USA > Massachusetts > Essex County > Swampscott > Town annual report of Swampscott 1909 > Part 4
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RICHARD G. GILLEY,
Constable
57
RECORDS OF TOWN CLERK.
1909]
Meeting called to order at 6 o'clock A. M. by Arthur C. Widger, Chairman of the Board of Selectmen Chief Election Officer. The following were qualified by the Clerk :
John A. Cullen, Special; Willard M. Hatch (Rep.) and Willis C. Paul (Dem.) Ballot Clerks; Frank V. Porter, Free- man A. Baker, James W. Libbey and R. B. Wardwell, Jr. (Reps.) and William P. Bergen, Joseph P. Nies, John A. Finnegan and Daniel J. Kain (Dems.) as Tellers.
The polls closed at 4.30 P. M., 1,042 ballots having been cast. At 8.22 P. M. the following result of the vote was declared :
Electors of President and Vice-President.
Bryan and Kern, Democratic 177
Chafin and Watkins, Prohibition II
Debs and Hanford, Socialist
17
Gillhaus and Munro, Socialist Labor .
0
Hisgen and Graves, Independence League
59
Taft and Sherman, Republican .
753
Blanks
25
Governor.
James F. Carey, Socialist .
18
Eben S. Draper, Republican
662
Walter J. Hoar, Socialist Labor
0
William N. Osgood, Independence League
61
James H. Vahey, Democratic
202
Willard O. Wylie, Prohibition · .
2I
Blanks .
78
Lieutenant Governor.
Charles J. Barton, Democratic
.
141
Joao Claudino, Socialist Labor .
7
Louis A. Frothingham, Republican
712
John Hall, Jr., Socialist .
15
Robert J. McCartney, Independence League
51
Frank N. Rand, Prohibition
14
Blanks
IO2
58
TOWN DOCUMENTS.
[Feb. I
Secretary.
James F. Aylward, Democratic
III
Herbert B. Griffin, Prohibition . I3 .
George Nelson, Socialist Labor .
4
William M. Olin, Republican
708
Squire E. Putney, Socialist
13
John F. Williams, Independence League
45
Blanks
148
Treasurer.
Charles E. Butterworth, Independence League 54
Arthur B. Chapin, Republican .
691
Henry C. Hess, Socialist Labor
I
Charles C. Hitchcock, Socialist
18
Edward Kendall, Prohibition
12
Erwin H. Kennedy, Democratic
107
Blanks
159
Auditor.
Frank Bohmbach, Socialist Labor
O
John E. Dempsey, Independence League
50
George G. Hall, Socialist .
18
Wilbur D. Moon, Prohibition
25
Henry E. Turner, Republican
679
Simeon Viger, Democratic
95
Blanks
175
Attorney-General.
Henry M. Dean, Prohibition
15
Elliot C. Harding, Socialist Labor
.
2
Dana Malone, Republican
669
John McCarty, Socialist
19
Richard J. Talbot, Independence League
54
John Alden Thayer, Democratic
125
Blanks
158
Congressman-Sixth District.
Augustus P. Gardiner, Republican
727
Franklin H. Wentworth, Socialist
43
Arthur Withington, Democratic
I53
Blanks
119
.
.
59
RECORDS OF TOWN CLERK.
1909]
Councillor-Fifth District.
Samuel Cole, Republican . 736
Charles S. Grieves, Socialist
64
Blanks
.
242
Senator-First Essex District.
William R. Salter, Republican .
706
Charles Allen Taber, Democratic
1 70
Blanks
166
Representatives in General Court-Twelfth Essex District.
William Edward Dorman, Republican 543
Lyman B. Frazier, Democratic . 78
Benjamin G. Ingalls, Democratic Independent Nom. Paper 406
Martin Lewis Quinn, Republican
522
Blanks
535
County Commissioner-Essex.
Granville A. Kelly, Socialist . 35 .
Sidney P. Kenyon, Democratic . .
166
Moody Kimball, Republican . .
