USA > Massachusetts > Norfolk County > Weymouth > Town annual report of Weymouth 1918 > Part 11
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Respectfully submitted,
Bates Torrey, Secretary.
A. C. HEALD, Chairman.
202
REPORT OF THE BOARD OF HEALTH
To the Citizens of Weymouth:
The Board of Health submit the following report for the year ending Dec. 31, 1918.
The Board organized in March, electing Geo. E. Emerson chairman, F. L. Doucet, clerk and J. S. Williams, agent.
Geo B. Bayley was appointed inspector of slaughtering and Thomas Fay was granted a permit to slaughter.
Geo. B. Bayley was also appointed inspector of milk and dairies.
J. E. Ludden was appointed inspector of plumbing.
At the tuberculosis dispensary the work was carried on in a very satisfactory manner until the influenza epidemic when Miss Galligar was transferred to the Visiting Nurse Association.
On Oct. 30 Miss Galligar was called for oversea duty with the Red Cross where she is at present.
During the influenza epidemic the need of a hospital in Weymouth was fully realized by those who were fighting it.
Many of the cases at home could receive little, if any care and twenty cases were sent to the emergency hos- pital in Quincy, all they could handle for Weymouth.
During the year there were reported 463 cases of con- tagious disease as follows.
Pneumonia 25
Influenza Oct. 10 to Jan. 1, 287
Measles 90
Chicken Pox
6
Ophihatmia
2
Meningitis 1
Typhoid fever
3
Mumps 3
Diphtheria 19
Scarlet fever 11
Tuberculosis 8
463
203 REPORT OF INSPECTOR OF SLAUGHTERING AND SLAUGHTER-HOUSES
To the Honorable Board of Health of the Town of Weymouth:
Gentlemen :--
I submit herewith my report as Inspector of licensed slaughter-houses for the year 1918 as follows:
Calves 412
Hogs 563
Cattle
6
Sheep
4
Total
985
Animals condemned
14
Respectfully submitted,
GEO. B. BAYLEY, Inspector.
REPORT OF THE INSPECTOR OF MILK AND DAIRIES.
To the Honorable Board of Health of the Town of Wey- mouth :-
Gentlemen:
I submit herewith my report as dairy and milk Inspec- tor for the year 1918.
I have called upon all persons and places in my district, and after having several complaints, have attended to them, and the conditions are satisfactory at present.
Respectfully submitted,
GEO. B. BAYLEY, Inspector.
/
204
REPORT OF INSPECTORS OF PLUMBING
To the Honorable Board of Health of the town of Wey- mouth.
Gentlemen:
We herewith submit our report for the year ending De- cember 31st, 1918. There has been issued from this office 84 permits to install plumbing, together with 3 left over from 1917. Of this number 85 have passed inspection, and 2 remained unfinished December 31st.
There was installed in old and new buildings 257 fix- tures such as water closets, lavatories, laundry trays, sinks, urinals etc. the value of which was $19,360.00. The number of new dwellings in which plumbing was installed was 28 one family, old dwellings 38 one family, 6 two fam- ily, other old buildings 2 barber shops, 1 boarding house, 1 office building, 1 shoe factory, 1 machine shop, 1 school house, 1 club house, 1 three family house, 2 stores, 1 res- taurant, and 1 tenement block.
Respectfully submitted,
J. E. LUDDEN, Inspector, GEO. MARSHALL, Deputy.
REPORT OF PUBLIC HEALTH NURSE
-
Weymouth, Mass. Dec. 1st '17 to Nov. 1st '18
New cases tuberculosis reported to nurse. Disposition 1 admitted to Rutland San. (died during epidemic).
1 waiting admission.
2 left town.
205
4 under supervision.
New cases examined at Dispensary.
