USA > Massachusetts > Norfolk County > Weymouth > Town annual report of Weymouth 1903 > Part 8
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$12,860
$1,467,167
$232 22
2
1155
318,817
1,624,122
1,942,939
38,375
1,981,314
407 90
3
701
237,233
1,202,808
1,440,041
28,500
1,468,541
188 40
4
442
87,696
543,476
631,172
19,140
650,312
143 81
5
558
125,012
1,167,986
1,292,998
15,103
1,308,101
224 66
Total
3348
2121
$948,836
$5,812,621
[$6,761,457
$113,978
$6,875,435
$1,196 99
Resident Bank Stock Assessed .
$135,291
Tax Rate on $1,000, $22.10. Total Valuation .
$7,010,726
Number of horses
797
Number of cows
552
Number of neat cattle other than cows
.
36
Number of swine
47
Number of sheep
2
Number of fowl
1956
Number of houses
2713₴
.
In accordance with a vote of the town, we have prepared, and caused to be published, the valuation of the real and personal estate.
Respectfully submitted, FRANCIS H. COWING, GILMAN B. LOUD, JOHN W. BATES, GEORGE C. TORREY, GEORGE L. NEWTON,
Assessors.
Real and Per-
Assessed.
from
Assessed.
REPORT OF THE ENGINEERS OF THE FIRE DEPT.
To the Honorable Board of Selectmen:
GENTLEMEN :- I respectfully submit my report of the Fire Department.
The Board of Engineers was organized April 27, 1903, with choice of G. M. Pratt, Chief ; W. O. Collyer, Clerk ; other ·mem- bers are J. R. Walsh, D. W. Hart, and W. W. Pratt.
There are in the Department 166 men, and the apparatus con- sists of seven hose wagons, four hook and ladder trucks, two steamers and one chemical.
There have been many improvements in and around the houses ; a small addition was made to Ward One house, so as to allow the use of harnesses given them by the people in that ward.
The front of the house in Ward Three was changed, making three doors, an improvement in looks as well as convenience.
The old wooden platform was removed from the house in Ward Five and the incline paved, making a safe and permanent job.
The house in Ward Four (Nash's Corner) has been painted this year. The houses are now in good condition and only need usual repairs, painting, etc.
Hose Wagon No. 7 has been painted the past year. Steamer No. 1 has been repaired. This was done by a special committee and was turned over to the department in first-class shape. The department suffered no inconvenience during repairs, as the com- mittee furnished a steamer to take its place.
The apparatus is now, with the exception of Steamer 2, in good condition, and usual repairs and some new hose is all that is needed.
The steamer in Ward Two is in very bad condition and is liable to be out of commission at any time. I think it should be repaired at once, and not wait until it is used up, as we are tak- ing chances of injuring some one badly and perhaps killing them.
148
I wish to call your attention to the matter of horses for the department. While some of the wards are fairly well supplied, the service is not what it should be. In Ward Two the horses are a long way from the house, but the service rendered by the two parties who furnish them is first-class work, considering the distance. There is a system in use in many towns of having the horses in the fire department used for other purposes, on town roads, watering carts, etc. This is a matter that should be looked up with a view of improving the department in this direction.
I would suggest that the matter be brought up at the annual meeting.
ALARMS.
Ward One, seven.
Ward Two, fourteen.
Ward Three, five.
Ward Four, two.
Ward Five, eight.
Nine of these were for grass and woods, four false, one for trial, three still. There were two general alarms this year.
Value of property at risk $73,850.
Value of property destroyed $42,043.
I recommend the following appropriations :-
Salaries of firemen, engineers, stewards and super-
intendent of fire alarm .
$2,540 00
Poll taxes of firemen refunded
·
340 00
Engine house supplies
1,200 00
Hose .
500 00
Repairs of houses
200 00
Fire alarm .
700 00
Payment of men and horses at fires
1,200 00
Repairs of Steamer No. 2
800 00
$7,480 00
Respectfully yours,
G. M. PRATT, Chief.
149
To the Board of Fire Engineers :
GENTLEMEN :- Thinking but a few of the citizens know how the Fire Alarm system has grown, I will state a few facts in regard to it.
