USA > Massachusetts > Essex County > Swampscott > Town annual report of Swampscott 1911 > Part 14
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Released for drunkenness by probation officer ·
.
7
. Sent to Superior court S
I
Surrendered tojState Board of Charities
3
Released by court
.
7
Total
·
- 154
·
.
.
I
·
I
.
.
Returned to Lyman School
.
.
.
-
CHIEF OF POLICE REPORT.
237
Disposition of Cases in the Superior Court.
Cases placed on file
2
Cases nol prossed
·
2
Cases found not guilty and discharged
2
Cases sentenced to State Prison
2
Cases sentenced to House of Correction
I
Cases pending in Superior Court
7
Total
- 16
Miscellaneous Business.
Accidents reported . 45
Assisted other officers
53
Attempt to break and enter
5
Attempt at robbery
I
Ambulance calls
45
Buildings found open and secured
52
Bicycles reported lost
6
Bicycles found by officers and returned to owners Cases investigated
387
Cases of breaking, entering and larceny reported .
12
Defective streets and sidewalks reported
23
Disturbances suppressed without arrest
26
Dogs reported lost
17
Dogs killed by dog officer
79
Dogs returned to owners . ·
18
Extra hours of officers on ambulance 108
16
Fire alarms responded to by officers .
·
34
Fire extinguished without alarm
3
Horses found cast in buildings .
9
Injured and sick persons assisted
48
Intoxicated persons assisted home
·
17
Lights furnished for dangerous places
. 39
Lights reported out in street
. 170
Lights found burning in buildings
. 36
.
5
Cases of larceny reported . 15
.
Fire alarms given by telephone
.
.
.
·
·
238
TOWN DOCUMENTS.
[Jan. 31
Liquor raids made
2
Liquor forfeited to Commonwealth .
.
2
Lost children restored
. 29
Obstructions removed from streets
. 21
Poles and trees reported on fire
.
II
Stray horses and cows found
28
Search warrants served for stolen goods
1
Teams found and returned to owners
.
3
Water and gas leaks reported
9
Wires reported down
I7
Value of property reported lost or stolen
$1,786 00
Value of property recovered
1,134 00
Recommendations.
Owing to the large increase in valuation and the additional number of residences erected through the Mudge and Stetson estates and the lower portion of the Town, I deem it advisable to recommend the appointment of two more regular patrolmen to increase the efficiency of the Police Department, owing to the fact that it is impossible to cover all the thickly settled parts of the Town as it should be.
During the last five years more than 200 new houses have been built in Swampscott, and there is every prospect of this extending to still greater territory in the next five years to come, and as it is absolutely impossible to cover the Town with the present force, the need of extra men should be apparent to all.
Remarks.
The efficiency of having a Police call on the fire whistle was ably demonstrated on the morning of June 25, when 14 officers reported and were distributed from the Lynn line on Essex street to the Salem line at the head of Danvers street, within sixteen minutes, the cause being that word was received from the Lynn officers "That the bandits who shot Officer Carroll and Thomas Landregan, were reported at Floating Bridge, Lynn, and heading toward Swampscott." The distribution of the officers being
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.
.
239
CHIEF OF POLICE REPORT.
1911]
greatly facilitated through the kindly offers of automobiles by Herbert M. Jacobs of the King's Beach garage; Harry Atwood of the Swampscott garage and Dr. Ralph E. Bicknell, to all of whom I wish at this time to extend the thanks of the department.
I also wish to extend my thanks to the Board of Selectmen for courtesies shown to the department and myself through the past year and also to the Court officers and members of the Lynn Police Department, who have assisted us in many ways during the past twelve months.
I also wish to thank the officers of the Swampscott Police Department for their promptness and willingness with which regular and extra duties have always been performed, whenever required.
Respectfully submitted,
ULYSSES M. CORSON, Chief of Police.
240
TOWN DOCUMENTS.
[Jan. 31
Report of the Board of Health.
To the Citizens of Swampscott :
The Board of Health herewith submit for your consideration their report for the year ending January 31, 1911.
At the first meeting of the year, held March 22, 1910, Dr. Loring Grimes was chosen chairman and appointments made as follows :
Clerk, Harold H. Bartol. Plumbing Inspector, Martin E. Nies. Milk Inspector, Herbert D. Smith. Inspector of Fruit and Provisions, Herbert D. Smith. To care for the offal at the beach, Charles Melvin. Special Clerk, Milton D. Porter.
