USA > Massachusetts > Worcester County > Milford > Town Annual Report of the Officers of the Town of Milford, Massachusetts 1890-1895 > Part 31
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4 Joseph Powers,
10
Marasmus, Cerebral Apoplexy,
Milford. Ireland.
8
8 Nellie V. Condry,
18
11
Joseph D. Hunt,
73
12 Ann (Quinn) Burns,
66
2 25 Apoplexy,
13
Arthur C. Burrell,
22 35
3 Lead Poison, Phthisis Pulmonalis, Chronic Cerebrites,
15
James R. Ferry, Wm. J. Blanchard, Catherine G. Kane, Sylvander Jeffers,
170 191
9
6 Phthisis,
21
24 Mary (Kane) Dempsey,
70
25 John Hughes,
Johannah (Griffin) Colbert,
85
20 Clarence B. Twitchell,
| 4
4 Intestinal Catarrh,
29 Stephen McTague,
59
Carcinoma of Stomach,
| 4|11 Cholera Infantum,
Natick. Ireland. Canden, Me.
27 28 29 MAY 2
Julia M. (Dwyer) Herrick, Win. S. Clark,
47 48
4
Win. Hunter,
73 64 82 37
Apoplexy, Senile Dementia Phthisis, Apoplexy,
Milford. Milford.
9
John Kreis,
56
9 4 Marasmus, Pneumonia,
Ireland.
10 Mary Beatty,
12
Hopy D. Lashure,
SO 1
5
7 Convulsions,
13 13
Bertha L. Lowery, George A. Mower, Aspesi Alesandro, Hollis Howard,
32
7 Phthisis Pulmonis, Epithelionia,
So. Braintree. Milford. Braggville. Ireland. Ireland. Milford.
JUNE 3 Mary Tully, 6 Martha P. (Pierce) Cushman,
77 38 65
31 40 20
7 4 Pericardites, Drowning,
24 John O'Connor,
24 56 56
Acci. Frac. Base of Skull, Emphysema of Lungs,
5
Ruth B. ( Brown) Hero,
28
Lottie Amilcars,
41
30
Edward MeNally, 35
Ireland. Boston. Ireland. Ireland. Milford. Italy.
Wm. It. MeNally,
57
4
Catherine(Ward) O'Donnell, 70 Harry Hynes,
81 6 Meningitis,
6 17 Phthisis Pulmonalis, 7 25 Cystitis,
Milford. Milford. Upton. Ireland. Milford. Bellingham. N. Y. City. Milford.
20
711
8/13 Chron. Diar'a & Malaria, Diefield, Me. Heart Disease, Railroad Accident, Dysentery,
Ireland. Milford. Ireland. Milford. Milford. Milford.
Gertrude M. Sherman,
Milford. Upton. Ireland. Milford. Ireland. Milford. Ireland. Milford. Armenia.
Thomas Dalton,
75 60 Interstitial Nephrites,
18 Loerietta Connors,
Bridget Sweeney,
Mary Buckley,
Wm. Gahagan,
Milford. Milford.
12 Albert R. Gerry,
Delia A. (York) Beatty,
Martin Lally,
YM D
Francis J. Hogan,
14
Daniel Mccarthy,
39
DEATHS REGISTERED IN THE TOWN OF MILFORD, 1893 .- CONTINUED.
DATE
DEATH.
NAME OF DECEASED.
AGE.
DISEASE OR CAUSE OF DEATH.
PLACE OF BIRTH.
YMID
AUG.
Ethel M. Rogers, Clarence H. Woodbury, Ann (Collins) Pike, Edward V. Hannon,
20 75 22 2
6|10 Tubercular Meningitis, 5 20 Diphtheria,
Chronic Bright's Disease,
3 4 12 16 17
William Q. Fletcher, Leroy S. Glazier, Cynthia E. (Mason) Mather, Agnes McKenna, John McNamara, James Igoe,
23 52
6
1 Inflammation of Liver,
23
Patrick H. Fitzsimmons, Mildred F. Pratt,
23
3 9 Typhoid Fever,
Fall River.
