USA > Massachusetts > Norfolk County > Weymouth > Town annual report of Weymouth 1905 > Part 6
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4,000 00
Valuation Book
97 18
97 18
Town House
254 86
Publishing Vital Records
200 00
Use R. M. White's dwelling
210 00*
Storage Battery
1.300 00.
Memorial Day
400 00,
Hydrants and Fountains
5,000 00
Note due May 1, 1905
6.000 00.
Town Officers
903 63
6.808 32
Poor Account
1,166 86
3,500 00
12,000 00
$1,993 76
$28,972 79
$8,407 93 $145,648 32
8.407 93
Total Appropriation
$154.056 25
·
.
and
118
Statement of Appropriations and Expenditures, January 1 to December 31, 1905.
OBJECT OF APPROPRIATION.
Appropria- tion.
Expended.
Unex- pended.
Expended in Excess.
Support of Schools
$64,879 39
$54,484 35 $10,395 04
Transportation of Pupils
2,180 80
1,841 00
339 80
High School Sinking Fund
10,000 00
10,000 00
Highway Repairs
10,088 50
11,942 76
$1,854 26
Removal of Snow
6,028 32
3,376 99
2,651 33
Bridges
840 00
1,200 00
360 00
Holbrook Road
28 42
28 42
Pilgrim Road
200 00
190 9
9 04
Summit Street
302 15
327 46
25 31
Saunders Street
300 00
300 00
Keith Street .
300 00
266 51
33 49
Chard Street
549 45
532 02
17 43
Jackson Square-Relocation
300 00
1,273 30
973 30
Public Parks
112 50
35 25
77 25
Preservation Shade Trees
293 88
317 10
23 22
Street Records-Indexing
75 00
75 00
Health Department
550 65
414 12
136 53
Fire Department .
7,059 29
7,232 32
173 03
Police Department
6,088 05
4,563 85
1,524 20
Tufts Library
3,724 22
2,488 11
1,236 11
Reading Rm. Fogg Library .
625 00
500 00
125 00
Abatements and Remittances
1,003 09
1,273 33
270 24
Interest and Discount .
8,304 57
6,834 22
1,470 35
Printing and Advertising
2,128 31
1,233 23
895 08
Electric Lighting
9,457 85
7,297 14
2,160 71
Miscellaneous Expenses
3,333 63|
3,078 96
254 67
Election Expenses
749 87
658 85
91 02
Town Offices
713 64
761 66
48 02
:State and Military Aid and Soldiers' Burials
10,160 61
9,680 77
479 84
:Soldiers' Relief
4,933 20
4,635 37
297 83
Town House
254 86
31 36
223 50
Publishing Vital Records
200 00
200 00
Use R. M. White's Dwelling
210 00
213 09
3 09
Storage Battery
1,300 00
1,299 17
83
Memorial Day
400 00
400 00
Hydrants and Dr. Fountains
5,000 00
5,000 00
Note Due May 1, 1905 .
6,000 00
6,000 00
Town Officers
7,711 95
7,246 41
465 54
Poor Account
14,333 14
15,399 47
1,066 33
State Road-No Appropria-
tion. Total amount paid by State, $10,499.81 .
10,499 81
12,796 58
2,296 77
$201,220 15
$185,325 71|$22,988 01
$7,093 57
7,093 57
22,988 01
$208,313 72
$208,313 72
.
.
·
TRIAL BALANCE, JANUARY 1, 1906.
School houses and lots
$181,400 00
Engine houses and lots
44,000 00
Tufts Public Library
21,200 00
James B. Pratt place
300 00
Street Department, fixtures
4,800 06
Fire apparatus
17,475 00
Town farm
16,400 00
Town farm, personal property .
7,923 40
Water Department, real estate .
800 00
Water Department, personal
7,892 00
Water Department, water rents
3,870 51
Water Department, material and labor
856 28
Water Department, construction Water Department, sinking fund
499,080 70
210,790 80
High School sinking fund .
42,084 46
Tax Collector .
59,369 76
Town Treasurer
8,601 54
State Treasurer
9,997 73
County Treasurer
1,323 73
County Commissioners
726 00
Due from cities and towns
2,212 58
Refund hospital bills
424 35
Tax deeds
805 39
F. W. Piercy .
122 76
State road account
2,296 77
Highways, appropriation .
