USA > Massachusetts > Norfolk County > Weymouth > Town annual report of Weymouth 1920 > Part 14
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(c) Replacing all bare wire with No. 10 galvanized iron or copper wire having triple braid weatherproof insulation.
(d) Avoiding poles carrying high tension wires, but where necessary to locate on such poles, fire alarm wires to be on separate cross arms located under rather than over high tension wires.
(e) Installing all wires in Headquarters and fire stations in accordance with the requirements of the National Electrical Code.
(f) Installing leads to boxes down poles in iron conduit from top of pole; wires to have rubber and double braided insulation and conduit to be insulated at box.
(g) Arranging circuits as far as possible so that only one side of a circuit will be in one cable or along one street.
Boxes :
20. (a) That boxes installed in the future be of the positive non-interfering successive type, with silver break contacts, with internal mechanism protected against abnormal currents, with outer cases and lightning arresters adequately grounded, and with keyless self-acting or glass panel doors, or keys attached under guard. Boxes of inferior types now in use to be altered or re- placed to conform to the above with the exception that boxes in out- lying districts can be without the successive feature.
(b) That all boxes now equipped with the unreliable brush- break contacts be refitted with double point platinum or silver key breaks.
(c) That additional boxes be installed so that a box shall be within 500 feet of every building in mercantile or manufacturing sections, and in built-up residential districts within 800 feet of every valuable group of buildings, and in outlying sections within 1200 feet of every group of buildings.
Operation :
21. (a) That circuits and batteries be tested for voltage at least daily, battery cells tested for individual voltage and strength of electrolyte weekly, circuits examined monthly and after severe storms; records to be kept of all tests, inspections and troubles on approved forms.
(b) That all boxes be inspected monthly and after electrical storms; inspection to consist of a visual examination, oiling, clean- ing and pulling of the box.
(c) That for telephone alarms, the nearest box number be sent out over the system from the manual transmitter, preceded by a telephone call to the nearest company giving the exact loca- tion of the fire.
(d) That the system be timed to operate at not more than two seconds between strokes.
(e) That plans be provided showing headquarters wiring, routes of all circuits, and locations of all boxes and instruments and detailed records be kept of all equipment in card index form.
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STRUCTURAL CONDITIONS AND HAZARDS
Building Department:
22. (a) That an Inspector of Buildings be appointed for an indefinite term under proper qualifications. His duties as such to be the issuing of permits and the inspection of buildings in course of construction, alteration or repair to determine if the building laws are being enforced.
(b) That a comprehensive building code be adopted by ord- inance to conform to modern requirements for construction and fire prevention as given in the National Board Building Code, particu- larly as to improved types of construction, limitation of heights and areas, protection of openings in walls, floors and roofs, wall thicknesses and requirements for private fire protection.
(c) That fire limits be established so as to properly safeguard the mercantile districts and territory adjacent to the same for the several sections of the town and that construction in general be so regulated as to prevent the development of dangerous conditions. (d) That approved fire retardent roof coverings be required for all new or repaired roofs within the town limits.
(e) That complete records be kept of applications received, permits issued and of inspections.
Explosives and Inflammables :
23. (a) That the efficiency of the existing regulations be in- creased by more frequent and systematic inspections by members of the fire department.
Electricity :
24. (a) That the Superintendent of Fire Alarm be designated by ordinance as ex-officio Inspector of Wires, to have entire control and supervision over all outside and inside wiring.
(b) That the National Electrical Code be adopted by ordi- nance as the standard of all electrcal work.
(c) That an application be submitted to the Inspector before any new wiring may be installed or any old wiring altered or ex- tended, and a certificate of approval secured from him before cur- rent may be supplied to any new or altered installations or in- stallations that may be condemned by the Inspector because of defects.
(d) That a systematic re-inspection of old wiring be made and defects corrected, and that all wiring be subsequently re-in- spected at suitable intervals.
Respectfully submitted, JOHN S. CALDWELL,
Engineer.
