USA > Massachusetts > Hampden County > Palmer > Town Annual Report of the Officers of the Town of Palmer, Massachusetts 1924 > Part 2
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$952.00
Oak Knoll, 4 @ 50.00
200.00
9 @ 25.00
225.00
102 @ 24.00 2448.00
38 @ 20.00
760.00
1 @ 12.00
12.00
56 @ 1.00 56.00 4653.00 $4828.00
23
FENCE AT OAK KNOLL CEMETERY
$4300.00
Appropriation. Expended:
Contract Wickwire Spencer
Steel Corp. $4127.00
Removing fence and grading 134.00
4261.00
Balance, $39.00
PERPETUAL CARE FUNDS
Name
Amount
Present Condition
Henry Scism,
$ 100.00
$ 103.32
John A. Squier,
100.00
109.32
Calista E. Henrdicks,
100.00
104.69
Laura E. Child,
500.00
518.57
Minnie K. Bennett,
200.00
210.78
Avery W. Green,
200.00
210.25
Waterman Fuller,
200.00
211.28
John and Lucy Smith,
200.00
206.25
William A. Breckenridge,
200.00
208.83
James W. Snow,
100.00
103.11
Franklin Blanchard,
100.00
104.32
John H. Haynes,
200.00
208.83
Mary A. Shaw,
100.00
103.32
Jane A. Gibson,
100.00
105.61
E. B. Gates,
200.00
207.30
Louisa M. Waid,
200.00
231.83
Amos A. Allen,
100.00
104.97
Torrey Fund,
100.00
103.90
Pliney Cooley,
50.00
51.79
Henry G. Loomis,
200.00
213.26
William Holbrook,
200.00
205.58
24
Name
Amount
Present Condition
Maria Lawrence,
500.00
556.71
Keyes Foster,
100.00
105.39
Harriett Coolidge,
200.00
228.96
Mrs. L. W. Brown,
200.00
246.02
Elize J. Kenerson,
200.00
211.85
William Merriam,
200.00
232.63
Mary Redding,
50.00
51.50
D. S. Davis,
200.00
209.89
Marshall Andrews,
200.00
209.00
Ambrose M. Andrews,
200.00
207.00
Enos Calkins,
100.00
103.00
Samuel C. Rogers,
200.00
210.00
Willard G. Kenerson,
100.00
103.00
Maria B. Chapman, care of G. B. lot,
100.00
106.00
Maria B. Chapman, care of S. C. lot,
200.00
212.00
Julia H. Henry,
100.00
105.00
Isaac King,
150.00
159.50
Abel H. Calkins,
100.00
105.00
Edward C. Sexton,
100.00
104.00
Henry A. Moore,
100.00
105.00
J. S. Koster,
100.00
104.00
Melissa Hall,
150.00
157.51
Jeremiah Long,
1000.00
1000.00
Mary J. Plympton,
100.00
101.00
Clymena P. Fuller,
150.00
155.50
Abigail T. Nichols,
50.00
50.50
Mary Hastings,
100.00
103.00
Orrin B. Smith, care T. B. S. lot,
100.00
104.00
Orrin B. Smith, care O. B. S. lot,
200.00
207.00
Laura P. Green,
100.00
104.00
J. H. Kenerson,
100.00
101.00
William Harvey,
150.00
159.52
Alden L. Fletcher,
60.00
63.40
25
Name
Amount
Present Condition
Carrie A. Kurtz,
100.00
103.00
Ralph Green,
200.00
220.00
Meriva L. Capen,
100.00
104.00
Minerva R. Olds,
100.00
101.00
Otis C. Lyon,
100.00
102.00
Hitchcock-Graves Fund,
100.00
103.00
Minerva M. Gates,
200.00
209.00
Rogers-Paine Fund,
150.00
152.56
Elizabeth D. Moore,
100.00
104.00
Mary E. Bailey,
100.00
105.00
M. M. Rogers,
100.00
101.00
Nellie S. Hooker,
75.00
79.01
Ethan Warriner,
100.00
101.00
Lizzie E. Fletcher,
100.00
104.00
Andrew Pinney,
100.00
123.19
Frank E. Marcy,
500.00
520.00
Thomas McDougall,
100.00
103.00
Sarah J. Winter,
200.00
206.00
Charles B. Fiske,
200.00
208.00
Minnie B. Converse,
500.00
520.00
Amelia M. Culver,
100.00
102.00
Omer W. Marcy,
100.00
102.00
Charles H. Burleigh fund, care A. B. lot,
100.00
101.00
Julia A. Burleigh fund, care B. B. lot,
100.00
103.00
C. H. and J. A. Burleigh fund, care J. W. C. lot,
25.00
25.24
Emily M. Holdsworth,
100.00
103.00
Sarah D. Smith,
100.00
104.00
Hollowell P. Marcy,
100.00
103.00
Josie M. Northrop,
300.00
319.00
Ellis and F. M. Dodge,
100.00
101.00
Frank M. Eager,
250.00
252.52
Maria Ritchie,
100.00
102.00
26
Name
Amount
Present Condition
William H. Osborne,
50.00
50.50
Sarah E. Ward,
50.00
50.50
George F. Sedgwick, .