Pulmonary tuberculosis 5
Questionable
3
Apparently cured
1
Other forms 1
Cardrac
1
Negative
10
21
Total number with private physicians. Positive tu- berculosis 7
Total number of Tuberculosis cases under supervi- sion for house visits 19
Died 1 ex San., previously mentioned 1 Tuberculosis of long standing 2
Left town
5
Patients examined by private physicians on advice of nurse 6
Patients re-examined at Dispensary
14
Average weekly attendance at Dispensary 13
CHILD WELFARE WORK
Weighed and measured
552
Below Government standards (visited and instruc-
tions given)
110
Reporting regularly at Dispensary for weight
18
REPORT OF EPIDEMIC WORK
Bedside nursing case from one to eight days count- ing each person but once 44
Total number of house visits made
1779
Unsanitary conditions reported
6
Action taken.
... 4
M. ALICE GALLAGHER,
Public Health Nurse.
206
INFANT WELFARE WORK
June 10 to July 10, 1918
Weighed & measured 552
Under weight 110
POSSIBLE CAUSES
Birth Wt. 3 to 52 lbs. 5
Tb. exposure . 12
Teething or recent illness 33
Improper feeding
60
110
Ref. or under care of physicians 8
For nurse's supervision 28
Adv. as to diet or nursing 74
110
Good home conditions
80%
SEMI-ANNUAL REPORT TUBERCULOSIS
Examinations Jan. 1 to July 11, 1918-15; T. b., 2; ? , 5; house T. b., 8;
Under Supervision-73; No supervised by private physicians pul. 18; Other forms 2 .- .20
By Dispensary-Pul., 13; Others, 10; ? , 13; Non. t.
b., 17.
53
Deaths, 2. Private doctor, 1; Christian Scientist, 1. Exemption Cases-No report from Braintree.
Health Crusade's League from Mar. to June 13-aver- age weekly attendance gain in weight from one to two lbs.
M. A. GALLAGHER.
-
.
207
REPORT OF THE BURIAL AGENT
To the Honorable Board of Selectmen of Weymouth, Gentlemen:
I have to report the burial of 11, (one) soldier under my direction during the year ending Dec. 31st, 1918.
Respectfully submitted,
WALDO TURNER, Agent for the Burial of Indigent Soldiers & Sailors.
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1
1
1
208
. THE REPORT OF THE PARK COMMISSIONERS
Webb Park
During the year 1918 Webb Park was made as much better as the last appropriation would allow and while the cost of labor was so high that each weekly payroll made a deep inroad in available funds the work accomplished by Michael E. Cohan, as caretaker, was thorough and telling.
In the early Spring all trees were grubbed around and all dead-wood removed and burned. Decayed trees were cleaned and cemented. All briars and weeds were mowed down and destroyed.
Ten new seats or benches were set out and oiled while all seats, 24 in number, were painted.
The seats in the bandstand were painted, the railing received a coat of asphaltum and the bandstand was given a coat of shellac inside and paint outside. The flag staff was painted and re-roped.
Many old stumps were removed and large stones around the bandstand were buried or broken up thus smoothing the ground so the grass can be cut with a lawn mower which means eventually attractive green lawns.
Dahlias and nasturtiums were planted in the flower gar- dens and a number of new flower gardens were laid out and will be ready in the Spring for use. Donations of bulbs, plants and seeds will be appreciated. A variety of shrubs has been promised and we hope to be prepared to accept them the coming Spring.
Around the pipe, that furnishes drinking water for the people who visit the park, a substantial cement founda- tion for a bubbler was built by Eugene O'Connor who is always ready to do for Webb Park a little better job than he is paid for doing. We appreciate his interest.
A suitable blind drain for taking care of waste water was built and necessary grading around the cement foun- dation was done.
As long as the money lasted we kept at least one man
209
at work and the park was kept mowed and free of all papers and rubbish.
Two new trees were set out and roots of ivy were plant- ed beside the bandstand.
The interest in this park increases each year as there is hardly a day in seasonable weather that citizens do not make use of it. On a hot summer's night there is no cooler spot in town and especially in the bandstand where citi- zens gather and talk over the topics of the day into the wee small hours.
