USA > Massachusetts > Norfolk County > Weymouth > Town annual report of Weymouth 1923 > Part 10
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Jan. 31, 1923, Received Income from Fund 125.00
Jan. 30, 1923, Paid J. H. Stetson, Treas. 125.00
Purchase of Books for Tufts Library
Deposited with the Mass. Hospital Life Ins. Co. $2,500.00
125.00
Jan. 31, 1923, Received income from Fund Jan. 31, 1923, Paid J. H. Stetson, Treas. 125.00
Sidewalk and Shade Trees
Deposited with the Mass. Hospital Life Ins. Co. $2,000.00
Receipts in 1923 :
Jan. 1. 1923, Bal. Weymouth Savings Bank
18.80
Jan. 30, Income from Fund 100.00
Dec. 15, Interest on Deposit 4.62
$123.42
Balance Dec. 31, 1923, deposited in Weymouth Savings Bank, Book No. 19,788 123.42
Care of Tufts Tomb-North Weymouth Cemetery
Deposited with the Mass. Hospital Life Ins. Co. 500.00
Jan. 30, 1923, Received income from Fund 25.00
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Jan. 30, 1923, Paid R. H. Whiting, Treas. 25.00
THERON L. TIRRELL, Chairman of the Selectmen.
The following sums are held in trust for the Town of Wey- . mouth by the Overseers of the Poor.
Clinton F. Pope Est.
Weymouth Savings Bank-Book No. 14850 $1,008.42
Home Savings Bank-Book No. 7495 14.96
Weymouth Savings Bank-Book No. 258 14.18
Quincy Savings Bank-Book No. 3196 13.58
Hingham Inst. for Savings-Book No. 5785 12.83
Provident Inst. for Savings-Book No. 250,875
11.63
$1,075.60
Albert F. Turner Est.
Weymouth Savings Bank-Book No. 9867
$12.81
THERON L. TIRRELL, Chairman of Overseers of the Poor.
REPORT OF TAX COLLECTOR
To the Honorable Board of Selectmen of the Town of Weymouth: Gentlemen :
I present to you my report of Taxes and Interest collected and the same turned over to the Town Treasurer, from January 1, 1923, to January 1, 1924.
Personal and Real collected $6,757.45
Moth Tax collected 20.90
Interest collected 1,048.82
Total
$7,827.17
Paid to J. H. Stetson, Treas. $7,827.17
Respectfully submitted, HARRY E. BEARCE,
Collector of Taxes for 1920. 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 1, 1923, to December 31, 1923.
1914 Paid Treasurer .10
1919 Polls collected $ 22.00
Personal and Real collected 943.03
Moth Tax collected 3.60
Interest collected 133.88
Paid Treasurer $1,102.51
Respectfully submitted, WINSLOW M. TIRRELL Tax Collector for 1914 and 1919.
REPORT OF TAX COLLECTOR To the Honorable Board of Selectmen of the Town of Weymouth:
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I present to you my report of the Taxes and Interest collected and the same turned over to the Town Treasurer, from January 1, 1923, to December 31, 1923.
1921 TAXES
Balance uncollected Jan. 1, 1923
Interest
Total
$33,341.51
Collected during 1923
Polls
45.00
Real Estate and Personal
23,883.48
Moth
102.80
Interest
2,487.78
Total collected and paid Town Treasurer Abatements
198.09
Total
$26,717.15
Balance uncollected Dec. 31, 1923
6,624.36
1922 TAXES
Balance uncollected Jan. 1, 1923
$144,946.24
Interest
3,208.74
Total
$148,154.98
Collected during 1923
Polis
993.00
Real Estate and Personal ·
106,891.23
Moth
577.09
Sidewalk
1,523.35
Interest
3,208.74
Total collected and paid Town Treas. $113,193.41
Abatements
1,560.66
Total
$114,754.07
Balance uncollected Dec. 31, 1923
33,400.91
1923 TAXES
COMMITMENTS
Aug. 3, 1923 Polls
23,405.00
Nov. 19, 1923, Real Estate, Personal
and Moth
502,251.83
Dec. 19, 1923 Polls
115.00
Dec. 19, 1923, Real Estate, Personal and Moth
271.86
$526,043.69
Interest
34.34
Total
$526,078.03
Collected during 1923
Polls
20,073.00
Real Estate and Personal
342,960.39
Moth
832.78
$30,853.73 2,487.78
$26,519.06
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Interest 34.34
Total collected and paid Town Treas.$363,900.51 Abatements (including polls on World
War and Spanish War Veterans) 2,577.33 Total
$366.477.84
Balance uncollected Dec. 31, 1923 $159,600.19 Respectfully submitted, A. W. SAMPSON, Tax Collector.
