USA > Massachusetts > Essex County > Swampscott > Town annual report of Swampscott 1909 > Part 9
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SECT. 6. The State Board of Health shall prescribe the directions for tests of sight and hearing and the State Board of Education shall, after consultation with the State Board of Health, prescribe and furnish to school committees suitable rules of instruction, test-cards, blanks, record books and other useful appliances for carrying out the purposes of this act, and shall provide for pupils in the normal schools instruction and practice in the best methods of testing the sight and hearing of children. The State Board of Education may expend during the year nine- teen hundred and six a sum not greater than fifteen hundred dol- lars, and annually thereafter a sum not greater than five hundred dollars for the purpose of supplying the material required by this act.
141
REPORT OF SCHOOL COMMITTEE.
1909]
EXPENSES.
SECT. 7. The expense which a city or town may incur by virtue of the authority herein vested in the School Committee or Board of Health, as the case may be, shall not exceed the amount appropriated for that purpose in cities by the city council and in towns by a town meeting. The appropriation shall precede any expenditure or any indebtedness which may be incurred under this act, and the sum appropriated shall be deemed a sufficient appropriation in the municipality where it is made. Such appro- priation need not specify to what section of the act it shall ap- ply, and may be voted as a total appropriation to be applied in carrying out the purposes of the act.
SECTION 8. This act shall take effect on the first day of Sep- tember in the year nineteen hundred and six.
142
TOWN DOCUMENTS.
[Feb. I
[Revised Laws, Chapter 44. ]
1
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 his 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 ab- sent 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.
143
REPORT OF SCHOOL COMMITTEE.
1909]
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.
IO. 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.
I44
TOWN DOCUMENTS.
[Feb. I
SCHOOL COMMITTEE.
S. PERCY CONGDON, Chairman . 1908-1911
41 Thomas road.
ARTHUR W. STUBBS, Secretary . 1906-1909 74 Paradise road.
HOWARD K. GLIDDEN · 1907-1910 49 Rockland street.
SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS.
WILLIAM J. PELO, 84 Prescott street, Cambridge, Mass. OFFICE IN TOWN HALL, SWAMPSCOTT. OFFICE HOURS : 3.45-4.45 P. M. on Monday and Thursday
145
REPORT OF SCHOOL COMMITTEE.
1909]
School Calendar.
Winter Term of 1909 began Dec. 28, 1908. Spring Term, 1909, begins March 1, 1909. Summer Term, 1909, begins May 3, 1909. Fall Term, 1909, begins Sept. 13, 1909.
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 week following the opening of the schools after Christmas week.
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.
146
TOWN DOCUMENTS.
[Feb. I
Report of Surveyor of Highways.
To the Citizens of Swampscott :
During the past year, 6,000 tons of crushed stone have been used on the different streets of the town. The following streets have been macadamized :
Humphrey Street, from Glen Road to the drinking fountain. On this street, the tracks of the Boston & Northern Street Rail- way Company were raised about ten inches, from the sewer pumping station, to Pleasant Street.
Thomas Road, from Elmwood Road to Andrew Road.
New Ocean Street, from' Rock Avenue to Burrill Street. This street was put to grade and a catch basin built to drain the southerly side.
Essex Street, from the car stables to Cherry Street. Southerly side, from the Boston & Maine Railroad bridge to the new en- trance to the Cemetery.
From the Bessom estate to the Boston & Maine Railroad bridge, the roadbed was filled, to a depth of one foot, with pit stone and gravel.
From the Cemetery to the Nies estate, the whole roadbed was filled about one foot with pit stone, the ledge at the Cemetery removed and a covering of gravel placed over the same, and the whole roadbed rolled with the steam roller.
Burrill street, from Columbia street to Essex street. About one-half of this street was filled with crushed stone, and rolled ; this work was caused by the Town changing the grade of the street and putting in curbstone for continuous sidewalks.
147
REPORT OF SURVEYOR OF HIGHWAYS.
1909]
Humphrey street, at the Marblehead line, for a distance of three hundred feet was gravelled.
