USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Somerville > Report of the city of Somerville 1925 > Part 9
USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Somerville > Report of the city of Somerville 1925 > Part 9
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787
Inflammatory diseases
331
Other abnormal conditions
1
Total
1,119
3. Diseases of the eyes :-
Inflammatory conditions
35
Foreign bodies
2
Other abnormal conditions
33
Total
70
149
HEALTH DEPARTMENT
4. Diseases of the ears :-
Inflammatory conditions
62
Other abnormal conditions
34
Total
96
5. Diseases of the skin:
Eczema
56
Herpes
43
Impetigo
126
Pediculosis
299
Scabies
34
Tinea
9
Miscellaneous conditions
330
Total
6. Miscellaneous diseases : -
Diseases of the circulatory system 21
Diseases of the digestive system 62
Diseases of the lymphatic system 47
Diseases of the nervous system
10
Diseases of the respiratory system
66
Wounds and injuries
66
Diseases of the teeth
16
Other conditions
35
Total
323
Total number of diseases
2,659
Vaccinations performed
146
Examinations for vaccinations
1.020
Certificates to work
194
Bacteriological Work
The report of the work of this department is made by Frank L. Morse, M. D., on a subsequent page and becomes a part of this report.
Undertakers
Under the provisions of Section 49 of Chapter 114 of the General Laws, twenty-four persons have been duly licensed as undertakers.
Examinations of Plumbers
The public statutes provide for a board of examiners of plumbers, consisting of the chairman of the board of health, the inspector of buildings, and an expert at plumbing, to be appointed by the board of health. This board appointed Dun- can C. Green, the inspector of plumbing, to fill the place of expert. The number of licenses granted will be found in the report of the inspector of buildings.
897
150
ANNUAL REPORTS
Health Nurses
There are at present five nurses employed by this board. Two of these are employed as school nurses and the work of the others consists of follow-up work regarding tuberculosis cases and post-natal baby hygiene work.
The reports of the school nurses are made a part of the report of the School Committee and those of the other nurses are made a part of this report being submitted in detail in subsequent pages.
Infant Hygiene Clinics
During the past year under the supervision of this board, clinics have been held every Thursday afternoon at the Ben- nett Schoolhouse and every Friday afternoon at the Bingham Schoolhouse except when those days were holidays. On September 29, 1925 a new clinic was established at the Edger- ly Schoolhouse at which fourteen clinics have been held on Tuesday afternoon. The attendance for the year at these three clinics was 5,101. The average weekly attendance at the Bennett Schoolhouse was 30, at the Bingham Schoolhouse 64 and at the Edgerly Schoolhouse 22.
This work is of inestimable value and the results are very far reaching.
C. A. C. RICHARDSON, JAMES A. KILEY, LIZETTE L. VORCE, Board of Health.
Attest :
LAURENCE S. HOWARD, Executive Clerk.
151
HEALTH DEPARTMENT
REPORT OF HEALTH NURSES
Somerville, Mass. January 2, 1926.
To the Board of Health, Somerville, Mass.
Gentlemen :
We submit the following report of work performed by us in infant hygiene, post natal and tuberculosis cases for the year ending December 31, 1925.
Infant Hygiene
Infants reported as born in Somerville during 1925 1,487
Infants born elsewhere resident in Somerville 420:
Pairs of twins born in Somerville 14
Sets of triplets born in Somerville
1
Still-births in Somerville
61
Infants who moved away from Somerville
115
Infants reported with Ophthalmia Neonatorum
9
Infants reported with Conjunctivitis
14
Infants reported with Infantile Paralysis
1
There were one hundred and three deaths of infants under one year of age in Somerville during the past year as shown in the following table :
Prematurity
35
Congenital diseases
39
Intestinal diseases
5,
Accidental Injury
3
Pneumonia and other diseases
21
Total
103
Infants dying in Somerville residence elsewhere
23
Total attendance at Baby Welfare Clinics during 1925
5,101
New registrations during 1925
532
Average attendance during 1925
40
Tuberculosis
Pulmonary tuberculosis cases reported in 1925
116
Other forms of tuberculosis reported in 1925
28
Patients admitted to Sanatoria
51
Patients previously reported in Sanatoria
48
Deaths in Somerville (Pulmonary 39-Other Forms 13)
52
Deaths in Sanatoria 18-Discharged 46 64
Patients now in Sanatoria
46
Patients temporarily out of Somerville
25
Patients who have moved away from Somerville
36
152
ANNUAL REPORTS
TABLE SHOWING AGES AND SEX OF CASES IN THIS CITY Pulmonary Tuberculosis
SEX
Ages
Total
Male
Female
Under fifteen years
2
3
5
From fifteen to twenty years.
