USA > Massachusetts > Norfolk County > Braintree > Town annual report of Braintree, Massachusetts for the year 1932 > Part 1
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ANNUAL REPORT
Town of
BRAINTREE
1640
1932
ANNUAL REPORT
OF THE Receipts and Expenditures OF THE
TOWN OF BRAINTREE
FROM
December 31, 1931 to December 31, 1932
TOGETHER WITH THE REPORT OF THE TOWN CLERK, SELECTMEN, ASSESSORS, OVERSEERS OF THE POOR AND HIGHWAY SURVEYORS, ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT, TOWN TREASURER, ENGINEERS OF FIRE DEPARTMENT, WATER COMMISSIONERS BOARD OF HEALTH, MUNICIPAL LIGHT BOARD, TRUSTEES OF THE THAYER PUBLIC LIBRARY AND THE BOARD OF SCHOOL COMMITTEE
Annual Report of the Receipts and Expenditions
E
SS .1640.
Town of Braintico 1
Printed by Order of the Town
e
Report of Town Clerk
WARRANT FOR ANNUAL TOWN MEETING
COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS
Norfolk, ss. To either of the Constables of the Town of Braintree. Greeting :
In the name of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts you are hereby directed to notify and warn the inhab- itants of the Town of Braintree, qualified to vote in elections therein, to meet at the polling places in their respective Precincts, to wit :
Polling Place in Precinct 1, Town Hall.
Polling Place in Precinct 2, Legion Building, Hollis Avenue.
Polling Place in Precinct 3, Hose House, Allen Street.
On Monday, the seventh day of March, 1932, at five forty-five o'clock in the forenoon, then and there to bring into the Wardens of their respective Precincts their votes on the official ballot for a Moderator, Town Clerk, a Town Treasurer, one Selectman for a term of three years, one member of the Board of Public Welfare for a term of three years, one member of the Board of Assessors for a term of three years, three Auditors, one Water Commis- sioner and Commissioner of Sinking Funds for a term of three years, two members of the School Committee for a term of three years, one member of the Municipal Light- ing Board for a term of three years, one Park Commis- sioner for a term of three years, a Tax Collector, a Tree Warden, two members of the Planning Board for a term of three years, one member of the Board of Health for a
4
term of three years, one Trustee of Thayer Public Libr- ary for a term of two years, one Sewer Commissioner for a term of three years, and fifteen Constables.
The Polls will be open at five forty-five o'clock in the forenoon, and will be closed at three o'clock in the after- noon.
You are further directed to notify and warn the said inhabitants qualified to vote as aforesaid, to meet at the Town Hall in said Braintree on Monday the fourteenth day of March, 1932, at seven forty-five o'clock in the evening, then and there to act upon the following articles, namely :
Article 1. To choose all Town Officers, except those elected by ballot.
Article 2. To see if the Town will vote to authorize the Treasurer, with the approval of the Selectmen, to borrow money in anticipation of the revenue of the cur- rent financial year.
Article 3. To see if the Town will hold its Treasurer harmless on his bond for any loss which may arise from the failure of any National Bank or Trust Company in which the funds of the Town may be on deposit, said Bank or Trust Company being designated by the Select- men.
Article 4. To see if the Town will hold its Collector harmless on his bond from any loss which may arise from the failure of any National Bank or Trust Com- pany in which the funds of the Town may be on deposit, said Bank or Trust Company being designated by the Selectmen.
Article 5. To hear and act upon the reports of the several boards of Town Officers, and any committee, and to choose any committee the Town may think proper.
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Article 6. To see what sum of money the Town will vote to appropriate for the Reserve Fund for extra- ordinary or unforeseen expenditures during the current year.
Article 7. To see what sums of money the Town will vote to authorize the Assessors to use out of the Excess and Deficiency Account in fixing the tax rate for 1932.
Article 8. To see if the Town will vote to authorize the Selectmen to employ counsel to represent the Town at hearings before committees of the General Court.
