USA > Massachusetts > Essex County > Saugus > Town annual report of the officers and committees of the town of Scituate 1906-1909 > Part 25
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This consists in appointing a responsible man to take care of garbage through the summer months and enable residents to make proper disposal of the offal at a nominal expense. All not availing themselves of the privilege thus offered will be amenable to the requirements of the Board of Health.
Inspections of the milk farms in town have been made as requested by the State Board of Health, and it has been unanimously voted by this Board to require all milk dealers
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to obtain a license from the Board of Health; full require- ments of which will appear in the published rules and regula- tions that will be issued April 1, 1909.
All minor matters have been investigated and proper attention given.
Respectfully submitted,
GEORGE O. ALLEN, Chairman. FREDERIC COLE. THOMAS H. FARMER, Secretary.
REPORT OF THE SCITUATE WATER COMPANY
STATEMENT OF RECEIPTS AND EXPENDITURES OF THE SCITUATE WATER COMPANY FOR THE YEAR 1908
Receipts
Jan. 13. Water rates $1,560 37
Jan. 13. Service rates 4 00
Jan. 13. Loan . 250 00
Jan. 27. Water rates 757 07
Jan. 27. Service rates 74 50
Feb. 15. Water rates
31 00
April 22. Water rates
178 18
June 2. Water rates
11 60
July 7. Service rates
27 30
July 7. Water rates
1,154 00
July 13. Water rates
1,543 13
July 13. Service rates 16 75
July 15. Water rates
1,550 00
July 20. Water rates
1,081 50
July 20. Service rates
1 75
July 24. Water rates
113 00
July 31. Water rates
1,036 42
July 31. Service rates
13 00
Aug. 6. Service rates
26 92
Aug. 6. Water rates
873 18
Aug. 7. Water rates 595 25
Aug. 7. Service rates
27 00
Aug. 11. Service rates 60 65
Aug. 11. Water rates
702 20
Aug. 18. Water rates 755 12
Aug. 25. Water rates
366 75
.
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Sept. 9. Water rates $529 48
Sept. 9. Service rates 49 00
Sept. 17. Service rates 34 91
Sept. 17. Water rates
250 71
Oct. 9. Rent
50 00
Oct. 15.
Water rates
53 59
Oct. 21.
Water rates
6 00
Oct. 21. Service maintenance
75 50
Oct. 28. Water rates
331 33
Oct. 28. Service rates
24 00
Nov. 25. Service rates
40 00
Nov. 25. Water rates
215 83
Dec. 18. Water rates
48 25
Dec. 21. Rent 45 00
Dec. 30. Water rates
46 85
Dec. 30. Service rates
8 00
$14,619 09
Expenditures
Jan. 10. Interest $2,250 00
Jan. 27. Salary 83 33
Jan. 27. Loan 198 81
Jan. 27. General maintenance
25 00
Feb. 17. General maintenance
47 67
Feb. 17. Pumping station maintenance
33 71
Feb. 17. Legal services
10 00
Feb. 17. £ Loan
51 19
Feb. 17. Haines & Co. (on account) 42 79
Feb. 24. General maintenance
53 57
Feb. 29. Salary
83 33
Feb. 29. General maintenance
17 23 87
Feb. 29. Service maintenance
Feb. 29. Pumping station maintenance
1 40
Feb. 29. Fuel 1 75
Feb. 29. Expense 5 00 .
128
Mar. 23. General maintenance $54 75
April 4. General maintenance
26 03
April 4. Salary 83 33
May 5. Salary 83 33
May 5. Service maintenance 19 75
May 5.
Fuel 2 00
May 5. General maintenance 78 74
May 8. General maintenance 40 86
July 6. General maintenance 22 75
July 6. Service maintenance 18 25
July 6. Fuel
2 00
July 6.
Pumping station maintenance
2 00
July 6. ·Service maintenance
75 50
July 6. Salary
83 33
July 15. Interest .
