USA > Massachusetts > Plymouth County > Plymouth > Town annual report of the officers of the town of Plymouth, Massachusetts for the year ending 1936 > Part 25
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Engine No. 8-purchased 1927; 75 gal. booster tank; 250 ft. 344" hose, 16 21% gals. chemical extinguishers; is in poor condition; $213.77 being paid for repairs during the past year.
Engine No. 6-built and given to the Town two years
.
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ago by the Volunteer Boys; carries 100 gal. booster tank, 200 ft. 3/1." hose, 16 2 1/2 gals. chemical and extinguish- ers; is in poor condition; no repairs were made during the past year.
Chief's car-this machine is in good condition and equipped with two-way radio; repairs for the year amounted to $102.43.
Ladder Truck-purchased in 1916; is in fairly good condition ; $1,110.92 was spent for repairs for the year.
SUMMARY
After studying the foregoing report on "Apparatus," the following facts stand out :- of the four principal ma- chines (namely, Engines No. 1, No. 2, No. 3 and the Ladder Truck) three of them were purchased in 1916- namely: No. 2, No. 3 and Ladder Truck, twenty-one years ago. The past year (1937) the cost for repairs was $3,051.44.
This indicates to your Commissioner that careful con- sideration should be given to the matter of replacement in a progressive manner.
The first step should be as recommended last year-the purchase of a Ladder Truck for the reason that the Town should have two ladder trucks, as substantiated by the survey made by the New England Insurance Exchange at the request of your Honorable Board; and, also, if the present truck is placed in reserve to answer second alarms it would be reasonable to expect it to last from five to ten years more.
You will also note that the other six machines owned by the Department cost $923.73 which is an average of but $153.95-certainly not excessive considering age of machines and size of tires.
HENRY WALTON,
Fire Commissioner
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ORGANIZATION
Fire Commissioner
Henry Walton
Chief Fire Department Albert Hiller
Deputy Chief
Clifton Hatton
Fire Department Surgeon Dr. William E. Curtin
Central Station
Capt. Everett Wood
Capt. Charles Schroeder
Capt. Fred Paty
Percy Gardner
C. Thomas Shaw
Augustus Burgess
James Farris
Peter Bibeau
Chester Wood
Arthur Caranci
Earl Alexander
Arthur Gordan
James Barlow Kenneth Hall
Percy Gunther
Call Force
Lieut. Elmer Chandler
John Sampson
Alfred Nickerson
Francis Gasper
Charles Baumgartner
Milton Howland
Charles Carr
George Banker
Arthur Lovell
Norman Holmes
Max Seiver
Leslie Gray
Hook and Ladder
Lieut. William Baker
Charles Hatton
Harold Black
Daniel Sullivan
William Sawyer
Fletcher Edes
Donald Dyer
James Leland
North Station
Capt. Guy Bunker
Lieut. Peter Bagni
Clerk William Ditmar
Walter Thom
James Berardi
Michael Maiers
Howard Kierstead
Arsene Strassel
Louis Cadorette
Russell Kierstead
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CALLS
Soot
43
Rubbish fires 6
Short circuit of Wires
6 Locked out of house 2
Grass
46
Sprinkler Alarms 2
Careless smoking
6
Children playing with matches 6
Back fire of motors
3
H-H-Inhilator
10
Over heat stove pipes
3
Wood Fires
109
Lightning
2
False Alarms
9
Overloaded electric wires
2
Cats in trees
2
Smoke in house
2
Bonfires
7
Electric flat irons
2
Roof Fires
9
Gas pump exploded
1
Oil Burners
13
Street fires
34
Incinerators
5 Gasoline fire
1
Dumps fires
16
Set on fire
12
Ashes in wooden boxes
5
Candles in window
1
Paint remover
1 Pumped out water Main
1
Ammonia leaks
3 Cellar fires
4
Automobiles
6 Reported fires
2
Month of Year
Miles
Travelled
Pump
Used
False
Alarms
H-H Inhilator
Feet of
Hose Laid
Water from
Booster Tanks
Ladders Used
No School
Signal
Alarms
Each Month
January
68.7
12
1
1
1000
285
234
. .
