USA > Massachusetts > Plymouth County > Plymouth > Town annual report of Plymouth, MA 1945 > Part 6
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come to him for assistance. He has never been content to serve merely as an advisor or as a referral officer but has, whenever possible, seen every veteran through to a solution of his problem even when it required trips to Boston or other activity long after office hours.
The broad scope of the work done through the office at the Memorial Building, since its opening on April 28, 1945, is shown in the statistical report of the executive secretary as follows:
Affidavits 54
Apprenticeships
36
Candidates for Admission to Schools and Colleges 62
Interviews 472
Letters Sent 1038
Pension Applications
69
Telephone Calls Received and Sent 92
Bonus Forms 980
All Other Forms 93
Employment Referrals, 34
Placements Made 24
Hospitalized 13
Letters Received 169
Loan Applications 22
Visits by Secretary to Veterans Administration, Dis-
abled Veterans, Hospitals, etc. 44
In addition to work done for the veterans by Col. Carr and his office assistant, Mrs. Esmeralda V. Brenner, other members of the committee have served as counsellors in special capacities as follows: Mrs. Edward W. Burgess, Red Cross Home Service; Franklin A. Hebard, loans; Edgar J. Mongan, Education and Vocation; Dr. Frank J. Abate, Medical Care; Walter B. Haskell, Public Rela- tions; John D. Brewer, Liaison, Selective Service; Mrs. Margaret E. McLean, Employment; Albert A. Saunders, State and Federal Aid and Carl Knudsen, Personal Problems.
It will be noted that a large part of the service ren- dered to veterans by the executive secretary and his
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assistant has been the drawing and execution of claims for insurance, educational or apprenticeship training, unemployment benefits, pensions and the state bonus. In this connection Col. Carr secured, without expense to the town, the services of a contact representative of the Veterans Administration who has office hours at Memo- rial Building on Tuesday and Thursday of each week. In most offices of this kind veterans are given long and involved blank forms and told to take them home for completion. In our office these forms are completed for the veterans while they wait. They are then notarized and forwarded immediately to proper destinations. This is not only much more pleasing to the veteran but pre- vents long delays due to improperly executed forms, bound to occur in other circumstances.
We are gratified to see that so many of our veterans have entered college or other educational institutions through the aid of the executive secretary; also that so many have been led to take apprentice positions in town with the aid to the various provisions in the so-called "G. I. Bill of Rights." As to employment, the State Re- habilitation officials constantly emphasize that this is distinctly the function of the United States Employment Service and that our office should merely serve to advise veterans regarding employment or should refer them to the "USES" for positions.
While such referrals have been made at times it has been the inclination of our executive secretary to go far beyond the call of duty and to find employment for veterans personally whenever possible. It is at this point that all of us, committee members and town citizens alike, are most deeply concerned. It is not always pos- sible to find employment commensurate with the abili- ties of veterans or at the compensation which they merit in the light of their newly acquired skills and their en- hanced capacity to assume responsibility. Our veterans deserve the utmost cooperation of every prospective employer in this respect and we solicit the interest of every citizen to this end.
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The financial statement of the committee, as prepared by the chairman of the sub-committee on finance, Mr. Franklin A. Hebard is submitted herewith:
REHABILITATION COMMITTEE
$3,500.00
Appropriation Payments:
Salaries
Executive Secretary $1,277.50
Clerical Assistance
504.80
1,782.30
Other Expenses Stationery, Printing,
Postage
158.44
Telephone
37.69
Sign
12.00
Lunches (for visiting speakers)
6.11
Typewriter Repairs
3.35
217.59
Total Payments to Dec. 31
1,999.89
Balance Remaining
$1,500.11
Respectfully submitted,
Mrs. Edward W. Burgess, Franklin A. Hebard, Edgar J. Mongan, Dr. Frank J. Abate, Walter B. Haskell, John D. Brewer, Mrs. Margaret E. McLean, Secretary to the Com- mittee; Albert Saunders, Vice-Chairman; Carl Knudsen, Chairman.
It is with the utmost sincerity that I thank each mem- ber of the Committee for their outstanding cooperation, assistance, advice and support given me during my serv- ice as Executive Secretary.
ANDREW J. CARR,
Executive Secretary.
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REPORT OF REGISTRARS OF VOTERS
The Registrars of Voters herewith submit their report for the year 1945.
