USA > Massachusetts > Essex County > Swampscott > Town annual report of Swampscott 1914 > Part 18
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174
TOWN DOCUMENTS.
[Dec. 31
two causes : first, because the system of closing the drains does not accom- plish the purpose for which it was intended : second, because the manner of flooding the grounds is not what it should be. The water is now forced on at one side and does not properly spread over the field. Through the cooperation of the water department this year a hose line has been run in from Norfolk avenue in addition to the standpipe on Middlesex avenue, but this even does not accomplish the desired result. It is the intention of the commissioners, if possible, during the coming year to lead a large pipe from the ten inch main on Paradise road to the center of the grounds and have it so fitted that a standpipe can be put on it in the winter and the grounds flooded from the center by means of a spreader. This it is believed will bring about an even flooding. Officials of the water depart- ment have been consulted in this matter, and it has been their opinion that this can be done very conveniently. A bubble fountain and water cooler has been installed during the year at the band stand, which was removed from Blaney's Beach to a location on the playgrounds early in the summer.
Jackson Park.
Early in the spring the attention of the commissioners was given to Jackson park. Under the direction of the commissioners who were assisted by Town Engineer Pratt, another portion of the ledge at the rear of the playstead was taken out by Contractor James T. Lyons and the area thus gained graded to meet as nearly as possible the grade of the other portion of the playstead. Since the grading of the playstead some parts of it have settled more than others and during the coming year it will be necessary to regrade a portion of the outfield. For the first time an effort has been made to flood the playstead of the park this winter. While the grade of the park did not permit the flooding of the entire area, a good portion of it was flooded and held the water satisfactorily. Low gravel banks were placed on two sides of the field and the flooding was done by two hydrant streams. The lines had to be laid across Essex street which caused more or less inconvenience, and it is the intention of the Park Commissioners to ask that a hydrant be placed on the playgrounds side of. Essex street in order that flooding may be done more easily another winter. While the playstead is at present of good size there is a little more ledge that ought to be taken out in order to drop the grade of the rear part of the field in the vicinity of the back step. The ball field is rough, especially the infield, and it is the intention of the commissioners to sod the diamond the coming spring and to seed the outfield another fall. The Commissioners also contemplate during the early fall locating the banks for flooding in such a manner that the water from the brook which comes from the ravine in the rear of the playstead can be used and thus save the Town's water. The Commission has already in its posses- sion 600 feet of iron pipe fence which can be used along the Essex street line of the property. The Commissioners also desire during the coming year to have the exact lines of the property defined, as neither the Com- mission nor the Town has at the present an authentic layout of the park property.
Just previous to the Fourth of July a flag pole was erected on the highest point of land within the reservation. The Park Commissioners were assisted in providing the pole by Miss Myrtle Jones, daughter of Harry H.
175
PARK COMMISSIONERS' REPORT.
1914]
Jones, of 161 Essex street, who secured subscriptions for this laudable pur- pose. The flag which was raised on the morning of July Fourth with appropriate ceremonies was presented to the Town by General James L. Bates W. R. C. 122 of Swampscott. During the summer the dressing room building formerly at Paradise road playgrounds was removed to the park and at a slight cost toilet accommodations were added to the rear of it. Water for drinking purposes was also installed at the side of the ball field.
Phillips Park.
Phillips Park has been greatly improved during the year, although as yet only a small part of the studied plan has been carried out. During last winter the trees and bushes were cleared from a portion of it about 400 feet square, and during the spring and summer this was filled in to a sub- grade. The filling of the property was made possible by the dumping upon it of 13,000 cubic yards of material removed from Humphrey street. The commission had only to pay for spreading of it and the establishment of the sub-grade. There is yet much to be done here. It is the hope of the commissioners that the grounds can be gotten into condition for base- ball the coming spring. The field will need resurfacing with screened gravel or some other light material, which will have to be rolled. The boys of this end of the Town have long been waiting for the ball field to be completed, and it is the earnest hope of the commissioners that this work may be completed before the season opens. It is also the intention of the commissioners to install a drain along the Humphrey street edge of the field to care for the surface water which flows into the reservation from the street and the higher adjacent land. The commissioners propose if possible to arrange for the flooding of the park another winter, in order that the young folks of the lower end of the Town may have a skating place.
