Town Annual Report of the Officers of the Town of Palmer, Massachusetts 1934, Part 4

Author:
Publication date: 1934
Publisher:
Number of Pages: 154


USA > Massachusetts > Hampden County > Palmer > Town Annual Report of the Officers of the Town of Palmer, Massachusetts 1934 > Part 4


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381.33


Holbrook Street


66.79


Gravelling Sundry Roads


543.25


Ruggles Street


92.73


Hog Hill Road


28.33


Reservoir


63.79


Water Hole


673.87.


Lake Thompson Road


11.80


Surveying


435.00


Transportation


100.05


Sundry Items


163.71


$4247.70


$745,564.97


Cash on hand Dec. 31, 1934


$78,818.81


$824,383.78


Non-Revenue Accounts


Cash and Securities :


Thompson Fund


$951.28


Merrick Fund


850.00


Cemetery Perpetual Care Funds 31,114.95


$32,916.23


96


Debt Account


Net Funded Debt


$122,500.00


Bondsville Grammar School


Loan


11,000.00


School Loan-Acts 1920


64,000.00


School Loan-Acts 1920 "B"


13,500.00


New High School Loan


4,500.00


Wire Mill School Loan


24,000.00


East Main Street Improve- ment Loan


4,000.00


Cemetery Land Loan


1,500.00


$122,500.00 122,500.00


HARRIETTE PAINE


Town Bookkeeper


97


BALANCE SHEET FOR TOWN OF PALMER


Appropriations Refunds and Transfers


Amount Expended


Balance


Selectmen :


Salaries of Board $


1440.00 $


1440.00


Expense Account


575.00


559.20


15.80


Contingent Account


3500.00


2947.64


552.36


Auditing and Accounting :


Salaries


1701.00


1701.00


Treasurer :


Salary


1620.00


1620.00


Bond & Other Expense


525.00


519.80


5.20


Collector :


Salary of Previous years 608.00


608.00


Salary of 1934


1440.00


1296.00


144.00


Clerical Work


620.00


620.00


Bond & Other Expenses 1015.00


1010.89


4.11


Assessors :


Salaries of Board


2160.00


2160.00


Clerical Work


936.00


936.00


Other Expenses


1500.00


1149.60


350.40


Town Clerk :


Salary


405.00


405.00


Clerical Work


100.00


100.00


Other Expenses


125.00


88.26


36.74


Law:


Salaries & Claims


2500.00


854.23


1645.77


98


Appropriations Refunds and Transfers


Amount Expended


Balance


License Commissioners : Expenses


100.00


99.94


.06


Election & Registration :


Expenses


1803.00


1620.82


182.18


Town Offices :


Rent, Care & Lights


1900.00


1885.51


14.49


Town House :


Care, Lights & Repairs


100.00


99.65


.35


Town Dump:


Labor


400.00


382.74


17.26


Police :


Chief


2700.00


2700.00


Deputy Chief


2151.00


2151.00


Day Patrol


1971.00


1971.00


Extra Patrol


1971.00


1971.00


Night Patrol


2463.75


2463.75


Special Police


1884.60


1879.80


4.80


Lockup


1600.00


1576.02


23.98


Chief's Office


336.00


319.94


16.06


Motorcycle Upkeep


200.00


151.09


48.91


Equipment


500.00


401.43


98.57


Incidentals


200.00


147.05


52.95


Forest Fires :


Fighting Fires & In- cidental Expenses


1000.00


834.63


165.37


Moth Department: All Expenses


1000.00


999.29


.71


99


Appropriations Refunds and Transfers


Amount Expended


Balance


Sealer's Department :


Salary


800.00


800.00


Expenses


150.00


139.16


10.84


Tree Department :


Planting


200.00


199.78


.22


Preservation


600.00


598.97


1.03


Health Department:


Salaries of Board


157.50


157.50


Salary of Clerk


90.00


90.00


Toxin-Antitoxin


100.00


100.00


Tuberculosis-Contagious


Diseases and Sundry


Expenses


6000.00


5353.66


646.34


Vital Statistics


500.00


348.25


151.75


District Nurse


1000.00


1000.00


Hampden County Hospital


1463.62


1463.62


Meat & Milk Inspection


450.00


288.42


161.58


Animal Inspection


400.00


376.36


23.64


Highway Department:


General Repairs


19870.76


19832.43


38.33


Thorndike Road 1933


3219.37


3219.37


Thorndike Street 1934


(Open Account)


20545.66


28735.30


*8189.64


Park Street


(Open Account)


22856.70


25484.05


*2627.35


Longview Road


500.00


500.00


Hills-Hobbs & Harding


Streets


700.00


699.89


.11


Oiling Roads


3000.00


2977.43


22.57


Equipment


6350.00


6275.00


75.00


Snow Removal


3709.37


3933.91


*224.54


100


Appropriations Refunds and Transfers


Amount Expended


Balance


Sewers & Culverts


2500.00


2499.95


.05


South Main Street Sewer "A" (E. R. A.)


5100.50


5100.50


Bourne Street Sewer "C"


(Open Account) (E. R. A.)


2595.00


2595.00


Pleasant Street Sewer


"C" (E. R. A.)


2092.50


2028.10


64.40


South Street Sewer


"C" (E. R. A.)


2447.00


1481.98


965.02


Sidewalk Repairs


1500.00


1499.76


.24


Sidewalk-Thorndike to Four Corners


350.00


340.24


9.76


Sidewalk-Hobbs & Hill


Streets


75.00


75.00


Bridges & Railings


1050.00


1049.60


.40


Street Lighting


10962.60


10416.20


546.40


Public Welfare:


Salaries of Board


540.00


540.00


Clerical Work


990.00


990.00


Town Physician


225.00


225.00


Support of Poor


34160.65


34160.65


Old Age Assistance :


Salaries of Board


200.00


200.00


Salary of Clerk


365.00


365.00


Old Age Asst. Expenses


5439.00


5133.69


305.31


Wing Memorial Hospital :


For Bills Approved


500.00


498.03


1.97


Soldier's Relief


6500.00


6713.93


*213.93


State Aid


400.00


160.25


239.75


Military


350.00


170.00


180.00


Education


151160.00


151159.00


1.00


101


Appropriations Refunds and Transfers


Amount Expended


Balance


Y. M. Library Assn.


3500.00


3500.00


Memorial Day


200.00


150.00


50.00


General Insurance


1000.00


969.17


30.83


Workmen's Compensation


Insurance


2500.00


734.90


1765.10


Printing Town Reports


660.00


660.00


Town Engineer


50.00


50.00


Edward T. Goodreau Post No. 1813


150.00


150.00


Care of Cemetery


4800.00


4844.59


*44.59


Neglected Graves


250.00


250.00


Maturing Debt


18500.00


18500.00


Interest on Maturing


Debt


5850.00


5850.00


Interest on Temporary


Loans


8000.00


3174.16


4825.84


Reserve Fund


5000.00


5000.00


C. W. A. and E. R. A. Fund


4281.94


4247.70


34.24


*Denotes Overdrafts.