SUNDRY APPROPRIATIONS
Under the abnormal conditions of the past year several of the appropriations were found insufficient to go through the year. The attention of the board was seasonably called to most of these and they were submitted to the appropriation committee, which was able to care for them from the reserve fund.
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In regard to the police appropriation, the amount of this is fixed by the town upon the basis of the number of regular men on the force at the time. The state has during the past year taken over and constructed as a state highway the part of the so-called Plymouth Turnpike through Hingham, and the road was closed for several months at Lovell's Corner, necessitating a detour either by Main Street or Pleasant Street. A very unusual volume of travel was thus sent over Main Street, and many of the automobile drivers, especially on the part of the street between Independence Square and Washington Street, operated their machines apparently with little or no regard for the rights or safety of others. To meet this condition we felt obliged to put on a motorcycle officer for about two months. This officer did excellent work, bringing a number of reckless drivers into court and correcting the evil.
The congested condition of travel in the neighborhood of Washington Square between the hours of four and six P. M. also demanded consideration and an officer was placed there during those hours with satisfactory results. The appropriation was thus exceeded by $328.79. The board considered that the above condi- tions constituted an emergency justifying exceeding the appropria- tion to that amount, and it was therefore authorized.
About the middle of December the accountant called the atten- tion of the board to fact that the bills coming in from the fire department would, if paid, occasion a very material overdraft of the appropriation. A session was called with the fire engineers, who were unanimously of the opinion that the expenditures could not have been avoided without seriously crippling the department. They said that extensive repairs on two of the machines became necessary, occasioning a cost of about $1,500. The cost of coal had been much in excess of the estimates and the increase in the pay of the callmen, made without a corresponding increase in the appropriation, contributed very materially in causing the deficit. It was found that the payment of all the bills would occasion an overdraft of $3,718.59. This condition should have been earlier reported by the engineers that proper measures might have been taken to provide for the deficiency.
The holding up of the bills until the coming annual meeting would have occasioned a good deal of hardship and it was decided to authorize the overdraft as an emergency.
For a statement of the expenditures under the several appro- priations we refer to the report of the Town Accountant.
SUITS AT LAW
The suits against the town before reported and still pending are that of Harold A. Billings for damages said to have been caused by blasting on Front Street, and that of Simon Delorey, alleging $300 damages claimed to have been caused to his hay crop in a meadow on Neck Street, in consequence of the condition of a street drain, whereby the land was flowed, both of the above in the District Court in Quincy; and that of Clarence A. Wright, who while riding through Jackson Square on May 18, 1918 (Red Cross Parade Day) on a motorcycle, came in collision with a rope sus- pended across Pleasant Street from the band stand to a pole on the sidewalk, pending in Dedham.
A suit has been brought against the town by Gustave B. Bates of Quincy, alleging damages of $1,500 to his land on Pleasant
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Street by drainage of water thereon, which action is now pending in the Superior Court at Dedham. Also an action by Annie W. Bates of Quincy in which she seeks to recover damages of $2,000 alleged to have been caused to her property on Washington Street by turning off the water supply, which action has been entered and is pending in the Superior Court at Dedham.
Respectfully submitted,
BRADFORD HAWES, WILLIAM H. COWING, GEORGE L. NEWTON, FREDERICK HUMPHREY, ALFRED W. HASTINGS,
Selectmen of Weymouth.
REPORT OF TUFTS FUNDS
These funds were bequeathed by Quincy Tufts and are by provision of the will of Mr. Tufts deposited in the Massachusetts Hospital Life Insurance Company, the income to be devoted to the purposes named below.
For Free Public Lectures
Deposited with the Mass. Hospital Life Ins. Co. $5,000.00
Jan. 1, 1920. Deposit, Weymouth Savings Bank
$1,625.80
Jan. 5, 1920. Interest from Savings Bank ... 111.13
Jan. 22, 1920. Income from Fund 225.00
Sept. 15, 1920. Interest from Savings Bank 66.41
Dec. 15, 1920. Interest from Savings Bank .. 25.01
$2,053.35
Payments :
Nov. 23, 1920. P. T. Pearson, E. Avis lecture $27.00
Dec. 21, 1920. P. T. Pearson, Boston Sym- 217.46
phony Club
Dec. 21, 1920. F. F. Prescott, printing 2.00
Dec. 31, 1920. Balance in Savings Bank 1,806.89
$2,053.35
Maintenance of Reading Room
Deposited with the Mass. Hospital Life Ins. Co.