5
7
12
From twenty to thirty years.
18
28
46
From thirty to forty years.
13
12
25
Over forty years.
14
14
28
Total
52
64
116
Other Forms of Tuberculosis.
Ages
SEX
Total
Male
Female
Under fifteen years
4
8
From fifteen to twenty years
2
2
4
From twenty to thirty years.
2
2
4
From thirty to forty years
2
1
4
Over forty years.
4
4
8
Total
14
14
28
Miscellaneous
Typhoid Fever cases reported (died 1)
13
Recapitulation of Visits
Baby Hygiene
8,037
Tuberculosis
822
Miscellaneous
558
Total visits
9,417
1
Respectfully submitted,
HELEN B. BERRY, MARY L. SCOTT, R. N., GRACE E. PICKERING, R. N.,
Health Nurses.
153
HEALTH DEPARTMENT
REPORT OF DEPARTMENT OF MEDICAL INSPECTION
· Somerville, Mass., January 2, 1926.
To the Board of Health, Somerville, Mass.
Gentlemen :
I herewith present the report of the Department of Med- ical Inspection for the year 1925 including statistics of the Contagious Hospital.
Visits
Scarlet Fever-Each case must be inspected before release from quarantine to see that the condition of the patient is suit- able for release
197
Diphtheria-Before patients are released from quarantine two successive negative cultures must be obtained
106
Contagious Hospital
384
Total number of visits
687
Contagious Disease Hospital
In Hospital Ad-
Discharged Well or Improved
In Hospital Jan. 1, 1926
Disease
2
62
59
4
1
Scarlet Fever
3
85
78
2
8
Miscellaneous
0
12
9
2
1
The daily average of patients was 7.83.
LABORATORY EXAMINATIONS Diphtheria
January
Negative 120
8
Total 128
February
77
3
80
March
55
2
57
April
55
12
67
May
92
35
127
June
44
9
53
July
69
6
75
August
34
7
41
September
44
14
58
October
50
16
66
November
60
4
64
December
67
5
72
Totals
767
121
888
...
Jan. 1, 1925 mitted
Dead
Diphtheria
..
Positive
154
ANNUAL REPORTS
Tuberculosis
Negative Positive
Total
January
13
29
February
18
2
20
March
21
2
23
April
15
7
22
May
17
4
21
June
7
5
12
July
7
5
12
August
1
2
3
September
4
0
4
October
11
1
12
November
6
3
9
December
12
1
13
Totals
..
137
34
171
Typhoid
January
Negative 2
1
3
February
3
2
5
March
0
0
0
April
6
2
8
May
4
0
4
June
2
0
2
July
4
0
4
August
1
3
4
September
1
0
1
October
0
0
0
November
2
0
2
December
2
1
3
Totals
27
9
36
Examinations made for Malaria, Oph-
thalmia, Paratyphoid, Gonorrhea and Pneumonia
21
Total examinations
1,116
Tuberculosis
During 1925 there were 52 deaths from Tuberculosis including all forms, 39 of which were of the pulmonary type. This record shows an increase from the previous year when 46 deaths were reported.
All patients ill with the disease coming to the attention of the board have either been supervised at their homes by the Public Health Nurses, or have been placed in sanatoria when such treatment was needed.
