USA > Massachusetts > Essex County > Newburyport > City Officers and the Annual Reports to the City Council of Newburyport 1922 > Part 5
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U. S. Third Liberty Loan, 41/4 p.c. due Sept. 15, 1928 18,000.00
Revere 51/2 p.c. due March 1, 1924 1,000.00
Plymouth 334 p.c. due July 1, 1924 1,000.00
Lawrence Savings Bank 5,000.00
7,940.61
$140,737.17
BONDS DEPOSITED WITH COMMISSIONERS
J. L. McLean, City Marshal, $1,000.00, Massachusetts Bonding & In- surance Company, expires Jan. 1, 1923.
H. W. Little, City Clerk, $3,000.00, Massachusetts Bonding & Insurance Company, expires Jan. 6, 1923.
H. S. Noyes, Secretary and Treasurer of Water Works, $5,000.00, Fide- lity and Deposit Co., of Maryland, expires July 10, 1923.
Chas. E. Houghton, Treasurer and Collector, $30,000.00, London & Lan- cashire G. & A. Co., expires Jan. 7, 1923.
105
CITY AUDITOR
TRUST FUNDS
THE LAW. Chapter 322
An act to provide for the auditing of certain trust funds and accounts. Be it enacted, etc., as follows:
Section 1. It shall be the duty of city and town auditors at least once every year, and so much oftener as they deem it necessary, to audit the ac- counts of the trustees of any property, the principal or income of which, in whole or in part, was bequeathed or given in trust for the benefit of the city or town or any part thereof, or for the benefit of the inhabitants of the city or town or any part thereof, and to examine and estimate the funds, se- curities, and evidence of property held by such trustees. City or town auditors shall include in their annual report a report of such auditing and investigation; and if they discover any fraud or irregularity they shall im- mediately report the same to the Mayor and Treasurer of the city or to the Selectmen or Treasurer of the town.
Section 2. It shall be the duty of the trustees designated in section one hereof to give city and town auditors free access to their accounts, funds, securities and evidence of property; and any such trustee who refuses to exhibit his trust accounts, funds, securities and evidences aforesaid shall be subject to a fine of not less than fifty nor more than two hundred dollars.
Section 3. This act shall be construed as applying to property held in trust for public uses. (Approved May 9, 1904.)
Trust Funds in which the City of Newburyport and its inhabitants are interested may be divided into two classes, viz .: funds bequeathed or given direct to the city, and funds given to special trustees, the income of which is used for the benefits of any of it inhabitants.
The first class is invested by the Trustees of the Newburyport Trust Funds under Chapter 64, Acts of 1917, and the income turned over to the city.
The second class is invested by special trustees appointed by the donor, and such boards fill their own vacancies. It would seem that the city had assumed the responsibility for such funds, and it be a question if they come under the preceeding law, but such trustees have been requested to allow examination of said funds and accounts.
Trust Funds held by the Trust Fund Commissioners have been verified and the income traced to its proper accounts.
The Atkinson fund, held by special trustees, has not filed its report.
106
ANNUAL REPORT
Peabody and Public Library Funds. While the books have not been in- spected, income has been verified, vouchers checked up and principal ac- counted for.
The folowing is a statement of the condition of said funds :
The Wheelwright Fund. The accounts of the Treasurer for the year ending Oct. 31, 1921, have been audited and found correct; also the securities have been counted and found to agree with the treasurers' securities.
SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS And Purpose For Which Income Is Used
Invested
Date Due
Amount
Income Purpose
Institution for Savings, City
demand
$5,500.00
278.42 Poor and Religious
Five Cents Savings Bank, City
demand
5,500.00
275.00 Poor and Religious
Institution for Savings, City
demand
5,000.00
253.12 Bartlett Mall
Five Cents Savings Bank, City
demand
5,000.00
253.13 Bartlett Mall
Institution for Savings, City
demand
1,000.00
50.62 General use of library
Five Cents Savings Bank, City
demand
1,000.00
50.63 General use of library
Mass. Hospital Life Ins. Co.
demand
10,000.00
500.00 Sidewalks and Trees
Institution for Savings, City
demand
5,000.00
253.12 Schools
Five Cents Savings Bank, City
demand
5,000.00
253.13 Schools
Provident Inst. for Savings, Amesbury demand
5,000.00
227.52 Schools
Class of 1917 N. H. S.
