Town annual report of Swampscott 1908, Part 9

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 9


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All First Grade pupils shall attend the same schools as the Second Grade pupils, excepting that the Boston & Maine Railroad shall be the dividing line for all pupils of the First Grade attending Clarke School or Essex Street School.


No School Signal.


If the signal, "2-2" is sounded on the fire-alarm at 7.20 A. M., the High School will open at 8.30 A. M., and the other schools at 9 A. M. If the signal is repeated at 7.50 A. M., no schools will open for the forenoon. If " 2-2 " is sounded at 12.50 P. M., no schools will open in the afternoon.


Holidays.


Washington's Birthday, February 22.


Patriot's Day, April 19.


Memorial Day, May 30.


Bunker Hill Day, June 17.


Thanksgiving recess, from noon of the day before until the Monday following Thanksgiving Day.


Christmas week.


Every ninth following the opening of the schools after Christ- mas week.


149


REPORT OF SCHOOL COMMITTEE.


1908]


School Calendar.


Winter term of 1908 began December 30, 1907. Spring term of 1908 begins March 2, 1908. Summer term of 1908 begins May 4, 1908. Fall term of 1908 begins September 7, 1908.


150


TOWN DOCUMENTS.


[Jan. 31


MARKING SYSTEM.


I. All teachers shall keep records of pupil's class work in figures.


2. Sixty per cent (60% ) shall be the required pass mark in all Grades below Grade Seven and seventy per cent (70%) in Grades Seven and Eight.


3. A pupil who is absent shall be marked zero, but if absence be due to sickness, a pupil shall be given opportunity to make up lost work, and shall be marked full per cent.


4. No lessons made up at home shall be marked.


5. The first report of pupils work shall be sent home the last of October, and monthly reports shall be issued thereafter up to and including June first.


6. Report cards shall be retained by teachers at the end of the year.


7. At least ten lessons per month shall be marked for record, more than half of which shall be oral.


8. In Grammar Grades at least all written lessons per month in each subject shall be graded.


9. The First and Second Grades shall have no report except for attendance.


10. Home studying shall not be assigned below the Sixth Grade.


II. Drawing and Music shall not be counted for promotion in any Grade.


12. Penmanship shall be counted for promotion in Grades, Two, Three, Four, Five and Six.


1


151


REPORT OF SCHOOL COMMITTEE.


1908]


[Revised Laws, Chapter 44.]


SCHOOL ATTENDANCE.


ATTENDANCE COMPULSORY BETWEEN SEVEN AND FOURTEEN YEARS OF AGE.


SECTION I. Every child between seven and fourteen years of age shall attend some public day school in the city or town in which he resides during the entire time the public day schools are in session, subject to such exceptions as to children, places of attendance and schools as are provided for in Section 3 of Chapter 42, and Sections 3, 5 and 6 of this Chapter. The Superintendent of Schools or, if there is no Superintendent of Schools, the School Committee, or teachers acting under author- ity of said superintendent or committee, may excuse cases of necessary absence. The attendance of a child upon a public day school shall not be required if he has attended for a like pe- riod of time a private day school approved by the School Com- mittee of such city or town in accordance with the provisions of the following section, or if he has been otherwise instructed for a like period of time in the branches of learning required by law to be taught in the public schools, or if he has already acquired such branches of learning, or if his physical or mental condition is such as to render such attendance inexpedient or impracticable. Every person having under his control a child as described in this section shall cause him to attend school as herein required ; and if he fails for five day sessions or ten half day sessions within any period of six months while under such control to cause such child, whose physical or mental condition is not such as to ren- der his attendance at school harmful or impracticable, so to attend school, he shall, upon complaint by a truant officer and conviction thereof, be punished by a fine of not more than twenty dollars. Whoever induces or attempts to induce a child to absent himself unlawfully from school, or employs or harbors a child who, while school is in session, is absent unlawfully from school shall be punished by a fine of not more than fifty dollars.


