USA > Massachusetts > Essex County > Saugus > Town annual report of the officers and committees of the town of Scituate 1913-1915 > Part 10
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May 11. Pumping station maintenance 129 98
May 11. General maintenance, auto. 176 25
May 13. Legal expenses . 425 00
May 13. Haines & Co., account construction
1,000 00
May 15. Pumping station, fuel.
9 00
June 1. Haines & Co., account construction 1,500 00
June 3. Haines & Co., account construction
5,200 00
June 3. Salary .
125 00
June 11. Interest on note .
152 50
June 19. General maintenance.
552 67
June 20.
Legal expenses .
46 25
June 23.
Pumping station maintenance
78 75
June 30. Internal Revenue tax . 53 22
160 57
July 10.
General maintenance.
400 38
July 15.
Interest on bonds.
2,500 00
July 15.
Corporation expenses
15 00
July 15.
Legal expenses .
7 20
July 27.
General maintenance, auto 28 31
July 27.
Pumping station, fuel
403 00
July 27. Salary .
125 00
July 31 Notes payable .
2,000 00
Aug. 1. Dividend account
6,000 00
Aug. 1. Dividend on preferred stock .
1,750 00
Aug. 3. Haines & Co., account construction.
1,500 00
Aug. 8. General maintenance
597 19
Aug. 8. Salary .
125 00
Aug. 18. Interest on note
150 00
Aug. 18. Pumping station maintenance
166 16
Aug. 18. General maintenance, auto 25 05
Aug. 18.
Legal expenses
46 48
Aug. 18. Insurance 83 00
Sept. 14. General maintenance 156 64
Sept. 26. Salary 125 00
Oct. 5. Pumping station maintenance 51 53
Oct. 5. General maintenance. 439 57
Oct. 5. Pumping station, fuel . 74 80
July 2. Pumping station maintenance
96
Report of Scituate Water Company-Expenditures
Oct. 5. General maintenance, auto.
$7 25
Oct. 16. Salary .
125 00
Oct. 23. Interest on notes . 250 00
Oct. 23. Notes payable .
5,000 00
Nov. 9. General maintenance
567 98
Nov. 21. Salary 125 00
Dec. 10. Salary 125 00
Dec. 11.
Interest on note.
150 00
Dec. 19.
General maintenance, auto
53 69
Dec. 19. General maintenance.
238 14
Dec. 29.
Pumping station maintenance 216 45
Dec. 29.
Pumping station, fuel . 41 65
Dec. 29.
Legal expenses . 475 28
$39,924 44
97
Report of the Park Commission
REPORT OF THE PARK COMMISSION
To the Citizens of Scituate:
Each year we can report some improvement in the appear- ance of our town. Not only do the custodians of the public plots help, but citizens everywhere manifest an increasing interest in their own home grounds and sidewalks.
The honor of having the best looking plot goes this year to Frank L. Young, custodian of the George H. Webb plot. Here follows a complete list of plots and their custodians: Allen Clapp plot. Willard L. Litchfield
Barnabas Briggs plot.
W. Webster Hunt
Clara Ann plot. .
William H. North
Deacon Cudworth plot George Lincoln
George H. Webb plot.
Frank L. Young
Dreamwold plot. Thomas W. Lawson
Elisha Peirce plot. . Silas Peirce
Father Conant plot. Wiley S. Damon
James Damon plot . William H. North
John J. Ford plot. Mary A. Ford
John L. Manson plot Michael Connolly
John H. Young plot
F. G. Doten
Percy T. Mann
Mungo's Corner plot Galen Watson
Old Abbey plot. William W. Waterman
Pappineau plot.
Martin Haslam
Rhodolphus plot . Capt. George W. Hodgdon
Roland Turner plot Arthur Williams
Russell Cook plot Arthur Sweeney
Satuit plot. Dennis Quinn
Thomas Farmer plot.
Thomas H. Farmer
Woodworth plot. Mary A. Ford
Meeting House Lane plot. W. S. Harrub
Matthew Gannett plot Charles James
Konihasset plot.
Kent Street plot. The Garden Club
98
Report of the Park Commission
A new plot should be laid out at Ridge Hill, and at the Sand Hills, but the funds are not at present available.
We wish to commend especially and most heartily the last piece of good work done by the North Scituate Beach Im- provement Association, at the end of Beach Street. The approach to the sea at that point, consisting of a concrete floor with ornamental posts, gates, and electric lights, de- signed by Mr. Frederic T. Bailey, is an improvement which adds greatly to the appearance of the beach.
