USA > Massachusetts > Plymouth County > Plymouth > Town annual report of Plymouth, MA 1906-1908 > Part 5
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The Department has received 15 Bell and 21 Still Alarms during the year.
12 for house fires.
II for chimney fires.
I for laundry fire.
4 for barn fires.
I for grass fire.
I for lamp explosion fire.
I for ash barrel fire.
I for lumber yard fire.
I for coal wharf fire.
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I for tar kettle fire.
I for bursting of Dam.
I for false alarm.
The loss by fire in the town for the year was $7,402.00 The valuation of property endangered was $46,208.00. Still alarms have in many instances saved bell alarms and large losses.
PERMANENT MEN.
At the Central Station four permanent men are on duty nights and two days. This has increased the efficiency of the Department to a marked degree.
HORSES.
The arrangements for furnishing horses to the Department are the same as last year except at the Central Station where two horses have been added. The service has been very satisfactory.
FINANCIAL.
Payments-
Pay roll, $4,057 30
Horse hire, 1,994 25
Whistle machine, boxes and re-
peater,
1,913 95
Sundries,
1,408 69
Expenses incidental to New Central Station,
909 04
Coal and wood,
556 90
Fire alarm maintenance, 512 62
Repairs, 40I 30
Water department, 295 00
Lighting, 287 65
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Janitors,
284 23
Supplies,
215 20
New hydrants,
131 86
Rent of hose, 3 Station,
72 00
Telephone, Central Station,
36 00
Freight and express,
32 II
Removing snow from hydrants,
21 75
Underground wiring and new fire alarm work,
882 30
$14,012 15
Appropriation, $11,0000 00
Undrawn balance,
1,372 53
Undrawn balance from Central Station,
31 19
Reimbursements,
79 80
$12,483 52
Overdrawn balance,
$1,528 63
The Board meet regularly the second Monday in each month, and by hearty cooperation have endeavored to im- prove and maintain a Department which will be of practical value to the Town. This town has grown rapidly and the Board has tried to keep pace with these conditions by the many improvements adopted, which are necessary to any modern fire department. Nearly $3,000 has been spent this year for permanent improvements. The Town has two Fire Stations with horses and swinging harness, and equip- ped in an up-to-date manner. A Fire Department capable of giving proper protection to the Town is our ideal. The Department on this basis is somewhat more expensive, but
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we think is money well invested, and should be a source of pride to every citizen.
We recommend an appropriation of $14,000 for the com- ing year and $1,528.63 for the deficiency.
Respectfully submitted, EPHRIAM D. BARTLETT, Chief. JOHN E. SULLIVAN, Assistant Chief. I. L. HEDGE, Clerk. ALTON D. EDES, Supt. Fire Alarm. JAMES S. KIERSTEAD, Assistant.
Board of Engineers.
REPORT OF SUPERINTENDENT OF CEMETERIES.
Following is the report of Superintendent of Cemeteries :
Aside from the general work of the Cemeteries such as repairing roads and avenues and clearing up leaves and other litter which accumulates annually, there has been laid, the past season, over two hundred feet of water pipes in Oak Grove Cemetery.
In Vine Hills a large number of additional burial plots have been laid out and preparation made for more. The sales of these lots the past year would indicate a decreased demand in the immediate future and a consequent decrease in revenue from this source.
In order to keep the work in this department at its proper standard I recommend an appropriation of twelve hundred dollars for cemeteries, for the ensuing year.
On Burial Hill the problem has been how best and most economically to keep in repair the walks which are used by so many thousands every season. After experiments with different materials it has been decided that tar concrete is the best material for this location. A good beginning has been made and it is planned to add as much concrete each year as the appropriation will allow, until the entire walks of the hill are covered.
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The old tombs in the rear of the First Church are in a dilapidated condition and it is imperative that repairs be made in the spring to prevent their falling to pieces.
I recommend an appropriation for Burial Hill of six hun- dred dollars for the ensuing year.
Respectfully submitted, E. F. STRANGER,
Supt. of Oak Grove and Vine Hill Cemeteries and Burial Hill.
REPORT OF INSPECTOR OF CATTLE.
March 20, 1906 I found four pigs suffering from hog cholera, which were killed and buried. On March 27, 1906, I found a cow suffering from tuberculosis which was killed and buried.
July 10, 1906, two cows suffering from tuberculosis were killed August 3, 1906, a calf I went to inspect, found it only three weeks old had it destroyed as unfit for food.