152


TOWN DOCUMENTS.


[Jan. 31


Report of Surveyor of Highways.


To the Citizens of Swampscott :


During the past year 5,500 tons of stone have been crushed, 3,000 tons being used in macadamizing the following streets : Humphrey street from Hay Scales to crossing at Delory store ; one side and from the Albree estate to John Blaney estate; Pine street from the crossing at Railroad avenue to Boynton street ; Burrill street from crossing at drinking fountain to Essex street ; Monument avenue from Grant road to Monument. There have been used on the different streets 2,989 loads of pit stone and gravel, at the following places : Middlesex avenue to Berkshire street ; from crossing at Berkshire street to Burrill street, the side of the street filled in with gravel, where the curbstones were laid, also at McDonough crusher the street has been filled in with gravel to the depth of eighteen inches; Humphrey street from Palmer avenue to Forest avenue; Ontario street from Pine street to culvert; Redington street from Mapledale avenue to Devens road; Hardy road from the bend in street to Elmwood road; Columbia street from Essex avenue to Maple avenue ; 'Farragut road from Grant road to State road; Essex street at drinking fountain ; Salem street from Harrison avenue to Salem line; Norfolk avenue from Albert Ellis estate to Stetson avenue bridge; Danvers street from Salem line to the end of Town fence ; portions of Rockland street, Maple avenue, Thomas road, Roy street, Devens road, King street, Boynton street, Sheridan road and Phillips street.


Hillside avenue was picked up with steam roller, leveled and rolled, and should be resurfaced this year. The reason it was


153


REPORT OF SURVEYOR OF HIGHWAYS.


1908]


not done this year was on account of the sewer being laid through the street last fall, it was thought best to let it settle and to fix the street this year. Salem street received a coating of pit stone and gravel, which averages one foot in depth; this street was in very bad conditon. Humphrey street at Palmer estate was filled in with stone and gravel to a depth of ten inches, this street was in bad shape and is used considerably by the summer people driving in their carriages to the Phillips Beach depot. Orient street from Humphrey street to Little entrance has been picked up by the steam roller and filled in with stone and gravel. The whole street where needed was filled with crushed stone and rolled, from Marshall street to road bed, picked up, filled with stone and gravel and rolled ; this street is very much traveled in summer time and the automobiles tear up the road very badly. I would suggest that the Town adopt a speed limit of ten miles an hour on the following streets : Atlantic avenue, Orient street, Humphrey street to Lynn line, also that these streets be oiled this year. Burrill street from the drinking fountain to Essex street has been macadamized, from Maple avenue to Columbia street the sidewalks and street lowered two feet, also the curbstones and paved gutters relaid. This is one of the best improvements the Town has done this year. Monument avenue has received a coating of crushed stone to the depth of six inches from Grant road to the Monument, the other side of the avenue should be macadamized this year.


The different streets have been patrolled and hollow places have been filled with crushed stone and gravel.


New Streets.


In rebuilding Redington street the following amounts of mate- rial were used.


Number of loads of filling removed and


used .


128


Number of loads of gravel furnished · 104


This street was practically reconstructed, for while it had been laid out forty feet wide, the Swampscott Land Company which


154


TOWN DOCUMENTS.


[Jan. 31


originally had built it had only graded a street thirty feet wide. This required the sidewalks to be drawn back five feet and the road regraded. All the filling was used in the lay-out of this street.


Jessie Street.


Jessie street was regraded and a large hollow where the water has stood about two feet deep every winter, was filled and a rise in the street cut down so that the water could run off and the surface gravelled. In doing this work the following amounts of material were used in filling :


Loads found in the street 237


Loads of gravel surfacing I43


Stone monuments have been set to define the lines of this street and also on new part of Redington street.


Gutters.


The gutters on all streets in Town have been cleaned twice and the main street six times. All scrapings removed from the gutters have been placed on the different dumps of the Town.


