USA > Massachusetts > Bristol County > Attleboro > Reports of town officers of the town of Attleborough 1936 > Part 9
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500.00
Total Appropriations
$59,084.24
Expenditures
For Payrolls of Officers.
$48,564.41
For Care and Maintenance of Equipment.
4,858.63
For Other Expenses.
3,417.42
For New Equipment .
999.50
For Committing Prisoners to Jail.
Total Expenditures
$57,839.96
Arrests for Year 1936
Crime
Male
Female
Total
Adultry
2
2
4
Assault and Battery.
24
0
24
Assault with Dangerous Weapon
2
1
3
Assault to Murder
1
0
1
Breaking, Entering and Larceny.
6
0
6
Carnal Abuse of Female Child
2
0
2
Concealing Leased Property
1
0
1
City Ordinance, Violation of.
4
0
4
Delinquency .
14
0
14
Disorderly House.
0
1
1
Disturbing the Peace.
27
6
33
Dog Keeping, Unlicensed.
5
0
5
Driving Motor Vehicle to Endanger Life .
49
2
51
Driving Motor Vehicle while Intoxicated.
49
0
49
111
ANNUAL REPORT
Male 172
Female Total
Drunkenness.
9
181
False Alarm of Fire.
1
0
1
Idle and Disorderly
0
2
2
Illegitimate Child Act, Violation of .
6
0
6
Indecent Exposure
1
0
1
Larceny and Attempt
27
0
27
Larceny of Automobile.
4
0
4
Liquor Laws, Violation of
5
1
6
Lottery Laws, Violation of.
10
0
10
Neglect or Desertion of Family, Non-Suport
19
0
19
Neglected Children.
5
0
5
Non-Payment of Wages
1
0
1
Peddling Unlicensed .
6
0
6
Rape, Assault to and Attempt .
2
0
2
Riding on Tender of Train
1
0
1
Robbery, Assault to and Attempt.
1
0
1
Tramps.
12
0
12
Trespass
2
0
2
Truancy .
2
0
2
Using Motor Vehicle Without Authority
2
0
2
Violation of Probation .
11
0
11
Escaped from State School and Returned
3
0
3
Fugitives from Justice
6
0
6
485
24
509
Summons for the Year 1936
Male
Female Total
Allowing Improper Person to Operate
2
0
2
Attaching Number Plates.
1
0
1
Defective Brakes.
4
0
4
Failing to Keep Right .
16
0
16
Failing to Slow.
6
0
6
Failing to Stop at Thru-Way
1
0
1
Leaving Scene of Accident (Property Damage)
6
1
7
Leaving Scene of Accident (Personal Injury)
1
0
1
Operating No Lights.
1
0
1
Operating After License was Suspended.
1
0
1
Operating Without a License.
27
1
28
Operating Without Insurance.
4
1
5
Operating Unregistered Car
4
1
5
Passing Red Light.
43
2
45
Refusing to Stop for Officer
1
0
1
Speeding .
229
5
234
Violation of Traffic Ordinance
3
0
3
Motor Vehicle Cards (Warning and File)
988
165
1153
Reports Investigated for Year 1936
Breaking, Entering, Larceny and Larceny .
227
Miscellaneous.
148
Malicious Mischief
110
Lost Articles.
51
Missing Persons
29
565
Hawkers and Peddlers Permits Issued
260
350
11
361
112
ANNUAL REPORT
Parking Violations for 1936 No Fix Parking Tickets Given Out
Total
Parking Wrong Side of Street
78
Parking in Restricted Area
57
Parking on Cross Walk 4
Parking Overtime. 28
Parking Right Wheel to Curb (More than 12 inches from curb) 9
Parking in Front of Hydrant.
3
Parking in Front of Driveway .
1
Parking Double.
7
Failing to Stop at Stop Sign
1
Violation of Corner Law .
22
210
There were 246 Warning Tags given for various parking violations.
Parking Violations-No-Fix
210
Parking Violations-Warnings 246
456
Accidents for Year 1936
Total
Auto vs Auto
129
Auto vs Bicycle
3
Auto vs Dog
2
Auto vs Hole in Street.
2
Auto vs Pedestrian.
