USA > Massachusetts > Essex County > Swampscott > Town annual report of Swampscott 1915 > Part 15
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The wet and rainy summer has caused an excessive amount of pumping, and in order to comply with the laws of the commonwealth regarding hours of labor, we have at times been obliged to hire extra help, which has caused an overdraft of $29 in the appropriation voted for Sewer Main- tenance.
For the ensuing year we recommend that the appropriation for Sewer Maintenance be $6,000 and for Particular Sewers be $800.
Financial Statement for Year Ending December 31, 1915.
RECEIPTS.
Maintenance
$5,500 00
Particular Sewers
500 00
Construction
23,700 00
(Bonds issued for construction $24,000 00)
Unexpended Balance Humphrey Street Sewer
1,305 27
· $31,005 27
EXPENDITURES.
Maintenance
$5,529 00
Particular Sewers
495 12
Construction (Table following) .
23,421 97
Humphrey Street Sewer
1,303 93
30,750 02
$255 25
UNEXPENDED BALANCE.
Particular Sewers
$4 88
Humphrey Street Sewer
.
34
Mudge Brook Conduit
268 13
Marshall Brook Conduit
9 90
284 25
OVERDRAFT.
Maintenance
29 00
159
SEWER DEBT.
Bonds oustanding, January Ist, 1915 . . $206,500 00
Issued during year
.
24,000 00
Paid during year
.
$230,500 00 13,150 00
Total sewer debt, December 31, 1915
. $217,350 00
Increase during year, 1915 .
$10,850 00
Sewers built during year 1915 and cost.
6 in. pipe 5 in. pipe Ledge Man. Cost Engineering Total
Suffolk avenue . 150 feet 28 31 I $421 00 $15 00 $436 00
Drains, culverts and conduits built during year, 1915 and cost.
Mudge Brook Conduit, 3,040 feet long.
4,925 cu. yds. excavation @ 75C. $3,693 75
2 manholes @ $100
200 00
1,080 cu. yds. concrete masonery @ $7 . 7,560 00
30,100 lbs. steel bars @ 4C. 1,204 00
855 lin. feet 10-in., 12-in., and 15-in. vit. pipe @ $2 1,710 00
1,290 cubic yards gravel @ $1
1,290 00
9 catch basins @ $45 405 00
7 catch basins, stone @ $10
70 00
3 extra manhole covers @ $10.50
31 50
1122 tons crushed stone @ $1.50
168 75
422 sq. yds. granolithic walks @ $1.45
611 90
Extra labor and material
746 78
Highway Department, pay roll
829 50
Catch basin covers .
135 00
Miscellaneous expenses
122 19
Inspection
303 50
Engineering
650 00
$19,731 87
Humphrey Street Culvert, 210 Feet Long.
205 cu. yds. excavation @ 90c.
$184 50
56 cu. yds. concrete @ $7.30 .
408 80
1850 lbs. steel bars @ .035
64 75
76 lin. ft. 12-in. vit. pipe @ 75c. 2 catch basins @ $50.00 .
100 00
I catch basin, stone .
5 75
12 tons crushed stone @ $1.50
18 00
Typewriting and advertising · Catch basin, frames and covers Engineering
II 50
36 00
13 70
57 00
$900 00
1915]
WATER AND SEWERAGE BOARD REPORT.
160
TOWN DOCUMENTS. [Dec. 31
Marshall Brook Conduit 200 Feet Long.
55 cu. yds. concrete @ $8
$440 00
2,860 lbs. steel bars @ 05c.
143 00
25§ tons crushed stone @ $1.50
38 10
30 cu. yds. excavation @ 75c. .
22 50
1,200 ft. spruce plank @ $25
30 00
Advertising
8 00
B. C. Melzard, damages .
.
8 50
$690 10
Banks Road Drain 442 Feet Long.
442 ft. of 36-in. vit. pipe @ $3.68
$1,626 56
24 ft. of 10-in. vit. pipe @ 70c.
16 80
2 manholes @ $50.00
100 00
I catch basin
50 00
28 cu. yd. concrete @ $6 .
168 00
10 ft. cast-iron pipe
21 25
I manhole frame and cover
7 50
Typewriting and advertising
10 00
Engineering
99 89
$2,100 00
Humphrey Street Sewer.
