USA > Massachusetts > Bristol County > Attleboro > Reports of town officers of the town of Attleborough 1934 > Part 12
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In the death of Mr. William L. King who had been a trustee for thirteen years the Library suffered a severe loss and his counsel will be greatly missed at our table.
Respectfully submitted, Board of Trustees, Attleboro Public Library, Joseph L. Sweet Memorial. Ethel H. Barden, Secretary.
145
ANNUAL REPORT
To the Board of Trustees of the Attleboro Public Library, Joseph L. Sweet Memorial.
A report of the library for the year 1934 is chiefly a record of setting our house in order. The rather extensive alterations connected with the installation of a new lighting system, a new heating plant and the redecoration of walls and ceilings by means of E. R. A. projects, have gone hand in hand with the less spectacular, but equally vital, revamping of the book and picture collections, the catalog and general library procedure.
The carrying out of the various projects for building repair and improvement was managed without closing the library to the public. The new lights have been especially welcome for their efficiency, and no longer is it necessary for readers and staff to grope around dimly lighted shelves. There has been a marked in- crease in the use of the reading rooms now that adequate light permits comfort- able consultation of material in the building.
At the beginning of the year the upper tier of stacks was opened for public use in order to relieve the crowded condition of the main floor. With the help of E. R. A. workers about one-third of the book stock was shelved in the upper tier. This collection comprises the group of books on psychology, religion, ethics, economics, political science, history and biography. Members of the staff are scheduled to assist readers in locating material in this section thus making it possible for assistants at the central desk to give more time to aid borrowers who wish material that is located on the main floor.
This personal service in the use of material is the most important function of the library staff, yet one which cannot be presented in graphic form. The number of books circulated means turn-over of stock and time and energy spent in the handling of details, but it is by no means an adequate gauge of a library's efficiency. Since 1933 when the plan of charging books for four weeks instead of two, was put into effect, in order to lessen clerical work of following up overdue books, there has been a decrease in circulation. There are various reasons that have been assigned for general circulation decreases that all libraries are reporting. It may be due to reemployment, depletion of book stock and the fact that, having had more time to read than formerly, many people are now tired of reading, but there is no decrease in the actual work with the persons of the library. Each day brings requests for information or assistance that require for answering, time ranging from three minutes to three hours. Increased use of the reading rooms at certain hours of the day caused one reader to remark that libraries are now almost as crowded as Woolworth's stores.
In order to give better service and to make the utmost use of all available material, certain sections of the catalog have been revised. A thorough check has been made for obsolete subject-headings and up-to-date and more com- prehensive terms have been substituted. One assistant has undertaken the indexing of the music collection so that individual compositions may be more readily located. The work begun in 1933 on the picture collection has been completed and the library now has approximately 100,000 pictures arranged in classified groups.
An item of book stock seldom considered by the layman is the rebinding and repair of books. During the year 899 books, magazines and newspapers have been sent to commercial binderies, while about half that number are repaired each month by library assistants. More books could be taken care of locally if budget allotments for part-time work were increased. That replacements and duplicates are in the nature of a major investment is shown by the accession figures which list 3,000 items as duplicates or replacements out of the 7,000 books added during the past three years.
The book collection which now totals 36,920 or 1.7 books per person in Attleboro, has been made possible, to a large extent, by gifts. In the spring over 300 volumes were presented by Yale University as a gift in honor of Amelia
146
ANNUAL REPORT
Daggett Sheffield, and in addition there have been copies of books, collections of magazines, documents, pictures and clippings most generously given by organiza- tions and individuals. The library is deeply appreciative of the thoughtfulness of those who have helped maintain the library by contributing services, flowers, books, etc.
Libraries, like individuals and governments, may best function by considering the long view. The American Library Association asks for the cooperation of every individual connected with a library to help maintain the public library as a community institution on par with schools as an educational and cultural force. It is in this spirit of cooperation that the staff has worked intelligently, faithfully and cheerfully despite notably inadequate remuneration. For this same co- operative spirit and for the counsel on the part of the Board of Trustees, I express my deep appreciation, and herewith submit this report.
Sincerely and respectfully yours,
Elizabeth Lucile Palmer, Librarian.
