USA > Massachusetts > Norfolk County > Weymouth > Town annual report of Weymouth 1911 > Part 11
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STATE BOARD OF HEALTH LAWS, VIOLATING : Fined $25.00 (appealed), 2.
TRUANCY :
Committed to Norfolk and Bristol Union Training School, Wal- pole, 3. Sentenced to Norfolk and Bristol Union Training School, Wal- pole, appealed 1, continued 1.
TRESPASS ON IMPROVED LAND : Continued, 2.
TRAMPS : Sentenced to State Farm (appealed), 1. Guilty, placed on file, 1.
WITNESS ON' MURDER CASE :
Committed, 1.
Arrests for out of town officers, 7. Search warrants for intoxicating liquors, 12. Search warrants for stolen goods, 6. Amount of property recovered of value, $275.00. Amount of fines in lower court, $1,166.00.
SUPERIOR COURT.
ASSAULT : Paid fine of $5.00, 1. ASSAULT, THREAT : Continued, 1.
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BREAKING AND ENTERING IN NIGHT TIME :
Committed to House of Correction for one year, 1. Released on bonds, 1.
DRUNKENNESS :
Paid fine of $15.00, 1. Placed on probation, 1.
FISH AND GAME LAWS, VIOLATING :
Not guilty, 1.
ILLEGAL SALE OF INTOXICATING LIQUORS :
Not guilty, 1.
LIQUOR NUISANCE : Not guilty, 1. Fined $100.00 and three months in House of Correction, 1.
MURDER :
Continued to April term, in jail waiting trial, 1.
RAPE :
Continued to April term, in jail waiting trial, 1.
STATE BOARD OF HEALTH LAWS, VIOLATING :
Guilty, case waiting decision of Supreme Court, 1. Continued, 1.
TRAMP :
Placed on file, 1.
TRUANCY :
Continued, 1.
Amount of fines in Superior Court, $120.00.
The record of the work performed by the police is an incom- plete statement, because it cannot include all matters brought to their attention, and to which heed must be given. The number of arrests was about the same as that of last year, the most im- portant being that of Peter Cassetti, for murder of his brother, and who is now in jail awaiting trial. The lock-up in Ward 2 has been condemned by the state officials, and the town will be
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asked at the annual meeting to build a new one. The old lock- up is an unsuitable place to confine prisoners, and is in a poor location. I would recommend a new one be built nearer Jackson square, as most of the arrests occur in that vicinity.
The lock-up in Ward 3 has been fitted up with four of the latest improved steel cells, and is in good condition. The lock-up in Ward 5 needs four new cells. I am pleased to state that the work of the police for the year has been very successful. I feel particularly grateful to the Boston police for their assistance in the Cassetti case; also to the regular and special police ; also to the Board of Selectmen for their assistance.
Respectfully submitted,
THOMAS FITZGERALD, Chief of Police.
REPORT OF SUPERINTENDENT OF STREETS.
To the Board of Selectmen :
GENTLEMEN-I hereby submit my report for the year ending December 31, 1911.
The total highway appropriation, including Street Railway tax, amounts to $26,220.46, also special appropriations amounting to $700, making a total appropriation of $26,920.46. This includes the appropriations for snow and bridges.
The cost of maintenance is increasing each year, due to in- creased mileage, the public demand for better roads and the destructive effects of the automobile traffic.
While our town roads of gravel and macadam were fairly eco- nomical to maintain when used by the horse-drawn vehicles, the advent of the automobile and its extensive use soon demonstrated that these roads could not resist the action of the rapidly driven motor wheels, and that those much used by automobiles must be provided with some surface covering or bituminous binder.
The State Highway Commission in its report states that over 40 per cent. of the traffic over the State roads is carried along by the horseless vehicle, causing serious injury to the roads, and they are making many experiments to find the best form of con- struction for their preservation. All these experiments lead to the conclusion that the use of some bituminous binder is absolutely necessary to meet modern traffie conditions, and it is to meet these conditions, brought about by the changes in the character of the traffic passing over our local highways that has made the maintenance problem a difficult one.
The Highway Commission have estimated that it will cost from $300 to $500 per mile annually to maintain the State roads.
The problem of how to improve our roads is a serious one and many things must be taken into consideration. We have over 100 miles of streets, many of which were never properly built, with no regard paid to grades or drainage.
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Some of these require rebuilding. Again we are so geographically situated, that some of our roads form the main thoroughfares to the different parts of the south shore and are subjected to a very heavy traffic. On these and other roads, traffic conditions are such that extensive improvements should be made and at once, using material which is suited to the conditions if we wish to meet the public demand for good roads properly maintained.
