USA > Massachusetts > Essex County > Saugus > Town annual report of Saugus 1938 > Part 21
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At the present time I am formu- lating a new plumbing ordinance which I hope will be in operation in the near future.
I wish to extend my appreciation to the members of the Board of Health and to the various depart- ments who have co-operated with me in any way in the performance of my duties.
Respectfully submitted, JOHN V. SPENCER, Inspector of Plumbing.
180
TOWN DOCUMENTS
[Dec. 31
Report of Inspector of Animals
December 31, 1938. Honorable Board of Selectmen: Saugus, Mass.
Gentlemen :- The annual inspec- tion of animals was made during December 1938 as required by the State Department of Live Stock Disease Control. I consider that conditions surrounding the housing of animals have improved material- ly during the past year.
This year we have had only nine cows react to the tubercular tests. These cows were condemned and the tie-ups repaired, cleaned and disinfected.
We have one less piggery in Town this year. I have inspected the following number of animals:
Cattle, 309; Swine, 1015; Sheep, 4; Goats, 11.
I have placed in quarantine 103 dogs reported to me as having bit-
ten citizens. I have made 252 in- spections of these dogs to observe their condition.
We had six cases of positive ra- bies during the year. This was de -. termined by examination of the dogs' heads at Harvard.
There have been a large number of persons bitten by unknown and stray dogs during the past year. In every case I have reported this to the Board of Health who under the State law have recommended Pasteur treatment.
This has caused an additional cost to the Town of $368.47 over the previous year because of bites from stray and unlicensed dogs. This was paid for from the funds of the Board of Health.
Very truly yours,
CHARLES WILSON,
Inspector of Animals.
Report of Public Health Nurse
To the Board of Health,
Saugus, Mass.
Gentlemen :- I am pleased to submit my annual report as Public Health Nurse for the year ending December 31, 1938.
Number of home visits 1886. This covers all communicable diseases and their contacts, inspections of boarding homes for infants, as well as various complaints.
New Cases Reported
Chicken Pox 46
Measles 2
Measles (German) .. 3
Mumps 3
Pneumonia (lobar) .... 8
Scarlet Fever 36
Septic Sore Throat .... 1 Tuberculosis:
(a) Pulmonary .... 8
(b) Hilum
1
(c) All other forms 1 Whoping Cough ... 38
There is a noticeable decrease in the number of communicable dis- eases reported during 1938, due I
believe to the co-operation of home and with the Board of Health.
Diphtheria
Inoculations were given by Dr. James A. Clark and Dr. Leroy C. Furbush to 384 pupils of Grade 1 and Kindergarten against Diph- theria.
Tuberculosis
The co-operation of tubercular patients and contacts in helping to prevent the spread of this disease by having X-ray examinations and adhering to the instructions of the Health Department is most gratify- ing. There were but two deaths this year.
Nine children who were contacts of tubercular patients enjoyed the privilege of a vacation at Health Camps due to the sale of Christ- mas Seals and funds received from private organizations of the Town.
I have transported 633 children to and from the Dental Clinic held every Tuesday and Thursday at the Cliftondale School; 76 patients to
181
DENTAL CLINIC SUPERVISOR'S REPORT
1938]
Essex, North Reading, and Lake- ville Sanatoriums for X-ray exami- nations; also nine children to the Health Camps.
May I again urge that all cases of communicable diseases be report- ed promptly and all quarantine regulations enforced.
In closing, may I thank you, Gentlemen of the Board of Health, for your encouragement and co-op- eration also to each and every per- son who has in any way assisted. me, I express my gratitude.
Respectfully yours, N. JESSIE O'NEIL, R. N.
Report of the Milk and Food Inspector
Dec. 31, 1938.
Saugus Board of Health, Saugs, Mass.
Gentlemen :- I herewith present to you my annual report for the year ending December 31, 1938, for your approval.