102


Trial Balance


Cash


$78,818.81


Taxes 1930


188.77


Taxes 1931


353.00


Taxes 1932


5,201.38


Taxes 1933


26,493.86


Taxes 1934


76,876.82


Motor Vehicle Excise Tax 1930


35.40


Motor Vehicle Excise Tax 1931 3.80


Motor Vehicle Excise Tax 1932


306.40


Motor Vehicle Excise Tax 1933 219.34


Motor Vehicle Excise Tax 1934


1,802.02


Tax Title Acct. 5,228.77


Old Age Assistance Tax 1931


9.00


Old Age Assistance Tax 1932 57.00


Old Age Assistance Tax 1933 97.00


Sidewalk & Curbing Assessments


1,645.27


Accounts Receivable-Board of Health


696.43


Accounts Receivable-Highways


97.02


Accounts Receivable-Public Welfare 8,067.36


Accounts Receivable-Selectmen


61.25


Accounts Receivable-Schools 63.00


Accounts Receivable-Old Age Assistance 1.46


Temporary Loan


$75,000.00


Overlay 1930


207.57


Overlay 1931


355.00


Overlay 1932


3,546.20


Overlay 1933


4,716.47


Overlay 1934


7,522.30


103


Overlay Reserve


9,132.65


Old Age Abatement


169.00


Departmental Revenue


8,986.52


Sidewalks & Curbing Assessment


1,645.27


Tax Title Revenue


5,838.65


District Tax Title Revenue


350.84


Fire District No. 1 Tax Titles


6.51


Fire District No. 2 Tax Titles


54.81


Motor Vehicle Excise Tax Revenue


2,366.96


Old Age Assistance Revenue Excess and Deficiency Fund


94,876.03


Auditing and Accounting


81.00


Tax Collector's Salary 1930


160.00


Tax Collector's Salary 1931


160.00


Tax Collector's Salary 1932


144.00


Tax Collector's Salary 1933


144.00


Tax Collector's Salary 1934


144.00


Forest Lake Road 1931


1,272.65


Thorndike Street


8,189.64


Park Street


2,627.35


Snow Removal


224.54


Bourne Street Sewer "C"


2,595.00


Pleasant Street Sewer "C"


64.40


South Street Sewer "C"


965.02


Soldiers' Relief


213.93


Cemetery Acct.


44.59


$219,064.86 219,064.86


1.66


104


Report of The Board of Health


To the Board of Selectmen and Citizens of Palmer:


The Board of Health of the Town of Palmer here- with submit its annual report for the year ending December 31, 1934.


TABLE NO. 1


Chicken Pox


Dog Bite


Lobar Pneumonia


Measles


Scarlet Fever


Tuberculosis


Septic Sore Throat


Diphtheria


January


5


February


1


24


6


March


1


2


71


3


1


April


19


2


May


11


2


June


2


8


1


July


3


1


August


1


1


2


September


1


1


October


November


December


1


1


-


-


-


-


1 7


3 134


15


7


3


1


105


TABLE NO. 2


Number of deaths reported from January 1, 1934 to January 1, 1935.


January


8


February


13


March


15


April


1


May


6


June


6


July


5


August


7


September


3


October


10


November


7


December


5


-


86


106


TABLE NO. 3


Total


Male


Female


Less than 1 year


6


3


3


1 to 4 years


0


0


0


4 to 5


1


1


5 to 10


1


1


10 to 15 „


0


0


0


15 to 20


1


1


20 to 30


4


2


2


30 to 40


9


5


4


40 to 50


2


1


1


50 to 60


17


10


7


60 to 70


22


14


8


70 to 80


"


11


5


6


80 to 90


3


1


2


90 to 100


"


2


2


0


Stilborn


7


6


1


-


86


49


37


RECEIPTS


From Appropriations :


Salaries


$247.50


Tuberculosis and Contagious Diseases


6000.00


Toxin-Antitoxin


100.00


Meat and Milk Inspection


450.00


$6,797.50


From Licenses :


Inn Holders


$10.00


Bottling


15.00


"


107


Pasteurization


10.00


Alcohol


24.00


Undertakers


6.00


Milk and Oleomargarine


59.50


$ 124.50


From State:


Tuberculosis and Contagious


Diseases $756.70


$ 756.70


Total Receipts


$7,678.70


EXPENDITURES


For:


Salaries of Board


$157.50


Clerical Work


90.00


Printing and Postage


47.87


Telephone


67.83


Transportation


111.80


Sundry Items


13.73


$


488.73


Contagious Diseases :