17
Auto vs Pole.
2
Auto vs Railroad Tracks
1
Auto Overturned
3
159
There were 4 persons killed and 158 injured. It is impossible to estimate the property damage.
Remarks
Our city is as free from crime as any city of its size in this Commonwealth, and this is due, in a large measure to the manner in which the Officers perform their duties.
Recommendations
I recommend that we increase our Department in number with five (5) Regular Patrolmen and that as soon as possible at least two cruisers be equipped with two-way radio sets. As we all know that the territory we have to cover is large and we need to be in as close contact with our officers as possible.
In Conclusion
At this time I desire to express my appreciation to His Honor the Mayor, H. Winslow Brown and the members of the Municipal Council for the courtesy and consideration shown the Department; also, to Judge Ralph C. Estes and his associate, George L. Connors; the Clerk of Court, Edwin F. Thayer, who have so willingly aided me in the Police work during the past year.
I wish to thank Edmund H. Gingras, Inspector of Motor Vehicles, and his department, who have been ready and willing at all times to cooperate with the Department.
Respectfully,
Frederick H. Blanck, Chief of Police.
113
ANNUAL REPORT
Report of City Forester
Attleboro, Mass. December 31, 1936
To His Honor the Mayor & Municipal Council
. Gentlemen ;-
I herewith submit my annual report as City Forester for the year ending December 31, 1936.
Gypsy-moth eggs were creosoted in the residental section by the regular crew and in the country by the W. P. A. men.
A large number of wild cherry trees were cut and burned which helps in the control of the tent caterpillar this work was also done by W. P. A. men.
Elm trees were sprayed to protect them against ravages of canker worm and elm leaf bettle.
There was also spraying done to prevent spread of gypsy moth.
The storm that occurred in July caused a large amount of extra work by uprooting trees and breaking branches which were taken care of. A large amount of dead wood was removed from the trees.
I again recommend that a large spray pump be purchased for use in the For- estry Department.
Respectfully submitted,
Wm. E. S. Smith, City Forester.
114
ANNUAL REPORT
Board of Public Welfare
February 5th, 1937
To His Honor, the Mayor,
and the Municipal Council, City of Attleboro, Massachusetts:
In compliance with the City Ordinance, the Board of Public Welfare here- with respectfully submits the annual report for the fiscal year ending December 31st, 1936.
The total number of individuals aided during the year was 2,843 representing 663 families or cases, at a gross expense for all divisions of $172,430.21. Against this amount there was billed to the Commonwealth of Massachusetts $36,459.41 for the case of persons having no legal settlement and $8,414.04 was charged to other cities and towns for the support of persons residing here and settled else- where. These credits of $44,873.45 bring the net direct cost of the Department for the year to $127,556.76 or $5.61 per capita based on the 1935 census.
The largest case load was attained during the month of March when it reached 311 and the lowest during the first week in November when 182 cases were being aided. The Department was always in close touch with the WPA office with a result that a large number of cases were taken off our rolls.
It was possible during the year to send about 100 boys to CCC Camp. In most cases boys representing families on the Welfare were chosen and in this way the aid given to these families was lessened.
During the month of September the law relative to Old Age Assistance was reduced from 70 to 65. Persons who were on our Ouside Relief rolls were im- mediately placed on Old Age Assistance and this particular division began to increase so that at the end of the year we had a total of 291 persons receiving Old Age Assistance with a weekly payroll of approximately $1,907.13. Aid rendered up to $30.00 a month for a single individual reimbursement is had of 3/6 from the Federal Government and 2/6 from the State of Massachusetts so that all the City is required to expend is 1/6 or $5.00. There are at the present time about 20 people on Outside Relief who can not be considered eligible for Old Age Assistance as they are not American citizens.
Expenditures for the City Infirmary were $5,785.16. The average number of inmates throughout the year was 18. The weekly cost of maintaining each inmate, including the matron and helper was $6.16. It must be remembered that the majority of the inmates are sickly or bed-ridden and that there should be one paid attendant for every 8 inmates and that this is entirely handled by the Matron which speaks well for her ability to handle and operate the City Infirmary at a minimum expense.
