USA > Massachusetts > Essex County > Newburyport > City Officers and the Annual Reports to the City Council of Newburyport 1917 > Part 7
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143
HIGHWAY DEPARTMENT
HIGHWAYS
Very little, besides the routine work, has been undertaken in this depart- ment.
More or less "cold patch" work was done on High street and other miscel- laneous places which, while improving a very bad situation, was only "patch work" after all.
Some small jobs of resurfacing were done at small expense, namely: High street, between State and Federal; Marlboro street, between Water and Pur- chase; Merrimac street, from near the car barns to Moseley avenue; and Plum- mer avenue, from High street to the right-of-way at its northeasterly end.
· A great deal of delay was caused on these jobs; 1st, by having the road roller tied up in heating the oil for the regular street oiling, and 2nd, by the difficulty in getting crushed stone delivered when and where it was wanted.
I very strongly recommend that in the future contracts for this kind of oil- ing call for its being delivered on the work and that proper binding contracts for the delivery of crushed stone be made very early in the year and so give the contractor an opportunity to have it on hand.
I intentionally refrain from making any report of the resurfacing job on Pleasant street as that did not properly come under my department and, no doubt, a full report will be found in its proper place.
Respectfully submitted,
G. W. LANGDON, Former Superintendent. January 30, 1918.
Annual Report of City Clerk
To the Hon. Mayor and City Council:
Gentlemen :- I submit the following report of income in my department for the year ending Dec. 15, 1917:
Amusements
$ 75.00
Auctioneers
4.00
Bowling Alley
5.00
Burial Lots
274.00
Building permits
106.00
Clam permits
2.50
Common Victuallers
190.00
Ice Cream
95.00
Innholder
10.00
Jitney
20.00
Job wagon
3.00
Junk Collectors
120.00
Junk wholesale
45.00
Badges
4.00
Marriage certificates
171.00
Miscellaneous
9.66
Pawnbrokers
100.00
Pool
95.00
Peddlers
20.00
Recording
42.10
Shooting gallery
5.00
$ 1,396.26
Respectfully,
HENRY W. LITTLE,
City Clerk.
Annual Report of the Follansbee Fund
The following is the 34th annual report of this fund. The fund is in the hands of the sinking fund commission and invested in the N. E. Tel. & Tel. 4 per cent bonds and Institutions for Savings in this city.
INCOME.
Balance Dec. 16, 1916
$ 676.57
Interest from deposit
22.46
$ 699.03
EXPENSE
John H. Balch
$ 90.90
John Collins
6.65
Joseph Woods
15.25
$ 112.80
Balance Dec. 7, 1917
586.23
$ 699.03
HENRY W. LITTLE, Treasurer.
Future reports will be tabulated under Trust Funds.
Annual Report of the City Registrar
MARRIAGES REGISTERED IN 1917
January
17
February
8
March
10
April
21
May
20
June
21
July
14
August
17
September
15
October
17
November
16
December
10
186
NATIVITY OF CONTRACTING PARTIES
Bride
Groom
Newburyport
66
59
United States outside of Newburyport
77
82
Russia
9
11
Provinces
9
7
Ireland
7
2
Canada
5
10
England
3
2
Austria
5
2
Germany
0
2
Poland
1
1
Italy
2
2
Scotland
1
0
Portugal
1
0
France
0
1
South America
0
1
0
1
Cape Verde Islands
0
1
Turkey
0
2
Sweden
186
186
Married in Newburyport 139 couples. Average age contracting parties, 26 years.