U. S. 2nd Liberty Bond 4 per cent
Nov. 15, 1942
100.00
4.25 Memorial
Five Cents Savings Bank, City
demand
24.23
.96 Memorial
Class of 1918 N. H. S. U. S. 3rd. Liberty Bond 41/4 per cent. Sept. 15, 1928
Five Cents Savings Bank, City
demand
20.05
Institution for Savings, City
demand
1,000.00
50.00 Supt. of Reading Room
Five Cents Savings Bank, City
demand
1,000.00
50.00 Supt. of Reading Room
Five Cents Savings Bank, City
demand
1,000.00
50.00 N,port and Newbury Books
N'port 31/2 per cent sewer bonds
Sept. 1, 1931
3,000.00
105.00 General use of Library
Five Cents Savings Bank, City
demand
1,000.00
50.63 General use of Library
City of New York, 31/2 p.c.
Nov. 1, 1953
832.07
35.00 Beautifying the City
Atchison Topeka Santa Fe, 4 p.c.
Oct. 1, 1995
771.06
40.00 Beautifying the City
New Amsterdam Gas, 5 p.c.
Jan. 1, 1948
623.19
50.00 Beautifying the City
New York, Lack., West Ry. 4 p.c.
May. 1, 1923
941.47
40.00 Beautifying the City
Long Is. R. R. 4 p.c.
July 1, 1931
868.55
40.00 Beautifying the City
Chicago & Eri R. R. 5 p.c.
May 1, 1982
856.52
50.00 Beautifying the City
Baltimore & Ohio R. R. 31/2 p.c.
July 1, 1925
1,664.97
70.00 Beautifying the City
107
Name of Fund Margaret Atwood
Balch
J. M. Bradbury C. N. Bradstreet John Bromfield Moses Brown
CITY AUDITOR
4.25 Memorial .79 Memorial
Charlotte C. Cole
100.00
John J. Currier A. E. Cutter
A. Gertrude Cutter
Annie D. Davis Timothy Dexter
Nathan D. Dodge W. H. P. Dodge L. M. Follansbee
Institution for Savings, City
demand!
2,645.00
132.24 Books and papers for Library
Am. Tel & Tel. Co. bonds 4 per cent. July 1, 1929
demand
206.25
10.42 Poor
Five Cents Savings Bank, City
demand
500.00
25.30 Poor
Daniel Foster
Five Cents Savings Bank, City
demand
250.00
12.25 Books for Library
Joseph A. Forthingham Haverhill Savings Bank
demand
1,000.00
50.00 Books for Library
A. M. Gorwaiz
Five Cents Savings Bank, City
demand
100.00
5.05 Atkinson Common
S. A. Green
Salem Five Cents Savings Bank
demand
2,000.00
90.00 Books for Library
George Haskell
Institution for Savings, City
demand
1,072.50
53.60 Books for Library
Chas. H. Knight
Five Cents Savings Bank, City
demand
400.00
20.25 Atkinson Common
Newburyport 31/2 per cent sewer bonds Sept. 1, 1931
4,000.00
140.00 General use of Library
Five Cents Savings Bank, City
demand
1,000.00
50.63 General use of Library
Five Cents Savings Bank, City
demand
1,000.00
50.00 School Prize
Newburyoprt 31/2 per cent sewer bonds Sept. 1, 1931
4,000.00
140.00 General use of Library
Five Cents Savings Bank, City
demand
1,000.00
50.63 General use of Library
Am. Tel & Tel. Co. bonds 4 per cent. July 1, 1929
1,792.50
80.00 General use of Library
Boston & Albany R. R. 4 per cent bond May 1, 1933
1,980.00
80.00 General use o. Library
Chicago, B. & Q. R. R. bond 4 per cent Mar. 1, 1958
1,942.50
80.00 General use of Library
N. Y., N. H. and H. bonds 4 per cent. Mar. 1, 1947
947.50
40.00 General use of Library
Fitchburg R. R. bonds 4 per cent.