October I, started on the regular inspection of cattle for the town. The most of the cattle were in good shape, some few were thin in flesh and looked unthrifty.
I examined 171 barns, or 402 head of cows, 106 head of young stock, II bulls, 402 pigs, 20 sheep and 10 goats, and found two cows suffering from tuberculosis which were killed.
The town has been without a public slaughter house this fall and it has been quite difficult to inspect pigs at each place or residence, where they are killed.
During the past year I have seen the following animals slaughtered :
Pigs, (2 condemned). 202
Cows, 15
Calves, 9
FREDERICK H. BRADLEY,
Inspector of Cattle.
February 1, 1907.
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 1906, 426
Bound volumes added for reference in 1906, 66
Unbound volumes and pamphlets added, 170
Total number of additions, 662
Number of volumes for circulation, Jan. 1. 1906, 12,492
Numbers of volumes for circulation added in 1906, 426
12,918
Withdrawn from circulation in 1906, 236
Total number for circulation, Jan. 1, 1907, 12,682
Number of volumes in reference department, Jan. I, 1906, 2,800
Volumes added in 1906, 66
Total number of volumes for reference, 2,866
Total number of volumes in Library, Jan. 1. 1907. 15,548
Books given out for circulation during 1906- General works, 706
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Philosophy,
Theology,
46 167
Sociology,
359
Language,
I5
Natural Science,
477
Useful Arts,
267
Fine Arts,
475
Literature,
900
Travels,
803
Biography,
654
History,
753
Fiction,
20,784
Total circulation for 1906, 26,406
Periodicals provided for the use of the public-
American Journal of Archaeology, gift of Dr. Helen Morton. · Atlantic Monthly.
Bookman.
Century.
Cosmopolitan.
Country Life.
Craftsman.
Country life in America.
Forum.
Harper's Monthly.
Indian's Friend, gift of Dr. Helen Morton.
Library Journal.
McClure's Magazine.
Masters in Art.
Museum of Fine Arts bulletin, gift of the Museum. Musician.
New England Magazine.
North American Review.
Our Dumb Animals, gift of S. P. C. A.
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Popular Science Monthly.
Public Libraries.
Review of Reviews.
St. Nicholas.
School Art book.
Scribner's Magazine.
Textile World Record.
World's Work.
Harper's Weekly.
Literary Digest. Old Colony Memorial, gift of the publishers.
Outlook.
Plymouth Observer, gift of the publishers. Scientific American.
Scientific American supplement.
Union Signal, gift of local W. C. T. U. Youth's Companion.
Boston Transcript.
New York Tribune.
The Directors again desire to express their gratitude to the ladies of the "Book Club" who have kindly donated to the Library during the past year 74 volumes of the best works of fiction, biography and history, also to Miss Mary Pratt who gave a generous sum which was expended on reference books, to Miss Elizabeth Holbrook for her gift of II volumes of the Annual Report of the American Historical Ass'n., and 7 volumes of the American Historical Review, to Mrs. Lydia G. Lothrop for several volumes, and to Miss Rose S. Whiting, who presented a new printed catalogue of the entire collection of the books of fiction now in the Li- brary. The use of the Reading Room has steadily increased,
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and it has been enjoyed not only by our own citizens but by many of our summer visitors to whom we extend a cordial welcome.
For the Directors, WILLIAM HEDGE, Secretary.
Plymouth, Feb. 1, 1907.
EIGHTEENTH ANNUAL.
REPORT OF THE PARK COMMISSIONERS.
The greater part of the expenditures of the year have been, as usual, upon Morton Park. The roads and paths have been kept in order, and the general features of the Park have been maintained in accordance with the policy of the founder.
On the westerly side a wide strip extending from the open field of Mr. Schroeder on the north, through to Billington Sea, has been cleared of all underbrush. This has been done with the hope of affording some measure of protection against forest fires. Such a lane forms a base where men can fight fire effectively, and without personal danger. For the necessary force of men we must depend, as heretofore, on the willingness of the townspeople to turn out promptly when fire threatens Morton Park.
The stone arch bridge over Town Brook is completed in accordance with the original plans and specifications. A small balance remaining from the fund subscribed for its construction will be used in putting up an iron railing along the approaches to the bridge.
