USA > Massachusetts > Essex County > Saugus > Town annual report of Saugus 1901-1903 > Part 7
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166
REPORT OF BOARD OF HEALTH.
the swill and ashes are dumped in the back yard, making a nuisance not only to their own yard and themselves, but to all their neighbors.
In consequence of the prevalence of smallpox in the City of Boston and the appearance of isolated cases in cities and towns in our immediate vicinity, the Board of Health consid- ered it their duty for the health and safety of the public to issue circulars requesting each and every person within the limits of Saugus, to be successfully vaccinated, and as an in- ducement that all should be protected by vaccination, the Board voted to furnish means of vaccination and re-vaccina- tion free, to all who applied at the various stations designated for that purpose for the period of one week, commencing Dec. 9, 1901. 343 availed themselves of this opportunity. This action of the Board was taken in compliance with the re- quirements of Chap. 515, Sects. 3 and 4, Acts of 1894.
Smallpox has its period of dormancy and activity, making its appearance at irregular intervals with more or less severity, the immunity of certain localities being largely due to the thorough manner in which the vaccination laws are enforced.
It has been demonstrated that there is no contagion so strong and sure, it is readily communicated by contaminated atmosphere, by inoculation, and by immediate contact with the patient.
We are informed that the disease exists more or less throughout all sections of the United States and Canada. It is to be remembered that no thoroughly vaccinated com- munity can be visited by a severe epidemic of smallpox. Ex- perience teaches that vaccination has great protective power, beyond a reasonable doubt. This power, however, is not ab- solute, nor does it always continue throughout adult life, hence the necessity of re-vaccination. A person who has been vaccinated is much less liable to an attack of smallpox, and if the attack does occur, the severity of the disease is greatly modified.
.
167
REPORT OF BOARD OF HEALTH.
We have had no cases of smallpox in Saugus during the year.
The State laws provide that no child who has not been duly vaccinated shall be admitted to a public school, except upon presentation of a certificate signed by a regular practicing physician that such a child is an unfit subject for vaccination.
Vaccination.
Attention is called to the following requirements of the Public Statutes regarding vaccination :
Chapter 47, Section 9 .- "The School Committee shall not allow a child who has not been duly vaccinated to be admitted to or connected with the public schools."
Chapter 80, Section 51 .- "Parents and guardians shall cause their children and wards to be vaccinated before they attain the age of two years, and re-vaccinated when the Se- lectmen, or Mayor and Aldermen, shall, after five years from the last vaccination, require it. For every year's neglect, the party offending shall forfeit five dollars ($5.00)."
Section 52 .- "The Selectmen and Mayor and Aldermen shall require it and enforce the vaccination of all inhabitants, and when, in their opinion, the public health requires, the re- vaccination of all the inhabitants who do not prove to their satisfaction that they have been successfully vaccinated or re- vaccinated within five years. Every person over twenty-one years of age, not under guardianship, who neglects to com- ply with any such requirements, shall forfeit five dollars ($5.00)."
We have had a number of cases of scarlet, fever and diph- theria, but no deaths during the year. We believe that the most of this disease can be stamped out if the necessary sani- tary laws are complied with. We would still call your atten- tion to the lack of requirements in regard to the cleanliness of vaults and cesspools. The law of the State as well as of
168
REPORT OF BOARD OF HEALTH.
cities and towns, require them to be cleaned once each year. but many persons never have anything on this line done until either can no longer be used. Many cesspools are ruined by this course, for the wall of a cesspool once being filled with grease will hold water most as well as a cistern. We think that most people, especially tenants, are negligent in this im- portant matter.
The following number of contagious diseases have been reported the past year. Diphtheria, 26 cases, the largest number of cases reported since the Board has existed in the Town in any one year, and no deaths. Scarlet Fever, 3, which is the smallest number reported in any one year, and no deaths, and 3 cases of Typhoid Fever. We would respectfully ask that an appropriation sufficiently large be made for the Board to attend to the calls that will surely be made upon us.
