USA > Massachusetts > Bristol County > Attleboro > Reports of town officers of the town of Attleborough 1902 > Part 7
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Rules and Regulations.
I. Application for the use of water must be made in writing at the office of the Water Registrar in the prescribed form, and must state fully and truly the use to which it is to be applied.
No water shall be supplied by takers to persons not entitled to its use.
2. All persons taking the water shall keep the ser- vice pipes within their premises in good repair and pro- tected from frost at their own expense, and they shall be held liable for all damages resulting from their failure to do so. They shall provide a stop and waste cock, to be properly located inside the building, and have the pipes so arranged that the water can be drawn from them whenever there is danger of its freezing.
177
3. They shall prevent all voluntary waste of water. and shall not allow water to run through their fixtures to prevent freezing, and there shall be no concealment of the purpose for which the water is used.
4. No alteration shall be made in any of the pipes or fixtures inserted by the town except by persons au- thorized by the Water Board, who shall be allowed to enter the premises to examine the apparatus, the quantity of water used and the manner of its use and to ascertain whether there is any unnecessary waste.
5. The town reserves to itself the right, whenever the Water Board deems it necessary to repair the works, to shut off the water in whole or in part.
6. The Water Registrar or Superintendent, or their agents or assistants may enter the premises of any water taker to examine the quantity used and the manner of its use and to cut off the water for non-payment of rents or fines, or any violations of these regulations or for any other necessary purpose connected with the discharge of their duties.
7. Owners shall be responsible for water supplied to their premises. When water is supplied to more than one taker through a single service, the bill may be made either to the owner of the estate or by the direction of the owner to the tenants ; but in case of non-payment the water may be shut off, notwithstanding one or more takers may have paid their proportion to such owner or the town.
8. A taker may be required at any time to attach to the service pipe of his premises a meter of suitable size, when at the discretion of the Water Board it seems for
178
the interest of the town. And in all such cases the rates for the current year shall be adjusted by the meter read- ings, even if a bill by fixture rates has already been settled.
9. All service pipe and stop cocks will be supplied and put down to the sidewalk line by the town. All work beyond the sidewalk line shall be done under the direction and approval of the Water Board by the wate: taker and at his expense both for labor and material.
IO. In all cases of non-payment of water rent in thirty days after the same is due, or violating the above rules the water may be shut off. The sum of $I will be charged for letting it on.
II. After January 1, 1902, 110 person or persons will be allowed to connect two or more houses together through one service connection with the main water pipe unless by special permit from the Water Board; and if any are so connected in the future without permission the water may be shut off from the service in use until a new service connection is made with the connecting house.
On all services where two or more houses are now connected through one service the owner shall not have the benefit of the sliding scale of water rates until the average of each house so connected amounts to the same as allowed by the same rates for a single house.
12. The Water Board reserves to itself the right to shut off the water at the street service from the prop- erty of any person or persons disconnecting or taking out a water meter on their premises without permission and water so turned off shall not be let on again until a satisfactory settlement for same offense is made with the Water Board. .
179
13. All persons or firms wishing to have private hydrants or sprinklers connected with the town water supply shall make application to the Water Board and sign
an application for same, by which they agree to comply with the by-laws of the department, and also file a plan of piping for the entire system and the water will not be turned on until the system is inspected by the Board or their rep- resentatives.
The Water Board shall inspect the system as often as they deem necessary and if any repairs are necessary they shall be made by them at the expense of the owner.
All outside piping connecting with the town system shall be laid by the Water Department at the expense of the owner.
All valves and private hydrants shall be sealed by the Water Department.
14. All persons or firms having private fire connec- tions for sprinklers or private hydrants on the premises or in buildings are forbidden to use the water for any pur- poses excepting fires, and shall not open any private hydrant in or out of the building for any other purposes excepting fire unless by permission of the Water Board.
For any violation of this by-law the Water Board may impose a fine of not less than $5.00 and not more than $20.00.
If water is used for any other purposes than for fires the Water Board shall estimate the amount so used and shall charge regular rates.
