USA > Massachusetts > Bristol County > Attleboro > Reports of town officers of the town of Attleborough 1941 > Part 13
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December 31, 1941 74,241.73
Add:
1940 Accounts.
19,414.74
5,017.98
1,099.45
13,297.31
96,163.17
7,333.98
1,290.15
87,539.04
CERTIFICATE
We hereby certify that the accompanying statements set forth correctly, in our opinion, all cash transactions of the treasurer of The Attleborough Hospital for the calendar year 1941, the balance of cash and investments on hand December 31, 1941, and the indebtedness on loans December 31, 1941.
Respectfully submitted,
Ward, Fisher & Co. Certified Public Accountants.
157
ANNUAL REPORT
THE ATTLEBOROUGH HOSPITAL Statement of Cash Receipts and Disbursements General Fund, Year 1941 EXHIBIT A
Balance, January 1, 1941 :
Checking account, First National Bank $ 384 97
Office fund.
25.00 $ 409 97
Receipts :
Patients :
X-ray
$ 10,717.25
Laboratory .
3,034.25
Physiotherapy
430.00
Metabolism
161.00
Ambulance.
1,644.00
Other receipts from patients
93,754.36
109,740.86
Sale of books, supplies, etc.
Miscellaneous receipts.
229.30
Total from operation of hospital.
110,998.19
Donations
2,528.86
Annual memberships. .
290.00
Income from trust fund investments
(net)
16,191.58
Total other receipts.
19,010.44
Total receipts
130,008.63
Total to be accounted for
130,418.60
Disbursements:
Postage.
313.71
Repairs and maintenance.
3,325.30
Telephone and telegraph.
766.18
Office supplies and equipment.
717.92
Interest paid .
677.27
Physiotherapy payments.
215.00
X-ray payments .
5,240.93
Laboratory payments.
1,517.12
Ambulance payments-driver.
822.00
Ambulance expense. .
199.07
Supplies and equipment.
19,343.31
Salaries ..
55,654.58
Housekeeping supplies
33,801.44
Heat, light and power
2,539.60
Deposit lost in transit
242.00
Miscellaneous expenses
1,613.23
Total disbursements for operation of hospital Decrease in Loans .
126,988.66
129,914.82
Balance, December 31, 1941 :
Checking account, First National Bank.
208.78
Office fund .
25.00
Cash on hand.
270.00
503.78
2,926.16
1,028.03
158
ANNUAL REPORT
THE ATTLEBOROUGH HOSPITAL Schedule of Donations General Fund, Year 1941 SCHEDULE A-1
Sturdy Memorial Hospital Aid Association:
$ 500.00
Two free beds . Special maternity aid.
500.00
1,000.00
Town of Rehoboth
250.00
Women's Alliance of the Pilgrim Church.
50.00
Joseph Finberg
363.23
Samuel M. Stone.
90.63
Lillian Remington.
25.00
Town of Mansfield
250.00
Frank J. Ryder
250.00
Town of Seekonk
250.00
$2,528.86
THE ATTLEBOROUGH HOSPITAL Schedule of Annual Membership Receipts General Fund, Year 1941 SCHEDULE A-2
Lawrence E. Baer
$ 10.00
Harold D. Baker.
10.00
H. Dean Baker, Jr.
10.00
Mr. and Mrs. Milford E. Bliss
20.00
William H. Bannon
10.00
Donald A. Barrows ..
10.00
Mr. and Mrs. Arthur Briggs
20.00
Thomas Carpenter
10.00
Mr. and Mrs. E. D. Gilmore
20.00
Samuel M. Holman.
10.00
Raymond M. Horton
10.00
Una McGregor Horton
10.00
Etta F. Kent
10.00
Bonner D. Mason
10.00
Rosella Mason.
