USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Arlington > Town of Arlington annual report 1954 > Part 15
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181
REPORT OF THE BOARD OF HEALTH
DENTAL CLINIC
Statistical Report on Work Performed during 1954
Total Number
of Patients
1743
Hours
513
",
Sittings
1743
Operations
3586
Extractions
Permanent
0
Deciduous
52
Fillings
Permanent 426
Deciduous
1947
Treatments
Prophylactic
1161
Total number
of Dismissals
1293
CLINICS FOR VACCINATION OF DOGS AGAINST RABIES
Clinics were held April 20, 21, 22, 23 and 24
Number of Dogs Vaccinated. 954
POLIOMYELITIS VACCINE FIELD TRIAL CLINICS
Enrollment of Grades I, II and III of
Schools which participated in the Trial
2372
Attendance
Clinic No. 1 - - May 12, 1954
1396
1396
Clinic No. 2 -
- May 19, 1954
1343)
Makeup - May 21, 1954
23) 1366
Clinic No. 3- June 16, 1954
1322)
Makeup - June 22, 1954
44)
1366
BLOOD SPECIMEN CLINICS
Clinic No. 1 - May 12, 1954
Acceptable 92
Clinic No. 2 - July 6, 1954
75
Clinic No. 3 - Nov.
3, 1954
85
COMMUNICABLE DISEASES
Cases reported during the year 1954
Chicken Pox
106
Dog Bites
178
German measles
14
Gonorrhea
1
Hepatitis, Infectious
2
Measles
463
Meningitis
4
TOTALS
182
ARLINGTON TOWN REPORT
Mumps 429
Paratyphoid 6
Poliomyelitis 5
Scarlet Fever
50
Syphilis
11
Tuberculosis (Pulmonary) 15
Whooping Cough
17
Total 1301
Tuberculosis Report
Total number of cases as of December 31, 1954 135
Deaths during year 1954 5
Case removals during 1954 10
New cases reported during the year 19
Contacts X-Rayed
34
Persons having a legal settlement in the Town of Arlington were hospitalized in Tuberculosis Sanatoria as follows:
Middlesex County Sanatorium 21
Lakeville State Sanatorium 1
Persons without a legal settlement in Arlington or in any community in the Commonwealth, were hospitalized through this Board as follows:
Middlesex County Sanatorium 4
Persons residing in Arlington with settlement in other com- munities within Middlesex County were hospitalized as follows:
Middlesex County Sanatorium 2
Lakeville State Sanatorium 1
Norfolk County Hospital 1
Persons with residence elsewhere but having an Arlington settlement were hospitalized as follows:
Middlesex County Sanatorium ........... 2
REPORT OF AGENT AND CLERK
Licenses Issued
To practice massage 1
To collect meat trimmings 4
To act as Funeral Directors 14
To conduct day nurseries 4
Permits Issued
To construct cesspools or septic tanks 12
To keep poultry 8
To hold rummage sales 28
To haul offal 1
To pick up garbage 1
Burial permits issued 411
183
REPORT OF THE BOARD OF HEALTH
Inspections Food and other establishments which serve the public 154 Miscellaneous 12
Complaints Investigated and settled ...
66
Legal Settlements Investigated and determined 28
REPORT OF MILK INSPECTOR
Licenses Issued
For the sale of Milk from stores 108
vehicles
35
,,
Oleomargarine
65
To manufacture Ice Cream Mix
6
To operate pasteurizing plants
2
Milk analyses made
189
Average for the year as follows:
Fat
Solids
Bacteria
*Grade "A"
4.34
13.37
4,150
* Regular
3.94
12.81
2,931
* School
3.97
12.65
6,600
* All samples Negative Phosphatase
Inspections
Pasteurizing Plants and Dairies 2
SERVICES RENDERED BY THE PUBLIC HEALTH NURSE
Periodic visits were made to homes of those with histories of reportable diseases.
Inspections and visits were made to places which were licensed as Boarding Homes for Infants.
Assisted at the several clinics which were conducted by the Board of Health.
