USA > Massachusetts > Essex County > Swampscott > Town annual report of Swampscott 1924 > Part 15
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[Dec. 31
WATER, 1921 DR
Water rates
$261 71
CR.
$78 04
Cash paid Abatements
91 59
Uncollected
92 08
1922
DR.
Water rates
$577 18
CR.
Cash paid
$348 10
Abatements
152 14
Uncollected
76 94
1923
DR.
Water rates
$10,470 90
Cash paid
$7,982 24
Abatements
9 33
Uncollected
2,479 33
1924
DR.
Water rates
$59,371 89
Cash paid
$52,505 12 178 94
Uncollected
6,687 83
WATER SERVICE, 1922
DR.
Water service
$232 45
Cash paid
$ 5 39
Uncollected
227 06
WATER SERVICE, 1923
DR.
Water service
$1,920 95
CR.
Cash paid
$621 53 1,299 42
Uncollected
CR.
CR.
Abatements.
CR.
195
REPORT OF COLLECTOR OF TAXES
1924]
WATER SERVICE, 1924 DR.
Water service
$4,501 51
CR.
Cash paid Uncollected
$3,179 92 1,321 59
MISCELLANEOUS, RENTS, 1923
DR.
Rents, Miscellaneous
$657 90
CR.
Cash paid
$540 57
Abatements
7 33
Uncollected
110 00
MISCELLANEOUS, RENTS, 1924
DR.
Rents, Miscellaneous
$909 37
Cash paid
$581 65
Abatements
17 51
Uncollected
310 21
CR.
196
TOWN DOCUMENTS
[Dec. 31
Report of Police Department
To the Board of Selectmen:
GENTLEMEN :- My report to you this year calls for some drastic recommendations if the department is to maintain any degree of efficiency for the coming year. As far as equipment is concerned our department is not up to the proper standard. We have an an- tiquated police signal system, both costly and unsatisfactory, an ambulance in which you would hesitate to send your relatives to the hospital, and no police automobile whatsoever.
The adoption of the new State pony Volstead act by the voters makes the work of the local police department much more important and costly. The local police must now share the burden of expense in enforcing the prohibition law with the Federal authorities. To do this properly we must have proper equipment.
The service rendered by your police department is measured by the standard of their equipment. With poor equipment good work cannot be expected. Therefore I recommend that this out-of-date apparatus be replaced with modern up-to-date equipment. I will take these recommendations up separately.
Persons arrested or summoned to appear in court for the following offences :-
Larceny
5
Breaking, entering and larceny
3
Drunkenness
21
Assault
3
Violation of the liquor law
4
Violation of town by-law
5
Violation of game law
4
Perjury
Arrests and summonses for out of town officers
99
Overspeeding
110
Operating without proper lights
14
Failure to stop on signal of officer
3
Operating under the influence of liquor
5
Operating without license
12
No registration
8
Non-support of wife or minor child
1
Keeping unlicensed dog
1
Concealed weapon
1
Bastardy
312
Total
Males 306
Females
6
312
1
12
1924]
REPORT OF POLICE DEPARTMENT
197
Disposition of cases in court :-
Appealed to Superior Court
10
Fined and paid
128
Filed on payment of costs
22
Placed on file
8
Placed on probation
10
Released by probation officer
5
Discharged by court
4
Defaulted
6
Restitution made
12
Suspended sentences
8
Delivered to other officers
99
Total
312
Amount of fines imposed by court
$1,847 00
Miscellaneous work performed by the department :-
83
Assisting other officers
53
Intoxicated persons assisted home
17
Buildings found open and secured
57
Bicycles reported lost or stolen
12
Bicycles recovered
8
Goods reported lost or stolen
96
Goods recovered
61
Complaints investigated
1,051
Cases of larceny reported
50
Cases of breaking, entering and larceny
29
Dead bodies found and cared for
1
Disturbance suppressed without arrest
8
Dogs reported lost or stolen
48
Dogs returned to owner or dog officer
36
Dogs shot by officers
2
Dogs killed by automobiles
13
Ambulance responding to fire alarms
53
Officers notifying engine house of fires
8
Lost children found and returned to parents
12
Lights furnished for dangerous places
16
Lights reported out in streets
286
Lights found burning in buildings
17
Poles and trees reported on fire
20
Stray animals cared for
2
Water and gas leaks reported
12
Wires reported down
37
Search warrants for liquor served
4
Value of liquor seized for confiscation
$42,160 00
Value of property reported lost or stolen
5,209 50
Value of property recovered 4,037 50
Health officer notified of dead animals in street
21
Automobile number plates found on street, and returned to owners 15 Street obstructions removed
14
Accidents and assistance rendered
198
TOWN DOCUMENTS
[Dec. 31
Automobiles parking without lights
60
People reported missing from home Automobiles stolen
4
Automobiles recovered
4
The following are the sums I would recommend for the expenses of the Police Department for this year ending December 31, 1925.