REPORT OF COMMITTEE ON TOWN FOREST
To the Honorable Board of Selectmen of the Town of Weymouth: The undersigned committee appointed to consider the ques- tion of a town forest have met and both individually and as a committee have given careful study to the matter.
The subject of town forests is one that is receiving increasing attention in up-to-date towns in Massachusetts. Fitchburg, Wal- pole, Brookline and Petersham were among the first municipal- ities to establish such forests and the experience in the towns which have established forests is such as to encourage other towns to follow their example. At the present time some twenty-five towns have forests established or in process of establishment, and eighty or ninety more are taking steps looking toward such estab- lishment. The committee is convinced that a town forest would be an advantage to Weymouth both from an economic and an aesthetic point of view. There are towns in Europe, which up to the time of the World War, paid their entire expenses from the profits of the communal forest, and in addition the inhabitants received substantial cash dividends instead of tax bills. Al- though Weymouth cannot hope even to approach that condition, vet a carefully managed town forest would be of advantage to the town in several ways,-
(a) The actual income from the forest after the wood or timber had become ripe for cutting would provide a substantial contribution to the finances of the town.
(b) As work in a forest can be done at any season of the year, the town forest would offer an opportunity to employ cer- tain town employees productively, at times when the town might have no other work for them.
(c) Proper exploitation of the forest would offer material assistance in our problems of poor relief.
(d) The forest would be of value for instructional purposes in the agricultural department of our High School.
(e) The existence of a well managed town forest would act as an incentive to owners of private property to forest their own waste lands.
(f) If a considerable area around our water supply were sc : apart as a forest it would not only help protect the water from pollution, but by conservation of moisture in the soil would ma- terially increase the supply of water during the dry season. With our present growth of population there have been times when the supply of water in Great Pond has been dangerously low and a proper conservation of moisture in the soil could be of considerable help in preventing such conditions arising in the fu-
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ture, and thus postponing the day when our present water supply will prove insufficient.
At the present time there are bills pending before the Legis- lature which, if they bcome law, will materially facilitate the es- tablishment of town forests, and for this reason the committee defers recommending any definite step toward the establishment of such a forest until it can be determined what the legislature will do with these bills. Should the bills be acted on in the next few weeks the committee will make a report recommending islature does not act on the bills soon enough for this report to be casion cannot be capitalized and made of permanent value for definite action at the annual town meeting of 1924. If the Leg- presented this year, the committee recommends:
1. That the committee be continued in office for the purpose of giving their study to this question and reporting to a future meeting.
2. That the sum of $25.00 be appropriated for the expenses of the committee.
In establishing and maintaining a town forest we can have the expert advice and assistance of the State Forester and his field force, at no cost except their expenses, and the principal use for the appropriation asked will be to pay their expenses in com- ing to Weymouth to examine conditions and advise the town as to the best solution of our own particular problems.
Respectfully submitted,, FREDERIC GILBERT BAUER,
FRED O. STEVENS,
PARKER T. PEARSON.
NEWLAND H. HOLMES,
ALFRED P. PILLSBURY, Committee.
REPORT OF SUPERINTENDENT OF ALEWIVE FISHERIES
East Weymouth, Mass. Jan. 25th, 1924.
To the Honorable Board of Selectmen, Weymouth, Mass. Gentlemen :
I herewith submit my first annual report of the Alewive Fish- eries ending Dec. 31, 1923.
Work was begun on April 22, 1923, and continued until ap- proximately 107,000 Herrings were deposited in Whitman Pond for spawning.
The following is the detailed account of cost of the above work. Labor
Equipments and Supplies
$347.05 26.05
Total expenditures $373.10
Receipts for sale of Herring $160.00 which has already been turned over to town.
Respectfully submitted, WINFRED C. BONNEY.
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REPORT OF TERCENTENARY CELEBRATION
To the Honorable Board of Selectmen of the Town of Weymouth:
The undersigned as Chief Marshal of the Tercentenary ex- ercises was requested by the Committee of Arrangements to make its report.
After the original Tercentenary Committee ceased to func- tion as a body, an unofficial committee made up of many of the members of the original Tercentenary Committee and such cit- izens as were interested in the celebration met and chose Mr. Howard H. Joy, President of the Weymouth Historical Society, as Chairman, and Selectman Winslow M. Tirrell as Secretary.
