USA > Massachusetts > Bristol County > Attleboro > Reports of town officers of the town of Attleborough 1917 > Part 7
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Again your Park Commissioners want to impress upon the Finance Committee the necessity of furnishing a greater amount for permanent im- provements. The unimproved portion of the work is growing into woods.
Needs.
Other departments have their needs supplied-why not Capron Park? The Park is more exposed than other City Departments-people can see for themselves what is being done, they do not have to be told. If Attleboro was a one-horse town it would not seem quite so ridiculous to let it remain in its present condition, but Attleboro is a thriving city, up-to-date in all departments-(that is, all but Capron Park).
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Permanent Improvements.
If the Commissioners could have an appropriation of $3000 each year for the next five years for permanent improvements only, the City would have a finished Park in 1922. The Work will have to be done but once-it is not economy to put off these improvements.
Visitors.
Last summer it was surprising to see the number of automobiles which drive around the circuit occupied by strangers. When the Park is finished visitors from Boston and other places will be justified in saying that Attleboro has a beautiful Park-it will be a great "ad" for Attleboro. The amount of money the Commissioners call for is a drop in the bucket compared to other cities. The amount of money called for is not large considering the high price of material, labor, etc .- labor has advanced-grain has doubled in price. Three years ago a building could be painted for one-half of what it now costs.
In 1910 labor in the Park was at the rate of 20c per hour.
In 1911 labor in the Park was at the rate of 22c per hour.
Ten cords of dressing for Park at $4.50, $45.00-today it is double that amount.
Donations.
Patrick Nerney 1 goose
W. H. Chadbourne. 2 rabbits
James Martin 1 rabbit
Mr. Waugh. 1 rabbit
Mrs. William Cobb loaned 3 geese for the summer.
The Park Commissioners want to improve the Island and build a rustic bridge leading from the drive to the same. We also want to clean a side hill above the lake which will be an expensive undertaking. It is an extremely rough piece of ground-very uneven and paved with stone. It will cost at least $500 to get it into shape for plants.
There ought to be some grading done on Dennis Street, and also many other needed improvements.
It will probably cost about $400 to complete the playground.
Inspection.
About the middle of November the Mayor, City Council and Finance Committee visited the Park. They spent about two hours there, taking in the situation thoroughly. They seemed well pleased eith the improved portion.
The Park Commissioners recommend the same amount-five hundred ($500.00) dollars to be appropriated for Fourth of July celebration for 1918
Respectfully submitted
CHARLES A. MOOERS, Chairman, JOHN E. ANDERSON, Secretary, SOLON D. BUSHEE, Treasurer.
Park Commissioners.
The Park Commissioners ask for a appropriation of seven thousand dollars ($7000) for the year 1918.
For permanent improvements.
$3,000.00
For maintenance. 3,700.00
For band concerts. 300.00
$7,000.00
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ANNUAL REPORT
Inventory of Capron Park Property.
Value of Park land-40 acres.
$25,000.00
Buildings-
Newell Shelter
6,500.00
Animal House
800.00
Casino
4,000.00
Tool House
200.00
Band Stand
500.00
Fountain
800.00
Wading Pool
800.00
Bath House
500.00
Rustic House
25.00
One-horse tip cart.
100.00
Wheelbarrow
7.00
Push cart
10.00
Heavy and light rollers.
15.00
Three sieves
10.00
Rubber Hose and reel.
35.00
Receptacles
12.00
Grind stone
6.00
Shelter seats
30.00
Park seats
30.00
Lawn mowers
20.00
Tools
20.00
Geese and ducks
15.00
One Pea Fowl.
10.00
Pigeons
8.00
Fancy and other rabbits.
20.00
Guinea Pigs
2.00
Pots and seed boxes.
15.00
Fertilizer
20.00
Swings
5.00
Teeter Boards
15.00
Playground apparatus
60.00
Hot bed frame and sash.
15.00
Miscellaneous
10.00
$39,615.00
REPORT OF WORK DONE ON THE ATTLEBORO PLAYGROUNDS DURING JULY AND AUGUST, 1917.
The following report is a condensed summary of the various ac- tivities conducted on the various playgrounds in Attleboro during the 1917 summer season. There were practically three playgrounds un- der supervision, Capron Park, Bungay Lot and Brady Field. The lat- ter field was procured through the courtesy of Mr. Brady and Mr. Saart who were interested through the efforts of Mayor Sweet. The work was under the supervision of Miss Newell, Mr. Whittemore and myself. There was also a splendid corps of volunteer leaders composed of the older boys and girls at Capron Park.