19
February
110.7
22
. .
3700
1875
440
. .
34
March
159.2
31
. . ·
1
5900
3250
172
. .
38
April
452.1
25
5
10550
4090
78
. .
44
May
372.1
36
. .
. .
27850
6640
650
. .
48
June
185.9
24
. .
. . ·
5950
2830
39
. .
31
July
464.3
58
1
16200
8958
190
78
August
302.3
16
1
2
2200
2420
39
. .
35
September
55.
3
. .
2
150
35
39
. .
0
October
35.
7
1
. . .
1100
818
64
. .
13
November
90.6
6
. .
1
4750
510
30
. .
16
December
75.3
00
1
2
900
235
39
. .
15
Total
2,371.1
248
9
0
80,250
32,046
2,014
..
381
.
.
. .
.
--- 149 ---
Feet of
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VALUE AND LOSSES
Value of Buildings
$597,260.00
Loss on Buildings
17,149.00
Insurance on Buildings
681,350.00
Value of Contents
374,679.00
Loss on Contents
2,886.50
Insurance on Contents
292,123.00
Total Value Involved
971,939.00
Total Loss on Value Involved
20,035.50
OUT OF TOWN CALLS
Total Number of Alarms 381
Manomet
40
Carver
1
Darby
4
Great Herring Pond
2
South Pond Village
29
Long Pond
11
Mashapee
2
Kingston
2
Ellisville
5
Wareham
2
Tremont
1
Total
99
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REPORT OF THE BOARD OF CEMETERY COMMISSIONERS
FOR THE YEAR ENDING DECEMBER 31, 1937
OAK GROVE AND VINE HILLS CEMETERIES
In our report of a year ago, we recommended an appro- priation of $500 for additional Tarvialithic surfacing on the driveway, beginning at the upper Summer Street entrance to Oak Grove Cemetery. This appropriation was made and, approximately, 730 sq. yds. of surfacing was laid. It is our opinion that during the year to come it would be advisable to connect this Tarvialithic sur- faced drive with the one coming in from Samoset Street through Vine Hills Cemetery, and we recommend an ap- propriation of $500 to complete this work.
Considerable grading by welfare labor has been done in Vine Hills Cemetery near the upper Samoset Street entrance, and about twenty lots have already been loamed with material brought from Chiltonville Cemetery. A continuation of this work during 1938 will make about twenty-five additional lots available.
CHILTONVILLE CEMETERY
In 1936, 31700 sq. ft. of land was acquired from Mrs. Henry Swift and 4,176 sq. ft. from Mr. Ralph Hornblow- er for an addition to the cemetery.
During the past year, by taking advantage of welfare labor, about 300 ft. of fence has been moved to the new northerly line of this addition and loam stripped from 600 lineal ft. of roadway in the new part. Approximately, 200 cu. yds. of loam and sod was carted to Vine Hills Cemetery and an ample quantity is piled up at Chilton- ville to take care of necessary grading on the new lots.
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Approximately, sixty new lots will be available when this work is finished.
About 200 ft. of new fence will be necessary to fence the east and west end of this new part.
During 1938, we will continue grading roadways and lots with welfare labor which is available without ex- pense to the Cemetery Department. It will, however, be necessary to hire trucks and buy gravel for the road- ways and buy lumber for the fence. Therefore, we re- commend an additional appropriation of $200.00 to be spent on further development of this area.
MANOMET CEMETERY
Several years ago, the Town purchased, approximately, three acres of land for an addition to Manomet Cemetery. A part of this area was graded and lots sold, shortly after the purchase was made, but the balance has remained undeveloped up to the present time.
Upon request of the Chairman of the Selectmen, a W.P.A. Project has been made up which contemplates clearing and grading this undeveloped area and building about 650 ft. of stone wall.