147
CITY REGISTRAR
BIRTHS REGISTERED IN 1917 (Including 10 stillbirths, 5 males, 5 females)
Male
Female
January
17
20
February
10
13
March
20
14
April
18
11
May
19
15
June
12
16
July
15
17
August
8
15
September
16
18
October
20
15
November
10
16
December
18
13
183
183
NATIVITY OF PARENTS
Father
Mother
Newburyport
96
82
U. S. outside of Newburyport
112
141
Canada
23
19
Russia
32
31
Finland
1
1
Ireland
20
22
Poland
14
14
Provinces
12
13
Scotland
1
Austria
13
13
Greece
8
7
Albania
5
5
Turkey
5
6
Italy
3
1
England
2
1
Armenia
3
3
Sweden
1
1
Unknown
14
2
e
366
366
148
ANNUAL REPORT DEATHS IN NEWBURYPORT, 1917
Including 10 stillbirths, 5 male and 5 female; and 32 non-residents who died at local hospitals.
Male
Female
January
10
18
February
13
14
March
18
17
April
19
11
May
15
7
June
6
14
July
9
5
August
11
8
September
12
6
October
5
8
November
7
13
December
8
15
133
136
NATIVITY
Newburyport
62
49
U. S. outside Newburyport
41
54
England
3
2
Germany
2
1
Provinces
8
6
Ireland
7
10
Canada
2
6
Russia
1
1
Armenia
2
0
Albania
1
0
Greece
1
0
Italy
2
0
Poland
0
2
Scotland
0
3
Austria
0
1
Unknown
1
1
133
136
149
CITY REGISTRAR
PARENTAGE
Father
Mother
Newburyport
47
50
U. S. outside Newburyport
101
111
Provinces
15
14
England
9
7
Ireland
35
29
Germany
3
4
Russia
4
4
Scotland
3
7
France
1
Italy
3
3
Poland
5
5
Canada
15
10
Austria
3
3
Finland
1
1
Armenia
3
3
Albania
1
1
Greece
2
2
Sweden
1
0
Unknown
16
14
269
269
150
ANNUAL REPORT
DEATHS, WITH PRINCIPAL CAUSE AND AGE PERIODS Exclusive of Stillbirths
CAUSE
Sex
1 yr.
1-4
5-9
10-14
15-19
20-24
25-29
30-34
35-39
Accidental.
M
1
1
1
1
1
1
F
. .
.
. .
. .
. .
. .
·
. .
. .
. .
. .
. .
Cerebro Spinal Meningitis.
M
F
M
1
1
1
Homicidal
M
. .
. .
. .
Measles.
M
F
1
Pneumonia
M
3
2
1
1
3
1
F
1
M
1
F
1
Nervous System
M
1
F
M
1
1
1
. .
. .
..
.
. .
. .
.
All others
M
11
1
3
. .
. .
1
1
1
F
8
1
. .
. .
..
. .
Totals
27
7
6
3
1
6
4
6
5
..
. .
·
. .
Circulatory System
M
F
..
..
. .
. .
. .
. .
Diphtheria.
F
·
..
. .
F
. .
. .
. .
. .
. .
. .
. .
.
. .
.
. .
Nephritis
F
1
. .
Typhoid Fever
M
1
F
..
1
Cancer,
M
F
1
1
1
1
1
1
Pulmonary Tuberculosis
. .
. .
1
.
151
CITY REGISTRAR.
DEATHS. WITH PRINCIPAL CAUSE AND AGE PERIODS Exclusive of Stillbirths
40-44
45-49
50-54
55-59
60-64
55-69
70-74
75-79
80-84
85-89
90-94
95 up
Total
. .
. .
.
1
1
3
3
1
11
3
3
3
1
1
2
1
14
1
2
3
5
4
3
6
5
30
..
2
5
6
5
4
6
4
4
3
41
. .
2
1
2
2
1
3
3
3
1
2
24
2
2
1
1
5
1
3
1
2
2
1
10
1
1
1
2
2
10
1
1
2
1
:2
1
9
1
1
1
2
1
3
3
1
2
33
2
2
2
2
1
2
1
1
23
9
8
18
20
16
33
23
22
24
13
5
3
259
. .
. .
1
. .
. .
..
1
1
1
. .
3
0
1
0
1
. .
1
1
0
. .
. .
2
6
1
1
2
23
2
1
1
3
3
1
0
.
1
8
4
2
1
Annual Report of City Solicitor
Newburyport, Mass., December 29, 1917.