676
Blanks
·
165
Register of Probate and Insolvency-Essex County. Frank E. Hale, Socialist · 63
Jeremiah T. Mahoney, Democratic. Republican · 727
Blanks
·
.
252
Associate Commissioner-Essex. (To fill vacency.)
George C. Doucet, Democratic
136
John W. Lovett, Republican · .
686
Blanks
220
Voted, at 8.28 P. M., to dissolve the meeting.
Attest : MILTON D. PORTER,
Town Clerk.
.
·
.
60
TOWN DOCUMENTS.
[Feb. I
Special Town Meeting, Dec, 17, 1908.
TOWN WARRANT.
ESSEX, SS.
To either of the Constables of the Town of Swampscott, in said County, GREETING :
In the name of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, you are directed to notify the inhabitants of the Town of Swampscott, qualified to vote in elections and in Town affairs, to meet at the Town Hall, in said Swampscott, on Thursday, the seventeenth day of December, current, at 7.30 o'clock P. M., then and there to act on the following articles, viz. :
ARTICLE I. To see what action the town will take in regard to its future water supply, as petitioned for by William H. Bates and others.
ART. 2. To see if the Town will accept Ocean avenue, as laid out by the Selectmen.
ART. 3. To see if the Town will discontinue that portion of Buena Vista street, as shown on plan drawn by Eastman & Brad- ford, dated Aug. 21, 1908, and on file with the Town Clerk, Oct. 2, 1908.
ART. 4. To see if the Town will relocate Beuna Vista street, as laid out by the Selectmen, as per plan drawn by Eastman & Bradford, dated Aug. 21, 1908, and on file with the Town Clerk, Oct. 2, 1908, and appropriate money for the same.
ART. 5. To see if the Town will appropriate the sum of $850 for the purchase of the lot of land adjoining the Clarke School House, on Norfolk avenue, as petitioned for by the School Committee.
61
RECORDS OF TOWN CLERK.
1909]
And you are directed to serve this Warrant by posting attested copies thereof at the Town Hall, Depot, Post Office and three other public and conspicuous places in the Town, seven days at least before the time of holding said meeting.
HEREOF FAIL NOT, and make due return of this Warrant, with your doings thereon, to the Town Clerk at the time and place of meeting as aforesaid.
Given under our hands this seventh day of December, in the year nineteen hundred and eight.
ARTHUR C. WIDGER, FRED C. MARSH, JAMES F. CATON,
Selectmen of Swampscott.
A true copy. Attest :
RICHARD G. GILLEY,
Constable.
Return on the Warrant.
Pursuant to the within Warrant, to me directed, I have notified the legal voters of Swampscott, by posting attested copies of said Warrant at the Town Hall, Depots, Post Offices and three other public and conspicuous places in said Swampscott, on Wednes- day, the ninth day of December, 1908; the posting of said War- rant being at least seven days before the time of said meeting.
RICHARD G. GILLEY, Constable.
Meeting called to order at 7.30 P. M. by the Moderator.
ARTICLE I. Mr. E. H. Townsend moved that the Water Commissioners be instructed to make a contract on as favorable terms as possible with the Metropolitan Water Board to supply water to the town for a period of years, preferably ten.
62
TOWN DOCUMENTS.
[Feb. I
Mr. George E. Smith, moved to amend, That the Water Board take measures to enter the Metropolitan System.
Mr. John Albree offered an amendment, That Article I be referred to a committee of five, to be appointed by the Moderator to consider and report at an adjournment of this meeting on January 7, 1909, at 7.30 P. M. By a rising vote of 162, yes ; to 109, no; the motion of Mr. Albree was carried.
The Moderator named as that commitee, John Albree, E. H. Townsend, Benjamin G. Ingalls, William H. Bates and Milton D. Porter. Benjamin G. Ingalls having declined to serve on the committee, Clarence B. Humphrey was appointed in his stead.
ART. 2. Voted, That Ocean avenue as laid out by the Selectmen, be accepted when all the waivers have been signed.