M. McDonough & Co., balance contract
$1,089 65
Elsie Curtis and S. M. Kehoe, land damages
· 55 00
Inspection
42 50
Water Department
38 74
Connell & McDermott
66 93
Miscellaneous
II II
$1,303 93
SAMUEL M. KEHOE, CHARLES E. HODGDON, GEORGE D. R. DURKEE, Water and Sewerage Board.
SWAMPSCOTT, January 1, 1916.
161
LIBRARY REPORT.
1915]
REPORT OF Trustees of the Public Library.
To the Citizens of Swampscott :
Interest in the affairs of the library centers this year in the question, what will be provided for a library building by the building committee, which question has been partially answered by the publication of a picture and a description of the building in the newspapers. Other facts in the matter will appear in the building committee's report, and we will not repeat them here.
Incidental to the question of a building was the work of making ready to occupy it when built, and to that end we started work upon a card catalogue for the books, in order that when the library is in the new building work may then be done under the latest system.
An expert, Miss Grace Hill, was employed, and she commenced work with her assistants in June and finished in late December. From her report to us we glean the information that she catalogued and made ready for the shelves in the new building 11, 119 books, classified as follows :-
Adult fiction
4,312
Juvenile fiction .
1,560
Class books (adult)
4,598
Class books (juvenile)
649
11,119
It also appears from her report that during the work of classification she and her assistants carefully examined all the books in the library and that the well worn ones were mended and others were discarded. She states that there were 2,564 books mended and some 1,500 were discarded. Of these discarded books it appears that some are worn out and others are no longer useful to our library. She mentions that there are some dupli- cates and advises that these books and those discarded and not actually worn out be sold or exchanged.
To be able to follow out her recommendation we have asked to have an article placed in the warrant for the coming town meeting to see if the town will vote to give us the necessary authority.
The cost of the work done by Miss Hill and her assistants will be found in the financial reports of the town. Miss Hill computes the cost of reor- ganization at about ten cents per book.
When in the new library building it is the intention of the trustees to allow free access by the public to the bookshelves for choice of books to be read, either in the library or at home.
162
TOWN DOCUMENTS.
[Dec. 31
The librarian's report appears in another place, where also will be found a report of our receipts and expenditures.
Respectfully submitted,
FRANK F. STANLEY, ELIZABETH J. HADLEY, FRANK E. INGALLS,
Trustees.
JANUARY 21st, 1916.
LIBRARIAN'S REPORT.
JANUARY 24th, 1916.
To the Trustees of the Public Library :
During the past year the number of books purchased has been 290, of which a good number are class books and the remainder are fiction.
The work of repairing and rebinding books has been larger this year than last, owing to the fact that while the work of preparing a card catalogue was in progress for the use of a new delivery system when the books are moved to the new library now under construction, a most thorough search was made for worn books, and all that were found to be not in absolute good condition were mended or rebound. At this time, therefore, all the books in the library are in exceptionally good condition.
The circulation of the library has been as follows :
January
2,869
February
2,287
March
3,139
April
2,681
May .
3,034
June
2,887
July
2,595
August
2,364
September .
2,701
October
2,662
November
2,475
December
2,209
31,903
This does not include 200 books loaned to the Schools for reference.
During the later part of the year, while the books were being classified and catalogued, there was some unavoidable confusion, with the result of some delay in the prompt finding of a book called for, but the incon- venience was so cheerfully endured by the public that it seemed but small, and for the helpful patience shown us I wish to express my thanks.
There have been gifts of books made to the library this year as follows : Whittier's Correspondence, 1830-1892, from Mr. John Albree, which I beg to acknowledge with thanks.
The work of classification has been completed as far as practical at the present time by Miss Hill, the organizer employed to do the work. The remaining work will be done in the new building. After all is complete the number of books in the library will be nearly 11,500, counting only useful books in good condition.
Respectfully submitted,
S. L. HONORS,
Librarian.
163
PARK COMMISSIONERS' REPORT.
1915]
Report of Park Commissioners.
To the Citizens of Swampscott :
Herewith isesubmitted the annual report of the Park Commissioners for the year 1915.
The organization of the Board was effected Friday evening, February 19, 1915, with the choice of Alfred F. Frazier, chairman, and Stuart P. Ellis, secretary.
Regular meetings of the Board have been held each Friday evening at the Town Hall. In addition considerable time has been required in the oversight of the improvement and upkeep of the various park spaces.
