USA > Massachusetts > Norfolk County > Weymouth > Town annual report of Weymouth 1927 > Part 15
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War of the Revolution-Sons of the American Revolution, Daughters of the American Revolution.
War of 1812-Society of the War of 1812.
Civil War-Grand Army of the Republic, Women's Relief Corps, Sons of Union Veterans, Daughters of Union Veterans, Sons of Union Veterans Auxiliary.
Spanish War-Veterans of Foreign Wars.
World War-American Legion, Veterans of Foreign Wars, Service Star Legion, American Legion Auxiliary.
The representatives of each organization were called upon to state their views, and there was free interchange of questions and comments. Then certain orestions were put to vote with a view to eliciting the opinion of those represented upon the general features of the plan. A summary of the result of the votes is given below, some of the votes being unanimous, and the largest number of votes against any feature of the plan (except one not here reported) being three:
1. That there should be a single Memorial to the Veterans of all wars, located on the knoll in front of the South wing 'of the High School, in addition to whatever opportunities the Town Or- fice Building and the street side of the wall in front of the open' air auditorium offer for Memorial purposes, but that the opportu- nities offered by these latter should be utilized;
2. That the War Memorial should be of an architectural nature, rather than of the nature of sculpture or a monument, and that the best form for the Memorial to take would be a tower with a chime of bells, if cost permits, but in any event the tower should be built, even if the bells have to be omitted;
3. That there should be bas-reliefs, statues or other military features about the tower to impress upon the casual passerby that it is a War Memorial.
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These helpful and constructive views expressed a near ap- proach to unanimity on the part of the delegates, give the Com- mittee a very concrete and tangible idea upon which to work. We shall continue to study the problem in the light of these views, and before the Annual Town Meeting we shall call another conference of the repreentatives of the Veteran and Hereditary So- cieties, to consider the results of our study, and we hope to be able to submit to the Town at that time a definite plan for approval.
As the working out of the details of the plan will require some time, even after it is approved by the Town, we do not ex- pect to ask for any large appropriation of money this year.
Respectfully submitted,
FREDERICK GILBERT BAUER, Chairman
HOWARD M. DOWD, Secretary
FRED E. WAITE, Representing Selectmen ARTHUR I. NEGUS,
Representing Appropriation Committee FRANK A. PRAY, Representing Town Planning Board
CLAYTON B. MERCHANT, Town Clerk
RUSSELL H. WHITING, Town Engineer
ISABELLE EASTON
STANLEY HEALD
EDWARD W. HUNT
STANLEY T. TORREY
REPORT OF THE BOARD OF HEALTH To the Citizens of the Town of Weymouth,
Gentlemen:
The Board of Health submits the following report:
The Board organized in March, Joseph Crehan serving in the place of Dr. L. W. Peaze.
Dr. G. E. Emerson was elected chairman; Dr. F. L. Doucett, clerk; and Joseph Crehan, agent.
In the early Spring the Board endeavored to establish a pub- lic dump in each section of the town, and secured the services of Jeremiah Donovan to keep the dumps in a suitable condition. The citizens of Ward One objected to the location of the dump and the dump in Ward One was given up. The dumping situation has been more satisfactory this year than in previous years.
One hundred and twenty-three complaints were investigated and cared for in a satisfactory manner. Most of these complaints were for the promiscuous dumping of garbage.
The health of the community has been very good during the year. Except or twelve cases of anterior poliamyelitis we have had no severe epidemics.
The following cases of contagious diseases were reported during the year:
Anterior Poliomyelitis
12
Chicken Pox 13
Diphtheria 14
Dog Bite, requiring treatment 1
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Aphthalinia Monatorum
Influenza
5
Lobar Pneumonia
8
Measles
79
Mumps
8
Scarlet Fever
84
Pulmonary Tuberculosis
16
Whooping Cough
31
Respectfully submitted, G. E. EMERSON J. CREHAN F. L. DOUCETT
REPORT OF COMMITTEE ON DAN HOWLEY DAY
East Weymouth, Mass., June 15, 1927.
Board of Selectmen of Weymouth,
Weymouth, Massachusetts.
Gentlemen:
At a public meeting held by the Board of Selectmen of Wey- mouth April 11, 1927, for "Dan Howley day celebration" T. J. Kelly was elected Chairman, Joshua E. Fabyan, Secretary, and Ed- win R. Sampson, Treasurer; Executive Committee: T. J. Kelly, Joshua E. Fabyan, Edwin R. Sampson, John H. Moran, and Afred C. Sheehy; Finance Committee: C. B. Mitchell, Chairman, Lewis Loring, William J. Fitzsimmons, Frank McCarthy, and Wesley Sampson; and Joseph A. Fern, Chairman of Transportation.
