USA > Massachusetts > Bristol County > Fairhaven > Town annual report of the offices of Fairhaven, Massachusetts 1939 > Part 5
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Month
Buildings $ 29,750.00
Contents
Buildings
Contents $ 273.00
Buildings $ 66,000.00 117,500.00
Contents $ 12,000.00
$ 884.00
$263.00
February
117,100.00
60,500.00
149.09
100.00
7,200.00
2,000.00
151.00
April
5,400.00
3,550.00
25.00
2.48
5,400.00
3,500.00
25.00
2.48
May
11,600.00
6,250.00
50.00
25.00
8,600.00
5,000.00
June
21,200.00
4,000.00
20.00
27,000.00
4,000.00
9.70
July
36,800.00
3,500.00
12,000.00
32,000.00
2,000.00
12,000.00
August
4,100.00
3,000.00
10.00
5,000.00
3,000.00
September
10,200.00
29,500.00
1,007.10
493.90
17,500.00
6,500.00
1,007.10
493.90
October
52,000.00
26,500.00
52,000.00
25,000.00
November
30,000.00
25,500.00
631.00
200.00
31,500.00
14,000.00
701.00
December
14,800.00
13,050.00
20.00
16,900.00
5,500.00
20.00
$354,250.00
$195,950.00
$15,047.19
$1,094.38
$386,600.00
$143,000.00
$14,921.89
$759.39
Total
$550,200.00
$16,141.57
$529,600.00
$15,681.27
Insurance Loss on Buildings
$14,921.89
Insurance Loss on Contents
$ 759.38
Uninsured Loss on Buildings
125.30
Uninsured Loss on Contents
335.00
Total Damage to Buildings
$15,047.19
Total Damage to Contents
$1,094.38
Total Fire Loss
$16,141.57
Total value of property to which Department was summoned
$550,200.00
529,600.00
Total insurance value of property to which Department was summoned Total insurance loss on property to which Department was summoned Total uninsured loss on property to which Department was summoned Assessed value of buildings totally destroyed
15,681.27
460.30
Rebuilt and revalued property (Assessable Value)
100.00
Total assessable loss
None
None
Per Capita Loss for 1939-$1.47 ; $2.93 loss per hundred dollars.
This Department responded to 33 Box Alarms and 161 Still Alarms during the year. Boat loss in July, value $5,000.00 not assessed in this Town; insurance loss of $12,000.00 Total Fire Loss, exclusive of boat loss, including buildings and contents $4,141.57
EDWARD G. SPOONER, Chief.
Buildings
Contents
January
$ 13,500.00
$ 884.00
March
21,300.00
7,100.00
251.00
60,500.00
124.09
Exposure loss (Assessable Value)
100.00
Report of Superintendent of Fire Alarm
In the year 1937.
$250.00 was appropriated for maintenance and repairs. There was a balance at the end of the year of $9.36. In this year and in previous years the appropriation barely covered necessary maintenance expenses.
In the year 1938.
$600.00 was appropriated for maintenance and repairs. There was a balance at the end of the year of $10.68.
This appropriation made possible a program to replace in the center of the Town, boxes over 40 years old, with new, modern, non-interfering type boxes. One new box was thus provided and the balance used to renovate wires and cross-arms.
During the year, the hurricane necessitated a further emergency outlay of about $1,100.00, of which $700.00 was used for new boxes to replace boxes that were ruined by submersion in salt water. The Gamewell Company would not re-condition these boxes, except at approxi- mately the price of new ones. It is interesting and timely to note that by the work of Chief Spooner, at the Center Fire Station, and in odd minutes, these same old boxes have been entirely taken apart and the delicate parts re- finished and re-lacquered, new springs inserted to replace old ones, and by next year these boxes will be ready to place in commission in needed places around the Town.
In the present year 1939.