10.00
Lester Nerney
10.00
Reverend James M. Quinn
10.00
Joseph E. Rioux
10.00
Max Schweinshaut
10.00
Dr. and Mrs. William M. Stobbs
20.00
C. Fred Stone.
10.00
Esther M. Stone
10.00
Thomas F. Manning
10.00
Stephen H. Foley
10.00
Frank Mossberg
10.00
$290.00
150
ANNUAL REPORT
THE ATTLEBOROUGH HOSPITAL Analysis of Deficit General Fund, Year 1941 SCHEDULE B-1
Deficit, January 1, 1941
$ 25,091.33
Receipts during 1941
From patients, supply sales, etc. $110,998.19
From donations . 2,528.86
From annual memberships. 290.00
From income from trust fund invest- ments. 16,191.58 $130,008.63
Expenses during 1941 126,988.66
Receipts in Excess of Expenses 3,019.97
Deficit, December 31, 1941 22,071.36
THE ATTLEBOROUGH HOSPITAL Summary of Trust Fund Accounts, December 31, 1941 EXHIBIT D
Cash in bank
$ 204.83
Fund Accounts:
Notes receivable .
16,600.00 James H. and Adah S. Sturdy Real Estate Foundation . $ 30,000.00
Savings accounts
22,753.00 260,485.36
Bonds .
Stocks.
95,811.42
Albert W. and Ella Winsor Founda- tion . .
93,125.00
Real Estate and Equipment:
Sturdy Foundation. $ 30,000.00
Joseph L. Sweet Bequests: Joseph L. Sweet. 150,000.00
Donated buildings and equip- ment . 172,392.72
Sweet Donations for Buildings and Equipment . . 152,392.72
1925 Campaign buildings and
Florence M. Sweet Permanent Bed . . . . 5,000.00
equipment. . 349,887. 63
Dorothy Sulloway Sweet Perma- nent Bed. 5,000.00
312,392.72
604,619.59
Charles C. Wilmarth Bequests: Charles C. Wilmarth . .
35,624.36
Harriet A. Robinson-Wilmarth Permanent Bed . 5,000.00
Mary A. Wilmarth Permanent Bed. .
5,000.00
Annie L. Ray Permanent Bed ....
5,000.00
Sturdy Memorial Hospital Alum- nae Association Permanent Bed
5,000.00
55,624.36
160
ANNUAL REPORT
Equity in Haynes tenement property .
2,200.00
Nurses' Home and equipment . . 49,694.24
Land. 445.00
Gertrude E. Kendall.
J. Frank Mason.
11,250.00 10,000.00
Estate of Fannie M. Tappan, Dona- tions for Buildings and Equipment Sundry donations for Buildings and Equipment.
10,000.00
10,000.00
William R. Cobb Permanent Bed . . Albert K. and Mary J. Hunton Per- manent Bed . .
5,000.00
Ida C. Bright Permanent Bed .
5,000.00
Sarah J. and Mary Briggs Perma- nent Bed. .
5,000.00
Helen and Henry Wexel Permanent Bed .
5,000.00
Elizabeth S. Haynes
2,200.00
Sarah B. Finberg.
2,000.00
Henrietta F. Leonard. .
1,803.30
Emily H. Horton.
1,000.00
Laura V. Gustin Conibear. .
1,000.00
Norman Lund .
512.73
Frances A. Crandall.
500.00
Georgianna H. Williams.
500.00
Ellen B. McCabe.
1,000.00
Frank P. Toner Memorial Fund, Created by Mary A. and James V. Toner ..
1,890.27
Mary E. Sweeney
500.00
Life Memberships
5,300.00
1925 Campaign .
363,294.46
Sarah E. Darrah .