Owing to the reasonable complaints from citizens near the Common, Scituate Harbor, as to the unavoidable accidents caused by playing ball in too small an area, the Commission secured the use of Parker's Plain, mowed the bushes along the driveway leading to it, and upon the plain itself as a preliminary to laying out a ball field for the use of our younger citizens. We hope to complete the work this spring.
We were able to secure the lease of the "Gannett Field," North Scituate, for the use of the boys and girls at the north end of the town. This field is now known as the "Koni- hasset Playground." It was greatly appreciated by young and old on the Fourth of July. We have also furnished bases for the ball players, there and at the Harbor.
During the year some progress has been made in the plans for securing public bathing reservations at the beaches, and in the rearrangement of the approaches to the railroad sta- tion at Egypt. We hope that definite propositions may soon be made to the town on both these matters.
Following its instructions, the Commission inspected the Old Light, Cedar Point, and after various conferences with expert workmen, decided that the funds at the disposal of the Commission were not sufficient to do all the work neces- sary to put the tower into thorough repair, refit it with a staircase, and build the necessary decks, hand rails and roofs to make it a safe tower of observation. The work should be well done or not done at all. The Commission has obtained pictures of the old lighthouse as it was, and is now in corre- spondence with the authorities at Washington, as to the original plans and specifications. In our opinion, the town
99
Report of the Park Commission
should appropriate at least $500 more at the March meeting to make the old lighthouse a tower of observation.
We wish to express our appreciation of the helpful co- operation of the Selectmen, the Tree Warden and the Sur- veyor of Highways in furthering the work of the Commission.
WILLIAM H. NORTH, Chairman, WALTER S. HARRUB, Treasurer, HENRY T. BAILEY, Secretary.
100
Report of Tree Warden
REPORT OF TREE WARDEN
During the past year I have followed my customary policy of spending as much of my appropriation as was not abso- lutely needed for repair and upkeep work in setting out young trees. In years past I have set out from one hundred and seventy-five to two hundred of these, on the average, but in 1914, competing for the Massachusetts Forestry Association's prize of a mile of shade trees, I planted nearly nine hundred young trees. Two hundred of these died during the dry season, unfortunately, owing to the lack of sufficient money to mulch them properly. However, even with this loss, Scituate was adjudged winner of the contest and received two hundred more trees from the Association. This makes a total of nine hundred more trees to care for during the coming year.
The maintenance of growing trees is by no means an unimportant part of the Tree Warden's work. Young trees must be mulched and pruned, dead limbs must be cut, cavities must be carefully cleaned and filled, splitting and cracking must be prevented by bolting, and numerous other needs must be looked to. If this work were properly done and any new trees planted at all, an appropriation of one thousand dollars would be far from sufficient. Never be- fore has the need of more money for shade trees been so strongly emphasized. With the constantly increasing num- ber of trees the expense of their upkeep increases likewise, and will continue to increase. The usual appropriation of five hundred dollars ceased several years ago to be adequate, and since that time I have been struggling along as well as possible on the limited sum allowed me.
The value of healthy, beautiful trees by the roadsides of a town is a subject that has too often been discussed to leave excuse for further argument. Every intelligent, well- informed man will advocate generous appropriations for tree
101
Report of Tree Warden
planting and care, and popular interest in the Tree Warden's work is becoming more and more noticeable every day. It is a matter for congratulation that the public is at last arousing to its responsibilities in the case of shade trees.
I wish to advocate for the coming year an appropriation for the Tree Warden of at least one thousand dollars. It is impossible to carry on this work properly without that sum, and to get the best results will take more.
I wish to thank all who have shown interest in my work in the past, and to hope that they will continue to show interest in the future.
Respectfully submitted,
PERCIVAL S. BROWN.
102
Report of Board of Health
REPORT OF THE BOARD OF HEALTH
Scituate, January 26, 1915. To the Citizens of the Town of Scituate:
It gives us pleasure to submit to the citizens the work accomplished by the Board for the year 1914.
There has been a mild epidemic of scarlet fever, for which the grammar schools were closed for one week, with the result that the fever was confined to three families.
During the week of closing, the schools were thoroughly fumigated, and all the old and dilapidated books were burned. There was also a small epidemic of measles, about forty-five cases in all.
All complaints submitted to the Board have been attended to promptly.
