USA > Massachusetts > Plymouth County > Plymouth > Town annual report of the officers of the town of Plymouth, Massachusetts for the year ending 1915 > Part 2
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Warren Avenue still remains in its unsatisfactory condition. The refusal of the Town to vote the necessary appropriation for the expense has delayed action in this important matter. The report of the Warren Avenue Committee will place this matter. before the Town in its proper light.
The widening at the corner of Leyden and Main Streets has been delayed by some difficulty between the owner of the build- ing to be moved and the adjacent land owners. When this matter is adjusted the work can go forward.
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Water Street Extension, for which an appropriation was made last March, has had considerable work done on it. The filling and grading have been partly completed and the pipe for the conduct of Cold Spring Brook has been placed in posi- tion. The sewer has been started and laid for some distance north from the foot of Railroad Avenue. It was not thought best to lay the sewer in the new fill until it had settled, as the grade is slight and a very little settling would put it out of commission.
It is the opinion of this Board that the Town should macadamize another section of Samoset Street. We would recommend starting at the junction with the Darby road and coming towards the center of the Town. This would take in the worst part of the road and the remainder could be finished at some later day.
We are strongly of the opinion that Sandwich Street from the head of Water Street to the foot of Spring Hill should also be macadamized. This section of street lies at the foot of three hills and the wash from these keep it constantly covered with mud and the large amount of travel there is seriously inconven- ienced. It is also very unpleasant for the dwellers on the street.
In this connection it would appear to be well for the Town to know how its expenditures for roads compare with other towns. In a list of 11 towns nearest to Plymouth in population (9,000 to 13,000) Plymouth spent $109 per mile for main- tenance. This was the smallest amount spent by any town on the list. The largest amount was in Wakefield (population 11,404.) They spent $662 per mile for the year. The average for the 12 towns, not including Plymouth, was $250 per mile. Our constantly increasing mileage of improved roads and the tremendously increased travel on the gravel roads make an increase of expenditure absolutely imperative.
In the sidewalk department there has been an unusual amount of repair work required on the old concrete walks. These have been badly broken by frost and have had to have
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a disproportionate amount of repairs. It seems to the Board that this type of walk is no longer desirable and should be replaced as fast as possible with granolithic, which has an almost indefinite life and is a better walk in every way.
It is the plan of this Board, and we hope that it will be of future Boards, to eventually have a continuous water proof sidewalk from Hotel Pilgrim to the Kingston line. There are many miles of sidewalk in the Town that require attention, but the utmost that can be expected is that some addition will be made each year, putting each section where it will accommodate the most people with the idea of eventually having the walk continuous.
There is a serious problem confronting the Town in the dis- posal of surface water. The rains that run off of the side streets tax the capacity of the pipes now. And as the land on the sides of the streets is improved more and more, the quantity of water turned into the street is increasing. The Town will have this matter to adjust in the near future.
The Town voted at the last March meeting that the Select- men be instructed to make such arrangements with the Plymouth Electric Light Co. as would result in improving the light on Main and Court Streets and would remove the un- sightly poles that are now there. Following these instructions the matter has been attended to and the installation of an un- derground system is nearly complete. The delay in the arrival of the poles is the only thing that prevented this system from being in operation by the first of the year.
The appropriation for the Police Department was reduced at the last March meeting, and the force was reduced accord- ingly, two men being dropped from the roll. This, notwith- standing that the two men who were retired were on the pay roll until the first of May, has worked out well, and the expenses have been kept within the appropriation. The work of the department has been very satisfactorily performed and it would appear that no change from the present plan is necessary.
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The automobile truck of the Forest Warden's Department has been equipped with a new engine at the shop of A. J. Smith, who was the lowest bidder for the job. This has been thoroughly tried out, and has proved to be in excellent condi- tion and capable of giving efficient service.
There has been in existence for a number of years a claim against the Town for moneys received by the Town in connection with the sale of the so-called Indian Lands at Manomet. This claim, while not clearly established, was nevertheless sufficient to cloud the title to said lands, and the Selectmen, after in- vestigating it and taking competent legal advice, have settled the claims. We have also settled several small claims for land damage caused by locating of the State Highway.