$600.00 was again appropriated. There has been a very large amount of reconstruction work on account of the utility companies replacing many of their poles all over Town; this, especially on Washington St. as the Union Street Railway Co. has discontinued electric service and the pole lines have been unified on one side of the street. Whenever such changes take place it necessitates the fire alarm wires making the same transfer to the new poles. We have strung three and one half miles of new wire
1
104
during this year, with over one hundred new cross-arms, and have also added one new box, at Pope Beach, with the accompanying wire extensions, thereby completing the use of our $600.00 appropriation for the current year. In passing, let us note, that in any out-of-door system of wiring, as the years go by, replacements must be made. In the next year, I feel that three or four miles of wire that has been "up" very many years should be replaced ; therefore, it would seem wise to ask for the same amount of money, $600.00 for the coming year of 1940 in order to renovate, maintain and extend our fire alarm system.
CLIFTON A. HACKER,
Supt. Fire Alarm.
Report of Building Inspector
To the Board of Selectmen:
The Building Inspector respectfully submits the following report of the building activities for the year 1939. There were 341 applications to build, filed in the office. The esti- mated construction cost as given amounted to the sum of $142,003.00. This estimate on the whole, is low. We collect- ed for the issuing of certain permits, the sum of $165.00. This was for 27 new dwellings at $5.00 each and 30 new garages at $1.00 each. The present law allows only for the collection of a fee for dwellings and garages; all other con- struction of any description may be done without charge. For the 82 dwellings replaced or restored after the hurri- cane, there was no charge, nor was there a fee for restored garages.
Following is a list of the different permits ;- 27 new dwellings, 30 new garages, 82 restored or replaced dwell- ings, 27 replaced garages, 3 cottages with garages attached, restored; 1 cottage with store attached; 2 large storage sheds, 32 small sheds; 22 henhouses; 2 brooder houses; 4 barns, 1 stable and silo; 1 pidgeon house; 5 boat houses ; 5 boat houses; 7 bath houses; 5 summer houses; 1 road stand and store; 45 additions; 31 alterations and repairs; 1 green house and 12 buildings were razed.
It is interesting to note that in all cases of reconstruction at the different beaches, the rebuilding is superior in every respect to the more or less flimsy former building. Each new dwelling now has proper plumbing facilities and an ade- quate yard space. It is gratifying to know that the assessed value at the beaches has increased.
TITLE AND SCOPE
Section No. 1 These by-laws shall be known and cited as the Building Laws. No building, structure or part thereof, shall hereafter be constructed and no building or structure now or hereafter erected, shall be razed, altered or built upon except in conformity with the provisions of these
106
Building Laws. Nor shall plumbing, gas-piping, drainage, heating, wiring or ventilation be installed or altered in any building except in conformity herewith.
PLUMBING INSPECTIONS
There were 303 plumbing inspections made in the year 1939.
PLUMBING PERMITS
All plumbing permits will be issued from the office of the Building Inspector, in the future.
Respectfully submitted,
HENRY T. HOWARD,
Building Inspector.
Report of Inspector of Animals
To the Honorable Board of Selectmen.
Gentlemen :
As Inspector of Animals under the Supervision of the Division of Livestock Disease Control, I do respectfully sub- mit my report for the year 1939.
22 Dogs Quarantined
957 Cattle Inspected (106 places)
731 Cows Inspected
196 Young Cattle Inspected
30 Bulls Inspected
116 Swine Inspected
34 Goats Inspected
Respectfully submitted,
FRANK J. COSTA, Inspector of Animals.
INSPECTOR OF SLAUGHTER
373 Alden Rd., Fairhaven, Mass., January 9, 1940.
To the Honorable Board of Health.
Gentlemen :
I herewith submit my annual report for the year ending December 30, 1939. There were sixty-two inspections made. 15 cattle, 31 hogs, 4 sheep, 12 calves.
Respectfully submitted,
HENRY STEVENS,
Inspector of Slaughter.
Report of the Shellfish Inspector
The Honorable Board of Selectmen, Fairhaven, Mass.
Gentlemen:
The report of the Shellfish Officer for 1939 to Novem- ber 1st, is as follows :-
There has been approximately 26,500 bushel of quahogs taken out of Fairhaven water this year, not including the State project on the Acushnet River. This is slightly less than last year on account of the scarcity of quahogs in the fishing grounds.