Cesspools, Privies and Vaults.
Rule 22. No person shall build, or cause to be built, any privy, vault or cesspool, unless the same is constructed in a thorough and substantial manner, lined with stone, brick, or other suitable material of sufficient thickness and strength to prevent the walls from falling in, and located so that the in- side of the same shall be at least three feet distant from the line of any adjoining lot or street. Every cesspool shall be of sufficient size to contain at least eighty cubic feet, measured below two feet beneath the surface of the ground, and, when not water tight, shall be at least twenty feet from the outside of the cellar wall of any tenement or dwelling, and thirty feet distant from any well; spring, or any other source of water supply used for culinary or domestic purposes. In no case shall the drainage from a privy, vault, cesspool or sink, or foul drainage from any domestic source, be permitted to enter any stream, brook, run or pond within the limits of the Town.
Rule 23. All privies and vaults shall be cleaned at least
169
REPORT OF BOARD OF HEALTH.
once a year. Any privy or vault not cleaned within that time shall be declared a nuisance.
Cleanliness of House and Premises.
Public Statutes, Chapter 80, Section 24, provides :
"The Board, when satisfied, upon due examination, that a cellar, room, tenement or building in its town, occupied as a dwelling house, has become, by reason of the inhabitants, want of cleanliness, or other cause, unfit for such purpose, and a cause of nuisance or sickness to the inhabitants or the public, may issue a notice in writing to such occupants, or any of them, requiring the premises to be put in a proper condition as to cleanliness; or, if they see fit, requiring the oc- cupants to quit the premises within such time as' the Board may deem reasonable. If the persons so notified, or any of them, neglect or refuse to comply with the terms of the notice, the Board may cause the premises to be properly cleansed at the expense of the owners, or may remove the occupants forcibly, and close up the premises, and the same shall not be again occupied as a dwelling-place, without the consent in writing of the Board. If the owner thereafter occupies, or knowingly permits the same to be occupied, without such per- mission in writing, he shall forfeit not less than ten dollars ($10.00), nor more than fifty dollars ($50.00)."
In considering the number of occupants, in accordance with the foregoing section, this Board will consider a sleep- ing-room to be over-crowded unless there should be at least three hundred (300) cubic feet of air space for each inhabitant occupying the same.
Rule 24. No person shall remove or carry in or through any of the streets, squares, courts, lanes, avenues, places, or alleys within the Town, stinking or offensive matter, or any house dirt or house offal, either animal or vegetable, or any grease, bones, or any refuse substance from any of the dwell-
170
REPORT OF BOARD OF HEALTH.
ing houses or other places in the town, unless such person so removing or carrying the same, and the mode in which the same may be removed or carried, shall be expressly licensed by the Board of Health, upon such terms and conditions as it may deem the health and interest of the town may require.
Rule 25. No person, without a license from the Board of Health, shall throw into or leave in or upon any street, court, square, lane, alley, public square, public enclosure, vacant lot, or any pond or body of water, within the limits of the Town, any dead animal, dirt, sawdust, soot, ashes, cinders, shavings, hair, manure, oyster, clam or lobster shell, waste water, rubbish, or filth of any kind, or any refuse animal or vegetable matter whatsoever; nor shall any person throw into or leave in or upon the flats or tide water within the jurisdic- tion of the Town, any dead animal or other foul or offensive matter.
Rule 26. No person shall bury the contents of any vault or cesspool on premises occupied by him or his tenants, or allow any filth or bad-smelling water to be run out upon, or be thrown upon the surface of the ground of such premises.
Rule 27. Kitchen and waste sinks must be safely and se- curely connected with cesspool or well-covered drain, and must not be permitted to discharge by spouts, or otherwise, upon the side of the house or upon the surface of the ground.
Rule 28. No person shall keep any fowl or animal in any place in the Town where the Board of Health may deem such keeping detrimental to the health or comfort of the residents of the neighborhood, or to those who may pass thereby; and said Board shall have the power to remove or cause to be re- moved therefrom any such fowl or animal so kept.
