USA > Massachusetts > Essex County > Swampscott > Town annual report of Swampscott 1916 > Part 14
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During the past year I have given a great deal of attention to the man- ufacture and sale of ice cream. Ice cream is frequently made from poor grades of milk and cream and under the most insanitary conditions, often in dark, dirty basements. Yet the product is consumed to a large extent by children and invalids, the most susceptible part of the population. Therefore special attention must be paid to both the raw material and the finished product. Special attention has also been paid to the care of the utensils, the prevalence of flies and the use of fingers in tasting and in each case, where these objectionable features have been found, the use of proper spoons and other utensils have been insisted upon.
The following is a summary of the work of your inspector since April 1, 1916 :
Samples of milk taken and analyzed 166 .
Samples of milk found under legal standard
24
Samples of milk taken for bacteria test 22
Samples of milk that passed bacteria test 16
Samples of ice cream taken and analyzed
15
Samples of ice cream taken for bacteria test 15
Samples that passed bacteria test
7
Stores licensed to sell oleomargarine
I
Stores licensed to sell milk
35
Dealers licensed to sell milk 19
Dealers prosecuted for selling milk below standard I
Permits to sell milk issued to producers
22
Permits to sell milk issued to dealers 7
Amount received from licenses, twenty-seven dollars and fifty cents ($27.50), which amount has been paid to the Town Treasurer and his receipt obtained.
Respectfully submitted,
C. W. HORTON,
Milk Inspector.
SWAMPSCOTT, December 31, 1916.
135
BOARD OF HEALTH REPORT.
1916]
REPORT OF Inspector of Animals and Slaughtering.
To the Board of Health :
GENTLEMEN,- I herewith submit the following report for the year just ended.
The annual inspection of all animals was made in the spring, as usual, and in most cases the animals were found to be in a healthy condition and the premises were kept clean.
The barns have been well ventilated, have had plenty of light and, of course, the water supply has been good. All these things, together with the fact that few animals have been housed together, has brought the number of contagious diseases down to a minimum.
There have been a few cows shipped in from out of the State, but each animal has passed inspection and later been released. It is necessary to quarantine these animals in order to prevent them from being moved around until the proper test can be applied.
. A few families have been granded permits to kill pigs for their own use and one such permit was issued to slaughter a cow. All these animals, on inspection, were found to be in a healthy condition and were so stamped.
Respectfully submitted,
FRANK B. STRATTON, M. D. V.,
Inspector of Animals and Slaughtering.
SWAMPSCOTT, December 31, 1916.
Report of Inspector of Plumbing.
To the Board of Health :
GENTLEMEN,-I herewith submit my report for the year 1916 :
Plumbing permits issued
I27
Plumbing permits refused
8
Complaints investigated
24
Cases reported to Board
3
Cases settled by Board
3
Registered Master Plumbers .
9
Registered Journeyman Plumbers
14
All others
68
Respectfully submitted,
MARTIN E. NIES, ·
Inspector of Plumbing.
SWAMPSCOTT, December 31, 1916.
136
TOWN DOCUMENTS.
[Dec. 31
Report of Overseers of Poor.
To the Citizens of Swampscott :
The Board of Overseers of the Poor submits the following report :-
The year 1916 has been an average one as to expense, and while there has been a slight decrease in the number of persons aided, the increased cost of living has equalized the annual expense of the department.
We have had more State cases this year, and, therefore, the reimburse- ment to the town will be larger. The new settlement laws require more of the Board's services, but as yet have not incurred any additional expense to the town.
The State cases that have come to us have received prompt attention from the State visitor, and in these cases the visiting nurse, Miss Kearney, has rendered valuable service.
The general condition of the dependents is good.
Our financial report shows that while the appropriation for our work was the same as 1915, we have kept within this amount, and the town already has had $356.39 paid into the treasury. There is now due in addition on 1916 expenditures the sum of $333.97, showing the net expense to the town for 1916 to be $3, 143.61.
The Board extends its thanks to all officers and citizens who have in many ways assisted in the past year.
Recommendation.
We would respectfully recommend that the town appropriate the sum of $3,500 for the maintenance of its Poor Department for the ensuing year.
