USA > Massachusetts > Essex County > Swampscott > Town annual report of Swampscott 1901 > Part 6
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Physiology - Skeleton and process of digestion, hygiene, effects of alcohol and narcotics.
History - Discoveries and settlements, abstracts on famous men. Music and Drawing - As directed by special teacher.
Seventh Year.
Reading-Tanglewood Tales, Sharp Eyes, with other supple- mentary reading, Baldwin's Reader.
Spelling - Same as year before.
Writing-From copy books.
Language -Mary Hyde's Lessons, Part IV, composition writ- ing, bills, advertisements and telegrams, letters, declama- tions, selections from the poets.
Arithmetic-Measurements, percentage and interest. Nichols' Arithmetic.
Geography and Nature Study - Europe and Asia, map draw- ing. Natural Advanced Geography and Boyden's Outlines. Physiology - Muscles, respiration, circulation, effects of alcohol and narcotics, hygiene.
History-Growth of the Colonies through the French and Indian Wars, Revolutionary Period, United States to the close of the War of 1812. Abstracts on famous men.
Music and Drawing - As directed by special teacher.
Eighth Year.
Reading -Masterpieces in English Literature and other supple- mentary reading. Baldwin's Reader.
Spelling -Same as year before.
Writing-From copy books.
Language- Grammar, written work, composition writing, declamations, selections from the poets.
Arithmetic-Percentage, banking, stocks and bonds, simple proportion, square root, simple work in mensuration, reviews. Nichols' Arithmetic.
99
REPORT OF THE SCHOOL COMMITTEE.
1901]
Geography and Nature Study-Study of earth forms com- pleted and reviewed topically. Natural Advance Geogra- phy, Boyden's Outlines.
Physiology - Nervous system, special senses, hygiene reviewed topically.
History - Completed to date and reviewed topically. Music and Drawing - As directed by special teacher.
Course of Study .- Swampscott High School.
First Year Class.
REQUIRED STUDIES.
per week
per week
English .
4 hours
Latin I .
4 hours
Geometry
4 honrs
French I
4 hours
English History
3 hours
Bookkeeping and
4 hours
Drawing
2 hours
Elementary Physics
Second Year Class.
REQUIRED STUDIES.
ELECTIVE STUDIES.
English 4 hours
Latin I (con.) 4 hours
French I (con.) 4 hours
Botany and
4 hours
Physical Geography
Drawing
I hour
Junior Class.
REQUIRED STUDIES.
ELECTIVE STUDIES.
English 3 hours
Latin I or III,* or )
Ancient History
3 hours
Latin I, or
German I* -
Physics .
4 hours
French I, or
4 hours
German I (begun)
Stenography 3 hours
Advanced Bookkeeping .
3 hours
(*For those who have had two years in a foreign language.)
French I,* or
4 hours
Algebra
4 hours
Civil Government
3 hours
ELECTIVE STUDIES.
100
TOWN DOCUMENTS.
[Feb. 21
Senior Class.
REQUIRED STUDIES.
ELECTIVE STUDIES.
English 3 hours
Chemistry . 4 hours
Mediæval and Modern His-
Mathematics
5 hours
tory 3 hours
Economics
3 hours
Latin II or IV, or
French II, or
4 hours
Stenography 3*
German II (con.)
Foreign language (con.) . 4 hours
*To count as 5.
Classical Course.
FIRST YEAR CLASS.
SECOND YEAR CLASS.
per week
English
4 hours
English . 4 hours
Latin
4 hours
Latin
4 hours
Geometry
4 hours
Greek
4 hours
English History .
3 hours
Algebra 4 hours
Drawing
2 hours
Geometry 1 or 2 hours
JUNIOR CLASS.
SENIOR CLASS.
English
3 hours
English
3 hours
Ancient History
3 hours
Latin
4 hours
Latin
4 hours
Greek
· 4 hours
Greek
4 hours
French
4 hours
French
4 hours
Mathematics
5 hours
Each pupil is required to take all the " Required Studies" and as many hours of "Elective Studies" as will make fifteen hours of prepared lessons per week. Pupils able and wishing to take more than fifteen hours per week, may do so on approval of the teachers.