To carry out the plans of the commission will of course take funds. Realizing that it is the desire of all that the expenditures in all of the departments should be as small the coming year as possible, the commis- sioners have prepared estimates on all of the work which they contem- plate doing, and only ask for appropriations large enough to carry out these plans and take care of the regular expenses of the department. After carefully considering the needs of the department and the cost of the several improvements the following appropriations are recommended for the coming year :
Monument avenue
.
$800 00
Paradise road
.
400 00
Jackson Park
600 00
Blaney beach
1,200 00
Phillips Park
1,000 00
Sundries
300 00
Regrading Monument avenue
300 00
ALFRED F. FRAZIER,
STUART P. ELLIS.
I 76
TOWN DOCUMENTS.
[Dec. 31
Library Report.
To the Citizens of Swampscott, Massachusetts :
The Trustees of your library have, in making their report this year, but little that they can advance that is new and has not been referred to in previous reports.
The needs of the library for more room and additional facilities in other ways are still very pressing questions. What is actually needed is a library building and not more room in the present location, and the Trus- tees are pleased to report that action of the Town will be asked for at the next Town meeting to appropriate a certain amount of money for the pur- pose of a Library, and the Trustees take 'this occasion to appeal to the citizens for the necessary action to make the erection of a suitable build- ing possible.
The demand for other needed buildings has put upon the Town of late many heavy expenditures, and your Trustees have been loth to ask for a Library building until some more opportune time, and would not press the subject but for the fact that a large additional amount of taxes has been collected this year, which would seem to place the Town in such financial condition that the expenditure required for a Library can as well be borne now as at any time in the near future. We therefore recom- mend the appropriation of at least $30,000, when the question of an appro- priation for the purpose is brought before the coming Town Meeting.
The demand and the circulation of books has continued the same as in the previous year. The books added the past year to the library represent the same general selection that has heretofore been made.
The library has received by gift of Weston K. Lewis ten volumes, "Messages and Papers of the Presidents of the United States," and the trustees in behalf of the citizens of the Town thank the donor for the gift.
The financial report of the library will be found in another place.
We believe that the librarian and her assistants have been ever ready to assist and have at all times rendered good service in the performance of their duties and merit the thanks that we now extend to them in this report.
Respectfully submitted,
FRANK F. STANLEY, F. E. INGALLS, ELIZABETH J. HADLEY,
Trustees.
177
HIGH SCHOOL ADDITION REPORT.
1914]
REPORT OF Committee on High School Addition.
The Committee, appointed at the last annual Town Meeting to consider the needs of the High School building, beg leave to submit the following report :
Shortly after the appointment of your Committee, it began an investi- gation into the matter submitted to it and found that officials connected with our schools in previous reports made by them had emphasized the matter of congestion at the High School. For the purpose of ascer- taining the conditions under which the work of this school is conducted, a visit was made to the building while the school was in session, and, in addition, your Committee, in connection with its work, has consulted freely with the Superintendent and principal. From information acquired in this manner it was evident that the conditions in the school have not been exaggerated, and your Committee concluded that the capac- ity of the School should be increased without delay, otherwise there would be an inability to care for its normal growth.
Your Committee, for instance, found that all the available space in the building is now in use for school purposes, and that parts of the building that were originally designed for certain special uses, in connection with the proper conduct of the school work, are now, by reason of the over- crowded conditions, used for recitation rooms. It was further learned that the normal increase each year in the attendance at the school is about eight per cent., and that at the coming in of the new class in February the building will be overcrowded, by reason of the anticipated increase in pupils, and the work of the school in consequence thereof greatly embar- rassed. Taking into consideration the past growth of the High School and the steadily increasing population of the Town, your Committee feels justified in concluding that this overcrowded condition will become more aggravated each year, resulting in hindering the proper development of the School and in great detriment to the pupils attending it.