Assisted the physicians in attendance at the two parochial schools in the physical examination of the pupils enrolled. Gave professional advice and first aid assistance when needed. With the assistance of principal, gave eye and hearing tests to children as required.
Visited the private and nursery schools in the Town regularly during the year.
184
ARLINGTON TOWN REPORT
REPORT OF THE SLAUGHTERING INSPECTOR
There was no slaughtering in the Town of Arlington during the year ending December 31, 1954.
BIRTHS AND DEATHS OF ARLINGTON RESIDENTS DURING 1954
Total number of deaths ... 516
Death rate per 1,000 population 11.7
Age of oldest persons dying in Arlington (1954)
Female 102 years 4
Male. 99 4 months 17 days
9
Total number of births 1151
Birth rate per 1,000 population
25.6
SHOWING THE FIVE PRINCIPAL CAUSES OF DEATH IN ARLINGTON DURING 1954
Number of deaths
Number per 1,000 of population
Heart Disease (All forms)
160
3.3
Cerebral Accidents (All forms)
62
1.4
Cancer
52
1.2
Pneumonia (All forms)
20
.45
Violent deaths
19
.42
185
REPORT OF INSPECTOR OF ANIMALS
Annual Report of Inspector of Animals
Subject : Annual Report of Inspector of Animals
January 7, 1955 To: Board of Selectmen
1. A total of 163 animals in Arlington were examined and quarantined for biting during the past year.
2. There were no cases of rabies in Arlington in 1954.
3. It was necessary to remove the head of one animal and deliver it to the Wasserman Laboratory in Jamaica Plain to be examined. It was found to be free of rabies.
4. The Inspector of Animals wishes to express his appreciation to the Board of Health and the Police Department for their excellent cooperation.
Respectfully submitted,
JOHN J. MURPHY, JR., D.V.M.
Report of the Dog Officer
Honorable Board of Selectmen
Gentlemen:
I herewith submit my report as Dog Officer for the Town of Arlington for the year ending December 31, 1954 in accordance with Section #3 of Article #3 of the Town By-laws.
Complaints registered with me are as follows:
Dogs impounded 689
Dogs destroyed at pound 14
Dogs returned to owners 269
Dogs contacted on Warrant 1278
Dogs caused to be licensed 1115
Unlicensed dogs sent to Animal Rescue League 326
Dogs licensed 2091 24
Complaints investigated for Board of Selectmen
Complaints registered with me to remove dead or mutilated animals from highways are as follows:
Dogs 109
Cats 234
Skunks 43
Squirrels
76
Raccoons 2
Pigeons 33
Snakes 2
Woodchucks 5
At this time I wish to thank the Board of Selectmen for advice rendered me in settlement of controversies arising between Dog Owners and Complainants, and to thank Ex-Chief Bullock and Acting Chief Ryan for their splendid cooperation through their department.
I also wish to thank the Dog Owners of Arlington for their prompt attention in the licensing of their dogs during the past year.
Respectfully submitted. SAMUEL F. FEMIA Dog Officer - Town of Arlington
Rats 5
Rabbits 9
Ducks 2
January 5, 1955 Arlington, Mass.
186
ARLINGTON TOWN REPORT
Report of the Sealer of Weights and Measures
January 13, 1955
Edward C. Monahan, Town Manager Town Hall
Arlington, Massachusetts
Dear Sir:
I respectfully submit my report as Sealer of Weights and Measures for the year ending December 31, 1954.
Scales
Adjusted
Sealed
Condemned
Platform over 10,000 lbs.
0
2
1
Platform 100-5,000 1bs.
1
9
1
Counter under 100 lbs.
3
34
0
Beam over 100 1bs.
0
7
0
Spring 100 1bs. or over
0
9
1
Spring under 100 lbs.
0
13
0
Computing under 100 1bs.