Milk Inspection.
The rapid growth of the Town and the new State Laws recently enacted have made this once minor office now among the most important offices of the Town. The small salary which he received previous to this year was not sufficient pay for the amount of work required of him. Therefore, at an early meet- ing we increased his salary from $25.00 to $75.00. If you will compare his report herewith given with that of same in years past, you will see why such an increase was necessary. The vigorous campaign that we have waged for good milk has done much to prevent unscrupulous milk dealers from putting on the Swampscott market a product which was inferior to that sold in other places. For the past year samples have been taken at
241
BOARD OF HEALTH REPORT.
1911]
frequent intervals and no mercy has been shown the man with poor milk. During the coming year we shall further improve the quality of milk sold by requiring of all milk a bacterial count which means not only pure milk but clean milk. In all places where it is possible we make frequent visits to the dairies where our milk is produced and insist that they be in first-class order. During the summer an epidemic of typhoid fever started ; we at once, with the aid of the State and District Inspectors, traced the source of trouble and by prohibiting the sale of milk from one dairy was able to prevent the spread of the disease beyond a few cases.
Swill and Ashes.
In this department we have made some radical changes. During the last few years the portion of the Town which has heretofore been used as a dumping ground has rapidly been developed, and proportionately with this development it has increased our trouble from blowing paper and refuse from the dumps which lately has grown to be an unbearable nuisance. Therefore, we have found it necessary to draw up a new con- tract for caring for the rubbish and paper separately so that the streets of the Town may be kept cleaner and the danger of spreading disease lessened. Proposals for collecting paper and rubbish under the new contract were advertised for and the fol- lowing figures were received :
Bernard J. Noone Charles W, Carroll
$1,108 00 a year
1,244 00 a year
Felix Dagnaese 1,500 00 a year Louis A. Delano 1,650 00 a year
Louis Marino 1,780 00 a year
Frederick Marino
1, Soo oo a year
Felix Marino .
1,850 00 a year
Mr. Bernard J. Noone being the lowest bidder received the contract for three (3) years. We hope for a more satisfactory state of affairs. The services in general will be greatly improved if each individual will do their part to conform with the rules and regulations ; a copy of which has been left at every house.
16
242
TOWN DOCUMENTS.
[Jan. 31
The swill as before will be taken by Mr. G. F. Busby, and by relieving him of the ashes we expect a much more efficient ser- vice from him. The above changes which have been made will naturally increase the expense to a certain extent, but we feel sure that this increase will not be as great proportionately as the improvement in the service.
Plumbing Inspection.
With the great amount of sewers that have been installed during the past year our Plumbing Inspector has been kept busy as his report herewith submitted will show.
Contracts.
Except for the new contract for collecting ashes and paper, of which we have made mention, there was but one let out, that for the Care of Night Soil, which was let to Mr. Allen Rowe, he being the only bidder. His figure was the same as last year, $95. As we have received only one complaint from this source we consider the disposal of the same has been very satisfactory.
Complaints.
During the last year the number of complaints have been comparatively few and of somewhat different nature than those of previous years due probably to the extensive installment of the sewer system. Each and every complaint that we have received has been carefully investigated and disposed of to the best of our ability, trying to be impartial in any and all our proceedings.
The following is a tabulated list of complaints :
Ashes
·
16
Brooks
2
Carrions
29
Swill
8
Overflowing cesspool .
IO
Unsanitary conditions
.
8
243
BOARD OF HEALTH REPORT.
1911 J
Brooks and Drains.
Last year in our report we recommended that the sum of one thousand dollars ($1,000.00) be appropriated for the care of brooks and drains which for several years have been in many cases neglected on account of the lack of funds available for the work. As only one-fifth of that amount was given us we did the best we could and by the efficient help of our Highway Sur- veyor, were able to tide things over to the present time. At present there is a great deal to be done along this line and no funds with which to work. A brook, with which you are all familiar, runs from Devens road through the property of Mr. Scott Tuttle and Mr. Henry B. Sprague, is in very bad condition and must before long be put in a more sanitary condition at the expense of the Town.
Beaches.
As heretofore it has been our purpose to keep the beaches in as clean and presentable condition during the summer months as possible. In the Spring we had all the beaches thoroughly cleaned, and the debris which had collected, either buried or teamed away. After this at intervals during the summer we have cleaned portions where objectionable matter gathered so as to keep them in a sanitary and presentable condition at all times. Several instances where the abutters wished the work done they have shared the expense where they were receiving the greater amount of the benefit from this cleaning.
