USA > Massachusetts > Hampden County > Palmer > Town Annual Report of the Officers of the Town of Palmer, Massachusetts 1913 > Part 4
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Binding books,
83.55 $21,138.82
Cash on hand, March 1, 1914, $26.11
LOUIS E. CHANDLER, Treasurer.
Report of the Board of Health
To the Voters of the Town of Palmer.
The Board of Health of the Town of Palmer re- spectfully submits the following report :
The number of contagious diseases reported to the Board of Health are sixty-six cases of which forty-two cases were typhoid fever. The following table shows the contagious diseases as reported to the Board of Health by month.
TABLE NO. I.
Showing number of contagious and infectious diseases reported to the Board from January 1, 1913, to January 1, 1914.
Jan. 13,
Feb.
March
April
May
June
July
Aug.
Sept.
Oct.
Nov.
Dec.
Total.
Diphtheria and Croup,
2
1
1
2
2
8
Scarlet Fever
4
4
1
9
Measles
3
1
2
6
Typhoid Fever
5 34
1
2
42
Anterior Poliomyelitis
1
1
Totals
4
2 8 5 36
4 5 266
Number of deaths reported to the Board from Jan- uary 1, 1913 to January 1, 1914.
TABLE NO. 2.
Jan. Feb, March Apr. May June July Aug. Sept. Oct. Nov. Dec.
21
14 14 12 8
8
8 18 16
13
13
11 156
Total
73
TABLE NO. 3.
Ages at death of persons dying in Palmer from January 1, 1913 to January 1, 1914.
Ages
Totals
Males Females
Less than 1 year
44
29
15
1 to
2 years,
6
4
2
2 to
3 years,
6
6
3 to
4 years,
3
1
2
4 to
5 years,
2
1
1
5 to
10 years,
6
4
2
10 to
15 years,
5
3
2
15 to
20 years,
4
3
1
20 to
30 years,
7
4
3
30 to
40 years,
6
6
40 to
50 years,
6
3
3
50 to
60 years,
13
6
7
60 to
70 years,
14
3
11
70 to
80 years,
18
13
5
80 to
90 years,
11
3
8
90 to 100 years,
1
1
100 to 110 years,
1
1
Still births,
3
3
Totals,
156
87
69
The Board of Health has had much work to do dur- ing the official year, especially during July, August and September when the typhoid epidemic was threaten- ing the Town.
As soon as the epidemic commenced, the Board be- gan to investigate all possible sources and felt assured that the contamination came from the milk supply. Four cases were reported the first day and during the next two weeks thirty one more cases had been reported. In nearly every case the cause could be traced to one milk source. Investigation proved to the satisfaction of the
74
Board that there had been a case of typhoid fever at the place where the milk came from. The milk license was at that time suspended and all but seven of the remaining cases occurred within ten days after the license had been suspended, four more cases occurring during the month of August, the other three cases occurred during October and November. The Board distributed the State Serum to be used as a preventative measure, and over one hun- dred persons were so treated.
At this time the water situation was thoroughly in- vestigated as well as all other possible sources. The local Board in conjunction with the co-operation of the State Board of Health, directed their efforts to tracing, and preventing, further spread of the disease. Measures were taken to prevent any pollution of the water supply of the Palmer Water Co., and the citizens were warned to boil all water before using it for drinking purposes.
The Board with the Selectmen of our town held a meeting for the purpose of preventing future contamina- tion of the public drinking water and the promise was made by the Company that the reservoirs should be guard- ed from the trespassers and bathers.
There occured much comment during the past sum- mer months about the sale of ice from the so called Cider Mill Pond. The State Board investigated this supply and the local board went very thoroughly into the matter of the ice sale. Perhaps it is sufficient to say that no more ice will be sold from this source under present con- ditions.
