USA > Massachusetts > Essex County > Saugus > Town annual report of Saugus 1905 > Part 9
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15
We regret to state, that one of the employees of this depart- ment, Mr. George Sewell, met with a serious accident in Stocker's gravel pit, May 6, in consequence of which he was unable to perform further service during the season. A settle- ment of the case was made satisfactory to all concerned.
We take pleasure in congratulating the Superintendent of Streets for the very able and efficient manner in which the affairs of this department have been conducted.
12
170
SELECTMEN'S REPORT.
Central Street.
When the present Board came into office they were confronted with claims and the Town threatened with lawsuits from sub- stantially every property owner on the street, on account of the condition in which their property had been left from the time the street was first widened, nothing in this respect having been done the previous year. Considering these claims entirely just your Board took the matter in hand without delay, and as far as possible the premises referred to were put in first-class condition and to the satisfaction of the owners, at an expense of something over twelve hundred dollars, which was taken out of the appro- priation for Highways and Bridges.
Police Department.
This department still maintains its usual high standard of efficiency, and needs no further praise at our hands. For a detailed account of this department we would refer you to the report of the Chief of Police.
The Town is to be congratulated upon the gift of a police ambulance with which it was presented on May 30th by the Saugus Police Relief Association. This is something that has long been needed and will add greatly to the efficiency of the Police Department.
Fire Department.
We think this department as a whole is in very good con- dition. They have had an unusual amount of work the past year and have attended to it in a very efficient manner.
We would recommend that the manner of paying the firemen be regulated so that they be paid according to the number of alarms to which they respond, instead of a fixed sum as now, regardless of whether they respond to an alarm or not. We think the present method works an injustice to the men.
171
SELECTMEN'S REPORT.
Public Buildings.
The buildings at the Saugus Home have received thorough repairs, which were very much needed, and repairs have been made on other town buildings, which are shown in the detailed statement of expenditures for public buildings and grounds. We know of no extraordinary repairs to be made on town buildings the present year, but it will require the usual appropriation to keep them in their present condition.
Street Lighting.
We have 72 arc lamps at a cost of $67.00 per lamp, and 100 incandescent lamps at a cost of $16.00 per lamp. The cost of lighting the streets has gradually increased from year to year, and as a matter of course will continue to do so as the population increases. We recommend the putting in of fewer arc lamps and more incandescents.
There have been several complaints in regard to the service during the past year. The board has taken the matter up with the Lynn Gas and Electric Co., and they have promised that all defects will be remedied.
Insurance.
The unusual amount recommended to be appropriated for fire insurance during 1906 is due to the additional public school buildings to be insured this year, and to the policy adopted by your board to take policies running for five years instead of shorter terms, as heretofore. The next four years the amount to be expended for this purpose will be materially less.
Maplewood and Danvers Street Railway Co.
The terms of the franchise of this company required the com- pletion and operation of the road in Saugus, January Ist, 1906, but, owing to various obstacles which they could not overcome, were not able to fulfil its requirements, and applied to the Board for an extension of time until October Ist, 1906, which the Board granted, and it is hoped that on or before that time the road will be completed and in operation.
I72
SELECTMEN'S REPORT.
Renaming of Streets.
After giving a public hearing on this subject the following streets were renamed.
Present Name. Former Name.
Locations.
Cherry Street
Cross Street
From 9 Pleasant Ave. northerly.
Birch Street Elin Street
From Lincoln Ave. to rear of Felton School.
Linden Street
Forest Avenue
From end of Knowles Ave. to Oak St.
Felton Court
Forest Court
From 15 Felton St. proposed to Pleasant Ave.
Summer Court Franklin Court
From 37 Summer St.
Larch Street
Laurel Street
From the Saugus Branch R. R. to bay. Elmwood.
School Street
Main Street
From Essex St. easterly.
Stocker Street
Maple Street
From 16 Riverside Ct. to Winter St. near Chestnut Ave.