If the fine or bill for water is not paid when present- edi the Water Board may shut off the water furnished the private hydrants or sprinklers from the town supply until such fine or bill for water is paid and the sum of two dollars will be charged for turning it on.
180
15. All services shall be laid by the Water Board from the sidewalk line to the cellar at the expense of the owner. The Water Board may make an estimate of the cost of the owner's part and may demand a deposit for the same before laying the pipe.
Applicants wishing a service pipe laid when there is frost in the ground shall pay the extra expense caused by the frost, on the part laid by the town.
16. Applications for extensions of mains through private ways or grounds shall in no case be granted un- less the owner thereof executes a proper instrument securing to the town the right of permanent occupation, free from any acts of interference that shall effect the safety of the pipe, and securing to the department free right of entrance for purposes of inspection and mainte- nance.
Sec. g. The water rates and meter rents shall be payable semi-annually in advance on the first days of January and July of each year. All charges for specific supplies or supplies for fractional parts of the year shall be payable in advance and before the water is let on. In all cases where the consumption of water is ascertained by meters, any excess of the minimum rates shall be pay- able annually, quarterly or monthly, as may be required by the Water Board. Bills for the same shall be due when rendered.
Sec. 10. If any person shall turn on or turn off the water in any public water pipes or reservoirs without the license of the Water Board he shall be liable to a penalty of not less than $3 nor more than $20 upon con- viction thereof before a trial justice or court having jurisdiction of offenses arising under town by-laws.
ANNUAL REPORT
OF THE
SCHOOL COMMITTEE
AND
Superintendent of Schools
OF THE
TOWN OF ATTLEBOROUGH
FOR THE YEAR ENDING DEC. 31
1902
T 12
TOWN OF ATTLEBOROUGH SCHOOL DEPARTMENT, 1902.
School Committee :
CHARLES E BLISS, Chairman ; J. HARRY HOLDEN, Secretary ; WILLIAM H. GARNER, BENJAMIN P. KING,
LENORA P. BEERS, WALTER J. NEWMAN, DR. GEORGE K. ROBERTS, IRENE T. HILL.
Superintendent of Schools : WILLIAM P. KELLY.
ANNUAL REPORT OF THE SCHOOL COMMITTEE.
EDUCATIONAL.
Receipts.
Appropriation, $38,000.00
Dog fund, 1,162.86
Tuition,
750.25
$39,913.1I
Expenditures.
Teachers' salaries, $31,033.78
Janitors' salaries, 4,021.26
Fuel, 3,263.73
Bristol County Truant School, 128.83
Rent, 125.00
Enumeration of census,
60.00
Salary, % of Clerk,
40.00
Balance,
1,240.5I
$39,913.II
SUPERINTENDENT AND CLERK. Receipts.
Appropriation,
$2,100.00
$2,100.00
184
Expenditures.
Superintendent's salary, $1,800.00
Clerk's salary, 300.00
$2,100.00
TRANSPORTATION.
Receipts.
Appropriation,
$1,600.00
$1,600.00
Expenditures.
Wm. C. Richardson, $300.00
Seneca Cole, 280.00
T. E. Perrin & Sons, 360.00
Norton & Taunton Street Railway Co., I50.00
Bristol County Street Railway, 50.00
W. H. Garner,
5.50
Balance, 454.50
$1,600.00
BENEVOLENCE.
Receipts.
Appropriation,
$100.00
Overdrawn,
15.25
$115.25
185
Expenditures.
John McCaffrey, $51.95
P. J. Cooney,
25.50
A. M. Everett, 4.75
T. E. McCaffrey, 33.05
$115.25
EVENING SCHOOLS.
Receipts.
Appropriation, $1,000.00
$1,000.00
Expenditures.
Teachers, $604.00
Alice I. Wetherell,
1.00
M. J. Roberts, 1.00
S. K. McIntyre,
2.00
L. A. Fales,
3.00
J. R. King,
2.00
N. F. Atwood, 1.00
Dodgeville Store, 3.25
Sun Publishing Co., 7.25
Allen, Totman & Co., 3.88
E. E. Babb & Co., 38.98
Frost & Adams Co., 1.00
Gas Light Co., 40.19
B. B. Hathaway, 11.54
W. Parker, 5.00
N. Perry & Co., 2.25
F. H. Perry Co., 1.00
186
Ginn & Co., 30.47 Janitors, 54.30
WV. P. Kelly, 50.00
Balance, I 36.89
$1,000.00
TEXT BOOKS AND SUPPLIES.
