USA > Massachusetts > Bristol County > Fairhaven > Town annual report of the offices of Fairhaven, Massachusetts 1915 > Part 3
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Invested March 13, 1914, $10,000.00 in New England Telephone and Telegraph Co., 5% Gold Bonds at a cost of $10,108.75.
Deposited May 12, 1914, in Citizens' Savings Bank of Fall River, $5,000.00.
Deposited May 12, 1914, in Union Savings Bank of Fall River, $5,000.
Invested Nov. 18, 1914, $3,000 in Automatic Telephone Co. of New Bedford first mortgage 5% bonds at a cost of $2,850.
Deposited December 21, 1914, $635, balance of Trust Fund in Fairhaven Institution for Savings.
Income received from Trust Fund to Dec., 24, 1915, $4422.91
At the special town meeting held April 28, 1913, the citi- zens voted to approve the action of the selectmen in accepting from the Executors of the will of Sarah C. Anthony, ten thous- and [$10,000.] dollars, bequeathed by her to the town of Fair- haven, in trust, to be held as a permanent fund, in memory of her late husband, Edmund Anthony Jr., the income thereof to be devoted to educational purposes, in such manner as the school committee may from time to time determine.
Income received from trust funds year 1915 -- $400.00
The selectmen call the attention of the Citizens and tax- payers of the town to the financial condition of the town, es- pecially at the present time. As our town debt is increasing and about up to the debt limit and with this increase our debt and interest account must increase each year, all of which are fixed charges against the town and must be paid when due. And as the State Taxes are increasing more than any other taxes we have to meet haveing increased from $5132 -- in 1910 to $10045.91 -- in 1915 and the passing of laws by the State Legislature making the town liable for the support of an in- creasing number which formerly were self supporting and could now but are not allowed to owing to the age limits laws., and
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pension acts passed for parents and widows support, the Board most earnestly request the Citizens to investigate the question and act upon same as a business matter.
As part of the requirements of the town for the coming year we report the following for debt and interest.
Sewer bond, due October 1, 1916, $ 5500.00
Bridge bond, due November 1, 1916
1000.00
N. B. and Fairhaven Bridge note, 2000.00
Rogers School, heating apparatus note,
1000.00
Howland road sewer note,
500.00
Motor chemical wagon note,
560.00
Bridge maintenance note,
400.00
Southeast sewer note,
500.00
Oxford sewer note,
300.00
Howland road sewer note,
300.00
Wood, Buttonwood and Taber street notes,
100.00
N. B. and Fairhaven Bridge note,
1100.00
Refunding note,
400.00
Oxford Schoolhouse note,
1400.00
Coggeshall Street Bridge note,
1370.00
Refunding note,
650.00
Fort street extension note,
300.00
Green and Watson Street sewer note,
500.00
Refunding note,
400.00
$18280.00
Interest on bridge bonds,
$1320.00
Interest on Sewer bonds,
440.00
Interest on Notes,
3648.20
Interest on temporary loans,
775.00
6183.20
$24463.20
Credit by refunding loan,
4000.00
$20463.20
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We respectfully submit the following estimates for appro- priations as asked for to maintain the various departments for the ensuing year.
Debt and interest,
$21000.00
Sewer department,
5000.00
Poor department,
3000.00
Fire department,
3000.00
Fire alarm,
150.00
Highway department,
3000.00
Hydrants,
2500.00
Police department,
1100.00
Town Hall,
1700.00
Salaries,
3900.00
Street lights,
2700.00
Park department,
1500.00
Incidental account,
4500.00
Tree department,
1200.00
Board of Health,
1700.00
Shell fish commission,
500.00
Mothers Aid,
800.00
Industrial school,
400.00
N. B. and Fairhaven Bridge,
2290.75
Coggeshall street Bridge,
101.62
$60042.37
Respectfully submitted,
CHARLES P. MAXFIELD,
LEWIS E. BENTLEY, JOHN I. BRYANT
Selectmen of Fairhaven,
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REPORT OF HIGHWAY DEPARTMENT.
Charles P. Maxfield acted as Superintendent of Streets and as Foreman the current year. All bills for current expenses of the Highway Department were paid when they were present- ed, leaving a balance to the credit of the department,
The Street Department have given more than usual atten- tion this year, in keeping the streets clean and tidy. The expense of same which comes out of the Highway appropria- tion is quite large, and if the citizens who clean up their yards, etc., of grass, leaves and rubbish, would only refrain from plac- ing it in the street gutters, which they have no right to do, it would not only save expense, but it would give the streets a much better appearance. We should all do what we can to keep up the general character of our Town for cleanliness.