Milk
Number of dealers selling milk in Saugus
34
Number of samples collected for analysis 102
Number of samples found be- low standard 18
Pasteurizing plants in Saugus 6
Inspection of plants outside of Saugus Food
14
Stores inspected (this includes every type) 3071
Bottling plant inspections 12
Baking inspections 34 Clam plant inspections 22
Ice cream manufacturing 2
Ice cream manufacturing plants inspected 14
Complaints investigated 37
Health
Overflowing cesspools in-
vestigated 61
Complaints investigated 143
Number of Overnight Cabin
units 71
Inspections of cabins 272
Receipts for 1938
Tourist cabin licenses $120.00 Manufacturing of Ice Cream Licenses 2.00
Milk Licenses 57.00
Ice Cream Licenses 36.00
Oleomargerine Licenses 9.50
Pasteurization Licenses 60.00
Bottling Licenses 20.00
$304.50
Respectfully submitted,
CHARLES WILSON, Inspector.
Report of Supervisor of Saugus Dental Clinic
Jan. 2, 1939. To the Board of Health:
Gentlemen: I herewith submit my annual report of the Dental Clinic.
The Clinic was conducted the same as in previous years at the Cliftondale School, Tuesday and Thursday mornings at nine o'clock.
A detailed report follows:
Total No. of deciduous extrac- tions 296
Total No. permanent extrac- tions 14
Total No. fillings 128
Total No. prophylactic treat- ments 220
Total No. of Patients
658
A small fee of twenty-five cents is charged for each visit. Receipts for the year total $147.50.
Respectfully submitted,
ROGER P. BECKMAN, D.M.D.
182
TOWN DOCUMENTS
[Dec. 31
Report of Cemetery Commissioners
Your Commissioners are pleased to report that the receipts of the Cemetery Department during 1938 were-in spite of a decrease of 30 per cent in interments-$11,- 202.82. The appropriation for 1938 was $9800, and there is being re- turned to the Treasurer an unex- pended balance of $132.75, expenses having been kept well within the appropriation.
During the year the new Catho- lic and 700 sections have been com- pleted, a wall erected along Winter Street with suitable sign over the entrance, all well within the $1200 special appropriation granted at the last Annual Town Meeting. The hurricane damage was also covered with this appropriation.
The sum of $11,000 is requested for 1939, labor costs having been increased, both by the raising of wages by the Town in the early part of the year and by the in- creased area to be cared for.
So long as receipts exceed ex- penditures, no criticism can be of- fered in asking for an increased budget, that proper labor charges may be made and the equipment
necessary for the proper care of the cemetery may be maintained.
The old wall along Winter Street which was in bad condition has been repaired at an expense of $300. Your Commissioners were granted a $950 appropriation in the Special Town Meeting of January 9th to repair the wall at the old Cemetery in Monument Square, Scotch peak the same, and erect a wire fence on the south and west sides. This will prevent children from running along the top of the wall and attempting desecration of this historic cemetery.
Thanks are due Superintendent Merrithew of the Public Works De- partment for much loam furnished where new streets were being in- stalled. This loam will have to be purchased during 1939.
The Welfare Department has also furnished considerable labor during the year from recipients of welfare aid.
HENRY A. B. PECKHAM, WILLIAM E. LUDDEN, BENJAMIN A. FULLERTON, Commissioners.
Report of Trustees of Saugus Public Library
Trustees John B. Lang, Chairman; Lever- ett B. Mears, Secretary; Walter D. Blossom, Albert R. Magee, Kaler A. Perkins, Chauncey V. Whit- tredge.
Staff
Laura A. Taylor, Librarian.
Margaret L. Cameron, Assistant Librarian.
Alice Lang, Branch Librarian, Cliftondale Branch Library.
Aginess Blossom, Branch Libra- rian, East Saugus Branch Library.
*Sarah Porter, Branch Librarian, North Saugus Branch Library.
¡Maude Moses, Branch Librarian, North Saugus Branch Library.
Anna Swanson, Branch Librarian,
Lynnhurst Branch Library.