New Fences.


New fences have been built as follows :


Danvers and Essex streets repaired . . 169 feet


Crescent street .


· 140 "


State road at crusher .


Devens road


· . 140 "


Humphrey street repaired


· 493 "


Sidewalks.


Material used, 456 loads of gravel, of which 79 loads were screened.


Number tons of stone dust used 270 Number of loads sand used . 61 .


155


REPORT OF SURVEYOR OF HIGHWAYS.


1908 ]


Catch-Basins and Gutters.


Number yards of gutters paved with


cobblestones


363


Number yards of gutters repaved with cobblestones


317


Number loads stone used in paving gutters 61


Number loads sand and gravel used in paving gutters · . .


84


Number of feet of 8-inch pipe laid, for catch basins . I 2


Number of crossings laid .


I


Number paving blocks used . .


380


Number of crossings relaid


6


One crossing, laid from Hampden street across Middlesex avenue forms a connection for the continuous sidewalk. Catch basin Columbia street was found in bad shape, the whole arch was torn down and rebuilt ; a culvert built across Essex street near the estate of Martin Nies. The Town furnished the capstones ; the Whitney Land Company paying one-half the cost, their share being $75.


Town Brooks.


The only brook cleaned this year is the one running past the old pumping station from the Boston and Maine tracks; it was in a very bad condition, especially near the dump. The Town ought to find a way to keep this brook clear. The different brooks have not been cleaned this year for the reason that there was no money appropriated for this kind of work. Sea wall, Orient street, has been fronted with Portland cement, work done by J. T. Lyons for $40.


Curbstone and Concrete.


Number of square yards of concrete laid, 1,003


Number of feet of curbstone laid 435


Number of feet of curbstone relaid . 484


. Number of square yards of granolithic laid . 167


156


TOWN DOCUMENTS.


[Jan. 31


Granolithic, the abutters paid for extra cost above the price paid for tar concrete.


Continuous Sidewalks.


Number of square yards of concrete laid, 2,580 Number of feet of curbstone laid . 1,050


Number of feet of curbstone relaid . 843


I would recommend that an appropriation of $1,000 be made for Continuous Sidewalks and that Burrill street to Essex street, Essex street to Essex avenue, from the estate of Benjamin Ingalls Burrill street down Humphrey street to Lynn line, northerly side Thomas Road to Andrew Road, and that Orient street be curbed and concreted as far as Marshall street. Some of the streets that ought to be resurfaced the coming year are Hillside avenue, Essex street from Martin Nies estate to Cemetery gate, Hamp- den street, Thomas road, Monument avenue and Humphrey street from Harris estate to the sewer station. The Town should compel the Boston and Northern railroad to lift their tracks eight inches. This street is very flat and with a good crown it can be easily kept drained.


New Boiler.


A new boiler has been purchased for the stone crusher plant. The first boiler sent not coming up to the test was rejected and an Erie City Locomotive boiler, same as the Town owned before, sent in its place, this is the only boiler fit for this kind of work. This boiler was furnished by the firm of Perrin, Seamen of Boston. It is capable of running the crusher and steam drill at the same time easily, being of sixty horse power, safety set at roo lbs. This boiler will do all the work required by the Town for a number of years to come. The cost of boiler including the freight, teaming from Lynn, extra set grate bars, $693.93. Insured in the Hartford Steam Boiler Insurance Company for three years. Old boiler sold to Elbridge Blaney for $30. Remodeling the building at crusher, bids were asked for, three being received as follows: Harry E. Hardy, $214 ; William J. Waters, $200; Gilbert Delano, $170. Gilbert Delano being the lowest bidder. was given the contract.


157


REPORT OF SURVEYOR OF HIGHWAYS.


1908]


Road Machine.


