USA > Massachusetts > Essex County > Saugus > Town annual report of Saugus 1939 > Part 12
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 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20
Miscellaneous Setting stone bounds to mark street lines Assessors' work Releases of different kinds Materials for W.P.A. projects
Brook location, Fellsway
Survey Main & Vine Sts., for location Stake out farm gardens
Location of Pipes, Sewer Project Respectfully submitted,
JOHN DYER, Engineer ..
Report of Forest Fire Warden
Saugus, Mass., Jan. 1, 1940. To the Honorable Board of Selectmen:
Gentlemen:
I hereby submit the annual re- port of the Forest Fire Warden for year ending December 31, 1939. During the year 1939 there 100 brush and 18 woods fires.
During the year the following amount of hose was laid and used
at brush, woods and grass fires, 63,400 feet.
I recommend that the town pur- chase 6 water pump cans, brush fire brooms, rakes, shovels, etc., for the extinguishing of grass and wood fires, as this type of equip- ment is in very poor condition. Respectfully submitted,
WILLIAM R. SALSMAN, Forest Fire Warden.
108
TOWN DOCUMENTS
[Dec. 31
Report of Supervisor of the Dental Clinic
To the Board of Health: Gentlemen:
I herewith submit my annual re- port of the Dental Clinic.
The Clinic is conducted on Tues- day and Thursday mornings at 9 o'clock throughout the school year.
570 children were treated for a small fee of $.25, making a total receipt for the year of $142.50.
Respectfully submitted,
DR. ROGER P. BECKMAN, Dec. 28, 1939.
Annual Report of the Planning Board
To the Citizens of the Town of Saugus:
Your Planning Board herewith presents its annual report for the year of 1939. Our usual meetings of every Monday night have been supplemented by one Board of Survey hearing regarding chang- ing of several street names in the Golden Hills area and approxi- mately twelve hearings concerning proposed amendments to the Zon- ing Law.
The requested change in street names was not granted for many reasons, chief of which was the great amount of work entailed in various departments, including the Treasurer's Office and the Registry of Deeds at Salem. Our recom- mendations to the town meeting have, in the main, been sustained but many of our recommendations have not been heard, due to the ad- journed sessions of the meeting.
During the year the Board ac- cepted, with much regret, the resignation of M. Edward Hayes as a member, this being necessary because of pressure of other ac- tivities. In joint session with the Board of Selectmen, we elected Sture M. Pihl to fill the vacancy. Our W. P. A. projects have been in operation continuously and we 'have completed our Land Use Map of the Town. This shows in every detail the actual physical condi- tions and buildings on every lot listed on the books of the Town. Also completed was the street and
sidewalk survey. This work, to- gether with all of the other re- sults of three years W. P. A. proj- ects, has been bound and is a per- manent record which to our knowl- edge has never been available be- fore.
The Board is considering a pro- posed recreational area in the vi- cinity of the Woodbury Avenue- Bridge Street section of the Sau- gus River Basin to be equipped with the usual playground equip- ment and fireplaces, tennis courts and other necessities of good sport. This is still under consideration.
The Board has checked various streets in the Town for traffic con- ditions and has solicited the co- operation of the Department of Public Works in Boston on a sur- vey of Ballard Street and the Marsh Road.
During the past year the Board inaugurated the service of sending timely and informative bulletins to all town meeting members on matters being considered by us and giving facts and opinions of per- sons concerned with the local and state planning. Responses to this policy have exceeded our expecta- tions and we intend to continue the publishing of these "Planning Bulletins" during the coming year.
Appreciating the conditions con- fronting the taxpayers during the past year the Board has operated on a very stringent account and has returned to the Town Treas- urer the sum of $113 out of the budget of $710 allowed us by the
10
REPORT OF BOARD OF HEALTH
1939]
"Town Meeting.
We express our appreciation to those who have aided us during the past year, particularly the Board of Selectmen, the Account- ant, various town officers and the members of the W. P. A. staff who 'have renedered us very creditable
service.
Signed :
H. WARREN BUTLER, Chairman,
HARRY W. MERRILL, WALTER L. ROY,
WILLIAM H. ROBINSON, Clerk.
