Town annual report of Swampscott 1908, Part 10

Author: Swampscott, Massachusetts
Publication date: 1908
Publisher: The Town
Number of Pages: 314


USA > Massachusetts > Essex County > Swampscott > Town annual report of Swampscott 1908 > Part 10


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


Outside of the first raking up and cutting grass when needed, the grounds have received very little attention, and we hope another year that arrangements can be made whereby the same person can have charge of this and the Monument Avenue Res- ervation.


The base ball teams have been furnished with a substantial fence for a back stop, and the grounds flooded to provide a place where the children can skate with safety.


Monument Avenue Reservation.


This comprises the strip of land running from the Soldiers' Monument on Humphrey street to Andrew road, and is given up to planting and grass. Occupying the position it does it is im- portant that it should look its best at all times. As in past years, we have asked for bids for taking care of this reservation for the five summer months, and received only three. The contract was awarded to Mr. Nathan Harris for $180, who has done his work to the entire satisfaction of the Board, many favorable comments having been received from interested citizens upon its general


169


REPORT OF PARK COMMISSIONERS.


1908 ]


appearance this season. Of the other two bids, they were both from non-resident parties, one being excessive and the other came too late to be considered.


In connection with this reservation there is a piece of land on Farragut and Walker roads, containing about 40,000 square feet which we have partially cared for in the past, but which is not owned by the Town. This land being untaxed and understand- ing that the Swampscott Land Trust had already expressed their willingness to deed it to the Town, we have this year inter- viewed Mr. Walter Burgess, Trustee, and under his direction had plans drawn up of the portion to be transferred. We are pleased to report that we have received the deed to this land dated January 13, 1908, and that it may be valid the necessary steps are being taken.


Blaney Beach Reservation.


This reservation has a frontage of 1,055 feet on Humphrey street and contains 235,000 square feet of upland and beach. Mr. Horace W. Blanchard was re-appointed superintendent.


Early in the spring the much needed repairs on the Fish House were made, and bids for painting all the buildings on the reservation asked of all the local house painters. There were three bids upon this work as follows :


Edwin Russell


. $120 00


G. H. Lampard .


128 00


E. S. Sawyer .


. 135 00


The contract was awarded to Edwin Russell as the lowest bidder.


The easterly and westerly ends of the Reservation have been graded, but there is still room for improvement upon the east- erly end.


We have been put to considerable annoyance this season rela- tive to the care of the offal from the Fish House. In past years this offal, together with offal from the markets across the street, has been collected and dumped at sea under the supervision of the Board of Health, who maintain a man and boat at the


170


TOWN DOCUMENTS.


[Jan. 31


beach for this purpose. This season they have refused to care for the offal from the Fish House and we were unable to make arrangements to have the same man attend to it, although willing to pay our proportional share of the expense. If the same conditions exist another year, it will be necessary for the Park Commissioners to maintain an extra man and boat for this purpose.


This year we were again notified by the Board of Health that the drain from the Fish House must be connected with the sewer, but from lack of funds have been unable to do so, although bids were asked for and received for doing this work. To prevent any misunderstanding we wish to state that the drain in question is not connected with the closets, but takes the wash- ings from the fishermen's rooms on the first floor and empties on the beach at low water line.


We would recommend that the Town appropriate $150 for doing this work the coming year.


The closet on the westerly side has been a source of complaint the past season, the arrangements being inadequate to preserve sanitary conditions, considering the extent it is used.


We would recommend that the necessary changes be made and that the Town appropriate $500 for this purpose.


We have maintained a special police officer on the Reservation Sundays and holidays during the summer months.


No action having been taken by the Town at the March meeting relative to the controversy with Mr. E. A. Farnham about the division fence, we quote the following from last year's report : "On May 11, 1906, it was voted by your Commis- sioners that Mr. E. A. Farnham be allowed to erect a division fence between his property and the park, the Town to pay one- half the cost, with fence and work satisfactory to both parties. Mr. Farnham built the fence but the location, according to surveys made by C. W. Gay, of Lynn, is not correct, and for that reason we have never approved the bill of Mr. Farnham amount- ing to $30.50 on advice of Mr. Niles, our Town counsel. The difference in the location of the present fence from the old is § of an inch on Farnham property on rear to 74 inches on Park land


171


REPORT OF PARK COMMISSIONERS.


1 908 ]


in the front, or in other words Mr. Farnham has fenced in 26 square feet of land belonging to the Town according to the survey of Mr. Gay."