There have also been two damage claims adjusted, caused by defects in the sidewalks.
The shell fish industry has been for the past year in a satis- factory condition. There have been the usual number of infrac- tions of the shipping restrictions, but at the present time the Board is granting a restricted form of permit which allows a reasonable amount of digging for shipment out of Town and this, while not seriously depleting the stock of clams, furnishes an industrious man with an opportunity to get a living if so disposed. The Kerr Plant is now nearly completed and will be in operation shortly, and there is no doubt that this will be an important addition to the industry of the Town.
The Brewster Spring Fountain is nearing completion and will be an ornament as well as useful addition to the corner of Leyden and Main Streets. The Town appropriated for this pur- pose the sum of $1,000. It was found that this sum was in- sufficient to carry out the plans as proposed, but a sum of money that had been subscribed for this purpose some time ago was found to be available, and then it developed that a lady in New Jersey had interested herself in the matter and had raised by subscription the sum of about $586, which is to be turned over to the Town, making a total of about $1,700. This sum will be
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sufficient to finish the fountain, and it will be in operation when the weather becomes suitable.
The thanks of the Town are due Mrs. J. H. Oglesby, of Sea Girt, New Jersey, for this entirely unexpected contribution. Also to those who contributed to the local fund.
On petition of a number of abutters the Board, after a hearing, decided to lay out Strand Avenue, starting at the junction of the Point Road and the State Highway and running to the junction of Strand Avenue and Manomet Avenue. Also on petition and after hearing we have laid out Samoset Avenue and a portion of Circuit Avenue to a point at the Idlewild Hotel on Manomet Avenue.
WILLIAM T. ELDRIDGE, EPHRAIM D. BARTLETT, JOHN L. MORTON, RICHMOND TALBOT, HERBERT S. MAXWELL
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APPROPRIATIONS RECOMMENDED BY THE
DEPARTMENTS.
Selectmen's Department,
$1,800 00
Accounting,
1,350 00
Treasurer,
1,200 00
Tax Collector,
1,500 00
Assessors,
3,000 00
Assessors' Plans.
1,000 00
Law Department,
600 00
Town Clerk,
450 00
Town Engineer,
900 00
Planning Board,
100 00
Election and Registration,
950 00
Town House Maintenance,
1,600 00
Police Department,
8,500 00
Police Department Automobile,
500 00
Fire Department,
15,100 00
Sealer Weights and Measures,
800 00
Moth Suppression,
5,000 00
Tree Warden,
1,200 00
Forest Warden,
2,500 00
Shell Fish,
700 00
Inland Fisheries,
300 00
Health Department,
7,200 00
Sewers,
2,000 00
Sanitaries,
400 00
Roads and Bridges,
30,000 00
Warren Avenue Construction,
5,000 00
Sandwich Street Construction,
3,000 00
Water Street Extension,
3,000 00
Strand Avenue,
100 00
7
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Samoset Avenue,
300 00
Samoset Street,
8,000 00
Sandwich Street, macadam,
1,000 00
Main Street Extension sidewalk,
1,000 00
Beaver Dam,
500 00
Bartlett Road,
300 00
Street Line Survey,
400 00
Sidewalks,
5,000 00
Snow Removal,
1,500 00
Street Sprinkling,
6,000 00
Street Lighting,
12,500 00
Harbor Master,
150 00
Poor Department,
15,000 00
Mothers' Aid,
5,000 00
Military Aid,
78 00
Soldiers' Relief,
4,234 48
School Department,
87,000 00
Public Library (Inc. Dog Tax),
3,700 00
Manomet Library,
250 00
Parks,
1,900 00
Addition to Beach Park,
1,000 00
Training Green,
200 00
Walks on Training Green,
1,000 00
Indian Lands,
200 00
Sexton,
125 00
Memorial Day,
225 00
Miscellaneous,
2,500 00
Reserve,
7,000 00
Water Department, ,
16,000 00
Water Construction,
5,000 00
Oak Grove and Vine Hill Cemeteries,
5,000 00
Oak Grove and Vine Hill Cemeteries, Water Pipe,
200 00
Burial Hill,
1,000 00
Cedarville and Manomet Cemetery,
150 00
Addition to Manomet Cemetery,
300 00
Town Debt and Interest,
40,000 00
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REPORT OF SUPERINTENDENT OF STREETS
To the Honorable Board of Selectmen :-
I herewith submit the report of the Street Department for the year 1915.