Report of the Board of Health
December 31, 1939. To the Citizens of the Town of Saugus:
Your Board of Health herewith submits its annual report for the year ending December 31, 1939.
Health conditions in Saugus for the past year have been generally :good with a few exceptions. Space will not permit to what extent the work of your Board of Health this past year has contributed to the health record of the Town. It is the duty of the Board of overlook no health menace, actual or poten- tial, which might adversely affect the health and welfare of the Town's citizens.
Perhaps the greatest factors to 'be considered in health work are the prevention, detection and con- trol of communicable diseases. This work is effective only when there is a close cooperation between individuals who are infected, the physicians, nurses, and the Board of Health. Our record for 1939 in a measure can be held indicative of that close cooperation which is so much desired.
Your Board regrets very much to report that there has been a great increase in the number of persons afflicted with tuberculosis. The greater part of these unfor- tunates are young people. Our Public Health Nurse has worked a great part of her time with these patients, having them X-rayed and hospitalized in order to bring as speedy a recovery as possible. For the past few years tuberculosis has been on the increase in town, this we believe is largely due to economic conditions together with the discovery of many cases in their very early stages. The real
facts of the case are that had these people had the proper food their resistance would not have been lowered and tuberculosis would not have resulted.
The town has been forced to pay for many of these contagious hospital cases because of the fact that many of the patients were without funds. We are also com- pelled under the General Laws to pay many hospital bills of conta- gious and tubercular patients, who while living out of town still re- tain their Saugus settlement.
The total increase of our 1939 expenditures for tuberculosis over the year 1938 expenditure was $3377.70 making a total expendi- ture for tuberculosis for the year 1939 of $7445.70.
The garbage disposal for the past year has been carried on ef- ficiently but our garbage contrac- tor. Collections are now made in all the centers of the town twice weekly.
Inspection of Food and Milk has been ably carried on by our In- spector. This is a most important division, safeguarding our food
and milk supply. Many sources of sickness and disease may be traced to contaminated food and drink.
Our Inspector of Plumbing du- ties have materially increased this past year due to the installation of the sewer system. It is his duty to see that all connections are pro- perly installed and all houses are in proper condition to enter the sewer.
For several years the Board of Health has stressed the necessity of installing a sewer system în town. The most expensive part of
10g
TOWN DOCUMENTS
[Dec. 31
1 has been in-
of the system n. Next to a a good sewage
vit Of the town's most valuable assets.
The Board is constantly con- fronted with the problem of over- flowing cesspools and in many sec- tions of the town the ground is in such a stage of saturation that the only place for drainage is in the street.
The major portion of sewage which has entered the Saugus River at East Saugus has been eliminated. It is the hope of the Board of Health that the sewer system will continue through Sau- gus Center to eliminate the large portion of sewage which enters the river in this section.
We have advocated proper toilet facilities in the Town Hall for a number of years and hope that in the near future this project will be completed.
Your Board has cooperated with the State Department of Health in a mosquito survey under the
W. P. A. this past summer. The immediate reason for carrying on this survey was because of the part the mosquito may play in spreading disease. The mosquito has already been attacked because of this fact and measures have been taken to decrease their num- bers. This work was carried on without any cost to the Town.
We have received from License fees, refunds, subsidies and other cities and towns the amount of $2729.91 which has been turned over to the Town Treasurer. The total expenditures for the year 1939 were $17,289.61, less the amount turned over to the Town Treasurer, makes a net expendi- ture of $14,559.70. We are turn- ing back to the town the sum of $10.39.
Respectfully submitted
DR. LEROY C. FURBUSH, Chairman; DR. JAMES A. CLARK, Secretary;
RICHARD J. SPENCER, Health Officer.
Report of the Public Health Nurse
To the Board of Health Saugus, Mass.
Gentlemen:
I am pleased to submit my an- nual report as Public Health Nurse for the year ending December 31, 1939.
Number of home visits 1797. This includes all investigations of Boarding Homes for Infants, Set- tlements, Complaints, Communi- cable Diseases and Contacts.
