USA > Massachusetts > Bristol County > Attleboro > Reports of town officers of the town of Attleborough 1905 > Part 5
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Cash balance
2.2I
$371.78
$371.78 JOSEPH V. CURRAN, BENJAMIN P. KING, A. M. EVERETT,
Overseers of the Poor.
118
ANNUAL REPORT.
List of Those Aided Outside the Poor House in 1905.
Felix Burton,
Charles E. Burns,
Mary J. Barton,
Mrs. La Combe, Katharine Luby, George T. Lee, James McNulty,
Hugh Broadbent,
Ferdinand Boutin,
Catherine Molley,
Mrs. Mary Barton,
Ed. Macdonald,
Mrs. Charles Bilson,
Edna Battie,
Hugh McNulty, Joseph Miner,
Edward A. Belcher,
Mrs. George Monroe,
Jerry Boudoin,
Frank E. Mathews,
Mrs. Burke,
Ann Murphy, Renford A. Mackenzie,
Joseph Bassett,
James Brannergan,
Hugh Brennan,
John W. Brown,
Patrick Nolan,
Ethel Best,
Thomas Nolan,
Mrs. Thomas Curran,
Bridget O'Neil,
Mary Cash,
James O'Neil,
George F. Crowton,
Annie Cunningham,
- Clark,
Mrs. Wm. Paginton,
Mrs. Stephen Donyeau,
Jane Dalton,
J. W. Pierce,
Wm. W. Dalton,
Mrs. Thomas Pickett,
Dean Harriet,
Joseph Elmore and family,
W. E. Fisk,
Mrs. M. J. Foaly,
James Fisher,
J. Peterson, John Pierce, A. Purdy, --- Price, Joseph Piner,
Jerry Frawley,
WVm. A. Frawley,
Margaret J. Freeman,
Thomas Fitton,
Mrs. A. Fisher,
Mrs. W. C. Gifford,
Annie Gregory,
Flora Riley,
Paul Gilman,
E. I. Perry, John Pleban,
Albert Pond and family,
Mrs. Everett Reynolds,
Thomas Robbins, James Rich,
E. S. Roberts,
Joe Martin, James McNamee,
Peter Olson,
Mary Orvid,
Mrs. Frederic Perse,
119
ANNUAL REPORT.
Melinda Guild, F. H. Guild,
Miss Lizzie Richards,
Robinson,
Emily Gillis,
Mrs. Wm. Sampson,
James Higgins,
Mrs. Staplin,
Stephen A. Hatten,
Mrs. J. Smith,
Frank Holt,
Charles Simpson,
W. Hoddie,
Joseph Sheldon,
Clara Hoddie,
Napoleon Servias,
Charles A. Hoddie,
Fred H. Swift,
John Hanlon,
George H. Smith,
George T. Horn, Seth S. James,
Clara Tarbell,
G. P. Kountz,
Mrs. Webber,
Mrs. H. Kirby,
Emeline Williams,
Thomas Kirby,
Mrs. Mary Waldron,
Mrs. Keating,
Chester A. White,
Thomas Keenan,
Mrs. John Wilson,
Henry Lonergan,
Minnie Wood,
Levi Le Forrest,
Richard York.
John Dodd,
Annual Report of the Board of Health.
To the Citizens of Attleboro:
The Board of Health takes advantage of the oppor- tunity, offered by its annual report, to call to your at- tention two important problems pertaining to the dis- posal of the refuse material of the town, by which it is confronted.
During the year approximately 1,500 loads of sewage are deposited somewhere within a radius of a mile of the centre of the town, vitiating the atmosphere and rendering existence intolerable to those who are so un- fortunate as to live within the limits of its noxious in- fluence. A week hardly passes that complaints are not made to the board that sewage is being deposited near some habitation, causing discomfiture and annoyance.
The only thing that the board can do in such cases is to inform the carriers of sewage that they must discon- ' tinue depositing any more of this material in these lo- calities. Immediately the carriers ask, "Where shall we deposit it?" The only answer possible is that we don't know, but you must not empty it here. After this sewage is carried to some other locality, until complaint is made and the carriers are prohibited again. Thus they commence the rounds depositing it in one place until prohibited and then passing on to another. In this man- ner the board has been chasing these men from place to place for the past five years.
