USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Melrose > City of Melrose annual report 1919 > Part 3
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5. The earlier introduction of certain subjects which have heretofore generally been taught only in the secondary school, such as foreign languages, bookkeeping, business arithmetic, typewriting, algebra, geometry, industrial geography, general science, mechanical drawing, and courses in the manual and household arts.
6. The possibility of a better social adjustment because of the similarity of fundamental interests fostered in the student body. The adolescent period is separated alike from the primary atmosphere (which they have outgrown) and from the older high school pupils (to whose interests they have not yet attained). Accelerant groups can be formed for capable pupils. Junior High School pupils show better spirit and greater interest in their work; discipline is easier; there is less retardation and a lower school mortality. This is an exceedingly important group of gains.
7. It makes easier the transition to the High School, due to the fact that the pupil is gradually prepared for the methods and conditions of the High School instead of being abruptly precipitated into them.
8. It makes easier the introduction of desirable educational reforms."
The one possible argument against the Junior High School that might be considered in Melrose is "that the reorganization of the school system and establishment of such a school would mean increased cost to the taxpayer. The testimony on this point varies widely. Some say that the Junior High School costs less than the usual arrangement. They base their claim on the avoidance of duplication of school equipment and the fact that there is a marked diminution in the number of retarded pupils, or repeaters, and that this fact diminishes the per capita cost. On the whole, the testimony of those who have had sufficient experience with the new plan to speak with any authority is to the effect that the school systems with the Junior High schools do cost more and are worth
32
CITY OF MELROSE
it." We therefore urge that the Junior High School Plan be given imme- diate and careful consideration.
Proper Maintenance of School Buildings requires at once consider- able expenditure of money. Repairs on our buildings have been neglected for years for lack of funds. Last year a somewhat larger amoun than usual was appropriated, but scarcely more than enough to balance the increased cost of labor and materials. Extensive repairs mus be made at once or we may have to close some of our buildings. This matter has been treated at considerable length in previous years, and the facts are in the hands of the taxpayers.
The Equipment of our Schools has likewise been neglected. Our physical laboratories do not contain the equipment necessary for the work and experiments required by colleges and technical schools. Our chemical and biological laboratories are far from modern. Our commercial depart- ment is lacking in up-to-date machines and devices. Our new course in mechanical drawing has no tables, stools, or cabinets. Our manual training department has no machinery of any kind. Our print shop and our school kitchen do not exist. Yet we are expected to turn out pupils who will compete successfully with those who are fam liar with the most complete and modern equipment. These facts have been emphasized for years. It seems as if Melrose must soon realize that in the matter of buildings and equipment we are not doing justice to our children.
For the first time in eight years we have lost a member of our corps by death. Miss Anna W. Atkins passed away on January 11, 1920. She had taught for more than twenty-two years in Melrose public schools. For several years she taught in the Horace Mann School. In 1909, when that building was closed, she was transferred to a fourth grade at the Washington School. She taught in the various grades and later was made master's assistant. January 1, 1918, Miss Atkins became acting principal of the Washington School, and in September of this year was made principal of the Mary A. Livermore district. Miss Atkins was extremely modest and retiring by disposition. She never claimed for herself any special talent, yet no duty or problem in her life ever found her unprepared or incapable of meeting it. She did her work quietly, effectively, and conscientiously. She was a woman of perfect sincerity, absolute integrity, and high Christian character. She was more than that. She was a woman of warm heart, deep sympathies, and a true and loyal friend. Children, parents, teachers-all who came in contact with Miss Atkins-will miss her. The wide circle of her friends is more than a tribute to her personality,-it is an evidence of the appreciation of the sweet, true, and fine womanly qualities which she so well exemplified.
Two faithful members of the School Committee decided this year not to stand for re-election-Mrs. Sarah A. Day, who had served for nineteen years, and Mr. Wallace R. Lovett, who had served for nine years. Mrs. Day has always devoted a large amount of time to the schools. Her face is familiar to every child. As chairman of the Com- mittee on Teachers, she is known also as their personal friend. Because
Table IV INFANT MORTALITY Not including Still Births
AGES
YEAR 1919
Total Under 1 year
under 1 day
1-2 days
2-3 days
3 days to 1 week
1-2 weeks
2-3 weeks
3 weeks to 1 month
1-2 months
2-3 months months
3-6
6-9 months
9-12 months
January
3
1
1
1
February
1
1
March .
