USA > Massachusetts > Worcester County > Milford > Town Annual Report of the Officers of the Town of Milford, Massachusetts 1932 > Part 7
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Several suits for personal property taxes have been in- stituted and attachments made, particularly in cases of a forced or sudden sale of merchandise, and revenue therefrom has been collected. The outstanding claims for land takings against the Town for the Cape Road construction in 1981 have all been paid.
A judgment is outstanding against the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, which the Town must pay, for $1,000.00 in favor of one Barberi, et al for land damages on account of the construction of East Main street in 1928. This agree- ment was made by a former Board of Selectmen, but made no provision to provide the money, as the East Main Street Ap-
146
propriation had only $433.39 left. A special appropriation should be made at the March meeting to cover the balance of $561.61.
For the year 1932, $1200.00 was appropriated in the March meeting for the Town Solicitor's Department, On my assuming the duties of the office, $925.50 for services and expenses to March 7, 1932, had been expended by the retir- ing Town Solicitor.
This crippled the appropriation, as it left only $274.50 to cover the work for the remaining 10 months of the year. To remedy this situation, the Finance Commission after a hearing at which both solicitors were present, transferred $925.50 from the reserve fund to the Solicitor's Department, thus restoring the $1200.00 appropriation. The cost of the Solicitor's Department to the Town since March 8, 1932, has been $986.42, plus $161.21 cash disbursements, making a total of $1147.23 ..
Thanks are extended to the various Boards and Town officials for their generous co-operation and assistance during the period covered by this report.
Respectfully submitted,
WILLIAM A. MURRAY, Town Solicitor.
Milford Town Library.
REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES.
The Trustees of the Town Library respectfully submit the following report:
It is gratifying to observe in the report submitted by the Librarian that the total circulation in the library reached the new high figure of 83,776 books loaned during the year. This represents an increase of 11,325 over the figures of 1931.
This increase in the past year is undoubtedly due to the unemployment conditions which prevail locally, since it is fair to assume, that many people who are out of work, find the library a profitable place to spend a part of their enforced leisure hours, or at least a place where they may obtain books for home reading.
The reading room also showed an increase over last year, 9,864 visitors this year as compared with 8,784 during the previous year. Many of our citizens found the reading room a most convenient place to spend a leisure hour where all of the leading magazines are at their disposal.
Owing to the large number of replacements and rebound books, the purchase of new books was not as large as last year
The Trustees look upon the past year as one of great progress and wish to commend the Librarian and her assis- tants for their faithful devotion to their duties, the burdens and responsibilities which the increased use of the Library by the public has entailed during the past year, and to express our appreciation for their willingness to assume the reduction in their salaries recommended by the Finance Committee. We are also very grateful for the cooperation of the townspeople.
Very truly yours, THOMAS J. NUGENT, D M. D. Chairman of Trustees.
148
TRUSTEES.
William K. Coombs
Term expires 1933
Capt. Gilbert C. Eastman .
· Term expires 1938
Stephen H. Reynolds
. Term expires 1934
Frederick H. Gould
Term expires 1934 ·
*Thomas J. Quirk
Term expires 1985
Dr. Thomas J. Nugent .
Term expires 1985
#John L Davoren
Term expires 1933
*Resigned October 1932.
#Elected to fill vacancy November 1932.
ORGANIZATION.
Dr. Thomas J. Nugent, Chairman,
Frederick H. Gould, Secretary,
Miss Ethelwyn Blake, Librarian,
Mrs. Harriet Adams Hunter, Assistant Librarian,
Miss Dorothy Sennott O'Brien, Full-Time Assistant,
Miss Harriett J. Carter, Part-Time Assistant.
FINANCIAL STATEMENT. RECEIPTS.
Town Appropriation
$3200 00
Dog Tax
1275 35
.
$4,475 35
EXPENDITURES.
Salaries
$3150 85
Lights .
134 80
Books and Magazines .
774 83
Binding
304 61
Clubs
7 CO
Printing
34 65
Express
2 00
Repairs
3 15
Supplies
9 80
Cataloguing
11 84
Petty Cash, Express, Postage
24 94
·
.
-- $4,458 47
·
.