Receipts.
Appropriation,
$3,500.00
Books sold, 27.10
$3,527.10
Expenditures.
A. W. Hall Scientific Co.,
$
49.70
The Chas. S. Binner Co., 9.00
Horton, Angell Co., 1.45
Reynolds Stamp & Stencil Works, 1.30
Christina J. Carret, 4.00
D. Appleton & Co., 31.98
Silver, Burdett & Co., 223.26
L. Taylor, 38.55
Karl Hyde, 4.00
M. S. Mead, .40
E. A. Wales, . 1.90
Wyckoff, Seamans & Benedict, . .
.95
E. L. Freeman & Sons,
12.83
American Book Co., 58.20
A. H. Sweet, 12.00
Preston, Rounds Co., 3.50
WV. D. Gilpatric, 4.85
187
Geo. H. Snell, 5.45
F. Mossberg Co., 1.00
Standard Printing Co., 8.00
Warren Parker,
2.80
Geo. L. Claflin & Co.,
18.21
Providence Telephone Co.,
25.00
E. E. Babb & Co.
2,221.40
B. P. King,
29.75
G. I. Simpson,
2.00
Holden Book Cover Co., 105.60
Allen, Totman Co., 1.25
Thorp, Martin Co., 3.30
Sun Publishing Co.,
156.50
L. E. Knott Co.,
54.67
Ginn & Co., 134.88
The Attleboro Press. 6.00
F. H. Perry Co., 8.85
Narragansett Machine Co., 21.35
A. G. Slocum,
.65
C. A. Watrous,
63.63
S. W. Cole,
D. W. Hoff,
27.00
D. Farquhar,
8.25
A. B. Warren,
4.96
Samuel Ward Co.
.80
Allen & Bacon,
89.46
Wright & Ditson, 6.13
B. H. Sanborn & Co., 20.60
Mrs. L. M. Drake, . 2.76
Chas. H. Pike & Co., 3.75
6.00
Typewriter Exchange, .91
188
S. S. Packard, . 2.10
Smith Premier Co., 1.50
Houghton, Mifflin & Co., 12.75
Southwestern State Normal
School, 2.40
Fire Department, 6.48
Balance,
3.09
$3,527.10
INCIDENTALS AND REPAIRS.
Receipts.
Appropriation,
$4,500.00
$4,500.00
Expenditures.
