USA > Massachusetts > Plymouth County > Plymouth > Town annual report of Plymouth, MA 1922-1923 > Part 20
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Article 38. To see if the Town will appropriate for the purpose of providing headquarters for the United Spanish War Veterans a sum not exceeding one hundred and fifty (150) dollars, as provided in Chapter 227, Acts of 1921.
The Committee recommends that the Town appropriate the sum of $150.00 for the purpose of providing headquarters for the United Spanish War Veterans, as provided in Chap. 227, Acts of 1921.
Article 39. To see if the Town will vote to establish a public camping place as recommended by the Park Commis- sioners and make an appropriation for that purpose not exceeding five hundred (500) dollars.
The Committee recommends that the sum of $200.00 be appropriated for a public camping place at the foot of Nelson Street, as recommended by the Park Commissioners.
Article 40. To see if the Town will vote to appropriate a sum not exceeding five hundred (500) dollars for public band concerts, said money to be disbursed by the Board of Selectmen.
The Committee recommends that the sum of $500.00 be appropriated for public band concerts.
Article 41. To see if the Town will request the School Committee to acquire the land and buildings thereon, or any part of the premises, as bounded by North Russell Street, land of the Inhabitants of the County of Plymouth, South Russell Street and land of the Inhabitants of the Town of Plymouth, for the purpose of a recreation centre. (By petition.)
The Committee recommends that no action be taken under this article.
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Article 42. To see if the Town will discontinue as a Town way, as much of South Russell Street as lies westerly of a line, which is in line with the stone wall easterly of the Corn- ish School Building, so-called, extending southerly across said South Russell Street.
The Committee recommends that the Town discontinue as a Town way, that part of South Russell Street described in the above article.
Article 43. To see if the Town will authorize the Select- men, in the event the Town votes to discontinue a portion of South Russell Street, under the proposed article, to erect a stone wall in said street in line with the stone wall which is easterly of the Cornish School Building, so-called, and make an appropriation therefor.
The Committee recommends that in event of the Town voting to discontinue a portion of South Russell Street, that favorable action be taken under the above article and that. the sum of $500.00 be appropriated.
Article 44. To see if the Town will vote to widen Court Street from Allerton Street northerly to the Plymouth and Middleboro Railroad Bridge and make an appropriation therefor.
The Committee recommends favorable action be taken on the above article.
Article 45. To see if the Town will vote to widen South Street from Sandwich Street to Pleasant Street, to authorize the taking of land necessary, and to make an appropriation therefor.
The Committee recommends that no action be taken on the above article.
Article 46. To see if the Town will instruct the Select- men as to what action it considers desirable relating to signs overhanging the sidewalks.
The Committee makes no recommendation under the above article.
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Article 47. To see if the Town will appropriate a sum of money not exceeding twelve hundred (1200) dollars to pay the expenses of the observance of July Fourth, and of an Old Home Day in connection with Forefathers' Day, said money to be expended by the Board of Selectmen accord- ing to the laws relating to such appropriations.
The Committee recommends that the sum of $900.00 be appropriated for the observance of July 4th and of an Old Home Day in connection with Forefathers' Day. Said mon- ey to be expended by the Board of Selectmen.
Article 48. To see if the Town will vote to establish a voting precinct in Manomet.
The Committee recommends that no action be taken under this article.
Article 49. To see if the Town will authorize the trans- fer of a sum not exceeding five thousand (5,000) dollars from the Reserve from Overlayings of Taxes to the Reserve Ac- count in the hands of the Advisory and Finance Committee.
The Committee recommends that the sum of $5,000.00 be transferred from the reserve from Overlayings of Taxes, to the Reserve Account in the hands of the Advisory and Finance Committee.
Respectfully submitted:
ADVISORY AND FINANCE COMMITTEE,
TOWN OF PLYMOUTH,
Alfred P. Richards, Oliver L. Edes, William H. Harriman, Henry W. Royal, Alfred S. Burns, John B. Finney, John A. Harris, Isaac B. Holmes, Edward C. Holmes, Earl W. Gooding, Willard H. Parsons, Frederick R. Snow, James S. Swanton, Charles R. Wood.