ROADS AND BRIDGES.
Maintenance.
Under this heading is included the maintenance of the streets, bridges, the roads in the outlying districts and the cleaning of the streets and surface drains. The automobile traffic, which here as elsewhere, is constantly increasing, causes a much larger expenditure for repairs, especially in the outside districts where the best material to be obtained is not strong enough for the heavy travel to which it is subjected.
A notable example of this condition is the Long Pond road which has to carry a very heavy automobile travel. Beyond South Pond village the best material to be had is a sandy loam which does not have enough good wearing qualities to make a permanent surface. I would recommend that a section of bituminous sand or gravel road be built in this locality each year, so that at the expiration of a term of years a section of permanent surfaced road would be the result of the annual expenditures, instead of practically no improvement from year to year as has been the case in the past.
Another similar section is the upper part of Samoset street,
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from the cemetery gate to the Darby road. The supply of stone in this locality is such that a macadam road would be practicable. I would recommend that this section, the length of which is 11/2 miles, be rebuilt, careful attention being paid to drainage, and a bituminous macadam surface laid.
The rains of the early part of the season caused extensive washouts. The roads in the outside sections, many of them being built on steep grades, are liable to be washed by heavy rains, but this has been in a measure prevented by the application of road oil, more of which should be used the coming season.
Darby road. A bituminous surfacing has been applied to the Darby road this year, 27,915 square yards being treated. This road, which was originally a water bound macadam, has each year received a bituminous surface application at an average cost of 3 1-3 cents per square yard. This seems to be sufficient to enable this road to stand up under the travel it receives, and I think that the surface can be maintained by this method with- out any extensive resurfacing treatment.
Sandwich street, from Water street to Jabez Corner, has also received a surface coating of bitumen, the amount treated being 13,328 square yards.
Court street. The heavy grades on Court street having been slippery at times, a light bituminous application has been made. To give satisfactory results this should be repeated during the coming year, and sand applied meanwhile to give a better foot- ing. I would also recommend the same treatment on Summer street, between Newfields and Oak streets.
Owing to the greatly increasd travel on all roads and streets of the town, I would recommend that the sum of $30,000.00 be appropriated for maintenance for the ensuing year.
Construction.
An extension of Water street, from Lothrop to Nelson street, has been laid out and a sewer laid part of the way. It was
.
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deemed inexpedient to lay the sewer in the section newly filled on account of its settling. This work will be completed as soon as the ground is in proper condition.
The lower end of Main street extension, a section of which drained badly, has been carefully regraded, a drainage system introduced and 1,300 square yards of bituminous surface laid.
On Summer street the gutters, which were of gravel while the street surface is of bituminous macadam, proved too weak, and they have been rebuilt of bituminous macadam of the same thickness as the street, about 700 square yards being laid.
Beaver Dam road. This is one of the important suburban roads, and it has been a difficult one to maintain, especially in the winter months. For the past three years the sum of $500.00 has been appropriated annually, and spent in improving the drainage and treating the surface with a clean gravel, beach gravel preferred. The result has been a decided improvement, and if continued for a few years I think will give a permanent road surface competent to handle the fairly heavy travel it re- ceives. I would recommend that the above amount be appro- priated for this road for the ensuing year.
Bartlett road. The conditions here are very similar to those on the Beaver Dam road. The sum of $300.00 was appropriat- ed for this section, and will be expended in improving the grade and drainage and applying a good gravel to the surface where most needed. I recommend that the sum of $300.00 be appro- priated for this road yearly until a satisfactory result has been obtained.
STREET SPRINKLING.
