USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Lincoln > Town Report on Lincoln 1906-1910 > Part 32
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and scientific action of the Government in the work of propagating the parasite will show very appreciable results within a period of from three to six years; but during those years of waiting the efforts at holding the pest in check can be relaxed only with serious conse- quences. How difficult the task is, and will continue to be, may be illustrated by the following statement :- As a result of a careful estimate, made in conjunction with the owner of the land on which the tree in question stood, there were found here in Lincoln upwards of 8,000 gypsy moth nests on a single medium-sized white-oak. The average number of eggs to a nest is about 500. On the tree in question, therefore, were in the neighborhood of four mil- lion eggs. Assuming that in the course of the season every caterpillar devours five leaves, some twenty million leaves would be consumed by the moths hatched on this single tree. If each leaf had a surface of five square inches, it would thus require a leaf surface of 16 acres to satisfy this number of insects. Taking into further ac- count the nests on the ground and in the stone wall near by, which would naturally depend on this tree for their food, some twenty acres of leaf surface would be required .. Carrying the illustration a step further, if one-half of the moths were females and they laid the usual number of eggs, a leaf surface of 5,000 acres, or the equivalent of the wooded area of Lincoln, would no more than suffice to satisfy this one-tree colony of caterpillars for a single season.
· Did any such increase really take place, all our tree growth would, of course, speedily be destroyed : but pests of this nature, in the countries in which they originate, are usually held in check by the equal development of their natural emenies. When, however, for any special reason, they get the better of the ordinary checks and so become unduly numerous, disease sets in, and causes a partial depletion. The balance of nature, as it is sometimes
110
called, is in this way re-established. Indications of such results have been seen during the last two years in Lincoln. A disease known as moth-cholera has developed, toward the end of each season, destroying caterpillars in vast numbers. Their dead bodies could in certain areas be seen covering large portions of the trunks of the trees. The destruction from this cause, it is estimated, did not, however, exceed at the outside sixty per cent. of the cater- pillars; but this depletion, supplemented as it was by a shortness of food supply, had a most sensible effect in reducing the numbers of the pest on considerable areas which, the year before, were among the worst infested within Lincoln limits,-in fact, in some localities, the moths were measurably exterminated. To hold the pest in effectual and lasting check it is, however, now estimated that at least 95 per cent, should perish, so great is their propagating power. Of the 40 per cent. not killed by disease, an appreciable portion, say one-half, are perhaps destroyed by the various preventive measures used by the Town, or the owners of the land. This would still leave some 20 per cent. of the total amount for annual in- crease. Upon the remnant thus left it is believed the parasites now in course of development will prey, and the pest will in time thus be held down within controllable limits.
So far, therefore, as the gypsy moth is concerned, it is certainly not unreasonable to hope that a practical solu- tion of the problem will be reached within the next few years; and, thereafter, the problem of treating them will become more and more simplified.
Proceeding on this assumption, it is, in the judgment both of the Tree Warden and the advisory committee, most essential that the efforts heretofore made should in no degree be relaxed. Unfortunately however, the gypsy moth is only the most destructive of the newly developed insect pests, and the one most difficult to deal with.
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There has unquestionably, during the last few years, been a most abnormal, and even alarming, increase of tree-pests and diseases of trees; nor is this fact difficult to account for. It is manifestly due to the increased facilities of communication, and the consequent introduction of all sorts of foreign and domestic trees and shrubs without any corresponding system of organized inspection. The importer and nursery-man thus becomes the unconscious, or indifferent, propagator of tree-disease and insect pest. It then necessarily devolves on the government scientist to discover and develop the parasite or antidote. The balance of nature being once disturbed, the process of restoring it is both slow and costly. For example, there are now at least seven of these pests or distempers calling for close observation and treatment, which were, until within recent years, unknown within the limits of Lincoln, -that is, speaking roughly, since the year 1904. These seven distinct dangers may be thus enumerated in order of their importance :--
1. Gypsy moth.
2. Brown tail moth.
3. Elm tree beetle.
4. Leopard moth.
5. San José scale.
6. The white pine distemper.
7. Disease of the chestnut tree.
The Gypsy moth, and its ravages, have been already sufficiently referred to. The brown tail moth has likewise been studied during recent years, and its nature and the proper methods of dealing with it more or less ascertained. The elm tree beetle, though familiar elsewhere, has been generally noticed within the limits of Lincoln only within the last two years. It has now obtained a foothold locally, which will inevitably increase.
