USA > Massachusetts > Plymouth County > Plymouth > Town annual report of Plymouth, MA 1924-1925 > Part 11
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The juvenile attendance was 16,029; the adult, for reading and reference alone, was 19,379.
The work with the children and the schools increases every year, and the reference work with the public school children of all ages takes up a large part of the Library time. With- out the Library, the State Certificate Reading could not be carried on, and the required work on the High School Read- ing List would be impossible. The extra books which are
208
needed for all of these demands are found either in the Li- brary or in the deposits of the Public Library books which are placed in the schools. The research work which is a part of almost every home study has to be carried on in the Library, and it is the Librarian and her staff who supple- ment the work of the class-room teacher. Not only the pupil, but the teacher also is dependent upon the Library for much of the planning and development of her work.
The children's story hour, which Miss Haigh, the Chil- dren's Librarian, holds twice a month from November to April grows in popularity each year, and during the winter of 1924, 710 children and 17 adults were in attendance. In addition to the regular story hour, we are indebted to Mr. Robert Parsons and to Mrs. Henry Ware, for the interesting stories which they told in the Library last winter.
In June, before the schools closed for the summer, 35 honor certificates for those who had read 20 books from the State Certificate Reading Lists, were awarded at the Knapp School. Two Americanization workers, Mr. Turner. Super- intendent of Schools, Mrs. E. P. Rowell of the School Com- mittee, Miss Haigh, and Miss Bamford, our assistant libra- rian, all participated in the exercises. These consisted of a play written and produced by the pupils themselves on the theme of learning to love books, an interesting talk by Mr. Turner, and the presentation of the certificates by Miss Bamford. 193 certificates were issued during the year.
For three weeks in the summer, the practical side of li- brary work was taught to one of the students from the Sim- mons College School of Library Science. The practice work is required in the regular course, students choosing different libraries throughout the state in which to study.
1,170 new books have been added to the Library, of these 202 were gifts, 219 were replacements of standard works. and 165 were titles included on the State Reading Lists. There are now 18,542 books in the Library, which is a very small number, averaging only about 1.4 books per capita. Without the necessary books it is impossible for the Library to supply the legitimate and growing demands made upon it.
209
Many acceptable books, pictures, magazines, etc., were re- ceived from the following donors :
Plymouth Book Club, U. S. Shipping Board Corporation, Mrs. George Stephens, Jr., Mrs. Howland Davis, Smithsonian Institution, Miss L. A. Howard, Mr. Albert Mathews, Miss Lucia Bartlett, Mrs. T. P. Adams, Government Printing Of- fice, Miss Elizabeth Thurber, Boston Globe, Prof. Dickson, Mr. R. S. Kellen, A. B. Cruikshank, Mrs. A. Ames, Mrs. P. Butler, Mrs. Arthur Lord, Miss A. P. Appleton, Sec. of Com- monwealth, Better Understanding Society, Mr. and Mrs. C. S. Davis, Mr. John Russell, Jr., Mrs. Richard Morgan, B. A. Whittemore, MacMillan Publishing Co., Miss Minnie Bachelder, Miss G. Stevenson, Rev. A. R. Hussey, Mrs. F. W. Taylor, Medical Dept. U. S. Army, Mrs. W. S. Townsend, Mrs. Frank Davis, Mrs. Charles F. Aldrich, Mrs. J. Bertram Williams, Mrs. J. Randolph Coolidge, Jr., Wm. A. Radford, Mr. R. G. Badger, Mr. H. W. Royal, Miss C. B. Warren, Benjamin M. Watson, Mrs. A. R. Hussey, Mr. Benjamin F. Watson, Lake Forrest University, National Security League, Miss Rebecca Jackson, Miss Elizabeth Perkins, and 10 pho- tographs of old Plymouth houses were presented to the Li- brary by Mrs. Ella Briggs of N. Y.
MINNIE BURKE FIGMIC,
Acting Librarian.