For the purpose of retaining the top covering of our streets and prevent the same from being blown from the surface of our streets, and also from a sanitary point of view, the depart- ment followed the usual methods of oiling our highways. For the center of the town the selectmen purchased 10,246 gal., road oil one of the best light grade oil we have used, and for the roads and streets most used for heavy travel and the main automobile traffic roads 10,134 gallons of Standard asphalt road oil was used., and also 10,300 gallons of hot boiled tar prepared by the N. B. Gas and Elec. Light Co., for the special purpose of preserving the top of Macadam roads.
The tar is applied when hot by and under pressure from the automobile tank machine owned by the New Bedford Gas and Electric Light Co.
The amount of money appropriated for the general high- ways, is one of the principle features that should interest the Citizens, at our annual Town Meetings. It is one of the most important questions that confronts the town at the present time: it is very poor policy to appropriate the same then vote
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part of it for special purposes to do work when it is not needed as much as some of the outlying roads and streets the Citizens should have confidence in the ones in charge, if they are com- petent and attend to the street matters for the best interest of the town.
One of the greatest questions confronting our town today is the construction of roads and streets which can withstand the wear and tear of automobile traffic streets having a heavy auto- mobile traffic it has been found necessary to have a binder of a different nature from water bound macadam as it becomes disintegrated and worn out in two or three years.
The question resolves itself into a matter of producing a road surface that is smooth, dustless durable and at a moderate cost to towns it is a recognized fact that whatever method of construction is used, the permenancy of the road surface must depend very much upon the natural cementing together of the road material below the top surface with this idea in view the efforts of the street department were directed towards the construction of streets of a more permanent character.
All of the binders of an asphalt nature used in the construc- tion of roads are more expensive than the use of water, but the lasting qualities are so much greater that no question exists of the economy of such construction.
After investigating roads being built and others that have been in use some time, where a tar binder was used with the penetration idea, that is, the crushed stone being puddled with hot tar under pressure, which amalgamates together into one solid body the crushed stone and tar, the department decided to treat the surface of Huttlestone Avenue north side from Green to Adams Streets and Washington Street from river road to the west side of stand pipe lot, the cost of the tar used as a binder upon the streets where the penetration system was used, cost the town about seven hundred dollars for 4960 ft., which shows a cost of 16 cents per running foot.
For the payment of Oil which cost $1427.82, the town voted at annual town meeting that the sum of $1500.00 be appro-
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priated and the same placed in this years tax-levy. The cost of tar that was used as a binder and as a surface retainer was about $1400.00 the same was paid from the highway account
The main work done by the street department the past year has been macadamizing and re-surfacing the streets and roads of the town. Sconticut neck road was repaired by the use of tar and screenings filling bad places and holes, would ad- vise the same be re-surfaced the coming year by the penetra- tion process.
STREETS MACADAMIZED
Laurel Street
626 ft.
Spring Street
1583 ft.
Huttlestone Ave.
760 ft.
Ball Street
482 ft.
Adams Street
300 ft.
Washington Street
200 ft.
3951 ft.
STREETS RE-SURFACED
Washington Street
4200 ft.
Fort Street
181 ft.
Green Street
290 ft.
Middle Street
100 ft.
4771 ft.
As voted at special town meeting Aug. 18 the sum of $300.00 was appropriated for the purpose of paying the cost of con- struction of Garrison street. It was voted to pay for same by note or notes of the town. As there was a balance in the highway account, the selectmen voted to pay the same from that account, subject to the approval of the town, as the amount was so small to give notes for.
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There has been delivered to the crusher plant and on the roads about 5500 tons of stone the past year. The town has on hand at the present time 300 tons of crushed stone and stone for street purposes.
The attention of the citizens is called to the law which prohibits placing any rubbish or material in the highways of the Town. As many of our citizens, janitors of our public buildings and churches have been in the habit of cleaning their yards and lawns of grass, leaves, etc., then raking or sweeping the same into the streets, this law applies. Trust- ing this notice will be sufficient, and that we all use barrels in which to place our refuse in the future, by so doing it will be received by the ash cart.
We would also recommend that the citizens of the Town do all they can to separate the waste paper from the ashes. Perhaps if they would burn the paper, or have a separate barrel or box to place the paper in, it would help the matter: but we are fully satisfied something must be done to abate the nuisance which now exists.
CHARLES P. MAXFIELD.
Acting Superintendent of Streets.
REPORT
OF THE
SEWER COMMISSIONERS.