The first cost will be large but this will be more than off set by the saving of expense for repairs, renewals, street cleaning and the general comfort and convenience of the public ..
It might be well to have a special committee to look into the matter, to determine the kind of pavement, its first cost and sub- sequent maintenance and its adaptability to local conditions, to devise a special financial plan, to supply the initial first cost and to provide for annual maintenance of pavements, by sinking fund, serial bonds, or whatever system they might adopt, for meeting the expense.
In the building and acceptance of new roads, money should first be raised to properly build them and then for their annual maintenance. In the past the appropriations raised have been in- sufficient to do the work properly, consequently the work has been done to fit the appropriation instead of the actual needs of the work. It is false economy to be obliged to do work in this man- ner, which is not only unsatisfactory in the present but will prove very expensive in the future for continuous repairs.
The sum of $6,452.50 was expended for oil and street water- ing. This includes all of the items connected with the work, cost of sand, freight, demurrage, equipment, etc. Out of this amount $443.40 was expended for street watering, for equipment $370.16, oil on hand valued at $258.60, making total of $1,072.16; sub- tracting this from the amount expended, leaves the sum of $5,380.34, which is the actual cost of oiling. The total number of gallons used was 67,596. The total mileage oiled was about 15.43 miles. The average cost per mile, $348. The combined cost of oiling and street watering is about $378 per mile. As to the relative cost of oil and water, I will say that from a report of the City of Newton the average cost of watering 55 miles of streets was $355 per mile.
The use of the oil on the roads was accomplished with various results, depending upon the character of the road and weather
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conditions. To obtain the most satisfactory results the road must be in good condition.
On some of the streets that were treated with oil, wet weather, accompanied with a thick gray mud made them very objectionable, the worst places were the squares in Weymouth and East Wey- mouth. The reason for this is that the oil was applied on worn- out road material and on gravel roads, repaired with a clay gravel, with natural muddy tendencies. Then the weather was exceptional from September during the fall months, almost con- tinuous rain. This same kind of oil on Pleasant Street proved satisfactory.
In South Weymouth applied a thin yellow oil, no body. This was used similar to water. It laid the dust, but had an objec- tionable odor and was very destructive to rubber tires, etc. This oil has no binding qualities and would not recommend its further use. Also used an emulsion of oil and water in the proportion of two barrels of emulsion to a cart of water. This sprinkled from the cart, requiring no sand or brushing. This treatment requires frequent applications, depending upon the weather and traffic conditions. Where used it proved satisfactory, and I would recommend its use on roads built of material that have a tendency to mud easily. In an average season there is not much difference in the cost between the heavy oil applied once and the frequent applications of the emulsion. From the experiences of other places and our own town there has not yet been discovered a road oil that can be applied indiscriminately and suit all conditions. The selection of the material used and method of application depends upon local conditions, and any surface application at its best is only a palliative.
WARD ONE.
The question of road material for this section is a serious one. The gravel used is of poor quality and has to be hauled a long distance. These facts should be taken into consideration in making appropriations for new roads or passing judgment on work done. If new pits are not discovered we will be obliged to use crushed stone.
Under special appropriations :-
Rosemont Road-Resurfaced with gravel, from Bridge Street to Ramblers Way.
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Parnell Street-Rebuilt with gravel, from River Street to beach. Among the roads receiving repairs are the followng :-
Middle Street-From Commercial Street to the Ward 2 line, graveled.
Commercial Street-Graveled King Oak Hill, near junction of Church Street.
North Street-From Commercial to Sea Street, repaired with gravel.
The sidewalks of the following streets received some attention : Bridge, Bay View, North, and others.
The following streets were oiled with a 30 per cent. asphaltic 'oil, similar to last year's oil :
Athens Street, the entire length.
North Street-From Bridge to Commercial Street.
Lovell Street-From Bridge Street to residence of J. H. Torrey.
Curtis Street-From North Street to Howard Street.
Shaw Street-From North Street to Neck Street.
Pearl Street-From Sea Street to Crescent Road.
Pearl Street-From North Street to Libbey's.
Commercial Street-From North to Middle Streets.
Middle Street-From North Street to Ward Two line.
Sea Street-From North Street to Newton Street.
The rest of the streets received general attention, minor repairs being made where necessary.
WARD TWO.
The most important repair work was done on the following streets :
Commercial Street-From Grant Street to Hingham line, and from Cowing's to Ward Two line, with gravel.
Charles Street-From Middle Street to Clapp's factory, with gravel.
