USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Arlington > Town of Arlington annual report 1918 > Part 6
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JURORS
Each year the Board experiences difficulty in selecting citizens with the necessary qualifications to serve as jurors. The law requires that this list shall be made during January of each year, and while the Board exercises due care in the selection, it is impossible to avoid the selection of some citizens the drawing of whose names would cause inconvenience. This the Board tries to avoid, as it is not the desire to work either a hardship or an inconvenience on any citizen. On the other hand all good citizens, who can, should be willing to perform this part of their duties as good citizens.
If for any good reason a citizen cannot serve he should notify the Board during the month of January in order that his name will not appear in the list.
(For list of Jurors see that heading.)
STATE AID, SOLDIERS' RELIEF AND STATE AID
The law applying to the payment of State Aid to the de- pendents of veterans of the Civil and Spanish Wars was, by
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SELECTMEN'S REPORT
an Act of the Legislature in 1917, made applicable to the men serving in the various branches of the United States service in the war with Germany and her Allies. Unlike, however, the veterans of the two previous wars, the soldiers and sailors of the late war were allowed (in the cases of married men compelled) to make allotments to their dependents. When this allotment was made the United States Government made an allowance - in the case of a wife $15, and when there were children $5 additional for each child - in the case of a mother, father or sister, $10. The State of Massachusetts, by the law referred to above, authorized the Commissioner of State Aid to pay to the dependents of these men, from the Treasury of the State, a sum sufficient (in addition to the amount of his allotment, or pending receipt of same) to adequately support the dependents. This authority of the Commissioner and the disbursement of the aid is contingent on the reports of the Board or officials of the various cities and towns designated to investigate these cases. In Arlington this duty was delegated to the Board of Selectmen. All dependents applying for this aid are to be examined separately and the amount of aid determined on the merits of each particular case. While this task is not an easy one, if fairness and justice is to be done, the Board has en- deavored to treat each case in a manner that a liberal interpre- tation of the law and the desires of our citizens would dictate.
That the cases have been dealt with in this manner is evidenced by the approval of the Commissioner in all cases. This means that all moneys paid by the Town for State Aid is re- imbursed by the State if such payments are approved by the Commissioner. The average monthly payroll for this aid was about $700.
The payroll of the veterans of the Civil and Spanish Wars remain as they were last year.
MILITARY AID AND SOLDIERS' RELIEF
There is only a technical difference between these two designations.
Military Aid means that when all other sources of income are inadequate to the proper support of the soldier, then Military
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ARLINGTON TOWN REPORT
Aid is given. This aid is divided, the State paying one-half and the Town the other half. At the expiration of the extreme need, the case goes back to the State Aid list from which it was transferred to the Military Aid list. A person cannot draw both at the same time.
COAL FOR TOWN DEPARTMENTS
Owing to the coal situation, the usual custom of the Board in asking for bids from various firms for coal for the various departments of the Town was not carried out.
The reason for this action on the part of the Board was that no concern or firm was willing to enter into a contract either as to price or amount to be delivered. Under these conditions the Board held a conference with Mr. W. A. Peirce, and he agreed to supply the needs of the Town at the best prevailing prices. At the writing of this report this agreement has been fulfilled.
GYPSY MOTH WORK
This Department was continued during the past year under the efficient superintendency of Daniel M. Daley. The work of this Department, so little thought of by the average citizen, is of great importance to the Town. The shade trees on our streets are, by many people, classed as one of the greatest ad- juncts of a beautiful and progressive Town. The children in our schools should be taught to not only do no damage to these trees but to constitute themselves a " tree protection com- mittee " for the preservation and safety of all trees in the Town. Our Boy Scouts could well take this matter into con- sideration and there will be no doubt of the result if these forces are enrolled in the service of protecting, promulgating, fostering and safeguarding these very great additions to the beauty, health and pleasure of our Town. Mr. Daley, the Superin- tendent, will be pleased to assist and advise all boys and girls in this work.