Playground Baseball League.
A very decided success. This year five teams entered the league: The Crescents, Pastimes, Trinitys, Tigers and Celtics. The teams finished in the order named and in order to get an idea of the close-
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ness of the race, the last game of the season decided the winners. A neat pin symbolic of the championship was presented to each of the Crescents at the closing festival on Labor Day. The boys made it their business to take good care of the field at all times, and the con- duct during the games was exceptionally fine. The league extends a heartfelt vote of thanks to the men who made the use of the field possible.
Wading Pool.
During the sweltering weather there was hardly a more popular place than the wading pool, newly installed at Capron Park. Some days the attendance in the pool reached the 300 mark, and it became necessary after the first week to divide the time so that there were separate hours for girls and boys. Not a few of the children learned to swim in the deep end of the pool. The slat paths, benches and sand pits around the pool which because of necessity were afterwards added to the equipment met with much favor from the spectators as well as those who made use of the pool. At the suggestion of the supervisor a ventilator was afterwards built on top of the building used as a dressing room, and was the means of improving the quality of the air in the rooms. It is recommended that next year two garbage cans be placed, one on each side of the pool as a throwing of refuse into the water was a constant source of annoyance. There should also be a better arrangement for the checking of the children's clothes.
Hikes and Trips.
Every one of these brought out a goodly number of children. At least one and sometimes two or three were conducted every week. These consisted of overnight hikes, trips into the woods for a day, swims in Bungay Lake, and berry picking expeditions. There were also several canoe trips for the girls.
Industrial Work.
This consisted of raffia work and basketry; also needle work and the like. Some of the creations were very fine indeed, and brought forth the commendation of the visitors to the Park on Labor Day. The work was exhibited on a long table set on the lawn in front of the Shelter House. Prizes were presented to the children who had done the best work during the year. The judges awarded first prize to Alice Cloutier whose basket was a very remarkable piece of work.
Athletic Meets, Outings, Etc.
Aside from the regular track and field practice held daily at the playgrounds there were three meets scheduled during the season. The first of these was held on July 4th with an entry list of about 100. All the events were hotly contested as were those held in connection with the Lake Pearl outing. At the latter affair there was a swim for all in the morning and another in Lake Archer later in the day. The big closing festival held on Labor Day was a great success from both the spectators' as well as the participants' standpoint. A great va- riety of activities were included in the day's program. Some of which were the 18-hole final golf championship for boys under 17, aquatic events in the pool for boys and girls, a baseball game between the champion boys' and girls' teams of Capron Park and another between the Crescents, winners of the playground league pennant, and a team composed of picked players from the other four teams. A number of
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ANNUAL REPORT
exciting bicycle races closed the morning's program. In the after- noon a series of interesting athletic events were run off in which a large number of entrants participated. These were followed by sev- eral folk dances including a Maypole jamboree. The specialties in connection with the dances were an Irish lilt, Scotch fling, and the sailor's hornpipe. At the conclusion of the program all the prizes for the day were presented in the Shelter House.
Much credit for the success of the summer work is due Miss Newell, Mr. Whittemore, the Park Commissioners and others who gave of their ideas and service. Some of the apparatus which remains in good condition has been stored in the apparatus house at Capron Park. There are also several articles belonging the playground stored in the office of the physical director at the Young Men's Christian As- sociation.
Respectfully submitted,
JOHN H. KREHER,
Supervisor.
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ANNUAL REPORT
PLANNING BOARD
To His Honor, Harold E. Sweet, Mayor, and the Honorable City Coun- cil of Attleboro, Massachusetts.
Gentlemen :-
In accordance with Chapter 494 of Massachusetts Statutes, the Attleboro City Planning Board herewith submits its third annual re- port.
The first meeting of the Board for 1917 was held on January 16th.
Organization was the same as last year.
The first activity of the year was in conjunction with the Food Conservation Committee in regard to home gardens.
Through our efforts many more acres than ever before were used for garden purposes in the City.
In connection with this work the Public Works Department aided in having the plowing done for most of these gardens.
As a result of the care and attention given these gardens extra fine crops were raised by many.
The Board also had charge of the distribution of fifty bushels of potatoes donated to amateur gardeners by Mr. Joseph L. Sweet.
At the close of the garden season an exhibition of the harvest was held in Bliss School Hall, and this Board donated $15.00 toward prizes to be awarded those who obtained the best results.
Early in May the annual Clean Up Week was held with the usual splendid results.