Report of City Forester
To His Honor the Mayor and Municipal Council,
Gentlemen:
I herewith submit my annual report for the year ending December 31, 1934.
The work of destroying gypsy moth eggs in the woodland was greatly assisted by help from the E. R. A .- this allowed more time for my regular crew in the residential section.
Trees along most of the country roads were sprayed to check the spread of the gypsy moth.
I also found it necessary to spray most of the elm trees in the city to prevent stripping by the canker worm and elm leaf beetle.
Many of the elm trees were cleared of dead wood to put them in condition to resist the dutch elm disease which is certainly spreading toward this district, and I hope to be able to continue with the rest of the elm trees this coming year.
Lack of funds caused brush cutting to be confined mostly to corners and bad curves, but through an E. R. A. project a large amount of wild cherry was cut but through an E. R. A. project a large amount of wild cherry was cut that will aid extermination of the tent caterpillar.
Respectfully submitted,
Wm. E. S. Smith, City Forester.
147
ANNUAL REPORT
Sealer of Weights and Measures
January 7, 1935.
To His Honor, the Mayor, and Municipal Council, Attleboro, Mass.,
Gentlemen:
This department was not properly equipped to check scales and weights of the jewelers and factories but through cooperation of the Division of Standards, State Inspector I. D. F. Marston and City Sealer Fred Howard of Brockton, most of the weights were tested and sealed at Brockton. Several trips were made to complete the work.
The present state of the gold market has created activity in the sale of rings, chains and other gold jewelry by persons in need of money. Complaints have been received at this office in the matter of weights as determined by prospective purchasers and investigation has shown these complaints to be justified.
The importance of this line of work was recognized by Mayor Foley and the members of the Council, and on request an appropriation was passed and a set of troy weights was ordered and delivered December 24, 1934, which will make it possible to do the work in the office or at the factory.
However, in order that the work can properly be performed it will be necessary to have an analytical balance for the smaller weights.
In addition to a test of troy weights, this department was fortunate in having again received cooperation from the state and received use of a one hundred gallon test tank, which was used in testing bulk meters, meters on trucks, as well as truck compartments.
The law governing transient vendors has been changed so that a sealer must in detail report to the director of suspected transients.
This department had an attractive booth at the city exposition, and the sealer was at his booth each evening.
As sealer, I have checked orders given out by the Welfare and Soldiers' Relief Departments for fuel and food, and have reweighed articles in accordance with the law.
Work in this department has grown rapidly, and what was a part time position, through changes in merchandising, vendors, fuel oil and gasoline, also jewelers legislation, it has been necessary to devote full time for the proper discharge of the duties.
Complaints from various sources coming to the attention of the department have received prompt investigation.
Articles adjusted, sealed as follows:
Adjusted
Sealed
Not Sealed
Con- demned
Platform over 5,000 lbs.
3
9
Platform over 100
24
77
Counter over 100.
2
47
Beam over 100.
6
2
Spring over 100.
14
Spring under 100.
12
144
Cumputing under 100
11
101
Personal (slot)
10
148
ANNUAL REPORT
Adjusted
Sealed
Not Sealed
Con- demned
Prescription
4
Jewelers Scales
4
17
9
Avoirdupois Wi ts.
19
469
Apothecary
7
73
Metric.
2
7
Troy
127
306
Vehicle-3 tanks, 9 compartments
Liquid Measures
129
Dry Measures
5
Gasoline .
14
146
5
2
Gasoline Meters.
68
Ferosene.
1
19
Oil Pumps.
5
89
Quantity Measures
135
735
Yard Measures
12
6
Totals
369
2487
16
8
Fees collected and turned in to Treasurer. Sealing Fees.
$264.76
Transient Vendors (2)
4.86
Special City Licenses (10).
250.00
Local Licenses (18)
90.00
Plates License (16) .
8.00
County Applications (7)
$617.62
Articles reweighed included Beans, Bread, Butter, Coal in bags, Coal in transit, Confectionery, Flour, Lard, Potatoes, Onions and other dry commodities.
55 Clinical Thermometers were observed in accordance with the law. A record of which was sent to the State Director.
Respectfully submitted,
Dan O'Connell, Sealer of Weights and Measures.
