USA > Massachusetts > Worcester County > Southbridge > Town annual reports of the officers of Southbridge for the year ending 1896-1898 > Part 28
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In mechanical work we take up the construction of objects
160
REPORT OF SCHOOL COMMITTEE.
and the pupils are taught to understand working-drawings. Plans for houses and details of building construction are taught in the High School. In the Grammar grades the pupils make working drawings of various objects and in studying the appli- cation of curves to ornamental forms make designs for vases, jars, paper-cutters, etc.
In decorative work designs are made for book-covers, wall- papers, table-covers, initials, etc. The spring months bring us many interesting flowers which we draw in pencil and in brush, and these are also used in design.
Thanking the superintendent, school committees and teachers for their hearty co-operation.
Yours respectfully, ANNA FRANCES EAGER.
Teachers.
The professional standard for teachers is constantly grow- ing higher, and it will, probably, not be long before the statutes will require of all teachers employed in the state a professional training, or an equivalent successful experience. As a whole, the corps of teachers of our schools never possessed a better equipment or higher degree of merit than those now in charge. They are thorough, earnest and progressive, fully devoted to their work and using every means to keep abreast of the times. The work of the schools is progressing quietly with very little friction, and in a good degree, systematically. The order in most rooms is excellent, the teachers insisting upon a ready obedience as the first duty of pupils. The number of teachers under regular appointment is three more than last year.
161
REPORT OF SCHOOL COMMITTEE.
£ chocl Sigrals.
During the year the school signal has been given five times, twice for one session, and three times for no school in any grade .- Another signal is now added.
In case the morning signal is given for no school, and the storm clears away, making it suitable for an afternoon session, the signal will be sounded at 12.30 and all schools will have an afternoon session from [.30 to 4 o'clock. The signals now stand as fo lows :-
SIGNALS.
Alarm at 8 a. m., one blow, no school for Primary grade. Same signal repeated immediately, no school in any grade Alarm at 1 1.30 a. m., one blow, one session.
Alarm at 12.30, one blow, afternoon session for all schools.
Attention is called to important changes made at the last session of the legislature relating to school attendance. A summary of present laws is given in the appendix
I desire, in closing, to express to the teachers my apprecia- tion of their co-operation and ready response to all my sugges- tions, and my sincere gratitude to all who by expressions of en- couragement and confidence have lightened the labors of the year.
Respectful'y Submitted,
J. T. CLARKE, Superintendent.
162
REPORT OF SCHOOL COMMITTEE.
Calendar for 1899=1900.
HIGH SCHOOL-40 weeks.
Spring Term, 15 weels, begins on Monday, March 13; ends on Friday, June 30, 1º9). Recess one week en ling April 8.
Fall Term, 16 weeks, begins on Tuesday, September 5; ends Friday, December 22.
Winter Term, 9 weeks, begins on Tuesday, January 2, 1900; ends Friday, March 2.
Spring Term, 16 weeks, begins on Monday, March 5; ends Friday, June 29. Vacation one week, ending April 7.
COMMON SCHOOLS-40 weeks.
Spring Term, 15 weeks, begins on Monday, March 6; ends Fri- day, June 23. Vacation one week, ending April 8.
Fall Term, 16 weeks, begins on Tuesday, September 5; ends Friday, December 22.
Winter Term, 9 weeks, begins on Tuesday, January 2, 1900; ends Friday, March 2.
Spring Term, 16 weeks, begins Monday, March 5; ends Friday, June 29. Vacation one week, ending April 7.
HOLIDAYS.
Every Saturday; Washington's Birthday; Patriots' Day; Memo- rial Day; Labor Day; Thanksgiving and the day follow- ing.
163
REPORT OF SCHOOL COMMITTEE.
Graduating Class of 1898. THURSDAY EVENING, JUNE 23. "MAINTAIN THE RIGHT."
MUSIC. Selections from Lady Slavey. Gustare Kerker
ORCHESTRA.
PRAYER. REV. W. A. HADLEY
CHORUS. "Song of Welcome." THE SCHOOL
SALUTATORY AND ESSAY.
- "I trust my sword, I trust my steed, { { But most I trust myself at need." SARAH PERSIS HASKELL
ESSAY. "Opportunities for Acquiring Education." MINNIE MABEL THOMPSON ESSAY. "Civilization in Education." NELLIE GERTRUDE STREETER ESSAY. "The Growth of Great Cities."