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SELECTMEN'S REPORT
LICENSES
Garage and Gasolene Licenses. During the past year the regu- lations made by the Fire Prevention Commissioner, regulating these licenses, have been in force. Under these regulations citizens desiring a license to maintain a garage to accommodate one or two cars need only to apply to the Building Inspector and the Chief of the Fire Department. For a license to keep and store gasolene to an amount not exceeding 120 gallons, application need only be made to the Chief of the Fire Depart- ment. Where licenses are applied for to keep more than two automobiles, or to keep and store gasolene to an amount exceed- ing 120 gallons, the law requires that the Board shall give a hearing, after fourteen days' notice, to all interested abutters.
Common Victuallers. With the growth of the Town. the number of these licenses issued must naturally increase. The Board continues to require that the premises where these licenses are granted be at all times kept in a clean and sanitary condition. All applications are submitted to the Police Depart- ment for investigation as to the character of the applicant and the conditions of the premises.
LICENSES GRANTED BY BOARD OF SELECTMEN, 1918
Common Victuallers. A. Osborn Sprague, 5 Mystic Street; Panis & Saxeny, 1360 Massachusetts Avenue; Isabel M. Mac- Donald, 1405 Massachusetts Avenue; Louis .F. McKenna & Co., 406 Massachusetts Avenue; William F. M. Sheehan, 945 Massa- chusetts Avenue; Christie W. Anifantis, 1399 Massachusetts Avenue; Mary F. Parkhurst, 458 Massachusetts Avenue; Louis G. Taylor, Spy Pond Boat House; Helen I .. Hatch, 608 Massachusetts Avenue. A. Charles LaBreque, 606 Massacł u- setts Avenue; Katherine J. Dempsey, 3 Beacon Street; John W. Eckman, 1400 Massachusetts Avenue; E. Elbridge Snow, 447 Massachusetts Avenue, Napoleon J. Hardy, 657 Massachusetts Avenue; Eli N. Kazanjian, 290 Massachusetts Avenue; A. P. Richardson, 454 Massachusetts Avenue; J. M. Nyman, 164 Massachusetts Avenue; Alice G. Howland, 637 Massachusetts Avenue.
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ARLINGTON TOWN REPORT
Intelligence Office. Edward F. DeLorey, 1385 Massachusetts Avenue; Mrs. James J. Boudreau, 8 Swan Place.
Bowling Alley. A. C. LaBreque, 606 Massachusetts Avenue (8 alleys).
Taxi. James D. Nass, 154 Lowell Street (2 cars); W. S. Butterick, 22 Varnum Street (2 cars); Joseph Forrest, Lewis Avenue (2 cars); C. E. Biathrow, 13 Belknap Street (2 cars); Charles E. Davis, 7 Nourse Road (2 cars); William O'Connell, 84 Park Street (1 car); William T. Marrigan, 12 Swan Place (1 car); Frank J. Priest, 30 Whittemore Street (3 cars); Michael S. Merrigan, 31 Central Street (1 car); Robert F. Walkinshaw, 14 Belknap Street (2 cars).
Transportation of Liquor. A. M. Curtin, 961 Massachusetts Avenue; George W. McCellan, 15 Webster Street; American Express Company, B. & M. Railroad; R. M. Lindsay, 52 Tufts Street; Wood Brothers, Massachusetts Avenue; Manuel Lopez, 21 Swan Street.
Junk. Solomon Wax and William Coughlin.
Pool Room. Sylvestro DiDonati, 444 Massachusetts Avenue.
Auctioneers. Arthur J. Hendrick, Frank Y. Wellington, James H. Shedd, Albert H. Goodwin, George D. Moore, Wil- lard G. Rolfe, Frank V. Noyes, James M. Mead, Daniel P. Sweeney, Winthrop Pattee and Alfred Patterson.
WILLIS P. HOWARD, THOMAS J. DONNELLY, HORATIO A. PHINNEY, Selectmen of the Town of Arlington.
REPORT OF CHIEF OF POLICE FOR THE YEAR ENDING DECEMBER 31, 1918
ARLINGTON, JANUARY 1, 1919.
To the Honorable Board of Selectmen:
Gentlemen: I have the honor to submit herein a report of the doings of the Police Department for the year ending Decem- ber 31, 1918.