149
ANNUAL REPORT
Report of Electrical Inspector
To His Honor the Mayor and the Municipal Council:
I herewith submit my report as Electrical Inspector for the year ending December 31st, 1934.
Applica- tions
Permits
Inspec- tions
Re-Inspec-
tions
Total
January
58
58
77
108
185
February
43
43
57
81
138
March.
51
51
68
114
182
April
83
83
111
149
260
May
89
89
119
139
258
June
99
99
132
183
315
July
68
68
91
99
190
August
98
98
131
128
259
September
106
106
142
161
303
October
111
111
148
195
343
November
85
85
114
134
248
December.
99
99
132
90
222
990
990
1,322
1,581
2,903
Evidence of the necessity for more rigid inspections and strict enforcement of the City Ordinances and State Laws has been very forcefully brought to the attention of every one concerned in the recent fatality at the Dodgeville Finishing Company's plant in Dodgeville where work had been done by some person not qualified to do the same and without a permit being issued to him from this office and consequently no inspection of the work being made. This fatality showed only too well the wiseness of our City Ordinances and State Laws re- quiring Cities to have and maintain inspection departments. If the general public does not co-operate with this office in this respect we are powerless to secure the safety that the aforesaid City Ordinances and State Laws contemplate.
In endeavoring to carry out the action of these Laws during the past year it has been necessary to institute court action in several instances, which in every case has produced convictions which we hope will be lessons to others who might attempt doing electrical work without the necessary license and permit as re- quired by City and State Laws.
Recommendations
Office Expenses .
$225.00
Maintenance of Auto.
125.00
$350.00
At this time I wish to extend my sincere thanks to His Honor the Mayor, the Municipal Council and all officials and citizens for their courtesy and hearty co-operation extended to this office during the past year of 1934.
Joseph H. Newcomb, Electrical Inspector.
150
ANNUAL REPORT
Fire Department
MAYOR Frank R. Sweet
COMMITTEE OF THE CITY COUNCIL ON FIRE DEPARTMENT David Lyon, Chairman Francis Manchester
Earle Swift
BOARD OF FIRE ENGINEERS
William E. Sweeney, Chairman
Craig C. Pope
Chief Fred A. Clark, Clerk Asst. Chief Leonard Gould
PERMANENT MEN Located at South Main Street Station
Chief Fred A. Clark
22 Hayward St.
Asst. Chief Leonard Gould
88 Forest St.
Captain Hiram R. Packard.
8 Hope St.
Lieutenant Joseph O. Mowry
5 Second St.
Lieutenant Herbert E. Knight
15 Angell St. 681 Park St.
Charles E. Barrett
1 Parker St.
Francis J. Barrett.
22 Foley St. North Ave.
William A. Demers.
Clifford E. Dieterle
Charles I. Gay
Peter Godfrey
16 Carman Ave.
Herman F. Gorman
1 Fuller Ave.
James W. Hatfield.
1 Mulberry St.
31 Adamsdale Ave.
John J. McGilvray
16 Martin St.
Harry E. Morris
94 Cumberland Ave.
Edward M. Paton
10 Angell St. 56 Carpenter St.
Harold T. Powers
William E. Riley
96 Park St.
John Stafford.
William A. Wheaton
48 Oakridge Ave. 66 Emory St.
Frank E. Barney
Harold Cassidy
41A Holman St. 496 Newport Ave. 155 Park St.
William J. Lees
151
ANNUAL REPORT
Located at Union Street Station
Captain Bert E. Riley
21 Picknell St.
Lieutenant Herbert E. Brown
9 Franklin St.
Lieutenant William F. Ahern
567 Thacher St.
Joseph I. Claflin
24 West St.
John E. Galvin
60 Parker St.
Joseph W. Hearn
53 Thacher St.
Ralph L. Hopkinson
6 Benefit St.
Nelson B. Lees.
61 Adamsdale Ave.
Delphis J. B. Paradis
35 Baker St.
Herbert C. Parker
163 North Ave.
Charles E. Stewart
36 Parker St.
Located at South Attleboro Station
Captain Roy M. Churchill
1536 Newport Ave.
Lieutenant Albert N. Knight
10 Lafayette St.
Albert W. Andrews.