After looking over the different road machines it was deemed best to buy a Climax Road Machine as it could be used as well in winter as in summer, it being equipped with a set of hub runners to be used on the gutters in case of a heavy fall of snow. It also can be fitted with a plank 12 feet long to be used as a leveller. The price of this machine complete was $250. This is something that the Town has needed for a long time.


There was added to the department this year one new snow- plow for sidewalks. The price of this plow was $65.


Recommendations.


I. That the Town purchase a steam drill.


2. That the Town erect a building on land situated on the State road owned by the Town suitable for the storage of sand, and an appropriation be made for the same.


3. That Atlantic avenue be resurfaced with macadam and an appropriation be made for the same.


4. That all underdrains, water courses, culverts, be put in the hands of the Sewer Commissioners and appropriation be made for their maintenance.


Respectfully submitted,


MICHAEL J. RYAN,


Surveyor of Highways.


158


TOWN DOCUMENTS.


[Jan. 31


Report of Chief of Police.


SWAMPSCOTT, February 10, 1908.


To the Honorable Board of Selectmen :


GENTLEMEN,-I herewith submit the annual report of the Police Department for the year ending January 31, 1908 as follows :


Whole number of persons arrested or summoned to


appear at Court


· 140 Male


. . . · I34


Female . .


. · 6


- 140


Arrested or summoned to appear at Court for the following offenses :


Assault and battery . 7 .


Breaking, entering and larceny


.


9


Assault, felonious


3


Capias


4


Cruelty to animals


I


Disturbing the peace .


I 60


Drunkenness


Disorderly conduct


4


Deserter from United States army


·


I


Larceny · .


.


4


Non-support of children


.


I


Neglected children .


.


.


. 5


.


.


.


.


.


.


159


Insane


·


3


Evading car fare


.


.


On suspicion


.


I


For out of town officers


I2


Peddling without a license .


3


Track walking


.


2


Tramp


I


Vagrant


2


Trespassing


.


I


Carrying weapons, concealed


·


4


For violating educational laws


·


I


For violating liquor law


3


Violating auto speed laws .


4


Violating probation .


I


Total


140


Disposed of as follows :


Fined and paid


·


33


Committed for non-payment of fine


· 17


Sentenced to House of Correction


3


Placed on file


12


Discharged by court


6


Appealed cases


8


On probation


6


Released by court


16


Turned over to out of town officers


13


Committed to State Farm, Bridgewater


.


3


Committed to Insane Hospital


.


3


Committed to State Board of Charities Defaulted


·


5


Held for Grand Jury


9


Juvenile


3


Continued .


·


I


Delivered to Fort Strong


I


Total


-


140


·


Collecting junk without a license


I


.


.


.


·


·


.


.


I


.


I


REPORT OF CHIEF OF POLICE.


1908]


160


TOWN DOCUMENTS.


[Jan. 31


Disposition of Cases in the Superior Court as Follows:


Cases placed on probation .


4


Cases placed on file


·


3


Cases discharged


.


I


Cases nol prossed ·


2


Cases sentenced to Massachusetts Reformatory .


3


Cases fined and paid .


·


I


Cases pending in Superior Court


·


3


Total .


- 17


Miscellaneous Business.


Whole number of complaints investigated .


309


Cases of breaking, entering and larceny reported


II


Cases of larceny reported .


17


Buildings found opened and secured 28 .


Accidents reported ·


·


.


21


Defective places in street and sidewalk reported .


46


Injured and sick persons assisted


II


Intoxicated persons assisted home


I6


Lights furnished for dangerous places . .


Street lights reported out .


49


Break in water pipes reported


9


Dogs reported lost


21


Dogs killed by dog officers


151


Complaints investigated by dog officer


33


Dogs returned to owners 18


I


Fire alarms responded to by officers


24


Fires extinguished without an alarm


5


Wires reported down in the street


.


II


Defective wires reported


13


Stray beasts cared for


19


Lost children restored to parents


IO


Horses found cast in stables


6


Out of town officers assisted


7


Persons reported bitten by dogs .