Hour Workers
Jeanne Anderson, Virginia Babb, Edith Chase, Patricia Cotting, Jean Marsh, Marjorie Walkey.
Janitor, Main Library, Walter Gay.
*Pensioned.
*Appointed.
We, the Board of Library Trus- tees of the Saugus Public Library, submit our report for the year end- ing December 31, 1938.
It has been a good year and a busy one. Circulation figures have risen, for which there are two rea- sons:
1938]
PUBLIC LIBRARY TRUSTEES' REPORT
183
1. The general trend in the last year has been toward more reading, thus creating a greater demand for books.
2. Due to a larger book appro- priation, we were better prepared to meet the demand. The increase in the book appropriation has also enabled us to purchase some of the material, both in the general and reference collections, which could not be acquired when the funds for books were as low as $278.09 (1933). Neither is it merely a case of buying what had to be omit- ted during the depression. It is also a matter of having the most up-to-date material on some sub- jects. Good books of travel, biog- raphy, history, and literature are always good, but not so economics and science. To give service in these subjects, we must have the latest material. A book on air condition- ing published five years ago is out of date today. To give wrong in- formation is worse than to give no information. There is a constant need of more books, new titles and replacements, and books are more expensive than they were a few years ago. Therefore, more money rather than less, is need for books.
Circulation figures are the only concrete way of showing what is being done, but the library has other functions and services as well. For instance, many reference ques- tions are answered each week, both at the library and by telephone. To instill a greater interest in reading, the library held book reviews again this year. These reviews are given once every two weeks and the at- tendance this year has been grati- fying. This is a service for adults, of course, but the children have not been neglected. In November, we started a story hour for them. Up until the holiday season, this re- ceived an overwhelming response- so much so that we lacked chairs enough to go around and had to seat the children on tables and packing cases as well! The children are becoming increasingly library conscious and a children's room should be one of our considerations in the near future.
In Cliftondale, the major problem is lack of space. Although that branch is not open as much, it ex-
ceeds the circulation in the Main Library. This is happening now even though the accommodations there are inadequate for the de- mand placed upon them. Just as the business district in Saugus has grown toward Cliftondale, so has. the library spread in that same di- rection. Adequate working facili- ties in the Cliftondale Branch. woul make for more efficient serv- ice in the entire system, with the Main Library handling the techni- cal work (ordering, classification, cataloging, etc.) and the Clifton- dale Branch carrying the larger circulation.
We wish to express our apprecia- tion to everyone who has co-operat- ed with us this year-the Lynn Daily Item, the Saugus Herald, the Telegram-News for their attention to our news items; those who so kindly kept the Library supplied with flowers during the garden sea- son; those who have given books, magazines, and other material to the Library; our book reviewer, the Rev. Emerson S. Schwenk, and those who have helped in numerous other ways.
Respectfully submitted,
JOHN B. LANG,
KALER A. PERKINS, LEVERETT B. MEARS,
ALBERT R. MAGEE,
WALTER D. BLOSSOM,
CHAUNCEY V. WHITTREDGE.
American Library Association Form of Statistics
Annual report for the year end- ing December 31, 1938:
Name of library: Saugus Public Library.
Town: Saugus, Mass.
Librarian: Laura A. Taylor.
Date of founding: 1887.
Population served: (Census 1937) -15,566.
-
Assessed valuation of town: $16,- 319,609.00.
Library appropriation per capita: 57 cents.
Terms of use: Free for lending and reference.
Total number of agencies: 6.
Consisting of: Main Library, Saugus Centre; Cliftondale Branch, East Saugus Branch, North Saugus
184
TOWN DOCUMENTS
[Dec. 31
Branch, Lynnhurst Branch, High School.
Hours open each week for lend- ing and reference:
Main Library, 341/2; Cliftondale Branch, 21; East Saugus Branch, 1012; North Saugus Branch, 3; Lynnhurst Branch, 3; High School, school days.