At this time we would respectfully call the attention of the citizens of Attleboro to the great improvements which are noticeable since the widening of Union Street.
This Board was the first to recommend that this street be widened, and we feel that too much praise cannot be given the Public Works Department for their splendid accomplishment.
Acting in accordance with our last year's recommendation the City obtained from the Attleboro Steam & Electric Company a new schedule for street lighting, so that we are now getting our streets lighted every night until one-thirty o'clock, whereas in previous years the streets were lighted on a so-called moonlight schedule, and many nights the streets were without lights.
The following are our recommendations for this year:
No. 1. South Main Street.
We again recommend that South Main Street be widened from Park Street to Mill Street so that it will be approximately 35 feet from curb to curb instead of 27 feet as now laid out.
The appended cut at the close of this report shows plainly the improvements proposed.
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ANNUAL REPORT
No. 2. Monument Square.
We again recommend that Monument Square be laid out as a one-way thoroughfare. At present there are no traffic restrictions in this area, and there are many narrow escapes from serious accidents occurring almost daily.
No. 3. Board of Survey.
We again recommend that the Council appoint a Board of Survey in accordance with provisions of Chapter 190, of the Acts of 1916.
The functions of a Board of Survey are to supervise the laying out and the construction of new streets so as to properly plan for future growth and development.
No. 4. Playgrounds.
We recommend that the Park and Recreation Department have charge of all playgrounds, and be empowered to make arangements for additional playgrounds as needed.
No. 5. Cliff Street.
We again recommend that Cliff Street be extended to Hayward Street, and a bridge erected over the river.
This street would be used extensively by working people going to the factories, by teachers and pupils of the High School, and by the delivery wagons of our merchants.
No. 6. Olive Street.
We recommend that the poles at the corner of Olive and Ellis Streets be relocated. At present these poles are a menace to traffic, and they can be relocated so as to make the street much safer for public travel.
No. 7. Mill Street Switch.
We recommend that the Council call the attention of the Interstate Railroad Company to the congestion on Mill Street caused by their cars standing on the switch often for half an hour at a time.
Out of our appropriation of $100.00 voted by the Council we have an unexpended balance of $20.46, and for the ensuing year we would request the same appropriation, namely $100.00.
The regular meetings of this Board are held the first Tuesday of each month, and the public are always welcome.
We wish to thank the, Mayor, the Council, the Public Works Depart- ment and the newspapers for the many courtesies they have extended to us.
JOSEPH FINBERG, Chairman. GEORGE A. SWEENEY, Secretary. RAYMOND M. HORTON. MILFORD E. BLISS. MRS. JOSEPHINE HAMMOND. MRS. MARY G. MULLALY.
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ANNUAL REPORT
POLICE DEPARTMENT
To His Honor, the Mayor, and the Honorable Municipal Council of the City of Attleboro.
Gentlemen :-
I herewith submit for your consideration, my second report as Chief of the Police Department of the City of Attleboro for the year ending Novem- ber 30, 1917.
Organization of the Police Department at the close of the year is as follows :-
Chief of Police. Edmond H. Gingras
Lieutenant
Terence E. Fanagan
Arthur F. Gaffney, John Bora, William J. Sargeant, Edward E. Gobin,
Patrolmen
William D. Norwood, Albert E. Sears, Franklin McKay, Raymond A. Quinley
Louis J. Fourier,
Reserve Officers. J. Harry Musick, Alfred Pollard.
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ANNUAL REPORT
During the year 1917 the Police Department made five hundred and sixty-two arrests for the following crimes and misdemeanors:
Male
Female
Total
Assault and battery
18
1
19
Assault to rape. .
1
0
1
Assault with dangerous weapon.
4
0
4
Assault on officer.
1
0
1
Abandonment of family
2
0
2
Abandonment of child.
0
1
1
Adultery
1
0
1
Arson.
1
0
1
Auto law, violation of.
39
0
39
Beaking, entering and larceny .
2
0
2
Bastardy
3
0
3
Carrying concealed weapon
1
0
1
Carrying revolver without permit.
1
0
1
Cruelty to animals.
7
0
7
Contempt of Court
1
0
1
Drunkenness.
212
2
214
Disturbance of the peace.
22
1
23
Delinquent children.
11
0
11
Discrimination on account of color
1
0
1
Discharging revolver on Sabbath
1
0
1
Evading car-fare.
3
0
3
Fortune-telling.
0
3
3
Food laws, violation of.