From Salem street to Phillips Beach R. R. crossing was grav- elled and rolled with the steam road roller.
Devens road, from Walker road to Redington street, was prac- tically reconstructed. The whole street was gravelled, the ledge removed and part of the gutters were paved.
Hampden street, from Berkshire street to Ellis road. This street was raised about eight inches.
Orient street, from Phillips corner to Humphrey street and Humphrey street from Orient street to the Lynn line have been gone over twice during the year, and wherever needed, picked up by the roller and resurfaced with crushed stone and gravel. Both these streets had to be looked after all the time during the summer months as there was very heavy automobile travel going over them which tore the surface very much.
Portions of Phillips avenue, Rock avenue, Palmer avenue, King street, Phillips street, Hardy road, Ontario street and Rock- land street have been resurfaced with gravel.
Atlantic Avenue.
Atlantic avenue has been macadamized from the Marblehead line to Orient street, a distance of over 5,300 feet. This avenue received a coating of crushed stone from six inches thick at the centre to four inches thick at the sides with three feet in width of gravel at the sides. The following amounts of material were used :
Tons of crushed stone .
2,997
Loads of gravel
412
Catch basins built
3
Feet of 8-inch pipe laid
25
26
Feet of 10-inch pipe laid Feet of 4-inch pipe laid
. 90
.
.
148
TOWN DOCUMENTS.
[Feb. I
This avenue was also treated with "Liquid Asdhalt" which work was done by the Indian Refining Company. Number of yards treated : Macadam, 11,833. 1-3 at six cents per yard. Gutters treated, 5,916.2-3 at five cents per. yard, and a covering of fine crushed stone was placed over the same, 204 tons having been used, also 26 loads of screened gravel. So far this road has proved to be all right, and there has been no complain about flying dust. The work on this avenue was done under the direction of the Massachusetts State Highway Commission and the Town has been reimbursed for the same to the amount of $2,925.
All streets of the town have been patrolled and holes and dangerous places have been filled with crushed stone or gravel.
The gutters on all streets of the town have been cleaned twice and on the main streets, seven times.
New Fences.
New fences have been built as follows: Humphrey street, 876 feet ; State highway, 108 feet; Pine street, 32 feet ; Ontario street, 16 feet.
Catch Basins and Gutters.
Yards of gutters paved
341
Yards of gutters repaved
.
474
Loads of stone used
43
Loads of sand and gravel used
51
Catch basins built
I
Feet of 8-inch pipe laid
77
Feet of 6-inch pipe laid
119
Crossings relaid .
2
New crossings laid
2
One crossing at Palmer Avenue on Atlantic Avenue and one crossing at Grant Road on Farragut Road.
1909]
REPORT OF SURVEYOR OF HIGHWAYS. I49
Sidewalks.
Material used for making and repairing sidewalks :
Loads of coarse gravel. 335
Loads of screened gravel
86
Loads of sand
73
Tons of stone dust
II7
The greater part of the gravel was used in filling sidewalks where the continuous curbstones were laid.
King's Brook from the old water works pumping station to the Boston & Maine Railroad and Mudge's Brook from Pine street to Burrill street have been cleaned.
Both box drains at Fisherman's Beach and the gate at the box drain at Beach Bluff have been repaired this year.
Curbstone and Concrete.
Square yards of tar concrete sidewalk laid . 1,186.19
Feet of curbstone laid 233.88
Feet of curbstone relaid 50
Square yards of granolithic sidewalk · . 1,168.73
For granolithic sidewalk the abutters paid the extra cost above the price paid for tar concrete sidewalk.
Continuous Sidewalks.
Square yards of tar concrete sidewalk laid . 2,261.79
Feet of curbstone laid . 1,175.23
Feet of curbstone relaid 602
Building for Storing Sand.
Bids were asked for, and four were received as follows : Gilbert Delano, $500; Peleg Gardner, $450; William J. Waters, $350; Levi Hudson, $339. Levi Hudson being the lowest bidder, was given the contract,
11
150
TOWN DOCUMENTS.
