USA > Massachusetts > Norfolk County > Weymouth > Town annual report of Weymouth 1922 > Part 16
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Yours respectfully
C. F. COOLIDGE, Supt. Fire Alarms.
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REPORT OF THE REGISTRARS OF VOTERS
To the Honorable Board of Selectmen of the Town of Weymouth : Gentlemen :-
The Registrars of voters respectfully submit the following report :
Total number of registered voters at the close of registration Oct. 28, 1922 was 5,626.
Registered Voters
By precincts Assessed polls Male
Female
Total
1
940
626
355
981
2
661
484
314
798
3
863
660
419
1079
4
612
446
316
762
5
814
609
480
1089
6
803
556
361
917
4693
3381
2245
5626
Respectfully submitted,
BENJAMIN F. SMITH, Chairman PATRICK E. CORRIDAN MARSHALL P. SPRAGUE CLAYTON B. MERCHANT, Clerk Registrars of Voters
REPORT OF THE SUPERINTENDENT OF STREETS
To the Honorable Board of Selectmen:
Gentlemen :
I herwith submit my seventh annual report of the Street Department for the year ending December 31, 1922.
Regular Highway Appropriation
The regular highway appropriation made at the March Meet- ing was $55,425 plus $3,000 for private work; additions by credits and transfers made the total amount available $69,525.63.
This appropriation was divided into seventeen parts as shown in the summary of expenditures and a brief outline of the more important items will give an idea of the work done.
The largest item of expense under this appropriation was for street oiling which amounted to $18,470.34, 92,054 gallons of Tarvia B and 24,225 gallons of 45 per cent asphaltic oil were used, being applied by our own distributor. A number of additional streets were treated as it was found that many streets that had received previous applications did not require treatment this year.
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The addition of a new truck and purchase of a sand pit in North Weymouth also reduced the cost of this work making it possible to do additional streets. The next largest item was for general repairs and maintenance. This work was carried along similar lines as during the previous year, the main work in the early spring consisting of putting the gravel streets in condition for oiling. During the summer considerable graveling was done on side streets the largest single job being the graveling of Federal Street the entire length. Streets treated with Tarvia and oil were patched continually throughout the season and many minor repairs made. The amount expended for this work was $13,894.87 and is not enough to properly do the work as side streets and back roads that formerly needed but little attention now-due to so many people owning and operating automobiles require better road con- ditions.
Maintenance of trucks and tractors: The department now has three 21/2 ton Necto trucks, one 3 ton Packard truck loaned by the State Dept. of Public Works, one Cletrac and one Monarch tractor and one Dodge roadster; the total cost of maintenance outside of oil and gasoline was $1,480.46. The new Netco truck has proved very satisfactory and has made a valuable addition to the department. The original Necto purchased in 1916 is still in workable condition, this truck was thoroughly overhauled, a new motor installed, so that for oiling and light work it ought to last for several seasons.
The trading in of the Ford runabout for a Dodge roadster proved a very economical move as the cost of maintenance outside of oil and gasoline on the Ford for 1921 was over $500 as com- pared with $19.70 on the Dodge for this year, not only was there a saving in repairs but the milage on the gasoline and oil was much greater than on the Ford. The Packard truck was loaned to the lepartment on the condition that it be kept in repair. It was necessary to purchase a new hoist and a cab which cost about $410, outside of these expenses the cost of maintenance has been small and the truck has been used every day since last March.
Snow removal and sanding: during 1922 the cost of this work amounted to $6,469.96. The question of snow removal is one that has developed during the last few years into a large problem. The discarding of horses for automobiles by the great majority of merchants, business and professional men means that practically all of our road's must be cleared of snow and cleared quickly. This means added expense but there seems to be no alternative as it is often a question of life or death. The department now has three trucks and a tractor equipped with snow plows and is in a position to keep all the main roads open. While Weymouth has taken a lead in this work it is a question how far the Town can go as to expense. Many complaints are received from people living on side streets that are not plowed out, who often feel that they are being discriminated against but I doubt very much if the tax payers are ready at present to say "clean out every street", the time is coming when this will be demanded but I do not thnk that that time is here yet.
The cost of drains and catch basins this past year greatly exceeded the budget estimate due to new drains that we were obliged to install. The question of caring for surface water is one that is more of a problem each year. We are at present dis- charging surface water on private land by right of sufferance only
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and it is but a question of time when other means will have to be obtained to care for surface drainage.