There were 101 quahog licenses granted and from 25 to 45 men working at it daily, weather permitting. We had 3000 bushel of small seed taken out of the Acushnet River as a State project and one-half of this amount or 1500 bushels was Fairhaven's share at $1.25 per bushel.
There were 15 lobster licenses taken out, the proceeds of their catch are unobtainable as they were sold all over and caught in the outer waters.
There was a poor crop of scallops and only about 1500 bushels were taken commercially and sold at $3.00 per bushel. The crop was small as the hurricane damaged the seed all along the coast. There is prospect of a fair crop next year, the seed is good on some fishing grounds. One hundred fifty-seven licenses were granted for scalloping.
For the $100. granted by the Town for propagation I received and planted 340 bushels of small quahogs off Fort Phoenix, these are growing and doing well and should more than double their size in two years and also spawn once or twice.
The amount of clams and quahogs and some oysters taken from the beaches by unlicensed people, men, women and children, are unobtainable but thousands of bushels were taken.
109
Approximate figures to November 1st were, commercially :-
101 quahog licenses $101.00
157 Scallop licenses include
43 licenses @ $3
129.00
75 licenses with rebate 75.00 39 helpers 39.00
15 Lobster licenses
75.00
$419.00
Quahogs 26,400 @ an
average $1.10 per bu. $29,040.
Scallops 1,500 bu. @ $3.00 4,500.
State project 1,975.
Lobsters, unobtainable, probably
from $5,000. to $6,000.
$35,515.
There are still the months of November and December to be accounted for.
Respectfully submitted,
TRACY W. MARKS, Shellfish Inspector.
Report of Fairhaven Board of Retirement
The system has thirty-eight members with eight on retire- ment at the present time.
Income for 1939
Cash on Hand Jan. 1, 1939
$4,608.65
Contributions from Members 1,606.43
Appropriation of Town
3,276.37
Interest Received
134.21 $9,625.66
Disbursements
Pensions Paid
$3,175.42
Refunds
170.44
Expenses
342.90
$3,688.76
$5,936.90
Respectfully submitted,
GEORGE A. GREENE, Chairman CLAUDIA I. SCHILLER, WILLIAM D. CHAMPLIN,
Fairhaven Board of Retirement.
Report of Sealer of Weights and Measures
To the honorable Board of Selectmen :
I herewith submit my annual report as Sealer of Weights and Measures for the year ending Dec. 31, 1939 during which time the following devices were tested and sealed or condemned.
Scales
Adjusted
Sealed 54
Not Sealed Condemned
Platform
24
14
12
Counter Platform
3
7
1
Counter
12
64
3
8
Beam
1
1
Spring
42
85
7
9
Computing
29
49
1
9
Personal Weighing
10
Prescription
3
Weights
Avoirdupois
90
404
6
Apothecary
16
Metric
7
3
Measures
Liquid over 1 Gal.
28
2
Liquid
93
1
Dry
32
3
Fuel Baskets
2
Measuring Devices
Gasoline Pumps
4
8
3
Stops on Pumps
23
52
Gasoline Meter Systems 31
47
11
Oil Pumps
3
19
19
Kerosene Pumps
8
16
5
2
Grease Pumps
1
1
112
Linear Measures
Adjusted
Sealed
Not Sealed Condemned
Yard Sticks
6
Totals
269
1004
53
70
Sealing fees collected and turned in to Town Treasurer
$119.40
Number of Reweighings of Goods Ready For Sale
Beans
Tested 84
Correct 49
Under 34
1
Bread
161
159
2
Butter
220
213
6
1
Charcoal
(in paper bags)
11
11
Confectionery
61
30
31
Dry Commodities
130
121
9
Flour
62
62
Fruit and Vegetables
67
19
21
27
Grain and Feed
72
70
2
Lard
53
53
Liquid Commodities
12
12
Meats and Provisions
15
12
3
Potatoes
89
64
11
14
Coal (in paper bags)
128
79
5
44
Number of Inspections
Paper or fibre cartons
141
Pedlers Licenses
48
Milk jars
76
Number of pedlers licenses issued
State, County, Town
25
Marking of
Food Pkgs.
