USA > Massachusetts > Plymouth County > Plymouth > Town annual report of Plymouth, MA 1937 > Part 8
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Jan.
Feb.
Mar.
Apr.
May
June
July
Aug.
Sept.
Oct.
Nov.
Dec.
Total
Chicken Pox
6
6
8
11
23
2
1
57
Dog Bite
2
6 |
2
6 6
2
2
2
28
German Measles
1 | 2
1
1
5
Trachoma
1
1
Influenza
Pneumonia, Lobar
2
2 |
1
1
5
Measles
6
1
1
1
2
11
Mumps
Scarlet Fever
5
9|
11
42
16
5 | 2
1 | 2
2 | 7|
6 |108
Septic Sore Throat
Tuberculosis, Pulmonary
4
1
1
1
1
8
Tuberculosis, Hilum
Tuberculosis, All Other Forms
1
1
2
Whooping Cough
22
1
7
10
9
1
1
3
6 1
60
Gonorrhea
1
1
2
2
1
2
1
2
1
:13
Syphilis
1
2
-
1
1
5
Total
44
17
40
67
57
17
12
10 2 8
20
9 303
-
-
-
--
-
.
-
1
-
i
.-
-
-
.138- 1
-139-
REPORT OF SANITARY INSPECTOR
To the Board of Health
Plymouth, Mass.
Gentlemen:
I herewith submit the following report as Sanitary Inspector for the year ending December 31, 1937.
Listed below are the number of complaints investi- gated, also the number of inspections made on food stores and various other places.
Obtaining a public dump is becoming very serious. Obery has been rebuilt for more dumping space, but this cannot be done forever. The public has no idea the amount of rubbish that is placed into a dump.
Placarding for all contagious diseases, fumigating and various other things have been done.
Complaints are as follows :
Rubbish
127
Garbage
81
Miscellaneous
56
Inspection of Food Stores:
Grocery, Meat and Fish
533
Bakeries
151
Restaurants and Lunch Rooms
309
Miscellaneous
156
Violation of keeping products too near sidewalk 30
Respectfully submitted,
EDWARD K. MORSE, Sanitary Inspector and Fumigating Officer.
-140- --
REPORT OF INSPECTOR OF SLAUGHTERING
To the Board of Health
Plymouth, Mass.
Gentlemen :
The following animals were slaughtered and inspected the past year:
Cattle
Pigs
Calves
Goat
January
7
13
1
February
8
8
2
1
March
8
4
2
April
8
6
4
May
7
7
3
June
8
2
5
July
11
2
5
August
7
1
5
September
10
2
2
October
8
7
2
November
8
9
1
December
8
23
2
98
84
34
1
Respectfully submitted,
ARTHUR L. MORSE, Inspector of Slaughtering
-141-
REPORT OF INSPECTOR OF MILK
To the Honorable Board of Health:
Gentlemen :
In compliance with Chapter 40, Section 49, General Laws, Mass., Chapter 305, Acts of 1932, Amendments of 1933, and Chapter 376, Acts of 1934, Mass., I herewith submit a report for the year 1937 as Inspector of Milk and Milk Products.
WORK PERFORMED
Licenses and Permits Issued :
Class A
Class B
Class C
Total
Licenses, Milk Dealers
71
73
34
178
Licenses, Oleomargarine
17
17
Permits
50
50
Totals
71 90
84
245
Summary of Inspections Made, Sanitary :
Number
Percentage
Class A-Hotels, Restaurants, Etc.
7
91.71%
Class B-Stores, Markets, Etc.
