USA > Massachusetts > Essex County > Saugus > Town annual report of Saugus 1925 > Part 7
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50 31
2 28
52 59
2 50
50 09
378
Smith, Addie F.
·
·
57 60
2 59
60 19
2 25
57 94
W. 360
Smith, Alexander J. .
.
.
51 06
2 58
53 64
2 50
51 14
62 Smith, Arthur B.
75 00
75 00
75 00 ·
190
Smith, Charles L.
.
122 38
5 88
128 26
10 00
118 26
362
Smith, Elizabeth V. .
·
123 81
5 61
129 42
7 00
122 42
W. 378 Smith, Fred O. .
.
57 50
2 59
60 09
2 50
57 59
Grave 829 Smith, George, Mrs. .
15 00
15 00
15 00
Grave
338-339
Sprague, Walter
30 00
30 00
30 00
Grave 19
Somers, Samuel C.
15 12
68
15 80
75
15 05
Lot
135
Spurr, George G.
80 77
3 65
84 42
4 00
80 42
267
Steele, Mrs. Sidney H. and Mrs. J. H. Hadley ·
100 33
4 55
104 88
4 75
100 13
588
Stevens, Eugene
.
.
65 00
2 95
67 95
2 75
65 20
So. 3-78
Stewart, George C.
50 00
2 28
52 28
2 25
50 03
W.2-256
Stewart, John
·
.
20 00
20 00
20 00
A. 306
Stidstone, Emma A. .
50 03
2 28
52 31
2 00
50 31
443
Stocker, Amos T. lot
. 160 27
7 27
167 54
10 00
157 54
106
TOWN DOCUMENTS.
[Dec. 31
.
·
.
·
133-144 Stocker, Frederick, estate . 126 56 .
5 74
132 30
7 00
125 30
217 Stocker, Mrs. J. E. .
·
.
100 00
4 55
104 55
4 50
100 05
440 Stocker, Lewis O.
·
.
100 18
4 55
104 73
4 50
100 23
E. ₺-499
Stocker, Orrin T.
·
.
.
50 16
2 28
52 44
2 25
50 19
64 Stocker, Thomas
75 82
3 42
79 24
4 00
75 24
605
Stocker, Willard H., et al .
100 47
4 55
105 02
5 00
100 02
So.311-12 Stocker, William
.
·
55 00
2 50
57 50
2 50
55 00
63
Stocker, William P. .
·
·
150 67
6 85
157 52
7 50
150 02
Grave II
Stone, Mrs. C. B.
15 02
68
15 70
70
15 00
Grave
P.C.14-15 Swanson, Anna J. ·
30 36
I 38
31 74
I 50
30 24
Lot 61 Sweetser lot
100 53
4 55
105 08
5 00
100 08
Gr.SIO-811 Sweezey, Reuben A.
3º 34
I 38
31 72
1 50
30 22
No. 3-20 Sykes, Calvin
66 32
3 00
69 32
3 92
65 40
474
.
.
51 61
2 32
53 93
2 43
51 50
No.3-122
Tattersall, Major, lot
60 44
2 72
63 16
3 00
60 16
E. 368 Terry, Kate
54 03
2 46
56 49
2 25
54 24
495 Thayer, Mary G.
·
.
100 21
4 55
104 76
4 75
100 01
No. 3105-12 Thomas, William
50 00
2 28
52 28
2 25
50 03
107 Thompson, Isabel M. and Catherine Benson .
134 40
134 40
134 40
143 Tonks, Mrs. O. S. ·
·
104 13
4 73
108 86
5 75
103 II
578 Townsend, William S. .
10 00
10 00
10 00
107
RRUST FUNDS.
1925]
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.
·
.
·
.
.
Symonds, Frank M.
.
·
Trust Funds in Hands of the Treasurer, Income of which is applied Toward Perpetual Care of Lois
Lot No.
Name
Balance on hand Jan. 1, 1925
New Accounts recorded during 1925
Iterest on deposit during 1925
Total Credit 26 12
1 00
25 12
157 Trefethen, Wm. A. and Lelia
100 38
4 55
104 93
4 50
100 43
W. 368 Trenholm, Howard B.
61 94
2 79
64 73
3 50
61 23
No. 2-89 Trull, Silas S.