Bond Place
Maple Place
From 26 Jackson St. southerly.
Water Street
Myrtle Street
From Walnut St. next schoolhouse to Wakefield line.
Appleton Street
Park Street
From Summer St. opposite Appleton St. westerly.
Central Place
Park Avenue
From 471 Central St. westerly.
Aspen Street
Pine Street
From Walnut St. near North Saugus line.
Vista Street Prospect Street
From Ocean View Ave. to Summit St.
Hazel Street
Prospect Street From Hesper St. to Fairmount Ave.
Alder Street
Spring Street From Hesper St. to Saugus River.
Beech Street
Walnut Street
From Vine St. near Adams Ave. to B. & M. R. R.
New School Buildings.
In accordance with a vote passed at the Annual Town Meet- ing in March authorizing the Selectmen to " petition the Legis- lature to grant the Town authority to incur indebtedness in addition to the amount already authorized by law, for the build- ing of school-houses and procuring land therefor, not to exceed one hundred thousand dollars." The Board petitioned the Leg- islature as above and the petition was granted.
· Gypsy and Brown Tail Moth Work.
We are pleased to inform the citizens that this work is pro- gressing in a very satisfactory manner. A great deal was accomplished during 1905, but much more is mapped out and will be done during 1906.
Mr. Kirkland, the State Superintendent, has taken a personal interest in the progress of the work, particularly in our town, a
173
SELECTMEN'S REPORT.
fact which we feel sure every citizen fully appreciates. He and our town officials in charge of this work have labored in per- fect harmony, resulting in our getting our full share of assistance, both financially and otherwise, from the state.
Our town is certainly to be congratulated upon our improved condition in regard to the pests, and we trust that every citizen will continue to show the same interest and to do their duty in this great work of extermination in the future as they have done in the past.
Appropriations.
We would respectfully recommend the following appropria- tions for the current year :
Highways and Bridges .
· $5,000 00
Selectmen's Incidentals
· 6,500 00
Street Lighting .
6,500 00 .
Insurance .
1,690 00 .
Public Buildings and Grounds 1,000 00
Gypsy and Brown Tail Moths
1,733 54
Soldiers' Relief .
500 00
For a statement of the financial condition of the town, we would refer you to the Auditor's Report of the condition of the town.
CHARLES F. CLARK, HERBERT M. FORRISTALL, CLARENCE W. FOX,
Selectmen.
essors' Report
FOR THE YEAR ENDING DECEMBER 31, 1905.
Table of Aggregates of Polls and Taxes Assessed May I, 1905.
Number of polls assessed . 1,656
Number of persons paying property tax 1,895 ·
Number of persons paying poll tax only ·
I, IIO
Number of persons liable to do military duty 1,001 ·
Population as taken by the Assessors .
·
6,118
Schedule of Property Assessed.
Number of dwelling-houses 1,349
Number of acres of land
6,128
Number of horses
319
Number of cows
905
Number of neat cattle
7
Number of swine
97
Number of fowls
7,771
Number of dogs registered (male, 301 ; female, 49)
350
Total Amount of Property Assessed.
Resident real estate $3,066,775
Non-resident real estate .
.
1,271,689
Resident personal estate .
198,743
Non-resident personal estate
39,363
$4,576,570
Value of Real and Personal Estate.
Buildings exclusive of land
$2,496, 180
Land exclusive of buildings
1,842,284
Personal property .
238, 106
$4,576,570
174
175
ASSESSORS' REPORT.
Basis of Taxation.
Appropriations, March, 1905 .
$86,675 00
Appropriations, June, 1905
1,300 00
State tax
5,160 00
State Highway tax .
79 95
Metropolitan Parks tax
1,683 87
County tax
4,265 65
Overlay . .
2,500 00
--
Less Town's income
$101,664 47 13,359 50
$88,304 97
Tax for State, County and Town purposes committed to Clarence Coates, Collector, $88,304.97.
