USA > Massachusetts > Essex County > Swampscott > Town annual report of Swampscott 1919 > Part 12
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137
BOARD OF HEALTH REPORT.
1919]
Certainly the citizens of this town do not desire, nor are they willing to accept, a milk of such quality that it has been found unfit, because of unsanitary conditions existing on the premises of the producer, and rejected by surrounding cities and towns. Yet your inspector, owing to the lack of funds necessary for him to inspect the conditions under which our milk supply is being pro- duced and handled, is unable to assure them that this is not so, for it is a fact that those producers, whose milk has been rejected by other cities and towns, have not gone out of business and are still disposing of their product. Therefore, it is safe to assume that those localities where no supervision is maintained must be receiving this product and will continue to receive it until some steps are taken to protect themselves from unscrupulous producers and dealers.
In December it was my pleasure to attend the eighth annual con- vention of the International Association of Dairy and Milk Inspectors held at New York city. Throughout the entire meeting the import- ance of dairy farm inspection was very forcibly brought out. All of the papers and reports presented dealt at great length upon the fact that in the majority of the cities and towns very little attention is being paid to the health or manner of person who are engaged in the handling, production or distribution of milk, and that the efficiency of a health department and the quality of milk being sup- plied depend almost wholly upon the dairy farm inspection.
The following is a summary of the work done during the year:
Number of samples of milk taken and analyzed. 125
Number of samples found below legal standard. 12
Number of samples taken for bacteria test. 30
Number of samples that passed bacteria test. 23
Number of ice cream samples taken and analyzed. 20
Number of samples that passed bacteria test. 14
Number of stores licensed to sell milk. 37
Number of dealers licensed to sell milk. 19
Number of stores licensed to sell oleomargarine. 7
Amount received for licenses, thirty-one dollars and fifty cents ($31.50), which amount has been paid to the Town Treasurer and his receipt obtained.
One dealer's milk license was revoked during the year, owing to his refusal to clean up his premises and the unsanitary conditions under which his milk was being produced and handled.
In concluding this report I would respectfully call your attention to the fact that our present milk regulations, which were adopted nine years ago, are somewhat out of date and do not cover many of those problems which are confronting us today. I would, therefore, recommend that a new set of milk regulations be adopted and that the sum of $200 be appropriated for dairy farm inspection.
Respectfully submitted,
C. W. HORTON, Milk Inspector.
138
TOWN DOCUMENTS.
[Dec. 31
Report of Inspector of Animals
To the Members of the Board of Health:
Gentlemen :- I herewith submit my annual report as Inspector of Animals for 1919-20.
The general inspection was made as usual, between Jan. 15 and Mar. 1, 1919, and consisted of a physical examination of all cattle, sheep and swine kept within the town. This general inspection is ordered once a year for the purpose of detecting any cases of con- tagious disease which may, unknowingly, be housed with healthy animals and also for the purpose of suggesting alterations and repairs which will tend to bring about better sanitary conditions.
With the exception of a few cases of hog cholera and hemor- rhagic scepticaemia the animals were found in a healthy condition.
The stables and premises were kept clean in most cases and where changes were recommended the owners were willing to co-operate.
Respectfully submitted,
FRANK B. STRATTON, M. D. V.
Inspector of Slaughtering
To the Members of the Board of Health:
Gentlemen :- The slaughtering that has been done in town during the past year has been carried on in a very clean and satisfactory manner. The animals, mostly hogs, have been found healthy and the premises have been kept clean. The work has consisted of daily inspections from November to April with only a few cases of sus- pected disease. These were isolated cases and had not come in con- tact with other animals.
Respectfully submitted, FRANK B. STRATTON, M. D. V. Inspector of Slaughtering.
Swampscott, Dec. 31, 1919.
1919]
Report of School and Health Nurse
To the Board of Health:
Gentlemen :- I herewith submit my report as School and Health Nurse for the year ending December 31, 1919.
Following is a general summary of the work done:
Schools visited 319
Old cases cured
16
Visits to homes (old)
104
Visits to homes (new)
241
Taken to dispensary (old)
9
Taken to dispensary (new)
11
School consultation (parents)
208
Exams. for uncleanliness 406
Defective vision
128
Conjunctivitis
2
Other diseases
26
Defective hearing
2
Other diseases
186
Pediculoses
28
Eczema
1
Impetigo
4
Ringworm
2
Scabies
13
Other diseases
128
Other diseases
15
Teeth
790
Malnutrition
7
Nervous
16
Miscellaneous
453
A course in home nursing has been opened in the High School for the girls of the senior class, for which every means have been pro- vided by the Board of Health and School Department to give a practical knowledge of the home care of the sick.