To the City Council:
Gentlemen :- I submit the following as the annual report of the City Solicitor. The cases in charge of this office at the beginning of my services were:
1. Dame vs. City of Newburyport.
2. City of Newburyport et al. vs. R. & G. Shoe Company and assignees.
3. Kelleher vs. City of Newburyport, two cases.
4. Ladd vs. City.
No. 1 is still pending in Superior Court.
2. I tried this case at the Superior Court in May and recovered $403.10 and interest and costs, and have accounted for the same to the City Treasurer.
3. These cases had been tried in the Superior Court by my predecessor and exceptions taken to the Supreme Judicial Court. I prepared a brief and argued the cases in the Supreme Judicial Court in March. June 28th the Court rend- ered a decision overruling the exceptions.
4. Ladd vs. City of Newburyport is set down for trial at the next sitting of the Superior Court in Newburyport, without juries.
At the April sitting of the Superior Court I applied to have the Overseers of the Poor admitted to prosecute the bastardy case of DeCourcey vs. Kenney. The ruling of the Superior Court being adverse, I have taken the case to the Supreme Judicial Court and argued the same there in November. No decision has yet been made.
The Newburyport Gas and Electric Company applied to register its title to the property on Water street where its plant is and I have appeared and filed answer therein. The case is awaiting trial in the Land Court.
Annie E. Doyle of Lynn brought an action in the Superior Court, returnable the first Monday of December, for personal injuries alleged to have been re- ceived on Bridge Road. In this case I have entered my appearance for the City and filed answer.
POLICE COURT CASES
Welch vs. City. This is an action brought in the police court to recover back money paid out on alleged illegal tax sale. I have answered a set of in- terrogatories of the plaintiff and obtained specifications of his claim and, in my judgment, he has no case and will never try it.
In the police court I have tried six liquor cases, one or two violations of the traffic ordinances, two building ordinance cases, and a very considerable number of jitney cases.
153
CITY SOLICITOR
I conducted a hearing on the part of the City before the Gas and Electric Light Commission on the petition of the Gas and Electric Company for an in- crease of stock, in Boston, four days, and another hearing before that commis- sion at Newburyport, on gas rates.
I appeared before the Public Service Commission at hearings on Bay State fares and working-men's tickets, in the summer and fall; twice before the Recess Committee of the Legislature, on street railway matters; appeared be- fore the State Board of Pharmacy about Mitchell case; before the Waterways Commission on matters of wharves and ways proposed to be built by the New- buryport Ship Building Company.
In legislative matters I drew petition and act incorporating the Trustees of Newburyport Trust Funds, attended the hearing; a petition and act for five-cent street railway fares within the limits of cities, attended two hearings thereon; drew papers for an act exempting the city from supporting the county tubercu- losis hospital, and attended hearing.
I attended a hearing on three tax cases before the State Board of Appeal.
I have drawn various contracts, orders, and papers; advised assessors, over- seers of the poor, board of health, school committee, police, mayor, city auditor, city clerk, treasurer, sealer of weights and measures, inspector of buildings, and various committees and members of the city government.
The subjects of advice have been very many, including drains, trust funds, street car tickets, liquor law, hours of labor, duty of school committee to buy of Prison Commissioners, street railway matters, Pathe will (on this matter con- sultation was had with Haverhill officials), employers' liability, citizenship, sidewalk and snow matters, special police, street obstructions, weights and measures, many matters touching garages, storage of gasolene, inspection of buildings, landings, truants, street railway locations, workmen's compensation and liability insurance, sworn payrolls, matters touching firemen, state high- ways (with several conferences with Highway Commissioners), gas and elec- tricity, boxing exhibitions, civil service requirements, sewers, jitneys, poles in streets, settlement of paupers, water matters, Wheelwright fund, building laws, state charities, Parker River Bridge, Pleasant Street contract, sidewalks, side- walk assessments, playgrounds, street signs and awnings, piggery, public land- ings, cemeteries and other matters.