Salaries for regular officers
$26,560 00
Salaries for special work
3,000 00
Telephones and signal boxes
575 00
Gas and light
152 84
Coal and wood
375 00
Gas and oil
250 00
Miscellaneous expenses
2,500 00
Total
$33,412 84
Prosecution of Cases in Court
In line with the policy established by the chief last year no at- torneys were hired to prosecute any cases in court for the depart- ment. It is hard to estimate just what this policy saves in attorneys' fees, but a rough estimate can be made by multiplying the number of cases prosecuted by the usual lawyers' fee and expenses. Below is a table of cases prosecuted and results:
Cases prosecuted by the chief 208
Result
Fined and paid
128
Filed on payment of costs
22
Placed on file
8
Placed on probation
10
Discharged by court
4
Defaulted
6
Restitution secured
12
Suspended sentences
8
Sentenced
10
208
Beacon Traffic Signals
The two beacon traffic signals purchased by vote of the town were installed on New Ocean street and Paradise road at the dangerous "S" curve. They proved very satisfactory during the bad storms, and when all other lights were out they operated on with increased efficiency. They required no care at all except to renew the tanks of gas at the end of six months' operation and with the street signs painted on their bases, they proved to be dependable directors of traffic.
Official Commendations
The department has been fortunate this past year in receiving two official commendations from the Board of Selectmen. On June 13, 1924, the Board of Selectmen officially commended the Chief of Police
4
199
REPORT OF POLICE DEPARTMENT
1924]
for arresting Raymond Paris in Canada and recovering the automobile stolen by him from Miss Dorothy Honors. The second official com- mendation was received by the department for the raid at Little's Point December 27, 1924, when approximately $40,000.00 worth of contraband liquor was seized by the Swampscott police that had been landed the night before.
Combination Police Ambulance and Patrol
The present ambulance is in very poor condition. The chassis was originally used on a touring car and was bought by the Police De- partment second hand for $1,500.00 over seven years ago. It was never meant to be used for an ambulance chassis. Appraisers have set its present value at about $300.00. Some of our citizens have already refused to allow their relatives to be transported to the hospital in it.
The mechanical condition of the chassis is poor and the body is weak and falling apart, causing gas fumes to enter the back of the body and endangering the lives of patients on their way to the hospital. Marblehead and Saugus both have new ambulances costing $5,500.00. The present valuation of our ambulance makes it poor business policy to turn it in for the allowance we might be able to get on it, and I would therefore recommend that the town purchase a new combination police ambulance and patrol and keep the old ambulance for transporting seized liquor and like things, and possibly intoxicated persons that should not be handled in a new ambulance. I recommend the sum of $5,500.00 be appropriated for this purpose.
Gamewell Police Signal System
The cost for service of the telephone signal system used by the department has been increased over 50% by the telephone company during the past year. It is always out of order and is very unsatis- factory. It does not register the place or time the officers ring in. After an officer closes the door of the box he cannot be reached until he rings in again, a period of about 45 minutes. None of the boxes from the Hadley School to Beach Bluff show what box the officer is at or the time. Marblehead has the Gamewell Police Signal System, which registers on a tape the box the officer rings in on and the time. The Gamewell system also provides that before or after the officer has opened the box door he can be summoned to the box by the ring- ing of a bell or the flashing of a red light. This is the system used by all up-to-date police departments. It could have been installed some years ago at a great saving of money. If we wait longer it will cost more. I therefore recommend that the sum of $17,000 be appropriated for the purpose of installing the Gamewell Police Sig- nal and Recall System.
200
TOWN DOCUMENTS
[Dec. 31
Police Automobile
The department has no police automobile. Marblehead has two. Saugus has one and also allows the chief one dollar per day for the use of his personal machine. In cases of lost children, notification of citizens for various reasons and the making of various investigations the ambulance must be used. The past year about 1,000 investiga- tions had to be made. It is costly and results are not satisfactory when the ambulance is used. Citizens do not like to have the ambulance drive up to their door to make a private investigation. Many investigations are of a private nature and should not be adver- tised. We have a motorcycle and sidecar several years old, that has cutlived its usefulness as a police machine. It is noisy and needs a lot of mechanical attention to put it in condition. Even then it would not be fit for police work. I recommend that $1,000 be appropriated for the purchase of a police automobile and that the motorcycle and sidecar be sold and the proceeds used for the purpose of an auto- mobile if necessary.