2,250 00
July 15. Pumping station maintenance 41 40
July 15. Fuel 97 29
July 16. Office expenses 375 00
July 16. General maintenance 738 34
July 16. Haines & Co. (on account) 400 00
July 16. Salary 83 33
July 16.
Service maintenance 9 38
July 16.
Pipe line maintenance 7 50
July 16. Pumping station maintenance
3 46
July 16. Legal services
8 00
July 20.
General maintenance
67 09
July 20.
Rebate, water rates
6 00
July 28. Fuel 1 00
July 31. Salary
83 33
Aug. 1. Dividend
3,600 00
Aug. 4. Service maintenance
12 00
Aug. 4. Fuel 2 00
Aug. 4. General maintenance 115 75
Aug. 5. Fuel 23 87
Aug. 12. General maintenance
115 90
129
Sept. 9. Fuel
$23 78
Sept. 9. General maintenance 138 54
Sept. 9. Salary 91 66
Sept. 14. Fuel 397 28
Sept. 17. General maintenance
23 48
Sept. 29. Taxes 1,534 25
Oct. 15. Salary 91 66
Oct. 15.
General maintenance
120 80
Oct. 15.
Pumping station maintenance 7 00
Oct. 15. Fuel
3 75
Oct. 15. Service maintenance
6 37
Oct. 28. General maintenance
22 16
Oct. 28. Pumping station maintenance
12 50
Nov. 12. Salary
91 66
Nov. 12. General maintenance
80 95
Nov. 12. .
Pumping station maintenance
7 00
Nov. 12. Service maintenance
7 87
Nov. 12. Office expenses
250 00
Nov. 19. Interest
60 00
Dec. 7. Salary
91 66
Dec. 7.
General maintenance
61 26
Dec. 7. Service maintenance
7 87
Dec. 7. Pumping station maintenance 7 88
Dec. 22. Insurance 68 75
Dec. 30. Salary 91 66
Dec. 30. General maintenance 42 15
Dec. 30. Fuel 6 78
18 55
Dec. 30. Service maintenance
2 62
Dec. 31. General maintenance 9 05
1 75
Dec. 31. Office expenses
125 00
Dec. 31. Haines & Co. (on account)
10,000 00
$25,044 60
Dec. 30. Pumping station maintenance
Dec. 31. Fuel
130
STATEMENT OF RECEIPTS AND EXPENDITURES BY THE TRUSTEES OF FORE RIVER BRIDGE FOR THE YEAR 1908
Receipts
Cash in treasury, January 1, 1908 $61 22
City of Quincy, from assessments 660 00
Town of Weymouth, from assessments 200 00
Town of Hingham, from assessments 220 00
Town of Cohasset, from assessments 120 00
Town of Hull, from assessments 40 00
Town of Scituate, from assessments 40 00
Town of Marshfield, from assessments
20 00
County of Norfolk, from assessments . 400 00
Old Colony Street Railway, from assessments 300 00
$2,061 22
Expenses
H. W. Pray, services of draw-tender and assistant $1,092 00
H. W. Pray, oil 9 16
Johnson Lumber Co., lumber for re-planking bridge 286 60
Charles Damon, one keg spikes 2 85
Charles Damon, labor 124 55
D. J. Roche, labor 18 75
F. H. Miller, printing 2 50
William T. Shea, services as trustee
50 00
Gordon Willis, services as trustee
50 00
W. W. Hersey, services as trustee
50 00
W. W. Hersey, services as secretary and treasurer
25 00
W. W. Hersey, postage and stationery
1 40
Cash in treasury, December 31, 1908 348 41
$2,061 22
WILLIAM T. SHEA, GORDON WILLIS, WALTER W. HERSEY,
HINGHAM, January 1, 1909
Trustees.
REPORT ON HIGH SCHOOL ACCOMMODATION
To the Voters of the Town of Scituate:
Your Committee on High School Accommodations, be- lieving that it was your desire to have the conditions inves- tigated completely and without prejudice, approached the subject with an open mind.
