USA > Massachusetts > Norfolk County > Braintree > Town annual report of Braintree, Massachusetts for the year 1928 > Part 7
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5,525.00
Penniman School Addition
3,560.00
+Water Main and Standpipe
1,800.00
Highway Construction Loan
3,440.00
$42,111.48.
*Paid by Electric Light Department ..
¡Paid by Water Department.
Paid to Commonwealth of Massachusetts
State Tax
$27,200.00
Charles River Basin Loan Fund ::
Interest
715.37
Maintenance
1,425.23
Serial Bonds
63.30
Metropolitan Parks Sinking Fund'
399.22"
Interest
2,154.35.
137
Cost of Maintenance
Serial Bonds
5,646.44 49.06
Metropolitan Planning Division
(Chap. 399, Acts of 1923)
175.43
Sinking Fund, Series 2
99.27
Interest
839.52
Cost of Maintenance
2,165.72
Serial Bonds
475.15
Metropolitan Parks Loan Fund, Nantasket Maintenance
493.02
Wellington Bridge Maintenance
24.39
Repairs, State Highways
4,748.83
Municipal Lighting Plant, refunded by Electric Light Department
96.66
Southern Traffic Artery
1,526.84
Auditing Municipal Accounts
110.66
Street in Brookline
585.52
Cambridge Traffic Artery
1,068.19
Abatement Smoke Nuisance
88.41
$50,150.58
THE NATHANIEL H. HUNT TRUST OTIS B. OAKMAN, Treasurer.
Principal :
One Boston Elevated R. R. Bond, No. 7796 4% $ 1,000.00
Three Boston & Maine R. R. Bonds, Nos.
1762, 1763, 1764, 5% 3,000.00
One New England R. R. Bond, No. 15194 $1,000, 4% 1,000.00
Two C. B. & Q. R. R. Bonds, Nes. 18710 M, 6837, 4% 2,000.00
.
138
Two N. Y. N. H. & H. Bonds, Nos. 7.14 1i,. 7142, $1,000, 4% 2,000.00)
Two N. Y. N. H. & H. Bonds, Nos. 9927, 9992, $1,000, 4% 2,000.00;
Deposited in Braintree Savings Bank, Book No. 5253 6,526.05.
Deposited in Weymouth Savings Bank, Book No. 13504 4,000.00
Deposited in Quincy Savings Bank, Book No. 32035 1,750.94:
5 Matured Shares of Braintree Cooperative Bank, Certificate No. 148 1,000.00
$24,276.99
Dr:
Cr.
Income, 1928 $1,144.12
Paid Trustees Thayer Public Library . .. $1,144.12
Examined and approved. Securities as listed found in the custody of the Treasurer.
RALPH W. ARNOLD, HERBERT W. CURTIS, CHARLES W. EVANS
Auditors, 1928 ..
January 15, 1929.
THE CHARLES EDWARD FRENCH TRUST
OTIS B. OAKMAN, Treasurer
Principal :
Braintree Savings Bank, Book No. 10,092. . $2,419.50
Dr. Cr ..
Balance, January 1, 1928 $ 97.38 Interest on Deposit 127.38
139
Paid Higgins, Magnuson & Co., Medals $115.50
Balance in Braintree Savings Bank
December 31, 1928 109.26
$224.76 $224.76
Account approved. Balance of income $109.26 and principal $2,419.50 on deposit in Braintree Sav- ings Bank, Book No. 10092.
RALPH W. ARNOLD,
HERBERT W. CURTIS, CHARLES W. EVANS
Auditors, 1928.
January 5, 1929.
THE ANN MARIA PENNIMAN TRUST
OTIS B. OAKMAN, Treasurer. Dr Cr.
Income Account:
Balance in Bank, January 1, 1928 $34.94
Interest 40.55
Paid Alida N. Stevens and Win-
throp H. Lamb, Committee
$ 21.50
Balance in Bank 53.99
$75.49 $ 75.49
Account approved. Principal of fund $500.00 and balance on hand $53.99 on deposit in Braintree Sav- ings Bank, Book No. 6059.
RALPH W. ARNOLD,
HERBERT W. CURTIS,
CHARLES W. EVANS
Auditors, 1928.
January 5, 1929.
140
GEORGE W. KELLEY TRUST FUND
OTIS B. OAKMAN, Treasurer.
Dr: Cr.