It is about twelve years since the system was introduced, and in that time it has more than doubled. There were about twenty- two miles of wire, fifteen boxes, two bell strikers, two whistle machines and five tappers, and these fall connected in one circuit with seventy-five cells of gravity battery furnishing the power to work the system.
New boxes have been added each year and the line extended, so that at the present time there are thirty-eight boxes, over forty miles of wire, six gongs and eight tappers besides the whistle machines and bell strikers.
A five-circuit repeater and protector-board have been added and the line divided into four circuits. As each mile of wire and set of magnets add resistance, more battery has been added. One hundred and sixty-five are now required to do the work.
The line is in good repair and has given very little trouble.
The line has been extended from the pumping station to the corner of Randolph and Forest Streets, and Box 61 has been located there.
Placing a telephone in my house makes it very convenient and saves lots of time in notifying me in case of trouble.
Respectfully yours,
H. L. HUMPHREY,
Superintendent.
REPORT OF THE LIGHTING COMMITTEE.
WEYMOUTH, January 1, 1904.
The Lighting Committee respectfully submit the following report :-
At the Annual Town Meeting held March 3, 1903, it was
Voted, To raise and appropriate the sum of $7,000 for electric lighting, to be expended under the direction of the following com- mittee : Frank H. Mason, chairman ; George W. Baker, Matthew O'Dowd, A. Francis Barnes and W. J. Coleman. Your com- mittee made a contract with the Weymouth Light and Power Co. to light the streets by electricity on a basis of 33 arc lights and 277 incandescent lights for the sum of $583.34 per month, less rebates for poor lights and lights not burning.
It was found that there was in use in the town 282 incandescent lights and 33 arc lights.
The Light and Power Co. agreed to accept the rebate for the year for the extra five lights, and further agreed that if the re- bates were not sufficient to pay for the same, which is $85, that they would not make any charge to the town over and above the amount of the rebate.
We have received several requests for additional lights, but could not grant them, as we had no appropriation at our disposal for that purpose.
We would recommend that the town put in a few of these lights, the same to be put in under the direction of the Lighting Committee.
While we have had complaints for lights out, we have always tried to see that the light was seen to at once. We have also had complaints from parties, of boys breaking the globes with shot guns and have known where the electric lights were replaced that they would be broken the next day. We have notified the com- pany of the fact and it will be attended to.
In the following resolutions we express our sympathy for the loss of our Chairman, Frank H. Mason.
151
WHEREAS, It has pleased our Heavenly Father to remove Frank H. Mason from our midst, therefore be it
RESOLVED, That the citizens of Weymouth have lost an ideal citizen and a faithful public servant, who was stricken down in the maturity of his powers.
RESOLVED, That this resolution be entered upon our records as a tribute of honor and respect.
The Weymouth Light and Power Company has greatly improved its street-lighting system by substituting all new arc lamps and fixtures of the latest up-to-date pattern.
The company has also put in the latest and most perfect con- trolling device for the system, which reduces to a minimum the liability of the Town being in darkness on stormy nights when the lights are most needed. During the short time that this system has been in operation the improvement has been marked, and the deductions made for lights "out " have been very few since the system has been in use.
The company has added to its power plant a new engine and electric generator of 250 horse power, and also two new con- densers of the latest type, and is putting its whole equipment in first-class condition.
The Town of Weymouth can feel assured that it will have as, efficient service as it is possible to give, and second to none.
We have approved bills for the following amounts :
Voucher No. 164, January
$569 49
66
334, February
.
576 78
612, March .
581 89
66
804, April
577 70
66
1,021, May
547 05
66 1,203, June
539 31
66 " 1,316, July
548 71
6 6 " 1,473, August
583 33.
66
" 1,632, September
.
565 57
66
" 1,851, October
535 90
66 " 2,100, November
582 88
66
" 2,351, December
582 88
$6,791 49
152
FINANCIAL STATEMENT.