There are many matters that the Board of Health has no jurisdiction over. They cannot prevent a milk dealer from selling milk, yet they can suspend or take away his license to sell in this Town, and thus prevent milk being generally used. This was done as soon as the Board become aware that the contamination came from the milk supply. We are at loss to know how to deal
75
with those who persist in using milk when it has been condemned by our board. We refer to those who would go to a source under suspicion and purchase milk for public use.
The Board of Health has authority to compel all owners of houses to connect their property with the sewer when one passes their property, yet the Board has no authority to compel the owner to abandon or connect his privy with the sewer. It has authority however, to com- pel the keeping of the privy and vault clean. The Board has no authority over private nuisances and can take measures to prevent and do away with the nuisance, only when it becomes a public nuisance. The Board has al- ways tried to remedy all public nuisances whenever they have had proper notices of such.
The Board earnestly desires and requests the co- operation of the public and feel assured that if they had this co-operation that many matters of which they have no knowledge could be remedied.
The Bondsville sewer situation has had much atten- tion by the Board. They recommended in the past that in their judgment it was unwise to construct a sewer in Bondsville from the fact that there was not a sufficient water supply to properly flush the sewer. This water supply is now sufficient and admirable and there is a sewer system in Bondsville. The Board has sent notices to all of the owners of property along the line of the sewers to connect their property with the sewer, but there are many houses that are not yet connected. The Board of Health has authority to compel the entrance of sewers under certain conditions, and if the owner refuses or neglects to connect his property they can ultimately compel him to connect his property with the sewer.
We would ask a careful reading of our rules as last published. From the numerous comments frequently heard about so called nuisances we are inclined to the be-
76
lief that the powers of the Board and the scope of their possible efforts are not understood by the Townspeople.
In conclusion would say that this Board recommends an appropriation of $1,000 for its use in addition to the salaries.
J. P. SCHNEIDER,
H. C. CHENEY,
S. O. MILLER.
77
March 6, 1914.
Board of Health, Palmer, Mass.
Dear Sirs :
I hand you below the summary of the results of our tests for the presence or absence of diphtheria germs in cases of suspected diphtheria for the year ending Febru- ary 28th, 1914.
A small number of cases only were tested during this year, a total of but twenty-three. It is interesting to note that but four of these were positive and nineteen were negative. It is also worthy of comment that all primary cases were submitted at the beginning of the illness, that is sending swabs for diagnosis, and there were no primary cases examined for the purpose of re- lease only.
The following table shows the work done by the month :
Diagnosis Release
Months
Positive
Negative Positive Negative
Total Cases
Total Cultures
March 1913
0
1
0
0
1
1
April,
0
2
0
0
.
2
3
May,
2
1
0
0
3
5
June,
1
3
0
0
4
6
July,
0
0
0
0
0
0
August,
0
1
0
0
1
2
September,
0
3
0
0
3
3
October,
1
2
0
0
3
5
November,
0
2
0
0
2
3
December,
0
4
0
0
4
4
January 1914,
0
0
0
0
0
0
February,
0
0
0
0
0
0
Totals,
4
19
0
0
23
32
23
Total cases examined,
Total cultures examined,
32
Respectfully submitted, HERBERT EMERSON,
Bacteriologist.
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MEAT INSPECTION.
Lambs
Beef
Cond. Veal Cond.
Hogs
Cond.
Feb., 1913,
41
0
10
0
10
0
March,
27
0
33
1
13
0
April,
34
2
22
1
7
0
May,
17
2
29
0
8
0
June,
11
0
21
0
9
0
July,
22
0
25
0
5
0
Aug.,
19
1
19
0
8
0
Sept.,
33
0
23
1
5
1
Oct.,
26
1 16
1
23
1
5 0
Nov.,
38
0
10
0
30
0
5 0
Dec.,
47
0
20
1
32
0
Jan., 1914,
44
2
13
1
26
0
Totals,
259
8 241
6
176
2
10
0
CHARLES H. KEITH,
Inspector.