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REPORT OF THE SEWER COMMISSIONERS.
Organization was perfected as during 1914, viz :- G. Winston Valentine, Chairman: Norman M. Paull, Clerk; William J. Fitzsimmons, Superintendent of Power House.
During January and February, rainfall, unprecedented for years, caused much trouble with the Shone System. Many cellars were flooded for days at a time; except for the great aid of the portable pump, conditions would have been much worse. A further trouble was freezing of the air exhausts on the ejectors ; on some occasions constant attention was demand- ed at each ejector day and night, and for several weeks, atten- tion day and night was required for the whole system. This freezing is caused by expansion of the compressed air which absorbs an excessive amount of vapor, when a large quantity of cold water is running; the ice forms inside the ejector valves and the air pipes; other uses of compressed air ex- perience the same trouble; the Shone Company can advise no remedy: we are trying experiments with a view to elimi- nating this trouble.
Our records show that during the calendar year, 1915, the Shone ejectors discharged sewerage as follows:
At Ferry Street, 9,431,300 gallons -- 38,464 tons.
At Bridge Street, 11,787,200 gallons -- 49,122 tons.
At Rotch Street, 13,035,600 gallons -- 54,315 tons,
At Spring Street, 27,056,000 gallons -- 112,732 tons.
Totals, 61,110,100 gallons 254,633 tons,
In addition at least 3,250,000 gallons or 6775 tons were pumped directly from the system during heavy rains.
For care, repairs, and renewals, the ejectors cost during the year $650.00.
Maintenance and operation of the power pump cost $240.00.
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The Board is pleased to report that a reduction is shown in the cost of operating the power plant. The figures for 1914 were $3750.00; for 1915, $3350.00. Balance in favor of 1915, $400.00. This in spite of the greater demand for power during the early months of the year. This result is due to increased efficiency of operation, both of the power house and the outside system.
Replacing the vitrified pipe in the force main from the High School ejector with iron pipe cost $135.00. With this connection the Sewer Department had previously nothing to do.
Excavating, clearing, and relaying portions of the Huttle- ston Avenue gravity sewer cost $80.00.
Flushing and clearing cost during the year, $280.00. A card index for systematic flushing has been prepared. According to our records there are now 603 connections with the sewer systems, 23 having been made during 1915. We take this opportunity to warn all persons that making or re- pairing sewer connections, must, by vote of the town, be done under the direction, and to the approval of, the Superintendent of Streets, acting as agent for the board of Sewer Commission- ers.
.In accordance with the vote of the town meeting, August 18, the Board had plans prepared for sewers in Green and Wat- son [Phoenix] Streets, which were ordered constructed at another town meeting September 27. The contract was awarded to Albert B. Cook of New Bedford, the lowest bidder. Actual construction began October 13, and is still in progrees. The cost of these sewers will not exceed the appropriation of $65.00.00
We have received a petition for a sewer in Center Street, from Rotch to Hitch Streets. While we appreciate the fact that that section needs and deserves some system of drainage, we cannot see, just at present, how anything can be done. It would be a very unwise move to add this section to the Rotch Street ejector which is already over-taxed in heavy storms.
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It seems to us that our inability on this occasion gives added force to the suggestion we are about to make in the closing paragraphs of this report.
In the last 25 years, there has been expended by the town and by individuals an estimated amount of $132,000.00 for sewer construction. This does not include the interest paid by the abuttors. Without any comprehensive plan, the result has been a patch work of systems, some of them in- adequate, and all probably difficult to embody into a gen- eral system.
The sewer commissioners have, during the last four years, accumulated considerable data which should be incorporated into a general plan. We earnestly urge a special appropria- tion this year for $1000.00 for carrying on this work.
The point at issue is whether the citizens desire, by expend- ing hundreds of dollars now, to save thousands in the future, and having put the issue squarely to them, we await their de- cision.
For maintenance of the sewers we ask for $5500.00.
Respectfully submitted, G. WINSTON VALENTINE. WM. J. FITZSIMMONS, NORMAN M. PAULL, Sewer Commissioners.
REPORT
OF THE
BOARD OF HEALTH
86
BOARD OF HEALTH REPORT.
The Board of Health respectfully submits its annual re- port. The Board organized Feb. 11th, 1915 with Joseph B. Peck Chairman, David L. Kelley, Secretary, and Dr. Andrew N. Bruckshaw, Medical Adviser.