21
132
16
Person Weighing Scale
0
33
7
Prescription Scale
0
15
0
Weights
Avoirdupois
0
72
0
Apothecary
0
169
0
Capacity Measures
Liquid under 1 gallon
0
78
0
Automatic Measuring Device
Gasoline Meters
11
94
0
Tank Truck Meters
0
5
0
Grease Meters
0
55
0
Miscellaneous
Yard Sticks
0
9
0
Bulk Storage
0
2
0
Kerosene Meter
0
1
0
Totals
36
739
26
This Department has turned into the Town Treasurer the sum of $337.20 as sealing fees. The Town Treasurer also received $175.00 in payment for Hawker's and Pedler's licenses. When various departments are engaged in the buying or selling of material by weight or measure it has been checked as to the amount of yard- age or weight by the Sealer.
Respectfully submitted,
JAMES J. DOLAN
Sealer of Weights & Measures
TREE WARDEN, MOTH AND TOWN HOUSE GROUNDS 187
Report of the Tree Warden and Superintendent of the Moth and Town House Grounds Department
Mr. Edward C. Monahan Town Manager Arlington, Massachusetts
Dear Sir:
I herewith submit my report as Tree Warden and Superintend- ent of the Moth and Town House Grounds Departments for the year ending December 31, 1954.
TREE DEPARTMENT
During the year 275 trees were planted on new streets con- structed by the Public Works Department and private contractors, also in various sections of the town to replace trees that had died or for some other reason had to be removed.
Public hearings were held on petitions of property owners for the removal of seven trees for various reasons. All petitions were granted due to the fact that there were no objections against them. The trees were removed with the petitioners assuming all expenses.
The Board of Survey ordered eleven trees to be removed to make way for street and sidewalk construction, or in some cases to remedy liazardous driving conditions.
A continuation of our program of trimming and raising up trees to alleviate obstruction from high delivery trucks and buses traveling along our highways is still in progress. Many requests were received during the year for trimming and cutting back trees that were growing close to houses and overhanging roofs and porches; so it seems that we must continue to make this a part of our program from year to year. We try to do a section of the town each year, as it is impossible to cover the entire town in one season.
During the winter months hundreds of trees were removed by this department for the enlargement of Warren A. Peirce Field, at the request of the Park Department. During this operation, all debris was burned on the premises with the Fire Department putting out the fires every night.
Trees were trimmed, pruned and removed for the Cemetery, School, Highway and Park Departments at the request of the respec- tive boards and department heads.
The motor equipment of the Department was used by the Pub- lic Works Department for snow plowing and snow removal when- ever requested by the Superintendent.
188
ARLINGTON TOWN REPORT
A major catastrophy struck this town August 31, 1954, name- ly, Hurricane Carol. A total of about 1,000 public trees were blown over during this storm, of which about 600 were street trees and the others confined to Park, School and Cemetery Areas. All operating departments of the town were augmented and within 24 hours all streets were passable. All trees and stumps were disposed of at either the Reservoir or Cemetery dumps and burned by the Fire Department.
As we were making a fairly good headway cleaning up Hurricane Carol, a new hurricane, namely, Edna, came upon us. Unlike Carol, we were better prepared for this one. I turned my whole office over to the Edison Personnel who had special telephones and direct wires installed by the Telephone Company for them. They took over a certain section of the floor space for their stock and everything turned out wonderful, both to the advantage of the Edison Company and the Town of Arlington. They had their own line crews plus three crews from Stamford, Connecticut, plus three tree crews working out of the building. In all there were 60 men working out of here at one time.
The damage from this storm was not as bad as the first one from a tree point of view, but it did cause enough damage to keep us working right through the week end. At the present writing, we are still engaged in Hurricane repair work.
GYPSY AND BROWN TAIL MOTH DEPARTMENT
The regular spraying schedule of this department was carried on as usual including a dormant spray given to Elm trees to com- bat the Scolytus Beetle which is the carrier of the Dutch Elm Disease. During the year 42 samples of Elm trees were taken from trees that were suspicious of the disease and after labora- tory tests were made 11 trees were found to be afflicted, 8 of these were on private property and 3 were street trees. I have no doubt that there are many more, but our scouting operations had to cease as of September 1st. due to damage from the hurricanes. There is no known cure for the disease outside of removing the trees and burning them up or burying them. Spraying at the proper time and a continuation of our sanitation program will still be adhered to.