To date of this report my disbursements have been $108.10, and my receipts (other than the collection hereinbefore mentioned) $97.24.
Respectfully submitted,
H. I. BARTLETT, City Solicitor.
Annual Report of the Poor Department
To the City Council of the City of Newburyport:
Gentlemen :- The Overseers of the Poor, to whom is committed a general oversight and care of the poor in all of its departments, would respectfully sum- mit their 39th annual report.
The total cost of the department for the year ending Nov. 30th, 1917, was $17,533.37.
GENERAL STATEMENT
For support of poor at City Farm $ 4,852.34
For relief of poor residing in city 6,875.08
For salaries
3,223.00
For relief of poor residing in other towns
SS6.27
For State Infirmary
233.17
For Commonwealth
469.72
For. Mass. Hospital School
574.29
For Burials
87.50
For Hospital
32.00
For Medicine
300.00
Total
$ 17,533.37
Appropriation
$ 12,500.00
Income
2,721.76
Overdrawn
2,311.61
$ 17,533.37
DETAILED EXPENSES
Flour
$ 357.30
Tea
187.10
Sugar
448.27
Beans
297.50 .
Soap
160.50
Crackers
210.68
Fish
256.23
Wood
218.26
Coal
1,642.74
Shoes
181.81
Clothing
218.14
Rent
789.00
155
POOR DEPARTMENT
Salaries
3,223.00
Hospital
32.00
Other Towns
840.77
Supplies to Farm
498.99
Office Expense
3.04
Grocery supplies
1,689.85
Grain
694.02
Cash
712.00
Telephone
116.59
Boston Children's aid
45.00
Burials
87.50
Medicine
300.00
Repair on boiler
22.50
Miscellaneous
662.13
Pork
253.75
Rice
73.36
Meat
861.99
Lard
43.10
Milk
123.71
Board
638.50
Electric light
37.08
State Infirmary
233.17
Paper bags
24.62
Swill
47.62
Mass. Hospital School
574.29
Tobacco
102.60
Commonwealth
469.72
Phosphate
60.86
Transportation
21.94
Dry Goods
29.56
Molasses
42.34
Total
$ 17,533.37
RECEIPTS-AID RETURNED
West Bridgewater
$ 368.74
Fall River
94.54
State
907.47
Salisbury
55.45
Money refunded
10.00
Salem
.53
Chicopee
4.93
Returned aid
7.63
156
ANNUAL REPORT
Haverhill
64.84
Amesbury
... 450.78
$ 1,964.31
Sales from Farm
757.45
Total
2,721.76
RECEIPTS FROM CITY FARM
Sale of Fowl
$ 16.95
Sale of Apples
28.00
Sale of Hay
121.77
Sale of Calves
20.54
Sale of Eggs
10.16
Sale of Cow
90.00
Sale of Carrots
10.00
Sale of Pigs
150.00
Sale of Butter
43.89
Sale of Potatoes
30.00
Credit from Moth Department
40.14
Received for Board
196.00
$ 757.45
OUTSIDE RELIEF
Relief last year was granted to 305 persons, this year relief has been granted to 279 persons, and classified as follows:
209 have settlement in Newburyport.
16 have settlement in other towns.
43 have settlement in state.
CITY FARM
The City Farm the past year has been under the care of Mr. and Mrs. Harry A. Tolman.
An average of 34 inmates and 5 employees have resided at the home the past year at a cost of $3.96 per week.
PRODUCTS OF THE FARM
Potatoes, 400 bushels; corn, 155 bushels; turnips, 50 bushels; carrots, 12 bushels; beans, 2 bushels; peaches, 2 bushels; pears, 1 bushel; beets, 8 bushels; hay, 26 tons; corn fodder, 3 tons; squash, 3 tons; ensilage, 40 tons; cabbage, 100 head; strawberries, 50 boxes; butter, 100 lbs .; apples, 25 barrels; pork dressed, 1650 lbs .; green corn, peas and cucumbers for home consumption.
