USA > Massachusetts > Norfolk County > Braintree > Town annual report of Braintree, Massachusetts for the year 1894 > Part 6
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Abington and Rockland
10,067
312,000
31
Andover
6,400
285,000
45
Attleborough*
8,036
218,000
27
Avon
1,619
55,000
34
Ayer
2,124
71,000
33
Beverly
11,802
843,000
71
Boston, Cochituate Works
444,575
47,453,000
107
Braintree
5,334
289,000
54
Brockton
31,200 ·
693,000
22
Cambridge
76,250
6,123,000
80
Canton
4,634
186,000
40
Cohasset
2,586
56,000
22
Cottage City
8,630
571,000
66
Dedham
7,412
303,000
41
Easton
84,916
2,334,000
27
Foxborough
3,005
81,000
27
Framingham
9,818
282,000
29
Franklin
5,341
126,000
24
Gardner
9,108
641,000
70
Gloucester
26,421
774,000
29
Lawrence
48,128
3,153,000
66
Lowell .
85,850
6,817,000
79
Lynn and Saugus t
69,653
3,744,000
54
Malden
27,006
1,451,000
54
Manchester
1,879
101,000
54
Mansfield
3,729
209,000
56
Marblehead
8,613
191,000
22
Marlborough
15,524
440,000
28
Medford
12,300
611,000
50
Melrose
9,971
652,000
65
Middleborough
6,605
197.000
30
Milton
4,713
129,000
27
Nantucket
3,343
86,000
26
Natick
9,514
354,000
37
Needham
3,305
106,000
32
New Bedford
55,000
4,998,000
91
Newburyport
14,805
564,000
40
Newton
27,151
1,386,000
50
No. Attleborough
6.946
165,000
24
Norwood
4,219
208,000
49
Quincy
19,470
729,000
37
Randolph and Holbrook Reading
4,818
222,000
50
Revere and Winthrop
01,425
723,000
69
Salem .
32,427
2,138,000
66
Sharon
1,817
34,000
19
Swampscott and Nahant
4,660
291,000
62
Taunton
26,513
1,061,000
40
Wakefield and Stoneham Waltham
1,166
1,055,000
50
Ware .
8.125
209,000
26
Watertown and Belmont
9,948
477,000
48
Wellesley
3,951
201,000
51
Whitman
4,948
189,000
38
Woburn
14.549
926,000
64
* May to December only.
The growth of these places has been very rapid since 1890, and the estimates of popu- lation given by the superintendents of water works have therefore been used.
19
Brookline
13,847
1,216,090
88
Danvers and Middleton
4,820
92,000
19
Boston, Somerville, Chelsea and Everett, Mystic Works
128,458
11,162,000
87
Bridgewater and East Bridgewater .
7,472
145,000
1,302
58,000
45
Fall River
11,281
499,000
44
Hyde Park
6,695
323,000
48
Montague
6,588
290,009
44
13,987
553,000
40
APPEARANCE.
AMMONIA.
NITROGEN AS
Chloride.
Nitrates.
Oxygen
Consumed.
Hardness.
Iron.
1893.
9048
Jan.
4
V. slight.
V. slight.
0.00
4.90
.0006
0090
.85
0650
.0000
-
2.2
.0000
9976
Feb.
6
None.
None.
0.02
4.90
.0004
.0052
.92
.0500
.0000
0912
2.3
.0020
1C102
Mar.
None.
None.
0.08
4.50
.0006-
.0056
.83
0400
.0000
I692
2.1
.0025
10232
Apr. 11
None.
None.
0.05
4.75
.0000
.0040
.84
.0500
.0000
.1314
1.4
.0030-
10374
May
9
None.
None.
0.03
4.45
0000
0082
.79
.0500
.0000
.1752
1.3
0015
10495
June
7
None.
None.
0.02
4.25
.0000
.0052
.86
0300
.0000
.1314
1.6
.0025
10608
July
6
None.