·
210
List of Jurors
Adams, James P., River St., mason. Alexander, Earl, Nick's Rock Road, weaver. Anderson, Albert S., Manomet, merchant. Anderson, Robert, 12 So. Spooner St., cordage emp. Anderson, Walter A., 57 Alden St., clerk. Andrews, William F., 24 Mt. Pleasant St., clerk. Austin, James C., 213 Summer St., gardener. Baker, Harold W., 8 Chilton St., store manager. Baker, William W., 11 Davis St., lineman. Barke, Charles O., Stoddard St., clerk. Beauregard, L. Edgar, 4 Alden St., weaver. Beever, John A., 268 Court St., overseer. Bennett, G. Vernon, 208 Court St., clerk. Beytes, Leon H., 430 Court St., civil engineer. Birnstein, Emil C., 25 Standish Ave., weaver. Bliss, John E., 115 Court St., weaver. Briggs, George R. Jr., Indian Brook, supt. Briggs, Lyman W., 22 Oak St., clerk. Brown, Richard B., 7 Winslow St., overseer. Buchanan, Vincent, 15 Winslow St., painter. Bumpus, Albert A., 22 South St., painter. Bunker, Guy C., 4 Sever St., foreman. Burgess, William D., 6 South St., motorman. Burns, Alfred S., 109 Court St., clerk. Carr, Walter E., 92 Spooner St., asst. foreman. Carver, Frank W., 20 Brewster St., salesman. Caswell, Thomas, Billington St. weaver. Cole, Charles F. Jr., 128 Sandwich St., machinist. Cook, Ralph E., 28 Centennial St., percher. Dale, David J., 27 Standish Ave., weaver.
211
Dean, Augustus T., 83 Sandwich St., teamster. Delano. Will F., 338 Court St., cordage emp. Drew, Ralph L., 4 Holmes Terrace, cordage emp. Dyer, Donald, 178 Court St., painter. Fletcher, F. Roscoe, 18 Brewster St., clerk. Fogarty, Thomas S., 23 Brewster St., clerk. Fox, Alfred, 10 Spooner St., cordage emp. Garvais, George, Oak St., weaver. Girard, Raymond F., 76 Standish Ave., electrician. Goddard, Walter W., 29 Samoset St., rope maker. Goldthwaite, George A., 3 Whiting St., woodworker. Goodwin, Bernard J., 281/2 Middle St., electrician. Graves, Thomas W., Warren Ave., caretaker. Gray, Norman W., 362 Court St., cordage emp. Grey, Burton R., 23 So. Spooner St., steam fitter. Hagen, Frank A., 16 Atlantic St., foreman. Hall, Fred A., 5 Holmes Terrace, clerk.
Hathaway, Elmer W., 22 Pleasant St., retired. Hatton, Charles H., 15 Oak St., painter. Hazen, James W., Manomet, farmer. Holmes, Charles B. Allen Court, painter. Holmes, Issac T., 189 Court St., poultry raiser.
Holmes, Martin W., 135 Summer St., cranberry grower.
Holmes, Robert M., 89 Sandwich St., grocer. Holmes, Roland T., 11 Whiting St., clerk. Holmes, William B., South Pond, laborer. Jewell, Albion G., 5 Chilton St., musician. Johnson, Horatio W., 4 Fremont St., laborer. Karle, William H., 20 Hamilton St., weaver. Kelliher, John F., Newfields St., clerk. Kingan, Ernest A. J., 143 Sandwich St., clerk.
Kinsey, Herbert F., 42 Alden St., pattern weaver. Lacey, Arthur J., Water St. Ext., loom fixer. Lanman, Herbert H., 7 Davis St., clerk. Lee, William B., 73 Samoset St., foreman. Leidloff, William F. G., 20 Whiting St., clerk. Loft, Allen, 1151/2 Summer St., real estate dealer. Lowry, Abraham, 17 Whiting St., painter.
