USA > Massachusetts > Bristol County > Fairhaven > Town annual report of the offices of Fairhaven, Massachusetts 1913 > Part 4
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Repairs to the oil engine have been somewhat extensive and expensive. In justice to the builders it must be allowed that the engine has at times been heavily overloaded.
The removal of the objectionable features of the exhaust we believe to have been finally accomplished.
The upright boiler purchased and installed in January, 1913, has given satisfactory service, but the Commissioners would remind the citizens that then, as now. they regarded this boiler as only a temporary makeshift. and the station must soon have increased power capacity.
As opportunity has offered, the Board has at small or no expense, secured data bearing on a revision of the system as directed by previous votes of the town.
The Board has received petitions for the following sewers and submits herewith its estimates of the appropriation re- quired for construction in each case.
(1) In Main street from Howland road to Oxford school. 350-375 feet, $600.
(2) In Bridge street, from the present terminus, east of Almy street to crest of hill, 350-375 feet. $600.
(3) In Spring street, from Adams street, easterly 800-850 feet, $950.
(4) In Center. Summer and Hitch streets, 1400-1600 feet, $1,700.
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In regard to this last sewer, the Board would say that it must be an extension of the Shone system and it would seem wise to investigate whether some sewers already con- nected with the Shone system cannot be diverted into an existing gravity system. There is no question that this section needs and deserves some means of sewerage.
We would ask for $4,300; $200 less than last year.
Respectfully submitted,
JOHN A. W. BURGESS, Chairman, NORMAN M. PAULL, G. W. VALENTINE,
Sewer Commissioners.
REPORT
OF THE
.
BOARD OF HEALTH.
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BOARD OF HEALTH REPORT.
TO THE CITIZENS OF FAIRHAVEN :-
The Board of Health respectfully submits its annual report for the year 1913:
An annual report of a department as important as that of health is to a community, might well be more than just a mere statement of the amount of routine work done during a period of 12 months. It should be a medium through which the various subjects pertaining to the public health could be discussed and thus brought to the attention of the voters and others who make a practice of carefully reviewing the annual report to become informed of the state of its civic activities.
The work of a health department differs in many ways from that of any of the other phases of town administration, and probably the average citizen has little real knowledge as to the extent and variety of work which an active board of health has to supervise. Among the many departments en- trusted to the care of the Board of Health, may be mentioned Infectious Diseases, Placarding Houses, Fumigating, Garb- age Collection, Milk Production and Distribution, Inspection of Meat and Provisions, Sanitary Housing of Swine, Regula- tion of Stables, Sanitary Disposal of all Waste and Refuse, Financial Responsibility of all Infectious Disease, Settlement Claims by other towns and Cities against legal residents of the town, etc.
Meetings have been held twice a month, and many times it has been necessary to hold conferences between the regular meetings, especially during the smallpox invasion in March and again in September. In March, after a joint meeting of the School Committee and Board of Health, the schools of
S5
the town were closed for two weeks, which we think was a wise plan. We were subjected to some criticism, but when one considers that the safest move is the best move for all concerned, we think we were justified in taking the action. We were fortunate in only having one case develop at this time. In September the disease broke out again at the north of the town, and we confined the disease to two houses and practically one family. All the children of parochial schools that were not vaccinated were vaccinated, and the value of vaccination is readily shown, when we can say that in the house where they had smallpox the children whom we had recently vaccinated did not contract the disease.
The expense incurred to the town by these contagious diseases is not an inconsiderable item. We think it wise to explain what out of town settlement claims mean, and claims allowed to people in quarantine, viz .: The statutes provide that a person taken ill with an infectious disease in a com- munity and unable to meet the necessary expenses, such charges can be collected from the town in which he or the responsible head of the family paid a poll tax for three previous years. Resident wage-earners held in quarantine shall receive compensation to the extent of three-fourths of his regular wages; provided, however, that the amount so received shall not exceed two dollars for each working day.
In our town system accounting, such items are charged directly to the Board of Health account, which would make it appear as if we overdrew our appropriation. It would seem wise to have a contingent fund available to take care of these and other emergency charges and not have to take the amount from the board's regular account.
Communicable Diseases.