Attleboro Mutual Fire Insurance
Co., . .. . $ 33.00
Shepard, Norwell & Co., 1.05
R. H. White Co., 15.25
W. A. Small,
.75
M. C. Plummer,
74.63
S. C. Hutchinson,
7.54
The Methodist Society, 22.00
L. E. Moore,
5.00
W. F. Haynes,
3.40
J. M. Bates,
37.50
R. H. Jones, 13.00
F. E. Goff,
206.50
L. M. Stanley, 1.00
Albert I. Atwell, 4.50
189
Union Hardware & Supply Co., .. 8.40
Wm. O. Sweet, 1.50
Attleboro Furniture Co., 1.95
A. H. Tucker, 2.50
W. E. Middleton,
1.50
Benj. W. Dean, 3.00
Joseph M. Seagraves, 3.IO
Geo. R. Bullock, 1.40
D. E. Adams,
65.00
Dodgeville Mill,
4.18
G. W. Allen,
69.40
L. Taylor,
2.55
R. E. Field, .50
Keniston & Co., 3.00
H. E. White,
3.05
G. I. Simpson, 1.03
A. Merriam & Co.,
1.50
H. A. P. Roth, 4.00
C. B. Jenks,
3.07
A. & A. F. Bray, 9.77
Sun Publishing Co., 4.00
S. M. Holman,
6.35
The Attleboro Press,
22.25
E. A. Wales, 5.67
Chandler Desk Co., 66.20
F. E. Shaw,
5.50
Nellie F. Atwood,
1.63
B. B. Hathaway, 4.52
Joseph Elmore, 1.50
E. A. Briggs, 1.32
D. W. Fisher,
12.00
190
L. V. Stearns, .
48.59
F. L. Smith Co., 35.23
Martin Lee. 14.00
G. H. Veno, 14.58
Chas. E. Carpenter,
7.87
Ellsworth Brown & Co.,
I 50.00
C. S. Bush Co. .80
W. J. Newman,
2.35
L. E. Burton.
2.00
W. Alonzo Palmer
2.00
G. H. Snell,
2.70
Wadsworth Mfg. Co., 44.54
Water Department, 23.65
Derby Desk Co.,
28.34
A. R. Macomber,
8.32
William Frenier, 25.00
J. O. Tiffany, 126.86
A. J. Wilkinson, 2.46
G. A. Monroe, ยท35
H. A. Smith,
25.00
D. H. Smith,
7.50
E. O. Dexter,
126.18
S. C. Burton,
2.00
Red Cross Chemical Co.
13.50
G. H. Herrick,
14.00
J. H. Butler,
249.90
W. D. Gilpatric, 16.35
E. E. Babb & Co. 41.78
John Campbell, 3.00
Warren Parker, I 50.00
J. Harry Holden, 134.33
191
William P. Kelly, 172.00
H. B. Shaw, 37.50
Grant Brothers, 50.32
Chas. F. Holmes & Co., 156.75
L. Z. Carpenter, 5.70
N. Perry & Co.
61.53
R. Coffin, 34.68
H. E. Carpenter,
67.50
Geo. S. Perry Co.,
19.60
A. J. Jillson, 36.42
O. P. Richardson, 225.00
Kinney Brothers & Wolkins, 42.00
Jas. W. Gifford Co., 611.26
Jerome Patterson. 516.59
M. Currie, 13.29
William Flynn, 4.70
Attleboro Gas Light Co., II2.62
T. E. Perrin & Sons, 44.73
J. L. Tobitt & Co. 136.71
Geo. W. Horton, 1.45
Balance,
80.01
$4,500.00
RECAPULATION.
Receipts.
Educational, $39,913.11
Superintendent and Clerk, 2,100.00
Transportation,
1,600.00
Benevolence,
100.00
Evening Schools,
1,000.00
192
Incidentals and Repairs, 4,500.00
Text Books and Supplies, 3,527.10
Overdrawn, 15.25
$52,755.46
Expenditures.
Educational, $38,672.60
Superintendent and Clerk,
2,100.00
Transportation, 1,145.50
Benevolence,
115.25
Evening Schools, 863. II
Incidentals and Repairs,
4,419.99
Text Books and Supplies, 3,524.01
Balance,
1,915.00
$52,755.46 Examined January 28, 1903, and found correct. BENJAMIN F. LINDSEY, BYRON R. HILL, FRED L. LeBARON,
Auditors.
To the citizens of Attleborough :
The committee to whom you have entrusted the care of the public schools of this town, hereby respectfully submit for your consideration the following report for the year ending December 31, 1902.
Your attention is called to the detailed financial statement which indicates in what ways the money which was appropriated for school purposes has been used.
193
You are urged to consider the reports of the Superin- tendent, the Principals of Grammar and High Schools, and the Supervisors of Physical Culture, Music and Drawing. From them you may learn something of the work which has been attempted during the year, and the end towards which we are striving.
The year has been characterized by few radical changes in methods of work; and only such changes in the personnel of our teaching force as were made impera- tive by conditions, either within or without.
It becomes more and more apparent that it is not essential to create changes simply to remind our citizens that something is being done.
The process of education is a complex one ; and the part which the public schools can perform is largely a matter of beginnings. They do not turn out a finished educational product. They can do little more than lay a foundation, and give direction to certain lines of effort. Because of the limitations of the public schools, it is im- perative that we secure teachers who entertain exalted ideas of their opportunity ; who feel that they are a as- signed to very delicate and important tasks. Teachers who do not realize that the real end of education is char- acter ; that they are dealing with human souls; and that they may either lift them into the light of a noble pur- pose, or plunge them into the darkness of indifference have no place in the school room. Our schools are main- tained for the sake of our children.