The Pest House.
Again we have allowed for the past year the Lynn Tubercu- losis Association the use of the Pest House for a day camp and during the year they have greatly improved the property by the enlarging of the kitchen, constructing a piazza around three sides and installing a bathroom. Besides these improvements and keeping the building in repairs they have taken care of any and all the cases of Tuberculosis which has been brought to our
244
TOWN DOCUMENTS.
[Jan. 31
attention who were unable to care for themselves or be cared for by their friends. We consider this a great benefit to us as the State Laws require each town to take care of such cases that are now being taken care off without any additional expense.
Fumigating.
The fumigating has been done in the same manner as last year. Our supply of generators have been kept in first-class condition by replacing some of our old generators by new ones and having some old ones repaired. Mr Edwin Russell and Mr. Willis Shephard have assisted us in fumigating the past year at the same price as has been paid the two previous years ; one dollar for one room and fifty cents for each additional room up to six. In any house of over six rooms we made no extra charge. We have now been able for the last three years to have the school-house satisfactorily fumigated for the maxium rate of Five Dollars ($5.00) for each building. The following list of infectious diseases have been reported for the year :
Diphtheria .
3
Scarlet Fever
16
Chicken Pox
· 16
Typhoid
· 22
Tuberculosis
7
Measles
· 31
Whooping Cough
.
3
Cholera
·
2
Meningitis
.
I
Othalmeia Neonatorium
.
I
Infantile Paralysis
.
I
Medical Inspection of Schools.
Through the joint effort with the School Board we have been able to bring about a system of medical school inspection which is much more satisfactory than heretofore.
245
BOARD OF HEALTH REPORT.
19II ]
Recommendations.
We recommend that the sum of two hundred dollars ($200) be appropriated for the usual care of brooks and drains. We recommend that the brook extending from Devens road through the property of Scott Tuttle and H. B. Sprague be cleaned out, pipe laid and covered in and a sum of money sufficient for the same be appropriated.
We recommend that four thousand five hundred dollars ($4,500) be appropriated for current expenses of the Board.
Respectfully submitted,
LORING GRIMES, M. D., Chairman, JOHN B. CAHOON, GEORGE C. WEBSTER,
HAROLD H. BARTOL, Clerk.
January 31, 1911.
246
TOWN DOCUMENTS.
[Jan. 31
Report of Milk Inspector.
To the Board of Health, Swampscott, Mass. :
GENTLEMEN,-I herewith submit my report as Milk Inspector for the year 1910-191I.
Number of samples of milk taken and analyzed . 54
Number of samples of milk found under the standard . IO
Number of samples of milk found adulterated .
I
Number of cases prosecuted and fined for selling milk below the standard .
I
Number of licenses issued for sale of milk . 16 .
Number of stores licensed for sale of milk . ·
22
Total amount received for licenses nineteen dollars ($19.00) which amount I have paid to the Town Treasurer and hold his receipt for the same.
In all cases where the milk was found to be under the standard the parties were notified and warned in regard to the same.
Respectfully submitted.
HERBERT D. SMITH, Milk Inspector.
SWAMPSCOTT, MASS., January 26, 1911.
247
INSPECTOR OF PLUMBING REPORT.
1911]
Report of Inspector of Plumbing.
SWAMPSCOTT, February 10, 1911.
To the Board of Health, Swampscott, Mass. :
GENTLEMEN,-I herewith submit my eighth annual report for the year 1910-II.
The work of the office is shown as follows :
Plumbing permits issued 158
Complaints investigated
12
Registered Plumbers 98
Cases reported to Board
3
Cases settled by Board .
3
The increase in number of permits issued, indicated in my last annual report is owing to the general building activity dur- ing the past year. I am pleased to state, that our builders, as a rule, willingly cooperate with this office in carrying out the Town's laws, by insisting that material and workmanship of a high order prevail in the installation of supply and drainage systems under their control. The Town itself may well emulate such example in its application to Public Buildings, some of which are sadly deficient in modern sanitary equipment.
Respectfully submitted,
MARTIN E. NIES,
Inspector of Plumbing.
2.48
TOWN DOCUMENTS.
[Jan. 31
REPORT OF Meat and Provisions Inspector.