Following is a list of the number of communicable diseases during the year :
14 cases of diphtheria, one of these proved fatal ; 6 small- pox, 13 scarlet fever, 12 measles, 9 varicella, 1 typhoid, 8
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tuberculosis, 3 ophthalmia neanatorum, 1 infantile paralysis.
During the year the schools have been fumigated as often as deemed necessary, and in October the annex was closed for a day to allow thorough fumigating and the washing of all desks and chairs with corrosive sublimate solution. By this precaution we think we prevented the spread of the disease.
A case of opthalmia neanatorum was reported to the board, which needed immediate attention and through the kindness of the Fairhaven Benevolent Society furnishing the money necessary for the board to procure a nurse to take the child to the Boston Eye & Ear Infirmary, the eyes of the child were saved.
Meat Inspection.
The statutes require local Boards of Health to nominate an inspector of meat, such nomination to be confirmed by the State Board of Health. Matthew J. Curran, M. D. V., was nominated and approved by the State Board of Health. One slaughter house license was granted after the owner of which agreed to pay the town ten cents per head in- spected, for animals coming from out of town. The sum of $40.20 was realized from this source in eight months. Fol- lowing is report of Matthew J. Curran, M. D. V .:
Cattle, 324-18 condemned generalized tuberculosis
Hogs, 63- 3 condemned generalized tuberculosis
Calves, 634-27 calves immature
Sheep, 30- 2 lymphadinitis
Total,
1,351-50 condemned
All condemned animals were sent to the rendering factory. Fairhaven is in a healthy condition in regarding live stock. There have been but very few cases of tuberculosis in the stock examined by me.
There was one case of glanders during the year, this case
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was properly taken care of by the State Bureau of Animal Industry and myself. This report is taken for the year end- ing Jan. 30, 1914.
Respectfully submitted, DR. M. J. CURRAN. Inspector of Slaughtered Animals.
The garbage collection has not caused the board as much trouble as in years before and we would suggest that the citizens read the rules and regulations adopted by the Board and published in The Star, at the beginning of the official year to aid in the further betterment of existing conditions.
This Board recognizes the importance of quick and thorough removal of all forms of organic and vegetable waste from dwellings, but if the town people are not willing to co-operate with the board in complying with the regula- tions, the tax payers must be prepared to provide a larger sum by which all this refuse can be collected and disposed of by cremation or other efficient means.
Much important work that the Board might do is pre- vented on account of the lack of funds. The town is rapidly growing and the demands are consequently increasing.
Means directed toward the preservation of health costs money like everything else and as soon as people realize how much it pays to be healthy the funds should then be forth- coming.
The Board respectfully asks for an appropriation of $1,000.00 for the ensuing year.
JOSEPH B PECK, Chairman.
BERTHA F. CARL FROMMELL, Secretary.
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ALMSHOUSE REPORT.
Overseers of Poor and Citizens of Fairhaven : :-
Gentlemen :- I hereby offer to you my report for the year 1913. We have eight inmates at the present time, four men and four women.
Those who are able, willingly help with the work. Most of them seem to appreciate the home and alt that the town does for them. They request me to thank all who help and make the holidays so pleasant for them, by their many gifts.
I would like to express apprecation to those who con- tributed apples to us. A good many of them were canned up for the winter. Improvements for the year consist of all rooms on male and female side, including corridors, having walls painted 3 coats, ceilings whitened, and all the wood work varnished.
The cost of this work was slight, as we did, with the help of some of the inmates, all painting, varnishing and whiten- ing. Included with this work was the whitening of matron's sitting room, men's sitting room, women's sitting room, both dining rooms. The walls of matron's dining room were also painted.
While the residents of the town, at least some, take an interest in the place, we would be pleased could more of thent find time to call to see us all. Thanking the Board for all their thoughtfulness of us,
I remain sincerely,
J. L. ELDRIDGE.
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TREE WARDEN'S REPORT.
TO THE CITIZENS OF FAIRHAVEN :-
The Tree Warden herewith respectfully submits his an- nual report for the year of 1913.
The spraying of the public shade-trees was thorough and successful, and I think practically under control. But I think it must be continued from year to year to preserve the trees from attacks of the different insects.
From year to year the old trees will have to be removed, as they are fast dying off, but no more than we must ex- pect. Some citizens have felt that the trees were all dying from gas-poisoning, but I think that it is not so. The re- moval of thirty-two dead trees showed, after close examina- tion, that gas-poisoning was the cause of death in only two case, more harm being done in the laying of the gas-pipes, cutting the roots of the trees.