--
149
REPORT OF THE LIBRARIAN.
TO THE TRUSTEES OF THE PUBLIC LIBRARY: GENTLEMEN:
I submit herewith the seventy-fourth annual report of the Library for the year ending December 81, 1932.
The work of the library has followed the usual routine this year. Owing to the financial situation, no radical changes were made. The following figures show that increased ser- vice has been given the public. The fact that the circulation made such a large gain, proves that the people hive turned to the library for help in their time of need. By no means should the efficiency of the work for the public be curtailed at this time. More books, not less, increased hours, not de- creased, are needed.
STAFF.
The staff has been the same as last year. The value of an Assistant Librarian has been proved thoroughly during the past twelve months. The arrangement with the full time as- sistant in charge of the reading room has been successful.
CIRCULATION,
The Library was open 304 days, and during that time 83,776 volumes were loaned, a gain of 11,325 volumes over the circulation of 72,451 volumes in 1931. For the second year, there was a gain in each of the twelve months. The cir- culation by departments was: History, 204; Biography, 889; Politics and Law, 21; Travel, 1,226; Science, 529; Fiction, 50,011; Magazines and Miscellaneous, 3,462; Religion, 34; Poetry, 421; Juvenile, 26,972; Public Documents, 7.
The largest daily circulation was November 12, with 593 volumes. Nine times during the year the daily circulation ex- ceeded 500, and 53 times it exceeded 400. The smallest daily circulation was September 16, with 57 volumes. The average daily circulation was 275.5 volumes. The average circulation per capita was 5.68 volumes.
Notices sont delinquents, 442. This applies only to first notices. Often three or four notices are sent to a person. New patrons registered 601, making a total registration of 4,978.
150
Visitors to the reading room 9,864, as against 8,784 last year, a gain of 1,080.
Amount collected for fines and paid the Town Treasurer, according to State law, $143.40.
CIRCULATION TABLE.
History.
Biography
Politics
and Law.
Travel.
Science.
Fiction.
Magazines
& Mis.
Religion.
Poetry.
Juvenile.
| Pub. Doc.
Total.
Jan.
27
98
1
107
38
4494
306
2
59
3111
8243
Feb,
17
133
1
143
47
4646
310
3
40
2899
1 8240
March
14 106
5
118
64
4484
332
5
47
2715
7890
April,
13
81
95
47
4552
313
'2
25
2545
7673
May,
3
50
93
42
3890
281
4
24
1815
6202
June,
4
37
73
39
3607
181
1
17
1284
1 5244
July,
7
4>
93
31
3777
241
4
24
1211
5436
Aug.,
10
37
1
101
42
3769
233
5
30
1219
5447
Sept ,
10
50
2
79
45
3556
202
5
17
1590
2 5558
Oct,
29
78
2
101
67
4516
314
1
51
2868
2 8029
Nov ,
45
91
4
108
35
4441
365
2
45
3140
8276
Dec ,
25
80
5
115
3.2
4279
384
42
2575
1
7538
Total 204 889
21 1226 529 50011 3462
34 421 26972
7 83776
CIRCULATION TABLE FOR TEN YEARS
1928, 51,048; 1924, 52,478; 1925, 56,939; 1926, 58,350; 19%7, 60,189; 1928, 62,810; 1929, 62,198; 1980, 64,679; 1981, 72,451; 1938, 83,776.
MAGAZINE CIRCULATION. FOR YEAR ENDING DECEMBER 31, 1932.
American
64
Boy's Life 41 ·
American Boy
39
Child Life
57
American Home
37
Country Life
· 30
Antiques
19
Current History .
. 15
Asia
·
44
Forum . ·
39
Atlantic Monthly
.
37
Good Housekeeping · 84
Bookman
.
6 Harper's .
. ·
53
·
151
Hygeia 22
Ladies' Home Journal
51
St. Nicholas 59
Saturday Evening Post 31
Scientific American
34
National Geographic 55
Scribner's
44
Nature 33
Time
65
North American Review
19
Travel
4
Open Road 47 .
Woman's Home Companion
· 47
Pictorial Review .
58
· World's Work 14
Popular Mechanics
. 103
Specialty Salesman 4
Popular Science .