As a personal tribute to Mr. Howley, his old-time friend and co-worker, Ty Cobb of the Athletics was guest of honor and princi- pal speaker at a moving-picture show and entertainment at the High School Auditorium April 25, 1927 where an enthusiastic gathering warmly greeted Mr. Cobb and expressed satisaction as he referred to Mr. Howley as one of his closest friends. He was presented in an able manner by John H. Moran.
G. A. R. Post 58 were special guests of Mr. Howley at the game June 11, 1927. Twelve of the members were present and were foremost in the long line of automobiles that formed the parade to Fenway Park, where by their presence the day was made unusually successful.
The Transportation Committee having arranged the auto par- ade from Jackson Squae to the Park, secured the assistance of motorcycle officers from Weymouth, Quincy and Boston as escort. Leaving Jackson Square at 1:15 P. M. the Motorcycle Officer G. A. R. Post 58, Board of Selectmen, Howley cars, Chief of Police, Pratt, buses and others passed through North Weymouth, Quincy, and Boston with but little delay, and returned in like manner.
The gifts to Mr. Howley were a 238-piece Sterling Silver set, and a white gold watch, chain and charm, which were in charge of Robert Mitchell, Frank McCarthy, A. P. Conathan and Phillip Cullen, and with the Stetson Shoe Company Snappy Girls, Edwin Clapp & Sons representatives, the G. A. R. Selectmen, and mem- bers of the Committee gathered at the home plate, the presenta- tion was made to Mr. Howley in a very appropriate speech by Chairman of the Board of Selectmen, Fred E. Waite, at the same
1
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time presenting him with a large basket of flowers from Pray & Kelley, and set of resolutions from the Board of Selectmen.
The Stetson Shoe Company presented to Managers Howley and Carrigan, Shaner and Regan of the Red Sox and Rice of St. Louis, a pair of Stetson shoes, while the Edwin Clapp & Son Co., pre- sented each Manager, Sisler and Schulte of St. Louis, and Regan and Hoffman of the Red Sox with a pair of the Edwin Clapp & Son Co., shoes.
Contributions were received from friends in many states of the Union and Canada, and requests were received for local news- papers containing the news of the day from San Carlos, California and other States.
The Committee wish to express appreciation to the Board of Seletmen for their co-operation in making the day such a splen- did success.
Yours very truly,
JOSHUA E. FABYAN, Secretary. T. J. KELLY, Chairman.
MISCELLANEOUS LICENSES
Interest accrued from 1926 account
20.00
11 Junk Licenses
a
25.00
275.00
28 Fish, Fruit & Vegetable licenses
10.00
280.00
5 Pool Licenses
5.00
25.00
7 Auctioneer Licenses
2.00
14.00
44 Gasoline Licenses (renewals)
.50
22.00
8 Oleomargarine Licenses
.50
4.00
Interest accued from 1927 acount
17.99
657.99
Paid to the Town Treasurer
CLAYTON B. MERCHANT,
Town Clerk.
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:
The total number of registered voters at the close of registra- tion, February 23, 1927.
1
944
607
437
1044
2
719
514
359
873
3
954
742
551
1293
4
355
276
193
469
5
938
669
558
1217
6
837
574
433
1007
7
407
269
158
427
8
224
169
154
323
5378
3820
2833
6653
PATRICK E. CORRIDAN, Chairman
MARSHALL P. SPRAGUE,
EDWARD P. MURPHY,
CLAYTON B. MERCHANT, Town Clerk.
657.99
150
REPORT OF THE SUPERINTENDENT OF STREETS
To the Honorable Board of Selectmen of the Town of Weymouth,
Gentlemen:
I herewith submit my twelfth annual report of the Street De- partment for the year ending December 31, 1927.
The total amount expended under the regular highway ap- propriation was $131,795.32 and the amounts of the various items are shown in the summary of expenditures at the end of this report.
The cost of snow removal, $8,358.60, was much less than the normal as over $23,000 was the cost for 1926. More work was done under general repairs than ever before, the largest single job being the lowering of the grade at the junction of Evans and Pearl Streets. Considerable work was with Amiesite, a crushed stone and asphalt compound for resurfacing gutters and patching. The crusher was operated at Keith's gravel pit and the cost of production was 64c per ton as compared with a cost of 78c the previous year, which was the lowest price for a great many years.
Summary of Crusher Account
Labor $3,825.32
Power 364.52
Repairs and Supplies
214.44
Gravel
821.12
Total Cost
$5,225,40
Number of tons crushed 8,112; cost 64c per ton.
