USA > Massachusetts > Norfolk County > Quincy > Inaugural address of the mayor, with the annual report of the officers of the city of Quincy for the year 1911 > Part 19
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1367.72
88.0
6
-
459
43.10
6
8
10.5
Highland av
as
Plans have been prepared, lines and grades given for drains of surface water constructed follows :
SURFACE DRAINS LAID 1911-STREET CONSTRUCTION APPROPRIATION
Length of each size of pipe Catch Man
Street
Location
Ward 8in. 10in. 12in. 15in. basins holes
Goffe st
Culvert to Glendale rd
1 175
Glendale rd
Goffe st to catch basins, westerly
1
111
2
Hancock st
Saville st to Dimmock st
1 440
Broadway
Over brook to Bent's creek
Murdock AV
Ring av
1
Columbia st
Culvert to Taber st
122
Taber st
Columbia st to Trafford st
3
561
1
Trafford st
Taber st E. and W. to catch basins
3
114
4
Richie rd
Franklin st easterly to catch basins
3
250
Plymouth st
About 200 ft from Independence av 3
20
West st
Conant st, westerly
4
120
2
1
Belmont st.
Lincoln av to S Central av
5
178
Belmont st.
Brook st
5
30
2
Brook st
Sachems brook to N. Central av
5
10
339
N. Central av
Brook st to catch basins, southerly
5
64
650
3
1
Earle st.
Sachems Brook to Willet st
5
48 154
Marlboro st
Willet st to Blake st
5
360
Blake st
Marlboro st.
5
20
Kemper st
Elm av, southerly
5
197
Phillips st
Elm av, westerly
5
22
220
3222
460
Billings rd
Royal st
6
68
2
6
392
2
Tyler st Hollis av
Birch st
6
40
1
W. Squantum st
John st to Division st
6 175
4
2786
829
276
939
43
3
SURFACE DRAINS LAID 1911-HIGHWAY APPROPRIATION
Street
Location
Ward
Length of each size of pipe Catch Man 8m. 10in. 12in. 18in. basins holes
Sea st
Mt. Wollaston cemetery to Palmer st 1
160
4
Independence ave
Westerly side, opp. Bennington st
3
20
1
Cross st
Westerly side, 77 ft S of Miller st
4
66
1
Furnace av
Easterly side, 108 ft N of RR fence 4
20
1
Granite st
S of Brewers cor
4
60
Hall place
Rogers st, southerly to culvert
1
22
Robertson st
North of culvert and S of Ballou st 4 S of Hillside st abt 166 ft to culvert 4
40
2
Station st
4
128
1
Willard st
N of Brook near Milton line
5
10
1
Highland av
S cor Brook st
1
Broadway
Over ditch E of Highland av 6
-
460
22
60
1
3
461
16
1
Blllings rd, southerly
SURFACE DRAINS LAID 1911-SPECIAL APPROPRIATION.
Length of each size of pipe Catch Man
Street
Location
Ward Sin. 10in. 12in. 15in. basins holes
Bedford st
Glendale rd to Euclid ave
1 212
302
6
Enclid ave
Dimmock st to Bedford st
1
96
4
Cranch st
Deldorf st to Whitwell st
1
90
856 600
8
Glendale rd
Catch basins n'r Sears' drive to Dim. 1
66
713
8
Dimmock st
Glendale rd to Enclid ave
1
235
Private land
From ditch to Woodward ave
1
77
Woodward ave
From private land to Faxon ave
1
18
Faxon ave
From Woodward ave southerly Cranch st
1
327
Whitwell st
Gavin's land to Edison st
71
462
Edison st
Bay View ave
·2
17
2
Bay View ave
Edison st to Edison Park
2
267
Edison Park
Bay View st to C. B. southerly
2
138
1
Private land
Raycroft brook to Lawrence st
2
189
Lawrence st
Private land to Claremont ave Lawrence st
2
141
1
Claremont ave
2
40
2
Trescott st
Ditch n'r Endicott st to Franklin st 3 Trescott st sontherly
3
88
200
5
Miller st
West of Furnace Brook Parkway
4
18
2
Reardon st
Furnace Brook P'k'y to Common st
4
24
590
2
N. Central ave
Catch basins to Beale st
5
3.2
299
1
Beale st
N. Central ave westerly
5
159
3
Beale st
Taylor st to new Wollaston school 5
143
1
1 60
1
Private land
= 14
319
Franklin st
Elm ave
Kemper st to Greene st
5
191
1 2
Prospect ave
Catch basins to C. B's Sof Warren av 5
27
207
Sachem st
5
6
Private land
From E of Sachem st to W Elm av
5
270
1
E Elm ave
5
40
Newbury av
From Teal Pond to Billings st Newbury ave
6
130
352
725
52 5 2
Billings st
6
6
Botolph st
East Squantum st
6
6
1
-
--
--
1338.0 3835.0 3133.0 115.0
61
1
463
464
WATER DEPARTMENT.
