USA > Massachusetts > Norfolk County > Weymouth > Town annual report of Weymouth 1924 > Part 10
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Respectfully submitted, WILLIAM J. HOLBROOK, Town Counsel.
REPORT OF THE SELECTMEN
To the Inhabitants of the Town of Weymouth:
At the Annual Town Election held March 10th, 1924, the following Selectmen were elected: William B. Dasha, Winslow M. Tirrell, H. Franklin Perry, Theron L. Tirrell and Fred E.
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Waite.
The Board met on the morning of March 11th, and organ- ized with the choice of Theron L. Tirrell Chairman and Winslow M. Tirrell Clerk.
At a joint meeting of the Water Commissioners and Select- men Emerson R. Dizer was chosen Town Accountant.
On March 17th, Irving E. Johnson was appointed Superin- tendent of Streets. Oscar F. Cox was appointed Harbor Master. Wilfred C. Bonney was appointed Superintendent of Alewives.
On March 24th, at a joint meeting of the Assessors and Se- lectmen, D. Frank Daly was unanimously chosen Assessor, to fill the vacancy caused by the death of Charles H. Clapp.
July 7th, at a joint meeting of the Board of Health and Selectmen, Dr. Lewis W. Pease was chosen a member of the Board of Health, to fill the vacancy caused by the resignation of John S. Williams.
LABAN PRATT'S BEQUEST
"At the decease of my wife Elizabeth B. Pratt, out of the rest, residue and remainder of my estate, I first give the said town of Weymouth $300,000 for the purpose of establishing and maintaining a hospital in the part of the town called Weymouth Heights, and in the neighborhood of the Old North Church, said fund to be managed and controlled by said town in such manner as it may be wise and expedient.
I also give to Tufts Library in said Weymouth, my books and the pictures of Abraham Lincoln, General Grant and John Brown."
At a special meeting of the town held November 12th, 1924, it was voted: To accept the provisions of this will.
The will was allowed September 4th, 1924, but the payment of this legacy will not be made for some months
TOWN HISTORY
The town histories were delivered the early part of the year, the Selectmen stored them in the Tufts Library in charge of Miss Abbie L. Loud the Librarian. Sets of four volumes may be pro- cured at the following places at $10 per set:
Tufts Library, East and North Branches of Tufts Library, Foggs Library and the Town Office.
By vote of the town, a copy of the History of the Town, to- gether with suitable resolutions were presented to Hon. Channing H. Cox, Governor of Massachusetts, by Representative Prince Tirrell, to Hon. William H. Taft, Chief Justice of the United States, by Town Counsel William J. Holbrook, to Hon. Arthur P. Rugg, Chief Justice of the Supreme Judicial Court of Massachu- setts, by Selectman Winslow M. Tirrell.
The duties of the Selectmen continue to increase and, many important questions have come before the board and we have en- deavored to act impartially and for the best interests of the Town of Weymouth.
THERON L. TIRRELL, WINSLOW M. TIRRELL, WILLIAM B. DASHA, H. FRANKLIN PERRY, - FRED E. WAITE, Selectmen.
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REPORT of SUPERINTENDENT OF TOWN HOME
To the Honorable Board of Selectmen of Weymouth, Mass. Gentlemen :
I hereby submit my report as Superintendent of the Wey- mouth Home for the year ending Dec. 31, 1924:
Number of inmates Jan. 1, 1924, 12
Number admitted during the year 9
Number discharged during the year 7 Number of deaths 1
Number of weeks' board of inmates and Superintendent and Matron, 782 weeks.
Nothing has occurred during the year that would command especial mention. I would suggest that there be some improve- ments made on the lawns and grounds surrounding the home, also the drain in the boiler room needs to be relocated to take the surface water coming in from the outside.
In closing, I wish to thank the Selectmen and all who have so heartily co-operated to make the home a success. Christmas was a day to be remembered by those at the home, with a very generous supply of presents, which the people fully appreciate. Respectfully submitted,
B. R. WHEELER.
REPORT OF THE OVERSEERS OF THE POOR
The year 1924 shows a slight decrease in the amount of aid given Weymouth settlement cases, but we have an increase in the amount given for other Cities, Towns and State cases, for which we were reimbursed.
The number of persons aided in families and single per- sons were 269, 140 with Weymouth settlement and 129 with out- side settlement.
Our Welfare Worker, Miss Myra A. Mitchell has been em- ployed one day a week and is of great help to the Overseers in looking after the home conditions and offering suggestions in handling perplexing cases. We recommend a continuation of her services.