Mr. Farnham having refused to move the fence last year and having taken no notice of an invitation to meet the Board this year, we ask the Town with the acceptance of this report to empower the Park Commissioners to apply to the land court to positively fix this line for all time.


Following is a detail of expenses of this Board, together with outstanding liabilities, January 31, 1908, showing that we are within our original appropriation which was deemed to be for the year between March meetings.


The Commissioners' report for 1906 showed an unexpended balance of $430.79, but they approved bills after January 31, 1907 amounting to $204.63 which have been charged to our account. It was to offset this charge that the additional appropriation of $250.00 was allowed at the special Town meeting.


Park Department.


FINANCIAL REPORT.


Original Appropriation


$1,200 00 349 26


Receipts


$1,549 26


Amount of Expenditures


$1,387 02


Balance Unexpended


162 24


$1,549 26


EXPENDITURES.


Paradise Road Playground.


James T. Lyons, stock and labor


$115 00


J. H. Yeaton, carpenter work 18 50


E. S. Sawyer, painting .


6 45


George H. Holden & Co., supplies


16 40


Nathan Harris, labor


15 25


Henry L. Mudge, labor .


4 00


Eastman & Bradford, surveying


3 00


Warren Bros., granolithic work


262 00


$440 60


172


TOWN DOCUMENTS. [Jan. 31


Monument Avenue Reservation. Nathan Harris, labor $185 00


Blaney Beach Reservation.


Frank Griffin & Co., carpenter work,


$61 48


E. S. Russell, painting . 120 00


Street Department, labor 57 00


Lynn Gran. Co., gravel


I 40


A. L. Widger, gravel


12 60


Eastman & Bradford, surveying


2 50


Police Department .


59 50


Walter A. DeLory, labor and materi- als in 1906 .


II 65


S. B. Parker, printing


I 70


Swampscott Water Works


44 00


Horace W. Blanchard, salary


334 00


Horace W.Blanchard, miscellaneous,


16 09


Philbrick & Pope, stock and labor,


15 75


Evans & Cole, labor, 1905, 1906,


1907 .


22 25


Edwin Russell, labor®


I 50


$761 42


$1,387 02


Balance, January 31, 1908


$162 24


Outstanding Liabilities.


Horace W. Blanchard, salary to


March I


·


$60 00


Miller & Son, gravel and labor


25 00


Frank Griffin & Co., labor and stock, 6 25


Charles W. Gay, surveying ·


16 12


Evans & Cole, labor


75


James T. Lyons, gravel, 1906


.


3 00


Swampscott Water Works


43 60


$154 72


Balance .


$7 52


.


.


.


173


REPORT OF PARK COMMISSIONERS.


1 908]


Bills approved between January 31 and March meeting of 1907 :


Horace W. Blanchard, salary .


$31 00


Philbrick & Pope, stock & labor


24 62


Evans & Cole, labor


22 00


Horace W. Blanchard, supplies


2 0I


Insurance


125 00


$204 63


Provisions should be made before long for a site for a play- ground in the easterly end of the Town, and the Commisioners believe that the land for this purpose should be acquired even if the site were not developed for many years. It is easy for any one familiar with the increase of land values in Swampscott in the last decade to realize what it would cost to buy such a site if put off to long, as the time is surely coming when the density of our population will demand it.


Considering the fact that the actual cost of maintenance of this Department has steadily increased from year to year and that, with the addition of the Paradise Road Playground, the appropriation has remained the same, the amount being barely sufficient for actual needs, we would recommend that the appropriation for the coming year be $2,000 and receipts.


Respectfully submitted,


ELIAS G HODGKINS, JOHN J. BLANEY, CLARENCE B. HUMPHREY,


Park Commissioners.


1


I74


TOWN DOCUMENTS.


[Jan. 31


Cemetery Report.


To the Board of Selectmen :


Lots sold, 1907, three at $50 each


$150 00


Five single graves at $5


·


25 00


Number of interments . .


48


Lots unsold, 13 at $100 each ; 12 at $50 each.


Because of the severe storm that destroyed so many of the of the trees last summer, I would recommend that a number be added the ensuing year.


The appropriation should be the same as for last year.


Respectfully submitted,


JAMES P. M. S. PITMAN, Superintendent of Cemetery.


175


REPORT OF TREE WARDEN.


1908 ]


Report of Tree Warden.