Respectfully submitted, WILLIAM L. QUINN, Chief of Police.
December 31, 1924.
201
REPORT OF SURVEYOR OF HIGHWAYS
1924]
Report of Surveyor of Highways
To the Citizens of Swampscott:
I herewith submit my annual report ending December 31, 1924.
Aspen road, from Arbutus road to Forest avenue, has been resur- faced with gravel.
Fuller avenue, from Bay View avenue, as far as the town has accepted, has been resurfaced with gravel and sidewalks built. The upper part of this street was filled to the depth of fifteen inches of pit stone and gravel.
Millett road. The upper end of this street has been put to grade. Large bowlders removed, sidewalks built, and road resurfaced with gravel.
Banks road. Where sewer was built this year the road was re- surfaced with tarred mixed stone.
Orchard road. This road has received considerable attention from this department this year. Sidewalks graded and part of the road surface gravelled. There is still more work to be done on this street.
Lawrence road from Morton road to Humphrey street. This road has been put to grade, sidewalks built and the street resurfaced with gravel.
Bradlee avenue, from the Boston & Maine railroad bridge to Humphrey street has been put to grade, one sidewalk built and the street resurfaced with gravel.
Bellevue road, from the tracks of the Boston & Maine railroad to Humphrey street, has been put to grade, trees removed, sidewalks built, and the whole street resurfaced with gravel.
Mountwood road was resurfaced with gravel. No sidewalks were built.
All these streets were rolled with the steam roller.
King street, from Highland street to Greenwood avenue, has been picked up with the steam roller and regraded, sealed with 65% asphalt road oil, covered with sand and rolled.
There has been about one half mile of other streets resurfaced with gravel.
The following streets, have been sealed coated in whole or in part: Forest avenue, Humphrey street, Banks road, Redington street, Far- ragut road, Walker road, King street, Rockland street, Rose street, Aspen road.
202
TOWN DOCUMENTS
[Dec. 31
Patrolling streets, the department has tried to keep the holes out of all the town streets this year. Cherry street, Middlesex avenue and Pine street, have been treated with 3/4 inch crush stone mixed with tar and rolled. This street ought to be sealed this year.
Seven new catch basins have been built this year, also 162 feet of € inch drain, 66 feet of 8 inch drain, 135 feet 10 inch drain, 12 feet of 12 inch drain, 18 feet of 15 inch drain pipe.
At the junction of Farragut road and Banks road the catch basins have been rebuilt, and new tops laid to take the place of the concord tops, which used to clog up after every rain storm, which caused flooding at this point.
There were 1500 square yards of tarred mixed stone gutters laid. 225 square yards of cobble stone gutters laid and 26 driveways were lowered.
There were 132 feet of guard rail fence repaired this year.
Concrete Sidewalks (Tar) Repaired
Burrill street, 316 square yards skim coat; 83 square yaras new. Puritan road, 54 square yards, skim coat; 94 square yards new. Phillips street, 87 square yards, new.
Redington street, 15 square yards, new.
Andrew road, 185 square yards, skim coat; 22 square yards, new.
Price of tar concrete: New, 90 cents a square yard; 60 cents for skim coating per square yard.
The following sidewalks have been built of gravel or cinders in sections: State road, Essex street, Ocean View terrace, Franklin avenue, Hillcrest circle, Roy street, Norfolk avenue, Suffolk avenue, Farragut road, Huron street, Aspen road, Belmont avenue, Berkshire street, Millett road, Fuller avenue, Bay View avenue, Banks road, Walker road, Beach avenue, Humphrey street.
There has also been the usual covering of muddy sidewalks requir- ing 139 loads of stone dust. There were 116 loads of sand used for sanding icy walks.
This year there have been laid sidewalks' on Greenwood avenue, Cedar Hill terrace, and King street of tar and pea stone mixed, cov- ered with stone dust, which, so far, works well.
Humphrey street. From Forest avenue to Phillips Beach depot no work has been done this year, execpt to clean the surface where a sewer was laid last year, and surface same with tar mixed stone.
Number of feet of new curbstone laid, 475.
All gutters and catch basins in all streets have been cleaned at least twice, main streets every Saturday.
All streets, except Millett road and Ocean View road, where water and sewer pipes have been laid, have been leveled and gravel used for resurfacing and rolled with steam roller.