Report of Tax Collector
TAX COLLECTOR. 1912
Outstanding last report,
$255.63
Added by assessors,
32.00
Interest,
6.40
$294.03
Paid Treasurer,
$262.19
Abate ment
24.12
Outstanding,
7.72
$294.03
J. A. HAWKES,
Collector.
COLLECTORS REPORT. 1913
Am't on Collector's Book,
$100,176.07
Added by Assessors,
115.23
Excise Tax.
3,700.57
Interest,
248.22
Total to be collected,
$104,240.09
Paid Treasurer,
$97,544.30
Excise Tax,
3,700.57
Abatements on Property,
2,107.69
Outstanding,
887.53
$104,240.09
It will be noted that the amount of taxes reported as paid to the Treasurer above is $8,800.74 in excess of that given in report of receipts for the year. This is ac-
80
counted for by the fact that the later amount has been turned in to the Treasurer since Feb. 15th, when the books were closed.
I also wish to state that no abatements will be made on the Poll tax until after the new assessments.
J. A. HAWKES, Collector.
Report of Auditors
TOWN TREASURER.
Balance Feb. 15, 1913,
$55,463.29
Receipts during the year,
179,735.81
Total receipts,
$235,199.10
Total disbursements,
223,914.13
Balance in Treasury, $11,284.97
ACCOUNTS OF TAX COLLECTOR. Year of 1912.
Outstanding last report,
$255.63
Amount added by Assessors,
32.00
Interest,
6.40
Total, $294.03
Abatements,
$24.12
Paid Treasurer,
161.75
Paid Treasurer since closing of Books, 100.44
Outstanding, 7.72
$294.03
Year of 1913.
Amount on Assessor's Books, .
$100,176.07
Added by Assessors, 115.23
Excise Tax,
3,700.57
Interest,
248.22
Total to be collected,
$104,240.09
82
Abatements,
$2,107.69
Paid Treasurer,
88,743.56
Paid Treasurer since closing of Books,
8,800.74
Excise Tax, Paid Treasurer,
3,700.57
Outstanding,
887.53
$104,240.09
TRUST FUNDS.
For care Cemetery Lots,
$12,135.00
Interest account,
683.81
$12,818.81
MerrickFund,
850.00
Thompson Fund,
951.28
INDEBTEDNESS OF THE TOWN OF PALMER.
Highway Construction Loan, $45,000.00
Three Rivers Stone Arch Bridge, Funding Loan, 18,000.00
High School Bonds,
14,000.00
Three Rivers School Bonds,
12,000.00
Palmer Grammar School Bonds,
11,200.00
Refunding Loan, 8,000.00
Temporary Loans,
5,460.00
$113,660.00 CHARLES K. GAMWELL, WALTER E. STONE, Auditors.
Town of Palmer
SCHOOL REPORT
For the Year Ending February 15, 1914
School Committee 1913-1914
SCHOOL COMMITTEE 1913-1914. John C. Sullivan, Chairman. Clifton H. Hobson, Secretary.
John C. Sullivan, Term expires 1916 John F. Shea, Term expires 1916
William Kerigan,
Term expires 1915
Dr. John F. Roche, Term expires 1915
George D. Mooers, Term expires 1914
James Wilson, Term expires 1914
Regular meetings of the school committee are held at 7.30 p. m., on the Tuesday before the last Friday of each school month.
All bills must be in the hands of the superintendent before the above date.
Superintendent of Schools, Clifton H. Hobson.
Office, High School Building. Telephone, 54-4. Residence, 30 Pearl Street. Telephone, 54-3.
Office hours : 8 a.m. to 12 m., 1.30 to 5 p. m .; Satur- days, 9 a. m. to 12 m .; Tuesdays, 7 to 8 p. m., except the Tuesday before the last Friday of each month. TRUANT OFFICERS.