If this project is approved and carried through there would be available an area from which a sufficient num- ber of new lots could be built to supply the probable de- mand for many years to come.
BURIAL HILL
In accordance with a recommendation, made in the 1936 report of the Cemetery Commissioners, the Town increased the appropriation to be used on Burial Hill from $1,200.00 to $1,500 for 1937. This has enabled us to keep the Caretaker on duty for a longer time during the year.
Approximately $325.00 has been spent during the year on covering some of the old headstones and recutting
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inscriptions on some of the stones that had weathered, considerably.
We, recommend the following appropriations for the year 1938.
Oak Grove and Vine Hills Cemeteries $10,000.00
Oak Grove and Vine Hills Cemeteries Surfac- ing Avenue 500.00
Burial Hill Maintenance 1,500.00
Outlying Cemeteries 800.00
Chiltonville Cemetery, Extension
200.00
Respectfully submitted,
ARTHUR E. BLACKMER, Chairman.
EDWARD R. BELCHER,
RICHARD T. ELDRIDGE,
Board of Cemetery Commissioners.
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DEPARTMENT FOR THE INSPECTION OF BUILDINGS
To the Honorable Board of Selectmen :
Gentlemen :-
I herewith submit my annual report on building op- erations within the Town for the year ending December 31, 1937.
No. Kind
Est. Cost
21 One Family Dwellings
$96,400
24 Summer Camps 31,125
17 Garages
7,725
7 Other Buildings
7,750
25 Alterations and Additions-Dwellings 29,250
13 Alterations and Additions-Other Buildings 14,840
$187,090
Yours respectfully,
THOMAS A. BODELL.
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REPORT OF THE SEALER OF WEIGHTS AND MEASURES
To the Honorable Board of Selectmen:
Gentlemen :
In compliance with Chapter 98, Section 34, General Laws, Mass., I herewith submit a report for the year 1937 as Sealer of Weights and Measures. Period from January 1st to December 31, 1937.
OFFICE STANDARDS
Balance-1. Yard Measure-1. Meter-1, Kilogram-1.
Avoirdupois Weights:
50 lbs .- 1, 25-1, 20-1, 10-1, 5-1, 4-1, 2-1, 1-1; 8 oz .- 1, 4-1, 2-1, 1-1, 1/2-1, 1/4-1, 1/8-1, 1/16-1.
Capacity Measures:
1/2 bu .- 1, 1/4-1, 1/8-1, 1/16-1, 1/32-1; 1 gal .- 1, 1/2-1, 1/4-1, 1/8-1, 1/16-1, 1/32-1, 1/64-1.
STANDARDS OTHER THAN THOSE FURNISHED BY THE COMMONWEALTH
Apothecary Weights:
1 lb .- 1, 6 oz .- 1, 2-2, 1-1, 4 drams-1, 2-1, 1-1, 1/2-1, 2 scruples-1, 1-1, 10 grains-1, 5-1, 2-1, 1-2, 0.5-1, 0.2-1, 0.1-1.
Metric :
500 grm .- 1, 200-1, 100-2, 50-1, 20-1, 10-2, 5-1, 2-2, 1-1, 500 mg .- 1, 200-1, 100-2, 50-1, 20-1, 10-2, 5-1, 2-2, 1-1.
Cylindrical Glass Graduates :
32 oz .- 1, 16-1, 8-1, 4-1, 2-1; 35 cu. inch-1, 10-1, 3-1.
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SEALER'S WORKING EQUIPMENT
Test Balance 1. Test Balance for Apothecary Weights-1. Avoirdupois Weights :
50 lbs .- 21, 25-2, 20-1, 10-2, 5-2, 2-2, 1-3; 8 oz .- 2, 4-2, 2-2, 1-2, 1/2-2, 1/4-2, 1/16-1, 1/32-1.
Metric:
500 grams-1, 200-1, 100-2, 50-1, 20-1, 10-2, 5-1, 2-2, 1-1; 500 mg .- 1, 200-1, 100-2, 50-1, 20-1, 10-2.