Street Railway Excise tax . . $2,669 27
Saugus tax rate on $1,000 18 70
The Assessors hereby recommend that the sum of nine hun- dred dollars be appropriated for salaries for the ensuing year, and the sum of one hundred dollars for searching records and obtaining such plans as may be deemed necessary.
CHARLES W. AMERIGE, LEVI G. HAWKES, ALONZO PENNEY,
Assessors of Saugus.
-
Report of Superintendent of Streets.
The Superintendent of Streets in presenting his report to the citizens of the Town for the year ending December 31st, 1905, would call the attention of the people to the fact that he has carried out the plan of old Saugus, in trying to keep up the standard of good roads ; a reputation for which, it has long held, and he trusts it will always maintain.
Most of our streets are in a very good condition at the present time although there are a few repairs needed.
I would recommend the coming season, the putting in first- class condition the following streets, viz : Main street from Sum- mer street to Vine street, Lincoln avenue from Cliftondale square to the Revere line; Main street, Oaklandvale, from the school-house to the estate of the late Martin Carnes. Also that the work begun at North Saugus be carried out as planned the past season, thereby making the north and west wards in better condition than they have been for many years; if this is done they will not need much in the way of repairs for some time.
A large amount of stone work was done the past season, which was necessary on account of the changed grade of Central street, all of it in a very satisfactory manner. Although the cost made quite a drain on this department, we felt it was just, as this was a matter of long standing.
There has also been considerable wooden fencing done this year. A temporary fence of about six hundred feet by Lake Cottage; two hundred feet on Hawkes hill of substantial material, also a good one on Central street from the depot to the estate of James B. True on Winter street and on the retaining wall opposite the Felton school.
The missing link between East Saugus and the Center, has been completed to the satisfaction of the people of those districts.
176
177
REPORT OF SUPERINTENDENT OF STREETS.
I would recommend a separate appropriation for sidewalks, as there are a great many very bad walks in the Town.
I would also recommend the building of a suitable house for the steam roller; and also the purchase of a stone crusher in some form as there is an attachment that can be placed on the steam roller so that we could crush the material we need, with that machine.
Improvements have been made around the Town Hall and a large boulder removed from the sidewalk on Foster street, making a much needed improvement in that locality.
Lincoln avenue from Bristow street to Central street has received considerable attention, and there is now a very good road from Lynn line to Cliftondale square.
Chestnut street has been put in first-class condition also River- side court and Stocker street. A number of large bowlders were removed from the last named street making a very nice street for driving.
Western avenue has had the long asked for sidewalk com- pleted the past season at a very nominal expense of less than one hundred dollars, thereby making a very great improvement in that locality especially in the winter season.
I very much regret having had a serious accident to one of the employes in my department, otherwise everything has been harmonious and pleasant. I thank all of the employes for their hearty co-operation and the Honorable Board for their encourage- ment.
The following is a list of property in this department .
I watering cart . $350 00
I two-horse road roller
·
250 00
I steam roller ·
3,250 00
I road machine 200 00
I set of runners .
30 00
3 gutter plows .
.
45 00
14 snow plows
350 00
Amount carried forward,
$4,475 00
178
REPORT OF SUPERINTENDENT OF STREETS.
Amount brought forward,
$4,475 00
I drill machine . 15 00
I block and fall . . 6 00
I derrick . 25 00
I chain hoist
15 00
3 large files
75
I drawing knife
50
6 machine drills
I 00
2 small oil cans .
50
I wagon jack
3 50
2 gravel screens .
6 00
2 sneths
75 ·
2 scythes .
75
3 ox chains
2 00
2 log chains
4 00
I tunneling bar .
4 00
I two-horse drag
6 00
I tool box .
15 00
2 street horses
5 00
36 gallons machine oil
20 00
I anvil
6 00
I forge
15 00
5 pairs of tongs .