Though this study is still in its infancy, the interest given the work by the members of the class leaves little doubt as to the ulti- mate success of the course from a practical point of view, as well as a means of prevention through the channel of education.
After a careful study of conditions in the lower grades in school, I would recommend a dental clinic or some means of caring for the
BOARD OF HEALTH REPORT.
139
School consultation (pupils) 1636
140
TOWN DOCUMENTS.
[Dec. 31
ยท children's teeth in school. The expense of a dental clinic as com- pared with benefits received would be comparatively small.
Respectfully submitted,
M. K. HAMMOND.
Swampscott, Dec. 31, 1919.
Plumbing Inspector's Report
To the Board of Health:
Gentlemen :- I herewith submit my report for the year 1919.
Plumbing permits issued 105
Installations approved 68 Permits refused 1
I respectfully call your attention to past recommendations tending to a change in the plumbing rules, which were accepted by the town in 1903. I am of the opinion that changes can be effected, both from a sanitary point of view and a reduction in expense to the house owner. I therefore recommend that the present rules be so revised as to meet the more modern conditions.
Respectfully submitted,
E. C. PHILLIPS, Inspector of Plumbing.
Swampscott, Dec. 31, 1919.
141
SURVEYOR OF HIGHWAYS' REPORT.
1919]
Report of the Surveyor of Highways
To the Citizens of Swampscott:
I herewith submit my annual report :
At the junction of Monument avenue and Elmwood road in the Mudge Estate, the street was put to grade, road bed filled with No. 1 broken stone and bonded with heavy road tar.
Columbia street, from Essex avenue to Burrill street, has been put to grade and one sidewalk built. The driveway on this street, was picked up by the steam roller, reshaped, resurfaced with six inches of No. 1 broken stone, bonded with tar and covered with pea stone and sand.
Bristol avenue has been put to grade, and sidewalks reshaped, street surfaced with gravel and rolled with steam roller. Two catch basins, one manhole built, 450 feet of 10-inch drain pipe laid and gutters paved with tar concrete.
Belmont avenue has been put to grade and sidewalks built. The driveway on this street was filled with eight inches of coarse gravel and rolled with steam roller; there was also removed 56 cubic yards of ledge.
There has been about one mile of street resurfaced with gravel, and about two and one-half miles of tar resurfacing. Seal coating has been done this year on different streets.
Salem street has been reshaped where needed, all holes filled with tar and broken stone and the whole surface given a coating of tar covered with sharp gravel and rolled with steam roller.
The streets of the town have been patrolled and repaired wherever found necessary. This department has done more patrol work than in any previous year.
Gutters in all streets have been cleaned twice; Humphrey street, from sewer station to Lynn line, Burrill street to New Ocean street, every Saturday, weather permitting.
There were 236 catch basins cleaned, all being cleaned at least twice, while those at intercepting streets were cleaned six times during the year.
There have been built two catch basins in connection with this work, and there have been laid 161 feet of 6 inch pipe drain, 62 feet of 8 inch pipe drain, 10 feet of 10 inch pipe drain, 2 feet of 15 inch pipe drain.
Gutters to the extent of 312 square yards of cobble stone and 487 square yards of tar concrete have been laid.
There were 404 feet of guard rail fence built this year.
For repairing sidewalks the following amounts of material have
142
TOWN DOCUMENTS.
[Dec. 31
been used: 162 loads of gravel, 191 loads of cinders and 192 loads of stone dust. Tar concrete sidewalks have been repaired to the extent of 1517.8 square yards at a cost of 60 cents per square yard, and 34 square yards of granolithic sidewalks repaired. For sanding side- walks 29 loads of sand were used. No appropriation for continuous sidewalks was made this year.
Puritan road curb stones-No work was done, as the special appropriation was not large enough to cover the work to be done.
Banks terrace is now under construction by the M. M'Donough Co.
The Essex street cement concrete was laid by the M. M'Donough Co., and I think that it must be appreciated. The residents on this street and traffic users waited a long time for this needed improvement. All entrances from side streets on this road were put in condition by this department, and the sidewalks lowered and resurfaced with screened gravel.
