USA > Massachusetts > Hampden County > Palmer > Town Annual Report of the Officers of the Town of Palmer, Massachusetts 1922 > Part 5
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Walks and Curbing. In all of the villages of the Town there is great need of curbing for
the protection and betterment of some of the walks. We recommend a special appropriation for curbing, the curb- ing to be placed at the discretion of your Commissioners.
In North Main Street, Palmer, a condition exists that needs attention and that will require an outlay of money to remedy. On the Northeast side of the street, for 150 feet or more east of Knox Street, the present walk is lower than the car tracks and this condition exists on the op- posite side of the Street also for 600 feet or more. At one point opposite the Snow property, the walk is a foot be- low the grade of the Street. Because of these low grades the condition of these walks is very bad especially in win- ter. We believe the walks on both sides of the street in this section should be raised to the proper grade and re- built to the street line and protected with Granite curb- ing. A tracing of the actual conditions existing has been prepared for us by W. H. & H. W. Brainerd and is on file in our Office.
97
Sewers and Culverts. Twenty Eight sewer connections have been made. 375 feet of 8 inch sewer was laid in High Street Thorndike at an ex- pense of $578.04 and 600 feet of 6 inch laid in Charles Street, Three Rivers at an expense of $418.91. The sew- er appropriation was all used and the small additional ex- pense incurred has been taken care of by the Selectmen through their Energency Fund. We recommend a slight- ly larger appropriation for 1923.
Bridges. The Main Street bridge in Three Rivers has been repaired and painted at a cost of $517.00. One pier under the Dutton bridge that gave the bridge insufficient bearing, has been rebuilt in part and the bridge replanked at a cost of $415.47.
The Springfield Street Railway portion of this bridge has been strengthened and replanked. The Depot bridge in Bondsville has been replanked also a portion of the cov- ered bridge at Forest Lake.
Minor repairs to the Hampden Railroad bridges have been made amounting to $47.20. One of these bridges needs extensive repairs as it is now unsafe and is closed to public travel. As there is no money available at present, with which the Receiver of the Hampden Railroad can take care of these bridges, it throws this added expense upon the Town of Palmer. We recommend a special ap- propriation with which to repair and maintain the Hamp- den Railroad bridges.
Fay Bridge. During the year conferences relative to the replacement of this bridge have been held with the County Commissioners, the State Highway Commissioners and the Selectmen of Monson. A bridge plan that we believe will be satisfactory to the Towns of Palmer and Monson has been obtaned but definite action in the mot'er waits upon a proposition from the State for the improvement of the road on the Palmer side of the bridge.
98
We recommend the following appropriations for 1923.
Highways
$16,000.00
Bridges
1,500.00
Hampden R R bridges
1,000.00
Railing3
400.00
Sowvers and Culverts
2,250.00
Repair of Walks
2,410.00
Curbing
1,250.00
The following table shows the appropriations handled by this Board with the unexpended balances. .