Unexpended balance January 1, 1903 .
$1,464 74
Amount of appropriation · .
328 79
Amount of appropriation, March
7,000 00
Less amount of bills approved .
6,791 49
Unexpended balance, January 1, 1904 .
$2,002 04
Rebates have been deducted as follows :
January, 1903
$13 84
February, 1903
.
55
March, 1903
44
April, 1903
5 63
May, 1903
36 28
June, 1903
44 02
July, 1903
34 62
August, 1903
September, 1903
17 76
October, 1903
47 43
November, 1903
45
December, 1903
45
Signed,
GEO. W. BAKER, Chairman, A. FRANCIS BARNES, MATTHEW O'DOWD, WILLIAM J. COLEMAN, Secretary.
208 47
$8,793 53
REPORT OF THE CHIEF OF POLICE.
To the Honorable Board of Selectmen of the Town of Weymouth :
GENTLEMEN :- I herewith submit the second annual report of the Police Department of the Town of Weymouth for the year ending Jan. 1,. 1904 :
Total number of arrests, 217.
CLASSIFICATION OF CRIME.
CRIME AGAINST PUBLIC ORDER :
Drunkenness, 106. Disturbing the peace, 16.
Keeping intoxicating liquors with intent to sell, 8.
Vagrancy, 4.
Tramps, 1. Insane, 7. Trespass, 1.
Violation of town by-laws, 2.
Keeping an unlicensed dog, 1.
Refusing to work in the almshouse, 1. Illegal sale of renovated butter, 1.
CRIMES AGAINST PERSONS :
Assault, 15. Bastardy, 1.
Non-support, 1.
Neglect of children, 8.
Idle and disorderly, 1. Assault with a dangerous weapon, 1.
Dipsomania, 1. Threatening assault, 4. Epileptic, 2.
CRIMES AGAINST PROPERTY : Larceny, 16.
154
Breaking and entering, 2. Setting fires, 1. Conveying leased property, nol prossed, 1. Maliciously marring town building, 1.
DISPOSITION OF CASES.
DRUNKENNESS :
Paid fine of $3 each, 51.
Paid fine of $5 each, 3.
Paid fine of $10, 1.
Sent to House of Correction, 17.
Sent to State Farm, 9.
Released, 8.
Placed on file, 8.
Discharged, 4.
On probation, 2. Continued, 1.
Defaulted, 1.
Sureties to keep the peace, 1.
Keeping and exposing intoxicating liquors, 8; paid fine of $50 each in lower court, 7; fined $50 and three months in House of Correction, Superior Court, 1.
DISTURBING THE PEACE :
Paid fine of $8 each, 3.
Paid fine of $5 each, 2.
Paid fine of $3 each, 5.
Paid fine of $10 each, 2. Discharged, 4.
LARCENY : Held for the grand jury, 4.
Committed to the House of Correction for 1 month, 1.
Fined $15, committed to the House of Correction, 1.
Committed to the House of Correction for 4 months, in Superior Court, 1.
Committed to the House of Correction for 3 months, in Superior Court, 1. Discharged, 6. Guilty, on file, 2. Tramp, sentenced to State Farm, appealed, 1.
[
155
ASSAULTS : With a dangerous weapon, paid fine of $100, 1. Paid fine of $10 each, 5. Fined $25, appealed, 1. Committed to the House of Correction, 1. Discharged, 2. Not guilty, 1. On file, 4.
THREATENING ASSAULT : Held in sureties to keep the peace, 2.
Discharged, 2.
VIOLATION OF TOWN BY-LAWS : Paid fine of $2.00 each, 2.
BREAKING AND ENTERING :
On probation in Superior Court, 2. NEGLECTED CHILDREN :
-
Committed to State Board of Charity, 2.
Sentenced to State Board of Charity, (appealed) 3. Discharged, 3.
IDLE AND DISORDERLY :
Sent to State Industrial School, Lancaster, 1.