To the Board of Health, Swampscott. Mass :
GENTLEMEN,-Meats and provisions sold in Town I believe to be of good quality and are kept in such manner as required by law.
There has been but one complaint which I investigated and had remedied at once.
Respectfully submitted. HERBERT D. SMITH. Inspector of Meats and Provisions.
Swampscott. Mass., January 26, 1911.
249
INSPECTOR OF ANIMALS REPORT.
1911]
Inspector of Animals.
To the Board of Selectmen :
GENTLEMEN,-I herewith submit my report for the past year as Inspector of Animals.
The work has consisted of the usual fall inspection, also a spring inspection which, heretofore, has never been required.
At the fall inspection there were S6 neat cattle. 469 swine and 2 goats : the animals seemed to be in a generally healthy con- dition, but in some cases the premises were not kept as clean as they might have been. This was particularly the case with the swine.
There has been only one case of contagious disease in Town during the past year (glanders) which was destroyed and the premises properly disinfected.
On going to print the spring inspection has not been com- pleted, but probably will not differ materially from that of last fall.
Respectfully submitted,
FRANK B. STRATTON.
250
TOWN DOCUMENTS.
[Jan. 31
Report of the Town Engineer.
To the Honorable Board of Selectmen :
GENTLEMEN, - I herewith submit, this, my second annual report of the work performed, for the various Town Depart- ments, by the Engineering Department, for the year ending January 31, 1911.
Assessors Department. From May 1, 1909, to April 1, 1910, there were recorded at the Salem Registry of Deeds, 292 con- veyances of real estate in Swampscott. Each of these deeds have been copied twice. The card system of the Assessors Department has been altered to cover each of these transactions, and wherever a sub-division of property has been made, the plans of the Assessors Department have been corrected to cover such change. All plans of Swampscott property that have been recorded during the period above mentioned have been copied, and parties owning property have been consulted about same.
This work is something that has to be done every year, in order that the card system may be kept up-to-date. This work used up 53 days time, of the Engineering Department.
Banks road. This road was widened and regraded, and ledge was removed from the sidewalks by the Highway Department. Giving lines and grades, for this construction work, and meas- uring the ledge to be removed, occupied two and one-quarter days time, of the Engineering Department.
Continuous sidewalks. During the past summer season, there have been put in place, on various streets of the Town, 1,147.50 linear feetfof new curbstone, also several hundred feet of old curbstone have been reset. For all of this work, lines and
251
TOWN ENGINEER'S REPORT.
1911 ]
grades have been given, measurements made, the stone ordered, the stone measured after having been put in place, and bills made for the same, permits have been obtained from the Massa- chusetts State Highway Commission for setting curbing on the State Highway, and measurements made for prospective curb- stone.
There has been put in place, 2,865 square yards of new tar concrete sidewalk and 1,428 square yards of tar concrete side- walks have been relaid. All of this walk has been measured and bills made for the same by the Engineering Department.
Cemetery. For this Department 2} days time have been used for locating trees on the different lots and for figuring the areas of lots in the new addition.
Catch-basins and gutters. Lines and grades have been given for constructing a new catch-basin and concrete gutter, at the corner of New Ocean and Burrill streets and for constructing a new catch-basin and the necessary overflow drains at Pleasant and Humphrey streets. This work took 2₺ days time of the Engineering Department.
Banks road culvert. This culvert, which runs across Farragut road and through Banks road, for a distance of about 400 feet, was only partly constructed, for the reason that Banks road was not accepted this year. That part which crosses Farragut road was enlarged and deepened and the walls constructed of concrete. Lines and grades were given for this work and the construction was inspected from time to time by this department. This work occupied 44 days time of the Engineering Department.
Greenwood avenue, formerly called Fuller avenue, was resur- faced, two catch-basins were built and about 116 feet of drain pipe was laid. Lines and grades for this work were given from time to time and the ledge was measured for blasting by the Engineering Department. Six days time being used in this work.
Highway Department. Three-fourths days work was done by the Engineering Department in giving lines and grades for the use of the Highway Department in shaping parts of Norfolk avenue and Orient street.
252
TOWN DOCUMENTS.
[Jan. 31
Kain gravel pit. Four days work was done by the Engineering Department in having leases, etc., made out and signed and in defining the lines of this property and setting stone monuments to mark the same.
Orient court. This street was laid out and accepted, by the Town, this year, plans for the same were made, stone monu- ments, defining the lines of the street, were put in place, lines and grades, for constructing the street and for building a catch- basin, were given. This work took ten days time, of the Engi- neering Department.