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SPECIAL TOWN MEETING, AUG. 4, 1923
Article two:
To see if the Town will appropriate the sum of one hundred and fifteen thousand (115,000) dollars for an addition to the Hedge School, including the purchase of additional land there- for.
The Committee recommends favorable action under this article.
Article three:
To see if the Town will authorize the Selectmen to issue bonds or notes of the Town to an amount not exceeding ninety-nine thousand (99,000) dollars to carry out action of the Town under the preceding article.
No recommendation made by the Committee.
Article Four:
To hear a report of the Park Commissioners and act there- on.
No recommendation made by the Committee.
Article Five:
To see if the Town will authorize the Park Commissioners to take by eminent domain the land on the northerly side of Town Brook for Park Purposes as reported to the Town, and make an appropriation therefor.
No recommendation made by the Committee.
Article Six:
To see if the Town will appropriate the sum of five hun- dred (500) dollars for wall for Burial Hill.
The Committee recommends favorable action under this article.
Article Seven:
To see if the Town will vote to appropriate for Granolithic Sidewalks all reimbursements for granolithic construction during the current year.
The Committee recommends favorable action under this article.
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Article Eight:
To see what disposition the Town will vote to make of the sum of two hundred and sixty (260) dollars received from sale of the Franklin Street Engine House and Lot.
The Committee recommends that the Town use the sum, namely, Two Hundred Sixty (260) Dollars received from the sale of the Franklin Street Engine House and Lot to lessen the tax levy of the current year.
Article Nine:
To see what action the Town will take in regard to dis- continuance of the opening of the Town House on Wednesday evenings.
The Committee recommends favorable action under this article.
Respectfully submitted,
F. J. Heavens, Isaac B. Holmes, Edw. C. Holmes, Chas. R. Wood, F. R. Snow, Alfred Burns, John D. Brewer, Guy Cole, Earl W. Gooding, James S. Swanton, Allen D. Russell.
SPECIAL TOWN MEETING, JULY 21, 1923.
Article Two:
To see if the Town will vote to amend the vote passed under articles 22 and 23 of the warrant for the meeting held on Mar. 24, 1923, by striking out all of said vote after the word "Se- lectmen" in the second sentence, and substituting therefor the following :- "and to meet said appropriation there be raised in the levy of the current year the sum of $6,000; and that the Treasurer, with the approval of the selectmen, be and hereby is authorized to borrow a sum not exceeding $124,000; and to issue therefor bonds or notes to be de- nominated, "Town of Plymouth Public Landing Loan, Act of 1921", so the whole loan shall be paid in not more than ten years from date of issue of the first bond or note, or at such earlier dates as the Treasurer and Selectmen may de-
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termine" so the said vote will read as follows: "Voted: that the Town erect a wharf or pier and public landing on the property now owned by the Town, and property to be ac- quired on Water St., opposite South Park Ave., and extend- ing northerly to a point opposite Lothrop St., in accordance with plans submitted by the relocation committee, and the sum of $130,000. be and hereby is appropriated therefor. The erection of said wharf or pier and public landing shall be under the direction of a committee of ten to be appointed by the Selectmen; and to meet said appropriation there be raised in the levy of the current year the sum of $6,000; and that the Treasurer be, and hereby is authorized to borrow a sum not to exceed $124,000. and to issue therefor bonds or notes, said bonds or notes to be denominated "Town of Plymouth Public Landing Loan, Act of 1921", and to be payable in accordance with the provisions of Sec. 19, Chap. 44 of the General Laws, and of Chap. 162 of the acts of 1921, so the whole loan shall be paid in not more than ten years from the date of issue of the first bond or note, or at such earlier date as the Treasurer and Selectmen may determine."
Without dissenting vote the committee recommends favor- able action under this article.
Article Three:
To see if the Town will vote to authorize the Re-location committee or the Selectmen to lease space for business pur- poses on the contemplated new wharf.
The committee recommends that the words "or Select- men" be struck from the above article and the words "under the approval of the Selectmen" be added thereto, so that the article will read as follows-To see if the Town will vote to authorize the Re-location Committee to lease space for busi- ness purposes on the contemplated new wharf, under the approval of the Selectmen.
The Committee recommends favorable action under the Article in its amended form.
Article Four:
To see if the Town will authorize the Re-location Com- mittee to expend from money already appropriated for the
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erection of a wharf the sum not to exceed $10,000; for the purpose of dredging in the vicinity of said wharf.