183
Bread
338
Wholesale milk cans
96
Coal in paper bags
22
Transient vendors
1
Over
113
Kindling wood in paper bags
74
Pedlers scales
9
Ice scales
3
Junk scales
1
Oil jars
244
Glass graduates
14
Other inspections
65
Number of tests made
Retest on gasoline devices after
sealing
27
Mfrs. Sealed milk jars
18
Approved paper cartons
16
I wish to express my appreciation to the various officials for the support extended to me during the past year.
Appropriation recommended for 1940 as follows:
Salary
$630.00
Transportation
180.00
Equipment & Supplies
45.00
Tel., Postage, Printing
10.00
Convention & Travel
25.00
Sealers Helper
10.00
$900.00
Respectfully submitted,
CHAS. P. THATCHER, Sealer of Weights & Measures.
Report of the Moth Superintendent
To the Honorable Board of Selectmen.
Gentlemen :
There have been no Browntail Moths on the trees this year, but a number of Gypsy Moths, both on street trees and on private property and also a large number of tent cater- pillars. More attention must be given to follow-up work with creosote and thorough spraying.
In woodland areas where work has been done under a WPA project the Gypsy Moths have been considerably re- duced. At present I have about sixty WPA workers creo- soting in the outlying sections of our town, and they are do- ing a splendid job.
I would recommend an appropriation of $300 for the De- partment in 1940.
Respectfully submitted,
JOHN JARVIS
Moth Superintendent.
Report of the Tree Warden
To the Honorable Board of Selectmen.
Gentlemen :
All street trees throughout the town have been sprayed as well as a large number on private property to safeguard our shade trees. I have trimmed and cared for the trees in the different parts of the town as far as my appropriation would permit. At present the WPA project are trimming our large elms throughout the town and should be complimented for the splendid work they are doing.
I would recommend an appropriation of $1,500 for the care of trees in 1940.
Respectfully submitted,
JOHN JARVIS,
Tree Warden.
Report of Board of Health
To the Honorable Board of Selectmen
Gentlemen :
The Board of Health hereby submits the annual report for the year ending December 31, 1939.
Frequent meetings have been held during the year. The office has been open every day from nine until ten thirty o'clock, unless the executive office was making the neces- sary inspections on carrying on other outside duties connect- ed with the Board.
The garbage, as usual, has been collected in a most satisfactory manner. All complaints have been quickly investigated and corrected.
The following diseases dangerous to public health have been reported and investigated.
Measles
2
Chicken Pox
68
Scarlet Fever
5
Whooping Cough
6
Pneumonia
10
Eye Infection
4
Dog Bites
26
Mumps
4
Tuberculosis
8
Typhoid Fever
1
There have been 37 places carded and released and 76 inspections made. During the year we have issued 97 burial permits, 2 pasteurization licenses, 4 alcohol licenses, 9 oleo, and 3 ice cream licenses.
We have had an unusually large number of tubercular patients in the State Sanatorium this year. 8 new patients and 20 contacts have been X-rayed. At present there are 11 patients in the State Sanitorium.
This past summer 9 boys were sent to the Bristol County Health Camp. There were also 243 children immunized against diphtheria and 106 vaccinated against small pox,
117
With the cooperation of the Massachusetts State Depart- ment of Public Health and Mr. Richard Thatcher, our Sanitary Engineer, 123 wells were analyzed, of these 105 were re-examined with the result that 80 were found free from pollution, but were unpalatable because of the pres- ence of salt in large quantities. 147 cesspools were engin- eered and inspected.
The Board wishes to express its appreciation to the Com- munity Nurse, Police Department, Mr. Richard Thatcher, Sanitary Engineer for their cooperation and valuable as- sistance during the past year.
Respectfully submitted,
FILBERT A. SILVEIRA, M. D. Secretary and Executive Officer
Report of Public Health Nursing Service
To the Board of Selectmen of the Town of Fairhaven, Mass. Gentlemen ;
At the Town Meeting, the townspeople appropriated a sum of one thousand dollars ($1000.00), for the purpose of hiring a public health nurse for services where necessary.