The Japanese Beetle still continues to be a major part of our spraying program and eradication of this pest would be made much easier if property owners would spray their own property and treat their lawns wherever possible.
An outbreak of the European Earwig was detected in some parts of the town during the year and although it is not a tree pest it did become a nuisance and very unsightly around gardens and homes.
The Tent Caterpillar also was prevalent in some sections of the Town which required us to start our spraying earlier than usual.
All of the main streets and many side streets had to be sprayed in the early morning hours due to heavy traffic conditions during the middle of the day.
TREE WARDEN, MOTH AND TOWN HOUSE GROUNDS 189
There were 923 private estates sprayed on request of pro- perty owners, who in turn made a remittance to the town for the cost of the work. Both Housing Projects were also sprayed for Japanese Beetle.
Menotomy Rocks Park was again sprayed this year by airplane and very favorable results obtained from it.
TOWN HOUSE GROUNDS DEPARTMENT
As has been the custom in past years, the personnel of the Tree Warden and Moth Departments maintains the grounds bor- dering the Town Hall and Robbins House. These men also take care of the lawn and hedges at Police Headquarters and the grass area adjoining the parking lot on Mystic Street. Assistance was also given to the Library employees during the period of help short- age and vacation periods.
The regular maintenance of the grounds and shrubbery was attended to as usual. Replacements of some of the plants and shrubbery had to be made in the spring due to winter killing. The pool in the center of the grounds was given two coats of special waterproof paint. The floor of the pool, due to its age, is getting well cracked and eventually we will have to have a new floor.
Due to the installation of a telephone cable from the Town Hall to the Library and Robbins House, a trench had to be dug through the lawn. This required extra grading and seeding.
The Patriots' Day celebration which again attracted an enor- mous crowd of adults and children, necessitated the men of the department to rope off the entrance to the Town Hall and police the grounds.
A permanent watchman was employed during the summer months to patrol the grounds every evening as well as all day Saturdays, Sundays and Holidays.
The bases of the fountains on the front platform of the Town Hall were again planted this year. We received many favorable reports about them.
Snow removal from the front platform of the Town Hall, the walks through the grounds, also the parking area in the rear of the building and at the Robbins House was taken care of by this department.
In conclusion, I wish to gratefully acknowledge the cooper- ation given me by you and your staff, the personnel of this Depart- ment and all other departments of the Town.
Respectfully submitted, GEORGE M. DOLAN
Tree Warden and Superintendent of Moth and Town House Grounds Departments
190
ARLINGTON TOWN REPORT
Report of the Wire Department
January 13, 1955
Mr. Edward C. Monahan
Town Manager
Arlington, Massachusetts
Dear Sir:
I herewith submit my fifteenth annual report as Inspector of Wires for the year ending December 31, 1954.
STREET LIGHTING
The street lighting in service December 31, 1954 was as follows:
800 Lumen incandescent lamps 1,597
1,000 Lumen incandescent lamps 94
2,500 Lumen incandescent lamps 34
4,000 Lumen incandescent lamps 23
6,000 Lumen incandescent lamps 383
10,000 Lumen incandescent lamps
127
15,000 Lumen incandescent lamps 11
15,000 Lumen mercury vapor lamps
13
Total lighting units 2,282
Lighting ordered
15,000 Lumen mercury vapor lamps 20
4,000 Lumen incandescent lamps 61
2,500 Lumen incandescent lamps 5
1,000 Lumen incandescent lamps 33
Street lights replaced
6,000 Lumen incandescent lamps 13
800 Lumen incandescent lamps
42
Poles replaced
Boston Edison Company 36
New England Telephone & Telegraph Co. ..
72
INSPECTION OF WIRES
Two Thousand and Forty-Five (2,045) permits were issued at fifty cents each during the year. Fees collected amounted to One Thousand and Twenty-Six Dollars ($1,026.00).