Middle Street-From Charles Street to top of Carroll's Hill, with gravel and hill at Cushing's ice house.
Broad Street-This street has been torn up a great deal during the past season, first by the street railway and then the Old Colony Gas Company, at a great inconvenience to the public.
Repairs were made as follows :
Resurfaced with macadam from the post office to residence of Dr. Libbey, and from here to Central Square with gravel.
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Experience has proven that neither gravel nor macadam can withstand the traffic to which this street is subjected.
The following streets received treatment for the suppression of the dust :
Commercial Street-From Hingham line to Grant Street, emulsified oil and water.
From Broad Street to Madison Street, oil.
From Cowing's to Ward Two line, emulsion.
Broad Street-From Commercial Street to Cottage Street, oil.
From Cottage Street to Essex Street, emulsion.
From Essex Street to Ward Three, oil.
High, Madison, Water and Pleasant Streets to Ward Four line, oil.
Cottage Street-Emulsion.
Middle Street-From Middle Street to Ward One line, oil.
WARD THREE.
Owing to the many steep hills a great deal of money expended 1 in this section is on gutters and drains. This work, although of the utmost importance, and neglect of which would cause serious damage, is perhaps not appreciated by the casual observer.
Lincoln Square and Washington Street to Braintree line should be rebuilt, using some form of pavement, as they are very unsat- isfactory in their present condition and expensive to maintain.
The road work is as follows :
Webb Street-Resurfaced with gravel, street and sidewalk from Broad Street to Commercial Street.
Keith Street-Completed this unfinished work of last year, and I can say without fear of contradiction that this road has been one if not the most difficult that was ever built in town. It was not only all ledge, but the rock itself was of an obstinate nature in regard to removal. The road in its present condition is passa- ble. Considerable more work will have to be done before the street can be called completed.
Broad Street - Resurfaced with gravel, from Vine Street to Ward Two line.
Broad Street-Sidewalk resurfaced from Phillips St. to Tracey's.
Washington Street - Repairs, gravel from Main Street to Ward Four line, also sidewalk from Main Street to Federal Street and other bad places.
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King Avenue - Rebuilt with gravel.
Front Street - Garfield Square, resurfaced with gravel and repaired drain.
Roads oiled as follows :
Washington Street -From Braintree line to near Federal Street.
Front Street - Washington Street to Summer Street.
Commercial Street - From Washington Square, by wharves.
Broad Street - From Lincoln Square to Ward Two line.
WARD FOUR.
Streets repaired and oiled as follows :
Pleasant Street-From Lovell's Corner to Webster Loud's house.
Loud Avenue - Front Street to Main street, with gravel.
West Street - From ReubenLoud's to Summer Street, graveled where most needed.
Middle Street - Used road machine and made gravel repairs in different places, from Main Street to Washington Street.
Washington Street-Used road machine and graveled from ward line to Hingham line, where absolutely necessary. This street is used a great deal by automobiles, and it is in very poor condition, and must soon be repaired at considerable expense. Special effort should be made to have this accepted as a State road.
Sidewalks repaired as follows :
Mill Street-From West Street to Front Street.
Front Street-From West Street to Mill Street.
Pine Street-Near Pleasant Street, about 200 feet.
Washington Street-Near Lake View, few hundred feet.
Pleasant Street-From Pratt's School to Alonzo Pratt's.
Pleasant Street-From Ward line to Lovell's Corner, repaired in places.
Lovell's Corner Curbing and Sidewalk :
Under this appropriation built sidewalk and laid curbstone around three corners, exceeding the appropriation by $6.75. It will require about $100 to complete the work.
Oil and emulsion applied as follows :
Pleasant Street-From Ward Two to Ward Five line, using oil from Ward Two to L. O. Holbrook's residence ; from here to Park Avenue used emulsion.
Park Avenue-From Main Street to Pleasant Street, emulsion.
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Main Street-Ward Five line to Middle street, light yellow oil, same as used in Ward Five, one treatment. Later used emulsion over this and to Nathaniel Ell's.
Front Street-From West Street to Purcell's.
Elm Street-Emnlsion, from Pleasant Street to Mount Hope Cemetery.
Washington Street-From Mace's to Plymouth River, emulsion.
WARD FIVE.
The principal repair work on roads as follows :
Randolph Street-From foot of Pond Street to Holbrook line, repaired where most needed, using gravel found in vicinity.
Curtis Avenue-Resurfaced with gravel.
Main Street-Repaired sidewalk on east side from Poole's Corner to Hockstrasser's; from this point to railroad built new walk. From railroad to first house on west side, repaired.
