USA > Massachusetts > Norfolk County > Weymouth > Town annual report of Weymouth 1906 > Part 2
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The complication mentioned in the last report, arising by reason of the cost of original construction plus expenses of the Com- mission, exceeding the amount provided under the original Act, was remedied by the passage of Chapter 495 of the Acts of 1906, which authorized the County Commissioners to pay the compensa- tion and expenses of the Commissioners to an amount not exceed- ing $5,000, and charge the same to the expense of the construction of the bridge.
Hearings were readvertised by the new Commission for the third time, and after several hearings and conferences the matter
19
was finally submitted to the Commission for its award. In due course the Commission filed its report, apportioning the cost of the bridge and future maintenance as follows :
Quincy
33 %
Norfolk County
20%
Old Colony Street Railway Co.
·
15 %
Hingham
11%
Weymouth
10%
Cohasset
.
.
6 %
Hull . .
2%
Scituate
2 %
Marshfield
1 %
The amounts are as follows :
Cost.
Interest.
Quincy
·
$34,642 22
$5,762 22
Norfolk County
20,995 29
3,492 26
Old Colony Street Railway Co.
15,746 46
2,619 19
Hingham
. 11,547 41
1,920 74
Weymouth
.
.
· 10,497 64
1,746 13
Cohasset
6,298 59
1,047 68
Hull
2,099 53
349 23
Scituate
2,099 53
349 23
Marshfield
1,049 76
174 61
.
This report was accepted and confirmed by the Court on November 21, 1906, and the whole proceedings are now closed.
During the whole proceedings in regard to the bridge, the town was represented by Albert P. Worthen, Esq., who has given his best efforts in protecting its interests.
The members of the board attended the hearings and have done all in their power to assist our counsel in the handling of the case. We think the citizens of the town will agree with us in the opinion, that the results obtained are as favorable as we had reason to expect.
The assessment of cost, $10,497.64, and also that of interest, $1,746.13 will need to be provided for at the coming annual meeting.
As the town has paid for maintenance up to October 8, 1906, $2,502.28, the bridge trustees use the assessment against us for that purpose, viz. : $500.46, as a credit, and we have due us a reimbursement of $2,001.82.
·
·
.
20
POLICE.
The organization of our Police department has been the same as for the previous year.
Thomas Fitzgerald, Chief, and the four salaried officers under him have worked together harmoniously, and the results obtained in enforcing the observance of law and order speak well for their diligence and faithfulness.
We have had renewed calls from Ward One for a night patrol, but with no provision made by the town for the payment of such, we have been unable to furnish a regular officer.
We refer to the report of the Chief of Police for a detailed statement of the work of the deparment.
FIRE DEPARTMENT.
We think the fire department has been maintained in efficiency fully up to the standard of recent years.
For information concerning the work of the department for the past year and its needs for the coming year, we refer to the report of the chief.
TOWN NOTES.
A Washington Schoolhouse note of $7,500, which became due Jan. 1, 1906, was paid from money in the treasury at that time, and by vote of the town a note has been issued of like amount to provide for the deficiency so created.
Another Washington Schoolhouse note of same amount as the above becomes due Jan. 1, 1907, and is provided for by money raised by taxation.
No note for which provision need be made becomes due during the financial year ending April 1, 1908.
The notes authorized by vote of the special meeting held May 18, to the amount of $13,000, for a new schoolhouse in the vicinity of that part of Weymouth known as Lovell's Corner have been issued.
Of the two notes of $5,000 and $6,000 respectively, author- ized at the same meeting, for the removal of the Town House, the latter has been sold, and the other at this date remains unsold.
Under the provisions of Article 4, of the warrant for said meeting, authorizing the Treasurer, with the approval of the
21
Selectmen, to borrow forty thousand dollars, and to issue notes therefor, for a term of twenty years or less, at the discretion of the Selectmen, for the building of a new eight room schoolhouse in Ward Two, four notes of $10,000 each were made, maturing 1921, 1922, 1923 and 1924 respectively ; but the Treasurer was unable to sell them, as the loaners of money on this class of securities require that the town by vote determine the time when the notes shall become payable. It will therefore be necessary, before further payments can be made upon this building, for the town to pass a vote which will be acceptable to the loaners.