Apothecary :
12 oz .- 1, 6-1, 2-2, 1-1; 2 drams-1, 1-1, 2 scruples-1, 1-1; 10 grain-1, 5-1, 2-1, 1-2, 0.5-1.
Capacity Measures :
1 gal .- 1, 1/2-1, 1/4-1; 1 pt .- 1, 1/2-1; 1 gill-1.
Gasoline Test Measures :
10 gal.1, 5-2, 4-2, 3-2, 2-2, 1-2.
Standard Measuring Flasks. (Metric Units) : 500 mil .- 1, 250-1, 100-1, 50-1, 25-1.
Pippettes:
6 liq. drams, graduated in minims-1; 10 mil. graduated to 1/10th-1; 30 minims graduated to minims-1.
Tools, Record Books, Etc .:
Yard measure-1; steel tape-1; steel dies-6; lead press-2; lead seals-1000; aluminum seals-500; liquid clamp-1; paper seals, red-300; green-600; nonseal labels-300; condemning tags-200; drills-2; punches-3; adjusting lead-1/2 lb .; level-1; slicker plate-1; receipt books-12; sealing record book-1; commodity reweighing record books-1; coal reweighing books-9; reweighing pads-3; inspection pads-6; ice weighing kit-1; hooks-6; point remover-1; dry measure gauge-1; 14 inch stilson wrench-1; hammers-2; screwdrivers-2; flat wrenches- 3; hand drill-1; cutters-2; pliers-1; slide rule-1; emery stone-1; vises-1; files-2; calipers-1.
Office Equipment :
All steel desk-1; fireproof files-10; Woodstock Type- writer-1; safe-1; chairs-2.
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WORK PERFORMED FOR WHICH FEES ARE COLLECTED
DEVICE
Legal Fees
Tested
Adjusted
Scaled
Not Sealed
Condemned
Total Fees
Scales:
Platform over 10,000 lbs.
$2.00
7
7
. .
$14.00
Platform over 5,000 lbs.
1.00
12
2
12
3
12.00
Platform 100 to 5,000 lbs.
.50
178
40
175
45
3
87.50
Counter under 100 lbs.
.10
52
4
51
31
1
5.10
Beam 100 lbs. or Over
.50
8
1
8
4.00
Beam under 100 lbs.
.10
16
1
15
7
1
1.50
Spring 100 lbs. or Over
.50
47
27
20
13.50
Spring under 100 lbs.
.10
154
43
144
2
10
14.40
Computing 100 lbs. or Over
.50
3
3
1.50
Computing under 100 lbs.
.10
120
48
106
14
10.60
Personal Weighing
.50
19
6
16
3
8.00
Prescription
.10
9
1
9
.90
Jewelers'
10
2
2
.20
Weights:
Avoirdupois
.03
862
10
859
3 25.77
Apothecary
.03
103
103
3.09
Metric
.03
40
40
1.20
Troy
.03
36
36
1.08
Capacity Measures:
Vehicle Tanks
X
6
2
6
25.50
Liquid Measures under 1 gal. . 03
255
254
1
7.62
Liquid Measures over 1 gal.