Plans have been prepared and lines have been given for such water mains as have been laid in private property. All other locations have been taken by the Water Department.
SEWER DEPARTMENT.
The engineering required for the construction of 2.99 miles of sewer laid during the year has been furnished by this department.
Assessment and record plans of the work have been made and filed with the Sewer Department.
A schedule of the sewers constructed during the year may be found annexed to the report of the Commissioner of Public Works.
PUBLIC BUILDINGS AND GROUNDS.
Lines and grades for setting the batter boards for the erection of the Montclair and Wollaston Schools and the addi- tion of the Ward Two Bath House have been given by this de- partment.
PUBLIC BURIAL PLACES.
Grades have been given for regrading sections of the Mt. Wollaston Cemetery as requested by the Superintendent. All lots sold have been staked by this department.
CITY SOLICITOR.
Surveys and plans have been made for the City Solicitor for eight law suits filed against the city. Additional data has.
465
been furnished as requested for use before the special Commis- sion considering the elimination of the Grade Crossing in the city.
ASSESSORS' PLANS.
The Assessors' plans have been brought up to date to agree with present property owners. All new houses have been measured and plotted and new sub-divisions have been put on the plans. The Assessors' plans of Ward 4 are nearly com- pleted and will be ready for the Assessors this year.
HOUSE NUMBERING.
An effort has been male the past two or three years to have all houses in the city correctly numbered. I think . the houses are now numbered generally satisfactory throughout the city, but we hope to further improve this condition during the coming year. About fifty new house numbering plans have been made during the year.
Respectfully submitted,
EZEKIEL C. SARGENT,
City Engineer.
1
ANNUAL REPORT
- -OF THE --
TRUSTEES
-- -OF THE
THOMAS CRANE PUBLIC LIBRARY
QUINCY, MASS.
For the year ending December 31, 19II
16
.12
1625
MANET
QUINCY
QUINCY, MASS. ADVERTISER JOB PRINT 1912
468
TRUSTEES
1911
ELLEY C. BUTLER, Chairman *HARRISON A. KEITH, Secretary *GEORGE W. MORTON, Treasurer, Jan. to March HENRY MCGRATH, Treasurer, April to December
CHARLES R. SAFFOPD ¡W. WARD WHITCHER JAMES F. BURKE #HENRY B. SHEAHAN
Librarian ALICE G. WHITE
Assistants
§CHARLOTTE COCHRANE. Cataloguer
MABEL S. BAXTER
KATHERINE L. STEGMAIER
RUTH ALEXANDER STELLA BARKER Assistant in charge of Children's Room IRENE T. HIBBARD
Janitor M, F. GUESS
WEST QUINCY READING ROOM Furnace Brook Parkway BELINDA E. WAINWRIGHT, Assistant in charge
Hours of Opening
Central Library, daily (except Sundays and holidays)
Main Hall, from 10 A. M. to 8 P. M. Saturdays, from 10 A. M. to 9 P. M.
Closed at 6 P. M., Saturdays excepted, during July and August. Children's Room, from 11.30 A. M. to 1.30 P. M. and 3.30 to 6 P. M. Saturdays, from 10 A. M. to 12 M. and 1 to 6 P. M.