24
59
2 19 Cholera Infantum, 5 Diabetis,
Ireland.
26
Mary (Connors) Dwyer. Patrick McDermott,
71
Chronic Cystitis,
Ireland.
SEPT. 2 4 5
70 22 43 2
25
Milford.
6
Milford.
6 8 15 17
Thomas J. Connors,
29 37
3 18 Consumption,
Milford. Sweden. Carron, Conn.
19 20 24 25
28 OCT.
Julia Givina, Michael Casey, Hannalı O. (Weeds) Place, Alexander Gregg, Winnie Cauley,
2 55 89 67 20
7
Cancer of the Breast,
5 L- 12 13
Rose (Burke) Coppinger, Hattie M. (Cheney) Inman, Hannah E. (Pressal) Wilkinson,
40 84 23
11
Boston. Milford.
Leroy S. Wakefield,
55 73
John S. Tucker,
Mary A.(Ahern) Hennessey, Ann (Flynn) Honey,
,34 37
Warren Bixby,
52 11
Cere. deg. fol. apoplexy, Hopkinton.
Margaret (McAnliffe)
Conway,
51 77
Debility of Left Lung, 3 27 Chronic Dysentery,
Minnie B. Brown,
20 3 Phthisis Pulmonalis,
14
Fanny L. (Phipps) Gibson, Sarah Blanchard, Armand Chaput, Henry M. Fisher,
Mary M. (Kinsley) Whiting, Thomas F. Quinlan, Charles O'Neil,
55
26
27
DEC. 5 7
Amory B. Cook, John Dillon,
89 54 75
Caranomia of Stomaclı, 7 5 Dilatation of the Heart,
39 4 14 Pneumonia,
14
Polly (Hatch) Holbrook, Mary (Clifford) Gleason, Harvey F. Taft, Mary Ann McKenna,
81
83 4 9 Cancer of Lip,
37 10, 7 |Int. Neph. & Endo-Cardi's,
73 7.28 Heart Disease,
134
5, 6 Consumption, 1 I Senility,
89
6
1 Cerebral Hemorrhage,
'63
10
5
2 Shock fol. abdom. oper'on, Cholera Morbus, Tuberculosis of Bowels,
Douglas. Milford. Milford. Ireland. Milford.
5
8 Neuralgia of the Heart, Heart Disease, Suicide,
5 19 Cholera Infantum, Cholera Infantum, Phthisis,
Milford.
Newton, Oliio.
Boston.
Bernard Halberg, Samuel A. Mather, Eva J. Killion, James Teeling, John O. Symonds,
65 16 57 56
5 14 Accident, Broken Spine, Spinal Meningitis, Chron. Bron., Heart Deb.
Milford.
Stephen B. McTague, Abigail Steele,
24
5 18 Dilatation of Heart, Phthisis,
55 9 4 Cancer of the Uternal,
Smithfield, R. I.
Pneumonia,
Chronic Bronchitis,
Milford. Ireland. Hill, N. H.
{ hronic Bright's Disease, Scotland.
Bright's Disease of Heart, Milford.
70
Nutral Disease of Heart, Ireland.
6 19 Dilatation of the Heart,
Milford.
22 28 30 30
Michael F. Caine,
7|Old Age, Phthisis, 6 22 Apoplexy, 2 26 Appendecites, 128 Shock fol. Sur. Oper'n, 4 Gastertis,
Foxcroft, Me. Milford. Ireland.
31 31 NOV. 1 5 11 11 12
Cyrus B. Stockwell,
Ireland. Sutton. Uxbridge. Hopkinton.
67 62 2|10|15 Accidental Drowning, 69 11 19 Organic Dementia Exh'n, 6 2 Apoplexy,
Scotland. Milford. Wrentham. Hubbardston. Milford. Milford.
28 16|Phthisis Pulmonalis, 3 18 Bronchitis,
6 19 Old Age,
West Wrentham. Ireland.