TOWN HOME
The Town Home in charge of Superintendent Barret T. Wheeler and wife has proved of great assistance to the Over- seers.
The new and comfortable quarters provide for their every need, we have received no compliants from the inmates, and all seem happy. We have thirteen inmates, eight men and five women.
The Overseers were present at the annual Christmas party and much merriment was manifested.
We wish to thank all contributors to the same.
The woodwork on the outside of the Home should have one coat of paint this year and the grounds should be beautified.
TOWN FARM
The Farm was leased to Maurice Fitzgerald for five hundred dollars for one year ending May 1st, 1925.
The Board is of the opinion that this is not a paying propo- sition but if we continue to lease the farm with the buildings thereon, we should want $3,000 for repairs, as the barn needs a
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general overhauling and at the present time is a detriment to the appearance of the Town Home.
We recommend that the barn be torn down and a smaller building erected, to be used in connection with the Home.
THERON L. TIRRELL, WINSLOW M. TIRRELL,
WILLIAM B. DASHA, H. FRANKLIN PERRY,
FRED E. WAITE,
Overseers of the Poor.
REPORT OF VISITOR FOR THE OVERSEERS OF THE POOR
In 1924 I have continued to be in Weymouth one day each week; most of this time has been spent in visiting families known to the Overseers of the Poor.
The calls have been made for the purpose of understanding situations in families obliged to seek Town assistance; of seeing that the situations are met satisfactorily and of seeing that such families find their way to partial or complete independence as shortly as possible.
To this end 211 calls have been made upon families besides numerous office interviews, letters and telephone communications with persons interested in the families and the families them- selves. Written report of all such contracts has been made weekly to the Board of Overseers.
Some of the time has also been necessarily spent upon the intricate subject of settlement of families making application.
Respectfully submitted, MYRA A. MITCHELL, Visitor for the Overseers of the Poor.
REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON PURCHASE OF NEW FIRE APPARATUS
East Weymouth, Mass., January 15, 1925.
To the Honorable, the Board of Selectmen:
The Committee appointed by the Town to consider the pur- chase of new fire apparatus met on Wednesday evening, December 10, and organized by the choice of Col. Bauer as chairman, and Mr. Haskins as secretary. Up to the date of filing this report, the committee has held five full meetings, at all but one of which every member of the committee was present, and at this meeting there was only a single absentee.
As the first step in our work was to get an accurate knowl- edge of the fire apparatus already owned by the Town, the com- mittee on Saturday, December 13, in a body personally inspected all fire apparatus in the Town. This apparatus at the present time consists of four combination wagons, two of them with pumps, and three patched-up hook and ladder trucks which are made by attaching the old horse-drawn trucks as trailers to motor vehicles. A detailed description of the apparatus is as follows:
COMBINATIONS. The Town has four combinations as fol- lows:
Combination 1, located at North Weymouth, Knox, ten years old, 45 horsepower engine, 40-gallon chemical tank, four chemical
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extinguishers, carries 1,450 feet of hose, carries 27 and 21-foot ladders beside miscellaneous equipment.
Combination 2, located at East Weymouth, Knox, ten years old, 100 horsepower engine, operating a six-cylinder pump, cap- able of playing four streams over an ordinary dwelling house, 40- gallon chemical tank and four chemical extinguishers, carries 1,200 feet of hose and 35 and 18-foot ladders.
Combination 3, located at Weymouth Landing, White, eight years old, 45 horsepower engine, 35-gallon chemical tank, four chemical extinguishers, carries 1,200 feet of hose, but is capable of carrying a substantial amount more, if necessary.
Combination 4, located at South Weymouth, a duplicate of combination 2.
HOOK AND LADDER TRUCKS. All these, as above stated, are the old horse-drawn trucks, with the front wheels removed, and a motor vehicle substituted therefor as motive power.
East Weymouth. Ford chassis. A 45-foot ladder is the longest carried, as if a longer ladder is put on it, it raises the front wheels of the Ford off the ground.
Weymouth Landing. White chassis. This truck carries one 50, one 45, two 35, one 27, one 23, one 21, two 18, one 14, and one 10-foot ladder. Although not a modern piece of apparatus, it has good motive power, and if improved as hereinafter described it will be a good piece of "second line" apparatus, for auxiliary use in case of emergencies.
South Weymouth. Borrowed Cadillac chassis, which the owner has notified the town he desires returned to him. This hook and ladder truck costs the town ten dollars for use of the chassis each time it is moved out of the fire engine house,-obviously a most uneconomical arrangement. The ladder equipment is prac- tically a duplicate of that in East Weymouth.