9


·


.


Fire alarm given by officers


16I


REPORT OF CHIEF OF POLICE.


1908]


Committed to Tewksbury for Overseers of the Poor


I


Disturbance suppressed without arrest .


13


Lights found burning in buildings ·


16


Persons killed on railroad and cared for


I


Dead bodies washed ashore and cared for


I


Dead bodies found at sea and brought ashore and cared for


Suicide


Bicycles found and returned to owners


.


2


Persons found on street in demented condition


4


Search warrants for liquor served


5


Search warrants for stolen goods served


4


Seizures made .


5


Forfeitures ordered by Court to Commonwealth .


5


Trees or limbs down and reported to Tree Warden


.


8


Compelled to move under liquor law


.


I


Reported to Overseers of the Poor


·


2


Ambulance calls


.


43


Extra hours of officers on ambulance


115


Value of property reported lost or stolen


$1,771 50


Value of property recovered


$1,090 00


Recommendations.


Realizing that in order to maintain the efficiency of the depart- ment in answering calls where the use of the ambulance or wagon is needed, some arrangements other than those existing at the present time are neccessary. I would recommend that a suit- able building be erected on the land in the rear of the present Police Station on Burrill street, for the housing of the Beattie ambulance; that a horse and swing harness be purchased for the ambulance, and that the sum of $1,500 be appropriated to cover the expense of the same.


In closing my report I wish to express my thanks to the officers of the department who have always been ready to per- form any duty asked of them, and to even work many hours over- time that the work of the department might not be hindered by the lack of officers' services. The thanks of the department is


I


I


162


TOWN DOCUMENTS.


[Jan. 31


also extended to those who have in many ways aided the work of this department by giving information which has often proved valuable, especially does this apply to the Lynn Police.


To the members of the Board of Selectmen and to other Town officers, this department is indebted for many favors which have been fully appreciated. For all these favors I desire to express my thanks at this time.


Respectfully yours,


ULYSSES M. CORSON, Chief of Police.


163


REPORT OF CHIEF ENGINEER.


1908]


Report of Chief Engineer.


FIRE DEPARTMENT HEADQUARTERS, SWAMPSCOTT, MASS.


To the Board of Selectmen :


GENTLEMEN,-We have the honor to submit herewith the annual report of the Fire Department for the year ending Febru- ary 1, 1908, this being the thirteenth annual and the twenty-ninth « 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 pipe- men, seven hosemen, six laddermen and four men on steamer.


Apparatus.


The apparatus is in good condition at the present time. It consists of one steam fire engine with three horse hitch, one two- horse hose wagon, one two-horse ladder truck, one two-horse chemical, one two-horse hose reel, one relief wagon, one wire wagon, one single wagon, three hand hose reels, and one two- horse hose pung.


Fire Alarm.


The past year there has been some new wire added to take the place of old wire. There have been two new boxes added the past year and the system is in good order at the present time.


164


TOWN DOCUMENTS.


[Jan. 31


Water Supply.


The water supply has been all that has been required the past year. There have been three new hydrants added the past year which makes one hundred and thirty-seven at the present time.


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-six hundred (2,600) feet, worthless, ten hundred and fifty (1,050) feet. There are four hundred (400) feet of three-quarter inch rubber hose.


Horses.


The department owns ten horses, six are in good condition, one not fit for service at present writing, and one along in years.


Recommendations.


We would recommend that five hundred (500) feet of two and one-half inch leading hose be purchased, and that three hundred dollars ($300) be appropriated for the same.


We also recommend that two hundred and fifty dollars ($250) be appropriated for a new horse.


Remarks.


The department has been very successful in preventing large fires during the past year, and it has been largely due to the interest taken by the members and the prompt manner in which they have performed their duties.