JOSEPH TREPHILE BLANCHARD
ESSAY. "Warrior Women of History."
EMILY MAUD HAYNES
ESSAY. "Instinct." LUCY CARLETON REED
ESSAY. "Visions." HARRY CLIFTON ROSE
ESSAY. "Echo." - JESSELYNE MAY GREEN
ESSAY. "'Advertising." ELIZABETH CECILIA KELLY
FSSAY. "Political Youth of To-day." - FREDERICK GEORGE HALL
QUARTETTE. "Return, Soft, Gentle Evening." Emerson MESSRS. MCKINSTRY, SANDERS, CHAMBERLIN, MORSE.
ESSAY. "Superstitions." RUTH EMILY CHAMBERLAIN
ESSAY. "The Calendar."
MABEL ALICE MARCY
ESSAY. "A Look Ahead." FRANK SHELDON MORSE
ESSAY. "Be Yourself."
-
AMITY BLANCHE ANGELL
ESSAY. "The Twentieth Century Girl." - ALICE MAUD SANDERS ESSAY. "National Monuments." - CLARENCE ALEXANDER HALL
164
REPORT OF SCHOOL COMMITTEE.
ESSAY. "Contentment."
EDITH GRACE DOUGHERTY
ESSAY. "Character."
ETHEL SEAVEY
TRIO. "Ebb and Flow." MISSES DOUGHERTY AND DOUTY.
-
King
ESSAY. "Success and Its Achievement." WILLIAM JAMES HENRY
ESSAY. "Ripples from a Pebble." MAUDE ESTELLE VARNER
ESSAY. "Nobleness." BELLE MARIA COOPER
ESSAY. "Our Heritage." CLIFFORD FORREST CHAMBERLAIN
*ESSAY. "Progress of Science." ROBERT WOODWARD SANDERS *ESSAY AND VALEDICTORY. "Mythic Fancies." FLORA MAE WELD CHORUS. "Joy, Joy, Freedom To-day." - THE SCHOOL PRESENTATION OF DIPLOMAS BY CHAIRMAN OF SCHOOL COMMITTEE. MARCHI. "America Forever." Shroeder
ORCHESTRA.
BENEDICTION.
MUSIC. National Airs Selection.
ORCHESTRA. - Beyer *Excused.
165
REPORT OF SCHOOL COMMITTEE.
Class Poem 1898.
Kind friends, there stands upon this stage No great, renowned poetic sage. But one who in a humble way, Would sing a reminiscent lay That you may know about the great, The glorious class of "Ninty-Eight."
The years we've spent within these walls Have helpful been to one and all, So wise we proved ourselves and sage, Our teachers thought the Golden Age Returned to the abodes of men, And Saturn our great king again.
In ninety-four we entered school, Assigned to room where Freshmen rule; With algebra we struggled then, (We'er glad we don't have it again;) To Botany attention paid, And far and wide the fields surveyed.
Our spring thus finished, summer came, Soph'mores, wise fools, we then were named; With Cæsar we great conquests made And towns and fields in ashes laid. Then what with Greek and Physics too, We had as much as we could do.
Our third year like an autumn day, Swiftły, swiftly sped away, On Cataline we heaped abuse, His wickedness had no excuse, At Cunaxa we fiercely battled, In French, avec plaisir, we prattled.
Teachers, with us your work is o'er, We leave you to return no more; Our failings in the past forgive, Let no unkind remembrance live. But may you all recall with cheer The days when "Nine-Eight" was here.
To you, schoolmates, who will return, Our good advice pray do not spurn, Each task perform with thoughtful care, Your teachers' confidence to share. Avoid the faults; but imitate Whate'er was good in "Ninety-Eight."
APPENDIX.
Summary of Educational Laws.
(From circular issued by State Board of Education, Dec. 1898.) Changes concerning Employment of Children and attendance at School.
CHAPTER 494, ACTS OF 1898.
SECTION I changes from thirteen to fourteen the age below which no child shall be employed in a factory, work shop or mercantile establishment. It forbids his employment for wages while school is in session and all employment before six in the morning and after seven in the evening. It strikes out the re- quirement of thirty weeks' attendance at school during the year after a child is thirteen before he can be granted a certificate that he is fourteen, attendance now being required all the time up to fourteen.
SECT. 2 requires the employer to procure and keep on file and accessible to truant officers, the district police and in- spectors of factories, age and schooling certificates of all such children employed, the limits of age now being fourteen and sixteen years, instead of thirteen and sixteen as heretofore ; also, to keep two lists of all such children, one on file as heretofore, the additional one co- spicuously posted near the principal en- trance of the building in which such children are employed.