5
88.00%
Class C-Producers, 1 or 2 cows
14
82.42%
Dairyfarms
84
93.61%
Totals
110
355.74
Average Percentage for Sanitary Conditions Summary of Tests Made :
88.93%
Butter Fats
51
Solids
102
Sediment
51
Adulteration
51
Pathogenic
336
Total
591
-142-
Average Percent of Butter-Fats of Milk Tested:
Raw
4.06%
Pasteurized 3.98
Average Percentage of solids-not-fat:
Raw 13.76%
Pasteurized
13.07
Average Refractive Index Reading, Adulteration :
35.5-98.61%
Average Percentage of Sanitary Conditions
for Sediment Tested 91.50
RECEIPTS
Milk License Fees
$89.00
Oleomargarine Fees
8.50
Total
$97.50
EXPENDITURES
Salary of Milk Inspector
$633.78
Equipment
11.50
Transportation
22.58
Material
50.90
Total
$718.76
Respectfully submitted,
DANIEL J. SULLIVAN, Milk Inspector
143 ---
REPORT OF INSPECTORS OF PLUMBING
-
To the Honorable Board of Health
Plymouth, Mass.
Gentlemen :
We herewith submit our report for the year 1937:
Number of Permits 227
Number of Inspections
280
Number of New Buildings 34
Number of Old Buildings
193
Respectfully submitted,
MICHAEL D. WELSH, FRED P. BAILEY, EDGAR F. BLISS, Inspectors of Plumbing
-144-
REPORT OF FIRE COMMISSIONER
To the Honorable Board of Selectmen
Gentlemen :
I herewith submit a report of the Plymouth Fire De- partment for the year 1937 :-
It is with considerable satisfaction that I can continue to state that the high standing of efficiency is still main- tained - as shown by the records of 1937.
The number of alarms were three hundred and eighty- one (381), eighty-nine (89) more than the year 1936. The value of the building and contents being $971,939.00, the fire loss was but $20,035.50 which is about 2.5%. Based on 13,000 inhabitants, it means $1.54 per person. The record made certainly should entitle the Depart- ment to a continuance of the support of your Honorable Board and the citizens of the Town.
PERSONNEL
The excellent spirit of co-operation shown by every man in the Department-both permanent and call-con- tinues to exist, and although we had three men seriously injured and three or four with minor injuries none have resulted in permanent injuries.
BUILDINGS
Both the Central and North stations are in good condi- tion and need but minor repairs.
FIRE ALARM AND RADIO
The fire alarm system outside lines are in good condi- tion. The radio, which is being operated in conjunction with the Massachusetts Department of Conservation, has certainly proved its value. It was largely instru- mental in making it possible to keep the building loss so
-145-
small during the unfortunate large woods fire of the past year.
APPARATUS
The subject of apparatus is a very serious one and has been given much thought by your Commissioner and should be given very serious consideration not only by your honorable selves, but by the Finance and Advisory Committees and by every citizen of the Town. The fol- lowing table shows the age and costs for repairs :-
Engine No. 1-purchased 1925; 500 gal. pump with 125 gal. booster tank; carries 1,000 ft. of 21/2" hose, 250 ft. of 34" hose; is in good condition; $354.05 having been paid out for repairs the past year.
Engine No. 2-purchased 1916; 500 gal. pump with 100 gal. booster tank; carries 1,000 ft. of 21/2" hose, 250 ft. of 34" hose; is in good condition; $1,143.09 being paid out for repairs this past year.
Engine No. 3-purchased 1916; 750 gal. pump; carries 1,500 ft. of 21/2" hose; is in good condition ; $797.43 being paid for repairs the past year.
Engine No. 5-purchased 1935; 125 gal. pump; car- ries 1,000 ft. 11/2" hose, 225 gal. booster tank with 250 ft. 34." hose, 28 21/2 gals. chemical extinguishers; is in good condition, $51.73 having been paid for repairs this past year.
Engine No. 7-purchased 1927; carries 90 gal. booster tank, 250 ft. 3/4" hose and 18 21/2 gals. chemical extin- guishers; this machine is in poor condition; $169.02 was paid out for repairs the past year.
Engine No. 8-purchased 1927; 75 gal. booster tank; 250 ft. 3/4" hose, 16 21/2 gals. chemical extinguishers; is in poor condition ; $213.77 being paid for repairs during the past year.