The tuberculosis ward at the Contagious Hospital which was closed on September 1, 1921 on account of the small num- ber of patients in the hospital, was reopened during July and August as a Preventorium for children who were under- nourished or lived in families where tuberculosis cases existed.
Positive
Total
155
HEALTH DEPARTMENT
In this work the board was assisted by a contribution provided by the Tuberculosis Seal Sale.
During these two months 105 children were residents at the Preventorium for a total of 1278 days, the average stay being 12 days. Much good was accomplished among these children, marked improvement being observed in their phys- ical condition, and it should be maintained each summer.
Infant Hygiene Clinics
On January 1, 1922 the board with the approval of His Honor the Mayor, assumed the care of the Infant Hygiene Clinics previously maintained by Somerville Chapter of the American Red Cross. These clinics have been held on Thursday afternoon at the Bennett School and Friday after- noon at the Bingham School thruout the year. On September 29, 1925 a clinic was established at the Edgerly School and has been held on Tuesday afternoon weekly. An average attendance of 64 at the Bingham School, 30 at the Bennett School and 22 at the Edgerly School has been attained. 532 new babies have been under supervision at the clinics where advice has been given to the mothers by the attending phy- sician, and in many instances the infants have been visited at home by the Public Health Nurses in order that the advice may be properly followed out. This work is unquestionably of great value in conserving the health of new born infants.
Respectfully submitted, FRANK L, MORSE, Medical Inspector and Bacteriologist.
156
ANNUAL REPORTS
REPORT OF THE INSPECTOR OF ANIMALS AND PROVISIONS
Somerville, Mass., January 2, 1926.
To the Board of Health Somerville, Mass.
Gentlemen :
I submit the following as my report for the year ending December 1, 1925.
Inspections
The following table shows the number of inspections made during the past year. In order to safeguard the con- sumer, all establishments handling foodstuffs are under con- stant supervision. Lunch cars and restaurants have been inspected weekly.
Under the provisions of the General Laws of 1920 all bakeries are required to register with the board of health. The law provides that all doors and windows shall be properly screened and that all food exposed for sale shall be kept covered. Careful inspections of all bakeries have been made to see that this law has been complied with.
All the factories in the city have been inspected monthly.
The Barber Shops are under very careful inspection and must be kept in a sanitary condition, and the barbers are required to keep themselves neat and clean and to properly sterilize their instruments.
Number of Inspections
Bakeries
534
Milk and Cream plants
103
Barber shops
532
Pedlers
and Wagons
Billiard Halls and Bowl-
and stock
2,061
ing alleys
86
Public Halls
85
Blacksmith's shops
5
Rendering plants
87
Candy and Ice Cream
School houses
9
plants
182
Slaughter houses
281
Factories
160
Stores and markets
4,163
Fish Markets
677
Stables
109
Hen houses and yards ....
122
Theatres
90
Vacant lots and dumps
61
Lunch rooms and cars ..
1,376
Yards and cellers
258
157
HEALTH DEPARTMENT
Articles Condemned
The following is a list of articles condemned :
Fish
Cod fish (salt)
7 box.
Haddock
284 lbs.
Halibut
26 lbs.
Mackerel
67 lbs.
Salmon
7 lbs.
Salmon
12 can.
Fruit
Apples
2 box.
Apples
3 bus.
Bananas
14 doz.
Blackberries
· 14 qts.
Canteloupes
21/2 cts.
Grape Fruit
2 box.
Oranges
11/2 box.
Raspberries
47 pts.
Strawberries
39 box.
Strawberries
15 qts.
Meats
Beef (corned )
...
194 lbs.
Beef (fresh)
451 lbs.
Fowl
714 lbs.
Goat meat
19 lbs.
Lamb
148 lbs.
Liver
26 lbs.
Pork (fresh)
303 lbs.
Salt pork trimmings
35 lbs.
Sausages
326 lbs.
Veal
149 lbs.
Vegetables
Beans (string)
19 qts.
Beans (string)
1 box.