Board and Treatment


$41.41


Medicine and Medical Attendance


39.25


Hospitals


78.14


Clothing and Provisions


8.93


$


167.73


Hospitalization at:


Hampden County Sanatorium $1,815.40


Rutland State Sanatorium 2,266.53


Westfield State Sanatorium 365.00


108


Lakeville State Sanatorium 471.00


$4,917.93


Vital Statistics :


Births


222.00


Deaths


74.75


Marriages


51.50


$348.25


Fumigation :


$26.77


$ 26.77


Toxin-Antitoxin :


$100.00


$ 100.00


Inspection :


Meat


$ 83.20


Milk


205.22


$ 288.42


District Nurse :


$1,000.00


$ 1,000.00


Total Expenses Bills Receivable


$ 7,337.83


$ 696.43


109


INSPECTOR OF SLAUGHTERING


Palmer, Dec. 30, 1934.


To the Board of Health of Palmer:


I have made the following inspections since February 1st, 1934.


Hogs


41 Condemned 1


Beef 8


Veal


17


Respectfully submitted,


A. F. BENNETT, Inspector of Slaughtering.


REPORT OF MILK INSPECTOR


Palmer, Dec. 30, 1934.


To the Board of Health of Palmer:


I have granted the following Permits and Licenses.


Dealers' Licenses 114 @ .50 $57.00


Oleo Licenses


5 @ .50 2.50


Producers' Permits


73


No Fee


Respectfully submitted,


A. F. BENNETT,


Milk Inspector.


110


License Commissioners


The following licenses were granted during the year 1934.


Sunday licenses 65


Common victualers 51


Innholders


16


Druggists


4


All alcoholic beverages malt and wine.


Innholders


3


Common victualers 4


Package store


1


Clubs


3


Druggists


4


Malt beverages and wines.


Common victualers


7


Package store


1


Clubs


1


One day licenses


4


Board of License Commissioners FRANK G. ROGERS


Clerk


111


Auditors' Report


TREASURER'S REPORT


Receipts


Balance on Hand January 1, 1934


$62,072.75


Anticipation of Revenue Loans $325,000.00


John T. Brown, Tax Collector :


Taxes,


1930


68.84


Interest,


1930


11.26


Taxes,


1931


2,133.46


Interest,


1931


312.32


Taxes,


1932


25,136.79


Interest,


1932


2,514.51


Taxes,


1933


45,119.03


Interest,


1933


1,777.27


Taxes,


1934


229,394.71


Interest,


1934


107.47


Redemption of Tax Titles.


3,552.32


Commonwealth of Massachusetts:


Taxes, Reimbursements, etc. 67,570.16


Federal Emergency Relief Fund 3,554.45


Chap. 90, Thdke. Rd. (1933 Acct) 2,412.38


Chap. 90, Park St. Acct. 10,974.10


Chap. 90, Thorndike St. Acct. 5,624.33


112


County of Hampden : Chap. 90, Thdke. Rd. (1933 Acct) 800.00


Chap. 90, Park St. Account


5,445.60


Chap. 90, Thorndike St. Acct. 5,624.33


All Other Sources


25,177.70


762,311.03


$824,383.78


Disbursements


Paid out on Selectmen's Warrants $745,564.97


Balance on hand Dec. 31, 1934 78,818.81


$824,383.78


TOWN CLERK'S ACCOUNT


Dog Licenses 1933 Account Receipts


Balance, Cash on Hand $224.40


Expenditures


Paid Town Treasurer $224.40


1934 Account


Receipts


Fees Collected 52 @ $5.00 $ 260.00


Fees Collected 546 @ $2.00 1,092.00


598 $1,352.00


118


Expenditures


Paid Town Treasurer


$1,232.40


Paid John T. Brown, 598 fees @ .20


119.60


$1,352.00


CEMETERY COMMISSIONERS' ACCOUNTS REGULAR APPROPRIATIONS ACCOUNT


Receipts


Appropriation


$


4,500.00


Transferred from Reserve Fund


300.00


$4,800.00


Expenditures


Expenditures, as per books $4,844.59


Overdrawn


$


44.59


CARE OF CEMETERIES


Receipts


From Perpetual Care Funds


$1,000.00


For Soldier's Graves


180.00


Other sources


1,431.54


$2,611.54


Expenditures


Paid Town Treasurer $2,611.54


SOLDIER'S GRAVES


Appropriation


Receipts $250.00


114


Expenditures


Paid Cemetery Commissioners


$180.00


Paid Rev. D. E. Hennessey


52.00


Paid P. Coache


18.00


$250.00


PERPETUAL CARE FUNDS


Balance, Jan. 1, 1934


$30,398.05


Receipts


New Funds received during year $725.00


Interest for 1934


991.90


1,716.90


$32,114.95


Expenditures


Care of Lots for 1934


1,000.00


Balance, Dec. 31, 1934


$31,114.95


(Principal of the Funds is $28,046.00)


BILLS RECEIVABLE


As per books.


Angeline Adams,


$ 2.00


Benjamin Biron,


1930


13.00


Yale Brown,


1934


2.00


George Buck,


1932


2.00


W. F. Cahill,


1934


52.15


F. P. Carroll,


1928


13.50


Fred I. Collis,


1933/4


4.00


Elizabeth M. Cross,


1932


20.00


Grover C. Goodes,


1934


5.00


Mrs. B. F. Hathaway,


1930/1


4.00


E. F. Hulett,


1934


2.00


115


Archie T. Kenyon, 1934 (lot)


24.00


Mrs. W. H. Kenyon,


1931


7.14


Mrs. L. C. Langewald,


1934


2.00


A. H. La Valle,


1931/2


6.00


Hilmar Lindquist,


1934


10.65


Mrs. B. B. Manchester,


1934


2.00


Leonard Manhart,


1933


5.00


Raymond Milligan,


1933/4


4.00


Mary P. Moore,


1934


12.00


Irving S. Rhodes,


1933


2.00


Geo. Sessions' Sons Co.,


damage


5.00


Philip C. Story,


1933


3.00


Mrs. Amy B. Studley,


1934


1.50


Mrs. Sadie Trumble,


1932


2.00


$ 205.94 L


BOARD OF PUBLIC WELFARE


TOWN INFIRMARY


1933 Accounts Receipts


Joseph Fila


$240.97


Dept. of Public Works, State of Mass. 25.00


J. Topor 72.00


Less Abatement


21.00 51.00


316.97


Expenditures


Paid Town Treasurer by Infirmary $240.97


Paid Town Treasurer Direct 76.00 $316.97


116


1934 Accounts


Receipts


Receipts as per books


$2,966.29


Charges as per books


306.00 $3,272.29


Expenditures


Paid Town Treasurer by Infirmary $2,966.29


Paid Town Treasurer Direct


306.00


$3,272.29


Total Receipts 1933 and 1934


$3,589.26


Bills Receivable to the Town


Forest Lake Dairy


$34.05


E. Maccabee


5.00


Thos. Sherwood


184.00


Town of West Springfield


215.00


$438.05


SEALER OF WEIGHTS AND MEASURES


1933 Accounts Receipts


Fees collected as per books


$117.26


Expenditures


Paid Town Treasurer April 2, 1934


$117.26


1934 Accounts


Receipts


Fees collected as per books $136.88


117


Expenditures


Paid Town Treasurer July 3, 1934


$75.03


Paid Town Treasurer Dec. 31, 1934


61.85 $136.88


1932 Accounts


Receipts


Receipts Adjusted


.10


Expenditures


Paid Town Treasurer


.10


Respectfully submitted,


WILLARD S. FRENCH


FRED S. POTTER


ELMER J. THOMAS


Auditors


COLLECTOR OF TAXES


Account of 1930


Outstanding May 30, 1934, per State


Audit report (including cash on hand)