CONDITIONS
On September 22 a meeting was held at the High School- house, Mr. Scott, the principal, being present by invitation. The building was thoroughly inspected and careful notes were made upon the conditions under which the pupils are being instructed.
We found the main room inadequate, its seating capacity overtaxed. The State documents require 16 square feet of floor space for each pupil and 250 cubic feet of air space. This room furnishes less than 15 square feet of floor space, and about 170 cubic feet of air space per pupil. The aisles, which should be at least 24 inches wide, are in some cases only 18 inches wide. The amount of fresh air required by each pupil varies from 1,800 to 2,500 cubic feet per hour. This means that each pupil should be provided with at least 30 cubic feet of fresh air per minute, this amount of air hav- ing a temperature of not less than 60 degrees. The heating and ventilating system is wholly inadequate to meet these requirements, and the windows of the room must be fre- quently opened and some of them kept open all the time, a constant danger to pupils who are obliged to sit near them.
In the recitation-rooms the 'conditions are much worse. Here we found aisles only a foot wide, and rooms with no
COOLIDGE & CARLSON ARCHITECTS BOSTON.
10.3
2
-.-
FINN
..
ADDITION
TO HIGH SCHOOL AT: CITUATE MAJS.
133
ventilation whatever, affording but 82 cubic feet of air space per pupil, just one-third of the amount which the conditions of health require. The girls' dressing-room is only 8 x 12 feet, and yet it has to be used by 47 girls. At recess or at the close of school all the girls cannot put on their wraps in that room at the same time, and in an emergency such a condi- tion would prove fatal.
The sanitary accommodations are criminally inadequate. One toilet-room, about 3 x 4 feet, with entrance from a class- room only, lighted only by ground glass panels in the door, and practically without ventilation, has to serve as accom- modation for the lady teachers and 47 girls. The recitation- room which gives entrance to this toilet is almost always occupied by both boys and girls. The outbuildings are not properly constructed and most unsanitary in arrangement and in condition.
HEARINGS
On September 28 your committee held a meeting at which the Superintendent of Schools, the principal of the High · School, and all the High School teachers were present. From these school officers most intimately acquainted with the needs of the school your committee learned the minimum of accommodation required for carrying on satisfactorily the courses of instruction in the school at the present time, and the probable needs of the school in the immediate future.
To gather information and suggestions from the citizens of every section of the town, public hearings were held as follows: at the Jenkins School, Scituate, Tuesday evening, December 1; at the residence of Mr. Peleg Ford, Greenbush, Tuesday evening, December 8; at the Peirce Memorial Li- brary, North Scituate, Friday evening, December 18.
On Monday evening, December 21, a meeting was held at the residence of Miss Skeele for consultation with the School Committee and the Superintendent of Schools.
PLAN OF BASEMENT
0
O T.T.
GIRLS
TOILET
HEATER AND COAL ROOM
& COATS
STORES 8-6 x 22-0"
HALL
BOYS TOILET AND COATS
CELLAR
ADDITION.TO.HIGH SCHOOL SCITUATE-MASSACHUSETTS. - IN
COOLIDGE-AND. CARLSON ~ ARCHITECTS ~~ 5 10 15
25 30 35
SCALE
135
FINDINGS
From these hearings the committee gathered many sug- gestions for the remodeling of the present building, and for the erection of an entirely new structure, and were able to secure a fairly correct impression of the attitude of the towns- people in general toward the High School. After giving the whole matter the most conscientious and careful considera- tion, your committee has come to the following conclusions:
First. That better accommodations for the High School are imperative and must be secured at the earliest possible date.
Second. That any ordinary alteration of the present building would be simply a makeshift, sure to prove again inadequate in the near future and in the long run expensive to the town.
Third. That while the majority of those interested in the welfare of the town would be glad to have a new High School building, the expenditure of thirty or forty thousand dollars for that purpose at the present time is out of the question.
Fourth. That it will be economy for the town to remodel its present High School building so thoroughly that it shall be adequate to its purpose for at least twenty years.
