USA > Massachusetts > Plymouth County > Plymouth > Town annual report of Plymouth, MA 1906-1908 > Part 12
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On motion of John B. Washburn :- Voted, that the Water Commissioners be and are hereby instructed to lay a new 16 inch water pipe from the pumping station to Market street, a new 14 inch water pipe through Oak street, and a new 18 inch water pipe from Little South Pond to the pumping station.
John W. Churchill moved that the sum of three thousand dollars ($3,000.00) be appropriated for installing meters.
Arthur Lord moved to amend by adding no meter shall be in- stalled in private houses except when requested by the owners of the property, or except where there is apparently an unneces- sary waste of water, and the amendment was carried.
The motion of John W. Churchill as amended was then put and carried.
On motion of John B. Washburn :- Voted, that for the pur- pose of raising money to be expended in laying new water pipes
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and installing meters the Treasurer be and is hereby authorized to issue from time to time as occasion may require the bonds or notes of the Town to the amount of fifty thousand dollars ($50,000.00), principal payable two thousand dollars ($2,000.00) each year for twenty-five years, bearing interest at a rate not exceeding 4 per cent. per annum, payable semi-an- nually ; said notes or bonds to be signed by the Treasurer and countersigned by a majority of the Selectmen. One hundred and thirty-four having voted in the affirmative and two in the negative, more than two-thirds having voted in the affirmative, and the motion was carried.
On motion of Frederick D. Bartlett :- Voted, that the sum of five hundred dollars ($500.00) be and is hereby appropriated for providing public sanitary facilities, the same to be expended under the direction of the Selectmen in such manner as they see fit.
On motion of John B. Washburn :-- Voted, that the sum of twenty-five hundred dollars ($2,500.00) be appropriated for purchase of the parcel of land on the shore at the foot of Nel- son street for a public park.
Frederick D. Bartlett moved that any and all deeds given heretofore by the Selectmen in the name and on behalf of the town of the Indian Lands, so called, at Manomet, be and are hereby ratified and confirmed, and that the Selectmen are also hereby authorized to give confirmatory deeds of such lands, and that the Selectmen from time to time hereafter be and are here- by authorized to sell and convey in their discretion the remain- ing Indian Land at Manomet, except the Burying Ground, and such land adjoining said Burying Ground as the Selectmen may deem proper to retain.
Thomas D. McLean moved that in the event of any convey- ance of the land in question by authority of the Town the same shall be made subject to full restrictions against the use of any portion of the land so sold or any buildings or erections thereon
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for the sale or keeping for sale of intoxicating liquor and that no building to be used for the habitation of human beings be erected or maintained on the land in question to cost less than six hundred dollars at fair price, and that no hotel or public lodging house or public boarding house be erected or main- tained on the land in question to cost less than three thousand dollars at fair price, nor on less than one-half acre of land.
George R. Briggs moved that a committee of three be ap- appointed by the Moderator to investigate the whole matter of the Indian Lands at Manomet and report at some future meet- ing, and the motion was carried.
George W. Morton moved that the town choose three road commissioners, one for three years, one for two years and one for one year. After some discussion Mr. Morton withdrew his original motion and moved that the further consideration of this article be indefinitely postponed, and the motion was car- ried.
John B. Washburn moved that the Selectmen be and are here- by instructed to build the extension of Main street as laid out by the County Commissioners, and that the sum of forty-five thous- and dollars be appropriated for the cost of the same, including land damage.
Frederick D. Bartlett offered the following amendment to the motion : That the Town construct the extension of Main street as laid out by the Couniy Commissioners, and that a committee of five, to be appointed by the Moderator, have full power to construct the same and to do all acts and things and enter into all contracts in the name and on behalf of the Town necessary and proper to carry this vote into effect, and that the sum of forty-five thousand ($45,000.00) be appropriated for the cost of the same, including land damage, and the motion to amend was carried, seventy-four voting in the affirmative and thirty- seven in the negative.
The motion of John B. Washburn as amended was then car-
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ried, one hundred and thirty-four voting in the affirmative and thirty-seven in the negative.
