Town annual reports of the officers of Southbridge for the year ending 1917-1921, Part 16

Author: Southbridge (Mass.)
Publication date: 1917
Publisher: The Town
Number of Pages: 752


USA > Massachusetts > Worcester County > Southbridge > Town annual reports of the officers of Southbridge for the year ending 1917-1921 > Part 16


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Number of lights reported out during the year, 143. Number of doors found unlocked reported during the year. 25. Number of accidents reported during the year, 28. Value of property lost or stolen during the year and which was recovered, $676.00. Automobiles reported stolen and recovered, 2.


In conclusion it is with great pleasure that I extend in. behalf of the Police Department and myself to the Honor-


67


ANNUAL REPORTS


able Board of Selectmen and other town officials our most sincere thanks for their kindly consideration during the year, and trust that the accomplishment of the department has been such as to repay them for their interest.


Respectfully submitted, ULRIC BRAULT, Chief of Police.


Southbridge, December 31. 1920.


Report of Chief Fire Warden


There were three forest fires during the year, without much damage. I wish to thank the assistant fire wardens for their assistance.


FIRE WARDENS FOR THE YEAR ENDING DEC. 31, 1920 Dennie Langevin Adelard Bouchard


Jules Livernois


Louis Pontbriand


Joseph Payant


Hilaire Cournoyer


The State Forester has divided our town into six sec- tions, for each of which one fire warden will be appointed, thus lessening the number of wardens to be appointed.


Respectfully,


AIMEE LANGEVIN, Chief Fire Warden.


REPORT OF AN AUDIT


OF


The Accounts of the Town of Southbridge 1 For the Year Ending Dec. 31, 1920


Made in accordance with the Provisions of Chapter 598, Acts of 1910 and a vote of the town.


COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS BUREAU OF STATISTICS STATE HOUSE, BOSTON


February 27, 1920.


To the Board of Selectmen,


Mr. Wilfred J. Lamoureux, Chairman, Southbridge, Massachusetts.


Gentlemen :


I submit herewith an audit of the accounts of the town of Southbridge for the year 1919 made in accordance with the provisions of Chapter 598 of the Acts of 1910, as amended.


This report is in the form of a report made to me by Mr. Edward II. Fenton, Chief Examiner of this Division, who was placed in charge of the work.


Very truly yours, T EODORE N. WADDELL,


Director of Accounts.


74


ANNUAL REPORTS


reported payments to the treasurer were verified by com parison with the treasurer's books.


While engaged in making the audit, I received the usua. hearty co-operation of the several town officials, and, o. behalf of my assistants and for myself, I wish to expres to them my appreciation of the courtesy received and th assistance rendered.


Respectfully submitted,


EDW. H. FENTON, Chief Examiner


RECONCILIATION OF TREASURER'S CASH


Cash balance Jan. 1, 1919, $48,825 16


Receipts Jan. 1 to Dec. 31, 1919, 516,627 92


$565,483 0:


Payments Jan. 1 to Dec. 31, 1919, $519,765 67


Cash balance Dec. 31, 1919, 45,717 41


$565,483 0/


Bank balance Dec. 31, 1919,


per bank statement, $12,335 49


Certificate of deposit, 35,000 00


Cash in office Dec. 31, 1919, 231 00


$47,566 4!


Balance Dec. 31, 1919,


per cash book, $45,717 41


Outstanding checks-per list, 1,849 08


$47,566 4.


TAXES 1915


Outstanding Jan. 1, 1919, $21 52


75


ANNUAL REPORTS


Paid treasurer, $21 52


INTEREST-TAXES 1915


Collected, $2 92


Paid treasurer,


$2 92


TAXES 1916


Outstanding Jan. 1, 1919,


$252 66


Paid treasurer 1919,


$86 88


Overpayment to treasurer 1918 (adjusted) 15 91


Abatements, 134 00


Outstanding Dec. 31, 1919, per list 14 00


Due from collector,


1 87


$252 66


INTEREST-TAXES 1916


Due from collector Jan. 1, 1919, $8 21


Paid treasurer, $8 21


TAXES 1917


Outstanding Jan. 1, 1919, $7,214 25


Due from collector Jan. 1, 1919,


183 90


Interest credited as taxes,


23 54


Abatement after payment, 8 00


Overpayment, 20


$7,429 89


Paid treasurer,


$5,577 20


Abatements,


1,068 00


Outstanding Dec. 31, 1919, per list


' 745 91


Unlocated difference,


2 88


Due from collector Dec. 31, 1919,


35 90


$7,429 89


INTEREST-TAXES 1917 Due from collector Jan. 1, 1919, $6 60


76


ANNUAL REPORTS


Collected 1919,


552 04


$558 64.