Unexpended
Highways
Appropriationss $16,000.00
Expended $15,863.16
136.84
Bridges
1,500.00
1,450.44
49.56
Sewers and Culverts
3,225.00
3,257.97
*- 32.97
Railings
400.00
334.56
65.44
Walks
5,300.00
4,843.41
456.59
Gravel Roads, Art. 58
10,800.00
9,830.24
969.76
Rogers Bridge Road, Art. 59
400.00
399.45
.55
Four Corners, Burleighs, Art. 61
960.00
960.00
No. Main St., Bondsville,Art. 55
1,350.00
1,350.00
Cement Walk, Bondsville, Art. 62
300.00
300.00
Sewer, Four Corners- Three Rivers
1,961.66
282.82
1,678.84
Park & Thorndike Sts., Art. 7
300.00
300.00
$42,496.66
$39,172.05
$3,324.61
*overdrawn
Respectfully submitted, T. J. MORAN, CHAS. A. TABOR,
JNO. J. CONWAY, Road Commissioners, Town of Palmer
Balance
Cemetery Commissioners' Report
The Board of Cemetery Commissioners hereby sub- mit the following report:
RECEIPTS
Appropriation,
$2600.00 $2600.00
Sale of lots,
Oak Knoll,
$173.00
Four Corners,
32.00
Palmer Center,
7.00
Care of lots,
1004.20
Grading lots,
88.93
Opennig graves,
356.00
Foundations,
127.32
All others,
11.55
$1800.00
BILLS RECEIVABLE
Mrs. G. A. Smith, 1914, balance lot, $15.00
Mrs. A. A. Kenyon, 1915, lot, 20.00
Smith Granite Co., 1917, foundation, 18.20
Henry G. Nichols, 1917, grading, 5.00
R. R. Goff, 1918, grading, 5.00
Est. S. G. Kenyon, 1916, grave, 3.00
S. M. Phillips, 1920, grave, 6.00
John W. Bridgman, 1918, care,
2.00
Jason Keith, 1921, care, 2.00
S. M. Phillips, 1921, care, 2.00
Mrs. Celia Barney, 1921, care,
2.00
F. H. Worby, care, 2.00
Est. Albert Marsh, care,
1.00
*F. G. Webber, care,
2.00
*Mrs. F. L. Eaton, care,
2.00
Mrs. Lillian G. Jordan, care,
2.00
*Est. T. D. Potter, care, 2.00
*C. S. Ruggles, care, 2.00
Mrs. Ida G. Milligan, care, 2.00
F. P. Carroll, 1920, care, 2.00
100
Margaret Fillmore, lot, 8.00
Mrs. Rasella Reimers, lot,
12.00
*Est. T. D. Potter, grave,
6.00
*L. C. Trumble, foundations,
4.00
$127.20
$1927.20
EXPENDITURES
Salaries,
$ 150.00
Printing and Postage,
6.18
Supplies,
108.88
Labor,
1933.82
Teams,
94.00
Equipment and Repairs,
105.18
Fertilizer,
54.00
All others,
14.04
$2466.10
Balance,
133.90
133.90
$2600.00
INVENTORY OF PROPERTY
Tool house, Oak Knoll,
$75.00
Tool house, Four Corners,
50.00
Tools,
50.00
$175.00
Unsold lots at Market Price:
Four Corners, 128 @ $8.00, 1024.00
Oak Knoll,
5 @ 50.00
250.00
2 @ 35.00,
70.00
6 @ 25.00
150.00
116 @ 24.00,
2784.00
40 @ 20.00,
800.00
3 @ 12.00,
36.00
61 @ 1.00,
61.00
$5175.00
$5350.00
PERPETUAL CARE FUNDS
Present
Name
Amount
Condition
Henry Scism,
$100.00
$ 102.32
John A. Squier,
100.00
108.32
Calista E. Hendricks,
100.00
103.69
Laura E. Child,
500.00
502.57
Minnie K. Bennett,
200.00
208.78
Avery W. Green,
200.00
208.25
Waterman Fuller,
200.00
209.28
101
Present
Name
Amount
Condition
John and Lucy Smith,
200.00
204.25
William A. Breckenridge,
200.00
206.83
Jan.os TV. Snow,
100.00
102.11
Franklin Blascard,
100.00
103.22
Jchn HI. Haynes,
200.00
206.33
Mary A. Shaw,
100.00
102.32
Jane A. Gibson,
100.00
104.61
F. B. Gates,
50.00
51.99
Louisa M. Waid,
200.00
229.83
Amos A. Allen,
100.00
103.97
