USA > Massachusetts > Bristol County > Attleboro > Reports of town officers of the town of Attleborough 1914 > Part 12
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There were three kinds of oil used.
Dustoline, 65,769 gallons 812c per gallon Lamson Road Oil, 6,650 gallons 414c per gallon
Standard Socony Asphalt Oil, 6,413 gallons, 434c per gallon
Total number of gallons used. . 78,832
The following streets received three coats of oil: Park Street to the Speedway, South Main Street to Orange Street, Pleasant Street to Star- key Avenue, Union Street from Park Street to Capron Street, Bank Street to Horton & AngellI's factory and Monument Square.
Two coats were applied to Pearl Street, School Street, Mechanic Street, Hodges Street, Elizabeth Street, Morey Street, Third Street, Mill Street, Holman Street, Orange Street, Pine Street, West Street and North Avenue.
All resident streets were oiled once. Twenty- five miles of streets have been oiled this year.
264
ANNUAL REPORT
The Town was paid by George H. Snell, George St. G. Sheffield, Bates & Bacon and the Highland Country Club for oiling their property.
The cost of applying Dustoline to the streets was 112 cents per square yard.
On a few streets, which were already macad- amized, we decided to use a light coating of tar rather than the oil.
Emory Street from Pleasant Street to Morey Street covering 1,003 square yards, and North Main Street from Park Street to Mechanic Street covering 1,778 square yards was sprayed with a coating of 'Tarvia B' then covered with fine stone.
Newport Avenue from West Street to Wash- ington Street 11,100 square yards, Park Street from Cumming's Corner to the Sanitarium gravel bank, 5,520 square yards, Emory Street from Morey Street to Brook Street, 1,280 square yards, County Street from Lexington Avenue to Thacher Street, 3,200 square yards and South Avenue from the Uhlig farm to Snell Street, 9,500 square yards were also laid with tar which, was purchased from the Attleboro Gas Light Company and applied with brooms, then covered with fine gravel. The cost of laying this was about 4 1-10 cents per square yard.
Total number of yards of tar laid. ... . 33,381
Wall Street was repaired over the sewer trench with crushed stone and tar, covering a total of 300 feet.
Tar used. . 5 barrels Crushed stone used . 21 tons
Southwest Division.
Mr. George H. Entwistle has had supervision of the work in this division and the streets have
265
ANNUAL REPORT
been improved in the following way. At the com- mencement of the season all streets were scraped and the gutters cleaned, 547 yards of dirt being removed.
Streets were graveled as follows:
Adamsdale Road 400 feet
Gravel used . 234 yards
Cumberland Avenue
. 600 feet
Gravel used.
350 yards
Lord Street.
300 feet
Gravel used
216 yards
McMann Street
.200 feet
Gravel used
223 yards
On the following streets the low places were filled in after which they were graded with the road machine.
Turner Street Gravel used 50 yards®
Allen Avenue
-
28
Robinson Avenue
74
Carpenter Street
27
Highland Avenue
39
Pond Street
24
Newport Avenue
20
Total number of yards of gravel used 262
New sidewalks constructed as follows: Lord Street.
600 feet
Gravel used 162 yards
Mendon Road .250 feet Gravel used. 60 yards
Sidewalks were repaired as follows:
Newport Avenue
200 feet
Gravel used
30 yards
266
ANNUAL REPORT
Washington Street. . 100 feet Gravel used . 61 yards Total number of yards of gravel used on side- walks 313
South Division.
Mr. Henry A. Lord has had charge of this division of the work for the past eleven years. The season was begun by scraping and cleaning all streets. All low places on South Main Street from Dexter Street to the Seekonk line were filled in.
The following were graveled:
South Main Street . 225 feet
Gravel used . 94 yards
Tiffany Street
100 feet
Gravel used . 26 yards
Oak Hill Avenue
2,000 feet
Gravel used 586 yards
Taunton Road
1,200 feet
Gravel used 339 yards
Gravel used for patching
223 yards
Total number of yards of gravel used.
