USA > Massachusetts > Essex County > Swampscott > Town annual report of Swampscott 1914 > Part 16
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22
All pipe joints of this section have been made with a special water tight compound, which reduces the ground water seepage to a minimum. Much credit is due the contractor, M. McDonough Co., for the manner in which the work was done under the most adverse conditions. All the plans, estimates and assessments relating to the above sewers have been filed with the Water and Sewer Commissioners.
Continuous Sidewalks.
Lines and grades have been given for 3,070 feet of curbstones, which have been set by the Highway Department in the various streets as desig- nated by the Board of Selectmen.
This required the establishing of street lines and the setting of stone bounds at the initial points ; also a careful study of the curb grade.
148
TOWN DOCUMENTS.
[Dec. 31
Granolithic walks amounting to 1,343 square yards and 5,048 square feet of parking have been laid by the McDonough Co. Additional tar side- walks, amounting to 514 square yards have been laid by J. H. Mclaughlin.
Seven street plans, for the acceptance of private ways as public streets, six of which were accepted by the Town, are on file at the office of the Town Clerk.
It was necessary to refer the data of these plans to the Swampscott Base, requiring the extending of the coordinate survey, which called for exten- sive surveys and calculations.
Selectmen's Department.
Data and estimates have been furnished at various times for use in the Selectmen's Department and plans submitted for their approval.
Marshall Brook Outfall.
About 100 feet of the old wooden culvert of the Marshall brook outfall has been replaced by a reinforced concrete rectangular culvert of greater capacity. A large portion of the old culvert had been destroyed by the sea, leaving the piles in place. In the construction of the concrete culvert these piles served as anchors, being sawed off four inches below the invert grade and tied together with iron rods, and the area within and extending six inches outside of the piles, being filled with concrete to the depth of 12 inches. The side walls and top were reinforced with iron rods to with- stand the action of the waves.
Town Survey.
The coordinate survey of the Town has been extended when it did not interfere with the construction projects of the Town.
About 60 stone monuments have been set, establishing the lines of various streets.
All street lines are established and stone monuments set at the required points, from the intersection of Humphrey street and Orient street, near the fish house, east to the Marblehead line. A portion of the above notes and the interior lines within this section have been plotted, from which sectional tracings will be made and filed in the Town vault for future reference.
All land court plans made by private parties, within the bounded area, in the past year have, and in the future will be, referred to the Swampscott Base, thereby eliminating all error as to location.
In conclusion, I wish to express my deep appreciation of the courtesies shown me by the various departments, and also by private engineers, who have kindly furnished much private data, thereby greatly assisting in the work of this department.
Respectfully submitted,
WALLACE W. PRATT,
Town Engineer.
-
149
CHIEF OF POLICE REPORT.
1914]
Report of the Chief of Police.
To the Board of Selectmen :
January 8, 1915.
GENTLEMEN,-Herewith I submit the annual report of the Police Department for the year ending December 31, 1914 :
Arrested or summoned to appear in court for the following offences :
Males
157
Females
3
Total
160
Assault and battery
8
Attempted arson
2
Bastardy
I
Breaking and entering
2
Carrying weapon
.
I
Capias
4
Disorderly conduct .
8
Drunkenness
56
Evading car fare
I 27
For officers of other places
3
Larceny
7
Non-support of wife and children
3
Neglected child
I
Shooting game out of season
I
Stubborn child
I
Track walking
4
Unlicensed dog
3
Violating automobile law
5
Violating liquor law
5
Violating milk law .
I
Violating Lord's day
13
Vagrancy
I
Total
160
Disposition of cases in lower court :
Appealed
2
Committed to House of Correction
6
Committed to State Farm, Bridgewater .
3
Committed to Insane Hospital, Danvers
2
Committed to Lancaster .
I
Committed to House of Correction, non-payment of fines
2
Defaulted
3
Delivered to officers of other places
27
Discharged by court
5
Discharged without complaint
.