MOTHS.
For the work of destroying the gypsy and brown tail moths under the Act of 1905, Chap. 381, Dummer Sewall was again appointed local superintendent and he has had general charge of the work under state supervision, through the year.
By the terms of the law, the appropriation of last year $2,826, was required to be expended during the calendar year of 1906, before the town was entitled to relief from the state appropria- tion. The appropriation was expended about the first of Novem- ber and as the state stood ready to pay their 80 per cent. of the excess of the above amount, and the work would have had to be done after the first of January if not before, we considered it ad- visable to advance it as far as possible before the end of the year.
Under the 1905 law, which expires May 1, 1907, this town is required to raise $1,413.07 to be used if needed before May 1.
It cannot yet be known what action the present Legislature will take in regard to the further carrying on of the work. If the brown tail moths had been cleared from the government reserva- tion last year (1905) it seems probable that they would now have been pretty well under control, whereas by this being left un- cleared the moths again spread quite freely as far south as Broad street.
We have had the reservation cleared this last fall and believe there will be no colony from which they will spread next summer.
The situation in regard to the gypsy moth is not so encourag- ing : while by the work of the past year their numbers have been well reduced wherever they appeared in any considerable force, it is found that there are many scattering egg clusters in sections where they were not previously discovered.
22
The most serious condition appears to be in the woods along the division line between Weymouth and Hingham, the whole length of this line having been found to be more or less infested.
We have been in frequent conference with Frank A. Bates, agent for A. H. Kirkland, State Superintendent, and have fol- lowed his suggestions in carrying on the work.
We quote from a letter from Mr. Bates, received near the end of the year, stating the conditions in regard to the gypsy moth as he sees them :
"Board of Selectmen of Weymouth :
"GENTLEMEN :- In accordance with my promise I will try to convey to you my estimate of the necessary work to be done in Weymouth during the coming four months.
"According to the law, the liability of the town is $1,413.07, up to and including May 1, 1907. I advise this sum to finance the work to May 1.
The street trees have been cleaned of the gypsy moth, and the webs of the brown-tail moth have been removed from the street trees in the worst infested sections of the town (east and north sections). About $200.00 more, will, I estimate, clean the rest of the street trees. Thus there remains as a town expense only the excess of liability on the private properties.
"So much work was done on the preliminary inspection of these places, that it seems to us that the liability of one-half of one per cent. will cover the necessary expense in most cases in the residential sections. In any case, however, where expense addi- tional to the liability is necessary, we shall recommend that the work be thoroughly done, as the most economical method to be followed. For the town has gone to considerable expense to locate infestations by our recommendation, and done all that seemed economical to the town as a whole. In all cases, where nests of the gypsy moth especially were located, all of them within easy access were treated with creasote at once, on the ground that the quicker they were killed and out of the way, the better for the community at large. In some cases the hollow trees were torn open, where it could be done without too much expend- iture of time. In this way much scattering of eggs was pre- vented.
23
"In the time that we have been able to spare in the inspection of the wooded areas, we found that there is a scattered infesta- tion in the section bounded by Pleasant street, and the Hingham line, and extending south to the Rockland line. (This inspection of woodlands has been carried on in both Hingham, Rockland and Braintree, and nests found in various places, some of them in close proximity to Weymouth lands). It is natural to suppose that the remainder of the uninspected woods are in a similar con- dition.