Paid treasurer. $535 10


Interest credited as taxes


23 54


$558 64


TAXES 1918


Outstanding Jan. 1, 1919,


$29,780 50


Excise tax,


1,655 52


$31,436 02


Paid treasurer,


$25,199 21


Outstanding Dec. 31, 1919-per list,


4,385 15


Unlocated difference, 38


Due from collector Dec. 31, 1919,


1,851 28


$31,436 02


INTEREST-TAXES 1918


Due from collector Jan. 1, 1919,


$19 78


Collected 1919, 804 77


$824 55


Paid treasurer,


$678 09


Due from collector Dec. 31, 1919,


146 46


TAXES 1919


$824 55


Commitment,


$241,086 00


December commitment,


310 25


Excise tax,


1,244 25


Overpayment,


4 39


Over-abatement,


50


Unlocated difference,


73


$242,646 12


77


ANNUAL REPORTS


Paid treasurer,


$214,631 29


Abatements, 199 63


Outstanding Dec. 31, 1919-per list,


27,705 07


Due from collector Dec. 31, 1919, 110 13


$242,646 12


4


INTEREST-TAXES 1919


Collected,


$49 72


Paid treasurer,


$48 43


Due from collector Dec. 31, 1919,


1 29


12


$49 72


SEWER ASSESSMENTS


Outstanding January 1, 1919,


$398 00


Outstanding Dec. 31, 1919-per list,


$398 00


STREET OILING ASSESSMENTS 1916


Outstanding January 1, 1919,


$477 85


2


Overpayments (adjusted),


13 76


$491 61


Paid treasurer,


$45 50


Outstanding Dec. 31. 1919-per list, 446 11


$491 61


APPORTIONED SEWER ASSESSMENTS 1918


Outstanding January 1, 1919, $59 68


Due from collector Jan. 1, 1919, 45 99


$105 67


Paid treasurer $87 42


Outstanding Dec. 31, 1919-per list, 18 25


$105 67 COMMITTED INTEREST-SEWER ASSESSMENTS 1918 Outstanding Jan. 1, 1919, $10 26


78


ANNUAL REPORTS


Paid treasurer, $7 22 Outstanding Dec. 31, 1919-per list, 3 04


$10 2


APPORTIONED SEWER ASSESSMENTS 1919


Commitment,


$231 34


Paid treasurer, $45 61


Outstanding Dec. 31, 1919-per list, 155 32


Due from treasurer Dec. 31, 1919, 30 41


$231 34


COMMITTED INTEREST SEWER ASSESSMENTS 1919


Commitment,


$26 58


Paid treasurer,


$0 57


Outstanding Dec. 31, 1919-per list


22 97


Due from collector, Dec. 31, 1919, 3 04


$26 58


UNAPPORTIONED SEWER ASSESSMENTS


Outstanding Jan. 1, 1919, $1,152 30


Commitment, 2,745 33


$3,897 63


Paid treasurer,


$1,251 32


Outstanding Dec. 31, 1919-per list 2,646 31


$3,897 63


CEMETERY CASH ACCOUNT


Receipts :


Perpetual care,


$310 00


Sale of lots and graves,


235 00


Opening graves,


165 00


Annual care,


12 00


Grading lot,


9 00


79


ANNUAL REPORTS


Damage to property


5 00


$736 00


Paid treasurer :


Perpetual care,


$310 00


Sale of lots and graves,


180 00


Opening graves,


135 00


Annual care,


12 00


Grading lot,


9 00


Damage to property,


5 00


$651 00


Cash on hand (paid treas. Jan. 9, 1920).