New cases classified as follows:
Chicken Pox 44
Infantile Paralysis 1
Measles 27
Pneumonia 13
Tuberculosis 10
Typhoid Fever 2
Whooping Cough 18
Deaths from Communicable Dis- seases:
Pneumonia 1
Tuberculosis
4
All communicable diseases with the exception of Tuberculosis showed a marked decrease over previous years, resulting from
close supervision of the public health nurse with the cooperation of the home and school.
Tuberculosis
At the present time we have the following patients in Sanatoria:
Essex Sanatorium 13
Middlesex Sanatorium 1
North Reading State Sanatorium 1
Lakeville State Sanatorium ... Veterans Administration 1
2
It is my opinion that the in- crease in tuberculosis is largely due to the depression years.
The earnest assistance of tuber- cular patients and contacts with the Board of Health has helped to check the spread of this disease, by having X-ray examinations at
111
REPORT OF INSPECTOR OF ANIMALS
1939]
specific times and adhering strict- ly to rules and regulations.
During the year 1939 ten pa- tients were discharged from Sana- toria as recovered from this dis- ease.
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 from private organizations of the Town.
I have assisted Dr. Leroy C. Furbush and Dr. James A. Clark in the innoculation of the pupils ·of Grade 1 and Kindergarten.
I have transported 567 children to and from the Dental Clinic held every Tuesday and Thursday at the Cliftondale School; 120 pa- tients to Essex Sanatorium for X-ray examinations and nine chil- dren to Health Camps.
I wish to express my apprecia- tion to you Gentlemen of the Board of Health for your encour- agement and cooperation, also to each and every person who has assisted me in my work.
Respectfully Yours,
N. JESSIE O'NEIL, R. N., Public Health Nurse.
Report of Inspector of Animals
December 31,1939.
Honorable Board of Selectmen Saugus, Mass.
Gentlemen:
The annual inspection of Ani- mals was made during December, 1939, as required by the Mass. De- partment of Agriculture, Division of Livestock Disease Control.
The housing conditions of ani- mals have improved materially. Many repairs to tie-ups, planking and gutters in cattle barns have been renewed and repaired under my direction. Sanitation because of these repairs has been greatly improved.
This year we have fourteen cows react to the tubercular test. These cows were condemned and the tie- ups repaired, cleaned and disin- fected.
I have inspected the following number of animals:
Cattie 312
Swine 1109
Goats 14
I have placed in quarantine 72 dogs reported to me as having bit- ten citizens. I have made 163 inspections of these dogs to ob- serve their condition.
There have been quite a number of persons bitten by unknown and stray dogs during the past year. These cases were reported to the Board of Health and they received Pasteur Treatment paid for from the Board of Health funds.
Very truly yours,
CHARLES WILSON, Inspector of Animals.
Report of the Milk and Food Inspector
December 31, 1939.
Board of Health Saugus, Mass. Gentlemen:
I herewith present to you my annual report for the year ending December 31, 1939 for your approval.
MILK
Number of dealers selling milk in Saugus
35
Number of samples collected for analysis 117
112
TOWN DOCUMENTS
[Dec. 31
Number of samples found below standard
16
Number of Pasteurizing Plants in Saugus 5
Number of inspections of Dairies in Saugus 36
Inspections of Pasteurizing Plants outside of Saugus 16
FOOD
Stores inspected (this includes every type)
2978
Bottling Plants inspections
10
Bake Shop inspections 22
24
Ice Cream Manufacturing inspected
24
Complaints investigated
43
Convictions
1
HEALTH
Complaints investigated
141
Number of Overnight Cabins
88
Number of inspections
270
RECEIPTS FOR 1939
Overnight Cabins Licenses
$150.00
Manufacturing of Ice Cream Licenses
10.00
Milk Licenses
45.00
Oleomargerine Licenses
8.00
Pasteurization Licenses
50.00
Bottling Permits
20.00
Licenses to Collect Grease
5.00
Ice Cream Licenses (Retail)
24.00
$312.00
I wish to extend my appreciation to the members of the Board of Health, the Police Department and the State Department of Food & Drugs who have cooperated with me in the performance of my duties.
Respectfully submitted, CHARLES WILSON,
Inspector.