V. slight.
0.01
4.75
.0006
.0030
.81
.0280
.0000
.0438
1.4
.0000
10752
Aug. 9
Slight, milky.
Slight.
0.05
4.50
.0004
.0044
.76
.0120
.0003
.. 0607
1.3
.0060
11000
Sept. 11
None.
V. slight.
0.05
4.65
.0000
.0042
82
.0050
.0002
.0858
1.5
.0075
11157
Oct.
9
None.
V. slight.
0.08
5.10
.0000
.0026
.83
.0180
.0001
.0847
1.8
.0150
11316
Nov.
9
None.
V. slight.
0.00
4.80
.0000
0036
.84
.0450
.0000
.1040
1.6
.0015
11454
Dec.
6
None.
None.
0.00
5.10
.0000
.0032
.84
.0430
.0000
.0546
2.2
0025
Av .. .
Averages of Analyses of Previous Years.
1887-88* 1892
0.07 0.02
7.14 4.60
.0006 .0002
.0045 0030
.85 .75
0948 .0192
.0002 .0001
1.8
* June, 1887, to May, 1888.
NOTE to analyses of 1893; Odor, of No. 10102, slightly vegetable; of the others, none. On heating a very faintly vegetable odor was developed in No. 10232. - The samples were collected from a faucet at the pumping station.
Microscopical Examination.
No. 9748. Diatomaceæ, Tabellaria, 62; Nos. 10495, Cyanophyceæ, Anabona, 5 in the first, and one in the last, Nos. 10495 to 11157 inclusive each contained a few Crenothrix or Zooglæa. In the remaining samples no organisms were found.
Chemical Examination of Water from the Filter-gallery of the Braintree Water
WATER SUPPLY OF BRAINTREE.
121
Number.
Date of Col- lection.
bidity.
ment.
Color.
Residue on Evaporation.
Free.
Albumi-
noid.
Nitrites.
Works.
[Parts per 100,000.]
0.03
4.72
.0002
.0049
.83
.0363
.0001
.1029
1.8
.0037
8
Tur-
Sedi-
CHEMICAL EXAMINATION OF WATER FROM LITTLE POND, BRAINTREE, (Parts per 100,000.)
APPEARANCE.
RESIDUE ON EVAPORA- TION.
AMMONIA.
NITROGEN AS
Date of Collection.
Turbidity.
Sediment.
Color.
Total.
Loss on
Free.
Total.
Dissolved.
Suspended.
Chlorine.
Nitrates.
Nitrites.
Oxygen Consumed.
Hardness.
1893. 10399
May 16
V. slight Slight
Slight Slight Slight
0.15
4.10
1.85
.0000
.0140
.0038
.74
.0000
.0000
.3256
1.3
10999
Sept. 11
Distinct
0.20
4.60
.0000
.0178 .0228
.0212
.0016
.76
.0000
.0000
.3666
0.6
Av ..
0.22
4.16
.0000
.0199
.71
.0010
.0000
.3792
1.0
Iron, .0045. Odor, faintly vegetable, becoming stronger in the last two samples on heating .- The samples were col- lected from the pond near the filter gallery of the Braintree water works, which is situated on the shore of the pond. It is said that up to the end of 1893, no water had been drawn directly from the pond for the supply of the town.
MICROSCOPICAL EXAMINATION.
The total number of organisms per cubit centimeter, found in each of these samples was as follows: In May, '93, chiefly Diatomacea; in August, 165, chiefly Algæ; in September, 62, chiefly Algæ and Cyanophyceæ.
122
-
.0000
.0190
-
-
.64
.0030
.0001
.4453
0.9
10751
Aug. 9
0.30
3.75
Ignition.
Albuminoid.
Number.
.
-
123
SERVICE CONSTRUCTION.