.
.
75 00
2 82
77 82
2 75
75 07
No. 2-176 Turner, A. E.
80 00
80 00
80 00
376 Turner, George
50 06
2 28
52 34
2 25
50 09
431
Turner, Harry .
100 05
4 55
104 60
4 50
100 10
Twiss & Jones lots (¿ Snow tomb),
150 16
7 21
157 37
6 00
151 37
178
Upham, Elbridge S. .
6 87
158 04
8 00
150 04
A.
493
Valentine, John A.
48 31
2 18
50 49
2 25
48 24
So.2-128
Waitt, Louise E. V. .
50 04
2 53
52 57
2 50
50 07
So.2-160
Waldron, Herbert and Mary E.,
50 03
2 28
52 31
2 25
50 06
64
Waldron, Gilbert
.
·
100 08
5 05
105 13
5 00
100 13
69
Walton, Henry .
·
.
.
100 16
4 55
104 71
4 50
100 21
No.3-207
Walton, John B.
50 06
2 28
52 34
2 25
50 09
Gr. 65-66
Ward, Edward .
65 62
3 14
68 76
3 50
65 26
213
Waterhouse, Charles E.
120 00
120 00
120 00
29-30 Watson, Lizzie M.
.
.
4 55
104 80
4 50
100 30
No.2-325 Webb, Jane A.
·
50 18
2 28
52 46
2 25
50 21
Gr'ves 17-18 Wells, Charlotte A.
·
.
30 22
I 36
31 58
1 50
30 08
108
TOWN DOCUMENTS.
[Dec. 31
Balance on hand Paid for care of lot Dec. 31, 1925
639 Tracey, Fred
.
o
·
.
·
.
.
.
.
100 25
25 00
1 12
.
151 17
445 Westwood, David
. 100 05
4 55
104 60
4 50
100 10
II7 Westwood, Isabel
100 08
5 05
105 13
5 00
100 13
Grave 16 P. C. Wheaton, Johanna .
15 18
68
15 86
75
15 II
340 Whitaker, James F. .
100 26
4 55
104 81
4 50
100 31
482-483
Whitcher, Richard P. and Chauncey G.
·
·
150 16
6 82
156 98
6 75
150 23
501
White, Lucy and Mary.
50 03
2 28
52 31
2 25
50 06
E.
359
Whitehead, Harvey F. and Forrest L. Abbott .
67 86
3 06
70 92
3 00
67 92
136 Whitehead, Martha . .
150 67
6 85
157 52
7 50
150 02
Grv's 827-828 Whittier, Howard W.
13
30 13
30 13
So. 2-239 Wiggin, Elizabeth
80 00
80 00
80 00
45
Williams Annie
·
52 36
2 36
54 72
3 00
51 72
703
Williams, J. H.
44 16
2 00
46 16
2 00
44 16
So.3-79 Willis, D. B.
50 56
2 28
52 84
2 75
50 09
Grv's 71-73
Williscroft, Mary .
50 15
2 28
52 43
2 25
50 18
162 Wilson, Daniel F.
209 16
9 49
218 65
15 00
203 65
315 Wilson, Everett E. .
150 82
6 85
157 67
7 50
150 17
(old) 38
Wilson, Everett E.
50 16
2 28
52 44
2 25
50 19
316
Williams, George E.
100 38
4 55
104 93
4 50
100 43
175 Wilson, Harrison
4 55
104 60
4 50
100 10
56
Wilson Jerome
·
.
100 47
4 55
105 02
5 00
100 02
242
Wilson, Mary A.
100 25
4 55
104 80
4 75
100 05
109
TRUST FUNDS.
1925]
.
·
·
.
·
·
·
30 00
·
·
.
100 05
Trust Funds in Hands of the Treasurer, Income of which is applied toward Perpetual Care of Lots.
Lot No.
Name
74
Wood, Sarah A.
.
Balance on hand Jan. 1, 1925 50 25
New Accounts recorded during 1925
Interest on Deposit during 1925 2 28
Total Credit
Paid for care of lot
Balance on hand Dec. 31, 1925
E.