"I have conferred with Supt. Kirkland in regard to the treat- ment of these wood colonies, and he strongly recommended that work upon them be hegun at once. It will be necessary, in any event in the near future, to do something to prevent the destruc- tion of the forests, and in our opinion, the sooner measures are taken to prevent the further spread of the moth the less expen- sive will be the work, and great damage be obviated. We re- commend that in those days when it is not possible to work in the open lands, on accouct of cold or snow, the men be employed in cutting out the underbrush and removing dead wood in these col- onies. If the wood is fully grown, so that it is in condition for market or home use inside the limits of the town, we would ad- vise that the owners be requested to cut the wood off entirely, leaving a few of the smaller deciduous trees for burlaps, and that the town men be used to burn the brush and inspect the cut wood. This will if properly done, remove the danger at once, and pre- vent further expense. In case the wood is not fully grown, or it is not desired to have it cut, the underbrush and dead limbs should be cut and burned, and the trees provided with burlap bands during the larval season. This method has proved efficacious in numberless instances. If this is not done the places will serve as breeding grounds from which the moth will be constantly dis- seminated over the rest of the town, and in a short time the con- dition north of Boston be duplicated here. We shall also desire that the remainder of the wooded areas be inspected as soon as convenient.
" In the infested residential areas, it will now be necessary to go into those places which have not been cleaned by the owners, and treat all the nests that can be found; cut down worthless trees, and trim and scrape the others, removing all dead wood within the area where burlapping will be necessary. It will be
24
necessary to exercise considerable judgment in this work, to the end not to do un-necessary work, and to do no damage to property. Holes and crevices in trees, that might serve as hiding places for the insect in any form, should be stopped with tin or cement.
" We fully appreciate the fact that the problem has constantly increased in front of us during the past year in your town, and no one expected, when work was commenced in November of 1905, that the town was in such a condition as it has been found. We have endeavored to give all the aid possible in the way of advice as to methods of work and assistance in the inspection of what had seemed problematicel cases where the Superintendent was doubtful of his powers or duty in the case, and we have found our efforts accepted in the spirit in which they were offered. The town employees have always listened to our recommendations, and we feel that they have done all that was possible under existing circumstances.
" In my own case, I wish to thank your Board for the uniform kindness with which I have always been received and my recom- mendations adopted. More than that no man can say. You are at liberty to use this communication in any way you see fit.
Yours very truly, FRANK A. BATES,
Agent."
ELM LEAF BEETLES.
Toward the middle of the summer we had a visitation of the Elm Leaf Beetles, which promised for a while to be quite serious, but a prompt spraying of the trees effectively stopped their ravages, at least for the remainder of the season.
It became necessary to expend $215.98 on this work, under the account of preservation of shade trees, for which no appro- priation was made, and which is therefore carried as an overdraft.
BOARD OF HEALTH.
CONTAGIOUS DISEASES.
The number of cases of contagious diseases which have been reported are as follows :
Diptheria,
8
Scarlet Fever,
17
Typhoid Fever,
5
Measles,
17
25
We have been fortunate in having no general outbreak in any part of the town, of diptheria or scarlet fever, and the cases that have occurred were, as a rule, of a type which yielded readily to treatment.
We mistrust there were many cases of measles which did not get reported, being light and no physician called.
NUISANCES.
There have been fewer complaints than usual concerning nui- sances occasioned by privy vaults, sink drains, etc. We trust this indicates a growing tendency on the part of householders to keep their premises in a condition in which they will not be offen- sive to their neighbors.
RABIES. 1
There has been an unusual prevalence of this disease in the state during the year past and we have not been exempt from it in our town, though no case is known to have originated here.
About the first of the year two horses were bitten by a stray dog in South Weymouth, and the dog was killed.
One of the horses developed a well defined case of rabies about three months after being bitten, the other has shown no symp- toms of the disease.
Another stray dog with all the symptoms of rabies appeared on Summer street about the first of September. This dog was also killed before he had bitten any person. He attacked a bull and also a cow. The cow came down with symptoms of the dis- eaee, and a veterinary surgeon being called in pronounced it a case of rabies. The bull escaped the disease.
In accordance with a general movement in the towns and cities of the state, which was advocated by the Chief of the State Cattle Bureau for the purpose of procuring concerted action in stamping out the disease, this board issued an order for the muzzling or re- straining of all dogs until March 1, 1907. While this action may be hard on the dogs for the time, we trust that the great benefit which would result by ridding the state of the disease will lead those of onr citizens who keep dogs to act in good faith in carry- ing out the provisions of this order.
SUITS AT LAW.