On motion of John B. Washburn :- Voted, that for the pur- pose of raising money to be expended in constructing the ex- tension of Main street as laid out by the County Commissioners, including land damages, the Treasurer be and is hereby author- ized to issue from time to time as occasion may require bonds or notes to the amount of forty-five thousand dollars, principal payable forty-five hundred dollars per year for ten years, bear- ing interest at a rate not exceeding four per cent. per annum, payable semi-annually ; said notes to be signed by the Treasurer and countersigned by a majority of the Selectmen. One hun- dred and eleven having voted in the affirmative and twenty-five in the negative, more than two-thirds having voted in the affir- mative, the motion was carried.
On motion of Edward L. Burgess :- Voted, that the Select- men are authorized and instructed on behalf of the town to petition the General Court for the passage of the Acts now be- fore the General Court in regard to improvements of channels in Plymouth harbor.
John B. Washburn moved that the Selectmen be authorized to furnish a stone for the monument to be erected at Province- town by the Cape Cod Memorial Association, the same to be charged to the contingent account, the expense of same not to ex- ceed fifty dollars ($50.00).
Benjamin A. Hathaway moved to amend the above motion by substituting one hundred dollars in the place of fifty, and the motion was carried.
On motion of Frederick D. Bartlett :- Voted, that the town accept and allow the alteration of Newfield Street as altered by the Selectmen and reported to the town.
On motion of Frederick D. Bartlett :- Voted that the Town accept and allow the alteration of part of the way running from
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the Russell Mills to the Clarks Valley road as altered by the Selectmen and reported to the Town.
On motion of Frederick D. Bartlett :- Voted, that the Town accept and allow the layout of the new Town way running from Court street to the New York, New Haven and Hartford Rail- way near Robbins' lumber yard, so called, as laid out by the Selectmen and reported to the Town.
On motion of Frederick D. Bartlett :- Voted, that the follow- ing by-law of the Town be and is hereby accepted: The salary of the Sealer of Weights and Measures shall be one hundred and twenty-five dollars per annum, and he shall account for and pay into the Town treasury the fees received by him by virtue of his office.
On motion of Frederick D. Bartlett :- Voted, that Section 22 of the By-laws of the Town in regard to junk dealers be amended so as to read as follows : All dealers in and keepers of shops for the purchase, sale or barter of junk, old metals, or second-hand articles in this town shall be licensed by the Selectmen. Every keeper of a shop for the purchase, sale or barter of junk, old metals or second hand articles within this town, shall keep a
book in which shall be written at the time of every purchase of any such article a de- scription thereof, the name, age and residence of the person from whom, and the day and hour when such purchase was made, and such book shall at all times be open to the inspection of the Selectmen or any person by them authorized to make such inspection, and every keeper of such shop shall put in some suitable and conspicious place on his shop a sign having his name and occupation legibly inscribed thereon in large letters ; such shop and all articles of merchandise therein may at all times be examined by the Selectmen or by any person by them authorized to make such examination, and no article purchased or received by such shop keeper shall be sold until a period of at least one week has elapsed from the date of its purchase or
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receipt. No keeper of such shop shall directly or indirectly pur- chase or receive by way of barter or exchange any of the articles aforesaid of a minor or apprentice knowing or having reason to believe him to be such. All junk collectors to collect by pur- chase or otherwise junk, old metals or second-hand articles from place to place in this town shall be licensed by the Selectmen. No junk collector shall directly or indirectly either purchase or receive by way of barter or exchange any of the articles afore- said of a minor or apprentice knowing or having reason to be- lieve him to be such. All junk shops shall be closed between the hours of six o'clock p. m. and six o'clock a. m. and no keeper of such junk shop and no junk dealer shall purchase any of the aforesaid articles during such hours, but this provision shall not apply to shops used for sale of second-hand articles, and not for sale or purchase of junk and old metals.
On motion of Frederick D. Bartlett :- Voted, that the sum of two hundred dollars ($200.00) is hereby appropriated to es- tablish a float and landing place at Town Dock or Pilgrim Wharf, the same to be expended under the direction of the Selectmen, and that the care and maintenance of the same be in charge of the Selectmen under such rules as they may adopt, any expense incurred hereafter for care and maintenance to be charged to the contingent account.
On motion of Edward L. Burgess :- Voted, that the Collector of Taxes be authorized to receive taxes for the ensuing year at such places as he shall designate on or before the fifteenth day of October, that interest be charged on all taxes remaining un- paid on the said fifteenth day of October, at the rate of six per cent. per annum, and such rate shall continue until otherwise ordered by the Town, and all taxes and interest remaining un- paid on the first day of January following shall be collected forthwith by legal process, and the Collector is hereby author- ized to collect at once by legal process all taxes of previous years outstanding.