GENERAL GOVERNMENT
Article 9. To see what sums of money the Town will vote to appropriate for General Government for salaries and expenses of the following departments and other pur- poses, the present year :
1. Finance Committee.
2. Selectmen.
3. Accountant.
4. Town Engineer.
5. Assessors.
6. Treasurer.
7. Tax Collector.
8. Town Clerk.
9. Election and Registration.
10. Law.
11. Insurance.
12. Planning Board.
13. Care Taker of the Dumps.
14. Maintenance of Municipal Building: Town Hall, Central Fire and Police Station, and Public Library.
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15. Auditors.
16. Moderator.
17. Miscellaneous Expense.
PROTECTION OF PERSONS AND PROPERTY
Article 10. To see what sums of money the Town will vote to appropriate for the protection of persons and property the present year :
1. Fire Department. Fire Alarm System.
2. Police Department. Traffic Signals.
3. Wire Department.
4. Tree Warden's Department.
5. Moth Department.
6. Street Lighting.
7. Building Inspector.
8. Sealer of Weights and Measures.
9. Life Guard at Sunset Lake.
HEALTH AND SANITATION
Article 11. To see what sums of money the Town will vote to raise and appropriate for Health and Sanitation the present year :
1. Health-General.
2. Contagious Diseases.
3. Collection of Garbage.
4. Dental Clinic.
5. Tuberculosis Clinic.
6. Inspector of Plumbing.
7. Inspector of Animals.
8. Vital Statistics.
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9. Inspector of Milk.
10. Inspector of Meat and Provisions.
11. Sewer Maintenance.
12. Maintenance and Repairs, Norfolk County Hos- pital.
Article 12. To see if the Town will vote to authorize the Board of Health to establish and create the position of Health Officer; to appoint such official with the ap- proval of the Selectmen, and to appropriate a sum of money for the salary of such Health Officer, and act on anything relating thereto.
Article 13. To see what sums of money the Town will vote to raise and appropriate for the collection of Garbage and ashes the current year.
Article 14. To see what sums of money the Town will vote to raise and appropriate for the Water Department the present year, to be expended by the Board of Water Commissioners, and act on anything relating thereto.
1. To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropri- ate a sum of money for the extension of Water Mains on Granite Street, from the Five Corners to the Quincy Line, or take any action relative thereto.
2. To see if the Town will raise and appropriate a sum of money for the maintenance and operation of the Water Department including interest and debt on Water Loans, the same to be taken from the revenue of the Department and the unexpended balance of 1931.
Article 15. To see what sum of money the Town will vote to expend for the construction of sewers for sanitary purposes, and for sewage disposal and to raise and ap- propriate money for the same.
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1. To see if the Town will vote to raise and appro- priate any sum or sums of money to be expended under the direction of the Sewer Commissioners for revision of plans or other necessary purposes or will vote to raise and appropriate any sum or sums of money for the pur- pose of paying any necessary or proper expenses and liabilities incurred under Chapter 17 of the Acts of 1930, as accepted by the Town, and to authorize the Treasurer, with the approval of the Selectmen, to borrow all or any part of said sums in accordance with the provisions of any general or special act authorizing the Town to bor- row for such purposes, or take any action relative thereto.
Article 16. To see what sums of money the Town will vote to raise and appropriate for the Electric Light De- partment the present year, to be expended by the Board of Electric Light Commissioners, and act on anything relating thereto.
1. To see if the Town will vote to appropriate from the income of the Electric Light Department, the sum of $20,464.76 for Depreciation Fund; and the sum of $304,535.24, together with the unexpended balance of $5,428.42 of the year of 1931 for operating expenses, renewals, repairs and new construction.
SCHOOLS AND LIBRARIES
Article 17. To see what sum of money the Town will vote to raise and appropriate for the support of the Pub- lic Schools, the present year.
1. To see if the Town will vote to raise and appro- priate such sum of money as may be necessary for the purpose of purchasing or taking land in Precinct Three for the purpose of constructing a school building thereon, or take any action relative thereto.