Tor ey Fund,
100.00
102.90
Pliney Cooley,
50.00
51.29
Henry G. Loomis,
200.00
208.76
William Holbrook,
200.00
203.08
Maria Lawrence,
500.00
545.21
Keyes Foster,
100.00
104.39
Harriett Coolidge,
200.00
226.96
Mrs. L. W. Brown,
200.00
240.02
Eliza J. Kenerson,
200.00
209.35
William Merriam,
200.00
228.63
Mary Redding,
50.00
51.00
D. S. Davis,
200.00
209.89
Marshall Andrews,
200.00
207.00
Ambrose M. Andrews,
200.00
205.00
Enos Calkins,
100.00
102.00
Samuel C. Rogers,
200.00
208.00
Willard G. Kenerson,
100.00
102.00
Maria B. Chapman, care G. B. Lot,
100.00
105.00
Maria B. Chapman,
200.00
210.00
Julia II. Henry,
100.00
104.00
Isaac King,
150.00
158.00
Abel H. Calkins,
100.00
104.00
Edwerd C. Sexton,
100.00
103.00
Herry A. Moore,
100.00
104.00
J. S. Koster,
100.00
103.00
Melissa Hall,
150.00
156.00
102
Name
Amount 1000.00
Present Condition 1000.00
Jeremiah Long,
Mary J. Plympton,
100.00
100.00
Clymena P. Fuller,
150.00
154.00
Abigail T. Nichols,
50.00
50.00
Mary Hastings,
100.00
102.00
Orrin B. Smith,
200.00
205.00
Orrin B. Smith, care T. B. S. lot,
100.00
103.00
William Harvey,
150.00
158.00
Laura P. Green,
100.00
103.00
J. H. Kenerson,
100.00
100.00
Alden L. Fletcher,
60.00
64.00
Carrie A. Kurtz,
100.00
102.00
Ralph Green,
200.00
218.00
Meriva L. Capen,
100.00
103.00
Minerva R. Olds,
100.00
100.00
Otis C. Lyon,
100.00
101.00
Hitchcock-Graves,
100.00
102.00
Minerva M. Gates,
200.00
207.00
Rogers-Paine,
100.00
101.00
Elizabeth D. Moore,
100.00
103.00
Mary F. Bailey,
100.00
104.00
M. M. Rogers,
100.00
100.00
Nellie S. Hooker,
75.00
78.25
Ethan Warriner,
100.00
100.00
Lizzie E. Fletcher,
100.00
103.00
Andrew Pinney,
100.00
122.19
Frank F. Marcy,
500.00
515.00
Thomas McDougall,
100.00
102.00
Sarah J. Winter,
200.00
204.00
Charles B. Fiske,
200.00
206.00
Minnie B. Converse,
500.00
515.00
Amelia M. Culver,
100.00
101.00
Omer W. Marcy,
100.00
101.00
Frank M. Eager,
250.00
250.00
Maria Ritchie,
100.00
101.00
Charles H. Burleigh, care A. B. lot,
100.00
100.00
103
Name
Amount
Present Condition
Julia A. Burleigh,
100.00
102.00
C. H. and J. A. Burleigh,
25.00
25.00
Emily M. Holdsworth,
100.00
100.00
Sarah D. Smith,
100.00
103.00
Holowill P. Marcy,
100.00
102.00
Josie M. Northrop,
300.00
312.00
Ellis and F. M. Dodge,
100.00
100.00
Calvin Childs,
100.00
102.00
Josepph A. Brown,
500.00
510.00
S. I. L. Snow,
50.00
51.50
Abby J. Pierce,
100.00
102.00
D. W. Taft,
75.00
79.25
Henry Graves,
50.00
50.00
William H. Osborne,
50.00
50.00
Sarah E. Ward,
05.00
50.00
George F. Sedgwick,
100.00
101.00
George H. Cobb,
50.00
50.50
B. M. Griswold,
50.00
50.50
Thomas Bruce,
100.00
100.00
H. H. Paine,
50.00
50.00
Susan M. Page,
10.0.00
102.00
Peebles Fund,
100.00
102.00
George F. Merrick,
100.00
102.00
Maria M. Hastings,
200.00
204.00
Walter E. Stone,
200.00
204.00
Mary A. Thayer,
50.00
51.50
Lucy M. Shaw,
100.00
102.00
Samuel Sharratt,
100.00
100.00
George Robinson,
200.00
206.00
Joseph F. Gerald,
100.00
103.00
James F. Fenton,
100.00
105.00
Liberty Jenks,
200.00
203.00
Martha J. Mooers,
200.00
200.4!