100.00
102.00
George H. Cobb,
50.00
51.00
B. M. Griswold,
50.00
51.00
Thomas Bruse,
100.00
101.00
H. H. Paine,
50.00
50.50
Susan M. Page,
100.00
103.00
Peebles Fund,
100.00
103.00
George F. Merrick,
100.00
103.00
Maria M. Hastings,
200.00
206.00
Walter E. Stone,
200.00
206.00
Mary A. Thayer,
50.00
52.00
Lucy M. Shaw,
100.00
103.00
Samuel Sharratt,
100.00
101.00
George Robinson,
200.00
212.00
Joseph F. Gerald,
100.00
103.00
James F. Fenton,
100.00
106.00
Liberty Jenks,
200.00
205.33
Martha J. Mooers,
200.00
202.63
Byram Woodhead,
100.00
101.45
Almenia M. Hastings,
100.00
101.45
alaba BJ Fisherdick,
100.00
101.45
Austin E. Gould,
100.00
102.67
Susan Beebe,
100.00
101.67
James I. Milliken,
200.00
211.33
Christen Christiansen,
50.00
51.33
Millie G. Rose,
100.00
102.00
Mary EE. Murdock, care F. M. lot,
100.00
101.67
Mary E. Murdock. care L. B. lot,
100.00
101.67
Robert Chambers,
100.00
101.67
Josiah P. Stevens,
100.00
101.00
William B. Bennett,
100.00
101.00
27
Name
Amount
Present Condition
Charles W. Bennett,
100.00
101.67
Charles E. Fuller,
100.00
102.00
Calvin Childs,
100.00
103.00
Joseph A. Brown,
500.00
515.00
Sarah I. L. Snow,
50.00
52.00
Abby J. Pierce,
100.00
103.00
D. W. Taft,
75.00
82.01
Henry Graves,
50.00
50.50
Joseph V. Clark,
100.00
101.33
Frederick H. Conant,
100.00
101.33
Robert Reid,
100.00
101.33
Edwin B. Newell,
100.00
101.00
Martha A. Shaw,
211.00
222.00.
August Carlson,
100.00
102.88
Elizabeth R. Macomber,
200.00
207.00
Thomas D. Frame,
200.00
205.75
Albert A. Sherman,
100.00
101.12
O. P. Allen,
100.00
101.87
Martin L. Farrington,
100.00
101.00
Charles A. Royce,
100.00
101.12
Joseph H. Jones,
150.00
150.93
Mary S. Moore,
100.00
100.62
Horace R. Paine,
50.00
50.56
Arthur W. Holbrook,
100.00
100.75
James S. Morgan,
200.00
200.00
Silas B. Keith,
100.00
100.00
James H. Davis,
100.00
100.00
George S. Peck,
100.00
100.00
Nettie O. Coleman,
50.00
50.00
$20,896.00
$21,750.10
Gain in P. C. Fund,
$750.00
28
CEMETERY COMMISSIONERS' INTEREST FUND
Balance fund January 1, 1924, $1225.47 Added:
Interest payable Secretary, 206.79
Interest payable Town Treas., 695.28
Interest C. I. Fund,
65.81 $2,193.35
Withdrawn:
Care of lots, 771.00
General care, vote of Town, 200.00 971.00
Present condition, $1,222.35
DAVID L. BODFISH, ALBERT S. GEER, ALDEN P. KNOWLTON, Cemetery Commissioners.
