USA > Massachusetts > Essex County > Andover > Town annual report of Andover 1930-1934 > Part 24
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We had hoped that no atmosphere of distress was to be de- tected in this place, but on one occasion when assignments in all schools brought a sudden demand for a book of which we own but one copy, the volume had to be spirited from the senior library to the junior room and back again with great rapidity. No comment was made in the senior room, but the children said : "One book for two places? Well, this is depression!"
The centenary of Louisa M. Alcott was celebrated by a play based on the first chapter of Little. Women, and most creditably enacted by five little girls before an audience that crowded the room. For the occasion the janitor constructed a realistic and truly charming fireplace. Lighted with the glow of a red electric bulb, the fireplace drew many admiring exclamations, and it was set up again as a part of the Christmas decorations. It is because they are permitted a large share in these little celebrations that
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the children feel so keenly their ownership of the junior room. One afternoon it was discovered that a little girl of seven had parked her grandmother at the top of the stairs, with strict orders to stay there, because "the older people had the big library and weren't wanted downstairs!"
This year we have succeeded in giving more adequate service to the children in the outlying districts. Books go regularly to the North, West Centre and Shawsheen schools, and, by special arrangement, the children who are brought by bus to the central buildings, are given permission to come to the junior room at noon one day each week. The room is opened at this hour for this group to exchange books. So far as we know, we are reaching every school district in Andover.
As a measure of economy, we considered in September, con- tinuing the summer hours for the junior room, and closing it at six during the winter. But the children crowded in so, and so needed a place of warmth and light and happiness, that we did not do it. However, this may be inevitable, if we are forced to further economy.
One of the hardest things is to encounter the young men and women who have finished school, and find themselves puzzled and bewildered by the lack of work. We encourage them to further study, either by use of the library, or by taking extension courses with the State Department of Education. Booklets describing these courses have been in such demand that we have twice sent for further supplies.
"Cheerful books" are constantly asked for, and we know from numerous requests to select such stories, that they must be help- ing many. People frequently tell us that they would not know what to do without the library, what a privilege it is to have its books, and that they appreciate, as never before, what its free service means.
The use of the Ballardvale branch shows an increase this year of 7%, and a total of 8126 books issued. This branch is used mostly for recreational reading, since the children who come up to Andover to school, naturally prefer to use the main library for reference work.
We thank those who have brought us books, magazines and
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.
many flowers during the year. An especially appreciated gift came from Mr. Alfred Ripley, three bronze statuettes, the Apollo Bel- vedere, Augustus Caesar and Antinous. Placed on the tops of book- cases, they are a great addition to our pleasant reading-room.
Probably few frequenters of the building appreciate that, in the number of hours it is open for public use, the Memorial Hall Library offers daily service which is ordinarily furnished only by a large town or city. According to the latest printed report of the Massachusetts Library Commission, that for 1931, which lists the 411 libraries of the Commonwealth, only three towns of less than 10,000 population offer twelve-hour daily library service. These towns are Concord, Middleborough and Andover, open each, 72 hours weekly. Our nearest neighbors, North Andover and Reading, open their libraries respectively, 33 hours and 28 hours each week. In addition to keeping our adult library open 72 hours, our junior room is open at present 33 hours each week, and all this with a permanent staff of only four people.
The tremendously increased work of the year just completed, work in issuing 80915 books,-which means the same number handled and replaced on the shelves-the answering of innumer- able reference questions, the assistance given readers, and the increased routine work have been accomplished with the same staff and the same appropriation from the town as in 1931. It should not require more than ordinary intelligence to appreciate the increased stress and strain. It could not have been done, had not everyone put the library work before personal considerations. When extra work required extra hours, the time has been given without additional recompense.