The crusher located at the Plymouth Quarries was operated the greater part of the summer and fall and 2668.5 tons of stone were produced. The grout pile where the crusher now is is prac- tically cleared up and it will depend largely upon the owners of the quarry how much grout for crushing will be available next year without considerable expense in hauling. The cost of opera- ting the crusher was $3942.52 making the cost of crushed stone about $1.47 per ton which was in excess of the 1921 cost, this in- crease was due largely to the difficulty in getting the grout and to excessive repairs that had to be made to the crusher. If it was not for the convenience of getting stone when needed, it would: be about as cheap to buy crushed stone altho the fact that it provides work for Weymouth men is a factor to be considered.
Equipment and supplies : The cost of equipment and supplies amounted to $10,972.40 divided as follows, new Netco truck $4000, Cletrac tractor $1700, Dodge roadster $755, oil and gasoline $2609.21, small tools and supplies $529.93, trailer $115.85, coal (for roller) $427.41, cab and hoist for truck $410, and $425 for new road machine. The present equipment is in good shape and is valued at about $20,000.
The main department building on Commercial St., was painted on the outside and new clapboards laid on the south side. The rear barn should be reclapboarded on the east and south sides and painted this coming year and the inside walls and ceiling of the main building given a coat of mill white to improve the light.
Signs and fences need considerable attention due to the small allowance for this work made the past few years. There are at least 150 places where street signs are missing or should be re- newed and I would recommend a special appropriation of $1000 for erecting metal signs.
Gravel sidewalks were resurfaced with stone dust in various parts of the town. This work should be greatly extended as our gravel sidewalks are in poor shape.
Weymouth's share in caring for the Fore River Bridge was $900, and for Monatagnot Bridge $150. Cost of street cleaning amounted to $2673.36 and consisted largely of a thorough clearing of every street in the spring and the gathering of leaves in the fall.
Special Appropriations.
More special appropriations were made last year than for several years past, the largest being a bond issue of $20000, for permanent road construction, this being the fourth consecutive appropriation for this kind of work. The work done under this appropriation extended from a point where we left off on North Street in 1921 near the junction of Church Street, southerly up King Oak Hill and along Middle Street, nearly to Central Square, a distance of 4274 lineal feet, covering 10,025 square yards.
The type of construction was six inch bituminous macadam, laid in two courses similar to the work done in 1921. the principle difference being that asphalt was used almost entirely for a binder in place of TarviaX that was used in 1921 for the first penetration. This type of construction is recognized as the best form of biti- nious macadam that can be laid and this road should last many years. In conjunction with laying the pavement a paved gutter
213
the entire length of King Oak Hill was built; 453 feet of 4 inch tile underdrain laid under the center of the road near the summit of the hill to take care of the underground water, 410 feet of guard rail built along Middle Street and 119 feet of concrete curb laid in front of Strong's Shoe Factory. The adjacent sidewalks . were also reshaped and resurfaced with stone dust and many of the side streets resurfaced with surplus gravel excavated from the old road surface. The traveled surface of the road was made much wider than formerly being now from 21 to 24 feet in width.
Tar concrete sidewalks: $2500 was appropriated for per- manent sidewalks and as the amount was so small it was thought best to divide the amount between Wards 1 and 2 as the other wards received special sidewalk appropriations. The work in North Weymouth was done on the north side of Bridge Street from Sea St. to Moulton Ave., concrete curb was laid at the junctions of the intersecting streets and in front of Bennie Bean's block. At East Weymouth the tar sidewalk was extended from Middle Street to Edwin Clapp's Shoe Factory on Charles Street and a concrete curb laid on Broad from Madison to the property of Charles B. Mitchell. The tar concrete work was contracted to Armington and Ellis and the curb to Wm. Shea and Son.
Main Street tar sidewalk: The appropriation of $900 for a tar sidewalk on the west side of Main Street from Columbian to Independence Square was insufficient and the work was carried from Columbian Square to Highland cemetery. $750' was also appropriated for extending the sidewalk on the west side of Pond Street and this work was carried to the property of Elsie W. Martin. Both of the above jobs were let to Armington and Ellis.
$500 was raised for constructing a gravel sidewalk on the west side of Main Street from the residence of John Kohler to that of Joseph Ferbert. This walk required considerable filling and was resurfaced with stone dust at a cost of $269.40, for once the appropriation was greater than necessary.