Respectfully submitted,
JOSEPH F. CROWELL, Chairman, EDMUND RUSSELL, Secretary, HARRY E. CAHOON.
SWAMPSCOTT, December 31, 1916.
137
OVERSEERS OF THE POOR REPORT.
1916]
SECRETARY'S REPORT.
Persons having settlement in Swampscott aided by
other cities and towns . 34
Persons fully supported in Swampscott
4 Families partially supported in Swampscott 9
Men, women and children receiving aid in Swampscott during 1916 .
49
Settlement in Swampscott
· 65
Settlement elsewhere in state
18
Persons aided in 1916 in Swampscott
49
Aided by other cities and towns, settlement in Swamp. scott.
34
Total
83
Financial Report.
Reimbursed by State
$23 75
Reimbursed by cities and towns .
332 64
Due from State
278 92
Due from cities and towns
55 05
Expenditures in 1912
$3,798 39
Expenditures in 1913
3,876 03
Expenditures in 1914
3,798 45
Expenditures in 1915
3,351 97
Expenditures in 1916
3,495 06
Respectfully submitted,
EDMUND RUSSELL,
Secretary.
SWAMPSCOTT, December 31, 1916.
,
138
TOWN DOCUMENTS.
[Dec. 31
Report of the Surveyor of Highways.
To the Citizens of Swampscott:
The Surveyor of Highways herewith submits his annual report for the year ending December 31, 1916.
During the past year the following streets have been resurfaced :
Orient street, at the New Ocean House, for a distance of 580 feet. Both sidewalks, curbing and roadbed have been lowered nearly two feet and a tarbound Macadam roadbed built.
Humphrey street, from Dennison avenue to the Marblehead line, has been resurfaced with tar Macadam.
Monument avenue, from Burrill street to Elmwood road, has been resurfaced with tar Macadam.
These streets, not having received a seal coating, will require a surface treatment the coming year.
New Ocean street, from Burrill street to Rock avenue, has been resur- faced, using Standard Asphalt Binder B, and a seal coat put on the surface.
Number of square yards of tar bound road built, 4, 144.
Number of square yards of Asphalt Binder B road built, 2,621.
All these streets have been built by the penetration method.
All the gravel excavated from these streets has been used in resurfacing side streets and sidewalks.
About one mile of gravel resurfaced roadbed has been built.
Millett road and Ocean View terrace were resurfaced with gravel, gutters were paved, the hill on Ocean View terrace was lowered 18 inches, two catch-basins constructed and 190 feet of 10-inch pipe drain have been laid. There is still considerable work to be done on Millett road, at its intersection with Humphrey street.
Walker road has practically been rebuilt and each side of the road has been widened five feet. There were 96.10 cubic yards of ledge removed from this road. Two catch basins were constructed, 128 linear feet of 8-inch pipe drain and 20 feet of 24-inch pipe drain were laid, 438 feet of guard rail fence was built and the whole road was resurfaced with gravel and rolled with the steam road roller.
The Danvers street bridge has been rebuilt, the bridge department of the Boston & Maine Railroad doing the work. For details, see Select- men's report.
Fourteen new street signs have been erected at different parts of the town.
All gutters of the town have been cleaned at least twice and on the main streets every week.
Six hundred eighty-three feet of guard rail fence has been built this year.
139
SURVEYOR OF HIGHWAYS' REPORT.
1916]
New gravel sidewalks have been constructed on the following named streets : Puritan road, Humphrey street, Essex street, New Ocean street, Atlantic avenue and Beach Bluff avenue.
For resurfacing work, the amount of materials used was as follows : Two hundred and thirty-two loads of screened gravel, one hundred thirty seven loads of stone dust. There were also used one hundred eighty-nine loads of sand for sanding icy sidewalks.
There have been built this year five new catch basins. In connection with this work there have been laid 48 feet of 8-inch pipe drain, 220 feet of 6-inch pipe drain, and 28 feet of 5-inch pipe drain.
Gutters to the amount of 1,225 square yards have been paved, and 2,007 linear feet of curbstone have also been reset.