Book Stock: Volumes at begin-
ning of year, 21,641; Volumes ad- ded, 1547; Volumes withdrawn, 575; Total volumes at end of year, 22,- 613; Number of periodicals (titles) currently received, 44.
Circulation Record: Main Libra- ry, 33,882; Cliftondale Branch, 37,- 607; East Saugus Branch, 9,580; North Saugus Branch, 2,098; Lynn- hurst Branch, 2,973; High School, 3,671. Total 89,811.
Report of Harbor Master
To the Honorable Board of Selectmen.
Gentlemen:
I wish to submit the fifth annual report of the Harbor Master for the year ending December 31, 1938.
Yachts and motorboats given assistance in distress and towed to a safe anchorage, 3; removed from midchannel, 12; unregistered boats reported missing, 4; unregistered boats reported missing and returned to owners, 2; registered motor boats reported missing and returned to owners, 2; duly registered motor- boats given an anchorage, 14; float permits issued, 2. Fourteen hun- dred miles were covered by motor- boat for regular and patrol work. Through the efforts of this office a hearing was held on August 10, 1937, by the War Department per- taining to dredging the Saugus River. On February 11, 1938, the Department reported unfavorable to dredging. or surveying at the present. This department believes it possible to have this work done
provided one project is presented at the next hearing.
A W. P. A. project has been ap- proved for cleaning the shores and river of obstructions and debris. This work is very important be- cause of the damage done by the recent hurricane. Another project will be submitted to grade and fence the Public Landing. This property is for use to all boat own- ers for making repairs, launching and hauling out in emergencies, and should be made suitable for these purposes.
It is recommended by the depart- ment to purchase a motor for the boat and much needed equipment, lack of which greatly hindered the removal of boats sunk or destroyed by the hurricane.
In conclusion, I wish to thank the Honorable Board of Selectmen and all others who by their co-operation aided me during the past year.
Respectfully submitted,
PHILIP A. FARNHAM, Harbor Master.
Report of W. P. A. Certifying Board
December 31, 1938. Honorable Board of Selectmen Town Hall Saugus, Mass.
Gentlemen:
In submitting the report of the W. P. A. Certifying Board of the year 1938 we wish to state that it has been a very trying year for the
unemployed of the Town of Saugus.
The registration for 1938 was 399 persons, making a total registra- tion of 1523. As the Commonwealth of Massachusetts did not operate any major projects within our dis- trict during the year 1938 we had to depend on the W. P. A. and local private industry in order to place
185
PLANNING BOARD REPORT
1938]
certified applicants in employment.
During the year we were able to certify through the W. P. A., 522 men and women, of this number 200 received assignments to W. P. A. Projects sponsored by your Board. We have placed 31 boys and 11 girls in the National Youth Administra- tion.
This spring the Commonwealth of Massachusetts sponsored a project to beautify the Frank P. Bennett and the Newburyport Turnpike Highways in the planting of trees and shrubbery. By contacting the two contractors of this project we were able to place 35 men in em- ployment. This project was of short duration. V. Barletta, who has the P. W. A. Sewer Contract in this town has not been of any great as- sistance to the unemployed. We se- cured through the Department of Labor Office of Lynn, Mass., as- signment slips for 35 men. Of this number 8 have received employ- ment.
The present Board since organiz- ing May 15, 1938, has held 40 meet- ings and interviewed 387 individual applications for certification for W. P. A.
The enrollment of workers on W. P. A. Projects are as follows:
363 men
50 women:
15 out of town projects 8 N. Y. A. Girls
21 N. Y. A. Boys
447 Total
Certified and awaiting assign- ment to W. P. A. and P. W. A., 322 men. Registered and eligible but not certified 97. We have been able to place 127 men and women in odd jobs within our Town.
May we call to the attention of the citizens of the Town that this office can furnish certified help in all branches of trade. With the great number of unemployed we so- licit your co-operation in helping us to place these people in whatever employment you can give or help them receive.
Yours very truly, GEORGE MASON, Chairman; ARNOLD HOEN, Secretary; CHARLES McDUFFEE.