Blaney Beach Reservation.
In the early spring the Board made satisfactory arrangements with the County Commissioners to restore the grass plot to its previous condition. The widening of Humphrey street made necessary the taking of a consid- erable portion of this space, and during 1914 the park was in a state of disorder because of the widening. The top of the sea wall for a distance of one hundred feet has been raised to meet the grade of the new concrete sea wall and the entire area of the plot loamed and seeded on a proper grade. New walks have been provided on the borders and a small number of hardy shrubs set out at suitable locations. The Board has had con- structed four benches of the Metropolitan Park type and placed them along the path bordering the beach. We feel that the appearance of this park is very pleasing to the townspeople and that it is an attractive spot the entire year to the passerby.
There has been added to the equipment at the beach the past year a solidly constructed bathing-raft, which has contributed largely to the enjoyment of the many hundred persons who resort to this popular beach for bathing.
During the coming year it will be necessary to make quite extensive repairs upon the fish house. The sill on the easterly side of the building is badly rotted and a new one is much needed. New conductors to carry the water from the roof are also much needed. Several of the concrete floors are badly out of repair and should be renewed. The commissioners also intend as soon as the spring opens to have the plumbing at the building thoroughly looked over and the sanitaries repaired and painted. Some attention will also have to be given to the bathing raft, which is now a part of the equipment of the reservation. It will have to be painted and caulked and put in the water in the spring and taken out in the fall. Extra expense is incurred each year, owing to the more strict enforce- ment of the rules of the Board of Health on the beach and the necessary policing of the beach during the summer months. The commissioners have carefully looked over the work to be done the coming year, and have
164
TOWN DOCUMENTS.
[Dec. 31
gone over what was done the past year. After doing this they feel that $1,200 will be necessary for the maintenance of the reservation during the coming year.
Jackson Park.
The improvement of the ball field at Jackson Park was undertaken early in the summer. In order to gain the best results from the seeding of the ground no ball games were played here during 1915, where a large area was surfaced with loam, then seeded and rolled. The comparatively wet season aided greatly in the scheme of improvement, and an excellent growth of grass resulted. A moderate amount of work on these grounds during this year will be needed to smooth over the rough spots in the out- field, after which not much work should be necessary for several years.
The Commissioners realize the excellent opportunity which exists at this park for the provision of a large and safe skating field. With very little expense and a small amount of labor, a low bank of gravel can be placed on the western border of the ball field, and a surface of 30,000 square feet made available for skating.
Water in abundance from the brook in the park could be used for flooding the grounds and a safe skating pond provided for the enjoyment of hundreds of the townspeople. Years before this property was acquired by the Town a large part of the woodland was devastated by forest fires, and a considerable portion of the land is even now absolutely bare. We feel that some steps should be taken to replace the growth thus destroyed, and that a portion of the high land should be planted with pine, hemlock, etc., so that in the years to come there may be a large and beautiful growth on this high and sightly spot. During the past year a large portion of the ground was cleared of a very undesirable growth, and a start has been made in the direction of restoring the woods to their former beautiful appearance.
The expense for the upkeep of the park will be more the coming year than ever before, owing to the fact that the grass on the ball field will have to be kept cut, and if a dry season should ensue, it will have to be watered occasionally. It is the desire of the commissioners to do a little more grading in the outfield and to remove some of the boulders at the base of the hill so that automobiles can be parked there. It is also desired to lay out a pathway leading to the top of the hill on which the flag pole is located, so that the townspeople can enjoy the upland, which is suitable for small picnic parties. The locker building needs some repairs, and new seats for the ball players are needed, also a fence along the side lines. If possible, the park commissioners would also like to place some seats in the pine grove on the easterly side of the grounds. The sum of $900 is recommended for this work.
Phillips Park.
The development of Phillips park has received much consideration from your commissioners during the year just closed. The Town has already spent some $10,000 for the purchase of the property and in improvements. Although much has been done in the way of clearing away the small trees and underbrush and in corduroying and filling the swampy part, there is ittle to show for what money has been spent, and not enough has
1915]
PARK COMMISSIONERS' REPORT. 165
been done to make the grounds in condition to be played upon. After much deliberation your commissioners have come to the conclusion that it is little more than a waste of funds to spend each year small amounts. In 1914 more was accomplished than during any other year, and yet not so much was done at this time as could have been done if there has been placed upon the park all of the surplus material taken from Humphrey street. Your commissioners were aware that they were not getting all the material that they should get, but they were unable to secure all of the material, although they several times complained to the Board of Selectmen and even to the Massachusetts Highway Commission.