Care of Soldiers' Graves
To the Board of Selectmen:
Gentlemen :
I hereby submit the following report relative to the care of the graves of soldiers who have served in the wars of the United States and who are buried in the cemeteries of Palmer.
One hundred and twenty-two graves have been cared for this year. There are still some others upon which work will be done the coming spring. There is still a lack of headstones in some cases and the attention of the veteran's organizations is called to this need that their aid may be secured in procuring markers for the graves of their fallen comrades.
Appropriation,
$250.00
Paid J. F. Foley,
care St. Thomas' Cemetery $ 50.00
Paid Cemetery Commissioners, care
169.00 219.00
Balance, $31.00
Respectfully submitted,
DAVID L. BODFISH,
Supt. of Graves.
Report of Committee on Memorial
Selectmen of the Town of Palmer,
Gentlemen :-
The committee appointed to compile the records of the men from the town of Palmer who served in the World War reports that it has obtained the records of three hundred ninety men. The records have been deposited with the clerk of the town of Palmer. A list of names of men for whom no records have been obtained but who may have served from Palmer has also been left with the town clerk for future reference.
This committee was given an appropriation of three hundred dollars. Ninety-one dollars and forty-two cents ($91.42) has been paid to Albert E. Sargent of the Adjutant-General's Department of the Commonwealth for soldier's records. A balance of two hundred eight dollars and fifty-eight cents ($208.58) is returned un- expended.
Respectivefully submitted, ROBERT W. BODFISH JOHN F. FOLEY, 2nd R. LEWIS THAYER, Jr.
Committee.
Report of Chief of Police
Palmer, Mass., January 1, 1925 To the Honorable Board of Selectmen :
In the year 1924, 326 cases, not including cases against juvenile offenders, were prosecuted in the local district court against 288 persons for offences committed within the limits of the Town of Palmer. Of the per- sons brought before the court in these cases 143 were residents and 145 were non-residents, 282 were males and 6 were females. A list of the cases follows :
Adultery,
4
Assault,
21
Bastardy,
3
Carrying revolver,
4
.
Desertion,
2
Disturbing the Peace,
6
Drunkenness,
65
Evading car fare,
2
Fugitives from justice,
9
Hawking and Peddling,
3
Larceny,
10
Lewd and lascivious conduct,
1
Masher act,
2
Non-support,
9
Perjury,
1
Rape,
3
School laws,
1
Setting fires without permits,
2
Stubborn child,
1
Vagrants,
24
Violation of Liquor Laws,
38
Violation, of Motor Vehicle Laws, 114
Violation of Milk Laws, 1
32
The number of cases last year was 208, an increase this year of 118. During the past year the State Police Patrol has been specially vigilant upon the state high- way passing through the town and its work has resulted in a large increase in cases involving violation of the motor vehicle laws, this year there having been 114 cases as against 49 last year.
The personnel of the police force has remained the same, with the exception of the addition of a new uni- formed patrolman in the Depot Village. James F. Dona- hue was appointed by the Selectmen to the office created at the last annual town meeting and has proved him- self to be a very capable officer. All the officers in the department have in my judgment performed their work faithfully and efficiently. The appointment of a day officer has made it possible for the department to afford protection to the children in crossing Park Street on their way to and from Park Street Grammar School Building.