9


Sale of lots and graves,


$55 0


Opening grave,


30 00


85 00


$736 00


RECONCILIATION CEMETERY DEPT. ACCOUNTS


Outstanding Jan. 1, 1919 :


Perpetual care,


$145 00


Lots and graves,


228 00


Opening graves,


73 00


Annual care,


6 00


$452 00


Charges 1919 :


Perpetual care,


$450 00


Sale of lots and graves,


328 00


Opening graves,


180 00


Annual care,


12 00


Grading lot,


9 00


Damages to property,


5 00


$984 00


$1,436 00


80


ANNUAL REPORTS


Paid treasurer, Cancelled :


$651 00


Perpetual care,


$125 00


Sale of lot,


25 00


Outstanding Dec. 31, 1919 :


Perpetual care,


$160 00


Sale of lots and graves,


296 00


Opening graves,


88 00


Annual care,


6 00


$550


Cash on hand Dec. 31, 1919,


85


$1,436


SINKING FUND


Cash Savings Securities Total


Deposits


On hand at


beginning of


year


$17,000 48 $16,000 00 $33,000


On hand at


end of year $320 00 $18,027 44 $16,000 00 $34,347


Receipts


Payments


Income, $1,346 96 Savings deposits, $1,026 ! Cash on hand at end of year, *$320 (


Total, $1,346 96


Total, $1,346


*Included in general cash.


ALEXIS BOYER, Jr., SCHOOL FUND Savings Deposits Tot


On hand at beginning of year,


$200 00 $200 (


On hand at end of year,


209 09


$209 (


$150


81


ANNUAL REPORTS


Receipts


Payments


Income.


$9 09 Savings Deposit. $9 09


Total.


$9 09 Total, $9 09


MARY MYNOTT LIBRARY FUND


Savings Deposits Total


On hand at beginning of year.


$1,043 80 $1,043 80


On hand at end of year, $1,000 00 $1,000 00


Receipts


Payments


Withdrawn from savings


Transferred to library $91 28


banks,


$43 80


Income. 47 48


Total, $91 28


Total, $91 28


CEMETERY PERPETUAL CARE FUNDS


Cash Savings Securities Total


Deposits


On hand at


beginning of


year


$21,670 93 $5,000 00 $26,670 93


On hand at


end of


vear $490 00 $18,670 93 $8,000 00 $27,160 93


Receipts


Withdrawn from


savings banks $3,000 00


Income, 1,240 42


Cash on hand at


end of vear, *$490 00


Lots and graves 180 00 .


Total, $4,730 42 Total, $4,730 42


*Included in General Cash.


Payments Purchase of se-


curities, $3,000 00


Care of lots, 1.240 42


Perpetual care de-


posits 310 00


TOWN OF SOUTHBRIDGE Balance Sheet-December 31, 1919


REVENUE ACCOUNTS


Assets


Cash :


In Banks and Office


$44,328 76


Accounts Receivable : Taxes :


Levy of 1916 $15 87


Levy of 1917 784 69


Levy of 1918 6,236 81


Levy of 1919


27,814 47


$34,851 84


Special Assessments :


Street Oiling 1916 Apportioned Sewer 1918 $18 25


$446 11


Apportioned Sewer 1919 185 73


Liabilities


Temporary Loans : Anticipation of revenue $50,000 00


Anticipation of


reimbursement


from State and


County 11,000 00


$61,000 00


Mary Mynott Library Fund Income 0 44


Sinking Fund Income 320 00


Cemetery Trust Fund 490 00


Tailings 53 11


Appropriation Balances : Central Street Sewer $1.137 00


82


ANNUAL REPORTS


1


Apportioned Bewer


Primary School Plans 361 02


$1,498 02


Overlay reserved for Abatements :


Levy of 1916 $1,115 10


Levy of 1917 3,293 27


Levy of 1918 2,995 76 |


Levy of 1919


2,571 64


$29 05


Departmental


$14 00


State Aid


1,220 26


From State and County : Dudley River Road


$7,502 69


$91,641 00


$91,641 00


DEFERRED


REVENUE


Apportioned Sewer Assessment-


$300 17


Due 1920


$185 70


Due 1921


57 24


83


ANNUAL REPORTS


$9,975 77 (


Sewer Assessment Revenue


$3,612 01


Sidewalk Assessment Revenue 398 00 '


