USA > Massachusetts > Bristol County > Fairhaven > Town annual report of the offices of Fairhaven, Massachusetts 1919 > Part 3
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Our Town Hall is sadly in need of repairs. The boilers and plumbing, which have been in use for twenty-five years, are fast wearing out. Some parts of the clock also need repairs, and there is some brick work which ought to be repaired this year in order to keep this beautiful building in the condition in which it should be.
There are many financial problems coming up in this present Town Meeting, and we earnestly ask the support of the citizens of the Town in these matters.
Since selling Spooner's Point to the Fairhaven Mills, we have been asked to lay out three streets at once, as
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they expected to commence building houses there in the spring. In relation to our highways and streets, we have always received what is known as the "Street Railway Tax", which, under the law, was to be used in the Street Department, and has been, up to the present time. A recent act of the Legislature has taken this tax, which amounted to something over Three Thousand Dollars ($3,000), away from the Town, and this will leave our Street Department short that amount. Therefore, we most earnestly ask the Town to make the Highway appropriation at least Three Thousand Dollars ($3,000) larger than in previous years.
In 1916, the Legislature authorized the counties of the Commonwealth to build County Tubercular Hospitals. Bristol County, of course, was forced by the Legislature to build a hospital, and that hospital, about three miles from the center of the City of Attleboro, is now completed. Each town in the County has to bear its proportional part, under the law, for constructing the building, and a recent letter from the Clerk of the Courts notified our Board that our share in constructing the building will amount to about Seventeen Thousand Dollars ($17,000), and for mainten- ance since it was opened Eight Hundred Eighty-nine Dol- lars ($889.00).
We have authority, under the law, to hire this money on note or notes for twenty years. Of course, this indebt- edness, with the addition to the "Job Tripp School" which is asked for, of Thirty Thousand Dollars ($30,000) more, " will bring our indebtedness up to more than One Hundred Fifty Thousand Dollars ($150,000) for these two meas- ures, one authorized by the State and the other by neces- sity for the school children.
There are many other financial problems which you will find in the Annual Town Report, all of which is most respectfully submitted.
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As part of the requirements of the Town for the coming year we report the following for debt and interest : Howland Road Sewer Note, $500.00
Motor Chemical Wagon Note,
560.00
Bridge Maintenance and Repair Note,
400.00
Howland Road Sewer Note, 300.00
New Bedford and Fairhaven Bridge Note,
1,100.00
Refunding Loan Note,
400.00
Oxford School House Note,
1,400.00
Refunding Loan Note,
650.00
Fort Street Extension Note, 300.00
Green and Watson Street Sewer Note,
500.00
Refunding Loan Note, 400.00
Refunding Loan Note, 450.00
Adams Street Construction and Awards Note,
500.00
Bridge Street School House Note,
1,900.00
Green Street Sewer Note,
400.00
Farmfield Street Construction and Awards Note,
500.00
Garrison Street Sewer Note,
310.00
Refunding Loan Note,
500.00
Sconticut Neck Road Note,
1,000.00
Sycamore Street Sewer Note,
2,000.00
$14,070.00
New Bedford and Fairhaven Bridge Bond,
1,000.00
$15,070.00
Interest on Bridge Bonds,
$1,160.00
Interest on Notes, 6,200.00
Interest on Temporary Loans,
1,000.00
8,360.00
$23,430.00
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The Board most respectfully submit the following esti- mates for appropriations as asked for to maintain the various departments for the ensuing year :
Debt and interest,
$23,430.00
Sewer department,
$11,900.00
Poor department,
7,000.00
Fire department,
5,000.00
Fire alarm,
200.00
Highway department,
17,000.00
Hydrants,
5,000.00
Police department,
1,700.00
Town Hall,
4,500.00
Salaries,
5,500.00
Street lights,
4,000.00
Park department,
2,600.00
Incidental account,
Tree department,
2,000.00
Board of Health,
2,500.00
Shellfish Commission,
Mothers' Aid,
Vocational School,
Gypsy and Brown Tail Moths,
$92,330.00
Respectfully submitted,
JOHN I. BRYANT, THOMAS W. WHITFIELD, ISAAC N. BABBITT.
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REPORT OF HIGHWAY DEPARTMENT.
At the beginning of the year, the Selectmen appointed Thomas W. Whitfield as superintendent of streets, and he, with William H. Bryant and George W. King, as foreman, / under his supervision, had charge for the year of macadam- izing and re-surfacing the streets.