TIMOTHY J. CRIMMINS,
Chief of Police
Report of Sealer of Weights and Measures
For the Year Ending December 31, 1924
This department has sealed, corrected or condemned the following :
Adjusted Sealed Condemned
Platform Scales over 5000 Ibs.,
4
Platform Scales under 5000 lbs.,
6
40
3
Counter Scales over 100 Ibs.,
1
6
Counter scales under 100 Ibs.,
8
33
Beam Scales over 100 lbs.,
1
Beam Scales under 100 lbs.,
4
5
3
Spring Scales over 100 lbs.,
5
Spring Scales under 100 lbs.,
14
45
1
Computing Scales under 100 Ibs.,
5
26
1
Personal Weighing Scales,
3
Prescription Scales,
2
Avoirdupois Weights,
2
258
Apothecary Weights,
40
Metric Weights,
1
8
Liquid Measures,
96
4
Gasoline Pumps,
15
47
12
34
Kerosene Pumps,
20
Quantity Stops,
256
Molasses Pumps,
2
Yard Measures,
13
56 910
24
Receipts of Office, Paid Treasury, $88.04
LOUIS LEVEILLEE, Sealer of Weights and Measures
Board of Assessors
The Board of Assessors respectfully report as follows :
Appropriations, Annual Meeting,
$357,463.38
Appropriations, Special Meeting,
13,511.75
Maturing Town Debt, including interest,
33,633.82
State Tax,
19,100.00
State Highway Tax,
8,795.36
County Tax,
11,283.19
$443,787.50
DEDUCTIONS
Town's share liquor license fees,
$ 4.50
Cash Balance,
24,316.32
Estimated Receipts,
26.208.20
Income Merrick Fund,
38.26
Dog Tax,
1,055.30
State Income Tax,
24,244.26
75,866.84
$367,920.66
Less amount raised on 2838 polls,
5,676.00
$362,244.66
Overlay,
3,857.53
Amount to be raised by tax on property,
$366,102.19
Amount of Warrant Oct. 22, 1924,
$366,102.19
Amount of Warrant, Dec. 22, 1924,
53.90
$366,156.09
1924 VALUATION
Personal Estate,
$38,867.74
Buildings, Land,
64,973.41
15,023.20
$118,864.35
Tax Rate, $30.80
36
TABLE OF AGGREGATES
Number of residents assessed on property:
Individuals, 1838
All Others, 46
1884
Number of Non-residendents assessed on property:
Individuals, 205
All Others, 33
238
Number of persons assessed on property,
2122
Number of persons assessed for poll only,
1000
Total,
3122
Number of Horses assessed,
257
Cows assessed,
618
Sheep assessed,
18
Neat cattle assessed,
122
Swine assessed,
44
Fowl assessed,
7864
Dwelling houses assessed,
1410
CHARLES O. MURPHY
DANIEL V. FOGARTY
CHARLES E. FULLER
Assessors.
Road Commissioners' Report
Palmer, Mass., January 6, 1925 To the Voters of the Town of Palmer:
The Board of Road Commissioners herewith submit their fifth Annual report for the year ending December 31, 1924.
The organization of the Board remained unchanged as follows: Thomas J. Moran, Chairman; Charles A. Tabor, Clerk; Sherman M. Stebbins was re-appointed Superintendent of Streets.
The work of this department has been greater than ir. any previous year. About $1,250 was spent in gravell- ing section of Pine, Foster, Squier, Knox and King streets in the Depot Village and the road from West Warren to Ware.
A location for extension of water pipes was granted J. W. Cheney in East Main street and in Palmer road, Three Rivers, as per plans submitted.
Upon petition, a hearing was held and the layout of Brown street in the Depot Village voted as per plans and description submitted. This layout was accepted by the Town at the Special Meeting held June 23, 1924.
Stone monuments have been placed in Oak street, Depot Village, defining the street bounds. There are a number of accepted streets in town that are not marked with stone bounds. We recommend a small appropria- tion yearly for this purpose. Oak street cost $46.00.
The bounds of Pleasant and Foster streets in the Depot Village not being clearly defined, upon petition of Arthur D. Bramble and others, a hearing will be held
38
January 6, 1925 for the purpose of relocating these two streets.