Rule 29. No swine shall be kept within the limits of the Town, without a license first obtained therefor from the Board of Health, and then only in such place and manner as it shall direct.
Rule 30. Owners and occupants of livery and other stables
171
REPORT OF BOARD OF HEALTH.
within the Town shall not wash or clean their carriages or horses, or cause them to be washed or cleaned in the streets or public ways. They shall keep their stables and yards clean, and not allow large quantities of manure to accumulate in or near the same at any one time between the first day of May and the first day of November, and no manure shall be allow- ed to accumulate or remain uncovered outside of a stable building.
Rule 31. No person shall remove a dead body or its re- mains from a grave or tomb in the town, or disturb in a tomb or grave such body or its remains, except in accordance with a permit from the Board of Health.
Rule 32. No person, except the Superintendent, shall open or dig a grave in any burial-ground, except in accordance with a permit from the Board of Health.
GEORGE W. GALE, M. D., Chairman. WILLIAM F. BELCHER, Secretary. BENJAMIN F. ROBINSON, Health Officer.
TRUSTEES' REPORT OF THE FREE PUBLIC LIBRARY.
The issue of books from the public library increases with each year. This increase in the circulation of books means a correspondingly larger return to the Town from its invest- ment; for the books are valuable only in the proportion in which they are used.
We would urge upon parents the importance of keeping a careful supervision over the reading of their children. A cer- tain proportion of solid reading should be required of them, with reasonable regard to their age and capacity. Your Trustees have endeavored to keep the library abreast of the times, and a goodly share of the best new publications will be found upon its shelves. An abundance of books may be found in the library in the departments of history, biography, travels and popular science, eminently suited to supplement the education our children are receiving in the public schools.
It is especially desirable that books taken from the library by the children should be thoroughly read, and if it were pos- sible, we might even wish that upon the return of a book the borrower, if a child, should be required to pass an examina- tion which would determine to what degree its contents had been assimilated. Superficial reading is one of the worst forms of mental dissipation. In fine, it should be understood that the public library is part and parcel of our system of free public education, and that so far as it fails to subserve its pur- pose in that regard, it falls short in its legitimate sphere of usefulness.
We are glad to observe that our school teachers make good use of the library.
Your Trustees cannot report the gifts of so many books as
173
FREE PUBLIC LIBRARY.
in the year before, but magazines have been received from Mrs. F. C. Cheever, Mrs. A. C. Cheever, Miss Julia Nourse, Miss Mary Thayer, Miss Emma Newhall, and a few books and papers from others, besides the usual publications from our Senator, Congressman, and State representatives.
A new supplementary catalogue has been published. Owing to the illness of the Librarian, it did not come out as early in the year as expected. Sales of the new catalogue have been very gratifying.
A new system of charging books has been adopted recently, which promises to be more accurate and reliable than the old way, a saver of time, and a great help in tracing the books.
The library is much better lighted than formerly, through the introduction of electric incandescent lights, but will soon be hampered for the want of shelf room.
The library does not receive quite the respect and attention in the crowded room in the Town Hall that would be given it with proper accommodations in a building of its own.
Our Librarian has worked very faithfully to make the Library a benefit to the people of the Town, and to have the work run smoothly.
Your Trustees have communicated with Mr. Andrew Car- negie; with a view to getting a donation for a new library building. To facilitate Mr. Carnegie's consideration of our appeal, the Trustees are required to answer the following questions :
Population of Town?
Has it a Library at present?
How housed?
Amount of taxes paid by community yearly for support?
Amount guaranteed yearly if building is obtained?
Is requisite site available?
Amount now collected toward building?
174
FREE PUBLIC LIBRARY.
Mr. Carnegie's rule is, that the Town shall raise an amount annually equal to ten per cent of his donation.
Your Trustees would recommend an appropriation of 600 dollars and the dog tax the coming year, which would be substantially ten per cent. on a $10,000 donation, which would insure us a comparatively good building if a proper site can be obtained.
