USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Wakefield > Town annual report of the officers of Wakefield Massachusetts : including the vital statistics for the year 1885-1889 > Part 39
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In regard to macadamizing Main street, if the town owned a roller and a crusher where it could be favorably located, so that the material would cost not more than 60 cents per tou, delivered, it seems that a very desirable job might be com- pleted from the Town Hall to the rockery or Crescent street for $5,000.
In closing this report the attention of the citizens is again called to the fact that the supply of gravel near the centre of the town is exhausted, and the importance of taking meas- ures to meet this deficiency is strongly urged.
Respectfully submitted,
G. H. SWEETSER,
Supt. of Streets.
136
OVERSEERS' REPORT.
The practical work of the Department, under our charge for the past year, is quite fully shown by the figures we have furnished the Auditors, and which will be found on pages 59 to 69 of their report. Brief comment only is needed ; but we desire to call attention to the comparison on page 69, which shows a gratifying increase in the re- veipt from the farm of about $200; and also an increase in the amount repaid for outside help of about $250; so that the actual outside expense this year is some $200 less than last year. And in this connection we desire to say we are sensible of the double duty we owe-to the town whose bounty we distribute, and to the worthy poor whose needs we try to satisfy-and this responsibility has led us to use the utmost care and caution in giving outside relief. This matter is receiving and deserves much attention, and mean- while this Board has exercised its best judgment without making any radical change. The surplus of $234, with which we finish the year, is as pleasant a fact as it is unusual.
TOWN FARM.
The marked improvements on the farm since Mr. Donald became the keeper are just as noticeable this year, under his care, and the neat condition of the Almshouse is appa- rent to all visitors. The reclaiming of meadow land along Saugus river has been continued the past year, some 2000 loads of gravel having been moved and three-fourths of an acre of meadow filled. A portion of this work has been done by parties receiving aid, as noted on page 61. When the farm came under the charge of the present management,
137
6 years ago, 11 tons of hay were cut, 5 tons being salt hay, leaving 6 tons for the farm proper. The past year 30 tous of English hay were cut on the farm and the continuance of the present policy will no doubt show a further gratifying increase. A good shed for storage, costing $110, is one of the permanent improvements made this year past. The car- riages, harnesses and farm tools have been renewed by pur- chase during the year, so that we inventory them at the same value as the previous year. The stock of household goods has been increased by the making up of a good supply of bed clothing. The farm will cut about 40 cords of wood yearly without decreasing the supply. We have engaged Mr. Donald for the coming year and he will welcome any citizen who will visit the farm, in which he is a part owner. It would seem desirable, at some time in the future, to have a survey and plan made of the farm, which, including the salt marsh in Saugus, is estimated to contain 100 acres.
There has been one death among the inmates, Mr. John Scully, on June 26th. The health of the others has been good through the year.
Arrangements have been made for removing Edward and John Hennessey from the Almshouse and placing them in a good home.
All bills incurred the past year have been paid with some possible unimportant exceptions. We recommend the paint- ing of the Almshouse during the next year. An appropria- tion of $5000, together with all receipts we think will be sufficient for the use of this department the coming year.
Respectfully submitted,
HIRAM EATON, M. LOW, SILAS W. FLINT,
Overseers of the Poor.
WAKEFIELD, March 14, 1888,
138
ENGINEERS' REPORT.
To the Honorable Board of Selectmen :
GENTLEMEN,-The annual report of the Engineers of the Fire Department is herewith presented :
The force of the Department remains the same as last year. with the exception of the Fire Alarm, which is a force in itselt, although not as complete as it should be, it needing a striker on one or more of the large bells in town.
The Hydrants were examined in the months of January and February, and none were found that could not be used readily at any time, although it has been a very severe winter.
Fires the past year have not been very severe. The most destructive fire was that of Mr. Whittemore's house, which was a total loss.
There have been a number of still alarms which have been put out by the owners or other persons, the most dangerous being that of Nov. 21st in Hathaway's stable, which had every indication of being incendiary.