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2. To see if the Town will vote to raise and appro- priate such sum of money as may be necessary for the purpose of purchasing or taking land in Precinct Two for the purpose of constructing a school building thereon, or take any action relative thereto.
3. To see if the Town will vote to raise and appro- priate such sum of money as may be necessary for the purpose of purchasing or taking land in Precinct One for the purpose of constructing a school building thereon, or take any action relative thereto.
4. To see if the Town will vote to raise and appro- priate sums of money for the purpose of constructing, furnishing and equipping an addition to the High School, and for the making of necessary additions and alterations to the present building incidental thereto, and to author- ize the Treasurer, with the approval of the Selectmen, to borrow all or any part of said sums, in accordance with any General or Special Act authorizing the Town to borrow money for such purposes, or take any action re- lative thereto.
5. To see if the Town will vote to raise and appro- priate sums of money for the purpose of constructing the new school buildings and for the original equipment and furnishing of same. And to authorize the Treasurer, with the approval of the Selectmen, to borrow all or any part of said sums in accordance with the provisions of any General or Special Acts authorizing the Town to borrow for said purposes, or take any action relative thereto.
6. To see if the Town will vote to raise and appro- priate money for the purpose of purchasing or taking land fronting on Cleveland Avenue and adjoining the present Penniman School ground, or take any action re- lative thereto.
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7. ON PETITION. To see if the Town will raise and appropriate such sums as may be necessary for the pur- pose of purchasing or taking land in Precinct Two and construct, furnish and equip a new grade school build- ing thereon, and authorize the Treasurer, with the ap- proval of the Selectmen to borrow all or any part of said sums in accordance with the provisions of any General or Special Act authorizing the Town to borrow for such purpose or take any action relative thereto.
Article 18. To see what sum of money the Town will vote to appropriate for the Public Library, the present year.
1. To see if the Town will vote to erect and equip a Branch Library Building in Precinct Three, and acquire land therefor by gift or otherwise and raise and appro- priate money therefor and act on anything relating thereto.
2. ON PETITION. To see if the Town will vote to amend Article VI of its By-Laws to read: "The Town shall each year at the Annual Meeting elect by ballot three trustees of the Thayer Free Public Library who shall be residents of the Town and shall hold office for the term of two years."
PUBLIC WELFARE
Article 19. To see what sums of money the Town will vote to appropriate for the Public Welfare Department, the present year.
1. Board of Public Welfare.
2. Visitor.
3. Temporary Aid.
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4. Mothers' Aid.
5. Old Age Assistance.
6. Infirmary.
SOLDIERS' BENEFITS
Article 20. To see what sum of money the Town will vote to appropriate for SOLDIERS' RELIEF the present year.
Article 21. To see what sum of money the Town will vote to appropriate for State Aid and Military Aid under Chapter 200, General Acts of 1919, the present year.
Article 22. To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate a sum of money to assist Post 87, G. A. R., Braintree Post 86, American Legion, and Veterans of Foreign Wars, No. 1702, in defraying expenses of Memorial Day.
CEMETERIES
Article 23. To see what sums of money the Town will vote to raise and appropriate for the improvement of the Cemetery the present year.
1. Superintendent.
2. Maintenance.
HIGHWAYS
Article 24. To see what sums of money the Town will vote to raise and appropriate for the Street Department the present year.
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1. General Expenses.
2. Materials and Supplies.
3. Permanent Construction.
4. Sidewalks and Curbing.
5. Salaries of Permanent Men, including Supt.
6. New Equipment.
7. Removal of Snow.
8. Maintenance and Repairs to Bridges.
Article 25. To see if the Town will vote to accept part of Storrs Avenue, as and for a public way, as laid out by the Selectmen.
Article 26. To see if the Town will vote to accept part of Townsend Avenue, as and for a public way, as laid out by the Selectmen.
Article 27. To see if the Town will vote to accept the report of the Selectmen, relative to the relocation and widening of the following named streets :
Arbutus Avenue-between Standish Avenue and Wild- wood Avenue.