The combinations are all in good condition, one of them never having had a garage bill. Some additional equipment is needed which can be provided out of the regular annual appro- priation for maintenance, but with only minor additions to their equipment, each of these wagons is capable of giving efficient service to the town for some years to come, and we regard them as adequate for any fire which is at all reasonable for us to expect.
The hook and ladder equipment is decidedly antequated. All the hook and ladder trucks are six-wheeled vehicles. Although in city streets this is an advantage on account of the shorter turn- ing radius, it is not suitable for our sole dependence under condi- tions in Weymouth. In a city it is seldom necessary to back a piece of fire apparatus, as the frequency of intersecting streets running in all directions makes it always possible to take a turn around a short block without the necessity of backing the equip- ment. In Weymouth we have long stretches of highway with no intersecting streets, so that if a hook and ladder truck got on the wrong street, or went past a fire, and the street were not wide enough for the ladder truck to turn around without backing, a serious delay would result. Furthermore, the ladders on all these trucks have been in use many years. They are the old style solid ladders which are heavy to handle, and many of them are worn so badly as to make it unsafe to use them. Not only is the pres- ent apparatus inadequate to give proper protection to property in the town, but if a single fireman were killed or injured by the breaking of a ladder, the town would under a moral if not a legal obligation to make adequate compensation therefor, which would
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involve an expense far in excess of what it would cost to maintain adequate and up to date fire equipment, to say nothing of the in- humanity of expecting firemen, who at best are exposed to a sufficient risk, to expose themselves unnecessarily by going up on unsafe equipment.
As a result of the inspection thus made, the committee are . unanimously of the opinion that the town needs an up-to-date four-wheel motor hook and ladder truck with the most modern equipment.
We are also of the opinion that the town needs a wagon properly equipped for fighting forest fires. As these usually occur off the road where they can only be reached by cart paths run- ning over soft ground, it is difficult and frequently impossible for a heavy piece of fire apparatus, which has a wider tread than the ordinary vehicle, to reach them. A light truck of standard motor vehicle gauge, which could run into the woods and carry wire brooms, chemical extinguishers, shovels, and similar equip- ment, is what is needed for this purpose, and nearly all up-to- date towns having wooded areas in their midst have such a truck.
Having determined the needs of the town, the next task of the committee was to determine how best to meet those needs. With this end in view, we have individually conferred with rep- resentatives of the leading manufacturers of fire apparatus, and at a meeting held on Tuesday evening, December 23, which lasted until midnight, the full committee heard the representatives of all these manufacturers explain the merits of their respective ap- paratus. We have also examined and ridden upon apparatus made by all these manufacturers, travelling to other towns for the purpose.
As a result of our investigations, we unanimously recommend that the town purchase what is known as a "City Service Truck" with a full equipment of ladders ranging up to fifty-five feet, a life net, chemical tank, protective covers, and the other auxiliary equipment customary on a modern truck of this description.
We have received tentative offers from all these manufac- turers and we have prepared a set of specifications, which we be- lieve is specially adapted to the needs of this town, on which we are asking all these manufacturers to submit bids. These bids . will be in our possession and we shall reach a decision upon them before the date of the annual town meeting, and will submit through the appropriation committee to the town meeting mem- bers, a request for authorization to purchase a truck conforming to our specifications and to appropriate the necessary funds therefor.
As the town has had one costly experience in purchasing apparatus from a concern which later went out of business, we have required every manufacturer with whom we have com- municated to submit to us a financial statement and a copy of his rating in the Commercial Agencies, beside filling out a ques- tionnaire giving his career in making fire apparatus, in order that, so far as human foresight can anticipate, we may make sure that the manufacturer who secures the contract will remain in busi- ness, so that duplicate parts and repair service can be readily obtained.
As soon as this new piece of apparatus is received, which will be about three months after the contract is signed, the hook and ladder trucks now at East Weymouth and South Weymouth will be unnecessary and we recommend that they be disposed of.
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The hook and ladder truck now at Weymouth Landing can have its equipment supplemented and improved by taking the best equipment on all three of the present ladder trucks. With these additions, this truck, stationed where the chief of the fire department considers it will be most needed, will make a useful and serviceable piece of apparatus as an auxiliary to the new truck, will furnish additional ladders in case of a large fire, and will serve to fill in any emergency when the new apparatus may be undergoing repair.
