USA > Massachusetts > Essex County > Swampscott > Town annual report of Swampscott 1906 > Part 6
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25
Stray beasts cared for
8
Stray teams cared for
2
Nuisances reported to the Board of Health
5 12
Runaway children reported
9
Horses found cast in their stalls
3
Out of town officers assisted .
I2
Persons reported bitten by dogs
3
Dogs killed .
50
Tramps sent out of town
4 I
Search warrants for intoxicating liquors served Seizures made .
3
Forfeitures ordered by Court to Commonwealth
3
Complaints of boys throwing stones
·
.
17
Value of property stolen .
.
·
$685
Value of property recovered
.
.
$475
$210
Lost children restored to their parents
Search warrants for gaming implements served
3
104
TOWN DOCUMENTS.
[Feb. 2
Receipts and Reimbursements.
Winnipesikett Club
$6 00
High School graduating class of 1905
2 50
Boys gaming .
4 75
Mary E. Lodge
50 00
Women's Club of Lynn .
4 00
S. J. Mixter .
13 25
Town Hall Department .
45 00
Sewer Department .
3 20
Cemetery Department
2 00
Police court fines
420 00
Telephone tolls
6 85
$557 55
Reimbursements since books closed :
W. H. Stuart .
$4 00
Due from miscellaneous sources
.
9 22
$13 22
Recommendations.
I would call the attention of the Board of Selectmen to that portion of the Town's By-Laws which provides rules and regu- lations for the Police Department. The present By-Laws were adopted some fifteen years ago. While they are satisfactory in so far as they cover, they are inadequate in that they do not meet, all the requirements which have arisen with the growth of the Town and of the Police Department during the past fif- teen years.
Many matters for the regulation of which rules should be pro- vided are not touched upon by the present code.
I would, therefore, recommend that the Board of Selectmen take under consideration the necessity of providing additional By-Laws for this department.
While not an absolute necessity I believe that it would be an excellent thing for the Police Department, or at least one depart- ment of the Town government to possess a typewriting machine. The Police Department, as well as other departments, would find
.
.
105
REPORT OF CHIEF OF POLICE.
1906]
such a machine to be of great advantage, and would also be a saving of time and expense. For example much of the corre- spondence this department carries on with the police depart- ments of other cities and towns must be in printed form. If this department desires to send a list of property lost or stolen to the departments of other cities and towns, it could do so much quicker and at less expense by making typewritten lists, than by the present custom of taking the matter to a printer. Furthermore, a typewriter would greatly facilitate and expedite the work of making out reports, and recording evidence obtained in cases on which the department is employed ; to say nothing of the fact that typewritten documents would have a more official appearance, and be more in keeping with the corre- spondence received from the police departments of other cities and towns.
In closing my report I desire to thank the citizens of Swamp- scott and especially the Board of Selectmen for furnishing the Police Department with the suitable quarters it now occupies.
The department moved into the present station on September, 14, 1905, having previously occupied very unsatisfactory quar- ters in the basement of the Town Hall.
The citizens of Swampscott and Board of Selectmen recog- nized the old quarters were altogether inadequate and five hun- dred dollars ($500) was appropriated for fitting up the build- ing at 86 Burrill street, owned by the Town as a station.
The new station while probably not complete enough to meet all future needs of the department is a great improvement over the old one.
The new station makes an excellent headquarters for the police work of the Town.
The advantages of the new station are felt by the members of the department, and by all who have had occasion to transact business here.
Respectfully submitted,
SAMUEL T. HARRIS,
Chief of Police.
1
106
TOWN DOCUMENTS.
[Feb. 2
Report of Surveyor of Highways.
To the Citizen of Swampscott :
During the past year, 4,278 tons of stone have been crushed, most of which has been used in macadamizing the following streets : Burrill street from the crossing at Boynton street to the crossing at the monument; Orient street from Orient court to a point opposite Evans & Cole's stable. Also this year there has been a system of patrol of the different streets filling low places and hollows with crushed stone and gravel.
There have been used on the different streets 2,971 loads of gravel as follows: Middlesex avenue from Burrill street to a point beyond Berkshire street; Norfolk avenue from Middlesex avenue to the State Highway; Monument avenue from Burrill street to Elmwood road; Orient street from the end of the macadamized portion to the crossing at the Hay Scales; also in front of the Little estate, putting the same to grade ; Humphrey street from Pleasant street to Phillips corner, and Phillips Beach Crossing to Palmer avenue; Essex street from the bridge to the drinking fountain ; opposite cemetery ; portions of Salem street, Beach Bluff avenue, Atlantic avenue, Phillips avenue, Reding- ton, Marshall, New Ocean, Burrill and Highland streets; Stetson avenue at the bridge. Columbia street and Burrill street at the monument picked up and low places in road bed filled with crushed stone and rolled. Essex street from school-house to Pitman nursery picked up and smoothed over for the winter. Street opposite Bessom estate filled in with crushed stone and rolled.