10
0
10
Fornication.
2
3
Forgery of endorsement
1
1
Fugitive from justice.
1
0
1
Failing to send child to school.
0
1
1
Habitual truant .
1
0
1
Indecent exposure.
1
0
1
Larceny in a building.
2
0
2
Larceny. .
37
3
40
Liquor laws, violation of.
35
0
35
Labor laws, violation of.
1
0
1
Lewd and lascivious conduct.
1
1
2
Lewd and lascivious co-habitation
2
2
4
Lewdness.
0
1
1
Malicious mischief.
6
0
6
Manslaughter
1
0
1
Making false affidavit.
1
0
1
Marrying person without proper notice of intention
1
0
1
Marrying minor without consent of guardian.
1
0
1
Neglect to provide for family.
22
0
22
Neglected children.
7
5
12
Neglect of child.
1
1
2
Obtaining endorsement by fase pretense.
1
0
1
Probation, violation of .
10
0
10
Riding in freight car .
18
0
18
Ringing in false fire alarm
6
0
6
Receiving stolen property
1
0
1
Selling leased property
1
0
1
Stubborn child.
2
0
2
1
2
City Ordinance, violation of
8
0
8
Concealing property held on conditional sale
1
1 0
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ANNUAL REPORT
Tampering with fire alarm.
1
0
1
Treating U. S. Flag contemptuously
1
0
1
Taking auto without right.
1
0
1
Trepass on railroad
6
0
6
Tramp
12
0
12
Throwing glass in public street .
1
0
1
Uttering forged instrument
1
0
1
Vagrancy
1
0
1
Total
538
24
562
Of this number of arrests only 19% were made by the regular patrol- men showing that the bulk of the work of this nature is done by officers con- nected with the Chief's office. The department has prosecuted twenty-four cases of abandonment and neglect to provide for families. Many of these arrests were made out of the jurisdiction of our local Court and in some cases the delinquents were found only after persistent search in other states. Offi- cer Gobin, the day man at the Station, has done exceptionally good work on cases of this character, and I take this opportunity to commend him for his work.
By appointing Patrolman Flanagan to the office of Lieutenant a needed increase was made in the office force making it possible to have an extra man in the afternoon and evening to leave in charge in case I am absent, also giving the department better opportunity for investigating complaints.
Most of the cases and complaints which require investigating are looked after by the two last named officers. This class of work being different than the routine duties performed by the patrolmen and requires the services of a man with a better inside knowledge of police work than the average police- man. In a good many cases they are obliged to work overtime, sometimes till late in the night without extra compensation. 1 think this matter should be considered and an increase in wages be granted these officers.
The appointment of a Lieutenant took one man from the regular night force which vacancy has not as yet been filled.
One man has been covering two routes on a bicycle. This has worked quite satisfactorily when good weather prevails, although both routes were shortened considerably, leaving some territory unprotected in order to enable the officer to patrol these routes as often as possible. This should be remedied as soon as possible by the appointment of one more regular patrolmen.
I cannot urge too strongly the need of a regular patrolman in the south- ern part of the City. This section is not patrolled at any time except on Saturday nights and Sundays when an officer is detailed for duty there. The great amount of valuable property, the heavy traffic on Washington Street and the close proximity to the Pawtucket and Cumberland saloons is enough in itself to require the services of a regular patrolmen seven days a week. I recommend the appointment of an additional regular patrolman to do duty in this section of the City.
I recommend the appointment of an additional patrolman for duty during the daytime. This will make possible the patrolling of streets out- side of the center not reached by the day officer.
I recommend disposing of the Overland car now in use by the depart- ment, not only for economic reasons, as well as its inability to perform the services required by the Police Department. It has been very clearly demon - strated on several occasions in answering emergency calls that this car is not
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ANNUAL REPORT
fast nor heavy enough for the work. It has defects which make it dangerous for the occupants as well as other users of the public way.
I recommend installing at least two telephone boxes on each route to be operated from a switch board in the Station. Officers will be required to call in at stated times during the night so that a record can be made of their work. This is the only method that will ensure proper patrolling of the streets. The expense connected with this would not be very large and would repay the City in many ways. Installing a system such as is used in other cities would be a big expense and should be deferred until such time as the City sees fit to erect a permanent Police Station.
I desire to call your attention to the salary paid to your Chief of Police and compare the same with cities and towns of like size. Under present conditions it is not adequate compensation for the officer and I respectfully ask that an increase of one hundred dollars be made to take effect January 1 1918.