May 1, 1925
1,965.00
80.00 General use of Library
108
U. S. 4th Liberty Bonds, 41/4 p.c. U. S. 3rd Liberty Bonds, 414 p.c. U. S. 4th Liberty Bonds, 41/4 p.c. N'pt. Five Cents Savings Bank
Oct. 1, 1938 12,849.75
637.50 Beautifying the City
Oct. 1, 1938
1,433.52
70.13 Beautifying the City
Sept. 15, 1928
1761.60
85.00 Beautifying the City
demand
12,372.08
596.13 Beautifying the City
demand
11,115.52
535.57 Beautifying the City
demand
2.495.91
102.18 Beautifying the City
demand
1,000.00
50.00 Aged Ladies
Am. Tel & Tel. Co. bonds 4 per cent. July 1, 1929
1,862.50
80.00 Poor
demand
137.50
6.92 Poor
Institution for Savings, City
4th Liberty Bond, 41/4 p.c.
Oct. 15, 1938
1,000.00
42.50 Books, etc., for Library
2,793.75
120.00 Poor
Institution for Savings, City
S. W. Marston
Paul A. Merrill E. S. Moseley
W. O. Moseley
Institution for Savings, City Orean National Bank, City Five Cents Savings Bank, City
ANNUAL REPORT
M. P. Sawyer M. H. Simpson
R. N. Toppan A. Williams Fire Ins. Fund
N'port. Water bonds 31/2 per cent. Institution for Savings, City
Salem Savings Bank
Am. Tel & Tel. Co. bonds 4 per cent. July 1, 1929
3,585.00
3,960.00
C., B. & Q. R.R. bond 4 per cent.
Mar. 1, 1958
3,885.00
160.00 Sprinkling Streets
N. Y., N. H. and H. bonds 4 per cent. July 1, 1955
4,700.00
Fitchburg R. R. bonds 4 per cent. Mar. 1, 1927
2,940.00
Institution for Savings, City
demand
930.00
J. R. Spring
Institution for Savings, City
demand
10,000.00
10,000.00
500.00 Books for Library
Old Colony R. R. Co. bond 4 per cent. Dec. 1, 1925
Dec. 1, 1995
5,069.65
Institution for Savings, City
d.mand
521.01
Institution for Savings, City
demand
5,000.00
250.00 Books for Library
Am. Tel. & Tel Co. bonds 4 per cent. July 1, 1929
1,792.50
80.00 Reading Room
Boston & Albany R. R. 4 per cent bond May 1, 1933
1,980.00
80.00 Reading Room
Chicago, B. & Q. R. R. bond 4 per cent Mar. 1, 1958
1,942.50
80.00 Reading Room
N. Y., N. H. and H. bonds 4 per cent. Mar. 1, 1947
1,895.00
80.00 Reading Room
Fitchburg R. R. bonds 4 per cent. May 1, 1925
1,965.00
80.00 Reading Room
Institution for Savings, City
demand
5,425.00
271.24 Reading Room
Institution for Savings, City
demand
250.00
12.50 School Prize
Salem Five Cents Savings Bank
demand
1,000.00
45.00 Books for Library
Am. Tel. & Tel Co. bonds 4 per cent. July 1, 1929
4,631.25
200.00 Replace loss by fire
N. Y., N. H. and H. bonds 4 per cent. July 1, 1955
4,825.00
200.00 Replace loss by fire
Five Cents Savings Bank, City
demand
7,884.05
370.11 Replace loss by fire
$233,694.45
10,905.50
35.00 General use of Library 21.19 General use of Library 225.00 Books for Library 160.00 Sprinkling Streets 160.00 Sprinkling Streets