107
REPORT OF SURVEYOR OF HIGHWAYS.
1906]
The gutter at the junction of Burrill and New Ocean streets has been removed and a catch-basin built. This gutter was dangerous to persons riding over the same.
The curve on Orient street near the Leonard Phillips' property which was put to sub-grade last year has been graveled and a sidewalk built.
New Streets.
Mapledale avenue, material used as follows :
Number loads filling
231
Number loads gravel
.
204
Also the ledge on the street has been removed.
Redington street at the corner of Highland street has been graded to the street line causing the removal of some 200 loads which were used in filling in the street.
Roy Street Extension, material used as follows :
Number yards ledge removed . 59
Number loads gravel used 163
Eureka avenue, material used as follows :
Number loads filling
IIO
Number loads gravel
94
Humphrey Street Improvement, material used as follows :
Number tons stone . 948
Number loads filling removed .
71
Number loads gravel
178
Number catch-basins built
5
The whole street from the Lynn line to the Galeucia estate has been widened, the sidewalk put into the street making the same from three to eight feet wider. The Boston & Northern Street Railway Company relaid its tracks lifting the same at the monu- ment about six inches and repaved the street from the boulevard
108
TOWN DOCUMENTS.
[Feb. 2
entrance to the Lynn line. The curbstones were shifted and relaid by the State Park Commission. The capstones on the old wall for some 600 feet were removed by the Town and stored on land at Pine street. They can be used advantageously in the future building of culverts, etc.
Gutters.
The gutters on all the streets of the Town have been cleaned at least twice, and on the main streets five times. There were removed 1,483 loads of scrapings, some of which were used as filling and the rest placed on the different dumps of the Town.
There were built during the year 305 feet of new fence.
Sidewalks.
Material used, 1,843 loads of gravel, 321 loads of which was screened.
Number tons of stone dust 192
Number of loads gutter scrapings 203
Sidewalks on Beach Bluff avenue have been built, the hedges trimmed to the street line at the Smith estate, making a continuous walk from Humphrey street to Atlantic avenue.
At the A. W. Preston estate, curbstones were laid causing a change in grade of sidewalk and street of some twenty inches in places. The filling was used in building sidewalks at Phillips avenue. A new sidewalk was built at the playground on State Highway.
Concrete and Curbstones.
Number yards concrete laid 303
Number feet curbstones laid · 1,683
Number feet curbstones relaid . 183
Catch-Basins and Gutters.
Number yards gutters paved with cobble stones . ·
739
Number yards gutters repaved with cobble stones . 230
1906]
REPORT OF SURVEYOR OF HIGHWAYS.
109
Number loads stone used in paving gutters, 185
Number loads sand and gravel used in pav- ing gutters . · 209
Number catch-basins built 4
Number feet pipe laid, 4-inch underdrain, Andrew road 30
Number feet pipe laid, 6-inch underdrain, Essex street school 102
Number feet pipe laid, 8-inch for catch- basins . 100
Number feet pipe laid, 10-inch for catch- basins .
76
Number feet pipe laid, 12-inch for catch- basins .
5
Number crossings laid
·
5
Number blocks used for paving
985
Crossings laid as follows : Across Cliffside avenue at Post Office ; across Humphrey street at Post Office ; across Harrison avenue at Salem street ; across Harrison avenue at Humphrey street, and across Farragut road at Ellis road.
Essex Street Paved Gutters.
Number yards laid .
234
Loads stone used
.
.
76
Loads sand
. .
48
Filling removed .
23
Care of Brooks.
The different Town brooks have been cleaned, especially the brook that runs from the Boston & Maine railroad tracks to the pumping station, and the culvert at Ontario street has been raised one foot six inches. The culvert on Salem street at the Rowe and Burton estates has been relaid and deepened, also the culvert at the entrance to the Palmer estate has been extended some seventeen feet and the low place filled in, doing away with the old guard rail, making a much needed improvement. The drain
IIO
TOWN DOCUMENTS.
[Feb. 2
that runs from Marshall street and empties through a box drain on the beach ought to be cut off from the beach and allowed to run into the sewer basin on account of the disagreeable odor that rises from the same during the summer months. All the brooks are in better condition than they have been for a long time.