Surplus Revenue $14,293 65


Sewer Assessments- Apportioned but not due


$203 98 2,646 31


398 00


Unapportioned Sewer Unapportioned Sidewalk Committed Interest : On Sewer Assess- ments 1918 $3 04


On Sewer Assess-


ments 1919 26 01


er # 1.1:17


Due 1922


57 23


$300 17


$300 17


NON-REVENUE


ACCOUNTS


Cash :


In Banks and Office


$1,388 65


Appropriation Balances : Mechanic Street Paving


$1,125 86


Elm Street Paving


99 16


Lebanon Brook Bridge


12 66


Mechanic Street Sidewalk


12 58


Mechanic Street Sidewalk


62 48


Chapin Street Sidewalk


32 73


River Street School Lot


43 18


$1,388 65


$1,388 65


DEBT ACCOUNTS


Sinking Fund Net Funded or Fixed Debt


$34,347 44 138,852 56


Sewer Construction Loan 1899 $30,000 00 Sewer Construction Loan 1900 20,000 00


$50,000 00


84


ANNUAL REPORTS


General Loan, Serial 33/4%


$10,200 00


General Loan, Serial 4%


94,550 00


General Loan, Serial 41/4%


3,750 00


General Loan, Serial 41/2%


13,700 00


General Loan, Serial 51/2%


1,000 00


$173,200 00


$173,200 00


TRUST FUND


ACCOUNTS


Mary Mynott Library Fund


$1,000 00


Cemetery Perpetual Care Fund 26,670 93


A. Boyer Fund 209 09


$27,880 02


$27,880 02


ANNUAL REPORTS


85


Trust Funds : Cash and Securities


$27,880 02


-


Report of Town Clerk


Vital statistics for the year ending Dec. 31, 1920 :


Number of marriages


188


Number of deaths


182


Number of births


394


Number of dogs licensed in 1919 :


Males


396


Females


44


Breeders


2


Respectfully submitted,


· W. W. BUCKLEY,


Town Clerk.


Report of Board of Assessors


The Assessors of the Town of Southbridge submit the following report for the year 1920.


Appropriations voted March meeting $286,658 23


Appropriations voted April meeting 9,500 00


Appropriations voted Aug. meeting 10,000 00


$306,158 23


State tax


30,639 40


State tax of $3.00 on each poll assessed


11,016 00


County tax


12,581 00


State Highway tax


522 89


Auditing municipal accounts


403 24


Overlayings


3,575 93


Total


$364,896 69


Less estimated revenue $30,000 00


Transfer from excess and deficiency 10,000 00


State income tax 7,325 45


Educational fund


5,000 00


$52,325 45


Total amount to be raised by taxes for the year 1920 $312,571 24


Valuation real estate April 1, 1920 $72,299 49


Tax on real estate 190,870 61


Valuation on personal property April 1, 1920 $36,379 30


Tax on personal property


96,041 30


1


90


ANNUAL REPORTS


Valuation resident bank stock $2,764 90


Tax on resident bank stock $7,299 33


Number polls assessed April 1, 1920


3,672 at $5


18,360 01


Total valuation April 1, 1920 $111,443 69


Total taxes assessed $312,571 24


Valuation non-resident shareholders of National Bank stock $63,510 00


Tax on non-resident bank stock


Sewer apportionments, assessed


$1,676 65 339 5(


Total warrant to collector $314,587 39


SUPPLEMENTARY ASSESSMENT DEC. 20, 1920


Valuation real estate


$5,490 00


Tax on real estate


$144 94


Valuation on personal property


$22,390 00


Tax on personal property


591 1(


Additional polls assessed 68 at $5.00 340 0(


Amount of warrant to collector Dec. 20, 1920 $1,076 0-


Total amount to collector for 1920 315,663 4:


Total valuation Dec. 31, 1920


11,172,249 00 26 4(


Rate per thousand


Respectfully submitted,


PHILIAS F. X. CASAVANT, WILLIAM H. McGILPIN, ANTOINE FARLAND,


Board of Assessors.