5 00
2 small hammers
I 50
8 drills
8 00
5 dozen bolts
75
60 pounds 50-penny spikes
2 00
2 wheelbarrows .
4 00
70 feet 6-inch pipe
15 00
4 feet 18-inch pipe
I 50
4 feet 10-inch pipe
1 00
14 feet 12-inch pipe
6 00
200 hard bricks
2 00
27 picks
15 00
16 pick eyes
8 00
Amount carried forward,
$4,696 50
179
REPORT OF SUPERINTENDENT OF STREETS.
Amount brought forward,
$4,696 50
3 bars steel 7 00
3 bars flat iron
3 00
5 common bars . 5 00
4 bank wedges . 12 00
2 bank hammers 2 00
6 stone hammers
3 00
6 small hammers
3 00
I tool stamp
I 00
I cross cut saw
2 00
I bit stock . I 00
6 bits
60
6 machine drills
1 00
I chain and spreader .
2 00
70 pounds 30-penny spikes
2 00
18 round point shovels
9 00
I I square point shovels
5 50
13 iron rakes
6 50
9 hoes
4 50
7 tined hoes 3 50
15 No. 4 snow shovels
7 50
I bank bar I 00
I2 street signs 8 00
25 feet oak lumber
I 00
I street level
6 00
I plumb rule
3 00
30 pick handles
3 00
3 brooms
I 50
4 iron pails
2 00
I wooden pail
40
I pair bolt clippers
3 00
I die .
2 50
I battery and wires
10 00
I post scoop
50
2 post tampers
2 00
Amount carried forward,
$4,821 50
.
IS0
REPORT OF SUPERINTENDENT OF STREETS.
Amount brought forward,
$4,821 50
6 cold chisels
3 00
6 dozen No. 14 screws
50
2 paint brushes .
70
2 empty oil barrels
2 00
2 axes
2 00
8 grub hoes
4 00
I axe handle
15
4 large hammer handles
75
4 small hammer handles
50
I bale of cotton waste
5 00
2 wrenches
2 00
1 2 plug drills and hammer
4 00
9 lanterns .
4 50
I I lantern globes .
I IO
3 wooden rakes . .
I 00
2 seam wedges
2 00
2 trowels
75
4 forks .
2 00
I oil can ·
50
75 feet 4-inch rubber hose
20 00
I blacksmith shop
75 00
I vise
6 00
$4,958 95
Respectfully submitted,
ANTHONY HATCH, Superintendent of Streets.
SAUGUS, January 30, 1906.
REPORT OF Engineers of Fire Department
The apparatus consists of three hose wagons, one hook and ladder truck, eight Underwriters' and four Babcock extinguishers, 4,800 feet of hose, 100 feet of garden hose, three plain brass and seven regulation play pipes, II extinguishers in Town buildings, four sets of double harness, 300 feet of ladder, 12 rubber coats, three jump nets, one line gun, one pull down hook with chain and rope attached, three crotch poles, eight lanterns, three long hooks, two axes, three bars, 26 spanners and 20 belts, 12 lighters, 14 fire hats, three wrenches, three wagon jacks and other small articles of use.
The Fire Department at the present time consists of 44 regular men and nine call men and superintendent of the fire alarm and three engineers :
C. A. BLAKELEY, Chief. C. L. PUTNEY, First Asst. J. L. WEBER, Second Asst.
Record of Alarms.
Total number of bell alarms, 54.
Total number of false alarms, 6.
Total number of still alarms, 17.
Total number of second alarms, 5.
Total miles run by all apparatus since May 1, 63.
Total feet of hose laid since May 1, 2,800.
Total feet of ladders used since May 1, 100.
Total gallons of chemicals used since May 1, 114.
181
182
REPORT OF ENGINEERS OF FIRE DEPARTMENT.
Detail of Alarms.
January 24. Box 24. House on Foss court. Damage $400; insured.