157
POOR DEPARTMENT
MOTHERS WITH DEPENDENT CHILDREN
The total expense of this department for the year from Nov. 30, 1916, to Nov. 30, 1917, was $1,744.20. And paid as follows:
Groceries
$ 80.00
Rent
37.00
Fuel
18.60
Shoes
11.60
Cash
1,598.00
$ 1,744.20
Income from State
$ 1,262.69
Income from Stoughton
186.68
Total
$ 1,449.37
Appropriation
$ 1,500.00
Income
1,449.37
Total
$2
,949.37
Total cost
1,744.20
Balance undrawn
$
1,205.17
FRANK L. LATTIME, Clerk.
EDMUND M. DOW, Chairman, MOSES A. STEVENS, LAWRENCE M. WEARE, Overseers of the Poor.
ANNUAL REPORT OF THE WATER DEPARTMENT
A
Annual Report of the Water Department
To the Honorable Mayor and City Council, City of Newburyport:
Gentlemen :- The twenty-second annual report of the Board of Water Com- missioners for the year ending December 15th, is herewith presented.
The installation of the electric outfit at the Artichoke River Station has been completed, and the working of the oufit during the past year has been most satisfactory. The plant requires practically no attention, our Chief Engineer visiting the plant daily, when it is in operation, giving it the only care required.
The interior of the station has been thoroughly cleaned and painted, making a needed improvement.
The wooden flashboards on the upper dam have been replaced with concrete, completing the dam in a thorough and workman manner, and obviating any danger of an accident from floating ice.
In co-operation with other public service departments of the City, all the service pipes in Pleasant street were either relaid, or repaired before the pave- ments were replaced, and the hydrant opposite Unicorn street moved to the other side of the street, having in mind a change that would have to be made when the new postoffi is built.
During the year the land damage case of Miss Annie L. Rogers, for land flowed at the Artichoke River, has been settled by the payment of $2,000.00, also the claim of Mrs. M. A. Stanwood by the payment of $25.00 and interest, amounting to $5.76. With the exception of two small claims this completes the settlement of all cases arising from the second taking at the Artichoke.
Outside the regular routine practically no new construction work has been attempted this year owing to the high cost of material. It is the intention of your Commissioners to replace the cement lined pipe in State street, beyond High, with six inch cast iron pipe as soon as spring opens.
Twenty new services have been laid during the year, requiring 711 feet of pipe. Total number of applications to date 4,473.
There have been six breaks in main pipes, and twenty-five in service pipes during the year.
We are fortunate that we have a sufficient supply of coal at the Pumping Station to last until August, 1918, this coal was purchased direct from the mines and is of first class quality.
The following are the pumping records for the year:
162
ANNUAL REPORT
Main Station.
Artichoke River.
December, 1916
36,372,825 gallons
21,452,000 gallons
January 1917
37,210.625
66
21,452,000
February
37,200,000
66 19,597,000
March
36,868,625
14,844,000
April
33,275,050
66
9,795,000
May
35,137,875
14,164,000
June
36,844,500
16,982,000
July
41,332,100
23,823,000
August
39,478,125
66
19,784,000
September
35,404,850
18,958,000
66
October
34,657,000
14,844,000
66
November
33,486,100
16,653,000
66
Daily average, Main Station, 1,197,993 gallons.
Daily average, Artichoke River Station, 577,197 gallons.
Pounds of coal used, Main Station, 1,238,293.
Daily average, 3,390.
K. W. electricity consumed, Artichoke Station, 132,682. Daily average, 363.5.
Continuing our policy of past years 11,000 trees have been set out on the water shed; 5,000 of these are spruce trees and were obtained from the State Forestry Department.
The steady reduction of the bonded debt of the City on account of this de- partment is a source of much gratification to your Commissioners. Including the first issue of bonds, dated June, 1904, and subsequent issues, a total of $493,000.00 was issued. $284,000.00 of these have been paid to date, leaving the total outstanding indebtedness at the present time $209,000.00. All of these bonds are of a serial nature and certain sums are being paid each year.