Interest
$ 5.83
Paid Care of Lot
Balance on Hand
$ 4.00 1.83
$ 5.83 $ 5.83
Account correct with proper voucher for pay- ment. Amount of fund $200 and balance $1.83 on de- posit in Braintree Savings Bank, Book No. 11398.
RALPH W. ARNOLD,
HERBERT W. CURTIS, CHARLES W. EVANS
Auditors,, 1928.
January 5, 1929.
MUNICIPAL LIGHT BOARD
OTIS B. OAKMAN, Treasurer ..
Dr: Cr.
Balance, January 1, 1928 $15,774.01
Street Lights 12,008.00
F. B. Lawrence, Mgr. 282,311.62
Interest on Deposits 303.66
Paid by orders (including
depreciation fund,
$15,077.09) $291,749.57
Balance, December 31, 1928
2,873.71
$294,623.28
$294,623.28.
Examined and approved. Balance of $2,873.71 found as follows :
141
Braintree National Bank $ 195.49
State St. Trust Company
2,078.22
Manager's Cash Receipt
600.00
$ 2,873.71
RALPH W. ARNOLD,
HERBERT W. CURTIS, CHARLES W. EVANS
Auditors, 1928.
January 5, 1929.
The account of the Treasurer of the Water De- partment will be found in the Water Department report.
ELECTRIC DEPRECIATION FUND
OTIS B. OAKMAN, Treasurer
Dr. Cr.
Balance, January 1, 1928 . . $ 35,579.44
Interest on Deposit 995.50
Town Appropriation (from Electric Light Department 15,077.09
Paid General Electric Co. $ 10,256.05
Balance on Hand, December 31, 1928 41,395.98
$ 51,652.03 $ 51,652.03
Examined and approved. Balance found as
follows:
National Shawmut Bank ... $ 13,395.82
National Mt. Wollaston
Bank, Certificate of De-
posit, No. 823 12,923.07 Certificate of Deposit, No.
1
142
825 5,077.09
Braintree National Bank, Certificate of Deposit, No.
174 10,000.00
$ 41,395.98 RALPH W. ARNOLD, HERBERT W. CURTIS, CHARLES W. EVANS
Auditors, 1928.
January 5, 1929.
BRAINTREE SCHOOL FUND
OTIS B. OAKMAN, Treasurer.
Dr
Cr.
Income Account:
Balance, January 1, 1928 . . $
1,070.88
Savings Bank Interest 293.90
Rent
345.00
Scholarships $ 500.00
Balance on hand, Income
account
deposited
in
Braintree Savings Bank
. .
1,209.78
$ 1,709.78 $ 1,709.78
Examined and approved. The balance, $1,209.78, is on deposit in the Braintree Savings Bank, Book No. 9510. The principal account is as follows: Real Estate (Valued) $ 4,000.00
Quincy Savings Bank, Book No. 19284 . .
1,022.50
Weymouth Savings Bank, Book No. 10556 1,000.00
143
Randolph Savings Bank, Book No. 14191
600.00
Braintree Savings Bank, Book No. 5480 2,270.65
$ 8,893.15
RALPH W. ARNOLD, HERBERT W. CURTIS, CHARLES W. EVANS
Auditors, 1928.
January 5, 1929.
FUNDED DEBT OF TOWN
Hollis School Bonds, $500 each, 4% ma- turnig $3,000 yearly July 1, 1929-1931 inclusive
$ 9,000.00
Town Hall Bonds, $1,000 each, 4% ma- turing $2,000 yearly, 1929-1932 in- clusive 8,000.00
Tuberculosis Hospital Bonds, dated De- cember 1, 1919, 41/2%, maturing $1,000.00, 1929-1935 inclusive 7,000.00
High School Site Bond, dated December 1, 1919, 41/2%, maturing $1,000, 1929 1,000.00 Thomas A. Watson School House Loan, 4% dated September 1, 1922, matur- ing $4,000 1929-1942 56,000.00
Electric Light Construction Loan, dated July 1, 1924, 4%, maturing $10,000, 1929 10,000.00
Torrey School Addition Loan, dated Oc- tober 1, 1925, 41/4%, maturing $10,000, 1929-1940 120,000.00
High School Loan, dated July 15, 1926, 4%, $1,000 each, maturing $23,000, 1929-1931, and $22,000, 1932-1941. .. 289,000.00
144
Penniman School Addition Loan, dated December 1, 1926, 4%, $1,000 each, maturing $7,000, 1929-1932, and $6,000, 1933-1941 82,000.00
Water Main and Standpipe Loan, dated December 1, 1926, 4%, $1,000 each, maturing $5,000, 1929-1936 40,000.00
Highway Construction Loan of 1927, dated August 1, 1927, 4%, $1,000 each, maturing $17,000, 1929-1932 68,000.00
$690,000.00
OTIS B. OAKMAN, Treasurer.