Other walks that received more or less attention were Colum- bian Street, from Main Street to Pleasant Street.
Pleasant Street-Various places, also Union Street, Thicket Street and Park Street.
A great deal of work has been done on the drains, cleaning out and repairing where necessary.
Among the drainage improvements was the building of a catch- basin, paving gutter on Torrey Street.
Union Street-The section of this road between the cemetery and the Rockland line has been in very bad condition, and in rainy weather very disagreeable to travel. To relieve these con- ditions, repaired where most needed, using the inaterial near at hand, this I was obliged to do, as the cost of the long haul of the Nash's corner gravel, about three and a half miles, with the avail- able money, made the use of it prohibitive. This has proved to be very poor material, and with the exceptional weather conditions has been very unsatisfactory. I understand that the old road was built of this material, but as recommended in a previous re- port, the stone crusher using the rocks in the vicinity, will prove to be the most economical and satisfactory, but would require a special appropriation.
Used a light oil and emulsion as follows :
Hollis Street-From Pond Street to dam on Randolph Street. (Emulsion.)
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Pleasant Street-From Pond Street to Catholic Church. (Oil.) Pond Street-From Pleasant Street to Hollis Street. (Oil.) Main Street-From Ward 4 to Derby Street. (Oil.)
Columbian Street and Square-Main Street to Pleasant Street. (Oil.)
The oil used is a thin, yellow oil, no body.
The foremen in the different wards have the following property in their possession.
WARD ONE.
Five snow plows, 1 new pattern plow, 1 gutter plow, 6 picks and handles, 1 grub hoe, 2 rakes, 1 bar, 6 lanterns, 3 screens, 3 oil barrels, 3 pieces 12-inch tile pipe, 1 piece 15-inch tile pipe, 3 pieces 10-inch tile pipe.
WARD Two.
Heavy oil-175 gallons, Emulsion-1,500 gallons, Headley's binder-880 gallons, 1 gutter plow, 2 tamping bars, 10 picks and 11 handles, 1 wrench, 1 drill, 14 grading pins, 1 crowbar, 1 stilson wrench, 1 axe, 1 hydrant wrench, 12 long handle snow shovels, 12 short handle snow shovels, 5 hoes, 2 stone hammers, 8 square-pointed shovels, 7 stone forks, 3 iron rakes, 3 post-hole scoops, 2 grub hoes, 1 plumb bob, 1 5-gallon oil can, 1 saw, 4 catch basin covers, 1 50-foot tape, 1 faucet, 16 sign posts, 4 rubbish tubs, 1 trowel, 1 scythe and snath, 9 lanterns, 3 gravel screws, 1 tool chest, 2 feet drain pipe-6-inch. 14 feet drain pipe -8-inch, 2 feet drain pipe-12-inch, 1 paving rammer, 10 oil brooms, 2 street horses for signs, 9 snow plows.
WARD THREE.
Seven snow plows, 1 gutter plow, 2 stone hammers, 3 grub hoes, 2 street hoes, 2 stone forks, 3 pick axes, 2 bush scythes and snath, 3 post-hole scoops, 1 hand drill, 6 lanterns, 1 tool chest, 6 street brooms, 2 feet 8-inch drain pipe, 300 gallons heavy oil.
WARD FOUR.
Five snow plows, 2 screens, 4 picks, 1 grub hoe, 1 stone fork, 1 bar, 6 lanterns, 1 rake, 500 feet lumber.
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WARD FIVE.
Four snow plows, 2 new pattern plows, 1 gutter plow, 2 screens, 7 picks and handles, 2 grub hoes, 4 shovels, 1 stone fork, 1 stone hammer, 2 post-hole scoops, 2 hoes, 2 street signs, tool box, 770 gallons of emulsion.
The following is a scheduie of property in charge of the depart- ment at storerooms at Town Home, Ell's gravel pit, Hockstras- sers and Commercial Street : One steam roller, 1 portable engine and boiler, 1 4-horse road machine, 2 2-horse road machines, 1 watering cart, 1 watering cart for oil, 1 oil distributor, 1 oil pump, 1 oil trough and tub, 1 stone crusher, portable bins, crusher oil, 2 platform scales, crusher bins, 3 screen sections, old crusher on Washington Street, portable engine house, street sweeper.
At the close, I desire to thank the Board of Selectmen for their kindness and ready cooperation ; also the employees for their ad- vice, assistance and zeal in serving the interests of the Town.
Respectfully submitted, IVERS M. LOW, Superintendent.
REPORT OF SURVEY OF TOWN.