While there has been an increase in our school popu- lation, nevertheless we are not confronted by the neces-
194
sity of providing increased accommodations, except for the High School.
The membership of the High School has transcend- ed the capacity of the building. Reference to the reports of Superintendent Kelly, and Principal Gilpatric will sug- gest the present situation. It is imperative that imme- diate steps be taken to provide larger accommodations for the High School. Under existing conditions, it is difficult to do the work, and impossible to do all that we ought to do.
The ideal thing for our town would be to erect a new High School Building with the best possible equipments. But a possible expedient is to increase the present build- ing by erecting a wing on ground already ours, and con- stituting a part of the High School premises. We in- vite the most careful consideration of this question that the wiser course may be adopted.
We note with deep regret the loss which this com- mittee and the town has sustained in the death of Mr. J. O. Tiffany, and ask your attention to the word of appre- ciation which appears elsewhere in this report.
Especially gratifying has been the increasingly good attendance in some of our schools. This is a most im- portant matter. Irregular attendance is prejudical not only to the good of the school, but to the best interests of the pupil.
It is also a matter for congratulation that the Public Library is being a working factor in our public schools; that our children are acquiring the reading habit. This is due in large measure to the efforts of our efficient
195
Superintendent, and the cordial support and willing co- operation of the Librarian and the Library Trustees.
We recommend that the following appropriations be made for the use of our schools. The fact that we ask for increased appropriations, is due largely to our inabil- ity to secure an adequate fuel supply during the summer of 1902, and the necessity of paying inflated prices for what we did secure ; and the fact that the expense of much of this fuel must be met by this new appropriation. Educational, $45,000.00
Text Books and Supplies, 3,500.00
Incidentals and Repairs, 5,000.00
Transportation, 1,500.00 Benevolence, 100.00
Evening Schools,
1,000.00
$56,100.00
Respectfully submitted, CHAS. E. BLISS, Chairman, J. HARRY HOLDEN, Secretary, WVM. H. GARNER, BENJAMIN P. KING, LENORA P. BEERS, WALTER J. NEWMAN, DR. GEORGE K. ROBERTS, IRENE T. HILL.
The career of Mr. J. O. Tiffany in this town was unique in this respect, that no matter how we estimate his life's worth it was all given to the cause of popular education here. This means more than appears at first thought. It is to be remembered that nearly all the 68 years of his life were passed in Attleboro; and that with the exception of a brief period of commercial activity, he was continuously identified with our public schools from the time when he entered them as a school boy till the day of his death, and that he went the whole round of pupil, teacher, principal, superintendent, and committee man.
After such a patriotic and influential and extended career in his native town, from which no allurements from abroad ever severed him, a career lived among gen- erations of his own people who knew him from the be- ginning, no eulogy of ours is needed to embellish it. The stamp of his character is on the lives of hundreds of our citizens.
The School Committee of Attleboro records with profound feeling the passing of a life which by common consent has never been equalled in the extent of its in- fluence upon the public schools of this town.
[Minutes of the School Committee, January 5, 1903.]
24
Joseph Osmond Tiffany.
SUPERINTENDENT'S REPORT.
To the School Committee of Attleborough :
I have the honor to submit my fourth annual report as Superintendent of Schools, the twentieth in the series of such reports.
Teachers.
The most significant event of the year was the spon- taneous action of the town in increasing the appropria- tion for teachers' salaries. As a result the following schedule of annual salaries went into effect September I, 1902.
Old New
Mini-
maxi-
maxi-
mum.
mum. mum
For High School assistants, . $450. $600. $650.
For Grammar grades (7, 8, 9.) . . 440.
480. 500.
For Intermediate grades (5, 6.) .. 400.
440. 480.
For Primary grades (1, 2, 3, 4.) . . 400.
400. 460.
The salaries vary from minimum to maximum with- in the grades named according to the experience and the success of the teachers, and the character of the school.