The general alarms of fire from March 1st, 1887, to March 1st, 1888, have been as follows :
April 3. House owned by Mr. Whittemore in rear of his own residence. Total loss. Insured for $1500.00. Caused by overheated stove.
May 2. An alarm from box 12 Greenwood, caused by a brush fire. One or two cords of wood burned. Caused by burning brush on a windy day.
(First alarm on new fire alarm).
May 14. An alarm pulled in from box 35 on P. O. for an extensive fire in woods near Saugus line. About seventy- five acres were burned over and several cords of wood, Cause unknown.
139
June 18. An alarm from box 35 for the burning of a hay stack on land of Mr. J. Connell. Cause of fire, children and matches.
July 4. An old building on Vernon Street was set on fire early in the morning and totally destroyed. . Owing to the location of the building your Chief Engineer deemed an alarm unnecessary, but attended with Carter Hose Co. and wet it down from a hydrant.
July 8. An alarm from box 35 for a slight blaze on roof of O. V. Waterman's house. An alarmi was needless as men were on the roof painting the chimney within a few feet of it.
Aug 13. Alarm from box 23 for a fire in the house of J. A. Anderson. By the fore-thought of Mr. Anderson in throwing a few pails of water on the fire before pulling the alarm a more serious fire was prevented. Damage $70.00. Insurance paid $40.00.
Oct. 13. An alarm from box 23 for a fire in the house of Patrick Butler caused by clothing burning in a closet. Dam- age small. Cause unknown.
Oct. 24. An alarm from box 34 for the burning of a few shelf papers in a closet in the house of Joshua Eames. No damage. Alarm unnecessary.
Nov. 8. An alarmı was pulled in from box 35 for a brush and wood fire in Greenwood. This fire came over the line from Melrose and was not checked until it had burned a large area of woodland.
In closing we would express our thanks to your Honorable Board for the courteous manner in which you have received our appeals when ever made.
HORACE W. DALRYMPLE, ALONZO S. COBB, OWEN CORCORAN,
Engineers of Wakefield.
140
REPORT OF COMMITTEE
-
FIRE ALARM TELEGRAPH.
The committee elected at the last annual Town Meeting to contract for and superintend the erecting of a Fire Alarm Telegraph, herewith present their report :
The committee had previously inspected the different sys- tems and decided if the town voted to put in a system to adopt the George M. Stevens system, that being the most practical and economical.
There are ten miles of wire, six boxes, a thirty cell bat- tery, one ten-inch steam gong, one galvanometer and one tapper and gong in stables where horses are kept.
The gong on the Post Office was kindly loaned by Mr. Stevens to the Supt. of Fire Alarm for one year, and unless purchased by the town, will be returned in May. The sys- tem has been kept in running order, and each box tested once each week, and the battery every day. We would respectfully recommend a tower striker in connection with the steam gong.
Feb. 1st, the standard time was struck at nine o'clock .1. M., and will continue to be struck throughout the year.
The committee, in awarding the contract, did so only after due care and deliberation and feel that they can but compli- ment Mr. Stevens for the excellent manner in which he has done his work. It has been in the highest degree satisfac-
141
tory, and we believe with the addition of a few boxes in sections of the town now unprotected, we shall have a Fire Alarm System which for accuracy and reliability is not excelled by any.
Respectfully Submitted, A. S. COBB,
Supt. Fire Alarm Telegraph, Wakefield.
H. W. DALRYMPLE,
A. S. COBB, Committee.
OWEN CORCORAN,
142 Police and Night Watch Report.
To the Honorable Board of Selectmen :
GENTLEMEN :- The report of the Police Department and Night Watch from March 1st, 1887 to March 1st, 1888, is herewith respectfully submitted :
Whole number of arrests, 83
-
Assault, 10; Avoiding fares, 2,
12
Bastardy, 1; Cruelty to animals, 2,
3
Disturbing the peace,
Drunkenness, 24; Indecent exposure, 1, . 25
Keeping open shop on the Lord's Day, 1
Larceny, 11; Liquor nuisance, 12, . .
23
Malicious mischief, 1; Perjury, 2, . 3
Single sale of liquor, 2; Search warrants, 2 4 .