The streets upon the Stetson estate, especially Stetson avenue, Hampden street, Berkshire street at the State Highway, Shaw road on the Mudge estate and Essex street ought to receive atten- tion in the near future. These are but a few of the streets on which work should be done this year.
I would make the following recommendations :
(I.) That a new bridge be built at Danvers street.
(2.) That $400 be appropriated to rebuild the different Town fences.
(3.) That $1,500 be appropriated to resurface Essex street.
(4.) That the Town adopt some system of permanent pave- ment for sidewalks.
(5.) That Town erect a building for the steam roller and other tools belonging to the Highway Department and appro- priate money for the same.
MICHAEL J. RYAN, Surveyor of Highways.
III
REPORT OF CHIEF ENGINEER.
1906]
Report of Chief Engineer.
FIRE DEPARTMENT HEADQUARTERS, SWAMPSCOTT, MASS., Feb. 9, 1906.
To the Board of Selectmen :
GENTLEMEN,-We have the honor to submit herewith the annual report of the Fire Department for the year ending February 9, 1906, this being the eleventh annual and the twenty- seventh since the organization of the paid department of the Town.
Manual Force.
The department consists of thirty-four men, assigned as fol- lows: one chief and two assistant engineers, seven permanent men, including the chief, one captain, two lieutenants, five pipemen, seven hosemen, six laddermen and four men on steamer.
Apparatus.
The apparatus is in good condition at the present time, the hose wagon has been repaired and painted and is as good as new. The apparatus consists of one steam fire engine with three-horse hitch, one two-horse hose wagon, one two-horse adder truck, one two-horse chemical, one two-horse hose reel, one relief wagon, one single wagon and three hand-hose reels, one two-horse hose pung.
Fire Alarm.
The past year there has been added a four-circuit switch board und storage battery, in place of a gravity battery which has given
II2
TOWN DOCUMENTS.
[Feb. 2
good satisfaction so far, and the system is in good condition at the present time, except some old wire which will have to be replaced with new wire at a small expense.
Water Supply.
The water supply has been all that has been required of it the past year. The hydrants have been kept in good order and all needed repairs have been attended to by the Water Board when reported to them. There has been one new hydrant added this past year, which makes one hundred and thirty-one (131) in service this past year. There has been times when the water pressure has been very low for fire service. We would recom- mend that the Commissioners look after the matter and remedy it if possible.
Hose.
There are thirty-one hundred and fifty (3,150) feet of two and one-half inch cotton hose (rubber lined) classified as follows : First quality, twenty-eight hundred feet (2,800) feet ; worthless, three hundred and fifty (350) feet. There are also four hundred (400) feet of three-quarter inch rubber hose.
Horses.
There are ten horses in the department, nine of which are in good condition at the present time. There was no horse pur- chased the past year. The horses and men have been employed on the Street Watering Department and have received $1, 165.00 and credit for the same.
Recommendations.
We would recommend that two hundred and twenty-five ($225) dollars be appropriated for the purchase of a new horse to take the place of one unfit for service. We also recommend two hundred ($200) dollars for a new supply wagon to take the place of one that has been in service over twenty years. We also recommend that the permanent men receive an increase of two ($2.00) dollars per week this coming year ; that seven hundred and twenty-eight ($728) dollars be appropriated for the same.
II3
REPORT OF CHIEF ENGINEER.
1906]
Fires and Alarms.
There has been twenty-nine (29) bell alarms, forty-two (42) telephone calls and fourteen (14) still alarms, making a total of eighty-five (85) alarms this past year, an increase over last year of thirty-three (33) alarms, and the greatest number in any one year in the history of the Town. No school signal has been sounded nine (9) times and the department has responded to ten (10) out of town calls, Chemical No. 1, Phillips Beach, called in service twenty-three (23) times, Chemical No. 4, Lynn, six (6) times.
Loss by Fire.
The value of property endangered, amount on insurance carried, amount of insurance paid and net loses at fires where portion of the department have responded is as follows, viz :
Value of buildings
. $42,682 93 .
Value of contents
18,779 II
Total .
.
$61,462 04
Insurance on buildings
. $22,800 00
Insurance on contents
6,000 00 .
Total .
$28,800 00
Damage to buildings .
$807 75
Damage to contents
30 00
Total .
$837 75
Insurance paid on buildings
$757 75
Insurance paid on contents
30 00
Total .
$787 75
Net loss above insurance
$50 00
Total .