212
Lumb, Fred, 11 Fremont St., harness raiser. Magee, Arthur T., 22 Mt. Pleasant St., truckman. Manter, Arthur L., 13 Mt. Pleasant St., painter. Manter, Joseph L., Manter's Point, teamster. Manter, Walter L., 380 Court St., clerk. Marshall, Daniel J., 217 Sandwich St., weaver. Martin, Frank M., 243 Sandwich St., machinist. Maynard, Louis D., 156 Sandwich St., salesman. McCosh, John A., Manomet, clerk. Morse, Arthur L., 21 Mayflower St., clothier. Morton, Harry II., 3 Whiting St., clerk. Morton, Louis, 4 South St., cordage emp. Mosman, Austin R., 21 Davis St., hardware dealer.
Mulcahy, Frank H., 40 Russell St., weaver. Nazro, William E. C., Warren Ave., architect.
Nichols, Albert O., Manomet, farmer. Nickerson, Coleman E., 5 Highland Place, shipper. Nickerson, Samuel E., 5 Highland Place, laborer. Norton, Thomas E., 16 Vernon St., weaver. Oosterdiep, John W., 98 Allerton St., overseer. Otten, Charles JJr., 2 Alden St., supt. Gas. Co. Parenteau, Alphonse, 31 Russell St., weaver. Paulding, Edwin S., 12 Sandwich St., caretaker. Perkins, Issac H., 19 Mayflower St., mason. Phillips, Nicholas, 9 Cushman St., shipping clerk. Pierce, Charles H., River St., fisherman. Pioppi, Joseph, 29 Cherry St., carpenter. Pratt, Ernest B., 52 Russell St., laborer. Priestly, Edmund J., 116 Sandwich St., weaver. Quartz, Frank Jr., 156 Court St., grocer. Ray, Preston, 9 Bay View Ave., barber. Read, George R., 129 Summer St., tack maker. Regan, Thomas W., 102 Sandwich St., watchman. Rich, Fred I., 103 Court St., overseer. Richard, John B., 21 Brewster St., barber. Richardson, Robert. Ship Pond, fisherman. Robbins, Arthur, Highland Place, dresser. Royal, Henry W., 225 Court St., bookkeeper
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Sampson, Ernest J., 43 Summer St., clerk. Sampson, Fred A., 71 Summer St., grocer. Sampson. Harry G., 4 Bradford St., weigher. Sampson, Ossian M., 66 Standish Ave .. tack maker. Schroeder, Walter U., 3 Willard Place, real estate. Sears, Luther F., 240 Sandwich St., cordage emp. Shaw, Arthur E., 32 Stafford St., clerk. Shaw, Elwood A., 70 Court St., retired.
Sherman, Louis N., 27 Samoset St., clerk. Sidebotham, James, 28 Davis St., dresser. Simmons, Harry L., 36 Mayflower St., carpenter. Simmons, Walter T., 1 Murray St., shipper. Sink, Sidney L., 6 Lewis St., telephone inspector.
Snell, Will C., Beaver Dam Road, cranberry grower. Stevens, Fred J., 6 Stoddard St., letter carrier. Strong, Warren P., 27 Allerton St., insurance agent. Swanton, James S., 54 Allerton St., carpenter. Swift, Maynard B., River St., painter.
Swift, Robert C., Clifford Road, carpenter.
Webber, Charles Jr., 28 Centennial St., percher. Whiting, Adrian P., 163 Sandwich St., clerk. Williams, George H., 2nd, 6 North St., electrician. Wood. Peter, Manomet, stone mason. Woolford, George R., 24 Bay View Ave., jeweler. Wright, John J., 24 Oak St., clerk.
WILLIAM T. ELDRIDGE, HENRY W. BARNES, JR., FRANK EASTWOOD,. JOSIAH A. ROBBINS, EMERSON F. SAMPSON.
Selectmen of Plymouth.
214
REPORT OF THE MEASURER OF WOOD AND BARK.