Wildwood Avenue-between Park Avenue and Liberty Park Avenue.
Liberty Park Avenue-between Wildwood Avenue and Liberty Street.
as shown on a plan dated June 22, 1929, and on file in the office of the Town Clerk; and to authorize the Select- men to take by eminent domain, or acquire by purchase, land necessary for such widening, and to provide a sum or sums of money necessary to pay the cost of damages
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thereof, direct how the money shall be raised, or take any action relating thereto.
Article 28. To see if the Town will authorize the Selectmen to take by Eminent Domain, or otherwise, land necessary for the purpose of improving the street lines at the intersection of Allen Street and Shaw Street, as shown on a plan dated January 30, 1932, drawn by George N. Watson, Town Engineer; and to provide a sum or sums of money necessary to pay the cost of damages thereof, direct how the said money shall be raised, or take any action relating thereto.
Article 29. To see if the Town will vote to accept the relocation and alteration of Liberty Street between Nor- folk Road and Plain Street, as laid out by the Selectmen.
Article 30. To see if the Town will vote to authorize the Selectmen to establish building lines, as laid out by the Selectmen, on Washington Street between South Braintree Square and the corner of Franklin Street, and raise and appropriate a sum of money to pay such dam- ages as may be assessed in consequence of the establish- ment of such a lay-out.
Article 31. ON PETITION. To see if the Town will vote to accept as a Town Way as laid out by the Selectmen that portion of Judson Street, so-called, which has not yet been accepted by the Town, and raise and appropriate a sum of money for the improvement of said way, to be expended under the provisions of law authorizing the assessment of betterments, or otherwise.
Article 32. ON PETITION. To see what sum of money the Town will vote to raise and appropriate for drains and catch basins on Fountain Street from Boscobel to Sagamore Streets.
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Article 33. ON PETITION. To see what sums of money the Town will vote to raise and appropriate for the construction of a drain on the westerly side of Quincy Avenue, beginning at Bickford Roard and entering drain that now exists near the junction of Quincy Avenue at 140 Quincy Avenue and Edgemont Road.
Article 34. To see if the Town will vote to transfer and appropriate the unexpended balances of the follow- ing appropriations of the year 1931 to repair, resurface, widen, drain and rebuild HAYWARD STREET, to help in providing work for the Unemployed of the Town of Braintree as follows :
Balances-1931
Shaw St. (Allen to Nelson) 1930 13.17
Trefton Drive 1.86
Stedman Ave. 5.45
Pond St. 10.14
Wash. St. (K. C. Hall to Hancock) 1930
2.78
Fairview Ave. 279.02
Edgemont Rd. Ext. 455.91
Edgehill Rd. 1930
55.01
Walnut St. Ext. 20.90
Dyer Hill
23.71
Fire & Police Station .05
Pearl St.
None
West St. 29.44
Cedar St. 88.21
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Liberty St. (Unemployed)
81.93
Traffic Lights
900.00
Hawthorne Rd. & Elm St.
250.00
Land Highway Purposes 200.00
Pension-Employee Light Dept.
375.02
Assessors-Block Plan System
26.00
Fire & Police Station 6,246.22
Total-$9,064.82
RECREATION AND UNCLASSIFIED
Article 35. To see what sum of money the Town will vote to appropriate for the general uses of the Board of Park Commissioners the present year.
MISCELLANEOUS
Article 36. To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate a sum of money to be expended under the direction of the Park Commissioners, in roping off the Football Field at Hollis Playground.
Article 37. To see what sums of money the Town will vote to appropriate for Pensions and Annuities the present year.
1. Police Department.
a. Former Chief of Police Gallivan.
b. Former Patrolman Johnson.
2. Laborer.
To see what sum of money the Town will vote to raise
.
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and appropriate for a pension for John Cullinan, a for- mer employee of the Braintree Water Department.
Article 38. To see what sums of money, in addition to that appropriated under any other article, the Town will vote to raise and appropriate for Land Damages.