Following is a report of the nursing visits made during the year-
Town Patients
803 Visits
Communicable Diseases
39
66
Tuberculosis
222
Child Welfare
1961
Total
3025 Visits
The appropriation paid for only 1334 of the above visits.
Public health nursing is "an organized community service", rendered by graduate nurses to the individual, family and community. This service includes the interpret- ation of medical, sanitary and social procedures for the correction of defects, prevention of disease, the promotion of health and skilled bedside nursing care of the sick in their homes.
The general objectives of all public health nursing services are to give assistance in the following;
"Educating individuals and families to protect their own health.
Adjustment of family and social conditions that affect health.
Correlating all health and social programs for the welfare of the family and the community.
Educating the community to develop public health facil- ities.
Securing immunization in communicable disease control." X-rays and examinations were urged for all tuberculous
119
patients and their contacts. Eight patients and twenty con- tacts were taken into State Sanatoria and many others had periodic examinations by their family physicians.
From the proceeds of the sale of Christmas Seals in Fair- haven, seven children (tuberculous contacts) were sent to Bristol County Health Camp. Two more children were able to go through the generosity of the American Legion Aux- iliary who paid their board. Each child stayed one month and returned home much improved in general physical con- dition.
Assistance was given at the following clinics held under the supervision of the Board of Health;
Diphtheria Toxoid Clinic -243 children were immu- nized.
Vaccination Clinic-106 children were vaccinated.
The Board of Health Executive Officer has been most helpful in reporting some of the new laws and policies of the Commonwealth as they affect those doing public health nursing.
To all who have assisted and co-operated, appreciation is hereby expressed.
Respectfully submitted,
Edith B. Horne, R. N.
Report of the Sewer Commissioners
To the Honorable Board of Selectmen.
Gentlemen:
The Board of Sewer Commissioners organized on Febru- ary 9, 1939 as follows: G. W. Valentine, chairman, John M. Reilly, clerk.
During the year 40 new sewer connections have been made and repairs made to 2 existing connections, making a total of 1,582 connections now in use.
Under Federal Relief projects the following sewers have been built :
Magnolia Street
781.8 feet
St. Mary Street
248
Harding Road
1342.6
Daniel Street
1402.1
"
Milton Street
401.3
Adams Street
321
East Oxford Street
733.4
Phoenix Street
537.4
Phoenix Street
263.7
"
Veranda Avenue
891.9
"
6923.2 feet
The net expenditures for maintenance during the year totalled $8,041.62 and for a detailed account of said ex- penditures we refer you to the financial statement found elsewhere in this report.
In closing, we would express our appreciation of the serv- ices over a period of twenty years of Frank W. Morse, who retired as a member of this Board in February.
Respectfully submitted,
G. W. VALENTINE JOHN M. REILLY LAWRENCE B. MAXFIELD
Board of Sewer Commissioners.
Report of Fairhaven Committee on Street and Highway Safety
To the Board of Selectmen :
Gentlemen:
During the past year Fairhaven has had 60 accidents with 85 injured-an improvement over 1938.
Fairhaven at the present time stands 36th on the list of safe cities and towns of our size in the nation, but eternal vigilence must continue to be the Safety Watch Word.
All recommendations made in past years still hold for this year and it is the hope of the Committee, when a per- manent police chief holds the office, to again make the recommendations in the hope that his cooperation will see them in effect.
The Police Department has been doing a commendable piece of work in helping to keep down the accidents.
The following table sets forth Fairhaven's record for the past seven years:
Year
Accidents
Deaths
Injured
Pedes. Injured
1933
54
2
97
25
1934
52
3
83
25
1935
47
0
73
20
1936
54
1
96
11
1937
77
0
118
31
1938
79
2
114
10
1939
60
0
85
18
(The number of injured pedestrians is included in the number injured.)
Again the Safety Committee is grateful to the Fiarhaven Post of the American Legion and all other civic and business associations for their fine spirit of cooperation and en- couragement in this worthwhile work of saving lives.
122
To the Superintendent of Schools and his fine corps of Principals and Teachers for the safety educational work in the schools (which rank second to none in the country) we extend our thanks and appreciation, also to the Superinten- dent of Streets and his Department for the very prompt and efficient work in keeping ice-coated streets sanded and to those motorists who have set an example in safe driving.