On account of so many of the town's young men being across seas, on the seas, or in camp in the service of Uncle Sam, but one Field Day was attempted and that was held by the Bible Class of the First Baptist Church who very graciously thanked the commissioners for the use of the park. So great was the success that a request was immedi- ately made for the use of the same for a Field Day during the Summer of 1919.
The only fault found by the users of Webb Park is the absence of a building with lavatories. We have tried to convince the Appropriation Committee that it is an abso- lute necessity and we have tried to interest the Board of Health in the matter but without response.
Nothing has been done by the Street Department to remedy the evil of surface water flowing onto the park nor has any step been taken to build a suitable sidewalk on Summit Street along the front of the park.
We hope that our suggestions regarding these two im- portant matters will soon meet with favor by the depart- ments in whose power it is to make Webb Park and sur- roundings as they should be.
Great Hill Park
The up-keep and development of Great Hill Park is be- yond our appropriation therefore we felt it a waste of money to use it in a way that would show no results and spent none on this spot.
1
210
Beals Park
Beals Park was looked after as well as existing circum- stances would allow. There are a number of things we would like to do to make this park more attractive. A serviceable walk should be built across the park and the pond cleaned and walled. For the safety of many citizens who use the park as a short cut, we keep burning a large electric light at an expense we feel should be carried by the street lighting appropriation. We hope the town will place this expense where it will hardly be felt that we may have the use of the money, now paid for this light, in the work of developing Beals Park.
Bailey Green
Bailey Green was kept mowed and shrubs kept trimmed during the year, and we know of nothing more that can be done to improve this spot until after the street is re- graded and the Green curbed, as was voted a few years ago.
TREES AND SHRUBS
Some of both should be set out each year in our parks, at least enough to replace those winter-killed or broken down by thoughtless people. We will gladly do our part with a liberal appropriation.
PLAYGROUNDS
Webb Park
The playground at Webb Park has had generous use. All apparatus is in good order, wood parts having received a coat of oil or paint and all iron work a coat of asphaltum. Uprights of bars and swings were firmly cemented in the ground and necessary grading done.
The chain swings have gone through the year without replacement and without accident but "safety first" de-
.
211
mands new chains soon, those now in use having seen four years of service-summer and winter. Long cement runs were made under the high swings which should prevent constant wearing away by feet and storms.
The driveway to the ball field was filled in and graded.
During clean-up week we invited the collectors of rub- bish to dump in a hollow in the left end of the ball field and we received such a supply of tin cans, old bed-steads and such that we could not find enough filling nearby to cover the same. We still invite the Street Department to donate a few loads of waste filling whenever possible. We cannot receive too much in order to carry out our plans for making a better ball field. It can be and will be if every- body who can will help.
The back-stop, on account of shortage of fuel last win- ter, was depleted of boards and we were obliged to re- board and paint the same.
The diamond is in fairly good condition but a few loads of loam will put it in the shape we would like to see it. The boys deserve it and we hope in time to give it to them.
Beals Park
The apparatus at Beals Park Playground has been kept in good condition and has been well used.
Lovell's Corner
As was voted at the last annual town meeting, we leased a lot of land at Lovell's Corner of Chas. H. Lovell for one year, the same to be used as a playground. We believe that the youth of Lovell's Corner thoroughly enjoyed their privilege and that the investment was a good one, but we also believe that it would be wiser for the town to buy land at Lovell's Corner for the purpose of a playground and install a proper outfit for the enjoyment of all the citizens of the community.
212
BATH HOUSE
Instructed by the voters, we attempted to procure the parcels of land owned by Annie K. Jones and W. C. Cher- rington situated in Ward 1 on River St., the same having about 450 foot frontage on the Weymouth Fore River, an ideal spot for bathing purposes, but as we met with no success in buying the land we turned the matter over to the town counsel requesting that the land be taken by right of eminent domain: To date we have had no report as to the outcome of his proceedings.
Chairman Kelley of the Board of Selectmen and Russell H. Whiting, civil engineer, visited the land in question, with one of your park commissioners and have given their earnest support in the project. We hope that before an- other summer arrives, land for a bath house will have been secured and a bath house built.