B. F. CALLEY, A. B. COATES, MARION V. PUTNAM, JAMES R. HUGHES, M. B. FAXON, LEVI G. HAWKES,
Trustees.
REPORT OF LIBRARIAN FOR YEAR ENDING DECEMBER 31, 1901.
Number of volumes in library, Jan. I, I90I 5,863
Number of volumes added during the
year 446
Number of volumes worn out and lost 23
Number of volumes destroyed (con- tagious diseases) 5
Number of volumes in library, Jan. I, 1902 6,281
Number of volumes loaned during the year 19,251
Per cent. of fiction
72
Number of borrowers, new registra- tion 593
Appropriation for purchase of books and current expenses
$500 00
Dog tax
446 16
$946 16
Expenditures.
W. B. Clark & Co., books $372 40
Jordan, Marsh & Co., books 45 98
American Tract Society, books IO 23
F. Barnard, binding books and maga- zines
52 40
Amount carried forward, $481 01
I76
REPORT OF LIBRARIAN.
Amount brought forward, $481 01
Emma E. Newhall, Librarian 180 00
Julia J. Nourse, assistant 43 20
M. Louise Hawkes, service 13 00
Justin T. Mansfield, service I 50
Charles Davis, transportation of
books to Cliftondale, East Sau- gus, Broadway 58 55
Lizzie Goodridge, carrying books to Oaklandvale 13 00
F. W. Graves, carrying books to North Saugus 13 00
Subscription, Library Art Club
5 00
Justin E. Mansfield, service 2 00
M. B. Faxon, incidentals
3 00
Roland Mansfield, steps
3 00
E. E. Newhall, extra service, cata- loging, etc.
17 15
E. E. Newhall, manuscript, new cata- logue 25 00
Thomas P. Nichols, printing cata- logue
64 80
T. P. Nichols, printing book plates. .
6 00
Library Bureau, book pocket strips, call slips, name cards, book
cards, borrowers' pockets, tin trays
14 65
H. O. Pratt, ink
1 00
Reports I 50
465 55
Received from fines $15 81
$946 36
Expended for stationery, pencils and
other library incidentals 15 81
Respectfully submitted, EMMA E. NEWHALL,
Librarian.
REPORT OF SUPERINTENDENT OF STREETS.
To the Honorable Board of Selectmen:
Gentlemen :- I herewith submit my first annual report for the year ending Dec. 31, 1901. When I was given the honor to take charge of this department I found the streets in a very bad condition, generally, especially the entire lengths of Lincoln Avenue, Ballard and Bristow Streets, owing to the fact that the Salem turnpike was closed, thus throwing the entire traffic upon these streets.
I would call your attention to the work done on Lincoln Avenue this year and would recommend a special appropria- tion for the grading and piping of same with catch basins to receive the great volumes of water now flowing through the street from Lincoln Square to Revere town line, thereby do- ing away with the liability of damages and the waste of money which has been the custom for so many years. As to the condition of streets in the west and north wards of our town, a large sum of money must be expended the coming vear.
Storing Machinery.
Upon inspection I found that all the road machinery was stored on private property in different sections of the town or left out of doors the entire year, especially the snow-plows. I leased the barn owned by the Town on the Hathaway place, and early in the spring caused them to be returned, stored and put in thorough repair with two coats of paint before entering upon the fall duties. They will be returned to the barn in the spring for inspection and storage.
178
SUPERINTENDENT OF STREETS REPORT.
Blacksmith Shop.
A great deal of inconvenience has been experienced in not having a place to sharpen tools and do repairing. We have a first-class and well-equipped blacksmith shop where all re- pairing and sharpening is done conveniently at a small cost.
Drainage.
More attention must be paid to drainage. So many com- plaints have been made that I have given this subject great care and attention. A large sum of money has been spent this year in widening gutters, putting in catch basins and earthen pipe culverts. There are a number of old dilapidated stone culverts that must be replaced immediately. I would recommend that some means be provided for taking care of the water from Morton Avenue to Ballard Street.