Voted, That Articles 3 and 4 be taken up together.
Mr. Welch, Chairman of the Ways and Means Committee, read and submitted the following report on these Articles, together with a diagram of the premises referred to.
Fellow Townsmen :-
Your Committee on Ways and Means in presenting this report wish to make these general observations on the subject of appro- priations at special town meetings. Your Finance Committee, and Ways and Means Committee in times past have carefully considered every appropriation at the Annual Town Meeting and made what they considered fair estimates, of expenditures for the various departments and articles of the warrant, in most cases the amount agreed upon by conference with the different heads of departments, yet the amount of money voted at special meetings through the year has increased to an alarming extent.
In studying the town reports for the last three years, we find that such loans exclusive of the gypsy moth requirements which are fixed by State law, in 1905 to be $5,500 ; in 1906, $11,000;
63
RECORDS OF TOWN CLERK.
1909]
in 1907, $14,175. These loans consist of two classes; Ist, excess of expenditures over appropriations in the various depart- ments ; 2nd, money voted for definite improvements and ohjects.
Without further comment on expenditures of departments over and above the amount of their annual appropriations other than to urge the extreme importance of each department to keep within the bounds of their apportionment.
Your committee wishes to define its position with reference to recommending loans for definite improvements at special meet- ings. The committee believes and has acted on the principle in this report that no money should be voted other than at Annual Town Meetings unless public exigency should require it.
The financial requirements and the income of the town for the year are carefully gone over at that time and any money voted in excess of this estimated amount has to be raised by loan.
It is important that every expenditure of town money should be treated in relation to every other expenditure and be treated as a whole and not by piece meal. In this way only, can justice be done to the different interests and departments of the town and the financial standing of the town placed on a proper basis.
ART. 4. In regard to this Article we recommend only such part of the plan submitted as refers to the purchase of the land of Caroline A. Pearson, and recommend the appropriation of one hundred and twenty-five ($125) for the purchase of said land. We recommend this sum be raised by loan payable in 1911.
J. HENRY WELCH, GEO. D. R. DURKEE, EDWARD H. KITFIELD, FRED M. COLLINS, A. R. ELLIS, by J. H. Welch.
Voted, to accept and adopt the report and to appropriate $125 to be raised by loan, payable in 1911.
64
TOWN DOCUMENTS.
[Feb. I
Voted, that Article 3 and such part of Article 4 as not recom- mended by the Ways and Means Committee, be referred to the Selectmen for revision, and report at a future Town Meeting.
ART. 5. We find that the line of this lot is situated only twenty (20) feet from the north-west corner of the Clarke School Building and that the building of a dwelling (as proposed) on this land would injure the appearance of the school building and would seriously interfere with the light in some of the school rooms.
"We believe the price agreed upon a reasonable one and we advise prompt action by the town. We therefore recommend that the sum of eight hundred and fifty dollars ($850) be appro- priated for the purchase of said lot of land, same to be raised by loan payable in 1911."
J. HENRY WELCH, GEORGE D. R. DURKEE, EDWARD H. KITFIELD, FRED M. COLLINS.
Voted, To accept and adopt the report of the committee, and to appropriate the sum of $850, same to be raised by loan pay- able in 1911.
Voted, at 9.54 P. M. to adjourn.
Attest : MILTON D. PORTER, Town Clerk.
65
RECORDS OF TOWN CLERK.
1909]
Adjourned Special Town Meeting, Jan. 7, 1909.
Meeting called to order at 7.30 P. M., by the Moderator.
Records of last meeting read and declared approved.
Mr. John Albree, Chairman of the Committee appointed at the last meeting to consider and report upon the different methods of supplying water for the use of the Town, read and submitted, with explanatory maps and figures, the following report :
To the Citizens of Swampscott :
The purpose of the appointment of this committee was that facts be obtained and submitted to the town regarding the water question in addition to those submitted by the Swampscott Water Commissioners in their report of December 10, 1908. (Copy attached.) It was not, and it could not have been con- templated that this committee should report on the expediency of any particular plan, for that would be encroaching upon the duties and responsibilities of the Swampscott Water Commis- sioners. To this purpose your committee has adhered.