1
1
April.
2
1
1
May.
0
June.
2
1
1
July . .
0
..
August.
2
1
1
September
3
1
1
1
October .
2
1
1
November.
3
1
1
1
December .
2
1
1
Male.
10
1
1
1
2
1
1
1
1
1
Female.
11
3
2
1
1
1
White ..
..
21
4
3
1
2
1
1
3
1
1
2
2
Colored .
0
..
. .
.
. . .
.
... .
.
.
.
.
2
1
Table V INFANT MORTALITY
AGES
YEAR 1919
Class No.
Cause of Death
Total
Under
1 day
1-2 days
2-3 days
3 days to 1 week
1-2 weeks
2-3 weeks
3 weeks to
1 month
1-2 months
2-3 months
3-6 months
6-9 months
9-12
months
M 2
1
1
91
Bronchopneumonia. . . ..
F 1
1
M 2
1
104 Diarrhoea and Enteritis ....
F 4
2
1
1
M.
.
F 1
1
M 1
1
F .
1
.
151-1 Congenital Debility, Icterus and Sclerema (Premature
M 2
1
1
Birth) ..
F 2
1
1
M 1
1
152-1 Other Causes Peculiar to Early Infancy (Injuries at Birth) .. .. .. ·
F 1
1
189
152-2 Other Causes Peculiar to M .. Early Infancy .. .. ... F 1 Cause of Death Not Speci- M : fied or Ill-defined . . . .. ... 1
1
1
.
1
1
150 Congenital Malformations (Hydrocephalus) . . .. ...
150-2 Congenital Malformations of the Heart. .
M 1
150-3 Other Congenital Malfor- mations.
F ..
under 1 year
Table' VI CONTAGIOUS DISEASES Age and Sex
Diseases
Under 5
5-9
10-14 15-19 20-24 25-34
35-44
45-54
55-64
65-74
75 and Over
Totals
Actinomycosis
Anterior Poliomyelitis.
1
1
M
Anthrax ..
F
Asiatic Cholera.
F
M
Cerebro-Spinal Meningitis.
F
1
1
M
1
6
1
1
9
Chicken-pox.
F
2
3
2
1
8
M
4
3
1
8
Diphtheria .
F
1
2
1
1
5
M
1
1
Dysentery (Amebic and Bacillary) . ..
F
2
2
M
2
1
3
German Measles
F
3
. 3
M
Glanders.
F
...
M
.
M
Hookworm Disease.
F
M
17
1
1
95
Influenza. .
F
13
6
11
17
15 27
13 22
13
5
2
1
131
M
Leprosy .
F
M
Malaria. .
F M
3
3
Measles .
F
1
3
1
5
M
1
1
2
Mumps.
F
2
2
M
9
9
Ophthalmia Nenoatorum.
F
7
7
M
Pellegra. .
F
1
1
Plague.
F
M
1
1
1
3
1
1
8
Pneumonia, Lobar.
1
1
1
1
1
5
Rabies. ..
. M
6
25 14
3
4
10
Table VI-Continued CONTAGIOUS DISEASES Age and Sex
Diseases
Under 5
5-9
10-14
15-19 20-24
25-34
35-44
45-54
55-64
65-74
Over 75
Totals
M
5
12
8
1
1
Scarlet Fever .
F
8
7
5
1
21
M
1
Septic Sore Throat.
F
M
Smallpox. ..
F
M
1
1
Suppurative Conjunctivitis.
F
2
2
M
Tetanus. .
F
M
27
1
Trachoma . .
M
Trichinosis .
1
5
1
2
9
Tuberculosis (Pulmonary) .
F
1
1
2
4
M
Tubercular Meningitis .
F
M
Tuberculosis (other forms) ..