Few complaints have been received about the trees being injured by children and horses.
Through the generosity of the Improvement Association seventy-five young maple trees have been planted, and on each tree a stake and protector has been placed. It is of no use to plant a young tree and not protect it. The Improve- ment Association has also protected one hundred trees which were planted last year.
The trees of the town are one of its most valauble assets and in order to preserve the beauty of the streets we must keep on taking down and replanting, that the younger gen- eration may enjoy what we are enjoying today, the beautiful shady arched streets.
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The Tree Warden respectfully recommends that the sum of $1,200.00 be appropriated to accomplish and continue the work of maintenance and preservation.
Respectfullly submitted,
PETER MURRAY, Tree Warden.
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AUDITORS' REPORT.
Fairhaven, Mass., February , 1914.
We hereby certify that we have examined the accounts of the Tax Collector, Treasurer, Selectmen, Overseers of the Poor and the School Committee, of the Town of Fairhaven, for the year ending Jan. 31, 1914, and believe them correct.
NATHANIEL POPE, CHARLES E. SHURTLEFF, Auditors.
احد
-
SCHOOL DEPARTMENT REPORT
-
1914
Fairhaven, Massachusetts
2
In School Committee, Feb. 6, 1914.
Voted :- That the Report of the Superintendent of Schools be accepted and printed as the Report of the School Com- mittee.
Voted :- That the Committee ask for an appropriation of $20,000 for the ensuing year.
T. A. TRIPP, D. W. DEANE, D. W. KENDRICK, LEWIS E. BENTLEY, ALTON B. PAULL, LYMAN C. BAULDRY.
3
SCHOOL COMMITTEE.
DANIEL W. KENDRICK,
Term expires 1914
DANIEL W. DEAN,
Term expires 1914
THOMAS A. TRIPP,
Term expires 1915
LEWIS E. BENTLEY,
Term expires 1915
LYMAN C. BAULDRY,
Term expires 1916
ALTON B. PAULL,
Term expires 1916
Chairman, THOMAS A. TRIPP.
.
Secretary and Superintendent, CHARLES F. PRIOR.
Superintendent's Office Hours :
Town Hall : 8.15-9.00 A. M .- Monday, Wednesday, Friday. 4.00-5.00 P. M .- Every school day unless absent on special business.
High School : 9.30-10.00 A. M -Monday.
Regularly out of town : In Mattapoisett a part of Tuesday. In Acushnet a part of Thursday.
Telephone call at Town Hall, Fairhaven, 3891.
Telephone call at residence on Adams street, 3713-W.
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SCHOOL CALENDAR.
-
Tuesday, Dec. 30 (1913) Friday, Feb. 20.
Schools re-open
Schools close. Mid-winter vacation
Monday, March 2. Schools re-open Monday, April 20. Patriots'Day (Apr. 19) Legal holiday
Friday, April 24.
Schools close. Spring vacation Schools re-open
Monday, May 4. Friday, June 26.
Schools close.
Summer vacation Schools re-open
Tuesday, Sept. 8.
Monday, Oct. 12.
Columbus Day. Legal holiday
Wednesday, Nov. 25.
Schools close. Thanksgiving recess (noon)
Monday, Nov. 30. Friday, Dec. 18.
Schools re-open
Schools close.
Christmas vacation Schools re-open
Tuesday, Dec. 29.
5
No School Signals.
For the benefit of those who have difficulty in remember- ing the significance of the school signals, the following is submitted for reference :
The signal at 8.00 a. m. indicates no school for grades one to four, inclusive.
The signal at 8.15 indicates no school for all grades.
The signal at 12.30 noon indicates no school for grades one to four, inclusive.
The signal at 12.45 noon indicates no school for all grades.
Notes.
Schools are often in session when weather conditions make it unfit for some children to attend, in which case parents must make their own decisions. At such times the schools are available for those pupils who wish to attend.
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REPORT OF SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS.
To the School Committee of Fairhaven, Mass.
Gentlemen :- Herewith is submitted my second annual re- port, the seventeenth in the series of superintendent's re- ports since the formation of the union with Acushnet and Mattapoisett.
Attendance.