To the Honorable Board of Selectmen of the Town of Swampscott :


GENTLEMEN,-This being my eighth annual report of my work done in this department, I will state there are about 1,745 trees on the Town roads and public property. The trees planted on the Town roads the past year are as follows :- Burrill street, 4; Boynton street, 2; Hampden street, 4 ; Ellis road, 2; Grant road, 16; Shaw road, 7; Berkshire street, 3 ; New Ocean street, 2 ; Andrew road, I. Total, 41. Old trees removed, 4, destroyed by horses, 3; protected by wire, 45. There have been 20 trees sprayed to protect them from the Elm beetle. There have been no trees set against vacant lots as they receive no protection from the owners of the land and are liable to be destroyed during building operations.


Remarks.


The insect known as the Elm beetle is not anything new in Eastern Massachusetts, it feeds only on the foliage of Elm trees and does not come within the jurisdiction of the Moth law. Most of the trees which have been planted six or seven years have out- grown the wire protection put on at that time and they now require larger wires. Telegraph spurs or any kind of climbing irons have not been allowed in climbing any of the Town's trees. It will require about 23 trees to fill vacancies and replace those destroyed by horses. In closing my report, I would


176


TOWN DOCUMENTS.


[Jan. 31


recommend that the sum of $350 (three hundred and fifty dol- lars) be appropriated for planting new trees, protecting other trees with larger wires, where needed, trimming out dangerous branches and guarding against the ravages of the Elm beetle.


Respectfully submitted, GEORGE NEWHALL, Tree Warden.


177


REPORT OF SUPERINTENDENT OF MOTH WORK.


1908]


REPORT OF Local Superintendent of Moth Work.


To the Honorable Board of Selectmen of the Town of Swampscott :


GENTLEMEN,-This is my third annual report as Local Super- intendent of moth work and in it I will state, as in my former reports, that the present moth law was passed May 6, 1905. It requires all work to be done under the directien of the State Superintendent and his assistants. Reports of the State Inspector for the past year show that about 30 acres of brush land have been cut over and the brush burned. There have been over 4,000 trees banded with burlap, 4,000 trees banded with tree tangle-foot; 1,000 yards of burlap, cut eight inches wide ; 1,000 pounds of tree tangle-foot, 1,950 arsenate of lead ; 25 pounds of jute twine ; four barrels of fuel oil ; nine barrels of creosote and six barrels of cement used in the work. The number of estates where the work was done by private contractors was 14.


The amount of assessment for moth work done on private estates between May 1, 1906 and June 1, 1907, rendered to the Assessors was $1,230. The largest number of men on the work at any time during the year was 15 while the smallest was six. The tools which belong to the department are as follows : One large hand force pump for spraying, two small pumps for burning oil, 300 feet of ¿- inch rubber hose, three spray poles and nozzles, one extension ladder, four chopping axes ; 15 brush axes, five bush cutters, three pairs of clyde shears, two galvanized iron tanks, six small mirrors, one crosscut saw, one large hand saw, two trowels, a lot of brushes, eight pruners, seven tree scrapers and two faucets.


178


TOWN DOCUMENTS.


[Jan. 31


Remarks.


The work has been interrupted a number of weeks the past year for want of funds, which prevents as good a showing as might have been made. The brown tail moth, "Euproctis Chrysorea," which infested the trees in such great numbers and caused so much trouble three years ago, have been by some epidemic, so reduced in numbers as to be little or no trouble at all.


The Gypsy moth "Porthetrea Dispar," has been quite well cleared from the residential part of the Town. The worst colony we had to contend with was in the woodland between Humphrey street and Puritan road, owned by the Phillips' estate, Arthur I. Little's and the Oakland House property. This bad infestation was caused by poor work of private con- tractors but by a great amount of careful work this colony has been entirely wiped out. While all the woodland is slightly infested, the next colony that should be contended with is in the Sargent wood, along the Marblehead branch of the Boston & Maine railroad and Forrest avenue.


After several interviews with the Government agents of moth work, they very generously agreed to help the work in Swamp- scott by cutting a strip 100 feet wide on each side of the State road. This work is nearly finished and clears out the most of a large colony. The appropriation from both Town and State will be much less for the year 1908 than in 1907, so it will stand all owners in hand, to use their best efforts to protect themselves against this pest.


Very respectfully submitted,


GEORGE NEWHALL, Local Superintendent of Moth Work.


179


REPORT OF MILK INSPECTOR.


1 908 ]


Report of Milk Inspector.


To the Board of Selectmen, Swampscott, Mass. :


GENTLEMEN,-I beg leave to submit the report of this office for the year ending February Ist, 1908.


Samples of milk taken . II


Complaints investigated


.


