USA > Massachusetts > Norfolk County > Weymouth > Town annual report of Weymouth 1928 > Part 17
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All these objectionable features are eliminated by incineration, which has the further and great advantage of destruction, at the same time, of all rubbish and refuse. The mixed refuse from cities and towns contains enough combustible material to develop a temperature suffi- ciently high to destroy the garbage without the production of odors in the flue gases. Temperature above 1200 degrees F. are commonly re- quired.
In many municipalities, such as Portsmouth, N. H., the combus- tible rubbish is sufficient in quantity to wholly consume the entire col- lection of garbage, and in other municipalities but a small amount of additional fuel is required. Naturally, the economy of operation is largely dependant on the type of incinerator installed and the care given to its operation.
The cost of disposing of garbage by incineration would not be more than one ton of coal a day, plus the labor of one man for each in- cinerator. If properly cared for it should not be that. For the average garbage contains sufficient amount of combustible material to maintain a degree of heat sufficient to destroy itself. In fact, an incinerator after a day's operation holds its heat from 24 to 36 hours, therefore, rekindling it not usually resorted to if the plant is used daily.
By adopting this method of garbage and waste disposal Weymouth is taking the first steps toward the removal of ashes, which subject has been under consideration.
The Board of Health believes that within a year, at the cost of $20,000 annually, the Town would provide for its care and operation of its incinerators, collect its ashes, and begin to fill many of the mos- quito breeding low places, thus improving its scenic and sanitary con- dition.
We recommend the building of two incineration plants, one at, or near Middle St. and Washington Street; and one at or near Com- mercial Street between East and North Weymouth. These locations would materially cut the length of haul and lessen cost of equipment and collection. These incinerator plants should have an initial capa- city each of 5 to 6 tons per 8 hour day, with provision for an addi- tional unit in each, doubling its capacity. Plants of this character are obtainable of a design requiring the services of but one attendant for each plant, at a cost of approximately $12,000 per plant suitable housed.
The recommendation of the Board of Health is that $45,000. be raised for this improvement.
One hundred and seven complaints have been investigated and taken care of. A large percentage of these complaints were where cess pools were overflowing and in some cases flowing down the gutter.
At the beginning of the School year there was quite an extensive epidemic of measles, 145 cases being reported. There were 10 cases of dog bites reported. as compared to one last year, there were 20 cases of tuberculosis as. to 16 in 1927 and 2 cases of antirio poliomyetitis as to 12.
On Dec. 1 a case of small pox was reported to the Board. The re- port was received the middle of the after-noon and the case sent to the contagious hospital that evening, the house quarantined and all contacts vaccinated.
The following is the list of contagious diseases reported during the year
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Chicken Pox
19
Antirio Poliomyetitis
2
Diphtheria
10
Dog Bite
10
Influenza
13
Pneumonia
1
Measles
145
Mumps
10
Scarlet fever
78
Septic sore throat
1
Small pox
1
Tuberculosis
20
Typhoid fever
2
Whooping cough
19
Sleeping sickness
1
Respectfully submitted,
GEO. E. EMERSON JOSEPH CREHAN F. L. DOUCETT
TOWN OF WEYMOUTH .. Office of the BOARD OF HEALTH East Weymouth, Mass., Dec. 31, 1928. REPORT OF INSPECTORS OF PLUMBING To the Honorable Board of Health of the Town of Weymouth, Gentlemen :
We herewith submit our report for year ending Dec. 31, 1928.
There has been issued from this office 449 permits for installing plumbing together with 6 left over from 1927, of this number 453 have passed inspection and 2 remains left over for 1929.
There has been installed in old and new buildings the following fixtures : (575) closets, (504) lavatories, (418) bathtubs, (428) sinks, (346) trays, (11) showers, (1) cellar drainer, (2) washing machines, (14) drinking fountains, (40) urinals, (2) ice chest wastes, making a total of 2341 fixtures the value of which was $182,005.00.
The number of old and new buildings in which plumbing was in- stalled are as follows: (320) new one family houses, (79) old one family house, (24) old two family house, (1) old three family houses, (1) new school, (7) new two family houses, (2) new dance halls and eat- ing houses, (1) old six tenement house, (1) new garage, (3) old offices, (1) old church, (14) new stores,(1)old 7 family house, (1) new green- house, (1) new town office building, (1) gas station, (2) old schools, (1) old factory, (1) old restaurant, (1) new office and store room, (1) new barber shop, (1) new parish hall, (1) old town barn. Respectfully submitted, JOSEPH E. LUDDEN Inspector of Plumbing GEO. MARSHELL Deputy Inspector.