Report of Superintendent of Buildings
January 2, 1939
To the Board of Selectmen
Town Hall
Out Houses
4 710.00
Saugus, Massachusetts
Gentlemen:
Following is the report of the Inspector of Buildings for the year 1939 which gives the type, num- ber and value of permits issued. Type Number Value
Dwellings
12 $32,300.00
Remodeling 8 9,194.00
Additions
22 4,663.00
Garages
21 3,575.00
Overnight Cabins
17 5,080.00
Boiler Room
1 300.00
Diner 1 8,000.00
Show Room 2 6,300.00
Tear Down Building 1 25.00
TOTALS 89 $70,147.00
Respectfully submitted,
JOHN WILLIS WHITE, Building Inspector.
Clam plant inspections
113
BOAD OF FIRE ENGINEERS
1939]
Report of the Board of Fire Engineers
January 1, 1940.
To the Honorable Board of Se- lectmen and the Citizens of the Town of Saugus:
We herewith submit the annual report on the personnel, condition, and activities of the Fire Depart- ment for the year ending Decem- ber 31, 1939.
ROSTER Chief William R. Salsman
Captain George B. Drew Lieutenants
Ralph E. Berrett
Joseph L. Maguire
Permanent Firemen
John Mclaughlin Alfred Bird
Warren Newhall George Parrott Guy Collins
Robert Jacobs
Harold Atkinson
Albert Jervis Norman Hull Leo Cahill Frank Beckford
John Ward
Call Firemen
Lewis O. Gray Frank Garofano W. Randolph Popp Fred Chesley
The assessed valuation of build- ings, autos, trucks, the insurance on buildings, automobiles and their contents, etc., were, as near- ly as possible ascertained as fol- lows:
Assessed valuation of buildings, autos, trucks, etc $132,210.00
Insurance on buildings, etc. ...... $132,775.00
Loss on Buildings, motor vehicles, etc. $15,523.75 Insurance paid for losses on buildings, etc. $14,336.39 Estimated value of contents
$83,850.00
$10,499.00
Loss on contents Insurance on contents
$33,600.00
Insurance paid for loss on contents $6,564.73
Peter Walzer Lewis Richardson John Cahill Arthur Gustafson Leslie Hitchings Charles Ryder
Board of Fire Engineers.
Edward Gibbs, Jr. Harold Rice George H. Quarmby,
Chairman
William R. Salsman George E. Sprague, Clerk.
During the year 1939 the Fire Department responded to 468 alarms and calls for fires and other duties. There were 75 box alarms and 393 telephone calls, 42 of which were followed by box alarms to call the firemen to duty. Thirty-nine of the alarms were false or needless.
The apparatus traveled a total of 2,209 miles in responding to calls: Engine No. 1, 122 miles; Engine No. 2, 500 miles; Ladder No. 1, 468 miles; Tender No. 2, 1118 miles. The Chief's car traveled 11,691 miles in responding to alarms and in the performance of other duties.
During the year 68,500 feet of 3/4 inch hose, 14,350 feet of 11/2 inch hose, 14,900 feet of 21/2 inch hose was laid and used at fires, a total of 97,750 feet. 63,400 feet of the above hose was used at brush and woods fires. There were 36 tanks of oxygen used and one foamite extinguisher, used.
During the year 1939 the de- partment purchased a Mckesson Oxygen Tent.
The fire Apparatus, Engine No. 2, and Ladder No. 1, and the G. M. C. Tender are in fair condi- tion and good for many years to come provided they do not meet with accidents. The Oldsmobile
114
TOWN DOCUMENTS
[Dec. 31
sedan, the Chief's car, is in good condition. Engine No. 1, the Sea- graves pumping engine, is very old and showing signs of needed repairs that will be very costly as it is very unreliable and in the past few years has had sever- al costly repair jobs done on it. We recommend this engine be re- placed with a new pumping en- gine.
The Fire Department has done excellent work in keeping the fire loss down to such a small amount (approximately $26,000.00). It is noted that the department must cover a large territory nearly 111/2 square miles, and do so with a small number of men to man the apparatus and extinguish fires:
We recommend that the program calling for the installation of new hydrants every year be continued as there are several parts of the Town where the hydrants are too few and too far between.
