Town annual report of Saugus 1925, Part 11

Author: Saugus (Mass.)
Publication date: 1925
Publisher: The Town
Number of Pages: 238


USA > Massachusetts > Essex County > Saugus > Town annual report of Saugus 1925 > Part 11


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1925]


operation of cesspools. An investigation of numerous cesspools indicated that seventy-five per cent of them have given trouble.


(4) The disposal of sewage from built-up communities by means of cesspools is a danger to the public health; any cesspool which is not operating satisfactory may readily become a source of infectious disease.


(5) Although Saugus has been fortunate in its health record, this does not warrant a feeling of security ; if a municipality has no adequate provisions for the disposal of its sewage, an epidemic may develop at any time. It is false economy to delay public health measures until an epidemic has occurred.


(6) The lack of adequate means for the disposal of sewage and household wastes is an inconvenience and a nuisance ; at Saugus it has also resulted in a direct financial loss to both indi- viduals and the town by preventing the sale of land upon which considerable taxable property would have been built. Some property owners are paying much more to maintain and operate cesspools than sewers would cost them.


(7) The installation of a modern sewer system would provide the town with the most satisfactory and sanitary method of carrying away the human wastes from homes and business establishments; it would safeguard the public health and by reason of improved sanitary conditions, would attract new popu- lation and encourage the development of property, thereby tend- ing to promote business prosperity and to increase real estate values throughout the town.


(8) A system of separate sewers, i.e. a system of sewers to receive domestic sewage and liquid industrial wastes without the admixture of storm or surface water, will best meet the require- ments of Saugus. The most economical method of disposal of sewage from Saugus is by discharging it into the sewerage works of the City of Lynn, provided proper arrangements can be made between the two municipalities.


(9) Eventually Saugus will find itself obliged to follow the example of other growing communities and install a system of sewers; each year of delay will increase the magnitude of the entire project and also the initial construction, it will add to the sum invested in cesspools to be abandoned, it will increase the cost of repairs to permanent street pavements if the paving is permitted to precede sewer construction and it may place diffi-


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TOWN DOCUMENTS.


[Dec. 31


culties in the way of making favorable arrangements with the City of Lynn for the disposal of sewage.


(10) It is estimated, that during 1925 property owners at Saugus paid nearly $37,000 for cleaning cesspools, and that during 1926 they will pay about $38,500 for cleaning cesspools and about $6,100 for constructing new ones, making the total cost for cesspools in 1926 approximately $44,600, which amount capitalized at 42 per cent. would represent an investment of nearly $1,000,000.


(II) The total cost of installing the sewers recommended as "Initial Construction" to serve 5,000 people in Cliftondale, Saugus Center and East Saugus, is estimated as $514,000. A part of this construction, however, will be adequate to serve additional parts of the town, when the sewer system is extended to reach them. The annual cost to the 5,000 people served, for financing, operating and maintaining the "Initial Construction," is estimated at $28,000. The cost of operating and maintaining cesspools for 5,000 people is estimated at $21,000.


(12) The annual cost of sewers will average about $1.40 more per person served than the cost of cesspools. This addi- tional cost will doubtless be offset by increased real estate values and should not be permitted to stand in the way of so important a public health measure as the installation of a sewer system.


RECOMMENDATIONS


(1) Saugus should petition the General Court, during its 1926 session, for permission to exceed its debt limit for the pur- pose of constructing a sewer system ; as soon as funds are made available the town should proceed to construct sewers at Clifton- dale, Saugus Center and East Saugus, as herein recommended for "Initial Construction."


(2) An agreement should be made, as soon as possible, between the Town of Saugus and the City of Lynn, whereby Saugus will be permitted to dispose of its sewage by discharging it into Lynn's sewerage works.


(3) A separate system of sewers should be constructed, substantially in accordance with the General Plan accompany- ing this report.


(4) The construction of sewers should precede the laying of permanent street pavements, if the sewers are to be built during


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PLANNING BOARD REPORT.


1925]


the life of the pavements. The planning of street improvements should be carefully co-ordinated with a program of sewer construction.


(5) The town authorities should discourage the develop- ment of areas, which because of their location or on account of their street and lot layouts, cannot economically be provided with utilities for preserving satisfactory sanitary conditions. Encouragement should be given to developments within or near present built-up areas, where the extension of utilities will not cost the town an excessively large amount.


(6) Especial precaution should be taken to prevent the over- flow of cesspools upon the surface of the ground, and all cesspool drains discharging into streams or upon the ground surface should be prohibited for the protection of the public health. Regulation 19 of the Board of Health should be strictly adhered to.