George A. Bills, T. J. Crimmins,
Depot Depot Thorndike
Edward McKelligett,
James Manning, William Smith, John Mansfield,
Three Rivers Three Rivers Bondsville
JANITORS.
Charles Johnson, Charles Johnson, P. J. Sullivan, C. E. Fuller,
William Smith,
High School Depot Thorndike Bondsville Three Rivers
Calendar
SCHOOL YEAR, 1914-1915. HIGH SCHOOL.
Spring term begins March 2, 1914; ends April 24, 1914. Summer term begins May 4, 1914; ends June 26, 1914. Fall term begins September 1, 1914; ends December 23, 1914.
Winter term begins Januury 4, 1915; ends February 19, 1915.
Spring term begins March 1, 1915; ends April 23, 1915. Summer term begins May 3, 1915; ends June 25, 1915.
OTHER SCHOOLS.
Spring term begins March 2, 1914; ends April 24, 1914. Summer term begins May 4, 1914; ends June 12, 1914. Fall term begins September 1, 1914; ends December 23, 1914.
Winter term begins January 4, 1915; ends February 19,1915.
Spring term begins March 1, 1915; ends April 23, 1915. Summer term begins May 3, 1915; ends June 11, 1915.
VACATIONS-ALL SCHOOLS.
April 25 to May 3, 1914, inclusive.
June 27 to September 1, 1914, inclusive.
December 24 to January 3, 1915, inclusive.
February 20 to March 1, 1915, inclusive.
April 24 to May 2, 1915, inclusive.
HOLIDAYS.
Fair Day, Columbus Day, Convention Day, Thanks- giving (with the day following), Washington's Birthday, Patriots' Day, Memorial Day, Labor Day.
Report of School Committee
To the Citizens of Palmer :
The School Committee submits herewith for your consideration, in compliance with the Statutes of the Commonwealth, its sixty-fourth annual report.
NEEDED ROOM.
A review of the entire situation in this respect shows that if the average percentage of growth for the past ten years in our High School continues there will be room in this building for ten years. If the average percentage of growth in this building for the past five years prevails, there will probably be room for five years. With reference to the Thorndike School, if the average percentage of growth for the past ten years con- tinues, there will be room in this building for the next ten year years by utilizing the present hall for school rooms. The Bondsville School, at present rate of in- crease, is probably good for fifteen years.
In the Three Rivers School every room is occupied to almost the limit of class organization. If the average rate of increase in this school for the past ten years prevails during the present year, the probabilities are that outside room will have to be secured for the coming school year.
In the Palmer Grammar School every room is oc- cupied and one grade has been located at the High School during the present year. If the average per- centage of increase in this building for the past ten years continues, we can arrange to take care of this increase during the coming school year. By removing the parti- tions in the two coat rooms at the High School another
6
class room can be obtained, which can be used for high school work or possibly in taking care of the overflow from the Palmer Grammar School.
This situation is a pressing one requiring careful attention and serious consideration before any definite action is taken. Realizing the difficulty of determining the actual need for school room in September of this year, even with all available data before us, we have decided that the situation can be taken care of without serious inconvenience to school work for another year, when the town will be in better financial condition to meet the expense necessary to provide ample room. We shall ask you to appoint a special committee to investi- gate and report on this matter with the view of provid- ing adequate school room by September 1st, 1915.
GENERAL STUDIES
Our commercial course, introduced a few years ago, has demonstrated its efficiency in serving the educational needs of our citizens and bids fair to take high rank among schools of this character. While the character of our schools must ever depend largely on the character and ability of our teachers, due recognition must be given to the fact that the public will judge our schools by the quality of the product and the ability of our pupils to perform creditably in their chosen work, and not by the ability which the teachers possess. This standard of excellence is accepted and a strong effort made to attain it. In fact, all studies in both the high and grammar schools have taken on a new impetus un- der the present Superintendent and good work is being done all along the line.