379
Woodman, John A. .
.
40 00
17
40 17
40 17
W. 1-466 Woods, Alfred .
45 00
45 00
45 00
W. 383
Youlden, Thirza and
Thyra A. Walkey
79 20
33
79 53
79 53
Graves 4-5-6-7 8-9-10-12 Single Graves ·
.
, 105 94
4 79
, 110 73
₱5 50
105 23
$26,765 41 $8,514 27 $1, 263 91 $36,543 59 $1,400 71 $35, 142 88
I IO
TOWN DOCUMENTS
[Dec. 31
52 53
2 50
50 03
III
..
SELECTMEN'S REPORT.
1925]
Report of Selectmen
To the Citizens of the Town of Saugus :
The Board of Selectmen begs leave to submit the following report of its stewardship to the citizens whom it has tried so faithfully to serve.
We feel that in many ways it has been a year of distinct prog- ress and that the many permanent improvements about town attest to the truth of this assertion.
The Board has eliminated two of the most dangerous corners in town ; namely, at the East Saugus Community Church and upon Main street approaching the Newburyport turnpike. Cliftondale square and approaches has been improved one hun- dred per cent by the installation of monolithic sidewalks, per- manent highway, and cement curbing and gutters. Both Monu- ment and Franklin squares have also undergone extensive improvements of a similar nature. Lincoln avenue has been permanently reconstructed to a point near the Sim farm in East Saugus. In addition permanent highway construction has been laid upon Essex street and the westerly side of Lincoln avenue in East Saugus. All of these improvements are permanent and, in our opinion, this method is far superior to the old plan of patching here and there.
The Board has also made extensive improvements in the in- ternal organization of several of the departments under its juris- diction. In each instance economies have been effected which means money in the pockets of the taxpayers. Space in this report is small and only two will be mentioned as illustrations.
(1) The Board appointed four citizens of business experi- ence to administer the affairs of the Fire Department. The best answer as to how well they did is found in the fact that after paying their own salaries from the general appropriation they turned back nearly $500 in cash to the town treasury.
(2) The Board appointed Mr. Henry A. Parker to have complete jurisdiction over the matter of State Aid and Soldiers' Relief. The success of this move is demonstrated by the fact
II2
TOWN DOCUMENTS.
[Dec. 31
that Mr. Parker is turning back in cash to the town treasury an unexpended balance of nearly $1,000.
The financial condition of the various town departments under the jurisdiction of the Board of Selectmen was excellent at the close of the year. Many departments turned back unexpended balances, and very few exceeded their appropriations.
The Board is proud of the fact that it has gone through the year without a special town meeting, which in the past had become to be sort of an annual custom.
The Board has mapped out and recommended a very necessary highway program for 1926 and trusts that the citizens in town meeting will endorse it. Good highways are absolutely neces- sary to a good community.
We recommend that the following permanent construction be carried out in 1926 :
(a) Lincoln avenue, from where the work stopped last year.
(b) Essex street, continued.
(c) Chestnut street, westerly side.
(d) Monument square.
Also the following semi-permanent construction :
(a) Winter street.
(b) Denver street.
(c) Central street, from mills to Walnut street.
(d) Water street.
(e) Main street, at ledge now being removed.
We have been mindful that unnecessary public expenditures must be eliminated and have, accordingly, recommended economy budgets for all of our departments for 1926.
Signed, VERNON W. EVANS,
HAROLD E. DODGE
113
SELECTMEN'S REPORT.
1925]
MINORITY REPORT
To the Citizens of the Town of Saugus :
As a majority of the Board of Selectmen have drawn up and signed a Selectmen's report without consulting me and then turned it over to the secretary to obtain my signature, I feel that I ought to submit a minority report to the citizens of Saugus. The foremost thought of a town official should be to establish business efficiency and sound economy, ever keeping in mind the heavy burden borne by the taxpayers.
In conjunction with a definite program of permanent street construction on Walnut and Water streets and Lincoln avenue, there should be kept in mind the necessity of a reasonable street repair schedule.
While sidewalk construction undertaken failed to net Saugus full value for money expended this project should be continued, work to be performed by the town.