This past year we have carried out the wishes of the voters in placing a new bell and striker at the chemical house at Phillips Beach, and as far as we know this has proved satisfactory.


165


REPORT OF CHIEF ENGINEER.


1908].


Fires and Alarms.


There have been twenty-four (24) bell alarms, fifty-four (54) telephone calls, and nine (9) still alarms, making a total of eighty-seven(87) alarms this year. The no school signal has been sounded twelve (12) times and the department has responded to seven (7) out of Town calls; Chemical No. 1, Phillips Beach called in service thirty (30) times, Chemical No. 4, Lynn, nine (9) times.


Loss by Fire.


The value of property, amount of insurance carried, amount of insurance paid and net losses at fire where portion of the depart- ment have responded is as follows, viz. :


Value of buildings . .


Value of contents ·


$84,550 00 46,600 00


Total


$131,150 00


Insurance on buildings


.


$61,700 00 ·


Insurance on contents


30,550 00


Total


$92,250 00


Damage to buildings


$9,866 88


Damage to contents


.


2,577 00


Total


$12,443 88


Insurance paid on buildings


$9,766 88


Insurance paid on contents


.


2,402 00


Total


$12,168 88


Net loss above insurance .


$275 00


Total


$12,443 88


166


TOWN DOCUMENTS.


[Jan. 31


Conclusion.


In concluding our report we wish to thank you, gentlemen, for the kindly interest you have borne toward myself and associates. The members of the department have our thanks for their quick response at all times and for the manner in which they have con- ducted themselves, also all others with whom we have come in contact the past year.


Respectfully submitted,


GEORGE P. CAHOON, G. H. LAMPARD, F. L. CHAPMAN.


Attest :


F. L. CHAPMAN,


Clerk of Board.


167


REPORT OF PARK COMMISSIONERS.


1908]


FOURTEENTH ANNUAL REPORT Board of Park Commissioners.


To the Citizens of Swampscott :


The Board of Park Commissioners, pursuant to the pro- visions of law, respectfully submits its annual report for the season of 1907-1908, being the fourteenth annual report of the Board since the acceptance of the Park Act, March 20, 1893.


The Board organized with Elias G. Hodgkins, as chairman ; John J. Blaney and Clarence B. Humphrey as secretary.


The Swampscott Park System includes three parcels of land known respectively as Paradise Road Playground, Monument Avenue Reservation and Blaney Beach Reservation.


Paradise Road Playground.


This playground is bounded on all sides by public streets, comprises about two acres of land and has been in use for the past three years; lying adjacent to the Clarke school and being the only open space available for athletic sports has been well pat- ronized the past season. The silt basins have been cleaned out, a thin coating of loam and fertilizer spread over that half portion lying next to Ellis road and seeded. The results were very satisfactory and would warrant treating the upper portion the same way another season. In the maintenance of these grounds, two things were early called to our attention which we have sought to eliminate this season ; one, that every Fall it has been necessary to ask the assistance of the Fire and Water Depart- ments when flooding; this method requires the use of two


168


TOWN DOCUMENTS.


[Jan. 31


hydrants on opposite sides of the streets, tears up the surface of the ground where water enters, and leaves long lines of dirty hose to be washed and replaced ; the other, the improvised drinking fountain placed at the Hampden street side by the Water Depart- ment, while it answers its purpose, is only a temporary affair which necessitates a continuous flow of water, and keeps the grounds in the immediate vicinity in a very wet and unhealthy condition. We, therefore, had built a combined granolithic sidewalk, fountain base and steps. It is connected with the Town Water Works and constructed so that an iron fountain can be placed thereon which would supply drinking water to children and dogs and allow a four inch stream to flow over the steps into the playground for flooding purposes. The sidewalk can be continued in either direction. Bids were received from Warren Bros., of Boston, and The Lynn Granolithic Co., who make a specialty of granolithic work, for $262, and $300. respectively. The work was done by Warren Bros.




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