While it is true that certain commodities, such as food, furni- ture and clothing, are much cheaper, the cost of books remains at a high level. Some of the most expensive have dropped from ten dollars to seven, and from seven to five, but below that figure, the range of prices keeps up. There is no change in the price of new fiction and juveniles, and while it is possible to secure ordinary replacements in reprint editions, the cost of new books in general, remains very high. Public demand justifies the purchase of a larger number of books, not only more books, but more duplica- tion of titles. People ought not to have to wait six weeks before
146
getting a chance to see a much-talked of book. We should stress this point decidedly for 1933. There is a great demand, not only for recreational reading, but for books furnishing a fuller under- standing of economic issues at stake. We should have more new books. To fail to supply them is to fail the public at a time, when, as never before, the library is proving itself of vital importance. All over our country, hundreds of thousands of people are turning to their public libraries for help, and, when the story of this de- pression is finally written, the part played by the libraries of the nation, as bulwarks against mental disaster and defeat, will loom large.
While there has been much criticism concerning public budgets and waste in expenditure, we have yet to hear of a public library accused of graft. On the contrary, with insufficient funds, they have striven in every possible way to meet the phenomenal in- crease in use, and the record-breaking demands made upon them. Here in Andover, we have conscientiously striven to spend every dollar entrusted to us, as carefully as though we had personally supplied it. Those in charge of the dispersal of public money, in making adjustments between the legitimate demand for lower taxes and the maintenance of necessary public service, should realize the very exceptional situation of the libraries. The de- mands made upon them are second only to those upon agencies of relief. The public has by instinct turned to the libraries as an opportunity of making the most of enforced leisure. Instead of joining a protest march to Washington, or a wild-eyed political party, the normal American out of work gets busy with library books and prepares himself for a better job.
What we have managed with the budget of the past year, we intend to manage for the year to come. To decrease the number of hours the library is open, and at the very time when it is being used as never before, is a step which the town would feel keenly. It is, however, a step which an insufficient appropriation will render practically inevitable.
Respectfully submitted,
,
EDNA A. BROWN, Librarian
14
Statistics of the Library
Number of books issued at Memorial Hall
72789
Number of books issued at Ballardvale 8126
Total number issued for home use
80915
Number of borrowers' cards in use
5113
Books added by purchase
862
Books added by gift
63
Total additions
925
Books withdrawn, worn out, lost and paid for
225
Number of books in the library
29993
Volumes rebound
529
Volumes bound, periodicals, etc.
56
BALLARDVALE BRANCH
Books issued for home use
8126
Number of books added by purchase
37
Books added by gift
12
Total additions
49
Books belonging to branch
2675
148
TOWN OF ANDOVER
Thirty - first Annual Report of the
Board of Public Works
EMBRACING THE FORTY-FOURTH ANNUAL REPORT of WATER COMMISSIONERS and THIRTY-SIXTH ANNUAL REPORT of SEWER COMMISSIONERS
For the Year Ending DECEMBER 31, 1932
1933
*JOHN H. FLINT
1893-1894 *WM. S. JENKINS *JOHN L. SMITH *CHARLES E. ABBOTT
WATER COMMISSIONERS 1889-1899 *JAMES P. BUTTERFIELD *FELIX G. HAYNES
SEWER COMMISSIONERS
1894-1899
*WM. S. JENKINS *JOHN L. SMITH *JOHN E. SMITH
BOARD OF PUBLIC WORKS
1899-1902
1903-1906
*JOHN H. FLINT
*WM. S. JENKINS
*JOHN L. SMITH
*JAMES P. BUTTERFIELD
*FELIX G. HAYNES
1906-1907
*FELIX G. HAYNES
*FELIX G. HAYNES
*JOHN W. BELL, Treas.
JAMES C. SAWYER, Sec'y
*LEWIS T. HARDY
*HARRY M. EAMES 1908-1912
*LEWIS T. HARDY
*JOHN W. BELL, Treas.