200.00 Sprinkling Streets 120.00 Sprinkling Streets 47.97 Sprinkling Streets 500.00 Books for Library
Five Cents Savings Bank, City
demand
4,712.50
200.00 General use of Library
E. H. Stickney
B. & O. R. R. bonds 5 per cent.
250.00 General use of Library 26.52 General use of Library
B. G .Sweetser W. C. Todd
CITY AUDITOR
109
Boston & Albany R. R. 4 per cent bond May 1, 1933
June 1, 1923 demand demand
953.00 419.50 5,000.00
110
ANNUAL REPORT
TRUST FUNDS
In the hands of the Trustees of Newburyport Trust Funds. The following is a statement of the condition of said funds:
CASH ACCOUNTS
Cash on hand, Dec. 17, 1921 $1,213.38
Receipts During Year
Income from investments $10,905.50
A. Gertrude Cutter Fund
2,445.29
Daniel Foster Fund . 4.98
$13,355.77
Payments
Purpose donated
$8,271.34
Added to principal of funds
1,919.33
10,190.67
Increase in cash on hand $3,165.10
Cash on hand, Dec. 16, 1922 $4,378.48
INVESTMENT ACCOUNTS
Total Funds, Dec. 17, 1921 $229,329.83
Interest added to Class 1917 fund
5.21
Interest added to Class 1918 fund
5.04
Interest added to Foster Fund
7.27
Interest added to Fire Insurance Fund
770.11
Interest added to Cutter Fund.
1,131.70
Gifts-A. Gertrude Cutter Fund
2,445.29
Total Funds
$233,694.45
ยท Cash on hand belongs to following:
A. Gertrude Cutter Fund investment account $2,495.91
A. Gertrude Cutter Fund income $1,882.57
111
CIT YAUDITOR TRUST FUNDS
Recapitulation
Funds
Funds for purchase of books, etc. for Library
$38,967.50
Income $1,900.59
Funds for general use of library
36,306.16
1,530.85
Funds for Reading room supplies
15,000.00
671.24
Funds for reading room sadary
200,00
100.00
Funds for local books
1,000.00
50.00
Funds for benefit of schools
15,000.00
733.77
Funds for sprinkling of streets
20,000.00
847.07
Funds for sidewalks and trees
10,000.00
500.00
Funds for benefit of poor
5,500.00
242.64
Funds for municipal fire insurance
17,340.30
770.11
Funds for Bartlett Mall
10,000.00
506.25
Funds for school prize
1,250.00
62.50
Funds for Religious work and poor
11,000.00
553.42
Funds for Atkinson Common
500.00
25.30
Fund for Aged Ladies
1,000.00
50.00
Fund for Memorial
244.28
10.25
Fund for Beautifying the City
48,586.21
2,351.51
$233,694.45
$10,905.50
112
ANNUAL REPORT
BUDGET FOR 1923
GENERAL GOVERNMENT
City Council, Salary of Clerk $400.00
. ... . other expenses
1,200.00
Mayor's Department, Salary
1,200.00
1 other expenses
250.00
Auditor's Department, Salary
1,500.00
clerical assistance
600.00
other expenses
200.00
Treas. and Coll. Dept, Salary
2,000.00
Salary of Clerk
1,000.00
other expenses
600.00:
Assessors' Dept., Salary of 3 assessors 4,200.00
Salary of Clerk
300.00
other expenses
1,200.00
Expense of bond and note issue
150.00
City Clerk's Dept., Salary
2,050.00
other expenses
200.00
City Messenger, Salary
1,200.00
Law Department, Salary City Solicitor
500.00
other expenses
250.00
Election and registration, salary 4 registrars
600.00
other expenses
2,200.00
City Hall
1,500.00
Indexing Old Records and Typewriting
325.00
$23,625.00
POLICE DEPARTMENT
Supervision, Salary of Marshal 1,750.00
bonus of marshal 416.00
other expenses 184.00
Salaries, assistant marshal 1,600.00
bonus of assistant marshal 416.00
Captain of the watch
1,600.00
bonus of the captain of the watch
416.00
patrolmen
19,110.00
113
CITY AUDITOR
bonus of patrolmen 6,370.00
other expenses, (extra traffic officers) 1,488.00
Fuel
450.00
Lighting
350.00
Police Bldgs., janitor's salary
1,080.00
other expenses
1,000.00
Miscellaneous
1,000.00
$37,230.00
FIRE DEPARTMENT
Supervision and assistants, salary of chief
$500.00
salary of assistant
250.00
Salaries
14,000.00
Fire horses and care of same
9,000.00
Fuel
900.00)
Lighting
500.00
Hydrant service and water
3,550.00
Equipment and repairs
800.00
New hose
1,500.00
Repairs and maintenance of buildings
2,200.00
Miscellaneous
200.00
Hauling hose at No. 7.