The total number of arrests during the year was 632; of this number 392 were non-residents and 240 residents; 21 were females and 57 were juveniles or persons under 17 years of age.
The offenses for which arrests were made: Crimes against the person (assaults, etc.), 20. For crimes against property (for breaking and entering and larceny, etc.). 79, and for crimes against public order (misdemeanors), 533.
Fines to the amount of $1499 were imposed by the Court. Property valued to $497.50 was reported as lost and property to the value of $521 was found and restored to the proper owners.
Property to the value of $3850 was reported as stolen and we have recovered and turned over to the rightful owners property to the value of $4384.00.
There have been 179 accident and sick cases in which this department has been called upon to investigate, report and assist; this is by far the largest number that has occurred in any one year to date, and the time and effort of the police in these cases were no small item.
There have been 11 fatal cases reported to and investigated by the police during the year.
Our Gamewell Police Signal System of 19 boxes, installed in 1906, still continues to fulfill every demand made of it; it has been in constant use, and there were 39,219 duty calls rung in and 1257 telephone calls received from the patrolmen over this system during the year.
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ARLINGTON TOWN REPORT
The war activities greatly increased the work of the depart- ment during the year and we have given every co-operation in our power and worked in perfect harmony, not only with the War and Navy Departments, to whom we have sent weekly reports, at their request, regarding local conditions, but to the Depart- ment of Justice and the United States Marshal's office as well, and our work has been commended by them.
Among the more important miscellaneous duties of the de- partment has been the care of 39 estates during the absence of the owners.
Six hundred and sixty-eight cases of various natures have been investigated.
One thousand three hundred and twenty circulars have been written for the Fuel Committee and distributed by us at their request to storekeepers.
Two hundred and forty-three stores were found unlocked at night and secured by our night patrol.
Twenty-one lost children have been cared for and returned to parents and 88 messages have been delivered to various houses at the request of the police or hospitals of other cities and towns.
This report for printing has been greatly abbreviated at the request of your honorable board, but a full detailed report has been rendered for your files.
To your honorable board I wish to extend my sincere thanks for the kindly advice and many courtesies rendered to both myself and members of this department, and to those loyal citi- zens who have assisted us in our work I can but express my deep appreciation.
Respectfully submitted,
THOMAS O. D. URQUHART, Chief of Police.
REPORT OF CHIEF OF FIRE DEPARTMENT
ARLINGTON, DECEMBER 31, 1918.
To the Honorable Board of Selectmen of the Town of Arlington.
Gentlemen: I respectfully submit my annual report of the Arlington Fire Department for the year ending December 31, 1918.
The number of companies and equipment has been the same as last year, up to November 1, when the company at the Heights Station was disbanded, the Station closed and men of company transferred to other companies of the Department. This move was taken to strengthen the Department by cen- tralizing the men and apparatus, and also to save expense by maintaining one less station. So far the plan has worked very successfully. The Department now is entirely motorized, the horses at Heights having been disposed of, one sold, and the other found a good home for the rest of his life.
The manual force is the same as last year. The Town has been very fortunate in retaining all of the men, considering the conditions which prevailed throughout the country the past year.
The motor equipment of Department is all in good condition. A second-hand Knox motor of 60 horsepower has been pur- chased the past year, and the men at Central Fire Station, on Broadway, are overhauling the same and are making a com- bination hose and chemical engine, using the old chemical tank from horse-drawn wagon. This apparatus when finished will be used for a spare car, making one spare car for each Station. The men are doing all the work themselves, taking up their spare time, and also making themselves familiar with the care of the motors.
The Fire Stations are in fair repair. The one at Heights has been turned over to the Town. The other stations will have to be repaired in the near future, to conform to the rules
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ARLINGTON TOWN REPORT
covering Fire Stations, as made by Fire Prevention Commis- sioner.
The Department has answered 210 alarms, made up as follows: 110 bells, 100 stills, 34 of these false. The large num- ber of false alarms was occasioned by the peace celebration in November.