I


Received from licenses and paid to Town Treasurer $5.50.


Respectfully submitted,


FRANK H. BRADFORD, Milk Inspector


ISO


TOWN DOCUMENTS.


[Jan. 31


REPORT OF Sealer of Weights and Measures.


SWAMPSCOTT, MASS.


The following is the report of the Sealer of Weights and Measures for the year ending February 23, 1908 :


Total number of balances and platform scales tested from


April 1, 1907 to February 23, 1908


68


Number of weights tested


199


Number of measures tested .


156


Number of weights condemned


7


Number of measures condemned


·


5


Number of balances condemned


3


Number of milk bottles sealed


2091


Number of milk bottles condemned


161


.


Total amount received, $19.50 for above, which I turned over to the Town Treasurer, and for which I hold a receipt.


The standard embraces the following :


One avoirdupois balances, fifty pounds.


One set of avoirdupois weights, sixteen divisions ; drachms, one two divisions; ounces, one-quarter, one-half, one, two, four, eight; pounds, one, two, four, five, ten, twenty, twenty- five, fifty.


One set of liquid measures of six dimensions, one gill, one- half-pint, one pint, one quart, two quarts, one gallon.


ISI


1908] REPORT OF SEALER OF WEIGHTS AND MEASURES.


One set of dry measures, five divisions, one quart, two quarts, one-half peck, one peck, one-half bushel.


One yard measure, ten fifty pound weights; one balance for testing small weights, one steel stamp, 1908; one hammer, two drills, one bitstock, one breast drill, one tripod, one tin tube, ten graduating glasses.


ALFRED G. WATTS, Sealer of Weights and Measures.


182


TOWN DOCUMENTS.


[Jan. 31


Report of Street Lights Committee.


To the Citizens of Swampscott :


But little can be said in this year's report regarding our street lights; the conditions appear about as usual and so far as the observations of your Committee goes they appear fully as satis- factory as at any time in the past.


We would not say to the citizens that the system is absolutely perfect. We never have found it so and never expect to until such time if that ever comes when a perfect control can be had over lamps which will guarantee them to burn and remain burn- ing until the hour comes for shutting off. Lamps suspended in open air and subject to swaying and swinging as a result of high winds or an irregular current that is at any time liable to be transmitted over a wire cannot always be depended upon to guarantee a smooth and steady light, therefore your Committee has from time to time had called to their attention through the watchful eyes of our ever alert night guardians, our police, the fact that a lamp is dark, a record of these non-burning lamps is kept by the Chief of Police who when possible notifies the com- pany of the fact and it is due to the electric company to say that they are prompt to remedy these defects whenever they or the local inspector are informed of the fact.


We now have upon our circuits 117 arc lights and 73 incan- descent lights and it is the opinion of your Committee that no town or city in the State has better lighted streets then the Town of Swampscott or at a less price per light.


The months of January and February, 1908 being included in the fiscal year of 1907 owing to the early closing of the Town's


183


REPORT OF STREET LIGHTS COMMITTEE.


1908]


books made necessary under the new by-laws adopted last year calls for the payment of fourteen months' light bills. Our appro- priation for the current year will exceed $10,000 and we recom- mend that the amount to be appropriated this year be ten thou- sand and one hundred dollars, ($10,100).


Respectfully submitted,


E. A, FARNHAM, J. R. MERRITT, M. L. QUINN, J. F. CATON.


Committee on Street Lights.


184


TOWN DOCUMENTS.


[Jan. 31


Report of the Library Trustees.


To the Citizens of Swampscott :


In presenting this annual report of the condition of and the work done in conducting the affairs of your Library during the past year, we would state that the number of books loaned has averaged about the same as in previous years, the number this year being 27,710. A


The books called for by borrowers are for the most part works of fiction and biography, and considering the means at the dis- posal of the Library Trustees, but little can be done beyond devoting the Library principally to such books and making a selection of new works from the best of that literature as it is published that the Library may always have a fairly good selection of the latest published books that are popular with its readers.


During the year, there have been purchased 450 volumes, a large number of which are late publications, the remainder being certain books which it has been deemed advisable to pur- chase to replace others that were worn out and for which there is a demand, being mostly selections of books that retain their place in public appreciation years after their publication.


A number of books (395) have been re-bound and the general good condition of all the books in the Library has been main- tained. But few books have been lost or destroyed.


The collections of fees for overtime and replacements of books lost amounted to twenty-five dollars ($25.00).


The total number of books now in the Library is 10,544.