40,815 17
979,708.01
Surplus
20,766.19
$1,000,474.20
161
ANNUAL REPORT
$1,000,474.20
5,000.00
162
ANNUAL REPORT
THE ATTLEBOROUGH HOSPITAL Schedule of Life Members Trust Fund, December 31, 1941 SCHEDULE D-2
Marian Sweet Armstrong
Ellen L. Mason
Maurice J. Baer
*George F. McIntire
Mildred D. Balfour
Lloyd G. Balfour
Walter B. Ballou
Randolph E. Bell
C. O. Gustav Beuttel
Amos S. Blackinton
*Edgar A. Remington Lillian B. Remington Frank J. Ryder
George S. Bliven
Gertrude F. Ryder George A. Rich
Charlotte A. Rich
Alice M. Richardson Harold K. Richardson
*Miles L. Carter
*George W. Cheever *Harriet O. Cheever
*Edward P. Claflin
*Martha A. Claflin
Ruth W. Clap Dr. Joshua W. Clarke W. E. Coles
Theron S. Curtis Blanche Daggett *Sarah E. Darrah
*William J. Dobson (2) Joseph Finberg Victor R. Glencross
*Mary E. Sweeney Florence M. Sweet Gertrude H. Sweet Harold E. Sweet Hayward H. Sweet
*Edward L. Gowen Horace B. Gowen Jessie M. Gowen Graduate Nurses Club
*Joseph L. Sweet Howard H. Sweet Leonilda Sweeney Edwin F. Thayer Mary A. Toner
*Dr. William O. Hewitt Harry R. Holbrook Lida M. Holbrook Albert, S. Ingraham
James V. Toner John E. Tweedy Maude T. Tweedy Annie F. Upham ErnestsT. Upham
*Gertrude E. Kendall Walter M. Kendall Annie G. King Dr. Ralph P. Kent
*Charle A. Whiting *Josie A. Whiting Beatrice W. Wilmarth
*Charles C. Wilmarth
*William L. King Edwin F. Leach Helena A. Leach Harry L. London Max London William J. Luther
*David E. Makepeace
*Myra B. Makepeace
*Mary A. Wilmarth Rathbun Willard John W. Wolfenden Henrietta W. Wolfenden Harry C. Wolfenden (2) Blanche Wolfenden (2)
*Deceased
*Charles A. Mooers Walter G. Moon Dr. Frederick V. Murphy Geneva E. Murphy
*Fred A. Bradley *Philip E. Brady Fred E. Briggs Alberta F. Carpenter Marion P. Carter
*Frank H. Sadler Naomi W. Sawyer *George F. Sawyer Frank E. Smith Julia M. Smith
Samuel M. Stone
Babette J. Stone Samuel M. Stone, Jr. Tilda B. Stone
163
ANNUAL REPORT
THE ATTLEBOROUGH HOSPITAL Analysis of Surplus Trust Fund, Year 1941 SCHEDULE D-3
Balance, December 31, 1940
$ 23,599.44
Deduct:
Net loss on securities sold or called.
2,958.25
Add:
20,641.19
American Telephone and Telegraph Co. rights. . .
125.00
Balance, December 31, 1941
20,766.16
164
ANNUAL REPORT
STURDY MEMORIAL HOSPITAL AID ASSOCIATION Report from October, 1940 to October, 1941
During the year of 1940 to 1941 there have been three meetings of the Sturdy Memorial Hospital Aid Association with Mrs. Alberta Carpenter presiding at each meeting.
The purchasing committee with Mrs. Harold Sweet as chairman has given a great deal of time and thought in selecting the things needed in furnishings and equipment for the Hospital and the new nurses home.
The sewing committee with Mrs. Celesta Elliot, chairman, has efficiently prepared and distributed supplies to the various groups of women who have made garments and numerous articles for use at the Hospital, totalling 1,787 pieces during the year.
The donation day committee consisting of Mrs. Dean Baker and Mrs. Harriet O'Keefe reported a most successful drive for the food supplies, the people of the city giving generously as in previous years.
Respectfully submitted,
Verna E. Johnson, Secretary.
165
ANNUAL REPORT
STURDY MEMORIAL HOSPITAL AID ASSOCIATION TREASURER'S REPORT October 1st, 1940, to October 1st, 1941
Receipts
Balance October 1st, 1940
$ 504.67
Received from Chest .
5,189.12
Received from sale of goods
6.81
Received from Sturdy Hospital (reimbursement)
175.80
Received from Furnishing Fund (transfer)
27.00
$5,903 40
Expenses
Maternity Bed (1940)
$ 500.00
Maternity Bed 1941
500.00
Women's Free Bed.
250.00
Children's Free Bed
250.00
Sewing materials and hospital supplies.