Byram Woodhead,
100.00
100.37
Almenia M. Hastings,
100.00
100.37
Clara B. Fisherdick,
100.00
100.37
104
Present
Name
Amount
Condition
Austin E. Gould,
100.00
101.67
Susan Beebe,
100.00
100.67
James I. Milliken,
200.00
205.33
Christen Christiansen,
50.00
50.83
Millie G. Rose,
100.00
101.00
Mary E. Murdock, care F. M. lot,
100.00
100.67
Mary E. Murdock, care L. B. lot,
100.00
100.67
Robert Chambers,
100.00
100.67
Josiah P. Stevens,
100.00
100.00
William B. Bennett,
100.00
100.00
Charles W. Bennett,
100.00
100.67
Charles E. Fuller,
100.00
101.00
Frederick H. Conant,
100.00
100.33
Joseph V. Clark,
100.00
100.33
Robert Reid,
100.00
100.33
Edwin B. Newell,
100.00
100.00
Martha A. Shaw,
211.00
211.00
August Carlson,
100.00
100.00
Elizabeth R. Macomber,
200.00
200.00
$19146.00
$19742.17
Gain in P. C. Fund, $511.00
CEMETER COMMISSIONERS' FUND
Balance fund, January 1, 1922, $966.06
Added:
Interest payable secretary, 178.00
Interest pay'ble Town Treasurer, 587.04
Interest C. I. Fund, 46.86
$1777.96
Withdrawn:
Care of lots, 731.70
Present Condition, $1046.26
DAVID L. BODFISH, ALBERT S. GEER, ALDEN P. KNOWLTON, Cemetery Commissioners.
Overseers of the Poor Report
To the Honorable Board of Selectmen and Citizens of Polmer:
The Overseers of the Poor of the Town of Palmer herewith submit their annual report for the year ending December 31st, 1922.
Through Whom Aided
No. Aided
Amount
Town Farm,
16
$3728.34
In homes and private families
51
2268.67
Poor under Chap. 763. Acts 1913
25
2319.37
Persons aided in other cities and towns
having settlement in this town
21
1032.18
Persons aided in this town having
settlement in other cities and towns
20
353.60
Persons aided in this town having no settlement in the Commonwealth
6 430.78
The amount expended on these last two items will be reimbursed.
RECEIPTS
Appropriations :
Salaries
$430.00
General Administration and Refund
10,007.40
Contingent
200.00
Thompson Fund Income Acct. 78.38
10,708.00
Town Farm:
Sale of Produce
16,15.99
Board of Inmates
314.68
Sale of Stock
100.00
Sale of Lumber
63.00
2093.67
Reimbursements:
Individuals
130.00
Cities and Towns
137.88
State
425.30
693.18
Soldiers' Benefits:
State Aid
336.00
Soldiers' Exemption
110.47
446.47
$13,863.32
106
PAYMENTS
General Administration:
Salaries
430.00
Stationery-Printing and
Postage 11.07
Telephone-Advertising- Auto Hire, etc.
76.89
517.96
Town Farm:
Warden
900.00
Labor
323.55
Groceries and Provisions
695.63
Dry Goods and Clothing
99.41
Fuel and Light
265.48
Hay and Grain
697.55
Telephone
29.05
Team
350.00
All Other
367.67
3,728.34
Outside Poor:
Groceries and Provisions
2,905.18
Coal and Wood
501.53
Edard and Care
446.96
Medicines and Medical
Attendance
564.08
Rent
816.10
Cash
716.92
All Other
48.56
5,999.33
Other Expenses:
Stationery-Printing and
Postage 11.07
Telephone-Advertising
Auto Hire etc.
76.89
87.96 $10,333.59
NET COST OF CHARITIES
Paid from Appropriation
$10,333.59
Less receipts of Town Farm turned
over to Town Treasurer 2093.67
Less Reimbursements from Individuals,
Towns, Cities and State 693.18 2786.85
Net Cost $7,546.74
107
REPORT OF WARDEN'S TO OVERSEERS OF POOR
From January 1st, 1921 to December 31st, 1922.