It is our pleasure to report that the following named books have been presented to the Library :


185


REPORT OF LIBRARY TRUSTEES.


1908]


The Engineering Magazine, from Mr. C. S. Jameson ; The Reports of the Grand Army Organization, from Mr. John R. Merritt ; Studies in Conduct, from the Rev. George T. Smart ; Hearths and Homes of Old Lynn, Celebration of the 275th Anniversary of the First Church of Christ, Manual of the First Church in Swampscott, from Mr. John Albree, for which books we thank the donors in behalf of the Library.


It is also our pleasure to report that the legacy left to the Town by the will of Mrs. Joanna Morse, the income from which is to be devoted to the purchase of books for the Town Library, has been paid into the Town Treasury and amounts to $5,196. At the present time this amount is lying in the bank, returning only a small income, the present accumulation being $185.74. It is consequently our suggestion that this sum be invested, under the direction of the Selectmen, in some securities . proper for trust funds, or that it be loaned to the Town at a rate that will yield a larger income.


Concerning the library room we wish to say a word, which is, that the entire space available has now been filled with racks of shelves and that no further enlargement of shelf room for books is practical. The shelves of the Library are now filled, with the exception of room for about 500 more books. At the present rate of purchasing new books, it will be only about a year more before the want of room will be most seriously felt. We feel, therefore, that some provision for a larger library room should be considered and a plan matured for it in the near future.


In the matter of the appropriation made for the Library, and the dog tax, we wish to call attention to the present method of devoting this money to the use of the Library, and to suggest a change, which change we believe will result in a better method of making payments from the Library funds and will possess the more important advantage of having the full sum available at all times, which has not always been the case under the present system.


In the present method, it is the practice to close the fiscal year at a certain time and not carry forward to the credit of the Library, for future use, any unexpended balance of the Library


186


TOWN DOCUMENTS.


[Jan. 31


funds from the dog tax or appropriation. Under this system, it so happened last year that the fiscal year was closed before it was known what the dog tax was, with the result that a consid- erable portion of it was lost to the Library. Under such condi- tions, there has naturally been a hurrying toward the close of the year, to purchase books, in the fear that the full benefit of the funds might otherwise be lost to the Library, from the fact that any balance not expended would not be carried forward. We would suggest that the Library funds be always considered as in the hands of the Town Treasurer, the account to be a continuous one, to include trust income, dog tax and appropriation, to be drawn upon at all times directly by the Trustees' order, for any unexpended balance, affording, we believe, time and opportunity for the more careful and consequently advantageous expenditure of the money as chance and need occurs, instead, as under the present system, of doing all within a certain time, whether opportune or not.


This report of the condition of your Library, the purpose that it serves and our suggestions for your consideration, are most respectfully submitted.


FRANK F. STANLEY, ELIZABETH J. HADLEY, FRANK E. INGALLS,


Trustees of the Library.


18-


REPORT OF WATER COMMISSIONERS.


1908]


Report of Water Commissioners.


To the Citizens of the Town of Swampscott :


The Water Board respectfully submit their tenth annual report. The year 1907 has been an exceedingly busy one in the Water Department of your town and a great deal has been accomplished which will tend to the ultimate efficiency of the system.


During the year we have laid 2,571 feet of 10-inch and 2,693 feet of 6-inch cast iron pipe also 1,450 feet of 2-inch galvanized iron pipe and 6,900 feet of I-inch galvanized iron service pipe, included in which amount 147 service pipes have been relaid.


The adoption of the meter system by the Town made it necessary to avail ourselves of more floor space for the repair and meter work and a substantial building has been erected on Pine street in place of the old small buildings which were an eye sore to the neighborhood ; to be sure we could have utilized the old pumping station for this work, but considering the revenue we were receiving and also the fact that it was not particularly adapted for our needs, we decided it would be cheaper in the end to build.


During the year we have installed 416 meters, bringing the total number to 892 and leaving 415 taps still unmetered, which we believe should be metered as soon as convenient and we would respectfully recommend that $2,000 in bonds be issued and sold to the Trustees of the Sinking Fund to aid in the com- pletion of this work.


The 376 meters which were installed prior to February 1, 1907 have shown a great variety of readings and in many cases an


188


TOWN DOCUMENTS.


[Jan. 31


extravagant use of water, and but for overburdening an already cumbersome report we might record all readings here; but suffice it to say that.


2 takers used less than 7,500 gallons during the 12 months. 20 takers used between 7,500 and 15,000 gallons.




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.