2
Fined and paid
48
Ordered to pay costs .
3
Placed on file .
.
34
Placed on probation .
.
11
3
.
Having game cocks in their possession Insanity
2
150
TOWN DOCUMENTS.
[Dec. 31
Released for drunkenness
I5
Sent to Superior Court
.
4
Total
160
Disposition of cases in Superior Court :
Cases fined and paid
2
Cases filed
.
1
Probation
2
Sent to House of Correction
2
Sent to State Prison (10 to 15 years)
I
Pending in Superior Court
4
Total
Miscellaneous Work .
Accidents reported and assistance rendered .
Assisted other officers
78 34
Attempted to break and enter
3
Ambulance calls
82 95
Bicycles reported lost
3 2
Complaints
570
Cases of larceny reported
39
Cases of breaking and entering reported
17
Defective streets and sidewalks reported
3º
Dead bodies found and cared for
3
Disturbances suppressed without arrest .
15
Dogs reported lost
42
Fire alarms reported by officers
7 2
Fires extinguished without alarm by officers
Horses found cast in buildings
4 66
Intoxicated persons assisted home .
13
Lights furnished for dangerous places
38
Lights reported out in streets .
2 59 34 I
Poles and trees reported on fire
98
Water and gas leaks reported . .
21
Wires reported down
24
Value of property reported lost or stolen
$1,II0 48
Value of property recovered and returned
.
1,522 00
Recommendations.
I would respectfully recommend that an increase of $5 per week be added to the wages of the Chief of Police, making the wages $30 per week.
Remarks.
I wish to tender thanks to the officers of the Swampscott Police Depart- ment for their careful attention to duty during the year. I also wish to tender thanks to the officials of the Lynn Court and the members of the Lynn Police Department, who have assisted in many ways during the past year.
I recommend that $11,500 be appropriated.
Respectfully submitted,
U. M. CORSON,
Chief of Police.
SWAMPSCOTT, MASS., January 10, 1915.
I2
Buildings found open and secured.
Bicycles returned to owner
Injured and sick persons assisted
Lights found burning in buildings
Liquor raids made .
151
FIRE ENGINEERS' REPORT.
1914]
Board of Fire Engineers' Report
To the Board of Selectmen :
GENTLEMEN,-We take pleasure in submitting to you our report end- ing December 31, 1914.
Apparatus.
The apparatus consists of Auto Combination A, and a horse drawn Chemical held in reserve at Phillips Beach. At Central House Auto Com- bination B, one Ladder Truck, one Chief's wagon, one wire wagon and one Steam Fire Engine, for which we have had no sale.
Hose.
There is at present in the Department, 3,750 feet of good and 650 feet of poor hose.
Manual Force.
The manual force consists of (30) men as follows :- Eight permanent men including the Chief, and (22) call men, including two assistant engineers, two captains, and two lieutenants.
Horses.
There are now three horses in the department, one being sold the past year.
Fire Stations.
Both houses are now in good condition.
Fire Alarm System.
The system is in excellent condition.
Recommendations.
We recommend the purchase of 500 feet of 22 inch rubber lined cotton jacket hose and that $400 be appropriated for the same.
We recommend that this coming year the Chief's salary be increased $5 per week, and the two Assistant Engineers be given an increase of $100 per year, and appropriate money for the same.
We recommend the installing of a fire alarm box at the outlet on Humph- rey street and appropriate money for the same.
We recommend the following amounts be appropriated for the ensuing year :---
Current expense and pay roll
·
$13,125 00
Hydrant rent
·
·
2,580 00
Five hundred feet of hose .
400 00
One fire alarm box
60 00
$16,165 00
152
TOWN DOCUMENTS.
[Dec. 31
Fires and Alarms.
This year there were 43 bells, 91 telephone calls and 18 stills, making a total of 152.
The no-school signal was sounded eight times. The department has responded to II out-of-town calls.