VAGRANCY : Committed to State Farm, 2. On file, 1. Discharged, 1.
TRUANCY : Placed on file, 1.
Keeping an unlicensed dog, pleaded nolo contendere, paid costs, 1.
Bastardy, child adopted, 1.
Non-support, on file, 1.
Illegal sale of renovated butter, on file, paid costs, 1.
Trespass, continued, 1. Setting fires, placed on file, 1. Conveying leased property, nol prossed, 1. Maliciously marring town building, fined $25, paid, 1.
Refusing to work in Almshouse, sent to State Farm in Superior Court, 1.
156
Insane, sent to Taunton Insane Hospital, 5.
Insane, sent to Westboro Hospital ,1.
Insane, sent to Worcester Hospital, 1. Epileptic, sent to Manson Hospital, 2.
Dipsomania, sent to Washingtonian Home, 1.
Search warrants for intoxicating liquors, 36.
Liquor seizures, 12.
Search for stolen goods, 6.
Search for gaming implements, 2.
Sent to State Prison to serve maximum sentence of 2} years more, 1.
Property recovered of value, $175.
Arrests for out of town officers, 10.
Total amount of fines, $801.
During the year there has not been any serious crime committed. There have been special men on duty in the several parts of the town which make the expenses more than usual. It is to be hop- ed that the public will not overlook the fact that the town is a difficult one to police, covering an area of 18 square miles and with a population of nearly 12,000. I think that with 5 regular men and specials to call upon that the department has done very well in regard to the law and order enforcement and that the town stands well in comparison with other towns. I feel justified in claiming that the police department is accomplishing all that can be reasonably expected of it under the circumstances.
Respectfully submitted,
THOMAS FITZGERALD, Chief of Police.
REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES OF THE TUFTS LIBRARY.
The Board of Trustees respectfully submit their twenty-fifth annual report as follows :-
During the year 1903 the library was open for the delivery of books 304 days. 52,784 volumes were loaned for home use, a daily average of 174. The largest number of books loaned on any one day was 339 on February 4, and the smallest number 44 on September 1.
The circulation of books through the agencies was as follows :
Precinct 1, Bartlett's store
6,184
1, Holden & Sladen's store .
2,296
Precincts 2 and 6, Salisbury's store 7,915
66 66 " Bates & Humphrey's store 1,962
Precinct 4, Pratt's store
1,105
4, Nash's store
2,252
5, Fogg Memorial Library ·
1,462
The High School
454
23,630
WORK WITH THE SCHOOLS.
Sixty-six teachers have borrowed 2,674 volumes on their special cards, but this indicates only a small part of the library's helpfulness to the scholars. Before the close of the summer term a graded list of books was sent to every school below the High School, with the request that the teachers should ask their pupils to read two, at least, of the books listed, during the vacation, with the expectation that the first language lesson of the fall term would be on " The Books I have Read During Vacation." The result was very gratifying; such books as " Ragged Dick," "Tattered Tom" and the "Optic Books " had more rest than usual, and better books were in constant demand.
In the spring Mr. Sherman, the Superintendent of Schools,
158
suggested that books be sent to those schools situated at so great a distance that the pupils received little benefit from the library. This seemed impossible at first without buying many books, but at length it was decided that enough suitable and interesting . books from those not of recent date could be furnished to start the work. The School Committee provided the boxes and early in the present school year the work was begun. Twenty-five to thirty books each are now sent every two months to the Athens, Bicknell, Franklin, Jefferson, Pratt, Shaw and Washington schools.
The High School borrows books for study only, but the lower grades read good stories and juvenile works of travel, history, poetry, natural science and fine and useful arts.
CLASSIFICATION OF CIRCULATION.
Arts, .020 ; biography, .025 ; fiction, including juvenile, .711 ; history, .034; literature, .018; natural science, .017; poetry, .009; social science, .012; theology, .003 ; travels, .034 ; peri- odicals, .117.
The statistics of circulation show that, although 4,600 more books were loaned this year than the previous year, the per cent. of fiction decreased .027. The largest increase was in period- icals.