2,472.30
Postage and printing
6.50
$3,978.80
Balance October 1st, 1941
$1,924 60
Furnishing Fund Receipts
Balance October 1st, 1940
$ 451.01
Interest. .
8.75
Received from Women's Benevolent Society. 25.00
Received from Sturdy Hospital Alumni Association.
50.00
Received from Gertrude F. Ryder
25.00
Received from Q. O. C. Class.
25.00
Received from Daughters of Isabella.
25.00
Received from Graduate Nurses Club
25.00
Received from Ioline Bacon Class. .
25.00
Received from Raymond M. Horton.
25.00
Received from Jessie Fine.
25.00
$709 76
Expenses
Hospital supplies.
$ 110.86
$110.85
Balance October 1st, 1941
$ 598 90
Respectfully submitted,
Annie A. Wheeler Treasurer.
166
ANNUAL REPORT
OFFICERS AND DIRECTORS OF THE STURDY MEMORIAL HOSPITAL AID ASSOCIATION
OFFICERS
President-Mrs. Alberta Carpenter
First Vice-President-Mrs. Alice H. Stobbs
Second Vice-President-Mrs. Frank Tappan
Secretary-Mrs. Verna E. Johnson Treasurer-Miss Annie A. Wheeler
DIRECTORS
Mrs. Walter A. Briggs
Mrs. Harry Holbrook
Mrs. Frank Carpenter
Mrs. Lawrence Keeler
Mrs. C. W. Cederberg
Mrs. Harry Kent
Miss Annie Wheeler
Mrs. Sidney Maddox
Mrs. William Stobbs
Mrs. F. V. Murphy
Miss Alice S. Carpenter
Mrs. H. B. Ryder
Miss Amy White
Mrs. Thomas Sadler
Mrs. Harold Sweet
Mrs. Leland Smith
Mrs. S. M. Stone
Mrs. J. L. Sweet
Mrs. C. Fred Stone
Mrs. A. A. McRae
Mrs. J. A. Reese
Mrs. Milton Johnson
Mrs. Lloyd Elliot Mrs. Royal Baker
Mrs. H. I. Bixby Mrs. Horace Gowen
Mrs. A. C. Conro
Mrs. Fred Wetherell
Mrs. R. M. Harris
Mrs. William Walton
Mrs. John L. Gibb
Mrs. Hayward Sweet Mrs. Victor Glencross
Mrs. E. D. Gilmore
Rev. Hazel Gredler
167
ANNUAL REPORT
SPECIAL FUND OF THE HOSPITAL AID ASSOCIATION October 6, 1941
4 Rooms redecorated in Obstetrical Department, material and labor
1 Commode Chair
7 Chair Covers
ANNUAL REPORT OF THE PURCHASING COMMITTEE
of the Hospital Aid Association October 6, 1941
2 Hoover Machines
120 Stock Blankets
182 Blankets
1 Cutting Machine
6 doz. Outing Flannel Patients' Gowns
6 doz. Regular Patients' Gowns
228 pieces Diaper Cloth
2 doz. Nurses' Gowns
2 doz. Trousers
6 pairs Drapes
63 spools Thread
60 doz. Towels
34 doz. Sheets
14 doz. Pillow Cases
36 Scarfs
1 gross Curtain Rings
1 gross Pins
20 1-4 yards Satin
135 1-2 yards Mimosa Curtain Material
33 3/4 yards Dogwood Cretonne
227 1-2 yards Marquisette
119 yards Scrim
103 yards Curtain Voile
100 1/2 yards Frieze 38 yards Monks Cloth
Respectfully submitted,
Gertrude H. Sweet Tilda B. Stone
168
ANNUAL REPORT
Report of the Soldiers' Relief Agent
To His Honor, the Mayor, and the Municipal Council:
I herewith submit report for the year ending December 31, 1941.
During the year 77 cases representing 231 persons were aided. A summary of the cost of this aid follows:
Soldiers' benefits paid by the City:
Soldiers' Relief
$13,710.08
State Aid .