96
Parents
.
6
Reader's Digest .
.
52
Seven Seas .
1
DOROTHY S. O'BRIEN.
BOOKS.
The Library contains, as per catalogue, 24,228 volumes, as follows:
History,
1252
Added During Year 13
Vols. In 1932 1265
Biography,
.
.
1751
16
1767
Politics and Law,
370
370
Travel,
1542
11
1553
Science,
1512
7
1519
Fiction,
8287
175
8462
Magazines and Miscellaneous,
3909
17
3926
Religion,
549
3
552
Poetry,
654
6
660
Juvenile,
.
3483
66
3549
Public Documents,
592
13
605
Totals,
. 23,901
327
24,228
·
Review of Reviews 6
Literary Digest . 28
McCall's .
63
Outlook .
11
Vols. In 1931
There were 327 volumes added during the year-by pur- chase, 299; by gift, 28. A year subscription of Parents Maga- zine was given to the reading room and a year subscription of
152
Messenger of the Sacred Heart. There are 17 unbound vol. umes of Patent Office Gazette.
The donors were: State of Massachusetts, 12 volumes; Miss Elizabeth I. Crockett and Thomas T. Johnston, two vol- umes each; Smithsonian Institute, American Reference Admin- istration, National Sculpture Society, Ladies' Association Uni- versalist Church, United States George Washington Bi-Cen- tennial Committee, Clare Benedict, Lucy Patrick, Division of Public Libraries, Dr. F. M. Daniels, Book Club of Quinshipaug Woman's Club, Edwin Emerson, Public Provincial Tourist Bureau of Quebec, one volume each.
SCHOOLS.
The work with the Stacy school has followed the same . lines as last year, except the discontinuance of book reports with the awards on Memorial Day. This fall the book reports were resumed, with a slight change in plan. This year re- ports are sent to the Librarian three times a year, and a com- mittee consisting of Mrs. Margaret Lewis, Mrs. Frances Chad- bourne and Mrs. Irma Whitney, will make the final decision and awards at the close of the school year.
The reference work with the schools has been exception- ably heavy during the year.
NOTES.
Attention is called to the small number of books added during the year, 327, more than 50 per cent. fiction. Libraries should be able to keep all departments supplied with up-to- dite material. The pitrons have made little complaint about the lack of new books, but the non-fiction reading public has good reason to protest.
The George Washington celebration was marked by the Library in several ways; all books relating to Washington were placed in one stack; two remarkable works of art were malejand given to the Library by Samuel Goldstein-one a pastel picture of Washington, and the other a plaster cast of Washington; two Washington posters by Hazel Cass and Wal- ter Jones, and other pictures of our First President were hung on the walls. The pamphlets received from the United States
153
Commission for the celebration of the two-hundredth anniver- sary of the birth of George Washington, were kept in one place for the use of the public.
Several sets of books in the Polish, Armenian and Italian languages have been borrowed from the Division of Public Libraries at the State House.
The Inter-loan Library System has been used extensively to supply patrons with non-fiction books not owned by the Library.
Leaflets on correspondence courses were received from the Department of Education and placed in out-going books.
Leaders of the Boy Scout movement requested that the Boy Scout Library be made available to the local troops. The Trustees purchased 149 Boy Scout pamphlets. These are cir- culated to members of the Troops and have been well used.
It is interesting to note that this year the Library will attain its 75th birthday. It has an unbroken record of service to the townspeople since its institution on August 30, 1858.
AN A. L. A. RESOLUTION.
The need of adequate library service during the period of economic depression wes stressed in the following resolution:
"The present economic depression, with its accompanying unemployment, has stimulated the demand for library service, increased the circulation of books, and enlarged the contribu- tion which libraries make in the preparation of new types of employment; in the proper use of leisure time, and in the main- tenance of public morale. We call these facts to the attention of the Governors and Legislatures of the various states and to all public officials of counties, cities and towns and urge them to allow no reduction of appropriation for books and service but to maintain the libraries of the country in their full effi- ciency in this period of special need."
READING ROOM.
The reading room has received regularly the following publications, 42 by purchase, and 49 magazines and bulletins by gift. (Those marked * were donated).