The choice of electives must have the approval of the teachers, and no class will be made in any study unless a large enough number of pupils elect it. Each foreign language is to be studied at least two years, before another is substituted.
For pupils preparing for higher schools and colleges, such changes in the course of study as are necessary may be made to meet the requirements for admission to such institutions.
Astronomy
Geology 4 hours
Typewriting 3*
*5 hours
per week
1901]
REPORT OF THE SCHOOL COMMITTEE. IOI
Singing, declamations and compositions are required of all pupils.
The standing of the pupils is marked : A -excellent, B - good, C- passable, D - unsatisfactory, E - poor. An average of C is required for promotion, though D may be allowed in a single study. A mark of E in any study prevents promotion.
Respectfully submitted,
FRANK E. INGALLS, ELDRIDGE F. SMALL, EDWIN M. BAILEY, School Committee.
(8)
IO2
TOWN DOCUMENTS.
[Feb. 21
Report of Truant Officer
To the School Board :
GENTLEMEN, - I have investigated 76 complaints from teach- ers during the past year, with the following results :
Truancy, first offence, 5; second, I; fifth, I; neglect of parents, 2 ; for which I have called the attention of Chap. 498, Sec. I, of Public Statutes. All others gave satisfactory reasons for absence.
Respectfully submitted,
RICHARD G. GILLEY, Truant Officer.
103
.
REPORT OF THE FIRE ENGINEERS.
1901]
Report of the Board of Fire Engineers.
To the Board of Selectmen :
We hereby present to you the Report of the Fire Department for the year ending February 22, 1901.
Manual Force.
The department consists of thirty-one men assigned as follows, viz. : one Chief and two Assistant Engineers, four per- manent men, one foreman, one assistant foreman, five pipemen, eight hosemen, six laddermen and four men on steamer.
Apparatus.
The apparatus is kept in the best possible condition and at present consists of one Steam Fire Engine, one Two-horse Hose Wagon, one Two-horse Ladder Truck and Five-hand Hose Reels, all in service.
Horses.
There are six horses in the department. During the year we very unfortunate in regard to horses. We were oblige to ex- change two and lost two; therefore, we recommend that four hundred ($400) dollars be appropriated for the payment of two horses that we now have on trial.
Fire Alarm Whistle.
As the factory of McNichol has been closed we are obliged to change the whistle on some other factory; therefore, we recom- mend that seventy-five ($75) dollars be appropriated for the same.
Fires and Alarms.
During the past year there has been 33 alarms of fire, divided as follows :
104
TOWN DOCUMENTS.
[Feb 21
Bell alarms, including one out-of-town call
I7
Still alarms .
6
Telephone calls
IO
Total
33
No school signal sounded 6 times.
Value of property exposed to fires . $39,575 00
Insurance on property exposed to fires 22,900 00
Insurance paid on damaged property
6,210 00
Loss with no insurance . 545 00
Total loss by fire
6,755 00
Remarks.
The agreement with the City of Lynn in regard to fire appa- ratus remains the same as in years past.
The horses and men have been employed on the streets and have received credit for the same, viz :
Street watering
$1,072 50
Highway Department
60 50
Total credit for labor
$1,133 00
In conclusion, we wish to thank the Police Department for the promptness in which they have responded to alarms.
We also wish to thank the citizens of the Town in behalf of the members of the Department for the courtesies shown them the past year.
Respectfully submitted,
GEORGE P. CAHOON, G. H. LAMPARD, E. B. TAYLOR, Board of Engineers.
105
REPORT OF THE BOARD OF HEALTH.
1901]
Report of the Board of Health
To the Citizens of Swampscott :
We submit to you for your consideration our annual report as follows :
The Board organized March 22, 1900, with Joseph W. Glass, Chairman, and W. E. Doughty, Clerk. This organization held until November, 13, when the resignation of Joseph W. Glass was received and accepted, and Dr. Stratton was chosen Chair- man, pro tem, to serve until an appointment should be made to fill the vacancy. The vacancy was filled November 25th by the appointment of Michael Haley and November 27 the Board reorganized with Dr. Stratton, Chairman, and W. E. Doughty, Clerk.