It will be seen that the entire cost of service work, which in cludes laying the pipe from the main to the takers line, is $1,925.03. We have charged consumers for labor and stock the sum of $2,175.68, which shows that our profits on jobbing have covered the expense of the services in the street and left a surplus of $250.65.
Respectfully submitted,
JOHN V. SCOLLARD, Registrar.
TOWN OF BRAINTREE.
Electric Light Department.
REPORT OF THE MANAGER,
FROM JAN- 1, 1894, TO JAN. 1, 1895.
REPORT OF THE MANAGER OF THE ELECTRIC LIGHT DEPARTMENT.
BRAINTREE, Jan. 1, 1895.
During the past year extensive additions have been made to the street lighting and house systems. The street lights have been run all night on the moon schedule and the house lights have been run all night and every night.
The following street lamps have been located by the selectmen and connected and installed by the department :
3, 1200 c. p. Arcs on Franklin Street and West Street.
2, 1200 c. p. Arcs on Plain Street.
2, 1200 c. p. Arcs on Myrtle and Vine Street.
1, 1200 c. p. Arcs on Elmwood Park.
1, 1200 c. p. Arcs on Elmwood Park andWalnut Street.
9
1, 25 c. p. Incandescent on Pond Street.
1, 25 c. p. Incandescent on Shaw Street.
3, 25 c. p. Incandescent on Elliott Street.
1, 25 c. p. Incandescent on Quincy Avenue.
1, 25 c. p. Incandescent on Hancock Street, near Hollingworth's Mill.
1, 25 c. p. Incandescent on Taylor Street.
1, 25 c. p. Incandescent on Elm Street.
2, 25 c. p. Incandescent on Pearl Street.
3, 25 c. p. Incandescent on Cedar Street.
1, 25 c. p. Incandescent on Union Street.
15
128
This makes the total number of street lights now in use, 90 arcs and 106 incandescents. The installation of the new lamps required the setting of 64'poles and the stringing of 28500 feet of No. 6 copper wire, besides cross arms, insulators, etc. All of this mat- erial was paid for from the appropriation made for the purpose.
This work was done under the supervision of the town's elec- trician, Mr. J. F. Perry, in addition to his regular duties and the services of the regular electric light force were utilized in this work to the greatest possible extent.
The street lighting extension included the purchase and installa- tion of a new 50-light Thomson-Houston dynamo of the same size and pattern as the two previously purchased by the town, and the bargain for this machine was made to include an extra armature worth $450, which can be used in either of the three dynamos now running, in case of any accident to their present armatures.
No accident of any consequence to any part of the plant has happened during the year. The breaking of our incandescent street lamps by roughs still continues, more than twenty-five having been replaced during the year. The guilty parties have not yet been caught.
The sleet storm of December 28, which was one of the worst ever known in this vicinity, and which prostrated many of the electric systems throughout New England, caused our plant but little damage.
Our wires were broken in two places by telephone wires falling on them, causing an arc which burnt our wire off and blew out the fuses in junction boxes, all of which was easily repaired.
The plant was operated continuously throughout the storm. Great care has been taken during the year to watch carefully every detail of the plant, and to strengthen, renew and repair at every point so that there shall be as little deterioration as possible. This work has been done by the regular force and to it is largely due the smooth and efficient working of the system.
The work of planning and superintending the installation of, and operating the new fire alarm system, has also been done by Mr. Perry in connection with his other duties.
The number of private users of the house light, Jan. 1, '94, was 70. Fifty-four new users have been connected during the
129
year, making the present number 124, an increase of 77%. This great increase promises to continue, as at the present date there are seven new users ready to be connected.
There are now 2,642 16-candle power lamps in use, connected with the town's system : an average of 21 to each user.
The price charged during the year has been as before, 6 mills, per 16 c. p. lamp per hour, and the number of hours used and paid for has been 559,600.
Bills have been rendered to all users quarterly and payments have been commendably prompt. Hereafter, however, bills will be rendered monthly.