112
It is not yet clear that the leopard moth, the most dangerous of all these pests and that most difficult to deal with, has yet obtained a footing within Lincoln limits. There are, however, indications that if it has not obtained a footing already, it is not unlikely soon to do so. The neighboring city of Cambridge is from this cause, com- bined with the elm tree beetle, fast losing its trees. In July last, twelve hundred elms were reported dead in that city. Elms, weakened by the beetle, are much less able to withstand the work of the leopard moth; but the leopard moth, unlike the elm-tree beetle, is of the borer species. It works out of sight, and in a way most difficult to prevent. The most effective way of holding the beetles in check is by spraying the under side of the leaves, as soon as they are just grown; and, where the beetles are very numerous, a second spraying, a week or ten days after the first, may be necessary. . The leopard, however, can only be reached by a process of wiring, or by injecting carbon disulphide, both processes difficult and costly. The Tree Warden has, however, been assured by Dr. Smith of New Jersey, one of the best entomologists in the country, that the leopard is a city pest, and not likely to be serious in its work outside of cities, except where the balance of nature has been disturbed,-as, for instance, by the presence of the English sparrow driving away the native birds. A sample of the work of the leopard moth has been put in the Library Building, so that all interested may have an opportunity to observe its character, which is no less curious than destructive.
The presence of the San José scale is well established on no less than sixty properties in the Town; and it is naturally working its way into other properties. This pest more particularly affects fruit trees and bushes; but its nature has been thoroughly studied in the regions on the Pacific coast, whence it was brought east on im-
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ported stock, and an effective method of treating it has there been reached.
So far as the disease of the white pine is concerned, its presence in Lincoln, as throughout New England, has for several years been observed. Its nature has not yet been ascertained; nor has any effective treatment of it been de- vised. A process of tree-feeding, too costly to come into general use, has been productive of good effects. Whether the distemper is increasing, or otherwise, cannot now certainly be said. The observers and scientists are meanwhile puzzling over its character, and seeking a cure for it. As to the chestnut disease, it has not yet, in its fully developed form at any rate, reached this portion of the country. There is ground to hope it will not prevail here; but, in parts of New York and New Jersey, it is wiping out the entire growth of that species of tree. It is now said to be present in most of our nurseries, and to be thence disseminated. No method of controlling it has yet been developed; nor it its nature understood.
On the other hand, the old and familiar canker or inch worm, which through so many years periodically devastated the orchards of Lincoln, as of all other Massa- chusetts towns, has, from unknown causes, practically disappeared. The tarring of the trees, until recently so common, is no longer in use, and this pest, where it still exists, has at least been so reduced as to be negligible.
It only remains for the Tree Warden to add that in view of the above statement of existing conditions as respects trees and forestry, there is in his judgment, as in the judg- ment of those composing the Town's advisory committee, little ground to hope that any decrease of observation and study of the perplexing problems here referred to, can during the immediately coming years reasonably be antici- pated. Unless also the trees of Lincoln as well as of the Towns in this neighborhood, are to be left to take their chance in the presence of this aggregation of dangers, the
114
outlay heretofore recently incurred cannot in the immedi- ate future safely be reduced.
The Tree Warden would ask to be allowed to use the $1,190.94 paid to the Town Treasury by owners of land, to reimburse the Town for work done and material furnished on such land at their request; and for an appropriation for the coming year of the same amount as was appropriated for the last Town year, to wit, $3,500.
All of which is respectfully submitted.
Yours truly, EDWARD R. FARRAR, Tree Warden.