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Voted, that the sum of one hundred sixty-three thousand four hundred dollars and 89-100 ($163,400.89) be raised and assess- ed upon the polls and estates of the inhabitants of the Town of Plymouth, and upon the estates of non-residents, to defray the expenses of the Town for ensuing year.
AUGUST 3.
On motion of Frederick D. Bartlett :- Voted, that the rate of interest of the bonds for $45,000.00 authorized by vote of the town at an adjourned meeting of the town, held March, 23,1907, to raise money to be expended in building the extension of Main street including the payment of land damages, be such rate not exceeding five per cent. per annum, payable semi-annually as may be approved by the Selectmen. Twenty-nine voted in the affirmative and one in the negative, more than two thirds hav- ing voted in the affirmative the motion was carried.
On motion of Frederick D. Bartlett :- Voted, that the town accept and allow the layout of Royal street from Samoset street to a way leading to Alden street as laid out by the Selectmen and reported to the Town.
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Report of the Selectmen
For the year ending December 31st, 1907
ROADS AND BRIDGES.
The appropriation for this department for 1907, exclusively of $426.33 to cover overdraft of previous year, was,
$19,000 00
Reimbursements have been,
2,507 50
$21,507 50
Expenditures,
21,459 52
Undrawn,
$47 98
For 1908 we recommend an appropriation of $19,000.00.
The macadam on Main street has been redressed, as has also that on Court street from Park avenue to Allerton street, the additional depth being about four inches after rolling, and the Jordan road has been strengthened in such places as were nec- essary, particularly on both sides of Benson's hill and near the Jordan stable.
Court street has been gravelled from the southerly gate of the Plymouth Cordage Co. to Forest avenue, and the grade of Stand- ish avenue between Cherry and Bourne streets has been changed to better dispose of the surface water. The 12-inch surface wa- ter pipe from Court street to the swamp in rear of the churches at Seaside has been replaced by an 18-inch pipe, and the loca- tion changed to more solid ground. Warren avenue has been gravelled practically from Jabez Corner to Cliff street. Billing- ton street at Deep Water bridge has been widened, straightened and gravelled and the old stone bridge over Town Brook replaced
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with one thirty feet wide of reinforced concrete. This bridge was not contemplated last year, and its building at this time was due to the desire of the Water Department to carry their new pipes over Town Brook rather than under it. The bridge was built by the Berlin Construction Co., Berlin, Conn., the net contract price being $1,300.00, of which the Water Department paid $500.00. The cost of the work on the street above re- ferred to and incident to the construction of the bridge was $182.00. Beginning near the upper corner of Vine Hills Cem- etery. Samoset street, westerly, has been widened and straight- ened, and the hills cut at different places, aggregating about a half mile, and the surface has been gravelled. The West Pond road has been graded and gravelled from West Pond to the Geo. Ellis place, about one mile, and about one-third of a mile of the Sandwich Road, between E. D. Jordan's place and Quaker Tav- ern, has also been graded and gravelled. The above are the larger items of work done the past year, other work being the usual care of gutters and repairs of roads. But little new gut- ter paving has been done, most of the work being relaying made necessary by laying curb. There is, however, considerable gut- ter which it would be to the advantage of the Town to pave.
There have been about 2,100 tons of stone crushed at the Al- den street pit, and it is estimated that there are 1,400 tons now on hand at that location, and 800 tons at South street, worth about $3,000.
One new Concord wagon has been purchased for the use of the Superintendent of Streets at a cost of $45.00, and the old wagon.
In the early part of last year your Board arranged with Mr. Arthur E. Blackmer, the Superintendent of the Water Depart- ment, to have his services as engineer available for all depart- ments of the Town, and he has made all surveys and plans for all street and sewer work during the year. The arrangement has proven so satisfactory to the Selectmen that it is continued for the coming year.
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The macadam on Court street, between North street and Park avenue is much worn and should be redressed in 1908, and the Jordan Road macadam will need further strengthening, the hill beyond the hospital possibly requiring to be thoroughly redress- ed.
Guide boards have been erected on the various woods roads. .
Three hundred and thirty-six blue enamelled street signs have been purchased at a cost of $117.60, and the necessary pipe and fittings for their erection at a cost of $173.68. It is planned to put up the signs the coming season.