Beans (green)
1 bas.
Beans (green)
9 bus.
Cabbage
1 bbl.
Carrots
1 bus.
Celery
1 box.
Corn
8 bus.
Greens
4 box.
158
ANNUAL REPORTS
Greens
4 bus.
Lettuce
1 box.
Lettuce
41 doz.
Onions
1 bus.
Potatoes
(white)
2 bag.
Potatoes
(white)
900 1bs.
Squash
1 bbl.
Squash
100 1bs.
Tomatoes
31 can.
Turnips
11/2 box.
Turnips
100 lbs.
Miscellaneous
Bread
34 loaves
Cake
3 box.
Candy
191 1bs.
Cereal
332 pkgs.
Coffee
41 lbs.
Condensed milk
20 can.
Corn starch
2 pkgs.
Crackers
30 1bs.
Crackers
10 pkgs.
Doughnuts
1/2 doz.
Eggs
1/2 case
Flour
26 pkgs.
Jello
12 pkgs.
Preserves (canned )
18 gal.
Nuts
50 lbs.
Prunes
32 lbs.
Pickles
6 bot.
Raisins
12 pkgs.
Salt
14 pkgs.
Sugar
344 lbs.
Tea
12 lbs.
Zwieback
4 pkgs.
Slaughter Houses
During the year weekly inspections have been made at all slaughtering establishments and these plants were never in a more sanitary condition than at present.
The number of animals slaughtered during 1925 in this city was less than during 1924.
Number of Animals Slaughtered in 1925
Swine
688,546
Sheep
283,815
Calves
65,819
Cattle
38,461
Total
1,076,641
Flour ..
5 lbs.
Flour
..
100 bag.
159
HEALTH DEPARTMENT
Examination of Animals for Contagious Diseases
During the last year the city was entirely free from contagious diseases in animals.
Animals Examined
Horses
Inspected 1,341
Quaran- tined 0
Killed 0
Released 0
Cows
2
0
0
0
Goats
8
0
0
0
Donkeys
2
0
0
0
Cats
1
1
0
1
Dogs
23
23
0
23
Total
1,377
24
0
24
Respectfully submitted,
CHARLES M. BERRY, Inspector of Animals and Provisions.
160
ANNUAL REPORTS
REPORT OF THE INSPECTOR OF MILK AND VINEGAR
Chemical and Bacteriological Laboratory, City Hall, Somerville, Mass.
To the Board of Health,
Somerville, Mass.
Gentlemen :
I herewith present my annual report for the year end- ing December 31, 1925.
On the above date there were licensed to sell milk, 793 stores and 56 dealers; and 176 stores were registered to sell oleomargarine ; an increase over the previous year of 70 stores selling milk and 45 dealers handling oleomargarine. 4 dealers who were distributing milk either discontinued business or ownership was transferred.
Of the 56 dealers handling milk and cream, 26 were located in Somerville and 30 were located in neighboring cities. 46 were pasteurizing according to the General Laws. 10 dealers sold cream exclusively, 2 were wholesalers, and 4 small producers sold milk from T. B. tested cows. There were approximately 37,000 quarts of milk and 1,900 quarts of cream distributed in Somerville daily.
The following tables 1, 2, 3, and 4 are a summary of the work of the department for the year.
Table 1. Receipts
Months.
License
Applications
License
Fees.
Analytical
Fees.
Cash Paid
City Treas.
Analyses
on Account.
Total
Income for
Dept.
January
25
12.50
0
12.50
154.50
167.00
February
31
15.50
0
15.50
217.00
232.50
March
25
12.50
0
12.50
204.00
216.50
April
36
18.00
2.50
20.50
176.00
196.50
May
548
274.00
1.50
275.50
208.00
483.50
June
196
98.00
1.00
99.00
188.00
287.00
July
56
28.00
.50
28.50
183.00
211.50
August
25
12.50
1.00
13.50
191.00
204.50
September
26
13.00
1.50
14.50
205.00
219.50
October.