The Committee recommends favorable action under the above article.
Alfred S. Burns, John B. Finney, John A. Harris, Isaac B.
Holmes, Edward C. Holmes, Earl W. Gooding, Willard H. Parsons, Frederick R. Snow, James S. Swanton, Charles R. Wood, John D. Brewer, Guy R. Cole, Charles W. Gifford, Francis J. Heavens, Allen D. Russell.
SPECIAL TOWN MEETING, DEC. 1, 1923.
Article Two:
To see if the Town will vote to appropriate from money in the Treasury not otherwise appropriated a sum not ex- ceeding One Thousand (1,000) dollars for the Police Depart- ment.
The Committee recommends favorable action under this article.
Article Three:
To see if the Town will vote to appropriate from money in the Treasury not otherwise appropriated a sum not exceeding Fifteen Hundred (1,500) dollars for the Fire Department.
The Committee recommends favorable action under this article.
Article Four:
To see if the Town will vote to appropriate from money in the Treasury not otherwise appropriated a sum not to exceed Two Hundred (200) dollars for sealing weights and measures.
The Committee recommends favorable action under this article.
Article Five:
To see if the Town will vote to appropriate from money in the Treasury not otherwise appropriated a sum not to
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exceed Eight Hundred (800) dollars for the Forest Wardens Department.
Favorable action recommended by Committee.
Article Six:
To see if the Town will vote to appropriate from money in the Treasury not otherwise appropriated a sum not ex- ceeding Fifty-five Hundred (5,500) Dollars for a caterpillar tractor and snow plow.
Favorable action recommended by Committee.
Article Seven:
To see if the Town will vote to appropriate from money in the Treasury not otherwise appropriated a sum not exceed- ing Fifteen Hundred (1,500) dollars for the purchase and laying of soil pipe in the Stephens Field, as recommended by the Park Commissioners.
No recommendations was made by the Committee.
Article Eight:
To see if the Town will vote to appropriate from money in the Treasury not otherwise appropriated a sum to reimburse the Town of Wareham for one half of the amount of certain expenses on the Agawam and Half Way Pond herring stream.
The Committee recommends that a sum not exceeding Eleven Hundred and Seventeen Dollars and Ninety-One Cents (1,117.91) be appropriated under the above warrant, that sum being the amount due to the Town of Wareham.
Article Nine:
To see if the Town will authorize the transfer of One Hun- dred Thirty-Two Dollars and Fifty Five Cents ($132.55) from the Oak Grove and Vine Hills Cemetery appropriation to the special appropriation for the alteration and addition to the Cemetery Building as recommended by the Cemetery Commissioners.
The Committee recommends favorable action under this article.
Article Ten:
To see if the Town will authorize the transfer of Twenty- Six Dollars and Seventy Cents from the Burial Hill Cemetery .
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appropriation to the special appropriation for wall for Burial Hill, as recommended by the Cemetery Commissioners.
The Committee recommends favorable action under this article.
Respectfully submitted.
Francis J. Heavens, John D. Berwer, Allen D. Russell, F. Russell Snow, James S. Swanton, Isaac B. Holmes, Edward C. Holmes, Guy R. Cole, Chas. W. Gifford.
REPORT OF COMMITTEE ON TOWN LIGHTING MARCH 24, 1923.
The Committee appointed under vote of the Town to make a study of the electric lighting conditions are in a position to make a report of progress only at this time.
Several inspections of the lights throughout the Town have been made by members of the Committee and satisfactory conferences have been held with Mr. Bent and Mr. Gardner of the Plymouth Electric Light Company.
We recommend that the wires be put underground on Water Street near Plymouth Rock and on Coles Hill as was originally intended when the improved street lighting was adopted. We also recommend that the White Way lamps be given more attention and the globes kept in better condi- tion which we are assured will be done. We also recommend that a part of the inspections be made at night rather than daytimes which we are also assured will be done. We also recommend a re-location of some of the lamps and believe that better results will be obtained. At the present time there is no allowance made for lamps that are out which occurs very often and sometimes for quite a period. We recommend that this be taken into consideration and there be an abatement made to the town for such lamps as are out.