154
Boston Post
DAILY. *Christian Science Monitor
WEEKLY.
*American Issue
*Christian Leader Saturday Evening Post
*School
*Zion's Herald
* World Tomorrow
BI-MONTHLY. *Red Cross Courier
*Antioch News
QUARTERLY.
*Thecsophical Quarterly
*Bell Telephone Subscription Books Quar- terly
- MONTHLY.
A. L. A. Booklet
American Boy
American Home
American Magazine
Antiques Asia
Atlantic
Bookman
Boy's Life
*Bulletins of
N. E. Conservatory of Music
Massachusetts Society Mental Hygiene Museum Fine Arts Worcester Art Museum Child Life
*Christian Endeavor World *Christian Science Journal *Columbia Country Life in America
Current History *Dependable Highways
*DuPont Magazine Forum Good Housekeeping
*Granite Cutter's Journal Harper's *How to Sell
Hygeia
*International Engineers
*Journeymen Barber *Kodakery
*Kalends Ladies' Home Journal
*Living Tissue MeCalls
*Machinist Journal
*Messenger of the Sacred Heart
*Modelmaker
*Motion Pictures
New York Times Book Review
Outlook *Labor
Literary Digest
155
*National Republic
*National Humane Review National Geographic Nature
*New England Poultry man North American Review Open Road
*Our Dumb Animals
*Parents
Pictorial Review
Popular Mechanic
Popular Science
*Quarry Workers Journal Reader's Digest
Readers Guide to Periodical Literature
Review of Reviews
*Rosicrucian Digest Scientific American
Scribner's
*Seven Seas *Silent Hostess
*Specialty Salesman St. Nicholas
*The Elks Time
*Today's Magazine of America
Travel
*Traveler's Standard
*Tycos
*U. S. Recruiting News
*Vedanta
*Virginia Woman's Home Companion World's. Work
* Worcester County Farmer
MASSACHUSETTS ART CLUB.
The following exhibits were received from the Massachu- setts Art Club :- Art of the Illustrator; Italian Wrought Iron Work; Miracles of Science and Mechanics; Bird Foot Race in Follies; Porto Rico; German Photographs for the year 1927; Dutch Art; National Gallery, London; Art Forms in Nature; London in Color; The Sudan; Commander Byrd's Expedition to the South Pole; Oriental Rugs; Rural Life in England; Bible Pictures; Works of Albrecht Durer; Time and Time-tellers ;. American Architecture.
RECAPITULATION OF STATISTICS.
Number of days library was open,
304
Circulation for 1931, . 72,451
Circulation for 1932, . 83,776
Gain in 1932, . 11,325
Largest daily circulation, Nov. 12, . 593
Smallest daily circulation, Sept. 16, 57
Average daily circulation, .
275.5
156
Average circulation per capita,
5.68
Notices sent delinquents,
442
New patrons registered,
601
Total registration,
4,978
Visitors to reading room, 1931,
8,784
Visitors to reading room, 1982,
9,864
Gain, . 1,080
Collected for fines, paid Town Treasurer, $143 40
Number of books per catalogue, 1931,
23,901
Books added during the year, .
327
By purchase, 299; by gift, 28.
Number of books in library per catalogue, 1932, . 24,228
Respectfully submitted,
ETHELWYN BLAKE,
Librarian.
1
Report of the Sewerage Commission.
TO THE CITIZENS OF MILFORD :---
The following is a report of your Sewerage Commission for the year ending December 31, 1932.
For a detailed statement of income and expenditures of both construction and maintenance, we refer you to the report of your Town Accountant, and we suggest a careful study of your Engineer's Report which follows.
During the past year 30 house connections were made, making a total of 1,791.
By strict economy, the Board was able to lower the cost of maintenance, although having only $8,000 appropriated. The maintenance cost was kept below this figure, showing & balance of about $600 00.
The Board also voted at a meeting in June, to make a voluntary donation to the Town for the balance of the year, of five percent. of the salaries of the Commissioners, Superin- tendent and Clerk. .
Respectfully submitted,
JOHN F. ROONEY, LOUIS P. PRATT, ALFRED F. MARTIN, Sewerage Commission.