The main work done by the general Highway Depart- ment the past year has been building and re-surfacing many streets of the Town. Many of them were re-surfaced with tar and sand. The new work consisted of macadamizing Green Street from Huttleston Avenue to Elm Street, and about three hundred feet on Elm Street, also the putting of a top surface of tar and gravel on the same.
The Howland Road was also rebuilt from the Cogges- hall Street Bridge to Sycamore Street, and that also re- ceived a coat of tar and sand. Bridge Street from Delano Street to near the Alden Road was rebuilt with macadam and was also covered with a coating of tar and sand. Cedar Street was also macadamized and covered with tar and sand from Green Street to Chestnut Street, and Cottage Street from Green to Laurel was also tarred and sanded.
- Many of the out-lying streets were repaired with cin- ders. The Long Road from Adams Street to Dana's ice house was put in very good condition with cinders, also Wilding Street from Adams Street east, and Blackburn Street was graded and cinder sidewalks built there. The New Boston Hill Road also received cinders and there was some work done on the Mill Road. The New Boston Road from the Rochester and Acushnet line for about a mile was put in fairly good condition with cinders, and we recom- mend that the same course be continued another year on some of these same streets which will put them in fairly good condition.
The Gellette and Weeden Roads have also had some repairs and will need some the coming year. Spring Street from Washington Street to the macadam was also put in passable condition with cinders, and Manhattan Ave-
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nue was put in fairly good condition but needs more work another year.
More work can be accomplished in one day with a mo- tor truck in carrying cinders to the out-lying districts than in any other way, and we hope, another year, to be able to make a much better showing with the out-lying districts if a motor truck is furnished by the Town. Many of the side- walks in Town have also received careful consideration. Considerable patch work was done on several of the streets in the Town and the streets and gutters have been kept as clean as could be under the circumstances.
The citizens of the Town are most respectfully asked not to dump rubbish in the gutters of the streets as, in the first place, it is against the law, and in the second place, it makes a rather unsightly mess. So we hope that the citi- zens will co-operate with the Superintendent of Streets, whoever he may be, in this particular work. All of which is most respectfully submitted.
THOMAS W. WHITFIELD.
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REPORT OF TREE WARDEN.
To the Citizens of Fairhaven, Mass. :
The Tree Warden hereby submits his Annual Re- port :
Much more work has been accomplished this past sea- son owing to the increased appropriation. The spraying has been thoroughly done and thirty-three (33) dead trees removed. More dead trees should be removed, but we went as far as the money would permit.
We must not forget many of the trees are aged and will have to be removed from year to year. A great change will have to take place in the looks of the town as the beautiful elms are dying fast and will have to be taken down from year to year.
A visit from the State Inspector congratulating the town on the condition of the trees is worthy of notice.
The tree department has planted and replaced a great many trees the past season.
The Improvement Association appropriated the sum of fifty dollars ($50.00) which supplied fifteen (15) maple trees, stakes and wire.
The Tree Warden feels that the condition of the trees are good and that the work of protection and care should be continued; and that young trees should be planted from year to year that the beauty of the town can be pre- served and perpetuated.
The Tree Warden recommends the appropriation of two thousand dollars ($2,000.00).
Respectfully submitted,
PETER MURRAY,
Tree Warden,
January 17, 1920.
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REPORT OF FIRE ENGINEERS.
January 12, 1920.
To the Honorable Board of Selectmen :
Gentlemen-The Board of Fire Engineers herewith present their annual report for year ending December 31, 1919 :
During the past year the department has answered 20 still alarms and 12 bell alarms.
The needs of the department are many. We are obliged to ask for a motor propelled hook and ladder truck and a place to keep all our apparatus in.
Respectfully submitted,
JESSE S. GIFFORD, ALEXANDER PRICE, JR., GEORGE E. JENNEY,
Board of Engineers.
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REPORT OF THE INSPECTOR OF ANIMALS.
To the Honorable Board of Selectmen :
Gentlemen-I herewith submit my annual report as Inspector of Animals for the year beginning January 1, 1919, and ending December 31, 1919 :
During the past year I have inspected 1201 animals, of which 658 were dairy cows, 212 young cattle, 17 bulls, 310 swine, 3 sheep and 1 goat.
The total number of premises inspected was 110, of which 17 were found to be unclean, 26 having poor ventila- tion, 31 improper drainage, 15 insufficient light and nine insufficient space.
One case of tuberculosis was found on Sconticut Neck, which was put in quarantine and finally condemned.
In March, cholera was found on the premises of three hog owners, 29 animals in all having the disease. The serum treatment was used and proved efficient, as 12 out of the 16 treated recovered, the remainder being too sick to make the treatment worth while. Subsequent visits were made to all infested places to see that the premises were properly cleaned and disinfected.