Meningitis
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REPORT OF COMMITTEE ON NEW TOWN HALL AND WAR MEMORIAL
Weymouth, January 15, 1929.
To the Honorable the Board of Selectmen :
Our new Town Office Building, so urgently needed and so. anx- iously awaited by our Town Officials who for many years have done their work under serious handicaps, is finished and the Town Depart- ments moved into it on Monday, December 24th, 1928. By vote of the Board of Selectmen the Building is to be officially known as the: WEYMOUTH TOWN HALL, and the formal dedication exercises will take place on Friday 22nd, 1929.
The Committee is glad to be able to report that in spite of some unforeseen expenses, not allowed for in the original estimates, which the Committee felt it necessary or advisable to assume, we have kept within our appropriation and have done more in the way of equipping the building and fixing up its grounds than we originally planned to do out of this year's appropriation.
The building and its appointments have met the hearty and enthu- siastic approval of the Town Officials who have to do business in it, and the work has been highly praised by officials of other towns, who have expressed surprise at our being able to accomplish so much for so little money. Architectural magazines have commented upon it as one of the outstanding achievements of the year in municipal building and planning, and it has been held up to other towns as an example of what a Town can do in this line.
The full beauty of the building will not be evident until the "new" appearance of the bricks has worn off by one or two years' exposure to the weather, the lawn has developed, and the trees and foundation planting for which the landscape plans call, have been set out and had a chance to grow. "The parking space between the building and the High School should also be constructed, proper entrances and exits to it provided and the space 'surrounded by shrubbery.
Now that the building is completed the proper decoration of its walls should receive consideration. National and Town flags, the banner presented by ·Weymouth, England, and photographic copies of the muster rolls of the companies which went from the Town in the Revolution, the War of 1812 and the Civil War ,and other documents of historic interest to the Town'have been framed and hung on the walls. In the central rotunda there 'are four spaces left for mural paintings of scenes in' the Town's history. ' Since any painting will take a year or more to execute, the matter of filling these spaces should be taken up and an appropriation made to engage an artist for the purpose.
In our report submitted last October and in that of the Appropri- atioń Committee it was 'stated that "it is impossible to 'tell definitely what will be needed for the various 'miscellaneous items until the Town officials move into the building and learn from experience what is needed." At the date of this report it is too soon to tell just what more will be needed in the line of furniture and equipment, but from present indications it will be very little. With the two months' exper- ience which will intervene before the' Annual Town Meeting, the vari- ous Town Departments can tell what if any further equipment they will need, and the facts with appropriate recommendations will then
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be submitted to the Appropriation Committee and the voters.
The Committee desires to thank the several Town officials for their helpful suggestions and co-operation in the work of planning and furnishing the building. These have enabled us to meet their needs as we should never have been able to do, had we not had throughout the benefit of their ideas, and the result is a building which we confidently believe, with the provisions' for expansion contained in the building itself, will meet the needs of the Town for at least a century. Thanks are also due to the Weymouth Chamber of Com- merce, whose Secretary, Mr. Negus, is a member of this Committee. With their consent he has taken the necessary time to give personal supervision to the details of construction and furnishing, and his experience in construction work has been of great value to the Com- mittee and the Town.
Mrs. Jennie B. Worster has presented to the Town a clock to be placed in the central rotunda of the building in memory of her son, the late Russell B. Worster. It is probable that there are others who may wish to make memorial gifts or to place in the rooms articles of furniture which will be in keeping with the colonial character of the building. If so, they should communicate at once with the Town Clerk who will inform them what articles can be used.