We recommend that 500 feet of 21/2 inch hose, 500 feet of 11/2 inch hose and 300 feet of 34 inch hose be purchased.
In conclusion we wish to thank the Honorable Board of Select- men, Superintendent Ernest Mer- rithew of the Public Works De- partment, Chief John T. Stuart, of the Police Department, Mem- bers of the Department, all the Town officials and the citizens of Saugus, who, by their co-operation have aided this department to maintain a high degree of efficien- cy.
Signed by the Chief, WILLIAM R. SALSMAN,
Signed by the Board of Fire Engineers,
EDWARD GIBBS, GEORGE H. QUARMBY, Chairman
HAROLD P. RICE
Report of Board of Assessors
To the Citizens of the Town of Saugus:
In submitting the annual report for the year ending December 31st, 1939, we desire to call to your at- tention that two of its present members, George H. Mason and Alexander S. Addison became members during the present year, Mr. Mason by election at the Annu- al Town Meeting in March, Mr. Addison by appointment on Octo- ber 23rd, and that they want it to appear as a matter of record that they disclaim responsibility for the valuations and other items used in computing the tax rate for 1939 of $49.90.
May we direct your attention to the items under Basis of Taxa- tion, which is a part of this re- port, i. e., Town Appropriations, Deficits of Overlay Accounts, Ap- pellate Tax Board Abatements, etc.
It should be noted that the Town Meeting or the Board of Assessors have no control over such items as State and County Taxes and Un-
derestimates. The amount to be raised by taxation on property is controlled exclusively by the amount of the State and County tax, and by appropriations made at the Town Meeting. The As- sessors' participation in setting the tax rate is not in the amounts spent, but is wholly in raising the money through appraising and equitably assessing all property within the Town limits, and by exercising the greatest of care and judgment in the matter of exemptions and abatements.
On November 15th, the last date for filing applications for abate- ments and exemptions, the Board of Assessors were faced with the consideration of 712 requests, which, if granted, would amount to $97,748.82, equal in valuation to $1,629,147.00, or $6.00 on the tax rate for 1940.
Your present Board, handi- capped as they are with one of the highest tax rates in the State, namely $49.90. realize that the co- operation of the entire community
115
REPORT OF BOARD OF ASSESSORS
1939]
is needed to help correct this con- dition.
There must be economies made, and any waste or extravagance should be eliminated. Many valua- tions will have to be adjusted and a most thorough investigation must be made to determine the true tax values of many proper- ties.
During the past few years the normal growth of the Town of Saugus has been retarded, and we look forward to much better condi- tions in the immediate future.
The citizens should be interest- ed in the following Table of Ex- penses of the Board of Assessors for the past few years:
1934 $8,727.63
1935 9,097.26
1936
9,829.36
1937 9,721.76
1938 10,759.28
1939 8,919.85
(Saving over 1938 $1,839.43)
Please note the substantial sav- ings in 1939 of $1,839.43, which were made without reducing the services rendered, and our budget for 1940 plans for additional sav- ings over 1939.
To accomplish this, we antici- pate the wholehearted co-opera- tion of all citizens during 1940.
Respectfully submitted, GEORGE H. MASON, Chairman ALEXANDER S. ADDISON
Report of Board of Assessors
No. of Polls Assessed 5,104 No. of Persons paying on
property 7,337 Schedule of Property Assessed
No. of dwelling houses 3,803
No. of acres of land 5,689
No. of acres of land
(exempted) 880
No. of acres of land (special tax) 413
No. of horses 41
No. of cows 326
No. of swine 1,120
No. of all others 206
No. of fowl 7,007
No. of dogs to be registered (male 838, female 245, sp.