The operating expense for the City Infirmary, although averaging almost a full capacity for the entire year, has been reduced $902.36 under last year's figures.
A detailed statement of receipts and expenditures for the year of the Public Welfare Department is attached.
Alfred H. Patterson Henry E. Wright Charles A. Bowen
115
ANNUAL REPORT
FINANCIAL REPORT-1936
Salaries-Almoner, 3 Clerks, 2 Visitors
$ 6,687.00
Administration-Other Expenses
3,150.00
City Infirmary
6,067.90
Mothers' Aid.
14,248.00
Outside Relief .
100,735.97
Old Age Assistance
44,135.50
Total Appropriations
175,024.37
Total Expenditures
172,430.21
Unexpended Balance
$ 2,594.16
DETAIL OF APPROPRIATIONS Administration-Salaries
Almoner
1,800.00
Chief Clerk
1,000.00
2nd Clerk .
942.00
3rd Clerk.
800.00
Visitor-1st
1,308.00
Visitor-2nd.
837.00
Total Appropriation
6,687.00
Total Expenditures
6,687.00
Balance
.00
Administration-Other Expenses
Appropriation .
2,650.00
Additional Appr. Nov. 9, 1936.
500.00
Total Appropriation
3,150.00
Total Expenditures
3,150.00
Balance
.00
City Infirmary
Appropriation
5,500.00
Transferred from Old Age Account Dec. 1, 1936.
500.00
Refunds
71.02
Total Appropriation
6,071.02
Total Expenditures.
5,785.16
Balance
285.86
City Infirmary-Salaries
Superintendent.
900.00
Laborer
500.00
Total Appropriation.
1,400.00
Total Expenditures.
1,400.00
Balance
.00
116
ANNUAL REPORT
Mothers' Aid
Appropriation.
$ 12,200.00
Additional Appr. Nov. 17, 1936.
1,500.00
Transferred from Outside Relief Acc't, Dec. 16, 1936.
500.00
Refunds
48.00
Total Appropriation.
14,248.00
Total Expenditures.
13,845.16
Balance
402.84
Old Age Assistance
Appropriation.
34,500.00
Additional Appr. Oct. 6, 1936.
10,000.00
Refunds.
135.50
44,635.50
Transferred to City Infirmary Account Dec. 1, 1936 ...
500.00
Total Appropriation
44,135.50
Total Expenditures.
43,082.08
Balance.
1,053.42
Outside Relief
Appropriation.
100,000.00
Refunds. 1,275.27
101,275.27
Transferred to Mothers' Aid Account Dec. 16, 1936. .
500.00
Total Appropriation
101,775.27
Total Expenditures
99,880.81
Balance
894.46
DETAIL OF EXPENDITURES Administration-Other Expenses
Rent
420.00
Light.
22.80
Phone
107.20
Office Supplies
585.68
Auto Allowance (Almoner and Visitor).
645.00
Transportation (Outside Relief).
1,369.32
Total Expended.
3,150.00
117
ANNUAL REPORT
City Infirmary
Medical
212.43
Food Supplies
3,787.33
Clothing .
380.52
Fuel.
359.90
Light
115.34
Phone
45.59
Other House Maint. and Oper.
690.32
Hay and Grain.
9.47
Outbldgs. Maint. and Oper
83.26
Transportation.
1.00
Burials.
100.00
Total Expended.
5,785.16
Mothers' Aid
Weekly Cash.
12,178.89
Supplies.
784.83
Medical
252.94
Rent. .
628.50
Total Expended
13,845.16
Outside Relief
Weekly Cash
2,500.68
Clothing
4,224.66
Fuel. .
13,661.62
Rent, Board and Care
63,659.03
Medical.
9,082.26
Towns, Cities and Institutions.
6,634.56
Burials.
118.00
Total Expended.
99,880.81
Old Age Assistance
Weekly Cash
41,263.51
Medical. .
537.32
Towns, Cities and Institutions.
386.00
Clothing
18.26
Fuel.
428.80
Burials.
434.01
Transportation
14.18
Total Expended.
43,082.08
DETAIL OF APPROPRIATIONS MADE IN 1936 IN PAYMENT OF 1935 BILLS
Outside Relief
Appropriations July 7, 1936
365.37
Expended .