Crushed Stone.
Since the Town purchased the Hathaway place, a great amount of the best road material has been thrown away, namely, the stone. By the consent of your Board I hired the stone crusher of Mr. Ellis and secured eleven hundred tons from our own pit, with six hundred bought, making seventeen hundred tons used this year. I have at the present time about seven hundred tons of stone which has been saved this summer, ready for crushing, that otherwise would have been wasted. I would ask that you inspect that part of Lin- coln Avenue where nothing but the different grades of stone were used, top dressed with stone dust, thus using no gravel. Having an unlimited amount of this material and a section of street showing what can be done in the interest of good streets and economy, I would recommend a stone crusher.
Steam Roller.
It is surprising to many in authority in the towns and cities
I79
SUPERINTENDENT OF STREETS REPORT.
about us, that a town like Saugus, with nearly sixty miles of streets, is not the owner of a steam roller. On many of our streets we have used nothing but gravel for years, and to continue would be a waste of money, yet the same is rough and rocky. What they need is picking up, reshaping and rolling. By the use of a roller this can be done at a small expense, thereby having many miles of streets in good order and at a better grade for the care of water. The roller could furnish power for a steam drill, enabling us to do our own blasting and ledge work in any part of the town. I cannot too strongly urge the necessity of a steam roller.
One of the greatest needs of this department is to have experienced men. The policy that good men should be dropped after a few days to make room for an inferior work- man simply because he is a resident of the town, is a thing that is not done in private business and should not be done in this department. If we have experienced men who are will- ing to work and are interested in the same, the department will be a credit to the town. I am more than satisfied with the work done when I consider the condition of things in the spring. Nearly all the town fences had to be rebuilt, a large sum of money was spent on the bridge at Ballard Street, also new platform and heavy retaining timbers and planking at east end of covered bridge at East Saugus. Should I serve another year I will try to give a more detailed account of the work done and expense of same in different localities.
Under the eight-hour system, to do credit to the town and myself, I have been obliged to employ the best help I could procure and keep the same employed whenever there was work.
I wish to thank the Honorable Board for your advice and approval, also Mr. Hall and all the gentlemen employed in the department for their able and efficient service. Follow- ing is a schedule of property in charge of this department:
PROPERTY OF SAUGUS HIGHWAY DEPARTMENT.
32 picks $12 00
4 wedges 16 00
7 crowbars 7 00
15 No. 4 shovels 7 00
35 No. 2 shovels 15 00
II hammers 10 00
3 grub hoes I 50
8 iron tooth rakes 4 00
I fork 50
9 hoes 2 00
4 axes 3 00
2 chains 5 00
I lot drills 25 00
2 monkey wrenches
1 75
24 pick handles 2 00
5 long handle shovels 2 50
6 lanterns 2 00
I derrick 25 00
I tool box 15 00
I watering cart 350 00
I, road machine 175 00
I roller 125 00
I battery 10 00
2 iron screens 6 00
I forge 15 00
I anvil 6 00
4 small hammers
200 feet spruce lumber 2 00
II snow plows 2 00
4 00
2 common plows 10 00
2 post tampers 2 00
181
SUPERINTENDENT OF STREETS REPORT
2 post scoops I 00
2 long horses 2 00
I iron vise 6 00
2 gallons paint
3 20
8 iron tooth hoes
4 00
I drag
5 00
4 scythes
2 00
2 sneths
1 00
I extension bit
50
I bitstock
1 00
I drawknife
50
Io dozen bolts (all sizes)
1 00
2 gallon oil cans
50
I chain hoist
17 00
I cross-cut saw 2 00
I spirit level 3 00
I blacksmith shop 65 00
$976 95
Respectfully submitted,
CHARLES FLORENCE, Supt. of Streets.
Saugus, Jan. 21, 1902.