Added to Voting List
Men Women
By Registrations
11
43
By Error
4
Removed from Voting List
Not Listed in January, 1945
59
58
By Reason of Death
56
30
Change of Name by Marriage
68
Registered Voters of the Town
At Town Election, March 2, 1946 3437 3281
In accordance with the requirements of Chapter 440 of the General Laws, listing was made of all persons, male or female, twenty years of age and older.
Such Assistant Registrars as were necessary to carry out the provisions of this act were appointed, and addi- tional clerical help was engaged to compile and complete this work, which has now become the duty of the Regis- trars by legislative enactment. Alphabetical lists were prepared and printed in pamphlet form for use of the Assessors and public distribution, as provided in Section 4 of this chapter. ,
ENRICO FERRARI, JOSEPH R. STEFANI, WALTER R. ROBERTS, HERBERT K. BARTLETT, Board of Registrars of Voters.
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DEPARTMENT FOR THE INSPECTION OF BUILDINGS
To the Honorable Board of Selectmen
Gentlemen:
I hereby submit my annual report on building activ- ities within the Town of Plymouth for the year ending December 31, 1945.
No.
Kind
Est. Cost
5 One-Family Dwellings
$23,500
23 Summer Camps
28,000
12 Garages 11,350
11 Other Buildings
15,300
21 Alterations and Additions to Dwellings 15,550
13 Alterations and Additions to Other Buildings
57,025
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85
$150,725
Respectfully, THOMAS A. BODELL, Inspector of Buildings.
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REPORT OF THE PARK COMMISSIONERS
The Board of Park Commissioners presents their report for the year 1945.
Parks and gardens have had their usual care this past year. Owing to weather conditions, it has kept the per- sonnel quite busy, mowing lawns. All lawns have had to be mowed on an average of once a week, from the first of April to late in November.
The Japanese Beetle, which has caused considerable damage at Brewster Garden, has been brought under control by spraying the lawns with a strong solution of arsenic of lead, for the past two years. Upon questioning a government man about hunting grubs in the garden, it was learned that he found very few this year as com- pared with the past.
The department wishes to thank Dr. Helen Pierce and the Town Brook Society for the interest they have shown in Brewster Garden, and also the Woman's Club, for the trees, shrubs, and vines they bought to replace those destroyed by the hurricane.
We also wish to thank the Garden Club for their help, especially Mrs. Barke, who has been a great help to the department. With Mrs. Barke's help and donation of flowers, three flower beds were set out at Bates Park, greatly improving the appearance of the park, as well as keeping it from being used as a playground. Mr. Ken- nedy, the tree warden, has also been very co-operative.
The playgrounds and beaches have been well attended this year. The playground equipment the Town voted last year has been erected and enjoyed by the children during the season. The department hopes the Town will vote to buy more equipment this year, as the Holmes Memorial Playground, on Summer street, has no equip- ment and the South Street Playground very little.
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Three of our playgrounds have had recreational super- visors this year, which has been very successful. At Nelson Street and at Stephens Field, Red Cross swimming lessons have been given. The following is a report of Miss Helen Whiting, supervisor:
The activities carried on at Nelson Street Playground in 1945 were as follows: Badminton, archery, softball, swimming and also participation on the swing, see-saws, slide and horizontal ladder. The new equipment seemed to draw more children to the playground. Instructions were given in badminton, archery, softball and swim- ming; the numbers in classes varied, due to the children at the camping grounds who were transients or who only stayed for a short time, while camping. The swimming classes had an enrollment of about 35 pupils. This varied because children left to attend private camps for one or two weeks. Softball was a favorite team sport enjoyed by children of all ages. Teams were organized at Stephens Field and Nelson Street and games were played at both fields and the competition was great. At the close of the season the children at Nelson Street went to Stephens Field for a picnic and they enjoyed playing tennis, volley ball, softball and swimming. The playground equipment was used a great deal and on good days with a high tide, as many as 80 people or more were seen patronizing the beach and playground.
Veterans Field report: I wish to report to you the attendance during the summer as an average of 200 children daily. A program of folk dancing, group singing, story-telling and games was carried out, and one band concert played by the American Legion Band. The United States Coast Guard Band had planned to give a concert, but were unable to do so because of so many engage- ments. - Ella S. Donovan, supervisor.
Stephens Field: Total swimming enrollment, 60 pupils; number receiving certificates, 11. We had hoped to have a larger number graduating, but due to the children leaving for camp, returning to their winter homes, get-
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ting summer jobs, the enrollment was constantly chang- ing. Many pupils showed marked improvement but were unable to earn certificates. The children were super- vised while playing tennis, softball, archery, badminton, volley ball and baseball. The playground was weil attended but as the children were constantly changing, it is impossible to give an accurate estimate. - Dorothy Morton, Playground, Supervisor.