Commercial Street Widening: $250 was appropriated at the March Meeting for this work and a subsequent appropriation of $1250 made at a special meeting to provide for constructing a cement concrete sidewalk and the resetting of curb from the Brain- tree line to the residence of Chester Rogers. This work was con- tracted to Wm. Shea & Son they being the low bidder. The work has made a big improvement in the appearance of Washington Square and greatly appreciated by the store keepers and pedes- trians. This sidewalk was built under the provisions of the betterment act so there will be a substantial return to the Town.
East Street: The appropriation for resurfacing this street amounted to $1500 and the work extended from Emerson's coal yard to Union Ave. Gravel was used for resurfacing and then Tarvia B applied after it was rolled making a decided improvement to this much neglected street. Walnut Ave. was greatly improved by an addition of gravel and a coat of Tarvia at a cost of $198.88.
W ssagussett Road: $3000 was appropriated to work that portion of Wessagussett Road between Ocean Ave and North St., along the water front. Considerable depth of fill was necessary near the Ocean Ave. end heavy cuts were made on the hills to obtain satisfactory grades. Guard rails were required the greater part of the way and five catch basins were built to take care of the surface water. Gravel was used for surfacing, then rolled and treated with Tarvia B. A sea wall should be built along
214
Johnson's beach to protect the road from the tide during heavy storms.
Bradley Road. This new layout being virtually an extension of Lovell Street to the summit of Great Hill was accepted at the March meeting and $2500 appropriated for constructing it. The reason for laying out this road was to provide an approach to Great Hill Park. To one who has never been on the top of this hill and enjoyed the view a trip would be well worth while as there is not another place on the South Shore that can boast of such fine scenery. This road was laid out only as far as the Park line as any work done in the Park must be done under the direction of the Park Commissioners and it is to be regretted if some means is not provided by the Park Commissioners to complete ths road to the summit of the Park, as it would open up a park to hundreds that has been but little used in the past. The appropriation was not sufficient to complete the road the entire length and there is about 300 feet at the upper end that was only subgraded. The portion graveled needs a coat of Tarvia to prevent washing and I would recommend an additional appropriation of $1000 to com- plete the road to the Park line.
Granite Street drain: $700 was appropriated to relieve the serious drainage condition between Granite and Phillips Streets, through the land of Miss Mary Condrick. At the time this ap- propriation was made there was a verbal understanding that an easement would be granted by Miss Condrick but as the Select- men were unable to obtain such an easement in writing the pro- ject had to be abondoned. Some means should be found to relieve this condition as it has been a source of trouble for several years.
Burton Terrace: This appropriation of $500 was made at a special town meeting. Altho this was but a short it required con- siderable excavating and the amount was not sufficient to give the surface a treatment of Tarvia which is needed.
Pleasant Street drain : As the right to drain surface water onto the land of Charles Lovell expired this year and could not be renewed it was necessary to extend the drain along Pleasant St. to land of John J. McDonald. This work was started late in the season, two catch basins were built and about 150 feet of eight inch pipe laid, by this time the weather had become so severe that it was not advisable to continue the work. About 150 feet more' of pipe must be laid to complete the drain.
West Street culvert: The culvert near Mill Street over Mill river was not large enough to properly care for the water coming down the stream. The centre wall was removed, the side walls relaid and a 12 inch reinforced concrete floor laid to replace the stone covering. This work was contracted as the department did not have the necessary equipment to do the work. The work was completed except for the erection of guard rails which will be done as soon as the frost is out of the ground.
High Street drain: The drain crossing High Street near the residence of Everett Loud was straightened out and relaid with 24 inch Akron pipe for a distance of 84 feet. The bottom of this drain was lowered and should relieve the situation in this vicinity. Several parties benefited by this drain paid for the cost of the work outside of the street line.
Union Street macadam construction was finished from the point where the work left off in 1921 to the Rockland line a dis- tance of about 630 lineal feet. Six inch bitinious macadam was
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laid and asphalt used as a binder. The work was done from a balance left over from the 1921 appropriation and there is still a balance of $1816.59.
Signs for renamed Squares: $480 was appropriated for the erection of suitable signs to commemorate the names of those boys from Weymouth who gave their lives in the World War. A Com- mittee from the Weymouth Post, American Legion, was appointed to carry out this work and after much investigation, reported that it was impossible to provide other than wooden signs, with the money available. Believing that such signs would not meet with the approval of the citizens it was decided to order durable metal signs and the Weymouth Post agreed to stand the additional cost if the voters did not wish to appropriate an additional amount. As it was impossible to obtain these signs before winter set in it was decided to have them erected in the spring of 1923. The. matter of erecting signs renaming Park Street in Memory of Ralph Talbot was included in the above proposition and will be taken care of at the same time.