INTEREST AND MATURING DEBT
Article 39. To see what sum, of money the Town will vote to appropriate for Interest and Maturing Debt the present year.
Article 40. To see if the Town will vote to make application to the General Court to erect and constitute in the Town, representative Town Government, by Limited Town Meetings, and act on anything relating thereto.
Article 41. On Petition. To see if the Town will in- struct the Committee which was appointed at the 1931 Annual Town Meeting to prepare a plan for the conduct of the Town's business embodying the Town Manager Form of Government,-to petition the Legislature for an act enabling the Town to adopt the Town Manager Form of Government.
Article 42. On Petition. To see if the Town will vote to permit Sunday Sports to be played in the Town of Braintree, complying with the Laws governing Sunday sports in Massachusetts.
Article 43. On Petition. To see if the Town will vote "That the office of Town Auditors be abolished, and the yearly audit of all Town departments be done under the
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direction of the Director of Accounts, Department of Corporation and Taxation."
Article 44. On Petition. To see if the Town will vote to amend its Code of By-Laws by adding and adopting thereto a new article, said new article to read as follows : "Article. The books and accounts for all departments of the Town shall be audited annually under the direction of the Director of Accounts, Department of Corporations and Taxation of the Commonwealth."
Article 45. On Petition. To see if the Town will vote to make "Memorial Hall" so-called, a permanent "Memo- rial Hall."
Article 46. On Petition. To see if the Town will vote to change Section 1 of Article 1 of the Town of Braintree By-Laws, so that it will read: "The Annual Town Meet- ing shall be held on the first Monday of November."
Article 47. On Petition. To see if the Town will accept Chapter 15 of the Acts of 1930 entitled "An Act relative to reserve police forces in certain towns," and to take action thereunder.
Article 48. On Petition. To see what action the Town will take in regard to giving preference to Braintree residents in employment on all construction work or any other action relative thereto.
Article 49. On Petition. To see if the Town will vote to amend Article 7, Section 2 of the Revised By-Laws, by adding the following: "The Town Engineer will also be a member ex-officio."
Article 50. On Petition. To see if the Town will vote to authorize its Selectmen to appoint, rather than choose
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by ballot, from its inhabitants, one or more Constables, commencing in the year 1933, and thereafter.
Article 51. On Petition. To hear the report of the com- mittee appointed by vote of the Special Town Meeting of July 20th, 1931, to study all activities of the Highway Department, or to take any action relative thereto.
Article 52. On Petition. To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate a sum of money for the general expenses of the Highway Committee appointed to study the activities of the Highway Department.
Article 53. On Petition. To see what sum, or sums of money, the Town will vote to raise and appropriate to reimburse Edward D. and Dorothy R. Cahill for Land Damages, to their property at 109 Bellevue Road, East Braintree, caused by raising of grade and construction of cement curbing and asphalt sidewalk.
You are directed to serve this Warrant by posting true and attested copies thereof in three public places in each voting Precinct in said Town of Braintree, ten days at least before said seventh day of March, 1932, and by publishing the same once each week for two successive weeks in the Braintree Observer, the first publication to be at least eight days before said meeting.
Hereof fail not, and make due return of this Warrant with your doings thereon, to the Town Clerk before said meeting.
Given under our hands at Braintree, this first day of
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February in the year of our Lord, one thousand nine hundred and thirty-two.
EDWARD AVERY, HARRY H. BOUSQUET, JOHN H. CAHILL, Selectmen of the Town of Braintree.
A true copy. Attest :
JOHN J. HEANEY, Constable of Braintree.
Braintree, Mass., February 11, 1932.
Pursuant to the foregoing warrant, I hereby warn the inhabitants of the Town of Braintree, qualified as expressed therein, to meet at the time and places men- tioned, for the purposes therein mentioned.
JOHN J. HEANEY, Constable of Braintree.
Braintree, Mass., February 13, 1932.
Pursuant to the foregoing warrant, I have hereby notified and warned the inhabitants of the Town of Braintree, qualified as expressed therein, to meet at the time and places mentioned, for the purposes therein mentioned.