To the Honorable Board of Selectmen :
Gentlemen :
The following report is rendered for the year 1924 by the Measurer of Wood and Bark.
CORD WOOD
Date
No. Tested No. Correct
Under
Over
April 8
1
1
Sept. 16
1
1
Nov. 8
2
1
1
MEASUREMENTS OF CONVEYANCES
Date
No. Measured
Truck
Team
Sept. 16
1
1
Nov. 24
1
1
Nov. 26
1
1
Dec. 1
2
1.
1
Dec. 9
1
1
Dec. 15
1
1
Conditions existing, as found, are favorable in complying with Gen. Laws, Mass., Chapter 94, Sections 296 to 303 inclusive.
DANIEL J. SULLIVAN.
215
Report of Fire Commissioner
To the Honorable Board of Selectmen :
I herewith submit my Annual Report of the Plymouth Fire Department for the year ended December 1st, 1924.
Beginning the year 1924 as Fire Commissioner, I found the Department well organized, well equipped and sufficient for a town the size of Plymouth, if such equipment were based on population.
But the area of the town, the long coast line and the many ponds affording building sites so desirable for summer homes, increase the duty and the responsibility of the Fire Department. It is the building of these cottages and sum- mer homes, many of considerable value at such distance from the town center and beyond water lines that will increase . the duty and difficulties in the future.
The addition of the new Seagraves Triple Combination Engine, especially fitted for long runs and the conditions confronted at the end of the runs, has added to the efficiency of the Department.
One of the old Hose Wagon bodies, of much better con- struction than could be purchased at the present time, has been mounted on a Federal chassis, and the Department thus provided with a general Service Car carrying jacks and tools. This car can be utilized for work on hydrants, fire alarm lines, the picking up of wet hose, etc. It is equipped with eight pony extinguishers and is able to render efficient aid at grass and brush fires.
This additional equipment has made it possible for the Chief to cut down the runs of the 750 Gal. Pump 50%, and this, with the purchase of new tires which will soon be neces- sary, will prolong the life of a valuable machine which is now virtually a second-alarm machine responding to those
1
216
fire alarms where opportunity exists for a dangerous fire, or where the location of a hydrant makes long hose lines necessary.
The number of alarms has increased greatly over the pre- vious year ; 279 in all,-75 more than in 1923. The greater number, however, are the result of the exceptionally dry seasons, being grass and brush fires, the Department co- operating with the Forest Fire Warden. If this great in- crease in the number of alarms had been for dwellings or mercantile property, it would be reason for serious con- sideration. As it is, there are too many fires. The oppor- tunity for serious fires is increasing, which can be prevented by the exercise of ordinary precaution and respect for exist- ing laws. This is the responsibility, not of the Fire Depart- ment alone, but of every citizen.
In 1921 the slogan "CLEAN-UP FOR THE TERCEN- TENARY" reduced the number of alarms 30%. Let us as a town practice this all the time; it will be found efficient if practiced more often than once in three hundred years. The punishment of those who set fires, or who by criminal care- lessness cause them, should not be controlled by sentimen- tality.
My association with Chief Hiller and with all members of permanent and call force has been pleasant. I believe I have received the unqualified support of all. They have been interested, efficient and on the job at all times. Their work is exacting, difficult, and the element of danger is al- ways present. I believe that the basic idea of fire prevention for some time to come will be a well organized Fire Depart- ment properly equipped.
Respectfully submitted,
FRED A. JENKS,
Fire Commissioner.
217
Report of the Chief of Department
To the Honorable Board of Selectmen and Fire Commis- sioner.
Gentlemen :
In compliance with the requirements of the State Laws, I respectfully submit the report of the Plymouth Fire Department, for the year ending December 31, 1924.
APPARATUS.
Two Seagrave Triple combination's auto pumping engine, chemical and hose wagons.
One Seagrave combination auto pumping engine and hose car.
One Pope Hartford combination chemical and hose wagon. in very poor condition.