Refusing to pay board at hotel, 1 .
Vagrancy, 6
Furnished with lodging at Lockup during the year, . 187
Respectfully submitted, CHARLES H. DAVIS, Chief of Police.
WAKEFIELD, March 1, 1888.
Report of the Night Watch to the Chief of Police :
Arrests made, 15 ; Disturbances suppressed, 13, 28
Places of business found open, 14
People assisted home, 15, and in finding lodgings, 13, 28
Alarm of fire given, 1
· Stray teams found, 3
This report does not include tramps.
JOHN F. WHITING, ? Night Watch. R. H. MITCHELL,
143
REPORT
-OF THE
BOARD OF HEALTH.
GENERAL HEALTH OF THE TOWN.
The general health of Wakefield for the past year, so far as can be estimated from the mortality-rate, and from the reports of infectious diseases, made in conformity with the statutes and recorded by the Health Officer, has been unusu- ally good. No serious epidemic has occurred during the ycar, and the mortality has consequently been comparatively small.
The number of cases of contagious diseases reported to the Board during the year was as follows : Scarlet fever, 4 ; Diphtheria, 2; Measles, 4.
It is quite probable that these figures do not represent all of the cases which occurred during the year, since cases not unfrequently occur which are not attended by a physician. It should be distinctly understood, however, that the duty of reporting infectious diseases to the local Board of Health,
144
devolves upon the householder as well as upon the attending physician, under the provisions of the law.
The town has had a remarkable immunity from the infec- tious diseases of childhood during the year, the records of the Town Clerk's office showing not a single death from measles, scarlet fever or diphtheria. There has not been so remarkable an exemption from all of these diseases for many years.
The total number of deaths which occurred in Wakefield in 1887 was as follows :
From Consumption, 20
From Inanition, 3
Old Age, 8
66 Bronchitis, . 3
.. Heart Disease, . 7
.. Cholera Infantum. B
.. Pneumonia, . 6 Meningitis. . 3
Softening of the Brain, 5
Enteritis,
2
Premature Birth, .
.. Intestinal Obstruction, 2
Still Birth,
.. Cystitis, . 2
Convulsions, -4 Hemor; hage, 2
Apoplexy, 3
.6 Railroad Accident, 2
" Cancer, . 3
66 Accidental Drowning. 2
Arsenical Poisoning, Dropsy, Entero-colitis, Gastro- enteritis, Goitre, Hepatitis, Lupus, Senile Gangrene. Typhoid Fever, Typhlitis, Tubercular Meningitis, and Whooping Cough. each
1
Total Deaths. 101
An impression has sometimes prevailed that Wakefield is an unhealthy town. Such impressions are apt to take root in any town in which a local epidemic has occurred for a longer or shorter period of time. The fallacy of such an impression, however, so far as Wakefield is concerned, may be easily demonstrated by facts and other data in the posses- sion of the Board of Health. No epidemic of magnitude has occurred since the epidemic of diphtheria of 1877 and 1878.
145
A true estimate of the healthfulness of a town can be formed by considering the rate of mortality for a term of years, and especially the mortality from what are known as infectious or preventable diseases. The Board has therefore deemed it worth while to present a careful summary of the mortality-rate of the town for a series of years, as compared with that of the towns immediately adjoining, and also a statement of the mortality from infectious diseases, as com- pared with that of the county, and also with that of the state, for a series of years.
A comparison of birth-rates is also introduced, and in this connection it should be stated that the true index of healthy growth is not found in a high birth-rate, nor in a low death- rate, but in the excess of the former over the latter.
From these tables it appears, that in nearly all of the diseases reckoned as preventable, which are regarded as the best indices of sanitary conditions, Wakefield presents a better record for the past sixteen years than either the State or the County. From the fifteen diseases named, Wakefield had a higher death-rate than the State in only two, diphtheria und dysentery, and higher than the County in three only, diphtheria, dysentery and whooping-cough. In the three most destructive diseases, Consumption, Pneumonia and Cholera Infantum, Wakefield had a lower death-rate than either the State or the County.