Considerable jobbing work has been done and charged to the users of the light. Most of this work has been done by the regu- lar operating force and the amount paid for this work by users has been a direct saving in the cost of operating. The receipts from jobbing have paid for all jobbing material and that portion of the pay rolls charged to " jobbing wages " and the account shows a profit of $94.00.
The following are the charges for light, meter rent and jobbing during the year :
Light. Meter rent. Jobbing. Totals.
Quarter ending March 31, $821.42 $18.04 $111.10 $950.56
Quarter ending June 30,
528.72 19.95
162.40 711.07 Quarter ending Sept. 30,
649.78
23.55
593.95 1,267.28
Quarter ending Dec. 31, 1,357.97
26.50
502.83
1,887.30
Totals for year $3,357.89 $88.04 $1,370.28 $4,816.21
Balance unpaid at beginning of year
111.32
Total of accounts receivable
$4,927.53
Amount unpaid Jan. 1, 1895
196.89
Cash received and paid to town treasurer during the
year
. $4,730.64
The amount, $196.89 still due, is all good. The department has had no loss whatever from bad debts since the starting of the house lighting system.
130
All bills that were unpaid at the beginning of 1894, were paid early in the year.
TOTAL EXPENDITURES DURING THE YEAR FOR EXTENSION AND OPERA- TION AS PER 225 VOUCHERS ON FILE AT SELECTMEN'S OFFICE :
Paid 52 weekly pay rolls . $4,608 38
N. Y., N. H. & H. R. R., freight (28 vouchers.) . 105 02
N. Y. & B. Dispatch and Baker's Express .
28 05
H. A. Monk, insurance . 97 76
J. F. Sheppard & Sons, fuel, teaming poles and poles. 2,366 79
R. A Gage, hay
54 63
Westinghouse Electric Co.,
meters, etc. . 613 14
F. A. Bates, small hardware 5 50
General Electric Co., arc dynamo, lamps, wire and supplies 2,287 46
Waite, Williams & Co., oil
1 50
A. W. Chesterton, steam packing
31 61
Fore River Engine Co., repairs to steam plant, iron castings and forgings, cross arms and machine work .
190 40
A. J. Richards & Sons, hay 24 50
Pettingill, Andrews Co., wire and supplies. 690 44
R. W. Haines, account books . 15 00 Weston Electric Instrument Co., testing meter 75 00
Sewing Machine Supply Co., screwdrivers. ·
3 78
Baker Hardware Co., small hard.
1 ware.
47 26
Amount carried forward . $11,246 22
131
Amount brought forward . $11,246 22
Baldwin, Robbins & Co., lag
screws and hardware .
19 66
Salem Waste Co., waste . 19 97
Salem & South Danvers Oil Co., oil 100 92
Fore River Engine Co., cash paid
for express, etc. 4 00
J. B. Rhines & Co., lumber 44 64
J. V. Polsey, set of oil pans for engine
34 50
601 64
13 25
Stanley Electric Co., transformers Globe Carbon Co., arc carbons Joshua Wilkins, wagon, and horse clipping 42 00
W. I. Jordan, repairs to teams 12 30
Ambler & Hobart,hay and grain
265 53
Chas. Custance, line tools and hay ·
15 81
Swan Lamp Co., incandescent lamps . 8 13
J. M. Walsh, harness repairs 24 53
23 13
Union Glass Co., arc lamp globes Thos. South, Jr., horseshoeing, etc. .
35 36
C. H. Spring, carload chestnut poles .
163 30
C. Ahlf, wagon repairs
7 95
United Electric Improvement Co., street incandescent lamps and sockets
110 52
Gillis & Gleason, repairing test- ing magnetos 2 50
C. A. Schieren & Co., belting for new dynamos 76 48
Amount carried forward . · $12,872 33
132
Amount brought forward $12,872 33
Weymouth Publishing Co., print- ing .
