USA > Massachusetts > Norfolk County > Weymouth > Town annual report of Weymouth 1914 > Part 12
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We are still reclaiming the rough land in which work a good part of the labor is done by the inmates. I am glad to say most of these seem interested in the work and seem to enjoy it. We have worked up into firewood upwards of two hundred cords during the year.
We are now at work on some of the bed rooms of the house making them more sanitary and comfortable. We have several aged inmates who are feeble and childish, requiring considerable time and patience in caring for them.
The crops raised this year were satisfactory except the hay crop which was cut short by the early drouth. The ensilage and hard flint corn crop was very good. We harvested about 300 bushels of corn on the ear which is fed out to the stock and poultry. We also harvested upwards of 800 bushels of potatoes, of which we intended marketing 300 bushels, but owing to low prices we decided to hold them for better prices.
The State inspector visited the Home recently and expressed himself satisfied with the condition of the home and inmates.
Again thanking the board of overseers for their good judgment and fairness in all dealings also Dr. Drake for prompt service and good care of inmates.
Very respectfully,
J. W. EDRIDGE, Supt.
REPORT OF SURVEY OF TOWN.
To the Honorable Board of Selectmen of the Town of Weymouth :
GENTLEMEN :- I submit herewith my eighth annual report on the town survey together with a brief summary of other engin- eering or surveying work done for the town during the past year.
With this report I am sending to the Assessors through your Board sheets numbered 51, 53, 54, 55, 57, 59 and 61, leaving sheet 58 and sheets 62 to 65 inclusive still uncompleted.
It was my wish and intention to complete all of the sheets during 1914, as stated in my report for 1913, but the recent State law returning into the town treasury on January 1 of each year the unexpended balance of any appropriation reduced the town survey appropriation of 1913 about $1000, which corre- spondingly handicapped the appropriation of 1914 and makes it necessary to allow that amount for finishing the new work on any appropriation for 1915.
From the first, the sheets have been corrected to May 1st and later to April 1st (the date of assessment) of each year, the cost of this revision being taken from the appropriation of that year, this cost gradually increasing as the area covered was extended. It was suggested by your Board that the appropriation asked for this year be subdivided in a general way as to new work and revision or maintenance, as all work subsequent to 1915 would be substantially limited to maintenance. In accordance with this suggestion I would recommend an appropriation for 1915 of $2,250, to be expended approximately as follows :- $1,000, re- ferred to above as returned to the town treasury, to complete the new work ; $1,000 for revising the entire town to date of April 1, 1915, and $250 for the preparation and publication of a litho- graph map covering the entire town, drawn to a scale of 600 feet to an inch, and making a map about 7 ft., 3 in. in length and 2 ft., 8 in. in width. This map would be complete, even though the details were small, and copies could be sold by the town for about $1.00 each. Such a map, showing by the buildings, etc., those districts thickly settled or otherwise, would furnish the
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most comprehensive means for studying as a whole all town problems ; such as probable water consumption by districts, or per capita in any district ; proposed extensions or improvements in the water service ; the problem of a sewerage system for Wey- mouth ; the location of parks or playgrounds ; the extension of present or layout of new thoroughfares, and the many problems common to all municipalities. It should be of service to our planning board, a survey of a town, I believe, being one of the first steps recommended to any planning board. The congested districts as regards fire danger would be apparent, and our street lighting system could be clearly shown and its extension and future needs considered. In a less important way, perhaps, these maps would undoubtedly be used by real estate men.
All contemplated improvements extending over our entire town or a large area are blocked out in a general way on small scale plans, where the whole proposed scheme or treatment can be readily seen, and the details worked up later on larger scale sectional plans.
In connection with the above reference to a possible study of a sewerage system for Weymouth before many years, I would re- commend, as appendant to the survey work, a system of levels (mentioned in my report for 1913) run throughout the town ; ele- vations being taken at each street intersection, top of hill and bottom of hollow in said streets, and on all hydrants ; also that the elevation of the various hill tops and marsh lands be noted.