We had two hurricanes during the year, the first arrived on August 31st in the forenoon, damaging all power circuits and much of the telephone equipment serving the Town. A great amount of the damage and delay in restoring service by both utilities was caused by primary or high voltage wires coming in
191
REPORT OF THE PLANNING BOARD
contact with other wires and equipment not designed for this higher voltages, resulting in equipment being burnt out and wires being burnt off.
The second storm arrived on September 11th and profiting by experience, the Boston Edison Company was ordered by the Town of Arlington to deenergize all Arlington circuits at the first sign of trouble. This precaution resulted in far less equipment be- ing burnt out and less wire damaged, permitting faster restoration of service.
The greatest delay was in restoring street lighting and for this outage, the Boston Edison Company allowed the Town of Arling- ton a credit of sixty-five percent of the September street lighting bill, resulting in a saving of Four Thousand Two Hundred Ninety- Six Dollars and fifty-nine cents ($4,296.59).
I wish to express my thanks to you and the various depart- ments of the Town for your cooperation and courtesy during the year.
Respectfully submitted, ROBERT L. REID Inspector of Wires
Report of the Planning Board
Mr. Edward C. Monahan Town Manager Arlington, Massachusetts
January 12, 1955
Dear Sir:
In accordance with Section 49 of the General Laws Chapter 40, the Planning Board submits its report for the year ending December 31, 1954.
Mrs. Carol J. Thomas, whose term of office as a member of the Board expired on August 17, was reappointed by the Town Manager for a term of 3 years to expire on August 17, 1957.
The Board took action to object to the proposed location of new Route 3 thru Arlington. With the approval of the Town Manager and the Selectmen, the Board engaged qualified consultants to compile facts as to the effect on our Town of the new route of the Highway if it was built as proposed thru the Morningside Area. The consultants were also requested to report on alternate Routes and the Report received was referred to the Town Manager and the Board of Selectmen.
During the year Public hearings were held on Zoning By-Laws Amendments or Zoning Changes. Two of the Zoning Changes
192
ARLINGTON TOWN REPORT
the Board recommended for adoption, and were so voted by the Town Meeting on one Zoning Change petitioned for, the Board presented an adverse report which was upheld by the Town Meeting.
The Planning Board, as members of the Joint Planning Com- mittee, attended several meetings held by this Committee.
The matter of reviewing and modernizing our Zoning By-Laws has been considered, and a meeting with the Members of the Boards of Appeals was held on the subject for the purpose of ob- taining their view as to any clarifications or changes they felt should be made.
It is the Board's plan to coordinate the findings and recom- mendations of the Joint Planning Committee and its findings, and to recommend any changes that are advisable.
The Board has continued to cooperate with the various Depart- ments and Boards of the Town.
The Board remains a member of the State Federation of Plan- ning Boards, and Mrs. Thomas represented the Board at a Con- ference held in Springfield on November 5th and 6th, 1954, at which time she was elected a Director at Large of the Organization.
The Land Use Survey Record has been brought up to date, and is available for the use of all Departments.
Regular meetings of the Board have been held throughout the year.
Progress on the tentative program for a Master Plan for Ar- lington was made:
Route 3 alternate route study (completed) Arlington Heights Parking Study analysis (completed) Coordination of studies undertaken (land use, school site, business district) continued.
Plans for 1955 are as follows:
Complete above Zoning changes to implement Plans
The Board wishes to express its appreciation and sincere thanks to the Town Manager and to all the Boards and Department Heads, who have rendered assistance and cooperation to it during the year.
Respectfully submitted, JOHN B. BYRNE JR. WILLIAM O. MURRAY CAROL J. THOMAS ROBERT H. ZWICKER WILLIAM R. DUNN
REPORT OF THE DEPT. OF VETERANS' SERVICES 193
Annual Report of the Department of Veterans' Services
The Honorable Town Manager Robbins Town Hall Arlington, Mass.