At the Department building on Commercial Street new heating plant was installed and a new boiler room built outside of the main building which made more room for storage purposes. Part of the wing used for storing the steam rollers was lined with sheet rock and the doors repaired so that it is now possible to heat part of the building. A partition in the rear of the main building was also removed, greatly enlarging the floor space. Two three and one-half ton Mack dump trucks were bought to replace two old worn-out ones and they have proven most satis- factory. Tar surface treatment of streets was extended so that now practically every accepted street has been treated. More work was done on existing gravel sidewalks than ever before and a decided improvement was noted.
Special Appropriations
The largest special appropriation was for permanent con- struction of existing highways, $25,000 being the amount. This amount was used to complete the macadam on Middle Street from Central Square to Centre Street; a short piece on Broad Street to carry the macadam to Central Square, the balance was used to extend the work on Pleasant Street from Wood Avenue to Lovell's Corner. The work on Pleasant Street consisted of widening a curve which makes the travelled roadway at this point about 60 feet wide. A portion south of the curve was only rebuilt on one side. The grade of Pleasant Street was changed and catch basins with an outlet of about 700 feet of 10-inch pipe laid so that now the surface water is properly taken care of.
151
Permanent Sidewalks
$15,092.00 was expended for this work, being about three times the annual amount spent. The appropriation was divided so that each ward received a portion. The greater part of the work was for tar concrete walks although some cement walks and curbs were built.
Working New Streets
The appropriation of $17,300.00 for new streets was made in lump sum and the cost of the various streets was as follows: Wood Avenue, $1,221.51; Rockcroft Road, $67.95; Chandler Street and Pleasantview Avenue, (at Idlewell) $4,476.90; Bluff Road, $3,417.00, Richards Road $1,661.21, Genevieve & James Roads (at Weymouth Heights) $5,765.72, Harding Avenue $111.86 making a total of $16,722.23. Briefly the construction was as follows: Wood Avenue, gravel tar surface, two catch basins with outlet drains; Rockcroft Road, only expense necessory was for setting bound stones; Chandler St., & Pleansantview Avenues, gravel with tar surface treatment; Bluff Road gravel construction, two catch ba- sins with outlet drain to tde water. This street was not tar treated due to lateness of season but will be done this coming year; Gene- veive & James Roads, water bound macadam with tar surface, the gutters on these streets were paved with granite blocks, two catch basins built with outlet drain; Richards Road crushed stone & gravel, the cost of this short street was exceptionally high due to the wet clay subsoil encountered; Hardings Avenue and the other strets at Weycroft that were accepted were scheduled for tar sur- facing but due to the great amount of work that the Department was called upon and the wet season it was impossible to do it, but these streets will betaken care of the coming season as the balance of the appropriation is carried over. Columbian Street Macadam: $7,650.00 was expended on this street from Main street to Columbian Square, a distance of 1,497 feet. The old car track was removed and the street paved with asphalt macadam from gut- ter to gutter making an average width of 33 feet.
Swan Avenue Drain: $1,070.27 was the cost of the work. Two catch basins were built opposite the residence of Mr. Bridges and an 8 inch drain laid to a filter basin at the westerly end of the street. The filter basin was built to overcome any possibility of contaminating the water of Weymouth Great Pond. Idlewell Bridge $17,000.00 was appropriated to replace the wooden bridge over the N. Y. N. H. & H. R. R. at Idlewell street with a steel and re-in- forced concrete structure. This work was let out on bids, the concrete work being awarded to Luke S. White, Inc., and the steel worb to the Porcupine Co., of Bridgeport, Conn., the combined awards was $9,139.00 which was considerabl less than the engine- ers estimated.
The approaches to the bridge has not been fully completed as this bridge was not fully finished until the first of December. The Town is indebted to the N. Y. N. H. & H. R. R. for plans and specifications and inspection during construction furnished without cost to the Town. This bridge makes a decided improvement in the aproach to Idlewell.
Signs & Guide Boards: $961.14 was expended for new signs in various parts of the Town The same type of signs being used as for the past two years. Care of Grass Plots: This work was
152
a new feature for the Street Department and while there was a decided improvement in many of these plots more work could have been done. There will be a sufficient money available from the unexpended balance to take care of the work for next vear .with- out any additional appropriation. Jackson Square Plot: $800.00 was erpended to improve this area. The old stone curb was re- placed by a heavy concrete curb and the plot made considerably smaller by removing two trees and making the area in the shape of a circle.