1,268
Total number of loads of stone, dirt and ashes handled 1,270
In closing, I wish to thank all people who have in any way assisted the department by notifying us of any defects in the roads, as this has lessened the liability of accident, as well as saved the Town from any damage suit which may have been of an expensive nature.
Respectfully submitted,
C. H. WEYMOUTH,
Superintendent of Streets.
REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES OF THE PUBLIC LIBRARY.
REPORT OF LIBRARIAN
To the Board of Trustees of the Attleborough Public Library.
I have the honor to submit the report of the Library for the year ending December 31, 1914.
Accessions
The number of books added to the Library this year was 1,300; 1,130 by purchase; 127 by binding periodicals, 43 by gift; 161 books have been replaced, 454 have been discarded. The actual number of volumes now in the library is 17,380. The library has purchased more books this year than in any other year of its history ex- cept in 1909, 1,337 and in 1910, 1,284; by 1911, the small discount allowed libraries on fiction began to be felt, this year and last, the increase in the town appropriation and the very acceptable amount of money we can depend upon from the D. H. Smith Fund again bring our purchases up to what an ever increasing circulation demands. It is not only desirable, but imperative as greater numbers of books are published each year that a selection not a collection of books be bought, that the best be duplicated if necessary and that a great deal be passed over, but it is also true that books published now cover a wider field of activities than ever before, "How to do things" is the watchword; to supply the class of literature
268
ANNUAL REPORT
that this phrase implies, is more and more the library's legitimate aim, to do that and to main- tain the cultural character of the library as well means more books purchased and more money spent each year.
Advertising
Advertising may be too pretentious a word to describe the efforts made this year to cause the resources of the library to be better, and more generally known, but since in its simpler meaning it is just that, perhaps we may be allowed its use. It includes the bi-weekly lists of new books, published in the Attleboro Sun and the Pawtucket Times, as in former years, and a news letter published in the Sun on alternate weeks, giving some idea of what is going on at the library or quoting an article of timely interest from some magazine, or listing the best books the library has on a given subject. At the library itself the new bulletin board has served as a sort of index to current events. and by means of it we have also been able to draw attention to certain shelves where may be found gathered from all parts of the library collections of books on Columbus Day, Thanksgiving, Christmas as the occasion de- mands-this scheme has saved borrowers and attendants hours of inconvenience and fruitless hunting. We find that the written word in newspaper and on bulletin board have been both supplementary and suggestive.
Binding
Number of books rebound 548
Periodicals bound 127
Total. 675
269
ANNUAL REPORT
Care of Books
The number of books lost from the shelves during 1914:
Adult department. 14
Children's department . 15
Books Lent
The library was open 306 days for the circu- lation of books. The largest circulation of any day in the year was March 7, 511 volumes, the largest month March, 6,590 volumes. The total number of volumes lent for home use was 65,392, divided as follows:
Adult department.
47,806
Children's department.
17,586
Outlying schools .. 2,174
So. Attleboro 1,167
Dodgeville.
264
Hebronville. 401
Briggs Corner
342
Divided into classes, the circulation was as follows:
General works
1,746
2.67
Philosophy
575
.87
Religion .
527
.85
Sociology .
2,302
3.52
Philology .
185
.28
Natural science
1,064
1.62
Useful arts.
1,638
2.54
Fine arts .
1,687
2.57
Literature
2,414
3.68
History .
1,118
1.70
Travel .
1,761
2.69
Biography
1,267
1.93
Fiction
49,108
75.09
65,392
100.00
270
ANNUAL REPORT
This year again we pass all other records for distribution of books. The increase in cir- culation over last year is 6,819 volumes, this is the greatest gain in any year except 1908, 10,334 over 1907-and in 1907 the library was closed for three weeks, which explains some difference in figures. This years results are satisfactory. The classes of books which show a steady increase in circulation for five years are, books on foreign languages and English for foreigners, useful arts, fine arts, travel and biography, the circulation of other books for the same time varies from year to year, so that no definite gain or loss can be reported. Already during January, February, and March, our busiest months, extra desk help was secured for Monday, Friday and Saturday afternoons, it was necessary again in November to begin the same arrangement.
