USA > Massachusetts > Bristol County > Attleboro > Reports of town officers of the town of Attleborough 1888 > Part 4
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The manner in which the disease was distributed over the town, and the analysis given above, justifies us in dis- missing at once, our water supply as a cause of its propa- gation, and the same may be said of clothing. Air and fecal matter remain as possible causes of this disease. We cannot say that it was due to the air, for if it were, more people would have been attacked. But we are justified in saying that, it was due to air saturated with the vapors and various exhalations of fecal accumulations, and of sewer- age, affecting only the neighborhood in which the accumu- lations were located, or in other words, the increase of ty- phoid fever in our town has been due to filth, not neces- sarily upon the premises where the case is located, but within a few hundred feet. This conclusion is confirmed by the fact that, with but few exceptions, within a few
I20
ANNUAL REPORT.
hundred feet of each case, reported, were found nuisances of a nature sufficient to induce it.
Whether this disease is to be permitted to increase, or not, lies with the citizens of the place. If the property owners are willing that sewerage and garbage shall collect upon their premises, the disease will most certainly keep on increasing, and this increase means a diminution in the value of real estate, so that, in fact, it is an economical measure for a landlord to keep his place in a healthy con- dition. For no one will choose to make his home in a lo- cality where this dread disease prevails, if he can help it.
This is also a matter of much importance to the town. The reputation of having such a disease within its borders, and the consequent reflection that the town must be in an unsanitary condition, is, to say the least, unenviable. By strict attention to the laws of hygiene the number of cases of this disease may be reduced to a minimum. Conse- quently the property holders and tenants should be required by effective measures to conform to such laws in order that this end may be attained. Frequent inspections should be made of the entire territory, in order that it may be evi- dent that they are carried out, and every complaint should be inquired into, and if found just, rectified immediately.
The following table furnishes us with the mortuary statistics for the year :
122
TABLE II .- MORTALITY FOR 1888 BY CAUSE, DATE, AGE AND SEX.
January. February.
March.
April.
May.
June.
July.
September.
November.
December.
Still born.
Under 1 yr.
1 to 5.
5 to 10.
10 to 20.
20 to 30.
30 to 40.
40 to 50.
50 to 60.
60 to 70.
70 to 80.
80 to 90.
Female.
Total.
1
1
1
2.
2
10
2
2
Phthisis Pulmonalis, Œdema
1
1
Co
1
?
1
7 10 0
17
1
co
1
4
Pneumonia,
or
1
2
1
1
6
4
10
1 1 1
Typhoid Pneumonia, Pyæmia,
1
2
1
2
3
1
1
Bronchitis,
1
1
1
1
1
Chronic Bronchitis,
2
1
1
2
1
1
1
3
3
1
1
1
Cerebral Softening,
1
1
1
2
1
3
1 1|
1
1
2
2
1
1 2
1 1 3
1
5
4
9
1
2
1 1
2
3
5
1
211
1
Intestinal Obstruction,
1
1
1
1
1
Hepatic Colic,
1
1
1
1
1
1
3
3
1
1
1
1
Cystitis,
1
Phthisis Abdominalis,
1
2
2 2
1
3
4
1
1
2
2
Apoplexy,
2
1
1
2
3
1
11
1
Cancer,
1 -
2
1
1
1
1
1
2
1
1 1 1
Cardiac Disease,
2
1
12111
Typhoid Fever,
Enteritis,
Bright's Disease,
1
1
1
1
1
CAUSE OF DEATH.
August.
October.
Male.
ANNUAL REPORT.
Cerebral Meningitis,
1
1
2. 8 1
1
1
1
1
2
1
1
1
2
1
1
1
1
1
111
1
1
1
2
1
1
-
-
7 7 15 10
13
19
18
3
8 7
Cholera Infantum,
Cholera Morbus, Nervous Prostration, Old Age, Scarlet Fever,
8
3
8 3
11
1
1
1
1
1
2
1
4
6
2
1
1
2
Measles,
1
1
1
7
1
3
S
Peritonitis,
1
1
2
3
1
1
1
1
1
Membranous Croup,
1
1
1
Eczema,
1
1
1
Strangulation,
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
2
)
5
5
1
1
1
5 22 17
2 5 11 11
11
11 10
13
6 71 54
125
ANNUAL REPORT.
Killed by R. R.,
Hemorrhage from Lungs,
Still Born,
Leuchæmia,
Total,
1
2 1 2
Marasmus,
Epileptic Insanity,
Supperative Arthritis, Suicide,
123
124
ANNUAL REPORT.
