USA > Massachusetts > Worcester County > Southbridge > Town annual reports of the officers of Southbridge for the year ending 1932-1936 > Part 24
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The following contagious diseases have been reported during the year.
Chickenpox 19
Dog Bite 7
German Measles
2
Opthalmia Neonatorum. 3
Lobar Pneumonia 12 Measles 93
Mumps 7
Scarlet Fever 9
Pulmonary Tuberculosis 9
Other forms
Whooping Cough
10
Tuberculosis
2
Total
173
75
Following is a list of deaths in town during the year for which this' office has issued certificates of burial :
DISEASES OF THE SIRCULATORY SYSTEM
Arterio Sclerosis
13
Cororony Thrombosis
4
Chronic Myocarditis 13 Pulmonary Embolism 2
Sclerotic Heart 5 Coronary Sclerosis 2
Valvular Heart 1 Leukemia 1
Dilation of Heart
1
Cardiac Decompensation
1
Angina Pectoris
2
Pernicious Anemia
1
DISEASES OF THE RESPIRATORY SYSTEM
Lobar Pneumonia 6 Pneumonia 1
Broncho Pneumonia
10
Laryngeal Edema
1
DISEASES OF HE GENITOURIARY SYSTEM
Nephritis 3 Prostate Gland 1
Uremia 2
DISEASE OF THE NERVOUS SYSTEM
Cerebral Hemorrhages 14
DISEASES OF THE DIGESTIVE SYSTEM
Diabetes 2 Rupture of Deudoral
Gastric Ulcers 1 Ulcer 1
Rupture of the Bladder 1 Appendicitis 2
Chronic Cystitis
1
General Peritonitis
1
76
ALL OTHER DISEASES
Nerve Depression
1
Accidental
11
Stenosis
1
Suicide
1
Asphyxiation
1
Exposure
1
Foraman Ovale
1
Cardio Renal
1
Prolapsed Cord
1
Cancer
13
Still born
2
Tuberculosis
2
Premature Birth
8
Measles
1
Malnutrition
1
Sarcoma
2
Sudden deaths
13
Total
154
Respectfully submitted, ALBERT R. BROWN, Agent of Board of Health
77
REPORT OF THE INSPECTOR OF MILK
To Honorable Board of Health
Gentlemen :
I submit my report as your Inspector of Milk for the year ending December 31, 1936.
I have visited with the Inspector from the State, farms delivering milk in town and we have found a desire on the part of the farmer to deliver a better quality and cleaner milk, this effort we find each year and the far- mers should be commended for their work in this line.
We have three pasteurizing plants in town at the present time, who are doing work satisfactory to me and the State.
I have during the year issued the following licenses :
Peddlers 46
Stores 47
Oleomargarine 8
I wish to thank the farmers and the public for their co-operation in this work, also to the Board of Health for their encouragement.
Respectfully submitted,
ALBERT R. BROWN,
Inspector of Milk
78
REPORT OF BOARD OF HEALTH NURSE
To the Honorable Board of Health
Dear Sirs :
I hereby submit my report as Board of Health Nurse for the year ending December 31, 1936.
The program carried on by the Board of Health en- deavors to prevent disease, promote health and correct defects, through various clinics established, and maintained in the community. In sponsoring State recommendations with the co-operation of the school department, we have been able to protect many school and pre-school children from communicable diseases, as well as correct defects.
Pre-School Clinic
Since pre-school fitness is necessary for normal adult- hood, we aim to have all pre-school children examined and defects corrected before entering school. On May 21st and 22nd clinics were held in the Town Hall, and ninety-three children accompanied by parents reported. In most instances this is the first contact between parents, doctors, and nurses. It gives. us an opportunity to acquire important in- formation concerning the child's physical and mental health. Defects listed in May: dental caries fifty-eight, en- larged or diseased tonsils, twenty; enlarged glands, ten; skin eruption, one ; congenital deformity, one; poor posture, one; fifteen percent underweight, six. Corrections made during the summer : tonsils removed, twelve; forty received dental attention, skin eruption treated, improvement in pos- ture, and underweight children had gained considerably.
Diphtheria Immunization Clinic
The pre-school group (6 months to 6 years) is the one we emphasize for immunization. Toxoid is given in a series of three doses, three weeks apart, by the Board of Health physicians, and the Schick test six months later, to deter- mine the exact number of negative cases. It is estimated that about ninety-nine percent are immunized, after a com-
79
plete series of treatment. Two hundred and five were treated this Fall, making a grand total of twenty-three hundred and thirty-nine, for the past eight years.