This table may be read as follows ; for example : Out of cach thousand of the population in Massachusetts, 3 28-100 persons died annually of consumption in the period in ques- tion. In Middlesex County 3 24-100 persons annually died of the same disease in each thousand, and in Wakefield 2 94-100 persons died annually of the same disease. (See Table I.)
Pursuing the inquiry farther, the general mortality and (Table II.) birth-rates of Wakefield are also compared with those of the neighboring towns, as in the annexed table. In this table are given the average population for the past 22 years, the total number of births, the annual birth-rate, the total deaths, the annual death-rate, and the excess of the
TABLE I.
Small-po.x.
Measles.
Scarlet-Fever.
Diphtheria and
Cerebro-Spinal
Menigitis.
Whooping
Typhoid Fever.
Erysipelas.
Puerperal
Fever.
Dysentery.
Diarrhea.
Cholera
Cholera
Consumption.
Pneumonia.
MASSACHUSETTS. Average population, 1871-1886, 1,708,622. Deaths, 16 years.
2,280
3,024 13,160 29,256
2,825
4,549 15,830)
3,525
1,470
6,413
6,809
1,503 33,401 89,633 41,932
Annual death-rate ) per 1,000 populat'n from each disease.
083
.11
48
1.07
.103
.166
.58
.13
.05
.23
.25
.05
1.22
3.28
1.53
MIDDLESEX CO. Average population, 16 years, 308.401. Deaths,
444
382
2,403
5,187
563
654
2,337
608
264
1,151
1,073
221
6.427 16,008
7,269
Annual death-rate ) per 1,000 populat'n from each discase.)
.08
49
1.05
. 11
.13
47
.12
.05
23
.22
.04
1.30
3.24
1.17
· WAKEFIELD. Average population, 16 years. 5,273. Deaths.
1
1
31
141
8
12
38/
00
3
37
Co
62
248
122
Annual death-rate ) per 1,000 populat'n from each disease.
.01
.05
37
1.7
.09
.14
.45
.09
.03
.44
.02
.03
.73
2.94
1.45
146
Morbus.
Infantum.
Croup.
Cou.h.
1
1
147
annual birth-rate over the annual death-rate in each of the following towns : Lynnfield, Saugus, Melrose, Stoneham, Reading, North Reading, Wilmington, Wakefield, and the city of Salem.
It will be noticed that the birth-rate was higher than that of any of the neighboring towns, and the excess of the birth- rate over the death-rate (the best index of healthy growth) was greater than that of any of the neighhoring towns except Melrose, and was identical with that of the State. In Salem the death-rate exceeded the birth-rate.
The birth-rate of Wakefield for 1887 was 28.09 per 1,000, and the death-rate for the year was 16.12 per 1,000, an exceptionably favorable year.
TABLE II.
Lynnfield.
Saugus.
Melrose.
Stoneham.
Reading.
North
Wilmington.
Salem.
Wakefield.
State.
Average population, 22 years.
753
2,458
4,186
4,669]
3,001
937
904 25,383
4,867
1,620,304
Births, 22 years,
283 17.1
986
2,064
2,154 20.9
1,070 16.2|
398 19.3
19.1
20.9
2,602 24 3
923,240 25.9
Deaths, 22 years,
264
812
1,402
1,674
Average Death-rates §
15.9
15.0
15.2
16 3
1,018 15.4
380 18.4
366 18.4
11,796 21.1
1,937 18.1
701.529 19.7
Excess of birth-rates { over death-rates.
1.2
3.2
7.2
4.6
8
.9
.7
-*. 2|
6.2
6.2
Excess of death-rate.
NUISANCES.
A considerable number of nuisances of a local nature was reported to the Board, and received the attention of the Health Officer during the year. Seventeen such nuisances in all were examined by the Board. Among those which the Board has been requested to examine, especially during the summer months, has been that of the keeping of swine in the populous part of the town, and it is not too much to ask that an ordinance may be enacted by the town, prohibit- ing the keeping of swine within certain definite limits.
Reading.
382 11,675
Average Birth-rates.
18.2
22.4
i ! ! 148
TOWN BROOK.