115
Report of the School Building Committee.
The grading and the work in connection with the plant- ing of trees, shrubs and vines about the building have now been entirely completed and the Committee believe that they have now discharged all of the duties entrusted to them by the Town. The school house has been in service for more than a year and the splendid condition of the building bears silent testimony to the thoroughness of its construction.
We again desire to remind the citizens of their indebted- ness to Mr. Charles S. Smith for the land which he gene- rously presented to the Town for school purposes. The lot, containing as it does some four acres, not only affords a site for a future high school, but also permits the develop- ment of an excellent athletic field.
In addition we wish to express our thanks to Mr. R. D. Donaldson, the contractor, for the building, and a loyal citizen, who, by his enthusiasm and never-failing interest, as well as by his many gratuities, has rendered a distinct service to the Town.
The following is a statement of the total expenditures :
Preparing Plans, Surveys, etc.,
$144 74
Improvement of Athletic Field,
1,581 30
Miscellaneous,
776 81
Building Contract,
38,306 00
Plumbing Contract,
2,900 00
Heating and Ventilating Contract,
5,384 00
Electric Wiring,
260 00
Architect's Services,
2,543 48
Furnishings,
1,235 26
Grading,
2,282 68
Shrubs and Planting,
165 00
Total, $55,579 27
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Total appropriation, $56,000 00
Raised by Taxation
$1,000 00
Raised by Bond Issue, .
55,000 00
Premium on Bonds,
941 20
Available for Expenditures,
$56,941 20
Total Expenditures,
55,579 27
Unexpended Balance, $1,361 93
EDWARD W. POPE,
CHARLES F. EVELETH, WM. C. PEIRCE,
C. L. TODD,
Building Committee. .
117
Report of the Trustees of the Lincoln Public Library
The Trustees respectfully submit their report for the year closing February 1, 1910 :-
The usual statistical exhibit of the Librarian is herewith submitted, presenting the essential facts connected with the working of the institution under her charge during the past year. These figures indicate no material change in the methods of conducting the Library, which would seem to call for particular comment. The collection of books has during the year increased about as heretofore, and no noticeable change has been apparent either in the borrow- ers from the Library or in the character of the books taken out. In their last Annual Report the Trustees observed that it was a thing greatly to be desired, "that some intelligent direction should be given to the use made of the Library, especially by the school children and those of the younger generation, the books borrowed and read, and the lines of amusement, instruction and study followed by the borrowers."
One of the problems in this connection which the Trust- tees have especially endeavored to solve during the year, has been some practical method of getting books readily into the hands of school children. Where the doors of a Public Library are open every day in the week, as is the case in many larger and more thickly settled communites in the neighborhood of Lincoln, this difficulty solves itself. The children come to the Library any day in the week between the sessions of the schools or after school hours are over, familiarize themselves with the acquisitions, and , call for such books as they want. In Lincoln, however,
118
the Library is open only twice a week and on those days, -Wednesdays and Saturdays,-the children are apt to go home at midday; and, to a large extent using the public conveyances running at a fixed time, have no opportunity to go to the Library. Under these circumstances, the best solution of the difficulty which the trustees have as yet been able to devise, is to send a selection of books, and the books called for, to the school house once in two weeks, to be there distributed by one of the librarians. An average of between forty and fifty volumes have been each time sent in this way. The delivery of books in South Lincoln has been continued through the year.
The Trustees desire in this connection to express their sense of obligation to the Librarian, Miss Lydia J. Chapin, for the efforts she has made during the past year to carry into effect the recommendations, already referred to, of the Trustees in their last report, as respects the possible direc- tion to be given to what may be termed the reading habit in school children. As was then remarked, this habit, if undirected, is almost inevitably of a most casual and re- sultless character. The efforts of the two librarians to in- crease the usefulness of the institution by bringing desir- able books, and books presumably improving and of interest, to the attention of those likely to read them, and in so doing to give counsel and guidance as opportunities occur, has been most beneficial and deserving of praise.