During school vacations, from 1 to 6 P. M. Saturdays as above. West Quincy Reading Room, daily (except Sundays and holidays) .. from 3 to 5.30 P. M. and 6 30 to 8.30 P. M. Closed Fridays at 6.30 P. M.
*Deceased tAppointed April 3 #Appointed June 19 §On leave of absence
469
Report of the Trustees
To His Honor the Mayor of the City of Quincys-
The Trustees of the Thomas Crane Public Library sub- mit herewith the 41st annual report of the Library.
The year seems to have been one of steady growth and usefulness despite the severe changes of illness and death.
The Branch reading room at West Quincy has fully justified its existence in a year and a half, as shown by the Librarian's figures. The Trustees cannot put it too strongly that in their opinion the time has come for the further ex- tension of the Library's privileges to other sections of the city. More and more demands are made upon the activities at the Central Library, and there is the double neces- s.ty upon us of supplying those demands and at the same time of not restricting or limiting the Library's usefulness. Crowth means expenditure. The Trustees earnestly desire to open a second Branch reading room this year-at Atlantic -trusting that the City Council will provide the funds neces- sary for the purpose.
In March last, death removed from our number George WV. Morton, a member of the Board for seventeen years and its Treasurer for the entire period. This was followed by the death in June of Harrison A. Keith, the only original member of the Board left in the service of the Library, hav- ing been chosen by the town in 1871, and its faithful Secre-
470
tary for thirty-five years. Resolutions in honor of their de- ceased associates were formally adopted at the meetings of the Board and are included in the pages of this report.
Mr. W. Ward Whitcher and Mr. Henry B. Sheahan were appointed by the Mayor to fill the vacancies thus exist- ing in the membership of the Board.
To the organization of the Librarian followed by the efficiency of the staff is due the progress of the Library through a trying year.
All of which is very respectfully submitted.
For the Trustees,
E. C. BUTLER, Chairman.
1
471
GEORGE W. MORTON
Died March 15, 1911
The final summons has called from us our friend George W. Morton.
Be it Resolved by us, his fellow-citizens and also asso- ciates in the management of the Thomas Crane Public Lib- rary, that we deplore the fact that the Library has lost his encouragement and energy and valuable counsel.
Born in Quincy, where he lived and died, his love for his birthplace, a prominent trait in his character, was often manifested.
In the management of affairs he was capable, honest and upright and was of great worth to the community.
His genial disposition, his hearty and cheerful reception of his friends, always retained the old and attracted the new.
We bear witness to his kindness of heart, which led him often to assist others, always without publicity.
These admirable qualities made him all the more desir- able as one of our Trustees and make us feel our loss the more keenly.
We extend our heartfelt sympathy to Mrs. Morton, and the Secretary is instructed to forward her a copy of this re- solve, and to spread it upon the records.
472
HARRISON A. KEITH
Died June 8, 1911
For many years the Honorable Harrison A. Keith served the citizens of Quincy-as sometime master of their high school, as chief executive of their city, and for forty years as Trustee of the Thomas Crane Public Library, where for thirty-five years he held the post of Secretary. In his position as Trustee were his talents best gathered together, and therein did his ability as a scholar and his love for the ancient and generous ideals of learning meet with his power of orderly and conservative administration. The City of Quincy has lost a wise and honorable citizen, and the Board of Trustees a good friend ever keen in the interest of the in- stitution which they direct.
The Trustees of the Thomas Crane Public Library, de- ploring the loss of their colleague, have directed that a copy of this memorial be sent to Mr. Keith's relatives, and that the memorial itself be entered upon their books.
473
TREASURER'S STATEMENT
1911
Thomas Crane Endowment Fund.