Alonzo C. Rounds,
10 14 Frank D. Holbrook,
73 9 5, Pneumonia, Pneumonia,
Alexandria, Va. Upton. Hopkinton. Ireland. Upton.
Brookfield. N. Hanson. Ireland.
21
17 17 18 19 Beaman B. Adams, 20 Susie C. (Brooks) Webber, John Ahern,
49
11 19 Phthisis Pulmonalis, 12 Eclampsia,
Milford. Skowhegan, Me. Ireland Milford. Milford. Barre, Mass.
20
22
Wm. S. Wilkinson, Everett M. Walker, Jesse Daniels, George F. Cloonan, Papineau, Kate F. Beatty, Rosalin F. Voyer,
Smithfield, R. I. Milford.
40 22 7 22 Heart Disease, Chronic Asthma,
6
Ireland. Salem. Milford.
3 4 Broncho Pneumonia, Ulcer of Stomach,
14 17
40
DEATHS REGISTERED IN THE TOWN OF MILFORD, 1893 .- CONCLUDED.
DATE
DEATH.
AGE.
DISEASE OR CAUSE OF DEATH.
PLACE OF BIRTH.
YMD
24
Mary Lugennea,
1 3 Pneumonia,
27
Lydia B. (Brigham) Walker,
84 11 25 Pneumonia,
30
Mary W. Carlton,
31
Hazel Estelle Hastings,
89 8 17 Disease incid. to Old Age, 9 6 Meningitis,
Milford. Marlboro. Marlboro. Milford.
31
John Casey,
1 4 13 Broncho Pneumonia,
Milford.
All of which is respectfully submitted.
DOMNICK J. LANG,
Town Clerk.
1
OF
NAME OF DECEASED.
REPORT OF HENRY E. FALES.
At a town meeting held March 14, 1893, it was voted :
To retain Henry E. Fales as counsel in regard to the sewage of Charles River.
In view of the importance to the voters and tax-payers of the Town of Milford of the questions involved in the preceding vote, and with the certainty that in the near future some means for the permanent disposition of the sewage of the town must be consid- ered and provided, it seems to me to be proper that I should report just what had been done, and just what we may be called upon to do, to the end that the voters of the town may fully appreciate and understand the magnitude and importance of the interests involved, and be better prepared to deal with these questions as they arise in the future.
While Milford has not yet adopted and constructed a system of sewerage, it is well understood by every citizen of the town that the construction of such a system cannot be long postponed. The decided trend of public opinion is in the direction of im- proved and complete systems of sewerage for every municipality, the demand for the same is becoming stronger and more imper- ative each year, and it will not do for Milford to be behind in this great improvement which is so imperatively demanded by modern civilization, and so necessary to preserve the public health and the prosperity of our town. It is well known to every citizen that the town has, within the last thirty years, constructed one or more drains which empty into the Charles River. While the amount of sewage matter which is discharged through these drains into the river is comparatively small, and has not yet perceptibly affected the purity of the water, yet there has been for the past few years an earnest movement in the towns lying along the Charles river in the neighborhood of Boston to prevent the dis- charge of all sewage matter into the river, and require all towns
42
upon its banks to otherwise provide for the disposition of their sewage.
In the latter part of the year 1892, public meetings were held in Boston, attended by the officers of the municipalities along the Charles, in which the matter was fully discussed, and early action by the Legislature was promised.
It was quite apparent to me that the Town of Milford was vitally interested in such legislation. Under the laws, as they exist at present, while the State and local Boards of Health have certain powers and might take action in reference to the discharge of sewage into the river, I was satisfied that there was no special danger to Milford by any proceedings which might be taken in the courts, and that we should be able to prevent any decrees or judgments which might operate to our injury. This made it ex- ceedingly important that every effort should be made to prevent any legislation which might work injury to our municipality.