£11 [:1
203
REPORT OF SURVEYOR OF HIGHWAYS
1924]
Street Watering and Oiling
About 39,675 gallons of 30% asphaltic road oil was used for dust laying. There were 12,470 gallons of 65% asphaltic road oil used and 14,850 gallons of tar used on the streets for all purposes and 27,033 cubic feet of water.
The price paid for dust laying oil was $.0635 per gallon; David J. Sheehan of Lynn, delivered, $1.50 per yard; by town truck, 89 cents per yard.
A stone wall has been built on Ingalls terrace at the Johnson estate to hold up the roadway that belongs to the town.
Four waste containers have been placed on the town streets, one at the corner of Middlesex avenue and Burrill street, one at Town Hall, one at the Blaisdell store and one at the corner of Redington and Humphrey streets.
There has been purchased one pair of horses for the department from Abram French. The price paid was $550.
Bridge at Danvers street. I desire to call to the attention of the citizens of Swampscott the condition of this bridge. When built the bridge was all right for the travel at that time, but not so today. In 1921 it was resurfaced with 4 inch hard pine plank. This summer some 19 planks had to be renewed. It is posted for 6 tons, but trucks hauling stone from the large crusher on Danvers street, carry any- where from 10 to 18 tons over this bridge. I hope the Finance Com- mittee will look after the question of this bridge.
Snow and Ice
Snow work is the hardest item to provide for in the budget. One can never tell the quantity of snow that is liable to fall during the winter or the month of greatest intensity. It is also very difficult to lay down a program for snow fighting on account of the variety of weather conditions one is apt to encounter from day to day. A sudden thaw upsets entirely the well thought out arrangements. Rain may necessitate the opening of all drains. Snow drifts may cause a change of all plans. Ice on the streets has to be given special atten- tion, if accidents are to be avoided. It is most important to watch for ruts that form and immediately apply necessary methods of their removal.
Our snow fighting equipment is as follows :- one 31/2 ton Packard truck with blade plow; 12 sidewalk plows; 2 road machines and 2 gutter plows. All horses are on sidewalk work. The men are called out between 2 and 3 o'clock in the morning and by 7 o'clock all our sidewalks have been roughly opened to traffic. Our truck with blade plow is sent out early on the streets and keeps going until the storm is over.
The attention of the Finance Committee is called to this year's balance of the Highway Department, which was planned to be used on Millett and Ocean View roads, where a sewer was laid this sum- mer, but which was completed too late for any street work to be done this year.
204
TOWN DOCUMENTS
[Dec. 31
Recommendations
1. That the town appropriate the sum of $2,000 to be used in re- surfacing Orchard road.
2. That the town build a sidewalk on Humphrey street, from the estate of Charles Comeau to Millett road, and appropriate money for the same.
3. That the town purchase a 31/2 ton truck and appropriate money for the same.
Respectfully submitted, MICHAEL J. RYAN, Surveyor of Highways.
December 31, 1924.
205
REPORT OF PUBLIC LIBRARY TRUSTEES
1924]
Report of the Trustees of the Public Library
To the Citizens of Swampscott :-
The past year brought a great change in connection with the library, namely the loss of its first librarian, Miss Sarah L. Honors.
The resolutions passed by this board best express this loss and the appreciation of her work, and are recorded as follows:
Resolutions on the Death of Miss Sarah L. Honors, Librarian of the Swampscott Public Library.
Whereas, the town of Swampscott has suffered the loss of Miss Sarah Louise Honors, librarian of the Swampscott Public Library, through her death on Thursday, February 14, 1924, and,
Whereas, the community, as well as the Board of Trustees of the Swampscott Public Library, mourn the loss of Miss Honors, who served the town faithfully, devotedly and efficiently from May first, 1880, to the date of her death, as its first librarian, and,
Whereas, her graciousness of manner and ready help awaited all who came to the library, and,
Whereas, as librarian, she rendered invaluable service in directing the reading of the youth of the town, and,
Whereas, it was her earnest endeavor to provide the best modern literature for those who use the library and to hold the library up to a high standard, and,
Whereas, by her own life of cheer and kindness, she emphasized the high plane on which she conducted the administration of the library,
Be it resolved, that we, the members of the Board of Trustees, express to her family our sympathy in their loss.
Be it further resolved that we, the Board of Trustees, hereby record our deep appreciation of her many years of useful public service and our gratitude for the great benefit derived.
Be it further resolved that these resolutions be spread upon the records and that a copy of the same be sent to her family.
A memorial tablet has been presented to the library by the school children of Swampscott and placed in the children's room.
Professor and Mrs. Elihu Thomson also presented the library with an excellent picture of Miss Honors, which is now placed in the librarian's room.