1,854 26
Bridges, appropriation
360 00
Summit street appropriation
25 31
Jackson square relocation, ap- propriation 973 30
. Preservation shade trees, appro- priation
23 22
Fire Department, appropriation
173 03
Abatements and remittances
270 24
Town offices
48 02
Use R. M. White's dwelling
3 09
Poor account .
1,066 33
·
Amount carried forward
$1,149,550 56
120
Amount brought forward $1,149,550 56
Water bonds
$471,000 00
Notes payable .
167,500 00
Corporation and National Bank tax
2,394 54
Support of schools, appropria- tion
10,395 04
Transportation pupils, appro- priation
339 80
Removal of snow, appropriation
2,651 33
Electric lighting, appropriation
2,160 71
Police Department, appropriation Health Department, appropria- tion
1,524 20
136 53
Town Officers, appropriation
465 54
Printing and advertising, appro- priation
895 08
Pilgrim road, appropriation
9 04
Holbrook road, appropriation
28 42
Keith street, appropriation
33 49
Chard street, appropriation
17 43
Public Parks, appropriation
77 25
Tufts Library, appropriation
1,236 11
Reading Rm. Fogg Library, ap- propriation
125 00
Interest and Discount, appro- priation .
1,470 35
Miscellaneous expenses, appro- priation
254 67
Election expenses, appropria- tion
91 02
Town House, appropriation
223 50
Street records, appropriation
75 00
State and military aid, appro- priation
479 84
Soldiers' Relief, appropriation .
297 83
Storage Battery, appropriation Town of Weymouth, appropria- tion
83
485,668 01
$1,149,550 56 $1,149,550 56
CHARLES B. CUSHING, Town Accountant.
REPORT OF SELECTMEN
The Selectmen of Weymouth hereby submit their Annual Report, together with the foregoing statement in detail by the Town Accountant of the expenditures under the several appro- priations, for the year ending December 31, 1905.
HIGHWAYS.
Following the custom established by vote of the town in 1902, the Selectmen and Water Commissioners held a joint meeting on March 20 for the purpose of appointing a Superintendent of Streets and of Water, and a Town Accountant.
Ivers M. Lowe having filled the position of Superintendent acceptably for the last three years was re-appointed to the position and his salary fixed at $1,700, of which $950 was to be paid by the Selectmen and $750 by the Water Board.
Charles B. Cushing was re-appointed Accountant at a salary of $1,000, of which $800 was to be paid by this Board and $200 by the Water Board.
The Superintendent of Streets, in his report treats fully of the highway work, and for information in regard to the same we refer thereto.
The drainage of the portion of Broad Street, adjacent to the house and land of Dr. Chase, which was referred by action of the town, without instruction, to this Board, was considered early in the season. A careful estimate was make of the probable cost, and it was found that it would be about $800. There is no doubt of the need of this work, but we did not feel justified in using so large a proportion of the highway repairs appropriation for this purpose, so the work remains undonc. We have to report a further reduction in the amount received from the street railway corporation tax, by reason, in part of the decrease in value of the stock of the company, and in part, by the expensive power plant built in Quincy, the value of which is subject to local taxation as real estate and machinery in that city, reducing the amount
122
subject to corporation tax thereby. This tax was made a part of the highway repairs appropriation with the supposition that it would be practically the same as for last year, and its shrinkage by $1,492.12 reduces the appropriation by that amount.
As the amount of the corporation tax cannot be known until December, it is unfortunate that we are obliged to carry it as a fixed amount if it is to be subject to such violent fluctuation.
REMOVAL OF SNOW.
The cost for removal of snow has been very materially less than the average of late years. There remains to this account a balance unexpended of $2,651.33, which by present indications should be sufficient for the remainder of the winter.
At this writing it seems probable that the damage to the streets by the frequent freezing and thawing will more than offset the saving by the absence of snow.
NEW WORK. PILGRIM ROAD.
Of the appropriation of $200 for working Pilgrim road there remains unexpended a balance of $9.04. A further appropriation of $300 will be necessary to complete this work.
SAUNDERS STREET.
This street, which was reported to the town at the last annual meeting and accepted, has been worked for the appropriation of $300 then made.
CHARD STREET WIDENING.
The widening of this street, as voted by the town, has been completed with a remaining balance of $17.43.
SUMMIT STREET.
The work under the special appropriation for Summit street of $302.15 has been performed at an expense exceeding the appro- priation by $25.37.
KEITH STREET.