There have been put in place on the various sidewalks of the town dur- ing the past year, 121.4 square yards of new tar concrete sidewalks and 2, 157.8 square yards of skim coat tar concrete sidewalks.
On continuous sidewalks, curbstones to the amount of 2,569.4 linear feet of straight and 347.6 linear feet of curbed stone have been laid this year.
Bids for furnishing oil for street purposes were asked for, received and opened in the Selectmen's room in the Town Hall, as follows :
Bids for Dust Layers.
Per Gallon
American Tar Company :
Car loads .
.0588
Tank wagons
.0687
Applied
.0725
Standard Oil Company :
Asphalt Road, No. 4
·5
Non-Asphalt Road Oil
.7
Applied No. 4 .
.7
Applied Non-Asphalt
.8
Atlantic Refining Company :
30 per cent Road Oil Asphalt
6.96
45 per cent Road Oil Asphalt
6.71
65 per cent Road Oil Asphalt 6.84
90 per cent Penetration Asphalt in drums
8.45
90 per cent Penetration Asphalt in wood
9.08
130 per cent Penetration Asphalt in drums 8.35
130 per cent Penetration Asphalt in wood
8.98
Independent Tar Company :
Tar No. I
7.25
Tar No. 2-3-4-5 .
8.25
The Barrett Company :
Tarvia B .0582 ; applied
7.25
Indian Refining Company :
30-35 per cent Asphalt
.0684
45-50 per cent Asphalt
.0684
60-65 per cent Asphalt
.07195
I40
TOWN DOCUMENTS.
[Dec. 31
The Island Petroleum Company : Emerald Non-Asphaltic
Per Gallon
.08
John I. Baker, Jr. :
30 per cent Road Oil
.0688
45 per cent Road Oil
.064
65 per cent Liquid Asphalt
.064
75 per cent Heavy Liquid Asphalt
.065
The Alden Speares Sons Company :
Heavy Tasscoil .
9.25
Tasscoil
.9
The streets have been watered during 852 days the past year.
47,735 Gallons of light No. 30 oil and 7,567 gallons of 65% Asphalt oil (which had to be covered with sand) have been applied to various streets.
The department has patrolled all streets of the town, at various times, with oil, tar, crushed stone and gravel for the purpose of repairing street surfaces.
Humphrey street cement concrete .- There has been no work done on this part of Humphrey street.
Newly accepted streets .- Clarke road and Greenwood terrace have received the attention of this department. Owing to the fact that all the waivers for damages on Bellevue road, Cedar Hill avenue and Beach Bluff avenue have not been signed, no work could be done on these streets.
I would call the attention of the citizens of the town to the fact that, while the appropriations for street work have not been, as yet, increased, the pay of town laborers and teamsters employed by this department has been raised 50 cents per day, and that the amounts raised for highway work should necessarily also be increased.
Recommendations.
I would recommend;
I. That the sum of $500 be appropriated to put Millett road, at its junction with Humphrey street, in condition, by straightening the fences and shaping up the sidewalks.
2. That the town continue the concrete paving on Essex street, from Burrill street to the Lynn line.
3. That Burrill street, from Railroad avenue to New Ocean street, be put to a grade, the corner at Railroad avenue widened and straightened, curbstones laid where needed and parked, sidewalks constructed and the roadway resurfaced with some kind of smooth paving.
Amounts recommended by the Surveyor of Highways :
Administration.
Surveyor ·
$1,560 00
Clerical and telephone
100 00
. Maintenance.
Street repairs, labor and teams .
11,000 00
Cleaning streets and catch-basins
. 2,000 00
Crushing stone
·
2,500 00
Roller and crusher, repairs
700 00
1916]
SURVEYOR OF HIGHWAYS' REPORT.
141
Vacations
$700 00
Equipment and repairs
500 00
Fuel, roller and crusher
300 00
Hay, grain and straw
1,350 00 50 00
Harness repairs .
Shoeing
275 00
Gas, insurance
425 00
Snow and ice removal, labor and teams
3,500 00
For seal coating .
2,000 00
Other expense, fences, signs, etc.