JOHN J. HEANEY, Constable of Braintree.
A true copy. Attest :
ERNEST C. WOODSUM, Town Clerk.
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Braintree, Mass., March 7, 1932.
In accordance with the foregoing warrant, the voters assembled in their respective Precincts to cast their bal- lots for the several Town Officers named therein.
The Polls were opened at five forty-five o'clock in the forenoon and were closed at three o'clock in the after- noon.
The following Election Officers served :
PRECINCT ONE .- J. Frank Lane, Warden; Chester M. Mattson, Clerk; Joseph W. Brady, John C. Dwyer, H. Parker Hobart, William S. Levangie, Thomas J. Mur- phy, Francis M. O'Rourke, Charles H. Roberts, Everett F. Russell, Harry H. Snow, Edward J. Sullivan, Charles H. Tobey, George D. Willis, Thomas Slavin, Constable.
PRECINCT TWO. George E. Sampson, Warden; George H. Gerrior, Jr., Clerk; Alfred DeCoste, Patrick T. Donahue, Keron B. Dwyer, Alton D. Griggs, Mabel C. Hastings, Edmond Kelley, Frank J. Lisano, Howard F. Menadier, Carlton E. Murphy, Ruth E. Nelson, Victor E. Swanson, Wallace W. Wilson, George K. Moorhead, Con- stable.
PRECINCT THREE. Winfred G. Waite, Warden; Thomas Cassidy, Clerk; Walter Briggs, Albert E. Day, William A. Ellis, Clarence S. Ford, William D. Levangie, Preston P. MacDonald, George McCleary, Joseph B. Mc-
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Vay, Martin H. Ohlson, William J. Quinlan, John B. Riley, Bennett H. Swinimer, Michael Cassese, Constable.
At the opening of the Polls the Ballot Boxes were in- spected and found to be empty and the registers set at zero (0). The keys were placed in charge of the Con- stables of their respective Precincts. The meetings were conducted in like manner and in accordance with the law.
At the close of the Polls, when all votes had been can- vassed, counted, recorded and ballots sealed according to law, they were then forwarded to the Registrars of Vo- ters, by which Board the figures were tabulated and the result declared.
Number of votes cast was :
Precinct 1
2013
Precinct 2
2199
Precinct 3
2018
Total 6230
Following is the result in detail :
FOR MODERATOR
Prec. 1 Prec. 2 Prec. 3
Total
William F. Rogers
1268
1725
1321
4314
Scattering
2
2
Blanks
745
474
695
1914
William F. Rogers elected and sworn.
FOR TOWN CLERK
Ernest C. Woodsum
1332
1857
1368
4557
Scattering
1
1
Blanks
681
342
649
1672
22
Ernest C. Woodsum elected and sworn by Otis B. Oak- man, Notary Public.
FOR TREASURER
Otis B. Oakman
1285
1743
1364
4392
Blanks
728
456
654
1838
Otis B. Oakman elected and sworn.
FOR SELECTMAN
(For Three Years)
Edward Avery
866
751
1013
2630
Horace T. Cahill
1106
1409
968
3483
Blanks
41
39
37
117
Horace T. Cahill elected and sworn.
FOR BOARD OF PUBLIC WELFARE (For Three Years)
Edward Avery
835
706
1004
2545
Horace T. Cahill
1101
1414
951
3466
Blanks
77
79
63
219
Horace T. Cahill elected and sworn.
FOR ASSESSOR (For Three Years)
Henry W. Grady
287
452
382
1121
Charles S. Hannaford. . .
913
772
701
2386
Frederick W. Kehr.
169
145
105
419
Raymond W. Levangie. . .
129
138
147
414
Jerry Frank Preston
439
513
385
1337
Scattering
4
4
Blanks
76
179
294
549
Charles S. Hannaford elected and sworn.
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FOR AUDITORS
Ralph W. Arnold
905
1371
1046
3322
Herbert W. Curtis.
881
1144
859
2884
Thomas J. Henshon.
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