Gifts
The library has received this year several volumes on Christian Science, a number of vol- umes of fiction, sets of unbound periodicals, a bronze stage from the estate of Mrs. Almon Tucker. During the months of February and March, Mrs. Sydney Smith gave a series of bene- fit concerts, one fourth of the proceeds of which, $52.70, was given the library for the purchase of music books; the sum has been kept intact.
Lectures
Library Hall was used twice by the New Century Club, once by the Round Table, once by the Women's Clubs during 1914. It is the regular meeting place for the Hospital Aid Asso- ciation.
271
ANNUAL REPORT
School Work
Again this year we have put on special shelves the books needed in the English courses at the High School.
Realizing that all required work at the library could be made much more intelligible to the High School students if they knew how to use books, the Freshman class, in divisions, was instructed in the use of indexes, tables of contents, diction- aries, encyclopaedias, indexes to periodicals and the catalogue. It is to be hoped, that this may become a regular part of the curriculum for the Freshmen; it will make their work smoother and more pleasant.
Registration
Total number of borrowers registered : December 31, 1914. 7,655
Number of cards cancelled 449
Borrowers using cards. 7,206 Number of new registrations during the year. 768.
Conclusion
The library closes its activities this year with the largest circulation of books it has ever had, and its increase counts along the lines it should. Several new features have been added to the regular work: the letter to the newspaper; the bulletin board notices; an exhibit of children's books suitable for Christmas gifts; the free dis- tribution of lists of such books recently complied by Corinne M. Bacon an authority on book selection; the systematic instruction of High School students in the use of the library.
272
ANNUAL REPORT
The library is now a member of the Boston Cooperative Information Bureau. That means that many questions particularly along technical lines can be satisfactorily and authoritatively answered by those who know.
The next opportunity for the library is that of serving a larger part of the community. Books are already sent to the schools in Briggs Corner, Dodgeville, Hebronville and South Attleboro. For 1915 a still further extension of the work is planned; that of establishing a branch at South Attleboro. If the venture is attended with success, it may be possible to extend like service to the other outlying districts. Extensive as well as intensive methods must be adopted with the growing needs of a growing city.
Respectfully submitted, EUGENIA M. HENRY,
Librarian.
FINANCIAL REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES
Dr.
Annual appropriation . $7,500.00 Duplicate telephone bill . 4.42
$7,504.42
Cr.
Salaries
$3,391.61
Books
2,027.12
273
ANNUAL REPORT
Fuel and light.
781.35
Binding .
402.72
Building .
68.73
Sewer assessment .
289.35
Sundries.
525.69
Unexpended balance
17.85
$7,504.42
Examined February 15, 1915, and found correct:
B. F. LINDSEY, FRED L. MORSE, W. L. ELLIOT, -
Auditors.
274
ANNUAL REPORT
ACCOUNTS-1914 Receipts
Balance on hand.
$53.59
January
42.84
February
24.88
March .
21.66
April
25.55
May.
30.61
June.
20.28
July . 20.35
August.
12.46
September
15.28
October .
21.98
November
19.44
December
24.77
$333.69
Expenditures
Incidentals. $162.55
Library Congress cards 68.35
Express . 17.80
Carrier
14.96
Gas. . 60
Bal. on hand January, 1915.
69.43
$333.69
THE DANIEL H. SMITH FUND Amount of Fund, $5,000.00 Dr.
Jan. 1, cash on hand . $351.16
Interest.
250.00
$601.16
275
ANNUAL REPORT
Cr.
Books purchased . $303.47
Safe deposit drawer 3.00
Cash on hand. 294.69
$601.16
BENEFIT RECITAL FUND
Dr.
Amount of fund
$52.30
$52.30
Cr.