F
1
1
2
Typhoid Fever. ..
F
1
1
M
Typhus Fever.
F
M
18
16
1
1
36
Whooping Cough
F
10
18
1
29
M
Yellow Fever. .
F
M
M
.
72
CITY OF MELROSE
Table VII INFANT MORTALITY
Year
Births
Deaths of Children under 1 year
Rate of Mortality of Children under 1 year per 1,000 of children born
1913
331
19
62.30
1914
333
22
66.10
1915
393
26
66.10
1916
384
22
56.70
1917
339
23
67.84
1918
430
28
65.11
1919
405
21
51.85
There were eighteen stillbirths during the year 1919.
Table VIII ESTIMATED POPULATION JULY 1, 1919, 18,000
1914
1915
1916
1917
1918
1919
Apparent death rate per
1,000 population. .
11.59
12.58
12.13
15.35
16.00
11.88
Corrected death rate per
1,000 population .
11.84
12.00
12.70
15.29
17.00
12.05
Note .- The corrected death rate is found by eliminating the records of all non-residents dying in Melrose and adding the records of all Melrose residents dying elsewhere, as shown by the records of the City Clerk.
73
BOARD OF HEALTH REPORT
UNDERTAKERS
The following named undertakers have been licensed: Henry W. Clark, John H. Gately, Stephen W. Harvey, Fred T. Churchill, F. Sears Stetson and Albert J. Walton.
BOARDING HOUSES FOR INFANTS
The Board has approved the applications of the following named persons to maintain boarding-houses for infants :- Mary E. Silver, Agnes Thomson, Nellie Crosby, Lula Lewis, Jane Dieter, Marion Morrison, Mary Hinchcliffe.
Respectfully submitted,
CLARENCE P. HOLDEN RALPH R. STRATTON WILLIAM A. TOMER
Board of Health
Report of Inspector of Plumbing
January 28, 1920
To the Board of Health, City of Melrose-
Gentlemen :- I submit the following as the annual report of plumbing inspection for the year ending December 31, 1919.
Number of applications received.
285
Number of permits granted. 122
285
Number of sinks installed .
Number of wash trays installed 87
Number of water closets installed.
168
Number of bath tubs installed.
133
Number of wash bowls installed. 136
Number of traps replaced . 91
Number of urinals installed.
6
Number of shower baths installed 3
Number of floor drains installed.
4
Number of lead bends installed.
7
Number of washing machines installed
7
Number of dish washers installed.
2
Number of pressure boilers installed .
64
Number of refrigerators connected
5
Number of soil pipes renewed 11
Number of cleanouts replaced. 4
Number of old buildings connected with sewer. . 16
Number of old buildings connected with cesspools. 1
Number of new buildings connected with sewer . 20
Number of new buildings connected with cesspools 8
Respectfully submitted,
ANDREW J. BURNETT Plumbing Inspector
74
CITY OF MELROSE
Report of Inspector of Animals
January 1, 1920
To the Board of Health, City of Melrose-
Gentlemen :- I wish at this time to submit my report as Inspector of Animals. During the early part of 1919 the annual tour of inspection was made. All premises where neat cattle, sheep or swine were kept were at time inspected and passed upon. Many suggestions were made for the betterment of conditions at that time, and were received kindly and carried out to the satisfaction of your inspector.
Animals showing symptoms of contagious diseases were properly dealt with and premises disinfected.
Several dogs were examined which were said to have bitten persons, but up to the present time nothing of a rabid nature have been found.
I wish at this time to thank all for the courteous manner in which I was received,and the spirit of co-operation which was shown by improving conditions where changes were suggested.
Trusting the coming inspections will show the same co-operation for the betterment of our food supply.
I remain,
Yours very truly, Calvert H. Playdon, M. D. V.
Report of Inspector of Milk
Melrose Board of Health, Melrose, Mass.
February 6, 1920
Gentlemen :- The following is my report as Milk Inspector for the year 1919:
During the year monthly samples of milk have been taken from all dealers selling over twenty quarts of milk daily. Owing to the difficult economic conditions which the milk producer had has to contend with, two dealers were obliged to withdraw from the business.