The Library building is now in good material condition, and stands in no immediate need of further repairs.
Among the gifts to the Library during the past year, the Trustees would particularly mention the work entitled, "Memoirs of the Egypt Exploration Fund," in twelve volumes, the gift of Julian DeCordova. It constitutes a valuable addition to the collection.
The report of the Treasurer is herewith submitted. It appears that, during the year, all expenses of the Library have been met out of income, and the institution enters
119
upon the new Town year with a balance of $353.65, to the good, as compared with a similar balance of $300.39, at the beginning of the year just closing. In last year's report it appeared that the aggregate cost of the circula- tion of each book borrowed from the Library during the year had been .1633 cents. During the year just ended, it would seem that the same cost was .1910 cents.
The usual appropriation for the institution in former years was $500, in addition to the Dog Tax. Last year, for obvious reasons, this appropriation was reduced to $400. In the opinion of the Trustees an appropriation of the same amount, to wit, $400, in addition to the Dog Tax, will meet the reasonable needs of the Library during the coming year.
By order of the Trustees,
CHARLES F. ADAMS, Chairman.
DR.
REPORT OF TREASURER OF LINCOLN LIBRARY FOR THE YEAR ENDING FEB. 1, 1910.
CR.
RECEIPTS.
1909.
1909.
Feb.
Balance in Treasury
$291 37
March 31.
R. D. Donaldson, labor etc.
$17 55
April 3.
Codman Fund
10 00
April 5. Lincoln History Society, Life of Lincoln
10 00
July 12. 7 31.
Cash received from Dog Tax returned
366 53
12. Elizabeth Chapin, Asst. Librarian
43 75
Oct. 16.
Codman Fund
10 00
June
12. John F. Farrar, services ..
20 00
Town appropriation
July
16. David Farquhar, books repaired
12 14
Jan. .1.
Codman Fund ..
11 25
43 75
24.
Julia A. Bemis Fund
46 94
=
James T. Laird, sharpening lawn mower .
2 50
Geo. G. Tarbell Legacy
302 01
10.
Chas. E. Lauriat, books David Farquhar, magazine
2 40
Received from fines, etc.
22 52
20.
New England Tel. & Tel. Co., telephone
5 00
Oct.
6.
Lydia J. Chapin, Librarian
43 75
Elizabeth Chapin, Asst. Librarian
43 75
Thorp & Martin, type writer paper
5 00
Dec.
14.
Library Bureau
26 00
1910.
6. Chas. E. Lauriat, books
118 24
Jan.
R. D. Donaldson, labor, etc.
13 20
21.
New England Tel. & Tel. Co.
8 75
24.
E. Howard Clock Co., repairs on clocks
5 20
26.
H. S. Cousins & Co., oil
11 06
Feb.
1.
Lydia J. Chapin, Librarian
43 75
Elizabeth Chapin, Asst. Librarian
43 75
Chas. E. Laurait Co., books ....
91 01
C. S. Wheeler, Treas., Library to Lincoln Highway Dept., for teaming coal, ashes, etc.
10 00
14 00
66 00
15 96
$1,620 78
$1,620 78 1,267 13
Balance on hand
353 65
$1,620 78
$353 65 Balance in Treasury
12 50
May 12. Lydia J. Chapin, Librarian
43 75
Dec. 18. 1910.
Charles E. Lauriat Co., books ..
172 00
Aug. 5. Lydia J. Chapin, Librarian
Elizabeth Chapin, Asst. Librarian
43 75
Geo. Russell Legacy
54 20
62 32
Abbie J. Stearns Fund .
93 46
Sept.
Water Com. Lincoln, for water.
10 00
1 20
New England Tel. & Tel. Co.
12 50
James A. W. Hunter, delivering books
5 10
J. L. Chapin & Son, oil, etc.
200 00
Chas. S. Wheeler, services of Janitor.
J. F. Farrar & Son, cash paid for two tons furnace coal .. . Tolman & Holden, insurance on Library Paid for express, paper, etc.