In connection with its work, your committee thought it advisable to have the benefit of the services of an architect and at an early meeting a vote was passed, extending an invitation to all architects, who were resi- dents of Swampscott, to submit competitive sketches, showing the manner in which the capacity of the High school building could be increased by the addition of from two to four rooms. As a result of this competition, Charles V. Burgess was selected, and since that time your committee has had the benefit of his advice and services.
.
In the course of its investigation the committee learned that the present building is in many respects below the standard for school buildings required by the State inspector. This inspector was about to compel the town to make a complete change in the heating and ventilating system at
178
TOWN DOCUMENTS.
[Dec. 31
the school, and also to make extensive changes in the building for the purpose of improving the sanitary conditions thereof. Learning, how- ever, that your committee now has under consideration various changes in the building, the inspector decided that he would not press these mat- ters at this time, but would permit them to be cared for in the report to be submitted by it. The work that would be required by this inspector involved extensive alterations in the building, and after investigation your committee finds that these alterations and renewals would entail an estimated expenditure of $12,000.
In addition to the objections of this inspector to the present heating and ventilating system, we find that the results from them are at present, and for a long time have been, very unsatisfactory. In very cold weather the heating plant is entirely inadequate, requiring at times the closing of the school, with its incidental interruption of the school work. The boiler has been in use at its present location for 20 years and at an early date, aside from the requirements of the inspector, would have to be replaced by a new and larger one.
We have, therefore, embodied in the sketches herewith submitted, pro- vision for the intallation of a new heating and ventilating plant, and have also suggested alterations and additions for protection in the event of fire, and have likewise made provision for new sanitaries in the basement. Some minor changes have been proposed in the basement, and also in the halls of the present building, which are shown on the sketches, and adequate provision for fire escapes has been made.
In addition to the above changes the sketches submitted provide for the building of two additions to the front of the building, one on each side of the entrance thereof, each addition to contain two classrooms, one above the other, with a seating capacity of 42 pupils for each room.
From its investigation the Committee feels justified in believing that the additional space provided will adequately care for the needs and nor- mal growth of the school for the period of at least ten years, and at the expiration of that time, if conditions require, additions may be made to the building, which need not materially destroy or depart from its pres- ent general architectural appearance or arrangement. Your Committee further states that the changes and additions contemplated in the accom- panying sketches, and all work in connection therewith, have been submitted to the Inspector's office, and have been approved.
Careful consideration has been given to the alterations that will be required by the State Inspector, and in the large immediate expense involved in making the same, and your Committee feels that in view of this expense it would be unwise to do this work without at the same time making provision for the increase in the school in the manner indicated in this report.
Your committee at first was reluctant to consider the matter of making any provision for a gymnasium. There seems, however, to be a senti- ment among the citizens for such an addition to the school, and feeling that the project should receive consideration, we are submitting herewith a sketch for such an addition to be used for this purpose. Upon visiting the High school, your committee found that the assembly hall has been used for some time for gymnastic work and particularly for playing basketball. By reason of this the walls of the room are in very bad con- dition, and undoubtedly the building itself has been somewhat affected by
179
HIGH SCHOOL ADDITION REPORT.
1914]
this practice. It is, however, the only room which can be used for recre- ation purposes, and your committee feels, after careful consideration, that some provision of this nature should be made.
Your committee further reports that the sum of $100 appropriated by the Town has been used in paying for the services rendered by the architect in advising your committee. We feel that there should be no delay in making the alterations and additions outlined in this report, and, therefore, recommend an appropriation of $1,000 to enable the Town to secure detailed drawings and specifications for the alterations, changes and additions hereinbefore described, so that the matter may be presented fully to the Town.
Respectfully submitted,
J. HENRY WELCH, Chairman. ARTHUR W. STUBBS, REV. EDWARD TILLOTSON, DANIEL F. KNOWLTON, GEORGE D. R. DURKEE, HENRY E. HARDY, JAMES W. SANTRY, Clerk.
SWAMPSCOTT, December 31, 1914.
180
TOWN DOCUMENTS.
[Dec. 31
In Memoriam.