Fifth. That we should provide for our young men and women a High School building having all the modern require- ments of light, air, sanitary conveniences, and equipment for teaching.
Sixth. That a commodious and up-to-date building would induce a larger number of students to take advantage of its opportunities for a better education, and therefore insure to a larger number a more efficient life and to the town a more solid prosperity.
Seventh. That of all the plans suggested the only one worthy of serious consideration by those who have an eye to the future, is a compromise between an entirely new High School and a cheap and temporary alteration of present building.
ADDITION-TO-HIGH SCHOOL * IN -SCITUATE MASSACHUSETTS · COOLIDGE.AND . CARLSON . ARCHITECTS - 5 15 20 50 35 40 25
SCALE
EMERGENCY EXIT
PLATTORN LIBRARY 31-6'x13.0"
ASSEMBLY ROOM 33-0 * 38-6
UP is
VEST. SIDE ENTRANCE
STORES 8-0"x 18" 6"
DRINKING A+ FOUNTAIN
CLASS ROOM 26"0" x 32'0'
HALL 10.0 WIDE
CLASS ROOM 26-0 × 32-0"
VESTI BULE
PLAN OF FIRST FLOOR
137
Your committee then secured the advice of a reputable firm of architects in the city of Boston, Messrs. Coolidge & Carlson, thoroughly familiar with schoolhouse architecture. Mr. Carlson met members of the committee at the High School building on December 14, made himself thoroughly familiar with the limitations and possibilities of the present structure, considered thoughtfully the various plans which had been suggested to the committee at the public hearings, and later submitted to your committee sketches of all these plans, together with a rough estimate of the expense of each. Your committee then selected a single plan which the architects elaborated in the form of sketches to scale. These were sub- mitted to the Superintendent of Schools, the High School teachers, and the School Committee for final criticism and suggestion. The committee again, in consultation with the architects, revised the plans and new drawings were made. These have been reproduced and are presented herewith.
These plans provide for the utilization of the present building practically without change in its main features. This structure would be moved back from the street a sufficient distance to allow for the building of a two-story addition above the present cellar, somewhat enlarged. It will be seen that this scheme has many advantages:
First. It provides an assembly hall equipped with chairs only for the general gatherings of the school as a whole, as a quiet study room, and as a place where in stormy weather the pupils may be housed during the lunch hour, under the observation of a teacher.
Second. It provides a sufficient number of classrooms of regulation size and equipment for carrying on the work of the school.
Third. It provides for a much needed reference library and for the storing of books and supplies.
Fourth. It provides for adequate toilet accommodations under cover for both boys and girls.
BASKET BALL AND GYMNASIUM 29'-0 x 47-0"
DOWN 25
STORES
AL Down 25
DRINKING FOUNTAIN
$
CLASS ROOM 26-0 × 32-0"
CLASS ROOM 26'-0" * 32'-0"
---
CLASS ROOM 10'0% 20"0"
PLAN OF SECOND FLOOR
NOTE. - In this plan the large, dark and useless loft now in the old building is utilized as a gymnasium and basket-ball room, thus making possible the reservation of the Town Hall for only appropriate uses. The Town Hall can then be put into good condition and so maintained.
139
Fijth. It provides for adequate lighting, heating and ven- tilating of all the rooms.
Sixth. It provides a large room which can be used for basket-ball and athletic purposes, thus freeing the neigh- boring Town Hall from inappropriate uses.
Seventh. It presents to the street the appearance of a new building of good proportions, handsome in detail, and highly creditable to the town.
Eighth. The cost of this modification and enlargement of the High School building would be approximately $18,000, as against the $30,000 or $40,000 which an entirely new building would cost at the present time.
Your committee believes that this remodeling of the High School should be commenced at the earliest possible date under the direction of a special committee appointed by the town. Your committee recommends that the money neces- sary for this work be raised by taxation during a period covering perhaps the next ten years, payments being made in yearly installments. In this way, with economical expenditure in other directions, the financial burden would rest lightly and entail no unnecessary hardship on the pres- ent taxpayers.