To the Honorable Board of Selectmen of the Town of Weymouth : GENTLEMEN :
I submit herewith annual report of the town survey showing area covered during the past year and the approximate limits of the work already done.
At a consultation with your Board, subsequent to the appro- priation of $2,500 for 1911, it was decided to continue the survey along the same general lines as had been adopted from the first ; that is, to make the work continuous, extending same in a south- erly direction and keeping the new southerly limit as nearly uni- form from east to west as seemed practicable, with due regard to efficiency and economy of operation. While this has been kept in mind, the present southerly limit is somewhat more irregular than has been the case heretcfore. This is due largely to an ex- tended wooded area, having few, if any streets, and covering several of the section sheets. This portion could not be most economically done in the summer, with thick foliage, etc., and was in a large measure omitted at that time, and is being gone over at this writing.
During the past year about the same acreage (approximately about 1500 acres) has been covered as in previous years, the difference being that it is distributed over several more section sheets, leaving a part of several of said sheets as yet incomplete, and throughout this area considerable work yet remains to be done to put the plans into shape for use. Also all work previous to the 1911 work has been revised and corrected to April 1, 1911, and prints furnished to the Assessors for their use.
This last mentioned work, which should be done each year, would more properly be classed as maintenance, and in the sum appropriated during the last two years for both new work and maintenance a considerable amount should be credited to mainte- nance. During the progress of the survey the new work and said maintenance are closely connected and it is a little difficult to determine the actual proportion given to each. If the sheets are
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to be kept to date for the Assessors' use (after the survey is com- pleted), as is customary in towns having a system of assessors' sheets, it will be necessary to make an appropriation each year for this purpose. Perhaps this will be better understood from a glance at the increase in transfers each year in Weymouth.
During the year 1908 there were about 365 transfers (exclusive of tax sales) recorded at the Norfolk Registry in Dedham ; during 1909 about 425 transfers were similarly recorded, and during 1910 about 540. The past year-1911-there have been about 570 transfers. Every transfer either creates a new parcel or owner, or both, or adds to a present holding ; and also changes, oblit- erates, or decreases a present holding. In many cases a parcel formerly taxed as tillage, pasture or woodland when sub- divided and transferred becomes subject to a much higher valuation, thus increasing the total valuation of the town and reducing proportionately, other things being equal, the rate of taxation. This valuation is frequently still further increased by the addition of new houses and other improvements made by the grantee. All these changes need to be looked up, located and indicated on the plans if they are to be made of the fullest service. I bring this matter to the attention of the town and your Board for consideration during the remaining time required to complete the survey along the present lines. I am endeavoring to thus revise the sheets each year, devoting as little of the yearly appropriation to this work as is consistent with reasonable accu- racy, and without materially diminishing the annual amount of new work. All the work so far has been plotted on a scale of 100 feet to the inch, and I am convinced that this scale should be adopted throughout the entire towh.
At the time of writing this report there has been paid to the . town $71 received from the sale of prints of the town survey sheets at $1 each, said sheets being bought with a very few ex- ceptions for a definite use. Of the above, 38 prints have been sold since the annual town meeting in 1911. During the past few months I have constructed and prepared an "Index Map of Weymouth," showing the streets and the location and number of each section sheet. This map is on a scale of 600 feet to the inch, and is about 7 feet long and 2} feet wide. The outline of the town, to and including the shore line extending from the head of Weymouth Fore River to Weymouth Lower Neck and south
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to the head of Weymouth Back River, together with over two- thirds of the area within these limits, has been accurately plotted or reduced photographically from the large sheets ; the southerly end as yet not covered by this survey being carefully compiled. Three copies of this map, similar to the copy furnished your Board with the omission of the sheet locations, have already been sold.
Summary : Forty-five sheets have been made or are in process of construction ; these are sheets 1 to 43 inclusive and sheets 44 and 46 (see index map). On sheets 34 and 38 (all wooded area) little has been done up to the present time. Tracings have been made of 35 sheets (numbered 1 to 33 inclusive and numbers 36 and 37), and prints of said sheets, revised to April 1, 1911, have been furnished the Assessors and your Board. There are in addi- tion various tracings of the 1911 work now under way.
Assuming the same conditions as in the past, the work for 1912, providing the survey is continued, should extend to a line running nearly due east and west and passing somewhat south of the South Weymouth Railroad Station. As stated in former reports, various omissions will be found on some of the sheets, the owners or boundaries of which I have as yet been unable to determine ; on many of those satisfactorily fixed it has been possible only through considering a number of adjacent parcels at the same time and in conjunction with each other.
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