NEW ROADS.
Appropriation for 1907, exclusive of $2206.96 for
over draft of previous year, was $5,000 00 Expenditures have been, 4,713 22 Undrawn,
$286 78
For 1908 we recommend an appropriation of $5,000.00.
The new road work has consisted entirely of the change at the lower end of Summer street, done under the decree of the County Commissioners dated July 27, 1906. Under this de- cree there remains some widening to be done on the northerly side of the street on property of heirs of Caleb Ryder, Lemuel F. Bumpus and Chas. E. Stevens, which should be completed the coming spring.
With the exception of $150.00 all of the expenditures for new roads the past year have been on Summer street, making the total expense of that change to date $6,625.12.
Two new streets were laid out by the Selectmen and accepted by the Town last year, viz., Robbins road and Royal street, on both of which some work should be done in 1908.
Your Board has petitioned the County Commissioners for a ·location of Summer street from the junction of Billington street to the entrance of Morton Park.
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STATE HIGHWAY.
The Highway Commission has awarded our Town $5,083.16 for building a section southerly from the present terminus at Manomet, and we understand that the contract has been given to Charles H. Thomas of Middleboro, to build about seven-eights of a mile the coming spring.
The tax paid in 1907 for State Highway repairs was $251.10.
SIDEWALKS.
The undrawn balance of 1906 was
$ 392 61
Appropriation,
3,000 00
Reimbursements,
98 89
$3.491 50
Expenditures have been.
3,509 07
$17 57
Overdraft,
For 1908 we recommend an appropriation of $3,500.00.
The concrete work has been confined to patching, except for the short strip of sidewalk on Russell street from Court street to the Registry of Deeds lot.
Granite curb has been laid as follows :- 99 feet on the west- erly side of Court street, between the Knapp schoolhouse and Savery's Lane, and 306 feet on the northerlv side of Chilton street.
Granite block paving for curb has been laid on the westerly side of Court street north of North Spooner street 188 feet, on the southerly side of Samoset street between Court and Allerton streets 495 feet, on the westerly side of Allerton street from Russell street north 787 feet, on the northerly side of Robinson street 306 feet, on the easterly side of Mayflower street between Washington and South streets 205 feet, on the easterly side of Sandwich street between Freemont and Winter streets 492 feet,
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on the southerly side of Bay View avenue from Sandwich street 230 feet. This is a total of 405 feet of granite curb and 2,703 feet of granite block curb.
Sidewalks of crushed stone with ash foundation have been built wherever curb has been laid, except on Sandwich street, and a strip of the same kind of walk without curb was built on the westerly side of Sandwich street north from Jabez Corner.
About 400 tons of crushed stone were used on sidewalks.
Seven granite crossings have been laid on Main and Court streets between Leyden street and north side of Park avenue.
STREET LIGHTING.
The undrawn balance of 1906 was,
$ 266 88
Appropriation,
2,000 00
$7,266 88
Expenditures,
7,059 78
Undrawn,
$207 10
For 1908 we recommend an appropriation of $7,200.00.
Six new incandescent lights have been installed during the year, one corner of Summer and Newfields streets, one on Standish avenue, corner of Hamilton street, one on Bay View avenue, one on Howland street, and two on Court street near the Catholic Church and in front of the Samoset House lot, respectively. These lights have a tungsten filament instead of carbon and are of 32 candle power, the old lights being 25 candle power. This is a comparatively new type of lamp and if it proves satisfactory the Plymouth Electric Light Co., expect to install them wherever the old ones give out. A few old
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type have already been replaced. The cost to the Town is the same as for the 25 candle power light.
There are now-
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307 incandescent lights at $20.00,
$6,140 00
3 incandescent lights at $21.00, 63 00
2,000 candle power lights at $125.00 875 00
1 2,000 candle power light at 85 00
$7,163.00
Some trouble has been experienced the past year from the malicious breaking of lamps, but it is hoped that further mis- chief of this kind has been discouraged.
STREET SPRINKLING.
The undrawn balance of 1906 was,
$314 28
Appropriation,
2,000 00
$2,314 28
Expenditures,
2,224 98
Undrawn,
89 30
For 1908 we recommend an appropriation of $3,000.