EXPENSE
Our expense continues to increase with the increased number of pupils requiring an increase in the number of teachers employed. An inquiry into this condition
7
will show that our schools are conducted economically. Our rank among the three hundred and fifty-three cities and towns of the State based on the amount raised bv local taxation and spent for the education of each child in the average membership of the public schools is one hundred and ninety-one and the amount so spent is twenty-eight dollars and sixty-one cents ($28.61) per pu- pil. That is, there are one hundred and ninety cities and towns spending more per pupil than we do.
The salary paid to our teachers in the grammar grades, outside of the teaching principal of the school, is a minimum of $380.00 per year and a maximum of $494.00 per year, making $7.30 and $9.50 per week respectively based on fifty-two weeks per year. These salaries are below the average of those paid by a num- ber of towns of our size, as shown by statistics published in this report, and the number of pupils per teacher in our schools is above the average. There is probably no other occupation requiring as a qualification of those who engage in it graduation from a four years' high school course, supplemented by graduation from a two years' normal school course, where the rate of compensa- tion is as low. We realize that in the matter of salaries we cannot compete with the cities or the large towns ; but a fair recognition of the faithful service of hard working and conscientious public servants requires that our maximum salary in the grades be increased to $532.00 per year, making $10.23 per week based on fifty- two weeks per year. In our financial statement we have asked you for the necessary funds to enable us to do this.
ACCOUNTS AND RECOMMENDATIONS
Owing to a change in the system of town accounts installed by the State Bureau of Statistics, our recom- mendations for money to be appropriated for the sup- port of the schools for the ensuing year appear below under the new headings required.
8
We especially call your attention to the report of the Superintendent of Schools covering all items in con- nection therewith, which is made a part of this report. JOHN C. SULLIVAN, JOHN F. SHEA, JAMES WILSON,
WILLIAM B. KERIGAN,
GEORGE D. MOOERS, JOHN F. ROCHE, D. D. S. SCHOOL COMMITTEE.
RECOMMENDATIONS :
General Expenses,
$3,000.00
Teachers' Salaries,
27,800.00
Transportation,
2,800.00
Textbooks and Supplies,
1,300.00*
Janitors' Services,
2,550.00
Fuel and Light,
3,400.00
Maintenance of Grounds and
Buildings,
1,700.00
Furniture and Furnishings,
500.00
Rent,
200.00
Other Expenses,
1,300.00
$44,550.00
* Also money received from Dog Tax, Tuition, Mer- rick and Thompson Funds.
Report of the Superintendent of Schools
To the School Committee of the Town of Palmer:
Gentlemen :- I herewith present my third annual report as Superintendent of the Schools of Palmer. This is the twenty-first in the series of reports issued by the superintendents of the town.
In this report, the statistics in regard to attend- ance, unless otherwise denominated, refer to the school year from September, 1912, to June, 1913.
INTRODUCTION.
In writing a school report, a superintendent is al- ways confronted with the extremely difficult task of selecting that material for presentation which is of the most interest to the public-the supporters of the schools -and of utmost pertinency to the schools themselves. There are so many matters that crowd themselves up- on the writer's mind that a process of elimination must, of necessity, be employed to exclude those things which savor in the least of extraneousness.
With this dilemma confronting the writer of this re- port, after a thorough and careful culling, he has chosen the hereinafter-contained subjects for presentation to your careful consideration. He has decided to give you as full a knowledge as such a brief report will allow concerning the most important happenings of the year just closing, the policies emphasized, and the policies suggested for future adoption. This report will resemble the two last ones in that it will endeavor to so present our ideals, our work, our ambitions, our desires, and our needs that the citizens of this town will be fully taken into our confidence. The fundamental principle underly-
10
ing our action in this and every act that pertains to the welfare of your schools is that you are the stockholders of these schools, the largest public corporation, so to speak, in the town. The School Committee is your board of directors; the Superintendent and his co-workers are their agents. Realizing, then, fully the rightful demand of the public for a full knowledge of the aims, the work, and the future policy of its schools, the author will comply with this demand to the best of his ability.