The total membership of your schools for the year end- ing in June, 1913 was 1,005, i.e.,-that number of different pupils enrolled during the year. The average membership was 870; the average attendance, 816; the percentage of attendance, 93.8.
The membership of your schools on January 1, 1914 was 985; at the same time last year it was 889. The school census taken in September, 1912, gave the number of chil- dren between the ages of 5 and 15 as 1,003; the census of September, 1913, gives 1,104 children between the same age limits. Census returns and school enrolment indicate an appreciable increase in the school population during the year.
It may be of interest to compare the number of children in the last school census with that of ten and five years ago, respectively.
1903 1908 1913
No. children between ages of 5 and 15 771 941 1104
Increase in 10 years, 333.
Increase in 5 years, 163.
The actual membership of your schools on January 15, 1914, was distributed as follows :
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Grade I,
142
Grade II,
109
Grade III,
99
Grade IV,
98
448
Grade V,
90
Grade VI,
78
Grade VII,
75
Grade VIII,
51
Grade IX,
59
353
High School Freshmen,
64
Sophomores,
46
Juniors,
26
66
Seniors,
39
66
Post Graduates,
1
176
Total, 977
The following table compares the census returns and the facts of school enrollment relating to children compelled by law to attend school. The high school is not included.
Number of children in town between the ages of 7 and 14, as shown by the census of September, 1913 ...... 748 Number of pupils between 7 and 14 enrolled in public schools on January 1, 1914. .630
Number of pupils between 7 and 14 enrolled in parochial schools on January 1, 1914 185
815
New Child Labor Law.
The principal provisions of the new child labor law are included in this report, in order that parents may have them at hand for reference. The law became effective September first, and was retroactive in its provisions relating to employ-
8
ment certificates. The invalidation of previous certificates of all kinds brought to the school office a considerable in- crease of work. Three hundred and fifty-one certificates have been issued since September twenty-fourth. Fifty-one of these were to minors between the ages of fourteen and six- teen. There is a noticeable increase in the demand for this last named certificate. It -is probable that the eight-hour provision of the law will tend to keep more children in school between these age limits. The enrollment this year shows the presence in the grades of eighty-three pupils over four- teen, as compared with forty-three one year ago.
Some Provisions of the Law.
I. No permit to work shall be given a child under sixteen unless he has completed the fourth grade.
II. A child on becoming fourteen cannot be granted a certificate unless he has attended school 130 days in the previous year.
III. Children between fourteen and sixteen not employed at least six hours a day must be in school. Children in these age limits cannot be employed more than eight hours a day.
IV. Parents wishing their children to leave school be- tween the ages of fourteen and sixteen to work at home must get a special permit.
V. Every person under twenty-one must have a certificate of some kind in order to be legally employed.
VI. A birth certificate or some official record of age re- places the sworn statement of the parent or guardian.
School Accommodations.
The increased membership of grade nine has necessitated the use of the remaining room at the Old High building. This leaves us without a spare room in our school buildings. If another year brings an equal increase of pupils to our
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system we shall be unable to house them. The situation in respect to school accommodations is, therefore, at a critical stage and it will not be wise policy to wait until the crisis confronts us.
Last year at this time there were 132 pupils enrolled at the Oxford school and about forty were being conveyed to the Rogers school ; there are now one hundred and sixty pupils in attendance at Oxford while the same number as last year are being carried to the Center. Apart from the dissatis- faction of parents arising from the necessity of conveying their children to the Rogers school, there are strong reasons for the provision at an early date of additional rooms at Oxford. The present arrangement of conveying the fourth, seventh and eight grades cause too large an enrollment in these grades at the Rogers school to enable satisfactory re- sults to be obtained. One seventh grade there has 51 pupils, altogether too many for one teacher, and in addition there is an overflow of 23 pupils which is taught in a school of two grades and 44 pupils. The eighth grade has enrolled 59 different pupils during the year and has had an average membership of more than 50. The teacher of this grade is Principal of the Rogers school and Annex, and, though an assistant is furnished her, inadequate time is given for the effective teaching this school needs and for attention to the administrative duties of her position. At Oxford three of four schools have two grades to a teacher. This, with the large enrollment, would tend to produce inferior results any- where but is peculiarly unfortunate in a school which has an unusually large percentage of non-English speaking children who require a degree of individual attention in order to succeed. The first grade at Oxford has 47 pupils.