Under the vote before stated, I felt it my duty to carefully watch legislative action, and early in the session I learned that a plan had been formed which was advocated by officers and com- mittees of the towns near Boston, and a bill had been introduced authorizing the Metropolitan Park Commissioners to take land for public parks anywhere along either bank of the Charles river. I at once procured copies of the bills, and made a careful exami- nation of the proposed legislation. The bills were simple and apparently harmless, but a close scrutiny of their provisions con- vinced me that if these bills became laws, the Metropolitan Park Commissioners could take any land on the banks of the Charles river, nominally for public parks, but really to prevent the discharge of any drainage into the river, and the land so taken would be exempt from taxation, and the expense of maintaining the same as public parks would be, in part, at least, imposed upon the towns where such land was taken. It will be readily seen that under this legislation the commissioners could take a strip of land a few rods wide along the bank of the Charles River in the central part of Milford, and so cut off all drains which pass through the lands and discharge into the river, and paralyze the industries of the town.
43
Like most riparian towns, the part where the manufactories are located is in the valley and near the river, and should land be taken, as it might be under this legislation, the Town of Milford would find itself in the condition which the Town of Ashland has been since Boston has taken possession of its mill sites and streams for a water supply.
This proposed legislation was an anomaly in the legislative history or our commonwealth. It was an entire departure from all precedents in our history. An irresponsible body of men whose interests were in Boston and the suburban cities and towns, might go to Milford and drive away every shop and factory located in the valley of the Charles, and strike a death blow to the pros- perity of the town
I deemed it of the highest importance that this legislation should be defeated, and, fortunately, I was the employed attorney for several of the towns along the Charles, and asked the assistance of these towns in defeating this legislation. I at once communi- cated with the board of selectmen of every town on either bank, appeared before a committee of the legislature, and, after several extended hearings, the bill was so modified that it did not affect the interests of Milford.
In this connection, I desire to make special reference to the valuable and efficient assistance given me in this effort by William B. Hale, chairman of the board of selectmen, and Mr. Z. C. Field, one of our most capable and efficient citizens, and also to Mr. McLoughlin and his colleague in the House of Representa- tives from this district.
It is quite possible that during the present session of the legislature, some further effort will be made which must be promptly attended to. I shall watch carefully all bills that are introduced which in any way may affect us in that direction, and shall take the most prompt and efficient means to fully protect the interests of the town.
I have no doubt that when a complete system of sewerage is adopted in Milford, and which must be within a few years, some efficient way must be provided to dispose of our sewage otherwise than discharging the same into the Charles river. I have long
t S e
44
felt that the matter of the disposition of the sewage of our large towns and cities is something more than a local matter, that the whole commonwealth has an interest in the same, and that the state must deal with these questions as a matter affecting the whole state, and the state as a whole must take upon itself a part of the burden of providing for the disposition of sewage.
This principle is recognized in the law providing for the appointment of a board of Metropolitan Sewage Commissioners and the construction of the metropolitan sewer.
The natural means of drainage are the water courses, and from ancient times down to a comparatively recent date, the sew- age of the towns and cities was discharged into the streams. Such streams are now largely used for water supplies, and no riparian town or city will be long permitted to use a running stream as a sewer ; and I look forward within the next decade to the enactment of laws under which some general system of state sewerage will be provided for, under which Milford can dispose of its sewage without bearing the entire expense of the construct- ion of the necessary conduits and other things necessary for its disposition.
Until a provision of this sort is made, the Town of Milford must be alert against any attempts which will interfere with the working of the natural courses of drainage toward the valley of the river.
It goes without saying that the utmost care must be taken by the town to prevent anything like a pollution of the river which may be objected to by the towns along its banks. I urge upon every citizen of the town the careful consideration of this question, to the end that they may be prepared for intelligent action and to deal with the difficulties (complicated though they are) of this problem as they shall arise in the near future.
Respectfully Submitted,
HENRY E. FALES.
REPORT
OF THE
SCHOOL COMMITTEE
AND
SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS
OF THE
TOWN OF MILFORD,
FOR THE
SCHOOL YEAR 1893-94.
MILFORD, MASS. : COOK & SONS, PRINTERS. 1894.
SCHOOL COMMITTEE 1893-94.