Respectfully submitted,
WM. H. SCHROEDER. :
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REPORT OF THE BOARD OF SEWER COMMIS- SIONERS
For Year Ending December 31, 1919.
ORGANIZATION-The Board was organized with G. W. Valentine, Chairman, Wm. J. Fitzsimmons, Superin- tendent of Power House, and N. M. Paull, Clerk.
In September Mr. Paull resigned to accept a profes- sorship at the University of North Carolina, and in De- cember, at a joint meeting of the Boards of Selectmen and Sewer Commissioners, F. W. Morse was unanimously elected to fill the vacancy and was subsequently elected Clerk of the Board.
This Board wishes to take this opportunity to express its appreciation of the very valuable services rendered the Town of Fairhaven by Mr. Paull during the many years a member of the Board.
CONSTRUCTION-In compliance with a vote taken at the last annual Town Meeting there has been built ap- proximately 1660 feet of 10-inch and 15-inch sewer in Sycamore Street, from Howland road northerly to Veranda Avenue.
It is very probable that the anticipated increase in dwellings in this section of the town will necessitate the construction of several lateral sewers in the immediate future.
CONNECTIONS-During the past year 10 connections have been repaired and 57 dwellings have been connected, making a total of 790 buildings now connected.
SHONE SYSTEM-Due to favorable weather condi- tions the Shone System has operated very satisfactorily
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during the past year, yet as has been previously pointed .out, this system, which was designed for conditions that existed 25 years back, is now seriously overburdened dur- ing periods of extraordinary rainfall and some flooded .cellars and inconvenience must be expected at such times.
MAINTENANCE-Advancing costs of labor and fuel have caused an expenditure of twelve hundred dollars over the appropriation for 1919 and for the ensuing year we estimate the cost of sewer maintenance will be approxi- mately ten thousand ($10,000.00) dollars.
G. WINSTON VALENTINE, WILLIAM J. FITZSIMMONS, FRANK W. MORSE,
Board of Sewer Commissioners.
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REPORT OF THE BOARD OF HEALTH.
The year has passed off without any serious epidemics, measles being the most prominent disease, with no deaths resulting. As the years go by the duties increase faster than the pay. The Board feels it should have increased pay to meet the high cost of living and additional work connected with it. The State requires more work and the town also.
The number of cases reported to the Board has been:
January 1, 1919 to January 1, 1920-Tuberculosis 13, whooping cough 1, tetanus 1, diphtheria 10, typhoid fever 1, measles 49, flu 37, chicken pox 2.
The collection of garbage has not been taken care of as well as we would like to have it and the collector will have to be paid more in order to do better work or else the town attend to it, and we think it would be the wiser plan for the town to do it.
The number of animals that have been slaughtered in town are: Cattle 1342, swine 203, calves 2,213, sheep 22.
Cattle condemned, 21. T. B. and blood poison.
Calves condemned, 26. Under size.
Hogs condemned, 4. Blood poison.
JOSEPH B. PECK, CLARENCE A. TERRY, DR. LESTER W. HORNE,
Board of Health.
SCHOOL REPORT
OF THE
TOWN OF FAIRHAVEN MASSACHUSETTS
FOR THE
YEAR 1919
2
In the School Committee, January 9, 1920.
Voted :- That the Report of the Superintendent of
Schools be accepted and printed as the Report of the School Committee.
Voted :- That the Committee ask an appropriation of $37,000 for the ensuing year and that the Town appro- priate for Schools the sum returned to the Town by the State from the General School Fund.
ALTON B. PAULL, LYMAN C. BAULDRY, DANIEL W. KENDRICK, DANIEL W. DEANE, LEWIS E. BENTLEY, H. HOWARD STILLMAN.
3
SCHOOL COMMITTEE.
DANIEL W. KENDRICK,
Term expires 1920
DANIEL W. DEANE,
Term expires 1920
LEWIS E. BENTLEY,
Term expires 1921
H. HOWARD STILLMAN,
Term expires 1921
LYMAN C. BAULDRY,
Term expires 1922
ALTON B. PAULL,
Term expires 1922
Chairman, ALTON B. PAULL.
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 and Marion all day Tuesday.
In Acushnet a part of Thursday.
The Superintendent's Office is open with a clerk in charge daily from 9-12 and 1.30-5 except Saturdays when it is open only in the forenoon.
Telephone call at Town Hall, Fairhaven, 3891.
Telephone call at residence, 37 Laurel Street, 3499-W.
4
SCHOOL CALENDAR.