During the year, 125 deaths were recorded. Esti- mating the population of Attleboro at 7,000, this gives us an annual death rate of 17 and six-sevenths, or an average monthly mortality of I and one-half per thousand, which is probably as low a death rate as that of any town of its population in the State. The greatest mortality was in the month of August, the least in October.
There were twenty-seven deaths among infants, and nineteen among persons between the ages of sixty and ninety. The rates between the sexes was, males, seventy- one ; females, fifty-four.
As is usually the case in New England towns, more deaths were caused by pulmonary complaints than by any other disease; these numbered thirty-eight, and were classified as follows : Phthisis, seventeen ; pneumonia, in- cluding typhoid, fourteen ; odema, one and bronchitis three. Intestinal disorders follow in the order of mortality, viz. : Enteritis, five; obstruction, one ; cholera morbus, one ; cholera infantum, eleven, and typhoid fever, nine. The first death from typhoid fever was reported in April.
Turning to table No I we find that there were forty- two cases of typhoid reported during the year, therefore the death rate of this disease, one in every four and two- third cases, which should sufficiently emphasize the im- portance of guarding against this malady.
Table No. 3 given below gives the birth statistics for the year :
125
ANNUAL REPORT.
TABLE III .- RETURN OF BIRTHS FOR 1888 BY DATE, SEX AND NATIONALITY.
SEX
NATIONALITY.
DATE.
Male.
Female.
Both
Americans.
Foreign.
American.
American.
Nativity of
both Dif.
Cases of
January,
5
4
6
1
2
9
February,
3
6
3
5
1
9
1
March, .
5
4
4
1
3
1
9
April,
6
6
6
3
3
12
May,
8
2
9
0
1
10
June,
4
0
3
1
4
July,
5
6
5
2
2
2
11
August,
7
7
7
6
1
14
September,
11
10
9
5
2
3
2
21
October,
7
16
9
7
3
3
1
23
1
November,
5
7
6
4
2
12
December,
6
6
5
6
1
12
Total,
.
72
74
73
30
12
17
4
145
2
Twins.
Both
Father
Mother
Total.
One hundred and forty-six births were recorded dur- ing the year. Estimating the population, as in the case of the death, at 7,000, we have a birth rate of 20 and six- sevenths per thousand, annually. The greatest number of births was recorded in October, 23; the least in June, 4. There were two more females than males. The num- ber in which both parents were American was 73; both foreign, 30; one American, 29. There were two cases of twins, and five still-born. The excess of births over deaths was 21.
For the sake of reference in the future the marriage statistics have been tabulated.
TABLE IV .- MARRIAGE STATISTICS BY AGE, NUMBER OF MARRIAGE AND NATIVITY.
Bride's Age.
Number of Marriage.
Groom's Age.
Nativity.
16-20
20-30
30-40 40-60
16-20 20-30
30-40
40-60
21
48
7
First,
4
63
5
2
Both American, ·
57
5
4
2
Second,
4
7
Both Foreigners,
. 15
1
Third,
2
1
One American,
. 16
21
53
12
2
Total,
4
63
11
10
Total,
88
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ANNUAL REPORT.
.
127
ANNUAL REPORT.
The age of the youngest bride was 16, of the eldest, 52 ; of youngest groom, 18, eldest, 57. The number of brides who had been married once before was eleven ; twice, one. Of the grooms, eleven had been married once and three twice. The age of the youngest groom who had been married twice was thirty-two.
The following reports have been received : Last re- port of National Board of Health and weekly statement of same. Report of the State Board of Health of New York, Connecticut, also monthly statement of same, and Massa- chusetts. Report of Board of Health of San Diego, Cal. The Sanitary Era has been sent to us twice each month, and much valuable information has been derived there- from. Credit is due to the report of the Connecticut Board of Health for the forms of the tables given above.
In closing this report, I wish to thank the board for the uniform courtesy and forbearance which they have dis- played toward me during the entire year.
Respectfully submitted,
G. K. ROBERTS,
Health Physician.
ANNUAL REPORT
OF THE
Trustees of the Public Library
OF THE
TOWN OF ATTLEBOROUGH,
FOR THE YEAR 1888.
I31
ANNUAL REPORT.
REPORT OF THE
TRUSTEES OF PUBLIC LIBRARY.
The Attleboro Free Public Library Association trans- ferred all of its property to the Town of Attleboro, when the town at its last annual meeting made an appropriation for its support. This property, to the value of between $2,500 and $3,000, consisted of books, cases, shelves and other articles necessary to the furnishing of a public library. The number of books was nearly 2.500 volumes, of which 1,300 were new, and had been purchased by the association during the three years of its existence.