EMPLOYMENT OF MINORS. SECT. 2 requires all employers to keep on file a complete list of all minors employed who can- not read at sight and write simple sentences in the English lan- guage ; also, to send to the Sup rintendent of schools the names
168
REPORT OF SCHOOL COMMITTEE.
of all such illiterate minors employed-new requirements appli- cable to persons from fourteen to twenty one years of age.
SECT. 5 provides that before a child under sixteen can be granted an age and schooling certificate, he must present to the person authorized to issue the same, an employment ticket, duly filled out and signed The certificate is to be surrendered to the child when he leaves the employer's service; but if not claimed within thirty days from the ending of his service, it is to be returned by the employer to the superintendent of schools.
SECT. 7 renews old provisions that no minor who cannot read at sight and write simple sentences in the English lan- guage shall be employed wh le a public evening school is main- tained in the town in which he resides, unless he attends a day school, or has a permit issued by the superintendent of schools; or, unless his teacher certifies each week that he is in regular attendance at such evening school (not in attendance seventy per cent. of the time as he etofore).
SECT. 8 authorizes truant officers to visit factories, work- shops and manufacturing establishments without that special direction from the school committee which the old law required, and report any cases of illegal employment of minors to the School Committee and to the chief of the district police, or to the inspector of factories for the district. Complaints under this act are to be brought by inspectors of factories, not by truant officers.
CONTAGIOUS DISEASES CHAP. 496.
SECT. II. No child who has not been duly vaccinated shall be admitted to a public school except upon presentation of a cer- tificate signed by a regular practising physician that such child is an unfit subject for vaccination. No child, who is a member of a household in which a person is sick with smallpox, diph- theria, scarlet fever or measles, or of a household exposed to
16
REPORT OF SCHOOL COMMITTEE.
contagion from a household as aforesaid, shall attend any public school during such sickness or until the teacher of the school has been furnished with a certificate from the board of health of the town, or from the attending physician of such sick person, stating in a case of smallpox, diphtheria or scarlet fever, that a period of at least two weeks, and in a case of measles a period of at least three days, has elapsed since the recovery, removal or death of such person, and that danger of the conveying of such disease by such child has passed.
SECT. 12 makes attendance upon a public school compul- sory, for all children between the ages of seven and fourteen years, during the entire time the public schools are in session, wi h no allowance for unexcused absence.
Excepted from these provisions are (a) children that are at- tending approved private day schools, or receiving instruction equal to that given in the public schools ; (b) children that are compelled by necessity to be absent, including children whose physical or mental condition renders their attendance inexpedi- ent or impracticable.
SECT. 26. Every habitual school offender, that is, every child under fourteen years of age who persistently violates the rea- sonable regulations of the school which he attends, or otherwise persistently misbehaves therein, so as to render himself a fit subject for exclusion therefrom, upon complaint by a truant officer, and conviction thereof, may be committed, if a boy, at the discretion of the court, to a county truant school for a period no exceeding two years, or to the Lyman school for boys, and, if a girl, to the state industrial school for girls, unless such child is placed on probation as provided for in section twenty-eight of this act.
SECT. 31. Any person having under his control a child between seven and fourteen years of age who fails for five day sessions or ten half day sessions within any period of six months while under such control, to cause such child to attend school as re-
170
REPORT OF SCHOOL COMMITTEE.
quired by section twelve of this act, the physical or mental con- dition of such child not being such as to render his attendance at school harmful or impracticable, upon complaint by a truant officer, and conviction thereof, shall forfeit and pay a fine of not more than twenty dollars. Any person who induces or attempts to induce any child to absent himself unlawfully from school, or employs or harbors while school is in session any child absent unlawfully from school, shall forfeit and pay a fine of not more than fifty dollars.
DUTIES OF TRUANT OFFCERS. Section 34 directs truant offi- cers to inquire into all cases arising under this act, and author- izes them to make complaints, serve processes and carry into execution judgements thereunder. They are to proceed direct- ly under the provisions of this act, by-laws having been done away with.
SECT. 22 requires that towns pay one dollar a week (instead of two as heretofore) for the maintenance of each child sent to a truant school.