Considerable of the remaining new work lies in the swamps and wooded areas ; notably in the "Old City," so called ; at the south end of Weymouth Great Pond, and along Anne street; also in the region west of the "Old Swamp" river. A large portion of this is better done in the fall and winter months with the trees bare and the ground frozen.
If any one reading this report has in his possession any plan of land in either of the localities above mentioned, and will notify me, I should be very glad to call and look at same, or with his permission make a copy of same. Several plans already obtained have proved to be very valuable in fixing old boundary lines. It is more than likely that some of these old plans are in the pos- session of the descendants of those who were large land owners in the past. These unrecorded plans and also unrecorded deeds are of especial aid in many cases in establishing old property lines. .
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That portion of the index map (referred to in my report for 1911) covering the south part of the town where the work was there incomplete, has been revised, and the compiled data used at that time corrected by actual survey ; and the ponds; throughout the town have also been added during the past year.
Under the maintenance in the future should come the elimina- tion in most cases of the term "Estate of," substituting in its place the name of the present owner of record.
About 450 transfers, excluding tax sales, have been recorded during 1914 which is an increase over the number in 1909 but less than in the four succeeding years, and several plans have been registered in the land court subsequent to the report for 1913.
As in the past a considerable number of town survey prints have been sold by the town during the year. The sectional sheets have also aided materially in reducing the amount of work necessary in preparing plans for use at hearings on proposed streets.
Summing up the town survey work for 1915, we have five sheets as before noted, covering the new or incomplete work to construct, and including these five sheets, sixty-five sheets in all, to revise to April 1, 1915.
There also still remain on the sheets various omissions scattered throughout the town which should be filled in as fast as data for same can be found, and it is hoped to diminish the number of these each succeeding year. Examples of such omissions are the salt marsh along the Weymouth Back river, some of the territory around Whitman's Pond, etc. Barring these omissions all the new work is at the southerly end of the town, and a large part of the field work over this section has already been done, There is, however, some remaining field work necessary, and a large amount of registry and office work to be done.
Including the sheets accompanying this report, the Assessors already have sixty sheets correct to April 1, 1914.
Other work for the town during the year includes the measure- ment of the street oiling in front of each abutter; the measure- ment of tar concrete laid in 1914 with the amount adjacent each abutter, in both of these cases the town sheets being almost indispensable. Street lines have been furnished abutters by the town in several instances and levels taken for establishing
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important drains. A number of plans have been made for hear- ings on proposed widening or acceptance of streets and several layout plans prepared for presentation to the town for acceptance.
Eight of the streets laid out by the town within the last few years have been staked out this year and marked by stone bounds (of which 73 have been set) and, in my opinion, the marking of a number of streets each year by permanent bounds would be advisable. An estimate, with accompanying profile and sections, of the cost of improving Washington street between Washington and Lincoln squares and including said latter square was also made in accordance with instructions from your Board.
In conclusion, I wish to thank your Board and all other town officers for the continued confidence and courtesy shown me ; the Assessors for their co-operation, and other citizens and residents (and I would also include quite a few non-residents) for assist- ance of various kinds.
Two of my assistants have been with me, and largely on the town work, since 1911, Mr. Libbey remaining in my office as first assistant, giving a considerable portion of his time to this work.
As in the past, I am glad to confer with anyone in regard to any boundary line of interest or value to the town which I may as yet have been unable to establish.
Respectfully submitted,
RUSSELL H. WHITING,
Civil Engineer.
REPORT OF SUPERINTENDENT OF STREETS
To the Honorable Board of Selectmen :
GENTLEMEN :- I hereby submit my report for the year ending Dec. 31, 1914 :
The total highway appropriation, including street railway tax, amounts to $23,437.29. This includes money expended for snow and bridges. Special appropriations amounting to $1,650 were raised.
As the town is accepting new streets and automobile travel is increasing each year, the appropriations should be increased to meet the demands.