.$2,500.00
Jan. 22, 1920. Received income from Fund
$112.50
Jan. 25, 1920. Paid J. H. Stetson, Treas. 112.50
Purchase of Books for Library
Deposited with the Mass. Hospital Life Ins. Co. .
$2,500.00
Jan. 22, 1920. Received income from Fund $112.50
Jan. 25, 1920. Paid J. H. Stetson, Treas. 112.50
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Sidewalk and Shade Trees
Deposited with the Mass. Hospital Life Ins. Co.
$2,000.00
Jan. 1, 1920. Deposit, Weymouth Trust Co. $208.53
Jan. 22, 1920. Received income from Fund 90.00
$298.53
Payments :
Oct. 18, 1920. Payroll, sidewalk work $158.16
Nov. 2, 1920. D. Taddeo & Co., stone 58.80
Dec. 31, 1920. Balance in Trust Co. 81.57
$298.53
Care of Tufts Tomb-North Weymouth Cemetery
Deposited with the Mass. Hospital Life Ins. Co. $500.00
Jan. 22, 1920. Received income from Fund $22.50
Jan. 25, 1920. Paid R. H. Whiting, Treas. 22.50
BRADFORD HAWES,
Chairman of the Selectmen.
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TWENTY-SEVEN YEARS OF FAITHFUL SERVICE
Resolutions adopted by the Selectmen upon resignation of Mr. Bradford W. Hawes.
We pause in the daily routine of our town affairs to review very briefly the service of Mr. Bradford Hawes, thru a term of twenty-seven years of faithful and devoted official ser- vice as Selectman and Overseer of the Poor of Weymouth. Nor has his labor been limited in any way to his official responsibili- ties for at all times he has had at heart the welfare of all mat- ters affecting his town and has never failed to give, and gladly so, of his time and advice for the best good of all.
During these years of labor in our town affairs the duties of Selectman and Overseer of the Poor have been greatly enlarged and the settlement of matters have grown increasingly complex. The efficient administration of our town business compelled some one to continually keep abreast with the laws of town and state. Almost automatically as questions were taken up all eyes turned to Mr. Hawes for an expression of the legal phase of the matter and also for his opinion which all of us have learned to value. As to the position he has taken on any and all matters which have come to his attention, we know he has arrived at his decision in the matter without fear of anyone and with favor to none, simply a frank and decided opinion based wholly upon the merits of the case in hand.
Would that many more of our townspeople would be as self- sacrificing and loyal to our town interests as Mr. Hawes has been. As we understand that Mr. Hawes has now withdrawn his name from further consideration at the polls we take this opportunity to express for ourselves and for the town which we represent our appreciation of his full measure of service rendered to his town, regardless of any emolument which the position carried, and al- ways creditably and impartially performed. We bid him godspeed in his enjoyment of the years left to him and trust that his recol- lection of that great service rendered by him in our Civil War and later in the Grand Army of the Republic together with these many years of labor and association in town affairs may impart to him a buoyancy of spirit which will brighten the days of his retirement and satisfy him that his service has not been given in vain.
WILLIAM H. COWING, FREDERICK HUMPHREY, GEORGE L. NEWTON, ALFRED W. HASTINGS,
Selectmen of Weymouth.
172
ASSESSORS' REPORT
Weymouth, December 31, 1920.