OPEN AIR THEATRE
One of the reasons which led this Committee to recommend the construction of the civic centre on the grounds adjoining the High School was the unique opportunity which the terrain in the centre offered for an open air auditorium at very small expense: The High School has long ago outgrown its present hall, and needs such an auditorium for its graduation exercises and other public functions. This in turn offers an excellent opportunity to utilize the street side of the wall back of the stage for tablets with the names of the men who have gone from Weymouth to serve their country in time of war. Weymouth is almost the only town of any size which has no com- memorative list. At the last Annual Town Meeting this plan was unanimously approved, and an appropriation made for plans estimates and preliminary work. One of the uses to which this appropriation has been put is to make up correct lists of the men whose names are to appear on the tablets. The difficulties encountered in doing this have only served to emphasize the necessity of accomplishing the task with- cut more delay, while the Committee can still avail themselves of the personal knowledge of the families and comrades of the men concern- ed. This is well illustrated by our experience with the Civil War list. At the close of the war each Town in Massachusetts was obliged to compile a book with the military record of each man who had served to the creditof the Town. We expected that compiling this list. would involve only copying and arranging the names from this book. As a matter of precaution we had each record checked by the. original rolls in the office of the Adjutant General at Washington, and found to our surprise that not only were names and ranks wrong in a considerable number of cases, but that the data as to some of the men who laid down their lives for their country were incorrect. One man was re- corded in the Town Records as having died in a rebel prison who as a matter of fact was released on parole and sent home. These diffi- culties are of course increased in. the case of other wars, where no offi-
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cial Town list was kept, and we must ascertain whether a man lived in Weymouth or not. As one means of checking this we are having copies made of the census lists of Weymouth families from 1790 to 1850. The value to the Town in the present and future generations of having these lists made up and checked by the original government records can not be overestimated . When they are finished Weymouth will have records on this subject which for accuracy and complete- ness will not be surpassed by those of any Town in the United States.
The Civil and Spanish War lists are herewithprinted. It is, of course, possible that there may be ommissions or typographical errors, The most likely case of an ommission is that of a man who, though living in Weymouth, enlisted from some other place, as there is no way of checking this fact from the official records. The citizens of the Town are accordingly requested to examine these lists carefully, and notify the Town Clerk at once in writing of any error or ommis- sion which they think exists, giving the documentary or other author- ity for their belief.
It was unfortunate that when the Special Town Meeting was called last October, your Committee was obliged to act with such haste in order to make its recommendations to the Town Meeting that it was impossible to have available the details of the plans, with the result that many members did not understand the project, which had been ap- proved by unanimous vote of the Town Meeting in March last, and consequently no action was taken at that time. The plan of your Com- mittee was to build the open air theatre by taking the dirt away from around the Town Hall, thereby "killing two birds with one stone", so that the only special expense of grading around the Town Hall would have been the finishing and surfacing. The failure to appropriate for the theatre at that time made it impossible for the Committee to do this as under the head of grading for the Town Hall, only the surfac- ing had been considered, and the Town would have been sub- jected to a large extra expense beside the possibility of the basement of the Town Hall being injured by drainage during the winter, had it not been for the timely and public spirited action of the School De- partment. The Building Committee of the new wing of the High School recognized the necessity of saving this dirt and placing it where it would be needed for the future development of the grounds. This was a part of the grading of the School grounds, which they could properly undertake, and, having money available for the purpose, they in a fine spirit of co-operation for the interest of the Town mov- jed the dirt and placed it where it will be needed in connection with the plan for the open air theatre already approved by the Town. We feel that the thanks of the Town are due them for their action, which has resulted in a material saving of money to the Town.
Although the War Memorial appropriation at our disposal would have permitted us to do more, we have not felt at liberty under the head of "preliminary work" to go further that to prepare the ground for the execution of the plan which the Town has endorsed. By ar- rangement with the School Building Committee we have put in the foundations of a wall to retain the dirt where they have placed it, and have graded the ground down to the street and put in the flagpoles, in order to comply with the law regarding the display of the national flag on school grounds and to display the Town Flag in close prox- imity to the Town Hall. We have also arranged for the moving of
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certain trees to sites where they are needed for symmetry, thereby improving the view of the buildings from the street. This work will expedite the building of the theatre and wall, and yet commits the Town to nothing beyond the present appropriations, for the work could be made the basis of a terraced treatment of the grounds, so that little or nothing would be wasted.
We recommend an appropriation of $16,000.00 for the construction of the theatre and wall and the placing of the commemorative tablets. Even if the work is commenced immediately it is doubtful if the turf will be sufficiently established so that the theatre can be used before the Spring of 1930, so if it is to be available for the use of the school in that year, no further time should be lost.