Softball has been featured at the Nelson Street Play- ground by the Softball League. The Plymouth Town Team conducted baseball games at Stephens Field each Sunday afternoon.
The Plymouth High School featured baseball and foot- ball. The football games this year attracted a larger crowd than ever before.
The last football games of the season was sponsored by the Kiwanis Club, managed by Walter Haskell. Two all service teams were in the line-up, an all-time record was set for attendance. The department has done all that it could with its limited equipment and personnel to make these events a success.
The bathing beaches and camping sites have had as much attention during the season as possible under war- time conditions, the hurricane, easterly gales and gas rationing.
Receipts from:
Nelson Street Camping and Bathhouse $1,262.35
Indian Reservation 381.00
Beach Park Bathhouse 352.78
Stephens Field 10.20
Morton Park 32.70
The northeast gales in November caused great damage at Beach Park, completely destroying the breakwater in front of the parking space and washing out the parking space north and south of the bathhouse, filling in the river bed, and causing much damage to the bathhouse. The department wishes to thank the Selectmen and their
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Highway Superintendent for their co-operation and help. Mr. Armstrong, Chairman of the Board of Selectmen, had just succeeded in having plans drawn by the State to protect the sea wall and property at this point. Now the situation calls for new plans and until the survey has been made it is not possible to say just what the damage is, in dollars and cents.
An estimated $400.00 damage was caused by the storm at Nelson Street. While not damaging the sea wall to any great extent, the area in back of the wall washed out. With the co-operation of the Highway Department, we were able to put our truck under the power shovel and fill this area ourselves. There was considerable amount of washing out at Stephens Field but nothing serious. Damage caused to the building by the hurricane has been repaired and a new roof covering put on the Morton Park Bathhouse and on the garage at Stephens Field.
The new sea wall at Nelson Street has been erected as voted by the Town.
The plan for the playground at Standish Avenue has been completed as voted by the Town and anyone interested may inspect same by contacting the Super- intendent.
EDWARD J. E. HAND, Chairman JOHN SIEVER WILFRED SLOANE Board of Park Commissioners.
NINETY-FIRST ANNUAL REPORT
of the
Water Commissioners
and
Superintendent
of the
Town of Plymouth
1020
For the Year Ending December 31, 1945
1
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REPORT OF THE WATER COMMISSIONERS
The Board of Water Commissioners presents its ninety-first annual report covering the year 1945.
The water supply conditions during the year were much more favorable than in 1944 and throughout the year the level of Great South Pond remained above that of the corresponding date the previous year. At the end of the year it was at elevation 104.0' against 102.3' at the beginning of the year.
Total rainfall amounted to 55.45" which was 10.15" more than the average of 45.30" for the preceding ten years.
ENGINEERING SURVEY
At the annual meeting in March 1945 the Town au- thorized the Water Commissioners to arrange for an engineering survey of the Water Department. The firm of Metcalf and Eddy was employed to do this work and their final report was received in October. It is a com- prehensive study of the entire department, covering the broad questions of supply, pumping, storage and distri- bution. The report is at considerable length and we quote below only the summary of the recommendations. The entire report should be consulted for complete information.
Extract from the Report of Metcalf and Eddy
Summary of Recommendations. A summary of our recommendations covering a comprehensive plan for the future improvement of the water supply and distribution systems follows. The various items are arranged approxi- mately in the order of importance as viewed at the present time. Some changes in this order undoubtedly will be- come necessary as local circumstances dictate or the character of the development changes. An estimate of cost of each improvement is also given.
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Improvements in the Immediate Future
1. Change the suction piping at the Lout Pond pumping station in order to eliminate the present surge tank. Bid received, $4,000.
2. Develop a ground water supply of at least 0.5 m.g.d. in the Manomet area, thus making this district independent of the Great and Little South Pond supply.
Estimated cost, $30,000.
3. Install chlorinators in the Lout Pond pumping station for the Low Service and High Service supplies. Estimated cost, $3,500.
4. Install a 400,000-gallon elevated storage tank on the site of the Porter Harlow elevated tank in Manomet. Estimated cost, $38,000.
5. Abandon the low service supply in its entirety and install new cast iron mains in all streets now served only by the low service.
Estimated cost, $48,600.
(See Appendix F.)
Improvements in the Near Future
1. Improve the fire flow conditions in the deficient areas of the High Service, eliminate all 4-inch pipe now serving hydrants and install larger mains.