We hope and believe that in the near future there will not only be a marked improvement in the character of lights now furnished the Town but a reduction made in the cost for
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the service rendered; furthermore, the members of this Com- mittee are united in the view that the Electric Light Com- pany should be accorded every assistance in their endeavor to improve their facilities according to plans which have been brought to our attention and fully explained, and in reaching this conclusion we are strongly influenced by the fact that a reduction in cost of electricity to all consumers has been practically assured us.
Respectfully submitted,
EDWARD L. BURGESS, ALTON D. EDES, WILLIAM P. LIBBY
Committee.
REPORT OF THE PARK COMMISSIONERS TO THE TOWN IN THE MATTER OF TAKING OF CERTAIN LAND ON THE NORTHERLY SIDE OF TOWN BROOK AUGUST 4, 1923.
In accordance with the vote of the Town, the Park Com- missioners have attempted to obtain figures from the owners of the land on the northerly side of Town Brook the taking of which land was under consideration. The Commissioners have been unable to obtain from the owners prices which they can at this time submit to the Town.
The Board, however, having studied this matter and have had a plan of the contemplated taking prepared by the Town Engineer and they have obtained the services of three persons whom they believe to be familiar with real estate values in Plymouth. Those persons have given their judgment as to the value of the land included in the plan. Those values amount to $15,200.
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It is the opinion of the Board that those figures represent a fair value for the land and that the land could be taken by eminent domain for park purposes at the cost of approxi- mately $15,200.
Respectfully submitted,
P. O. CONLEY, LOOMIS R. GRANT, HENRY T. GEARY,
Board of Park Commissioners.
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REPORT OF THE SELECTMEN
It is perhaps one of the most difficult tasks that the Select- men are called on to perform, to present to the citizens at the close of the year a report that shall cover in a concise form the activities of the Town for the past year. Such a report must necessarily be sketchy. There are many matters that come up in the course of the years business that do not appear of value enough to occupy space in this report but to some individual it is that particular matter that is of the most vital interest. To such persons we can only say that we put in such things as seem to us to be of general interest and the party who wants further information can get it by personal inquiry at the Town House.
A large part of the Towns annual affairs are matters of routine and do not materially differ from one year to another. These things have been attended to and the ordinary work of caring for the streets and sidewalks has been done. The streets are in as good condition as the amount of money at our disposal will allow, and they compare very favorably with those of other towns. A certain amount of new work has been done as the report of the Superintendent of Streets will show. A large amount of the so-called tar sidewalk has been laid and this has proved to be eminently satisfactory. It is the intention of the Board to continue this work until every street has at least one good walk for the use of the citizens.
A new section of road has been put on the "Beaver Dam" road in response to a petition from the citizens of Manomet.
There has been a petition presented to the County Com- missioners for a widening on Court St. near Shirley Square. This while a meritorious plan as a simple widening was found on careful investigation to be so expensive that the Board of Selectmen felt that the best interests of the Town called
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for opposition to this project and we accordingly appeared in remonstrance and the matter is at present in abeyance until after the Town has had an opportunity to express its desire in Town Meeting.
The details of road and sidewalk work can be found in the report of the Superintendent of Streets.
The Police Department has functioned as usual in an efficient manner and the traffic has been handled in a satis- factory way. The infractions of the general laws have been no more than usual and in a majority of cases have been punished as the Law provides. It has been found necessary to add one permanent man to the force as the Civil Service Commission under whose control the Department is, have criticized the plan of keeping special officers on duty for any continued length of time.
In the report of the Chief of Police he calls attention again to the need of a Signal System whereby the officers can get in touch with the station and the Chief can also get a man on the street if needed at once. This matter was agitated a year ago and a demonstration was given at the station by the Gamewell people, but at that time the system propos- ed was so comprehensive and also so expensive that it was thought that the Town was hardly in a position to spend so much money although the need of something of the kind was very evident. The same Company have now shown a very compact and effective plan that provides ample facilities for getting in touch with the men wherever they may be and also is a complete check on their movements at all times. This would increase the efficiency of the Department and we consider it a matter well worth the careful consideration of the citizens.