500 00
New work, tar or asphalt penetration to be used on Burrill street from end of block paving to Clare- mont terrace, and on Burrrill street, from Columbia street to Essex street
6,000 00
Sidewalk and curb maintenance
1,800 00
Street watering and oiling, labor, oil, water, etc.
5,000 00
Street construction, labor, catch-basins, pipe, paving gutters, castings, etc. ·
2,000 00
Respectfully submitted,
MICHAEL J. RYAN, Surveyor of Highways.
SWAMPSCOTT, December 31, 1916.
142
TOWN DOCUMENTS.
[Dec. 31
REPORT OF The Library Trustees.
To the Citizens of Swampscott :
During the past year there have been no changes made in the conduct of the affairs of the library and, except for some preparatory work for moving into the new building, matters have been held to mere routine work.
Now that the new building has been completed and we have moved in, we find ourselves at the commencement of the new year started on our way into the future with a building and facilities which will make possi- ble the introduction of many changes looking to largely increasing the efficiency and good work that the library may do for the community.
As the new building will soon be open to the public, we will not attempt to describe it, but will merely state that it will be open every day, except Sundays and holidays, from 2 o'clock in the afternoon until 9 in the evening.
There are two reading rooms, one for adults and one for children. The selection of books will be open to choice from the shelves without restric- tion.
The delivery system will be by card. The classification of the books on the shelves will be found to be modern and comprehensive.
The librarian, Miss Honors, will now have an assistant, Miss Eveleth, and they will work to introduce all possible helpful ways and means to make the library a model of excellence, limited only by the books at its command.
The librarian's report is as follows :
The library now contains 11,723 books, all of which are in good order and have been properly classified and arranged on the shelves at the new library. Out of the total number of books, 6,326 are works of fiction, and the remainder, 5,397, are class books. During the past year, 604 volumes have been added to the library by purchase.
The circulation for home use the past year has been 24,045. The cir- culation among the school teachers and pupils of specially selected books has been 272 volumes.
The library was closed on November 15th for the purpose of calling in the books and arranging all the books of the library preparatory to mov- ing to the new building. In the new building the books will be open to personal inspection and selection, both for home use and at the library, and we are thus encouraged to look for a large increase in our circulation for the new year.
I43
LIBRARY REPORT.
1916]
There has been a gift of $1,000 by the will of Mrs. Elihu Thomson for the use of the library, and our recommendation in respect to it is that at the coming town meeting a vote of appreciation be passed appropriate to it.
The employees of the library have faithfully performed their duties and merit the thanks we extend to them in this report.
Respectfully submitted, FRANK F. STANLEY, ELIZABETH J. HADLEY, FRANCIS E. INGALLS,
Trustees.
I44
TOWN DOCUMENTS.
[Dec. 31
Assessors' Report.
To the Citizens of Swampscott :
Your Board of Assessors has finished its duties for the year 1916. The property assessed in town April Ist, 1916, amounted to $16,460,513, a gain over the previous year (1915) of $622,015. The total appropriations for the year (not bonded) amounted to $377,875.72 From this amount the Assessors, according to law, deducted estimated receipts and transfers amounting to $48,665.46, leaving $329,210.26 to be raised by taxation, an increase of $51,696.39 over the year 1915. The tax rate this year per $1,000 was $20, an increase of $2.20 per $1,000 over 1915.
The $20 per $1,000 is divided by the Board of Assessors as follows :
State Taxes
$2 20 per $1,000
County Tax
I 20
66
Debt
3 20
66
66
Interest
1
40
66 66
Schools
3 40
Highway
2 20
40
66
66
Police
60
66
66 66
Moth Department and Tree Warden
20
66
66
Health Department
20
66
Sewer and Water Department
40
66
66
Poor Department
20
66
66
Park Department
20
66
66
Library
IO
66
66
General Government
60
66
66
High School Building
40
66
66
Other Appropriatious including Spec- ials
1 00
Total
$20 00
66
66
Soldiers' Relief
30
Street lighting
80
Fire Department
1
The tax rate in Swampscott has gradually gone up for the last five years, until we now have a higher tax rate than Boston, and as large a tax rate as most cities in the State. The cause is not wholly on account of the increased appropriations for town departments, but considerably by laws enacted by the Legislature on the distribution of the corporation taxes, and the increase in the State taxes and County tax. A few years ago the town received as high as $25,000 receipts on corporation taxes ; this year we received only a little over $6,000. The tax on the Metropolitan Park System has nearly doubled this year, being over $5,000 more than last year.