Combination A, was called into service 84 times; Combination B, was called 105 times ; Chemical 4, Lynn, was called II times; Ladder No. I was in service 46 and Chief's wagon 25 times. Hose used 2 1-2 inch, 12,150 feet ; 3-4 inch Chemical hose, 3,000; Number of feet of Ladders used, 970; Gallons Chemical used, 1,338; Number of hours working at fires 154.5.
Loss by Fire.
The value of property, amount of insurance paid and net losses at fires where a part or the whole of the Department has responded are as follows :
Value of buildings
$68,926 00 ·
Value of contents Total
40,725 00
$109,651 00
Insurance on buildings
$59,075 00
Insurance on contents
. 24,775 00
Total
$83,850 00
Damage to buildings
$2,532 00
Damage to contents Total
481 00
$3,013 00
Insurance paid on buildings
$2,517 00
Insurance paid on contents . Total
421 00
Net loss above insurance
$2,938 00 $75 00
Remarks.
In making these few remarks we again remind the townspeople that conduits have been laid underground through New Ocean, Burrill street and Paradise road. We recommend the placing of our wires with proper outlets in said conduits and appropriate money for the same. We also recommend that some action be taken in regard to repairing blacksmith shop and out-buildings and appropriate money for same.
In closing, we wish to thank the citizens, the Police Department and also our own members for the excellent service and many courtesies shown us in the past year.
Respectfully submitted,
GEORGE P. CAHOON, GEORGE F. CLAY, W. PERCY NORCROSS, Board of Fire Engineers.
·
.
153
SUPERINTENDENT OF MOTH WORK REPORT.
1914]
REPORT OF Superintendent of Moth Work.
To the Board of Selectmen :
DECEMBER 3Ist, 1914.
GENTLEMEN,-The unusually cold spells last winter, and the care of woods fires by this department in the summer have slightly influenced the work the past year. I believe the exceeding cold destroyed many of the natural enemies of the moths, because some colonies that were almost exterminated sprang up during the summer. In order to check them at once, 250 yards of burlap was used, as it was too late to spray. Fortunately the Brown Tail webs are particularly scarce this winter, due to the previous thoroughness in doing the work, supplemented by favorable weather con- ditions, which checked the flight in July and protected this Town from being swarmed by white millers from outside our borders.
Owing to so much time being spent on woods fires the work is behind this fall. However, the ground will have been thorougly covered in due time. There was $631.96 paid out of this department for labor fighting woods fires, account of which is given in the report of the Forest Warden.
While the tent caterpillar strictly speaking does not come under the supervision of this department, all asssistance possible has been given to suppress them where notification of their annoyance has been made known to me. Also many insects have been identified and the best means of destroying them suggested.
Spraying was done in May, June and July as usual. Three tons of arsenate of lead were purchased and there is now half a ton on hand.
During the winter two barrels of creosote was used to paint egg clusters and five solid barrels of Brown Tail webs were cut off of the trees. Tins on cavities, also cement plugs have been painted over. The amount assessed on private property this year is $1,809.50, which is $185 more than last year, making the net cost to the Town $3,190.50. No charges for moth work have been made where the amount of work done has amounted to less than fifty cents.
Considerable brush was cut at Jackson park and there is yet more to be trimmed out in order to treat the moths to advantage.
I recommend $5,000 for the work the ensuing year, and in explanation say that would enable the superintendent to carry four men on an average.
I54
TOWN DOCUMENTS.
[Dec. 31
2 climbers at $16.50 · .
$33 00
2 ground men at $15.00 .
.
.
.
30 00
Superintendent ·
.
.
.
19 50
Total each week
$82 50
Superintendent and labor for 52 weeks
.
$4,290 00
Other expense :
Double team 30 days at $5.50
$165 00
Single team 60 days at $2.00
120 00
Creosote 2 bbls. at $12.00
24 00
Arsenate of lead 2 1-2 tons .