We were faced with the necessity of appointing a new Fire Commissioner this year. Mr. Robert C. Harlow who has satisfactorily administered that office since its creation was obliged to resign. He having for business reasons moved away. The Selectmen after careful consideration appointed Mr. Fred A, Jenks who has been identified with large interests all of his life and who has been much interested in Fire
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Department matters. The appointment appears to have given general satisfaction and we have no doubt that the affairs of the Department will be administered in an efficient and practical manner. The general conduct of the Department has been very successful and while alarms have been numer- ous the loss has been confined within very small limits. With the present equipment the Department gets to a fire in the shortest possible period of time and are enabled to commence their work of extinguishment at once. The report of the Commissioner will give the details of the years work and also what he considers to be the needs of the Organization for the coming year. We can only say that he is in the best position to know what is required and we trust the Citizens will consider carefully his recommendation.
There were a number of projects that received attention at the last Annual Meeting and some of them received ap- propriations. Most of these were carried out. One, (the Alden Street Drain) was not done as there developed some technical difficulties that have not as yet been cleared up. It is hoped that we shall be able to go ahead with this soon and complete this very much needed disposal of surface water.
The widening on Court St. at North Plymouth developed so much opposition from the abuttors that it was abandoned and the road surface was carried across the car track at that point making available some six or eight feet more of street. This has alleviated to a large extent the difficulty there. It is more and more evident that with traffic in- creasing as it is that no system of widening will cope with the situation. The only remedy seems to be to open new streets and we would call especial attention to the proposed plan for a new street from the north end of the Town along the water front to the present Water Street. This is entirely practical and can be built for a sum no greater than the pro- posed widening at Shirley Square, while the benefits to be derived exceed that project so much that there can be no reasonable comparison. It is not suggested that this all be done at once, but a layout can be made and a partial ap- propriation made from year to year until the work is com-
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plete and the Town will have not only relief on Court St. but an attractive drive that will be an asset to the Town in the minds of the travelling Public.
There are a number of new projects that will come before the Town at this March Meeting. Of these we would special- ly call your attention to the one calling for a Tarvia surface on the Bartlett Road in Manomet. Last year the Town put in a hard surface on the Beaver Dam Road, and it would seem fair to do the same on the Bartlett Road as this is a more important road and in addition now accommodates the new Community Building. The situation is worse than the other in the fact that the Bartlett Road joins the State High- way on a down grade and there is a constant wash from the road which the hard surface will do away with. This road is also used a great deal by people going to Fresh Pond and is a through route to the State Highway again joining just below Fresh Pond. The article calling for a sidewalk along the State Highway is also one that merits approval. The travel on the Highway is so great that a foot passenger is in constant peril of life and a suitable place to walk would be of the greatest public good. There are many places where money can be spent to advantage and while all can not be done it is the duty of the citizens to give careful attention to what is asked for and vote intelligently for what will give the greatest good to the greatest number. Another matter that should receive favorable action is the petition of the residents of White Horse Beach for a continuation of the road from the end of the present hard surface along the water front. This is now a bed of sand and carries a heavy traffic.
In the report of the Park Commissioners a number of special appropriations are asked for. Of these the one calling for the purchase of two small parcels adjoining what the Town has already acquired on the northerly side of Town Brook should be granted. This would give the Town the control of the entire bank of the Brook where so much money has already been spent by Mrs. Edith Emerson Forbes in landscap- ing, and would also provide a fitting site for the Statue of the Pilgrim Maiden which the Society of New England Women have had made and are only waiting for a place to put it.
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This statue which is similar to the one of Massasoit on Cole's Hill is a fine work of art and would be an attractive ornament to the park. Everything of this nature is an asset to the Town as it makes the place more attractive to the travelling Public, such a large proportion of which comes to Plymouth and inci- dentally makes business for our citizens. Some of the other ap- propriations asked for by the Park Commission may seem large but it must be remembered that the Public is making more and more use of the park facilities and in order to have this done in an orderly and successful manner we must pro- vide the necessary bath houses and other paraphenalia. Money spent for these objects is a good investment for the Town as they go far to make the people satisfied with their surroundings and encourage a proper local pride. Another suggestion is for an entrance to the Stephens Field Playground from Sandwich St. This should be done now while the lot is empty and before values increase. This would give a road reaching the southerly end of the playground and could then be carried along the upper side of the field and come out on Fremont St. making a loop with an entrance on both streets.
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