Thomas road drain, which was put in this summer, had to be dug up to the depth of 12 inches and filled with crushed stone and gravel.
The street watering and oiling problem is always more or less a serious one to contend with, largely on account of the number of automobiles using the roads. Bids for furnishing oil for street purposes were asked for, opened in the Selectmen's room at the Town Hall, and were as follows :-
American Tar Co .:-
Rotar, F. O. B. Malden
.08 gal.
F. O. B. Swampscott .081/2 gal. .091/2 gal.
Tarine No. 2. . 09 gal. Texas Co .:-
No. 30 Road Oil
.06 gal.
No. 45 Road Oil
.058 gal.
Liquid Asphalt, 1.65%
.056 gal.
Barrett Co .:- F. O. B. Swampscott
Delivered and Applied
Tarvia B., .085 gal.
.10 gal.
American Oil Products Co .:-
.058 gal.
Asphalt 45 to 65
.0585 gal.
Non Asphaltic No. 1
.125 gal.
No. 2
.099 gal.
No. 3
.0845 gal.
No. 4 .07 gal.
Carson Petroleum Co .:-
Asphalt, 50 to 65
.0622 gal.
Indian Refining Co .:-
Asphalt, 30 to 45
.105 gal.
Non Asphaltic
.105 gal.
Alden Speare Sons Co .:- F. O. B. Swampscott Asphalt 30% .07 gal.
Delivered and Applied .0795 gal.
Heavy Asphalt, .11 gal.
Medium Asphalt, .10 gal.
.12 gal. .11 gal.
Asphalt 30 to 45
143
SURVEY OF HIGHWAYS REPORT.
1919]
Light Asphalt, .095 gal. Asphalt 45%, .06 gal. Asphalt 65%, .065 gal
.105 gal. .07 gal. .0745 gal.
Number of gallons of oil used, 33,045; price paid for oil, .058 per gallon. Owing to a rainy fall the streets of the town did not receive a second application of oil.
Number of gallons of tar used on the streets for all purposes, 28,164. Prices were paid as follows: Delivered and applied, heavy tar, Barrett or American Companies, 11c a gal .; in barrels, Lynn Gas & Electric Co., $4 per barrel; K. P.,Barrett patching compound, 14c gal. Number of cubic feet of water used, 94,610, metered.
All men and drivers of teams employed by the department have been given an increased wage of $1 per day.
I wish to call to the attention of the citizens the ever increasing number of automobiles that are constantly passing over the streets of this town, especially during the summer months. According to the records of the State Highway Commission 241,620 licenses were granted in 1919, an increase of 48,123 over the previous year, which goes to show that the time has come for better built roads and they cost money. Generally hard surface pavements are divided into the headings of granite block pavements, brick pavements, wood block pavements, concrete pavements and asphalt pavements. Each type has numerous sub-divisions and variations and the various types are applicable to various conditions of traffic. A bituminous macadam pavement is one having a wearing course of macadam, with the voids filled by penetration method with a bituminous binder. When properly built under suitable traffic conditions the bituminous macad- am pavement is economical, both in construction and maintenance. Asphalt pavement is the prevailing city or town pavement. Generally speaking all asphalt pavements laid in the form of sheet, present their best appearance if laid on macadam foundation. The various cities and towns have found that asphalt roads, when properly con- structed, will give the best of service. Little maintenance is re- quired for asphalt macadam pavement for the first three or four years after construction, little or no trouble is experienced by pitting or ravelling, and the' pavement will stand considerable 'neglect without serious deterioration. The average cost per mile of water- bound macadam, $20,000; asphalt macadam penetration, $22,000; con- crete pavement, $35,000; brick pavement, $50,000.
Recommendations
1. That Atlantic avenue, Burrill street, and Essex street, be re- surfaced and appropriate money for the same.
2. That the town appropriate the sum of $900 for repairs on Crusher and Roller.
3. That the town build new steps at Ingalls terrace and appro- priate money for the same.
Respectfully submitted,
Swampscott, Dec. 31, 1919.
MICHAEL J. RYAN,
Surveyor of Highways.
144
TOWN DOCUMENTS.
[Dec. 31
Report of Town Engineer
To the Board of Selectmen:
Gentlemen :- Herewith I submit my seventh annual report of the service rendered by the engineering department for the various town departments for the year ending December 31, 1919.