Washington Square Widening: This work wa completed by resurfacing the road way opposite the north side of the Square where the widening took place.
The results altho costly have been most satisfactory as the former congestion has been eliminated and the appearance of the Square greatly improved. Ralph Talbot Street Drain: The cost of this work was $2,250.00 exceeded the estimate as it was necessary to use reinforced concrete pipe instead of akron, considerable of the way, due to the fact that it was necessary to lav the pipe near the surface. Two catch basins were built and 1460 feet of twelve inch pipe laid from' the junction of Park Avenue to Old Swamp River.
SUMMARY OF HIGHWAY EXPENDITURES
$3,300.00
Superintendent salary
42,237.75
General repairs
1,601.75
Maintenance of trucks
5,225.40
Crusher
1,688.06
Street cleaning
5.541.03
Equipment & supplies
6 083.19
Bridges
1,000.00
Gravel sidewalks
4,196.66
Maintenance of department building
4,756.88
Drains & catch basins
5.164.53
Snow removal
8,358.60
Sundries
249.89
Oiling
31,484.78
2-31/2 ton trucks
10,912.00
$131,795.52
Appropriation March meeting 1927 " October 3, 1927
$121.262.00
From Tufts Fund
250.00
By transfers, Use of trucks
3.442.42
Crushed stone
2,804.10
Use of rollers
1.554.50
Use of Bear Cat Shovel
456.09
Gravel
22.62
Balance to Treasury
306.78
Total available funds
$132,102.30
SPECIAL APPROPRIATIONS
Permanent construction
$25,000.00 $24,753.29
Permanent sidewalks
15,092.00 15,092.00
1,300.00
Fences & Signs
153
Working new streets
17,300.00
16,722.23
Relocation of street corners
4.450.00
3,147.59
Columbian street macadam
7,650.00
7,650.00
Drain easement oc Pond Street
101.00
100.00
Drain on Swan Avenue
1,300.00
1.070.27
Drain on Ralph Taibot Street
2,525.00
2,525.00
Idlewell street bridge
17,000.00
12,052.20
Signs & guide boards
1,000.00
961.14
Care of Grass Plots
1,000.00
203.77
Jackson Square plot
800.00
800.00
Washington Square widening
18,927.51
18,925.42
Relocation of Pleasant Street
50.00
20.00
$123,678.62
Balance unexpended
9,832.94
$123.678.63
IN CONCLUSION
One is apt to view with alarm the amount of money the town is spending for roads as compared with what it spent even twelve years ago but would we be satisfied today with roads as they were then; dusty in the summer and no attempt to clear them in the winter. We now have practically every street treated with oil or tar, many miles of permanent paved streets, sidewalks much better, drainage conditions greatly improved and all accepted streets cleared of snow in the winter. From data compiled by the Town Accountant we find that even with the large appropriation of 1927 that a less per cent. of the taxpayers' dollar went for roads than it did in 1920.
The appropriation the past two years has been high due in part to damages the town was called upon to pay for Bridge Street and Washington Square widenings. I estimate that the amount needed for 1928 will be about $60,000.00 less than last year.
It has been specially gratifying to have had the cordial sup- port and co-operation from the Board of Selectmen during the past year and also that shown by the employees.
Respectfully submitted IRVING E. JOHNSON, Superintendent of Streets.
REPORT OF COMMITTEE ON SEWERAGE
To the Honoarble Board of Selectmen:
In accordance with a vote of the annual town meeting of Mar. 7, 1927, the undersigned were appointed a committee "to investigate the matter of installation of a sewerage system in the town, and the cost thereof, and to report to some future meet- ing."
There were apparently two methods by which the committee could undertake the working out of the task assigned to it:
1. By employing an engineer to make a rough reconnaisance of the town, lay out a tentative scheme and submit a rough esti- mate based upon this scheme.
154
This scheme an estimate would of necessity be far from ac- curate and final and a great amount of field work. office study and' cost estimating would still be necessary before any accurate knowledye of the correct methods and costs could be obtained.
2. By beginning at the bottom and working up, making every step count towards the final construction of a system of sewerage. This method would involve the running of levels throughout the town and the preparation of a topographic plan, upon which to base studies and eventually make final layout and estimate.
All of this work is a necessary part of the design and con- struction of sewerage works.
The committee decided to adopt the second method, for the. following reasons:
1. The town of Weymouth is so large and of such varied topography, and the question of disposal so difficult, that it would be impossible to work out any adequate solution of the sewerage problem without an accurate and reliable topographic plan.
2. We believe that the town will build sewers in the near future, and our work, as we propose to do it, will constitute one step actually taken, towards the finished job. Our expenditures will be the first payment towards the total cost.