221
10.50
0
10.50
184.00
194.50
November
20
10.00
0
10.00
183.50
193.50
December
21
10.50
0
10.50
180.50
191.00
Total
1030
515.00
8.00
523.00
2274.50
2797.50
·
161
HEALTH DEPARTMENT
Table 2
Samples of Milk, Cream, Ice Cream and Vinegar Examined
Months.
Chemical
Samples
Collected.
Bact.
Samples
Collections.
Lorenz
Tests.
Reductase.
Total
Collections.
Samples
Submitted
Examina-
tions.
January
102
66
15
0
183
319
502
February
75
44
12
0
131
434
565
March
224
64
17
0
305
405
710
April
200
47
47
0
294
352
646
May
293
17
17
0
327
408
735
June
284
39
42
32
397
372
769
July.
372
76
54
12
514
363
877
August
252
106
60
16
434
377
811
September
305
78
62
23
468
396
864
October
260
47
46
9
362
360
722
November
259
70
59
11
399
367
766
December
215
72
72
8
367
361
728
Total.
2841
726
503
111
4181
4514
8695
Table 3 Legal Notices
Months.
Chemical
Bact-
eriological
Sanitary
Temperature
Total
January
1
6
1
8
February
2
3
2
0
7
March
1
5
·2
0
8
April
14
4
8
0
26
May
5
8
11
0
24
June
28
29
2
8
67
July
30
59
2
41
132
August
4
22
0
15
41
September
3
28
6
6
43
October
1
19
12
0
32
November
4
13
11
0
28
December
1
33
5
0
39
Total
94
229
62
70
455
Total
162
ANNUAL REPORTS
Table 4. Inspections
Months.
City Milk
Plants
Railroad
Terminals
Country
Stations
Grade "A"
Dairies
Dairies
Total
Dairies
Restuarants
and Stores
Total
Inspections.
January
47
8
3
63
8
71
20
220
February
25
3
46
3
49
3
131
March
28
3
4
35
4
39
15
128
April
36
4
5
5
2
7
7
66
May
62
2
2
3
1
7
17
97
June
38
11
2
22
11
33
5
122
July
30
3
37
23
13
36
161
303
August
35
2
3
4
64
68
32
208
September
60
2
6
25
21
46
1
161
October
21
3
42
9
15
24
15
129
Movember
60
2
3
2
7
9
23
106
December
67
5
7
10
10
20
26
145
Total
509
47
117
247
162
409
325
1816
In April 1925 Georgia H. Moreland was Appointed tech- nician in the Board of Health Laboratory and Francis W. Small was appointed a Collector of Samples (part time). Both took up their duties May 1, 1925.
During 1925 license fees and fees for analyses amounted to $2797.50 an increase over the previous year of $127.50. There were in 1925, 8695 laboratory examinations of milk and milk products, an increase over 1924 of 1260 samples ex- amined. There were 3566 miscroscopical examinations of milk specimens by the Slack Method.
There were during 1925, 4 dealers prosecuted for selling milk of inferior quality and all paid their fines amounting to $125.00.
Income for Department
Fees for issuing milk licenses
$515.00
Fees for analyses
2,282.50
Fines paid in Lower Court
125.00
Total
$2,922.50
1.63
HEALTH DEPARTMENT
Each month during the year pint samples have been taken from every milk dealer and analyzed for food value (fats and solids) and cleanliness, (bacterial count and sediment).
The higher the fat and solids the greater the food value. The lower the bacterial count, the greater care of production, better handling, or more efficient pasteurization is shown.
By calling the office of the milk inspector these figures will be cheerfully quoted.
Recommendations
1. There should be provided a suitable method of medical supervision of employees in milk plants.
2. A regulation should be formulated requiring auto- matic thermostat control of all pasteurizing machines.
3. Some sort of registration should be required for all operators of pasteurization machines.
Respectfully submitted,
HERBERT E. BOWMAN,
Inspector of Milk and Vinegar.
