USA > Massachusetts > Worcester County > Southbridge > Town annual reports of the officers of Southbridge for the year ending 1913-1916 > Part 9
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REPORT OF BOARD OF HEALTH
ply Company, this water although of a pure source is allowed to stand in a dirty reservoir and to pass through dirty pipes, so that when it reaches the people for use it is almost unfit for drinking, and the people flock to the unused wells and typhoid fever is the result.
The Board has only the authority to appeal to the State Board of Health who has entire control over all water supplies, this it has done on several occasions, we hope that before another summer and fall reaches us, the Water Company itself will see that filters of ap- proved style and large enough to filter all of the sup- ply are installed and kept constantly in use.
In the spring the Board thought it would be for the interest of the town that they appoint an Inspector of milk, this authority having been transferred from the Selectmen to the Board of Health, to save expense they appointed the agent of the Board to act as Inspec- tor and he with the approval of the Board has drawn up regulations governing the handling of milk.
The object of the inspection so far has been along the lines of cleanliness, the town must soon buy some apparatus for the testing of milk, for as soon as the purity of the supply has been accomplished the quality of the milk itself will be looked into, and this requires machines of up-to-date and approved styles. The regulations follow :
Milk Rules and Regulations
At a meeting of the Southbridge, Mass. Board of Health, held March 28, 1912, it was voted that the following rules and regulations be, and hereby are, adopted :
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REPORT OF BOARD OF HEALTH
TOWN OF SOUTHBRIDGE MILK RULES AND REGULATIONS.
1. No person, firm or corporation shall engage in the production, sale, delivery or distribution of milk in the town of Southbridge, except in accordance with the provisions of Revised Laws of Massachusetts, and of Acts of the Legislature additional thereto or in amend- ment thereof, and in compliance with the following Rules and Regulations of the Board of Health of said town.
2. Every person, firm or corporation producing, keeping or offering for sale, milk in the town of South- bridge, shall annually, before the first day of June, be licensed to do so by the Milk Inspector of said town.
3. No milk shall be produced, kept, sold or of- fered for sale in the town of Southbridge from any cow or cows that are not properly cared for, or that have not-within one year-been examined by com- petent authority and certified to be free from all dis- eases dangerous to the public health; or that are kept in a stable that is not in a clean, healthful and sanitary condition, and that is not open to inspection by the Board of Health or the Milk Inspector at all times.
4. No milk shall be produced, kept, sold or of- fered for sale in the town of Southbridge unless it has been strained, mixed and cooled immediately after it is drawn from the cow. Said milk shall not be strained, mixed or cooled in any room which is not provided with tight walls and floor of such construction as will allow easy and thorough cleaning, or which is not kept constantly clean, or which is occupied by horses, cows or other animals; or in any room which is used in
1
236
REPORT OF BOARD OF HEALTH
whole, or in part, for domestic or sleeping purposes, or unless the storage room for milk is separated from the other parts of the building, and provision made for the exclusion of outside dust and flies, to the satisfaction of the Board of Health.
5. Milk kept for sale in any shop, restaurant, market, bakery or other establishment, shall be stored in a covered cooler box or refrigerator. No vessel con- taining milk for sale shall be allowed to stand outside of said cooler box or refrigerator, except while a sale of said milk is being made. Every such cooler box or refrigerator shall be properly drained, cleansed and cared for, and shall be kept tightly closed, except dur- ing such intervals as are necessary for the introduction of milk or ice; and shall be kept only in such locations as shall be approved by the Board of Health.
6. The Milk Inspector shall-under the direction of this Board- investigate and take samples, to deter- mine the quality of the milk sold, offered or exposed for sale, or intended for sale in this town; and he shall make, or cause to be made, examinations and inspec- tions thereof, to ascertain whether or not adulterated or impure milk is sold, kept, offered or exposed for sale, or intended for sale in said town, contrary to the Statutes of this Commonwealth, or to the provisions of these rules and regulations. He shall visit dairies sup- plying milk in, and to the inhabitants or the town of Southbridge, and all places where milk is stored, kept or offered for sale, as often as deemed necessary by this Board; and he shall report the conditions thereof at the time of such inspection, in writing, to this
237
REPORT OF BOARD OF HEALTH
Board. He shall act as agent and prosecuting officer for the Board of Health in all matters pertaining to milk.
7. All cans, bottles or other vessels of any sort used in the protection, storage, sale or distribution of milk in this town shall be cleaned and sterilized with boiling water or steam before they are again used for the same purpose; and all cans, measures or other utensils made of metal shall be kept free from dents and rust, and there shall be proper appliances for wash- ing all utensils used in the production, mixing, storage, sale or distribution of milk; and all such utensils shall be washed, cleaned and sterilized with boiling water or steam, regularly, after being so used. The filling of bottles, except at the dairy or creamery, is prohibited.