Cash on hand
$52.30
$52.30
REPORT OF MOTH INSPECTION WORK
To the Citizens of the Town of Attleboro:
I herewith submit my seventh annual report as Superintendent of Moth Work, for the year ending Dec. 31, 1914.
In all Gypsy Moth colonies the worthless trees and brush were cut and destroyed.
The cavities in the trees left standing were covered with zinc.
The colonies were all sprayed with arsenate of lead which destroyed most of the caterpillars, the rest were caught by the use of burlap; all brown-tail moth webs were cut and destroyed.
I recommend that $1,400 be appropriated for Moth Work for the year 1915.
The annual scouting was started later than usual this fall, but so far I find a slight increase in Gypsy Moths and a decided decrease in Brown- tail Moths.
I also submit my third annual report as Tree Warden for the year ending Dec. 31, 1914. I removed 16 dead trees, and trimmed trees that were in bad condition on the principal streets of the town.
I recommend that $500 be appropriated for the shade trees.
WM. E. S. SMITH.
REPORT OF THE BOARD OF SEWER COMMISSIONERS
To the Citizens of Attleboro:
In presenting the second and last annual report of the Sewer Department under the man- agement of a Board of Commissioners, we would call your attention to a few facts which have been established regarding the system.
Pipe was laid on 102 streets and connections have already been made on 98 streets. This, together with the fact that not a single stoppage has occurred during the year, proves the perfect gravity of the entire system. Other Engineers tried to convince us that pumping would be abso- lutely necessary to get our sewage to the Filter Fields, but Engineer J. J. Van Valkenburgh was positive in his convictions, and these two years have established his knowledge and judgment in the matter.
Referring again to the statement that pipe was laid on 102 streets and connections have been made on 98, shows that not very much unneces- sary pipe was laid. It is true that there are quite long portions of a few of the long streets in which no connection has yet been made, but in many such cases the piping was necessary in order to secure an outlet.
Our financial statement shows that our ap- propriation for maintenance for the year was $5,000. We were enabled to keep well within
278
ANNUAL REPORT
this amount, which we feel speaks a great deal for the system. Very little flushing was neces- sary, no leaks were repaired, no stoppages, and an average of only two men required at the filter field. It is evident that the maintenance of the system will not be a burden to the City, and pro- bably very few extensions will be needed for some time.
A large portion of the property owners have settled in full their assessment, and also made connection with the sewer. These two facts indicate the advantage of the assessment over a rental system.
We would call your attention at this time to a vote of the Town at the last annual meeting to publish a complete list of sewer assessments in sufficient number to supply the citizens. The work was carefully done, and the book ready for distribution the latter part of the year. We still have a large number of them on hand, and would suggest that all property owners avail themselves of a copy.
It is with no regret that we relinquish our authority in the management of theSewer Depart- ment, for we feel that the Mayor, Council, and Superintendent of Public Works will appreciate the effort we have made to turn over to the new City the very best within our power. We believe that we have a superior system; and while our authority has ceased, our interest in its growth and management will continue.
Respectfully submitted,
CHARLES S. HOLDEN, HUGH A. SMITH, HERBERT MacKINNON,
FINANCIAL STATEMENT
Maintenance Receipts
Maintenance Disbursements
Uncollected Bills Jan. 1, 1914. $87.59
Appropriation for Maintenance. . 5,000.00
Salaries .
1,957.32
Appropriation for Assessment Book . . 350.00
Pipe System . 557.32
Office .. 506.11
Filter Fields. 58.91
Incidentals. 241.53
$4,732.35
Unexpended Balance Dec. 31.
$1,304.72
$6,037.07
$6,037.07
Construction Receipts
Construction Disbursements
Balance on hand Jan. 1, 1914
. $39,083.53
Main Extension. . $161.73
Interest on same. . 1,474.29
Unexpended Balance Dec. 31 40,396.09
$40,557.82
$40,557.82
Examined January 27, 1915, and found correct:
B. F. LINDSEY, FRED L. MORSE, W. L. ELLIOT,
Auditors.