SCHOOL CENSUS. SECT 16 provides that the school census shall include the names and ages, with such other facts as may be designated by the State Board of Education (a) of all persons between five and fifteen years of age, and (h) of all minors over fourteen years of age who cannot read at sight and write simple sentences in the English language, residing in town on the first day of September. The first census under this requirement is to be taken in September 1899.
ANNUAL REPORT
OF THE
TOWN CLERK.
Town Clerk's Report.
Vital Statistics.
5 Number of marriages, births and deaths, in the town of Southbridge for the year ending December 31, 1898.
Numbers of marriages-
American,
22
French,
57
Irish,
I3
Sweden, English,
I
Poland,
I
Scotch,
3
Austrian,
I
- 98
Number of Deaths-
American,
40
French,
I22
Irish,
34
Sweden,
4
English,
12
Colored,
I
Scotch,
2
German,
I
-- 216
I74
REPORT OF TOWN CLERK.
Number of Births-
American,
4I
French,
217
Irish,
32
Sweden,
2
English,
3
Poland,
2
German,
2
Scotch,
2
Russian,
3
-- 304
Number of dogs licensed --
Males,
328
Females, '
24
--- 352
Insurance on Town Property.
Town hall building and contents,
$60,000 00
Boiler, town hall building,
5,000 00
Engine house and contents, Globe Village,
8,500 00
Engine house and contents, Central street,
4,000 00
Storage barn and contents near Main street,
1,900 00
Almshouse and contents,
10,300 00
Library building,
2,500 00
Printed books, etc., public library,
10,200 00
New school house, Marcy street,
20,000 CO
Brick school house, furniture, etc.,
7,000 00
School house, School street,
4,700 00
School house, Sandersdale,
2,000 00
School house, Union street,
2,000 00
175
REPORT OF TOWN CLERK.
School house, Pleasant street,
2,000 00
School house, Elm street,
1,600 00
School house, near Morris street,
1,500 00
School house, Bacon district,
600 00
School house, Sumner district,
600 00
School house, Hooker district,
600 00
Armory, 5,500 00
$ 150,500 00
Respectfully submitted,
EDGAR M. PHILLIPS,
Town Clerk.
ANNUAL REPORT
OF THE
FIRE DEPARTMENT.
FIRE ENGINEERS.
In compliance with the usual custom relative to the Fire Department, we submit our fourth annual report for the year ending Feb. 28, 1899.
Accompanying this report is a correct record of the Depart- ment with the amount of expenditures, also what recommenda- tions we deem necessary for the best interests of the Depart- ment and Town.
Manual Force
The Manual Force : Board of Engineers ; Chief, and four District Chiefs, two steam fire engine companies of fifteen men each, two hand hose companies manned by the two steam fire engine companies, two hook and ladder companies of ten men each, Superintendent of Fire Alarm, and fifteen horses subject to the call of the Department.
Roll Call of Fire Department.
BOARD OF ENGINEERS.
C. P. Phipps, Chief Engineer.
B. C. Stone, District Chief of Boxes 21, 23, 24.
Patrick Flynn, District Chief of Boxes 25, 26, 28, 32.
George J. Lamoureux, District Chief of Boxes 41, 42, 43, 45, 46 and Private Boxes 31, 71, 72.
C. F. Marble, clerk and District Chief of Boxes 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39.
180
REPORT OF FIRE ENGINEERS.
STEAMER AND HOSE CO. NO. I.
M. L. Dillaber, Captain
H. A. Dresser,
Lieutenant
W. R. Hager,
Clerk and Treasurer
Geo. B. Works, Engineer H. H. Clemence, Assistant Engineer - Stoker
Jos. Bebo, -
Otto Carlson,
Steward
HOSEMEN.
R. E. Moore,
A. E. Davis,
H. C. Pellett,
Geo. T. Armes, C. F. Jordan,
H. M. Robinson.
A, L. Cozzens, W. E. Briggs,
Substitute, E. D. Chamberlain.
STEAMER AND HOSE CO. NO. 2.
John Hefner, - -
Captain
M. P. O'Shaughnessy, - Lieutenant
F. A. Wald, Clerk and Treasurer
Geo. Simpson,
Engineer
John Splaine,
Assistant Engineer and Steward
Wm. Walters,
- Stoker
HOSEMEN.
Douglas Hivan, Wm. Crawford, Jos. Rivers,
Stermius Herber, Edward Splaine,
Luke Reilly,
Geo. Thayer, M. E. Walters, Wm. Connolly,
Substitute, T. O'Shaughnessy.