Engine No. 6-built and given to the Town two years
-146-
ago by the Volunteer Boys; carries 100 gal. booster tank, 200 ft. 34" hose, 16 2 1/2 gals. chemical and extinguish- ers ; is in poor condition; no repairs were made during the past year.
Chief's car-this machine is in good condition and equipped with two-way radio; repairs for the year amounted to $102.43.
Ladder Truck-purchased in 1916; is in fairly good condition ; $1,110.92 was spent for repairs for the year.
SUMMARY
After studying the foregoing report on "Apparatus," the following facts stand out :- of the four principal ma- chines (namely, Engines No. 1, No. 2, No. 3 and the Ladder Truck) three of them were purchased in 1916- namely: No. 2, No. 3 and Ladder Truck, twenty-one years ago. The past year (1937) the cost for repairs was $3,051.44.
This indicates to your Commissioner that careful con- sideration should be given to the matter of replacement in a progressive manner.
The first step should be as recommended last year-the purchase of a Ladder Truck for the reason that the Town should have two ladder trucks, as substantiated by the survey made by the New England Insurance Exchange at the request of your Honorable Board; and, also, if the present truck is placed in reserve to answer second alarms it would be reasonable to expect it to last from five to ten years more.
. You will also note that the other six machines owned by the Department cost $923.73 which is an average of but $153.95-certainly not excessive considering age of machines and size of tires.
HENRY WALTON,
Fire Commissioner
-147-
ORGANIZATION
Fire Commissioner
Henry Walton
Chief Fire Department
Albert Hiller
Deputy Chief
Clifton Hatton
Fire Department Surgeon
Dr. William E. Curtin
Central Station
Capt. Everett Wood
Capt. Charles Schroeder
Capt. Fred Paty
Percy Gardner
C. Thomas Shaw
Augustus Burgess
James Farris
Peter Bibeau
Chester Wood
Arthur Caranci
Earl Alexander
James Barlow
Arthur Gordan
Kenneth Hall
Percy Gunther
Call Force
Lieut. Elmer Chandler
John Sampson
Alfred Nickerson
Francis Gasper
Charles Baumgartner
Milton Howland
Charles Carr
George Banker
Arthur Lovell
Norman Holmes
Max Seiver
Leslie Gray
Hook and Ladder
Lieut. William Baker
Charles Hatton
Harold Black
Daniel Sullivan
William Sawyer
Fletcher Edes
Donald Dyer
James Leland
North Station
Capt. Guy Bunker Clerk William Ditmar
Lieut. Peter Bagni
Walter Thom
Michael Maiers
James Berardi Howard Kierstead
Arsene Strassel
Louis Cadorette
Russell Kierstead
-148-
CALLS
Soot
43 Rubbish fires 6
Short circuit of Wires
6 Locked out of house 2
Grass
46 Sprinkler Alarms 2
Careless smoking
6 Children playing with matches
6
H-H-Inhilator
10
Over heat stove pipes
3
Wood Fires
109
Lightning
2
False Alarms
9 Overloaded electric wires
2
Cats in trees
2
Smoke in house
2
Bonfires
7 Electric flat irons
2
Roof Fires
9
Gas pump exploded
1
Oil Burners
13
Street fires 34
Incinerators
5 Gasoline fire
1
Dumps fires
16 Set on fire
12
Ashes in wooden boxes
5 Candles in window
1
Paint remover
1 Pumped out water Main
1
Ammonia leaks
3 Cellar fires
4
Automobiles
6 Reported fires
2
Back fire of motors
3
Month of Year
Miles
Travelled
Pump
Used
False
Alarms
H-H Inhilator
Feet of
Hose Laid
Booster Tanks Water from
Feet of
Ladders Used
No School Signal
Alarms
Each Month
January
68.7
12
1
1
1000
285
234
. .