The regular contracts have been awarded as follows :
For collection of house offal, care of night soil and carrion to Mr. M. McDonough. Benjamin C. Pedrick was appointed to care for refuse from Fisherman Beach, so called, and the fish markets. The contract for the collection of ashes and rubbish in the Town was awarded to Benjamin T. Getchell, who was the lowest bidder among many competitors. Mr. Getchell has performed his duties in a manner most satisfactory to the Board and we hope and believe to the satisfaction of the citizens of the Town. The collection of ashes and rubbish is, we believe, a long step in the right direction, appreciated by the people of the Town and should be continued.
The beaches have been cleaned from time to time, and the fact that we have not received any complaints leads us to believe that they have given satisfaction to the people of the Town and sum- mer residents.
The sage bank in the cove at the easterly end of King's Beach, which has long been a menace to the residents of this section of
106
TOWN DOCUMENTS.
[Feb. 21
the Town, inasmuch as it would collect the dead fish and sea- weed at flood tide, the same at low water being exposed to the sun, thereby causing offensive odors to come from it, which was a nuisance to the neighborhood and dangerous to public health. In disposing of this nuisance we consider that the Town has been benefited to a great extent, and cost placed on the Metropolitan Park Commission.
The complaints have been comparatively few this year com- pared with the last few years, those that have been received have been investigated and acted upon.
There have been 27 cases of contagious diseases reported to this Board this year : Diphtheria, 15 ; scarlet fever, 9; measels, 2 ; typhoid fever, I ; of these, one case of diphtheria died.
Owing to a misunderstanding between the Board of Selectmen and Board of Health the year previous, it was deemed advisable last year to recommend that the brooks be placed in charge of some board of officers, and at the annual Town meeting it was voted to place the same in the hands of the Board of Health. Acting under this vote, and in view of the fact that the brooks had not been cleaned in the last thirty years, the Board decided to give them a thorough cleaning, which it did. This act, caus- ing some consternation among certain citizens of the Town at the price paid for the work, we feel that it is our duty to say that, notwithstanding some so-called contractors brought in figures some two hundred dollars less than the amount paid, we deem this difference due to prejudice rather than to good judgment. To conclude, we might say that the brooks are now in better condition than at any time during the past decade.
In regard to a sewer system we would say that we are of the same opinion as last year, that both from a financial and health standpoint it would be a benefit to the Town. Of course this question is left entirely with the voters of the Town, but as we are in a position to know better than any other Board, we would recommend that the sewer system as recommended by the Sewer Committee of 1899 be adopted.
We have recommended the sum of forty-five hundred dollars this year for the use of the Board of Health. This sum may seem exorbitant to those who have not given the matter much thought,
107
REPORT OF THE BOARD OF HEALTH.
1901]
but in way of explanation we would say that the usual amount for the last few years appropriated for the Board of Health has been about $2,500 ; this year we must add $1,000 for the collection of ashes and rubbish, and about $1,000 more for the bills of this year which have not been paid, which brings the sum up to $4,500.
Respectfully submitted,
FRANK B. STRATTON, RICHARD P. HORTON, MICHAEL HALEY,
W. E. DOUGHTY, Clerk. Board of Health.
IOS
TOWN DOCUMENTS.
[Feb. 21
Surveyor of Highways.
To the Citizens of Swampscott :
Stone, gravel and crush stone have been used as follows on streets :
Name of Street.
No. Loads Gravel.
Pit Stone.
Crushed Stonc.
Atlantic avenue
Andrew road
725
30
48
35
Blaney street
25
Burrill street
IIO
6
Beach Bluff avenue
6
Berkshire street
IO
Columbia avenue
4
Danvers street .
41
30
No. 3.
Essex street
360
89
50
Farragut road .
6
2
No. 3.
No. 4.
Humphrey street
481
30
50
IO
Huron street
IO
2
Highland street
6
Maple avenue .
4
Middlesex avenue
160
IO
Norfolk avenue
30
Ontario street .
9
Orient street
30
Paradise road .
40
Pine street
6
Phillips street .
4
Pleasant street .
20
No. 3.
No. 4.
.
6
1901] REPORT OF THE SURVEYOR OF HIGHWAYS.
109
Name of Street.
No. Loads Gravel.