In compliance with the requirements of the town by-laws the Selectmen herewith submit a report of all law suits for and
26
against the town during the year. The two following law suits were pending at the time of the last annual report.
The action of Jessie P. Leonard against the town, to recover $148.52 on a writ of scire facias was based on the fact that the town, having been summoned in 1899 as trustee, in an action against William D. Davis, had in March, 1900, paid over to said Davis the money ($70) in its hands due him for personal wages as a school teacher, under an order of the District Court of East Norfolk discharging the town as trustee. The original action was subsequently appealed by the plaintiff to the Superior Court, of which appeal and entry the town had no notice, and where the town as trustee was defaulted, and charged in the amount of $148.52. The trial in the Superior Court resulted in a decision against the town in the sum of $152.80, with costs. From this decision the town filed exceptions and carried the case to the Supreme Court. It was argued before the Full Bench in Novem- ber, and a decision has just been handed down in favor of the town, in which the town's exceptions are sustained, and the find- ing of the Superior Court set aside. The plaintiff, however, is entitled to a new trial. Pending.
The action of the town of Weymouth against the city of Quincy, to recover $210 for money expended by the town for the support of Sarah A. Cain, under the laws of relief of paupers, and whose place of settlement was in dispute, has been settled in favor of the town, and the town reimbursed by the city of Quincy in the full amount claimed. Disposed of.
During the year the following new suits have been brought :
John Connell against the Inhabitants of Weymouth. This is an action of tort, for $5,000, wherein the plaintiff seeks to recover damages for personal injuries sustained by him at East Wey- mouth, June 14, 1905, while at work in a trench, in which water mains or pipes were being laid, the sides of which caved in, whereby he was seriously injured. This action is pending in the Superior Court, and assigned for trial for the May sitting next.
The action of Edward C. Clark, trustee of the estate in bank- ruptcy of George Ames against the Inhabitants of Weymouth, was brought May 3, 1906, and entered in the District Court of East Norfolk. On October 30, 1905, Minot P. Garey brought an action against George Ames, and summoned the town as trustee, the town at that time having in its possession $58, due
27
the defendant Ames. While the action was pending Ames went into bankruptcy, and Mr. Clark was appointed trustee of the estate in bankruptcy. The town being in doubt as to its duty as to paying the money to the trustee in bankruptcy, or holding it under attachment of the trustee writ, paid the money into court, and allowed Mr. Clark to establish his legal right as trustee in bankruptcy. Disposed of.
By writ dated March 2, 1906, Arthur B. Chapin as Treasurer and Receiver General of the Commonwealth, through the Attor- ney General's office, bronght ah action against the town, in the Superior Court for Suffolk County, to recover the sum of $506.72, being the amount expended by the Commonwealth up to Decem- ber 31, 1903, for the support of Anna C. Barnard at the Massa- chusetts Hospital for Epileptics, and for which it was sought to hold this town chargable. This was a comparatively important case, as future liability was likely to be determined by the deci- sion. The case was tried in the Superior Court at Boston, and resulted in a decision entirely in fgvor of the town. Disposed of.
On November 1, 1906, Sarah F. Page commenced an action of tort, in the Superior Court for Suffolk County, in which damages are set at $15,000 for injuries claimed to have been sustained by her while walking along Pond street, October 7, 1906, when on account of an alleged defect in the highway she was thrown to the ground, sustaining the injuries complained of. Pending.
JURY LIST.
The following list of persons liable for jury service has been prepared in accordance with law, and is submitted for the action of the town at its annual meeting to be held March 11th, 1907.
OCCUPATION.
NAME. Allen, Z. Merton
Salesman
Ashton, Joseph C.
Conductor
Bailey, Harry A.
Post Office Clerk
Baker, Charles A.
Expressman
Barnes, Fred T.
Clerk
Barnes, W. Carlton
Heating Engineer
Barlow, Robert Painter
Bass, George H.
Shoeworker
Bates, Everett E. Edger
28
Bates, John A. Battles, Wendall P.
Operator Real Estate Dealer Janitor
Bean, Wilson E. Belcher, Elmer
Farmer
Belcher, Waldo H.