$837 75
114
TOWN DOCUMENTS.
[Feb. 2
Conclusion.
In closing our repoort, we revert with pride to the manual force, of the willingness and undaunted courage in performing the dangerous and arduous duties of their calling. We desire to tender our thanks to the Honorable Board of Selectmen, the members of the Fire Department, the Police Department, and all others, who have in any way assisted the department. We also wish to thank the press for the competent way in which they have reported the fires, and other matters pertaining to the department.
Respectfully submitted,
GEORGE P. CAHOON, G. H. LAMPARD, FRANK L. CHAPMAN, Board of Engineers.
Attest :
FRANK L. CHAPMAN, Clerk of Board.
II5
REPORT OF PARK COMMISSIONERS.
1906]
Report of Park Commissioners.
The Board of Park Commissioners of the Town of Swamp- scott submit the following report for the season of 1905-6 :
The past year has been in many respects a trying one for the Board. There has been considerable work to be done and a limited amount of money with which to do it. But all things considered we believe that a satisfactory showing has been made.
As there has been, in years past, some criticism as to our methods of caring for the Monument Avenue Reservation, this year we received bids from those who were desirous of tak- ing care of it for us. These bids, for the general spring clean- ing and the care of the lawns and shrubbery for the summer season, stood as follows :- J. W. Glass, $230; G. W. Newhall, $190. G. W. Newhall, who has done the work for some years, was awarded the contract, and the entire reservation was kept in fine shape.
In accordance with a vote of the Town the Park Commission- ers were placed in charge of the new Playground and instructed to put it in proper shape. For this purpose they were given the paltry sum of $500. That is one of the handicaps under which we have had to work this year. Anyone familiar with the site of the Playground and its condition a year ago, and also having the slightest rudimentary knowledge of engineering, must know that we had no small task laid out to put this land in shape. Why, the appropriation was not sufficient even to make the place dry so that we could begin the work of grading and plant- ing. The problem was so serious that we called into requisition
116
TOWN DOCUMENTS.
[Feb. 2
the services of Mr. Clarence B. Humphrey, C. E., who made us a comprehensive plan and drew up a proper specification.
This scheme seemed to meet with the unanimous approval of the Board, and so it was voted that we call for bids. A public invitation for sealed bids and proposals in regard to this work was issued in the Lynn Item and the Lynn News of May 9th and roth, the bids to be opened on May the 10th, at 8 o'clock, in the Park Commissioners' office. Before the bids were opened there were suggestions made not to consider any possible out of town bidders. But as tbe bids had been called for in the public press, without limitations, the Commission decided that it was only just to consider all bids submitted by responsible parties. And this proved to be a very wise decision, as the figures show :
James T. Lyons :
Section No. I
$760 00
Section No. 2
1,150 00 ·
$1,910 00
M. McDonough :
Section No. I ·
.
$723 00
Section No. 2
1,085 00
$1,808 00
H. S. Tuttle :
Section No. I
· $675 00
Section No. 2
1,025 00 ·
$1,700 00
William Miller & Son :
Section No. I ·
$516 00
Section No. 2
348 00
$864 00
The contract was awarded to William Miller & Son, of Lynn, and was fulfilled to the satisfaction of the Commission and its representative, Mr. Humphrey, the engineer.
II7
REPORT OF PARK COMMISSIONERS.
1906]
As we had only $500 to work with it was necessary either to omit some part of our contemplated plans, or else borrow money from the regular park appropriation, which latter meant the slighting of other needed repairs. But it was finally decided to carry out the entire plan, borrowing temporarily, and then to ask for more money, which was done at the special midsummer Town Meeting.
The Playground was seeded in a first-class manner early in the summer, but the extremely hot and dry period which fol- lowed made the results, as far as grass is concerned, far from satisfactory. This seeding will probably have to be done all over again.
Throughout the fall there have been numerous games both 'of foot and base ball held upon the grounds, and as the weather became cold a portion of the grounds were flooded to form a skating pond. But in this matter of trying to provide a good skating surface we have repeatedly been hampered by some of the older boys breaking the surface before it has become thor- oughly frozen.
At the lower beach the stone steps near Head Rocks have been repaired, and the sea wall opposite the band stand has been pointed up and underpinned. A new flight of steps has replaced the old and broken one opposite Ingalls terrace.
As there has been more or less complaint, both from the fish- ermen themselves and from the insurance company, in regard to the stowing of gasoline in the Fishermen's Building, we have erected a small shed some forty feet away, where gasoline may be safely kept. This shed contains numbered compartments for the tenants in the large building, and is posted with a conspicu- ous sign " Gasoline. Dangerous !"