Early in May, 1914, your Commissioners complained to the Selectmen, and were in conference with them over the matter, but were informed in a letter, which is on file, that if the Park Commisioners wanted anything more than they were getting it was up to them to see that they got it, in spite of the fact that previous to this the Park Commissioners had not been made a party to any of the arrangements or agreements. The matter was taken up with the Highway Commissioners, and the Park Commis- sioners were informed by that Board that they had absolutely nothing to do in the case until after the material had been deposited upon the park. Arrangements were made with the M. McDonough Company, of Swamp- scott, to spread the material as it was hauled on to the Park and at the same time to regrade a portion of the park that was too high.
Mr. McDonough did the first work under this arrangement on April 9, 1914, and continued to work under the direction of the Park Commis- sioners until May 15, 1914. As the bill of Mr. McDonough at this time had reached $972.81, and the appropriation was only $1,000, Mr. McDonough was notified to stop work, and did so. Soon after, however, it was called to the attention of the Park Commissioners that he had resumed the work of spreading the material which was being hauled. He was called into conference with the Park Commissioners and was again notified that the Commission had no money to pay for further spreading and that he must haul the material on to the park and leave it as it was dumped. Mr. McDonough stated that he understood perfectly that 'he was not spreading the material under the direction of the Park Commis- sioners. He still kept at the spreading, however, and continued to do so until late in the fall. He rendered no bill for any work done and con- ferred with the Park Commissioners in no way concerning it.
On September 3, 1915, your commissioners were notified by the Board of Selectmen that Mr. McDonough had rendered to them a bill for the extra work done at the park, and the Park Commissioners were requested to state in writing what arrangements they had made with Mr. McDonough concerning the work and the dates which their payments to him had covered. This was done by the secretary of the board on the same even- ing that the letter was received. Shortly after, the Park Commissioners were asked to attend a conference to be held in the room of the Board of Selectmen, to see what could be done about settling this bill, which was found to be $2, 111.70, according the figures of Mr. McDonough. Present at this hearing were the three members of the Board of Selectmen, the three Park Commissioners, Mr. McDonough, Clarence A. Neff, engineer for the McDonough Company, Town Engineer W. W. Pratt, Town Coun-
12
166
TOWN DOCUMENTS.
[Dec. 31
sel H. Ashley Bowen and Town Accountant A.C.Widger. Mr. McDonough claimed, and it is admitted by every one knowing to the facts in the case, that he spread more material than was paid for under the bill settled by the Park Commissioners. During the hearing Mr. McDonough stated, however, that he did the extra spreading without any authority or consent from the Park Commissioners, and that he fully understood that the Park Department was not responsible for the work. When asked who ordered the work done, Mr. McDonough stated that he had received his orders to go ahead from Chairman C. B. Humphrey, of the Board of Selectmen. Chairman Humphrey, however, did not admit this, saying that he had not given Mr. McDonough any orders to do any such amount of work as the extra bill called for.
During the discussion upon the matter it was brought out that a pay- ment of $1,000 on account had been made to Mr. McDonough on the bill, and that this amount had been charged to the Humphrey street improve- ment appropriation. The Park Commissioners were not made aware of this transaction previous to the hearing, nor did they receive any notice of the existence of the bill until after this payment had been made. After the members of the Park Commission and Mr. McDonough had stated that the work was not done under the direction of the Park Department, the members of the Board of Selectmen and Mr. McDonough entered into a discussion as to the amount of material hauled on to the park and spread under the bill for extra work. The hearing closed with the Selectmen ordering Town Engineer Pratt to make an inspection of the park, make soundings and by these and other means determine how much material had been hauled on to the park and spread. From the close of the hear- ing until the present time the Park Commissioners have not been con- sulted further concerning the bill. Your Park Commissioners wish to be perfectly fair in the matter, and therefore agree with Mr. McDonough that there is still some money due him from the Town for spreading material on the park which came from Humphrey street. What the amount of this bill should be the Park Commissioners cannot say, as the work was done absolutely without their orders and without their direction, and therefore they have no means of knowing how much time was spent or how many men were at work at the park. That the work was done under someone's orders there is no question, and the Park Commissioners believe that someone should take the responsibility for the work, and not endeavor to foist the payment of the remainder of the bill on to the Park Department. They believe that the action of the Selectmen in making a partial payment on the bill from the Humphrey street appropriation makes it evident that they acknowledged at that time that they were responsible for the bill.