Estimated cost for all such improvements, $114,300. (See Appendix F.)
2. Improve fire flow conditions in the deficient areas of the Extra High Service, and increase storage to 500,000 gallons.
Estimated cost of pipe replacements, $10,300. (See Appendix F.)
Estimated cost of new storage, $48,000.
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3. Replace the existing 6-inch pipe in Warren Avenue with 10-inch pipe.
Estimated cost, $23,000.
4. Replace the existing 8-inch pipe from Standish Avenue to the Cherry Street standpipe with 10-inch pipe. Estimated cost, $11,200.
5. Remove 16-inch cement pipe from Little South Pond to Lout Pond pumping station and install a 24-inch cast iron, cement-lined pipe.
Estimated cost, $105,000.
Ultimate Improvements
1. Raise the High Service to the pressure of the Extra High Service, which will involve new storage res- ervoir and elevated storage and removal of all jacketed pipe.
(Cost not estimated.)
(End of quotation from report)
Undoubtedly, many years will be required for the carrying-out of all of these recommendations, but the Commissioners believe that the improvements should be started at once, particularly the more urgent matters. The order in which they are undertaken will have the careful consideration of the Commissioners, and will be subject to varying conditions as they arise. The particular projects which we believe should be started this year are referred to later in this report.
GENERAL MAINTENANCE
It is still very difficult to secure needed materials and equipment but we have been able to purchase some items which have been greatly needed, particularly a motor- driven trench pump and a pipe-pushing machine for lay- ing small pipe under paved streets, etc. We have also . purchased one of the Civilian Defense trailer pumping units which is a very useful piece of apparatus, especially in emergencies.
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The trucks of the department are very old and expensive to maintain and should be replaced. A dump truck is very much needed to handle excavated material. We are asking the Town for an appropriation for two trucks, one to replace our present service truck and an addi- tional dump body truck.
CHANGES AT THE PUMPING STATION AT LOUT POND
The first recommendation received from Metcalf and Eddy was for certain changes in the supply mains at the Lout Pond Station. Plans were made promptly and orders given to proceed with the work as soon as possible. Some of the new pipe and fittings have been received, but it has not been possible to secure all that is required and the work could not be done in 1945. It is hoped to have it completed early in 1946. As the work was contracted for some months ago the estimated cost of $4,000 has been charged to our appropriation for 1945.
MANOMET
The eight-inch well at Warners Pond was tested in the Spring and found to yield an excellent supply of water with a capacity of 200 gallons per minute. The present pumping equipment at that location will not handle this quantity and the Commissioners believe that a pumping plant should be installed which will do so, to take care of the demand until a larger and permanent plant can be built. The consumption in Manomet is increasing rapidly, during the Summer season, and many new water takers are waiting to be supplied with Town water. We concur in the recommendation of Metcalf and Eddy that work should be started at once to provide a supply of not less than five hundred gallons per minute. Funds for this purpose are included in the appropriation which we are requesting for construction purposes.
If the town accepts the lay-out of Cape Cod Avenue, Reed Avenue and other streets in that vicinity, we believe
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that the Water Department should be prepared to lay mains there as soon as the streets are properly graded. We are asking for a special appropriation of $35,000 for this purpose.
SQUANTO ROAD AND UPPER CHERRY STREET
The Selectmen are also asking for a layout of Squanto Road, connecting Nick's Rock Road, from the end of the present layout across to upper Cherry Street. If this is accepted by the Town and funds are made available, we propose to lay a new main there and in adjacent streets, and to replace some of the old and undersize mains in that area. This district would then be supplied from the New High Service system, which would give much more satisfactory water pressure.
"RUSTOP" SYSTEM INSTALLATION
The Electro "Rustop" equipment, similar to that in- stalled in the water tank on the Westerly Route, has been installed in the Stone Tank on Rocky Hill Road. The work was not completed until many months from the date it was ordered. A considerable period of time will be required before ultimate results can be determined but we believe it will prove to be of great benefit in taking care of rust and corrosion on the inside of the tank.