During the season there have been issued several permits to hold temperance meetings upon the reservation.
We are pleased to acknowledge here the gift to the depart- ment of a fine barometer by J. W. Harding & Co., of Lynn. It has been placed inside the door leading to the Commissioners' office, so that the public can consult it at their pleasure.
9
118
TOWN DOCUMENTS.
[Feb. 2
In view of the fact that we now have the Playground to care for and maintain in addition to the regular Park property, and bearing in mind the long needed grading upon the eastern half of the beach reservation, we recommend that the Town now appropriate ($1,500) fifteen hundred dollars for general park purposes for the coming year.
Respectfully submitted,
JEROME PAUL JACKSON, FRED C. MARSH, JOHN J. BLANEY,
Park Commissioners.
119
CEMETERY REPORT.
1906 ]
Cemetery Report.
To the Board of Selectmen :
Year 1905 to 1906. Lots Sold.
Nine at $50 each
.
$450 00
Six single graves at $5 each
.
30 00
Number of interments
52
Lots unsold, 13 at $100 ; 16, at $50 each.
·
I would recommend that from the addition recently made to the Cemetery, a number of lots be staked out, graded, and put into condition and an appropriation be made for the ensuing year for the same.
Respectfully submitted,
JAMES P. M. S. PITMAN, Superintendent Cemetery.
İ20
TOWN DOCUMENTS.
[Feb. 2
Report of Tree Warden.
The seventh year of the Tree Warden's work is closed. In making this report I will state that the work of the Tree Warden required an unusual amount of labor and watchfulness previous to the passing of the moth law, May 6, 1905, when the work was separated.
Whole number of trees on Town roads and public property over 1,600 ; number of trees planted out in 1905, 100; number of loads of loam used, 30; number of old trees cut down, 7 ; number of large trees pruned, 104; number of trees cleared of the brown tail and gypsy moth between the last report and April 1, 1905, 305.
Tools belonging to the department, I extension ladder, I pick, 2 shovels, 4 pruners.
As all town roads that are suitable for shade trees are supplied and only about twenty-five trees are required to fill vacancies, as the law provides for the protection of the Town trees against the ravages of the brown tail and gypsy moth, it is only necessary for the Town to provide for the planting out, pruning and removal of trees, I recommend that the sum of $250 be appro- priated for that work.
On Burrill street between Paradise road and Middlesex avenue are fifty-six large trees, in several places the trees are not over twelve feet apart, causing most of the houses to be devoid of sunlight and very damp also, causing the road and sidewalk to remain wet and muddy after other streets are dry. After careful consideration, I recommend that seventeen of the trees on Burrill
121
REPORT OF TREE WARDEN.
1906]
street be removed, the sidewalk and gutter be replaced, and the sum of $250 be appropriated for that work, also the wood to be sold and the money received be used towards paying the expense of the work.
Respectfully submitted,
GEORGE NEWHALL, Tree Warden.
Report of Local Superintendent of Moth Work.
The present moth law was passed May 6, 1905, work in this department began June 16, 1905, so the work in this department under the moth law has not been carried on a full year. There has been a great amount of work done towards suppressing the brown tail and gypsy moth in this Town, all moth work is done under the direction of the state superintendent and his inspectors.
Greatest number of men employed at one time, 21; at the present time, 15; number of trees on Town roads banded with burlap in 1905, 800; number of trees scraped and banded with tanglefoot, 225 ; all trees on roads and public property, making 1,600 in number, having been cleared of brown tail and gypsy moth since December 1, 1905, and the work has been inspected by State Inspector. Under the present law there have been 75 acres of badly invested brush land cut over ready for burning, and 39 parcels of residential property cleared that the owners will have to pay a part of the expense of, also all wild shruberry along the road sides has been cut out, estimated number of acres of badly infested gypsy moth is 250, about the same amount of territory is slighted infested ; number of barrels of oil used for burning, 6; creosote used, two barrels.
Tools belonging to this department, I force pump, 4 chopping axes, 12 bush axes, I grindstone, 12 pruners, 18 tree knives, 12 small mirrors, 2 forks, I torch lamp, I extension ladder.
122
TOWN DOCUMENTS.
[Feb. 2
The work of suppressing the gypsy moth has been carried on by the Tree Warden two years before the present moth law was passed, had the work not been done during that time, our trees would have shared the fate of the trees in other towns and cities, as the law states the amount of appropriation required by the Town no recommendation is necessary.
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