The first feature is the increase itself; the second feature is that the difference between a primary and a grammar teacher's maximum has been reduced from $80 to $40. The normal schools, on which we now solely
T 13
198
depend for the special training of our teachers, ignore the artificial scale of salaries rising from primary to gram- mar, and most of the progressive cities and towns follow the more logical plan of uniform salaries, toward which we have advanced this year.
During the calendar year 1902, twenty-two teachers left our service and twenty others were appointed to suc- ceed them, the two having no successors being employed in kindergartens where the attendance had fallen off. One of them resigned to teach elsewhere, and the other was given another school in town. Of the retiring teach- ers, one gave up teaching to be married, and two because of poor health, seven were not reappointed, and twelve re- signed to accept higher salaries elsewhere. The loss of twelve good teachers and seven unsatisfactory ones in- dicates from opposite standpoints our aim to employ only good teachers.
To receive an appointment here, one must at least have graduated from a High School. Of all the teachers in the employ of the town during the school year ending last June. 73 per cent. had also prepared themselves by additional studies in colleges and normal schools. Three years ago 57.5 per cent. had made this extended prepara- tion, and the proportion has been gradually increasing each year.
Industrial Education.
Another significant event of the year was an unex- pected gift of money for the purpose of introducing in- dustrial training in a small degree in the central schools. The money was gratefully accepted by the School Com- mittee, and one hour a week allotted for the work which
199
is so elementary that the regular teachers can give the lessons under the direction of the drawing supervisor. The general plan of this work is outlined in her report.
Lack of space forbids even a fairly complete state- ment of the sound reasons for the industrial training of children in the public schools. It should be said, how- ever,
I. That the work chosen not merely interests but educates.
2. That universal experience declares that they will learn their other lessons better because of it.
3. That the teachers with but four exceptions asked for it.
4. That the children like it.
Evening Schools.
The second season of the Free Public Evening Ele- mentary Schools began September 30, 1902, and contin- ued three evenings a week until December 19, or 35 even- ings in all.
Something of the scope of these schools may be seen from the following statistics :
NAME OF SCHOOL. BANK. HEBRON. DODGE. CITY. TOTAL.
No. different pupils en-
rolled,
I4I 92 85 25 343
Av. attendance per even- ing, 72
46
43 8 169
Per cent. of attendance to
49.2% enrollment, 51% 50% 50% 32%
Whole number of teachers employed, 7
4 3 I 15
No. illiterate minors enroll- ed,
45 40 27 I II3
20
The season's experience shows :
I. That one per cent. (113) of the total popula- tion of the town (11,335) was enrolled as illiterate minors, and that these were foreign born.
2. That there is a relatively small demand for instruction in the common English branches higher than the primary stage.
3. That there is a demand for instruction in High School subjects which should be met in some degree next season.
4. That the monthly socials at Dodgeville and Hebronville were invaluable in strengthening the school spirit.
We employed two of the principals for these schools from our day force, one of them receiving leave of ab- sence for the purpose. Two other day teachers were added near the end of the term, but with these excep- tions, we found it possible to secure a full corps of ex- perienced teachers without calling on our own teachers to teach day and night. The character of the discipline and instruction was therefore in no way inferior to that of the day school.
Two rules were put into force to steady the member- ship of the schools : That no one should be enrolled who did not attend at least three successive nights, and that no new members, except illiterates, should be admitted during the second half of the term.
The enforcement of the new law requiring all minors in towns of this population to have their educational status certified to by the Superintendent of Schools before receiving employment, involved the examination
201
of 1,113 minors over 16 years of age. The law has been effective in locating illiterate minors and in getting most of them into school. Their employers have acted very promptly in demanding their attendance, and as hereto- fore have been in close touch with the school authorities.
Library and School.
A full account of the general plan of "A Course in Reading and Literature" appeared in my last report. The use of it practically began with the year 1902, and its in- fluence on the reading of the pupils has been remarkable. Admitting, of course, that many library books with- drawn even under our open shelf system, are never read at all, and that many more are neither wisely nor com- pletely read, yet the circulation figures reveal at least how strongly children desire to read, and how great our responsibility to provide them with good books.
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