There were used 24,000 gallons of dustolene in Wards 1 and 2 ; 8,000 gallons of Headley's non-asphaltic in Ward 3, and the same amount in Ward 5. These were both light oils, not heavy enough to stand the dry season.
In Ward 1 used 1,600 gallons of coal tar, between Bicknell square and Curtis street, and 1,200 gallons No. 6 Standard oil between Curtis street and Weymouth Heights. These two oils worked about the same; did not penetrate in but laid on top of the ground.
In Ward 2 used tarvia B on Broad street, from residence of Wm. Pratt to Commercial square, also in Ward 3 in Washington square and all its approaches, and the north side of Washington street to Lincoln square.
In Ward 5 used tarvia B on Columbian street and on Pleasant street, between Columbian square and Independence square.
The tarvia B gave the best satisfaction of any oil used. It served not only as a dust layer but a binder. It leaves a smooth surface on the road, and does not leave it muddy in the spring. After using tarvia the first year the expense the following years is only about two-thirds, and it would diminish the gutter cleaning to about one-third.
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I would recommend an appropriation sufficient to use tarvia in- stead of light oils.
At the stone crusher the expense of labor was $1,072.14. We have crushed about 1,100 tons of stone. The crusher is now in good running order ; is all ready to run at a day's notice without expense of any description.
WARD ONE.
The principal work done was graveling the following streets : Bay View, Newton, North, Church, Green, and Moulton and Pratt avenues.
Special appropriation of $500 for Weybosset street was not quite enough to finish the job and would recommend an appro- priation of $200 more be made to put the road in first class con- dition to the water edge.
Put in cross-walk at Church Street of crushed stone and tar. Laid 400 feet of 10-inch pipe and built two catch basins at Bick- nell Square also laid 40 feet of pipe on Standish Avenue.
WARD TWO.
The principal work was done in Jackson Square, from E. Loud's store to Shawmut Street, using 375 tons of stone and 1800 gallons of hot tar for binder at a cost of $.75 a square yard. This road should be dressed with Tarvia B the coming season.
Water Street at the Herring River received a good coat of gravel, replanked the bridge and built a new sidewalk and laid new curbing, also built a new fence. Graveled Iron Hill Street, Middle Street, Raymond Street and sidewalk.
Laid curbing at corner of Cedar and High Street, also at Peake's Building in Jackson Square.
Built crosswalks at East and Hawthorne Streets with crushed stone and tar.
New catch basins at Cain Avenue and Hawthorne Streets.
Patched Commercial Street and Pleasant Street with crushed stone and tar.
Graveled street and sidewalk on Hill Street Extension. Also made a number of minor repairs on different streets and side: walks.
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WARD THREE.
Lincoln Square was treated to crushed stone and tar late in the season and would recommend the same be done on Washington Hill.
Front Street Hill near Washington Square received much needed repairs using crushed stone and tar.
Put in two catch basins corner of Prospect and Washington Streets. Built new sidewalk near the town property. Graveled Vine Street, Federal Street and Philips Street. The sidewalk on Commercial Street between Tuft's Crossing and Loud's Hill was graveled at the expense of the Tufts Fund. Built new fence on Prospect Street.
WARD FOUR.
Gravelled Park Street Hill from Ward 5 line to Pine Street and Washington Street from Ward 3 line to Martin's Hill. This road should receive tar as the auto travel is very heavy.
West Street and Front Street were graveled where most needed. Pleasant Street was patched with stone, gravel and tar. Resur- faced the sidewalk on Pleasant Street and Washington Street.
Removed the ledge on Washington Street, front of the resi- dence of Wm. Mace, under contract. Built Park Road on special appropriation.
WARD FIVE.
The principal work done in this waid was gravelling Union Street from Columbian Square to the Rockland line. As this gravel had to be hauled a long distance at the expense of $2.80 a load, we could not put it on as heavy as it should have been.
Also graveled Hollis, Columbian, Forrest and Thicket Streets.