19
February
110.7
22
. . .
.
.
3700
1875
440
. .
34
March
159.2
31
. .
1
5900
3250
172
. .
38
April
452.1
25
5
10550
4090
78
· .
44
May
372.1
36
. .
. .
27850
6640
650
· .
48
June
185.9
24
. .
·
.
5950
2830
39
· .
31
July
464.3
58
. .
1
16200
8958
190
. .
78
August
302.3
16
1
2
2200
2420
39
. .
35
September
55.
3
. . .
2
150
35
39
. .
10
October
35.
-
1
·
1100
818
64
13
November
90.6
6
. . ·
1
4750
510
30
16
December
75.3
00
1
2
900
235
39
.
15
Total
2,371.1
248
9
10
80,250
32,046
2,014
· . .
381
-
.
-- 149 --
· .
. .
-150-
VALUE AND LOSSES
Value of Buildings
$597,260.00
Loss on Buildings
17,149.00
Insurance on Buildings
681,350.00
Value of Contents
374,679.00
Loss on Contents
2,886.50
Insurance on Contents
292,123.00
Total Value Involved
971,939.00
Total Loss on Value Involved
20,035.50
OUT OF TOWN CALLS
Total Number of Alarms
381
Manomet
40
Carver
1
Darby
4
Great Herring Pond
2
South Pond Village
29
Long Pond
11
Mashapee
2
Kingston
2
Ellisville
5
Wareham
2
Tremont
1
Total
99
-151-
REPORT OF THE BOARD OF CEMETERY COMMISSIONERS
FOR THE YEAR ENDING DECEMBER 31, 1937
OAK GROVE AND VINE HILLS CEMETERIES
In our report of a year ago, we recommended an appro- priation of $500 for additional Tarvialithic surfacing on the driveway, beginning at the upper Summer Street entrance to Oak Grove Cemetery. This appropriation was made and, approximately, 730 sq. yds. of surfacing was laid. It is our opinion that during the year to come it would be advisable to connect this Tarvialithic sur- faced drive with the one coming in from Samoset Street through Vine Hills Cemetery, and we recommend an ap- propriation of $500 to complete this work.
Considerable grading by welfare labor has been done in Vine Hills Cemetery near the upper Samoset Street entrance, and about twenty lots have already been loamed with material brought from Chiltonville Cemetery. A continuation of this work during 1938 will make about twenty-five additional lots available.
CHILTONVILLE CEMETERY
In 1936, 31700 sq. ft. of land was acquired from Mrs. Henry Swift and 4,176 sq. ft. from Mr. Ralph Hornblow- er for an addition to the cemetery.
During the past year, by taking advantage of welfare labor, about 300 ft. of fence has been moved to the new northerly line of this addition and loam stripped from 600 lineal ft. of roadway in the new part. Approximately, 200 cu. yds. of loam and sod was carted to Vine Hills Cemetery and an ample quantity is piled up at Chilton- ville to take care of necessary grading on the new lots.
-152-
Approximately, sixty new lots will be available when this work is finished.
About 200 ft. of new fence will be necessary to fence the east and west end of this new part.
During 1938, we will continue grading roadways and lots with welfare labor which is available without ex- pense to the Cemetery Department. It will, however, be necessary to hire trucks and buy gravel for the road- ways and buy lumber for the fence. Therefore, we re- commend an additional appropriation of $200.00 to be spent on further development of this area.
MANOMET CEMETERY
Several years ago, the Town purchased, approximately, three acres of land for an addition to Manomet Cemetery. A part of this area was graded and lots sold, shortly after the purchase was made, but the balance has remained undeveloped up to the present time.
Upon request of the Chairman of the Selectmen, a W.P.A. Project has been made up which contemplates clearing and grading this undeveloped area and building about 650 ft. of stone wall.
If this project is approved and carried through there would be available an area from which a sufficient num- ber of new lots could be built to supply the probable de- mand for many years to come.