C. L. Watson, for Academy St. Pipe ... 250.00
Rebate on Liability Insurance. . 278.79
Material and Labor ... 70.69
Pay Roll . $1,411.16
280
ANNUAL REPORT
DETAIL OF EXPENSES Sewer Department
Pay Roll
Labor at Filter Fields . . . $1,411.16
Salaries
Commissioners
$300.00
Superintendent. 717.32
Bookkeeper .
240.00
Inspector
700.00
$1,957.32
Pipe System
Water for Flushing $100.00
Team & Labor, Flushing. 167.70
Changing
&
Repairing
Manholes.
211.53
Miscellaneous Work
78.09
$557.32
Office
Rent and Telephone. $168.00
Printing Reports. 41.75
Printing Assessment Book 268.45
Cards and Printing
27.91
$506.11
Filter Fields
Tools and Furnishings .. . . $58.91
281
ANNUAL REPORT
Incidentals
Engineering . $210.00
Taxes to Seekonk 23.25
Miscellaneous 8.28
$241.53
Maintenance Expenses for the
year .
$4,732.35
Construction Expenses for the year $161.73
Total Disbursements of
Department
$4,894.08
To the Sewer Commissioners of Attleboro: Gentlemen :---
I herewith submit my report as superintend- ent for the year ending December 31, 1914. The work has been much the same as that of last year, although more attention has been paid to the system of records, flushing sewers, care of the filters, and inspection of connections. From the connection records, which are taken on the ground in note-books, a card-system has been compiled, arranged alphabetically under the name of the street in which the connection is made, showing on one side of the card a detail plan of the con- nection from the sewer to the building connected, and on the other, the owner's name, and address, the drain-layer's name, inspector's name, number and date of permit issued, and date of connection.
A new Weir was installed just above the filter-beds early in the season, and the measure-
282
ANNUAL REPORT
ments which have been taken every other day at intervals of two hours show a daily average of 282,039 gallons.
A record has been kept of the opening and closing of the gates on the filters, thereby showing the length of time and number of doses each bed has received, also a record of the amount of time spent in cleaning, raking, weeding, removing sludge, and the number of loads.
In a following table will be found the sewage analyses, made by the State Board of Health.
In July a little different arrangement of sewage treatment was tried out at the filters by using more beds and shorter periods of dosing. This method seems to show quite an improvement over the method formerly used; the beds will go much longer before needing cleaning, less sludge to remove, less odor from the beds, less liability to clog, and the absence of effluent from the under- drains, excepting after heavy rains.
In sewage as well as water purification, the word "filter" is generally used to mean a collec- tion of particles of any size, through which the liquid is passed. The individual particles may be as fine as the finest sand, or as large as cobble stones. Evidently straining out impurities can be no part of the function of the latter; and the straining effect of the fine sand filter is considered but incidental.
"In any filter the essential conditions are very slow motion of very thin films of liquid over the surface of the particles that have spaces be- tween them sufficient to allow air to be in contact with the films of liquid. With these conditions it is essential that certain bacteria be present to aid in the process of nutrification."
283
ANNUAL REPORT
The flushing of sewers, especially the dead ends, have been carefully attended to, and the records kept on cards, a card for each dead end, showing the date, length of time flushed, and condition of sewer.
The number of sewer connections made up to Jan. 1, 1914 was 518. Since that date 183 have been added, making a total of 701 to date.
The above connect 851 buildings with the new system.
The only sewer extension made this year was on Robert St., from the, angle to Twelfth Street a distance of 202 feet. 8" Akron pipe was used, and one manhole placed at the end.
Respectfully submitted,
HERBERT F. CONANT, Superintendent.