RECEIPTS:
Milk,
1,254.88
Stock
262.10
Produce
199.01
Lumber
63.00
$1,778.99
EXPENDITURES:
Paid town treasurer
$1,778.99
Bills Receivable amount to $580.00
INVENTORY OF TOWN FARM
Furniture and Table Ware
$975.98
Food Supplies
403.00
Live Stock
2,100.00
Hay, Gra'in, Ensilage
1,490.00
Farm Implements
800.00
Wood, Coal, Lumber
300.00
$6068.98
VALUATION OF TOWN FARM $10,275.00
The Board recommends the followng appropriations for its use during the year 1923 :
Support of Poor
$10,000.00
Contingent Fund
250.00
Salaries of Board
655.00
Salary of Town Physician
50.00
P. J. FITZGERALD DR. CHAS. GIROUX T. W. MANSFIELD Overseers of Poor.
License Commissioners' Report For the year ending December 31, 1922.
To the Voters of the Town of Palmer:
The Board of License Commissioners organized Feb. 16, 1922 electing James oCughlin as Chairman and Daniel J. Dunn clerk. It was voted that all license fees remain the same as last year. At a meeting of the Board on Feb. 21 the resignation of Edward Duncan from the board was received and accepted. On March 2nd, the Board held a joint meeting with the Board of Selectmen and elected Oscar Bressette to the board of License Com- missioners to fill the vacancy on the Board. It was voted that the Board hold their meetings on the second and fourth Thursday of every month.
The number of Licenses granted was as follows : Sun- day License, 47; Common Victualler, 15; Sixth Class (Druggist) 3; Inn Holder, 5; Lodging House, 3.
The bills received by the Board and paid were as fol- lows :- Palmer Journal, $7.00; James Coughlin (Chair- man) for stamps, $1.00. Total $8.00.
Amount appropriated $25.00 8.00
Expenses
Unexpended Balance $17.00
The Board recommends that the unexpended balance from the year of 1922 be appropriated for the expenses of the Board for the coming year.
Respectfully submitted, JAMES COUGHLIN DANIEL J. DUNN OSCAR BRESSETTE License Commissioners
Tax Collectors' Report
ACCOUNT OF 1918
Outstanding January 1, 1922
29.26
Interest,
.15
$29.41
Paid Treasurer, .87
Outstanding December 31, 1922, $28.54
ACCOUNT OF 1919
Outstanding January 1, 1922, 64.40
Interest, 1.06
65.46
Paid Treasurer,
11.69
Outstanding December 31, 1922, $53.77
ACCOUNT OF 1920
Outstanding January 1, 1922,
$1,885.35
Interest, 63.56
$1,948.91
Paid Treasurer,
711.16
Outstanding December 31, 1922,
$1,237.75
ACCOUNT OF 1921
Outstanding January 1, 1922,
$14,122.61
Abated after collection,
4.18
Interest,
233.64
$14,360.43
Paid Treasurer,
7,202.88
Abatements,
2.77
7,205.65
Outstanding December 31, 1922,
7,151.78
110
ACCOUNT OF 1922
Assessor's Warrant to be collected,
$291,117.91 118.28
Interest,
$291,236.19
Paid Treasurer,
268,641.35
Abatements,
1,606.07
$270,247.42
Outstanding December 31, 1922,
$20,988.77
Cash on hand,
$100.00
JOHN T. BROWN, Tax Collector.