$1,267 13
JOHN F. FARRAR, Treasurer of Lincoln Library.
120
PAYMENTS.
400 00
121
STATISTICS OF THE LINCOLN PUBLIC LIBRARY FOR THE YEAR ENDING FEB. 1, 1909.
Number of volumes in Library, Feb. 1, 1909, 8,750
Increase by purchase, 278
Increase by gift,
22
Increase by binding periodicals,
11
Total increase,
311
Number of volumes rebound,
24
Number of volumes withdrawn, replaced by new copies, 14
Number of volumes in Library Feb. 1, 1910,
9,061
Total delivery of books for year, 6,633
Largest delivery in one day (Jan. 19th),
114
Smallest delivery in one day (June 5th),* 15
Number of new names of borrowers registered past year, 76
Number of days Library has been open,
*Stormy. 103
122
LINCOLN PUBLIC LIBRARY
Gifts of books, periodicals, etc., have been received during the year, from the following persons: - Miss Sarah Bolles, Mrs. Ellen Campbell, Mrs. Harriet C. Richardson, Mrs. E. M. Seavey, Mrs. C. H. Trask, Mrs. A. C. Wheel- wright, Dr. E. S. Abbott, Hon. C. F. Adams, Mr. H. N. Casson, Mr. J. deCordova, Dr. E. Dinsmore, Mr. J. H. Pierce, Mr. Thorndike.
The usual number of catalogues, bulletins, reports, etc., from various Libraries, and other public institutions have been received, as heretofore.
LYDIA J. CHAPIN
Librarian.
123
LINCOLN PUBLIC LIBRARY
Accessions to the Lincoln Public Library for 1909
BIOGRAPHY.
Bancroft, F. and Dunning, W. A. Reminiscences of Carl
Schurz (Vol. 3, 1863-1869). With a sketch of his life and public services from 1869-1906 633.18
Bristol, Frank Milton. Life of Chaplain McCabe, Bishop of the Methodist Epicsopal Church 533.14
Casson, Herbert N. Cyrus Hall McCormick; his life and work *635.15
Collyer, Robert. Augustus Conant; Illinois pioneer and preacher
533.20
Some memories 533.17
Dawson, E. C. Heroines of Missionary Adventure; true stories of the intrepid bravery and patient endur- ance of Missionaries in their encounters with un- civilized man, wild beasts, and the forces of nature in all parts of the civilized world 533.15
Eckstorm, Fannie. David Libbey; Penobscot woodsman and river-diver
533.18
Gladden, Washington. Recollections
632.12
Gosse, Edmund. Father and son ; a bigoraphical romance
635.13
Hodges, George. The apprenticeship of Washington; and other sketches of significant Colonial personages . Kuehnemann, Eugen. Charles W. Eliot; President of Harvard University (May 19, 1869 - May 19, 1909) 632.4
632.5
Lindsay-Forbes, C. H. Daniel Boone: Backwoodsman 533.16
Neumann, Angelo. Personal recollections of Wagner . 533.14
Nicoll, W. Robertson. "Ian Maclaren;" Life of the Rev.