Respectfully submitted,
H. F. CLEVERLY, M.D., Chairman, WILLIAM P. GROVESTEIN, M.D., GEORGE T. OTIS, Secretary,
Board of Health.
103
Report of Inspector of Milk
REPORT OF INSPECTOR OF MILK
The same number of milk licenses were issued as last year. Samples of milk have been tested at different times.
There has been an improvement in the quality of milk sold in town the past year.
On the first examination, the samples of milk contained far more bacteria than they should, but this was remedied, so that on the last test I found the milk excellent.
I think the dealers are doing their best to give the town's people good milk.
Respectfully submitted,
GEORGE T. OTIS, Milk Inspector.
104
Report of Inspector of Slaughtering
REPORT OF INSPECTOR OF SLAUGHTERING
Scituate, Mass., January, 1915.
To the Board of Health:
I have inspected fifty-four swine, fourteen calves, three beef cattle, and I have found them all in good condition and suitable for consumption.
JOHN F. DALBY, Inspector of Slaughtering.
105
Report of Inspector of Plumbing
REPORT OF INSPECTOR OF PLUMBING
To the Board of Health:
As Plumbing Inspector I wish to report that during the past year I have had forty-five applications for the installa- tion of plumbing, and made inspections and water tests when notified.
In some instances the applications were made for small jobs and your Inspector did not consider it necessary to go to the expense of a test and inspection.
Practically all the work has been done by local plumbers and I have found the work to meet the requirements of the plumbing regulations of our town.
Respectfully submitted, CHARLES H. WATERMAN, Inspector.
Scituate, December 31, 1914.
106
Report of Fire Department
REPORT OF SCITUATE FIRE DEPARTMENT
To the Honorable Board of Selectmen.
Gentlemen: Having been reappointed Engineers and act- ing upon your instructions, the Board met at the Town Hall May 11, 1914, and the following officers were chosen: Chief, E. R. Seaverns; Clerk, F. W. Litchfield; District Engineers, H. T. Cole, D. P. Sylvester, C. G. Everett.
This year there has been a larger number of fires, both forest and building fires, but in no case has the fire in build- ings gotten beyond the one where it originated, and in only two cases were the buildings a total loss - the Norwell barn, and Mr. Pollard's house, both of which were outside of hydrant protection.
Out of the appropriation for equipment, 1000 feet of hose, one hose reel, one roof ladder and one dozen extinguishers were purchased; with the exception of six extinguishers, they were placed in District No. 1.
An accident to some of the old hose rendered it useless, so we wrote your Board asking for some more money, and you responded promptly, giving us $300, with which we purchased 500 feet more hose, which was also installed in District No. 1.
In District No. 4, Minot, a chemical was purchased by the subscriptions raised among the summer residents and was placed in Mr. Emerson's stable on Ocean Avenue, which adds greatly to the protection of that section, and I think the town should add another, to be placed at Surfside.
We wish to call attention to the able manner in which the members of the United States Life Saving crew at North Scituate Beach have helped us, in one case sending in an alarm while on their night beat, and two cases of helping us fight fires at the Beach.
The hose houses are in fair condition, but No. 1 and No. 2
107
Report of Fire Department
need painting badly and we would like to get them done the coming year.
There have been four hydrants added this year, making a total of 144.
We think the department could be greatly improved by the installation of an alarm system, and ask for an appro- priation of $4200 for the same.
We also recommend an appropriation of $2000 for the maintenance of the department.
Respectfully submitted,
E. R. SEAVERNS, Chief, F. W. LITCHFIELD, Clerk, D. P. SYLVESTER, - H. T. COLE, CHARLES G. EVERETT.
ANNUAL REPORT
OF THE
SCHOOL COMMITTEE
OF THE
TOWN OF SCITUATE
FOR THE YEAR ENDING DECEMBER 31
1914
111
School Department
SCHOOL DEPARTMENT
SCHOOL COMMITTEE
Charles H. Waterman, Chairman, term expires 1915. Joy K. Gannett, term expires 1916.
Charles S. Short, Secretary, term expires 1917.
SCHOOL PHYSICIAN T. Branch Alexander, M.D.
TEACHING AND SUPERVISION William E. Chaffin, Superintendent
HIGH SCHOOL
Guy W. Vail, Principal. Jennie E. Pierce, Commercial Department. Marion Stetson, English. M. Marguerite Coydevant, Languages.
JENKINS SCHOOL
Nellie L. Kelly, Principal. Blanche Hinds, Grades 6 and 7. Josephine I. Barry, Grades 4 and 5. E. Gertrude Gardner, Grades 2 and 3. Mary E. Gillis, Grade 1.