The demand for the current magazines is very great, and extra copies are subscribed for to supply this demand. All of the magazines may be borrowed excepting one copy of the current number, which is kept in the reading room. A list of the period- icals may be found in Appendix B.
REGISTRATION OF BORROWERS.
The total number of applicants to date is 4,711, 306 having registered during the year. Special non-fiction cards were given to 157 persons.
STUDENT'S CARD.
The Student's card is issued for a limited period to anyone needing a number of books for special study. A few were made use of during the year.
159
EXAMINATION OF THE BOOKS.
The annual examination of the books was made at the usual time and 9 books are still unaccounted for. 2 books reported lost last year have since been found. More than 3,500 volumes have been repaired and covered at the library, besides 224 vol- umes which were sent to the binders. 108 books too badly worn or too much soiled to circulate longer have been withdrawn.
ACCESSIONS.
There have been 696 volumes added during the year. 86 vol- umes replace worn out books and 167 volumes including public documents have been donated. The trustees are always glad to receive suggestions for purchase and comply with all requests as far as possible. There have been many books recommended dur- ing the year that have been added to the library. The demands of the various clubs have been met in most cases but to facilitate this work, lists of the books needed should be sent to the library as soon as the programs are prepared, as it is often difficult to procure special books.
The following are some of the valuable books added to the loan department in 1903 :
Abbott's Old paths and legends of New England (224.160), Andrews' United States in our own time (616.76), Bacon's Hudson River from ocean to source (224.187), Blok's His- tory of the people of the Netherlands, 3v. (615.18), Borrow's Bible in Spain (226.91), Brandes' Main currents of 19th cent. literature, v.3 (117.36), Brooks' Social unrest (315.101), Del- lenbaugh's North Americans of yesterday (617.39), Dante's Divine comedy (124.14) and New life (124.15) tr. by Norton, Day's Nature in ornament (722.71), Fairbairn's Philosophy of the Christian religion (836.83), Fiske's Essays, historical and liter- ary 2v. (120.55), Fleming's How to study Shakespeare, 3v. (820.40), Fromentin's Old masters of Belgium and Holland (722.97), Gilder's Bible for children (836.15), Hawthorne's Hawthorne and his circle (220.31), Kennan's Siberia and the exile system, 2v. (236.56), Lavignac's Musical education (721.202), Marvin's American merchant marine (317.120), Moore's Old china book (727.130), Morley's Cromwell (917.17), Murray's Letters of James Murray, loyalist (917.33), Nichols'
160
Through hidden Shensi (235.99), Norman's All the Russias (236.59), Schirmer's Album of sacred songs, 3v. (721.237), Taft's History of American sculpture (727.161), Trevelyan's American Revolution, part 2 in 2 v. (617.93), and Wharton's Salons, colonial and republican (614.139).
INTER-LIBRARY LOANS.
The Inter-Library loan system, as in the preceding year, was a benefit to some students, and thanks are due the Boston Public Library for granting the use of its books to the library.
CATALOGS.
Class List No. 3, prepared during 1903, has been printed and is very helpful. There are now three class lists, cataloging the books to the date of issue. A bulletin should be printed each year until enough books have been added to form a supplement to the class lists. The bulletin for 1903 was not issued on account of the expense, but the trustees hope to print one the coming year. Part 2 of the Fiction list containing the titles of all books in this class should be published soon.
The card catalog, the only complete catalog possible, is kept up to date, but to make it a modern catalog, worthy of the library, it should be thoroughly revised and placed in a new case.
The accessions of the year have been listed in the Gazette, as usual.
READING AND REFERENCE ROOM.
A case for the periodicals has been placed in the Reading Room, on which the magazines are arranged alphabetically. . During the coming year the books in this department should be classified and renumbered, so that one may easily find the needed book.
No record of statistics, of the help given or books used in the Reference Room is kept, but no department of the library is more important, and this branch of library work is constantly increas- ing.