DONATIONS
But.one donation was received during 1918 and that was one of ten dollars, given by the Magnolia Social Club to be used on Webb Park.
APPROPRIATIONS
We appeared before the Appropriation Committee a year ago and suggested that $1200. be raised and appropriated for parks and playgrounds but without success. Our al- lotment was $500. of which $100. was to be paid for the leasing for one year of a parcel of land at Lovell's Corner to be used as a playground. This left $400. to be spread as best we could and while the most of it was spent on Webb Park because this park was under development and needed all possible for results, we used part of the $400. on Beals Park and Bailey Green.
Our parks and playgrounds have developed to the extent that $500 will barely pay for up-keep and if we are to continue this development and attempt to keep up with
£
213
other towns in this important work more money must be provided or we will be at a stand-still. Towns of much smaller population and with less attractive places as parks appropriate much more than Weymouth for such pur- poses.
We have repeatedly said that there is no limit to park building and where we might year after year tell of the things we would like to do, it will get us nowhere without better support and co-operation of the citizens and es- pecially by the appropriation committee who are in a sense the advisary committee of the citizens. To carry on the work and to get where we should have been years ago means money and if the town will raise and appropri- ate a sum of money, not too small, we will give our time and honest judgment in getting the best results possible. $3000 would be a reasonable amount for this purpose for 1919. We ask the earnest support of the citizens in our endeavor to provide, parks and playgrounds that will be a credit to Weymouth.
CHANGE IN PARK COMMISSIONERS
Francis W. Rea was elected by a joint meeting of the Board of Selectmen and the Park Commissioners to fill the vacancy caused by the death of Louis A. Cook.
J. HERBERT WALSH, NATHAN Q. CUSHING, FRANCIS W. REA.
Park Commissioners.
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FINANCIAL STATEMENT
Balance from 1917 (donations to Webb Park ... $ 10.31
Appropriation-March 1918 500.00
$510.31
Expended:
Webb Park $308.34
Beals Park
84.07
Bailey Green 13.60
C. H. Lovell lease
100.00
Total
$506.01
$506.01
Balance $ 4.30
Beals Park Income 1918 carried forward to 1919 .... $48.05
N. B. Refer to Town Accountants report for detailed statement.
Donations to Webb Park 1917
$15.00
Donations to Webb Park 1918
10.00
Total
$25.00
5-18-18 Paid A. S. Morss Co., 100 feet cord
1.60
Balance $23.40
REPORT OF LIGHTING COMMITTEE
Weymouth, January 1st, 1919.
To the Honorable Board of Selectmen:
The Lighting Committee respectfully submit the fol- lowing report:
At the Annual Town Meeting held in March 1918, $14,400 was raised and appropriated for electric lighting.
This year we should have $15000 to cover the new lights called for at the last annual town meeting and other new lights that are much needed.
Every year we call attention to the number of broken lights but the remedy does not seem to have been found as the record kept by us the last year show that 513 lamps were broken.
215
The rebates for the year were $40.
Your committee feel that the service during the year has been exceptionally good considering the labor, fuel and other conditions due to the War, and the Weymouth Light & Power Co. have been ever ready to adjust any de- fects appearing from time to time.
Yours respectfully,
SIDNEY G. DUNBAR, WINSLOW M. TIRRELL, WALTER W. PRATT,
RUSSELL B. WORSTER, MATTHEW O. DOWD.
REPORT OF THE SEALER OF WEIGHTS AND MEASURES
Weymouth, Mass., Dec. 31, 1918.
To the Honorable Board of Selectmen of the town of Wey- mouth,
Gentlemen :----
During the last year the duties of the sealer, were in- creased through the efforts of the Food Administration to submit prices every week, to see that our merchants kept within due bounds in their prices, which was done under my supervision with the assistance of volunteers of which I want to now thank publicly as our services were all free.