JAMES C. SAWYER, Sec'y
ANDREW McTERNEN
WILLIS B. HODGKINS
1914-1916
*THOS. E. RHODES ('19)
*BARNETT ROGERS ('16) LEWIS T. HARDY ('16) ANDREW McTERNEN, Sec'y ('18) WILLIS B. HODGKINS, Treas. ('18)
1917-1918
*BARNETT ROGERS ('19)
*THOS. E. RHODES ('20) ANDREW McTERNEN ('18)
CHAS. B. BALDWIN, Sec'y ('19) WILLIS B. HODGKINS, Treas. ('18) 1919-1920-1921
*BARNETT ROGERS ('22)
WILLIAM D. MCINTYRE ('21) ARTHUR T. BOUTWELL ('22) PHILIP L. HARDY, Sec'y ('21) *THOS. E. RHODES, Treas. ('23) 1923-1924
PHILIP L. HARDY ('27)
WILLIAM D. MCINTYRE, Sec'y ('27)
ARTHUR T. BOUTWELL, Treas. ('25)
EDWARD SHATTUCK ('25)
WALTER I. MORSE ('26) 1927 ARTHUR T. BOUTWELL ('28)
** THOS. E. RHODES ('28) WALTER I. MORSE, Treas. ('29) WM. D. MCINTYRE, Sec'y ('30) GEORGE H. WINSLOW ('30) 1929-1930 WM. D. McINTYRE ('33) W. I. MORSE, Treas. ('32) GEORGE H. WINSLOW, Sec'y ('33) ARTHUR T. BOUTWELL ('31) THOS. P. DEA ('31)
WM. D. MCINTYRE, Sec'y ('30) GEORGE H. WINSLOW ('30) THOS. P. DEA ('31)
1930-1931 WVM. D. MCINTYRE ('33)
W. I. MORSE, Treas. ('32) GEORGE H. WINSLOW, Sec'y ('33) THOS. P. DEA ('34) FRANK A. BUTTRICK ('34)
1931-1932 WM. D. MCINTYRE ('33) W. I. MORSE ('35) THOS. P. DEA ('34) FRANK A. BUTTRICK ('34) JOHN H. PLAYDON ('33)
SUPERINTENDENT
CHARLES T. GILLIARD
*THOS. E. RHODES, Sec'y ('14) WILLIS B. HODGKINS, Treas. ('15)
1916-1917 *BARNETT ROGERS ('19) *THOS. E. RHODES ('17) ANDREW McTERNEN ('18) CHAS. B. BALDWIN, Sec'y ('19) WILLIS B. HODGKINS, Treas. ('18) 1918-1919
*BARNETT ROGERS ('22) ANDREW McTERNEN ('21) PHILIP L. HARDY ('21) CHAS. B. BALDWIN, Sec'y ('22)
*THOS. E. RHODES, Treas. ('20) 1922-1923
*THOS. E. RHODES ('23) PHILIP L. HARDY ('24)
WM. D. MCINTYRE, Treas. ('24) ARTHUR T. BOUTWELL ('25) EDWARD SHATTUCK ('25) 1924-1925-1926 PHILIP L. HARDY ('27) WM. D. MCINTYRE, Sec'y ('27) ARTHUR T. BOUTWELL, Treas. ('28)
*THOS. E. RHODES ('28) WALTER I. MORSE ('29) 1928-1929 ARTHUR T. BOUTWELL ('31) WV. I. MORSE, Treas. ('32)
*JOHN L. SMITH *FELIX G. HAYNES *JOHN W. BELL
*LEWIS T. HARDY JAMES C. SAWYER 1907-1908
*JOHN W. BELL, Treas. JAMES C. SAWYER, Sec'y *LEWIS T. HARDY ANDREW McTERNEN
1913-1914 *LEWIS T. HARDY ('16)
*BARNETT ROGERS ('16) ANDREW McTERNEN ('15)
Andover, Mass. January 24, 1933
The Board of Public Works voted to adopt the following report of the Superintendent as its report for 1932, with recommenda- tions for 1933. Incorporated in our recommendations for 1933 is a wage reduction of 10% effective from April 1, 1933 to April 1, 1934.
We are cognizant of the extreme pressure which has been brought to bear on our Superintendent due to the unemployment situation and take this opportunity of expressing our appreciation for his tactful and humane attitude toward this problem.
WILLIAM D. McINTYRE, Chairman FRANK A. BUTTRICK, Secretary WALTER I. MORSE THOMAS P. DEA JOHN H. PLAYDON
3
Superintendent's Report
To the Board of Public Works:
GENTLEMEN :
In connection with the Water, Highway, Sewer and Park Departments you will be interested in reviewing the major activities and developments during the year which ended Decem- ber 31, 1932.