Dental Clinic
Eight months of the year, beginning October 1st to June 1st, morning sessions are held on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday for school children in the first four grades. As time permits the dentist in charge will examine the children's teeth in the class rooms and classify his findings on the class room record provided by the State Department of Public Health. This record has been valuable in planning the clinic work. Six year molars are preserved by fillings, also fissure cavities however small, and extraction of ab- scessed teeth. Children who have all dental defects corrected are presented with a dental certificate and their name placed on the dental honor roll, and published in one of the local newspapers.
Number who reported to clinic 554
Number of extractions 125
Number of cleanings 443
Number of fillings 332
Number of children receiving certificates
226
School Clinics
These clinics requested by the Board of Health and School department are held annually for the seventh, ninth and eleventh grade pupils to detect incipient cases of tuber- culosis. This group is selected as the most susceptible age. Each child with his parents consent is given the Von Pirquet tuberculin test, and positive reactors are then x-rayed and given a chest examination. This work is carried on by the physicians of the Worcester County Tuberculosis Sana- torium, assisted by the personnel of the Southern Worcester County Health Association, the local school and board of health nurses. One hundred and ten were examined and classified as follows : improved nutrition, 37; needing dental attention, 20; childhood type with improved nutrition, 2;
80
childhood type with no recommendations, 5; no recommend- ations, 43; positive, 11; negative, 99; suspected, 3; and re- commended to sanatorium for treatment, 1. This child was admitted to Westfield in May and discharged in September, improved. She is now under the supervision of the con- sultation clinic. Follow-up visits were made on all cases with recommendations.
Tuberculosis Clinic
The tuberculosis consultation clinic has continued to serve a large rural area, made possible by the excellent co- operation of the physicians. They appreciate the facilities of the clinic for confirming diagnosis and checking contacts. In several instances entire families have been examined and x-rayed. Two hundred and twenty-eight people were ex- amined, thirty-five more than last year. Fifteen commu- nities were represented and twenty-seven physicians re- commended patients. Seven medical student house-officers at the hospital, attended the clinics for observation, and received a certain amount of instruction from the specialist on duty.
Five boys, two contacts, two x-sanatoria and one recommended by the school clinic, were privileged to spend eight weeks at the Sterling Health Camp. During that time they live according to a careful planned schedule, so that they may have eleven hours of unbroken rest. Each child gained weight. The annual sale of Christmas seals main- tains the camp, also assists financially in the correction of defects among children classified as suspicious or childhood type of tuberculosis, and contacts.
Fifty nursery school and thirteen-hundred and sixty- eight parochial school pupils were examined, by the medical inspectors, assisted by the nurse. Defects recorded, parents notified, and those whose defects needed immediate atten- tion were interviewed. A special group of forty-four chil- dren had their hearing tested by a 4A-Audiometer. The parochial school authorities wish to express their apprecia- tion to Mr. Fuller Austin, superintendent of the public schools for this service. A census of all cripple children under twenty-one in this community, has been completed
81
at the request of the State department of Public Health. Those handicapped with chronic bone or joint diseases, heart disease, deformities from burns or accidents, birth injuries, hare lip or cleft palates, will be registered, and receive assistance and guidance, by the State service for cripple children.
Communicable diseases reported to the Board of Health were quarantined and placarded, according to local re- quirements. Visits were made to each case, and instructions given to prevent the spread of the disease.
At this time I wish to thank all organizations and indi- viduals who have co-operated and assisted in any way.
Respectfully submitted,
MARGUERITE C. HOULE, R. N.
82
REPORT OF INSPECTOR OF PLUMBING
To Honorable Board of Health
Gentlemen :
I hereby submit my report for the year 1936. The following fixtures have been installed :
Water Closets 193
Urinals 13
Sinks 141
Baths 146
Basins
185
Other work done for which permits have been issued are :
Alterations 7
Cellar Work 8
On this work I have made 79 Water Tests and final tests or other inspections have been made on 133 jobs.
I have as in former years aided the owners and the several plumbers in installing the work at the best advan- tage, some errors have been made but all have been cor- rected to conform with the By-Laws. For this I wish at this time to thank the plumbers for their fine co-operation.
I also wish to thank the public and the Board of Health in all matters pertaining to this office.