The important books of reference added are The Encyclopædia Britannica Supplement, 11 v .; Hazell's Annual, Massachusetts Year book, and the Statesman's Year book for 1903; Larned's Literature of American history ; March's Thesaurus Dictionary of
161
the English language ; Phyfe's 5000 facts and fancies ; and the Supplement to Poole's Index to Periodical literature, v5.
Although this room should be very quiet, it is to be regretted that some persons have thought it a good place in which to carry on long conversations with their friends, thus preventing others from using the room for its legitimate purpose. Every one in any way disturbed is requested to make complaint to the librarian.
ART EXHIBITIONS.
Ten exhibitions of photographs were held in the Reading Room. The subjects were Alaska, Elson Prints, Early Venice, Switzer- land No. 2, China, English Country Houses, Harper's Black and White prints, and Yachts. During "Old Home Week", celebra- ted this year by the town for the first time, the library held an exhibition of paintings by artists of Weymouth and vicinity which was greatly appreciated by the residents and visitors.
Thursday, July 30, was appointed as special Library Day, and all day until nearly 9 o'clock in the evening the rooms were filled with people.
The exhibition was a great success and the thanks of all are due to the artists who so generously loaned their paintings. The names of the artists are as follows : Mrs. H. B. Bachelder, W. W. Churchill, Miss E: L. Clapp, Miss E. C. Colby, J. J. Enne- king, Mrs. E. Sheppard Gallagher, Miss M. L. Gallagher, Dr. W. F. Hathaway, Mrs. H. H. B. Hobart, E. Aubrey Hunt, Mrs. Russell Lane, Mrs. C. A. Linton, Mrs. Charles W. Mellen, Mrs. S. S. Robinson, Rev. H. I. Senior, Mrs. K. Pierce Thayer, Mrs. M. W. Wellington.
GIFTS.
Books and pamphlets have been received from thirty different sources ; the reports, bulletins or other publications from forty- seven libraries ; the Weymouth Gazette, Weymouth Transcript and Woman's Journal, from the publishers, and The Musician from Mr. Gutterson. These gifts are appreciated, and the Trustees herewith thank the donors.
162
With deep sorrow the death of Frank H. Mason is here re- corded. Chosen as Trustee of the Library by the town in March, 1892, he was prominent in its management and always took great interest in its welfare. For more than twelve years be was clerk and treasurer of the Board of Trustees and for more than four years a valuable member of the Book Committee. He be- lieved in the library as an educational force in the town and was willing to devote time and energy to its growth and prosperity.
CHARLES P. HUNT, By order and in behalf of the Trustees ..
SPECIAL REPORT.
At a special meeting of the Trustees of the Tufts Library, April 11th, 1903, called to consider the leasing of the store occu- pied by James W. Rand to the United States Postoffice Depart- ment for a postoffice, a committee of three was appointed to investigate and report at an adjourned meeting, April 18th. The committee reported that the United States Postoffice Department would lease the store at a rental of $450 per year, to include light, heat and water, and required the Trustees to fit up the store for a postoffice complete ready for occupancy subject to the approval of the Postoffice Department. It was voted to lease the store to the United States Postoffice Department, and a committee was chosen to carry out the same. After some discussion as to the manner of raising the money to fit up the store, Mr. Augustus J. Richards, President of the Board, offered to loan the amount required to furnish the store for a postoffice with interest at 6 per cent., and he to receive fifty dollars and interest on the same every quarter when the rent was paid, and at the end of the term of the lease, which is four and one-half years from July 1st, 1903, Mr. Richards would have received payment for money loaned and interest and the postoffice fittings would become the property of the Town of Weymouth, and the Town, or Tufts Library, would receive full benefit of the increased rental. The rent received before by the Library was two hundred dollars per year.
TRUSTEES TUFTS LIBRARY, CHARLES P. HUNT, Secretary.
163
APPENDIX A .- NAMES OF DONORS.
American Swedenborg Printing and Publishing Co. Beveridge, Hon. A. J. Boston Record Commissioners. Bowdoin College.
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