Value of buildings endangered
$122,600.00
Value of contents of buildings
29,100.00
Insurance on buildings 109,050.00
Insurance on contents
20,350.00
Insurance paid on buildings
10,114.71
Insurance paid on contents
2,286.00
For further details of alarms and work of the Department see records of Clerk of Engineers.
The appropriation for the year ending December 31, 1918, was $21,005, receipts $148.50, total $21,153.50. For expenditures see report of Auditor.
RECOMMENDATIONS
I recommend the appropriation of $24,450. The increase is occasioned by an increase given the permanent men on November 1, and also by increase asked by call men and recommended by engineers to take effect January 1, 1919. The cost of all supplies for the Department has increased, and it is impossible to get along under the old scale of wages. In order to keep the men and get the best results, we have to pay wages to correspond with what they can command in com- mercial work.
I recommend the strict enforcement of all building laws and laws relating to fire prevention; attention at this time may save the Town serious trouble later.
In closing my report I respectfully thank your Honorable Board for the courteous manner in which you have received me in my official capacity. I also wish to thank all other officials of the Town who have so willingly given their services when called upon, and to my assistants and all members of the
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REPORT OF CHIEF OF FIRE DEPARTMENT
Fire Department I give my sincere thanks for the able manner in which they have answered all demands made upon them, making the Department a credit to the Town, and a pleasure to command.
Respectfully submitted,
WALTER H. PEIRCE, Chief.
REPORT OF THE SEALER OF WEIGHTS AND MEASURES
ARLINGTON, MASS., December 31, 1918.
To the Honorable Board of Selectmen.
Gentlemen: I herewith respectfully submit my first annual report of the services of this Department for the year ending December 31, 1918.
Number of scales, weights and measures sealed
2027
Number of scales, weights and measures condemned
52
Total
2079
Weights found incorrect and adjusted
177
Scales found incorrect and adjusted or repaired
48
Pumps having measuring devices adjusted
10
Total 235
Weights condemned
1
Scales condemned
1
Measuring pumps condemned
6
Slot weighing machines condemned
2
Liquid measures condemned
1
Dry measures condemned
0
Total 11
Number of visits made to stores 274
Weighed out packages tested at stores 709
Number of complaints investigated of short weights and measures 21
Number of inspections of milk jars in use on milk teams 91
Number of inspections of scales and measures used by junk collectors, hawkers and peddlers 6
One thousand nine hundred and thirty-three (1933) weights, scales and measures were inspected, sealed or condemned at
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REPORT OF SEALER OF WEIGHTS AND MEASURES
places of business and statutory fees were received and the same paid to the Town Collector. The remainder of the sealing was done at the office.
Number of berry baskets tested 506
Number of ice cream molds tested and sealed 981
Number of ice weighings 24
Number of gasoline measures tested 49 .
COAL INSPECTION
Loads in transit examined for certificate of weight 109
Loads not properly certified to 3
Loads in transit reweighed 7
Bags of coal reweighed
38
Bags of charcoal reweighed
50
The loads reweighed did not show any unusual shortage: the largest shortage being twenty pounds, on a two-ton load.
On account of the death of my predecessor I cannot swear to the accuracy of this report.
In conclusion, I wish to express my sincere appreciation to the Town officials and citizens who have assisted me in various ways in discharge of my duties.
Very respectfully submitted,
ALBERT F. DUFFY, Sealer of Weights and Measures.
REPORT OF INSPECTOR OF BUILDINGS
To the Honorable Board of Selectmen, Arlington, Mass .:
I herewith submit my report of the inspection of buildings for the year ending December 31, 1918. One hundred nine per- mits have been issued, classified as follows:
Dwelling's, one family
22
$86,300.00
Dwellings, two family
11
55,500.00
Additions and alterations
11
9,150.00
Garages
55
30,765.00
Church
1
6,000.00
Piazzas
3
500.00
Manufacturing building
1
12,000.00
Office
1
400.00
Tool shops
3
350.00
Chimney
1
50.00
109
$201,015.00
Respectfully submitted,
WILLIAM GRATTO, Inspector of Buildings.