COLLECTOR OF WATER RATES
The Commissioners have appointed Mr. Harold W. Baker to be the Collector of Water Rates, effective as of January 5, 1946, succeeding Mrs. Addie H. Burgess who retired on that date after over ten years of service to the Town. Under the new arrangement, the collection of Water Bills will be entirely separated from their prepa- ration. Bills will be made out in the office of the Water Department, as they have been, but will be committed on a warrant to the Collector, as in the case of the bills for taxes. It will be a convenience to the public to have water bills payable at the same office as tax bills. The
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office of the Water Department is small and this change will make it possible to have another clerk in the depart- ment, as is very much needed. Collections for the year 1945 are sub-divided as follows:
Town System $40,810.51
Manomet System 6,629.46
$47,439.97
CONSTRUCTION APPROPRIATION
In order to carry out the projects referred to above, namely the additional water supply and pumping equip- ment at Manomet, new mains and replacements in the Cherry Street area and other streets as necessary, and begin the replacement of old and inadequate mains and other improvements as recommended in the Metcalf and Eddy report, we are asking for an appropriation for Water Department construction of one hundred and fifty thou- sand dollars ($150,000.) to be raised by a bond issue repayable over a period of fifteen years.
We recommend the following appropriations for 1946:
General Maintenance, Labor $26,660.00
Salaries 17,000.00
General Construction 3,000.00
Special Construction 150,000.00
Purchase of two trucks 3,500.00
Construction at Cape Cod Ave., Melix Ave.,
Reed Ave., and connecting streets, if these
streets are accepted by the Town 35,000.00
E. R. BELCHER, Chairman
RICHARD T. ELDRIDGE, Secretary
DANIEL F. MULCAHY ARTHUR ADDYMAN C. BROOKS HUDSON
Board of Water Commissioners
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SUMMARY OF STATISTICS
(Published by request of the New England Water Works Association, Plymouth, Mass., Water Works.) Population, 13,175.
Date of Construction, 1855.
By whom owned, Town.
Source of Supply, Great and Little South Ponds, and Wells at Manomet.
Mode of Supply, Gravity for Low Service and Pumping for High Service, Wells at Manomet.
PUMPING
Builders of pumping machinery, Fairbanks-Morse and Wolverine-Gould.
Descripion of fuel, Oil.
Amount used, 9,7341/2 gallons.
Pumpage for the year:
Fairbanks-Morse, 164,237,000 gals.
Wolverine-Gould, 171,985,000 gals.
NHS (Electric) 12,844,000 gals.
349,066,000 gals.
Average static head, 68 ft.
Average dynamic head, 74.5 ft.
Number gals. per gal. of fuel oil: Fairbanks-Morse, 38,230
Wolverine-Gould, 31,623
Duty of Pumps:
Fairbanks-Morse, 175,694,100
Wolverine-Gould, 145,304,900
COST OF PUMPING FIGURED ON PUMPING STATION EXPENSES, VIZ: $6,920.07.
Per million gallons against dynamic head into direct pipe, $19.824. Per million gallons raised one foot high (dynamic), $0.2660.
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COST OF PUMPING FIGURED ON TOTAL MAINTENANCE, VIZ: $31,893.99.
Per million gallons against dynamic head into direct pipe, $91.369. Per million gallons raised one foot high (dynamic), $1.226.
STATISTICS ON CONSUMPTION OF WATER
Total population, estimated 13,175.
Estimated population on pipe line, 12,500.
Estimated population supplied, 12,500.
Total consumption for the year, 538,554,000 gallons.
Average daily consumption, 1,476,000 gallons.
Gallons per day to each inhabitant, 112. Gallons per day to each tap, 412.
STATISTICS RELATING TO DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM
Kind of pipe, Cement-lined sheet iron and Cement-lined cast iron.
Sizes, From 2-inch to 30-inch.
Extended, 1,012 feet.
Discontinued, 592 feet. Total now in use, 79 miles, 753 feet.
Cost to repair per mile, $8.45.
Number of leaks per mile, 0.239. Small distribution pipe less than 4-inch, 8 miles, 2,831 ft. Hydrants now in use, 334 public; 73 private.
Stop gates added, None. Discontinued, None. Number now in use, 877.
SERVICES
Kind of pipe, Lead and Cement-lined. Sizes, From one-half inch to four inches. Extended, 377 feet. Discontinued, None. Total now in use, 10 miles, 2,065 feet. Service taps added, 24. Discontinued, None.
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Total now in use, 3,576. Average length of service, 15.7 feet. Average cost per service, $28.79. Number meters added, 51. Number now in use, 2,855.
Percentage of services metered, 79.8%.
SUPERINTENDENT'S REPORT
To the Board of Water Commissioners.
Gentlemen:
The continual gain in being able to obtain Water De- partment material during the past year was most encour- aging and before the end of the year deliveries had been made on many orders that had been held up for months. Thus it was possible to set fifty-one meters in comparison to six the previous year.
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