Balance on hand, Dec. 31, 1910 $21,990 53
Received interest on Massachusetts Gold Bonds 630 00
Received interest on deposits in
Quincy Savings Bank 102 51
Paid A. Nugent, work on Library grounds 200 00
J. G. Thomas, work on Library roof 13 14
T. J. O'Brien & Son, rolling Library lawn 3 50
G. W. Trainer Manufacturing Co., steam pipe and covering boiler 3 73
C. F. Randall, stereoscope and photographs 37 72
W. Porter & Co., insurance on building 178 50
H. C. White & Co., sterecgraphs
51 64
White & Jackson, work on furnace 35 56
D. J. Griffin, labor on basement room 4 50
Holmes & Hall, floor finish and shellac 3 33
F. Ridlon, electric fixtures
40 00
A. B. Robbins Iron Co., repair- ing elevator fronts
84 60
A. T. Stearns, lumber, hardware, etc. 34 00
Jordan & Marsh, cloth 2 38
474
Johnson Lumber Co., lumber Balance on hand Dec. 31, 1911 : Mass. Gold Bond (Cost Price) Quincy Savings Bank
1 52
19,656 75
2,372 17
$23,723 04 $22,723 04
Cotton Center Johnson Fund
Balance cn hand Dec. 31, 1910 $2,011 03
Interest on $2,000 00 Chicago Junct.
Gold Bonds 1
100 00
Interest on deposits in Quincy Sav-
ings Bank 2 50
Paid Review of Reviews, Photo, History Civil War 29 45.
Balance on hand Dec. 31, 1911
Chicago Junct. Gold Bonds
2,000 00
Quincy Savings Bank
84 08
$2,113 53 $2,113 53
Catalogue Fund
Balance on hand Dec. 31, 1910 $2,670 42
Rec'd from Library fines, etc. 272 40
Rec'd interest on deposits in Quincy Savings Bank 108 92
Paid G. W. Prescott, printing catalogue 140 00
Balance on hand Dec. 31, 1911,
Quincy Savings Bank 2,911 74
$3,051 74 $3,051 74
-
475
Gift of Albert Crane
Balance on hand Dec. 31, 1910
$96 80
Interest on deposits in Quincy Sav-
ings Bank 3 96
Paid M. E. Derringer, flowers 35 00
W. F. Sidelinger, engraving
11 25
Balance on hand Dec. 31, 1911, Quin- cy Savings Bank
54 51
$100 76
$100 76
Children's Fund
Gift of Quincy Women's Club
Received April 20, 1911 $50 00
Interest on deposit in Quincy Savings Bank 50
Balance on hand Dec. 31, 1911,
Quincy Savings Bank 50 50
$50 50
$50 50
Respectfully submitted,
HENRY MCGRATH, Treasurer.
Approved by HENRY O. FAIRBANKS, City Auditor.
476
Report of ibe Librarian
Quincy, Mass., January 1, 1912.
To the Trustees of the Thomas Crane Public Library :
Notwithstanding the fact that the work of the library has been carried on the past year under extreme disadvan- tages I have to report very gratifying results. Well aware that the usefulness of the library is not to be measured by the number of book issues, it affords pleasure to chronicle an increase of circulation of 12,651 over the year 1910, then the largest in the library's history. In the twelve months since I wrote my last report we have joined the ranks of the "libraries with a circulation of 100,000 to 200,000", the total figures being 107,882.
The largest contributor to this increase has been the West Quincy reading room which has carried over 17 per cent. of the whole circulation for the year, reporting at the close of this, its first complete year, a circulation of 18,938 volumes and attendance figures of 31,500. Does not this speak "volumes" for the extension of the library system to cther outlying sections of the city? For what we have done in West Quincy may we not equally as well do in Atlantic, which for 30 years has been receiving a weekly delivery of books, as referred to in my last report. And again I express the hope that the City Council will see its way clear to grant- ing us a sufficient increase of appropriation for the opening of a reading room in the ward most remote from the centre. Constant complaints come to me of the service of the deliv- ery baskets in both Wollaston and Atlantic, and of the 12 books lost and not paid for in the charging trays of the Cen-
477
tral library in 1911, 5, or nearly 50 per cent., disappeared from these baskets.
The cost of maintaining the reading room at West. Quincy for the 12 months has been $1,055 38, an extremely reasonable figure considering the amount of work done, and by comparison with other libraries.