MUNICIPAL GARAGE


By vote of the 1925 Annual Town Meeting the article in the warrant on Municipal Garage was referred to this Board for in- vestigation and report.


We have given considerable attention to this question. The following town departments have been interviewed with regard to the number of town machines, apparatus, and equipment charged to them, together with costs of repairs and storage : Pub- lic works, Police, Fire, Board of Health, Gypsy Moth, Tree Warden and Cemetery Commissioner.


The Board still has this matter under consideration and will make a definite report to the Annual Town Meeting in March, 1926.


SIDEWALKS AND CURBS


The Planning Board of 1924 early considered the long neglect- ed need for sidewalk improvement. Considerable study and investigation during the year finally resulted in a conference with the Selectmen and Finance Committee at which time they sub- stantially accepted our ideas. The plan was to lay certain sam- ple sidewalks in the three main sections of the town that the cit- izens might see the great benefits of good walks.


The March Town Meeting voted the necessary money to carry out this program. The work completed by means of this appro- priation has been of great advantage in improving our town, we


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TOWN DOCUMENTS.


[Dec. 31


are sure. Furthermore, we believe a large majority of the voters have the same opinion.


Therefore, the Planning Board unanimously recommends the continning of this work for the coming year and thereafter until completed. We feel that abutters should be considered ; but not allowed to halt any work which would be of benefit to the town as a whole. We strongly advise and urge that curbing be provided, at proper grade, for all sidewalk construction where- ever done throughout the town.


PLAY GROUNDS


Within the last year the town has acquired land suitable for playground purposes ; at Stackpole's Field by purchase and the Cliftondale Recreation Park by gift. Therefore, this Board recommends that as large a sum as possible be appropriated at the March Town Meeting for the purpose of developing these sites.


Furthermore, we again recommend that a policy of acquiring unoccupied land adjacent to existing school houses be favorably considered.


The matter of parks is closely allied with the subject of playgrounds. In this connection we would ask the voters to consider developing our Town Farm as a Park, if the town votes to dispose of it. The few thousands derived from the sale of this property would be a poor investment when compared to the immense value of this land when developed as a beautiful park. The Town Farm is ideally fitted by nature to serve in this capacity for it has woods, low land, a site for a beautiful artifical lake, large level spaces and high points. Also, since the property lies on one of the main highways of the State, its value as a park would be tremendously increased. We ask that the town consider this thought very carefully.


In view of the fact that the Planning Board should be the authorized body for initiating and planning developments of parks and play grounds, we recommend that this board be appointed Park Commissioners with supervision over parks and play grounds.


FIRE AND POLICE STATION


It is evident to the town thet the housing provided for our Fire and Police Departments is wholly inadequate. Further, as the town grows it will soon become an absolute necessity to


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PLANNING BOARD REPORT.


1925]


provide new quarters. The Board offers no definite proposal in this report, but would ask that thought be given to this subject.


ZONING


This Board has given considerable attention to the matter of Zoning and is of the opinion that this subject should be given immediate serious consideration by the citizens of Saugus. The subject is too complicated for a report at this time and needs a special study to be properly understood.


To this end, the Board is making arrangements for public hearings so that the townspeople may get better acquainted with the needs of the town and the benefits of Zoning.


The people of Saugus are showing a strong tendency to get away from haphazard development. Zoning is simply a method of orderly development, as contrasted with haphazard, hit or miss development such as we have had, and are experiencing at the present time.


Zoning principles and laws require careful consideration of existing conditions and future requirements. This involves a general planning of streets, building lines, heights, locations of schools, parks, filling stations, etc., and requires the services of . a competent engineer as we believe the details too complicated to make self zoning entirely safe or advisable. This Board is now considering a proposition to bring before the March town meeting.


Respectfully submitted,


GEORGE H. MASON, Chairman. CHARLES N. WORMSTEAD, C. S. NICKERSON, FRANK W. RAMSDELL, CHARLES B. PUGSLEY, Secretary.


Members of Planning Board


11


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TOWN DOCUMENTS.


[Dec. 31


Report of Finance Committee


January 18, 1926


To the Citizens of the Town of Saugus :


During the year 1925, 34 meetings were held by this Com mittee for the purpose of preparing recommendations to cover appropriations to be made at the annual Town Meeting and for the consideration of requests for transfers from the Reserve Fund.