At the beginning of the year, 1,538 cards, each en- titling the holder to take books from the library, had been given out ; during the year 112 cards were issued, making a total of 1,650 now in use. These cards can be obtained by any resident of the town by applying to the librarian and complying with the regulations.
The average circulation for the past year has been about 250 volumes each day that the library has been open. Two books only have been lost, and these by the removal from town of the families who took them from the library.
132
ANNUAL REPORT.
The town at its last annual meeting appropriated $600 for the maintenance of the library. The report of the Se- lectmen will show in detail the manner of its expenditure, also a summary of the same, which need not be repeated here. The current expenses have been less than usual, because of the large amount of printed matter and other stock on hand at the beginning of the year ; also because no new book-cases or shelves were required. Experience has taught us that to maintain a public library of the size of ours will involve an annual expenditure of about $450 ; to which must be added an adequate sum for the purchase of new books. We have expended during the past year for new books $208.34. The committee having this in charge have exercised considerable care in the selection of books for purchase. Eighty-five per cent. of the new books are fiction, and the rest are classified as history, biography, etc. The committee will always be glad to receive sug- gestions from citizens or others as regards any new book for purchase, and a notice left with the librarian will re- ceive attention.
Books have been kindly donated to the library by the following persons: Earl Richards, Mark Millard, Horton, Angell & Co., L. B. Marsh, C. P. Williams, Frank Law- rence, Rev. John O'Connell, and several reports have been received from the departments at Washington.
The sum of $ 39.60 has been collected as fines. Of this amount $3.85 has been used for incidental expenses ; and $20 has been paid to the town treasurer, leaving a balance of $15.75 in the hands of the librarian. Twenty-four cat- alogues have been sold at the price of 15 cents each, mak- ing $3.60 as the amount on hand as the result of these sales.
It is proposed that a supplement, containing the names of all the books added to the library during the
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ANNUAL REPORT.
year, shall be issued at the end of each fiscal year and placed for sale with the librarian.
The trustees desire to express, in their report, their appreciation of the courteous and skillful manner in which the librarian has filled her position; they would also ex- press thanks to those friends of the library who have kindly assisted the librarian in her duties.
They recommend that the town appropriate the sum of $600 for the maintenance of the library for the year 1889.
E. S. HORTON,
C. L. WATSON,
J. L. SWEET, PETER NERNEY,
GEORGE RANDALL,
C. S. HOLDEN, MARY J. CAPRON, ELIZABETH C. B. LAMB,
Trustees of Public Library.
ANNUAL REPORT
OF THE
School Committee,
OF THE
TOWN OF ATTLEBOROUGH,
FOR THE YEAR 1888.
137
ANNUAL REPORT.
REPORT OF
SCHOOL COMMITTEE.
The school department, which expends one half of the amount annually appropriated by the town, is, in conse- quence, one of great importance financially, as well as be- cause of its duty in supervising and guarding the intellect- ual privileges of the younger generation, of those who cannot speak for themselves, but upon whom the future welfare of our state and nation depends.
The number composing the committee was increased at the last town meeting to nine, including two ladies. That this change has resulted in advantage to the town and to the schools, we unhesitatingly affirm. The various departments under the control of the board have been carefully scrutinized by the sub-committees having them in charge. Wherever possible, estimates have been required upon all improvements and repairs undertaken and the work supervised in progress. The various articles pur- chased for the town have been only such as were abso- lutely required ; and in considering the question of teach- ers and their salaries, the financial condition of the town, as well as the duty enforced upon us to sustain the high character of our schools, has been considered.
The condition of the schools and their needs will be considered in detail in the Superintendent's report and an itemized account of the school expenses will be found in the report of the Selectmen ; hence they will not be dwelt upon here.
138
ANNUAL REPORT.
Early in the year the committee saw the necessity for increased accommodations for our rapidly growing schools; more pupils presented themselves in various grades than could be accommodated ; rooms designed to contain a cer- tain number were changed so as to seat nearly twice as many. Efforts were ineffectually made to occupy other buildings temporarily. The question became so serious that it was deemed necessary to call a special town meet. ing, that the needs of the schools could be presented more directly to the people. The action of the town is anxiously awaited by the committee. The plan proposed for a new Grammar School building was advocated only after thorough consideration and its adoption urged, be- cause of conviction that it would be of the greatest advan- tage to the schools and would result in a financial saving to the town.