The purchase of the new truck will also release for other purposes the Ford chassis now serving as a tractor for the East Weymouth truck. This Ford chassis, although inadequate to tow a hook and ladder truck, is in good condition and sufficient for the use for which it was designed. The town owns a body that can be put on this chassis without material expense, and it can then be used by the fire alarm department, thus relieving the town from the expense of paying mileage for a private automo- bile, and can also be available in the summer to carry forest fire equipment as above outlined, thus saving unnecessary wear and tear on the larger apparatus. When the new truck is purchased, and the above changes, which involve no material expense, are made, we believe the town will be well provided for some years to come.
Respectfully submitted, FREDERIC GILBERT BAUER, Chairman, WILLIAM B. DASHA, (Representing Board of Selectmen) HERMAN O. COLLYER, (Representing Board of Fire Engineers) FREDERICK L. ALDEN, (Representing Appropriation Committee) FRANK W. STEWART,
GUY W. C. HARTT,
RALPH H. HASKINS, Secretary.
Committee.
REPORT OF THE MOTH SUPERINTENDENT
South Weymouth, January 15, 1925.
To the Honorable Board of Selectmen :
Gentlemen :
Herewith find my report as Moth Superintendent for the year 1924.
We are pleased to report a very much more favorable condi- tion as regards Gypsy and Brown Tail Moth, although we still find them scattered all through the town and we feel it important to do sufficient work to keep them down, rather than to neglect them and let them increase. In the work to this end we recom- mend a more general spraying of our residential section and our orchards and I am trying to get equipment which will allow us to do this work more promptly than in the past. An additional orchard sprayer is necessary in order to carry out this work.
Respectfully submitted, C. L. MERRITT, Moth Superintendent.
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REPORT OF THE TREE WARDEN
South Weymouth, Mass., Jan. 15, 1925.
To the Honorable Board of Selectmen:
Gentlemen :
Herewith find my report as Tree Warden for the year 1924. The work of the department has consisted mainly in the removal of large trees of which there were about twenty, and the trim- ming of dead and overhanging branches, much more of the latter work should be done. Practically no new trees have been set for eight years; this branch of the tree work should receive more attention. I am asking for an appropriation this year which will allow us to do some of this very necessary work.
Respectfully submitted,
C. L. MERRITT,
Tree Warden.
REPORT OF BURIAL AGENT
Weymouth, Mass., Dec. 31, 1924.
To the Honorable Board of Selectmen: Gentlemen :
I have had no application for burial of an indigent soldier, sailor or the widow of any, during the year just passed, thanks to the State and National Homes, which care for many and the bounty of a grateful Nation, bestowed on the 4th of each month. Most respectfully, WALTER TURNER, Burial Agent for Weymouth.
REPORT OF THE FOREST WARDEN
To the Honorable Board of Selectmen : Gentlemen :
I herewith submit the annual report of the Forest Warden for the year 1924.
The total number of calls for grass and wood fires for the year 1924 was 156 and were divided as follows:
Combination 1-39.
Combination 2-45.
Combination 3-31.
Combination 5-41.
Deputies appointed by Herman O. Collyer, Forest Warden. Harold A. Hawes,
Henry Phillips, Thomas H. Melville,
Bertie T. Loud,
John L. Maynard.
Respectfully submitted,
HERMAN O. COLLYER, Forest Warden.
REPORT OF SUPERINTENDENT OF ALEWIVE FISHERIES East Weymouth, Mass., January 15, 1925.
To the Honorable Board of Selectmen of the Town of Weymouth: Gentlemen :
I herewith submit my second annual report of the Alewive Fisheries ending Dec. 31, 1924.
Work was begun on April 24, 1924, and continued until ap- proximately 100,000 herrings were deposited in Whitman Pond for spawning.
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The number of herring during the season were many in excess of the previous year, and it is my opinion of in subsequent years the brook should be on a self-supporting basis.
The receipts from the sale of herring was more than double that of 1923, and this seems to be a good indication that much interest is shown by townspeople in the fisheries. There are re- pairs that seem necessary around the brook and especially in the concrete work which from water-frost is completely destroyed. This work would necessitate a small amount of money and I be- lieve this should be done before next season. The floor of the herring house is in poor condition and for safety this should be renewed.
Respectfully submitted, WINFRED C. BONNEY.
REPORT OF COMMITTEE ON WIDENING MADISON SQUARE East Weymouth, January 2, 1925.