365.37
Balance
.00
118
ANNUAL REPORT
Old Age Assistance
Appropriation July 7, 1936.
18.88
Expended .
18.88
Balance
.00
Administration
Appropriation July 7, 1936.
4.40
Expended
4.40
Balance
.00
City Infirmary
Appropriation July 7, 1936
68.71
Expended . .
68.71
Balance
.00
Bills Receivable
Committed 1936-
Cities and Towns.
8,414.04
State
36,459.41
TOTAL 44,873.45
Collected from-
Cities and Towns.
5,576.17
State
34,880.20
TOTAL 40,456.37
Additional Receipts from State and Cities and Towns
for Bills Committed in Previous Years .. 5,175.98
Outstanding Bills December 31, 1936
4,417.08
Total Number of Cases in 1936. .. 633 Individuals 2843
CAUSES OF DEPENDENCY
Unemployment. 231
Insufficient Income. . 65
Desertion, Non-Support
3
Widows 15
Old Age 291
5
Cripples
5
Chronic Illness
Sickness 18
633
119
ANNUAL REPORT
Report of Park Commissioners
To the Board of Park Commissioners,
Gentlemen :
As Superintendent of the Park Department, I herewith submit my twelfth annual report for the year ending December 31, 1936.
This year we regraded two pieces of land next to the new area that was finished in 1935. This work required 400 yards of loam, 1000 lbs. of lime, 600 lbs. fertilizer, and 200 lbs. of lawn seed, making that whole area into a beautiful lawn.
After we got through with this work we started on the undeveloped piece of ground surrounding the proposed site for the new Zoo building, which is now almost completed; erected in memory of Harford A. Capron, who so generously gave of his Estate to the Park for permanent improvements. Trees had to be cut down, stumps pulled out, trees trimmed, and walks changed over to approach and leave the building.
I recommend that a new building of same brick construction be erected to house the bear, lynx, raccoons, and foxes. This building, retaining walls, new diamond fence in Deer yard facing Zoo building, stone or cement steps approaching and leading to the rear of the Zoo building, could be done at an estimated cost of $3,000.00, including finishing of grading, seeding, and planting.
Due to the drought of 1936, we had to do a lot of extra watering in the Park and on the Common, with 18,000 plants and shrubs covering several acres, it takes a lot of time, besides hoeing and keeping weeds out. Twenty acres of lawn to cut every week in the Summer, walks and drives to keep clean, shelter house and toilets to clean daily, ballfield ready to play on every day in the week, four tennis courts to keep in shape for players, playground, swimming-pool, and bathing house to keep clean, animals kept clean and fed daily, 7 days in the week; in fact, more to do and care for than the most of the citizens realize.
Swimming-pool and playground were well patronized and appreciated by the children during the 7 weeks of supervision, June 29 to August 15, when you realize that the average daily attendance of the different playground activities at the end of the seven weeks totalled 15,000. This work and playground supervision benefits the children of Attleboro much more than the average citizen conceives.
In conclusion, I wish to thank the Park Commissioners for their cooperation and support at all times, the also Supervisors for their interest in the health
Respectfully submitted,
J. E. Anderson, Park Superintendent.
CAPRON PLAYGROUND REPORT-1936
To the Commissioners:
It is always a pleasure to report on the activities carried on for the children at Capron Park Playground during the Summer months, for there are few more satisfying experiences than bringing happiness to children. And in its ability to do the latter, Attleboro had need to be proud of Capron Park. Though the budget has been greatly reduced, resulting in a shortened season and decided shortage of equipment a full program has been carried on by changing the type of
120
ANNUAL REPORT
activities. For instance, there has been much less time given to handicraft, especially the more expensive kinds and more time given supervised play in the grove with the apparatus there, and more supervised periods in the Hunton Pool.
A brief outline of the work follows.
Attendance Estimated.