A comparatively small amount of water has been used for street sprinkling during the past year, as oil has been found to be cheaper and more satisfactory. Five cars of non-asphaltic oil have been used. On some of the side streets which are inclined
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to be sandy, I would recommend the use of a light asphaltic oil, as it might help to bind the road surface as well as to lay the dust. The same appropriation as last year, $6,000.00, will be needed for the coming year.
SIDEWALKS.
Quite extensive repairs have been necessary on the old tar con- crete sidewalks. Much of this type of walk has been built for a long time, and costly repairs will have to be made in the future. I would recommend that for sidewalks in the heavily travelled portions of the town cement concrete be the type adopted in the future as being better worth the small additional cost, while to the suburban districts the cinder with bituminous crushed stone top would be well adapted.
Tar concrete sidewalks have been built as follows:
Brewster street,
. 2,400 square feet
Water and Sandwich streets,
316
66
66
Court street,
624
Cinder with crushed stone surface : Mayflower street,
5,000
66
66
Resurfaced with crushed stone: Court street,
12,000
Granolithic walk, one-half the expense borne by the abutters : Sever street, 33 square yards
Howland street,
191
66
66
North and Court streets,
387
66
Clyfton street,
43
Main street extension,
183
Sandwich and Bradford streets,
92
Granolithic walk, whole expense borne by the town :
Main street extension, over bridge,
125
66
66
For sidewalks the sum of $5,000.00 will be needed for the coming year.
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SEWERS.
New sewers have been laid in the following streets :
Bradford street,
86 feet
Wood street,
78
Jordan Hospital,
336
66
Mt. Pleasant street,
414
Alden Court,
78
" .
The usual large amount of work has been done on private sewer connections, and where the pipes were not obstructed by the roots of the town trees reimbursements will be made by the parties for whom the work was done.
An appropriation of $2,000.00 will be needed for sewers for 1916.
REMOVAL OF SNOW.
Although no heavy fall of snow has occurred up to the time of this writing, considerable work has had to be done in removing snow from gutters and drainage pipes, and applying sand to icy sidewalks.
I would recommend $1,500.00 be appropriated for removal of snow for the ensuing year.
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The following distances, registered by automobile speedometer, may be of interest :
TOWN SQUARE, PLYMOUTH, TO:
Jabez Corner,
1 mile
Hotel Pilgrim,
2.9
Manomet church,
6
ยท Fresh Pond,
7.8
66
Ship Pond,
10.5
66
Ellisville,
11.8
66
Cedarville,
14.7
66
Sagamore P. O.,
18
66
Kingston line,
2.5
Kingston town hall,
4.5
66
Marshfield P. O.,
12.8
66
Boston via Marshfield,
49.9
Boston via Hanover,
43.7
Hanover Four Corners,
14.7
66
South Pond Village,
3.5
Long Pond,
8.4
Cedarville via Long Pond,
12.7
Bourne town line,
13.5
Darby village,
4.9
66
North Carver Green,
8
66
Middleboro Four Corners,
14.8
Taunton,
25.8
Providence,
44.4
Respectfully submitted,
GEORGE H. PIERCE,
Superintendent of Streets.
66
,
Fourth Annual Report
OF THE
Town Accountant
OF THE
TOWN OF PLYMOUTH
MASSACHUSETTS
FOR THE
Year Ending December 31,
1915
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Plymouth, Mass., January 29, 1916. The Board of Selectmen, Plymouth, Mass.
Gentlemen-
I herewith submit my report of the financial transactions of the Town of Plymouth for the year ending December 31, 1915.
Schedule A, shows the receipts and payments for the year, classified as required by the Bureau of Statistics of the Commonwealth.
Schedule B, is a detailed statement of each appropriation, showing the amount appropriated by the Town, the additions to, and the pay- ments from the same.
Schedule C, is a statement of the Estimated and Actual Receipts, the charges being the amounts estimated and deducted from the total of the appropriations by the Assessors in making up the Tax Warrant for 1915, and the credits being the amounts actually received.
Schedule D, is the Revenue Account for 1915.
Schedule E, is the Excess and Deficiency Account for 1915, similar to what in a private business would be the profit and loss account.