Eight hundred and fifty feet of six inch water main were laid on Stratford Road. This water main is connected to both the Chestnut Street and Summer Street mains. This work was done under Article 8 of the 1932 Warrant. The cost of laying this pipe was $1287.60, or $1.51 per foot.
Four hundred and sixty-eight feet of six-inch water main were laid on Ferndale Avenue. This line extends the entire length of the street and is connected to the water mains on both Poor Street and Magnolia Avenue. This work was made possible due to an additional appropriation of $8600. which was added to the Highway Department maintenance appropriation to care for the water and sewer lines on Ferndale Avenue and also the construc- tion of Juliette Street and Topping Road. The cost of the above installation was $731.01, or $1.56 per foot.
Three thousand feet of six-inch water pipe were installed on Beacon Street from the corner of Chandler Road to a point op- posite the property of Mr. Louis Cyr. The cost of this installation was $3473.83, or approximately $1.16 per foot. A sum of two thousand dollars for material was voted at a special town meeting held September 26, 1932 under Article 8. Mr. Louis Cyr kindly loaned his gasoline shovel, which expedited the work and mater- ially reduced the cost of installation. The labor with the exception of supervision, the caulking of the pipe, etc., was supplied to the Board of Public Works by the Andover Emergency Committee and the Welfare Department. The work commenced November 2nd and was completed November 23d.
4
Four hundred and thirty-six feet of six-inch water main and a hydrant were installed on Brechin Terrace. This replaces an old two-inch line that had outlived its usefulness. This installation gives a better water supply and better fire protection. The exist- ing water service pipes on Brechin Terrace were cleaned and before connecting to the new six-inch main, sections in places were renewed.
During the year 1932 eight hydrants were broken due to im- pact with automobiles. This is five more than the year 1931.
The metal fences around the low and high service reservoirs were given an application of red lead and a coat of aluminum paint. The labor cost of the above was cared for by help sent to the Board of Public Works by the Andover Emergency Commit- tee and the Welfare Department.
The following repairs were done at the Haggetts Pond pumping station : new windows were installed; the front arches in the boiler were renewed; a broken sleeve of the centrifugal pump was re- placed and a crack in the frame of the steam engine was rein- forced. The steps, bulkhead and windows of the engineer's house were repaired and the house was painted. The roof of the coal shed and a section of the foundation were repaired. The trim- mings of the Bancroft Road pumping station were painted.
The low service reservoir was cleaned during the month of September. This work started Friday, September 2nd at 8 P.M. and was completed Sunday, September 4th at 4.30 A.M. To make it possible to pump water to the high service reservoir a 14"x14"- x8" sleeve and valve together with an overflow were installed on the 14" line leading to the low service reservoir a short distance from an existing 14" gate. During the cleaning of this reservoir the high service reservoir was kept filled, so that in case of emergency water could be drained to the low pressure system. In order that water might be obtained for flushing purposes a two-inch line was run from a high service hydrant in front of Mr. Fred Cheever's house to the reservoir. A six-inch gasoline pump was hired from P. I. Perkins Co. to pump the last four feet of water out of the reservoir.
The hydrants were inspected during the year and repairs were made where necessary.
5
The construction of the new South Main Street road started early in the season and the work of locating water gates so that they would not be broken by steam shovels and trucks was cared for. When the concrete was being poured it was necessary to see that the gate boxes were clear and brought to grade.
During 1932, 314,601,000 gallons of water were pumped at the Haggetts Pond pumping station or a daily average of 861,920 gallons. The steam pump was in operation 312 hours and 25 minutes and the electric pump 4128 hours and 5 minutes, making an average daily run of 12 hours and 10 minutes. On July 21 the greatest amount of water was pumped, namely 1,767,000 gallons, and the maximum weekly consumption was that of July 17 to 23 inclusive during which time 9,549,000 gallons were pumped. Incidentally the receipts from the water rates during 1932 amounted to $43,641.07, which is the highest amount received since the installation of the system.
To provide for adequate water maintenance during 1933 we recommend an appropriation of $26,435.00 to be divided sub- stantially as follows:
WATER MAINTENANCE
Salaries and labor
$13135.00
Coal for steam and heating
800.00
Engine oil, fuel oil, Chlorine, etc.