CHARLES G. ROWELL,
Town Accountant and Clerk of Selectmen.
Died September 19, 1914.
181
IN MEMORIAM.
1914]
In Memoriam.
EDWIN F. WILEY,
Board of Health.
Died December 26, 1914.
13
182
TOWN DOCUMENTS.
[Dec. 31
ACCOUNTANT'S DEPARTMENT.
REPORT OF THE TOWN ACCOUNTANT.
To the Honorable Board of Selectmen:
GENTLEMEN,-In compliance with the provisions of Chapter 624 of the Acts of 1910, I herewith submit the following report of the Accountant's Department for the year ending December 31, 1914.
Treasurer's Receipts.
Taxes.
Property, 1912
$3,837 63
Poll, 1912 .
224 00
$4,061 63
Property, 1913
11,277 77
Poll, 1913 .
318 00
11,595 77
Property, 1914
243,513 61
Poll, 1914 .
2,696 00
246,209 61
Corporation
14,350 20
National Bank
12.383 63
Street Railway
1,385 56
Business
.
.
$290,309 48
Licenses and Permits.
Automobiles
$36 00
Fruit
.
.
16 00
Bowling Alleys
2 00
Pool . .
4 00
Junk .
.
.
120 00
Auctioneers
4 00
Dog Tax and damage.
.
516 65
698 65
Fines and Forfeits.
Court Fines
285 00
Special Assessments.
.
Moth, 1912
$71 75
Moth, 1913 .
41 00
Moth, 1914 .
1,615 75
$1,728 50
Sidewalk, 1912
157 83
Sidewalk, 1913
310 84
Sidewalk, 1914
1,339 83
1,808 50
Sewers, 1912
78 36
Sewer, 1913 .
321 78
Sewer, 1914
1,161 31
1,561 45
Continuous Sidewalks
.
498 50
5,596 95
$296,890 08
Amount carried forward,
$296,890 08
.
323 08
1914] 183 ACCOUNTANT'S REPORT.
Amount brought forward,
$296,890 08
Privileges. Excise Tax . ·
948 13
General Government.
Town Hall, rent
$785 00
Telephone
12 91
Rents, tenements over Police
Station and Morris House .
264 00
1,061 91
Protection of Life and Property.
Ambulance
$6 00
Fire horses
375 00
Fire wagon
175 00
Junk
2 00
Police telephone
50 59
Garage permits
8 00
House Correction
5 00
Sealer of Weights and Measures, fees .
22 70
Moth extermination from
State
and railroad
11 30
655 59
Health.
Milk licenses
. .
.
$22 00
Insurance rebate
15 00
Fumigating
20 00
57 00
Highway and Bridges.
Sales
$16 50
Use of steam roller
48 00
64 50
Charities.
From cities and towns
$324 69
State
88 41
Burial pauper
15 00
428 10
Education.
Tuition
123 50
Parks and Gardens.
Rents
288 41
Soldiers' Benefits.
State aid.
2,564 00
Public Service Enterprises.
Water receipts
$41,831 63
Interest on deposits
.
.
135 89
Telephone .
44 46
Cemetery perpetual care
1,526 00
Sale of grave
15 00
Interest.
Treasurer's deposits
·
.
$1,701 63
Taxes
674 51
Particular sewers
.
.
10 66
Sewer
.
.
26 34
Amounts carried forward,
$2,413 14 $346,634 20
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
43,552 98
.
184
TOWN DOCUMENTS.
[Dec. 31
Amounts brought forward,
$2,413 14 $346 634 20
Rebate
Accrued
.
.
.
Premiums .
·
.
1,669 88
4,582 17
Municipal Indebtedness.
Temporary loans . .
$175,000 00
Permanent improvement notes
109,700 00
284,700 00
Beach school and lot
$4,500 00
Jessie street lot ·
IO1 00
4,601 00
Phillips Medal Fund.
Medals
34 31
Trust and Investment Funds.