1916]
ASSESSORS' REPORT.
145
The town for its size has a large debt and interest account, and the citi- zens should try and not increase the debt, even if it cannot be diminished.
The new law on taxing personal property, or income tax, so-called,. goes into effect the coming year. The law is quite complicated and is now being explained by the State officials. According to the new law, the citizens of this town must make a return on or before May 15, 1917, to the local Assessors on their personal tangible property owned April 1, 1917. If returns are not made, the Assessors are compelled to assess them on the same amount on all personal property as was assessed in 1916. It is the opinion of the Board of Assessors, although the law may be beneficial to the State as a whole, that the Legislature may pass laws in the future, on the distribution of the amount collected, that will reduce our receipts from what the town received under the present law. Under our present valuation every $16,500 appropriated adds $1.00 to our tax rate, and the citizens should bear this in mind when voting appropria- tions.
Swampscott, as a residential town, will always be attractive on account of our natural attractions, our beautiful seashore and scenery.
Last year we had new buildings erected to the value of $298,075, and with the annex and improvements at the Ocean House, and the two very fine residences of Mr. Gale and Mr. Curran, we shall have a substantial increase for 1917.
Recommendations.
The Board recommends an appropriation of $2,000 for the Assessors' department for the year 1917.
EDWARD A. MAXFIELD, OSCAR G. POOR, PELEG GARDNER,
SWAMPSCOTT, December 31, 1916.
Assessors.
146
TOWN DOCUMENTS.
[Dec. 31
Report of the Chief of Police.
To the Board of Selectmen:
GENTLEMEN,-Herewith I submit the annual report of the Police Department for the year ending December 31, 1916 :
Arrested or summoned to appear in court for the following offences :
Males
144
Females
5
Total
149
Assault and battery .
7
Bastardy .
I
Breaking and entering
I
Carrying weapons
2
Disorderly conduct
4
Drunkenness .
41
For officers of other places
46
Insane
8
Malicious mischief .
I
Manslaughter
2
Non-support of children .
3
Violating automobile law
22
Violating liquor law
I
Violating lobster law
3
Violating milk law
I
Disposition of cases in lower court :
Committed to House of Correction
4
Committed to Concord Reformatory
I
Committed to State Hospital .
6
Committed to House of Correction for non-payment of fines,
Delivered to officers of other places
46
Discharged by court
5
Fined and paid
30
Placed on file
28
Placed on probation
10
Released by Probation Officer
14
Total
149
6
Larceny
149
5
147
CHIEF OF POLICE REPORT.
1916]
Miscellaneous work :
Accidents and assistance rendered .
63
Assisted other officers
43
Attempted to break and enter .
2
Ambulance calls
83
Buildings found open and secured .
47
Bicycles reported lost
5
Bicycles returned to owner
3
Complaints
770
Cases of larceny reported
8
Cases of breaking and entering reported
9
Defective streets and sidewalks
38
Disturbances suppressed without arrest .
6
Dogs reported lost .
48
Dogs returned to owner or dog officer
29
Fire alarms reported by officers
7
Fire alarms responded to with ambulance Horses found cast .
24
Injured and sick persons assisted .
86
Intoxicated persons assisted home .
II
Lost children found and returned .
19
Lights furnished for dangerous places
29
Lights reported out in streets .
169
Lights found burning in buildings
22
Liquor raids made
I
Poles and trees reported on fire
41
Water and gas leaks reported .
II
Value of property reported lost or stolen
$2,247 00
Value of property recovered and returned
944 25
I recommend that $11,500 be appropriated.
Respectfully submitted.
U. M. CORSON,
Chief of Police.
SWAMPSCOTT, December 31, 1916.
5
Wires reported down
148
TOWN DOCUMENTS.