In changing and extending the routes covered by the sprink- lers in an endeavor to meet the increasing call for this service, some of the streets are necessarily neglected, either wholly or in part, and believing that judicious sprinkling not only makes the streets better to live on and travel in, but saves them as well, we recommend $1,000.00 more this year than last to cover the expense of purchasing and running an additional cart.
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CONTINGENT.
The appropriation, exclusive of $6,130.01 to cover 1906 overdraft, was
$7,500 00
Reimbursements,
3,375 50
$10,875 50
Expenditures have been,
10,639 35
Undrawn,
$236 15
For items of reimbursements and expenditures see Treasurer's report.
For 1908 we recommend an appropriation of $5,500.00.
The required appropriation for Contingent account is neces- sarily a rough estimate. Last years appropriation was saved an overdraft by the receipt from the State of $825.00, reimburse- ment for armory rent for 1906, in place of $300.00 estimated. Since April there has been an income of $12.50 per month from Mr. J. W. Mixter for rent of the old storehouse in Town Square, it being let to him for a machine shop. All expense of change in this building to suit his needs was paid by Mr. Mixter. Last years appropriation covered an item of about $1,600.00 damages to Daniel Callahan for injuries received while working in a sewer trench, which damages have been paid. The appropria- tion of $500.00 last year for sanitary arrangements in the Town House basement we request to have transferred to Contingent
account. We therefore deduct $2,000.00 the approximate sum of these two items, in making estimate of required appropriation for 1908. Under the law passed last year it is expected that the Armory, the maintainence of which is charged to Contingent account, will be taken over by the State some time this year. The Selectmen have been requested by the Armory Commission to name a price on the building. This has been done and the Commission has the matter under consideration. The Armory being without seating accommodations for Town Meetings, the
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Selectmen have purchased 140 folding settees, accommodating 700 persons, and costing $343.00.
The stone for the Provincetown Pilgrim Monument, author- ized at the last Town Meeting has been forwarded to Province- town. It was a local stone from the estate of Mr. L. H. Greenwood at Rocky Hill, who was very glad to give it. The total expense was $72.22.
SEWERS.
The undrawn balance of 1906 was,
$1,901 68
Received from entrance fees,
1,823 23
$3,724 91
Expenditures have been,
2,982 74
Undrawn,
$742 17
A six inch sewer has been laid on Mt. Pleasant street from Whiting street, westerly 630 feet, an eight inch sewer on Stafford street from South to Towns street, 1,406 feet, and an eight inch sewer on Summer street from Billington street westerly 1,810 feet.
No appropriation is recommended for 1908.
REMOVAL OF SNOW.
The undrawn balance of 1906 was,
$1,740 65
Appropriation,
1,500 00
3,240 65
Expenditures have been,
2,413 63
Undrawn,
$827 02
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We recommend an appropriation of $1,500.00 for the coming year.
WATCH AND POLICE.
The appropriation, in addition to that to cover
overdraft of $32.54 for 1906, was Reimbursements,
$6,000 00
9 00
$6,009 00
Expenditures have been,
6,318 35
Overdraft,
$309.35
We recommend an appropriation of $6,300.00 for the coming year and $309.35 to cover the overdraft.
CULTIVATION, PROPAGATION AND PROTECTION OF SHELL FISH.
The undrawn balance January 1, 1907 was
$447 00
Expenditures have been, 32 20
Undrawn,
$414 80
The expenditures the past year have been for aid to the Fish and Game Commission in what little experimenting they have done in our harbor, for printing, and for ploughing up a piece of the shore at the north end of the Town. This latter was done where the small clams were very thick, as it was thought loosening the mud would give a better chance for quick growth. The close season of one year on the former grants of G. F.
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Holmes and N. S. Holmes expired December 3, 1907, making four years that those sections of the shore had been protected, and there is at the present time very good clamming there.
To better protect the clams we have called in all old licenses to dig clams and adopted a form with more restrictions. With the new license it is hoped to ascertain approximately the quanti- ty of clams dug by those doing it for a business. As near as we can ascertain 1,400 or 1,500 buckets of clams have been taken from the above mentioned grants from the end of close season to February 1, 1908, (at writing of this report). The result on that part of the shore appears to demonstrate the desirability of similar work with other sections, seeding possibly being required in some places as was done by Mr. G. F. Holmes on his grants.
CEMETERIES AND BURIAL HILL.
The undrawn balance of 1906 cemetery appropria- tion was,
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