33 Pleasant St.
Henry E. Charon
46 Hodges St.
Manuel Duigmedgian.
105 Parker St.
Thomas R. Leedham
4 Meunier Ave.
Frederick W. S. Moore
54 Brownell St.
Joseph A. Smith
628 Newport Ave.
Herman M. Thurber
532 Newport Ave.
Located at Hebronville Station
Andrew L. Murphy
Bliss Ave.
Report of Board of Fire Engineers
To His Honor the Mayor and Municipal Council:
We have the honor of submitting the annual report of the Fire Department for the year ending December 20, 1934, together with such recommendations as we think necessary for increasing the efficiency of the Department.
Organization
The Department consists of : 4 Engineers-2 Permanent, 2 Call 42 Officers and men-Permanent
Fire Stations and Apparatus
Central Fire Station, South Main Street, Station No. 1
2 Ahrens-Fox Triple Combinations
1 Ahrens-Fox City Service Ladder Truck
1 Chief's Car
1 Supply Car
152
ANNUAL REPORT
Union Street Station, Station No. 2
1 Ahrens-Fox Triple Combination
1 Seagrave Tractor Drawn 75 foot Aerial Ladder Truck
South Attleboro Station, Newport Avenue, Station No. 4
1 Ahrens-Fox Triple Combination
1 Seagraves City Service Truck
1 Kelley-Springfield Combination Hose and Chemical
Hebronville Station, South Main Street, Station No. 5
1 Federal Combination Hose and Chemical
APPARATUS
4 Ahrens-Fox Triple Combinations
2 Hose and Chemical Trucks
3 Ladder Trucks
1 Chief's Car
1 Supply Car
We had one bad three-alarm fire, the Sanford Block.
The Department, including all companies, has laid 23,500 feet of hose, raised 2,134 feet of ladders, used 204 gallons of chemicals, 15 gallons of foam, 16 pryenes, water cans 283 times and the booster pumps 73 times.
The Department has responded to the following alarms:
Alarms from boxes 71
Still alarms 242
Assembly 2 Total 315
Classification
Ash bin.
6
Autos
28
Awning
1
Broken water pipe
1
Brush.
107
Building
49
Chimney
40
Cleaning gutter
1
Dump
10
False
12
Gasolene.
1
Hencoop
2
Inhalator
1
Motor
1
No fire.
23
Oil burner
12
Overheated stove
1
Rescue animal .
6
Rescue person
1
Sawdust
3
Sleepers.
2
Sprinklers
5
Stone crusher
1
Tar barrel.
1
Total 315
153
ANNUAL REPORT
FIRE LOSS
Value of buildings at risk.
$481,400.00
Value of contents at risk. 465,500.00
$ 946,900.00
Insurance on buildings
614,650.00
Insurance on contents
449,400.00
$1,064,050.00
Loss on buildings
17,561.44
Loss on contents
34,383.17
$ 51,944.61
Insurance paid on buildings
17,301.44
Insurance paid on contents
34,263.17
$ 51,564.61
Loss not covered by insurance
$ 380.00
LEARN THE LOCATION OF YOUR NEAREST FIRE ALARM BOX
IMPROVEMENTS
A roof was built over the South Main Street Station tower. A new roof on the South Attleboro Station. A new hot water heating plant at Union Street Station. Both the Union Street and South Attleboro Stations were painted outside. Mew doors were installed at the South Main Street Station.
All of the Stations are in first class condition, excepting for minor repairs needed from time to time.
SALARIES
Chief
$2,100.00 per year
Assistant Chief .
2,000.00 per year
Semi-permanent man, Hebronville . 1,080.00 per year
PERMANENT MEN
Captains
$ 4.95 per day
Lieutenants.
4.73 per day
2nd year men
4.50 per day
1st year men.
4.28 per day
1st six months men
4.05 per day
HOSE
The total amount of two and one-half inch hose in the Department is 16,000 feet, of one and one-half inch hose is 1,500 feet. Chemical hose 2,150 feet.