Respectfully submitted,
ALBERT R. BROWN,
Inspector of Plumbing
83
REPORT OF BOARD OF PUBLIC WELFARE
To the Citizens of Southbridge :
In making our report for 1936, we wish to explain to some extent the reasons for the amount expended. Much supplementary aid was necessary owing to insufficient in- come both in persons working on WPA and in private in- dustry. Another reason was because of delayed pay-days for persons employed on WPA which necessitated the giving of food and fuel to carry the families until a pay was received. Still another reason was forced lay-offs due to different rulings of the WPA.
The Mothers' Aid has functioned with continued suc- cess and at the close of 1936 we were aiding fifteen cases totaling forty-six persons.
The Infirmary on Chestnut Street is in excellent con- dition and during 1936 twenty-five persons were cared for. Mr. and Mrs. Joseph N. Payant have been appointed as, warden and matron for the coming year.
Under the Social Security Act this Board appointed a Bureau of Old Age Assistance consisting of: George W. Laughnane, Chairman; Hermas Lippe, Clerk; George H. Hartwell. Their report we include as a part of our own.
Herbert H. Michon has been re-appointed as Agent and we also include, his 1936 report.
We wish to thank the various Town officials and the many citizens and firms who have assisted us during the year.
Respectfully,
GEORGE H. HARTWELL, Chairman THEODORE MANDEVILLE, Clerk HERMAS LIPPE
Board of Public Welfare
85
REPORT OF OLD AGE ASSISTANCE
To the Board of Public Welfare:
The Bureau of Old Age Assistance which was appointed by the Board of Public Welfare, organized September 1st with George W. Laughnane as chairman and Hermas Lippe as clerk.
On September first there were fifty-five persons re- ceiving Old Age Assistance. After carefully considering each case, we have increased the number to one hundred and eighteen persons.
This assistance is entirely cash and we receive Federal and State reimbursements. There have been so many changes in the law and so much publicity that we ask the citizens to make direct inquiry to this bureau before offer- ing criticism from hearsay information.
Respectfully, GEORGE W. LAUGHNANE, Chairman HERMAS LIPPE, Clerk GEORGE H. HARTWELL H. H. MICHON, Supervisor
Bureau of Old Age Assistance
87
REPORT OF WELFARE SUPERVISOR
To the Board of Public Welfare:
During the year 1936 the Board of Public Welfare as- sisted on Temporary Aid, 223 families consisting of 940 persons, having a local settlement ; 62 families consisting of 320 persons who were unsettled or State cases; 19 families consisting of 75 persons settled in other cities or towns. There were 61 single persons and 18 families which were aided out of town having a Southbridge settlement.
On Chapter 118, Mothers' Aid Law, 19 cases consisting of 74 persons were assisted.
The Bureau of Old Age Assistance assisted 130 persons in town and 6 cases out of town having a local settlement. Three persons receiving Old Age Assistance were dropped by death and eight disposed of for other reasons.
The number of hours of labor furnished by this De- partment by other local Departments by recipients of Public Welfare for aid received totaled 1,932 hours.
The number of calls made for investigations to the homes of recipients were as follows: Mothers' Aid, 66 calls ; Old Age Assistance, 524 calls; Temporary Aid, 1,142 calls.
The private investigation of the Department of Public Welfare conducted by the Merchants and Manufacturers Association represented by Mr. Richard K. Conant, former Commissioner of the State Department of Public Welfare, apparently was satisfactory to the Association. Although I have not seen the report from Mr. Conant, I understand that his recommendation to the Merchants Association was, cooperation by employing more local help.
This is exactly what we always have recommended.
Respectfully,
H. H. MICHON,
Supervisor
89
REPORT OF CEMETERY COMMITTEE
The income derived from the Cemetery Permanent Fund has been so reduced by the reduction in interest rates paid by the banks in which this fund is invested that any possibility of doing other than routine work was eliminated.
It has been our endeavor to plan our expenditures so that the Cemetery presented at all times a neat, attractive appearance.
Perpetual Care lots were inspected at regular intervals, notations made of work needed and the work done as soon as possible. Attention was also given the roads and non- care lots.
There were seven lots sold during the year and six lots accepted for Perpetual Care.
The total amount collected by the Cemetery Depart- ment from all sources was $1,164.99.
Respectfully submitted, GEORGE H. HARTWELL, WARDWELL M. EDWARDS. DANIEL T. MORRILL,
Cemetery Commission
91
REPORT OF THE HIGHWAY DEPARTMENT
To the Citizens of Southbridge :
The Highway Surveyor herewith submits the follow- ing report of his Department for the year closing De- cember 31, 1936.