BURIAL HILL
In accordance with a recommendation, made in the 1936 report of the Cemetery Commissioners, the Town increased the appropriation to be used on Burial Hill from $1,200.00 to $1,500 for 1937. This has enabled us to keep the Caretaker on duty for a longer time during the year.
Approximately $325.00 has been spent during the year on covering some of the old headstones and recutting
-153-
inscriptions on some of the stones that had weathered, considerably.
We, recommend the following appropriations for the year 1938.
Oak Grove and Vine Hills Cemeteries $10,000.00
Oak Grove and Vine Hills Cemeteries Surfac- ing Avenue 500.00
Burial Hill Maintenance 1,500.00
Outlying Cemeteries
800.00
Chiltonville Cemetery, Extension
200.00
Respectfully submitted,
ARTHUR E. BLACKMER, Chairman.
EDWARD R. BELCHER,
RICHARD T. ELDRIDGE,
Board of Cemetery Commissioners.
---- 154-
DEPARTMENT FOR THE INSPECTION OF BUILDINGS
To the Honorable Board of Selectmen :
Gentlemen :-
I herewith submit my annual report on building op- erations within the Town for the year ending December 31, 1937.
No.
Kind
Est. Cost
21 One Family Dwellings
$96,400
24 Summer Camps 31,125
17 Garages 7,725
7 Other Buildings 7,750
25 Alterations and Additions-Dwellings 29,250
13 Alterations and Additions-Other Buildings 14,840
$187,090
Yours respectfully,
THOMAS A. BODELL.
-155-
REPORT OF THE SEALER OF WEIGHTS AND MEASURES
To the Honorable Board of Selectmen:
Gentlemen :
In compliance with Chapter 98, Section 34, General Laws, Mass., I herewith submit a report for the year 1937 as Sealer of Weights and Measures. Period from January 1st to December 31, 1937.
OFFICE STANDARDS
Balance-1. Yard Measure-1. Meter-1, Kilogram-1.
Avoirdupois Weights:
50 lbs .- 1, 25-1, 20-1, 10-1, 5-1, 4-1, 2-1, 1-1; 8 oz .- 1, 4-1, 2-1, 1-1, 1/2-1, 1/4-1, 1/8-1, 1/16-1.
Capacity Measures : 1/2 bu .- 1, 1/4-1, 1/8-1, 1/16-1, 1/32-1; 1 gal .- 1, 1/2-1, 1/4-1, 1/8-1, 1/16-1, 1/32-1, 1/64-1.
STANDARDS OTHER THAN THOSE FURNISHED BY THE COMMONWEALTH
Apothecary Weights:
1 lb .- 1, 6 oz .- 1, 2-2, 1-1, 4 drams-1, 2-1, 1-1, 1/2-1, 2 scruples-1, 1-1, 10 grains-1, 5-1, 2-1, 1-2, 0.5-1, 0.2-1, 0.1-1.
Metric:
500 grm .- 1, 200-1, 100-2, 50-1, 20-1, 10-2, 5-1, 2-2, 1-1, 500 mg .- 1, 200-1, 100-2, 50-1, 20-1, 10-2, 5-1, 2-2, 1-1.
Cylindrical Glass Graduates :
32 oz .- 1, 16-1, 8-1, 4-1, 2-1; 35 cu. inch-1, 10-1, 3-1.
-156-
SEALER'S WORKING EQUIPMENT
Test Balance 1. Test Balance for Apothecary Weights-1. Avoirdupois Weights :
50 lbs .- 21, 25-2, 20-1, 10-2, 5-2, 2-2, 1-3; 8 oz .- 2, 4-2, 2-2, 1-2, 1/2-2, 1/4-2, 1/16-1, 1/32-1.
Metric :
500 grams-1, 200-1, 100-2, 50-1, 20-1, 10-2, 5-1, 2-2, 1-1; 500 mg .- 1, 200-1, 100-2, 50-1, 20-1, 10-2.