Shoemaker
Bicknell, Charles E.
Leatherworker
Bicknell, Wallace B.
Stitcher
Binney, Asa K.
Cutter
Binney, John F.
Cutter
Binney, Herbert F.
Insurance Agent
Blanchard, Arthur C.
Conductor
Boyle, Thomas E.
Confectioner
Bond, William A.
Cutter
Bresnahan, Daniel
Wool Sorter
Burke, William J.
Cutter
Burrell, Andrew F.
Painter
Campbell, James F.
Shoeworker
Cash, Charles H.
Carpenter
Chamberlain, George W.
Editor
Clapp, Charles H.
Salesman
Coffey, Jeremiah
Crimper .
Collinge, Joseph L.
Stitcher
Cook, Arthur H.
Retired
Coolidge, C. Francis
Cutter
Collyer, William O.
Grocer
Connor, James L.
Shoeworker
Condrick, Peter E.
Foreman
Crosby, Frank H.
Marketman
Crosby, Albert F.
Salesman
Cushing, Manville
Florist
Culley, Audrew
Upholsterer
Curtis, John W.
Jobber
Curtis, Charles S.
Cutter
Curtis, Job E.
Salesman
Daly, D. Frank
Leather Dealer
Denbroeder, Louis M.
Merchant
Desmond, Daniel Donovan, John W.
Laborer
Cutter
Donlan, James H. Dowd, Frank J.
Blacksmith
Solecutter
29
Driscoll, John F.
Shoeworker
Drown, Francis M.
Dunn, J. Wilfred
Post Office Superintendent Shoeworker
Dunbar, Howard L. Dwyer, John F.
Engineer
Contractor
Fallon, Thomas
Wool Sorter
Ford, Elbert
Cutter
Ford, J. Clifford
Cutter
Fogarty, John F.
Blacksmith
French, Bela P.
Retired
French, George H.
Clerk
Gardner, Everett W.
Shoeworker
Gardner, Henry W.
Tinsmith
Gardner, Nelson W.
Mason
Geisler, Walter J.
Retired
Gibson, Charles D.
Cutter
Gloster, Patrick
Shoeworker
Grant, Nicholas J.
Carpenter
Griffin, Thomas
Leatherworker
Gunville, Frank H.
Shoemaker
Hall, Willard F. Halligan, T. Henry
Shoeworker
Hanley, John W.
Shoemaker
Barber
Clerk
Salesman
Clerk
Shoe Treer
Hiatt, George H.
Operator
Trader
Salesman
Real Estate Agent
Hunt, Elbridge G.
Civil Engineer Salesman
Painter
Stable Keeper
Operator
Hardware Dealer
Retired
Printer
Shoe Dealer
Healey, James C. Healey, Peter A. Heffernan, Leo Hersey, Wallace Hackett, John J.
Higgins, John J. Houghton, Howard Hobart, Frank F. Hunt, Carlton R.
Hunt, Francis H. Hunt, George A. Hunt, John Q. Jesseman, Henry C. Jones, James B. Joy, Howard H.
L
30
Joy, Charles W. Kaler, Charles H. Kelley, Charles H. Kelley, Thomas A. Kelley, Joseph Kimball, Eugene E.
Shoemaker
Piano Worker
String Manufacturer Stain Manufacturer
Box Manufacturer
Operator
Kitteredge, Frank M.
Cutter
Knox, James
Crimper
Lamrock, George S.
Salesman
Loring, Israel
Shoeworker
Loud, F. Wilbur
Farmer
Lovell, Charles H.
Stationer
McCarty, Frank
Trader
McCormac, William P.
Shoeworker
McIntosh, Henry T.
Painter
Moore, Thomas F.
Stringmaker
Mulligan, Austin P.
Shoeworker
Nadell, Warren F. Nash, Charles C.
Conductor
Newton, George L.
Painter
Newton, Herbert A.
Bookkeeper
Nevin, Edward B.
Merchant
Norton, John J.
Laster
O'Brien, George H.
Superintendent
O'Dowd, Matthew
Barber
Orcutt, Moses S.