100.00
Chemical for hose No. 7.
500.00
Pension for Eben Allen
650.00
$34,650.00
FIRE ALARM AND WIRES
Salary of Supt. of fire alarm and wires 400.00
other expenses 1,000.00
Inspection of buildings and plumbing 150.00
Sealer of weights and measures, salary
800.00
other expenses 50.00
Care of trees, salary of warden
500.00
other expenses 2,000.00
Moth extermination, salary of supt.
1,000.00
114
ANNUAL REPORT
other expenses 900.00
Harbor Master's saalry
125.00
$6,925.00
HEALTH AND SANITATION
Salary of clerk
700.00
Miscellaneous expenses
4,100.00
Vital statistics
200.00
Inspection of school children, salary
350.00
Inspection of animals, salary
350.00
Inspecton of meats and provisions, salary
500.00
Inspector of milk and vinegar, salary other expenses
50.00
Sewer maintenance
400.00
Street Cleaning
4,000.00
Ashes and rubbish
7,000.00
District nurse
100.00
Garbage disposal including new equipment
4,000.00
$22,450.00
HIGHWAYS AND BRIDGES
Supt. of Highways, salary including auto
2,400.00
office expenses 50.00
Repairs
15,000.00
Culverts including new underdrains
7,500.00
Bridges
2,500.00
Lighting
17,500.00
Sprinkling
2,000.00
Sidewalks and Edgestones
3,000.00
Miscellaneous
500.00
Ice and snow removal
4,000.00
$54,450.00
700.00
115
CITY AUDITOR
CHARITIES
Poor department, salaries and wages
$4,500.00
other expenses
13,000.00
Anna Jaques Hospital
1,000.00
Homeopathic Hospital
600.00
Mothers' Aid, chap. 763, Acts 1913
3,000.00
22,100.00
SOLDIERS' BENEFITS
Military Aid
100.00
Soldiers" Relief, salary of agent
400.00
other expenses
5,600.00
Care of Soldiers' Graves
50.00
6,150.00
EDUCATION
Salaries
102,000.00
Miscellaneous
9,000.00
Fuel
8,500.00
Lighting
650.00
School buildings
4,500.00
124,650.00
PUBLIC LIBRARY
Salaries
6,418.00
Miscellaneous
400.00
Fuel
900.00
Lighting
375.00
3,093.00
116
ANNUAL REPORT
RECREATIONS
Moseley Woods
500.00
Riverside Park
100.00
City Parks
500.00
Atkinson Common
500.00
Memoral Day
400.00
Fireman's Memorial Sunday
75.00
Playgrounds, including supervision
1,975.00
American Legion
100.00
Central Parks and playgrounds
1,000.00
-
5,150.00
UNCLASSIFIED
City Clocks, salary of caretaker
150.00
Other city properties
500.00
Water for public buildings
1,500.00
Memorial Tablets
1,000.00
3,150.00
Cemeteries
1,750.00
INDEBTEDNESS
Interest
36,000.00
Schoolhouse bonds
2,000.00
Police Station Bonds
2,000.00
Recon. State Street (Newbury Line, 1918)
1,000.00
Recon. State Street Charter St. to Market
1,000.00
Recon. High and State Sts. below State 13,000.00
Recon. High Street above State St. 28,500.00
Fire Department Equipment Loan
2,000.00
Sinking Funds
500.00
Plum Island Bridge Loan
1,500.00
Recon. Merrimac and Water Sts
20,000.00
Central Parks and Playgrounds
1,000.00
Schoolhouse Loan
9,000.00
117,500.00
$467,873.00
DEPARTMENT REPORTS AND REPORTS OF CITY OFFICIALS
119
BOARD OF ASSESSORS
REPORT OF THE BOARD OF ASSESSORS
To His Honor the Mayor and the City Council : Newburyport, Mass., Dec. 23, 1922
Gentlemen : The Board of Assessors hereby presents its report for the year 1922:
Valuation of Real Estate
$9,414,500.00
Valuation of Personal Estate 2,879,750.00
Valuation of Resident Bank Shares 252,076.00
$12,546.326.00
No of Assessed Polls, 4379.