1,280.00
Military Aid. 1,766.00
Soldiers' Burial 100.00
Total paid by the city $16,856.08
During 1942 the state will reimburse:
State Aid
$ 1,280.00
Military Aid. 883.00
Soldiers' Burial 100.00
Total to be reimbursed by the state 2,263.00
Net cost to the city
$14,593.08
During 1941 the state paid:
Special Care. $ 120.00
of which one-half will be charged to the city in 1942. 60.00
Total net cost to the city .
$14,653.08
Administration:
Salary
$ 1,000.00
Other Expense.
239.85
Total
$ 1,239.85
The work program which continued throughout the year provided employ- ment for 18 cases who received a total of $4,371.44 with a corresponding saving in the cost of direct relief. Additional savings resulted from W. P. A. employ- ment and the continued use of available domiciliary and hospital facilities pro- vided by the Veterans Administration.
I wish to thank all those whose cooperation throughout the year has been so helpful.
Respectfully submitted,
Louis R. Wilmarth, Soldiers' Relief Agent.
169
ANNUAL REPORT
Report of the Custodian of City Property
To His Honor, the Mayor, and the Municipal Council:
I herewith submit my report for the year ending December 31, 1941.
Respectfully submitted, Henry Rotenberg, Custodian.
On June 14th a city-wide auction sale was conducted by this office. In company with an auctioneer 62 lots were visited and 42 were sold at the time for a total of $2,944.50 plus a $2.00 charge for each deed to cover the cost of advertising the sale. The total valuation of these parcels sold was $10,350.00. A few of the successful bidders did not claim their deeds and their deposits were forfeited to the City. Parcels sold are listed as follows:
Parcel
Assessed Valuation
Sold for
North Avenue 98 and 99 A. P. 25
$ 250.00
70.00
Fairview Ave., 80 and 81 A. P. 25.
60.00
20.00
North Avenue 11 and 12 Hood Park.
150.00
90 00
Pleasant St., 1 Pleasantdale.
125.00
25 00
Dorchester Ave., 53 and 54 Pleasantdale.
150.00
30.00
Davis Ave., 46 and 47 New Plat 42
70.00
10.00
Park Street, 22 P. B. 14
100.00
26.00
Park Street, 7 P. B. 3.
100.00
30.00
Thacher Street, 144 N. P. 60
200.00
35.00
Thacher Street, 552 N. P. 44.
400.00
135.00
Robert Street, 90 and 91 N. P. 33
800.00
300.00
County Street, 40 to 42 N. P. 62.
240.00
40.00
County Street, 198 N. P. 43
570.00
120.00
Pembroke Ave., 560 N. P. 44.
730.00
240.00
Arthur Avenue, 197 to 200 N. P. 44
80.00
25.00
Arthur Avenue, 190 to 194 N. P. 44.
100.00
26.00
Arthur Avenue, 183 to 185 N. P. 44.
60.00
5.00
South Avenue, 18 to 30 South Ave. Ter.
220.00
90.00
Joseph Street, 35 to 42 South Ave. Ter.
80.00
10.00
Joseph Street, 56 to 58; 66 and 67 South Ave. Ter.
50.00
35.00
Burt Street, 17 to 25 Homeland Ter.
220.00
115.00
Burt Street, 78 to 89 South Ave. Ter.
240.00
100.00
Hillcrest Ave., 52 N. P. 12
300.00
125.00
Sycamore St., 174 N. P. 6.
50.00
35.00
Washington St., 96 N. P. 6 ..
440.00
60.00
Belair Ave., 165 to 169 N. P. 18.
200.00
50.00
Mendon Road, 109 to 111 N. P. 3.
375.00
110.00
Scott St., 159 to 161; 191 N. P. 16.
500.00
110.00
Bacon Street, 125, 144 and 145 N. P. 16
300.00
50.00
Fenton Ave., 24 N. P. 6
245.00
50.00
South Main St., 463 N. P. 45.
200.00
50.00
Fuller Ave., 3 to 7 Sect. B Fuller Plat
500.00
100.00
South Main St., 4 Sect. A. Fuller Plat.
300.00
55.00
Sycamore Ave., 164 and 165 N. P. 6.
100.00
90.00
Totals .