Cutter
Osgood, Albert J.
Stitcher
Packard, James H.
Clerk
Parkhurst, William E.
Paper Hanger
Poole, John F.
Poultry Dealer
Phillips, Walter A.
Leatherworker
Poe, Aubrey L. Poulin, Joseph
Blacksmith
Pratt, Frederick A.
Farmer
Pratt, Gustavus M.
Builder
Pratt, Preston
Farmer
Pray, William E.
Box Manufacturer
Rand, Willis M.
Agent
Raymond, Frank K.
Shoeworker
Raymond, Willis M.
Salesman
Tin Pedler
Machinist
31
Reid, James H. Reed Quincy
Richards, Frank A.
Richards, Louis E. Ruggles, George Saunders, Herbert H. Shaw, Augustus E.
Laborer
Shoeworker
Shaw, George H. Sheehy, James E.
Farmer
Operator
Sherman, Joel F. R.
Surveyor
Sherman, Frank D.
Janitor
Smith, Benjamin F.
Druggist
Smith, Richard J. Sterling, David L.
Piano Tuner
Stowell, Noah F.
Grocer
Stowell, Winfred L.
Grocer
Stetson, Charles
Treer
Spear, Harry P. Sulis, Frederick A.
Merchant
Taylor, Charles M. Taylor, Joe
Jobber
Taylor, John
Ship Joiner
Thomas, John W.
Laborer
Tirrell, Cassius
String Manufacturer
Tirrell, Leonard V.
Retired
Tisdale, Harry D.
Foreman
Tobin, John H.
Shoeworker
Torrey, George C.
Insurance Agent
Tower, Oscar A.
Fireworks Employee
Trask, Charles B.
Laborer
Turner, Waldo,
Carpenter
Upton, John Vinal, Joseph B.
Engineer
Vining, James A.
Teamster
Vining, Herbert F.
Salesman
Vining, Seth C.
Operator
Vogel, Harry W.
Salesman
Walsh, J. Rupert Walker, J. Walter Welch, Patrick J.
News Dealer
Barber
Laundryman
Carpenter Civil Engineer Farmer Shoe Dealer Cutter
Post Office Clerk
Coachman
Draughtsman
Laborer
32
Wildes, James L. Willis Gordon Williams, Charles H, ' Wolfe, Philip Woodbury, Harry W. Worster, Russell B. Wright, Marshall R.
Piano Tuner Grocer
Shoemaker
Shoemaker
Foreman
Real Estate Dealer
Carpenter
GORDON WILLIS,
BRADFORD HAWES, GEORGE L. NEWTON, EDWARD W. HUNT, ROBERT MCINTOSH, Selectmen of Weymouth.
REPORT OF THE TOWN ACCOUNTANT.
WEYMOUTH, MASS. January 1, 1907.
To the Board of Selectmen and Overseers of the Poor :
GENTLEMEN :- The fifth annual report of the Accounting De- partment is herewith submitted, showing in detail the expendi- tures of the town during the past year.
Respectfully, CHARLES B. CUSHING, Town Accountant.
EXPENDITURES IN DETAIL FOR 1906.
Schools.
SUPERINTENDENT :
Abner A. Badger
. $1,880 00
MUSIC TEACHERS :
A. J. Sidelinger
· 360 00
Neva W. Nash
280 00
DRAWING TEACHER :
Catherine A. Lancaster · 600 00
$3,120 00
HIGH SCHOOL.
INSTRUCTORS :
Edwin R. Sampson
.
· $1,440 00
A. F. Leonard
765 00
H. Eugene Nickless
300 00
Mary G. Fraser
640 00
Helen M. Curtis
605 00
Harriet A. Quick
.
640 00
Anna Burnside
.
640 00
Amount carried forward $5,030 00
34
Amount brought forward $5,030 00
Louise R. Livermore
640 00
Mary L. Sheehy
560 00
Anne C. Bartholomew
240 00 .
Ellen S. Somerby
90 00
Frances A. Wheeler, substitute
35 00
D. Alva Crandall, substitute
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