Report of Highway Surveyor


YEAR ENDING DECEMBER 31st, 1920


To the Honorable Board of Selectmen and Citizens of the Town of Southbridge :


I respectfully submit my report, as Highway Surveyor, for the year ending Dec. 31st, 1920. You will be able to con- sider from the following list of appropriations, expenditures and balances that the funds appropriated were practically all spent. In fact, many appropriations did not prove suf- ficient. The labor had to be divided sparingly on account of he high cost compared with the funds, and no permanent repairs could possibly be made. Filling holes, scraping, grading, cleaning, repairing dangerous places caused by the ce and washouts was all the schedule of the work.


However, in spite of many difficulties, I have endeavored o devote my time and energy to the best advantage of our own, dividing the money so as to give one and all the benefit of the appropriations.


Account


Appropriation Expended


Balance


Permanent roads


$4,081 25 $4,081 56


$0 19


Bridges


550 00


549 53


47


Sidewalk repairs


2,919 20


2,918 72


48


Railings


400 00


399 77


23


Sanitary cleaning


1,350 00


1,349 96


04


teneral cleaning


2,000 00


1,999 64


36


Iain and Hamilton st. cleaning 1,600 00


1,599 83


17


Iechanic st. sp.


2,000 00


1,999 57


43


Iain st. sp.


2,000 00


1,999 82


18


iling streets


2,500 00


2,494 49


5 51


92


ANNUAL REPORTS


Forest fires


500 00


237 20


262 /


Highways


22,691 50 22,689 70 1 8


SUBDIVISIONS ON THE HIGHWAYS


Salaries


$1,800 00


Snow, ice


6,419 17


Washouts


2,056 56


Scraping


2,028 74


Culverts


1,285 28


General repairs, filling, etc.


5,417 04


Watering troughs


111 63


Repairing steam roller


594 27


Supplies ,miscellaneous


206 08


Engineering


19 50


Sanitary cleaning


289 25


General cleaning


626 25


Paving roads


668 95


Main and Hamilton


875 00


Main st. cleaning


219 98


S. repairs


72 00


Total


$22,689 '


I wish to thank the Selectmen, all other officers, and a the citizens of the town for their consideration and assis ance on my work.


Respectfully yours, AIMEE LANGEVIN, Highway Surveyor. 1


Report of Tax Collector


1920 TAXES


Assessors' warrant


$315,362 99


Collected to Dec. 31, 1920


$279,673 69


Abatement to Dec. 31, 1920


1,420 30


281,093 99


Balance outstanding Jan. 1, 1921


$34,269 00


1919 TAXES


Balance uncollected Jan. 1, 1920


$27,814 47


Collected to Dec. 31, 1920


22,695 05


Balance uncollected Jan. 1, 1921 $5,119 42


1918 TAXES


Balance uncollected Jan. 1, 1920


$6,236 81


Collected to Dec. 31, 1920 $6,164 11


Balance uncollected Jan. 1, 1921. $75 39


1917 TAXES


Balance uncollected Jan. 1, 1920


$784 69


Collected to Dec. 31, 1920 ' $784 69


-


1916 TAXES


Balance uncollected Jan. 1, 1920


$15 87


Collected to Dec. 31, 1920 15 87


Respectfully yours, E. E. GABREE, Collector.


Report of Overseers of the Poor


To the Citizens of the Town of Southbridge :


In making our report for the past year, we feel that we wish to put more stress on our recommendations for 1921 than usual. Our applications for 1920 in regard to outside aid were normal and up to January of the present year we had not felt the depressing conditions that surrounding towns have been through.


The mothers' aid division has increased, although not in proportion to towns of corresponding population. '


We have made a strenuous effort by prosecution to stop wife and family desertions and have secured several convictions in the local court. Violators of this law will be dealt with severely from now on.


The local almshouse, in our opinion, after a careful study of the situation, should be abolished and Southbridge become a part of the proposed Worcester-Hampden Farm Association, whose by-laws we include in our report.


The Palmer farm is well located, has modern buildings and our people can be much better cared for than in our own almshouse. If we do not enter into an agreement of this kind, we must spend at least sixty-five hundred dollars ($6,500) to put our own buildings in condition to pass inspec- tion. This board, with the boards of other towns, have put a great deal of time into this proposition, and we ask your careful consideration.