[Dec. 31
REPORT OF Sealer of Weights and Measures.
To the Board of Selectmen :
GENTLEMEN,- I herewith submit my report from January 21, 1916, to January 12, 1917 :
Con- Ad- demned justed
Platform scales sealed over 5,000 pounds
4
Platform scales sealed under 5,000 pounds
30
All other scales sealed .
89
Slot personal sealed
.
5
I
Computing sealed .
5
I
Avoirdupois weights sealed
236
6
Apothecary weights sealed
40
20
Metric weights sealed
70
Capacity measures dry sealed
3
Capacity measures liquid
72
10
Automatic pumps .
8
Linear measures
3
565
40
8
Trial Weighing.
Commodity
Tested Correct Under
Over
Vegetables
71
31
20
20
Groceries
261
192
23
46
Flour in bags
65
41
7
17
Butter, print
I31
I16
15
Coal in bags
231
205
26
Milk jars tested
125
94
31
Number of certificates made out .
105
Inspection in stores outside of regular visits
60
Inspection of hawkers and pedlars
8
Inspection of ice dealers
.7
Inspection of junk dealers .
2
Inspection of coal certificates
7
.
2
.
.
.
Total amount received for above $41.65, which I turned over to the Town Treasurer and for which I hold a receipt.
The standard embraces the following : One avoirdupois balance, fifty pounds ; one set of avoirdupois weights, sixteen divisions ; drachms, one, two divisions; ounces, one-quarter, one-half, one, two, four, eight ; pounds, one, two, four, five, ten, twenty, twenty-five, fifty; one set of
8
Number
I49
SEALER WEIGHTS AND MEASURES' REPORT.
1916]
liquid measures of five dimensions, one gill, one-half pint, one quart, two quarts, one gallon ; two graduating glasses, one two-ounce, one thirty- two-ounce; one set of dry measures of four dimensions ; one quart, two quarts, one peck, one-half bushel; one yard measure ; workingset same as above with ten fifty-pound weights, one portable drill, one hand press, one sealing clamp, one pointer wrench, one hammer, screwdriver, dies, etc.
All persons having family scales and wish to have them made accurate, may bring them to the Sealer's office where he will be pleased to test and seal them.
I would call the attention of the storekeepers to the need of requiring their clerks to be more careful in the weighing of commodities, as I have found a great variation in the weighing. The office of Sealer of Weights and Measures is continuous. In the past, the Sealer was paid for an annual visit to the various stores in the town. Recent laws have placed under his jurisdiction much work formerly done by other departments or not done at all. This requires the attention and time of the Sealer all the year round, instead of a few weeks annually. The salary for so much work is inadequate, and I therefore recommend that the salary of the Sealer of Weights and Measures be increased one hundred ($100) dollars. We quote from the State Commissioner of Weights and Measures :
" Efficient local inspection of weights and measures and sales of com- modities by weight or measure directly affects every home in your com- munity, and I trust that the compensation of the Sealer may be placed upon a basis which will enable him to devote sufficient time for a proper performance of his duties."
We also recommend for printing, $30; teaming, $12; help, $10; miscellaneous supplies, $20; total, $72.
BENJAMIN A. MARTIN,
Sealer of Weights and Measures,
SWAMPSCOTT, January 17, 1917.
11
1
150
TOWN DOCUMENTS.
[Dec. 31
REPORT OF Committee on Fourth of July.
To the Citizens of Swampscott :
GENTLEMEN, - The committee appointed by the annual town meeting of 1916 to have charge of the Fourth of July Celebration herewith submits its report. The program for the day was laid out along the usual lines, but the weather seriously interfered with the carrying out of that program. The athletic sports arranged to take place on the Paradise road play- grounds were, owing to the rain, postponed to a later date. Rain again interfered with the carrying out of the program, and it was impossible to run off but two events, the girls' basket ball game and the 100-yard dash for the older boys. Several other postponements were made of the events, but lack of interest, owing to the vacation season, made a carrying out of the program out of the question. As a result the committee has the greater part of the prizes still on hand. They are securely locked in the town hall vault, properly packed and will be available for the use of the committee another year if they so desire.
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