I asked at a special town meeting in March 1936 a sum of $19,500.00 for flood damages. The sum of $10,540.00 was expended for the Dudley Road, Dudley Road Bridge, Charlton Road Bridge and Ashland Ave. Bridge. The bal- ance of the special appropriation was expended on other roads damaged by the flood.
Respectfully submitted, LOUIS C. DIONNE,
Highway Surveyor.
93
REPORT OF THE ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT
To the Honorable Board of Selectmen
Southbridge, Mass.
From the point of view of the Engineering Department the event of greatest importance in 1936 was the spring flood. This led to more work on construction than ordi- narily falls to the department. It also led to petitions to your Board from interested citizens asking that the Town do flood prevention work on the streams affected. These have been reported on to you. Since the Town meeting instructed that a report be made on the matter of Nuisance Brook we make the body of this report our report on this brook with a few remarks as to the brook question in gen- eral.
Broadly speaking these brooks are the property of the land owners through whose land they flow, and this owner- ship carries with it all the privileges and obligations at- tending ownership. The Town is one of these owners where the brooks cross roads and streets or other Town property, or where the Town has taken over the care of the brook.
In the matter of floods it is well to bear in mind two things. First, that it is impossible to foresee the heights of floods in the future. Although the flood of 1936 is said to be the highest in a hundred years, conditions can easily be imagined which would lead to still higher waters. Second, it would not necessarily be advisable to construct works to care for the highest floods, since the cost of financing and maintaining this construction over a term of years might be in excess of the losses of occasional floods.
Therefore, unless the Town deems it advisable as a matter of public policy to take over any of these brooks, the work done by the Town should be confined to putting its part of the brooks in such condition that they will not be the
94
cause of undue damage to the other owners nor to other Town property. At the same time the Town should see that the owners maintain their portion of the brooks in such con- dition as not to damage Town property.
NUISANCE BROOK
The places on this stream which should be considered by the Town are where it crosses High Street Extension and overflows the street during ordinary freshets ; and from Dupaul Street to the Quinebaug River where floods cause the greatest property damage.
Schemes of diverting the Brook from its natural chan- nel to underground channels down High St. or down Hamil- ton St. have been thrown out by this Department because of the great expense of construction and the objections arising from doing away with the use of the brook by the many drains that empty into it as well as the possible dam- age to manufacturing plants that might occur at flood times from emptying the brook into the Quinebaug River above its present mouth.
For a clearer understanding of the condition of this brook it can be considered in four parts. The first part runs from the west side of Dupaul Street to 100 feet beyond the east side of Chapin Street. On this section the entrance to the culvert under Dupaul Street is in bad condition and of poor design. It is not on Town property, as it should be, and not built so as to make cleaning of the grates easy or to allow the stream to enter without choking. As to the part now under control of the Town the section under Dupaul Street and Goddard Street is large enough to handle or- dinary flood water. The culvert across Chapin Street seems to be ample in section but one break has occurred in the roof. The portion of the brook owned by private parties in this section has been so distorted from its natural course in some places and so constricted in cross section in others that it is quite inadequate. These changes in the natural course have probably reduced the capacity 50 per cent. There are evidences also that a habit is made of throwing trash into the brook. The roof of the culverts are in poor condition.
The second part runs from the end of the first part to a point at the northerly line of Hartwell Block. The Town's
95
section of this part is the crossing under Main Street which has the largest cross section of any part of the brook. It is ample to carry the largest floods so far experienced. The privately owned portions are well built and in good condi- tion although there are some bad angles in them and one length of concrete culvert is not large enough to carry the higher floods.
The third part runs from the Hartwell Block to the land of the New Haven R. R. All of this part is privately owned. Such trouble as occurs here is due to the channel being allowed to clog. The covering, where there is any, has fallen in in some places and trash of all kinds is allowed to find its way into the channel. The size of the channel is sufficient, when clean, to carry all but the highest floods.
The fourth part from the South line of the Railroad property to the river is all well built and with the exception of one section on the R. R. property is large enough to carry the ordinary floods. There are two angles in this part which are a source of danger from blocking and which diminish the capacity.
The work that should be done by the Town depends upon whether the Town desires to assume the ownership and responsibility for the brook or whether it prefers to consider its responsibility limited to those parts on its streets. In either case we recommend that the culvert across High Street be rebuilt to a greater width and the intake at Dupaul Street be rebuilt.