Respectfully submitted,
WILLIAM H. NORTH, E. PARKER WELCH, HENRY T. BAILEY, Special Committee on High School Accommodations.
ANNUAL REPORT
OF THE
SCHOOL COMMITTEE
FOR THE
TOWN OF SCITUATE
FOR THE YEAR ENDING DECEMBER 31 1908
REPORT OF SCHOOL COMMITTEE
January 1, 1909.
To the Citizens of Scituate:
In presenting to you our annual report, we wish first of all to draw your attention to the fact that it is made in con- pliance with the laws of this State, also with a desire to present to you the business part of the school system during the past year, together with the needs of the years to come. With this introduction we trust you will carefully read the report and consider it seriously.
Before considering the present status of the schools, we desire to present to you a brief retrospect of educational development in Scituate for the last twenty years. When the system of consolidated schools was adopted, it became essential at the same time to furnish transportation to these schools; then our troubles began and our expenses increased.
Before the establishment of the Central Grammar Schools the expense per scholar in 1888, with a total attendance of 380, was $10.60. Ten years later, 1898, with an attendance of 424, it was $19.00. Today with a total attendance of 500, the cost per pupil is $36.00. The average in the State is about $38.00.
When we take into consideration the fact that the average cost of living has increased from one-third to one-half during the past ten years, it will readily account for the increase in cost of maintaining our schools. The greatest increase has been in transportation. In 1898 it cost $841.38; in 1908, $4,800, an increase of over five hundred per cent.
In 1898 wood was purchased as follows: oak, $3.85; pine, $2.95 per cord. Today we pay $7.00 to $7.50 for hard wood and $9.00 to $10.00 for pine.
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Coal in 1898 cost us $6.00 per ton; in 1908, $6.35 to $6.70. Ten years ago our grade teachers' salaries averaged $400.00; today, $500.00.
The idea of consolidated schools is in accordance with the views of progressive educational theories, and in most cases works advantageously. In Scituate, however, we labor under peculiar disadvantages. In the first place, those who have the proper equipment to handle it are few in number, and those who might handle it cannot, on account of the amount paid per route, and the uncertainty of the continuance of the contract, - a contract awarded in the past to the lowest bidder. If the town passed a vote to allow the committee to contract at their discretion for a term of one to three years, it might result in a different state of affairs. Complaints were made that the barges were crowded and that good order was not maintained These were investigated with the result that we found children riding who lived inside of the mile limit, contrary to the vote of the town. In order that all concerned might know the exact bounds, we had the various roads surveyed by Henry Litchfield, C.E. (one of our former High School boys). A copy of this plan and survey has been placed in the Post Offices at Scituate and North Scituate, the Superintendent's office, and one given to each of the con- tractors. By enforcing this mile limit we think the problem of overcrowding will be solved.
In regard to behavior in barges, we have had two complaints made during the last three years. This apparently does not indicate a very serious state of affairs, but we are led to believe that there are many petty cases of misbehavior that are not brought to our notice. We know that boys will be boys, and girls, girls; but the exuberance of youth should be curbed at certain times and places, and not allowed to run wild. We, therefore, instructed our Superintendent to visit each school- room and caution the scholars as to their behavior while in the school barges. We think that the youth of Scituate, both
·
145
male and female, on the whole compares favorably with those of the surrounding towns, and we are egotistical enough to think that in a great many cases they even excel. No parent expects his child is going to be a little angel, neither does he want him to be an "imp of Satan," but he should, and probably does, desire that his children shall grow up to be manly men and womanly women. If he desires this, does he himself set them the right example, or does he expect that the school must furnish the moral as well as the intellectual training? It is the duty of the school to foster the moral habits of purity, temperance, reverence, self-control, obedience and respect for the rights of others, but it is preëminently the duty of the parent to first instill into the mind of the child the knowledge of what is good, and the sin of that which is evil. The environment of the home determines the character and morals of the child. Of what use is it for a parent to complain that his child uses bad language, and to attribute it to the public schools, if he himself habitually uses profane and indecent language? If parents only realized their responsibility and their own needs, and would pray often and earnestly the prayer of Socrates, "Ye gods, make me beautiful within," the prayer would be answered by the very act of uttering it. The beauty of the life within would find its way into the hearts of their children and become a part of the glory of humanity.