$306.01


Interest


3.51


$309.52


Paid Treasurer


27.05


Abatements


57.04


Cash on hand


36.70


120.79


*Outstanding December 31, 1934


$188.73


*To be closed out by abatements to be granted


118


Account of 1931


Outstanding May 30, 1934, per State


Audit report (including cash on hand)


Interest


$1,862.10 117.95


1,980.05


Paid Treasurer


894.55


Abatements


718.34


Cash on hand


21.18


1,634.07


*Outstanding December 31, 1934


$345.98


*To be closed out by abatements to be granted


Account of 1932


Outstanding May 30, 1934, per State Audit report (including cash on hand)


$23,460.11


Interest


1,991.29


$25,451.40


Paid Treasurer


19,160.16


Abatements


112.00


19,272.16


Outstanding December 31, 1934


$6,179.24


Account of 1933


Outstanding May 30, 1934, per State Audit report (including cash on hand) $53,504.93 1,411.08


Interest


119


Motor vehicle taxes abated after payment 10.57


54,926.58


Paid Treasurer


27,484.27


Abatements


7.89


27,492.16


Outstanding December 31, 1934


$27,434.42


Account of 1934


Assessors' Warrants to be collected


$309,114.48


Interest


107.47


Motor vehicle taxes abated after payment


126.01


309,347.96


Paid Treasurer


229,502.18


Abatements


863.67


230,365.85


Outstanding December 31, 1934 $78,982.11


FRED S. POTTER, ELMER J. THOMAS, WILLARD S. FRENCH,


Auditors


120


Report of Tax Collector


Account of 1930


Outstanding May 30, 1934, per State


Audit report (including cash on hand)


Interest


$306.01 3.51


$309.52


Paid Treasurer


27.05


Abatements


57.04


Cash on hand


36.70


120.79


*Outstanding December 31, 1934


$188.73


*To be closed out by abatements to be granted


Account of 1931


Outstanding May 30, 1934, per State Audit report (including cash on hand)


$1,862.10 117.95


Interest


1,980.05


121


Paid Treasurer


894.55


Abatements


718.34


Cash on hand


21.18


1,634.07


$345.98


*Outstanding December 31, 1934


*To be closed out by abatements to be granted


Account of 1932


Outstanding May 30, 1934, per State


Audit report (including cash on hand)


$23,460.11


Interest


1,991.29


$25,451.40


Paid Treasurer


19,160.16


Abatements


112.00


19,272.16


Outstanding December 31, 1934 $6,179.24


Account of 1933


Outstanding May 30, 1934, per State


Audit report (including cash on hand)


$53,504.93


Interest


1,411.08


Motor vehicle taxes abated after


payment 10.57


54,926.58


Paid Treasurer


27,484.27


Abatements


7.89


27,492.16


Outstanding December 31, 1934


$27,434.42 .


122


Account of 1934


Assessors' Warrants to be collected


$309,114.48


Interest


107.47


Motor vehicle taxes abated after payment


126.01


309,347.96


Paid Treasurer


229,502.18


Abatements


863.67


230,365.85


Outstanding December 31, 1934 $78,982.11


JOHN T. BROWN,


Tax Collector


123


School Committee, 1934-1935


CARL KING, Chairman CLIFTON H. HOBSON, Secretary


Florence Callahan


Term expires 1937 Term expires 1937


Joseph Russell M. Rachel Holbrook Term expires 1936 Carl King Term expires 1936


Dr. Charles Giroux


Term expires 1935


Dennis J. Horgan


Term expires 1935


Regular meetings of the School Committee are held at 8 p. m. on the Tuesday before the last Friday of each school month.


All bills must be in the hands of the Superintendent on the Monday before the above date.


Superintendent of Schools, Clifton H. Hobson Office, High School Building, Telephone 54. Office Hours :- 8 a. m. to 12 m., 1 to 5 p. m. Saturdays, 9 a. m. to 12 m.