Boys-A. M. 3342
Boys P. M .. .5180
Boys pool-A. M. 664
Boys pool P. M. 2160
Girls-A. M. 1885 Girls-P. M .. . 4340
Girls Pool-A. M. 613
Girls pool-P. M. 2890
Totals-Boys-A. M .- P. M .- 8522
Girls-A. M .- P. M .- 6225 Boys Pool-A. M .- P. M .- 2824 Girls Pool-A. M .- P. M .- 3503
There were 24 fair days out of the 35 during the season.
Baseball-2 leagues, Junior 12 and 13 year players; Senior, 14 and 15 year players-135 boys took part, and games were played every day,s ometimes two a day. The younger boys also had a series among themselves. Results of the Junior league :
Cardinals. . 5-1-834
Shamrocks
.3-3-500
Monarchs .3-3-500
Tigers 1-5-167
Results of the Senior league:
South End
. 5-0- -1000
Cubs
. 5-0-1000
South End .3-3 500
Bengal Tigers 1-3- 250
All-Stars 1-4- 200
Tennis-During the seven weeks of the season a total of 366 players signed up at the shelter house for hour reservations on the courts. All vacant hours were always taken, and the courts were in continuous use until dark. A Junior tennis team played three out-of-town matches, and a Senior team took part in six matches. The City championship tournaments resulted in Richard Thom- son being crowned Attleboro Singles champion, and Thomson and Arthur Payette winning the doubles titles. Twenty-eight players entered the singles tournament, and twelve teams, the doubles. A championship tournament for women was announced but failed to create any enthusiasm, there being but three entries. Sixteen girls entered the Junior girls singles tournament, and Bernice Radnor was the winner. The boys junior tournament was not completed.
Swimming-14 Learn to Swim classes were conducted with an average attendance of 35 boys and girls. Eighty-two were taught to swim, and about half of this number were awarded Red Cross Beginners badges. About two hundred children received instruction.
Horseshoes-Two tournaments were held, Ara Maksoodian winning the Junior event for boys under fifteen, and Richard Claupin taking the senior honors for those fifteen-sixteen and seventeen years of age. The courts were in use continually during the entire season. In connection with this great sport I would like to recommend that official, clay courts be installed at the park.
Other Activities-Football fundamentals for the high school boys-Soccer football-Handball-Quoits-Basketball-Hikes-Volley ball-Tether ball- Soft ball-water carnival-Paddle tennis-Shuffleboard-Dominoes-Chess- Checkers-Story hour-Apparatus work-weekly weenie roast-Mass games-
121
ANNUAL REPORT
Quiet games-Sewing-Embroidery-Leather craft-Knitting-Basketry- Needlework-Soap carving-Block printing-Scrap books-Sand craft-Play- ground leaders council-Fist-Aid.
The Hunton pool was under continuous supervision every minute that it was open. The morning period from ten to eleven o'clock was in charge of the girls supervisor while the director ran the baseball program. In the afternoon the time was divided, the girls taking the period from two to three o'clock, and the boys from three to four. The improvement in the youngsters using the pool is easily noticeable, a matter of many years careful training in regard to pool rules. In our humble opinion Hunton pool is one of the best conducted in the State, and also one of the cleanest and best kept.
In closing we wish to thank the Park Commissioners for their splendid cooperation at all times. Especially do we thank John Anderson, Park Superin- tendent and his corp of efficient workers, for the manner in which they have cared for the Hunton pool, sometimes working late at night so that the children would not be deprived of its use during the day. Credit is also due the Jewelry Trade School for their kindness in providing medals for the field day events.
Respectfully submitted, Miss Alma Hillman J. Ray Cooney
Report of Dog Officer
Attleboro, Mass. December 29, 1936
To the Honorable Mayor and Municipal Council:
I herewith submit to you my annual report as Dog Officer for the year 1935. During the last year I have traveled 4345 miles as Dog Officer and have occupied 1320 hours in that pursuit. I have been called upon to destroy 145 dogs, owners unknown, within the city limits.
The City Clerk presented me with a list of 462 delinquent Dog Tax payers. I found it necessary to prosecute 5 owners, who failed to comply with the chapter relating to dogs. There are at present 1453 dogs licensed in the city exclusive of kennel licenses.