The report of the Treasurer, which is included with this report, will give the financial figures for the year. All bills against this department have been paid.
Respecfully submitted,
EDWARD A. HALE, CHAS. A. BLISS, H. B. TRASK, W. B. FLINT, W. F. HOUSTON.
163
WATER DEPARTMENT NEWBURYPORT WATER WORKS RECEIPTS FOR 1917
Water rates
.$ 46,493.18
Meter rates
13,560.20
Sundry Water Receipts
337.99
City, Fire Service
3,500.00
City, Public Buildings
1,500.00
City, Street Sprinkling
50.00
Total for water
$ 65,441.37
Other receipts:
Service Pipe Construction
$ 136.42
Extension of Mains
1,395.72
Pumping Station Mtc., Main
17.50
Pumping Station Mte., Artichoke
4.00
General maintenance
74.16
Interest
85.24
Maintenance of Meters
3.00
New Filter
263.50
1,979.54
Total receipts
$ 67,420.91
NEWBURYPORT WATER WORKS
EXPENDITURES FOR 1917
City of Newburyport, Bonds $ 23,000.00
11,290.00
City of Newburyport, Interest
- $ 34,290.00
Construction:
New Supply
$ 2,347.48
New Filter
5,098.07
Extension of Mains
1,141.72
Service Pipe Construction
26.42
Meters
9,388.96
Maintenance:
Pumping Station Maintenance, Artichoke
$ 12,303.84
Pumping Station Maintenance, Artichoke
4,600.32
General Maintenance
3,753.05
Hydrant Maintenance 283.39
108.16
Gate Maintenance
775.27
164
ANNUAL REPORT
Reservoir Maintenance
56.47
Meters Maintenance
132.54
Service Pipe Maintenance
1,170.96
Main Pipe Maintenance
137.00
Filter Beds Maintenance
125.13
Artichoke River Maintenance
672.07
Street Standpipes Maintenance
16.15
23,359.08
Total expenditures $ 67,038.04
* Includes cash paid for a sufficient coal supply to run plant until Aug. 1st, · 1918.
NEWBURYPORT WATER WORKS
SUMMARY.
Cash on hand Dec. 16th, 1916, as per last report $ 615.64
Received during the year 67,420.91
$ 68,036.55
Expended during the year
67,038.04
Balance December 15th, 1917 .$ 998.51
TRIAL BALANCE December 15th, 1917
Debit.
Credit.
Construction
$417,215.83
Real Estate
19,621.52
Cash
998.51
Water Rates
6,952.53
Profit and Loss
$437,835.86
Commitment
6,952.53
$744,788.39 $744,788.39
HAROLD S. NOYES, Treasurer.
165
WATER DEPARTMENT
SUMMARY OF STATISTICS For the Year Ending Dec. 15th, 1917
In form recommended by the New England Water Works Association. Newburyport Water Works, Newburyport, Essex County, Massachusetts
General Statistics
Population by Census of 1915, 15,375.
Date of construction, 1881.
By whom owned, City of Newburyport.
Source of supply-wells, springs, Artichoke River.
Mode of supply (whether gravity or pumping), Pumping.
Pumping Statistics
1. Builders of pumping machinery-Landlaw, Dunn, Gordon Co., and A. Russell & Sons Co.
2. Description of fuel used,
Kind-Bituminous.
b. Brand of coal-Webster.
c. Average price of coal per gross ton, delivered, $7.73.
d. Percentage of ash ----
e. Wood, price per cord, $.
3. Coal consumed for the year, 1,238,293 lbs.
4. [Pounds of wood consumed] ___ 3 equivalent amount of coal, none.
4a. Amount of other fuel used, none.
5. Total equivalent coal consumed for the year=(3) +(4), . lbs.
6. Total pumpage for the year, 437,267,695 gallons, without alowance for slip.
7. Average static head against which pumps work, 1428 feet.
8. Average dynamic head against which pumps work, 160 feet.
9. Number of gallons pumped per pound of equivalent coal (5), 353.
10. Duty, equals gallons pumped (6) times 8.34 (lbs.) times 100 times dynamic head (8), divided by the total fuel consumed (5) equals 47,120,512. (Cost of pumping, figured on pumping station expense, viz., $12,303.84.