The Keith street special appropriation of $300 has been worked, leaving a balance of $33.49.
123
COUNTY COMMISSIONERS RE-LOCATION ON BROAD STREET.
The report of the Selectmen for the year 1904 mentioned a decree of the County Commissioners by which a portion of the lines of Pleasant street and Broad street at Jackson square were re-located. The petition under which the Commissioners worked in making this change did not go beyond the northerly line of the Merchant property on Commercial street, and an abrupt ending was made at this point of about ten feet difference between the old and the new line. As the Commissioners did not wish to go beyond the scope of their petion to complete the job as they thought it should be, they recommended that a new petition be put in covering the front of the property of the Congregational Society. This Board forwarded such a petition, which was duly considered, and under date of October 17, 1905, a decree was re- ceived from the Commissioners extending the re-location along this front and awarding $200 land damage to said Society, the same to be settled by the town, and a like amount to be paid the town by the county upon completion of the work. As a matter of convenience the working of these two decrees have been carried under one account. The work is completed and with the excep- tion of the award to the heirs of R. V. Merchant, which has not yet been settled, the abuttors have been paid as follows :
Mrs. Abbie J. Bicknell .
$264 76
Heirs of Prescott Lothrop
100 00
Old Colony Street Railway Company ·
10 00
First Congregational Society · 200 00
For the working of the 1904 layout there was appropriated $300.00. A further appropriation of $247.30 will be necessary to defray the expense of working both layouts.
STATE HIGHWAY.
No new contract has been submitted by the Highway Commis- sion for the further working of Main street.
Until just the standing of the account under the two previous contracts could be known we thought it not best to take the initia- tive in a new one. We have been able to secure some allowances above what were reported last year, which together with the work of the present year show the account to date, as follows :
124
Total cost to town
. $12,688 21
Received from State
10,499 81
Expended in excess of receipts
2,188 40
There was laid out for labor, material, tools, etc., before com- mencing work on the contracts 1,221.95. While this preliminary expense was necessary, we consider that not more than $500. of it is property chargeable to these two contracts, which would show a net loss of $1,466.45. We are not satisfied with this showing and have endeavored to secure further concessions from the commissioners which we thought rightly our due, but without success.
We still think the contracts ought to have been worked without loss, and that this was not the case we feel was due to the man- agement on the part of the Commission rather than that of the town.
STREET RAILWAY RELOCATION.
The section of street railway track upon Broad street, between Lincoln square and Webb street, has been in a condition not only objectionable, but dangerous to public travel, by reason of the nearness of the track to the trees and poles and by the condition of the road bed. After a hearing upon a petition for relocation of this section of track, it was ordered that the same be relaid, sub- stantially two feet nearer the centre of the road, with girder rails, and the part of the road occupied by the track macadamized. The order called for the completion of the work by October 31.
The company objected strenuously to the girder rail provision, and, as it seemed to us, availed themselves of all oppertunity for delay. After a hearing before the Railroad Commissioners the requirement as to rails was modified by making it a tee rail weigh- ing not less than sixty pounds to the yard.
The company then claimed that it would be impossible for them to make the change before the ground was likely to be frozen up for the winter, by reason of the special work which would be required to be made for the curves, and asked for an extension of time to April 30, 1906. Though reluctant to have the work go over to another season, we at length conceded this request, and it now seems probable that this long-needed improvement will be made in the early Spring.
125
POLICE.
Thomas Fitzgerald was reappointed Chief of Police at a salary of $800, and has performed the duties of the office in his usual unostentatious, but none the less faithful, manner.
His report, which is found elsewhere, will, we think, convince most people that our paid police force, while small, accomplishes a great deal of work and is deserving of the confidence and sup- port of our citizens.
Patrick Butler was reappointed Inspector, and Arthur H. Pratt, John D. Walsh and Michael Allen, Night Patrol, constituting, with the Chief, the whole of our regular police force.
When the field of operations which they are required to cover is considered, it seems to us that their work has been done with commendable thoroughness. 'We think that in the observance of law and order the conditions which prevail in our town are much above the average of towns of like population, and for securing this result we are glad to give due credit to our police.