Rate of Taxation, $31.00 per $1,000.00.
The total tax levy was as follows:
On Real Estate
$291,849.50
On Personal Estate
89,272.25
On Resident Bank Shares 7,814.35
On Polls (at $5.00) 21,985.00
The sums required by the City Council and State Warrants were as follows:
State (including highway and civilian War poll) $43,122.45
County 22,885.67
City (including judgements) 366,816.51
The omitted (or December) assessments were:
Valuation Tax
Real Estate
14,600 $462.60
Personal Estate
18,900 585.90
Abatements have been made during the year were as follows:
On taxes of 1918, $17.25; 1919, $25.30; 1920, $1694.45; 1921, $1672.75; 1922, $4369.94. Including in the amount for the current year are the abatement of $3 of the $5 Poll Tax assessed to World War veterans, which will be credited to the city by the State.
The members of the board have felt that but little could be done in the way of a comprehensive re-valuation of the city until the maps are com- pleted, and have confined their efforts in that direction this year to the center of the city, raising the value of property in the business section. Even this, however, will be subject to further adjustment when the maps are completed.
Respectfully submitted CORNELIUS J. KILEY CHAS. W. JOHNSON HENRY. B. LITTLE
Assessors.
67th ANNUAL REPORT OF THE
Directors of the Public Library
OF THE
CITY OF NEWBURYPORT
123
PUBLIC LIBRARY
ANNUAL REPORT OF THE PUBLIC LIBRARY
TRUSTEES OF THE PUBLIC LIBRARY-1922
The Mayor, Michael Cashman.
The City Council- G. W. Morrill, W. J. Cusask, W. G. Dodge, E. G. Perkins, H. S. Noyes, A. H. Reynolds, F. M. McGlew, Jr., E. C. Hansen, A. W. Southwell, M. A. Toomey, W. Peebles.
DIRECTORS
Michael Cashman, Mayor ex-officio
Edward G. Perkins, President of City Council ex-officio
Lawrence B. Cushing, Trustee of Building Fund ex-officio
William R. Johnson, Trustee of Building Fund ex-officio Alex. G. Perkins, Trustee of Building Fund ex-officio
William C. Coffin, term expires 1922
Dr. T. R. Healey, term expires 1923
Arthur P. Brown, term expires 1924
Laurence P. Dodge, term expires 1925
Rev. Laurence Haywood, term cxpires 1926
Mrs. J. L. Driver, term expires 1927
Laurence B. Johnson, term expires
1928
TRUSTEES OF PEABODY FUND
Lawrence B. Cushing, *Thomas C. Simpson, Laurence Haywood, B. P. P. Moseley, John D. Parsons, George W. Richardson.
Librarian John D. Parsnos
Superintendent of Reading Room Helen E. Tilton Assistant Librarians-Effie A. Tenney, Elizabeth P. Thurston, Josephine W. MacIntosh, ( and special) Alice W. Toppan, Wilhelmina L. Plumer. Janitor Frank H. Plumer
*Died November. 27.
124
ANNUAL REPORT REPORT OF THE DIRECTORS
To the City Council:
Gentlemen :- The Directors of the Public Library submit as their 67th annual report the accompanying papers showing "the present status of the Library," consisting of the report to them of the Librarian and of other officials and committees of this board, with tabulated statistics.
MICHAEL CASHMAN EDWARD G. PERKINS LAWRENCE B. CUSHING WILLIAM R. JOHNSON ALEX. G. PERKINS MRS. J. L. DRIVER
WILLIAM C. COFFIN
THOMAS R. HEALEY ARTHUR P. BROWN LAURETNCE P. DODGE
LAURENCE HAYWOOD LAURENCE B. JOHNSON
Newburyport, December 28, 1922.