2 00
G. H. Hunt, steel for digging tools
4 88
Holmes, Booth & Hayden, line wire 278 34
E. A. Vinton, teaming
13 50
National Carbon Co., carbons
155 00
H. M. White, screws
39
Edward Hobart, pole
4 50
F. O. Whitmarsh, mason work at station . 7 87
Frank Ridlon, oak pins ·
5 68
Braintree Water Department,
water . 149 01
Globe Gas Light Co., gasoline .
60
W. H. Gallison, hose 5 40
George McQuesten, poles . .
10 14
C. O. Miller, building closet in station 3 00
Albert Hobart, teaming
.
3 50
M. H. Dingee Co., oil
4 00
New England. Telephone Co.,
1 year's rental of two sets telephones, transmitters and call bells for connecting sta- tion to Supt. Perry's house .
14 67
E. W. Phillips, engine repairs . 4 13
J. F. Perry, rent of stable and store room for 1 year 50 00
Rollins Engine Co., repairs
1 25
F. A. Burrell, use of teams for line work 13 00
$13,603 20
133
These expenditures have been charged to the following ledger accounts in according with the rules and regulations established by law for keeping the books and accounts of Municipal Electric Light Departments.
EXPENSE ACCOUNTS.
Paid Station wages .
2,540 25
Distribution wages
708 65
Jobbing wages .
358 95
Repairs to lines and lamps
508 21
Repairs to electric plant
35 49
Repairs to steam plant
·
96 46
Repairs to real estate
13 61
Fuel
2,342 79
Carbons
182 54
Oil .
.
.
134 64
Globes
24 40
Water
149 01
Repairs to tools and team, horse
feed and stable rent
488 16
General office expenses
51 42
Insurance* .
97 76
Total expenditure
$7,732 34
Carbons, oil, etc., on hand at begin-
ing of year
207 52
Total of expense accounts .
$7,939 86
·
.
*The smallness of this item is due to the fact that policies for but a part of the year were paid for, in order to have all policies hereafter expire Jan. 1st.
134
PLANT EXTENSION ACCOUNTS.
Paid New construction steam plant $117 34
New construction electric plant 1,481 95
New construction electric lines
1,988 15
New arc street lamps
458 35
New incandescent street lamps
142 87
Transformers
662 71
Meters
615 68
Distribution tools
146 07
Station tools
2 66
Incandescent lamps
255 08
Total $5,870 86
We, the undersigned, have examined the above statement of accounts rendered by T. A. Watson, manager Electric Light De- partment, and find them correct, with all vouchers furnished for said accounts.
DANIEL POTTER, L. W. MORRISON, CHAS. G. SHEPPARD,
Auditors.
The cash appropriations for operating and extension during the year were as follows :
For operation of street lights . $5,150 00
For extension of street lights . 3,000 00
For connecting new D. and C. users . 1,200 00
$9,350 00
The appropriations from receipts from D. and C. users were as follows :
For operating D. and C. Lights $1,650 00
Balance of receipts after deducting $660 for interest on bonds and and $430 for sinking fund pay- ment, to be used for connecting new users
1,990 64
3,640 64
Total
$12.990 64
135
Of these appropriations, $6,800 is applicable on expense ac- counts, and $6,190.64 on extension accounts.
The expenditures on the various expense accounts as given in detail above, have been $7,732.34 which is an overrun of $932.34.
The expenditures on the various extension accounts, as given above, have been $5,870.86 which is $319.78 less than the ap- propriations, making the net overrun on all the appropriations $612.56.
Through an oversight no appropriation was made for the oper- ation and maintenance of the new street lamps.
The net overrun, $612.56 is a fair estimate of the amount that should have been appropriated for these lamps, and I have charged the balance, $319.78 to the cost of operating the house lights, making the part of the operating expenses paid from receipts $1,969.78 instead of $1,650 as estimated at the beginning of the year.