There is a growing need of better police protection in the north part of the town, manifested principally by disturbances created by persons under the influence of liquor, who come in on the street cars and by numerous breaks in the night time. We think that during the whole or a part of the coming year a night officer should be provided for this section, which would require an increase of the appropriation of $500. Numerous complaints were received of the lawless speeding of automobiles on some of our streets, particularly on Bridge street, which is the main thoroughfare from Boston and surrounding cities and towns to Nantasket Beach. There is no way of securing a conviction in Court of these offenders without positive evidence of over-speed- ing by timing with stop-watches over a measured course. Our officers have done some good work in this line, but it looks, if life and limb are to be protected for the general travellers upon our streets, as though much more would need to be done the coming season.
PERAMBULATION OF TOWN LINES.
The perambulation of the town lines, which, by the law of the Commonwealth, is required to be made every five years by the Selectmen of contiguous towns, came on this year with all of our bordering towns, and was duly made. There are thirty-four
126
bound stones on our border, distributed as follows : Hingham 9, Rockland 3, Abington 6, Holbrook 7, Braintree 13, counting twice the stones where two of the bordering towns come together. These were all found and acknowledged to be in their proper places.
TOWN HOUSE.
The Town House has been visited by an inspector from the State Police Department, and the following minor changes ordered : The door at the rear of the house to swing outward, and the word "Exit," in 6-inch letters, placed over all doors of exit from the hall. This order has been complied with.
BILLS PAYABLE.
A Jefferson School House note of $6,000, for which the money was raised by taxation, has been paid.
A Washington School House note of $7,500 becomes due Jan. 1906. Coming upon the new calendar year this note was over- looked at the last annual meeting and no provision made for it. The treasurer will be able to take care of this note at maturity, but it will be necessary to raise the amount at the coming annual meeting. Another Washington School House note of like amount, becomes payable January 1, 1907.
We do not think it wise to raise money by taxation for both these notes in one year, and as no note of the town becomes due in the year 1908, we recommend that one of $7,500, becoming payable Nov. 1, 1908, be issued to provide for payment of that maturing Jan. 1, 1907.
CENSUS.
We have received from the Bureau of Statistics of Labor the preliminary count for this town in the Deceminal Census of 1905, by which it appears that the population of the town is 11,585 ; of which number 5,628 are males and 5,957 are females. This shows a gain of 259, compared with the U. S. census of the year 1900 ; or 294, compared with the State census of 1895.
GYPSY AND BROWN TAIL MOTHS.
By the provisions of Chapter 381, of the Acts of 1905, the gypsy and brown tail moths are declared public nuisances, and their suppression is authorized and required.
127
The same act specifies the procedure to be adopted in carrying on the work and the amounts which cities and towns are called upon to expend before they are entitled to help from the state. Our town, especially the north part, was found to be quite generally infested with both of these moths, and by the provision of the act and the requirement of the State Superintendent appointed there- under the work was taken up in November, and notices sent to all owners of real estate in town. The receipt of one of these notices by a person did not necessarily mean that their property was infested, but it placed on them the duty of determining whether it was, and if so, of clearing them off. It also gave right to the town authorities to enter upon any land where the owners had failed to destroy the moths in the time specified, per- form the work necessary, and collect from the owners for the cost of such work to the extent of one half of one per cent. of the value of the land.
The amount which this town is required to expend before it is entitled to relief from the state is, for the year 1906, $2,826.15. We were in doubt as to the advisability of calling a meeting of the town for the purpose of providing for the cost of the work, but as the amount which was likely to be required for the calender year 1905 was not likely to much exceed the appropriation for the preservation of shade trees we decided not to do so. Dummer Sewell has been appointed local superintendent of the work, and has in connection with an agent of the State Superintendent made a general inspection of the town as far as the streets and the land immediately bordering them is concerned with the result before stated.
The work upon the streets in Ward One is well under way and as soon as practical after the first of January an increased num- ber of men will be put on and the work pushed so as to have the nests destroyed before the insects commence their destructive work in the spring.
The gypsy moth, when in large numbers, seems to feed upon absolutely every green thing. We have seen their work in the city of Medford, where hundreds of large pines were killed the last season by one defoliation. Deciduous trees are killed by being stripped twice, or at most three times.
The brown tail moths prefer pear or apple trees, but when in force they take about all trees except pine, white ash and hickory :
128
they are also extremely annoying by reason of an exasperating rash occasioned by their coming in contact with the skin. We trust our citizens generally will be sufficiently impressed with the seriousness of the situation to put forth every effort to destroy all of the pests found on their premises. The gypsy moth eggs are readily destroyed by the application of creosote mixture with a brush : they should in no case be scraped from the tree or other object where they may be laid, as they are very tenacious of life and are likely to hatch upon the ground. The nests of the brown tail moths, which contain the young, remaining dormant in them through the winter, should always be destroyed by fire, prefer- ably in a stove or furnace. The nests of these resist heat to such a degree that the caterpillers have been found in some cases to come out in good working conditions where masses of them have been burned upon the ground.