Water is an absolutely necessity and should be enjoyed by all the citizens. A constructive policy on water extension which will properly protect the town without causing undue hardship to the several takers, is greatly needed. The application of more business like methods in handling the matter of service installa- tions is much desired. Immediate thought should be given the matter of replacing the many miles of cement water mains in the principal streets of the town as a continuance of this neglect may cause a great fire hazard and ultimately result in the loss of life and property. Without question the cost of conducting the water business in the town of Saugus should be speedily determined.
Competitive bidding should be resorted to in all contracts of $200 or over. The practice of split contracts should be discon- tinued. Bonds on all contracts should be properly filed.
In conjunction with the foregoing there should be an absolute check on all materials purchased and used by the various town departments.
Matters in the several departments under supervision of the Selectmen require more constant thought than it has been the practice to give them. Jealousy is the most expensive item in any business and should be stamped out. Seniority of service should be respected in order to build up the morale of depart- ments.
A survey of the present street lighting system should be made
8
1J4
TOWN DOCUMENTS.
[Dec. 31
with the object in view of installing a more modern and adequate system.
An annual audit of town accounts by the Director of Accounts of the Department of Corporations and Taxation should be mandatory. A similar audit for the period since the last one made in 1913 to January 1, 1926, is greatly to be desired, as it would safeguard officials and protect the town.
The present star chamber sessions should be replaced by public meetings. Town business is the concern of all its citizens.
Space forbids calling your attention to all the matters upon which you should be informed. This is intended only as con- structive criticism. The future of Saugus is in the hands of its citizens.
Respectfully submitted,
C. F. NELSON PRATT. January 25, 1926.
115
PLANNING BOARD REPORT.
1925]
Planning Board Report
SAUGUS, MASS., January 13, 1926. To the Citizens of the Town of Saugus:
In accordance with Article 12 of the Town By-Laws the Planning Board herewith submits its report for the year ending December 31, 1925.
During the year the Board has had changes in its member- ship and officers. The resignation of Mr. Edward Gibbs, Jr., to accept the position of Town Accountant caused a vacancy in membership and in the office of secretary which were filled by the appointment of Mr. Frank M. Ramsdell to membership and the election of Mr. Charles B. Pugsley as secretary. Regular meetings have been held on the first and third Mondays of each month ; special meetings as required.
The subjects considered have been as follows :
Sewerage
The Annual Town Meeting of March, 1925, through an article recommended by the Planning Board, voted ($1,100) eleven hundred dollars to make a Preliminary Survey of the town to ascertain the possibilities for a sewerage system. As the article also provided that the work be done under the direc- tion of this board we consulted with the Town Engineer who advised hiring a firm of Consulting Engineers to give us informa- tion as to what we should expect in a Preliminary Survey. After receiving this report the Board interviewed several engineering concerns, finally voting unanimously, after much deliberation, to hire Fay, Spofford and Thorndike to make this survey. For next year the Board can make no recommenda- tions at this time, but expects to be in a position to bring a definite proposition for action at the March Town Meeting.
The Planning Board was very gratified at the vote of the townspeople in granting an appropriation for this survey and earnestly requests support to continue this very necessary work. In connection with this project we herewith append the Engineeer's report for the consideration of the citizens.
116
TOWN DOCUMENTS.
[Dec. 31
DEC. 31, 1925.
Saugus Planning Board, Saugus, Mass.
GENTLEMEN,-We submit herewith our Preliminary Report on A System of Sewers for the Town of Saugus.
This report and our investigation are made in accordance with our agreement dated August 20, 1925, which was accepted by your Board under date of September 10, 1925. The general plan of sewerage proposed for the town and the method of dis- posing of the sewage by discharging it into sewers of the city of Lynn have been approved by the Massachusetts Department of Public Health.
We wish to express our appreciation of the assistance and cooperation which we have received from the various town departments in securing data. Mr. George H. Mason and Mr. Charles E. Light, also, have been very helpful to us.