The usual work of trimming, sprouting, etc., was largely prevented by the weather conditions of the late fall and early winter which prevented doing such work to advantage. A considerable balance of the appropriation is thus left over to the credit of the account for the coming year. This work yet remains to be done, however, and will be undertaken whenever weather permits. The unexpended balance will
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also permit a more extensive planting than usual of seedling trees in places where it is desirable to renew the growth and to maintain the distinctly "forest" character of this park.
The small parks have received the usual care and attention. Bates Park has again received the needed dressing for the grass. Burton Park continues to illustrate how it is possi- ble to render an unsightly spot attractive and interesting. Beach Park is more and more appreciated, as practically the only place where the public may have access to the seashore.
Training Green has received its usual care, which is to say that its paths and lawns have been kept in excellent con- dition. Some damage has been done to the grass by insects, however, and it is hoped that measures which it is intended to adopt the coming season may prove effective in preventing its recurrence in the future.
The following summary of receipts and expenditures is herewith submitted :
PARK ACCOUNT.
Jan. I, '06.
CR.
By balance, $220 15
By appropriation, 750 00
By sale of hay, 5 00
By interest from Morton Fund, two
years,
200 00
By reimbursement, 3 05
$1,178 20
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DR.
To total payments, material, labor, etc .. $771 39
To balance,
406 81
$1,178 20
TRAINING GREEN ACCOUNT.
CR.
Jan. 1, '06. By balance,
$20 31
By appropriation,
250 00
$270 31
DR.
To total payments,
$203 74
To balance, 66 57
$270 3I
The usual appropriations are recommended for 1907 :
For Parks. For Training Green,
$750 00
175 00
Respectfully submitted, THOMAS R. WATSON, WALTER H. SEARS, GEORGE R. BRIGGS,
Park Commissioners.
REPORT OF FORESTER.
The season of 1906 showed no reduction in the number of fires set by locomotives. The fire-wards recorded thirty- two such fires which claimed their attention, but fortunately most of them were put out with a small outlay of time and money,-the average cost of these fires to the town, exclus- ive of chemical supplies, being $4.38. On one day nine dis- tinct fires were reported from this cause along the line of the P. & M. R. R., in our township. The danger is so con- stant during April and May that many residents along the line of this road in Darby and Carver feel obliged to be on the watch to guard their property when the trains pass. Their vigilance and that of the fire-wards and railroad section hands prevent many fires from gaining headway but it seems the duty of the New York, New Haven and Hartford Railroad Co., to find some way to end this menace to a whole neighborhood and the tax in time and patience which it necessarily imposes upon so many persons who can ill afford to give up their time-especially at such a busy season.
Perhaps the belts of cleared land which the railroad com- pany are establishing along their line may prove effective. Doubtless they will prevent many fires, but in the most dan- gerous times when the wind is high it seems likely that live sparks may be blown beyond them, for the trees have been removed from these belts as well as the underbrush, and wind will sweep across them unchecked. Until some means are adopted to lessen the number or size of the burning coals emitted by the locomotives, fires will probably occur where the locomotives exert their full power on the heavy grades near Darby.
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Only eight fires were reported that did not start from the railroad. These cost the town $742.81.
One of the eight was severe and this accounted for $670.12 of this expenditure. This fire illustrates the dangers of the present laws against setting fires and their lax enforcement. and points clearly to the advantage that might be expected to follow if a consistent plan of guarding against fires and of enforcing the law could be inaugurated by the state and car- ried out under the direction of the state forester.
Efforts are made annually to arouse sufficient interest in this important question to result in legislative action to this end, but so far without success. Until state direction of the fire-fighters and a uniform, effective plan for avoiding un- necessary risks is enforced throughout the wooded areas, in- dependent of township lines, no town can realize the full benefits of its own precautions when its neighbor is less care- ful.
The fire referred to started in Carver on May 12. on up- land surrounding a cranberry bog, where large piles of dried limbs were burned at the discretion of a workman, under a sort of blanket permit covering the month of May. While the morning of the day in question was damp, the ground was dry and so was the turf under and around the brush piles. It was one of those foggy, southwesterly mornings so frequently followed by a dry, windy afternoon, and no careful man, familiar with the conditions of our woods and climate, would have considered seriously the possibility of burning such brush piles at that time, even if he had the services of helpers, which this man had not.
That such a man had a permit to set fires at his own dis- cretion shows the danger that we are constantly under, and a system or law that makes such permits possible, should be rectified at once.