1919
Monday, Dec. 29, 1920
Schools re-open
Friday, Feb. 20,
Schools close
Monday, March 1,
1
Schools re-open Holiday
Monday, April 19, (Patriots Day)
Friday, April 23,
Monday, May 3,
Monday, May 31, (Memorial Day)
Friday, June 25,
Tuesday, Sept. 7,
Tuesday, Oct. 12, (Columbus Day)
Wednesday, Nov. 24,
Monday, Nov. 29,
Schools re-open Schools close
Thursday, Dec. 24, 1921 Monday, Jan. 3,
ยท Schools close Schools re-open Holiday Schools close
Schools re-open Holiday Schools close at noon
School re-open
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NO SCHOOL SIGNAL, 22.
For the benefit of those who have difficulty in remem- bering the significance of the no-school signal, the follow- ing is submitted for reference :-
The signal at 8.00 a. m. indicates no forenoon session for the three lowest grades.
The signal at 8.15 a. m, indicates no forenoon session for any of the eight grades of the elementary schools.
The signal at 12.30 noon, indicates no afternoon ses- sion for the first three grades.
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The signal at 12.45 noon, indicates no afternoon ses- sion for any of the eight grades of the elementary schools.
The no school signals do not apply to the High school.
Schools are often in session when weather conditions make it unsuitable for some of the children to attend, in which case parents must make their own decisions.
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REPORT OF SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS.
To the School Committee of Fairhaven :
Herewith is submitted my' seventh annual report as superintendent of schools.
My period of service during the current year extends from May first. Permit me, at this time, to express to the Committee my appreciation of the opportunity granted me to engage in welfare work overseas. Without the aid of the Joint Committee of the District, it would have been impossible for me to have done so. The fact that I felt in a sense your representative "over there" gave added zeal to my efforts.
Financial Statement of Fairhaven School Committee, for the Fiscal Year, January 1, 1919 to January 1, 1920.
EXPENDITURES.
General Control :
Superintendent
$1,658.28
Clerk
346.70
Attendance officers
67.50
School census
75.00
Miscellaneous
303.97
Expense of Instruction :
Teachers' salaries $25,820.97
Text books
1,040.21
Supplies
1,318.11
28,179.29
Operation of School Plant :
Janitors' salaries
$2,885.18
Fuel
2,934.07
Light, water, janitors' supplies
829.97
6.539.22
Auxiliary :
Transportation
$2,105.00
Medical inspection
75.00
2,180.00
Miscellaneous :
Printing, record forms, disinfectants, floor
oil, cartage, express, etc. $587.47
587.47
Total Expenditures for Grade Schools, 1919 ...
$44,724.05
$2,451.45
Financial Statement of School Committee Error: Janitor's Salaries, 2,775.18 4.786.62
Omission: Repairs and Equipment,
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RECEIPTS.
Balance from 1918
$1,210.90
Appropriation, 1919
37,000.00
Rogers Fund, 1919
4,624.12
Edmund E. Anthony Fund, 1919
455.06
Pease Fund, 1919
343.92
County Dog Fund, 1919
751.96
General School Fund, 1919
2,400.00
John McCulloch
17.50
Supplies and sundries
21.06
Total available
$46,824.52
Total expenditures
44,724.05
Balance, 1919
$2,100.47
The detailed statement under each heading, given else- where in the report, shows specifically where the money has gone.
Following Are the Estimates for 1920:
General control $2,500.00
Teachers' salaries 31,000.00
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Supplies
1,400.00
Janitors' salaries
3,200.00
Fuel
3,000.00
Miscellaneous
850.00
Transportation
2,350.00
Repairs
3,200.00
New equipment
350.00
Health
250.00
Sundries
600.00
Night School (compulsory next year)
500.00
Attendance officer (recommended)
500.00
Total
$50,800.00
Explanation of the above estimates will be found under the various topics of the report. Income to meet these can be derived from the following sources :
Town appropriation $37,000.00
Appropriation of portion of General School Fund. 6,100.00
Balance from 1919 2,100.00
Pease Fund, 1919 343.00
Edmund E. Anthony Fund, 1919 455.00
H. H. Rogers Fund, 1919 4,624.00
County Dog Tax, 1919 751.00
Total
$51,373.00
Text books
1,100.00
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Attendance.
The total enrollment in all schools during the year ending June, 1919, was 1,453; the average membership 1,175; the average attendance 1,086; the per cent. of at- tendance 92.5. There was an increase of 46 in total enroll- ment, but a decrease of 45 in average membership. The latter was undoubtedly largely due to the prevalence of contagious diseases. On December 19th, 1919, the actual enrollment was 1352. Of this number 1102 were in the .grades. They were distributed by buildings as follows :
School.