Respectfully submitted,
FAY, SPOFFORD & THORNDIKE By R. W. HORNE,
REPORT
THE DEVELOPMENT OF SEWERAGE WORKS
Communities have generally come to realize, sooner or later, that the lack of adequate means for collecting and disposing of their sewage and wastes is unquestionably a very serious menace to health. Even the ancient peoples recognized the benefits which were to be derived from sewerage works; we find records of sewers having been built as long ago as the seventh century B. C. and records of the use of sewers in Ninevah, Babylon, ancient Rome and early Jerusalem.
The extensive construction of sewers in London during the nineteenth century was largely brought about because of two severe epidemics of cholera, one in 1849 and one in 1854. As a result of these epidemics it is estimated that about 25,000 people lost their lives. Previous to the construction of sewers London had depended almost entirely upon the use of cesspools for sewage disposal, and it has been definitely established that the pollution of well water supplies by the drainage from cess-
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II7
PLANNING BOARD REPORT.
1925]
pools was in a large measure responsible for the London epidemics.
In Germany the use of sewers on a comprehensive plan com- menced at Hamburg with the construction of a sewer system there in 1842.
The first comprehensive sewer system in the United States was designed for the City of Chicago in 1855. In 1915, Baltimore, which was the last of the large American cities without sewers, installed its system. Previous to the installation of the Balti- more system the City Health Commissioner reported that as a result of the fouling of the soil by the use of cesspools the chem- ical analyses of 71 samples of pump and spring water taken within the city limits indicated that 33 were filthy, 10 were bad and 22 suspicious ; only six were reported as being good.
That most municipalities are now aware of the value of mod- ern sewerage works is clearly shown by statistics which indicate that in 1920 over 85 per cent of the communities in the United States with a population of 2,500 or more had sewer systems available.
PRESENT METHODS OF SEWAGE DISPOSAL AT SAUGUS
Saugus has no modern municipal sewer system; there are a few small sewers, some at East Saugus and some at Saugus Center, which have been built by private individuals and with- out the sanction of the town authorities. No adequate records are available as to the definite location of the sewers and it is doubtful if they could be utilized to advantage as part of a com- prehensive sewer system.
At East Saugus, residences on Chestnut street and Lincoln avenue have connections with an existing sewer in Lincoln a venue ; another sewer serves an area east of Lincoln avenue in the vicinity of Johnson, Vincent, Newhall and Wendall streets. Both of these sewers discharge into the tidal waters of the Saugus river.
At Saugus Center there are a number of residences and build- ings along Central street and in the vicinity of the square which make use of sewers discharging either at the Saugus river, or into streams emptyiug into it. One street is provided with a septic tank installation which has an overflow to the river. At times of low water sewage discharged by the several sewers is left exposed on the flats at East Saugus and upon the banks of the Saugus river, causing disagreeable odors and unhealthy conditions.
LIS
TOWN DOCUMENTS.
[Dec. 31
Except for the sewers already mentioned, cesspools are in com- mon use for the disposal of sewage in the more thickly built-up sections of the town, and privies are used in the outlying areas. The cesspools and privy vaults are cleaned out by contractors who truck the filth through the streets, to the town farm where it is disposed of by dumping upon the surface of the grounds. inevitable that some of the filthy cleanings are spilled in the yards and upon the streets, and that together with the cleanings dumped at the town farm, they may at any time become a source of human infection.
In order to properly safeguard the public health a cleanly disposal of human wastes is at all times necessary. If not dis- posed of in a sanitary manner these wastes may in numerous ways get into the water we drink, the food we eat or on the skin of our bodies; and by so doing convey to us the germs which have come from the bodies of persons already infected with disease.
The installation of a modern sewer system would provide the town with an adequate and sanitary means of disposing of the human wastes from homes and business establishments.
CESSPOOL.S
In disposing of sewage, whether in cesspools or by more modern and satisfactory methods, the objects to be accomplished are : (1) avoidance of offense to sight and smell, (2) pre- vention of access to human excrement by animals, flies and other insects which soil their bodies with infectious material and carry this material either directly or indirectly to human beings, (3) prevention of human excrement and wastes from being carried into the atmosphere as dust to infect human beings and (4) avoidance of the contamination of drinking water supplies. Numerous cesspool installations at Saugus fall far short of meeting these requirements.