8. The water used in washing apparatus and utensils must be from a public water supply, or if from any other source, its use must be subject to the ap- proval of the Board of Health.
9. No milk shall be brought into or carried with- in the town of Southbridge for the purpose of sale, which has been carried upon any wagon or vehicle which is not clean and free from offensive odors, or upon which swill, refuse, garbage, or decaying, un- wholesome or filthy matter is carried.
10. No person, by himself, or by his servant or agent, or as the servant or agent of any other person, firm or corporation, shall, in the town of Southbridge. sell, exchange or deliver, or have in his custody or pos- session with intent to sell. exchange or deliver, any milk, skimmed milk, or cream which contains more
238
REPORT OF BOARD OF HEALTH
than 500,000 bacteria per cubic centimeter, or any pathogenic micro-organism.
11. Every person engaged in the production, storage, transportation, sale, delivery or distribution of milk for sale in this town shall notify the Board of Health immediately on the occurrence of any case or cases of infectious disease, either in himself or his family, or among his employees, or their immediate associates, or within the building or premises where inilk is stored, sold or distributed, and at the same time shall suspend the sale or distribution of milk un- til authorized to resume the same by the Board of Health. No vessel which has been handled by a per- son suffering from a disease, or which is on the prem- ises of a person in whose family or household infectious disease exists, shall be removed to hold or convey milk until it has been throughly disinfected and sterilized under the supervision of an agent of the Board of Health.
12. Bottles or other milk containers shall not be left with any family in which there is any contagious disease, but milk may be delivered to such families by pouring into vessels furnished by said families. No bottle or other container, previously left with any family in which a contagious disease occurs, shall be removed therefrom, except with the consent of the Board of Health in writing.
13. For the purpose of enabling the Board of Health to carry out and enforce the provisions of these rules and regulations, the Milk Inspector, acting as the authorized agent of, or any other qualified inspector
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REPORT OF BOARD OF HEALTH
or agent of the Board of Health, or any member of said Board, shall, at all times, have free access to all barns, stables, dairies, creameries, stores, wagons and all other buildings or premises in which cattle are kept, from which any part of the milk supply of town of Southbridge is obtained, or in which milk is received, kept, bottled, canned or offered for sale, for the pur- pose of making inspection of said premises, cattle, vehicles, cans, vessels, measures and other utensils used in conducting the handling, sale and delivery of milk, and for the purpose of taking for analysis or other tests to determine its quality, samples of milk kept, or intended for sale in the town of Southbridge.
14. Whoever tests milk or cream, which is to be offered for sale in any form, by testing, shall do so by means of a spoon, or piece of wood, paper, cardboard or other article, and such spoon, piece of wood, paper, cardboard or other article shall not again be brought in contact with the milk intended for sale, or be used for testing milk until after being thoroughly washed and sterilized. No person shall permit his hands, fingers, lips or tongue to come in contact with milk intended for sale, in any form. All persons engaged in the test- ing, mixing or handling of milk for sale in any form, shall, before engaging in such testing, mixing or hand- ling, thoroughly clean his hands and finger nails, and keep them clean and dry during such testing, mixing or handling. No person shall permit his hands, while wet, to remain or pass over any open vessel containing milk intended for sale in any form. No person shall fill a jar, can or other receptacle with milk while the
.
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REPORT OF BOARD OF HEALTH
aforesaid jar, can or other receptacle is held over an open vessel containing milk intended for sale in any form. No person who has sore throat, diarrhoea, or is suffering from any other disturbance of the bowels, or has symptons of infections or contagious disease, shall engage in the handling of milk which is to be offered for sale, or which is for sale.
15. No urinal, water closet or privy shall be located in rooms in which milk is handled; or so situated as to pollute the atmosphere of said rooms.
16. Dealers in milk are prohibited from allowing any person, or persons, not in their employ, to loiter about the milk room, or handle any vessel or utensil used in the sale and distribution of milk.
17. Every person, firm or corporation in the town of Southbridge, engaged in the sale, delivery or dis- tribution of milk from dairies, shall, upon request from the Board, certify that the above rules are complied with by said dairies.
GEO. WEBSTER, M. D., J. ANATOLE CARON, JOSEPH E. DONAIS, M. D., Board of Health.
Having been appointed and duly sworn Milk In- spector for the town of Southbridge, Mass., I will be in my office, Town Hall building, Elm street, every day except Sundays from 1 to 2 o'clock p. m.