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CALENDAR


HIGH SCHOOL


Winter Term:


Begins January 2, 1935; ends February 22, 1935


Spring Term:


Begins March 4, 1935; ends April 26, 1935


Summer Term:


Begins May 6, 1935; ends June 28, 1935


Fall Term:


Begins September 3, 1935; ends December 20, 1935 Winter Term:


Begins December 30, 1935; ends February 21, 1936 Spring Term :


Begins March 2, 1936; ends April 24, 1936


Summer Term:


Begins May 4, 1936; ends June 26, 1936


OTHER SCHOOLS


Winter Term:


Begins January 2, 1935; ends February 22, 1935 Spring Term:


Begins March 4, 1935; ends April 26, 1935


Summer Term:


Begins May 6, 1935; ends June 14, 1935 Fall Term :


Begins September 3, 1935; ends December 20, 1935 Winter Term:


Begins December 30, 1935; ends February 21, 1936 Spring Term :


Begins March 2, 1936 ; ends April 24, 1936


Summer Term:


Begins May 4, 1936; ends June 12, 1936


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VACATIONS-ALL SCHOOLS


Winter:


February 23, 1935, to March 3, 1935, inclusive


Spring :


April 27, 1935, to May 5, 1935, inclusive


Summer:


(Grades) :


June 15, 1935, to September 2, 1935, inclusive (High) :


June 29, 1935, to September 2, 1935, inclusive


Fall :


December 21, 1935, to December 29, 1935, inclusive


Winter:


Feburary 22, 1936, to March 1, 1936, inclusive


Spring :


April 25, 1936, to May 3, 1936, inclusive


Summer:


(Grades) :


June 13, 1936, to September 1, 1936, inclusive (High) :


June 27, 1936, to September 1, 1936, inclusive


HOLIDAYS


Washington's Birthday, Patriot's Day, Memorial Day, Labor Day, Columbus Day, Convention Day, Ar- mistice Day, Thanksgiving (with day following).


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Report of Superintendent of Schools


To the School Committee of the Town of Palmer:


I herewith present my twenty-fourth annual report as Superintendent of Schools in Palmer. This is the forty- second in the series of reports issued by the superinten- dents of the Town.


ATTENDANCE


The attendance statistics for the school year of 1933-34 were as follows :- Enrollment, 2,189; Average Membership, 2,107.34; Average Attendance, 2,029.23; Per Cent of Attendance, 96.29; Tardinesses, 540.


The percentage of attendance still continues high. During the twenty-three years of my incumbency, the average percentage has been 96.09%. An attainment of 95% for percentage of attendance is regarded as ideal.


HEALTH WORK


Many health activities are carried on under the direction of the school nurse and school physicians. No one, not in immediate contact with the schools, can begin to visualize the fine piece of work that is being done. State health officials commend our work highly.


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The annual physical examination this fall has dis- closed these defects :- Nutrition, 10; Posture, 27; Skin, 34; Teeth, 462; Eyes, 2; Ears, 1; Throat, 148; Thyroid Gland, 11; Heart, 21; Nose, 4. With the exception of teeth and throat, the number of defects is not high. The num- ber of underweights is as follows: 7%, 93; 10%, 132; 15%,87.


This fall one hundred seventy-five (175) school chil- dren and fifty (50) pre-school children were given the Toxin Anti Toxin preventive for Diphtheria.


A recent report on the status of immunization among school children in the State revealed these facts :- In Group IA, cities of 25,000 and above, 64% have been immunized; in Group IB, cities between 10,000 and 25,000, 58% ; in Group II-our group- towns of 5,000 to 10,000, 64% ; Group III, under 5,000, 41% ; State, 48%. Palmer's 81% far exceeds any of these and shows the effectiveness of the work that has been done.