.10
6
6
.60
Dry Measures
.03
33
32
1
.96
Oil Jars
.03
12
12
.36
Automatic Measuring Devices:
Gasoline Pumps
x
48
39
2
9
Gasoline Meters, up to 1 inch .50
106
16
106
53.00
Gasoline Meters over 1 inch 1.00
31
4
31
31.00
Kerosene Pumps
X
46
46
Oil Measuring Pumps
X
37
37
141
Grease Measuring Devices
X
21
2
21
3
Quantity Measures on Pumps .10
416
68
416
41.60
Linear Measures:
Yard Sticks
.03
57
56
1 1.68
Cloth Measuring Devices
.03
1
1
.03
Adjusting Charges
27.35
Totals
2743
248
2676
228
67 $394.04
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WORK PERFORMED WHICH PERMITS NO FEES SUMMARY OF INSPECTIONS
Clinical Thermometers 39 Milk Jars 3
Coal Certicates
9 Pedlers' Licenses 162
Ice Scales
11 Pedlers' Scales 35
Junk Scales
4 Transient Vendors
5
Marking of Bread
14 Wholesale Milk Cans Cranberry Dealers
32
Packages
71 Oil Jars 33
Metal Ice Cream
Glass Graduates 50
Containers
16
Miscellaneous 10
Paper or Fibre Cartons 14
SUMMARY OF TESTS
Berry Baskets
2
Manufacturers Sealed
Gasoline Devices
7 Milk Jars 3
Ice Cream Cartons
9
Cranberry Boxes 258
Cartons Approved
Oil Jars 33
Measures
5
TRIAL WEIGHING AND MEASUREMENTS OF COMMODITIES SOLD OR PUT UP FOR SALE
Item
Total Number Tested
Correct
Under
Over
Bread
96
24
12
60
Butter
19
7
12
Charcoal
4
4
Coal in Transit
9
3
3
3
Coal in Paper Bags
24
6
2
16
Confectionery
3
3
Dry Commodity
38
2
18
18
Flour
22
7
6
9
Fruits and Vegetables
126
7
23
96
Liquid Commodity
1
1
Meats and. Provisions
40
3
5
32
Wood,Cord
5
4
1
Miscellaneous
11
6
5
Totals
398
74
74
250
4
Marking of Food
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EXPENDITURES FOR 1937
Appropriation for 1937
$1,852.00
Transfer from Reserve
$131.11
Salary of Sealer
1,365.00
Equipment
63.46
Printing
7.00
Auto Maintenance
502.58
Telephone
44.69
Total
1,982.73
Balance to Excess
$ .38
Respectfully submitted,
DANIEL J. SULLIVAN,
Sealer
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REPORT OF THE MEASURER OF WOOD AND BARK FOR 1937
To the Honorable Board of Selectmen:
In compliance with Chapter 94, Section 296, General Laws, Mass., I herewith submit a Report of the Measurer of Wood and Bark for the year 1937.
WOOD
Mar. 22-Four-foot, oak, one test, correct.
Mar. 23-Eight-foot, slabs, one test, over.
Apr. 15-Four-foot, oak, one test, correct.
Nov. 3-Stove, oak, one test, correct.
Dec. 10-Stove, oak, one test, correct.
Totals: Five tests, four correct, one over.
CONVEYANCES AND CONTAINERS
Jan. 13-Truck, one test, correct.
Jan. 22-Truck, one test, correct. Totals: Two tests, two correct.
Respectfully submitted,
DANIEL J. SULLIVAN
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REPORT OF HARBOR MASTER
To the Honorable Board of Selectmen:
Gentlemen :
About the same number of yachts visited Plymouth Harbor during the summer of 1937 as usual. On October 1st the State Pier was opened for the unloading of fish and many vessels came here to unload. During the sum- mer the Town Wharf was very busy unloading fish from local and out of town boats. The basin around the Town Wharf is badly in need of dredging and I recommend that the Town appropriate money for that purpose.
The government engineers surveyed for a basin at the east end of south channel of a thousand yard square and gave a favorable report.
Fees taken in at Town Wharf $351.06.
ELMER P. BOUTIN,
Harbor Master
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GYPSY AND BROWN TAIL MOTH ACCOUNT
To the Honorable Board of Selectmen:
A great deal of spraying was done during the spray- ing season of 1937, about forty miles of roads being kept green and in good condition. Creosoting was carried on as usual. Gypsy Moths were very plentiful, as the wind was in their favor when they were in the "spinning" stage, bringing them back from the woods. However, no damage reported. The Brown-tail Moth situation is very good; finding less each year.