We have assessed upon the polls and estate of all persons and corporations liable to taxation the sum of $466,994.07 and have committed the same to Harry E. Bearce, Esq., the duly elected Col- lector of Taxes, with our warrant in due form of law for collection and payment in accordance with the vote of the town and the warrants of the County of Norfolk and the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
Commitment July 27, 1920 $19,815.00
"
September 11, 1920 220.00
November 1, 1920 446,473.07
"
December 20, 1920 486.00
$466,994.07
State Tax
$39,060.00
County tax
17,811.42
Metropolitan tax
9,184.66
Charles River Basin tax
1,538.89
State Highway tax
4,721.23
Army and Navy tax
1,841.40
Special "Bay State" tax 786.07
Gypsy and Brown Tail Moth tax
2,136.80
Town tax (including overlay)
423,471.58
$500,552.05
Less amount to be returned by the State:
"Income taxes"
$17,595.48
"General School fund" (Gen. Acts
of 1919, Chapter 363) 15,962.50
$33,557.98
$466,994.07
VALUATION OF THE TOWN
$14,811,209.00
Number of polls assessed,
4588
Number of residents assessed on property,
3809
All others,
49
Number of non-residents assessed on property,
1520
All others,
25
Number of horses assessed,
288
Number of cows assessed,
548
Number of cattle assessed,
41
Number of swine assessed,
50
Number of fowl assessed,
4437
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Number of acres assessed, Number of houses assessed,
9367 4271
Respectfully submitted,
JOHN F. DWYER, FRANK H. TORREY, CLAYTON B. MERCHANT, CHARLES H. CLAPP, RICHARD HALLORAN,
Assessors of Weymouth.
REPORT OF TAX COLLECTOR
To the Honorable Board of Selectmen of the Town of Weymouth.
I present to you my report of Taxes and Interest collected and the same turned over to the Town Treasurer, from January 1st to December 31st, 1920. -
1917
Poll, Personal and Real collected $2,873.42
Moth Tax collected
21.14
Street Oiling collected 42.08
626.34
Interest collected
$3,562.98 3,562.98
Paid Treasurer
1918
Poll, Personal and Real collected $20,794.81
Moth Tax collected
180.41
Street Oiling collected
2,040.70
Interest collected
$23,591.01 23,591.01
Paid Treasurer
1919
Poll, Personal and Real collected : $63,155.38
Moth Tax collected
649.44
Street Oiling collected
6.00
Sidewalk Tax collected
14.14
Interest collected
2,133.38
Paid Treasurer
$65,958.34 65,958.34
Respectfully submitted, WINSLOW M. TIRRELL, Tax Collector.
575.09
174
REPORT OF TAX COLLECTOR
To the Honorable Board of Selectmen of the Town of Weymouth.
I present to you my report of Taxes and Interest collected and the same turned over to the Town Treasurer, from July 27th, 1920, to December 31st, 1920.
1920 Poll, Personal and Real collected $337,716.43
Moth Tax collected 1,334.30
Interest collected 182.38
$339,233.11
Paid to J. H. Stetson, Treasurer $339,233.11
Respectfully submitted,
HARRY E. BEARCE, Tax Collector.
REPORT OF MOTH SUPERINTENDENT
South Weymouth, January 14, 1921.
To the Honorable Board of Selectmen of the Town of Weymouth. Gentlemen :
Herewith please find the report of the Moth Superintendent for the year 1920.
I would say as regards to the Gypsy Moths that conditions appear to be fully as favorable as for some years past. I am sorry to report that we are finding quite a heavy infestation of the Brown Tail Moth, which pest has not been troubling us much for some years. We learn from the State Moth Department that they are having the same report throughout the district.
I hope that some of the owners of trees will supplement the work of the department by keeping close watch of the Webb Nests on the ends of the limbs of trees and either cut and burn them or notify the Superintendent.
Respectfully submitted, C. L. MERRITT, Local Superintendent.
REPORT OF THE TREE WARDEN
South Weymouth, January 14, 1921.
To the Honorable Board of Selectmen of the Town of Weymouth. Gentlemen :
Owing to the severe winter with its heavy snow and ice we found our trees in the spring in very bad condition, and with many
175
broken limbs to be removed throughout the town. Then in August came the tornado, causing me very much more work clearing up the damage.
1
During the year we have removed 14 large trees and set out no new ones to replace. We hope to do more of the planting this coming year.
Respectfully submitted, C. L. MERRITT,
Tree Warden.