250 00
Printing and stationery
4 00
Telephone
17 00
Storage
24 00
Insurance
20 00
Gasoline, oil, repairs, hose and all other supplies
86 00
.
.
.
$5,000 00
Respectfully submitted, EVERETT P. MUDGE, Superintendent of Moth Work.
155
FOREST WARDEN'S REPORT.
1914]
Report of Forest Warden.
To the Board of Selectmen:
DECEMBER 31, 1914.
GENTLEMEN, - After receiving my appointment, I in turn appointed Benjamin Kennedy deputy in charge of forest fires south of the State Highway and Joseph Curtis in charge of all others. Not realizing to what extent woods fires occurred in this Town no appropriation was made for extinguishing them. Many small fires were put out by the men while at work of which no account has been kept, but most of the largest ones occurred on Saturday afternoons, Sundays and holidays when no men were at work.
Following is an account of the money spent from the Moth appropria- tion to fight forest fires :
Week ending April 16, State Highway south of Danvers street north of
$13 25
Week ending June 18, Pest House to Mountain park . . .
60 33
Week ending June 25, Dr. Shaw's Estate; State Highway stand-pipe . .
38 50
Week ending October 8, Dr. Shaw and Whitney Estates . .
90 89
Week ending October 15, State Highway south of Palmer's · .
314 OI
Week ending October 22, Forest avenue . .
27 35
Week ending October 29, woods at head of Pleasant street, used power sprayer . · .
31 88
November 5th, Forest avenue .
18 75
November 12th, used power sprayer at the Shaw and Whitney estates
27 00
Total
$631 96
Pay rolls for two fires were sent to the Boston & Maine Railroad because they were probably set by sparks from locomotives.
I feel that I have been particularly conservative in regards to expendi- ture on fires, being criticised severely by the chief of the Fire Department for not having more men on duty watching where fires have been subdued but not wholly extinguished. I have made mistakes, but it is my convic- tion that I might have spent double the amount I did with absolutely no better results.
I recommend that a thousand dollars be appropriated for the ensuing year to cover the expense of labor, teams, supplies and telephones for the deputies.
Respectfully submitted,
EVERETT P. MUDGE,
Forest Warden,
156
TOWN DOCUMENTS.
[Dec. 31
Report of Tree Warden.
To the Citizens of Swampscott:
I herewith submit my fifth annual report :
There were 615 trees planted on public ways during the year, and in October 590 of them were doing well. The loss was caused, not from any fault of the trees nor the planting, but by careless drivers running over them, by children swinging on them, and by the installation of curbing and granolithic walks. Each tree planted was provided with a six-foot wire cylinder tree guard with felt at the top to prevent the wire from rub- bing through the tender bark. All old guards have been adjusted.
Nine large trees have been removed and 26 small ones. All wounds have been properly dressed and painted over with tar, and one large Lin- den on Beach Bluff avenue was chained and bolted to prevent splitting in halves. Dead wood was removed from all trees at the lower end of the Town, and low branches in the way of passing have been trimmed along every street. All elms were sprayed and the beetle has been kept in check. The leopard moth has received the usual attention, but they are still causing considerable dead wood, particularly in the elms and soft maples. In the same class with this borer is a much smaller one, the Elm bark beetle. Three elms were so badly infested with them that it was necessary to cut them down at once and burn them. Working under the bark as they do, they are not in evidence until it is too late to save the lost.
It is unfortunate that a few people in Town do not appreciate the value of our shade trees, However, the majority do realize what an asset they are and to them I want to extend thanks for whatever cooperation they have given to this department.
For the ensuing year I recommend : $200 for new trees; $150 for removing trees ; $100 for Elm beetle ; $50 for guards ; $100 for trimming ; $300 for leopard moth ; $25 for emergencies ; and $75 for supervision.
Respectfully submitted, EVERETT P. MUDGE,
December 31, 1914.
Tree Warden.