The maintenance of conditions for efficient school work requires additional school accommodations. This consider- ation alone is sufficient reason for early action by the town. The fact that the time is apparently at hand when we shall not be able to provide even seating space for all pupils should result in the immediate beginning of preparation for it.
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Course of Study.
The revision of the course of study, begun last year, has been continued. Detailed outlines of the work in English and spelling have been furnished each school. New text books in each of these subjects have been purchased during the year. A compilation of directions for teaching primary reading has been furnished grades one and two. A course of study in arithmetic is in preparation and will be placed in the hands of teachers by the beginning of another term. It is planned to complete a revision of the geography outline before the year closes. 1
School Exhibit.
An exhibit of school work was held in June. Specimens of the written work in all subjects, of drawing, of manual training, including woodworking, sewing, cooking, basketry, printing and book-binding were shown. The attendance of parents and citizens was large but not so large as it should have been. The expressions of pleasure and pride in the exhibit on the part of those who saw it were genuine and deserved. If citizens knew the labor involved in preparing for such an exhibit and appreciated the satisfaction and inspiration derived by teachers and pupils from their atten- dance and interest, I feel sure more effort would be made by them to attend. The manual training exhibit was especi- ally good, both because of the range of activities covered and on account of the superiority of workmanship manifested. Basketry from the fifth and sixth grades of the Rogers school made its initial appearance at an exhibit and was highly praised. Articles made by the seventh, eighth and ninth grade classes in woodworking were much admired. The exhibit of work done by the cooking classes elicited very favorable comment. The book-binding of grades five and six at the Oxford school deserved the attention it attracted. The chair caning, sewing and printing, each received a share
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of attention. It would be difficult to find in a town approxi- mating the size of Fairhaven a better display of the manual activities which have come in recent years to play so im- portant a part in school work. The exhibit of conventional lines of school work was also excellent. Especial mention should be made of the noticeable improvement in the pen- manship of pupils.
High School.
The total enrollment in the High school this year is 187, as against 176 last year. The membership from Fairhaven has slightly decreased.
In August Paul M. Macklin resigned as submaster to be- come principal of the high school in Grafton, Mass .; his position was filled by the election of Charles H. Woodbury of Dover, Mass. One teacher has been added to the corps since the last report, an assistant in the domestic science de- partment. The necessity for this arose from the increasing labor and responsibility involved in the management of the lunch room. The employment of a trained assistant has re- lieved the head of the department of a degree of responsi- bility, enabling her to give needed time and strength to her teaching duties, and, at the same time, the school has profited by the introduction of a more extensive course in sewing, of which department the assistant is in charge.
The course in printing has made progress since the last report. During July and August your instructor attended the School of Printing conducted by the Typographical Board of Trade of Boston, and fitted himself for more effective work. In September a Golding press of the latest type was installed. The school was thus equipped to give an excellent course, and the only unsatisfactory element in the situation has been the necessity of refusing the course to applicants because of lack of room. In September, twenty-three pupils requested to take printing, and fourteen were all that could be accommo- dated. As stated in a previous report, I believe the course
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has unexcelled possibilities of helpful correlation with other subjects of high school instruction, and, in addition, has values in connection with vocational education. I would suggest that the large, well-lighted room on the west side of the building, now used for storage purposes, be fitted up to enable the extension of this department.
Special events like the senior play, the gymnasium exhibit, the musical entertainment by the pupils, and the graduation exercises bring to the high school large numbers of parents and citizens. Their presence at such functions is a source of satisfaction and encouragement to pupils and teachers, but it is, after all, only a poor substitute for the more intimate acquaintance with the school life to be secured by visits while classes are in session. I feel that pupils, teachers and the citizens themselves would be benefited by closer contact. Interest by parents and citizens would arouse pupils to greater effort; acquaintance of parents and teachers would lead to a better understanding of the young people as pupils; knowledge of the school life gained by visitation would result in a more intelligent appreciation of what this high school is trying to do and is capable of doing for the young people entrusted to it. To advocate that parents and citizens visit school is, I am perfectly aware, trite and conventional, but the greater the opportunities of education, the greater re- sponsibility attaches to making the most of them: Fairhaven parents and citizens have a large responsibility to meet in connection with the High school.
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