The Honorable William Howard Taft, Ex-President and Chief Justice of the United States, had already consented to be the guest of the town on the occasion of the celebration and to de- liver an address, and the celebration centered about the entertain- ment of this distinguished son of Weymouth ancestry. As the invitation was not extended to him until late in the spring of 1923, and the only practicable date on which we could secure him was on Saturday, June 16th, all arrangements for the cele- bration had to be put through with the utmost speed. Indeed, the appropriation made by the Town for the celebration was only voted on May 31st, leaving exactly fifteen days between the vot- ing of the appropriation and the day of the celebration, and all the detailed arrangements had to be made in that period, since until it was known how much money would be available, all the plans had to be tentative only.
The celebration consisted of,-
(a) The entertainment at noon at the Hotel Somerset, Bos- ton, of Chief Justice Taft, Governor Cox, and those accompany- ing them.
(b) Reception of his Excellency the Governor of the Con- monwealth and the Honorable the Chief Justice of the United States with proper military honors on their entrance into the Town of Weymouth.
(c) Reception of other invited guests by the Selectmen i" the vestry of the Pilgrim Congregational Church, North Wey- mouth.
(d) Flag raising and dedication of a boulder and tablet on the top of Weymouth Great Hill, commemorating Miles Standish's encounter with the Indians.
(e) A military and civic parade from the top of Weymouth Great Hill to the Clapp Memorial grounds in East Weymouth.
(f) Memorial exercises by the veteran organizations as the parade passed the Soldiers' Monument.
(g) Yacht races under the auspices of the Wessagussett Yacht Club in Weymouth Harbor.
(h) Commemorative exercises, including addresses by his Excellency the Governor of the Commonwealth, the Honorable the Chief Justice of the Supreme Judicial Court of Massachu- setts, and the Honorable the Chief Justice of the United States, on the Clapp Memorial grounds.
(i) Luncheon for the invited guests in the banquet hall of the Masonic Temple, and for the paraders on Clapp Memorial grounds.
(j) Band concert in the evening at Weymouth Landing.
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(k) Fireworks in the evening at the Fair Grounds, South Weymouth.
As a detailed account of the celebration will be printed in the Town History, this report will be confined to general com- ments regarding the occasion.
The celebration grew faster than the proverbial snow-ball. All our citizens and practically all the organizations in town ac- cepted with enthusiasm the general invitation extended by the committee to participate. Public and private buildings through- out the town and particularly on the line of the parade were elab- orately decorated. The feeling of rivalry between different sec- tions of the town which has sometimes been alleged to exist was noticeably absent, a feature of the celebration which was widely commented upon. People from every part of the town and in every walk of life took part wholeheartedly in carrying out the committee's plans, realizing that the plans were the best that could be devised under the circumstances for the town as a whole and that no favoritism was being shown.
The celebration was carried out in a thoroughly democratic manner, as befitted an event paid for by public money. There were no "reserved sections," or other special favors for the few. The exercises on Great Hill and at the Clapp Memorial were open to anyone, and there was no reserved grand stand on the line of the parade. In view of the many who were giving their services and their automobiles to transport our guests instead of looking out for their own families, it was felt no more than right that some provision should be made for these persons, and accordingly the Franklin School yard was reserved for the families of those who were driving cars in the parade, but this was the only special privilege of any kind so far as concerns the public. Indeed one of the arguments which led to the idea of an anniversary dinner being abandoned was the fact that the handling of tickets would inevitably cause charges of favoritism to be made.
The very magnitude of the celebration caused some delay in our time schedule, but outside of that, the day was unmarked by any untoward incident. Although all plans for an alternative rainy day program had been made in case the necessity arose, the weather proved perfect for an out-of-door celebration. Although very careful arrangements had been made by Dr. J. Herbert Libby, Chief Surgeon, for caring for any accidents that might take place, there were no accidents of any description during the cele- bration, no one was overcome by the heat, and no one gave out on the line of march, so that the services of the physicians and town nurses who were in attendance ready for any emergency were not needed. Furthermore, in spite of the great crowds that were attracted to Weymouth by the occasion, the utmost good order prevailed. The efficient police arrangements pro- vided by Chief Fratt worked smoothly, and there were no arrests made. Another feature widely commented on by outsiders was the absence of any commercialism in the celebration. The face of nature was not covered with fakirs, souvenir vendors, hot dog carts, and peanut stands. The celebration was dignified and orderly throughout, without any attempt to exploit the guests of the town for the financial benefit of individuals.