The question of the length of the school year is one that is freely discussed in town meetings, and short terms are almost always advocated by those who are not familiar with the work of the schools. Most of our pupils leave school forever when they reach the higher grades of our system. The cutting off of two or more weeks from each term deprives them in the aggregate of an entire year's schooling by the time they reach the High School, a most serious and irreparable loss to many. Moreover, our schools are graded on a systematic basis that cannot well be changed ; a given amount of work is allotted to each term ; it cannot be accomplished in a shorter time. The deleterious effect upon the health of the pupils for which our system is held responsible, is more the result of this crowding into 33 weeks, work that was designed for 38 or 40, than of any defect in the system. The teachers, also, are rendered dissatisfied by this reduction in their work, and consequently in their salaries, and some of them have
I39
ANNUAL REPORT.
resigned during the past year, giving this as a reason therefor. The committee earnestly recommend a school year of 38 weeks for all grades below the Grammar, and one of 40 for the Grammar and High Schools. This rec- ommendation, we believe, has invariably been made by every school committee that has preceded us.
Many of our teachers have been with us for a series of years. When we consider the great influence their character and conduct have upon the pupils with whom they are so intimately associated, we feel that their faith- ful work demands most generous treatment from the town. To them and to the Superintendent who has so earnestly striven for the best interests of the school, we offer cordial praise.
The committee recommends that the town appropri- ate the following sums for the support of the schools for 1889 :
For Educational Department, $17,266 00
Transportation of Pupils, 625 00
Incidentals and Repairs 2,000 00
Text-books and Supplies, 1,200 00
Superintendent of Schools,
1,000 00
CHARLES S. HOLDEN,
ALFRED R. CROSBY, CLARENCE L. WATSON,
J. L. SWEET, BYRON R. HILL,
J. O. TIFFANY,
WALTER E. HAYWARD,
LIDORA E. BRIGGS,
HANNAH S. FISHER,
School Committee.
ANNUAL REPORT
OF THE
School Superintendent
OF THE
TOWN OF ATTLEBOROUGH,
FOR THE YEAR 1888.
:
143
ANNUAL REPORT.
SUPERINTENDENT'S REPORT.
To the School Committee of Attleboro :
Ladies and Gentlemen-My report, the sixth in the series of Superintendents' reports in the recent history of the town, is herewith respectfully submitted.
As it was voted at the last annual town meeting that the fiscal year should end at the end of the calendar year, this report covers a period of ten months. In this fraction of a year the schools have been supported as follows : High, 32 weeks ; grammar, 31 ; lower grades, 29.
I invite your attention to the following summary of statistics :
Population of the town, (estimated), 7,000
Number of children between 5 and 15 years of age
in town the first last of last May as returned by the census takers, 1,105
Number between 8 and 14, 753
Number of different scholars enrolled on school registers, 1,396
Average membership,
1,068
Average attendance, 964
Number of teachers,
34
Number of schools, 25
Number of school houses, I3
I44
ANNUAL REPORT.
FINANCIAL STATEMENT OF THOSE DEPART- MENTS WHOSE YEAR ENDS WITH THE FISCAL YEAR.
EDUCATIONAL DEPARTMENT.
Amount appropriated,
$14,000 00
Dog fund,
850 63
State fund,
70 72
Received for tuition and fuel,
44 61
Total receipts,
$14,965 96
Overdrawn last year,
$26 97
Teachers' bills approved,
10,492 50
Janitors' bills approved,
1,316 69
Fuel bills approved,
1,395 42
Total expenditures,
$13,231 58
Unexpended balanee,
$1,734 38
TEXT BOOK AND SUPPLY DEPARTMENT.
Amount appropriated, $1,000 00
Received for text-books sold,
25 09
Total Receipts, $1,025 09
Overdrawn last year,
$36 41
Bills approved, 871 42
Total expenditures, $907 83
Unexpended balance, $117 26
145
ANNUAL REPORT.
INCIDENTAL AND REPAIR DEPARTMENT.
Amount appropriated, $1,650 00
Amount overdrawn last year, $239 0I
Bills approved, 1,434 93
Total expenditures,
$1,673 94
Amount overdrawn,
$23 94
TRANSPORTATION OF PUPILS.
Amount appropriated, $650 00
Bills approved, 601 00
Unexpended balance, $49 00
- As compared with last year, the returns made by the the census takers show the number of children between 5 and 15 years of age, living in town May 1, 1888, to be 117 smaller than for May 1, 1887. The number enrolled on the school register is 60 larger. The average
membership is the same, while the average atten- dance is 16 above that of last year. The per cent. of at- tendance based on the average membership is 89.9, against 88.4 last year, while the pro rata of tardiness is .7, against I.I last year. In commenting on this com- parison, I wish to call your attention to the great differ- ence, 117, between the number as shown by the census and that of the scholars enrolled on the school registers. While, from the nature of the case, these numbers would not be likely to agree, I can account for this large dif- ference of 117 when the whole number of children of school age cannot exceed 1,400, in no other way than by
146
ANNUAL REPORT.
thinking that the census was not as complete as it ought to be. The taking of this census is one of the important duties required of the School Committee, important in order that correct returns can be made to the State, and especially important because a correct list is indispensable to the Superintendent and the Truant Officers in their investiga- tion of cases of truancy, and the issuing of employment certificates under the new law of 1888.