The hopes of the committee are that, as a result of the investi- gation, they can submit facts to the town and furthermore be in a position to answer satisfactorily any inquiries for information which may be submitted to them. While the members of the committee as individuals have opinions as to what course the town had best pursue, the committee as a committee should not express any opinions.
It is due both to the town and to the committee that this state- ment be made at the outset, for some citizens may be good enough to express an appreciation of the work of the committee in gathering facts and ask what does the committee think the town should do.
We can but repeat that the committee as a committee cannot answer such inquiries. After the facts as your committee has
66
TOWN DOCUMENTS.
[Feb. I
gathered them, are reported, and the committee discharged, then your committee will be free to enter upon a discussion involving these facts and the opinions to be deduced therefrom.
The first subject for consideration was an analysis of the financial report of the Swampscott Water Board as to the income and the payments therefrom for the last year, ending January 31, 1908.
RECEIPTS.
From Water Bills .
$25,000
Installing Service Pipes
1,000
Incidentals
700
$26,700
PAYMENTS.
Metropolitan Board for Water
$4,800
Maintenance .
4,700
Renewing 147 Service Pipes .
2,500
New Construction, charged to Income
2,000
Sinking Fund
2,900
Interest on Bonds .
4,800
Meters .
3,600
New Building
1,400
.
.
.
.
.
$26,700
From this table it readily appears how small a proprtion the payment for water bears to the total expense, and also how large an item is that for renewing service pipes, $2,500.
From the Metropolitan system has come for ten years the water that Swampschott has had. Before discussing the relation of Swampscott to the Metropolitan District, it will be better to obtain first some conception of the cost and annual expense of that system.
There is represented in this system an investment of $40,500,- 000 from its inception in 1895 to the end of the year 1907. Such an enormous investment requires large payments for inter- est and other charges. These payments are derived from assess-
67
RECORDS OF TOWN CLERK.
1909]
ments on the municipalities in the district that have entered into it or that take water from it.
For the year 1907, $2,200,000 was collected by assessment. This amount was divided as follows :
Interest
Sinking Fund Requirements
$1,300,000 500,000
Maintenance
. 400,000 - $2,200,000
The water for Swampscott comes from the great Wachusett reservoir by way of Chestnut Hill to Spot Pond in Stoneham. From there it is pumped to a high service reservoir, whence it is conducted by mains, at first 36 inches in diameter, and then re- ducing in size, until at Broadway in Revere the main is but 16 inches in diameter, and this supplies two mains of 16-inch diam- eter, one to Revere and Winthrop, and the other to Swampscott and Nahant across the Saugus marshes to Lynn. In Lynn there is a loop of two 10-inch mains. From one Nahant is supplied and then both meet at Ocean and Nahant streets, where a 12-inch brings the water to the Swampscott line.
These general statements about the district and Swampscott's relation to it are necessary in order that the propositions submit- ted by the Water Board may be considered.
COST OF WATER.
Under old contract for year 1908
$4,800
Contract for a term of years.
Assessment for 1909 (subject to change each year) ·
$11,200
Amount due to distance
·
3,000
$14,200
Joining the District.
Assessment for 1909 (as above)
$11,200
Interest on $90,000 bonds
3,600
Sinking Fund $90,000 bonds
1,800
$16,600
There is also to be paid $90,000, if
Swampscott joins the district.
68
TOWN DOCUMENTS.
[Feb. I
This item of $90,000 is based by the Metropolitan Board on a number of elements. Swampscott's share in the accumulated sinking fund, $9,200 ; a proportionate share of the cost $68,000 of a new main in Revere to replace the 20 and the 16 inch mains, now too small; the relaying of a main from Nahant and Ocean streets, to the Swampscott line, $15,000; the relaying at some time of a new main across the Saugus marshes in place of the 16 inch main now there, and finally an amount that in the judg- ment of the Board is a fair sum for Swampscott to pay when the distance it is from the rest of the district is considered.