164
ANNUAL REPORTS
PUBLIC LIBRARY
BOARD OF TRUSTEES
THOMAS M. DURELL, M. D., President, 1928 J. FRANK WELLINGTON, Vice-President, 1926
WILLIAM L. BARBER, 1928
FRANK M. BARNARD, 1926
HERBERT E. BUFFUM, M. D., 1926
ALBERT L. HASKELL, 1928
GILES W. BRYANT, M. D., 1927,
LEON M. CONWELL, 1927, resigned
(deceased ) WILLIAM J. ENNIS, 1927
WILLIAM H. DOLBEN, 1927
GEORGE E. WHITAKER, 1927
COMMITTEES
On Administration The President, Messrs. Wellington, Conwell, Buffum, and Haskell.
On Books and Cataloguing The President, Messrs. Barber, Bryant, Barnard, and Whitaker.
On Buildings and Property The President and the Vice-President
Secretary of the Board GEORGE H. EVANS
165
PUBLIC LIBRARY
ORGANIZATION OF LIBRARY AND STAFF PERSONNEL December 31, 1925
GEORGE H. EVANS, Librarian NELLIE M. WHIPPLE, Assistant Librarian VIVIAN J. MORSE, Executive Assistant
CENTRAL LIBRARY AND LIBRARIAN'S OFFICE Highland Avenue and Walnut Street
GRADED SERVICE Department Heads and Special Positions
CORA B. EAMES, Reference Librarian and Second Assistant
MABEL E. BUNKER, Chief Cataloguer
MARY S. WOODMAN, Reviewer and Classifier
MILDRED A. BOWLEY, Supervisor of Periodicals and Binding. School Librarian MYRTLE NICHOLSON, Desk Chief
HELEN W. FARRAR, Assistant Cataloguer Supervisor of Children's Work Reference Assistant ALICE W. HAMILTON, Children's Librarian
Senior Assistants
EVELYN J. EMERY, Circulation MIRIAM G. HOWARD, School Deposits Catalogue Department
Junior Assistants
IRENE SMITH, Circulation HILDA O. EASTMAN, Children's Room
Ungraded Service
MARGARET M. COLLINS, Page UNETTA QUINN, Page EDYTHE T. REYNOLDS, Page
Attendants on Part Time
MARSTON C. SARGENT
PHILIP L. RUSDEN
BASIL R. MILLS
166
ANNUAL REPORTS
WEST SOMERVILLE BRANCH Established 1909 40 College Avenue
Graded Service
ESTHER M. MAYHEW, Branch Librarian
DOROTHY H. TERRY, First Assistant
KATHERINE I. EATON, Children's Librarian
Senior Assistants
DOROTHY C. EMERSON, Circulation
ETHEL B. LEWIS, Circulation
Junior Assistant
FRANCES BROWN, Circulation
UNGRADED SERVICE Attendants on Part Time
FRED L. REED
DOLPHIE E. BERG
FRANCES MENDELL RUTH JACKSON JAMES J. CARNEY
EAST SOMERVILLE BRANCH Established 1912 Broadway and Illinois Avenue
Graded Service
DESIER C. MOULTON, Branch Librarian
RUTH M. WOODMAN, First Assistant
E. MARION AKERLEY, Children's Librarian
Senior Assistant
FLORENCE A. BOLSTER, Circulation
UNGRADED SERVICE Attendants on Part Time
GERTRUDE MCGLINCHY PHILOMENA LOMBARDI EDNA THOMPSON DOROTHY ROLSTON ISABEL CHENEY
UNION SQUARE BRANCH Established 1912 Washington Street and Bonner Avenue
Graded Service
ALICE G. WORTHEN, Branch Librarian IRMA P. TRAPHAGEN, First Assistant ELSIE L. KNOX, Children's Librarian
167
PUBLIC LIBRARY
Junior Assistant
HELEN HOSMER, Circulation
UNGRADED SERVICE Attendants on Part Time
DOROTHY W. CROSBY NONA KELLEY JOHN KNOX
MILDRED C. PERKINS JAMES ZISSIS M. ABBIE HALL
MEMBERS OF THE TRAINING CLASS
BEATRICE M. KENNY
ALICE J. UNDERWOOD
BARBARA KLINGENHAGEN
ESTELLE M. JONES
ELEANOR BINFORD MARION H. HANFORD
NOTE :- For changes in staff personnel during year see Librarian's Report.