157
BOARD OF HEALTH REPORT.
1914]
Report of Board of Health.
Organization of Health Department.
Loring Grimes, M. D., Chairman.
George C. Webster.
John B. Cahoon.
Frank E. Littlefield, Secretary.
Martin E. Nies, Plumbing Inspector.
Herbert D. Smith, Milk Inspector.
F. B. Stratton, M. D. V., Inspector of Animals and Slaughtering.
Edward C. Phillips, Assistant Plumbing Inspector.
George T. Till, Special Clerk.
Charles Melvin, to care for offal at beach.
To the Citizens of Swampscott :
The Board of Health hereby submits its report of the different divisions of the Health Department for the year ending December 31, 1914, for your consideration and approval.
Milk Inspection.
The Board is doing all in its power to give to the people of the Town a clean, pure milk, and feel that this is being accomplished.
Much can be done to make our work more efficient by cooperation by the people in following these rules :
I. When there is any disease in your household which is considered by the State Department of Health to be a communicable disease (see list of these diseases further on in this report), no bottles should be returned from your house to the milk man, as in this way even, though they may have been cleaned, the disease may be transmitted. In such cases have your milk man pour the milk into receptacles of your own.
2. Do not use milk bottles for anything but milk.
3. Thoroughly cleanse all milk bottles before returning them.
4. Do not have your milk bottles left where cats and dogs can lap the tops or where the sun can shine on them for an hour or two before they are taken in.
5. Wash the tops of your milk bottles before the caps are removed and milk poured out.
6. Do not leave milk where any dust may blow into it ; keep it covered.
7. Keep your milk where the temperature is below 50 degrees F., as germs will multiply less rapidly where it is cold.
By following these rules milk delivered in proper condition can be so kept.
We have as yet not had a real epidemic which could be traced to milk, but unless careful watch is kept this may occur at any time.
158
TOWN DOCUMENTS.
[Dec. 31
Brooks and Drains.
With the $500 which was placed at our disposal for caring for the brooks by the Surveyor of Highways, we have been able to keep the brooks as they now exsist in passible condition.
We, however, feel that this work is only of temporary nature and rather unsatisfactory, and still insist that something of a more permanent nature should be accomplished with such an expenditure of money year after year.
We feel that it is imperative that the so called Marshall brook should at its outlet be placed in a cement culvert, and recommend to the Finance Committee that they see to this. This brook drains much valuable prop- erty and it is necessary that the outlet should be kept clear.
Beaches.
The cleaning of the beaches for the past two years has been done by calling for bids for the work and awarding the same to the lowest bidder. This has been more economical and more efficient than having it done by day labor as was previously practised. In all instances where a second cleaning was necessary the abutters have shared the expense. 1
Communicable Diseases.
The following is an amended list of diseases declared by the State Department of Health to be reportable. Householders and physicians must now give immediate notice, the latter in writing over their own signatures, to the local board of all cases of :-
Actinomycosis Anterior Poliomyelitis
Anthrax
Asiatic Cholera Chicken Pox Glanders
Hookworm Disease
Infectious diseases of the eye :
a. Ophthalmia Neonatorum
b. Suppurative Conjunctivitis c. Trachoma
Tetanus Trichinosis
Malaria
Typhoid Fever
Measles
Typhus Fever
Mumps
Whooping Cough
Pellagra
Yellow Fever
Plague
Diphtheria
Dog bite (requiring anti-rabic treatment)
Dysentry a. Amebic b. Bacillary Epidemic Cerebro-spinal Meningitis German Measles
Rabies Scarlet Fever
Septic Sore Throat
Small Pox
Leprosy
Tuberculosis (all forms)
During the fall a slight epidemic of diphtheria was discovered in the public schools. Had it not been for the very efficient school inspection which the doctors of the Town are carrying on, this might have been of a much more serious nature. However, in two weeks this was cleaned up and but little inconvenience was caused by same.