The number of infections and contagous diseases for the year ending Jan. 1st., 1916 :-
Diphtheria 4,
Measles, 17
Opthalmea Neonatorium 6,
Pul T B 12,
Typhoid 7, Scarlet Fever 9,
Whooping Cough 7,
Chicken Pox, 7
The number of Tuberculosis cases reported cause the most expense to the Town; an expense that cannot be avoided on account of existing State Laws. This the citizens must fully realize when the appropriation for the Board of Health is made.
Joseph B. Peck, Chairman David L. Kelley, Secretary Dr. Andrew N. Bruckshaw Medical Adviser.
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Selectmen :---
Fairhaven, Mass.
Dear Sirs :-
Owing to the prevalency of the Foot and Mouth desease in Massachusetts during the past year, I was instruct- ed by the Bureau of Animal Industry to make no animal inspection of cattle.
There have been three cases of Tuberculosis and one case of glanders during the past year. The premises where the above mentioned animals were stabled have been thoroughly cleans- ed and disenfected.
Respectfully submitted, Dr. M. J. Curran, Inspector of Animals. Jan. 10, 1916.
Board of Health,
Fairhaven, Mass.
Dear Sirs :-
I hereby submit my report as inspector of slaughter- ed animals for the Town of Fairhaven,
Cattle slaughtered and inspected,
801
Calves slaughtered and inspected,
711
Hogs slaughtered and inspected, 136
Cattle condemmed, 35
Calves condemmed,
13
Hogs condemmed, 1
Respectfully submitted, Dr. M. J. Curran, Inspector of slaughtered animals. Jan. 15, 1916.
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Jan. 19, 1916.
To The Citizens of Fairhaven :-
The Tree Warden hereby respectfully submits his Annual Re- port :--
The spraying of the trees was thorough and successful as may be seen from the healthy appearance of our trees but the work must be continued as the trees require steady atten- tion that we may preserve the beauty of our streets.
Several beautiful Trees had to be removed from the centre of the Town on account of the severe storms having tipped them making them dangerous to pedestrians.
Many of the beautiful Trees in the centre of the Town will have to be removed in the near future as they show signs of much decay.
The young Trees which have been planted in the last number of years are growing and making a splendid growth which in- sures the beauty of the Town, though in other streets than at the present time.
The improvement Association who so willingly assist in keeping up the beauty of the Town by planting One Hundred young Trees every Fall followed the usual custom and we planted
17 Trees on Ball Street
53
66 North Main Street
8 66 Adams Street
7
Wilding Street
7
Allen Street
8
Ferry Street
3
66 Middle Street
2
66 Walnut Street
Other young Trees have been planted where dead ones have been removed.
The Tree Warden respectfully recommends that the sum of Twelve Hundred Dollars be appropriated to continue the work of maintenance and preservation.
Respectfully submitted, PETER MURRAY, Tree Warden.
-
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FIRE ENGINEERS' REPORT.
To the Honorable Board of Selectmen :---
Gentlemen :-- The Board of Fire Engineers herewith present their report for the past year.
During the year we have had 14 bell alarms and 31 still alarms.
The total loss by fire as estimated by the Board was $7175.00 including the Rogers Estate fire at which time we summoned help from New Bedford.
It has been nesecsary to purchase reducing nozzles at quite an expense on account of the water pressure in some parts of the town. The Protecting Society wagon is now hauled to fire by auto from Hillers Garage. With that and the chemical is about all the apparatus that can be depended upon at the present time. Horses are scarse in our town, if the alarm rings in the day time our Hook and Ladder Truck is almost sure to get there when the rest of the apparatus is picking up ready to go home. At a fire in the day time recently Hose Co. 2 were obliged to take a horse from a New Bedford Coal cart and proceed to the fire arriving just in time to do good work
The shed where the Hook and Ladder truck is kept is a death trap and needs repairing, badly. The Hook and Ladder truck was purchased in 1902 and up to the present time there has been less than $3.00 spent on it for repairs. It needs to be painted and varnished but is a waste of money to have it done and put back in the present quarters. There is only one place in town where hose can be washed and dried. Once more we recommend that a building be erected for all centrally located apparatus. We also recommend the sum of $3000 be appro- priated this year.
CHARLES E. WESTGATE JESSE S. GIFFORD CLARENCE W. HAMMOND ALEXANDER PRICE, JR. DANIEL A. REGAN Board of Fire Engineers.
SCHOOL REPORT
1915.
Fairhaven, Massachusetts.
2
In School Committee, Jan. 14, 1916.