The engineering department has had charge of the following line of work: The designing and superintending of the construction of all drains and sewers, together with the specifications and estimates of the same; the establishing of street lines and curb grades for curbstones and granolithic sidewalks; all data and plans relating to laying out of streets for acceptance as public ways, and all engineer- ing questions which come before the boards of the several depart- ments.
During the past year the estimates approved by this department have amounted to $46,000 and all completed contracts conformed with the specifications therein described.
Storm Water Drainage
The original contract for the construction of Stacey Brook culvert, whereby the cost was equally divided between the city of Lynn and 1 the town of Swampscott, was completed in October.
On account of quicksand under the superstructures near the ends of the completed covered sections, it was necessary for the town of Swampscott to extend the covered culvert, north from the Humphrey street end and south from New Ocean street for a distance of thirty- three feet and sixty-one feet respectively.
The new open channel, following the course of the old brook, with its present cross-section, will, if kept free from silt and obstructions, take care of all storm water flow.
That portion of the open channel between Humphrey street and New Ocean street is composed of peat and quicksand, which is an unstable material, therefore the city of Lynn and the town of Swampscott should jointly extend the covered culvert to the New Ocean street end. If this is done, the cost of maintenance of this section will be very small, besides abating a nuisance of an open brook through a residential portion of the town.
Hawthorn Brook, at Beach Bluff, with its outfall on the beach, is the only large remaining storm water course to be considered at some future date.
Sewerage Pumping Station
The old obselete pumping plant of the Sewerage Pumping Station
145
TOWN ENGINEER'S REPORT.
1919]
has been replaced by a modern and more efficient type of pumps which are electric driven and installed in a dry and well-lighted chamber.
The equipment consists of the following units: One 2000-gallon DeLeval centrifugal pump and one 4000-gallon pump of the same type, also a small triplex force pump. These units are driven by electric motors of 25 H. P., 100 H. P. and 3 H. P., respectively.
The 2000-gallon pump is automatically controlled by a float switch, and the volume of its discharge is equal to the capacity of the 18-inch force main, without showing an excess friction head.
The 4000-gallon pump is only to be used in an emergency, as it produces an excess friction head in the force main, thus increasing the cost of pumping almost double.
The small triplex force pump, driven by a three H. P. motor, is to produce an extra pressure in the force main in case of stoppage caused by the freezing or the sludge.
A recording gauge records charts which show the time of starting and stopping of any pump and indicates the pressure on the force main during the pumping. These charts are renewed each day by the engineer in charge and are placed on file.
Without doubt the Town of Swampscott has the most efficient pumping station of its size in the State.
Sewers and Drains
The sewer system of the town has been extended in Bertha street and Hemenway road. The contract for the Lincoln House avenue sewer has been awarded and the work will be commenced at an early date.
The old field-stone culvert in Thomas road has been replaced by an 18-inch pipe, which connects the sections previously constructed.
Essex Street Concrete Roadway
After several years of delay, Essex street between Burrill street and the Lynn line has been greatly improved by laying a concrete pave- ment thirty-four feet wide with curbstones on both sides of the roadway.
The contract required the laying of 5400 square yards of concrete pavement and 100 feet of curbstones; resetting 650 feet of the old curbstone to the established line and grade, and replacing the present field-stone culvert with a larger concrete one.
Owing to the above improvements the trustees of the Eastern Mas- sachusetts Street Railway Co. agreed to regrade their track to con- form to the established profile and replaced all worn rails and unsound sleepers.
Cemetery
On account of the labor condition the contractor was unable to begin work of regrading a portion of the cemetery for new lots until late in the fall.
A portion of the avenues have been subgraded and an area of about 6000 square feet trenched for graves.
146
TOWN DOCUMENTS.
[Dec. 31
Assessors' Department
The sectional plans of the Assessors' Department have been brought up to date.
Selectmen's Department
Data and estimates have been furnished at various times for the use in the Selectmen's department, and plans submitted for their approval.
Town Survey
The co-ordinate survey of the town has been extended when it did not interfere with the construction work of the town, and at date there are completed thirty-two sectional sheets of 1,500,000 square feet each.
In conclusion, I wish to express my appreciation of the courtesies shown me by the various departments and by private engineers, who have kindly furnished me with their data, thereby greatly assisting the work of this department.
Respectfully submitted,
WALLACE W. PRATT, Town Engineer.
Swampscott, Dec. 31, 1919.