Almost every town has its town brook or stream, flowing through some part of the town, and receiving the drainage of houses, stables, stores, markets, hog-pens, vaults, cess. pools, &c., and to this general rule, Wakefield, unfortunate . ly, is not an exception.
This stream, which receives the drainage and filth of the central portion of the town, and deposits the whole in the pond near the Centre depot, making a town cesspool of the pond, must remain a foul nuisance so long as no adequate system of drainage is provided. This subject will be referred to later on. The brook was thoroughly cleansed during the past summer, and will undoubtedly require such cleansing often, so long as it continues to be used as a public sewer.
WATER SUPPLY.
In the water of Crystal Lake, Wakefield and Stonehanı enjoy an excellent water-supply of a good and wholesome quality. The following analyses are copied from tables made by the State Board of Health during the past year :
ANALYSIS OF WATER OF WAKEFIELD WATER COMPANY.
The figures represent parts in 100,000.
TABLE III. 1 2
1
3
4
5
Date of Analysis.
1887. June 14.
Sept. 20.
Dec. 12.
Feb. 13,'88
Sept. 5,'87
Turbidity
Slight.
Very Slight.
Consider- able Sediment
Very Slight.
Very Slight.
Color
.1
0.1
0.15
0.2
0.1
Total .
3.55
3.90
4.00
3.95
10.47
Residue
Organic
1.27
0.75
1.20
1.00
1.02
(Inorganic.
2.28
3.15
2.80
2.95
9.45
Free.
.0029
.0002
.0000
.0033
.0089
Ammonia
Albuminoid ..
.0148
.0194
.0172
.0155
.0165
Chlorine
.58
.49
.54
.52
.28
Nitrogen -as Nitrites or Nitrates.
.007
.003
.003
.015
.003
Nitrites
none.
none.
none.
none.
none.
These samples were analyzed under the direction of the
1
149
State Board of Health, Nos. 1, 2, 3 and 4 being analyses made at different seasons during the past year.
No. 5 is not a fair sample of the water. It was taken near the "dead end" of a new line of pipe, and shows the effect of allowing the water to stand in the pipes. The increase in impurity is shown to be mainly in the fixed solids and the free ammonia. The remedy is quite plain, and that is to let the water run until the impurities disappear, which will occur as soon as freshly pumped water reaches the end of the pipe.
For the information of all who may not be familiar with the significance of the figures presented, it is sufficient to say that the analysis shows a quality which compares very favorably with that of other waters in Massachusetts.
During the late spring and early summer months, com- plaints became frequent of bad taste and odor in the public water-supply, which disappeared later in the season. This trouble was not peculiar to the waters of Crystal Lake. It occurred in a much more serious form in the Melrose and Malden supply (Spot pond) and also in many other ponds in Eastern Massachusetts. It is sufficient to show that no sickness of any sort was found to have been caused thereby. Even with the existence of occasional bad tastes, which are due to the presence of minute water-plants, the water of the public supply is much safer for domestic use than the aver- age water of wells in the town, located as they usually are in close proximity to polluting causes (cesspools, vaults, or stables).
SEWERAGE.
Allusion has already been made to the foul condition of the stream, which runs parallel with Main street from Park Street to Centre Depot. It is also true that the drainage of many houses in the populous part of the town, or rather the want of proper drainage, is such as to urgently demand relief. For many years the filth of several thousand people
150
has been deposited either in, or upon, the soil in cesspools, or by other equally objectionable methods ; and when we consider on the one hand the consequences which other com- munities have suffered from neglect, and on the other hand the advantages which still other cities and towns have reaped from good systems of sewerage, it becomes us as a town to consider the question whether a system of sewerage should not at once be adopted which shall relieve the town of its present dangers.
The Board would therefore recommend that a Committee may be appointed by the town to take the matter into con- sideration, and report to the town at some future day.
SAMUEL W. ABBOTT. JOHN M. CATE, WINFIELD C. JORDAN,
Board of Health.
EXPENSES OF FISH COMMITTEE.
Received from sale of 330 permits at 25 cts., Expended as follows :
$82 50
Samuel Parker, services on pond and river,
$23 60
W, S. Greenough, visiting fishways etc., .