I recommend the appropriation of nineteen thousand five hundred dollars for the maintenance of the Police Department for the year 1918, plus the cost of installing telephone boxes. Following is a list of estimated expenses for 1918:
Salary of Chief of Police.
$1,300.00
Salary of Lieutenant.
1,100.00
Wages of eight patrolmen
8,585.00
Ten officers, two days off a month with pay.
600.00
Ten officers, two weeks' vacation with pay ..
350.00
Three additional patrolmen, at $910.00.
2,730.00
Three additional patrolmen, two days off in 30
180.00
Hebronville and Dodgeville patrol.
200.00
Lockup keeper and care of lockup.
200.00
Rent of Police Station.
900.00
Automobile insurance
381.00
Estimated Court Fees for 1918.
800.00
Maintenance of two autos including washing
1,150.00
Providence Telephone Company
175.00
Electricity for one year
150.00
Police Station incidentals.
150.00
Extra Police services.
125.00
Upkeep of motorcycle.
75.00
Rent of Bates & Bacon garage
96.00
Water and rent of meter.
50.00
Amount required for increase in wages.
200.00
$19,497.00
Respectfully submitted,
EDMOND H. GINGRAS,
Chief of Police
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ANNUAL REPORT
PUBLIC LIBRARY
January 25, 1918.
To the Mayor and Council of the City of Attleboro,
Gentlemen :-
The Attleboro Public Library has just passed probably its most active year of service. This has been caused by the changing demands on the Library which have so clearly reflected the nature of Attleboro's and our nation's thoughts. This is plainly shown by the large increase in the Library's circulation of books, classed as non-fiction that deal with the more serious things of life, such as religion, sociology, philosophy, useful arts, etc., as well as the large circulation of gardening books in the spring and food conserva- tion of literature in the fall. Since the United States' entry into the war, another element has become most evident, namely, military information of all kinds. All of these reading desires on the part of Attleboro's public, the Library has not only responded to splendidly, but endeavored to anticipate and encourage, as will be noted in detail in a most interesting annual report to the Trustees by Miss Claflin as Librarian, which is attached hereto.
The Library like all other institutions is confronted for the ensuing year by a considerable increase in its probable expenses. Coal alone will represent an increase in our budget of at least $400, while the ever increasing cost of books, magazines, library equipment and materials, as well as book bindings, is disconcerting. This large increase in the coal item is the result not only of unusual fuel cost but increased consumption due to the heating of the new children's room, also the upper floor, which has been used exten- sively by the Surgical Dressing Committees. The children's room was opened in April, 1917, and its value has been increasingly apparent. Not only have more children visited the Library, but the scope of the work in their department has been greatly broadened.
Upon referring to our Treasurer's report you will note that we have a considerable balance remaining from our 1917 appropriation. This is ac- counted for by our coal supply instead of being purchased and delivered in the summer for the year as usual, has been procured from week to week in small lots, leaving at this time, fifty or more tons to be purchased to carry us through the winter.
The Trustees after a most careful consideration of the situation not forgetting the need of municipal economy, believe that an appropriation of $8000 from the City will be necessary in order to keep the Library able efficiency during the year 1918, a year portentous with national and international developments.
Respectfully submitted,
Board of Trustees of the Attleborough Public Library.
JOSEPH L. SWEET, Chairman LEONARD I. LAMB, THOMAS E. McCAFFREY, ELIZABETH J. WILMARTH, ELEANOR S. CARPENTER, CHARLES S. HOLDEN, MARK E. ROWE, IRENE T. HILL, RAYMOND M. HORTON.
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ANNUAL REPORT
January 1, 1918.
To the Trustees of the Attleboro Public Library:
I have the honor to submit my report for the year ending December 31, 1917.
A year ago, in the midst of a war in which America was not then in- volved, the public library was proclaimed an "international instrument for the preservation of peace." Today, the abnormal situation as a result of which our country now finds itself a part of the great conflict is reflected in the unusual features noticeable in the work of the library during 1917. Among the abnormal features which have affected the work of the library, the constantly mounting prices for periodicals, books, binding, and supplies have importantly figured. As a result, a total of only 1370 books have been added during the year, as compared with 1433 in 1916, while the acquis- ition of really needed magazines and supplies has suffered a like reduction. The complete record of accessions and withdrawals follows:
Books in library Jan. 1, 1917 19,903
Volumes added during 1917 1,370
Volumes withdrawn 129
Volumes replaced.
104
Actual number of books in library Jan. 1, 1918. 21,273
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