With the average membership the same as last year, the gain in average attendance, although only 16, and the great reduction in the pro rata of tardiness are highly gratifying, as they show no break in the improvement our schools are making in this respect year after year. How- ever gratifying this gain may be to those who appreciate its significance, when we compare the average attendance of the schools of Attleboro with that of very many other towns in the State, it is far from satisfactory.
In the last published report of the State Board of Ed- ucation, that for 1886 and 1887, I find that the per cent. of average attendance for eight of the fourteen counties is above that of our town, while a large number of the towns with which Attleboro should rank, make a far better show- ing than we can. In this low per cent. of attendance we can see one important reason why our schools cannot do all they ought for our children. Not till a great improvement is made in this respect can Attleboro compare favorably with those towns with which she ranks in population, wealth and enterprise. How would it be if the circum- stances were the same in our manufacturing establish- ments ? Suppose a manufactory built, equipped with ma- chinery and supplied with tools to accommodate 1,068 workmen, the number equal to the average membership of our schools ; suppose the daily expenses, including the pay of the workmen, be the same whether all were present at
I47
ANNUAL REPORT.
their places or not ; further, suppose that of this 1,068 workmen, 104 were absent every day in the year. It would not be difficult, I think, to predict the result. While on account of this poor attendance a large amount of the money appropriated for the support of the schools is vir- tually wasted, there is another hindrance to success and one which far out-weighs this loss in importance. As our schools are now graded and conducted, the successful ac- complishment of the course implies the presence of every scholar in the schools every day.
If all were perfect in attendance and disposed to do their part, the teacher could take the class successfully over the given part of the course in the time assigned to it. The successful accomplishment of the work of the day, the week, and the term, by the scholar, depends upon his having completed the work of the day, the week, and the term preceding. Please consider it carefully, all you who read this report. About one of every ten of our scholars is absent from school every day in the year.
One is absent a few days or a week, and returns and goes on with his class as is generally supposed, while in reality he cannot go on and do good work for the want of that knowledge he has failed to acquire on account of his absence. If this were true of only a few the case would not be so serious, but it is true of so large a number in most of our schools it is a wonder to me how so much real progress is made. On leaving this topic I wish to make an earnest appeal to parents and all interested in the wel- fare of our schools, to use their utmost endeavors to cor- rect this evil.
SCHOOLS AND SCHOOL HOUSES.
The number of schools and school houses is the same as last year, and as the attention of the town has been
148
ANNUAL REPORT.
called to the need of a new school building in the village, nothing need be said of that here. I think, however, there are certain improvements that ought to be made at several of our out-lying schools.
The School Committee, in their report last year, stated that certain alterations and repairs ought to be made at an early day on the Turnpike and the Perry houses. At the former of these, great inconvenience has been suffered on account of the too limited accommodations. It has oc- curred several times lately that the school has been so large that every seat has been occupied, and any one who has ever visited the place and seen the limited space in front of the scholars' desks can understand to some extent the annoyance the school has been compelled to suffer. In addition to this, there is no suitable place for the scholars to hang their outer clothing. The entry, if it deserves the name, is just large enough for the outside door to open. At the present time this school is smaller than for several years in consequence of the removal of several families from the district, but, without doubt, it will soon be full, as several new residences have recently been built in that vicinity. At the Perry school the case is a little better, in that there are fewer scholars, but worse in that there is no entry at all, the outside door opening directly into the school room. I think each of these houses should receive an addition similar to that made at the Briggs Cor- ner school house a few years ago.
I wish to call your attention to the condition of affairs in the primary schools at Dodgeville and Hebronville. At the former, the enrollment was 113, and at the latter 88. The average membership at Dodgeville was more than 56, and at Hebronville nearly 53. There were often in at- tendance at one time at each of these schools 60 or more scholars. Of these a very large number, especially at
I49
ANNUAL REPORT.
Dodgeville, were children of foreigners, and could not speak a word of English. I think if any one at all ac- quainted with schools would visit either of these Primaries, especially in the afternoon, when the children have grown restless and the teachers are weary with their day's work, and learn what these teachers have to do and what ought to be done, he would not hesitate to say that they greatly need help. Without considering the interests of these overworked teachers at all, I feel that the good of the scholars presents a stronger argument.
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