During the year, through the Town Treasurer, who is custodian of all property of my department authorized me to purchase a new "Standard" scale and cabinet to replace the one that was damaged at the Town Home fire. This has been done and is now located at my office in Washing- ton Square, it is a fine up to date scale, of which the Town should be proud, and I invite all townspeople to call and inspect the same.
While the duties of the sealer have been in times past looked upon in a light manner, if you only realize he is your Inspector or Protector to see that you all receive
216
sixteen ounces for a pound and a gallon for a gallon and while I believe your merchants are honest, serious mis- takes have been made and called to my attention.
During the year I secured sixteen convictions in the court as follows-Pedling without license 10, Short weight on ice 3, short measure of wood 1, short measure of kero- sene 2, the same man twice convicted who paid the court $40 in fines. During the last two years the Junk Dealers have been placed under the direction of my office, fourteen were granted licenses who pay $20 each for the same, also 20 Fish, Fruit and Vegetable licenses were granted, they paying $10 each.
Gasoline pumps have come into prominence during the last two years we now having 24 on our highways. In regard to the last two matters I speak of two years from the fact that by mistake my report for the year 1917 did not reach the town report. My general work for the year for sealing is as follows. I sealed 2188 articles and con- demned 22.
Respectfully submitted
RUSSELL B. WORSTER,
Sealer.
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REPORT OF THE FIRE ENGINEERS
Weymouth, Jan. 1, 1919.
To the Honorable Board of Selectmen,
The Fire Engineers respectfully submit the following report for the year ending Dec. 31, 1918. The depart- ment organized May 1, 1918 under the control of five engineers as follows: W. W. Pratt, chief; John Q. Hunt, Clerk; Philip Wolfe, Matthew O'Dowd and Henry Phil- lips.
HOUSES AND APPARATUS
The houses are in good condition. Repairs have been made on inside by our permanent men. Trucks are in good condition after 3 and 4 years of service.
FIRE LOSSES
Value to buildings where fire occurred
$80,000.00
Damage to buildings where fire occurred
14,486.00
Value to contents 24,000.00
Damage to contents 5,345.70
Last year there has been a large number of false alarms which cost the town quite a sum of money. On account of burning wood for fuel there has been a large number of chimney fires.
We would recommend the following appropriations for salaries, fire alarm and other expenses.
Engineers
$ 325.00
Firemen's Salaries
1,260.00
Supt. fire alarm
300.00
Stewards
200.00
Expense on fire alarm
500.00
House Expense
4,500.00
New Hose
1,000.00
Permanent Men
5,000.00
Relief Man
1,000.00
Forest fires
1,000.00
$15,085.00
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Number of Bell & Telephone calls in each ward from Jan. 1, 1918 to Jan. 1, 1919.
1 Combination 1 48 calls.
Combination 2
81 calls.
Combination 3 69 calls.
Combination 5
45 calls.
In conclusion we wish to extend our thanks to your board for your assistance to the department and to the officers and members of the department.
WALTER W. PRATT, Chief ..
JOHN Q. HUNT, Clerk. MATHEW O'DOWD,
PHILIP WOLFE,
HENRY PHILLIPS,
Fire Engineers.
REPORT OF FOREST WARDEN
1
Weymouth, Jan. 2, 1919. 1
To the Honorable Board of Selectmen,
Gentlemen:
I hereby submit my report as Forest Warden for the- year ending Dec. 31, 1918. The Forest Wardens have is- sued seven hundred fire permits the last year. The de- partment has answered to 39 calls for grass and wood fires. The good service that our fire department is giving this. department saves the Town from large Forest fires. The- following Deputy Wardens have been appointed:
Ward 1, Philip Wolfe; Ward 2, John Q. Hunt; Ward 3, Henry Phillips; Ward 5, Mathew O'Dowd.
WALTER M. PRATT,
Forest Warden ..
219
REPORT OF THE INSPECTOR OF ANIMALS
Dec. 30, 1918.
To the Honorable Board of Selectmen of the Town of Wey- mouth,
Gentlemen:
I herewith submit to you my report as Inspector of An- imals for the year of 1918.