Joanna Morse Library fund,
interest ·
$263 50
Phillips Medal fund, interest
90 03
Cemetery lots, investment funds, interest
128 89
A. F. Nesbett, private Cemetery fund, interest
8 46
A. F. Nesbett, general, interest,
9 18
500 06
Transfers.
Assessors, from Engineering ·
$173 00
July Fourth, from Engineering
3 00
Water, from Engineering
127 00
Sewer plans, from Engineering . Continuous sidewalks, from
397 00
Engineering
295 40
Stetson avenue drain, from
Engineering
175 00
Sewer Humphrey street, from
Engineering
600 00
Sewer Greenwood avenue, from Engineering
60 00
Sewer King street, from Engineer- ing
120 00
1,950 40
School equipment, from contin- gent fund
$12 38
Assessors, from contingent fund,
100 00
Selectmen, from contingent fund .
170 03
Town Hall, from contingent fund,
508 71
Police, from contingent fund
3 31
Health, from contingent fund . Sidewalk and curbing, from con- tingent fund ·
44 75
Street construction, from con-
tingent fund .
23 43
Street lights, from contingent
36 38
Soldiers' relief, from contingent fund
17 49
Amounts carried forward,
$937 85 $643 002 14
21 37
fund
.
29 17 469 98
1914]
ACCOUNTANT'S REPORT.
185
Amounts brought forward,
$937 85 $643,002 14
Park Department, from con- tingent fund ·
75
Care Monument lot, from con- tingent fund
50
School repairs, from contingent fund
4 35
945 45
$643,947 59
Balance January Ist, 1914
4,811 02
$648,758 61
186
TOWN DOCUMENTS.
[Dec. 31
EXPENDITURES.
Legislative.
Salaries and Wages.
Moderator
$55 00
Committee of Ways and Means .
109 47
$164 47
Selectmen's Department.
Salaries and Wages.
Chairman
$300 00
Associates .
.
400 00
Secretary
200 00
Other Expenses.
Stationery and postage
$43 64
Printing and advertising
82 08
Carriage hire
36 00
Telephone
90 96
Expenses Selectmen
59 60
Storage hand engine
12 00
Land rent
24 00
Town Weigher and weighing Book, binding
2 75
Repairs
7 02
Drinking fountains
63 42
Dress, damage
2 00
Constable
60 00
Traffic Posts
120 00
Cellar, damage
25 00
Insurance
21 00
Water rates
16 00
Membership Fee
2 00
Photographs
50
Typewriting
4 00
Painting Scales
I 50
Weigh book
I 00
Design .
20 00
Labor
16 20
Expenses Secretary
3 70
Repairing lock and keys
2 25
Express
56
Supplies
7 82
770 03
1,670 03
Auditing Department.
Salaries.
Accountant .
$800 00
Assistant
50 00
$850 00
Amounts brought forward,
$850 00
$1,834 50
44 03
1914]
Amounts brought forward,
$850 00 $1,834 50
Other Expenses.
Stationery and postage
$53 93
Printing and advertising
23 12
Telephone
16 15
Book binding
5 00
Expenses
2 10
100 30
950 30
Treasury Department.
Salaries.
Treasurer
$600 00
Assistant
112 50
Other Expenses.
Stationery and postage
$3 40
Printing and advertising
39 25
Traveling expenses
2 00
Telephone
23 48
Pencil pointer
.
6 50
Surety Bond
.
.
60 00
Protectograph
34 30
Subscriptions
·
.
.
13 40
182 33
894 83
Collector of Taxes Department.
Salaries.
Collector
$600 00
Assistant
5 00
Other Expenses.
Stationery and postage
$119 70
Printing and advertising
92 45
Telephone
24 77
Surety Bond
50 00
Expenses Tax titles
29 15
316 07
921 07
Assessors' Department.
Salaries and Wages.
Chairman and Secretary
.
.
$600 00
Associates
500 00
Clerk .
157 00
Other Expenses.
Stationery and postage
$23 90
Printing and advertising
103 00
Car fares and teams
25 00
Telephones
23 97
Abstracts
51 34
Card and index
.
.
.
8 61
Express
[ 25
Stenographer
.
·
.