Dr. Jos. E. Donais has been reappointed town physician,


96


ANNUAL REPORTS


and Mr. and Mrs. Joseph N. Payant have agreed to remain at the farm for the coming year. We wish to thank the -


citizens and the town officials for their hearty cooperation. Respectfully submitted,


EUGENE MATTE, Chairman. GEO. H. HARTWELL, JR., Clerk. NARCISSE PELOQUIN.


INVENTORY AT ALMSHOUSE, DECEMBER 7, 1920


Class 1 :


14 head of cattles


$1,265 00


1 pair gray horses


600 00


22 pigs


194 00


59 fowls and chickens


103 86


$2,162 86


Class 2 :


Hay, grain and feed


$957 80


Class 3 :


Fuel 525 00


Class 4 :


Vegetables


201 95


Class 5 :


Meat, flour and tobacco


235 02.


Class 6 :


2261/2 quarts preserves


$113 25


56 60


Groceries


Class 7 :


1


$169 85


Furniture, crockery, tinware, farm-


97


ANNUAL REPORTS


ing tools, auto truck


3,324 58


Grand Total


$7,577 06 ARSENE GIRARD, JOHN HALPIN, ARTHUR HARWOOD,


Appraisers.


BY - LAWS


By virtue of the authority vested in us by our respective towns, at the meeting aforesaid, and to carry out the interest of our said towns, we do hereby form ourselves into an asso- iation for the purpose of caring for the poor of our respect- ve towns, to be known as the Worcester-Hampden Farm Association.


Article 1. The association shall be formed for a period f five years with the privilege of five years more.


Article 2. The plant shall be managed by the Board of Overseers of the Poor for the towns forming the association.


Article 3. The poor of the towns interested, requiring ull support, shall be maintained at the plant selected, ex- ept the violent and uncontrollable insane.


Article 4. The expense of maintaining the poor at this lace shall be divided among the respective towns according the number of weeks' board furnished the poor belonging ) each town except the expense of rental of the farm and arden's salary, which shall be paid by the several towns in e association according to the assessed valuation as deter- ined by the Assessors for the year 1920.


Article 5. In case of death, the warden shall notify, at ice, the town to which the deceased person belongs, who all care for and bury said person at its expense.


Article 6. The board of management, under this agree- ent, shall employ a suitable physician to attend and care


98


ANNUAL REPORTS


for all paupers committed to this farm when sick, and the expense thereof, including all needed medicines, shall be charged as expense as in Article 4.


Article 7. Any town desiring to join the association may do so by a vote of the association.


Article 8.


Section 1. The association shall begin.


and the annual reports shall be made the first day of January of every year thereafter.


Section 2. The association shall have authority to make contracts for the lease of real estate and personal prop- erty, to be used on the plant of the association, such con- tract to be in accordance with these By-Laws.


Section 3. The association hereby select the Palmer Poor Farm as the plant of the association, for the term of five years with the privilege of five years more if desired.


:- Article 9. Each town shall hold interest in the per- sonal property in proportion to their total valuation.


Article 10. The officers shall include a chairman, secre- tary and treasurer, to be elected annually by the manage- ment.


Article 11. Meetings shall be held once a month for the transaction of all business.


Article to be inserted in town warrant:


"To see if the town will vote to authorize or instruct the Overseers of the Poor to become a part of the Worcester- Hampden Farm Association according to the By-Laws attached."


1920 VALUATION OF TOWNS


Brimfield $946,250


99


ANNUAL REPORTS


Wales


359,407


Wilbraham


2,120,623


Ludlow


8,427,628


Monson


2,090,308


Palmer


· 9,683,698


Southbridge


11,144,369


t


Report of Board of Health


To the Honorable Board of Selectmen.


The Board of Health, Philias S. Caron, J. E. Donais, M. D., and Alfred J. Peloquin, organized as follows: Philias S. Caron, Chairman, Alfred J. Peloquin, Clerk. Monthly meetings have been held during the year.