RECOMMENDATIONS
Apparatus-
All of the apparatus is up-to-date and in first class condition with the excep- tion of the old helley Combination truck at South Attleboro. This truck is not dependable and is over 20 years old. We believe this truck is a liability to the City and recommend to replace it with a 500 gallon Triple Combination Pumper as this part of the City needs first class protection. The Combination Truck at Hebronville is 21 years old but has not been used as much as the Kelley Truck.
Man Power-
We are running away below the average in the number of men and would recommend that two more men be appointed to the force to replace the two that were pensioned. One of these two would be placed in the South Attleboro Station.
154
ANNUAL REPORT
Chief's Car-
We recommend the purchase of another car for the use of the Chief Officers of the Department. At present the lack of another car is hurting the efficiency of the Department and we do not believe the Engineers should be expected to use their own cars all the time. The Chief of Department as Building Inspector and representative of Fire Marshall's Office is obliged to fulfill these duties and uses the Fire Department's only car very frequently. When this car is used for this purpose and an alarm comes in, the Assistant Chief has no light car to go in and if the Assistant Chief is on his day off there is no car to pick up one of the other Engineers. Coupled with this is the seriousness of a call for the Inhalator, for there is no light speedy car to respond with when this one car is out on other municipal duties which the Chief is obliged to do, and in his absence, the Assistant Chief.
APPRECIATION
We wish at this time to thank His Honor, the Mayor, the Municipal Council, the Committee on Fire Department, and the Police Department for their assist- ance and to the Officers and Men for the able manner in which they performed their duties.
We wish to thank Dr. Kent for his attendance and services rendered to our men injured at fires.
Also at this time we wish to thank Mr. Wightman and Mr. Morin for lunches sent to us at numerous night fires.
Respectfully submitted,
Board of Fire Engineers,
William E. Sweeney, Chairman Chief Fred A. Clark, Clerk Assistant Chief Leonard Gould Craig C. Pope
ESTIMATED EXPENSES
Salary of Chief
(1)
$ 2,500.00
Salary of Assistant Chief
(1)
2,400.00
Salary of (1) Semi-Permanent man
(1)
1,200.00
Salary of (3) Captains.
(1) 6,022.50
Salary of (5) Lieutenants
(1) 9,581.25
Salary of (33) Permanent men
(1)
60,202.50
$81,906.25
MAINTENANCE OF EQUIPMENT
Autos
.(2)
$ 1,500.00
Hose
(2)
1,100.00
Wearing Apparel.
(2)
100.00
Extinguishers
(2)
25.00
Stations
(2)
2,500.00
All Other
(2)
25.00
$ 5,250.00
HYDRANTS
Hydrants
(3)
OTHER EXPENSES
Light and Power
(4)
$ 485.00
Phones
(4)
490.00
Water
(4)
135.00
Fuel
(4)
1,200.00
Office Supplies.
(4)
25.00
Insurance on Buildings
(4)
175.00
Incidentals.
(4)
20.00
$ 2,530.00
Total
$89,686.25
155
ANNUAL REPORT
Superintendent of Fire Alarm
To the Board of Fire Engineers, Attleboro Fire Department:
Gentlemen:
I herewith submit my annual report as Superintendent of Fire Alarm for the year ending December 31st, 1934.
The Gamewell Fire Alarm Telegraph System is in use and is in very good working order. The equipment which makes up the system is listed below.
One steam whistle and equipment. Pumping Station, South Attleboro
One air whistle with compressed air equipment. Central Station
One Excelsior Time and Date Stamp. Central Station
One Excelsior Punch Register. Central Station
One Peerless Take Up Reel.
Central Station
One Indicator. Central Station
Two Tower Bell Strikers (Spare) Union Street Station
Two Indicators (Spare) (1) .Union Street Station
One Excelsior Punch Register
Union Street Station
One Tower Bell and Striker South Attleboro Station
One Indicator
South Attleboro Station
One Excelsior Punch Register
South Attleboro Station
One Tower Bell Striker Hebronville Church Hebronville Station
One Indicator.
There are 19 Tappers and Gongs located as follows: one in the Police Station, Telephone Office, Office of the Superintendent of Public Works, Water Works Barn and the remainder in the homes of the members of the department.