Treasurer's Report
GEORGE E. CLOUGH ACCOUNT
Balance Jan. 1, 1922, per old cash book,
$37,035.86
Receipts Jan. 1 to 18, 1922, 1,098.28
Perpetual care bequest, 100.00
Interest on account per Jan. bank statement,
10.29
Errors or omissions Jan. 1, 1919 to Jan. 18, 1922, per audit report, 11,314.07
Palmer National Bank overdraft, 8,362.91
$57,984.41
Payments Jan. 1 to 18, 1922 Warrants No. 1 and No. 2,
$2,207.58
Perpetual care bequest deposited,
100.00
Audit adjustment, Civilian War Poll, 15.00
Revenue notes Nos. 36, 37, 38 and 39, Paid by bank, 25,000.00
Cash discrepancy, George E. Claugh Account, 25,052.65 Transferred to John F. Foley,
Temporary Treasurer, 5,609.18
$57,984.41
ยท
JOHN F. FOLEY ACCOUNT
Received from George E. Clough,
$5,609.18
Revenue loan,
20,000.00
Miscellaneous receipts,
2,187.03
Overdeposit due John F. Foley,
2.00
$27,798.21
Payments Jan. 14 to Feb. 6, 1922, Warrants No. 3 to 6, 9 to 19, $12,596.71
Transferred to R. L. McDonald, Treasurer, 15,201.50 $27,798.21
112
R. L. McDONALD ACCOUNT RECEIPTS
Received of J. F. Foley. Temporary Treas.,
$15,201.50
John T. Brown, Tax Collector, tax, 1918,
.87
John T. Brown. Tax Collector, tax, 1919,
11.69
John T. Brown, Tax Collector, tax, 1920,
711.16
John T. Brown, Tay Collector, tax, 1921, 7,292.83
John T. Brown, Tax Colector, tax, 1922, 268,641.35
J. A. Hawkes, back taxes,
1,352.87
Tax Loans,
110,000.00
Biendsville Grammar School Loan,
35,000.00
Bondsville Grammar School Loan,
(premium and interest, 768.68
School Loan, Acts of 1920,
170,000.00
School Lean, Acts of 1920 (premium and int.) 2,744.09
National Surely Co., payment of
G. E. Clough bond, 25,866.86
Commonwealth, taxes and other sources,
55,218.42
All other sources,
16,773.07
$694,291.94
$709,493.44
DISBURSEMENTS
Paid but on Town Warrants,
$571,115.82
Balance,
138,377.62
$709,493.44
ROBERT L. McDONALD, Town Treasurer.
Report of Sealer of Weights and Measures
For the year ending December 31, 1922.
This department has sealed, corrected or condemned the following:
Adjusted Sealed Condemned
Platform scales over 5000 Ibs.,
1
3
Platform Scales under 5000 Ibs.,
3
24
1
Counter Scales over 100 Ibs,
2
Counter Scales under 100 lbs,
3
18
1
Beam Scales under 100 Ibs.,
1
3
Spring Scales over 100 Ibs.,
6
1
Spring Scales under 100 1bs.,
9
44
2
Computing Scales forver 100 Ibs.,
1
Computing Scales under 100 Ibs.,
9
Avoirdupois Weights,
115
Livuid Measures,
93
1
Gasoline Measuring Devices,
3
16
Kerosine Measuring Devices,
1
1
Yand Measures,
1
Reweighing of Cloal,
1
Measuring of Wood,
1
Reweighing of Ice,
6
Reweighing of Flour,
27
Reweighing of Fruits and Vegetables,
20
Reweighing of Bread,
25
Special Inspection of Gasoline Pumps,
5
Special Inspection of Scales,
12
21
433
6
Receipts of Office, Paid Treasurer, $40.43
LOUIS LEVEILLEE, Sealer of Weights and Measures.
Molasses Measuring Devices,
Report of Chief of Police
Palmer, Mass., January 1, 1923. To the Honorable Board of Selectmen:
In the year 1922, 225 cases, not including cases against juvenile offenders, were prosecuted in the local court against 184 persons for offenses committed within the limits of the Town of Palmer. Of the persons brought before the court in these cases 103 were residents and 81 were non-residents; 181 were males and 3 were females. A list of the cases follows :-
Assault,
23
Affray,
4
Adultery,
1
Bastardy, 2
Breaking and entering,
3
Breaking glas's on street,
1
Carrying revolver,
2
Damaging property,
1
Disturbing the peace,
9
Driving away motor vehicle without permission, 1
Driving away horse without permission,
1
Drunkenness,
44
Fornication,
1
Fugitive from justice,
4
Forgery,
1
Larceny,
9
Lewd and lascivious conduct,
2
Neglecting to send children to school,
2
Non-support,
2
Railroad trespass,.
2
Receiving stolen good,
1
Vagrants,
11
Violation of fish and game laws,
2
Violation of liquor laws,
54
Violation of milk laws,
1
Violation of motor vehicle laws,
40
Violation of peddling laws,
1
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There has been nothing of special interest in the work of the police department during the last year. The men of the force have attended faithfully to their duties in the several villages and the result has been the maintenance of good public order in the town. Two changes in the force were made necessary by the resignation of Officer Thomas W. Holt, who had rendered efficient service in Three Rivers for a number of years, and by the resig- nation of Officer Edward F. McKelligett, who had rendered efficient service in Thorndike for a period of twenty-one years. Their places have been filled by two new men, who have been appointed for the service and who have taken hold of the work in good shape.