Fogg Road and sidewalks on Columbian Street and Pond Street were built under special appropriations.
The gutters in all the wards were scraped and cleaned.
Would recommend an appropriation of $5,000 for permanent streets of tar macadam.
The usual amount of permanent sidewalks were laida under contract with Simpson Bros., and would recommend that same be continued.
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PROPERTY OF THE DEPARTMENT.
The following is the property or the Highway Department :
One steam roller, one portable building, one portable engine, two sets of scales, three road drags, one stone crusher, one port- able bin, one motor, two oil carts, one oil cart with pump sprayer, one oil distributor, one oil pump and twenty feet hose, one four- horse road machine, two two-horse road machines, one two-horse sweeper, óne breaking plow, four gutter plows, one road plow, thirty snowplows, four clean up carts, forty picks, thirty shovels, twelve grub hoes, twenty rakes, twenty-four lanterns, four bars, nine hammers, fifteen drills, ten post-hole shovels, two catch- basin pumps, two horses and signs, four screens, six wrenches, seven hoes, four snathes, sixteen push-brooms, three scythes, twenty-five feet rubber hose, six grade stakes, two trowels, two tamping bars, one paving tamper, two tool boxes, two thousand paving blocks, twenty feet pipe, four cedar posts, three axes, two saws, five hundred feet lumber, eight stone-pickers, six stone- forks and four hundred gallons tarvia.
In closing, I wish to thank the Board of Selectmen and the employees for their kindness, advice and assistance in serving the interests of the town.
Respectfully submitted, JOHN L. MAYNARD,
Superintendent of Streets.
REPORT OF THE CHIEF OF POLICE.
To the Honorable Board of Selectmen of the Town of Wey- mouth :
GENTLEMEN :- I herewith submit the annual report of the work performed by the Police department of the Town of Weymouth for the year ending December 31, 1914.
Whole number of arrests, 353.
DRUNKENNESS :
Fined $15 each, 38.
Fined $10 each, 28. Fined $5 each, 11. Paid costs each, 4.
Committed to State Farm, 19. Released, 8. Fined $15, Committed to House of Correction, 5. Fined $10, 3. Fined $5, 2.
Defaulted, 1. Three months House of Correction, 3.
One month House of Correction, 3.
Ten days House of Correction, 2.
Appealed and paid $40 in Superior Court, 1. Continued, 2.
Two months in House of Correction, sentence suspended, 1. Three months in House of Correction, sentence suspended, 2. Probation, 7. Placed on file, 3. Dismissed, 1. One month in House of Correction, sentence suspended, 2. For Out-of-town officers, 1.
Total, 147.
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ASSAULT AND BATTERY.
Fined $25 each, 3. Paid cost, 7. Discharged, 8. Six months House of Correction, 1.
Fined $50, 1. Fined $5, 1.
Fined $20, 1.
Fined $15, 5.
Fined $10, 2. $100 bonds to keep the peace, 2.
Probation, 1. Placed on file, 1. Total, 33.
THREAT TO COMMIT AN ASSAULT.
Fined $5, 1.
Continued, 4.
Paid cost, 2.
Placed on file, 1.
Discharged, 2. Total, 10.
BREAKING OUT OF LOCKUP.
Placed on file, 1.
BASTARDY. Married complainant, 1. Paid $50 to complainant, 1. Total, 2.
TRUANCY.
Committed to Training School, 1. Probation, 1. Total, 2.
DISORDERLY CONDUCT ON A PUBLIC CONVEYANCE. Fined $25, 1. Fined $15, 1. Fined $10, 1. Fined $5, 1. Total, 4.
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INSANE.
Committed to Taunton Insane Hospital, 3.
Committed to Westboro Insane Hospital, 5. Total, 8.
IDLE AND DISORDERLY.
Fined $20, 2. Committed to State Farm, 1.
Committed to House of Correction for two years, 1. Total, 4.
BREAKING GLASS.
Fined $10, 1.
Made restitution and paid cost, 5. Total, 6.