ALBERT R. BROWN,
Milk Inspector.
.
241
REPORT OF BOARD OF HEALTH
The question of collection of house garbage is being brought to the attention of the Board more and more each year, and soon some way will have to be provided to take care of this problem which at its best is a perplexing one for any town, as it incurs quite a large expense.
After careful investigation, the Board feels as though it should have a separate appropriation and not be obliged to draw all orders from the contingent ac- count. this account takes care of all bills contracted by the Selectmen, and at any time may become so low that the Board can not have use of it, and we feel that a seperate account would serve better the purposes of the board.
Total number of deaths from all causes,
exclusive of still-births, 151
Number of still-births, 15
DEATH BY SEXES.
(Still-births excluded)
Number of deaths of males,
81
Number of deaths of females, 70
DEATHS BY AGES. (Still-births excluded)
Total.
Males.
Females.
Deaths of persons under 1 year,
54
80
24
From 1 to 2 years,
6
4
2
2 to 3 years,
4
3
1
3 to 4 years,
2
1
1
4 to 5 years.
0
0
0
5 to 10 years,
2
2
0
10 to 15 years, -
1
1
0 :
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REPORT OF BOARD OF HEALTH
15 to 20 years,
5
3
2
20 to 30 years,
5
0
5
30 to 40 years,
10
5
5
40 to 50 years,
4
1
3
50 to 60 years,
16
8
8
60 to 70 years,
14
9
5
70 to 80 years,
14
5
9
over 80 years,
14
9
5
-
-
151
81
70
DEATHS BY MONTHS. (Still-births excluded)
Deaths in January, 13
Deaths in July,
11
in February,
14
in August,
16
in March,
15
in September,
17
in April,
19
in October,
9
in May,
10
in November,
11
in June,
9
in December,
7
CAUSES OF DEATH. (Still-births excluded)
Tuberculosis, pulmonary,
8
Cerebro-spinal meningitis,
1
Whooping-cough,
2
Erysipelas,
1
Puerperal,
1
Dysentery,
1
Cholera infantum,
10
Other diarrhœal diseases,
1
Pneumonia,
18
Bronchitis,
1
Diseases of the heart,
24
..
.
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REPORT OF BOARD OF HEALTH
Diseases of the brain and spinal cord,
6
Diseases of the kidneys, 7
Cancer, 7
Accident, 3
From unknown or ill-defined causes, 22
Number of deaths from all other causes not specified above (not including still-births) 38
151
It is the desired wish of the Board that every citizen shall interest himself actively in the campaign against tuberculosis. and shall exert his influence for the adoption of measures which shall tend to suppress the disease, such as the following: Report all cases to the Board of Health whether you be a physician or not, send the case to a suitable sanatorium, urge the enforcement of the anti-spitting laws and see that you do not break them yourself, do not spit if you can help it, do not swap apple-cores, candy, chewing gum or whistles, never cough or sneeze in another's face, never spit on the floor or sidewalk, follow these few simple suggestions and a great deal of good will be obtained. 4
Respectfully submitted,
DR. GEORGE WEBSTER, J. ANATOLE CARON, DR. JOSEPH E. DONAIS,
Board of Health
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REPORT OF BOARD OF HEALTH
Agent's Report
To the Board of Health.
GENTLEMEN :
I herewith submit the report of your agent for the current year ending December 31, 1912.
Houses placarded for contagious diseases, 10
Houses disinfected after contagious diseases, 10
Houses disinfected after other diseases,
5
School rooms disinfected, 6
Plumbing investigated and ordered repaired, 4
Poultry nuisance investigated,
14
Poultry nuisance ordered abated,
12
Yards ordered cleaned,
20
Dumps ordered cleaned,
11 14
Cesspools ordered cleaned,
9
Privies ordered cleaned,
19
Drains ordered cleaned,
2
Swine ordered removed,
5
Rabbits ordered removed,
2
Dead animals buried,
3
Garbage nuisance investagated and abated,
30
Ponds abated,
1
Wells investagated, 3
Respectfully submitted,
ALBERT R. BROWN, Agent.
Ashes ordered removed,
Cellars ordered cleaned,
4
245
REPORT OF BOARD OF HEALTH
Plumbing Inspector's Report
To the Board of Health.
GENTLEMEN :-
I herewith submit my report of the work as your Plumbing Inspector for the year ending December 31, 1912.