LADDER TRUCKS.
One Seagrave eity service truck.
One Seagrave horse drawn ladder truck.
OTHER MACHINES.
One Federal service car.
One Chief's automobile Buick roadster. .
RESERVE APPARATUS.
Two steam fire engines.
One horse drawn wagon.
During the year there has been added to the department one Seagrave triple, combination wagon at the Central Station, this company answers all alarms. One Federal service car, used to carry call men to and from fires, carry
218
extra hose when called for, and various other work too nu- merous. to mention. I would recommend that one new car be purchased to replace the present Chief's car, this car has been doing service for six years and its present condition is very poor in spite of excellent care.
HOSE.
At the present time we have on hand 5800 ft. of 21/2 in. double jacket hose, in first class condition, 1800 ft. in fair condition and 1700 ft. very poor.
FIRE ALARM.
New underground cables were provided, slack wires were pulled up, bare wires insulated and tree grounds cleared and frequently gone over and all fire alarm boxes were repaired, cleaned and frequently tested.
HYDRANTS.
Several new hydrants at new locations have been added during the year, distributed throughout the town.
A careful inspection of each hydrant was made during the month of November, and all were properly drained, to pre- vent freezing during the cold weather.
INSPECTIONS.
Inspection of hotels and lodging houses, as required by the State Police, has been made, and reports returned stating conditions as regard life saving appliances, exits, etc.
The establishing of a set of building regulations is sincere- ly recommended. The town has been exceedingly fortun- ate as regard serious conflagrations, but this condition can- not forever continue, and serious thought should be given to the subject.
In conclusion I wish to extend my thanks to the Honor- able Board of Selectmen, for their co-operation and interest in the welfare of the department. To the Police Depart- ment for their assistance. To all others that have volun-
219
teered their services or assisted the department in any man- ner.
And to the officers and members of the department for the efficient and faithful manner in which they have performed their duty.
Respectfully Submitted,
ALBERT HILLER, Chief of Fire Department.
ORGANIZATION
Fire Commissioner
Fred A. Jenks
Chief of Department
Deputy Chief of Department
Albert E. Hiller Clifton B. Hatton
Fire Department Surgeon
Walter D. Shurtleff
CENTRAL STATION
Combination B. Hose and Pumping Engine
Combination D. Triple Combination Combination A. Triple Combination
Captain
Fred W. Paty (Permanent)
Lieutenant
Alfred E. Nickerson (Call)
Permanent Men
C. L. Schroeder
P. W. Gardner
C. T. Shaw
J. Farris
E. Wood
A. Burgess
J. Kaiser
Call Force
F. H. Donlevy Elmer Chandler
John Kennedy
D. Sullivan
M. Howland
C. Baumgartner
Norman Holmes
J. Sampson
P. Vacchino
A. A. Raymond, Jr. Peleg Chandler
George Banker
(. Govoni
220
Ladder Co. No. 1.
Captain Lieutenant
H. F. Robbins (Permanent)
L. Hedge (Call)
J. E. Beauregard
(. H. Hatton
G. C. Bunker
A. Barbieri
R. M. Fogarty
W. Baker
Peter Bibeau
G. Wood
Combination Engine and Ladder Co. No. 2.
Capt .- H. T. Cash
Lieut .- J. Stephen
W. L. Delano
M. Cash
Axel Hultenius
R. Thom
E. C. Hardy
B. Wolf
W. S. Pierse
H. P. Webber
CAUSES OF FIRES IN PLYMOUTH DURING 1924.
Soot in chimneys 68 Set on fire by boys 14
Sparks on roofs
7 Woods fires 36
Grass fires
28
No school signal 1
Crossed electric wires
6
Defective chimneys 11
Automobiles 6
False Alarms
7
Oil burners
1
Oil stove exploded
3
Unknown
7 Coal gas
1
Railroads
5 Gas stove tipped over
1
Smoking
31
Broken gas pipe
1
Overheated stoves
3
Removing trees
2.