CO-OPERATION.
In order to secure good results in any organization, co-operation is essential. The school system of a town is an organization. Therefore, good results can not be obtained unless the three most vitally concerned in the support and management of the schools work in har- mony-the citizens, the committee, and the superintend- ent.
(1). CITIZENS. The function of the citizens is to demand good schools and willingly pay the price of the same. Good schools cost money. They always have been expensive, when considered from the monetary side only; yet expensive as they have seemed, they will cost more in the future. The citizens must be ready and willing to pay liberally for good schools. On the other hand, before they do this, they ought to know that they are getting their money's worth. No fixed standard of measuring the real effici- ency of a school system has ever been, or ever will be, devised, inasmuch as the quality of the product can not be accurately judged until many years have elapsed since the turning out of the same. The product of the school is the boy and girl; that is,-what they are men- tally and morally. The school, of course, is not the on- ly agency that enters into the finishing of this product. The product, being more or less intangible, can not be measured as though it were tangible. Nevertheless,
1
11
there are ways of determining to some extent whether or not schools are efficiently conducted. They can be compared with other schools in neighboring towns, pro- vided just allowance be made for differing conditions. They can be visited often and a somewhat specific knowl- edge can be obtained as to the thoroughness and method of teaching the essentials. The spirit of the system-pro- gressive or retrogressive-can be learned. Outside ex- perts may be called in to make a survey. This method may prove a good or an evil, depending upon the ex- perts' knowledge of what should be done, their means of gaining information, their balance between ultra-pro- gressiveness and ultra-conservatism, and many other per- sonal characteristics of the investigators. The public can, then, obtain an intimate knowledge of the schools.
The public also must keep acquainted with the trend of education. They must know the educational demands made upon them. They must know that present-day education, with its tendency towards the vocational, is more expensive; that the cost per pupil, as well as the total cost, must increase, because so much more is de- manded of the schools along moral, mental, health, and sanitary lines.
The only question that the citizens should ask is :- "Are we getting our money's worth?" It is possible that many things of a progressive nature may be added and still the real efficiency of the system may be less- ened. If the citizens decide that their money is wisely and economically expended, they ought to bear willing- ly the expense. My personal experience has been that, when the public realize that good work is being done in their schools, they are very generous in their support.
(2). SCHOOL COMMITTEE. The school committee is elected by the citizens. They are the board of directors and should be chosen with care. Their powers are very large in many mat-
12
ters, and rightly so. Their main business is to see that those things which mean most for the welfare of the schools are put into operation. They are the custodians of the boys and girls in school, and should always re- member that their duty demands that these boys and girls have an opportunity to avail themselves of their inalienable right to the best education that the town or city can afford. If they do not meet the requirements of the public, the citizens can discontinue their services at election time. Yet the citizens should bear in mind that they ought to require only those things of a com- mittee that are right.
The school committee is the business board. They should carefully manage the business affairs of the schools. They should act as the balance wheel of the system, especially if the superintendent is too theoretical. Someone has defined aptly the duties of the school com- mittee as follows :- 1). Report Requiring; 2). Report Hearing; 3). Criticism; 4). Advice; 5). Legislation.
They should require the superintendent to report on all matters pertinent to school management; they should hear these reports; they should criticize them and offer advice; and finally they should pass such votes as are necessary to see that their decisions become operative. The committee ought to make the superintendent their executive officer. They should allow him freedom and hold him responsible for results. If they do this and do not get results, they should discharge him. When school committees throughout the United States adopt this pro- gressive method of procedure, the schools of the country will become more efficient. In order to secure the best teachers possible for the money-and this is the one thing where committees are apt to interfere-a com- mittee ought never interfere in the selection of the best- fitted teachers. This should be the superintendent's task. No business concern can make money when com-
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