During the year I have issued one hundred thirteen permits to do plumbing work from applica- tions received and on file, they are classified as follows: Residences or cottage houses, 26
Two tenement houses,
24
Three tenement houses,
20
Four tenement houses,
5
Six tenement houses,
7
Hotels,
1
Garages,
2
Stores,
1
Mill or Factories,
3
Barber shops,
1
Alterations, addition or remodeling old houses,
23
Total,
113
These buildings contain the following fixtures :
Water closets,
274 Wash trays, 34
Sinks,
238
Refrigerators, 3
Bath tubs,
128
Soda fountain, 1
Wash bowls, 113
Urinals, 2
Number of houses connected with sewer or cess- pools during the year :
With sewer, New buildings 33, Old buildings 63
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REPORT OF BOARD OF HEALTH
With cesspools, New buildings 13, Old buildings 9
Number of inspections made during year : For water tests,
123
For final tests,
113
For miscellaneous inspections,
128
Total, 364
Respectfully submitted,
ALBERT R. BROWN,
Inspector of Plumbing.
Milk Inspector's Report
To the Board of Health.
GENTLEMEN :
I herewith submit my first annual report as your Inspector of Milk for the year ending Dec. 31, 1912.
The inspector of milk so far as the words and of- fice mean to a large majority of the citizens has not as yet been accomplished, for they believe that all an Inspector of Milk is for, is to see that they receive a large amount of cream or butter fat in their daily supply.
The object and work of your Inspector so far, has been in another direction, that is, to try and furnish the citizens with a clean and pure milk, this I beleive should begin at the barn where the cow is housed, to see that they get the proper care and kept in a clean and sanitaty stable, and to have the milk properly handled after it leaves the cow and stable.
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REPORT OF BOARD OF HEALTH
Your Inspector has visited the farms and inspected the stables and milkrooms of all those furnishing milk, he has also scored by the use of a uniform score card, the stable and the care and handling of the milk, and will again this month visit them and see if the advice and suggestions given at that time have been put in force.
Letters have been sent to some dairymen asking them to provide more air or sunlight to the stables, to others to provide a seperate milk room, and to al- most all to clean and whitewash the stables, these sug- gestions I believe will not work any hardship on the farmer as they call for inexpensive repairs and will help him to do his work, as well to insure cleaner milk.
The scores of the several dairies are on file at this office and can be seen by anybody asking for them, it is the intention of the Inspector to publish next year the scores of the different dairies, this has not been done this year as only one inspection could be reported.
The milk regulations are printed below and I hope the public as well as the milk dealers will co-operate with the Inspector in the work of furnishing clean, pure and good milk to the citizens of Southbridge.
During the year the following number of milkmen were licensed by your Inspector.
Applications received,
30
License issued, 30
Dairies visited and scored,
31
Letters sent making suggestions,
16
Respectfully submitted,
ALBERT R. BROWN, Inspector of Milk.
ANNUAL REPORT
OF THE
Sewer Commissioners
The comprehensive report of the engineer of this department would give to the voters and tax payers a definite information as to the work done this year, but the sewer Commissioners desire to give themselves a full account of their doings.
The board has, as in the past three years, followed the general policy of employing its own help in order that town labor might get the benefit of the money expended, and the abutters as well in obtaining lower rates of assessments.
The board asked for no appropriations this year, but built sewers in the sections most needed, and from the sewer assessment money on hand.
The first section of sewer built was that of Mill street from River street, northeasterly to Cliff street, a distance of 637.3 feet at a cost of $863.52. We then built 500 feet on Pleasant street, from River street northerly to Robert street at a cost of $836.07. The next work was on Charlton street from Mechanic street easterly to Evergreen street, a distance of 1080 feet,
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REPORT OF SEWER COMMISSIONERS
the cost of which was $1.499.68. And the last work of the season was the construction of sewers on South street and Oakes avenue, we spent $3,569.05 on 1,512 feet of sewers on these two streets, but as you will see by our engineer's report about 1,100 feet of this was ledge which required blasting.
The 3,729 feet of sewers built this year increased the mileage to 13.34 miles of sewers. There are con- nected with this mileage, 775 buildings, including the manufacturing establishments, schools and public buildings. These buildings empty into the sewers 238 sinks, 274 closets, 128 baths, 113 bowls, 2 urinals, 34 wash trays, 1 air pump, 3 refrigerators, 1 soda foun- tain.
For item of expenses we refer you to the Auditors' accounts; and transfers from Sewer Assessements collected by the Town Treasurer to balance accounts, are also shown in the Auditors' report.
The work contemplated by the Board for next year, can be done as last year, from Sewer Assessement money on hand, hence we do not ask any appropriation for new work, unless sewers asked for in the Town Warrant are voted. For the Sewer Contingent we are asking the same as last year, $1000.00.