Respectfully submitted,
Peter J Cosgrove, Dog Officer
122
ANNUAL REPORT
Report of Attleboro Public Library
To the Trustees of the Attleboro Public Library, Joseph L. Sweet Memorial:
A recent vigorous discussion on library work bore the title, The Menace of Mediocrity. It must be confessed that Mediocrity is a term too often applicable to libraries. Many persons even take it for granted that mediocrity is the norm for institutions where whatever is euphemistically called work, consists chiefly of doling out love stories to spinsters, and fairy tales to children.
But such a stigma cannot be attached to any institution which, in addition to the romances and fairy tales, has distributed to the adults of the community, books on the social sciences alone that represent a number more than one-third the population of the city. The demand for literature and the fine arts comes next in rank, and those in natural science and the useful arts are equivalent to about one-eighth of a mile in running feet. Nor is an institution stagnant when alert and generous citizens provide the stimulation of gifts of money, books, sub- scriptions to periodicals, equipment and flowers.
A statistical outline of the work of the library is given at the end of this report, but certain items require interpretation.
Although it has always been a policy to safeguard the physical upkeep of the building, the needs of the past year required that a major portion of the budget be given over to repairs and to the installation of long needed equipment. The roof which had leaked for several years despite frequent repairs had to be com- pletely resurfaced, and weather stripping was attached to all the large windows in the effort to conserve fuel and decrease drafts.
During the summer a radical rearrangment of the book collection was made to permit more convenient housing of all the books in the fine arts and in tech- nology. Free standing steel stacks were placed in the east reference room, and special provision made for portfolios and rare books. The grouping of these most used collections in one room under the supervision of Miss Segrid Lindbeck has resulted in greater usefulness of this specialized material. The space formerly used to store the art collection was given over to genealogy and New England history.
A new vertical file, presented by Mrs. Harold E. Sweet in memory of her uncle Henry Lincoln Hayward, provides adequate storage for vital records, family papers, deeds, wills and lineage lists which have been accumulating through the courtesy of the Library Committee of the D. A. R.
The crowded condition of the magazine storage room was somewhat relieved by the installation in the basement of stacks to hold files of Reports of the General Court.
Physical changes and improvement are meaningless, however, unless there is a corresponding improvement in the prime functions of the library-the furnishing of information, and recreation by means of the printed word.
During 1936, 2925 books were added to the collection making a total of 41,244 volumes in the library on December 31. The net gain in book stock over 1935 is only 1039 volumes, for 1,892 books were worn out or withdrawn
123
ANNUAL REPORT
because of contagious disease. This net gain is absorbed in 3 days circulation. For some years the collection has been unable to even partially cope with the demands upon it by these to whom books and print supply not only recreation and mental stimulation, but the tools of their work. A check of the needs of the community shows the rather startling fact that expenditure of approximately $10,000 annually for the next three years would be needed to take care of the replacement, with new editions, of antiquated technical and business books, of several hundred dilapidated standard titles in the children's collection, and maintain an adequate file of periodical literature, and provide for more copies of continually-in-demand new titles.
For several years the purchase plan has provided for spaced purchase of different classes of books, as a means of keeping obsolete material at a minimum. During 1936 the sections on history, and religion, and the foreign language collec- tion in French, German, and Italian received special attention. Six major items were added to the Reference collection; the final volume of the Dictionary of National Biography, the latest revision of the American Encyclopedia, volumes to complete the set of the Cambridge Mediaeval History; the 1930-33 Wilson Index to Essays and general literature, and Hutchinson's Technical & Scientific Encyclopedia, the latter a gold mine of brief, reliable information and diagnosis of all branches of science and technology. For the use of persons whose eyesight does not permit the use of ordinary print, a Talking Book machine was purchased, and a subscription to the Reader's Digest in Braille.
Gains in book stock and use of the resources of the library are integral portions of the work; the personal and reference service unites the various phases. Assistance in verifying patents, translating of letters, the providing of help in machine design, supplying formulas for composition, and manufacture of plastic products, and the checking of bibliographic aids for students cannot be tabulated on the circulation sheet. Such work can only be measured in terms of skill with which it is performed and the performance demands individuals of every-increas- ing mental alertness. As a step toward inproving service rendered by the library staff, a study course on the use of books as tools is being carried on.
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