to law last September, gave the following returns :-
Number of children between the ages of 5 and 15 years-
Boys,
837
Girls.
818
Total, 1,655
Number of children between 7 and 14 years-
Boys,
518
Girls,
512
Total,
1,030
This shows an increase over last year of more than 100 children of school age, and of 120 children between the ages of 7 and 14 years-the age when children must, by law, be in school.
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Present number of pupils enrolled, 1,727
Number of school buildings in use. 26
Number of school rooms in use, including High School, 49 Number of teachers regularly employed, 5I
High School, 6
Grammar Schools. 14
Primary Schools, 26
Ungraded Schools, 5
Total. 5I
Special teachers, one each in music, drawing
and Sloyd, ,
3
54
ATTENDANCE.
To meet the requirements of the State Board of Educa- tion the following statistics cover the period of the school year from September to July, 1902-1903 :-
Whole number of pupils enrolled for the year,
1,774
Number under 7 years of age, 325
Number between 7 and 14 years,
1,230
Number between 14 and 15 years, 83
Number over 15 years, I36
1,774
Average membership of all the schools.
1,587
Average daily attendance,
1,447
Per cent. of attendance.
91.3
Number days absence of pupils,
28,288
Number cases of tardiness. 5,568
Number of dismissals before close of school session, 1,356
Number of cases of truancy reported by teachers, 76
Number of days of teachers' absence from school, 154
Number of visits made by Superintendent, 948
The number of children enrolled in school at the present
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time is 1,727, with fifty-one teachers, who are housed in twenty-six different school buildings, besides a small school at the Gurnet. The number 1,727 takes no account of those children of school age for whom accommodations have to be provided, but who, for some reason, were absent when the enrolment was taken.
The whole number enrolled for the year was an increase of about four per cent. over the number for the preced- ing year, with a like increase in the average membership. A somewhat larger corresponding number in the average daily attendance made a slight gain in the per cent. of attendance as compared with the figures of last year.
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