112
School Department-Organization
HATHERLY SCHOOL
Maud E. Adlington, Principal.
May B. Clutterbuck, Grades 6 and 7. Josephine G. Ward, Grades 4 and 5. Sarah M. Kane, Grades 2 and 3. Maud F. Damon, Grade 1.
HIGH STREET SCHOOL
Marion Hammond.
Lillie C. Stoddard, Instructor in Music. Bertha G. Tilden, Instructor in Drawing and Manual Work. Samuel Warner, Instructor in Drawing and Manual Work.
113
Report of School Committee
REPORT OF THE SCHOOL COMMITTEE
To the Inhabitants of Scituate:
At the expiration of our school year in June last, your Committee and Superintendent were of the unanimous opinion that it would be for the best interests of the town to re-elect all teachers in our schools, if possible.
We feel that our opinion was justified in the increased interest and co-operation shown by the teachers and schol- ars, and that we were also justified in raising their salaries to an average showing a fair comparison with other towns in the State. Our town, especially the High School, has in the past been a training school for teachers, and at the end of a year or so other towns or cities would offer an increased salary and get the benefit of their experience.
We felt that if the teachers were worthy of an increase in other towns, Scituate could not afford to let them go.
The result is that for the first time in years we have the same corps of teachers for a second year, with the exception of our drawing instructor.
After considerable persuasion we were fortunate in secur- ing the services of Mr. Warner of North Pembroke, who, we believe, will prove of great value to our schools, and who is meeting with much encouragement in the way the schol- ars progress under his instruction.
Speaking and debating, which was introduced last year in the schools, is, we believe, of great value to the scholars in helping them to gain confidence in themselves, and while it may not seem of great importance to some, we find the scholars interested and in the High School able to present a splendid argument for and against the need of a new High School building.
At the last annual town meeting the town appropriated $20,450 for the support of schools, including transportation of scholars and care of buildings, and your Committee, with
114
Report of School Committee
the help of the dog fund and other credits, shows a small unexpended balance for the year.
Practically all bills are paid to December 31. One un- looked-for expense was caused by the epidemic of scarlet fever that prevailed early in the spring and caused the closing of the Hatherly school for a short time.
Believing that every precaution was justified under the circumstances, your Committee and the Board of Health united in using every effort to stamp out the disease as quickly as possible, which meant closing the school, thor- oughly fumigating the building and the burning of several hundred dollars' worth of books. The remedy seemed drastic, but results showed that it was the proper course to pursue, and your Board of Health should be commended for their prompt action, especially as other towns had to close their schools for several weeks.
The appropriation for transportation of scholars was sufficient this year to meet the requirements, but as many High School scholars live at the West and North parts of the town and ride in the barges as far as the Hatherly school, some provision had to be made for their arriving at the High School at the proper time, and the coming year, if this is continued, a small increase in transportation charges must be made to provide for that; otherwise, the scholars are late and caused much discomfort in stormy weather.
We have tried to regulate the transportation schedules to get the best results possible for the amount expended, but it is not always satisfactory.
Our schools at the beginning of the year, in September, especially the High School, were crowded.
In the High School ninety-four pupils were enrolled, which was taxing the seating capacity to the utmost, as an unusu- ally large class entered, and the question of a new building should be seriously considered by the townspeople.
Let us consider it, so that when the time comes we will be prepared to build a building that will fill the requirements for the future in a more satisfactory manner than the present building has proven.
A larger amount than usual has been expended in repairs
115
Report of School Committee
to buildings, but what was done was absolutely necessary. The Jenkins building has been painted outside, several rooms painted inside, ceilings kalsomined and furnaces put in thorough repair. Several rooms in the Hatherly building have been painted, kalsomined and furnaces repaired. The building should be painted outside another year. Minor repairs were made at the High School. The High Street building was painted and considerable other work done inside and out. The roof to the building should be shingled next year. Practically all work has been done by contract.
Last year we spoke of the encouragement offered the teachers, Superintendent and Committee by visitors in the schools. In order to criticize our methods intelligently parents and townspeople should visit the schools and interest themselves in what is being done. We are sorry to say that no such encouragement is offered, as shown by our school registers.
The law says that the Superintendent of Schools shall be the executive officer of the school board, and your Com- mittee has considered him as such. The Superintendent visits the schools regularly, attends the Committee meetings and makes or carries out such suggestions as may be con- sidered advisable.