February 6. Box 35. Stable of C. Bailey. Damage $225 ; insured.
March 4. Box 31. Blacksmith, East Saugus. Damage $200; not insured.
March 4. Box 123. False alarm.
March 16. Box 27. House of S. Goldstein. Damage $2,600; insured.
March 17. Box 31. Rendering Works on State Highway. Damage $500; not insured.
March 28. Box 37. Woods fire.
March 31. Box 24. Woods fire.
March 31. Box 31. Woods fire.
April 1. Box 26. Woods fire.
April 1. Box 26. Woods fire.
April 2. Box 37. House owned by J. E. Raymond. Damage slight.
April 2. Box 37. Still alarm.
April 3. Box 24. Woods fire.
April 3. Box 124. Woods fire.
April 3. Box 125. Rubbish fire. April 3. Box 123. False alarm.
183
REPORT OF ENGINEERS OF FIRE DEPARTMENT.
April 3. Box 128. Stable at race track. Loss $3,000; insurance $1,250.
April 4. Box 25. False alarm.
April 8. Box 27. Woods fire.
April 8. Box 26. Woods fire.
April II. Box 24. False alarm.
April 13. Box 21. C. H. Bond's building. Loss $500.
April 14. Box 123. Woods fire.
April 16. Box 213. Woods fire.
April 18. Box 27. Woods tire.
April 19. Still alarm.
April 19. Box 36. Woods fire.
April 20. Box 41. Woods fire.
.
April 24. Box 16. Woods fire.
April 26. Box 123. Woods fire.
April 26. Box 18. Woods fire.
April 26. Box 18. Woods fire.
April 27. £ Box 21. Shed of J. Slattery. Loss $5.
May 2. Box 126. Woods fire.
May 7. Box 24. False alarm.
May 8. Box 32. House owned by J. Hawkes, Hesper street. Loss $10.
IS4
REPORT OF ENGINEERS OF FIRE DEPARTMENT.
May 20. Box 32. Woods fire.
June 9. Box 13. Rendering Works on State Highway. Total loss.
June 10. Box 27. Fish and Gun Club on State Highway. Total loss.
June 16. Box 13. Camp and stable on Newburyport turn- pike. Loss $1,300.
July 2. Box 24. Mrs. Dowerger's house. Loss to house and contents $75.
August 28. Box 23. Shed of Mrs. Martin. Loss $20.
September 8. Box 23. Hencoop of H. M. Lillibridge. Loss $2.
September 26. Box 13. Shed of J. M. Maxwell. Loss $25.
October 21. Box 25. House on Park avenue. Loss $5.
October 29. Box 124. House of R. P. Whitcher. Loss slight.
November 3. Box 13. Shed of A. C. Cheever. Loss $100.
November 5. Box 126. False alarm.
November 15. Box 12. Nanepashemet Club. Loss $10.
November 20. Box 28. Grass fire rear of Park Hotel.
November 24. Box 12. Kent estate, Hair Works. Loss $15.
December 9. Box 27. Building of H. B. Newhall on State Highway. Loss $150.
REPORT OF ENGINEERS OF FIRE DEPARTMENT. 185
December 9. Box 27. False alarm.
December 22. Box 23. Alarm pulled for fire out of town.
December 26. . Box 213. Alarm pulled for fire at W. R. Hughes'. Loss slight.
We would recommend that a new hose house be built at Cliftondale as the one we now occupy is unfit for the purpose, also that the Selectmen be instructed to request the Revere water board to place hydrants on Vine street and Main street above Vine for better fire protection in that district, also $2,800 for running expenses of the department and $2,200 for firemen's salaries ; also that the Town purchase horses for the fire depart- ment, to be used for town work in general, which we think would be a paying investment. If individuals can make it pay why can't the Town?
CHARLES A. BLAKELEY, Chief. CHARLES L. PUTNEY, First Asst. JOHN L. WEBER, Second Asst.
13
-
Report of Board of Health.