Another unusual feature about the celebration, at which other towns have expressed surprise, was that so elaborate a cele-
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bration could be held with so small an expenditure of money. When it is considered that with the exception of the memorial wreath placed on the soldiers' monument, which for reasons of sentiment was contributed by the organizations composed of sol- diers and descendants of soldiers, no contribution of any kind was asked from any individual or organization, no subscription paper was passed, and no admission fee of any kind was charged for any portion of the celebration, (the two appropriations by the town aggregating $5,000.00 covering the whole cost of the cele- bration, so far as the committee was concerned) the town may indeed congratulate itself on the result. Particularly is this so when about a third of the cost of the celebration represents ex- penses whch are of permanent value to the town: namely,
the construction of the road up Great Hill,
the acquisition of three town flags,-a silk parade
flag, a large bunting flag for the Town Office, and a small bunting flag for use on an automobile,
a silk guidon with the name of the school for each school in town,
the flag pole and flag on Great Hill,-the former of which was replaced out of the tercentenary fund by a new flag pole for the high school,
and an official set of photographs for the town rec- ords.
In addition the prize winning organizations have prizes of permanent value, selected by themselves, which will serve as me- mentos of the occasion in years to come, and the town has the tablet and boulder on Great Hill which were contributed resper- tively by the Society of Colonial Wars in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and the Weymouth Historical Society. Such a result would not have been possible had it not been for the co-op- eration of the Selectmen and other Town Officials, the various clubs and societies, the Veteran Organizations, and the general body of our citizens.
The parade was undoubtedly the greatest parade ever hela in Weymouth and indeed surpassed parades that have been held in many places larger than Weymouth on similar occasions. There were between four and five thousand troops and civilians in line. The troops, representing the United States Army, Navy and Marine Corps; infantry, cavalry and artillery from the Massa- chusetts National Guard; the Ancient and Honorable Artillery Company; and the veterans of the Civil, Spanish and World Wars, alone numbered over fifteen hundred. The school-children's di- vision, representing different periods and events in the history of the town, numbered some twelve hundred and would have made an imposing pårade all by itself. The Assembly of Notables in- cluded in the invited guests' division, including an Ex-President and Chief Justice of the United States; the Governor and the Chief Justice of Massachusetts; the senior United States District Judge for the District of Massachusetts; the Commanding Officers of the First Corps Area, United States Army, and the First Naval District. United States Navy, two retired Major Generals of the United States Army, the presiding officers and committees of both branches of the Lerislature, beside state, county, city and town officials, has probably never before been equalled in the history of our town; and the elaborate and artistic floats put in by the
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various patriotic, hereditary, fraternal and civic organizations and business houses of the town showed the widespread interest taken by our citizens in the event.
It seems a pity that the civic interest stimulated on that oc- the town. The occasion demonstrated that people from all parts of the town can work in harmony for an event which expresses their pride in the town in which we live. As the oldest settled town of Massachusetts with the exception of Plymouth, the oldest settlement within what later became the Massachusetts Bay Col- ony, and the town which was the scene of the first military ex- pedition by Massachusetts troops and which has borne its part in every war in which New England men have engaged since the first settlement of our country, we have a history which should not be suffered to lapse into oblivion for another fifty or one hundred years. Many towns which are regarded as centers of historic interest have a much less interesting and important history than has Weymouth, and if we could keep the civic pride and patriotisni which was brought into evidence on the occasion of the tercenten- ary celebration constantly active, it will not only stimulate the younger generation and those who are moving into our town, but the experience of other towns has shown that a proper emphasis on local history has a definite commercial value in the develop- ment of the town.
Respectfully submitted, FREDERIC GILBERT BAUER, Chief Marshal, Tercentenary exercises.
AUDITORS' REPORT
Jan. 1-1924.
The auditors' report for the year ending Dec. 31, 1923, is as follows:
The books and accounts of the Town Treasurer. Treasurer of Water Department, Beals Park Fund, Joseph E. Trask Fund, The Tirrell Donation, Susannah Hunt Stetson Fund and the James Humphrey Schoolhouse Sinking Fund have been examined and found correct and all investments as stated in report of Treasurer.
The Tufts Library Account, Tufts Lecture Fund, Pratt School Fund, Augustus J. Richards Fund, Tufts Sidewalk and Laban Pratt Fund have been examined and investments found satisfactory.