Here again the cooperation by the people in such cases increases very much the efficiency of the work of the Board.
The Board of Health here wish to express thanks and appreciation to the District Nurses Association and the district nurse for the interest which they have taken in bringing to our attention cases which might have been otherwise overlooked.
159
BOARD OF HEALTH REPORT.
1914]
Hoof and Mouth Disease.
During the fall when an epidemic of the above disease was more or less prevalent about the State, we were unfortunate in having it break out in a herd of cattle at the Fay farm near Marblehead line on Salem street. This was discovered by our local inspector of animals and immediately handed over to State and federal authorities. All the cows having the disease or having been exposed to same were killed and buried in quick lime. The premises were quarantined and properly disinfected. Some anxiety was caused the Town officials of Marblehead on account of the close proximity of their water supply to the place where the animals were buried. However, this was wholly unnecessary, as polution from this source would be impossible, as experts, which were called into the case, finally decided.
The following is a tabulated list of Communicable diseases reported :
Diphtheria
37
Scarlet Fever
.
15
Measles
8
Typhoid Fever
3
Tuberculosis
2
Whooping Cough
4
Othalmeia Neoatorum
I
Chicken Pox
2
Inflamed Eyes
4
Mumps
I
Diphtheria.
With the exception of a few cases this disease has been of a very mild type and probably originated from some cases that were so mild that a diagnosis was not made.
Scarlet Fever.
As in diphtheria our cases have been of a very mild type and scattered in many parts of the Town, probably all arising from some undetected case.
Tuberculosis.
We wish here to call the attention of the people to the fact that we feel many cases of this disease, as well as that of whooping cough, chicken-pox and mumps have not been reported. This is not only a violation of the law but a violation of your duty to your friends and the public in general.
In many ways no department of health work exceeds in importance that devoted to the control of infectious, contagious and communicable diseases.
The question of adequate control of such diseases depends largely upon the promptness with which cases are reported by householders or attend- ing physician. An early accurate, diagnosis is greatly appreciated by the local Board of Health.
Complaints.
The following is a tabulated list of complaints :
Unsanitary conditions
.
.
13
Overflowing cesspools
.
.
.
.
7
Offal
5
Paper and ashes
.
.
.
.
.
4
Brooks .
.
.
2
Dairies ·
.
.
.
4
Stables .
.
Stagnant water .
.
8
·
·
.
.
.
160
TOWN DOCUMENTS.
[Dec. 31
Contracts.
During the year we have awarded the following contracts :
Collection of Paper and Ashes.
George F. Busby & Co., for three years $1,800 00
Collection of Offal.
George F. Busby & Co., for five years $850 00
Care of Night Soil.
Allen S. Rowe, for one year $95 00
The contract for collection of offal which we have had for the past five years with G. F. Busby & Co. terminated on May 25, 1914. Bids were advertised for, but no figures were put in at that time. However, we were able to draw up a contract with G. F. Busby & Co. Knowing the quality of their work in the past we felt justified under the circumstances to award the contract to them.
On July 27, 1914, our contract with M. McDonough Co. expired and bids were advertised for, with the following results :
A. French $3,200 00 M. McDonough Co. 3,000 00
G. F. Busby & Co.
1,800 00
As the party taking the contract furnished bonds we felt that it should be awarded to the lowest bidder, and this was done, as it was wholly within the power of the Board of Health to have the work done in a satisfactory manner.
Regulations.
Attention is here called to the following regulations, and we beg the cooperation of the people in carrying out same :
No. 30. No person shall keep any fowl or animal in any part of a dwelling house or in any place in Town where the Board of Health may deem such keeping detrimental to the health or comfort of the residents of the neighborhood, or to those who may pass by. All henneries, dog kennels and pens for any animals shall be kept clean and free from decay- ing food and from filth of any kind. The buildings and pens shall be whitewashed or disinfected and put in such condition as may be ordered by the Board of Health.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.