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REPORT OF INSPECTOR OF ANIMALS
ARLINGTON, MASS., January 5, 1919.
To the Honorable Board of Selectmen, Arlington, Mass.
Gentlemen:
I herewith submit my report as Inspector of Animals for the year ending December 31, 1918.
Annual spring inspection, animals inspected :
Cows
126
Pigs
189
Goats
6
During the year three suspicious cases of rabies were quaran- tined. Two cows were quarantined for tuberculosis. Arling- ton was free from glanders for the year.
Respectfully submitted,
F. HOLDEN SMITH, V., M.D., Inspector of Animals
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REPORT OF TOWN PHYSICIAN
To the Honorable Board of Selectmen.
Gentlemen: I hereby submit a report of the work done in this department for the year ending January 1, 1919:
Number of calls at home, outside poor 276
Number of calls at office, including vaccination 96
Emergency calls to Police Station 42
Patients to Tewksbury 3 Confinements 5
The work in this department has been considerably in- creased, both among adults and children, owing to the large number of influenza and pneumonia cases, almost double what it was last year, necessarily making increased demands on the services of the Town Physician.
Respectfully submitted,
(Signed) CHARLES A. KEEGAN, M.D.
92
GYPSY AND BROWN-TAIL MOTH DEPARTMENT FOR THE YEAR 1918
To the Honorable Board of Selectmen:
I herewith submit my annual report for the year ending December 31, 1918.
The past year $5500 was appropriated for insect work on the trees of the highways, and for work on private property. The gypsy moth situation was rather scattered the past year, and a recent examination shows a slight increase of egg clusters in isolated places, over that of last year, but on the whole the conditions are greatly improved. As the past year was one of conservation and economy, and also on account of the high cost of lead and team hire, we omitted the spraying of Menot- omy Rocks Park and the Hospital woods. All street trees and about sixty per cent of all private property were sprayed, and this work was performed with one 13-horsepower machine, and one 2-horsepower machine, thereby saving the expense of one pair of horses and an extra man. As I stated in last year's estimate, in order to accomplish this the property owners would have to be patient, as it would take longer to cover the Town. I would not advise the same policy this year as, to get best results from spraying, the fruit trees should be sprayed as early as possible, for the benefit of the fruit, and also to suppress insects other than the gypsy and brown-tail moth. We had a bad infestation of the leaf roller, and in order to do effective work it is necessary to have the trees sprayed before the insect rolls the leaf. This pest caused a lot of trouble, as we were obliged to go from one section of the Town to the other before completing any one section. The moth work is being handled with a definiteness of purpose, and it should be continued along the present lines, taking advantage of every method or combi- 1 nation of methods that will produce results economically.
It is a pleasure for me to state that out of our small regular
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ARLINGTON TOWN REPORT
force we are able to have on our honor roll an employee of this department who from the beginning of the war has been doing his bit with the famous 26th Division, Thomas J. Beasley.
On account of the increase granted in wages, and also to take care of the difference in pay of Private Beasley, I would recommend that the sum of $6500 be appropriated for the coming year.