[Feb. I
There was added to the department this year one "Acme" street sweeper. The price of this machine complete was $285.
The steam road roller has been thoroughly overhauled, and is now in first-class condition.
Recommendations.
I would recommend that an appropriation be made for con- tinuous sidewalks and that the northerly sidewalk on Norfolk avenue from Middlesex avenue to the Boston & Maine railroad bridge on Stetson avenue and the southerly side of Orient street from the Town's Fish House to Lincoln House avenue be curbed and tar concreted.
Respectfully submitted,
MICHAEL J. RYAN, Surveyor of Highways.
151
REPORT OF CHIEF OF POLICE.
1909]
Report of Chief of Police.
SWAMPSCOTT, MASS., Feb. 1, 1909.
To the Honorable Board of Selectmen :
GENTLEMEN,-I herewith submit the annual report of the Police Department for the year ending Jan. 31, 1909 as follows :
Whole number of persons arrested or summoned to
appear at court
. II7
Male . .
. . . · III
Female
. . . 6
- 1I7
Arrested or summoned to appear at court for the following offenses :
Assault and battery
3
Assault, felonious
4
Bastardy
2
Carrying dangerous weapons
2
Capias
2
Cruelty to animals
.
.
3
Drunkenness
30
Exposure, indecent
.
I
Larceny
4
Liquor nuisance
4
Liquor selling ·
.
8
Maliciousness, breaking glass
.
·
I
.
152
TOWN DOCUMENTS.
[Feb. I
Neglected children
3
Non-support of children
I
Playing cards on the Lord's Day
4
Peddling without a license
2
Robbery .
3
Tramp
2
Violating educational laws .
3
Violating automobile laws
I7
For out of town officers
16
Insane
2
- II7
Disposed of as follows :
Fined and paid .
· 35
Committed for non-payment of fine
· 6
Sentenced to House of Correction
6
Placed on file
5
Discharged by court
15
Appealed cases .
9
On probation
3
Released out of court
.
8
Turned over to out of town officers
16 ·
Committed to State Farm, Bridgewater
2
Committed to Insane Hospital
.
2
Committed to State Board of Charities
·
3
Defaulted .
2
Continued
I
Committed to Lawrence Training School
I
- II7
Disposition of cases in the Superior Court as follows :
Cases sentenced to State Prison 3
Cases filed
2
Cases fined and paid
I
Cases pending in Superior Court
5
.
.
.
·
II
·
·
.
.
·
.
·
153
REPORT OF CHIEF OF POLICE.
1909]
Miscellaneous Business.
Whole number of complaints investigated
284
Arc lights reported out
67
Doors and windows found open and secured
59
Disturbances suppressed without arrest
32
Assistance to out-of-town police
23
Lights found burning in buildings
16
Lost children reported
15
Accidents reported
13
Water and gas leaks reported
14
Obstructions removed from streets
5
Fires extinguished without giving alarm
7
Poles and trees reported on fire
8
Lights furnished for dangerous places
9
Wires reported down
15
Poles reported down
I
Limbs of trees down and reported to Tree Warden
8
Dogs reported lost
26
Stray horses reported
4
Stray cows found
4
Attempt to break and enter
5
Glass reported broken out of fire alarm boxes
20
Intoxicated persons assisted home
20
Intoxicated, put off trains at Boston & Maine depot
8
Fire alarms given by telephone .
8
Cases of larceny reported
·
I2
Bicycles reported lost
3
Bicycles found by officers and returned to owners
3
Dead animals found and reported
8
Liquor raids made
8
Complaints of hens trespassing
2
Horses reported stolen
4
Dead persons found and cared for
I
Babies found abandoned and committed to state
I
154
TOWN DOCUMENTS.
[Feb. I
Suicide
I
Attempt at suicide
·
I
Cases of breaking, entering and larceny reported
6
Dogs killed by dog officer .
76
Dogs returned to owners · . .
18
Fire alarms responded to by officers
.
20
Ambulance calls
.
57
Extra hours of officers on ambulance .
IIO
Value of property reported lost or stolen $1,425.00 .