168
ANNUAL REPORTS
Report of the Trustees
To the Honorable, the Mayor, and the Board of Aldermen of the City of Somerville :
Gentlemen: The fifty-third annual report of the trus- tees of the public library is herewith respectfully submitted ; being the report of the librarian and tables of statistics of operation.
Very respectfully, The Board of Trustees, by THOMAS M. DURELL, President.
169
PUBLIC LIBRARY
REPORT OF THE LIBRARIAN
Gentlemen of the Board of Trustees :-
The fifty-third annual report of the Somerville Public Library, being that for the year 1925, is herewith submitted.
It is fitting that we should chronicle with profound re- gret the loss of two members of the Board during the year. Dr. Giles W. Bryant died unexpectedly on November 8. He had served continuously since his appointment in 1915, with an almost unbroken record of attendance. An appropriate expression of appreciation of his services has been adopted for the records of the Trustees. William H. Dolben, a former trustee, was appointed November 25 to fill out the unexpired term. The resignation of Leon M. Conwell was received in December. Mr. Conwell was appointed to the Board in 1923 to succeed Frederick W. Parker, deceased. The regret of the Board at Mr. Conwell's departure will be mitigated by the mandate of the citizens of Somerville drafting him for service as the chief executive of the city. He was succeeded by William J. Ennis, appointed December 31 to fill out the un- expired term.
A perusal of the statistics of operation for the year 1925 does not reveal any feature of unusual significance, ex- cept the book problem at Union Square branch to which more extended reference will be made. We should be derelict in our duty if we failed to call attention again to the mark- ed discrepancy between the advancing cost of books and the amount of money allowed by our appropriation for book pur- chase. During the period since the outbreak of the World War the cost of books has advanced fifty-five per cent., as compared with an increase in our book funds of sixteen per cent. We have been recently notified that additional ad- vances in the price of books may be expected immediately after the beginning of the new year. In the same period our population has increased from 86,000 to 100,000. What- ever may be the demands for economy in the administration of municipal affairs it certainly is worthy of our very serious consideration whether a restriction of the facilities devoted to education and to the training of youth in citizenship can ever be justified on the grounds of economy. Wherever a survey or other estimate of the social condition of a municipal- ity is attempted one of the invariable indexes of community intelligence is the support and use of the public library.
170
ANNUAL REPORTS
We have had occasion frequently to allude to the pecu- liarly valuable work of the Union Square Branch in advanc- ing the interests of good citizenship among new Americans, Nothing could be a more vital factor in promoting the wel- fare of our city. We are pleased to record that during re- cent months there has appeared in this neighborhood a new spirit of appreciation and cooperation, and that there is evi- dent a greatly improved morale among the numerous juvenile visitors to this branch.
The branch book collection has never been adequate, and one of the discouraging features of the work has been the almost constant necessity to send away children empty handed because of this lack. "Pitiful" is the word used by an observer. Due to long continued use and the passage of time a large proportion of the present collection of books has been read and re-read and has become badly worn, filthy from much handling. and in many cases superseded by more recent material. A decline of 9,952 in the circulation in 1925 bears eloquent witness to the pressing need. During the same period the rest of the system gained 30,920. The problem is one that requires immediate attention. Your librarian, therefore, strongly urges that a request be made for a special appropriation of three thousand dollars outside of, and in addition to, the regular annual appropriation for the pur- chase of books, which of itself barely suffices to provide cur- rent publications.
We desire to express our appreciation of the coopera- tion of the Department of Public Buildings in giving the Union Square building a thorough cleaning, and painting it inside and outside.
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