Report of the city of Somerville 1925, Part 9

Author: Somerville (Mass.)
Publication date: 1925
Publisher:
Number of Pages: 432


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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