$ 8,505.00
$ 2,462.00
Deposits forfeited (8 parcels)
48.00
$2.00 paid for each deed.
68.00
Total Collected
$ 2,578.00
170
ANNUAL REPORT
The following parcels were sold through this office with the Consent of the Council and approval of the Mayor:
Parcel
Assessed Valuation
Sold for
Pleasant Street, 11 Pleasantdale
S
75.00
$ 45.00
Roberts St .. 84 New Plat 33.
465.00
200.00
Pleasantdale, 130 to 136, 153, 155 to 157.
215.00
65.00
West Carpenter St .. SS to 90 N. P. 1
450.00
265.00
Cedar Street, 312 New Plat 60.
40.00
40.00
Arthur Avenue, 104 to 108 New Plat 44
125.00
100.00
Morgan Street, 943 to 945 Cloverdale
15.00
15.00
Pembroke Ave., 176 N. P. 44. .
255.00
100.00
Snow Street, 41, 42 and 44 N. P. 20
250.00
150.00
Dorchester Ave., 69 to 71 Pleasantdale
225.00
100.00
Hudson Street, 403 to 405 N. P. 18
90.00
75.00
Carleton St., 445-446 N. P. 19
60.00
30.00
Totals
$ 2,265.00
$ 1,185.00
Recapitulation
Valuation
Sold for
46 Parcels Sold
$10,770.00
$ 3,763.00
Remarks
The auction sale conducted was a success from the City's financial standpoint Although many parcels were sold below the assessed valuation, in practically every instance the cost of foreclosure and the loss of taxes were returned to the City; and, in addition, taxable valuation in the hands of the new owners has been increased by new buildings thereby creating a new taxable valuation for the City.
There are still many desirable parcels of land and every day requests for information are received and prospective purchasers are shown the most desirable parcels. The valuation of these parcels on the untaxable part of the Assessors' books is still quite large and I propose to sponsor other auction sales to reduce the amount.
To assist the Title conveyancers in checking the various titles, photostats of the Plats on file in the Assessors' office, to which reference is always made, are now on file in the Taunton Registry of deeds.
I am grateful to the City Treasurer, Mr. Marshall, and the individual members of the Board of Assessors for their valuable assistance and information relative to the sale and location of the various parcels.
In conclusion, I wish to thank the Mayor, the Municipal Council, the Finance Committee, the City Solicitor, for the many courtesies extended during the year; the Press for their valuable publicity and the Interstate Transit Corp. for the use of a bus.
Respectfully submitted,
Henry Rotenberg,
Custodian of Property Acquired by the Foreclosure of Tax Titles.
ANNUAL REPORT
OF THE
Public Works Department
OF THE
CITY OF ATTLEBORO
FOR THE YEAR
1941
172
ANNUAL REPORT
Report of the Public Works Department
To His Honor, the Mayor, and the Honorable Municipal Council,
Gentlmen:
I hereby respectfully submit the twenty-seventh annual report for the Public Works Department of the City of Attleboro, Massachusetts, for the year ending December 31, 1941.
The number of W.P.A. workers available for new construction work in the city decreased steadily during the year; consequently the volume of new W. P. A. work decreased. Despite this decrease, projects of various types and importance to the community were completed and others are nearing completion. These projects were constructed using W. P. A. and city forces; also there was one project constructed with Chapter 90 funds by contract.
In the interests of the City's investment in its entire system of Public Works every effort should be made to maintain the system which includes water, roads, sewer and drainage, in the best possible condition at all times. Pecause of the difficulty at the present time to obtain many of the products or materials necessary for the upkeep of the various systems, our maintenance program will assume more importance in the coming year. These difficulties and shortages will undoubtedly become more acute in the future. It is very important that no maintenance be neglected through lack of funds or otherwise, which might result in extensive repairs at a time when materials needed for the work will not be available, thus creating a situation which might curtail the particular public service affected. It is my understanding that after the close of World War No. 1 it was necessary for the city to spend a great deal of money to restore its public services, roads particularly, due to lack of necessary maintenance. Undoubtedly restrictions were in force at that time on necessary materials, which is exactly the situation facing us today. To repeat a much-used axiom "An Ounce of Prevention is Worth a Pound of Cure."