121
ANNUAL REPORT.
Complaint after complaint has been lodged with the State Board of Health that the local board was negligent in the performance of its duties. A complaint signed by several citizens concerning the condition of the ditch running between Holman and Emory streets was made in the earlier part of the year. It was examined by the board and found to be filled with liquid sewage. The board decided that new cesspools should be built and all disconnected from the ditch. This has been done, and although an improvement, the result is far from satis- factory. The ground is so saturated with water that the cesspools fill up immediately after they have been emptied. The attention of the citizens has been repeat- edly directed to this locality and its unsanitary condi- tion.
In September a petition was presented to the board protesting against the burning of waste material in the vicinity of Dunham street. The petitioners were met by the board and the problem discussed in all its phases. When the petitioners were informed that we had no place to deposit this material they took the position that they were sorry that such was the case, but the dumping on Dunham street must stop. This is a good illustra- tion of one phase of this question. In this case the board was so fortunate as to find a place where paper could be deposited upon Bank street, near the river, but no sew- age is allowed to be deposited there. How long this will be allowed is a question, as already complaints have been made against the depositing of such material at this place.
Again the old question arises, what shall we do with our sewage? The inhabitants do not wish sewage to be deposited near their habitations but they will not pro- vide a suitable place for it. The first and only common sense solution of the problem is that the town should at once build a complete sewage system, thus solving the question completely and for all time.
A second but pitiful makeshift is that the town shall
129
ANNUAL REPORT.
provide some place, in a locality far from any habitation where the sewage may be deposited under the super- vision of the board. The collecting of this material should also be under one head so that the provisions of the laws relating thereto may be fully carried out.
Attleboro has increased so rapidly in population in the last few years that another problem presents itself in the disposal of garbage. As at the present conducted, its collection constitutes a disgrace to the town. In the opinion of the Board the best plan is to place the collec- tion of garbage in the hands of one person, he being re- sponsible to the Board that this material shall be col- lected in a satisfactory manner. At present there are so many individuals collecting garbage that it is almost impossible to keep any supervision over them, and even those who have been requested to be more neat in their mode of collecting, while promising that they will do so, their subsequent conduct is more noticeable in the breach of their promises than in their fulfillment. It may be stated in this place that an offer has been made by a party to do this thing, to collect the garbage in a scientific manner under the supervision of the board. This offer, while satisfactory to the Board, could not be taken advantage of without the consent of the town.
In the earlier part of the year a petition was presented by the residents of Foley street protesting against a junk shop being located on said street. At an open meeting, both sides of the question were presented and the Board decided that the collecting, storing or sorting of rags be prohibited. At the same time, it was voted that the business of collecting, storing or sorting of rags be prohibited in Attleboro, except in such places which shall be appointed by the Board of Health.
During the month of March several cases of cerebro spinal meningitis broke out in the family of James McBride on Forest street. Every case was fatal. As soon as the Board became cognizant of the existence of the disease in the community, the premises were strictly
123
ANNUAL REPORT.
quarantined and every precaution taken to prevent its spread. At the same time, the house in which the initial case had occurred, was thoroughly fumigated, which was also the case with the McBride residence after the death of the last victim.
June 5th, the Board visited the premises of J. D. Corey on Wilmarth street to investigate a complaint that he was butchering tuberculous cattle and selling the meat in this State, and to determine whether he should be granted a license to slaughter cattle. After carefully investigating the case it was found that the claim that he was killing tuberculous cattle was true, but that he properly disposed of the same, and that he did not sell meat of any description in this state. It was voted that he be granted a license to butcher cattle pro- vided that no objection was made by the State Board of Cattle Commissioners after the facts of the case were explained to them. During the year the Board has made through the courtesy of the Chairman three excur- sions to various parts of the town investigating nuis- ances and abating them to the best of its ability.
The attention of the physicians and house holders of the town is called to the law relating to the reporting of contagious disease. There is every reason to believe that this law has been violated in connection with the prevailing epidemic of measles. There is but one sug- gestion to make relating to the plumbing department, that no plumbing shall be done until the fixtures have been thoroughly tested.