The milk supply of Melrose has been quite good as the tabulated results of the analyses show. In choosing the median count of the bacterial analyses the inspector feels that a better index to the dealers' supply is shown.
The tables which follow give a quick means of finding the results of the analyses of the supply of any one dealer. In reading these tables it is necessary to bear in mind that clean, fresh milk is indicated by a low bacteria count and that the best value is shown by high fat and total solid content.
Respectfully,
H. E. BERGER, JR. Milk Inspector
75
BOARD OF HEALTH REPORT
Table No. I
MEDIAN NUMBER OF BACTERIA PER C. C. FOR EACH DEALER AND CHEMICAL ANALYSIS AVERAGE 1919
Dealer
Median number bacteria per C. C.
Number of Samples
% Fats
% Solids
Atwood, Fred C.
80,000
9
4.6
13.0
Bloss, W. C.
104,000
12
3.7
12.3
Forbes Bros ..
31,000
24
3.7
12.3
Goldsmith, C. B.
39,000
12
3.8
12.4
Howard, Mrs. Emma J ...
13,000
12
5.1
14.1
Hood. H. P. &Sons xx. .
10,000
7
3.8
12.6
Hood, H. P. & Sons xxx ..
31,000
17
4.0
12.2
Kiley, R. J.
42,000
13
3.7
12.3
Leach, F. N.
12,000
7
4.0
12.9
Luce & Lord.
83,000
12
3.9
12.3
Manning, J. S.
10,000
12
4.2
12.9
Munn, T. J. & Son.
96,000
12
4.1
12.7
Outram, A. W
11,000
12
3.9
12.4
Penney, M. L.
67,000
12
3.7
12.1
Quinn, M. J.
22,000
12
4.1
12.6
Roulston, R. R.
35,000
12
3.8
12.5
Spratt, Mrs. Abbie
12,000
12
4.4
13.1
Turner Center Cr. Co., x.
15,000
12
4.0
12.6
Whiting, D. & Sons, x.
28,000
12
3.6
12.0
x-Pasteurized
xx-Grade A
xxx-Jersey
Median-The middle term selected after the counts have been arranged in the order of their magnitude.
H. E. BERGER, JR.
76
CITY OF MELROSE
Table No. II PERCENTAGE OF SAMPLES WITHIN CERTAIN LIMITS
Dealer Dealer
Excellent
Under 10,000
Tery Good 10,000-20,000
Good
20,000-100,000
Fair
50.000-100,000
100,000-300,000
Over_300,000
Atwood, Fred C.
11.1
11.1
33.3
33.3
11.1
Bloss, W. C.
8.3
32.3
8.3
41.6
8.3
Forbes Bros.
25.0
16.6
16.6
29.1
12.5
Goldsmith, G. B.
8.3
25.0
25.0
8.3
25.0
8.3
Hood; H. P. & Sons, xx
57.1
28.3
14.2
Hood, H. P. & Sons, xxx
5.8
29.0
23.0
12.0
29.0
Howard, Mrs. Emma J.
41.6
16.6
8.3
25.0
8.3
Kiley, R. J.
22.8
7.6
46.1
15.7
7.6
Leach, F. N
28.5
42.7
14.2
14.2
Luce & Lord.
16.6
16.6
41.6
25.0
Manning, J. S.
58.3
16.6
8.3
8.3
8.3
Munn, T. J. & Son.
41.6
25.0
8.3
Outram, A. W
50.0
16.6
33.3
Penney Farm
8.3
8.3
16.6
25.0
41.6
Quinn, M. J.
25.0
25.0
25.0
16.6
8.3
Spratt, Mrs. Abbie
41.6
33.3
16.6
8.3
Turner Center Cr., x
41.6
16.6
33.3
8.3
Whiting, D. & Sons, x
25.0
8.3
41.6
8.3
16.6
. .
. .
Roulston, R. R.
8.3
8.3
50.0
33.3
. .
x-Pasteruized xx-Grade A xxx-Jersey
H. E. BERGER, JR.
Poor
Bad
. .