145
ANNUAL REPORT
OF THE
Fire Department
OF THE
TOWN OF BRAINTREE
FROM
Dec. 31, 1927 to Dec. 31, 1928 1
. Printed by Order of the Town
TH
NMOL
EF
..
.1640 .
SSA ACH
E
Printed by PRATT & PRATT The Braintree Observer Braintree, Mass. 1929
147
To the Honorable Board of Selectmen :
Gentlemen:
I respectfully submit to you the annual report of the Fire Department of the fiscal year ending Decem- ber 31, 1928.
Total number of calls during the year-313, di- vided as follows:
Box Alarms Month
Still Alarms
1
January 25
1
February 17
7
March 38
69 4 April
25 2
May
.0
June
14
4
July
21
5
August 10
2
September 10
3
October
19
6
November 15
2
December 13
37
Totals
276
Month
Buildings
Woods and Grass
Dumps and Bonfires
Automobiles
False Alarms
Cats in Trees
Poles and Wires
Drownings
Horse in Well
Locked out of House
Boy in Tree
Lost Child ·
Hand in Machine
Tank of Gasoline
Oil Stills 0
Gas Leak
Bridges
Oil Heaters
Dog in Pond
`Totals
26
Jan.
7
13
2
3
0
0
0
1
()
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
73 27
May
3
18
2
1
1
1
0
0
0
0
0
1
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
14
June
5
2
1
0
0
0
0
1
0
1
1
1
1
1
0
1
0
0
0
0
0
0
15
Aug.
4
0
3
4
2
0
0
1
0
0
0
0
0)
0 0
0
0
0
0
12
Sept.
6
0
3
1
0
2
0
0
0)
0
0
0
0
0
0
1
0 0
.1 0
0
0
22
Oct.
7
5
2
0 0
3
0
0
0
Nov.
9
11
0
0
1
0 0
0 2
0 C
0 0 C
0 0
0 C
0 0
0 0 00 00 0 0
0 1
0 1
15
Dec.
00
2
0
0 0
0120 0
15 78631112112111 2 -7 00
Totals
. . 71
148
42
2
1
0
0
1
0
0
0
1
0
0
0
0
0
Apr.
1
63
1
0
2
2
1
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
July
3
0
17
1
4
0
0
1
0
0
45
Feb.
9
4
2
0
0
0
0
0
18
Mar.
9
30
0
0
0
0
25
()
1
0
0
0
313
1
21
148
149
Month
Valuation on Buildings:
Insurance om
Damage to Ins: Paid' Buildings; on. Buildings:
Jan ..
$ 54,150.00 $ 43,175.00 $
973.98 $
963.98
Feb.
53,900.00
47,700.00
2,597.00
2,597.00;
Mar.
74,900.00
62,150.00
8,427.50
8,427.50
Apr.
1,000.00
300.00
30.00
May
13,000.00
13,000.00
4,494.00
4,469.00
June
14,600.00
13,100.00
July
44,600.00
33,700.00
2,225.00
2,225.00
Aug.
23,025.00
20,300.00
2,510.00
2,495.00
Sept.
41,400.00
35,600.00
688.00
688.00
Oct.
67,992.00
59,590.00
2,097.00
2,097.00
Nov.
131,000.00
109,000.00
975.25
975.25
Dec.
73,375.00
57,500.00
2,673.00
2,673.00
Tot. $593,002.00 $495,115.00 $27,690.73 $27,610.73
Month.
Valuation on Contents:
Insurance om
Damage to Ins. Paid
Contents.
Contents
on: Contents:
Jan.
$ 15,600.00 $ 12,900.00 $ 1,440.89 $ 1,440.89
Feb.
20,200.00
17,900.00
112.10
112.10
Mar.
22,049.20
17,600.00
5,302.84
2,902.84
Apr.
May
6,000.00
2,000.00
2,000.00
2,000.00
June
4,000.00
4,000.00
July
7,500.25
4,000.00
10.00
Aug:
20,500.00
18,000.00
436.00
236.00
Sept.
17,550.00
12,050.00
28.00
28.00
Oct.