The State is now compelling the Towns to take care of Tent Caterpillars as well as Gypsy and Brown-tail Moth. The Moth Department sprayers also are obliged to answer forest fire calls, which will undoubtedly prove a saving to the Town. Owing to the addition of these two new duties, more money will be required, therefore I recommend an appropriation of $6000. for labor and supplies for 1938.
Respectfully submitted,
ABBOTT A. RAYMOND,
Superintendent
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TREE WARDEN ACCOUNT
To the Honorable Board of Selectmen:
During 1937, all street trees were sprayed for Elm Beetle, Canker Worms, Satin Moth, Tussock Moth, Gypsy and Brown-tail Moth and several other pests that eat the first green leaves.
Several trees were planted in different parts of the Town, all trees coming from the Town Nursery.
No Dutch Elm Disease has been found in Town to date. During 1935 and 1936 this Department had an extra appropriation of $500. each year to get our elms in condition to meet this disease by cutting out dead limbs and cutting down "sick" trees. I think it is safe now for the Department to get back to its normal appro- priation of $3000. for labor and supplies for 1938.
Respectfully submitted,
ABBOTT A. RAYMOND,
Tree Warden
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REPORT OF FOREST WARDEN
To the Honourable Board of Selectmen, Plymouth, Mass.
Gentlemen :-
The following is my report as Forest Warden for Plymouth for 1937. I was appointed on February 9th and took office on the 10th. My first fire was on Febru- ary 19th. Owing to the absence of snow in the winter of 1936-1937, the woods were at all times very dry, in fact we had fires start the day after a heavy rain, so we had many more fires than usual. I am sorry to state that we had a fire bug or fire bugs working nearly all summer and I would say that 95 per cent of our fires were incen- diary. In one week, we had 13 incendiary fires and it seemed utterly impossible to catch him, or in fact to see him. He was seen on two occasions, but too far away to be apprehended.
The first major fire was at Herring Pond, when a fire came over our line from Bourne and burned about 300 acres. There were a few minor fires from that time until May 4th, when the Pine Hills fire started. This was un- doubtedly of incendiary origin as State Fire Patrolman Terry saw two wreaths of smoke start at the same time near the Mast Road, in the Symington Game Preserve. We apparently had the fire burning into a backfire pocket when the wind changed suddenly and swept it across the Sandwich Road. Owing to the sudden change of wind, two of my fire fighters, James H. Devitt, aged 20 years, and Herbert R. Benton, aged 38, were trapped on this road and lost their lives. As far as I know, this is the first time that lives were lost in Plymouth fighting forest fires. It was a most deplorable thing, and the sympathy
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of the entire town went out to their families. There were many more men on this road who barely escaped, some being quite badly burned. While this fire was go- ing, another fire started on the Island Pond Road and another at Summer Street in Plymouth, making three major fires going at the same time. Help from all towns was called in within a radius of 20 miles and, believe me, we needed them. I wish here to publicly thank all towns who sent apparatus to help, for without them, the loss would have been much greater. We had about 700 men fighting at these fires. Out of an assessed valuation of over a million dollars that was endangered by these fires, the loss to buildings was only $1200.00, assessed valuation. Particularly good work was done by the Plymouth Fire Department in saving all the cot- tages at Priscilla Beach as in many cases the fire burned under the cottages, yet the Central Department saved them. Too much praise cannot be given them for this work. The fire at Island Pond road on the same date, swept out to within one block of the State Road below Fresh Pond, endangering the whole summer colony of Indian Bluffs and the Cedar Bushes. We were fortunate enough to stop it at the Ponds Road by backfiring nearly a mile. The following day, another started just north of this one and we had a severe fight to keep this one back from the State Road. We had four major fires in two days, more than we usually get in five years. After this the incendiary fires started in the Cook's Pond area, around the Town Forest. They were all of a minor na- ture, and quickly taken care of by the Plymouth Fire Department, yet they made a lot of bother for all con- cerned.