GARAGE
When your Commissioners asked for an appropria- tion of $1,500.00 for an addition to the Town Storehouse for the storage of the State and Town trucks, it was supposed that this addition could be built of wood and that the appropriation would be sufficient. It was found, however, that under the laws of the Department of Public Safety, the building contemplated must be either a first or second class garage. We therefore put up a building of the second class with cement blocks, cement floor and wood roof and heated with a system of hot water radiation. The location of the building was found to be a nest of rocks and $481.20 was spent in clearing the ground and putting in the foundation. The cost of the completed building and foundation, with Electric lights, heat and water connection is $2,495.88. The balance of cost over appropriation has been charged to the Highway account.
RAILINGS
An unusual amount of railing work has been neces- sary the past year. The appropriation of $400.00 was exhausted early in August. Other necessary work has been done since, amounting to $309.40 which has been charged to the Highway appropriation.
SNOW REMOVAL
Light snowfall during January, February and March made the removal of snow comparatively easy. The State trucks and plows were taken to Springfield in May for overhauling and were returned to us in Decem- ber. The cost for the year was $1,593.17.
39
BRIDGES
Our bridge appropriation of $1,500.00 proved in- sufficient to meet the calls upon it and was supplemented by the Selectmen from their Reserve Fund to the amount of $734.57.
The Burleigh bridge was stripped and replanked and the top treated with tar and gravel. The cost of these repairs not including painting, was $735.93.
The middle pier of the Rogers bridge near West Brimfield station, required rebuilding. This was done by building a form around it and grouting it in with cement concrete. This cost $491.56, one half of which has been borne by the Town of Brimfield.
A heavy truck owned by John Robbie of Springfield, weighing with load, 118/4 tons, broke through the State avenue bridge necessitating repairs to the amount of $281.16. The same truck broke through the bridge at the Electric Light Station which cost $42.45 to repair. Bills have been rendered for these two breaks.
The time would seem not far away when a new bridge would be needed to replace the State avenue bridge between Monson and Palmer.
During the past year 3 in. Chestnut plank for the repair of bridges has been hard to get and the price has been high. We recommend an appropriation of $675.00 for the purchase of 15,000 ft. at $45.00 per thousand, for stock. We have placed an order with Charles B. Thomas for this amount of plank, contingent upon the approval of the Town.
SEWERS AND CULVERTS
Forty-seven sewer entrances have been granted. Nearly $500.00 has been spent for Metal Culvert for the improvement of drainage conditions. A section of the Tennyville sewer, 250 ft. in length, had to be relaid be- cause of the change in grade for the new State road. This cost $347.38.
40
The Grove street sewer has been extended 70 ft. to accommodate new buildings and the Shearer street sewer 196 ft. The Tennyville sewer was extended to the New England Metal Culvert Plant, a distance of 350 ft. The New England Metal Culvert Company furnished the pipe and the Town put it in.
The sewer appropriation of $2,500.00 was insuffi- cient and was supplemented by the transfer of $463.29 by the Selectmen from their Reserve Fund.
Under special articles, extensions have been made to sewers, as follows :
Cost
Appropriation
Squier Street, 260 ft., 8 inch, $ 332.13
$ 484.00
North Main Street, 478 ft., 10 inch,
807.56
1,325.00
Four Corners, 420 ft., 12 inch,
1,103.15
1,250.00
Orchard Street, 506 ft., 12 inch,
2,858.79
3,100.00
High Street, Thorndike, 240 ft., 8 inch,
230.00
385.00
Brown Street, 345 ft., 10 inch,
Highland Street, 340 ft., 10 inch,
King and No. Main Streets, 450 ft., 12 inch,
Pine Street, 200 ft., 8 inch
Pine Street, 98 ft., 10 inch,
3,615.62
5,050.00
HAMPDEN R. R. BRIDGES
The Hastings bridge reported closed in our last re- port is still closed.
The Whiting bridge has required frequent repairs during the year amounting in all to $114.68. This is an important bridge and must be kept in repair. It needs entire new planking and possibly some new cross pieces. In a special article, we will ask for an appropriation for this work. We recommend that the unexpended balance of this account $372.22 be reappro- priated for use during the coming year.