John Watson 634.18
Page, Thomas Nelson. Robert E. Lee; the Southerner 635.12
Pemberton, T. Edgar. Life of Bret Harte
635.14 Pryor, Mrs. Roger A. My day; reminiscences of a long life
632.10
Rhys, Ernest Editor. Narrative of the life of Sir Walter
Scott as begun by himself and continued by J. G. Lockhart
635.17
124
Richards, Laura E. Letters and Journals of Samuel Gridley Howe; the servant of humanity, with notes by F. B. Sanborn. 2 vols. 632.2
Sanborn, Frank B. Recollections of seventy years. 2 vols. Sangster, Margaret E. From my youth up; personal remi- niscences 632.13
632.6
Sears, Lorenzo. Wendell Phillips
Shaler, Nathaniel Southgate. Autobiography of N. S. Shaler with a supplementary memoir by his wife 632.3
635.16
Smith, F. Hopkinson. Captain Thomas A. Scott 533.19
Stanley, Dorothy Editor. Autobiography of Sir Henry Morton Stanley 632.8
Tarbell, Ida M. Life of Abraham Lincoln. 4 vols. 632.1
Terry, Ellen. Story of my life; recollections and reflections
533.12
Washington, Booker T. Working with the hands; being a sequel to "Up from Slavery," covering the author's experiences in industrial training at Tuskegee 544.18
Washburn, George. Fifty years in Constantinople; and recollections of Robert College . 632.9
Wilson, D. M. and Adams, C. F. John Quincy, (An address delivered Feb. 23, 1908, under the auspices of the Quincy Historical Society.) *634.19
Winter, William. Old friends; being literary recollections of other days 632.7
Yonge Charlotte M. Book of Worthies; gathered from the old histories, and now written anew 635.19
HISTORY.
Bacon, Edwin M. English voyages; of adventure and discovery. Retold from Hakluyt 355.12
Channing, Edward and Lansing, M. F. Story of the Great Lakes. With maps and illustrations · Crawford, Mary Caroline. St. Botolph's town; an account of Old Boston in Colonial days 355.11
356.7
Creasy, Sir Edward. The fifteen decisive battles of the world; from Marathon to Waterloo. To which are added Quebec-Yorktown-Vicksburg-Gettys- burg-Sedan-Manila Bay-Santiago-Tu Shima. 366.6 Ferrero, Guaglielmo. Greatness and decline of Rome. 5 vols. 353.14
Fisher, George Sydney. Struggle for American Independ- ence. 2 vols. 356.6
Forbes-Lindsay, C. H. Washington; the city and the seat of Government . 355.10
Griffis, William Eliot. Story of New Netherland; the Dutch in America 356.5
125
Jenks, Tudor. Book of famous seiges 356.9 Long, William J. English literature; its history, and its signif- icance for the English-speaking people 356.10
Mario, Jessie White. Birth of modern Italy; Posthumous papers of Jessie White Mario, edited with introduc- tion, notes and epilogue by the Duke Litta-Viscon- ti-Arese 356.8
Trevelyan, George Macaulay. Garibaldi's defence of the Roman Republic 353.13
DESCRIPTION AND TRAVEL.
Barton, James L. Daybreak in Turkey 442.11
Carson, W. E. Mexico; wonderland of the South . 442.18
Churchill, Winston Spencer. My African journey 442.15
Collier, Price. England and the English; from an American point of view 442.13
DeFillipi, Filippo. Ruwenzori; an account of the expedi- tion of H. R. H. Prince Luigi Amedeo of Savoy, Duke of the Abruzzi 441.9
Flaudrau, Charles Macomb. Viva Mexico!
441.12
Frenssen, Gustav. Peter Moor's Journey to South West Africa ; a narrative of the German campaign. Trans- lated from the original by Margaret M. Ward .
442.8
Greely, A. W. Handbook of Alaska; its resources, products, and attractions 442.14
Gwynn, Stephen. A holiday in Conemara
441.11
Hichens, Robert. Egypt and its monuments
441.8
Higginson, Ella. Alaska 442.9
Hornaday, William T. Camp fires on desert and lava 442.6
Lucas, E. V. A wanderer in Paris
442.19
Munn, A. L. Five months in the Himalaya ; record of moun- tain travel in Garhwal and Cashmir . 441.10
Rainsford, W. L. Land of the lion
442.16
Riis, Jacob A. The Old Town
442.21
Van Dyke, John C. The New New York; a commentary on the place and the people 442.17
Van Dyke, Henry. Out-of-doors in the Holy Land. Im- pressions of travel in body and spirit 437.8
Waddington, Mary King. Chateau and country life in France 446.16
Wayfarer in New York
442.20
SCIENCE, EDUCATION. USFEUL ARTS.
Breck, Edward. Way of the Woods; a manual for sports- men in Northeastern U. S. and Canada 142.23
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