Pit Stone.
No. 3. Crush Stone. Loads.
Redington street
4
Rockland street
6
Railroad avenue
60
No. 3.
Salem street
75
25
15
Stetson avenue
60
6
Thomas road £
25
IO
Sidewalks.
Materials used as follows :
Name of Street.
No. Loads Gravel.
Pit Stone.
Crushed Stone.
Atlantic avenue
60
30
Andrew road
2
Burrill street
20
14
Blaney street
4
Beach Bluff avenue
4
Berkshire street
36
Boynton street
4
Crescent street
55
Essex street
IO
2
Farragut road
5
Hillside avenue .
20
Highland street .
6
2
Humphrey street
So
8
Hampden street
IO
King street
20
Mudge street
2
Middlesex avenue
35
Maple avenue
8
Norfolk avenue .
8
New Ocean street
8
Orient street
25
2
Pine Street
50
Pleasant street
35
Phillips street
4
Redington street
6
.
4
IIO
TOWN DOCUMENTS.
[Feb. 21
Rockland street
4
2
Stetson avenue .
20
Thomas road
8
3
Number of loads of sand used for sanding sidewalks, 60.
Gutter scrapings removed from streets as follows :
Name of Street.
No. of Loads.
Atlantic avenue
55
Andrew road
6
Blaney street
I6
Burrill street .
96
Beach avenue
15
Boynton street
5
Berkshire street
I5
Beach Bluff avenue
28
Columbia avenue .
35
Cherry street
I5
Crescent street
6
Essex street
65
Elliott street
4
Elmwood road
IO
Eulow street
9
Farragut road
22
Humphrey street .
305
Hillside avenue
25
Huron street
II
Hampton street
15
King street
7
Maple avenue
5
Mudge street
3
Marshall street
5
Middlesex avenue
47
Mostyn street
I3
Norfolk avenue
65
New Ocean street
25
Orient street
210
·
.
Highland street
IO
1901]
REPORT OF THE SURVEYOR OF HIGHWAYS.
III
Ontario street
9
Pine street
19
Palmer avenue
20
Phillips street
IO
Pleasant street
I3
Rock avenue
6
Redington street
II
Rose street
4
Rockland street
9
Railroad avenue
7
Salem street
8
Shaw road
6
Stetson avenue
60
Thomas road
27
Woodbine avenue
6
Catch Basins and Gutters.
Material used as follows for paving gutters :
Name of Street.
No. Loads Stone.
Filling Removed.
Gravel.
Sand.
Atlantic avenue
2I
2I
20
Burrill street
33
39
32
Cherry street
4
4
Highland street
22
27
I4
Ontario street
19
4
16
Redington street
2
4
Rockland street
3
7
2
4
Thomas road .
I
2
5
5
Stetson avenue, resetting gutter
2
7
5
I 2
Pipe laid on streets as follows :
Atlantic avenue, 96 feet, 8 in. pipe. Humphrey street, 4 feet, 8 in pipe on park. Thomas road, 48 feet, 8 in. pipe.
II2
TOWN DOCUMENTS.
[Feb. 21
New Street Crossings.
Name of Street.
No. Blocks.
Ft. Crossing
Loads Sand.
Humphrey street
424
121.2 in.
7
Essex street, cor. Cherry street,
283
33.9₺ in.
6
Essex street, cross Burrill street,
729
172.3 in.
15
Burrill street, cor. Middlesex avenue
165
59.2 in.
2
Rock avenue, cross Burrill street,
206
50.6 in.
4
Elmwood road, cross Thomas road .
272
45.6 in.
4
Thomas road, cross Shaw
124
20. 1 in.
5
Middlesex avenue, cross Berk- shire street
380
62.1 in.
5
Thomas road, cross Andrew road .
199
31.II in.
5
Middlesex avenue, cross Nor- folk avenue
327
52.9 in.
5
Middlesex avenue, cross Nor- folk avenue
428
62.3₺ in
7
Belmont avenue
193
32
3
Stetson avenue .
587
97.8 in.
IO
Number loads filling removed, 50.
Number crossing, relaid, 4 ; sand used, 5 loads.
Widening Essex Street.
Stone and gravel used as follows :
Number loads stone
595
Number loads gravel .