Value of property recovered
675.50
I wish to call attention to the addition of a gasoline motor bicycle to the department which has been of much aid in patrol duty and did most effectual work in stopping the speeding of automobiles through the streets of the town. Conditions pre- vious to its purchase and installment were very bad and reports of extreme speed were of daily occurrence. Since its inception a noticeable change was seen in the manner in which the auto- mobiles went through our streets. The machine has been of great assistance in other ways besides the quelling of auto speed- ers and has paid for itself during the short time in which it has been in use. I wish also to call attention to the excellent work of the department in capturing the three Italian desperadoes last April, in which a dangerous gang of robbers were rounded up and each received long prison sentences, the department being highly complimented by the District Attorney for its splendid work.
In closing my report I wish to express my thanks to the officers of the department who have always been found ready and willing to perform any duty asked or required of them and to even work many hours over time that the efficiency of the department might not be hindered by the lack of officers' sevices.
The thanks of the department is also extended to those who have in many ways aided the workings of this department by giving information which has often proved of valuable assistance, especially does this apply to the Lynn Police.
155
REPORT OF CHIEF OF POLICE.
1909]
To the members of the Board of Selectmen and to other Town officers, this department is deeply indebted for many favors which have been fully appreciated. For all this assistance and favors, I desire to express my thanks at this occasion.
Respectfully submitted,
ULYSSES M. CORSON, Chief of Police.
I56
TOWN DOCUMENTS.
[Feb. I
Report of Chief Engineer.
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, 1909, this being the fourteenth annual and the thirtieth 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 consists of one steam fire engine with three horse hitch, one two-horse hose wagon, one two-horse chemical, one two-horse hose reel, which is unfit for service, one relief wagon, one wire wagon, one single wagon, three hand hose reels and one two-horse hose pung, one two-horse ladder truck, which is in good condition, with the exception of the old hose reel and the ladder truck. This truck has been in service over twenty-eight years. It is too small to cover the growth of the town.
Fire Alarm.
The past year there has been some new wire added to take the place of old wire and the system is in good order at the present time.
157
REPORT OF CHIEF ENGINEER.
1909]
Hydrants.
There have been two new hydrants added this past year which makes one hundred and thirty-nine at the present time.
Hose.
There are thirty-three hundred and fifty feet of two and one- half inch cotton hose rubber-lined in good condition ; one thou- sand three hundred worthless for fire service ; four hundred feet of three-quarter inch rubber hose.
Horses.
The department owns eleven horses; ten in good condition, one along in years; two were bought this past year and none exchanged.
Recommendations.
We would recommend a new supply wagon to take the place of the old reel at the chemical house; that two hundred and sixty dollars be appropriated for the same. We also recommend that the Town exchange the old truck for an up-to-date one. This truck has been in service in the vicinity of thirty years, and it will not carry the amount of ladders required to reach the buildings that are now being built in Town. Therefore we recommend that twenty-two hundred dollars be appropriated for the same.
Fire Stations.
The Phillips Beach station should be painted inside and out to save from decay as the paint has worn off, and to neglect to paint will cause much greater expense in the future.
The station on new Ocean street is still in need of repairs the amount of money that was appropriated for the committee on repairs did not complete the repairs. It needs painting inside and out and new floors ; repairs should be made in the bathroom and battery room. Hoping it will meet with approval and an amount of money be appropriated for the same.
158
TOWN DOCUMENTS.
[Feb. I
Fires and Alarms.
There have been twenty-two bell alarms, forty-one telephone calls and three still alarms, making a total of sixty-six alarms. This year the no school signal has been sounded once and the department has responded to four out of town calls, Chemical No. 1, Phillips Beach called in service twenty-one times, Chem- ical No. 4, Lynn, nine times.
Loss by Fire.
The value of property, amount of insurance carried, amount of insurance paid and net losses at fires where a portion of the department have responded, is as follows, viz. :
Value of buildings .
Value of contents. .