DESCRIPTION OF CESSPOOLS. Cesspools at Saugus are built similar to those commonly in use ; they are comparatively shallow pits dug in the ground, generally about five or six feet in diameter and eight or nine feet in depth. They are constructed to per- mit liquids discharged into them to percolate through the walls and into the surrounding soil. At Saugus the impervious character of the soil in which many of the cesspools are built, and the extensive clogging of the soil surrounding the cesspools has frequently caused them to fail as a means of sewage disposal.
119
PLANNING BOARD REPORT.
1925]
DISPOSAL OF SEWAGE IN CESSPOOLS. In a cesspool partly or wholly filled with sewage and household wastes the sus- pended solids of the sewage tend to settle to the bottom, forming a layer of sludge which makes the bottom of the cesspool prac- tically inoperative in so far as the escape of liquids is concerned. The greater portion of the liquids probably escapes at the sides above the layer of sludge.
The sludge which accumulates in cesspools is broken up through the activity of small organisms called bacteria. The breaking-up of the sludge by bacterial action results in some of it being transformed into liquid and this portion of the material is eventually carried away in solution by the sewage liquids which seep into the surrounding soil. Bacterial action also causes considerable gas to be evolved during the progress of decomposition. This gas is very likely to be foul smelling and may cause offense if permitted to escape freely into the air. No purification results from the bacterial action which takes place in a cesspool.
The soil in the vicinity of a cesspool becomes highly polluted. The distance this pollution will travel depends upon the poros- ity of the soil ; the greater the success of a cesspool as a sewage disposal device, the greater will be its influence in polluting the soil and the ground water supplies in the vicinity. If the material in which the cesspool is dug consists of loose gravel or creviced rock, the fresh sewage may infect wells several hundred feet distant.
Cesspools are always unsanitary, and generally fail to drain properly unless there is provision for intercepting solids and grease so that this material will not be carried into the pores of the surrounding earth to clog them. Cesspools are also un- satisfactory where changes in the level of the ground water table result in a material lessening of their capacity. It is very im- portant indeed that liquids leaching from cesspools should not contaminate wells, the water from which is used for drinking and household purposes.
USE OF CESSPOOLS AT SAUGUS
By far the greater part of the "built-up" portions of the town are provided with cesspools for the disposal of sewage. We have, therefore, made a careful canvass of numerous cesspool installations in various parts of the town, to determine whether they have given satisfaction and what the cost of building and
120
TOWN DOCUMENTS.
[Dec. 3
maintaining them has been. It has not been possible to collect date regarding all cesspools in use, but the cesspools for which records were obtained are so distributed about the town to war- rant the use of such records as fairly representative of all cesspools. The cesspool installations range from a single cess- pool serving two people to a group of cesspools serving several families.
In some cases one cesspool has been sufficient while in others several cesspools have been required and even then they have not given satisfactory results. Frequently cesspools which have given trouble have been provided with overflows, but overflows have not usually been built until after the cesspools have given trouble. Slightly more than 45 per cent of the cesspools inves- tigated were found to have overflow provisions. These over- flows sometimes lead to a blind drain and sometimes they dis- charge upon the surface of the ground or into a stream; either of the last two practices is decidedly unsanitary and should be prohibited for the protection of the public health.
Besides the number of cesspools having overflows, others amounting to over 30 per cent of the total are reported as unsat- isfactory ; this percentage taken together with the percentage of cesspools having overflows indicates that over 75 per cent of the cesspools at Saugus have at some time or other given trouble, and our canvass indicates that over 50 per cent of the cesspools are considered by the property owners as unsatisfactory at the present time.
Complaints of cesspools which have overflowed indicate that in numerous cases they have not been cleaned out as frequently as is necessary. Conditions of this sort should receive prompt attention because the liquids overflowing from a cesspool upon the ground surface may at any time become a source of infection to persons living in the vicinity, through the agency of insects and domestic animals which enter the houses.
PEOPLE SERVED BY A SINGLE CESSPOOL INSTALLATION
The number of people served by a single cesspool installation is shown by our investigation to range from a minimum of two to- a maximum of twenty-four and averages about five for all the in- stallations regarding which we have obtained data.
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