The total charges during the year for light and meter rent (without jobbing), have been $3,445.93, adding to this the profit on jobbing, $94, gives $3,539.93. This is sufficient to pay the cost of operating, $1,969.78, the interest on the house lighting notes (4% on $15,500) $620, and the sinking fund payment, $430, a total of $3,019.78, leaving a balance of $520.15 which is sufficient to pay for depreciation over and above the amount of the sinking fund payment. I feel justified therefore, in saying that the house lighting system has been self-supporting, which is certainly very satisfactory considering that this is the first whole year it has been in operation.
The total of all expense accounts chargeable to
operating the plant (both house and street
1
lights), not including interest or depreciation or jobbing wages, is .
$7,580 91
Less amount paid from receipts from users 1,969 78
Net for all street lights $5,611 13
I estimate the 106 incandescent lights as equal to 28 1,200 c. p. arcs, making the total number of lamps equal to 118 1,200 c. p. arc lamps. Dividing the total expense, $5,611.13, by the num-
136
ber of arc lamps gives $47.55 each as the cost for operating expenses of running one 1,200 c. p. arc one year all night on moon schedule.
Interest and depreciation to be added to the above to give total cost are as follows :
Interest on street lighting notes (4% on $26,000) $1,040 00 Interest at 4% on $8,520, the portion of the street plant paid for in cash .
5% depreciation on $34,520.17, total cost of street
340 80 plant $1,726 00
Less renewals and repairs to street plant 500 00
$1226 00
Total
$2,606 80
Or $22.10 per arc lamp per year for interest and depreciation, which added to the cost of operating, gives $69.65 as the total cost to the town for each arc lamp per year, run all night, moon schedule.
The price charged other towns in Massachusetts by private companies for 1200 c. p. arc lamps run as ours are run averages $95.38. The cost to the town from its own plant shows a saving of $25.73 per light or $3,036.14 on all the lights in use, which amount, if placed in a sinking fund each year at 4% interest is sufficient to pay the whole cost of the plant in less than ten years.
The price charged private users by private companies through- out the state is from 1 cent to 14 cent per 16 c. p. lamp per hour. At 1 cent per hour the cost to our 124 users for the 559,600 hours they burned the light, would have been $5,596 instead of $3445.93 which it did cost them, showing a saving to them of $2,150.
137
ESTIMATES FOR OPERATING EXPENSE FOR 1895.
Wages J. F. Perry, Sup't and Electri- cian $1,300 00
J. L. Folsom, 1st Engineer 936 00
Wm. Aitken, 2nd Engineer and fireman.
728 00
C. F. Lee, Lineman .
780 00
Thomas Croke, Trimmer and fire-
man
712 00
Extra winter help
90 00
$4,546 00
Fuel
·
2,400 00
Carbons .
.
275 00
Oil and waste . .
150 00
Repair materials
300 00
Arc globes
25 00
Water
150 00
Horse feed, shoeing and team repairs
400 00
Office expenses and insurance .
400 00
$8,646 00
To be paid from receipts from lighting $2000 00
To be paid from receipts from jobbing
400 00
$2,400 00
Total recommended to be appropriat- ed for street lamps
$6,246 00
There should also be a small appropriation to be placed. in charge of the selectmen for the purpose of adding new street lights, the demand for which is constantly arising. I recommend the sum of $350 for this purpose, and for connecting new users, the sum of $1,200.
From the receipts from users of the domestic and commercial light I recommend that such sum be used as is needed to pay the balance of the operating expenses, $1,050 for interest and sinking fund payment on house lighting notes and the balance for connecting new users.
THOMAS A. WATSON,
Manager.
.
.
138
We, the undersigned, have examined the books and accounts of T. A. Watson, manager of the Electric Light Department, from Jan. 1, 1894, to Dec. 31, 1894, and find them correct and well kept.
[Signed. ] DANIEL POTTER, L. W. MORRISON, CHAS. G. SHEPPARD, Auditors. Braintree, Jan. 28, 1895.