Respectfully submitted,
D. M. DALEY, Superintendent.
NATURE OF WORK Year ending December 31, 1918
Labor Sundries
Cutting and burning brush
$204.10
Cutting and treating nests
743.87
Removing dead wood
176.79
Spraying
353.43
Inspection
10.50
Storehouse labor
143.00
Lost time
301.20
Vacations
108.00
Superintendent and Clerk
$1,570.33
Rent of storehouse
96.00
Team hire
230.60
Tools, repairs and supplies
1,388.38
Office supplies and expense
113.34
$2,040.89 $3,398.65
Labor
$2,040.89
Sundries
3,398.65
Total expended
$5,439.54
Appropriation
$5,500.00
Sundry receipts
16.45
$5,516.45
Total expended
5,439.54
Unexpended balance
$76.91
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GYPSY AND BROWN-TAIL MOTH DEPARTMENT
LOCATION OF WORK Year ending December 31, 1918
Labor Sundries
Almshouse
$2.26
Church properties
7.94
Hose No. 2, Fire Department
.17
Hospital property
12.50
Meadow Brook Park
11.08
Menotomy Rocks Park
242.37
Mount Pleasant Cemetery
66.48
Mystic Street gravel pit
1.13
Medford Street property, No. 18
.17
New Town Hall property
1.85
Pleasant Street Cemetery
8.95
Private work
811.41
Reservoir woods
Robbins Library
.88
School properties
4.27
Spy Pond Field
9.04
Stone crusher
3.87
Street trees
288.95
Waste land
4.87
Inspection
10.50
Storehouse labor
143.00
Lost time
301.20
Vacations
108.00
Superintendent and Clerk
$1,570.33
Rent of storehouse
96.00
Team hire
230.60
Tools, repairs and supplies
1,388.38
Office supplies and expense
113.34
$2,040.89 $3,398.65
Labor
$2,040.89
Sundries
3,398.65
Total expended
$5,439.54
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ARLINGTON TOWN REPORT
Appropriation
Sundry receipts
$5,500.00 16.45
$5,516.45
Total expended
5,439.54
Unexpended balance
$76.91
J. F. HIGGINS, Clerk.
LIST OF JURORS
1
LIST OF JURORS OF THE TOWN OF ARLINGTON, REVISED BY THE SELECTMEN, JANUARY 1, 1919
Name Occupation
Residence
Adams, Frank H.
Creamery
441 Mystic St.
Adams, William
Salesman
.221
Lowell St.
Alden, Charles A. Auditor 61 Rangeley Rd.
Alexander, William L. Salesman .86 Grafton St.
Allen, Abbott . Farmer .... 339 Massachusetts Ave.
Andres, Frederick H. Cotton Broker. .. 114 Pleasant St.
Arnold, Michael J. Cigar Maker .95 Harlow St.
Atwood, Henry- Market Gardener . 30 Highland Ave.
Atwood, Howard N.
Tel. Engineer
70 Harlow St.
Austin, Robert L. Piano Maker 136 Lowell St.
Bacon, Arthur L. Mason 241 Mystic St.
Bailey, William H.
Painter
5 Jason St.
Bain, James L.
Plumber.
49 Lowell St.
Barry, John. Market Gardener 94 Broadway
Bartlett, Solon M. Butter and Eggs 84 Jason St.
Bean, Harlan B .. Salesman. 1218 Massachusetts Ave.
Beattie, William T.
Salesman .
. :
8 Windemere Ave.
Beers, W. Warren.
Machinist. . 402 Massachusetts Ave.
Bennett, John N. Carpenter 29 Avon Pl.
Benwell, Thomas J.
Salesman
49 Lake St.
Biathrow, Clarence E.
Taxi .
3 Belknap St.
Birch, Arthur Machinist 74 Wollaston Ave.
Blake, John L. Bookkeeper 32 Everett St.
Blake, Rufus W. Grocer . 30 Lombard Tr.
Blaser, Carl A. Bookkeeper 54 Wyman Ter.
Bond, Everett P. Clerk. 9 Wyman Ter.
Bonney, Thomas S. Undertaker 21 Fairview Ave.
Bott, William G ..
Salesman
53 Academy St.
Brackett, James F.
Broker
23 Linden St.
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ARLINGTON TOWN REPORT
Name
Occupation
Residence
Brooks, Ernest R.
.Dentist .
103 Claremont Ave.
Brooks, William A.
Commissioner
78 Jason St.
Brown, Henry K.
Shoemaker. . 52 Westmoreland Ave.
Bruce, George M.
.Plumber
83 Harlow St.
Buckman, Herman F. Treasurer 41 Academy St.
Butler, Thomas D.
Clerk
44 Paul Revere Rd.
Butler, William H.
Com. Merchant
10 Addison St.
Buttrick, David .
Merchant
. 15 Swan St.
Callahan, Frank E.
Machinist
83 Medford St.
Carens, George C.
Reporter .
26 Trowbridge St.
Clark, George.
Stablekeeper
39 Mystic St.
Clark, William J.
Compositor . 729 Massachusetts Ave.
Converse, Herbert B .. Real Estate . 39 Florence Ave.
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