Eighteen (18) of our school children, pre-tuber- cularly inclined or contacts, spent a total of three hun- dred and eighty-five days this summer at Camp Fred- erick Edwards, the preventorium of the Hampden County Tuberculosis Association, where they showed an average gain in weight of three and one-fifth pounds.


Tubercular clinics, where both children and adults were examined, were held at which the Von-Pirquet- the skin-test, and X-Ray, if necessary, were given. This work has been done yearly for some fifteen years.


On Health Day, the following tags were issued :- Physical Fitness, 291; Teeth, 270; Improvement, 1,045. Through the local Red Cross, local Rotary Club, and other agencies, glasses have been purchased; tonsils and


128


adenoids have been removed; and teeth have been ex- tracted. The Town should provide money for the doing of this work.


PROMOTIONS


The promotion statistics in the grades for the last school year were as follows :- Number of Pupils, 1,490; Promoted Unconditionally, 1,221-Percent, 81.94; Pro- moted Conditionally, 168-Percent, 11.28; Not Promoted, 101-Percent, 6.78.


SCHOOL SAVINGS


The report of school savings for the last school year, September, 1933, to July, 1934, is as follows :- Number of Collections, 197; Number of Deposits, 14,209; Amount of Deposits, $3,834.99.


The combined School Savings from date of incep- tion, November 1, 1921, to July 1, 1934, are :- Number of Deposits, 293,326; Amount of Deposits, $80,400.02.


C. W. A. - E. R. A.


A comprehensive maintenance painting job - in- volving painting, carpentering, plastering, cementing, etc.,-was carried on in the schools from December 1, 1933, to October 1, 1934, a period of ten months. As a result, physically the schools are in the best condition they have been during my term of office.


This work was necessary. When, if ever, it could be financed by the Town alone, it would be presumption to assert. With governmental aid, it was possible to finance it without local strain.


The total cost of the project was $21,570.40. The federal contribution was $17,315.45; the town, $4,254.95.


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The federal contribution was 80% of the total cost; the town, 20%. In other words, of every dollar spent, the federal government contributed 80 cents; the town, 20 cents. Proportionately considered, Palmer fared well.


In the spring, if this class of work is supported, a project of putting school grounds in condition should be undertaken. If this is undertaken, a special appropriation should be made. Several thousands of dollars cannot be extracted from the regular school budget to do this, especially when the school budget is held at the lowest possible minimum.


Of the $4,254.95 spent by the town for the painting project, only $1,066.65 was provided by a special appro- priation. The balance, $3,188.30, was taken from the reg- ular school budget-$1,064.49 from the 1933 budget and $2,111.81 from the 1934 budget, a total of $3,176.30. This policy should not be continued.


Under E. R. A. a five-week playground project was run during the summer vacation. The total weekly at- tendance on the four playgrounds-one in each village- was 3,600, a season total of 18,000. The cost of giving en- tertainment and recreational activity, keeping the chil- dren off the streets, providing proper supervision, etc., did not exceed two cents for each child per day.


Also, under F. E. R. A. a recreational program was carried on last winter and spring, and salaries, in part, of evening high school teachers were paid.


The schools have not fared badly in the matter of governmental grants.


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ENROLLMENT


The total enrollment in September, 1934, was forty (40) less than that of the same month in 1933. The enrollment in the elementary schools throughout the country is growing smaller; the enrollment in the high school is getting larger. One financial difficulty is in- volved in this shift of enrollment. The cost of educating a child in the high school is much greater than that in the grades. The cost often runs two to one. Locally, our high school has been increasing rapidly in enrollment. This means that the cost of educating the same number of pupils must be greater.


Throughout the depression, the school department has labored hard to keep costs at an absolute minimum. With many difficult situations confronting it, the depart- ment has succeeded in doing this. In actuality, the schools have been run, the past two or three years, upon about seventy-five percent (75%) .- 34-of the amount of money that would be spent in normal times.


COST


The annual report of the State Department of Education for the year ending November 30, 1934, shows some interesting facts regarding educational costs.




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