But this expense of maintenance must increase with the- constantly increasing demands, as the branch seems a phe- nomenally alive and active and growing offshoot from the par- ent stalk. Moreover, this simple Branch maintenance, above,. means no cost of books, or but trifling, comparatively-4 re- placements and 7 reference books added-only their housing and distribution and the advantages of the reading room; the extra binding bills, for instance,-a very heavy item from the wear and tear of the books here-being included in the Cen- tral library's expenses. Of the 50 books burned from contag- ious diseases, 24 were from this room, and 6 books have been lost from the open shelves during the year.
But look on the other side of the picture. The average. daily circulation has increased from 53 in 1910 to 63; the average daily attendance, from 93 to 105. The total attend- ance for the year includes 10,753 adults and 20,747 children, and thus it may be inferred that "the discipline of the room is an ever present factor and adds largely to the labor of the person in charge." There are 640 books on deposit, and the average monthly exchange of these deposits has been 97 in 1911, as against 53 in 1910 ; there are 195 books belonging to the reading room, of which 40 are reference books, making a total of 835 books. West Quincy has a distinctly large foreign population, and the demand for Italian books is some- thing that we cannot supply with the present limited re- sources of the Central Library.
The new borrowers registered during 1911 at the Reading room include 105 adult and 188 children, besides 26 adult and 2 juvenile registrations transferred from the Central library. The whole number of borrowers at the Branch is 995, divided
478
into 506 adults and 489 children. This division is an arbi- trary one, based upon the separation of the Grammar and High schools, according to the adult and juvenile at the Cen- tral library. The Branch was closed two days in July on account of the excessive heat.
We began the year with the handicap of illness, and hardly at any time during it has the entire staff been on duty. Miss Cochrane, after a faithful service of nearly 16 years, on leave of absence following her illness in the spring, has been sorely missed. The cheerful response of Miss Alexander to take up the burden of the "arduous year in the cataloguer's room," in which she has been ably assisted by Miss Morrison, has enabled us to stem the tide of misfortunes and calls for most appreciative recognition. The department has been brought practically up to date in the work of the year, with 1,565 new books added and 387 replaced; the card catalogue of the children's room has been duplicated, except subject en- tries, in the card catalogue of the main hall. The graded lists of the Carnegie library of Pittsburgh were checked and the numbers of all the books contained in our library inserted in red ink to make the lists convenient for teachers' use.
Among the purchases of the year have been Nelson's Loose-Leaf Encyclopaedia, 12 volumes ; the Photographic His- tory of the Civil War, 10 volumes; the Cyclopedia of Com- merce, Accountancy, Business Administration, 10 volumes ; the Children's Library of Work and Play, 10 volumes ; the Children's Book of Knowledge, 24 volumes; 2 sets of the Standard Library of Natural History, 5 volumes; Shackel- ton's Heart of the Antarctic, 2 volumes; and Lane's anno- tated Arabian Nights, 3 volumes.
A beginning has been made in the purchase of books of musical composition, and as these seem to be greatly appreci- ated, we should build up this new department.
People are availing themselves more and more of the opportunity to suggest books, which we welcome as a sign of their active appreciation of the library, and it is a real satis- faction to be able to fulfill their desires. But the demand has
479
been much in advance of the library's power to supply. More than ever before have there been calls for books relating to the trades, for works on practical and technical subjects, for text-books of the sciences. We have tried to strengthen the library along the lines of the useful and applied arts and questions of the day. There is a lack of modern plays and works on the drama, and a constant demand for more works in the Italian language. I wish we might have ordered the new edition of the Encyclopaedia Britannica, and purchased the volumes of the International Library of Technology asked for. But having less money to spend the past year than the year before, with increased expenses, we have not been able to buy all the books which should have been bought.
We cannot have an increase of c'rculation for two years in succession, of an average of over 13,000 volumes, without an increasing outlay in nearly every direction, including as- sistance. Every year sees an increase in the cost of the maga- zines themselves, as well as that of the added subscriptions. More subscriptions and more duplicate copies mean the pur- chase of more magazine covers for circulation and of bind- ers for the reading room. For the very books themselves, libraries must pay high prices and get small discounts. Now that the net price system has been extended to fiction, one librarian writes: "I am convinced that it affects the purchas- ing power of our appropriations at least 20 per cent."