The Swampscott Water Commissioners' report mentions Lynn as a possible source of supply. This committee has found that in 1906 the quality of the Lynn water was brought to the atten- tion of the Legislature. The result is that an Act was passed requiring Lynn to begin work on a filtration system by January 1, 1909, the same to be completed within two years. Already $5,000 has been appropriated by Lynn toward the cost of this work.
The assurances, found in the reports of both the State and the city of Lynn, are such that the committee must lay them before the town. These assurances are to the effect that with a filtra- tion system the quality of the water will "resemble quite closely in its general characteristics the water at present supplied to the Metropolitan water district."
Lynn has at present a storage capacity and water-shed as follows :
Capacity Million Gallons.
Area of Water Sheds Square Miles.
Breed's Pond
260
1.07
Birch Pond
380
.68
Hawkes' Pond
350
1.86
Walden Pond
1,750
1.75
2,740
5.36
Saugus river, above Montrose
10.58
15.94
69
RECORDS OF TOWN CLERK.
1909]
As to the amount of water available from this extent of water- shed the experience of thirty years in the Sudbury river basin is useful. These records show that from each square mile of water-shed the average daily outflow has been slightly over one million gallons. It is fair to assume that the Sudbury river experience will serve as a basis for calculation in eastern Massa- chusetts, and therefore, allowing for shrinkage or leakage of dams, it is entirely safe to assume that from the 5 1-3 square miles in area of the Lynn water-shed, at least four millon gallons a day can be depended upon.
In addition the Saugus river water-shed above Montrose with an area of 10.58 miles can safely by depended upon for eight million gallons in addition. Allowing for the anticipated increase in consumption these sources of supply will serve Lynn until 1923. Then Lynn can extend to the Ipswich river, rights in which have been granted by the Legislature, where there are forty square miles of water-shed. From this source at least thirty million gallons a day may be expected.
Therefore there is, or there can be readily made available for Lynn, a total daily supply of forty-two million gallons. Bearing in mind that Lynn uses an average of six million gallons per day and Swampscott an average of one half million, it will be seen that there is an ample supply for both communities for years to come.
It seems to your committee therefore that Lynn in its water business is in the position of a manufacturer who has a plant with a capacity far in excess of the demands of his trade. It is but ordinary prudence for such an one to increase his output, as the increased business represents only the increased cost of pro- duction, as the fixed charges remain the same.
As to a supply from Thompson's Meadow, a citation from the report of the Water Board of Marblehead will give the facts :
"The evidence furnished by the experience of the Marblehead Water Company, and by the test wells which were recently made, indicates that water can be obtained continuously from Thompson's Meadow in a quantity amounting to about 400,000 gallons per day in a dry season. It is probable the yield can be
6
70
TOWN DOCUMENTS.
[Feb. I
increased by flooding the meadow, or by some other method of getting the brook water into the ground.
The storage in the gravel stratum beneath Thompson's Meadow is considerable, and it is probable that if water is drawn during only three or four months of each year, the quantity which can be obtained will amount to at least 500,000 gallons per day, and may be as great as 800,000 gallons per day.
The water from Thompson's Meadow is free from iron and otherwise of excellent quality for domestic purposes, except that it is somewhat hard, being in this respect about the same as the water furnished by the present sources of supply."
The plan of using artesian wells as a possible source of sup- ply has been considered by your committee. This system as applied to a community, is experimental as yet, and there is no town in this part of the United States that depends on it as a source of supply. An artesian well that yields 50 gallons per minute is regarded as a large well. If Swampscott is to rely on artesian wells, it must be able to obtain at least 700 gallons per minute.
We can learn of but three artesian wells that have been drilled in Lynn. Of these Swift & Co.'s on Market street, was drilled about a year ago with the idea of installing an ice making plant. The plan was abandoned and the well has never been used.