Schedule F, is the Balance Sheet January 1, 1916, showing the condi- tion of the Town's financial affairs after closing the books for 1915.
Schedule G, is a summary of the Outstanding Indebtedness January 1, 1916, showing also the debt at the beginning of the year, the additions to, the amounts paid on the same, and the principal and interest require- ments for 1916.
Schedule H, is a detailed statement of the Outstanding Indebtedness.
Schedule I, is an itemized statement of the Trust and Invested funds not including the January 1916 dividends.
At the close of the year's business, bills for the following departments remained unpaid, as there were no funds available in the several appro- priations-
Law Department,
$10 00
Maintenance of Town House,
35.05
Sealing Weights and Measures,
71 06
Moth Suppression,
5 66
Plymouth three
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Tree Warden's Department,
22 90
Public Sanitaries,
40 08
Sewer Department,
47 25
Miscellaneous,
204 00
Poor Department,
432 00
Total,
$868 00
The above amounts were appropriated to the several departments at a Special Town Meeting January 15, 1916, and the bills have since been paid.
Respectfully submitted,
RICHARD T. ELDRIDGE,
Town Accountant.
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SCHEDULE A. RECEIPTS AND PAYMENTS.
RECEIPTS.
Sources of Receipts.
Revenue for Revenue for Total
Expenses Outlays
GENERAL REVENUE 1. TAXES.
Current Year-
1. Property,
$216,249.13
2. Poll,
4,494.00
Previous Years-
3. Property, 52,445.24
4. Poll,
1,974.00
From the State-
5. Corporation, 27,686.33
6. Street Railway,
7. Bank, 1,701.81
Total from Taxes, $304,550.51 $304,550.51
2. LICENSES AND PERMITS.
Licenses-
8. Liquor,
9. All Other, Permits-
$387.50
10. Marriage,
11. All Other, 906.75
Total from Licenses and Permits, $1,294.25 $1,294.25
3. FINES AND FORFEITS.
12. Court, 13. Department Penalties,
$285.28
14. Contract Violations,
Total Fines and Forfeits,
$285.28
$285.28
Total forward, $306,130.04
1
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RECEIPTS
Sources of Receipts.
Revenue for Revenue for Total
Expenses Outlays
Total forward,
$306,130.04
4. GRANTS AND GIFTS.
Grants from Other Civil Divisions-
15. From State, for Education
. Support of Public Schools
b. Aid to High Schools
c. Aid to Industrial Schools
d. High School Tuition
e. Union Superintendency
16. From State for Armories
17. From State for Highway Purposes
18. From State for Other Purposes
a. Inspector of Animals
b. Protection against Forest Fires C.
d.
19. From County (Dog Licenses) $1,105.25 Gifts from Individuals-
20. For Expenses
21. For Outlays,
Total from Grants and Gifts,
$1,105.25
$1,105.25
5. ALL OTHER GENERAL REVENUE.
22. 23.
Total from Other General Revenue,
Total forward, $307,235.29
30
T
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RECEIPTS
Sources of Receipts.
Total forward,
Revenue for Revenue for Total
Expenses Outlays
$307,235.29
COMMERCIAL REVENUE.
6. SPECIAL ASSESSMENTS.
24. Street Sprinkling,
25. Moth Extermination, .$176.79
26. Sewers
27. Sidewalks and Curbing,
28. Other Purposes,
Total from Special Assessments, $176.79 $176.79
7. PRIVILEGES.
29. Public Service,
$1,165.26
30. Minor,
Total from Privileges,
$1,165.26
$1,165.26
Total forward, $308,577.34
5.25
cal
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RECEIPTS
Sources of Receipts.
Revenue for Offsets to Total
Expenses
Outlays
Total forward,
$308,577.34
S. DEPARTMENTAL.
Sa. General Government-
Legislative-
31. Aldermen and Council; Moderator Executive-
32. Mayor; Commission ; Selectmen Financial-
33. Auditor, Accountant and Auditing
34. Treasurer,
35. Collector, $1.00
36. Assessors,
37. License Commissioners,
38. Other Finance Offices and Accounts Other General Departments-
39. Law
40. City or Town Clerk
General Government forward,
$1.00
Total forward,
$308,577.34
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PAYMENTS
Objects of Payments.