11. Per million gallons pumped, $28.20.
12. Per million gallons raised one foot (dynamic), $.017.
62nd ANNUAL REPORT OF THE
Directors of the Public Library OF THE
CITY OF NEWBURYPORT.
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Newburyport, Mass., December 31, 1917.
Voted, That the annual report of the public librarian, with accompanying papers, be incorporated with the directors' report; that the secretary be hereby authorized to sign the names of the members of the board, and that he forward the same to the City Council, as the annual report.
JOHN D. PARSONS,
Secretary.
Annual Report of the Public Library TRUSTEES OF THE LIBRARY-1917
Mayor, Walter B. Hopkinson
Aldermen-Edward G. Perkins, Albert T. Atkinson, Samuel E. Estes, Harold A. Besse, Willard S. MeKay, Herbert Patten, Norman Russell.
DIRECTORS
Walter B. Hopkinson, Mayor ex-officio
66
Edward G. Perkins, President of Board of Aldermen
Percy B. Jackson, President of the Common Council
Lawrence B. Cushing, Trustee of Building Fund
Charles W. Moseley, Trustee of Building Fund 66
Ben. P. P. Moseley, Trustee of Building Fund
William R. Johnson, term expires 1917
Laurence Hayward, term expires
1918
Charles I. Somerby, term expires 1919
Alex. G. Perkins, term expires 1920
James E. Whitney, term expires 1921
William C. Coffin, term expires 1922
Dr. T. R. Healy, term expires 1923
TRUSTEES OF THE PEABODY FUND
Lawrence B. Cushing, Charles W. Moseley, B. P. P. Moseley, Thomas C. Simpson, Laurence Hayward
Librarian John D. Parsons Superintendent of Reading Room Helen E. Tilton Assistaants Effie A. Tenney, Elizabeth A. Thurston, Alice W. Toppan James M. Haley
Janitor Frank E. Plumer
Report of the Librarian
To the Directors of the Public Library:
Gentlemen :- Herewith I submit the 62d annual report of the Public Librarian, for the year ending, December 15, 1917. During that time the downward trend of the curve representing the circulation of new books for home reading, which began in 1914, has continued, the figures for 1917 being 46,246, which are about 4000 less than those of the preceding year. The causes are not hard to explain. Besides reasons set forth in previous reports, when the tendency has been either upward or downward, temporarily, we are now faced with the increased activities in their spare moments, on account of the great war, of very many of the usual patrons of the library, to say nothing of the ef- forts which are being put forth, and the good work being accomplished by the libraries at the two extremes of the city, for neighborhood borrowers.
These libraries are not branches of, nor subject to the jurisdiction of the Newburyport Public Library. Cities and large towns other than Newburyport, almost without exception, operate branch libraries in connection with their main institution, but this city has never seen its way clear to enter the field. How- ever, the South End Reading Room, and the Fiske Memorial Library, located, as they are almost at the two ends of our long, narrow city, are beginning to fill the places of branches, in a practical manner. Recognizing their value to the sections of the city in which they are located, in particular, and to the city at large in general, this institution has been disposed to extend to them such aid and assistance as it legally can, which has taken the form of purchasing and handing over to them such books as they asked for, to the value of $100 each a year. As neither of them are public libraries in a legal sense, however they may be practically, all these books must remain the property of the Newburyport Public Library, and each has the proper bookplate of this institution inserted. So that they are to be regarded in the nature of a permanent loan, as it were, and might be called in at any time, if it were necessary. That such is a very remote contingency, however, need scarcely be said. In a report sent in to this board by the Belleville Association, mention of the fact is made, that "the cir- culation is constantly increasing, and from 125 to 150 books are taken out weekly." This alone would more than account for the decreased withdrawals from this institution.
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