SCHOOL ACCOMMODATION
Scituate, like all shore towns, is growing. Ten years ago we thought the Hatherly School was large enough for years to come. Today some of its rooms are crowded, and an additional room or two ought to be added. We believe though that it would be much better to consider the advisability of building a small union school, near the Conihasset Hall in the west part of the town. This could be done at an expense
146
of about $7,000.00. By establishing such a school it would relieve the congestion of the Hatherly, and would do away with three barge routes, which now cost the town $1,560.00 per annum. The children from Blossom Street, west of Main Street, Grove Street, Pincin Hill and High Streets would attend this school; certainly the fact is, that sooner or later something must be done in this direction, and it seems to us more feasible to establish such a school than to enlarge the Hatherly, and still have to pay over $1,500.00 each year for the transportation of these scholars. The committee urges the citizens to consider which would be better, to pay this for transportation, with its attendant disadvantages, or build a good schoolhouse and let the pupils walk, and in no case would the distance exceed one and one-fourth miles.
In regard to the High School, we understand the Special Committee are submitting plans for the addition of four rooms to the present building, and the installation of the necessary plumbing and heating. After serious consideration we arrived at the conclusion that the plan they submit to you is the most feasible of those shown to us. To build a new schoolhouse is out of the question. We should set our children the example of thrift. With the debt we are now under it would not be doing them justice to impose a burden of $40,000 to $50,000 on their shoulders, for them to pay when they arrive at the age of maturity. We believe that this proposed addi- tion can be built for far less money than estimated, and still at the same time furnish us with all that is needed in the way of rooms and appliances. It is no use for the town to say the present building is adequate, for it is not; the question is simply as to what is the best return we can get for the money we can afford to pay. [ We thoroughly believe in the doctrine of environment, and are of the opinion that the school build- ings and surroundings tend largely to affect the life of the scholars. The physical appointments of the schools should be pleasing and uplifting. Flower beds, grass plots, scrupulous
147
cleanliness indoors and out, pleasing tints and harmonies of color, artistic furnishing, graceful architecture, well selected pictures, refinement of speech, dress and movements, these are the silent but all powerful harbingers of the higher life which get in their work during every hour of the day.
During the past year we have had some changes in our teaching force. Our highly esteemed and former principal, E. R. Clarke, resigned last August in order to accept the principalship of the Milford, Mass., High School. In his stead the committee elected Frank A. Scott, A.B., of Harvard, and former principal of the Holliston High School. Mr. Scott gives evidence of being in all respects a capable principal and successful teacher, a worthy successor to Mr. Clarke.
Miss Wilkins, of the Commercial Department, resigned, and Miss Florence Andrews of Mount Holyoke, '99, has been elected in her place.
The other members of the teaching staff are the same as last year, and Scituate is to be congratulated on the fact that it has such an effective corps, many of whom are native born, and some of whom have served the town for many years. The work of our Superintendent, John E. DeMeyer, continues to be effective and praiseworthy.
Those of you who read the papers and magazines are probably aware that there is considerable comment being made regarding the efficiency of the public schools of today. From the President of the United States down to the latest utterance of our newly inaugurated Governor, Eben S. Draper, all have had their say. A perusal of these published state- ments will show the same trend of thought in all, viz., that the education of today is not practical, that it is too academic. President Roosevelt said in his article on the "Emancipation of Education": "We have to deal now and will have to deal in the future with a nation of families on the land, and our system of public education should be so broadened in its scope as to include not merely the traditional cultural studies,
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