There are 118 fire alarm boxes connected to the system, 112 of these are street boxes and 6 are owned by following concerns:
Box No. 31-North Avenue
Interstate Street Railway Co.
Box No. 851-46 Pine Street
Bay State Optical Co.
Box No. 652-53 Falmouth Street
W & R Jewelry Co., Inc.
Box No. 751-56 Starkey Avenue
Reenforced Paper Co.
Box No. 515-57 Mechanic Street
The C. L. Watson Co.
Box No. 554-32 Olive Street
The Larson Tool & Stamping Co.
The Fire Alarm Headquarters is located in the Union Street Fire Station and consists of the following:
One twelve circuit storage battery switchboard
One twelve circuit protector board
One ten circuit repeater
510 cells of storage battery
One 1 KW Generator Set
One 1 1-2 KW Generator Set (gasoline driven)
One Excelsior Punch Register
One Peerless Take-up Reel
One six circuit storage battery switchboard (in storage)
One six circuit protector board (in storage)
During the past year no additional fire alarm boxes have been placed in the system.
156
ANNUAL REPORT
RECOMMENDATIONS
I would recommend that some additional fire alarm boxes be purchased in the near future as this city is far behind in its total number of boxes as compared to other cities of equivalent size.
I would recommend that a winch be purchased to complete our truck pro- gram which was started two years ago, a chassis being purchased in 1932, and a line construction body in 1933. The addition of a winch would complete this unit and would make it a very efficient piece of equipment to this department.
Salary of Superintendent
$2,190.00
Salary of Assistant
1,916.25
Maintenance of Fire Alarm 1,250.00
Maintenance of Auto ..
150.00
Installation of winch on truck.
650.00
Other Expenses.
250.00
$6,406.25
At this time I wish to thank the Board of Fire Engineers and the members of the Department for their valuable assistance to this branch of the department during the past year of 1934.
Respectfully submitted,
JOSEPH H. NEWCOMB, Supt. Fire Alarm
157
ANNUAL REPORT
Report of the Building Inspector
January 1st, 1935
To His Honor the Mayor and Municipal Council,
Gentlemen :
Following is a report of the Building Inspector for the year 1934; a total of 190 permits were issued amounting to $109,198.00, divided as follows:
One family dwellings
17
$ 43,500.00
29
6,465.00
Factory additions
1
22,000.00
Stores.
1 3,000.00
Lunch Room
1
1,500.00
Repairing fire damage
1
12,000.00
Minor Buildings
37
5,347.00
Alterations
94
15,386.00
Raze buildings
8
Move buildings
1
190
$109,198.00
The total number of permits granted in 1933 was 132 amounting to $97,450.00 making a gain for 1934 of $11,748.00.
During the year I have made 184 inspections.
Respectfully submitted,
Fred A. Clark, Building Inspector.
Garages.
158
ANNUAL REPORT
Report of City Solicitor
To the Mayor and the Municipal Council of the City of Attleboro:
The legal work for the City, during the year of 1934, has been more con- sistent than in the past years and has necessitated more time in its handling. From merely part-time work, it has become sufficient to take up most of the time of the incumbent in taking care of it.
During 1934, there have been seven cases tried before the Superior Court and the District Court. In one instance, there has been a finding of $500.00 against the City; this was a land damage case arising from the re-location of Newport Avenue. In all other matters, decisions were rendered for the City.
The defense by the City of the regulation concerning complete pasteuriza- tion or certification of milk sold in Attleboro has reached the Supreme Court of the State and is to be heard during the early part of January.
The defense by the City of the police cases so-called, involving the legality of the 1934 Council action in reducing the wages of the police of this City has taken two different aspects. In the first instance, a petition for review of the hearing held by Mayor Foley on demand of the police was heard by Justice Rowe in the District Court, and the Court held the action of the Council legal. In the second instance, a contract action was brought by one officer to recover an amount of money equivalent to the difference between the two rates of pay. That was also heard by Justice Rowe in the District Court and a finding for the City was made. The contract action is now pending before the Appellate Division of the District Courts and shall be heard soon after the first of the year, while the petition for review is being held in abeyance at the moment, pending the contract action, and both matters shall be brought before the Supreme Court together.
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