TIMOTHY J. CRIMMINS, Chief of Police.
Report of the Young Men's Library Association
REPORT OF THE LIBRARIAN
YEAR ENDING DECEMBER 31, 1922.
To the Members of the Young Men's Library Association:
I herewith submit my twelfth annual report as Libra- rian of your Association. The report will be brief.
Circulation
The total circulation for the year has been 65,371, divided as follows :- Main Library, 36,759; Three Rivers Branch, 18,499; Bondsville Branch, 2,494; Thorndike Branch, 6,905; School Deposits, 714.
The increase over that of last year is 2,972. The increase of the previous year was 7,900. The increases year by year for the last twelve (12) years have been greater practically every year, some years totaling as high as ten thousand (10,000) to fourteen thousand (14,000). In view of the constant and large increases. the increase of this year over last year when the circulation was the largest in the history of the association, while not as large as that of some previous years, is, neverthless, an increase of no mean dimensions. The library has not reached yet, by any means, its saturation point as far as circulation is concerned. It is, nevertheless, gradually drawing closer and closer to such a point,
Many methods and devices have been adopted which have caused an increase in circulation. No better evidence of this is producible than these figures :-- In 1911. the year in which the present Librarian assumed direction of the work, the circulation was 20,044. In 1922, the year which has just closed, the circulation was 65,371. The increase
-
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during this period of time has been 45,327, a growth of 226 per cent.
Particular attention is called to the large increase in circulation in Thorndike. In 1921, the circulation was 2,114; in 1922, 6,905, an increase of 4,791 or a percentage of increase of 227 per cent. This increase in circulation is an indication of the wisdom of your policy in establish- ing the branch in the rooms of the Thorndike Recreation Association. The books are more available to the patrons there.
The establishment of the branches in both Three Rivers and Thorndike in the buildings of the mill com- panies has been a very wise move and has produced a creditably large circulation in both of these villages. Were a similar opportunity presented in Bondsville, the circulation in this village would likewise increase marked- ly.
State Reading Plan.
The Library Commission, which is now a subordinate branch of the State Board of Education, has gotten out a scheme to encourage reading upon the art of school children. A well-graded list of reading for the various grades in school has been devised. With this scheme, there are certificates which are to be presented to the children who have read a certain number of required books and have reported to the librarian by answering certain qusetions which show evidence of having done so. The books, several hundred in number, have been secured by us and are to be placed immediately in the branches at Thorndike and Three Rivers and in the school building at Bondsville. A similar collection will be on deposit in the Main Branch.
I have personally had experience with such a scheme in another field of work and know that it produces excel- lent results. Reading is, like most other acts performed by man, a matter of habit. Habits, of course, to be effec- tive must be inculcated in the early and plastic years of our lives. Such a scheme has been effected with this
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knowledge and purpose in mind. Everything is already for its immediate installation.
Purpose
The purpose of the Young Men's Library Association is to be as helpful and useful to the people of Palmer as possible. The Association stands ready at any time to ac- cept any suggestions which will tend to improve the li- brary in any particular; in fact, it will welcome all criti- cisms. The Association is the servant of the people, sup- ported, in the main, by Town money, and is mindful of this fact. The Association will be glad to purchase at any time any book or books requested of it by any of its readers, provided the books requested meet the require- ments of a well-conducted library.
Appreciation
The Young Men's Library Association fully appre- ciates the generous support accorded it by the Town. It has never, during the incumbency of the present Librari- an, made a request that has not been granted. Every re- quest has been made with due recognition of the Library's needs and possible future growth and the Town's ability to spend money for library purposes. The same factors will continue to control all future requests. The full and frank response accorded all these requests indicates that the citizens of Palmer are willing to provide the necessary educational and recreational needs in the way of reading which any town worthy of existence must provide. The three indispensables of every civilized community are church, school and library. Of course, church and school are of greater importance than library; nevertheless, the trinity of needs is not complete without the library. When Palmer refuses, as she never will, to liberally support such an institution, she will immediately brand herself as a town of decadency, not progress.
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