Report of Engineer of Sewerage Commission.
Boston, January 18, 1933.
Mr. Charles J. Ferrante, Sewer Department, Milford, Mass.
Dear Sir :- At your request, we submit the following re- port of our work in connection with your department during the year 1932. We assume that, as in previous years, you will include data as to the number of new connections made and other matters of which we have no knowledge.
There have been no extensions to the sewerage system during the year 1932.
The recording device on the dosing tank of the Imhoff- Trickler plant has been equipped with a new type of drive by the manufacturers and is now operating satisfactorily.
An estimate of the cost of replacing the granolithic finish on the roof of the dosing tank for the sand filter beds was sub- mitted. Also, specifications were furnished and quotations obtained for new copper screens at the disposal plant which were purchased from the Hub Wire Cloth and Wire Work Company.
Low level district pumping has been maintained at -the Charles Street and Medway Road stations and the pumping equipment is in good operating condition.
A method of investigation as to the cause of increased cost of pumping was recommended by us.
Yours very truly,
FRANK A. BARBOUR, By F. W. HALEY.
Report of the Inspector of Wires.
TO THE HONORABLE BOARD OF SELECTMEN, MILFORD, MASS , GENTLEMEN:
The volume of work to be cared for by the Inspector of Wires, on account of conditions, has remained about the same, but has changed in nature very much in the past few months. Consequently it is difficult to tabulate.
The amount of electrical work for lighting in new or fin- ished buildings has diminished, but there has been a consider- ble volume of work in connection with filling stations, and the standard of this work has been much improved in all new construction.
Oil burners continue to be installed in considerable num- bers, and the standard of this work is also improving.
The recent presentation of a new combination rate by the Milford Electric Light & Power Co. has caused many meter changes which have called for inspection in every case where two meters were previously installed.
I regret that one feature of the Inspector's duties has been the investigation of a number of fires. In these there has been full co-operation between the Chief of the Fire De- partment and myself. In two cases, electrical equipment, coupled with improper use, may have caused the fire. In three other cases, the fire had destroyed all definite evidence of electrical cause, and in others, there seemed good evidence that the cause was other than electrical.
I wish again to caution the citizens against over-fusing of circuits and amateur additions with unapproved material. Either one of these is a menace to the safety of owners or ten- ants.
The general condition of outside lines is very good.
160
Joint use of poles is gradually developing throughout the town. The concentration of the various lines on a single pole line on East Main street, is nearly complete and has improved the appearance of the street.
The Inspector has also been called upon for advice and supervision of traffic signals and fire alarm system during the year.
Respectfully submitted, FRED M. DANIELS, Inspector of Wires.
Report of Inspector of Animals.
TO THE HONORABLE BOARD OF SELECTMEN:
GENTLEMEN:
In the course of my annual inspection I examined 306 cattle, 454 pigs and 2 goats, and find them all in excellent condition.
There have been about the usual number of dog-bite cases, with no signs of rabies, however.
I am glad to announce that through the co-operation of our Board of Health our cattle are now being tested for tu- berculosis and that by the time this report is published, the first test will probably be completed. This is a long step toward assuring the public of tuberculosis free milk.
Respectfully submitted,
DR. B. F. HARTMAN, Inspector of Animals.
Report of the Park Commissioners.
TO THE CITIZENS OF THE TOWN OF MILFORD: -
We hereby submit our annual report for the year end. ing Dec. 31, 1932.
The following improvements were made:
A new backstop was erected in Town Park with a press box and three rows of bleachers for $375.00 The bleachers hold a seating capacity of three hundred. The backstop is 100 feet in length and 15 feet in height. In the coming year we hope to extend the bleachers along the first and third base lines.
We extend our thanks to the directors of the old Milford Baseball Association, who gave $215.00 towards the backstop, to Mr. Ripley, who supervised the work at no cost to the town, and to Mr. Leahy who so generously donated $30.00 for the press box.
We moved most of the rocks from the upper end of Walnut street and buried them.
We very strongly urge a comfort station and tool shed combined, to be erected in Town Park next year. Because of the crowds that frequent the park, both at baseball and foot- ball games, we feel that the sanitary conditions are disgrace. ful.