.. WALKS AND CURBING
The full appropriation for repair of walks, $2,400.00 . was used. More could have been used to good advan-
41
tage. The contract for tar walks was given to P. J. Nelligan & Co. and for cement walks to Philippi Coache. About 830 ft. of 4 in. curbing was put in with the regu- lar curbing appropriation of $1,250.00. All of the special appropriations for walks and curbing have been taken care of. Thirteen carloads of curbing were handled costing on the cars at Bondsville station, $5,472.41.
Sidewalk and Curbing bills have been rendered to abbutting property owners against this years work to the amount of $6,081.75.
MAIN STREET, THREE RIVERS
Three conferences have been held with the officials of the Springfield Street Railway Company. While we have been unable to get from them a positive statement of what they will do, we expect that they will put their track in good condition before the roadway is laid. The curbing on the westerly side of the street has been set. Engineers plans and grades have all been prepared and it is planned to go forward with the cement roadway in the Spring as early as possible. Curbing bills to the amount of $555.28 have been rendered to abbutting pro- perty owners.
FAY BRIDGE AND MONSON ROAD
Early in the year a conference was held with the State Department of Public Works and an agreement reached whereby the Town of Palmer is to pay one-half the cost of the road leading to the Fay Bridge up to the amount of $25,000.00 and one-third cost of the new bridge up to the amount of $10,000.00. Plans and specifications were prepared by the State Engineers and bids called for. The bids were opened at the State House, September 16, 1924 and the contract was subsequently awarded to the lowest of eight bidders, Carl B. Lindholm of Pittsfield, at an estimated cost of $78,118.85.
42
No payments have yet been made to the State or Contractors for the work so far done.
The following table shows in condensed form, the appropriation handled by this Board:
Unex- pended
Highways
Appro- priations $15,000.00
Expended $14,707.79
$ 292.21
Snow Removal
2,000.00
1,593.17
406.83
Bridges
2,234.57
2,234.57
Burleigh Bridge
150.00
138.95
11.05
Railings
400.00
400.00
Sewers and Culverts
2,963.29
2,963.29
Sewers, Article 50
4,735.00
4,192.54
542.46
Sewers, Article 6, Special
350.00
350.00
Sewers, Article 14, Special
300.00
300.00
Sewers, Article 7, Special
4,,400.00
2,965.62
1,434.38
Sewers, Article 11, Special
484.00
332.13
151.87
Sewers, Article 5, Special
1,325.00
807.56
517.44
Curbing
1,250.00
1,250.00
Article 51, Reinforcing
8,781.00
8,781.00
Art. 9, Special, Main
St., Three Rivers
14,500.00
1,620.89
12,879.11
Art. 6, Special, So. Main St., to Fay Bridge
25,000.00
25,000.00
Art. 7, Special, Fay Bridge
10,000.00
10,000.00
Hampden RR. Bridge
486.90
114.68
372.22 .
Storehouse Addition
1,500.00
1,500.00
Ford Truck
850.00
850.00
Walks
2,400.00
2,400.00
Walks, Article 45
3,800.00
3,800.00
Walks, Article 47
500.00
351.53
148.47
Walks, Article 48
10,475.00
8,947.36
1,527.64
Walks, Article 5, Special
1,100.00
1,006.15
93.85
$114,984.76
$61,607.23
$53,377.53
43
We recommend the following appropriations for 1925
Highways,
$15,000.00
Snow Removal
2,000.00
Bridges
1,500.00
Railings
400.00
Sewers and Culverts,
2,500.00
Repair of Walks
2,400.00
Curbing
1,250.00
Street Monuments
200.00
Respectfully submitted,
T. J. MORAN CHAS. A. TABOR
JNO. J. CONWAY Road Commissioners.
.