Expenses Outlays Total
1. DEPARTMENTAL.
1a. General Government- Legislative
1. Aldermen ; Moderator
a. Salaries and Wages, $30.00
b. Other Expenses, 34.79
Executive-
2. Mayor; Commission ; Selectmen, a. Salaries and Wages, 1,437.20
b. Other Expenses, 273.34
Financial-
3. Auditor, Accountant and Auditing,
a. Salaries and Wages, 1,150.00
b. Other Expenses, 64.56
4. Treasurer,
a. Salaries and Wages, 1,000.00
b. Other Expenses, 191.56
5. Collector, a. Salaries and Wages, 1,043.34
b. Other Expenses, 298.09
6. Assessors,
a. Salaries and Wages, 2,235.00
b. Other Expenses,
1,359.97
7. License Commissioners,
a. Salaries and Wages b. Other Expenses,
8. Other Finance Offices and Accounts,
a. Sinking Fund Commissioners, b. Miscellaneous, 86.00
Other General Departments-
9. Law
a. Salaries and Wages, 561.25
b. Other Expenses, 52.31
10. City or Town Clerk
a. Salaries and Wages, 300.50
b. Other Expenses, 74.90
General Government forward, $10,192.81
-
-H
-40-
RECEIPTS
Sources of Receipts.
Revenue for Expenses
Offsets to Outlays
Total
$308,577.34
Total forward, General Government forward, $1.00
41. City Messenger
42. Public Works
43. Engineer
44. Superintendent of Buildings
45. Election and Registration, 6.00
46. Other General Departments
Municipal Buildings-
47. City or Town Hall,
1.00
Total from General Government,
$8.00
$8.00
8b. Protection of Persons and Property- Police Department-
48. Services of Officers
49. Sale of Materials
50. Miscellaneous, $3.01
Protection of Persons and
Property forward,
$3.01
Total forward, $308,585.34
2
2
2
2
P
-41-
PAYMENTS
Objects of Payments.
Expenses
Outlays
Total
General Government forward, $10,192.81
11. City Messenger a. Salaries and Wages
b. Other Expenses
12. Public Works a. Salaries and Wages
b. Other Expenses
13. Engineering
a. Salaries and Wages, 699.00
b. Other Expenses, 103.32
14. Superintendent of Buildings
a. Salaries and Wages b. Other Expenses
15. Election and Registration
a. Salaries and Wages, 542.00
b. Other Expenses, 345.44
16. Other General Departments Municipal Buildings-
17. City or Town Hall .a. Salaries and Wages, 366.63
b. Other Expenses,
1,074.74 1,446.74
Total for General Government, $13,323.94 $1,446.74
$14,770.68
1b. Protection of Persons and Property. Police Department-
18. Salaries and Wages, $7,735.85
19 Horses and Care of same (hire) 131.85
20. Equipment and Repairs, 18.44
21. Fuel and Light, 298.96
22. Maintenance of Buildings, etc., 131.08
23. New Buildings 24. Other Expenses, 168.29
Protection of Persons and Property forward, $8,484.47
Total forward, $14,770.68
-42-
RECEIPTS
Sources of Receipts.
Revenue for Expenses
Offsets to Total
Outlays
$308,585.34
Total forward, Protection of Persons and Property forward, $3.01
Fire Department-
51. Sale of Materials
52. Miscellaneous
Militia-
53. Armories
54. Rifle Ranges
Inspection-
55. Inspection of Buildings
56. Inspection of Wires
57. Sealing of Weights and Measures, 32.50
Forestry-
58. Insect Pest Extermination
59. Planting and Trimming Trees
60. Forest Fires, 198.04
Other Protection of Persons and Property-
61. Bounties 62. 63.
Total from protection of Persons and Property, $233.55
1
$233.55
Total forward, $308,818.89
a
Tot
4
43.
39 40
41
38
3.
3
3
2
-43-
PAYMENTS
Objects of Payments. Total forward,
Expenses Outlays Total $14,770.68
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