25.0
77
BOARD OF HEALTH REPORT
Report of Public Health Nursing Service
INFANT WELFARE
During the year two hundred and fifty infants under one year have been visited and over one hundred follow-up calls have been made. Help and instruction in the preparation of food and in the care of infected eyes have been given in the homes. The mothers are cordial and grateful for the assistance and instruction given. Baby clothes that have been given me are placed where they are most needed, and are greatly appre- ciated. Clothing, also, has been given in many cases for older children in the family.
The Booklet, "The Baby and You" is given to expectant mothers, and where there is a small baby. Diet lists are distributed for children from one to two years. These have proved a great help to mothers when they are changing the diet from milk to solid food.
SCHOOL NURSING
Visiting the schools and homes, in carrying on the regular class room inspection, examination, and treatment of pupils occupies most of my time during the school hours. Children absent from school on account of illness are visited. Knowledge of living conditions and home life of the children is obtained by these calls, which is valuable in affording assistance in some cases through the agencies of the city to which they are referred and medical treatment secured where it is needed.
Over seven hundred visits have been made in the homes in the past year. The children excluded are kept in touch with to see that they are having treatment. The exclusions are most often for the skin diseases and pediculosis.
There has been marked improvement in the children's dentistry, not only through the frequent reminding the children, at the regular examinations of the teeth, of the necessity of dental attention, but also through the splendid work done by the Page Dental Clinic at the Melrose Hospital. Over three hundred children have had treatment at the Clinic, and for severe extraction ether has been administered by an experienced anesthetist.
78
CITY OF MELROSE
In October three children were operated on for tonsils and adnoids at the Melrose Hospital by the Staff Surgeon. During the year thirty- two have been operated on by specialists or their own physicians. One girl with defective sight was taken to the Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary and fitted to glasses which has been a great help in her school work. Since the schools opened in September the attendance in the primary grades has been affected, due to the prevalence of whooping cough throughout the city.
One of our schools is trying the experiment of a recess lunch. Instead of spending their pennies at a nearby store for candy, the children buy a cup of milk or a peanut sandwich. The sanitary paper cups are supplied by the milk dealer. We trust that this experiment will prove so successful and beneficial to the children, that another year other schools will adopt this also.
Respectfully submitted,
MYRTLE S. MERIAM, R. N. Public Health Nurse
Report of City Physician
To the Honorable Mayor and Board of Aldermen:
Visits made for the Charity Department:
To patients in their homes 220
Office calls 55
.
Visits made for the Health Department:
To patients in their homes . 34
Visits of inspection and consultation 96
Office treatment for pupils of the public schools. 46
Visits for Police Department
6
Vaccinations. 95
Examinations by order of the Mayor 4
Respectfully submitted,
CLARENCE P. HOLDEN, City Physician
Report of Overseers of the Poor
To the Honorable Mayor and Board of Aldermen, City of Melrose, Mass. Gentlemen :-
The Board of Overseers of the Poor herewith rubmit its annualfreport for the year ending December 31, 1919.
PARTIAL SUPPORT
Individuals Aided 233
Adults .
79
Children
154
Having settlement in Melrose.
145
Having settlement elsewhere in the State.
50
Having no known settlement.
58
Families aided .
70
Having settlement in Melrose.
51
Having settlement elsewhere in the State.
6
Having no known settlement
13
FULL SUPPORT
Supported in private families 3
Children boarded by the State.
Children boarded by the State.
8
At Massachusetts Hospital School
3
Supported in Malden City Home 2
1
Cases discharged
OUTSIDE RELIEF BY CITY
Appropriation
$5,000. 00
Receipts from 1918 bills.
129.23
Receipts from Red Cross
4. 20 $5,133. 43
Expended .