Report of Planning Board
To the Citizens,
Town of Saugus:
The Planning Board herewith submits its annual report for the year 1938. We have held a total of forty-one regular meetings, thirty-five hearings on proposed amendments to the Zoning By-Law and one as a Board of Survey. We regret that the Town Meeting is un- able to follow our recommenda- tions on the Zoning By-Law more closely, but feel that co-operation is increasing and that citizens gen- erally are realizing the aims and purposes of the law. We await that time in the near future when the Town Meeting Members realize that zoning should be construed and operated for the Town as a whole and its districts in particular rather than the personal gain of the indi- vidual and his representative.
Our one hearing as a Board of Survey resulted in a dismissal of the petition because of the fact that the petitioner did not comply with the conditions imposed by the Board for the protection of the Town.
The Board has been fortunate during the past year in having a capable force of workers on various W. P. A. projects engaged in the preparation of maps, plans and charts giving valuable information and records hitherto uncollected and unknown by many departments and citizens. Probably the most exact- ing was the preparation and com- pletion of the water system survey. This task was very well done under the leadership of Mr. Fred Perkins.
We are now able to determine at a glance the location, depth, size, age and material of every existing
186
TOWN DOCUMENTS
[Dec. 31
water pipe in the streets of the Town. Interesting information re- veals that many of the well de- veloped and older streets are serv- iced by a small four-inch pipe laid during the years of 1880 to 1890. Such streets as Mountain Avenue, Myrtle, Linwood and Jackson Streets are in this group. We will later give more information on this subject as we believe the continu- ance of this condition will eventual- ly lead to great cost and possible interruption of service and fire protection.
All of this information is now in the hands of Fay, Spofford & Thorndike, Boston engineers en- gaged in a survey to determine the possibility of a new municipal water supply system.
Also available to the mentioned 'engineers is the completed popula- tion map which shows the present density of our population and the possible trends of the future.
Other completed maps include the revised Zoning Map, accepted and unaccepted street map, school popu- lation map, public and semi-public property, fire and police signal system map and several of a sim- ilar nature. We are now preparing a land use survey, which when com- pleted will indicate the use to which every parcel of land in the Town is being put. Not only is this an im- portant thing for the present, but it will be of great help in the fu- ture if the proposed revaluation of the Town occurs and will, no doubt, be made available to those respon- sible for the same.
Among the various departments now employing our maps are the Town Clerk, the School Department, Public Works Department, the Building Inspector, the Fire De-
partment, the Sewer Department and the Metropolitan District Com- mission.
We have followed, among other subjects, during the past year the erection and location of several billboards throughout the Town and particularly on the Newburyport Turnpike. We regret that our best available "show window" has degenerated into a series of signs. Protests were lodged with those re- sponsible for the permission of the same to no avail. Intended as the most modern and beautiful road- way in eastern Massachusetts, we now greet visitors and tourists with a string of billboards. Can we hope to attract new home owners until we correct our present means of ad- vertising? Future efforts of this Board, along other lines, may result in a correction of this abuse.
In closing, we look forward to having in Saugus in 1939, the best increase in new property which we have seen in the last ten years. Lo- cated within the center of the three most populated, - welthiest and the most industrial counties of the state we are bound to move at a rapid pace if we only protect our- selves and the expected new- comers.
We express our appreciation for assistance rendered in 1938 by the Town Clerk, the Town Counsel, the Public Works Department, Town Accountant and local W. P. A. au- thorities.
M. EDWARD HAYES, Chairman;
WALTER L. ROY H. WARREN BUTLER, HARRY W. MERRILL, WILLIAM H. ROBINSON, Clerk.
Report of Safety Committee
The Safety Committee, through its appropriation and with the as- sistance of Public Works Adminis- trator Merrithew, has been able to erect many necessary signs in the Town during the past year.
We have retained our member-
ship in the National Safety Coun- cil, who furnish us with ten posters each month which are taken care of by the Chief of Police and dis- tributed where they will do the most good.