Apothecary :
12 oz .- 1, 6-1, 2-2, 1-1; 2 drams-1, 1-1, 2 scruples-1, 1-1; 10 grain-1, 5-1, 2-1, 1-2, 0.5-1.
Capacity Measures :
1 gal .- 1, 1/2-1, 1/4-1; 1 pt .- 1, 1/2-1; 1 gill-1.
Gasoline Test Measures :
10 gal.1, 5-2, 4-2, 3-2, 2-2, 1-2.
Standard Measuring Flasks. (Metric Units) : 500 mil .- 1, 250-1, 100-1, 50-1, 25-1.
Pippettes :
6 liq. drams, graduated in minims-1; 10 mil. graduated to 1/10th-1; 30 minims graduated to minims-1.
Tools, Record Books, Etc .:
Yard measure-1; steel tape-1; steel dies-6; lead press-2; lead seals-1000; aluminum seals-500; liquid clamp-1; paper seals, red-300; green-600; nonseal labels-300; condemning tags-200; drills-2; punches-3; adjusting lead-1/2 lb .; level-1; slicker plate-1; receipt books-12; sealing record book-1; commodity reweighing record books-1; coal reweighing books-9; reweighing pads-3; inspection pads-6; ice weighing kit-1; hooks-6; point remover-1; dry measure gauge-1; 14 inch stilson wrench-1; hammers-2; screwdrivers-2; flat wrenches- 3; hand drill-1; cutters-2; pliers-1; slide rule-1; emery stone-1; vises-1; files-2; calipers-1.
Office Equipment :
All steel desk-1; fireproof files-10; Woodstock Type- writer-1; safe-1; chairs-2.
-157-
WORK PERFORMED FOR WHICH FEES ARE COLLECTED
DEVICE
Legal Fees
Tested
Adjusted
Sealed
Not Sealed
Condemned
Total Fees
Scales:
Platform over 10,000 1bs.
$2.00
7
7
$14.00
Platform over 5,000 lbs.
1.00
12
2
12
3
12.00
Platform 100 to 5,000 lbs.
.50
178
40
175
45
3
87.50
Counter under 100 1bs.
.10
52
4
51
31
1
5.10
Beam 100 lbs. or Over
.50
8
1
8
4.00
Beam under 100 lbs.
.10
16
1
15
1
1
1.50
Spring 100 lbs. or Over
.50
47
27
20
13.50
Spring under 100 lbs.
.10
154
43
144
2
10
14.40
Computing 100 lbs. or Over
.50
3
3
1.50
Computing under 100 lbs.
.10
120
48
106
14
10.60
Personal Weighing
.50
19
6
16
3
8.00
Prescription
.10
9
1
9
.90
Jewelers'
.10
2
2
.20
Weights:
Avoirdupois
.03
862
10
859
3
25.77
Apothecary
.03
103
103
3.09
Metric
.03
40
40
1.20
Troy
.03
36
36
1.08
Capacity Measures:
Vehicle Tanks
X
6
2
6
25.50
Liquid Measures under 1 gal. . 03
255
254
1
7.62
Liquid Measures over 1 gal.