HOOK AND LADDER CO. NO. I.
L. N. Duquette, Captain
Peter Caplette, Lieutenant
Edward Hetu, -
Clerk and Treasurer
John Coggins, Louis Peloquin, Frank Farro,
J. K. Egan, N. Gamache,
Thos. McGrath,
Jos. Lucia,
Substitutes, Alfred Deslauniers, Chas. Martel.
181
REPORT OF FIRE ENGINEERS.
HOOK AND LADDER CO. NO. 2.
John Brennan,
Captain
John Hogan,
Lieutenant
John W. Smythe,
Wm. T. Kennedy,
- - Clerk and Treasurer H. E. Weld, Peter May,
Thos. Brennan, P. F. Delehanty,
Mich. Breen, Jos. Powers,
Substitutes, A. Holmes, H. C. Moynhan.
Fires and Alarms.
There were eleven alarms, with one general alarm, also eight still alarms.
July 7, 1898, 3.15 p. m. Box 34. No. I companies responded. Fire in Hotel occupied by J. B. Degrenier owned by N. L'heureux. Damage $30. Insurance $4,000. Insurance paid $30. Recall 3.21 p. m. Cause, from over heated chimney.
Aug. 30, 8.25 p. m. Box 35. No. I companies responded. Fire in dwelling occupied by S. K. Edwards, owned by same. Damage $300. Insurance $4,500. Insurance paid $300. Recall 8.29 p. m. Cause, unknown.
Sept. 4, 3.32 a. m. Box 26. No. 2 companies responded. Re- call 3.40 a. m. False alarm.
Sept. 23, 2.07 p. m. Box 34. No. I companies responded. Fire in block owned by Wm. Comstock and occupied by John Bonnett and Wm. Green. Damage $345. Insurance $5,200. Insurance paid $245. Recall 2.25 p. m. Cause, from oil stove.
Oct. 26, 9.15 a. m. Box 24. No. 2 companies responded to a brush fire in the rear of Wm. Booth's house. Recall 9.20 a. m.
182
REPORT OF FIRE ENGINEERS
Nov. 11, 6.05 p. m. Box 28. No. 2 companies responded. Fire in a dwelling owned by M. Marcy, est., and occupied by four families. No damage. Insurance $ 1,500. Insurance paid, none. Recall 6.11 p. m. Cause, chimney.
Dec. 5, 12.52 p. m. Box 42. No. I companies responed. Fire in dwelling owned by David Boucher. Occupied by French family. Damage $10. Insurance $1,000. Insurance paid $10. Recall 12.56 p. m. Cause, over heated chimney.
Dec. 7, 11.35 a. m. Box 28. No. 2 companies responded. Fire in Factory owned and occupied by the Southbridge Opt. Co. Damage $250. Insurance $31,500. Insurance paid $250. Recall 11.45 a. m. Cause, explosive fluid.
Dec. 13, 6.18 a. m. Box 34. No. I companies responed. Fire in Hotel occupied by G. W. Faulkner and owned by Geo. H. Hartwell. Damage $290.70. Insurance $ 15 500. In- surance paid $290.70. Recall 6 33 a. m. Cause, match thrown into bed.
Dec. 25, 6.22 p. m. Box 46. No. I companies responded. Fire in dwelling owned by Mrs. Jos. Theriault, occupied by two families. Damage $75. Insurance $1,000. Insur- ance paid $50 Recall 6.30 p. m. Cause, oil lamp.
Feb. 10, 1899, 9.40 p. m. Box 34. No. I companies responded. Fire in block owned by Eliza A. Pellett and occupied by H. C. Pellett & Co. Damage $6,366.52. Insurance $6,475. Insurance paid $6,366.50. This fire extended to the Whit- ford and Ellis Block. General alarm at 10 p m. Recall 2.03 a. m. Cause, ashes in wooden receptacle.
Appropriation and Expenditures.
Balance to credit of account March 1, 1898, $313 38
Appropriation at annual meeting, 1950 00
$2263 38
183
REPORT OF FIRE ENGINEERS.
EXPENDITURES.