WAR MEMORIAL TOWER
One of the chief reasons which led us to recommend placing the Town Hall on its present site was the opportunity offered by the knoll Easterly of the South Wing of the High School to erect to the men of Weymouth who have laid down their lives for their country, a suita- ble Memorial in a place where it would balance the Town Hall and where the coming generations of school children would see it and learn its significance. Without such a structure to balance the Town Hall the entire group of buildings looks one-sided. As this plan was unanimously approved by the Town at its last Annual Town Meeting, we recommend that it be proceeded with without further delay. From figures we have we estimate the cost of a tower at $20,000.00, and we have definite figures of $19,900.00 for a chime of 15 bells in the key of E-flat, which after hearing several chimes we recommend as the one best suited to our needs. There will be a small expense also to grade and embellish the grounds. We expect to have more definite figures before the Town Meeting. In view of the Massachusetts Bay Ter- centenary in 1930, when millions of visitors from all over the country will come to our State, civic pride demands that we have this entire group ready to show at that time.
PARTICIPATION IN MASSACHUSETTS BAY TERCENTENARY
Weymouth is the oldest settlement in the Massachusetts Bay Col- ony, the 300th anniversary of the transfer of whose government from England to America will be fittingly observed throughout our Com- monwealth in 1930. Nearly all the historic Towns of Massachusetts are planning to participate in this celebration, even though they them- selves were not settled until after 1630. In view of Weymouth's unique position in the Bay Colony and the fact that William Blackstone, the first white settler of Boston, went there from Weymouth, we certainly cannot afford to let pass this opportunity of calling attention to our Town.
Bv vote of the Board of Selectmen. the General Society of the War of 1812, an organization founded in 1814 by veterans of that war after the heroic defense of Baltimore and Fort Henry, which gave us our national anthem, and now perpetuated by their descendants, has been invited to hold its biennial meeting in 1930 in our New Town Hall, and the invitation has been unanimously accepted. After conference with the Massachusetts Bay Tercentenary Committee, and a considera- tion of all the factors involved they recommend and we concur in the recommendation that this meeting be the centre of our celebration. We feel that the Town should not spend a large sum of money, and accordingly with the approval of the general tercentenary committee
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we recommend that Weymouth's part in the celebration take the fol- lowing form:
1. An exhibit in some public building, open two or three days a week, for at least a month, of articles illustrating the life and industries of colonial days. Carding, spinning, weaving, rag braiding and the old methods of cookery by the open fire can be illustrated. Specimens of the clothing, books, implements and furniture can be collected and shown. An investigation made in 1926 showed that there are many such articles in Town which people will be willing to loan if they are assured of proper protection from fire, theft and injury. Such an exhibit will not only be an attraction to visitors, but will be most in- teresting to our own townspeople.
2. An old time military encampment or muster of the time of the Revolution or War of 1812, lasting four or five days, with drills and ceremonies each afternoon. There are many historic organizations dating back to the 18th century, who would no doubt be glad to send detachments to such a celebration, clad in their historic uniforms. Such a feature would be unique and impressive, and the expense would be small. This feature should, of course be held so as to include the date of the convention of the Society of the War of 1812.
3. Possibly a pageant in our open air theatre, illustrative of Wey- . mouth's history.
We accordingly recommend that a committee be appointed by the Moderator, to include representatives of the Sons and Daughters of the American Revolution, the Society of the War of 1812, and the Weymouth Historical Society, and a member of the Board of Select- men, to proceed with the plans for such a celebration, and that the sum of $300.00 be appropriated for committee expenses.
Respectfully submitted,
FREDERIC GILBERT BAUER H. FRANKLIN PERRY FRANK A. PRAY STANLEY HEALD ARTHUR I. NEGUS HOWARD M. DOWD
FRED. E. WAITE CLAYTON .B. MERCHANT
EDWARD W. HUNT RUSSELL H. WHITING. - STANLEY T. TORREY
REPORT OF SUPERINTENDENT OF STREETS
To the Honorable Board of Selectmen of the Town of Weymouth : Gentlemen :
I herewith submit 'my thirteenth annual report of the Street Department for the year ending December 31, 1928.
The total amount expended on streets, including special ap- propriations was $196,971.77 as compared with $245,947.99 expended in 1927. The amounts of the various items are shown in the sum- mary of expenditures at the end of this report. The regular highway appropriation was divided to cover the different activities of the de- partment and as in the past general repairs and oiling were the two large items.'