$4,729.93
Transfer to Outside Relief by City
400. 00
To Excess and Deficiency
3. 50
5,133. 43
80
CITY OF MELROSE
RELIEF BY OTHER CITIES AND TOWNS
Balance from 1918
$487. 89
Appropriation
3,000. 00
Transfer from Outside Relief by City . 400. 00
Reimbursement from Melrose Lodge of Elks
30. 25
Reimbursement from Hugh De Payens Com-
mandery 90. 75 $4,008. 89
Expended
$3,979. 47
To Excess and Deficiency
29. 42 $4,008. 89
MOTHERS' AID
Appropriation
$4,200. 00 $4,200. 00
Excess and Deficiency
368. 94$
Expenses
3,831. 06 $4,200. 00
MAINTENANCE IN HOSPITALS
Appropriation
$1,000. 00 $1,000. 00
Excess and Deficiency
42. 46
Expenses .
957. 54 $1,000. 00
GENERAL ADMINISTRATION
$1,150. 00 $1,150. 00
Appropriation
Salaries of the Board .
$700. 00
Expenses .
388. 62
Excess and Deficiency
61. 38 $1,150. 00
General Administration
$1,150. 00
Outside Relief by City
5,000. 00
Relief by Other Cities and Towns
3,000. 00
Mothers' Aid .
4,200. 00
Maintenance in Hospital
1,000. 00
81
REPORT OF OVERSEERS OF POOR
Receipts
Cash, Auction at Almhouse
$526. 07
Cemetery Department.
29.75
Reimbursement, Individuals
120. 00
Reimbursement from Commonwealth .
3,920. 60
Reimbursement from Other Cities and Towns.
90. 49 $4,686. 91
Auctioneer at Farm $55.57
Eleanor Brown Toothaker Fund:
Balance Jan. 1, 1919.
$1,495. 15
Interest
59. 00
$1,554. 15
Expended
17.21 $1,536. 94
1918 Class Civics of the Melrose High School, Liberty Bond .
50. 00
Interest from 1918
. 74
Interest from 1919
2. 86
$53. 60
GENERAL ADMINISTRATION
Salary of
phone
Furn- and porta- dries nish- Adv. tion
Clerk
ings
January
$27. 00
$1. 66
$1. 25
$29.91
February
24.00
1.60
14.00
5. 50
45. 10
March
27.00
6.91
33. 91
April
22. 50
7. 45
10. 71
40. 66
May
25. 50
6. 10
2.71
2.00
36. 31
June
26. 00
1. 83
4.00
10. 50
42. 33
July
27.00
1.87
1.00
29.87
August
27.00
1.73
28.73
September
25. 71
6. 93
9.00
41. 64
October
6.00
6. 07
1. 82
4.75
18. 64
November
5. 00
7. 14
12. 14
December
2.00
2.13
25. 25
29. 38
Total
$244. 71 $51. 42 $54. 49 $13. 00 $23. 75 $1. 25 $388. 62
Total
Tele- Office Reports Trans. Sun-
RELIEF BY OTHER CITIES AND TOWNS
Board of children
Board in hospitals |Institu- tions
Board in
Food
Fuel
Cash
Medical Aid
Rent
[Cloth- ing
Trans- porta- tion
Total
January.
February. ..
$268.09
$45.00
$39.00
$8.94
$361.03
March .
160.57
11.00
171.57
April .
324.36
77.75
95.75
June. .
420.56
156.00
576.56
July . . .
152.92
152.92
August. .
100.55
12.00
5.51
32.50
2.75
153.31
September.
420.56
100.57
521.13
October .
249.00
.90
249.90
November ..
December .
474.29
72.75
11.00
110.00
668.04
Total.
$1,907.86
$238.32
$742.24
$156.55
$12.00
$384.92
$14.45
$32.50
$2.75
$ .90
$3,492.49
217.92 18.00
542.28
May ..
OUTSIDE RELIEF BY CITY
Food
Fuel
Cash
Rent
Board
Clothing Mdicine
Trans- porta- tion
Burial
House- keeper
Repairs
Sund- dries
Total
January . . .
$59.97
$98.55
$30.00
$64.29
$109.29
$3.10
$ .90
$55.00
$24.00
$445.10
February ...
82.40
46.05
24.00
63.00
108.00
.25
5.50
24.00
353.20
March.