Following is the contagious diseases reported :


Anterior poliomyelitis


1


Chicken pox


6


Diphtheria


5


German measles


2


Opthalmia neonatorum


2


Influenza


32


Lobar pneumonia


40


Measles


14


Scarlet fever


6


Pulmonary tuberculosis


9


Other forms tuberculosis


3


Whooping cough


3


Typhoid fever


3


126


We believe that the town has been free from any form of epidemic and has been very fortunate in this matter.


This year Dr. F .W. Edwards and other citizens came forward and offered to buy a new ambulance for the town, which is under the care of the Board of Health. This new machine, a "Cunningham Ambulance" was delivered to the


102


ANNUAL REPORTS


town without cost in the fall and the town now has ¿ up-to-date easy riding ambulance. The other ambulan was by vote of the town at a special meeting turned over the Fire Department.


Following is the list of deaths during the year :


Diseases of the heart 14


Diseases of the brain 12


Cancer 13


Lobar pneumonia


10


Broncho pneumonia


3


Influenza-pneumonia 3


Bronchitis


1


Diabetes


6


Nephritis


5


Tuberculosis, all forms


4


Cholera infantum


1


Anterior poliomyelitis


1


Suicide


1


Accidental


5


Diphtheria


1


1


Premature birth


8


Still-born


15


Ill defined


3


All other diseases


31


Total 137


Males


69


Females


67


Unknown


1


Total


137


·


103


ANNUAL REPORTS


Deaths by months :


January


18


July


11


February


10


August


8


March


17


September


12


April


14


October


12


May


7 November


12


.June


3


December


13


Total 137


Following will be found the reports of the Agent, Public Health Nurse, Milk Inspector and Plumbing Inspector.


Respectfully submitted,


PHILIAS S. CARON, . ALFRED J. PELOQUIN, JOSEPH E. DONAIS, M. D., Board of Health.


AGENT'S REPORT


To the Honorable Board of Health.


I herewith submit my report for the year ending Decem- ber 31, 1920.


Houses placarded for contagious diseases 12 Houses disinfected after contagious diseases 4 Garbage complaints received 178


Rubbish nuisances received


23


Dump nuisances received


10


Yard nuisances received


17


Fowl nuisances received


4


Swine nuisances received


8


Cesspool nuisance received 1


Privy nuisance received


1


Dead animal nuisance received 1


Plumbing nuisance received 1


Unclean store nuisances received 5


Wells investigated and water examined 5


.


and


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104


ANNUAL REPORTS


These complaints were investigated and where nuisances were found they were ordered abated.


I wish to thank the Board and the public for their part of the work to promote better health conditions amongst the people of the town.


Respectfully, ALBERT R. BROWN,


Agent of Board of Health.


REPORT OF PUBLIC HEALTH NURSE


To the Southbridge Board of Health.


Gentlemen :---


The second annual report of the Public Health Nurse for the year ending December 31, 1920, is hereby submitted.


1526 advisory visits were made. Tubercular visits 431, including active, suspicious, contacts, and arrested cases. The good results from Sanatorium treatment and the dangers of infection are impressed upon the patient.


The nurse attended 50 clinics at the Town Hall on Mon- day evenings. 34 patients were examined. 6 were found to be active, 10 suspicious, and 18 non tubercular. Special endeavor has been made to visit all persons who have been exposed to tuberculosis and try to persuade them to have a physical examination at least once a year. In this way the spread of the disease can be prevented and by early diagnosis and proper treatment patients can become ar- rested cases.


Visits on contagious and infectious diseases :- Typhoid fever 14, scarlet fever 30, ophthalmia neonatorum 11, anterior poliomyelitis 4, influenza 48. Instruction was given in the care of the patient, including bedside disinfection as terminal fumigation had been discontinued by the Board of Health.


105


ANNUAL REPORTS


Prenatal visits 181. Each prospective mother was advised in regard to diet, bathing, fresh air, rest, etc. Special stress being laid upon the importance of consulting a physician at once. The address of each person was sent to the Director. Division of Hygiene, and a prenatal letter was received each month and postnatal letters until the baby was a year old.


Postnatal visits 482. These were made for the purpose of instructing the mother in the value of breast feeding and the general care of the baby. Mothers may bring their babies to the Town Hall each afternoon from 3 to 5 for weighing. Literature on Infant care and diet sheets from birth to 6 years of age may be obtained.




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