John J. Bowlen, team,
$210 00
Hamilton Woolen Co., team,
III 00
W. & W. A. Seavey, team,
IOI CO
N. S. Vial, team,
62 50
Gas & Electric Co.,
86 21
Southbridge Water Co.,
27 00
E. C. Ellis, coal,
34 80
W. Booth, «
80 50
Boston Woven & R. Co., hose,
285 95
N. E. Gamewell Co., fire alarm supplies,
338 48
C. S. Ayres, carpet,
16 39
W. C. Lewis, supplies,
17 86
C. P. Phipps,
50 68
R. Wardle, painting,
26 05
J. M. & L. D. Clemence, lumber,
4 96
Geo. F. King & Co., flags,
13 00
Thos. Plant & Co., boots,
15 80
Hartford S. B. I. & I. Co., insurance,
25 00
C. F. Marble, freight and cartage,
IO 57
Alex. Boyer, labor,
4 68
J. B. Brousseau, repairs,
2 20
S. H. Davis & Co , dusters,
7 00
Otto Carlson, wood and supplies,
15 95
W. H. Clark, paper, 2 70
Geo S. Stone Co., repairs,
34 00
Geo L. Winter, supplies and repairs,
22 36
Robinson & Dougherty, printing,
4 50
Combination Ladder Co., coats and noz- zels, vitriol, 93 64
Alexander Bros., caps,
102 50
J. B. Prescott & Son, zincs,
13 92
E. F. Dakin, record book, 4 85
Geo. B. Works, labor and supplies,
16 25
184
REPORT OF FIRE ENGINEERS.
Fire Dept. Pub. Co., fire record book,
5 00
American Optical Co., labor and repairs, 2 88
J. S. Gleason, supplies,
5 46
A. W. Paton, vitriol and soda,
22 03
Gleason & Bailey, repairing hose reel,
30 00
Hamilton Woolen Co., changing whistle,
158 II
$2065 79
Balance to credit of account,
$197 59
Salaried Account.
RECEIPTS.
By appropriation,
$1,910 00
EXPENDITURES.
Board of Engineers, Chief ($100) four assistants,
$25 00 each
$200 00
Two engineers for steamers,
100 00
200 00
Two assistant engineers for steamers,
50 00
100 00
Two stokers,
50 00
100 00
Two stewards,
75 00
150 00
Four captains,
35 00
140 00
Four lieutenants,
30 00
"
120 00
Thirty-six hose and ladder men,
25 00
900 00
$1,910 00
Firemen's Relief Association.
Deposits in Bank Jan. Ist, 1899,
992 40
Amount drawn out during the year,
12 00
Balance, $980 40
..
185
REPORT OF FIRE ENGINEERS.
Electrician's Report.
Gentlemen : The fire alarm system has given very good sat- isfaction this year and a number of changes have been made that have materially benefited it.
The Southbridge Gas & Electric Co. have had to change a number of their polls and when the fire alarm wires were re- placed they were put in a better position and now will be secure from trouble at these points.
We have had but one break in the line caused by intense cold, which snapped the wire on Hook street.
Early last summer it was thought advisable to change the cutouts in all the boxes and we had an expert come up from the factory and the results of his work were very gratify- ing. With the old cutouts the closing of the door would not always cut the box out of circuit, thus necessitating a heavier battery current and also exposing the magnets in the boxes to the danger of a burn out from lightning or cross wire.
The Globe Village whistle, which was over the boiler room in the Print works, where it was very hot and dusty, has been moved into another room and is now in a good position where it can be easily reached and kept clean.
The Indicator and Register voted for last spring have been put in and are very satisfactory.
When we get our new engine house, and it must be soon, for the old house is settling and cracking. the service can be further improved by the substitution of storage batteries for the gravity batteries now in use.
Supplies on hand : 24 jais, 10 saucers, 6 zincs, 23 coppers, I-2 bbl. sulp. copper.
Respectfully submitted,
ANDREW F. HALL.
Supt. Fire Alarm Telegraph.
I86
REPORT OF FIRE ENGINEERS.
Water Supply.
I feel it my duty to keep before the citizens of the town, the condition of our water system. There are two parts of the town, namely: Plimpton and Pleasant streets, and Charlton road where there is no fire protection. And should a fire occur in either of these localities, the only way of getting a stream of of water on the fire, would be by using two steamers and thousands of feet of hose, which is not practical, and crip- ples the department, should another fire occur at the same time. We should have at least 12 hydrants in these localities. We also should have another line of hydrants on the opposite side of Main street. The pipe being connected with the main coming down Hamilton street at Shepard's corner, and run as far as I. P. Hyde's house, giving us a hydrant at the head of Foster street, one at the head of Central street and one near Whitford & Ellis block. At the same time not reducing the pressure of the main pipe. During the year, four new post hydrants have been added.
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