We have four deaths to report,
187
BOARD OF ASSESSORS' REPORT
1938]
none of which could be blamed to Saugus residents. There seems to be nothing the Safety Committee could have done to have prevented these deaths on the Turnpikes.
The protection of yellow lines or safety zones for the schools have all been taken care of, and I want to express my appreciation to Chief
Stuart and his department, and Ernest Merrithew, for the splendid co-operation which they have given your committee.
We are turning back to the Town Treasury the sum of $14.51-un- expended funds. HENRY A. B. PECKHAM, Chairman.
Report of Superintendent of Buildings
December 31, 1938. To the Board of Selectmen,
Out Houses
9
875
Gas Stations 3
5,725
Roadside Stand 1
50 290
Gentlemen:
Theatre
1
12,000
Diner
1 8,000
Restaurant
1 5,000
Coal Pocket 1 425
Demolishing Building 2
20
Type No.
Value
Dwellings 19
$78,300
Additions 21
8,368
Remodeling 7 1,992
Garages 21 3,835
Overnight Cabins 16
5,600
Respectfully submitted, JOHN W WHITE, Building Inspector, Town of Saugus, Mass.
Report of Board of Assessors
No. of polls assessed 4,630
No. of persons paying on
property
7,331
No. of persons liable for mili-
tary duty
3,092
Population as taken by the Board of Assessors, Jan. 1, 1938 16,106
Schedule of Property Assessed
No. of dwelling houses
3,791
No. of acres of land 5,689
No. of acres of land
(exempted) 829
No. of acres of land (special tax) 413
No. of horses 42
No| of cows 304
No. of bulls, yearlings, etc. 4 No. of swine 1,008
No. of fowl
6,848
No. of all others 382
No. of dogs to be registered
(male 876, female 273,
spayed 99) 1,248
' Value of Real and Personal
Property
Buildings
(exclusive of
land)
$10,368,700
Land
(exclusive
of
buildings)
4,572,739
Personal Property
-
1,378,170
Total
value
of
as-
sessed estate
$16,319,609
December 20 Assessment
No. of persons assessed on
Property
3
No. of persons assessed on
Polls
40
...
Buildings (exclusive of land) $1,600
Land (exclusive of buildings)
240
Total
value
of
assessed
estate
$1,840
No. of dwelling houses.
2
No. of feet of land
40,579
Town Hall,
Saugus, Mass.
Greenhouse 1
The following report of the Building Inspector gives the type, number, and value of permits is- sued during the year 1938:
103 $130,480
188
TOWN DOCUMENTS
[Dec. 31
No. of Motor Vehicles Assessed in the Year 1938 Levy of 1937 102
Levy of 1938 3,981
Assessed Valuation of Motor Vehicles
Levy of 1937 $36,560
Levy of 1938 817,375
Public Property Exempt From Taxation Final Takings of unre-
deemed real estate $62,855
Town Property
2,575,238
Religious Societies 415,925
Civic Societies
6,775
Literary Societies
7,025
Salvation Army of Mass. 150
Lynn Council Boy Scouts of America, Inc. 6,100
Boy Scouts of America, Bay Shore Council 1,250
City of Lynn 350
City of Melrose 50
Commonwealth of Mass. "Breakheart Reserva- tion" 121,543
Less Town Income
....
245,711.76
Net amount to be raised
by taxation on polls
and property
....
$759,962.01
Raised as follows:
On Polls $9,260.00
On Personal Property.
63,395.82
On Real Estate
687,306.19
Total amount raised by taxation $769,962.01
Interest on sidewalk as- sessments $103.79
Sidewalk Assessment.
538.00
Gypsy
Moth
(private
work)
932.60
Taxes of State, County and Town Committed to the Tax Collector March 19, 1938-On Polls $9,260.00 July 19, 1938-On Real and Personal 750,702.01 July 19, 1938-On Sidewalks 538.00 July 19, 1938-On Inter- est on Sidewalks 103.79
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