The young of the brown tail moths are being destroyed to some extent in their winter nests by a fungus : how far nature is going to help us in this way cannot yet be known.
The work of suppressing these moths bids fair to be expensive, but it would be more expensive not to do so, as aside from the damage done by the insect a penalty of one hundred dollars a day is imposed by the law upon towns or cities neglecting or re- fusing to carry out the instructions of the State Superintendent.
BOARD OF HEALTH.
The town having declined at the last annual meeting to elect a board of health, the duties of that office again devolved upon the Selectmen : we have endeavored to fulfill them to the best of our ability.
CONTAGIOUS DISEASES.
The number of cases of contagious disease which have been re- ported are as follows :-
Diphtheria, 20
Scarlet Fever, 52
Typhoid Fever,
6
Though not numerous at any time, scattering cases of both diphteria and scarlet fever have occured through most months of the year. We would urge upon members of families where these diseases occurs that they exercise the greatest care in regard to
129
exposing others, especially by mingling in public gatherings and by riding upon the street cars : we are convinced that many cases are contracted in this way. It is of the greatest importance that light cases be guarded from the public with as great care as those where the disease assumes a more violent form, as the danger of infection may be as great in one as the other. A case of scarlet fever was discovered December 11 in a child who had been attending the Jefferson school through all stages of the di- sease but who had not been thought sick enough by the parents to be kept from school, they not knowing that he had scarlet fever. As it seemed probable that the whole school might have been ex- posed it was thought best to close the school for two weeks, which was done. Fortunately but two cases occured which could have been contracted from this, but with the chance which seemed to exist of a general infection of the school we think the closing of it was a wise precaution.
The six cases of typhoid fever were in families where well water was used, and the supposition is that the water was the source through which the disease was contracted. In cases where water from wells still continues to be used for domestic purposes or for cows, we would urge the necessity of having sink drains, privy vaults and manure piles at a sufficient distance to prevent contamination.
TUBERCULOSIS.
This Board visited the recent tuberculosis exhibition given at the Horticultural Building, Boston, by the State Board of Health. The object of this exhibition was to disseminate knowledge con- cerning the ways in which the disease is likely to be contracted, and the best means of combatting its spread, including the care of patients.
While the statistics of the State Board show a marked decrease in the per centage of deaths of the population from this cause for the last ten years as compared with the first ten of the last half century ; attributable, it is claimed to a better knowledge of the manner in which the disease is spread and improved methods of treating it; the fact remains that it still occasions the largest number of deaths of any malady the world over. Taking our own town for illustration, which shows a fair average for this state; an examination of the reports of the last ten years shows
130
that one death in every eight is occasioned by tuberculosis. The investigations of recent years lead to the conclusion that the disease is to a large extent preventable, and in many instances curable, if taken in its early stages. The means upon which the most dependence is placed for eradicating it are the thorough disinfection of all clothing which has been used by the patient and the apartments occupied by them ; but more important than all else, the destruction by fire of all sputum thrown off by them ; this being the means by which the disease is communicated from one to another. The principal danger lies in the sputum becom- ing dried and raised into the air in the form of dust, in which it. is in the most contagious condition and is communicated by inhaling into the lungs to the new victim.
It seems not to be asking too much ; indeed, only the observing of ordinary precaution for self-preservation, to request and urge that in all cases where the disease occurs the foregoing precau- tions be heeded.
It is the hope and expectation of those who have devoted years to the study of tubercolosis that it will eventually be controlled to as great an extent as small-pox now is by vaccination. This end can, however, only be secured by the exercise of the utmost care on the part of the patients and those having them in charge.
NUISANCES.
About the usnal number of complaints have been received con- cerning nuisances occasioned by privy vaults, sink drains, etc. As a rule we have found the owners ready to co-operate with the board when their attention was called to the matter, in abating such nuisances. We only repeat what has often been said when we say that there are parts of our town where the proper disposal of house drainage without a sewerage system seems al- most impossible, the means employed to this end being un- avoidably, but makeshifts. We wait with interest the report of the committee charged with investigating the sewerage question.
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