During the latter part of December, 1905, and Jan- uary, 1906, the State Board gave a number of lectures in Boston upon the subject of "Tuberculosis, Its Cause and Treatment," from which it was the concensus of opinion that it is induced by the inhalation of the dust arising from the dried sputum emanating from individuals suf- fering from this disease; that fresh air, good food and proper care are the best means by which a cure can be effected.
124
ANNUAL REPORT.
At the same meetings it was also shown that the ma- jority of the diseases of childhood are preventable, being due to improper food, impure milk or water and unsani- tary surroundings, but more than all else to ignorance of mothers of the proper care of their children during in- fancy.
It is within the province of the Board of Health to see that Attleborough is provided with the first three of the above adjuncts of health, but in order that it may do so it is necessary that it have the hearty co-operation of the citizens of the town, otherwise it is seriously handi- capped.
The report shows 177 deaths in town against 178 in 1904. The contagious diseases reported during the year were Diphtheria 9, scarlet fever 14, measles 31, cerebro spinal meningitis 2, tuberculosis 8, typhoid fever 3, total 67. In 1904 there were 102 cases of contagious disease.
125
Deaths by Months, Sex and Ages. (Still Births Excluded.)
Jan. | Feb.|Mar. | Apr. |May June |July |Aug. Sept. Oct. Nov.| Dec. Totals.
M FM FM FM FM FM FM FM FM FM FM FM F
Under one year
432 13 12 1112
1|1 1|4 1 2 2|
.....
2
3 7
30
15
From one to two years
.... .
1 2 ..
.
.
1 1
1 . ....
1
.
.
.
.. . .
.
1
1 .
1
1
From four to five years
1
1
From five to ten years
1
1
2
0
3
From fifteen to twenty years.
1
1
1|
1
·
.
1 2
1
1
2
5
6
From twenty to thirty years
1
1
·
1 .
1
1
1
1
1
1
3
.
1
1
1
1
1 . ...
1
1
1
1
2
1
1
4
5
11
From fifty to sixty years
1
1
1
1
2
2
1
1|
2
1
1
1
1
11
6
From sixty to seventy years
1 3
1 3
3
1
2 1
2
2
3
1
1
1
. . ·
14
11
From seventy to eighty years.
3
2
2 .....
1
·
. .
1
1
1
1 2
1
6
9
Eighty and over
Totals
13
6 8 9 8 10 5 7 8 410 5 7 8 9 5 7 8 6 9 4 710 4
Totals
19
17
18
12
12
15
15
14
15
15
11
14
177
1904.
18
18
22
10
10
7 |
10
17
13
16
17
20
178
.
.
. .
1
.
.
. . .
.
.
.
1
From three to four years
2
0
1 . .
2
3
From ten to fifteen years
1
1
1
. ....
. ..
.
.
1
1
2
4
From thirty to forty years.
1 2
2
.
From forty to fifty years
.
1
1'
...
. ....
. ....
95
82
.
. ....
1
1
1
3
5
From two to three years
. ....
.
. . .
ANNUAL REPORT.
2
1
4
0
M
F
126
ANNUAL REPORT.
Causes of Death. (Still Births Excluded.)
Zymotic.
Male.
Female. 1
Totals. 1904.
Diphtheria
1
2
Scarlet Fever
0
1
1
Measles
1
0
1
Whooping Cough
1
1
2
Influenza
1
1
2
Typhoid Fever
0
1
1
Totals
4
5
9
6
Constitutional.
Cancer
2
5
7
Phthisis
7
8
15
Tuberculosis
2
5
7
Septicaemia
0
1
1
Totals
11
19
30
31
Senile decay
5
6
11
13
Developmental.
Premature birth
1
4
Icterus Neonatorum
1
0
1
Infantile Convulsions
3
1
4
Marasmus
5
6
11
Totals
12
8
20
21
Accidents.
Pistol shot
1
0
1
Fracture of skull
3
1
4
Fracture of spine
1
0
1
Rupture of internal organs.
1
0
1
Electric shock
1
0
1
Totals
7
1
8
14
Local.