800.00
Power-No. 1 and No. 2 stations
7000.00
Gas, Oil and auto maintenance
1400.00
Repairs to pumping equipment, boilers and property
1200.00
Office supplies, stationery, postage and tele- phone
1100.00
Care of Pond, reservoirs, telemeters, etc. 500.00
Supplies and miscellaneous
500.00
$ 26435.00
Services and Meters increased during 1932 as follows:
Services in use January 1, 1932 2384
Services installed during 1932
12
Services in use January 1, 1933
2396
6
Meters in use January 1, 1932 Meters installed during 1932
2261 10
Meters in use January 1, 1933
2271
During the year 1932 we have laid 430.4 feet of service pipe on private property, and 298 feet on town property. A number of water services were renewed during 1932.
We recommend for water construction for 1933, $11125.00 to be divided substantially as follows:
WATER CONSTRUCTION
Labor, renewing services, etc.
$ 6525.00
Meters and parts
300.00
Pipe of all kinds
3700.00
Brass goods, hydrants, etc.
600.00
$11125.00
Appropriation, March 1932
Water Maintenance
$27950.00
Refund
.08
Water Construction
9850.00
Total
$37800.08
Approved bills
37789.10
Balance $10.98
Article 8, Special Town Meeting, Sept. 26, Beacon St. Water Main
Appropriation $2000.00 1947.73
Approved bills
.
Balance $52.27
Article 8, March 1932, Stratford Road
Appropriation $2200.00
Approved bills 1288.04
Balance $911.96
Receipts
Water Rates
$43641.07
Water Construction
2226.92
7
Paid to Town Treasurer Water Rates Water Construction
$43641.07
2226.92
Total
$45867.99
$45867.99
SUMMARY COST OF CONSTRUCTION
WATER DEPARTMENT
CLASSIFICATION
APPROVED BILLS
CREDITS
NET COST
TOTALS
Office Fixtures
$ 571.65
Telemeters
2892.19
Telephones
184.77
Teams
583.65
Pipe Distribution
408461.63
Service Pipe
$6146.44 9850.00
$2226.92
$7623.08
123361.53
Water and Land
6687.23
Suction Pipe
1309.46
Reservoirs
16985.82
Coal Shed
806.97
Grading Land
2739.12
Workshop
1271.88
Building Pumping Station
9610.14
Pumping Plant
53827.68
Construction Expenses Tools
4622.76
Totals
$15996.44
$644099.12
SEWER DEPARTMENT
Sewer Mains
75178 ft.
$144543.86 } 357892.66
Jan. 1, 1933
Cost to Town
10182.64
Cost to Abutters
8
HIGHWAY, SEWER AND PARK DEPARTMENTS
The following table shows the snowfall for the year 1932:
January
16.50 inches
February
16.50
March
5.50
April
.25
December
10.25
49.00 inches
The snowfall during 1932 was three-quarters of an inch more than during 1931, but the occasion for sanding slippery roads and sidewalks was not so often required. Drifting of snow occurred on High Plain Road in the vicinity of the property of Mr. R. Johnson and to care for this condition additional snow fence was purchased and erected.
During the early part of the year, Tewksbury Street from Chester Street to the Tewksbury line was covered with gravel. Later in the season this road was given a tar and asphalt treat- ment, and now there is a hard surface road where formerly travel was difficult especially in the early spring. A number of country roads that showed signs of breaking up in the spring of the year were covered with gravel.
After the cleaning and patching of the streets in April the following streets that showed signs of wear were treated with "Barber Asphalt C": A section of Andover Street, Pine Street, Upland Road, a section of Center Street, a section of Chester Street, a section of Dascomb Road, High Street, Ballardvale, a section of River Street, a section of Tewksbury Street, Canter- bury Street, a section of Kenilworth Street, Shepley Street and Bancroft Road. Later in the year a section of Stevens Street that showed signs of breaking up was given an application of Tarvia "B".
The scraping of roads commenced April 8th and the work was completed June 1st. In the Fall a number of roads were scraped before the frost set in.