The register of the Town Accountant and the cash book of the Town Treasurer agree as to amounts of orders paid and bal- ance of orders unpaid Jan. 1, 1924.
Balance of orders unpaid Jan. 1, 1923
$21 557.54
Amount of orders drawn during 1923
1,011,381.10
Total
1,032,938.64
Less orders paid during 1923
1,005,276.72
Balance of orders unpaid Jan 1, 1924 27,661.92
Sealer of Weights and Measures
The accounts of the Sealer of Weights and Measures have been examined and are as follows:
Charges and fees received by Chas. W. Burgess $247.49
Cash paid to J. H. Stetson, Treas. 247.49
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TAX COLLECTOR
Commitments
Interest Collected
Total Collection Balance
with abatements Due
1919
$315,439.53
$4,346.53
$318,588.93
$1,197.13
1920
467,013.87
4,182.53
463,352.46
7,844.94
1921
464,517.91
5,557.80
463,451.35 6,624.36
1922
479,853.25
3,363.49 449,815.83 33,400.91
1923
526,043.69
34.34 366,477.84 159,600.19
FRANK E. LOUD, .
WALLACE L. WHITTLE,
MARSHALL T. TIRRELL,
Auditors.
REPORT OF THE SUPERINTENDENT OF STREETS
To the Honorable Board of Selectmen of the Town of Weymouth: Gentlemen:
I herewith submit my eighth annual report of the Street De- partment for the year ending Dec. 31, 1923.
Regular Highway Appropriation
The amount appropriated at the March meeting was $65,025. Receipts and transfers brought the total available sum up to $69,942.65.
The summary of expenditures at the end of this report will show the amounts expended under this appropriation.
Last spring our gravel roads came out in exceptionally bad shape and the dry summer was responsible for many requests for oiling. More streets were treated with oil and tarvia than ever before and naturally the cost which was $21,069.85 was greater than previous years. I believe the time has come when practically every street should be oiled not only as a matter of betterment to the street but as a matter of economy to the Town.
The item of general repairs and maintenance was the next largest item amounting to $18,189.93. Under this heading the general work of putting streets in condition for oiling, general maintenance throughout the year and the graveling of several side streets was done. It is impossible to do any extensive work with the amount allowed for this work and the result is that people wanting repairs made are obliged to prepare articles for the town warrant in order to be assured of their consideration. If a fair sum was allowed for this work it would do away with many of the articles that appear in the warrant each year for road work Snow removal last winter was a continuous proposition as one storm followed another at frequent intervals. While we had more snow last winter than for many years travel was kept open for automobiles at all times and we received many favorable comments regarding the condition of our streets. Total cost for plowing roads, walks and sanding was $11,224.88.
Maintenance of trucks: The oiling truck used since 1916 met with a mishap towards the end of the oiling season, the chassis frame breaking in two. This was repaired and we were able to finish out the season! by loading light. I do not believe that it is safe to try and use this outfit another year. This truck has done wonderful work having been used for 7 years winter and summer. The other two Netco trucks have been thoroughly overhauled, cyl- inders rebored, new pistons fitted and are now in good condition.
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The Packard loaned by the State was also overhauled, this truck will need a new body this year.
The crusher plant was not operated at all as no appropri- ations were made for stone roads and it was felt that it was cheaper to buy what little we needed. I would recommend that this plant be set up in Keith's gravel pit in East Weymouth as this pit contains so much stone that it is very expensive to get out gravel.
Extensive repairs were made to guard rails and fences. I would advise a new type of guard rail being used in the future, using concrete posts instead of wooden.
Several different types of street signs were erected, the idea being to find out the most practical. A generous appropriation should be made for this purpose as many streets are without signs or should be replaced by new ones.
Special Appropriations.
The amount appropriated for special work was less this year than for several years as no money was raised for permanent road work.
$2,500 was allowed for permanent sidewalks which was used to extend the sidewalk on Bridge Street, North Weymouth; ex- tending the concrete curb on Broad Street to Central Square and for the building of a cement curb and sidewalk in front of the new Weymouth Savings Bank. Several other cement sidewalks were built and paid for by the abuttors with the expectation that the Town would reimburse them this coming year to the extent of one-half the cost as has been the policy in the past. $1,000.00 was appropriated to finish the sidewalk on Main Street, South Wey- mouth, to Independence Square; about 150 feet remains unfin- ished, which will be done this coming year.
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