In my report for 1940 I stated that detailed surveys were being made for Pleasant Street from Starkey Avenue to Coopers' Pond in anticipation of the reconstruction of Pleasant Street between the points mentioned, the construction to be done under Chapter 90. We had hoped this project could be started in 1941 along with Highland Avenue. Subsequently funds for Chapter 90 work were allotted by the State and County for Highland Avenue only with the Pleasant Street project scheduled for construction in 1942. Detail plans have been made by the State Department of Public Works. Upon these plans the new street lines were to be laid out for acceptance by the City prior to construction. The en- trance of this country into the War has altered the situation and it is now definite that Chapter 90 work for 1942 will be discontinued by the State. Therefore this project will have to be postponed for at least another year, unless it is done with city funds entirely.
For many years the problem of controlling the Ten Mile River, during periods of high water usually occurring in the Spring of the year, has been a source of concern for this department.
At this season the combination of heavy rains and melting snow swells the river to a point where it overflows its banks and causes damage to private property. It has long been recognized by this department, and confirmed by other engineer- ing interests, that the major control of the river was possible only at the dam
173
ANNUAL REPORT
located at Dodgeville pond and owned by the Dodgeville Finishing Company. We have therefore had, over a period of many years, an understanding with the Dodgeville concern, allowing this department to regulate the height of the dam provided we did nothing detrimental to the use which this concern makes of the ponded area, namely power and processing at their plant.
This department maintains a river gauge near the water-barn, off County Street, and whenever conditions indicate any rise in the river, a constant check, both day and night. is made at the gauge. When the rate of rise and the height of the river indicate possible flood conditions, we immediately send men to the Dodgeville dam for the purpose of lowering the spillway (day or night). This procedure releases the water which has accumulated above the dam and there- fore tends to lower the height of the stream through the center of the city. How- ever, the solution is not quite as simple as it would seem for this reason: When the spillway is lowered at Dodgeville dam precaution must be taken not to release a volume of water which would cause flood conditions below the dam. Obviously rare judgment must be used in adjusting the dam height to satisfy conditions both above and below the dam.
The dam at Dodgeville is antiquated, the structure is very narrow and boards must be removed for the adjustment of the spillway height. This procedure is not only dangerous but difficult under high water conditions. After the floods of 1937, a survey was made by the State under a W. P. A. project, of that part of the Ten Mile River running through Attleboro. Subsequently the city retained an engineering firm to file a report giving its findings of conditions, and recom- mendations for the solution of the river control problem. Among the recommen- dations made, they stressed the importance of constructing a new dam at Dodge- ville.
Subsequently the U. S. Engineers made a study of the Ten Mile River and made plans for the improvement of conditions. Their plans called for the con- struction of a new dam at Dodgeville. Upon the basis of these plans the Division of Water Ways of the State Department of Public Works completed the detail plans for the construction of the dam.
At the present time of writing I am informed that funds have been allotted for the construction of this dam and that it is a question of obtaining the necessary materials and equipment before the construction can actively be undertaken.
The new dam will have gates easily operated to any degree of opening and with a much larger spillway length than the existing structure. This will permit the height of the waters above the dam to be kept at a safe level even in times of flood waters as great as experienced in 1937. The capacity and flexibility of the new dam are the requisites which the existing structure does not possess.
I am hoping this construction will take place in 1942. Present conditions, however, may affect the plans.
In the following paragraphs will be given reviews of the separate projects which were of greatest importance to the welfare and development of our commu- nity.
1. In 1940 the construction was started for the new Willett School on Wat- son Avenue. The school is situated on a large tract of land running from Watson Avenue to Mechanic Street and the plans called for the development of a large portion of this tract as an athletic field and playground, the designs and plans for this development being made by our City Engineering department.
In the Fall of 1940 work was begun, using city forces, in filling and rough grading, this work being carried on through the first months of 1941. In the late spring, operation was begun of a W. P. A. project for the complete construc-
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