REPORT OF FOREST WARDEN
Weymouth, Mass., January 12, 1921.
To the Honorable Board of Selectmen:
I hereby submit my report as Forest Warden for the year ending December 31, 1920.
Although the expense of the Forest Department has been great, there have been no large forest fires, and most of the expense has been for grass fires. We issue no permits to burn grass. Some of the grass fires have cost as high as fifty dollars. Since it costs a dollar an hour to fight fires I would recommend that the citizens be more careful.
Respectfully submitted, WALTER W. PRATT, Forest Warden.
REPORT OF BURIAL AGENT
East Weymouth, Mass., December 31, 1920.
To the Honorable Board of Selectmen of Weymouth : Gentlemen :
I have to report the burial of one (1) soldier under my direc- tion during the year ending December 31, 1920.
Respectfully submitted, WALDO TURNER, Agent for the Burial of Indigent Soldiers and Sailors.
176
REPORT OF THE OVERSEERS OF THE POOR
The conditions in regard to the care of the Town poor remain about the same as they were last year.
As the voters of the Town did not think it advisable to build a Town Home arrangements were made with the Overseers of the Poor of Braintree to care for Weymouth inmates at their in- stitution, at the rate of $7.00 each per week, this not including clothing and bedding.
The Town Farm at Weymouth was leased to Mr. Parker Con- drick for $600.00 per year and arrangements were made to have him make the wood deliveries.
The number of inmates boarded in the Braintree Home the whole or part of the year was 22, of whom 14 were males and 8 were females. At present there are 14 inmates boarded there.
Number of deaths at Town Home last year were 2.
The cost of inmates at Braintree Town Home was $4732.79.
Poor Outside the Home
We have aided in City and State Hospitals 15 cases at a cost of $1786.29.
Town poor in homes in this and other towns and cities 167 in- dividuals in 83 families at an expense of $12,530.43.
We have also aided of those resident in this town but having no settlement here 74 individuals in 18 families of one or more at a cost of $4146.52.
Town Physicians.
The Town Physicians appointed to attend the poor were:
Ward 1 and Braintree Town Home. Dr. William A. Drake.
Ward 2. Dr. John C. Fraser.
Ward 3. Dr. F. P. Virgin.
Ward 4. Dr. Karle H. Granger.
Ward 5. Dr. George E. Emerson.
William A. Drake, M. D., after thirty-five years of continuous service as Doctor to the inmates of the Town Home resigned to take effect Dec .1, 1920. Lewis W. Pease, M. D., was appointed to take his place.
BRADFORD HAWES, WILLIAM H. COWING, GEORGE L. NEWTON, FREDERICK HUMPHREY, ALFRED W. HASTINGS,
Overseers of the Poor.
177
REPORT OF INSPECTOR OF ANIMALS
South Weymouth, Mass., January 1, 1921. To the Honorable Board of Selectmen of the Town of Weymouth. Gentlemen :
I herewith submit to you my report as Inspector of Animals for the year 1920.
Number of places inspected 151
Number of cows inspected 513
Number of young stock inspected 95
Number of bulls inspected 23
Number of swine inspected
325
Number of sheep inspected
6
Number of goats inspected
12
While I have caused several animals to be killed which proved to have contagious diseases, a large majority of the stock are in a very fair condition.
Respectfully submitted, DANIEL SULLIVAN, Inspector of Animals.
REPORT OF THE CHIEF OF POLICE
Weymouth, Mass., January 14, 1921.
To the Honorable Board of Selectmen of the Town of Weymouth. 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, 1920.
During the year 300 arrests have been made as follows: Assault and Battery :
1 fined $50.00, appealed.
1 fined $5.00, paid.
1 fined $25.00, continued.
1 sentenced to House of Correction 6 months, and sentence suspended.
1 placed on probation for two months.
4 discharged.
1 continued.
Total 10.
Adultery :
1 sentenced to Sherborn one year and sentence suspended.
1 sentenced to House of Correction one year and sentence suspended.
2 discharged. Total 4.
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Bastardy :
1 continued. Total 1.