ANNUAL REPORT
OF THE
SCHOOL COMMITTEE
OF THE
TOWN OF BRAINTREE, MASS.
1894.
THE SCHOOL COMMITTEE.
THOMAS A. WATSON, Chairman.
EAST BRAINTREE.
THOMAS A. WATSON, - .
.
Term expires in 1897
1896
SOUTH BRAINTREE.
MRS. A. M. BROOKS
Term expires in 1895
66
1896
BRAINTREE.
HENRY L. DEARING, M. D.
-
Term expires in 1896
66
A. C. DRINKWATER
-
" 1895
IRVING W. HORNE, Secretary and Superintendent Address, Braintree.
Office, Monatiquot Schoolhouse.
OFFICE HOURS: Monday, 4 to 4.30 P. M .; Tuesday and Thursday, 8.30 to 9 A. M .; Friday, 12 to 12.30 P. M.
Truant Officers.
HENRY B. VINTON, Braintree. J. R. CARMICHAEL, South Braintree. ALPHONZO TAYLOR, East Braintree.
STORM SIGNAL.
The signal for no session of the public schools will be 3-3-3, sounded on the fire alarm whistles and bell, at 7.30 A. M. for the High school, and at 8 A. M. for all other schools; at 11.30 A. M. or 12.30 P. M. for no afternoon session of all schools except the High.
MRS. CARRIE F. LORING, -
SAMUEL C. BRIDGHAM, M. D. .
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REPORT OF THE SCHOOL COMMITTEE.
BRAINTREE, Feb. 1st, 1895.
The school committee voted at its special meeting held Jan. 28th, 1895, to adopt Superintendent Horne's report as the chief part of the committee's report to the town, inasmuch as it covers the ground very thoroughly and an extended report from the committee would be largely repetition.
The year that has just ended has been an important one in many respects. Almost all the improvements recommended in our last report have been carried successfully into effect. The clos- ing of the East and Iron Works schoolhouses and the occupation of the new Jonas Perkins' School building has enabled us to com- plete the grading of the school system that was begun by our predecessors several years ago, with the exception of the two higher classes in the Jonas Perkins' School, which are as yet hardly large enough to warrant the expense of separation. To show the educational value of this work of grading we call especial attention to that part of Superintendent Horne's report that speaks of the backwardness in their studies of those scholars who have always attended the ungraded schools, who now for the first time enter graded schools and thus admit of a direct com- parison in all respects with those who have had the advantage of graded schools for several years.
The adoption of the departmental system of teaching in our grammar schools is in our opinion one of the greatest improve- ments that has ever been made. Under the usual system a teacher was expected to teach 10 to 14 different subjects and teach them all well.
It is a remarkably good teacher that can do this and the result has always been that the greater number of teachers would teach a few studies well and the rest indifferently well or poorly. This was the cause of numerous complaints that the
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pupils in one grade had not been properly prepared in the lower grades in certain studies and that time that should have been used in advance work must be devoted to bringing the pupil forward in the neglected studies.
Continuous progress from year to year in all studies seemed impossible under the old system. In the departmental system each teacher is assigned two or three studies and teaches them in all the grades. As far as possible such studies are assigned to each teacher as she is most expert in teaching and care is taken to group related studies. The result must be a continuity and evenness of progress in all branches that was impossible under the other plan and which will raise the level of the attainments of all our scholars to a great extent by the time they reach the High School. This system is now in use in both our Grammar Schools and it is remarkable how well it works and how few objections to it have risen when it is considered what a radical change it is from the former system.
Much work has been done during the year in introducing the elementary study of the natural sciences into our schools. This work is now fairly under way, and will be extended and im- proved during the coming year. It will not be allowed to degen- erate into mere text-book memorizing, and therefore it requires the use of teaching collections of natural objects, such as rocks, minerals, shells, animals, etc. It is a study which groups per- fectly with drawing.
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