The transfers made from the Rererve Fund were as follows :


PURPOSE


AMOUNT


Schools-Playgrounds and Supervision


$100 00


Settlement McCarthy Claim 1,0000 0


Assessors Account Census 600 00


American Legion Building Repairs


1,150 00


Shaw Taking, account New School House


500 00


Accountant 75 00


Tax Title Account


400 00


Town Clerk


50 00


Water Maintenance and New Service


500 00


Insurance


283 48


Firemen's Salaries


224 50


Highway-Drainage


63 54


Police Department


78 99


School Repairs


900 00


Vital Statistics


41 25


$5,966 76


Assessing and Taxation


We wish to call attention to the increase in taxation that is taking place in Saugus. Our tax rate which has remained practi- cally the same for several years does not reflect the true situation. In 1924, the rate was $37.75, in 1925 it was $37.85. But the


163


FINANCE COMMITTEE REPORT.


1925]


actual increase in taxation borne by the taxpayers was 10 per cent. This is accounted for by the fact that when the Assessors came to fix the rate, they found that based on 1924 valuations the 1925 rate would be almost $41.00. Accordingly, they raised all valuations on land and buildings 10 per cent. over the valua- tions they had already determined upon for 1925-the result was an increase of at least 10 per cent. in every tax bill on real estate. The same result would have been achieved by an increase in the rate.


Opinions seem to differ as to which method should have been adopted. The point to be emphasized is, that whichever method was adopted, the taxpayers suffered a substantial increase in their taxes, directly attributable to the large appropriations made at the annual meeting in March. The increase in appropriations during the past three years is shown as follows :


APPROPRIATIONS


INCREASE OVER PREVIOUS YEAR


1923


426,869 55


$27,820 25


1924


465,947 08


39,077 47


1925


528,888 13


62,941 05


In a growing community like Saugus, it is to be expected that certain departments of the town need more money each year properly to carry on their work. This is all the more reason for keeping at a minimum those expenditures which are not abso- lutely necessary. We urge all cittzens interested in keeping taxes at a minimum to attend the annual Town Meeting. It should be borne in mind by all citizens that the responsibility for the amount of taxes they are required to pay rests primarily upon them and not upon town officials.


Water


Believing that measured service is the only efficient method of handling the sale of water, the Finance Committee has adopted the policy of including in each annual budget for the Water Department a definite sum for the purchase and installation of meters, to the end that eventually all services shall be metered. Owing to the large number of new services installed in 1925, all of which were metered, the number of meters installed on old services was not as great as was expected. We shall continue to recommend an appropriation for this work until all unmetered services are eliminated.


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TOWN DOCUMENTS


[Dec. 31


Conclusion


In conclusion, we ask the continued cooperation of the citi- zens and of the various town departments in keeping our appro- priations and expenditures within reasonable limits. We believe with Mayor Bates of Salem, that a town should advance accord- ing to its needs and not in imitation of other places financially better off.


HERBERT P. MASON, Chairman ERNEST F. TARBOX, Secretary HARRY WOODWARD HARRY W. MERRILL GEORGE E. SPRAGUE CHARLES W. GIBBS


HENRY A. MCCULLOUGH


Finance Committee


165


PUBLIC WORKS REPORT.


1925]


Report of Public Works Department


I beg to submit herewith the annual report of the Depart- ment of Public Works for the year ending Dec. 31, 1925.


Division of Highways


The maintenance problem in Saugus has increased greatly with the ever growing number of automobiles, and has come to a point where it is advisable to have a special patrol for patch- ing and general repairs, during several months of the year.


Many of the streets in town are actually worn cut and can not be reshaped or repaired except by placing of new material forța wearing course. This material in most cases would con- sist of screened gravel properly rolled and filled and bound on the surface with tar and pea stone.


During 1925 that portion of Main street, from Howard to the Wakefield line was taken care of in this manner, as was also a portion of Elm street, and the greater part of Harrison avenue. To get the best results the gravel should be clean and well graded.


Permanent construction was continued on Lincoln avenue to a point near Sunnyside court, including curbs and gutters from Jackson street to Central street, and such drainage as was necessary.


The westerly side of Lincoln avenue was paved from Franklin square to Chestnut street. Essex street was paved from the Boston and Maine Railroad westerly for a distance of about six hundred feet, and the westerly side of Monument square was paved from Columbus avenue to Main street.


Monument square should be completed in 1926 and the work on Essex street extended to Hood or Hayden street, and the westerly side of Chestnut street should be paved from Franklin square to Winter street. Permanent construction should be continued on Lincoln avenue.


The number of tarviated streets was increased in 1925 and more should be added in 1926. This treatment on the side streets is the most economical and satisfactory maintenance.