During the year many minor complaints are brought to the attention of the Committee. We believe all such com- plaints should first be made to the Superintendent, who will, if the matter is of sufficient importance, bring it before the School Board for adjustment.
The Committee wishes to thank the teachers and Superin- tendent for their efforts and co-operation the past year in endeavoring to get the best results possible and in raising the standard of our schools.
The financial report is shown under the report of the Selectmen.
Respectfully submitted, CHARLES H. WATERMAN, JOY K. GANNETT, CHARLES S. SHORT,
December 31, 1914.
School Committee.
116
Report of School Superintendent
REPORT OF SCHOOL SUPERINTENDENT
To the School Committee:
In accordance with your requirements, I herewith submit the following as my sixth annual report of the schools.
While the cities of Massachusetts are year after year reporting increased school enrollments, the town of Scituate seems scarcely able to maintain its past records of school enrollment.
The total number of pupils enrolled in the schools in the fall of 1908 was 498; the total for last year in the fall was 497; the total at present is 483. The average membership for the year ending in 1908 was 453; the average member- ship for the year ending last June was 459, an increase of 6 during the six years.
While the resident school population seems to show an increase some years and a decrease at others, there seems to be a tendency towards increase in the non-resident school population. By non-resident is meant the children of summer residents who enter schools for a few weeks in the fall or a few weeks in the spring. Last fall there were 32 of these pupils, 7 at the Hatherly school and 25 at the Jenkins. Some of these pupils remained but two weeks, others were in school with us thirteen weeks. They re- mained an average of some over six weeks.
Although the work of the schools has been somewhat interrupted by epidemic disease, reasonable progress has been made, and the usual number of pupils were promoted in June. At present the schools are in a prosperous con- dition; the teaching force is working in harmony and with excellent spirit.
It is realized that even with the lines of work pursued there is abundant opportunity for arduous work and con- stant attention if we are to reach and maintain high stand- ards at all points. At present some of our aims are: To do well whatever we attempt to do in the schools; to secure
117
Report of School Superintendent
that sympathetic relation between teachers and pupils that is so necessary to the best in character building; to encourage all those things that lead to civic betterment and to im- prove upon our past records of attendance.
The last of these aims is deserving of attention at this time.
Six years ago the percentage of attendance was much below the average for the State. The schools continued to improve until we were not only above the State average, but above any previous average ever attained by the town of Scituate so far as record could be found. This year our percentage has dropped lower than for several years. This, in a large measure, is accounted for by the severity of the winter, by scarlet fever, which caused the closing of the Hatherly school, and by an epidemic of measles which seriously affected the attendance at the Jenkins. These were not the only causes for our low record. The teachers are deserving of commendation for their efforts to improve the attendance, but if we are to improve upon our past records it will be necessary for the parents to help. Some of the parents have kept their children out to do errands; to work or for less creditable reasons. The people of Scituate are law abiding and would not knowingly break the laws of the Commonwealth. It is with this in mind that the following from the Acts of 1913, Chapter 779 is given :
"Every child between seven and fourteen years of age, and every child under sixteen years of age who has not re- ceived an employment certificate as provided in this Act and is not engaged in some regular employment or business for at least six hours per day or has not the written per- mission of the Superintendent of Schools of the city or town in which he resides to engage in profitable employment at home, shall attend a public day school in said city or town or some other day school approved by the school committee during the entire time the public schools are in session.
"Every person having under his control a child as described in section one shall cause him to attend school as therein required, and, if he fails for five day sessions or ten half-day sessions within any period of six months, while such control
118
Report of School Superintendent
obtains, to cause such child to attend school, he shall upon complaint by attendance officer and conviction thereof, be punished by a fine of not more than twenty dollars. Who- ever induces or attempts to induce a child to absent himself unlawfully from school, or employs or harbors a child while school is in session, shall be punished by a fine of not less than ten nor more than fifty dollars."
TEACHERS' SALARIES
At the re-election of teachers last spring all salaries were increased. This has already saved to us some of our best teachers and has been an added incentive to better effort to the whole teaching force.
In the past our High School, in particular, has served as a training school for teachers for towns that pay but a little more than we have been paying. The constant breaking in of new teachers has prevented the school from doing the grade of work it could otherwise have done. Some of our teachers could command larger salaries than they are now receiving, and it would be money wisely spent to increase their present salaries rather than to lose them. We are at present paying considerably less than the State average salary for teachers.
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