5 00
C. F. Clark, Saugus constable, .
1 50
W. L. Griffin, team 6 times,
9 00
Fred W. Young, advertising,
2 50
C. W. Eaton, 6
3 00
66 printing 400 permits,
4 50
C. H. Whiting, numbering "
75
400 envelopes, 3 blank books,
1 85
$51 70
Balance paid Town Treasurer,
30 .80
$82 50
.
.
151
Report of the Fish Committee.
The Fish Committee respectfully submit their twelfth annual report :
At the beginning of the municipal year the members of the Committee qualified and organized by the choice of W. S. Greenough as Chairman, and Sam'l Parker as Treasurer and Executive Officer.
More than usual trouble was experienced in keeping the fishways on Saugus river open to the passage of alewives to the lake. During the months of April, May and June the Committee made five trips to tide water at Saugus, in the effort to persuade the various mill owners, to fulfill the re- quirements of the law. By calling to our assistance the State Commissioners of Inland Fisheries and the State Police we at least secured proper respect for and obedience to the law, both from the mill owners and the seiners of Saugus and Lynn.
During the month of May Mr. Parker repaired the fishway at Montrose.
The alewives came to theirs pawning ground in the lake in good number, but returned to the sea earlier than usual on account of the unusual height of water during the summer.
It is impossible to give more than approximate idea of the results of this season's fishing, for the old reason, viz : only a few of the holders of permits pay any attention to the rules respecting returns.
152
CONSOLIDATED RETURNS FOR 1887.
Number of permits issued,
330
returned,
46
used. .
40
Number of Black Bass,
86
66 Pickerel,
366
White Perch,
301
.. Red Perch,
2792
66
Miscellaneous,
752
Total No. of Fish,
4,297
Total weight,
1,606 lbs.
This being an average to the 40 permits of about 40 lbs. cach.
The increase both in the size and numbers of White Perch taken has been a pleasing feature in this season's fishing.
About the usual proportion of large Bass and Pickerel ( from 3 to 5 lbs. in weight) were taken and our most enthu- siastic fishermen consider the season's sport as ahead of any preceding year.
We give below a few returns in detail, to show the high- est scores of the season so far as reported :
Names.
Black Bass.
Pickerel.
Red Perch Perch laneous White
Miscel-
Total No.
Total lbs. Weight.
A. Leuchtman.
9
29
14
92
181
325
123
J. C. Hartshorne
7
3
65
104
12
192
115
W. S. Greenough
16
35
45
95
25
216
11134
Jos. Morton ..
27
5
51
30
6
119
933
Alonzo P. Burrill
1
0
127
0
172
Samuel Parker
1
103
41
110
16
271
75
Philip Weber.
0
13
0
1
151
163
4.5
S. O. Richardson, Jr.
2
6
4
193
00
213
56
H. Leuchtman.
0
2
0
9
84
95
60
E. W . Parks.
7
19
9
124
15
174
174
·
Respectfully submitted,
W. S. GREENOUGH, SAMUEL PARKER, WILL H. WILEY, . :
Fish Committee,
.
.
911ª
ANNUAL REPORT
OF THE
SCHOOL COMMITTEE.
155
REPORT.
To the Inhabitants of the Town of Wakefield :
The first town School Report, according to the records, was made in the year 1798 and reads as follows :- "That the Committee have visited the several schools, and have the satisfaction to observe that our youth have made proficiency equal to our expectations."
The proficiency made by the children doubtless referred to their mental improvement, and was evidently estimated and determined by the Committee according to their expectations, but as the degree of their expectations was not stated, the the public did not receive any very certain and definite knowledge of the proficiency made by the scholars in their educational efforts.
Previous to the year 1838 the Committee were not ro- quired to make any school report, but since that date it has been their legal duty to make a detailed report of the condi- tion of the public schools in their several cities and towns, which report shall additionally contain such statements and . suggestions as the Committee may consider essential to pro- mote the best and highest interest of the schools. Whatever statements and suggestions are made in this report, it is hoped they will contribute to the growth and excellence of the public schools in Wakefield.
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