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, LEWIS E. BENTLEY, D. W. KENDRICK,
D. W. DEANE, ALTON B. PAULL, LYMAN C. BAULDRY.
J
3
SCHOOL COMMITTEE
LYMAN C. BAULDRY, ALTON B. PAULL,
Term expires 1916
Term expires 1916
DANIEL W. KENDRICK,
Term expires 1917
DANIEL W. DEANE,
Term expires 1917
THOMAS A. TRIPP,
Term expires 1918
LEWIS E. BENTLEY,
Term expires 1918
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 7.00-8.00 P. M .-- Wednesday.
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, 37 Laurel Street, 3499-W.
4
SCHOOL CALENDAR.
Tuesday, Jan. 4 [1916] Tuesday, Feb. 22.
Friday, Feb. 25.
Schools close.
Monday, March 6.
Tuesday, April 19.
Patriots' Day.
Friday, April 28.
Schools close.
Monday, May 8
Tuesday, May 30. Friday, June 30
Memorial Day. Schools close.
Tuesday, Sept. 5.
Thursday, Oct. 12.
Columbus Day.
Wednesday, Nov. 29
Schools close. [noon]
Schools re-open Legal holiday Mid-winter vacation Schools re-open Legal holiday Spring vacation Schools re-open Legal holiday Summer vacation Schools re:open
Legal holiday Thanksgiving recess
Monday, Dec. 4. Friday, Dec. 22.
Schools close
Tuesday, Jan. 2 [1917]
Schools re-open Christmas vacation Schools re-open
5
No School Signals.
For the benefit of those who have difficulty in remember- ing the significance of the school signals, the following is sub- mitted for reference :-
The signal at 8.00 a. m. indicates no school for grades one to three, 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 three, inclusive.
The signal at 12.45 noon indicates no school for all grades.
Note.
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.
.
6
REPORT OF SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS.
To the School Committee of Fairhaven, Mass.
Gentlemen :-- Herewith is submitted my fourth annual re- port, the nineteenth in the series of superintendent's reports since the formation of the union with Mattapoisett and Acu- shnet.
The annual report is a legal requirement but if there was a penalty for not reading it, perhaps it would be more generally read. Persumably, those who read it carefully do so from a sense of duty. If it is true that a community can have the best schools possible only when the public is interested and inform- ed concerning them, the school report should seek to convey information that citizens ought to have, and this informa- tion should be sought by every citizen.
Cost of Schools.
On the financial side every tax payer is interested in schools. This is as it should be. Because money is spent on education it is not necessarily well spent. Real interest in the cost of schools manifests itself not merely in lessening expenditures but, also, in considering relative values. The citizen with the best and keenest interest in the cost of schools realizes fully the importance of the work they are doing and, because of this, scrutinizes sharply expenditures for school purposes. He does this, not because he wishes to pare the school appropria- tion to the thinnest proportions, but because he recognizes that public schools need to be better, that educational op- portunities need to be improved and extended.
7
There has been a material increase in the cost of grade schools in each of the last three years. Although the larger expenditures have been made possible through the availa- bility of new funds not raised by taxation, it is pertinent to inform taxpayers in what directions they have been incurred.
Table I shows the total expenditures for grade schools, in- clusive of expenditures from the various funds, for each of the last four years. The directions of expenditure are also indicated. The attention of those wishing to compare ex- penditures year by year is called to the fact that the fiscal year ending December 31, 1914, had but eleven months. To this is due the decrease or relatively small increase in that year in amounts expended for such purposes as instruction, fuel, janitors, supervision etc.
TABLE I. COST OF GRADE SCHOOLS, 1912-1915.
Feb. 1, 1912 to Jan. 31, 1913
Feb. 1, 1913 to Jan. 31, 1914
Feb. 1, 1914 to Dec. 31, 1914
Jan. 1, 1915 to Dec. 31, 1915
Increase
Instruction
$12,517.20
$12,753.50
$12,535.36
$15,697.00
$ 3,179.80
Supplies
457.47
557.87
535.26
526.65
69.18
Books
260.61
441.03
288.13
322.02
61.41
Repairs,
684.16
884.26
1,315.50
1,246.70
562.54
New Equipment,
7.50
396.98
907.71
172.85
165.35
Conveyance
1,583.50
1,889.75
1,927.75
1,591.25
7.75
Fuel
1,116.32
869.60
813.78
1,300.94
184.62
Janitors
1,715.00
1,811.00
1,726.00
1,920.00
205.00
Supervision
1,480.09
1,457.30
1,424.98
1,599.96
119.87
Miscellaneous
985.30
921.65
1,244.90
1,530.76
545.46
Total Expenditures.
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