Concussion of Brain
0
1
1
Cerebral Hemorrhage
0
0
0
Meningitis
4
8
12
Apoplexy
2
10
12
Cerebral Tumor
1
0
1
Locomotor Ataxia
0
1
1
Laxyngitis
2
0
2
Pneumonia
8
6
14
Oedema of Lungs
2
0
2
Emphysema
1
0
1
Bronchitis
3
4
7
Heart Disease
16
4
20
Angina Pectoris
1
0
1
Hephritis
3
5
8
Diabetes
1
1.
2
Sclerosis of Liver
1
0
1
-
.
-
1
127
ANNUAL REPORT.
Causes of Death .- Continued. (Still Births Excluded.)
Male.
Female. Totals.
1904.
Rupture of Gall Bladder
0
1
1
Gastritis
0
1
1
Peritonitis
1
0)
1
Enteritis
1
1
2
Dysentery
1
0
1
Chronic Diarrhoea
1
0
1
Intestinal Obstruction
1
0)
1
Cholera Infantum
2
0
2
Hemorrhage
1
0
1
Alcoholism
1
0
1
Necrosis of Femur
1
0
1
Unknown
1
0
1
Totals
56
43
99
93
Recapitulation.
Zymotic
4
5
9
6
Constitutional
11
19
30
31
Senile Decay
5
6
11
13
Developmental
12
8
20
21
Local
56
43
99
93
Accidents
7
1
8
14
Totals
95
82
177
178
128
ANNUAL REPORT.
Contagious Diseases, 1905.
Months.
Smallpox.
Diphtheria.
Scarlet Fever.
Measles.
Cerebro Spinal
Meningitis.
Tuberculosis.
Typhoid Fever.
Totals.
1904.
January
1
1
5
February
3
2
3
8
10
March
7
15
14
April
1
2
4
3
10
13
May
1
1
4
6
27
June
0
9
July
0
3
August
1
4
September
0
0
October
1
1
1
3
5
November
5
1
8
4
December
2
3
10
15
8
Totals.
0
9
14
31
2
8
3
67
102
1904.
0
19
27
39
0
5
12
102
.
.
-
129
ANNUAL REPORT.
Plumbing Statistics for 1905.
Months.
Water Closets.
Sinks.
Wash Bowls.
Wash Trays.
Urinals
Slop Hoppers
Bath Tubs.
Total.
January
2
3
5
February
3
2
1
2
2
10
March
7
4
5
6
22
April
2
1
3
May
14
15
12
5
12
58
June
24
17
20
3
13
77
· July
19
16
19
5
12
71
August
18
19
14
3
15
69
September
25
25
22
7
18
97
October
7
10
5
4
6
32
November
8
8
6
2
4
28
December
24
19
15
5
.. .
12
75
Totals
153
139
119
36
0
0
100
547
1904.
197
144
75
88
0
0
125
629
Number permits issued during the year
II3
Number of Licenses :
Masters
IO
Journeymen
IO
Licenses for Special Occupations.
Undertakers
3
Livery Stables
3
Slaughter Houses
2
Rendering of horses, etc.
I
CHARLES S. HOLDEN, GEO. K. ROBERTS, WM. O. HEWITT,
Board of Health.
130
ANNUAL REPORT.
Attleboro, Mass., Feb. 14, 1906.
To the Honorable Board of Health :
Gentlemen :- Herewith I present to you my annual report for the year of 1905 ending December 31. During this time I have made 95 calls and have tested 120 plumbing jobs. I have made 32 extra calls to give ad- vice and directions, for which I have made no account. I have found all plumbing to have been done satisfac- tory to the owners and myself, and in a workmanlike manner, or is in process of construction. The following number of fixtures have been placed in position :
Water closets 204
Sinks
146
Set basins
Set trays 153
44
Urinals
I set
Bath tubs
12
Butter sinks I
In closing I wish to say on the first of March, 1906, 1 should like to meet your Board of Health, as I have a number of suggestions to make, and I think the same will be for the best interest of all parties concerned. There has been the best of harmony between myself, your Board and the plumbers, and now, gentlemen of the Board and the plumbers, I wish to thank you for your hearty co-operation at all times.
Respectfully submitted,
HENRY H. WILCOX,
Inspector of Plumbing.