Assessments on Chapin street sewers were levied on March 1, 1912, as follows :-
Total cost of sewer construction,
$1627 74
One-third payable by the town, 542 53
Two-thirds payable by the abutters, 1085 16
Total number of assessable feet, 1010.15
Assessable rate per foot,
1.0743
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REPORT OF SEWER COMMISSIONERS
Assessments on Oliver and Hamilton streets were levied March 1, 1912, as follows :--
Total cost of sewer construction, $846 56
One-third payable by the town, 282 18
Two-thirds payable by the abutters 564 38
Total number of assessable feet, 1211.8
Assessable rate per foot, 0.4657
Assessments on Main and Pine streets were levied March 1, 1912, as follows :-
Total cost of sewer construction,
$634 25
One-third payable by the town,
211 41
Two-thirds payable by the abutters, 422 84
Total number of assessable feet, 389.5
Assessable rate per foot, 1.0856
Assessements on Morris, Cisco and Chestnut streets were levied on April 15, 1912, as follows :-
Total cost of sewer construction,
$3884 68
One-third payable by the town,
1294 69
Two-thirds payable by the abutters, 2589 79
Total number of assessable feet, 3506.1
Assessable rate per foot,
0.7387
Respectfully submitted, H. U. BAIL, W. J. LAMOUREUX. J. PRENDERGAST, Sewer Commissioners.
Board of Sewer Commissioners, Southbridge, Mass. GENTLEMEN :
Herewith I submit a report of the Sewer construc-
251
1
REPORT OF SEWER COMMISSIONERS
tion during the year 1912, under my direction as representative of your Board.
The work was in charge of G. E. F. Lamoureux, as foreman of construction.
The first work was the laying of a pipe sewer on Mill street, from River street northeasterly nearly to Cliff street, a distance of 637.3 feet. Average depth of cut is 6.0 feet. Material encountered was hardpan and ledge. .
A line on Pleasant street from River street north- erly to Robert street was next constructed. The ma- terial here was sand and gravel for 150 feet and the remainder, hardpan and ledge. The length of this line is 500 feet and the average depth is 7.7 feet.
The next work was on Charlton street from Me- chanic street easterly to Evergreen street. This ex- cavation for the entire distance of 1,080 feet was through gravel formation. Much water was en- countered and an underdrain was laid from the old underdrain on Mechanic street, nearly to Cady brook. Forty-eight feet of iron pipe was laid in crossing be- neath Cady brook and these joints were made with G. K. compound and then encased in Portland cement concrete. The average depth for this street is 6.5 feet.
The last work of the season was on South street from Main street westerly to the top of the hill, a dis- tance of 1,050 feet, and on Oakes avenue from South street northerly to property of the Misses Kane. From Main street the first four hundred feet was mostly hardpan with a small amount of ledge. The remainder of South street and all of Oakes avenue required blast-
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REPORT OF SEWER COMMISSIONERS
ing the entire distance. The total length of these streets is 1,512 feet and the average depth of the pipe is, on South street, 8.1 feet, and on Oakes avenue. 6.3 feet.
There were sixty-one applications for sewer con- nections during the year 1912.
Respectfully submitted,
JOHN A. WHITTAKER, Engineer.
ANNUAL REPORT
OF THE
TOWN CLERK
Insurance on Town Property
Town Hall building and contents, $77,000 00
Engine house and contents, Elm street, 18,000 00
Engine house, Main and West streets, 6,500 00
Alms house, barn and contents, 12,512 50
School house, Marcy street and contents, 37,500 00
School house, Main street, and contents, 5,000 00
School house, Pleasant street, and contents, 3,700 00
School house, School street and contents, 3,000 00
School house, Sandersdale, and contents, 2,000 00
School house, Elm street, and contents, 1,600 00
School house, Dennison district, and contents, 400 00 School house, Hooker district, and contents, 600 00
School house, Bacon district, and contents, 600 00
School house, Mechanic street, and contents, 10,000 00 Storage barn and contents, Goddard court, 1,100 00
Library building,
3,750 00
Hook and Ladder truck 800 00
Police Station and steam boiler, Elm street, 3,500 00
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REPORT OF TOWN CLERK
Printed books. paintings, furnishings etc., library bld'g., 25,000 00
CASUALTY INSURANCE.
Boilers in Marcy street school house, $5,000 00
2 steam engines and boilers at steamer houses, 5,000 00 Stone crusher boiler and steam roller, 10,000 00
Vital Statistics
For the year ending December 31, 1912:
Number of marriages, 125
Number of deaths,
183
Number of births, 414
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