66.92|
60.75
63.00
50.29
120.29
9.00
3.25
12.00
385.50
April.
52.78
22.40
97.00
47.00
126.86
1.50
.82
348.36
May. .
66.15
26.55
90.00
83.15
116.29
15.10
2.00
20.00
. 31
419.55
June. .
47.15
74.00
59.86
109.86
12.13
. 50
.50
304.00
July .
65.66
15.40
89.00
60.29
113.29
. 50
1.00
24.00
369. 14
August. . . .
89.38
25.90
110.00
48.29
132.29
1.50
1.93
409.29
September ..
62.77
15.55
127.00
47.86
109.86
1.50
6.00
370.54
October ....
66.92
3.45
156.00
70.29
46.01
12.54
4.75
359.96
November. .
60.30
59.30
166.00
74.86
76.00
1.75
.21
438.42
December. .
50.29
23.90
172.00
64.29
52.00
23.86
11.51
403.85
Totals. ... .
$770.69
$397.80
$1,198.00
$733.47|
$1,220.04
$44.08
$43.30
$25.75
$99.00
$60.00
$11.51
$3.27
$4,606.91
·
Balance bill 1918. .
...... $123.02
84
CITY OF MELROSE
MOTHERS' AID
Cash Food
Rent Fuel
Medi- cine
Total'
January
$196.00 $54.26
$34.82
$285.08
February
193.80
65.16
20.00
278.96
March .
213.00
48.49
10.00
271.49
April.
194.00
52.34
10.00
8.43
264.77
May
293.00
50.27
2.00
345.27
June.
220.00
42.13
20.00
4.80
286.93
July .
405.44
37.79
16.50
20.00
479.73
August
283.00
41.96
20.00
5.30
350.26
September
288.00
16.80
10.00
1.40
316.20
October
301.00
17.59
318.59
November
321.00
9.92
4.32
335.24
December
288.00
10.54
298.54
Total
$3,196.24 $447.25 $90.00 $64.07 $33.50 $3,831.06
HOSPITAL
January
February
$261.69
March .
94.28
April.
38.61
May
86.26
June.
199.98
July .
44.29
August
111.43
September
6.00
October
5.00
November
10.00
December
100.00
Total
$957.54
The A. C. Marie Currier Fund 1919:
Balance from 1918 $280.35
Amount for 1919
1,500.00
The clothing for children of the worthy poor consisted of the following:
1 pr. rubber boots
12 prs. gloves
103 prs. rubbers
20 night gowns
276 prs. boots
10 blouses
11 prs. boots repaired
2 rompers
100 prs. stockings
2 boys' suits
64 prs. union suits
1 boy's mackinaw
85
REPORT OF OVERSEERS OF POOR
4 sweaters
2 caps
5 dresses
1 scarf
4 prs. pants
1 new baby's outfit
At Christmas 1919, dinners were given to 74 families.
On hand January 1, 1920. .$1,732.64
It will be observed that this year, though aiding fewer families, the cost has been considerably increased.
The reason is not far to seek, namely, the increased cost of supplies of all descriptions: it is not necessary to dwell on this feature because we have all in our individual homes had practical experiences of the effect of high prices . At the close of the War, we anticipated at least a slight drop in prices on the essentials of life, but it is obvious to say that there was a sharp advance instead and prices are still going up.
We were fortunate in one respect, in that the number of persons requiring aid was not as large as in some years past, but the high cost of maintaining those who were obliged to receive assistance more than offset what we would have saved had the old market prices prevailed.
Work has been plentiful and as usual aid has been confined mostly to the aged, mothers with dependent children, and to families where the breadwinner has been unable to labor on account of sickness.
A request was made early in the season for castoff clothing, especially for children.
The request was generously responded to and we have seen that it has all been placed to a good advantage. In several instances it has kept families from being pauperized.
To the churches, the fraternal societies, and private individuals, we wish to publicly acknowledge our indebtedness for the many times they have made it possible, by timely help and encouragement, to help families, who through no fault of their own are in a position where aid is needed to step forth and help the recipients to keep their self respect and inde- pendence.
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