1924 Treasurer's Report
RECEIPTS
Balance on Hand, Jauuary 1, 1924
$66,052.21
John T. Brown, Tax Collector, tax 1920
$ 48.97
John T. Brown, Tax Collector, tax 1921
1,334.31
John T. Brown, Tax Collector, tax 1922
5,614.89
John T. Brown, Tax Collector, tax 1923
42,140.65
John T. Brown, Tax Collector, tax 1924
333,608.70
Anticipation of Revenue Loans
250,000.00
Street Pavement Loan
22,000.00
Concrete Bridge Loan
7,000.00
Commonwealth, taxes and other sources
88,775.12
All other sources
21,447.47
$771,970.11
$838,022.32
DISBURSEMENTS
Paid out on Town Warrants
$707,884.50 130,137.82 $838,022.32
Balance
ROBERT L. McDONALD,
Town Treasurer
Report of Tree Warden
Palmer, Mass., December 31, 1924.
To the Honorable Board of Selectmen of Palmer. Gentlemen :-
I herewith submit a report of the activities of the Tree Warden for the year 1924 :-
Appropriation for Preservation of Shade Trees,
$250.00
Amount expended
228.55
Balance,
$21.45
Appropriation for Planting Shade Trees,
$150.00
Amount expended
144.00
Balance, $6.00
In addition to the above, some emergency work was required on trees that were in danger of falling and causing injury to persons or damage to property. This work was done with the approval of your board, but the bill, which amounts to $65.00, was not presented before the closing of the town accounts and therefore has not yet been paid.
Respectfully,
J. H. MacGEACHEY, Tree Warden.
Report of Young Men's Library Association
REPORT OF THE LIBRARIAN
YEAR ENDING, DECEMBER 31, 1924 To the Members of the Young Men's Library Association:
I herewith submit my fourteenth annual report as Librarian of your Association. The report will be succinct.
CIRCULATION
The total circulation for the year was 62,458, divided as follows: Main Library, 35,519; Three Rivers Branch, 15,852; Thorndike Branch, 6,918; Bondsville Branch, 4,169.
This year's circulation, compared with that of last year, shows a decrease of 2,709. This is a marked de- crease; in fact, the most marked decrease since I have served in the capacity of Librarian.
The decreases were as follows: - Palmer, 863; Thorndike Branch, 531; Three Rivers Branch, 2,394. Bondsville showed an increase of 1,346.
When I first became connected with your library, the circulation had never exceeded 18,016-this was the circulation for the year 1910. 1911, my first year, pro- duced a circulation of 20,044. The circulations in the succeeding years have been as follows :-
1912, 26,007; 1913, 36,954; 1914, 40,002; 1915, 53,662; 1916, 49,408; 1917, 47,738; 1918, 45,400; 1919, 55,472; 1920, 54,499; 1921, 62,399; 1922, 65,371; 1923, 65,167; 1924, 62,458.
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The oustanding cause, I feel, for the decrease in circulation is the rather extensive use of the radio. Many people who can hear lectures and music over the radio prefer that sort of pleasure to that which comes from reading. Before the days of the radio, much of the entertainment and much of the knowledge which came to people, outside of their direct contacts with other people, were derived from reading. The vast strides of science have changed much of this. Autos, movies, radios, etc., undoubtedly consume much of the time which pre- viously was pleasurablent with a good friend-the book. These changes must be expected and the results accruing from them must be accepted.
PUBLICITY
The library is functioning successfully and, to a large extent, is meeting the demands made upon it by the reading public.
Had we the time and the money to put into publi- city and other acceptable "stunts," we could increase our circulation very markedly. The successful operation of a library now-a-days is dependent, to a large extent, upon the same methods of operation as any business or other organization doing business with the public. In other words, there must be some form of advertising, direct or indirect. The majority of people will patronize only those things which are constantly called to their attention. The library which does this and which runs special features is the library which is patronized fully by the public. The day has gone by when you can sit back and wait for the public to come to you. You must go to the public. This is a lesson every successful school system throughout the country has learned-many of them painfully. Our larger libraries have learned the same lesson. The smaller ones, in many cases, are still in the process of learning, even though in many instances they may not be conscious of it.
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