In closing, the Committee again urges the need of con- trolled speed and a motorcycle police officer for a Happy and Safe Fairhaven.
Respectfully submitted,
VICTOR O. B. SLATER, Chairman
RAYMOND T. BABBITT
Report of Emergency Relief
To the Honorable Board of Selectmen.
Gentlemen :
I am submitting report of projects completed in the year 1939. This report is compiled from data and reports sub- mitted by the various departments of the town directly sponsoring the projects worked.
No. 19117- Town wide Emergency Hurricane repairs Emergency work was started immediately after the hurricane and continued until the approval of the above captioned project under a definite appropriation. Five separate units were submitted and approved. Estimated contributory cost $3,652.30, actual contributory cost based on reports of material and equipment and labor totaled $2,768.04; $883.44 for material, $1,241.50 for equipment rental and $643.10 contributory labor, the latter figure includes supervision. The federal contri- bution is as follows: for truck rental $5,639.00, gravel $150.00, cement $262.50, tar penetration $422.00. A total of $6,473.50 for equipment and material supplied by WPA. The labor expense under this project by WPA was $38,932.34 making a total contribution for Emergency Hurricane Relief of $45,405.84. While there was some dissatisfaction expressed by property 'owners along the shore, considering the amount of work done, and the money saved the individual owners who would of necessity be obliged to clear their own property, we find that the work done by WPA in this instance was of great benefit. Practically the entire force of WPA was used on this work, and an additional force of 100 men was granted by Colonel McDonough. Work was started under the project on October 4, 1938 and stopped January 21, 1939 on orders from Washington.
Bl. 13433- A unit approved under the blanket for roads, drains, etc., operating in Houle Street from Brown to East Coggeshall Street and in Lafayette Street through Town owned right of way across Pilgrim Avenue to Acushnet River. Under this project 456 lin. ft. of wet
124
stone covered drain with 5 catchbasins, 56 lin. ft. of corrugated iron pipe was laid. Work was started on September 20, 1938, suspended September 21st because of the hurricane work, was resumed on November 30, 1938 and completed February 10, 1939. The estimated contributory cost $1,045.55, actual con- tributory cost according to reports submitted $911.98. $437.05 for material, $390.63 for equipment rental, $84.30 for contributory labor. WPA contributed 300 bags of cement to the value of $184.50.
Bl. 16551- This unit to construct sewer lines in Phoenix, Coe, Center and Tripp Streets laying a total of 8011/2 ft. of sewer line and construction of 3 manholes in Phoenix & Coe Sts., 380 ft. and 2 manholes in Tripp & Center Sts. Project started in Tripp St., August 29, 1938. This section was completed on September 7, 1938. Watson & Coe Sts. started on September 20th sus- pended because of hurricane on the 21st. Work resumed October 31, 1938 and completed March 20, 1939. In Watson & Coe Streets great difficulty was encountered with ledge and the cost was greatly in excess of the estimate because of this fact. Estimated contributory cost for the project as submitted was $2,878.00, the actual contributory cost as per report submitted $4,624.94. $2,023.41 for material which in- cludes drill points, caps, powder, etc. Equipment rental of $480.76 for trucks, $1,625.17 for compressor rental, $495.60 for contributory labor. WPA contri- buted 1113 ft. of 8" vitrified pipe, 36 - 8x4 Y's, and 4 - 8x8 double Y's to the value of $304.31.
Bl. 16551- A sewer unit in Sycamore St., St. Mary St., Magnolia Ave., Milton St. and Harding Road, which entailed the laying of 648 lin. ft. of 10" akron pipe, 2905 lin. ft. of 8" akron pipe, 372 lin. ft. of 10" iron pipe and 100 lin. ft. of 8" iron pipe with 87 Y's and the construction of 19 manholes. Project was started November 21, 1938 and completed March 18, 1939. Because of encountering ledge in all of the streets it was necessary to submit a supplemental to complete the work. The total estimated contributory cost on the original and supplemental was $4,892.80, the actual cost based on reports submitted $4,283.66. $2,669.57
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