J. J. DUGGAN
. Term expires 1894
GILBERT M. BILLINGS . .
.
66 1894
GEORGE L. COOKE .
.
66 1895
GEORGE E. STACY .
66 1895
JOHN T. McLOUGHLIN .
.
66 IS96
HEBER D. BOWKER
1896
ORGANIZATION.
GEORGE L. COOKE, Chairman,
S. F. BLODGETT, Secretary.
SUB-COMMITTEES. Rules and Regulations.
J. T. McLOUGHLIN, H. D. BOWKER, THE SUPERINTENDENT. Repairs.
G. M. BILLINGS, GEORGE L. COOKE, THE SUPERINTENDENT. Teachers and Examinations.
H. D. BOWKER, J. J. DUGGAN, THE SUPERINTENDENT. Books and Supplies.
G. E. STACY, J. T. McLOUGHLIN, THE SUPERINTENDENT. Fuel.
J. J. DUGGAN, GEORGE E. STACY.
SUPERINTENDENT, S. F. BLODGETT.
Office at Memorial Hall. Office hours, 8 to 9 A. M., daily, when schools are in session.
Regular meetings of the Committee are held on the second Monday of each month, at 8 P. M.
REPORT OF SCHOOL COMMITTEE.
A complete, detailed and excellent report of the condition and expenses of the schools, will be found in the Secretary and Super- intendent's report, which is hereto appended and approved. Also reports of the Principal of the High school and Teachers of Draw- ing and Music. Your Committee would emphasize that part of the report on the matter of school accommodations. . It is hoped that it will be carefully read and acted upon at once. Also, note the report of the principal of the High school on the need of a new building for that school.
The old Town House for a school building, was condemned and abandoned. We have used one of the rooms for a school, as a temporary arrangement, till other accommodations could be made, and this against the protest of the Board of Health.
The school houses are growing old, and need increasing repairs. The last school house, the Claflin, was built in 1871. We have tried to economize by making only absolutely needed repairs and no painting, if that be economy. The property should be kept in good repair each year.
Your committee ask and urge you to erect a suitable building for Primary and Grammar schools within the limits of the Town House district. Notwithstanding the hard times and business depression in town the past year, the number of scholars is only eleven less than a year ago. The number then was 1524; now 1513, though families with children have left town. The natural growth of the town makes it necessary to have increased school accommodations. We cannot expect to have a school in the Town House another year.
In last year's report the School Committee suggested the removal of the High School building and erecting a new one, fitting up the building for the lower grade of schools, if that be feasible.
We need two school buildings-one for the lower grades, to accommodate from 150 to 200 scholars, and a building suitable for the High school.
d
4
The Evening school has been a successful one this year. The number enrolled, 85 scholars. Average attendance first month, 65. There has been some falling off. Such a public school is the sole access to elementary learning to a class among us.
In filling vacancies, home teachers are given the preference, but the time is well-nigh passed when inexperienced and immature girls may reasonably expect to successfully compete with trained teachers and graduates from normal schools and colleges, for the control and guidance of the children in our public schools. The trust is too precious, the risk too great, to warrant experimenting. Those who desire to teach, should fit themselves for the work, that the town may have no schools but good ones. The moral element in culture should be more prominent -goodness not smartness ; manliness, not per cents, should be the aim. The system should be improved.
The committee appointed by the Town to take into considera- tion the matter of increased accommodations for the schools, have met with the School Committee, and will report to the town.
The committee recommend the following appropriations for the coming year : Salaries of teachers, $17,000 ; janitors, $1100 ; evening school, $350; fuel, $1400; repairs, $1000; books and supplies, $1700; incidentals, $1500; Superintendent's salary, $1600. Total, $25,650.
All of which is respectfully submitted.
GEO. L. COOKE, GEO. E. STACY, G. M. BILLINGS, H. D. BOWKER, JNO. J. DUGGAN, JOHN T. McLOUGHLIN,
School Committee.
SECRETARY'S REPORT.
RECEIPTS.