:
REPORT OF WATER COMMISSIONERS,
Extension of System. 1901.
Washington Avenue :
204 feet 6-in. pipe at 90 cents. $183 60 Lead, yarn, fuel, etc 10 00
$193 60
Harrison Avenue :
185 feet 6-in. pipe at 90 cents $166 50
1 6-in. gate and box 22 00
I 6-in. plug
60
Lead, fuel, etc.
9 00
198 10
Edison Street :
243 feet 6-in. pipe at 90 cents. $218 70
1 6-in. gate and box 22 00
2 6-in. Ts.
12 00
I 6-in. bend
4 00
Lead, yarn, fuel, etc
14 00
--
270 70
Fairmount Street :
215 feet 6-in. pipe at 90 cents. $193 50
4 6-in. plugs 2 40
I 6-in. gate and box
22 00
I 6-in. T
6 00
Lead, yarn, etc. 11 00
-
--
234 90
$897 30
183
WATER COMMISSIONER'S REPORT.
Auburn Street :
$897 30
911 feet 6-in. pipe at 90 cents. $819 90
I gate and box
22 00
1 6-in. T. 6 00
1 6-in. plug
60
Lead, yarn, etc. 46 50
895 00
Jasper Street :
1, 104 feet 6-in. pipe at $1.00. $1,104 00
2 hydrants
80 00
Gate and box
22 00
2 6-in. Ts ..
12 00
I 6-in. plug
60
Lead, yarn, wood, etc.
55 20
Ledge work, etc ..
113 91
1,387 71
Repairs, etc.
Break in Franklin square $19 50
Break in Adams avenue 25 10
L. G. Hawkes, surveys, etc. 42 00
Tools
60 43
Repairs on gates, hydrants, etc
20 40
Printing
3 50
170 93
$3,35° 94
Balance of 1900 Appropriation
$345 32
Stock, on Jan. 1, 1901
215 00
Appropriation of 1901
5,000 00
$5,560 32
184
WATER COMMISSIONER'S REPORT.
Amount brought forward, $5,560 32
Less stock on hand Jan. 1, 1902 285 84
5,274 48
Amount expended
3,35° 94
Balance on hand Jan. 1, 1902 .. $1,923 84
C. I. HITCHINGS, EDWARD BRYANT, GEO. C. PARCHER, Water Commissioners.
TABLE Showing Location, etc., of Water Pipes laid since 1887.
DIMENSIONS OF PIPES.
NAME OF STREET.
YEAR LAID.
JO IN.
8 IN.
6 IN.
4 IN.
Adams ave., cast iron
3,130
...
1887-91-94
Atherton, 74 inch cast iron
393
1887
Auburn, 164 feet 4 inch cast iron .
.....
...
...
1899
Auburn court, 156 feet 6 inch cast iron
.....
......
. . .
......
1900
Avon. . .
......
...
87 1
1887
Baker, cast iron
. . .....
573
Ballard, cast iron ..
611
....
1394
Broadway, cast iron
1,399
......
1896-97
Central
7,658
540
....
1887
Columbus ave., cast iron
1,2782
....
....
504
1890
Clifton
...
....
484
1887
Castle
484
1887
Cliftondale ave , cast iron
280
Curtis, cast iron
725.10
1893
Cliff Patlı, cast iron
247
....
1893
Cleveland ave., cast iron
1,130.7
1893
Cross, Cliftondale. cast iron .
180
1894
Cross S. C., 250 feet 6 inch cast iron.
357
1894
Denver, 1,545 cast iron . .
.....
.....
1,854
1887-92-98
Denver-Street court, 395 4 inch cast iron
.....
.. .
483
1899
Dream, 353 feet 4 inch cast iron .
...
....
..
1 900
Edison, 243 feet cast iron
...
.....
287
...
1896-97
Essex, 583 13-10 inch cast iron
4,432.5
....
1887-92-00
Emery court. cast iron
......
......
1898
Eustis, cast iron
692
IO
....
1893-97
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