The well in the Y. M. C. A. building has proven satisfactory for both drinking and bathing purposes and is regularly used by them. The amount demanded for their needs is comparatively small and furnishes no data of value to us.
The well on the Pinkham plant was first drilled in 1903 to a depth of between 100 and 200 feet. Water then obtained was condemned by the State Board of Health. The plant was then abandoned until a year ago when it was drilled to a depth of 323 feet, where an abundant supply of substantially pure water was obtained, and they are now pumping each day at the rate of 50 gallons per minute.
To supply Swampscott's demands would require at least four- teen such wells, and it is improbable that such a number could
71
RECORDS OF TOWN CLERK.
1909]
be drilled in a restricted area. This method being so largely ex- perimental, is not available for immediate supply.
JOHN ALBREE, MILTON D. PORTER, ELGAR H. TOWNSEND, WILLIAM H. BATES, CLARENCE B. HUMPHREY,
Committee on Water Supply, under vote of Dec. 16, 1908.
Jan. 7, 1909.
Voted, That the report be accepted and placed on file, and that the thanks of the Town be extended to the Committee.
The amendment of Mr. George E. Smith to Mr. Townsend's motion, offered at the last meeting, " That the Water Board take measures to enter the Metropolitan System," being now in order. After considerable discussion, tellers having been ap- pointed by the Moderator, Mr. Smith's amendment was carried by a hand vote of 184 yes ; 124 no. At 9.20 P. M. it was voted, that this meeting be adjourned to Thursday, January 21, 1909, at 7 P. M., and the Selectmen are instructed to issue a Warrant calling a meeting to authorize the issue of Water Bonds, if found necessary.
Attest : MILTON D. PORTER,
Town Clerk.
72
TOWN DOCUMENTS.
[Feb. I
Adjourned Special Town Meeting, Jan. 21, 1909.
Meeting called to order at 7 P. M. by the Moderator.
Records of last meeting read and declared approved.
Mr. Welch, Chairman of the Ways and Means Committee, presented the committee's report upon Article I of the Warrant together with explanatory figures in connection with the Metro- politan Water System, as follows :
Report of Committee of Ways and Means.
ART. I. To see what action the town will take in regard to its future water supply.
Your committee in making this report will confine itself mainly to the financial aspects of this article, and such conclu- sions and deductions as it may reach will result from a study along these lines. The investigations and reports of your commission- ers and special committee have covered much of the work which would devolve upon this committee under other circumstances and we deem it unnecessary to open up the line of their investi- gations or elaborate on their findings. We have therefore, taken the results of their work as a basis of our reports and added to them such facts, and figures, as we think will help the voters to decide this question. The outstanding bonded water indebted- ness of Swampscott is as follows :
Water Bonds now outstanding $150,000
Less a sinking fund (about)
38,000
Net present indebtedness . 112,000
Proposed issue necessary to enter the dis- trict
90,000
Total indebtednesss if we should enter the district .
202,000
73
RECORDS OF TOWN CLERK.
1909 ]
This amount represents 2 per cent of our total valuation of the town as follows :
Valuation 1908.
$9,990,000
Debt. $202,000
Percentage of Water Debt to Valuation. 2.0
The following figures are taken from the First Annual Report of Financial Statistics of Massachusetts Cities and Towns, issued by the State Bureau of Statistics, a valuable work for comparison of town receipts and expenditures.
These figures are for the year 1906, the latest available. The deductions are made by the committee :
Valuation.
Net Water Debt.
Per cent, of Water Debt to Valuation.
(1) Marblehead
$7,357,000
$129,000
1.6
(2) Peabody
9,137,000
290,000
3.I
(3) Saugus
4,739,000
57,000
1.2
(4) Revere
13,051,000
357,000
2.7
(5) Wakefield
8,355,000
223,000
2.7
(6) Reading
4,818,000
201,000
4.0
(7) Nahant
5,593,000
15,000
.3
7)15.6
2.2
From a study of these figures you will see that Swampscott's water debt after entering the district will be less in ratio to its valuation than the average ratio of the seven surrounding towns.
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