THE COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS -- STATE BOARD OF HEALTH Sewage Analysis Parts in 100,000
Residue on Evaporation
Ammonia
Nitrogenas
Total Residue
Loss on Ignition
Albuminoid
Date of Collection
Total
Dissolved
Suspended
Total
Dissolved
Suspended
Free
Total
Dissolved
Suspended
Clorine
Nitrates
Nitrites
Unfiltered
Filtered
Iron
Alkalinity
1914
116142
May 15
3.3000
9800
.2200 6.55
5.90
.120 .080
116143
May 15
1.9200
.1030
4.60
. 1900
.014
116644
June 8
5.0000
1.4600
6800 8.10 6.40
1.0000
.280
Raw sewage Effluent No. 3 Raw sewage Effluent
116658
June 8
5.10
.0006
.0016
.38
.0480
. 0001
ness 1.6
Well at filter field
117404
July 13
5.0000
1.1700
.3980 9.50
13.30
.140
117405
July 13
2.4000
.2320
7.60
.0000
1.32
028
21.00 Raw sewage Effluent
118160
Aug. 11
5.5000 .0004
.0018
.43
0300
.005
Raw sewage Well at filter field
119047 119048
Sept. 14 Sept. 14
8.4000
1.0200
.6200 9.70
6.20
1.00
096
.0000
.0020
. 47
.0200
.008
.272
119834
Oct. 19
6.0000 .0006
. 9200
.4600 8.10 1.00
7.60 .06
1.00
.072
119835
Oct. 20
.020
120479
Nov. 12
7.0000 1.0800
.4800 9.20
6.00
4.10
.076
25.00 Raw sewage
116645
June 8
2.0000
.2130
2900
7.40
5.40
3.50
.080
22.00
118161
Aug. 11
.2.10
Raw sewage Well at filter field
---
32.00 Raw sewage Well at filter field
0018
.0300
.160
6.60
.390
Hard
.310
.220
. 8500
Oxygen Consumed
REPORT OF THE BOARD OF HEALTH
Attleboro, Mass., Dec. 31, 1914.
The Board of Health of the Town of Attleboro hereby submit their annual report for the year ending December 31, 1914.
The personnel of the Board was as follows: Dr. R. P. Kent, Chairman, Mr. S. H. Foley, Sec- retary and Dr. J. A. Reese third member. The appointive offices have been held as follows: Dr. Hugh Gaw, Inspector of Slaughtering, Caleb E. Parmenter, Inspector of Milk, Messrs. Read and Seagraves, Inspector of Plumbing.
During the year the Board has received several complaints regarding nuisances which have existed in the town and have abated the same in the best manner possible.
After several complaints regarding the col- lection of garbage in town, this Board deemed it a wise idea to advertise for bids for the collection of garbage in the limits of the town as stated by the Board of Health. After receiving several bids the contract for the collection of garbage was awarded to Mr. A. T. Fisher, for the sum of $800.00 a year, for a term of three years.
This plan has proved to be very successful and at the present time the town has a good system for the collection of its garbage.
Owing to the fact that a new sewage system has been installed the complaints from vaults, etc., has greatly diminished.
286
ANNUAL REPORT
During the year a great amount of expense was added to the Board on account of the small-pox case in the town.
Attleboro has more than its share of consump- tives and the problem of caring for them is a very difficult one. The crowded conditions of the State Sanatoria prevents prompt admittance and this long waiting under very unfavorable conditions is injurious to the patient as well as a source of danger to members of his household and to our community at large.
The nurses provided by the Anti-Tubercu- losis Society are of great assistance in these cases and do much in the way of nursing as well as instructing other members of the household in the care of patients ill with this disease, and by ways of protecting themselves from becoming infected. The time is rapidly approaching when, unless the State or County makes more suitable provisions for such cases, we shall be obliged to do more as our own share in eradicating this disease by providing a suitable hospital of our own.
We desire to recommend for the following year, that ice cutting be prohibited upon Orr's Pond, South Attleboro, also that boating and fishing be prohibited thereon.
We also recommend that money be appropria- ated for the establishment of a milk laboratory for bacteriological and chemical analysis.
We also recommend, that in the near future money be appropriated for the employment of an agent of the Board of Health, such agent's duties to consist of collecting samples of milk and ex- amining the same monthly, and regular inspection of our markets, bakeries, dairies, and confectioners.
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