Summary of Expenditures
1922 Budget
Amount Expended
Superintendents salary
$2,500.00
$2,500.00
General repairs and maintenance
15,000.00
13,894.87
Maintenance of trucks and tractors
1,000.00
1,480.46
Signs and fences
500.00
243.19
Street cleaning
2,500.00
2,673.36
Equipment and supplies
(2,000.00
New Necto truck
(4,000.00
Dodge roadster
8,400
( 700.00
10,972.40
Tractor
(1,700.00
Fore River Bridge
800.00
900.00
Gravel sidewalks
2,000.00
1,194.55
Department building
500.00
655.64
Drains and catch basins
1,500.00
3,465.19
Clean up Day
175.00
212.07
Snow removal
2,500.00
6,469.96
Street Oiling
18,000.00
18,470.34
Sundries
50
141.22
Regular appropriation
55,425.00
Credits and transfers
11,100.63
For private work
3,000.00
1,876.66
Crusher expense to offset transfers
3,252.36
Total receipts
69,525.63
Total expenditures
68,402.29
Balance to treasury
1,123.34
Special Appropriations
Permanent construction
$20,000.00
20,000.00
Gravel Pit
500.00
500.00
Walnut Ave.
200.00
198.88
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Commercial Street, widening
( 250.00
Commercial Street, widening
(1,250.00
1,500.00
Permanent sidewalks
2,500.00
2,495.14
Main Street, tar sidewalks
900.00
900.00
Pond Street, tar sidewalks
750.00
750.00
Main Street, gravel sidewalks
500.00
269.40
Wessagussett road
3,000.00
2,999.75
Bradley Road
2,500.00
2,500.00
Burton Terrace
500.00
486.87
Pleasant Street drain
600.00
440.24
West Street Culvert
700.00
685.00
East Street resurfacing
1,500.00
1,397.95
Granite Street drain
700.00
Sings for Squares and Park Street
505.00
Union Street, 1921 balance
4,722.12
2,905.53
High Street drain, 1921 balance
388.58
388.58
Total receipts
41,965.70
Total expenditures
38,417.34
Balance to treasury
3,548.36
Note: Cost of operating crusher not shown in above table as the stone was charged to each job where used.
Recommendations
In addition to the recommendations made in the above report I wish to repeat the one made last year regarding the trading in of our old 10 ton roller for an 8 ton tandem roller. We have been unable to use this old roller for two years and need a tandem roller badly for sidewalk work and light rolling, as at present work in the spring is greatly retarded by having but one roller. The con- dition of the old roller is such that it cannot be disposed of to ad- vantage except by trading in for a new one, and that has been the only reason for keeping it. I believe the result obtained in per- manent construction have met with general approval and that the same amount should be raised this year to complete the short stretches leading into Central Square on Broad and Middle Streets and that the north side of Washington Street between the two squares be paved to conform with the south side that was re- surfaced four years ago.
The policy of appropriating money for permanent sidewalks should be continued and at least $5,000, raised for this purpose.
Respectfully submitted
IRVING E. JOHNSON, Supt. of Streets.
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FORTY-FOURTH ANNUAL REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES OF THE TUFTS LIBRARY WEYMOUTH, MASS. 1922
-
1
SAGL
SSET 1622
WES
LABORARE
VINCERE
MASSACHUSETTS
2.1635.
35
219
FORTY-FOURTH ANNUAL REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES OF TUFTS LIBRARY
TRUSTEES
Joseph Chase, Jr. Wallace H. Drake *Francis M. Drown *James H. Flint
William F. Hathaway John B. Holland Kenneth L. Nash Theron L. Tirrell
Clarence P. Whittle
SELECTMEN EX-OFFICIO
William H. Cowing William B. Dasha
Alfred W. Hastings Frederick Humphrey
Theron L. Tirrell
OFFICERS Clarence P. Whittle, President *Francis M. Drown, Secretary
LIBRARIAN
Abbie L. Loud
ASSISTANTS
Alice B. Blanchard
Phyllis E. Palmer
BRANCH LIBRARIAN
Mary M. Dingwall
JANITOR
Frank D. Sherman
INFORMATION
The library is for the use of all residents of Weymouth.
Temporary residents are entitled to the same privileges as permanent residents.
The library is open every day excepting Sundays, Legal Holi- days, and June 17th.