The two tennis courts are not sufficient for the crowds that wish to play. In the coming year we would like to install one more court.
The Honor Roll in Draper Park on Main street, is in a deplorable condition, and we hope to be able to replace this next year, by a granite and bronze structure, at no expense whatever to the town.
Drains in the park are still giving us and the abutters considerable trouble. We very strongly urge that this be
163
taken care of, as the Finance Committee suggested last year.
We opened a new playground at the Oliver Street school, which met with much success. Although some mem- bers of the Finance Committee were of the opinion that we should do away with the playgrounds this year, the board, after discussing it, thought that $1200 was well spent and very cheap for the assurance of the parents that their children were well taken care of.
SIMON P. HICKEY, Chairman, GEORGE M. FITZPATRICK, EDWARD V. BURNS.
Report of Chief of Police.
TO THE BOARD OF SELECTMEN OF MILFORD, MASS.
Gentlemen :- I have the honor to submit a report of the duties performed by the Police Department for the year end- ing December 31, 1982.
Total Number of Arrests,
206
Males, .
202
Females,
4
Juveniles,
1
Guilty, .
159
Not guilty,
16
Released Without Arraignment,
13
Discharged,
9
Fined, .
71
Held for Grand Jury, . ·
4
Sentenced to House of Correction,
34
Sentenced to State Farm,
15
Placed on Probation, .
9
Filed, .
32
Appealed,
13
Sentenced to Lyman School,
3
Assault and Battery, .
14
Auto Violations,
73
Alien Firearms,
2
Breaking and Entering,
2
Embezzlement,
2
Drunkenness, .
59
Forgery,
1
Keeping Gambling Implements,
7
Keeping Liquor,
2
Larceny,
11
Non-Support, .
9
Keeping Non-Intoxicating Liquor,
3
165
Operating Under Influence of Liquor,
6
Operating to Endanger,
11
Vagrants,
10
Vagabonds,
1
Playing Ball in the Street,
3
Violating Probation, .
1
Insane Commitments,
11
Accidents Investigated,
131
Red Light Calls Answered,
449
Search Warrants,
8
Aiding Out-of Town Officers,
27
Respectfully submitted,
JOHN J. MOLONEY,
Chief of Police.
In Memoriam JAMES J. BIRMINGHAM,
One of our most faithful patrolmen, died December 31, 1932. It is with sincere regret that we chronicle his passing. Popular and esteemed by all with whom he came in contact, he will be greatly missed, not only by his associates in the Police Department, but by the Townspeople.
1
Report of Sealer of Weights and Measures.
Milford, January 1, 1933
TO THE HONORABLE BOARD OF SELECTMEN :-
Gentlemen :- I hereby submit my report as Sealer of Weights and Measures for the year ending December 31, 1932. All places of business in Town of Milford were visited by me after notifying by public notice, as the law requires, that all scales, measures, etc., would be sealed without fees, if brought to my office.
SCALES, MEASURES, ETC., SEALED.
Adjusted Sealed Condemned
Platform Scales, over 5000 pounds,
5
7
1
Platform Scales, under 5000 pounds,
38
63
9
Counter Scales,
9
15 2
Beam Scales, .
·
3
11
3
Spring Scales,
27
68
4
Computing Scales,
29
52
3
Slot Personal Weighing Scales,
4
15
4
Weights,
13
588
42
Automatic Gas and Oil Pumps,
30
90
11
Wet Measures,
153
14
Yard Sticks
58
·10
Oil Jars
.
390
29
Office Calls for Sealing
160
Outside Calls for Sealing
·
.
249
Sealing fees ·
$165 58
Paid Town Treasurer, Benjamin J. Clancey
· $165 58
Licenses for Hawkers and Peddlers .
$280 00
.
·
·
.
.
.
.
Issued from this office, 23 State Licenses.
Thanking the Honorable Board of Selectmen and the public for the assistance given me during my term as Sealer of Weights and Measures.
I am respectfully, DANIEL M. O'BRIEN, Sealer of Weights and Measures.
ANNUAL SCHOOL REPORT
MILFORD MASSACHUSETTS
School Year 1931=1932 Fiscal Year 1932
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