.10
6
6
.60
Dry Measures
.03
33
32
1
.96
Oil Jars
.03
12
12
.36
Automatic Measuring Devices:
Gasoline Pumps
X
48
39
2
9
Gasoline Meters, up to 1 inch .50
106
16
106
53.00
Gasoline Meters over 1 inch 1.00
31
4
31
31.00
Kerosene Pumps
X
46
46
Oil Measuring Pumps
X
37
37
141
Grease Measuring Devices
X
21
2
21
3
Quantity Measures on Pumps .10
416
68
416
41.60
Linear Measures:
Yard Sticks
.03
57
56
1 1.68
Cloth Measuring Devices
.03
1
1
.03
Adjusting Charges
27.35
Totals
2743
248 2676
228 67 $394.04
-158-
WORK PERFORMED WHICH PERMITS NO FEES SUMMARY OF INSPECTIONS
Clinical Thermometers 39 Milk Jars 3
Coal Certicates
9 Pedlers' Licenses 162
Ice Scales
11 Pedlers' Scales 35
Junk Scales
4 Transient Vendors
5
Marking of Bread
14 Wholesale Milk Cans Cranberry Dealers
32
Packages 71
Oil Jars
33
Metal Ice Cream
Glass Graduates 50
Containers 16
Miscellaneous 10
Paper or Fibre Cartons 14
SUMMARY OF TESTS
Berry Baskets
2
Manufacturers Sealed
Gasoline Devices
7
Milk Jars
3
Ice Cream Cartons
9
Cranberry Boxes 258
Cartons Approved
Oil Jars 33
Measures
5
TRIAL WEIGHING AND MEASUREMENTS OF COMMODITIES SOLD OR PUT UP FOR SALE
Item
Total Number Tested
Correct
Under
Over
Bread
96
24
12
60
Butter
19
7
12
Charcoal
4
4
Coal in Transit
9
3
3
3
Coal in Paper Bags
24
6
2
16
Confectionery
3
3
Dry Commodity
38
2
18
18
Flour
22
7
6
9
Fruits and Vegetables
126
7
23
96
Liquid Commodity
1
1
Meats and Provisions
40
3
5
32
Wood,Cord
5
4
1
Miscellaneous
11
6
5
Totals
398
74
74
250
4
Marking of Food
-159-
EXPENDITURES FOR 1937
Appropriation for 1937
$1,852.00
Transfer from Reserve
$131.11
Salary of Sealer
1,365.00
Equipment
63.46
Printing
7.00
Auto Maintenance
502.58
Telephone
44.69
Total
1,982.73
Balance to Excess
$ .38
Respectfully submitted,
DANIEL J. SULLIVAN,
Sealer
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REPORT OF THE MEASURER OF WOOD AND BARK FOR 1937
To the Honorable Board of Selectmen:
In compliance with Chapter 94, Section 296, General Laws, Mass., I herewith submit a Report of the Measurer of Wood and Bark for the year 1937.
WOOD
Mar. 22-Four-foot, oak, one test, correct.
Mar. 23-Eight-foot, slabs, one test, over.
Apr. 15-Four-foot, oak, one test, correct.
Nov. 3-Stove, oak, one test, correct.
Dec. 10-Stove, oak, one test, correct.
Totals: Five tests, four correct, one over.
CONVEYANCES AND CONTAINERS
Jan. 13-Truck, one test, correct. Jan. 22-Truck, one test, correct. Totals: Two tests, two correct.
Respectfully submitted,
DANIEL J. SULLIVAN
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REPORT OF HARBOR MASTER
To the Honorable Board of Selectmen:
Gentlemen:
About the same number of yachts visited Plymouth Harbor during the summer of 1937 as usual. On October 1st the State Pier was opened for the unloading of fish and many vessels came here to unload. During the sum- mer the Town Wharf was very busy unloading fish from local and out of town boats. The basin around the Town Wharf is badly in need of dredging and I recommend that the Town appropriate money for that purpose.
The government engineers surveyed for a basin at the east end of south channel of a thousand yard square and gave a favorable report.
Fees taken in at Town Wharf $351.06.
ELMER P. BOUTIN,
Harbor Master
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GYPSY AND BROWN TAIL MOTH ACCOUNT
To the Honorable Board of Selectmen :
A great deal of spraying was done during the spray- ing season of 1937, about forty miles of roads being kept green and in good condition. Creosoting was carried on as usual. Gypsy Moths were very plentiful, as the wind was in their favor when they were in the "spinning" stage, bringing them back from the woods. However, no damage reported. The Brown-tail Moth situation is very good; finding less each year.