820
Number loads filling removed
220
There has been built 470 feet of new fence. Also built 451 feet of wall.
Gravel used on sidewalks, number loads
103
Elmwood Road.
Number loads pit stone used
50
Number loads gravel used
180
1901] REPORT OF THE SURVEYOR OF HIGHWAYS.
113
Gravel used on sidewalk-Number loads
15
Paving gutter-Number loads stone
81
Number loads sand
78
Number loads filling removed
25
Monument Avenue.
Number loads gravel used
209
Number loads stone
35
Gutter scrapings removed-Number loads
78
Pave gutters built :
I. One pave gutter built used 2 loads stone, 3 loads sand.
2. Two gutters relaid used I load stone, 4 loads sand.
Gravel used on sidewalk-Number loads
40
New Fence.
There has been built a new fence on Danvers street bridge.
Recommendations.
I would recommend that an appropriation be made :
I. To rebuild the fence on Essex street from the land of Mar- tin. Nies to that of Wendell Gassman.
2. To build a tool-house on the land belonging to the Town on Pine street.
3. To blast out the remainder of the ledge on Crescent street and put said street in proper condition.
4. To purchase a road machine.
5. To build a fence on Pleasant street.
6. The Stetson Land Company have signified their willingness to sell the Town land for a gravel pit.
Respectfully submitted,
J. P. M. S. PITMAN, Surveyor of Highways.
114
TOWN DOCUMENTS.
[Feb. 21
Report of the Tree Warden
To the Citizens of the Town of Swampscott :
I herewith respectfully submit the first annual report of the Tree Warden. In assuming the duties of this office I found that fully one-third of all the shade trees in Town had been damaged through the carelessness of drivers allowing their horses to stand and knaw the trees. By protecting the trees with wire in the places most exposed to these assaults, and calling attention to the law on this subject, has, I am happy to state, resulted in check- ing this evil.
" It is the duty of an enlightened community to plant trees and to so care for them that posterity shall not suffer."
While the small area, together with streets fronting on the ocean where trees that would obstruct a view of the sea would be undesirable, limits our labor in this matter, there is still room to improve and beautify our Town by planting shade trees. Public-spirited citizens set out trees in front of their property, their neighbor refuses to follow their example, and the general result is far from satisfactory. The rule that requires that every connected street must be planted with a single variety of trees has been adopted in Europe and in the United States by men of the widest experience in the planting of shade trees. The advan- tage of this system over that which mixes various trees widely differing in habit, rapidity of growth, longevity, will commend itself to anyone who will give the subject a thought. In order to obtain the best results, I would recommend that the appropri-
115
REPORT OF THE TREE WARDEN.
1901]
ation for this deparment be such that the Tree Warden will have a sum at his disposal, above the necessary expenses of pruning and care of the trees, to plant 100 new trees each year. I believe the sum of $350 will procure this result, and recommend that the Town appropriate the same for this department.
Respectfully submitted, JAMES T. LYONS.
I16
TOWN DOCUMENTS.
[Feb. 21
REPORT OF THE Committee on Remodeling Town Hall
To the Citizens of Swampscott :
Your Committee, to whom was referred the subject of re- modeling the Town Hall, beg leave to report as follows :
The Committee, after several meetings in which the matter was most exhaustively considered, agreed upon a general plan, and employed as architects the firm of Loring & Phipps, of 53 State street, Boston.
The ideas embodied are for a hall with a complete modern installment of all necessities, ample room for the various Town departments, a large general assembly hall to seat about 800, and increased and adequate space for the Public Library.
To secure these, it would be necessary either to build a new hall, or else alter and add to the present structure in such a way as to preserve the general style of architecture, and yet modern- ize and beautify the whole. This, the Committee believe, they have secured in the excellent set of plans submitted by the above firm.
In brief, the plan contemplates the retention of the old hall in its present position, and securing the added room by a main wing built on at right angles to it; or, in other words, to extend- ing along Burrill street nearly to Claremont terrace. This will provide a structure having at once a suitably imposing front and a land plot of the right dimensions to furnish a pleasing setting for the hall.