Library Hours : 2 to 8 p. m. daily, except Wednesday, 2 to 5 p. m., and Saturday, 2 to 9 p. m. Summer Hours : July and August, 2 to 6 p. m .; Wed- nesday and Saturday as above.
North Weymouth Branch Hours: Monday and Thurs- day, 2 to 5 p. m .; 7 to 8 p. m .: Tuesday and Friday, 5 to 8 p. m .: Saturday, 2 to 5 p. m .; 7 to 9 p. m.
*Deceased.
2:20
Two cards are issued to each borrower over twelve years of age; a white card for general use and a green special card for non-fiction, including magazines and music scores.
A white card is given to any child under twelve years of age if the application is signed by parent or guardian.
Teachers and students are given cards which permit the tak- ing of ten or more books, other than adult fiction, for twenty- eight days.
The vacation privilege allows a borrower to take several books, not recent publications, for an extended time.
All books from the circulating department, even the new fiction, may be kept for fourteen days. Recent numbers of mag- azines are limited to seven days with no renewal.
A book cannot be transferred from one card to another, but may be renewed at the library, by mail, or by *telephone, unless stamped This book cannot be renewed. The shelf number or title of the book and the borrower's name should be stated when the request for renewal is made.
A fine of two cents a day will be incurred for each day's de- tentation of a book after it is due. When a book is sent for by the librarian it will be at the expense of the borrower.
Signs and abbreviations used in the booklists :
R Reference.
+ Gift.
* Not loaned without permission. j Juvenile
Cases of contagious diseases are reported to the library by the Board of Health and all books which have been exposed to con- tagion are burned.
For the convenience of residents living in different parts of the town, books are exchanged through the delivery stations once a week as follows:
Lovell's Corner, W. W. Pratt Tuesday
South Weymouth, Fogg Memorial Library Tuesday
South Weymouth Alfred L. Tirrell Tuesday
East Weymouth Edwin E. Merchant Wednesday
Weymouth Center
Perrault & Pratt Wednesday North Weymouth North Weymouth Branch Friday
Weymouth Heights W. J. Sladen Friday
Application for borrowers' cards may be made, and class lists may be consulted or purchased at the Delivery Stations, as well as at the Library or the Branch.
*Telephone, Weymouth 989-W.
THE TUFTS LIBRARY CLASS LISTS
Class List No. 1.
English Fiction. 1879-1900. 1900.
Class List No. 2.
Biography, History, Travel. 1879-1902. 1902.
221
Class List No. 3.
General Works, Philosophy, Religion, Sociology, Natural Science, Use- ful Arts, Fine Arts, Languages, Literature. 1879-1903. 1903. Class List No. 4.
Supplement. All Classes. 1904.
Class List No. 5.
Supplement. All Classes. 1910. Class List No. 6.
Supplement. All Classes. 1917.
The set of six Class Lists, which form a complete printed cat- alogue of the library, from 1879 to 1917, can be purchased for fifty cents.
Books purchased since 1917 are listed in the annual Town re- ports published since that date. New books, when ready for cir- culation, are listed in the Weymouth Gazette and Transcript.
REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES OF THE TUFTS LIBRARY
The forty-fourth annual report of the Board of Trustees of the Tufts Library is respectfully submitted as follows:
During the year 1922, the developments in library service in- cluded a new charging desk, a new charging system, and the estab- lishment of the first branch library. The oak charging desk, pur- chased last year, was placed in the delivery room, in March. This modern desk gives a more spacious and dignified appearance to the rooms, and greatly facilitates the work of the desk attendants.
A change in the charging system had been deemed advisable for some time, therefore, as the fittings of the desk were adapted to the Newark system, it was decided to change to that system without delay. This necessitated writing a book card, with author, title, and call-number for each one of more than thirty thousand volumes. On May 25, the old system was discarded for the new.
The most important extension of the library activities was the establishment of a Branch at North Weymouth. Although the appropriation for this purpose was small, work was begun at the library in May, and on June 16. the Branch was opened, with Mrs. Mary M. Dingwall in charge. The report of the Branch follows:
NORTH WEYMOUTH BRANCH
The North Weymouth Branch of the Tufts Library was opened on June 16, 1922, in a pleasant room, at the corner of Pearl and Sea Streets, with a collection of 1,459 books from the Main Library. There have since been added 344 volumes, making a total of 1803. A few duplicates and books to be rebound. together with 7 books to be burned on account of contagion-45 books in all-have been returned to the Main Library: also 3 books have been reported lost. This leaves 1.755 as the total number of books at the Branch on December 31. 1922.
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