Number of Places inspected 139
Number of Cows inspected 472
Number of Young Stock inspected 123
Number of Bulls inspected 13
Number of Goats inspected
3
Number of Pigs inspected
228
Number of Sheep inspected 5
Owing to the severe winter I find sanitary conditions in regard to drainage in some places bad while the stock with a few exceptions of which I have reported to the State Board and otherwise looked after, I find in very good condition.
Respectfully submitted,
DANIEL SULLIVAN, Inspector of Animals.
708 Main St., South Weymouth, Maśs.
REPORT OF THE SUPERINTENDENT OF MOTH WORK
So. Weymouth, Jan. 8, 1919.
To the Honorable Board of Selectmen of the Town of Wey- mouth,
Gentlemen:
Herewith I submit my report as Superintendent of the Moth Department for 1918. Owing to the scarcity of help we have been shorthanded all through the spraying season and when we started our creasoting work we started with one man when we should have had at least six, as owing to
220
the distribution of firewood taken from badly Moth in- fested sections we are finding bad conditions all through the Town. Let us hope that when the boys come home, some of them will enlist in this work as they have shown such proficiency in cleaning up pests over there. The quo- tations of price on Arsenate of Lead at present are about the same as last year and on hose even higher than a year ago. We have repaired some of our old hose and it may help out some but we shall have to buy some new hose: before the spraying season begins.
Respectfully submitted,
C. L. MERRITT.
REPORT OF THE TREE WARDEN
So. Weymouth, Jan. 8, 1919.
To the Honorable Board of Selectmen of the Town of Wey- mouth,
Gentlemen:
Working under our curtailed appropriation we have set out very few new trees in the past year, most of them being set to replace dead trees removed. We have been · all, through the Town removing dead limbs and have sprayed practically all Town trees.
Respectfully submitted,
C. L. MERRITT, Tree Warden.
221
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, 1918.
During the year 402 arrests have been made as follows: Drunkeness: Fines imposed $590.00 Total 96
Assault and Battery: Fines imposed $173.40 2 committed to House of Correction. Total 28
Assault on Officer: 2 placed on file.
Larceny: Fines imposed $160.00.
5 committed to.Concord Reformatory.
3 committed to House of Correction.
4 committed to Sherburn.
2 committed to Shirley School.
1 held for Grand Jury. Total 38.
Breaking and Entering: Fines imposed $20.00 1 committed to Shirley School. Total 5.
Arson: 2 placed on probation.
Violation of Probation: Fines imposed $20.00. 1 committed to Shirley School. Total 6.
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Malicious Mischief: 31 paid costs.
Stubborn child: 3 committed to Shirley School. Total 7.
Insane:
4 committed to Taunton Insane Asylum.
4 committed to State Farm.
1 committed to Austin Farm.
1 escaped from Quincy Police. Total 10.
Tramps:
1 committed to Tewksbury Alms House. 1 committed to State Farm. Total 2.
Disturbing the Peace: Fines imposed $200.00. Total 14. 1
Bastardy: Total 3.
False weight: Fines imposed $75.00. Total 8.
Peddling without license: Fines imposed $55.00. Total 10.
Manslaughter: 2 discharged.
Neglect of Family: Fines imposed $804.50. Total 11.
Threat.
3 placed under bonds to keep the peace.
.
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Rape: Fines imposed $100.00.
Total 2.
Carrying Concealed Weapon: 1 placed on file.
Violation of Automobile Laws: Fines imposed $628.00. Total 65.
Violation of Child Labor Law: 2 placed on file.
Violation of Fish and Game Laws: Fines imposed $105.00 Total 6.
Gaming on the Lord's Day: Fines imposed $190.00. Total 15.
Keeping Common Gaming Nuisance: 1 Fined $100.00.
Polygamy: 1 committed to House of Correction.
Violation of Masher Law: 1 Fined $25.00.
Trespassing: 1 placed on file.
Idle and disorderly: 1 discharged.
Ringing False Fire Alarm: 1 placed on file.
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