In the case of the Town assuming entire responsibility for the part of the brook between Dupaul Street and the river we recommend the following: complete rebuilding of the channel from Dupaul Street to a point 100 ft. east of Chapin Street in such a way as to straighten and shorten the channel eliminating all sharp corners and keeping the channel as much as possible in streets and rights of way. We would recommend laying an auxiliary drain along part of the brook between Chapin Street and Main Street. On the part from the Hartwell Block to the New Haven prop- erty, we recommend covering with a concrete slab, repair- ing present side walls and rebuilding them where sharp angles exist, and laying a concrete bottom. We would rec- ommend laying an auxiliary drain across the New Haven R. R. property.
If the Town does not wish to take over the brook as a
96
whole, we recommend the rebuilding of the channel from the North side of Dupaul Street to the east side of Goddard Street keeping the channel entirely within street lines through this distance :
Preliminary estimates of these different pieces of con- struction are :
SMALLER PROJECT
Culvert across High Street
$1,095.00
Entrance at Dupaul Street 550.00
$1,645.00
New channel-Dupaul and Goddard
Streets
3,350.00
$4,495.00
LARGER PROJECT
New channel-Dupaul to Chapin Street
$13,600.00
Additional drain-Chapin to Main
Street
1,210.00
Alterations - Hartwell Block
to
N. H. R. R.
7,500.00
Additional drain N. H. R. R. to river
2,200.00
High Street Culvert
1,095.00
New inlet at Dupaul Street 550.00
$26,155.00
It has been the custom for this department to mention in its report projects which it believes wise for the Town to undertake. Limits of space confine us to the statement that the Town in the future, probably the near future, will be called upon to make large expenditures for construction. This is especially the case in the matter of the Sewer Sys- tem. The limits to which this department is confined through financial considerations prevents it from carrying on pre- paratory work which, when the Town decides to act, might save the Town money far beyond the expense incurred through this department.
Respectfully submitted, J. G. CLARKE, Town Engineer
97
REPORT OF W. P. A.
Following are the activities of the WPA in the town during the year of 1936.
The report of the Town Accountant will show the cost to the town for each project and it will be seen that a good balance was left in the account, at the end of the year.
The U. S. Government has expended for labor during the year the sum of $98,136.00 and the Commodity Store has distributed food and goods to the amount of $24,572.00, a total of $122,708.00 for the year.
At the present time five projects are working-Wo- men Sewing, Charlton Street Sewer, and Moth and Tree work sponsored by the town and the Cisco St. Bridge and Roadside Beautification sponsored by the Department of Public Works.
The following projects have been completed-Engine House Painting, Woodland Street Storm Drain, School, Water and Winter Streets Storm Drain, High Street Sewer, West Street Widening.
The No. Woodstock Sewer has been postponed until the location of the streets in that section has been deter- mined.
The Morris Street Widening was partially completed and will soon be re-opened. The South Street Sewer has been delayed but we hope soon it will be started and com- pleted.
The Sidewalks on the several streets will again be started as soon as weather permits.
Other projects have been prepared and will be put in effect as soon as men are available.
Respectfully submitted,
NAPOLEON J. BLANCHARD
VALMORE P. TETREAULT DAVID E. HOBSON
Board of Selectmen
1.
99
REPORT OF TOWN ACCOUNTANT
Honorable Board of Selectmen,
Southbridge, Mass.
Gentlemen :
We submit our Annual Report of financial transactions of the Town of Southbridge for the fiscal year ending December 31, 1936.
In our report we have endeavored to extend to a fur- ther degree the classifying of expenditures in detail so as to eliminate as much as possible the items appearing under the title "All Others." Substantially, the report follows along the standard adopted by the Department of Corpora- tions and Taxation, by its Division of Accounts.
Again we express our appreciation to the Town Offi- cials for their continued co-operation.
Respectfully submitted, JOSEPH E. DESROSIER
Town Accountant
-
100
1936 RECEIPTS GENERAL REVENUE
Taxes :
Current Year-1936
Poll
9,556.00
Personal
70,171.04
Real Estate
289,612.64
Excise
22,953.13
$392,292.81
Previous Years
Poll
122.0,0
Personal
4,719.57
Real Estate
76,508.66
Excise
881.00
$82,231.23
From State :
Income - Educational Val'n
12,274.03
1936 Allocation Income
Tax Revenue
5,710.53
Corp. Taxes Part Under Chap. 362, 1936
39,380.29
Income Tax
11,708.30
Corp. Tax, Gas & Elec. Co.
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