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The maintenance of all streets is included under General Repairs, such as the scarifing and reshaping of gravel roads that are injured by frost or traffic. The more extensive jobs under this heading were the widening and resurfacing of Central Street from White to Union Streets, covering the car tracks on Union Street, gravelling portions of West, Front, Ralph Talbot and Forest Streets. About 330 feet of Fogg Road was excavated, filled with gravel and a six inch bituminous top laid. At Weymouth Landing a portion of Broad Street near No. 248 was excavated and gravel filled and a new bituminous top laid. Considerable surface treatment work with gravel was done on Front, Winter, Federal, Summer and Idlewell Streets. Work in East Wey- mouth consisted of repairs to Lake, Spring, Essex, Middle Maple, Whitman, Broad, Commercial, High, East and Carroll Streets. At North Weymouth repairs were made to Evans, Beal, Green, Standish, Sea, Bayview, Leonard Road, Monatiquot and Birchbrow Streets. The cost of snow removal the past year was less than it has been for some years past, although the saving was offset by the damage done, due to the open winter with alternate freezing and thawing.
The crusher was operated as it has been for the past few years at Keith's gravel pit at East Weymouth and the following is a statement of costs:
SUMMARY OF CRUSHER ACCOUNT
Labor
$6,410.05
Power
405.24
Repairs and supplies
433.04
Gravel
431.82
Cost of operating-Total
$7,686.15
Tons crushed
12,780
· Cost per ton
$0.60
More money was expended on gravel sidewalks than for several years, many walks being reshaped and surfaced with stone dust.
A new loading machine for handling gravel and crushed stone was purchased which has proved satisfactory and economical. A two ton Graham Truck was also purchased to replace one of the old Netco trucks.
Surface oiling work was extended, taking in several new streets so that practically every accepted street was treated.
Many signs and fences are broken by automobiles running into them and it has been rather difficult to collect from' the parties caus- ing the damages. $2534.97 was expended for signs and fences.
The department building on Commercial Street was painted on the outside and minor repairs made to the interior.
SPECIAL APPROPRIATIONS
The appropriation for permanent construction was $25,246.71 and the amount expended was $23,725.79. The work consisted of six inch asphalt macadam, both base and top courses being. penetrated with asphalt. The west side of Pleasant street from. Lovell's Corner north, 1315 feet was completed so that from Lovell's Corner to, Water Street the pavement is all asphalt macadam. Due to the fact that the ques- tion. of widening Pleasant Street from Lovell's Corner south was un- decided, work from Columbian Square south was done for a distance of 930 feet. This stretch took in Nash's Hill which has been a source of trouble for many years. The old surface was excavated to the depth of two feet or more and replaced with gravel and then a six inch asphalt macadam surface laid. Three new catch basins were
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built and the existing drain enlarged so that the surface water is now properly taken care of. On Union Street near Bates Avenue two short pieces were excavated and resurfaced. The entire appropriation was not expended, due to the lateness of the season.
Permanent sidewalks, consisting of tar concrete were laid as fol- lows: Pleasant Street east side, between Park Avenue and Ralph Tal- bot Street, 922.93 sq. yards; Torrey Street, north side, 656.14 sq. yards; Middle Street, west side from Central Square north to Town Hall, 771.53 sq. yards; Middle Street from Academy Avenue to Commercial Street, 648.9 sq. yards; North Street, west side, from Church Street to Street Railway turnout, 1388.1 sq. yards; Commercial Street from Rhines Lumber to Tufts R. R. crossing 658.9 sq. yards; Front Street, east side, from Franklin Street towards Washington Square, 656.2 sq. yards; Main Street from Middle, northerly, 763.8 sq. yards; Main Street, corner of Pleasant, 77.7 sq. yards; Cottage Street adjacent new wall, 159.6 sq. yards; Commercial near Station, 98.9 sq. yards. 210 sq. yards of cement concrete was laid at Jackson Square. Main Street sidewalk from Independence Square south was a special appropriation and 737.61 sq. yards were laid. The total amount expended for per- manent sidewalks, including Main Street sidewalk was $19,286.79. This type of sidewalk is greatly appreciated and should be extended. At present there are a number of old tar concrete walks that should have a resurface coat before they get beyond repair.
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