The Board of Health respectfully submits its annual report for the year 1905.
The Board was organized as follows: George W. Gale, M. D., Chairman; William F. Belcher, Secretary ; Benjamin F. Robinson, Health Officer.
Regular meetings of the Board are held at the Town Hall on the first Monday of each month at 8 o'clock P. M.
We have had very few complaints this year, showing that the Town is in a better sanitary condition than ever before.
We have been very free from contagious disease this year as compared to previous years.
The full number of cases reported was twenty-three of which seventeen were diphtheria, five scarlet fever and one measles.
The attention of the citizens and physicians is called to the following State Law which the Board desires, for the purpose of securing the widest knowledge of the existing law relating to the notification of contagious diseases, to call particular attention to Section 49 and 50, of Chapter 75 of the Revised Laws, as amended by Chapter 251 of the Acts of the Legislature of 1905. The amended sections read as follows :
SECTION 49. A householder who knows that a person in his family or house is sick of smallpox, diphtheria, scarlet fever or any other infectious or contagious disease dangerous to the public health shall forthwith give notice thereof to the Board of Health of the city or town in which he dwells. Upon the death, recovery or removal of such person, the householder shall disin- fect to the satisfaction of the Board such rooms of his house and articles therein as, in the opinion of the Board have been exposed to infection or contagion. Should one or both eyes of an infant become inflamed, swollen and red, and show an unnatural
186
187
REPORT OF BOARD OF HEALTH.
discharge at any time within two weeks after its birth, it shall be the duty of the nurse, relative or other attendant having charge of such infant to report in writing within six hours thereafter, to the Board of Health of the city or town in which the parents of the infant reside, the fact that such inflammation, swelling and redness of the eyes and unnatural discharge exist. On receipt of such report, or of notice of the same symptoms given by a physician as provided by the following section, the Board of Health shall take such immediate action as it may deem neces- sary in order that blindness may be prevented. Whoever violates the provisions of this section shall be punished by a fine of not more than one hundred dollars.
SECT. 50. If a physician knows that a person whom he is called to visit is infected with smallpox, diphtheria, scarlet fever or any other disease dangerous to the public health, or if one or both eyes of an infant whom or whose mother he is called to visit become inflamed, swollen and red, and show an unnatural discharge within two weeks after the birth of such infant, he shall immediately give notice thereof in writing over his own signature to the Selectmen or Board of Health of the town; and If he refuses or neglects to give such notice, he shall forfeit not less than fifty not more than two hundred dollars for each offence.
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 failling in, and located so that the inside 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
188
REPORT OF BOARD OF HEALTH.
culinary or domestic purposes. In no case shall the drainage from a privy, vault, cesspool or sink, or foul drainage from an 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 once a year. Any privy or vault not cleaned within that time shall be declared a nuisance.
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 removed 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.
GEO. W. GALE, M. D., WILLIAM F. BELCHER, BENJAMIN F. ROBINSON.
Board of Health.
-
REPORT OF .
Inspector of Plumbing
SAUGUS, MASS., January 1, 1906. To the Board of Health:
GENTLEMEN,-I herewith submit my first report for the year 1905, from May Ist, to December 31st, 1905. The number of inspections made during the year, together with the number of different inspections, will be found in the table herewith annexed :
Total number of inspections
107
Permits issued
55
Permits refused .
o
Certificates required .
55
Cesspools inspected
52
Complaints of violation of plumbing ordinance
I
Complaint investigated
I
Violation of plumbing ordinance
I
Miscellaneous calls ·
48
Respectfully submitted,
THOMAS C. SUTHERST,
Plumbing Inspector.
189
Free Public Library.
The Trustees of the Public Library respectfully submit their eighteenth annual report for the year ending December 31, 1905.
The reports of the Trustees from year to year must necessarily present nearly the same features. Nothing of especial interest has occurred during the year, and thus our report must be variations upon old subjects.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.