Enrollment. Number of Rooms.
Oxford,
354
8
Washington Street,
222
6
Job C. Tripp,
179
4
Rogers,
347
8
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Totals,
1,102
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Attendance Officer.
The problem of better enforcing the compulsory school attendance laws needs your attention. With the growth in number of children, the enactment of child labor legis- lation, the constant transferrence of children from public to parochial school and vice versa, the presence of a large unstable element in the population, it is no longer possible with our present machinery to keep all children in school . who are required by law to be there. A man or woman should be employed for half-time, whose business would include keeping the school census complete as well as fol- lowing up all cases of truancy.
Building Needs.
The net grade enrollment, thus far is fully 100 more than that at the same time last year. There was an aver- age annual increase of slightly over fifty pupils for the
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previous seven years. The opening of the Job C. Tripp school and closing of the Old High two years ago netted three additional rooms. These enabled relief of the con- gestion at the Oxford and Washington Street schools, but made little provision for future growth. The rooms at the Washington Street school are again crowded and the Oxford school, even after the seventh and eighth grades have been transferred to the Rogers, is filled to its capacity. The Rogers school also has a capacity enrollment, if ordi- narily good teaching conditions are to prevail.
Explanation of the relatively small capacity of the Washington Street school has been made in previous re- ports. The first grade rooms are small and seat less than thirty pupils each. The other rooms should never have more than thirty-five pupils. While it is an impractical proposition to recommend the abandonment of the Wash- ington Street school, the physical welfare of the children demands emphatically that the membership be kept within limits. This matter was discussed in detail in the 1916 report. The room capacity in the other buildings has been reckoned at forty pupils. Satisfactory educational results cannot be secured in a class numbering more than thirty- five. There are at present nineteen schools having an enrollment of over forty and four having over fifty.
The membership of your schools will increase next year. A casual survey of the houses being erected is con- vincing proof of this. The recent purchases of land at the north end by the Bristol and Fairhaven Mills to provide housing facilities for their employees increase the seri- ousness of the problem of school accommodations. I rec- ommend strongly that three rooms be added to the Job C. Tripp school before September, 1920.
In addition to this provision for the immediate needs of the schools, the town should make plans for the future. The population is increasing steadily and it will not be long before other buildings will be needed. If the selec- tion of a site is delayed until the time for building, diffi-
10
culty will be experienced in securing one suitably located to meet educational needs. There are important consid- erations to be taken into account in the selection of a school site. I recommend that a committee be appointed at the next annual meeting, whose duty it shall be to make a study of the prospective building needs of the town and to submit a report on the same not later than the annual meeting in 1921.
Job C. Tripp School.
The site of this school is naturally poor .. This was known when the building committee accepted it as a gift and decided to use it. It was expected, at that time, that the cost of grading would eventually equal the expense of purchasing a site. The determining factor in the decision to build here was the location, which is excellent, enabling the building to be used to relieve congestion at either the north or central portions of the town. The original plan calls for securing material for grading without undue ex- pense as opportunity arises, and eventually for filling in and grading the grounds so that the building will have a good setting and this section of the town be much im- proved. Considerable material has already accumulated, but much more is needed. It is not desirable that unkempt conditions remain indefinitely. I recommend that the appropriation for enlarging the school be made sufficient to include the expense of grading so as to make the surround- ings of the school more nearly in accord with the ideals of Fairhaven in such matters.
The arrangement of the building is admirable for school purposes. A prominent school man who saw it recently said that it was the best he had ever seen.
Seats are needed for the assembly room and furnish- ings for the two small rooms. With the former in place,. a series of entertainments can be given by the children or outside talent to raise money for the purchase of pictures,. statuary, etc., for decorative purposes. Completion of the
-
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building and grading as planned will make the appearance of the school entirely satisfactory.
There has been little trouble with water in the base- ment since May. The guttering of the building this sum- mer helped greatly. It is planned to water proof sections of the wall, if needed, when the "addition is made, and is hoped thereby to keep the basement dry.
The heating plan of the building economized on radia- tion surface. This has been partly remedied and will soon be wholly so, it is hoped, when radiators now contracted for have been installed.
This school was built to meet an urgent need. It was built in the face of rising costs both in material and labor: The lowest bid for its construction had to be accepted. The architect was called to military service and a substitute was employed. 'These and other factors enabled some imperfections in construction. Nevertheless, in funda- mental matters, the building is satisfactory, and it will be much more so when completed as planned.
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