The circulation from the main hall, 65,264, is an increase of 939 over the year 1910, with a slight falling off in fiction loaned. There has been a gain of 2 per cent. in non-fiction circulated, periodicals losing correspondingly. From July to October, 185 "vacation" books were in circulation, with no renewal figures recorded. From an inventory of books added to the main hall from January, 1908 to October, 1910, which had not hitherto been made, 22 books are reported missing, presumably while on the shelves of the outside bookcases.
The circulation from the children's room has been 1,382 less the past year than the preceding one. This is accounted for, in part at least, by the transfer of the Hough's Neck chil-
480
dren, who formerly spent their ncon hours here. This sug- gests the remark about Mahomet and the mountain, and an- other section where a reading room would undoubtedly be ap- preciated. In an output of 20,825 from the children's room the percentage of fiction is 58.6. The recorded use of books. and periodicals in the room is somewhat larger than the prev- ious year.
When this room opened, June 22, 1908, there were 2,136 volumes on the shelves. There are now 4,635 books here, and we are beginning to put them on the top shelf among the pictures. The best way I know to keep from an overcrowded condition on the shelves anywhere is to keep the books dis- tributed in the homes, the schools, the agencies. But since in the summer the bocks which the schools"now keep in circula- tion will be returned to the shelves, the need of more shelf space must soon be met.
The work of the sending of 2,855 books to the schools: has been entirely done in this room. Hardly a book returned can be put into circulation without something in the line of mending being done to it from a single torn leaf up to the mending kit by which it is replaced in its covers.
During the year Miss Barker reports from her depart- ment 2,813 adult books and 2,469 juvenile books mended. and 276 magazines mended. Besides this repair at the Central library there have been 382 adult books and 982 juvenile. books and 88 periodicals mended at the West Quincy reading room. These figures, a total of 6,646 books and 364 periodi- cals, give some idea of the wear and tear, necessary and un- necessary, incident to our work. But it also means a big financial saving to the library, for, although the amount spent for binding in 1911 has been a considerable increase over that of 1910, this cost would have been far heavier if this repair work had not been done here.
The work with the mending kit has been satisfactory, a book sometimes circulating 20 times when otherwise it would have to be sent away for rebinding after only a few weeks" wear and just when it is most in demand.
481
The telephone has been made much use of in requests for all sorts of information. The winter schedule of hours was extended until July 1 instead of June 1, and the evening: hours were appreciated.
Toward the close of the year we were able to put a se- lection of books at the Boston Gear Works for the use of their men, which is in the nature of a deposit station. It is too soon as yet to decide upon its appreciation from figures, although Mr. Colburn writes that the men are well pleased with the books.
The following stereographic travel tours have been added to our collection : The United States, Colorado, Arizona, the Yosemite, the White Mountains, Sweden, Belgium, Holland, Denmark, Ireland and Japan ; 514 views in all. In considera- tion of the fact that we have only 1,355 of these views in the library, a circulation of 13,218 from the main hall shows their popularity and the need for more. Not only have these stere- ographs been enjoyed in the homes, but the record of use in the children's room-25,604-suggests the pleasure which they have afforded here.
We have received 13 exhibits from the Library Art Club and 14 volumes have been borrowed from the Boston Public Library for our patrons through the system of Inter-library loan.
Among the gifts of the year have been 7 volumes of the works of George Eliot by Rev. Rufus B. Tobey, the Library of Home Economics, in 12 volumes, from the Home Eco- nomics Committee of the Quincy Women's Club, and the In- dex to the Probate Records of Suffolk County, 1636-1893, through the suggestion of Mr. Warren S. Parker. With the gift from Hon. J. F. Merrill of the 2 volumes of Probate index of Norfolk county, 1793-1900, we now have a complete index to the probate records of Quincy, as the town belonged to Suffolk county until 1793. .
The library has received from the Civic Committee of the Quincy Women's Club a gift of $50 as the nucleus of a fund
482
"to be called the Children's Fund, for the purpose of purchas- ing books for children." Also the Atlantic Shakespeare So- ciety has pledged through Mrs. W. Ward Whitcher $100 to the Trustees for a Reading Room in Atlantic, available upon the opening of such a room there.
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