Candles
1
Hot ashes
4
Fire works
1 Gasoline
1
Bon fires
3 Stills
1
Electric flat irons
1
Defective heater
2
Oil lamps
3
Oil rags
1
Spontaneous combustion
8 Man buried in coal
1
Frozen water pipes
4
Over exertion
2
279
Cat in trees
3
Lung Motor Calls
3
Roofs blown off
2
Out of town calls
10
Mice and matches
1
Kingston
6
Drowning
1 Carver 3
221
Marshfield 1 Ellisville
Manomet
13
Darby
10 15
NO. OF HOUSE FIRES WITH DAMAGE TO BUILDING AND CONTENTS
1923
30 1924 39
NO. OF WOOD FIRES AND GRASS.
1923
22 1924
64
NO. OF FIRES CAUSED BY SMOKING.
1923
18 1924
31
HOW EXTINGUISHED.
Pumps
Chemical
Engine
Ponys
No Action
Lungmotor
Total
Out of
Town Calls
Jan.
1
3
11
14
29
Kingston-1
Feb.
2
5
11
18
March
2
1
6
14
April
2
2
12
24
40
May
1
1
4
14
20
June
3
·)
1
6
12
Kings'n, 2. Marshf'd, 1.
July
5
6
11
21
Carver-3
Aug.
1
2
6
16
Sept.
2
6
3
13
Kington-1.
Oct.
3
15
8
28
Nov.
5
8
11
24
Kingston 2.
Dec.
3
3
10
1
5
Total
27 23
95
3 129 279 Total
10
ALARMS-FIRE LOSSES-INSURANCE
ALARMS
BUILDINGS
CONTENTS
TOTAL VALUE
INSURANCE
MONTHS
Still
E ell
Lungmotor
Totals
Value
Loss
Value
Loss
Value
Loss
Buildings
Contents
JANUARY
25
4
29
$26,925.00
$1,512.00
$54,021.00
$88.00
$80,946.00
$1,600.00
$26,600.00
$37,560.00
FEBRUARY
16
2
18
10,600.00
1,914.00
4,800.00
340.00
15,400.00
2,254.00
7,500.00
1,000.00
MARCH
12
2
14
6,500.00
25.00
3,600.00
10.00
10,100.00
35.00
5,800.00
1,000.00
APRIL
33
7
40
10,400.00
3,240.00
2,600.00
20.00
13,000.00
3,260.00
3,200.00
MAY
17
3
20
13,400.00
80.00
5,300.00
65.00
18,700.00
145.00
13,700.00
2,800.00
JUNE
11
1
12
JULY
36
7
43
26,400.00
1,240.00
20,900.00
600.00
47,300.00
1,840.00
26,000.00
11,350.00
AUGUST
13
1
2
16
6,500.00
50.00
2,700.00
9,200.00
50.00
6,500.00
SEPTEMBER
9
4
13
3,400.00
195.00
125.00
75.00
3,525.00
270.00
2,300.00
OCTOBER
21
28
66,725.00
1,765.00
20,900.00
400.00
76,025.00
2,165.00
15,900.00
NOVEMBER
21
3
24
43,050.00
820.00
16,240.00
280.00
59,290.00
1,100.00
33,450.00
100.00 10,000.00
DECEMBER
18
3
1
22
50.00
50.00
150.00
150.00
200.00
200.00
TOTAL
232
44
3
279
$213,950.00
$10,891.00
$119,736.00
$2,028,00
$333,686 00
$12,919.00
$140.950.00
$63,810.00
In using these figures we are using the (assessed value) and not the replacement value,
222
223
PLYMOUTH FIRE LOSS 1916 TO 1924
Year
No. of alarms
Value Bldgs. Conts.