Dear Sir:
Submitted herewith is the tenth annual report of the Depart- ment of Veterans' Services covering the calendar year 1954. The Department is bound by law to furnish financial assistance to vet- erans of all wars and their legal dependents who qualify under the terms of Chapter 115, General Laws of Massachusetts. In time of war the dependents of service men and women who may be in need are also eligible for aid. Under the terms of other laws the Department has a mandate to furnish to veterans, their dependents and other kin, such information, advice and assistance as may be necessary to enable them to procure the benefits to which they are or may be entitled relative to employment, vocational or other op- portunities, hospitalization, medical care, pensions, compensation, insurance and other veterans' benefits and must have on hand copies of current booklets and other printed matter pertaining to the sta- tutory rights of war veterans provided by Federal and State Laws. Close liaison must be maintained with the U. S. Veterans Admini- stration, the Departments of the Army, Navy and Air, the Selective Service Boards, the Department of Labor and other Federal agencies with which veterans and service men come in contact and the vari- ous departments of our State government. Close liaison is also maintained with the United Spanish War Veterans, Veterans of Foreign Wars, American Legion, Disabled American Veterans and other organizations of veterans, the auxiliaries of the organizations of veterans, the American Gold Star Mothers and like organizations and with all groups having an active interest in the welfare of veterans. In this report the services furnished which were not directly connected with the granting of financial aid will first be summarized under the title of Veterans' Services. The second part of the report will deal with financial aid and will be entitled Veterans' Benefits, War Allowance and Burial Aid.
VETERANS' SERVICES
Photostatic copies made 3,756
Documents notarized
88
Discharges recorded in the Town archives 339
Contacts:
Counsel and information 1,556
Civil Service, employment and housing 498
Selective Service, discharges, allotments, bonus, etc. 1,187
Administrative business, etc. 1,985
Veterans Administration matters 1,362
Home, hospital and other visits 647
Total
7,235
194
ARLINGTON TOWN REPORT
Letters, history entries and records
890
Veterans Administration forms completed 220
Veterans Administration claims handled as agent for claimants 72
Total for the year 1954
12,600
Total of cash benefits accruing to claim- ants in 1954 through the efforts of this department
$14,145.00
Estimated total of money saved the Town in 1954 by successful prose- cution at the Veterans Administra- tion of claims of persons who might otherwise become beneficiaries of this department 13,792.10
VETERANS' BENEFITS, WAR ALLOWANCE AND BURIAL AID
A tabulation of the administrative work connected with the disbursement of financial aid to the needy follows:
Contacts (visits, interviews, telephone, etc. ) 2,419
Applications, history entries, records and letters 3,360
Total for the year 1954 5,779
Cases on rolls:
(a) Settled in Arlington 101
(b) Settled in another community 2
(c) State settled
1
Applications and re-applications received 146
accepted 104
,, rejected or withdrawn 27
referred to other communities or elsewhere 12
pending 3
Refund cases 7
Actual disbursements to or on behalf of veterans, service men and their dependents in the period January 1, 1954 through Decem- ber 31, 1954, were as follows:
VETERANS' BENEFITS (Needy cases, State participation 50 % of authorized payments) $35,869.18
WAR ALLOWANCE (Needy dependents of persons in active service. Full reimbursement by State) 45.00
BURIAL AID
Chapter 115, General Laws of Mass. (Needy cases, State participation 50% in Arlington settled cases and 100 % in all other cases) 500.00
REPORT OF THE DEPT. OF VETERANS' SERVICES 195
Chapter 573, Acts of 1946, (Reimburse- ment of recognized organizations of veterans for expenses incurred in pro- viding military honors at funerals of veterans who died overseas in World War Two and the Korean War. State participation 100% of authorized ex- penditures ) 0.00
Total disbursements $36,414.18
Reimbursement received by Town Treasurer from State Trea- surer in year 1954 (reimbursements usually in arrears). The fol- lowing figures include the last four months of 1953 and first seven months of 1954.
(BROUGHT FORWARD Total disbursements .. $36,414.18)
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