The present front entrance will be retained and another and more elaborate one will be located at the easterly end of the building, and also provided with a spacious porte cochere, the
PROPOSED REMODELLED TOWN HALL ON BURRILL STREET. Cut loaned through the courtesy of the Daily Evening Item, Lynn, Mass.
1901]
COMMITTEE ON REMODELING TOWN HALL. 117
plan for the driveway being an approach from both streets, to pass under the porticol.
On the Burrill street side the new part will have a one-story wing, in which will be the entrance to the library.
A cupola will surmount the roof at the middle, and while com- posing a very ornamental feature, will at the same time serve in connection with the ventilation of the hall.
The main interior feature of the new building will be the assembly hall, which will occupy practically the whole of the second floor, with the stage and anterooms at the easterly end, and, with the removal of the partition, will include the whole of the old hall, being as wide as the present hall is long.
The library reading-room will occupy the small side wing be- fore mentioned, and the total library space will be twice that of the present, having for itself a separate entrance.
Opposite the library will be a smaller hall, suitable for gather- ings of moderate size. The Town departments will be housed entirely upon the ground floor of the old part, and in the base- ment, besides a modern steam-heating plant, will be a kitchen and the Town lock-up.
The lighting will be by electricity, and with this and all other modern appointments, the hall, with the increased space thus afforded, will be ample for the needs of the Town for the next 25 years.
The Committee are satisfied that the citizens are aware that the Town needs a larger building at once, and we believe that this plan of remodeling would be the most economical for the Town. . The Committee, therefore, recommends to the Town to adopt this plan, and appropriate a sum not exceeding $25,000 to build the same. This amount to be borrowed for a period of ten years, to be paid in equal instalments each year.
EDWARD A. MAXFIELD, HEZEKIAH NEWCOMB, GEO. A. R. HORTON, AARON R. BUNTING, D. HOLMAN MILLETT, EDWARD H. KITFIELD.
(9)
IIS
TOWN DOCUMENTS.
[Feb. 21
Report of Street Lights Committee
To the Citizens of Swampscott :
Your Committee in charge of this department find nothing of especial interest to report at this time beyond the fact that we have followed instructions given us at the Special Town Meeting held July 24, 1900, and closed a contract with the Lynn Gas and Electric Co., of Lynn, on the terms as submitted to the Town by a five years' contract, at $67.00 per arc lamp per year, this price being a reduction of $3.00 per lamp, as heretofore paid.
The price on incandescent lamps remaining the same, $16.00 each per year.
It is also agreed that if during the continuance of the contract the Town should decide to establish a lighting plant of its own after two years from the date of the contract, the Town shall not be held liable for the balance of the contract, and all further liability under said contract shall cease.
Your Committee are unanimous in the opinion that the Town has acted wisely in continuing to purchase our street lights, everything considered, of the Lynn Gas and Electric Co., and do not believe it possible, under present conditions, to maintain a system of our own for lighting the streets at anywhere near the price we now pay, with the same number of lamps.
There have been added during the year two additional arc lamps and nine incandescents, as provided for in articles at the last Annnal Town Meeting - one on Hardy road, one on Far- ragut road. The condition of our lights has been good, we may say, except in one or two cases, and these have been promptly looked after when the company has been notified ; exceptionally good.
119
1901] REPORT OF STREET LIGHT COMMITTEE.
Number of arc lamps, 110; incandescents, 36.
We would recommend an appropriation of eight thousand dollars for street lights the current year.
EDWIN A. FARNHAM, AARON R. BUNTING, JOHN R. MERRITT, FRANK L. BONNEY, MARTIN L. QUINN.
120
TOWN DOCUMENTS.
[Feb. 21
REPORT OF Inspector of Cattle, Swine and Provisions
To the Board of Selectmen :
Acting under instructions from the State Board of Cattle Commissioners, I have made only one general inspection this year, with the following results : Whole number of cattle, 166, of which 24 were young, and 4 bulls ; there are 29 swine and 2 sheep; six provision stores, 3 provision wagons, 4 fish markets and 4 fish wagons.
The most of the animals were well kept and healthy, although there was a small percentage of them in poor condition, from a general health standpoint. Upon a physical examination I found no evidence of tuberculosis or other contagious diseases in any of said animals.
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