As has been said, the Park Commissioners feel that it is inexpedient to spend small sums of money each year at the park. Several conferences have been held with representatives of the Swampscott High School Athletic Association and other well-known citizens, and the proposi- tion to set apart a portion of Phillips Park for school purposes has been thoroughly investigated. From the town counsel it is learned that this can be done simply by the acceptance of an article in the warrant covering the subject, and that after such an article is accepted the Town can then fence in a portion of the park, erect stands or bleachers and allow admission to be charged to the games that may be played within the
167
PARK COMMISSIONERS' REPORT.
1915]
enclosure. Through conferences held with the town engineer and several well known contractors, those interested in the project have learned that the proposition can be carried out' inside of $10,000. It is not proposed, however, to have the Town do this in such a way that the expense will prove a burden to the taxpayer. The proposition as outlined at the confer- ences is to have the Town take the necessary vote and appropriate the sum of $10,000 on a twenty-year loan, the same to be met by the payment of $500 each year. There is also a movement on foot which will, without doubt, be successfully worked out if the proposition to set apart a portion of the park is accepted. This proposition is to have the High School Athletic Association rent the inclosed portion of the field at a rental which shall cover the $500 payment, plus the interest, each year. The park commis- sioners are given to understand that the Association could easily do this if they had an enclosed field on which to have the baseball and football games, and would be perfectly willing to do it. Propositions similar to the one suggested have been tried in other cities and towns and proved to be beneficial to all parties concerned. If this proposition can be success- fully carried out, the Town will ultimately have a fully developed athletic field without expense to the Town. The Park Commissioners, therefore, recommend the acceptance of the article relative to the setting apart of a portion of Phillips Park for school purposes and the appropriation of $10,000 for its development. We also recommend the appropriation of $200 for care of the public dump on a portion of the park and the repair- ing of the fences and the clearing away of debris.
Monument Avenue.
In caring for the Monument avenue reservation your commissioners were, during the first part of the year, hampered by the lack of funds and by the tearing up of the Humphrey street end of the reservation, made necessary by the regrading operations. Your commissioners were able to make satisfactory arrangements with the County Commissioners, whereby the damage to the park property created by the widening of Humphrey street was repaired without expense to the Town. By this means $200 was saved. The rainy weather of the early summer assisted greatly in the recovery of the grass and shrubs, and before the summer season really opened the decorative plot was looking better than ever before. The lack of funds the past year made it impossible for the commission to give any attention to the trees and shrubs upon the reservation. It will be neces- sary, therefore, to do much work in this direction the coming spring.
The greater part of the shrubs and trees upon the reservation have been there for many years, and some of them are dying. These will have to be replaced the coming year. The upkeep of the reservation is a considerable item, for to keep the grass looking as it should it is necessary to cut it each week. Several sections of the grass needs resowing, and in order to do this the old grass must first be dug over. At the Thomas road end of the reservation a nuisance exists, which is a source of expense to the com- mission each year and is also a dangerous place for little ones, or in fact anyone who does not know that it is there. This is the old drain which takes the water from the brook which comes down from the Sprague estate across Sheridan road, and is supposed to carry it across the park land. By long use this drain has become plugged with roots and debris
168
TOWN DOCUMENTS.
[Dec. 31
and fails to answer the purpose it was intended for. At every rain for the last year and more, this section of the park has been flooded. The grass for quite a distance about the drain has been killed and a large number of the shrubs at that end of the reservation have died and others are dying, owing to being so much under water. The open part of the drain near Monument avenue is a dangerous place, and were anyone to fall into it, we are informed, the Town would be liable for damages. Your commis- sioners therefore recommend that the old drain be discontinued and that a new drain to care for the water of the brook be built outside of the park property, namely under the street or sidewalk, and that the work be done under the direction of the Water and Sewerage Commissioners, and that money be appropriated to cover the cost of the same.
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