5 00
Amounts carried forward,
$242 07
$1,257 00
$4,600 70
.
.
.
.
.
$1,257 00
.
.
.
$712 50
·
.
$605 00
187
ACCOUNTANT'S REPORT.
188
TOWN DOCUMENTS.
[Dec. 31
Amounts brought forward,
$242 07
$1,257 00 $4,600 70
Wreath
8 00
Expenses
46 00
Wall plans
173 00
Pencil pointer
4 08
Subscriptions
12 00
Repairs
I 50
Special service
.
189 67
676 32
Town Clerk's Department.
Salary
$200 00
Other Expenses.
Stationery and postage
$21 91
Printing and advertising
19 50
Birth canvass
15 00
Surety Bond .
4 00
Typewriter
25 00
Travelling expenses
.
3 50
88 91
288 91
Law Department.
Salary.
Town Counsel
$200 00
Other Expenses.
Attorneys, fees, overdraft 1913 . $1,500 00
Attorneys, expenses, overdraft 1913 .
91 57
Attorneys, Briefs, overdraft 1913,
26 50
· Attorneys, Special, 1914 .
425 00
Attorneys, Expenses
28 15
Attorneys, Services
10 00
Attorneys, Special,
Humphrey
street
100 00
2, 181 22
2,381 22
Election and Registration Department.
Salaries and Wages.
Registrars ·
.
$150 00
Clerk of Board .
75 00
Election Officers
178 50
$403 50
Other Expenses.
Printing and advertising
$123 67
Catering
153 50
277 17
680 67
Engineering Department.
Salaries and Wages.
Engineer .
.
$1,705 42
Assistants · . . .
1,791 86
$3,497 28
Amounts carried forward,
$3,497 28
$9,884 82
.
.
.
.
1,933 32
.
1914]
Amounts brought forward,
$3,497 28 $9,884 82
Other Expenses.
Stationery and postage
.
$16 45
Printing and advertising
2 25
Supplies
78 89
Awning,
15 00
Wreath
10 00
Freight and Express
7 70
Stools .
I 70
Bound stones
88 90
Grade stakes
16 82
Outside services
18 40
Typewriting
II 37
Expenses, Engineer
.
42 85
Plue prints
90
Advice and data
22 00
Repairs
7 50
340 73
3,838 0I
Town Hall Department.
Salaries and Wages.
Janitor
.
·
$1,030 00
Assistant
.
.
I 00
Other Expenses.
Fuel
$289 30
Light
381 28
Janitor's supplies
67 69
Repairs
311 97
Telephones
200 85
Water
22 16
Express
2 37
Laundry
88
Removing ashes
10 00
Papers
4 76
Flag pole
28 00
Lawn mower, repairs
1 00
Insurance
328 50
Disinfectant
10 00
Ink
2 20
Flag
6 75
Labor
10 00
1,677 71
2,708 71
Summary of General Government.
Appropriation Transfers Totals Expenditures Balance
Legislative
$300 00
$300 00
$164 47
$135 53
Selectmen
.
.
.
1,500 00
$170 03
1,670 03
1,670 03
Auditing
.
1,000 00
1,000 00
950 30
49 70
Treasurer
900 00
900 00
894 83
5 17
Collector of Taxes
1,000 00
1,000 00
921 07
78 93
Assessors
1,850 00
100 00
1,950 00
1,933 32
16 68
Town Clerk
300 00
300 00
288 91
II 09
Law
2,500 00
2,500 00
2,381 22
118 78
Election and Registration
725 00
725 00
6So 67
44 33
Engineering
2,000 00
1,950 40
3,950 40
3,838 01
112 39
Town Hall .
2,200 00
508 71
2,708 71
2,708 71
$ 14,275 00
$2,729 14
$17,004 14
$16,431 54
$572 60
Amount carried forward,
$16,431 54
.
$1,031 00
ACCOUNTANT'S REPORT.
189
.
.
190
TOWN DOCUMENTS.
[Dec. 31
Amount brought forward,
$16,431 54
PROTECTION OF LIFE AND PROPERTY. Police Department.
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