$56,100 00 29,450 00
Total
$85,550 00
Insurance on buildings
$37,000 00
Insurance on contents
17,400 00
Total
$54,400 00
Damage to buildings
$8,932 02
Damage to contents
1,265 00
Total
$10,197 02
Insurance paid on buildings
$7,932 02
Insurance paid on contents
1,265 00
Total
$9,197 02
Net loss above insurance
$1,000 00
Total
$10,197 02
159
REPORT OF CHIEF ENGINEER.
1909 ]
Conclusion.
In closing we wish to extend our thanks to the Board of Se- lectmen and to the Police Department for the support given us by their cheerful service at fires ; to all citizens who have in any way assisted this department, and last, but surely not least, to the officers and members of the department for their loyal service under any and all conditions.
Respectfully submitted,
GEORGE P. CAHOON, Chief, G. H. LAMPARD, FRANK L. CHAPMAN,
Board of Engineers.
160
TOWN DOCUMENTS.
[Feb. I
FOURTEENTH ANNUAL REPORT Board of Park Commissioners.
To the Citizens of Swampscott :
GENTLEMEN,-The Board of Park Commissioners have the honor to submit herewith its annual report for the season of 1908.
The Board organized as follows : Clarence B. Humphrey, chairman ; John J. Blaney, Robert Leslie, secretary.
Blaney Beach Reservation.
The services of Mr. Horace W. Blanchard were retained as superintendent and the usual care of maintenance has been done by him.
In February, of last year, the sea wall, west of the bandstand, failed, which necessitated taking down and rebuilding about sixty linear feet. On analyzing the cause of this failure we found that the wall at this place to be in the form of a circle retaining the earth on its concave side; it was built of rubble masonry laid dry with insufficient foundations and not strong enough to withstand the earth pressure and the high seas which undermined its foundations. The wall, as built, rests upon a concrete base well tied into same by steel rods, and is laid throughout with Portland cement mortar. We relaid with rubble face to conform with adjacent wall. Proposals were advertised in the Lynn News and the Lynn Item. The bids submitted were as follows :
161
REPORT OF PARK COMMISSIONERS.
1909]
McCormack Bros. Boston $914 00
David J. Sheehan, Lynn
864 00
Armstrong Specialty Concrete Co., Bos- ton 863 40
M. McDonough, Swampscott · 800 00
Felix Marino, Swampscott
763 50
The contract was awarded to Felix Marino as the lowest bidder.
It seems to your commissioners that an iron fence is needed along this wall to prevent possible accidents, and we would advise continuing the present fence on Humphrey street to the corner at the roadway the coming season, and recommend that the Town appropriate $300 for this purpose.
The gentlemen's closet on the westerly side of the fish house, which for the last few years has been a source of com- plaint, has been thoroughly renovated. Water closets, slate urinals, granolithic floor and a system of local ventilation were installed, which with the flushing apparatus it is possible to keep in the best of sanitary condition. The amount of money recommended for this work in our last report was $500.00; the amount appropriated $350. We had plans and specifications drawn up for doing this work and asked all of the local plumbers for estimates ; only two were received as follows :
M. A. Dame & Co., Lynn . $524 00
W. L. Fay & Co., Swampscott · 500 00
Certain changes were made in the specifications and the work awarded to W. L. Fay & Co. for $425, it being thought advis- able to have the whole of the work done at this time and pay the balance from our general fund.
Satisfactory arrangements were made this summer with the Board of Health whereby the offal from the fish house has been taken care of, we paying a proportional share of the expense.
Permits for storing boats upon the reservation have been granted to nine non-resident owners and the total number of boats stored at the present time is eighty. No records have been kept of the number of boats stored in previous years, but the
162
TOWN DOCUMENTS.
[Feb. I
superintendent reports that there were about forty in 1898, show- ing an increase of one hundred per cent in the last decade.
A special police officer has been maintained on the Reserva- tion Sundays and holidays during the summer months.
The two faucets used by the fish house tenants, one on each side of the house, should be removed to the south corner, basins with grates built under them and connected with the fish house drain, this drain to be connected with the sewer. We would recommend that the Town appropriate $200 for doing this work.
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