147
SUPERINTENDENT OF MOTH WORK REPORT.
1919]
Report of Superintendent of Moth Work
To the Board of Selectmen:
Gentlemen :- The usual methods of carrying on the moth work have been used the past year, creosoting, tanglefooting, spraying, cutting brush and cutting off and burning brown tail moths. The steady increase in the cost of labor and materials, with the same appropria- tion each year, coupled with the fact that no trees have been de- foliated, is evidence in itself that the moths have been quite ma- terially suppressed. At the same time it is also evident that if the cost to keep them down is not met by the appropriation it will only take about three years for conditions to be equal if not worse than they were ten years ago. In neighboring towns the gypsy moth was reduced to a minimum last year, and this year they are returning and conditions are not as good. In this town conditions are equally as satisfactory as last, and I feel it is a credit to the department and to the town.
The moth year, (time to start work creosoting) begins as soon as the foliage is all off of the trees, while the financial year begins about two months later. Hence, each year it is planned to have to the credit of the department some money to start work which is really done on the new year. As usual the winter work was started in November and the street line work has been done and some private property cleaned at Beach Bluff. About fifty gallons of creosote was used during the year.
On very cold days and wet weather it is impracticable to try and do creosoting, and moth thimming work is done on road sides and in localities which are severely infested with gypsy colonies. Also sprout growth on previously cut over territory is mowed and burned. About twenty-five acres have been mowed over this year and about ten acres cut out for the first time.
Fortunately about 40 pounds of tanglefoot was left over from last year, the price making it prohibitive to buy this year. It was used on scattering trees from Park square to Phillips Park, which it has been customary to band because some of them are out of reach to spray economically and others are in pastures.
When the trees are in full foliage in the spring the work is supple- mented by spraying. Two tons and a half of arsenate of lead were used, being about the usual amount. It was bought at the same figure as last year, although most towns paid more. The demand for spray was as keen as in previous years, and the results equally as satisfac- tory.
This is the eleventh season the large sprayer has been in use, and
148
TOWN DOCUMENTS.
[Dec. 31
the most serious mishap occurred this year, which made it necessary to secure another sprayer in order to complete the season's work. Michael Donovan, who has charge of the North Shore Moth Work, loaned us a machine and not a single day was lost in the spraying season.
After the spraying was over repairs were made on our own machine. It was found that a small casting which conducted oil to the crank shaft had worked loose and got between a connecting rod and the engine base and bent the connecting rod.
As the pump was worn out by lead, a second hand one that was recommended as all right by the state inspector for $25, was bought. It had only been used to pump clear water for three seasons. While working on the sprayer I replaced the old pump with it. Our hose is about worn out, but probably it will go another year.
The smaller sprayer worked very satisfactorily, never losing a day during the entire spraying season.
Respectfully submitted,
EVERETT P. MUDGE, Superintendent of Moth Work.
Swampscott, Dec. 31, 1919.
149
TREE WARDEN'S REPORT.
1919]
Report of Tree Warden
To the Citizens of Swampscott:
Each year it becomes a more serious problem to preserve and maintain our shade trees, and each year it is absolutely necessary to remove entirely a certain number that are past their usefulness. During 1919 forty have been removed.
In order to maintain the reputation of the town for its trees, it is necessary to plant each year even more than are removed, for new streets are constantly being accepted on which there are none. At least one hundred trees should be planted on the highways each year, and even then there would always be plenty of room for more. This year 50 maples and one ash were planted to fill vacancies. One large maple which came in the center of the driveway at 350 Essex street was moved.
One of the necessities for the protection of tree trunks from horses are wire tree protectors. While the small trees planted each year have been supplied with these, many trees have outgrown them. The wire no longer goes entirely around these trees, for each year they have been loosened in order to allow for the growth of the tree. Many of these guards are still serviceable and may be used on newly planted trees, if larger wires are supplied in their places. The past season 450 square feet of number 16 galvanized hexagonal wire was made into guards and applied, also all old ones were readjusted and felts sewed on where needed. The price of new felt makes its use prohibitive, and fire hose was substituted and proves to be satisfactory.
The elm leaf beetle has given no trouble for three or four years. The spray used in moth work keeps them suppressed. However, the leopard moth is a serious pest and the trees have all been looked over once, and the smaller ones twice in the season. Borers have been hooked out and the twigs cut off and burned containing them.
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