Loss
1916
107
$154,730.00
$50,629.66
1917
118
97,945.00
51,385.00
1918
128
78,375.00
7,169.00
1919
131
763,583.00
66,028.00
1920
101
150,800.00
14,519.70
1921
150
156,225.00
15,424.70
1922
173
201,918.00
22,968.91
1923
204
411,881.00
62,317.00
1924
279
333,689.00
12,919.00
APPROPRIATION FOR 1925.
Salary and Wages
Permanent Forces
$21,163 00
Call Force
3,345 00
Others
150 00
$24,658 00
Equipment and Repairs-Maint.
$3,143 00
Hose New and Repairs
500 00
Hydrants
700 00
Fire Alarm and Replacement
1,000 00
Fuel and Light
1,000 00
Maint. Buildings and Grounds
875 00
Tel., Printing and Dormitory
250 00
Sundry Expense
200 00
Total
$32,426 00
FRED A. JENKS,
Fire Commissioner.
224
Report of the Town Planning Board
Plymouth, Mass., February 2, 1925.
Under authority of the vote passed at the last annual town meeting the Board has engaged the services of Arthur A. Shurtleff, the eminent landscape architect, as its expert for the year 1924.
The Planning Board herewith submits its annual report adviser. Mr. Shurtleff has had many consultations with the Board, has visited Plymouth, and at his request, plans and estimates of cost of construction of proposed roads have been prepared by the town engineer, Mr. Blackmer.
The need of new facilities for the constantly increasing through travel has been under consideration for some time. The study of the problem leads to the conclusion that no adequate relief can be obtained by the widening of existing highways. If there were no other objections to such widen- ing, the cost at least would be prohibitive. The experience of other towns shows that relief from existing and growing congestion in the highway can be best secured by new and circumferential roads. Two new highways have been un- der consideration.
1. The construction of a highway along the waterfront, turning easterly from Court Street, at Spooner Street, thence crossing the railroad by an overhead bridge and turning and running southerly along the waterfront and connecting with the present Water Street Extension and Water Street.
This proposed highway would meet the requirements of the automobile parties who were coming to Plymouth for the purpose of visiting the historic localities and particu- larly the Rock, but would not meet the requirements of through travel. Even if the proposed highway were ex-
225
tended through Union Street, across the playground, and then westward to Sandwich Street, south of Stevens Street, then southerly to Jabez Corner, with widening on one or both sides of Sandwich Street, the congestion from through travel would only be partly relieved.
2. Therefore a careful study of the plans and of the ground led the Board to the conclusion that the best method which could be adopted would be to construct the proposed new highway on the westerly side of Court Street. If a new street were built, starting in Kingston at the intersec- tion of Crescent Street and Main Street and connecting with Spooner Street in North Plymouth, it would then be pos- sible to pass through existing highways, namely, Spooner Street, Standish Avenue, and Oak Street to Summer Street, then crossing Town Brook at a point in line with Oak Street and constructing a new highway southerly until it connects with the South Pond Road. Thence by following the South Pond-Long Pond Road we should have a highway extending from Kingston to Costello's Corner, making a saving in distance of two and one-half miles, compared to the present State Highway, meeting every reasonable requirement of the through travel to and from the Cape, and relieving the present highway from the congestion and consequent delay and peril to the traveler.
A work of this magnitude is obviously a matter for the co-operation of the state and possibly of the nation, with the town. A hearing has been held by the Highway Divi- sion of the Board of Public Works at which the selectmen and the planning board were present, and the Board of Public Works is now having made, careful plans and esti- mates of this proposed highway, with a view to determining not merely its cost, but what part of that cost the state would be willing to contribute, and whether, under the provisions of existing law, the co-operation of the federal government could be secured. Upon receipt of these plans and estimates and reports from the state authorities of what action, if any, they would recommend the state to take in this matter, it is the purpose of the planning board
226
to submit a full and detailed report and plans showing the proposed highway and detailed estimates of the cost of the same. In the opinion of the Board, however, it is not necessary to wait for the completion of these plans before taking the action herein recommended, which does not require state confirmation.
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