The State is now compelling the Towns to take care of Tent Caterpillars as well as Gypsy and Brown-tail Moth. The Moth Department sprayers also are obliged to answer forest fire calls, which will undoubtedly prove a saving to the Town. Owing to the addition of these two new duties, more money will be required, therefore I recommend an appropriation of $6000. for labor and supplies for 1938.
Respectfully submitted,
ABBOTT A. RAYMOND,
Superintendent
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TREE WARDEN ACCOUNT
To the Honorable Board of Selectmen:
During 1937, all street trees were sprayed for Elm Beetle, Canker Worms, Satin Moth, Tussock Moth, Gypsy and Brown-tail Moth and several other pests that eat the first green leaves.
Several trees were planted in different parts of the Town, all trees coming from the Town Nursery.
No Dutch Elm Disease has been found in Town to date. During 1935 and 1936 this Department had an extra appropriation of $500. each year to get our elms in condition to meet this disease by cutting out dead limbs and cutting down "sick" trees. I think it is safe now for the Department to get back to its normal appro- priation of $3000. for labor and supplies for 1938.
Respectfully submitted,
ABBOTT A. RAYMOND,
Tree Warden
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REPORT OF FOREST WARDEN
To the Honourable Board of Selectmen, Plymouth, Mass.
Gentlemen :-
The following is my report as Forest Warden for Plymouth for 1937. I was appointed on February 9th and took office on the 10th. My first fire was on Febru- ary 19th. Owing to the absence of snow in the winter of 1936-1937, the woods were at all times very dry, in fact we had fires start the day after a heavy rain, so we had many more fires than usual. I am sorry to state that we had a fire bug or fire bugs working nearly all summer and I would say that 95 per cent of our fires were incen- diary. In one week, we had 13 incendiary fires and it seemed utterly impossible to catch him, or in fact to see him. He was seen on two occasions, but too far away to be apprehended.
The first major fire was at Herring Pond, when a fire came over our line from Bourne and burned about 300 acres. There were a few minor fires from that time until May 4th, when the Pine Hills fire started. This was un- doubtedly of incendiary origin as State Fire Patrolman Terry saw two wreaths of smoke start at the same time near the Mast Road, in the Symington Game Preserve. We apparently had the fire burning into a backfire pocket when the wind changed suddenly and swept it across the Sandwich Road. Owing to the sudden change of wind, two of my fire fighters, James H. Devitt, aged 20 years, and Herbert R. Benton, aged 38, were trapped on this road and lost their lives. As far as I know, this is the first time that lives were lost in Plymouth fighting forest fires. It was a most deplorable thing, and the sympathy
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of the entire town went out to their families. There were many more men on this road who barely escaped, some being quite badly burned. While this fire was go- ing, another fire started on the Island Pond Road and another at Summer Street in Plymouth, making three major fires going at the same time. Help from all towns was called in within a radius of 20 miles and, believe me, we needed them. I wish here to publicly thank all towns who sent apparatus to help, for without them, the loss would have been much greater. We had about 700 men fighting at these fires. Out of an assessed valuation of over a million dollars that was endangered by these fires, the loss to buildings was only $1200.00, assessed valuation. Particularly good work was done by the Plymouth Fire Department in saving all the cot- tages at Priscilla Beach as in many cases the fire burned under the cottages, yet the Central Department saved them. Too much praise cannot be given them for this work. The fire at Island Pond road on the same date, swept out to within one block of the State Road below Fresh Pond, endangering the whole summer colony of Indian Bluffs and the Cedar Bushes. We were fortunate enough to stop it at the Ponds Road by backfiring nearly a mile. The following day, another started just north of this one and we had a severe fight to keep this one back from the State Road. We had four major fires in two days, more than we usually get in five years. After this the incendiary fires started in the Cook's Pond area, around the Town Forest. They were all of a minor na- ture, and quickly taken care of by the Plymouth Fire Department, yet they made a lot of bother for all con- cerned.
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