I 66


TOWN DOCUMENTS.


[Dec. 31


Some of the drainage difficulties were overcome this year, and there are a number of others that should be taken care of soon, one of the most important being on Essex street, from Mount Vernon to Grove street.


Division of Water


The new housing construction has continued and increased over 1925 to the extent that more than three times as many house services were installed in 1925 as in 1923, and an enlarged department will very soon be necessary.


Water extension in nearly every section of the town has been made, totaling 8,512 feet.


Again I wish to call attention to the fact that we have in Saugus several miles of cement lined pipe that was not built to withstand the pressure and draughts of our present fire apparatus. This constitutes a serious fire menace and should be removed by replacing at least 1,000 feet of cement main with cast iron, every year.


All new services are metered and the old ones should be entirely metered within the next three years.


Fourteen new hydrants were set in 1925 and several more should be set on Vine and Main streets. The work of elevating hydrants that are now too low should be continued, and several dead end pipes should be continued to connect with others to insure a better supply.


Respectfully submitted,


WM. J. LUMBERT.


Water Extension


Allison road


144 ft.


Aspen terrace ·


312 ft.


Auburn court and Wilson


181 ft.


Basswood avenue


149 ft.


Bayview road


187 ft.


Ballard street


560 ft.


Bridge street


350 ft.


Broadway .


2,100 ft.


Carleton street


204 ft.


Cliff street


192 ft.


Great Woods road


571 ft.


Holland street


558 ft.


1925]


PUBLIC WORKS REPORT.


167


Hillside avenue


420 ft.


Hemingway road


80 ft.


Howard street


820 ft.


Main street


860 ft.


Sunnyside avenue


156 ft.


Waldon avenue


121 ft.


Mccullough road


96 ft.


Greenwood avenue


235 ft.


Elmer avenue


I44 ft.


Water Department, 1925


New Services


131


Renewal


13


Changed


3


Repaired a


23


Cleaned


323


6330 ft. of r" cement lined pipe. 29 ft. of {" galv. pipe. 1722 ft. of 14" cement lined pipe.


Meters


New


172


Repaired


82


Tested


IO


Frozen


.


24


Hydrants


New ·


·


14


Replaced


I


Highways


Adams avenue .


$25 36


Ballard street


333 10


Birch street


309 14


Bristow street .


419 42


Cleveland avenue


2,000 00


Chestnut street .


262 95


Central street


2,024 96


Denver street


31 96


Essex street


1,382 38


Elm street


.


475 45


.


·


.


.


·


·


.


:68


TOWN DOCUMENTS.


[Dec. 31


Fairmount avenue


$32 34


Forest street


.


18 66


First street


39 77


Guild road


39 42


Hayden road


262 00


Highland avenue


331 54


Jasper street


24 40


Jackson street


96 80


Lincoln avenue (Franklin square to Wash- ington square)


1,009 34


Main street


2,979 96


Morton avenue


46 97


Myrtle street


50 00


Mt. Vernon street


76 70


Mountain avenue


45 90


Newhall street .


46 40


Pearson street .


358 27


Pleasant street .


70 75


Richard street .


115 08


Robinson street


15 94


Stone street


74 08


Spencer avenue


555 40


Summer street .


99 98


Spring street


300 00


Stackpole's Field


14 68


Taylor street


73 92


Vincent street


42 50


Vine street


371 62


Walnut street


182 88


Western avenue


21 51


Whitney street .


144 22


Woodbury avenue


127 05


Winter street


.


156 20


Water street .


386 78


169


CHIEF OF POLICE REPORT.


1925]


Report of Chief of Police


To the Honorable Board of Selectmen :


DEAR SIR :- I hereby respectfully submit the annual report of the Police Department together with its doings for the year 1925.


ROSTER OF THE DEPARTMENT


Chief Roland L. Mansfield


Captain John T. Stuart


Regular Officers


Frank W. Joy


James P. Sullivan


Clarence H. Berrett


Henry P. Wheaton


Roland E. Mansfield Peter A. Flaherty William MacDougall Ralph New


Special Officers


John J. Bannon, Timothy J. Bannon, Thurlow W. Bentley, John P. Chesley, John A. Garrow, William H. Gillespie, Nor- man D. Hatch, Howard F. Kelley, Karl F. Koch, Charles E. Light, William J. Lumbert, John E. Mansfield, Howard P. McAdoo, Axel G. Newbury, Wade T. Keller, Willie M. Penney, Charles Pugh, Henry R. Robinson, Edward O. Roy, Percy R. Salsman, William H. Semons, Frank M. Symonds, Philip Spencer, Joseph E. Tufts, Everett Vickary, John J. Walton, Daniel B. Willis, Alfred H. Woodward, Chas. N. Wormstead.