206
TOWN DOCUMENTS
[Dec. 31
Miss Lucy M. Eveleth has been chosen as the librarian, and much work has been done by her in replacing books and rearranging same for public use.
The library has been used by 1,002 people on Sundays, of whom 646 were children, 99 adults, and 257 students.
The story telling hour at the library has been very successful during the past year with an average attendance of forty children each Sunday afternoon. Mrs. Elgar Townsend, Mrs. James Walker and Mrs. Norman Dillingham have again given their services. The Board of Trustees appreciates very deeply the kindness of these ladies in continuing the work which has proved a great pleasure as well as benefit to the children of the town.
The trustees have considered a number of matters during the year, among them being the advisability of opening the library in the morning of certain days of the week, but on this matter there did not seem to be sufficient demand to justify such action being taken at this time.
The question of how to deal with the increasing use of the library by the children has also been considered.
The trustees have suggested in past years finishing the upper story in the building and have considered the matter of adding to the rear of the building. The town, nevertheless, deferred action on the proposal first mentioned, but the conditions must be dealt with in the future. This board makes no recommendations but offers the above suggestions.
The town is believed to be entitled to a refund of approximately $4,000 of the so-called bonus funds from the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. These funds alone are not sufficient to take care for the needs above referred to, but it is confidently believed and understood that the difference between the refund above mentioned and the amount required to be raised might be obtained by private subscription.
Report of Miss Lucy M. Eveleth, Librarian, for the Year 1924 CIRCULATION
Adult
Fiction
27,710
Non-Fiction
4,568
32,278
Juvenile
Fiction
10,689
Non-Fiction
2,062
12,751
Current Periodicals
759
Total Circulation
45,788
Number of new books added
518
Books in Library, Jan. 1, 1925
13,340
207
REPORT OF PUBLIC LIBRARY TRUSTEES
1924]
Periodicals added: Bookman, Elementary School Journal, House and Garden, Liberty.
During the year, old books, useless because they were out-of-date and of no literary value, have been removed from the shelves and discarded. As a result, the number of books on hand at the beginning of 1925 is smaller than at the beginning of 1924; but the material eliminated was useless, and we hope to fill the space it occupied with books which are new and up-to-date.
Fine receipts turned over to Town Treasurer, $175.
Approximate number of outstanding borrowers' cards 5,577.
The trustees and librarian gratefully acknowledge gifts of books from the following persons: Mrs. M. S. Bridges, of Swampscott; Miss Marion T. Hosmer, of West Medford, Mass .; Mrs. Geo. E. Smith, formerly of Swampscott, and Mrs. Willoughby Stuart, Jr., of Swampscott.
F. KEELER RICE, LOUISE C. STANLEY, ELIHU THOMSON,
December 31, 1924.
Board of Trustees.
·
208
TOWN DOCUMENTS
[Dec. 31
Report of Park Commissioners
To the Citizens of Swampscott:
Herewith is submitted the annual report of the Park Commis- sioners for the year ending December 31, 1924:
The organization of the Board has been the same as that of the previous year: James T. Lyons, Chairman, and Stuart P. Ellis, Secretary.
Monument Avenue Parkway
This reservation has been maintained in a very satisfactory man- ner the past season,-the lawns and shrubbery beds well cared for, and the ornamental planting and flower beds presented a very handsome appearance. Considerable work was done in the late fall on the strip between Burrill street and Elmwood road. This was in very poor condition as a result of its high grade, former locations of flower beds, and the worn out grass. After being thor- oughly dug over, many loads of gravel were removed to Phillips Park, the entire strip was well fertilized, and in the early spring will be graded and seeded for a new lawn.
Jackson Park
Considerable work was done here in the early spring to improve the grounds for baseball purposes. In order to provide a proper location for the back stop it was necessary to do considerable blast- ing and excavating in the hillside.
This was done and before the opening of next season a new wire back stop will be erected and a larger area provided for the games. A low stone wall was erected on the northeast side of the field; this should be extended toward Essex street as soon as practicable. Much enjoyment was had from the use of the toboggan slide, and many people, young and old, gather here to enjoy the sport.
Abbott Park
This continues to be the favorite play spot of the town, and it is unfortunate that the grounds cannot be kept in a more presentable condition, but because of the demand for skating here it is impos- sible to keep the grass in the flooded area in good condition. Every- thing possible is done to keep the plot looking tidy, though the results are not always satisfactory to the commissioners. In order to provide for band concerts the past summer the roof and posts of the old band stand were removed. This was declared to be essen-
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