About noon when the guardian of the bog went up to the cabin for his dinner he noticed the freshening wind but this warning was not sufficient to secure immediate attention.
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While he was at dinner a woman called his attention to the fact that his fires were spreading and he ran out to find them entirely beyond control. They quickly spread into the heavy white-pine woods nearby, where, with plenty of dry woods ahead and a strong, flawy wind behind, they burned large areas in Carver and Plymouth before they were brought wholly under control on the evening of the 13th.
This fire was wholly unnecessary and inexcusable, but the fault seems to lie not so much with the man who set the fire, for he appeared honest, well intentioned' and clearly did not realize the danger nor the consequences of his act, but in the law, or the execution of the law, which made it possible for such a man to have authority to commit such an act.
The severe fire of May 12th again demonstrated the ef- ficiency of the fire belt established on the water course road. Twice has this belt stopped the progress of fires which came down upon it under such conditions that human agen- cies would have been helpless without it. This belt is cov- ered with standing wood, mostly white pine, but the removal of the underbrush and low branches over the one hundred feet strip along the narrow road has been effective.
In the opinion of your forester this fire belt would have been much less useful had the trees been removed because in that case a cloud of sparks would have been swept across the belt and road by the fierce wind, and so many fires would have been kindled in the woods beyond that there is small liklihood that all could have been extinguished. As it was, the tops of the trees caught the sparks which fell harmless, while the ground fire was so much diminish- ed in the belt where there was little fuel to feed it and it was so much protected from the wind by the growth of trees above that, when it reached the road, it was easily con- trolled.
These fire belts were established by the courtesy of the land owners who permitted the removal of the undergrowth.
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The forester has no power to prevent wood choppers from injuring their efficiency by throwing limbs upon them; neith- er has he the right to burn over the bottom when it can be done safely; nor to prevent the cutting of the standing wood, which adds so much to their value.
It is desirable that the town should own the fire-belts and the forester suggests that owners of wood-land along estab- lished belts, or where such belts are desirable, can do a great service to the town by offering the town such strips of land on favorable terms, while, at the same time, they can lessen the risk of fire on their other lands.
Co-operation in this way is entirely practicable and the town should commit itself to the policy of securing such land and keeping the ground free from combustible undergrowth and rubbish.
Incidentally such wooded belts, generally following exist- ing highways, would benefit such highways by their shade and reduce the cost of keeping these roads in repair.
GEO. R. BRIGGS.
Forester.
FORESTER'S ACCOUNT.
Cr.
By balance,
$1,306 95
Dr.
To repairs on wagon,
$II 35
To new equipment,
2 45
To supplies,
3 50
To salary and use of horse,
100 00
To undrawn balance,
1,189 15
$1,306 95
REPORT OF TREE WARDEN.
In my last report the discovery of a number of egg clusters of the gypsy moth, scattered through the town but mostly near the main lines of travel, was noted.
A careful search made in the early spring increased the number of colonies to forty-nine and these were destroyed. During the summer no damage from these insects was re- ported, though some eggs, hidden from the sight of our searchers in inaccessible places, must have escaped destruc- tion and hatched in due season.
We have found one hundred and twenty-nine colonies this autumn, mostly at new points and so small in size that they are probably the outcome of caterpillars brought into town during the past season. A few colonies were large enough to indicate that each may be the normal increase from one which was not discovered last year. One of the largest colonies was near the circus grounds.
Old orchards with their weak trees, with hollow limbs and trunks, furnish safe hiding places for the egg clusters of the gypsy moth. We have many old, neglected orchards in our township comprised mostly of useless trees. Such trees should be cut down and burned, while all those that have sufficient value to warrant the cost of pruning should be carefully inspected and all openings into hollow limbs or trunks cemented. If every land owner keeps his fruit and shade trees properly pruned and removes diseased and use- less trees, the work of protecting the town from insect pests will be much simplified, while such owners need incur less
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expense in destroying the nests and be rewarded with better fruit and improved property by so doing.
It is a pleasure to report a noticeable decrease in the num- ber of nests of the brown-tail moth. The effective search for them last year and the absence of any noticeable flight into the town from the infested areas to the north of us doubtless were the principal causes for this decrease. All over the state a similar decrease is noticeable explained large- ly by disease among the larvæ which met unfavorable weath- er conditions during the winter of 1905-1906.