For the Lynn Water Sheds


Luberton D. Batchelder John H. Newhall


Dennis W. Mead William H. Tufts


Henry E. Newhall Henry N. Williams


Patrick Garrity


170


TOWN DOCUMENTS.


[ Dec. 31


The total number of arrests was 575 of which 545 were males and 30 were females. There were 50 juveniles arrested during the year which are included in the total.


The offences were as follows: Assault 33, adultery 4, breaking and entering 18, cruelty to animals 3, carrying loaded revolver 2, drunks 131, disorderly conduct 7, default 12, dogs not licensed 27, false weight 2, gaming on the Lord's Day, 13, illegal sale of liquor 2, illegal keeping liquor II, indecent language 2, larceny 24, malicious mischief 2, manslaughter I, non-support II, present at game 8, stubborn child 7, stealing a ride 3, threat 2, truancy I, trespass 12, violation town By-Laws 4, violation game laws 7, violation auto laws 213, violation Board of Health laws 3, operating gaming house I, illegal scales 3, storing explosives without permit I, violation proba- tion I, A. W. O. L. I, surrendered by surety I, abduction I, violation City Ordinance I. They were disposed of as follows : Fined 227, filed 56, discharged 21, defaulted I, released 38, turned over to other authorities 118, probation 83, committed to Salem jail 14, committed to State Board I, com- mitted to Danvers 1, held for Grand Jury 15.


Miscellaneous


Complaints received and investigated 1,077, doors and win- dows found open and secured 144, articles reported lost 95, lost articles found 80, autos stolen elsewhere and reported here 314, stolen autos recovered, 32, fire alarms responded to 28, persons reported missing 48, missing persons found 31, disturbances suppressed 7, lights extinguished 20, taken to hospital 28, all others 312.


Report on Ambulance


Total number of trips 263. Hospital trips 63. Total miles 1,698.7


Report on Ford


Total number of trips 537. Total miles 6,322.0.


Court Receipts


Paid to State of Massachusetts . $205 00


Paid to Town of Saugus .


1,370 00


Paid to County of Essex


120 00


Paid to M. S. P. C. A.


70 00


Total


. $3,575 00


I71


CHIEF OF POLICE REPORT.


1925]


What are the proper and most effective means for upholding law and order and for completely safeguarding life and property ? Without doubt you must place your greatest dependence on your police department. Therefore too much importance can- not be attached to the matter of supplying, for the use of the police, proper facilities to enable them to give, not part, but full measure of service.


It is a fact and is becoming universally recognized, that the most valuable facility for the police, is some reliable intercom- municating means for quickly concentrating all or any portion of their energy, on a moments notice.


For complete effectiveness, patrolman make scheduled re- ports known as "duty calls", from certain designated points, within prescribed limits, which will give evidence of service. This evidence must be dependable, and to be so, automatic records of these reports should be transmitted to police head- quarters by the policemen themselves, and there, automatically recorded as evidence of their whereabouts and as a protection, not only to themselves, but to the central office operator, and as a proof that the taxpayer's money goes a hundred per cent for police protection.


For this work the telephone has been pressed into service in Saugus, and that its service at best can furnish means only for oral reporting, and does not give real positive safety reliance to anybody.


Police officers are looking for no excuse for failure to meet the requirements expected of them in case of an emergency, but in the absence of proper facilities the blame must lie some- where, if, by reason of such absence, a failure occurs.


In the last analysis, it is obvious that the answer is, "Get a modern police telegraph system", and the most complete will be none to adequate.


I therefore again recommend that the Police Department be furnished with an up to date system.


I also recommend :- (1) That two (2) regular officers be added to the department, (2) That the pay of officers be in- creased (1) dollar a day, (3) That the officers' uniforms be furnished by the town (4) That a new automobile be purchas- ed to replace the one now in use (5) That provision be made to provide ammunition for target practice for officers.


In conclusion I wish to thank the members of the Board of Selectmen who have so loyally assisted me personally, and the


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TOWN DOCUMENTS.


[Dec. 31


department as a whole, also His Honor, Judge William E. Lud- den for the very valuable assistance he has rendered to the depart- ment, and to all others, too numerous to mention who have stood by and assisted the department during the year.


At this time I wish to say that the first duty of a police depart- ment is the prevention of crime, and that it is my desire that all citizens feel at liberty to ask for assistance or advise that will aid in crime prevention.




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