My department was badly hampered by lack of fire trucks. I had but one, and that one ten years old, so I had to depend largely on the Plymouth Fire Department to take care of my fires, which it should not be bothered to do. I need two trucks, one to cover the north end of the town and be stationed in Plymouth and one to cover
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the south end and to be stationed at one of the villages in the south or westerly end of the town. By having apparatus scattered it would tend to greater efficiency as one piece of apparatus would be nearer the fire and a few minutes at the beginning means hours later on. I have a fair amount of extinguishers, distributed among my deputies from Buzzards Bay to Clear Pond in Plym- outh. About every village has wardens and extinguish- ers. I have eighteen deputy wardens and fire patrol- men. Many of these men were trained under Mr. Ira Ward, during his period as Forest Warden, and are very efficient.
I have four fire patrolmen who patrol all the more travelled roads in the township on Sundays and holi- days and as other need may arise. While they have found but very few fires actually started, they have warned many tourists who were preparing to light a fire, and have, in a gentlemanly way, warned picknickers about the danger of setting fires and throwing away lighted matches or cigar or cigarette butts. I think from an economic standpoint they have paid their way.
My appropriation of $2500.00 this year was far below what I had to spend. I wound up the year with a deficit of three thousand and fifty-three dollars and two cents. Out of my appropriation I purchased nearly three hun- dred dollars worth of new equipment but the many fires we had and the amount of men I had to pay to fight these fires, accounts for the deficit.
In closing I wish to thank all towns who sent help when we so bady needed it. I also wish to thank Charles Cherry of the Myles Standish State Forest and William Day, County Forester of Wareham for the good work they did at all major fires. And my greatest thanks to the Plymouth Fire Department who were on the job every minute when there was a forest fire. I have had nothing but the best cooperation and help from them at all times. My best thanks to Commissioner Walton,
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Chief Hiller, Assistant Chief Hatton and all the person- nel of the department who were only too willing to help a new man on a difficult job.
Very truly yours, JAMES S. A. VALLER, Forest Warden.
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REPORT OF TOWN FOREST COMMITTEE
To the Honorable Board of Selectmen we respectfully submit the following report:
TOWN FOREST
For Purchase of Land:
Balance from 1935
$45.00
No Payments
TOWN FOREST
Reforesting and Improvements : Appropriation
$900.00
Payments :
Labor
$828.75
Telephone
59.31
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The year 1937 will long be remembered by forest lovers due to the frequency and severity of its forest fires. The terrible conflagration which burned through the Symington Estate causing the death of two men and the destruction of one of the most beautiful tracts of forest in the State was the worst we have experienced for many years.
Our forest tower certainly proved its value during this year. Our watchman reported twenty-four fires be- tween April 14th and June 22nd while the tower was maintained by the State, and ten fires between June 24th and August 20th when the expenses were borne by the Forest Fire and Town Forest Departments.
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Four fires were extinguished by Town Forest depart- ment members on land adjacent to the Town Forest be- fore the tower was opened in April, making a total of thirty-eight forest fires during the danger period of this year.
Much credit is due to our alert watchman and to the promptness of the Forest Fire Department in respond- ing to his calls, as most of the fires were quickly located and extinguished before much damage was done. It is impossible to locate fires with any degree of accuracy from a single tower, and much delay is occasioned when our tower is not in operation, as it is then necessary for the watchman in the Kingston tower to wait until a fire becomes large enough to be seen from another tower at a greater distance to get the cross sighting which is necessary for an accurate determination of its location. The Myles Standish Reservation tower has assisted on these occasions.
Only one fire occurred on the Town Forest. This one started in August on privately owned land and crossed a road into our Forest. It did not burn far, however, be- fore reaching a ploughed fire guard, and was then easily brought under control, no more than an acre of woodland being burned over. Our insistence on a seasonal main- tainance of these fire guards is thus strongly vindicated.
In our opinion greater efficiency would result if the Forest Fire Warden had the use of a reliable fire truck, and greater economy would maintain if it were stationed nearer the center of the Town.
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