Breaking and Entering:
2 made restitution and paid $5.00 costs.
Drunkenness:
6 fined $15.00, paid.
1 fined $10.00, paid.
5 fined $15.00 continued.
2 sentenced to State Farm.
2 sentenced to State Farm and sentence suspended.
2 sentenced to 10 days in House of Correction.
3 released at the station.
1 placed on file. Total 22.
Defaulted :
1 paid fine of $30.00. 1 paid fine of $25.00. Total 2.
Game Laws:
1 fined $25.00, paid. 5 fined $10.00, paid. 3 placed on file. Total 9.
Idle and Disorderly :
1 committed to Sherborn. 1 committed to Shirley school. 1 committed to Lyman school. Total 3.
Insane:
Two committed to Taunton State Hospital. Total 2.
Illegally Keeping and Exposing Intoxicating Liquor : 1 fined $100.00, paid. Total 1.
Illegal Sale of Intoxicating Liquor : 1 fined $50.00, paid. 1 discharged. Total 2.
Violation of Jitney Law:
1 fined $20.00, appealed. Total 1.
Larceny :
2 fined $50.00, paid. 1 fined $25.00, paid. 1 fined $10.00, paid.
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4 made restitution.
3 dismissed.
1 sentenced to 6 months in House of Correction.
1 sentenced to 6 months in Lyman School.
1 sentenced to 6 months in Shirley School.
1 continued.
2 placed on file.
1 sentenced to House of Correction 3 months and sentence suspended.
Total 18.
Lewdness:
1 fined $5.00, paid. 1 committed to State Farm. Total 2.
Violations of Motor Vehicle Laws:
4 operating under influence of intoxicating liquor fined $100, paid. 1 fined $100.00 appealed.
5 fined $25.00, paid.
6 fined $20.00, paid.
1 fined $35.00, paid.
10 fined $15.00, paid.
24 fined $10.00, paid.
24 fined $5.00, paid.
1 fined $3.00, paid.
11 guilty, placed on file.
3 dismissed.
1 fined $10.00, appealed.
1 fined $20.00, appealed and defaulted.
1 operating motor vehicle without authority paid damages, $150.00.
Total 93.
Malicious Mischief :
1 fined $50.00, appealed (paid fine in higher court).
1 fined $7.50, paid.
4 fined $5.00, paid.
1 fined $1.00, paid.
5 dismissed. Total 12.
Neglected Children :
4 continued. Total 4.
Non-support :
1 ordered to pay $8.00 per week. Total 1.
Neglect of Family :
1 ordered to pay $12.00 per week. Total 1.
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Neglect to Support Aged Parents :
3 ordered to pay $2.00 per week and continued. Total 3.
Out of Town Arrests : Total 86.
Violation of Probation :
1 continued. Total 1.
Paupers :
2 committed to the State Farm. Total 2.
Violation of Prohibition Laws:
1 turned over to Federal Officers. Total 1.
Railer and Brawler:
1 continued. Total 1.
Receiving Stolen Property :
1 made restitution, paid $250.00. Total 1.
Truants : 1 continued. Total 1.
Threats:
1 fined $50.00, continued. 6 fined $5.00, paid. 1 dismissed. Total 8.
Vagrant : 1 committed to State Farm. Total 1.
Violation of Weights and Measures:
1 paid fine, $25.00 1 paid fine, $15.00. 1 paid fine, $10.00. 2 paid fine, $5.00.
MISCELLANEOUS REPORT
2 raids for intoxicating liquors. 3 search warrants for stolen property. Stolen property recovered $2,680.00. 1 search warrant for gaming implements. 151 complaints investigated.
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Amount of fines in lower court $2,687.50.
Number of buildings found opened and secured, 75.
During the summer months traffic was so heavy in the south part of the town that a motorcycle officer was stationed there to control fast and reckless driving and very good results were ob- tained.
During the coming year an extra force of police will be re- quired to handle the heavy automobile travel to and from the Plymouth ter-centenary.
I wish to thank the Police Officers for their co-operation with me in performing their duties and their able manner in conducting investigations.
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