Appropriation $25,000 00
One half of the dog-tax 294 84
Sales at the office
14 45
--
- $25,309 29
EXPENSES.
Teachers' salaries, day schools
· $16,937 56
Janitors' salaries 1,128 00
Superintendent's salary . 1,599 95
Fuel
1,351 27
Repairs 745 85
Supplies, day schools 1,832 32
Incidentals 1,421 60
Teachers' salaries, evening school 222
Supplies, 66
57 61
Janitor's salary, 66 66
12
- $25,308216
Balance unexpended,
$1 13
Following is an itemized account of the expenditures for supplies, repairs and incidentals :-
TEXT BOOKS AND SUPPLIES.
D. C. Heath & Co., books
$62 20
American Book Co., books 157 15
Silver, Burdett & Co., books
353 90
Geo. S. Perry, supplies
283 51
Milton Bradley Co., supplies . 95 17
Leach, Shewell & Sanborn, books 62 73
Carter, Dinsmore & Co., ink, glue 37 50
William Ware & Co., books . 68 34
6
Allyn & Bacon, books. 25 76
Thompson & Brown, books 45 16
Prang Educational Co., drawing books 96 93
Ginn & Co., books. 59 23
Effingham, Maynard & Co., books 11 76
J. L. Hammett, supplies
91 92
D. Lothrop & Co., books
12 20
Carl Schoenhoff, books,.
8 40
Boston School Supply Co., books 141 21
Lee & Shepard, books
1 00
Eberhard Faber, supplies 76 10
Houghton, Mifflin, books 38 81
Oliver Ditson Co., music 29 61
University Publishing Co., books 59 73
D. Appleton & Co., books
14 00
$1,832 32
SUPPLIES FOR EVENING SCHOOL.
Leach, Shewell & Sanborn, books
$45 37
Carl Schoenhoff, Italian Dictionaries 8 04
W. W. Woodbury, Armenian Primers 2 70
W. S. Wood, kerosene. 1 50
$57 61
$1,889 93
REPAIRS.
J. L. Buxton $ 5 00
Otis Whitney & Son 80 19
A. S. Crofoot 25 80
Weed Bros & Lent. 19 00
C. A. Hill.
38 57
L. A. Cook, lumber 88
A. D. Mathewson, lightning rods 44 00
Clark Ellis & Sons 29 92
D. A. Conant, labor 29 95
T. E. Morse. 1 71
Bryan Brennan, labor
14 00
Irving E. Jones
178 12
C
7
Hilton Bros. & Crofoot 67 90
F. M. Ballou, concreting 33 08
David Ahern, labor 7 00
Henry Willard .
16 73
John P. Daniels, sand. 2 50
M. McNamara, labor, 3 25
John Cochran, labor 4 60
T. N. Ide. 1 00
G. H. Whittemore 5 75
J. H. Scott, labor 5 00
J. F. Hickey, window shades
12 92
New England Gamewell Co
30 00
Eldridge & Beatty 58 50
John Taft
24 12
Z. C. Field, lumber
6 36
$745 85
INCIDENTALS.
Milford Gas Co.
$ 45 72
G. M. Billings 47 10
Mrs. H. Mitchell, water 3 00
Secretary, postage stamps and cards 15 75
Expressage .
35 50
Superintendent, incidental expenses 32 48
F. W. Stewart, water for two years 10 00
E. Shields, . 66 66 6 00
Bryan Brennan, labor 10 60
Milford Water Co. 165 00
E. J. Burke, labor 15 70
O. Sweet, cleaning schoolhouses
134 20
Programs, High School.
12 00
M. P. Burns, truant officer 100 00
J. D. Scott, water. 5 00
H. C. Kendall, engrossing diplomas
5 70
Win. Hynes, cleaning vaults .