After several years immunity from noticeable infesta- tions of the elm leaf beetle our old enemy showed up in in- creased numbers last season so that it will probably be neces- sary to spray the foliage of many more trees the coming summer than have been sprayed for several seasons. This may cost $1,000 and at least $500 is needed for the general care of the trees.
The town does not own any satisfactory spraying outfit as it has been possible to borrow the apparatus needed here- tofore. With the improvements that have been made in such equipments it will probably be wise to secure a modern outfit capable of doing the necessary work economically and rapid- ly. Such an outfit will cost considerable money but it should save part of its cost the first year.
As it will be necessary to provide $1,000 for the gypsy moth account in addition to the balance from last year 1 prefer not to ask for an appropriation for a spraying outfit. Such part of its cost as it does not save in spraying expenses may be paid in the form of an overdraft rather than to swell unnecessarily an appropriation already recommended to be double of that of last year.
I recommend, therefore, an appropriation of $1,000 for the gypsy moth and $1,500 for the tree warden account.
G. R. BRIGGS, Tree Warden.
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TREE WARDEN ACCOUNT.
Cr.
By unexpended balance, 1905,
$282 20
By appropriation for 1906,
250 00
By reimbursement from New Road Account,
2 00
By balance overdrawn,
166 52
$700 72
Dr.
To labor and horse hire,
$557 77
To trees,
75 25
To cedar posts and stakes,
22 00
To tree-guards and tools,
14 85
To arsenate of lead,
II 75
To kerosene,
5 85
To tanglefoot,
2 00
To expert professional advice,
10 00
To stationery,
I 25
$700 72
GYPSY MOTH ACCOUNT.
Cr.
By Appropriation,
$1,000 00
Dr.
To labor, $543 19
To clerical work sending notices,
75 00
To supplies and tools,
59 12
To freight bills,
60
To balance unexpended,
322 09
$1,000 00
BOARD OF HEALTH.
ANNUAL REPORT OF THE BOARD OF HEALTH OF PLYMOUTH MASSACHUSETTS, FOR THE YEAR ENDING DECEMBER 31, 1906.
During the past year there have been four cases of diptheria, seven cases of scarlet fever, fifteen cases of measles and seven cases of typhoid fever, a total of thirty-three cases of contagious diseases.
This is the smallest number of contagious diseases in the Town of Plymouth for many years. Of the four cases of diptheria three were located on Castle street at about the same time and failed to spread. The cases of typhoid fever were not traceable to any particular source of infection, as is usually the case.
The Board has adopted the policy of fumigating in all cases of cortagious diseases, believing that it is far safer for the Board to take charge of this work than to leave it to the discretion of individuals. For the first time, the Board has fumigated all premises where there have been cases of measles and consumption. The policy of the board in this respect, especially as to measles, is founded on the fact prov- en by statistics that the mortality is greater and the compli- cations more serious in cases of measles than in cases of scar- let fever.
We, therefore, advise that in cases of measles greater pre-
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cautions be taken, children be more carefully isolated, and fumigation more thoroughly carried on.
The regulations of the Board past during the year in re- gard to mufflers on motor boats has satisfactorily answered the purpose for which they were passed.
There have been the usual number of complaints made to the Board which investigation has proved were the result of malice or neighborhood quarrels. These have received the attention they deserve. All nuisances have been prompt- ly attended to whenever it has become evident that they were in any way a menace to the health of the community. It is often difficult to draw the line between that which may affect the health and that which is merely unpleasant to a few individuals. We have felt that in a rapidly growing manufacturing town that there are some disagreeable fea- tures which must be borne, and in cases of this kind, where there is no danger to health and the parties have shown a tendency to do all that could be reasonably expected, the Board has declined to interfere to the extent of imposing un- necessary burdens.
The matter of providing suitable dumps is one of the most difficult with which the Board has to deal. There are, at present, two authorized dumps. One on Samoset street and the other on Obery street. The one on Obery street has been enclosed by a wire fence with a view to compelling people using the dumps to empty their refuse in the place in- tended. In spite of this precaution, however, we find many instances where parties have preferred to dump on the out- side of this fence and close to the streets. We feel that some strenuous measures will be necessary to prevent a continu- ance of this practice. These dumps will receive more atten- tion and will be more closely attended to during the coming year; and the Board urges all persons having occasion to use them to cooperate in removing what has, in many instances, been heretofore a nuisance.
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