Gravel roads with a tar and asphalt top were built on Topping
9
Road and Juliette Street. The building of these two streets to- gether with the installation of sewer and water lines on Ferndale Avenue was made possible by an additional appropriation of $8600 in highway maintenance.
Highland Road from Main Street to the North Andover line was covered with gravel, rolled and given an application of tar and asphalt and Argilla Road was shaped up, rolled and given an application of Tarvia "B". During 1932 approximately 41/2 miles of hard surface road were constructed.
The following roads were graveled by labor supplied the Board of Public Works by the Andover Emergency Committee and the Welfare Department: a section of Salem Street, a section of Jenkins Road, a section of Reservation Street, a section of Lincoln Street, a section of Morton Street, a section of Wildwood Road and a section of Chestnut Street from Upland Road to Highland Road. The money for truck hire for the above work was taken from the Highway maintenance appropriation.
The balance of money from Articles 8 and 9 of the 1932 War- rant which the Town voted at a special town meeting September 26th, 1932 under Article No. 7, to spend on gravel roads, was used to care for sections of Beacon Street and High Plain Road.
New sections of highway fence were installed on Haggetts Pond Road where it was dangerous for automobile traffic, and a number of highway fences were repaired and painted.
A roller designed by Mr. J. E. Lawrence of the State Highway Department for rolling patching material was purchased this year. This roller is attached to one of the rear wheels of a small truck and has the same rolling effect as an eight-ton tandem roller. Heretofore it has been the practice to fill the holes in a road with patching material and let the traffic do the rolling. This was not satisfactory for the reason that the fast moving vehicles often pulled the patching material out of the holes. I might add that the cost of this roller was $50 and has proved most satisfactory.
Four hundred and seventy-four feet of straight curbing and forty feet of curved curbing were laid on the west side of Main Street from the south end of Dr. Elliott's property to a point at the north corner of Poor Street. Ninety-five feet of curbing and
10
sixty-four square yards of cement sidewalk were laid in front of the property of Messrs. David and William Burns on Park Street. The curbing was laid by the Town and the pouring of the concrete sidewalk was done by Mr. Frank McCarthy. The bids for the pouring of the concrete were as follows :
Frank McCarthy $ 95.00
Arthur Steinert 100.00
Philip L. Hardy
107.00
Seventy-four square yards of cement sidewalk were laid on Main Street from the corner of Chestnut Street to the boundary line of William Burns and the new post office property. The pour- ing of the concrete was done by Philip L. Hardy. The bids were as follows:
Philip L. Hardy
$120.00
Frank McCarthy 120.25
Edward P. Hall 122.10
Four hundred and forty-four square yards of Tarvia-Lithic sidewalk were built on Central Street from the property line of Mr. Fred Jones to the driveway of Mrs. N. E. Bartlet. This work was done by the Town and the cost is as follows:
Labor
$203.87
Material
236.50
$440.37
The cement in the way of the water line of the Essex Street bridge broke away and exposed the reinforcing bars for a distance of approximately 40 feet. It was necessary to build a coffer dam to care for the water. Prior to the replacing of the concrete the reinforcing bars were cleaned and covered with a 1-1 mixture of sand and cement.
Due to the change in the drainage system of South Main Street in the way of the new state highway a culvert under Gould Road through which this additional drainage runs proved to be inade- quate to care for conditions during a heavy rainstorm. To over- come this, the old 12" corrugated iron pipe culvert was replaced
11
by a 20" cast iron culvert. Two drain pipes were installed on Beacon Street to prevent the rain water from washing out the road bed. An old stone culvert on Gould Road was replaced by a 15-inch pipe culvert. A catch basin was installed on Chestnut Street opposite the bird sanctuary. The regrading of the road at this point made this necessary. Two corrugated iron pipe drains have been installed across High Plain Road in the vicinity of property owned by Mr. George Muller. A 24-inch drain pipe in the rear of Mr. Cherowbrier's property on Haverhill Street was continued 108 feet to a brook. A catch basin has been installed and the gutter regraded in front of the property of Mr. Philip Leslie on Haverhill Street. Sixty-four feet of drain pipe were installed on the property of Mrs. Shtrumpfman to prevent wash- ing out the ground.
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