Park Commission. During the year 1909, an iron fence was partly constructed, on the Blaney Beach Reservation. Early in 1910, the construction of this fence was completed. A survey and plan of the Park, at the head of Monument avenue, was made and stone boundary monuments were put in place, to define the lines. All this work was done under the direction of the Engineering Department, and 10} days' time was consumed by the same.
Selectmen's Department. For this department, various small jobs were done, such as, attending legislative hearings; taking views of various streets to be accepted ; locating lines of different streets for fence construction ; locating the poles of the various Electric Light and Telephone Companies : for hearings on petitions for changes in location, etc. ; making surveys and plans of walls, etc. on Whale Beach ; of changes in location of street lines and grades, on Humphrey street near the Lynn line and at property of J. G. Stanley ; writing descriptions of land, to be advertised, for sale, for non-payment of taxes, by the Tax Col- lector ; making plans, etc. for use in hearings on proposed new school-house locations : and for land takings, as voted by the Town. This work required 383 days time, of the Engineering Department.
School Department. For this department, a plan of the Redington street school lot was made, requiring 1} days time.
Suffolk avenue. Plans ; notices of hearing for laying out, of the avenue ; and waivers of damages, for use in laying out this street, were prepared, and stone monuments, defining the lines of the location of this street, were set, and grades given, for
253
TOWN ENGINEERS' REPORT.
1911]
constructing the street. This work required 6} days time of the Engineering Department.
Street watering. That part of Humphrey street, Burrill street and Woodbine avenue, which was oiled during the past year, was measured and the area computed, requiring 3 days' time of the Engineering Department.
Tidd street drain. An 8-inch pipe drain was laid on Jessie street, from Tidd street, for a distance of about 525 feet, and a catch-basin was built. The work required in laying out this drain and inspecting the construction of the same, consumed 44 days' time of the Engineering Department.
Water and Sewer Department. During the past year, water pipes were laid on parts of Walker road, Mountwood road and at the Giles Lodge estate. These main lines of pipe were mea- sured and the gates, hydrants, etc., located. Also various shut-off gates, to the service pipes at private houses, in different parts of the Town were located, and the card system, showing the same, was corrected. This work required 5 days' time of the Engineering Department.
Sewers were laid in Crescent street, Devens road, Elmwood road, Essex street, Farragut road, Highland street, Monument avenue, Orient court, Paradise road, Phillips street, Redington street, Sheridan road and Suffolk avenue, and at the present time construction work is being done on sewers in Crescent street and Rockland street. The sewer work finished this year, including particular sewers and underdrains, amounted to 9,370 linear feet of pipe laid. These pipes range in size, from 10-inch sewer pipe to 4-inch underdrain pipe. The Engineering Department had practically full charge of the construction of these sewers, includ- ing the preparation of preliminary plans, forms for bids and advertising, contracts and specifications, giving of lines and grades for construction work, inspection, measuring of ledge, wherever encountered, preparing estimates of work done, for partial and final payments, to the different contractors employed. For this work 4763 days' time, of the Engineering Department were necessary.
Respectfully yours,
FRED H. EASTMAN,
Town Engineer.
254
TOWN DOCUMENTS.
[Jan. 31
Report of Overseers of the Poor.
SWAMPSCOTT, MASS., Feb. 1, 1911.
To the Citizens of Swampscott :
The Board of Overseers of the Poor submit the following report :
As each year comes to a close the Board of Overseers' find that the work of the Department increases, and also the number of persons being aided, and a larger annual expenditure in the support of the poor is required. In the past year we have had an unusual increase in the demands of our department, and consequently we were obliged to exceed our appropriation.
We have been pleasantly located in our new office in the Town Hall since the first of the year, and find that we can conduct the business of our Board much better than under past arrangements.
We would recommend that the Town appropriate the sum of $3,000 and receipts for the maintenance of our department for the ensuing year. We wish to extend our thanks to all the officials and citizens who have assisted us during the past year.
Respectfully submitted,
JOSEPH F. CROWELL, Chairman, EDMUND RUSSELL, JAMES H. MOULTON.
255
OVERSEERS OF POOR REPORT.
1911]
Secretary's Report.
Meetings held by Board in past year
47
Visits made by the Board 18 .
Personal visits made by Secretary ·
52
Visits made by Secretary out of town
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