3. We wish to be able when making our complete report, to give the people of Weymouth the final answer to their sewerage problem and an estimate upon which they can safely base their financial arrangements.
4. The town has long been in need of a system of levels, upon which to base street and drainage layouts and water supply design. The expense of our work is fully warranted on that score. alone.
In accordance with the foregoing decision we have run a sys- tem of levels, consisting of 35 miles of precise levels with ac- companying bench-marks in Weymouth and connecting with the Metropolitan base in Quincy; 57 miles of additional bench levels and 88 miles of street profiles, besides commencing the topography of some of the principal river valleys.
This data is being plotted on the regular town survey sheets to the scale of 1 inch to 100 feet and these sheets will later be- combined into one sheet on a scale of 1 inch to 600 feet, upon which final studies and locations can be made.
The total expenditure to Jan. 12, 1928 inclusive has been $3,394.62 leaving a balance of $1,605.38.
It is our intention to proceed just as far as possible with the. funds now available, then make up a revised estimate and ask for the necessary appropriation at a future meeting.
RUSSELL H. WHITING FRED O. STEVENS IRVING E. JOHNSON JOSEPH KELLEY Committee on Sewerage
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REPORT OF TOWN ENGINEER
To the Honorable Board of Selectmen
of the Town of Weymouth,
Gentlemen :-
I am enclosing herewith my twenty first annual report cover- ing' surveying or engineering work done for the town during the year 1927.
The usual revision of the 65 assessors sheets covering ap- prorimately 11,200 acres was done during the first part of the year, the tracing's corrected and new prints delivered to the As- sessors. This included the location and addition of about 335 houses and about 277 additional taxable buildings, an increase over 1926 of about 20% and 10% respectively; the addition of new streets; the rounding of corners at many intersecting streets, there being about 40 corners on Bridge Street alone due to its recent widening; the entering on the sheets of developments made by various land companies or by private owners; the removal of buildings destroyed by fire or otherwise eliminated; and what is of perhaps the most importance to the Assessors the copying of all transfers or taking's recorded at Norfolk Registry of the land Court (practically the same number in 1927 as in 1926) and en- tering these on the original tracings, making all the necessary computations, changes in names and areas, as well as other minor changes, so that correct prints may be furnished the Assessors each year.
This method also allows the history of a parcel of land to be traced either backward or forward by a comparison of prints taken in successive years.
During the past year 2 of the original tracings were replaced by new tracings, and it will probably be necessary to continue some replacements each year. All of the above comes under the head of the town survey work so called and is charged to the ap- propriation made for that purpose.
Last year an appropriation of $2000 was made for this work and I would recommend a similar amount for the year 1928.
I would again urge all land owners to promptly record their deeds and also any plans which they may have. Many of the banks now require plans filed before they will make loans in order to be sure of the location of the land and of the buildings thereon.
I have seen many cases in Weymouth and in other towns here making a survey of mortgaged property, the building, which was the basis of the mortgage, was not wholly included on the land, and in some cases was partly on land not owned by the mortgagor.
During the year 26 town survey sheets were sold showing a slight profit to the town.
There is at present an atlas of Weymouth made from the town survey sheets, with an accompanying index on the Weymouth town map, on file atthe Land Court in Boston, and at the Norolk Registry at Dedham.
I have received various inquiries in regard to the cost, etc., of the Weymouth plans; and during this month (January) the entire Board of Assessors with their Clerk, of a town on the other
156
side of Boston, visited my office to inspect our system of sheets- and the method of the survey.
An appropriation of $500.00 for use in purchasing stone bounds and setting same on town streets was made and expended. as follows:
126 stone bounds were purchased and during the year bounds were set at points on Leonard Road, Bayview Street, Hillside Ave- nue, Middle Street, Maple Street, Laurel Street, Wharf Street,. East Street, Putnam Street, Pond Street and Thicket Street. This work is important and should be continued each year.
In addition 156 bounds were set on newly accepted streets. or widenings the cost of this work being taken from the appropria- tion made for such streets.
The matter of bench levels, the desirability of which I have mentioned in many previous and successive reports, has of neces- sity been taken care of by the work of the committee on sewers, and now practically all profiles, etc. taken for the street depart- ment throu hout the town are referred to a definite and the same datum which is a distinct advantage.
The water department now knows the exact level of Weymouth Great Pond, the level at the base of the Standpipe, the level of the top of King Oak Hill, of Great Hill, etc., and can make com- parisons and computations accordingly. Incidentally we also have the elevation of all the hydrants in town.
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