1
Report of the Trustees of the Public Library.
The year 1905 was most eventful in the history of the Public Library in Attleborough, and its close, finds the Trustees and other good friends of the library rejoicing in all that has been accomplished. The construction of the magnificent building that will be the home of the library for many years to come was begun and is now well under way.
Early in the year the Trustees, acting with the "Ad- visory Board," which consists of Messrs. J. L. Sweet, F. A. Newell, E. A. Sweeney, J. W. Wolfenden and C. H. Tappan, decided that the amount of funds pledged for the erection of the building was sufficient to warrant them in asking the town for authority to begin work and sign contracts in the name of the town.
This permission was readily granted at the annual town meeting in March, and on the seventh day of April the contract was awarded to Messrs. Grant Brothers of Attleboro, Mr. E. O. Dexter, a contracting mason, being associated with them.
One beautiful morning in April, the eighteenth day, Mr. Harold E. Sweet, acting as the representative of his father, removed the first shovelful of earth, and since this date, work has steadily progressed on the building. The end of the year finds the building well covered in, so that work upon the interior can be carried on during the cold months of winter.
The plans of the architects, Messrs. McLean & Wright of Boston, are working out to the delight and satisfac- tion of the Trustees, who rejoice that within another
132
ANNUAL REPORT.
year, this beautiful building, whose exterior is so grand and impressive, and the interior of which is so well adapted to the needs of a modern working library, will have begun its long years of service to the people.
During the progress of the work, changes designed to improve the beauty and permanency of the structure, have been made. Thus, sand-stone was substituted for terra cotta, and copper roofing was used instead of gal- vanized iron and plastie slate. These changes added largely to the expense, but the Trustees felt that the donors would desire only the best and most enduring construction obtainable. A financial summary of the amount received, and the amount expended on the work is appended.
In order that the building may be given to the town free from all encumbrances, it is necessary that more money should be raised, and the Trustees make an earnest appeal for additional donations. Surely the pride of no citizen will permit this work to be completed without his having done his part. The building in its present uncompleted state, shows what it will stand for, for many generations, and it is the earnest desire of the Trustees that all should contribute to the building fund. Certainly no more worthy cause can appeal to any one who has the means to give ; and the Trustees hope that this statement of the needs of the library will meet with a prompt and generous response.
While the Trustees were rejoicing over the bright prospects of the library, their hearts were saddened by the death of Letitia S. Allen, the faithful librarian for nearly nine years, which occurred March 21st, 1905. Much of what the library is today is due to her quiet and unassuming ability and faithfulness, and the Trustees who knew her so well felt that they voiced the senti- ments of the town when they passed the following reso- lutions and took the action indicated :
"Whereas, the Trustees having learned with deep personal sorrow and regret of the death of the librarian, Miss Letitia S. Allen, be it resolved
LETITIA S. ALLEN
133
ANNUAL REPORT.
"That in her removal by death the town has lost a most efficient and conscientious officer ; the Trustees a faithful co-worker, who had endeared herself by untiring and progressive service, and the community a high- minded and worthy woman; and believing that the in- fluence of such a life in this community should be marked in some permanent form, be it further resolved that it will be our effort to create a fund to be known as the Letitia S. Allen Fund, which may be used to provide some useful and permanent article to be placed in the new library building, in which she took such a deep interest, as a memorial to her."
Miss Martha Tyrie of the Fall River public library was elected Miss Allen's successor, and her thorough preparation for the duties of a librarian, combined with her natural executive ability, has made her work most gratifying and satisfactory to the Trustees. Her report will be found appended to the report of the Trustees, and we bespeak for it a careful and considerate reading.
The Board of Trustees lost one of its members by resignation, Mr. William P. Kelly, who removed from town, and the vacancy thus made has not been filled.
The usual financial report is also . appended. The Trustees recommend that the town appropriate the sum of $3,500.00 for the maintenance of the library for the year 1906. The cost of sustaining the library in the new building can only be determined by experience, but this sum seems adequate for the coming year.
Respectfully submitted,
E. S. HORTON, President ; C. S. HOLDEN, Secretary ; L. J. LAMB,
C. H. WHEELER,
M. E. ROWE,
ALICE M. WALES,
IRENE T. HILL, ELEANOR S. CARPENTER,
Trustees of the Public Library.