103) .. 1,186
Value of Real and Personal Property
Buildings (exclusive of
land) $10,329,225
Land (exclusive of
buildings) 4,559,519
Personal Property
1,406,269
Total Value of Assessed Estate .$16,295,013
Motor Vehicles Assessed
Levy of 1938
174
Levy of 1939 4,531
Assessed Valuation of Motor Vehicles
Levy of 1938
$59,870
Levy of 1939
825,450
Public Property Exempt From Taxation
Final Takings of unre-
deemed Real Estate $62,920
Town Property 2,604,913
Religious Societies 431,400
Civic Societies
14,125
Salvation Army of Massachusetts 150
Lynn Council Boy Scouts
of America, Inc. 7,350
City of Lynn 350
City of Melrose 50
Commonwealth of
Massachusetts (Breakheart Reservations)
125,693
United
States of America
4,275
Basis of Taxation
Town Appropriations .... $834,828.92 Deficit of Overlay Ac- counts for years 1931, 1932, 1934, 1935, 1936, 1937, 1938 55,202.94
Appellate Tax Board Abatements 33,000.00
Grosso Judgment 125.00
Bickford Judgment 210.00 Old Age Assistance ..
1.00
Revenue Deficit
5,684.54
Premium Account 43.85
Trade School Tuition ....
.03
State Tax 46,260.00
Abatement of Smoke Nuisance 181.83
Auditing Municipal Ac- counts 6.89
State Parks and Reserva-
tions
11,409.42
Veterans' Exemptions .... 104.45
116
TOWN DOCUMENTS
[Dec. 31
County Tax 23,525.23
Tuberculosis Hospital 6,855.66
Underestimates
23,188.24
Overlay 19,803.41
Gross amount to be raised
$1,060,431.41
Less Town Income .... 237,091.41
Net amount to be raised
by taxation on Polls and Property .$823,340.00
Raised as follows:
On Real Estate $742,948.33
On Personal Property .. 70,172,82
On Polls 10,208.00
Gain on account of frac- tional divisions of tax rate
10.85
Total amount raised by taxation $823,340.00
Interest on sidewalk as- sessments
68.99
Sidewalk Assessments ..
519.61
Gypsy Moth
(private work)
759.95
Special Commitment on sidewalk
6.27
Taxes of State, County and Town Committed to the Tax Collector
February 15, 1939-On Polls
$9,932.00
Levy of 1937-on polls
336.00
July 10, 1939-On Polls
276.00
Levy of 1938-on tax
173.65
Real and Personal ....
813,132.00
October 9, 1939-On
Sidewalks
519.61
October 9,
1939-On
Interest
on side-
Total $41,598.93
APPELLATE TAX BOARD ABATEMENTS
Docket
Year of Tax
Date of Decision
Name
Tax Abated
X-13844
1937
3/31/39
Maria Mazzariello $ 55.35
X-18993
1938
3/31/39
Maria Mazzariello
69.00
X-14940
1937
8/1 /39
E. H. Blood Real Estate As- sociates 7,408.79
X-14941
1937
8/1 /39
Arthur K., Robert E., and
2,152.11
X-14942
1937
8/1 /39
Essex Trust Co., and Mary E. Furbish, Trustees
586.89
X-14943
1937
8/1 /39
Arthur K. Blood
703.87
X-14944
1937
8/1 /39
General Electric Co.
546.49
X-14945
1937
8/1 /39
Marion M. Chase et al.
342.43
X-14946
1937
8/1 /39
Alfred E. and Alice P. Chase
1,278.59
X-14947
1937
8/1 /39
Alice Phillippa Chase
677.12
X-14948
1937
8/1 /39 Alfred E. Chase
273 06
X-17089
1937
8/1 /39 " Boston & Maine R. R.
447.78
walks 68.99
December 20, 1939-On
Gypsy Moth (private) 759.95 December 20, 1939-On
Real 736.05
December 20, 1939-On Polls 46.00
June 12, 1939-On Wa- ter Liens .. 2,464.41
Tax Rate Per One Thousand, $49.90
Abatements
Levy of 1929-on real estate
$35.85
Levy of 1930-on real estate 34.30
Levy of 1931-on real estate 55.07
Levy of 1933-on polls 2.00 Levy of 1935-on polls 16.00
Levy of 1935-on per- sonal 3.18
36.00
Levy of 1936-on polls Levy of 1936-on per- sonal 763.68
Levy of 1937-on real and personal
1,595.13
Levy of 1937-on polls 188.00
Levy of 1937-on tax titles
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.