At a special Town Meeting of June 30, 1924, it was voted that the Town Meeting Members of Precinct (2) be a committee to consider the question of the advisability of acquiring land for the purpose of widening Madison Square and report at some future meeting.
In compliance with the above vote the committee were noti- fied by the Town Clerk of a meeting on Friday evening, January 2, 1925, at 7:30 P. M., at the Town Office.
The meeting was called to order by the Town Clerk who read the Article. Joseph W. McDonald was elected chairman and Ralph H. Haskins, Secretary.
On motion of George F. Farrar it was voted to meet at Madison Square on Saturday, January 3, at 3 P. M., to view the property.
On motion of James D. Bosworth it was voted to invite Father Riordan to meet with the committee.
Fifteen (15) present. Adjourned at 8:15 P. M.
R. H. HASKINS, Secretary.
East Weymouth, January 3, 1925.
The committee met at Madison Square at 3 o'clock, Father Riordan in attendance, after viewing the property the committee retired to the Town Office.
After an expression of opinions from the members it was voted that the committee report in favor of taking land at the junction of Commercial and Madison streets now owned by Nicola Tarromella and Joseph Bergarsone, and to recommend the lower- ing of the cement wall on the southeast corner of Madison and Commercial streets or to take enough land of said corner to give traffic a clear view of approach.
Adjourned at 4:30 P. M.
R. H. HASKINS, Secretary.
REPORT OF COMMITTEE ON COLLECTION OF GARBAGE Weymouth, Dec. 30, 1924.
To the Honorable Board of Selectmen and Citizens of Weymouth: Agreeably to the vote passed at the last Annual Town Meet- ing held March 3, 1924, the Moderator appointed the undersigned
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a committee to consider the matter of the collection of garbage in the Town of Weymouth.
The Committee held five meetings and thoroughly discussed this question as its importance seemed to warrant. An advertise- ment was printed in two local newspapers inviting persons inter- ested in taking up the work to meet with the Committee. Four or five citizens responded to the invitation and attended two of the meetings. Members of the Committee also attended meetings in different parts of the town where garbage collection was being agitated.
These various meetings and conferences resulted in convinc- ing the Committee that Weymouth should undertake or supervise the collection and disposal of garbage under such rules and regu- lations as the Board of Health or Selectmen may deem necessary.
The Committee mentions a few of the reasons on which its unanimous opinion is based :
1. The thickly settled, populous sections of the Town feel the necessity of it, and are justly demanding that the Town act in the matter.
2. Private arrangements for the collection and disposal of garbage have in too many instances proved uncertain and un- satisfactory, particularly the disposal.
3. Progressive communities about us have wisely decided that this is an important public function, and as Weymouth is growing fast her good name and reputation require that she too maintain proper sanitary conditions as they may be related to the question of garbage, thereby affording additional proof of her concern for the public health and welfare.
The Committee therefore recommends that appropriate ac- tion be taken by the Town forthwith.
Respectfully submitted, LOTTIE F. SAMPSON, PATRICK CASEY, ARTHUR H. PRATT, GERTRUDE C. ANDREWS, GUY W. C. HARTT,
Committee.
REPORT OF COMMITTEE APPOINTED PURSUANT TO VOTE AT ANNUAL TOWN MEETING IN MARCH, 1924, TO IN- VESTIGATE GAS AND ELECTRIC RATES IN THE TOWN OF WEYMOUTH
The Committee, pursuant to the vote above mentioned, has held several meetings and has examined into the matter referred to them thoroughly and carefully. Representatives of the Wey- mouth Light & Power Company and the Old Colony Gas Com- pany appeared before the Committee, and gave testimony at length. Both companies have submitted statements of their re- spective positions concerning the matter of rates in Weymouth, which statements are attached hereto, and made a part of this report.
As to the electric light rates, we find that since May, 1924, the Company has charged 15 cents per K.W.H. net, i.e., if con- sumer pays the bill within a period allowed for discount as stated on the bill. The Company will, during January, 1925, announce a further reduction of 1/2 cent per K.W.H. to take effect in Janu- ary, 1925, and will be reflected in the February bill. We find that the Company has charged per K. W.H. since that method of
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charging was established about 1903, 15 cents per K.W.H. until 1916, when it was reduced to 1412 cents, and in October, 1916, to 14 cents, and in June, 1917, to 131/2 cents.
As stated in the lighting company's statement hereto an- nexed, during 1917, the costs increased to such an extent that it became necessary to increase the rate to 15 cents, and subsequent increases in the rates were made, which rates have since been reduced, as stated above. We find that such rates in adjoining communities vary.
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