134
ANNUAL REPORT.
Financial Report.
Dr.
Appropriation $2,750.00
Error, payment of bill twice, re-
funded
3.00
Amount to balance, overdraft
14.8I
Total
$2,767.81
Cr.
Salaries
$1,283.15
Books
574.5I
Rent
336.00
Supplies
147.13
Magazines
II0.00
Rebinding
95.70
Gas
89.62
Newspapers
41.50
Incidentals, repairs, etc.
36.75
Insurance
31.20
Printing
22.25
Total
$2,767.81
Library Building Fund.
Received from subscriptions and other sources, and paid to Town Treasurer. .
$23,120.00
And of this amount there has been paid on account of construction of building, and other expenses.
20,452.58
Leaving a balance with the Town Treasurer of 2,667.42
Examined January 29, 1906, and found correct.
BENJAMIN F. LINDSEY, FREDK. L. LeBARON,
Auditors.
135
ANNUAL REPORT.
To the President and Board of Trustees of the Attle- borough Free Public Library of Attleborough, Massachusetts :
I have the honor to present the annual report of the Attleborough Free Public Library, for the year ending December 31, 1905.
Owing to the fact that the present librarian did not enter upon her duties until May 1, 1905, the following report, outside of the statistics, covers a period of eight months only.
At a meeting of the R. L. A. held in St. Louis last Sep- tember, the president, Mr. F. M. Crunden, made a strong plea for the library and its work, and that we should recognize and emphasize the educational work which it aims to carry on. "The school wields its influence over the average child but a few years; the library is an active influence through life."
"For, after all," remarks one librarian, "the American educational idea of education for all and the ever-present opportunity for higher education to every one who de- sires it, is at the bottom of the library movement. The library is the handmaid of the public school, the labora- tory of the college and university, the conserver of the material of American history and an ever-present invita- tion to self-improvement of every person."
It is with this thought in mind that we strive in every possible way to interest that large class of young people who have not had educational advantages and still must face and answer great questions.
The following reading lists have been published in the daily papers and posted in the library in the hope that they would turn the thoughts of these young people to serious reading: Japan, Russia, Gardening, Photog- raphy, Sports, vanishing types of American life, Africa, Thanksgiving, Electricty, Swedish-Norwegian crisis, Christmas. Lists of new books have been published as current news items in the daily papers, and copies of these lists have been struck off for distribution to the borrowers.
136
ANNUAL REPORT.
The work of the library in assisting members of the literary clubs has been most interesting and expressions of appreciation have not been few.
Besides the reading lists, just spoken of, special and specific references on the different subjects discussed in the clubs have been prepared and in two instances-the Browning Club and the Mission Study Class-biblio- graphical lists have been sent.
Book Circulation.
Statistical tables from the library records are appended to this report, from which a few general results may be noted.
During the year the library was open 307 days or every week day except holidays. The general use of the library and the amount of attention demanded from the assistants has been fully as great as in past years.
The number of borrowers is 6,768. The number added during the year was 535. The number of volumes issued for home use was 43,010. Daily average for the year was 141. Largest issue of any one day was 336, on Feb. II. 1905: smallest, 50 on Aug. 15, 1905.
School Circulation.
Books are sent twice a month to six out-of-town schools: Briggs Corner, Hebronville, Dodgeville, South Attleborough, Turner, Robinson. The circulation for the year was 2,632. The librarian wishes to thank the teachers for their co-operation in taking care of the books after they reach the schools. If it were not for their patience and untiring services, this part of the work would suffer.
Binding.
During the year 252 books and magazines have been bound. Much money is saved by the careful supervision of the assistants, who spend time and thought on the repairing and mending of the books.
137
ANNUAL REPORT.
Reference Department and Reading Room.
While no statistics have been kept, observation has been enough to show that our quarters are inadequate to the demand. Nine weekly, 29 monthly and one quarter- ly periodicals were received during the year and nine newspapers, eight daily and one weekly, have been placed on the file. The Critic, Country Life in America and School Arts Book have been added to this list.
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