Directors.
125
PUBLIC LIBRARY
REPORT OF THE LIBRARIAN
Newburyport, December 28, 1922
To the Directors of the Public Library :-
Following is the 67th annual report of the Public Librarian, for the year ending, December 16, 1922, showing, as far as possible, "the present status of the library."
At the close of the last year the number of volumes owned by the Library ( including those which had been placed in the care of the inde- pendent libraries located at the North and South parts of the city), amount- ed to 58,028. At the present time the number is 58,714, besides several hundred pamphlets in pastboard covers. The Library also owns very many unbound pamphlets of more or less value, selected from the thousands which are annually sent to us, unsolicited, most of which, while they may have their place, are of greatly more value to the propagandists and advertisers which issue them than they are to a library such as our's is, and to the public which it serves.
There are 5092 card-holders, (a year ago 4244), 764 of which have the green or second card, available for taking from the Library books not fiction, and there are 41 so-called teachers cards outstanding, allowing the withdrawal of an indifinite number of books at one time, to be used in connection with school work, for the care of which the individual teacher is held responsible. During this time the names of 233 persons have been removed from the list of borrowers, by reason of death, removal from the city, etc.
During the year there have been withdrawn from the library for home reading 53,447 volumes an average of more than 176 a day, ranging from 81 on a hot Summer day to 408 on a Saturday in February. During this time there was no Winter storm of sufficient severity to drive the daily circulation below 150, and no record is kept of the thousands of books con- sulted only in the library and not taken out.
The number of books canceled and withdrawn from circulation during this time is 221, so badly worn as being beyond repair. While hundreds of volumes are each year, as a part of general library work, put into con- dition to do further service, it has been found necessary to send 683 vol- umes to binderies from which they are returned practically as new books, and in some respects superior to the article when first purchased. In fact many books as they come from the dealers are so insecurely, so slovenly bound, as to wear not more than one or two withdrawals, and I have some- times not been able to give them even that, ordinary handling preliminary
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to circulation being too much for their feeble constitutions. It should be remembered that the life of a public library book, particularly the so- called popular ones, is extremely limited before it demands attention. It has been computed by authorities who have studied the matter that this averages about 20 readings, or more properly borrowings from the library. There are however, some few houses which have become book dealers as well as binderies by specially catering to libraries which demand more thoroughly bound books than the general trade supplies. Of course to the uninitiated a flimsly bound volume on the table of the dealer looks as well, and it sells as well to the public generally, as one more staunchly con- structed. The reason then is purely commercial. The special dealer buys his books from the publisher in the original sheets, unbound, and the covers separately. He then makes them up in what is called "reinforced" binding, that is superior and stronger stitching, cloth "hinges" in place of the ordinary end sheets of paper and of course sells them at an advance. To purchase a number of such for a library I consider wise economy: Take a book which is advertised to sell for $2.00. Ordering it from the special dealer with a 20 per cent discount, (it is more often but 10 per cent the general jobber allows), then add 32 cents for the reinforced binding, makes the book stand at $1.92, which is cheaper every way than buying it at $1.80 then after a short time being confronted with the choice of condemning and removing the covers entirely or paying 50 or 60 cents for having it rebound as it should have been in the first place.
The Reading and Reference rooms are today as well patronized as ever. Perhaps general lawlessnes, I can hardly define it as carelessness in using the magazines and periodicals so freely displayed is more notice- able, but the sad satisfaction in this is that the same complaint from all public libraries so far as I am aware. I refer to the mutilation of publi- cations by boldly clipping paragraphs or articles in which the reader sup- posedly has special interest, and the occasional stealing of some magazines entirely. We have been at some pains to look up these abstractions, and I regret to say that too often they preclude the idea of immature thoughtless- ness but presuppose the possession of considerable education or "culture", judging from the character of some of the articles clipped or magazines taken. By a recent action of this body it was voted "that the librarian be empowered to act upon the authority of the Board of Directors in bring- ing into court such delinquent book borrowers as may be necessary, and calling to aid provisions of the law in enforcing certain public rules." Per- haps this will aid somewhat.
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