TRAMPS.
Committed to State Farm, 4. Discharged, 1. Total, 5.
VAGRANT.
Committed to State Farm, 1.
MURDER.
One.
VIOLATION OF LIQUOR LAWS.
Illegal Keeping and Exposing for Sale Intoxicating Liquor : Fined $100, 1. Fined $75, 2. Paid $25, cost of Court, 1. Discharged, 2.
Illegal Sale of Intoxicating Liquor : Discharged, 1. Total, 7.
JUVENILE. Runaway boys returned to parents, 4. Lost children returned to parents, 3. Abduction, turned over to Boston officers, 3. Held as witness, 1.
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RECEIVING STOLEN GOODS.
Fined $50, 1.
LARCENY.
Discharged, 3.
Committed to Shirley"School, 1.
Committed to Lyman School, 1.
Made restitution, 3. Total, 8.
RAPE.
Four to six years, 1.
Four to seven years, 2. Total, 3.
DISTURBING THE PEACE.
Fined $25, 1.
Fined $15, 1.
Discharged, 3. Continued, 1. Total, 6.
STUBBORN CHILD.
Placed on file, 1.
Probation, 2.
Discharged, 2. Total, 5.
NEGLECTED CHILD.
Committed to Lyman School, 1. Continued, 1.
Discharged, 1. Total, 3.
LEWDNESS.
Committed to Lancaster School for Girls, 1.
BREAKING AND ENTERING.
Fined $5, 3. Discharged, 2. Continued, 1. Committed to House of Correction 6 months, 1. Committed to House of Coerection 2 years, 1. Total, 8.
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UTTERING AND FORGING.
Committed to House of Correction 3 months, 1.
EMPLOYMENT OF MINORS. Placed on file, 1.
DELINQUENT CHILDREN.
Committed to State Board of Charity, 5.
GAMING. Fined $50, 1. Fined $5, 4. Total, 5.
VIOLATION OF TOWN BY-LAWS. Fined $10, 1.
TRESPASS.
Placed on file and paid cost, 2. House of Correction two months, sentence suspended, 2. Total, 4.
VIOLATION FISH AND GAME LAWS. Fined $50, 4.
Fined $50, Committed to House of Correction, 1. Fined $36, Committed to House of Correction, 1. Fined $10, 2. Total, 8.
VIOLATION OF PROBATION. Continued, 1,
VIOLATION OF AUTOMOBILE LAWS.
For causing injuries to persons and property and going away without making himself known, fined $100, 1. For operating an automobile so as to endanger the lives and safety of the public, fined $100, 1. For reckless driving an automobile. Fined $30, 1. Fined $25, 1. Discharged, 1. Failure to stop for police officer, fined $25, 1. Operating an automobile without a license. Fined $15, 1. Fined $10, 1. Total, 8.
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NEGLECT OF FAMILY.
Ordered to pay $12 a week to family, 1.
Ordered to pay $10 a week to family, 1.
Ordered to pay $6 a week to family, 1. Ordered to pay $5 a week to family, 1. Ordered to pay $3 a week to family, 2.
Ordered to pay $30.50 to family, 1. Three months in House of Correction, sentence suspended, 1. Probation, 1. Placed on file, 1. Total, 10.
Adultery cases now pending, 4.
Arrested for out of town officers, 23.
Search for stolen goods, 1.
Lost and stolen property recovered, $1,645.
Search for intoxicating liquors, 18.
Amount of fines in lower court, $2,411.
Amount of fines in Superior Court, $40.
Respectfully submitted, PATRICK BUTLER, Chief of Police.
REPORT OF SUPERINTENDENT OF MOTH WORK.
SOUTH WEYMOUTH, January 25, 1915.
To the Honorable Board of Selectmen of the Town of Weymouth :
GENTLEMEN :- Herewith please find my report for the year 1914.