68 50
E. E. Vaughan. 11 83
J. E. Hayes, delivering oration
20 00
Cook & Sons
17 00
8
Music Hall Co 36 25
John Callahan, labor 3 50
Daily News 8 00
Littlefield Pub. Co., town directory 2 00
H. J. Dearing . 68 25
G. A. Sherborne, freighting 24 76
I. C. Soule, labor 4 65
J. L. Smith. 1 50
T. Pond, shavings 90
M. McKeague, truant officer 25 00
A. B. Morse, disinfectant. 1 80
Fred G. Williams, carriage hire for drawing and music teachers 109 00
N. Jewell, water 5 00
Mrs. John Madden, water 5 00
D. A. Conant, labor .
5 90
J. A. Rice, chemicals and drawing supplies 58 11 Transporting pupils, Silver Hill District. 142 50
J. Costello, water 3 00
G. W. Stacy.
2 25
Smith Premier Co., paper for Neostyle 3 15
Secretary's salary .
25 00
Superintendent, horse hire. 100 00
Printing reports
25 00
$1,421 60
FUEL.
Previous to this year, the contract for supplying the schools with coal and wood had been awarded to the lowest bidder among the local dealers.
This year the dealers agreed on prices, and the contract was divided as equally as possible among the four local dealers.
Following is an itemized account :
H. A. Barney, coal and wood, furnished on last
year's contract.
$248 24
Since contract in August
311 13
P. P. Field, coal and wood.
290 01
9
T. Quirk, coal and wood 266 75 L. A. Cook, coal 235 14
$1351 27
At a meeting of the Committee held Wednesday evening, Feb. 7, the Secretary's report was accepted, and it was voted to adopt the Superintendent's report as a part of the report of the School Committee.
S. F. BLODGETT, Secretary.
SUPERINTENDENT'S REPORT.
TO THE SCHOOL COMMITTEE OF MILFORD,
GENTLEMEN : I submit for your approval my seventh report, which is the seventeenth annual report since the town has em- ployed a superintendent of schools. The report covers the year ending January 1, 1894, and is accompanied by such tables of statistics as are necessary to illustrate the work of the schools.
STATISTICS.
Population of Milford in 1890 . 8,78o
Number of children between 5 and 15 years of age, by cen-
sus taken in May, 1893 ·
1,265
Decrease from last year ·
·
.
.
28
Number enrolled under 5 ·
.
.
2
Number between 5 and S .
·
.
.
361
Number between S and 14 .
.
.
SI2
Number between 14 and 15 . .
.
.
126
Number over 15 . ·
.
.
212
Total enrollment . ·
·
.
1,513 ·
Average number belonging for the year .
. 1,250
Average daily attendance . 1,145
Per cent. of attendance to number belonging
· 91.6
Number of days' absence in all the schools
. 18,538
Number of cases of tardiness in all schools 2,824
Number of cases of dismissal in all schools 1,645 . Cases of corporal punishment 65 .
Cases of truancy reported by the teachers
45
Visits by members of committee 29 ·
Visits by the superintendent
.
. 628
Visits by others
. 747
·
.
.
II
NUMBER OF TEACHERS.
High school 4 .
Common schools, first and second terms .
31
Common schools, third term ·
32
Special teachers (music and drawing)
·
2
Evening school
4
Whole number of teachers employed during the year ·
47
REMARKS ON STATISTICS.
The assessors, who take the census of children between the ages of 5 and 15, returned 28 less than last year, and the total en- rollment is II less than last year; but the average number belong- ing is 28 more, and the average daily attendance 13 more than last year. The per cent. of attendance has fallen exactly one per cent., owing the prevalence of scarlet fever at the commencement of the year.
As this report will be placed in the hands of the parents, I call their attention to the matter of absence and tardiness. Dur- ing the past year the children in the public schools have lost 18,538 days of school work, which, allowing 180 days for the school year, would equal the loss of the entire year by 103 pupils. For children between the ages of 8 and 14, the law recognizes no excuse except illness of the child or the presence of contagious disease in the family. I have no doubt that more than half of the absences are unavoidable, and may be attributed to sickness; but I am sure that in many cases absence is unnecessary, and that it may be avoided if the parents will heartily co-operate with the teachers in the attempt to secure regular attendance.
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