In our work of suppression of the gypsy moths we feel that we have been very successful so far as any feeding in our street or residential sections is concerned, but we find that when the moths get ready to lay their eggs they come in from our infested wood- lands and we find many egg clusters where there were few or no moths early in the season. We did a large amount of spraying during the season, using about fourteen tons of arsenate of lead, with good results, but we could not reach all places, and in some of them we had some serious stripping.
To the owners of infested woodlands who do not wish to go to the expense of cutting out and spraying I would recommend the use of Wilt Disease, which we used quite successfully in the year 1911. This method of suppression has the indorsement of many land owners. I will gladly answer any inquiries in regard to this or any other method of suppression.
In regard to the browntail moth I am pleased to report a great decrease not only in the number but in size of nests. This con- dition is largely due, I think, to the browntail fungus which we distributed two years ago.
We have done considerable cutting of sidestreets and borders, and find this work one of the best methods of moth suppression and control. It also adds greatly to the appearance of our streets and to the safety of the automobile and other travel. It is also the most permanent work which we do.
In addition to mowing over the ground cut off last year, we cut out this year, North, Green and Norton Streets, Ward 1; East, Cedar and Hawthorne Streets, Ward 2; Front, Summer, Pleasant and West Streets, Ward 4.
Respectfully submitted,
CHARLES L. MERRITT,
Local Superintendent.
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REPORT OF TREE WARDEN.
SOUTH WEYMOUTH, MASS., January 25, 1915.
To the Honorable Board of Selectmen of the Town of Wey- mouth :
GENTLEMEN :
Herewith please find my report for the year 1914.
During the year 1914 we removed 17 dead trees from the streets of the town and planted 42 good, young Maples. These trees were furnished in parts by the Tree Department, the Gas Company, the Tufts Fund and some by private parties.
All street trees have been sprayed and are in fairly good con- dition, but we have quite a large number of dead limbs to remove every year.
The Leopard Moth is quite plentiful all through our town and many limbs which fall off are due to the work of this pest.
Respectfully submitted, CHARLES L. MERRITT, Tree Warden.
REPORT OF BURIAL AGENT.
WEYMOUTH, MASS.,
January 1st, 1915.
To the Honoracle Board of Selectmen of the Town of Weymouth : GENTLEMEN :
I hereby report that seven persons, soldiers' wives and widows, have been buried under my direction during the year ending December 31st, 1914.
Respectfully submitted, WALDO TURNER,
Burial Agent for Indigent Soldiers, Etc.
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REPORT OF SEALER OF WEIGHTS AND MEASURES.
WEYMOUTH, Jan. 1, 1915.
To the Honorable Board of Selectmen of the Town of Weymouth : GENTLEMEN :-
I submit herewith my report for the year ending Dec. 31, 1914 : Scales of all descriptions tested and sealed 285
Weights of all descriptions tested and sealed . 926
Dry measures of all descriptions tested and sealed 13 Wet measures, including pumps, tested and sealed 459
Yard sticks tested and sealed . 26
Number of scales condemned .
6
Number of wet measures condemned 33
Number of dry measures condemned .
3
Number of yard sticks condemned . 10
Weighing and reweighing of coal .
9 times
Total amount of fees collected, $147.51.
Respectfully submitted,
F. D. SHERMAN, Sealer of Weights and Measures.
REPORT OF THE FIRE WARDEN FOR 1914.
To the Honorable Board of Selectmen of the Town of Weymouth :-
GENTLEMEN :- During the year, 1914, there have been about fifty forest fires and fifteen still alarms.
The largest fire was in Ward Five and was caused by the burn- ind of the ice house of the Boston Ice Company, the woods near the ice house at that time being very dry
I have spent for articles for fighting fires about $15.00.
There has been expended in this work during the year about $550.
The following deputy wardens were appointed: Ward One, Miles P. Keene, Walter Sladen ; Ward Two, H. Frank Holmes ; Ward Three, James R. South ; Ward Four, Louis H. Ells, Willie Tirrell ; Ward Five, Frank Proctor, Albert W. Shaw.
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