9,700.00
6,700.00
252.00
252.00
Nov ..
40,600.00
27,800.00
123.00
123.00
Dec ..
20,500.00
17,650.00
469.00
469.00
Tot .. $184,199.45 $140,600.00 $10,173.83
$7,563.83
Buildings;
150
Hose Laid (feet)
Chemical Used (gals.)
Ladders Used (feet)
Engines Pumped Water Hrs. Min.
Jan.
300
82
50
20
Feb.
3,850
44
350
2
15
Mar.
2,300
74
252
3
30
Apr.
3,550
191
25
4
5
May
2,350
15
95
0
0
June
50
6
30
0
10
July
2,600
15
90
1
10
Aug.
1,400
6
20
1
0
Sept.
2,000
12
20
0
5
Oct.
1,250
24
240
2
25
Nov.
150
36
50
0
15
Dec.
1,100
12
390
1
30
Totals
20,900
517
1,612
16
45
Total Calls in Each Precinct
Month
Precincts One
Two
Three
Jan.
15
7
4
Feb.
13
4
1
Mar.
21
12
12
Apr.
35
22
16
May
15
5
7
June
5
3
6
July
4
17
4
Aug.
8
2
5
Sept.
6
1
5
Oct.
8
8
6
Nov.
12
3
6
Dec.
4
4
7
Totals
146
88
79
151
TOTAL CALLS THAT EACH PIECE ANSWERED
Month
Chief's
Car
Engine
No. 1
Engine
No. 3
H. & L.
No. 1
Squad
A.
Squad
Com.
No. 2
Jan.
21
10
2
8.
7
22
0 ,
Feb.
16
12
0
11
6
13
2
Mar.
38
12
4
11
19
41
3
Apr.
45
6
5
4
18
65
4
May
24
7
1
7
20
1
June
11
2
2.
5
10
6
0
July
15
7
3
6
7
6
4
Aug.
14
9
1
8
7
2
Sept.
9
4
3
5
5
5
0
Oct.
20
8
5
8
10
13
0
Nov.
19
7
4
8
10
9
0
Dec.
13
5
4
10
10
3
1
Totals
245
89
34
86
117
210
17
Permits Granted During the Year
Transport Oil in Harbor
90
Gasoline
31
Dynamite
5
Fuel Oil Heating Apparatus 36
Fireworks 12
Set Fires in Open Air
250
Removal of Gasoline Tanks
1
خصـ
152
State Law
A State Law was enacted regulating the passage of fire apparatus responding to fires. The law requires the driver of a vehicle to drive to the right hand curb .and stop until apparatus has passed. To remain at a distance of 300 feet behind the apparatus and restrict- ing the parking of a vehicle within 600 feet of a fire.
In conclusion, I wish to extend my thanks to the Honorable Board of Selectmen, and to the members of the Finance Committee for their cooperation and in- terest in the welfare of the department.
To all others that have volunteered their services ·or assisted the Department in any manner.
The officers and members of the Department have my commendation and sincere thanks for the efficient and faithful manner in which they have performed their duties.
Respectfully submitted,
FRED A. TENNEY,
Chief of Fire Department.
153
ANNUAL REPORT
OF THE
Health Department
OF THE
TOWN OF BRAINTREE
FROM
Dec. 31, 1927 to Dec. 31, 1928.
Printed by Order of the Town
TOWN.
FREE
A
IS.
1640.
Printed' by PRATT & PRATT The Braintree Observer. Braintree, Mass .. 1929
155
ANNUAL REPORT OF THE BOARD OF HEALTH
To the Citizens of the Town of Braintree :
The Braintree Board of Health respectfully sub- mits their report for the year ending December 31, 1928.
SANITARY SURVEY OF THE TOWN
Sewage
The question of a sewerage system of the town of Braintree is one of long standing and although a great deal has been done by special committees on sewerage, no definite action has been taken by the citi- zens to hasten this much needed necessity.
The conditions in the three centers of the town, together with the non-absorbent soil in other sections make sewerage an absolute necessity at this time.
At the last annual town meeting a committee was : appointed to investigate sewerage conditions in the town of Braintree. The committee has functioned very well with the means afforded, and it is hoped by the Board that their recommendations be approved by the citizens.
Household Waste
Garbage collection as being performed by the present system, is working out with much satisfaction. A fewer number of complaints have been received this .. year, due to the better cooperation of the householder. .
156
Ash and Rubbish Collection
The collection of ashes and rubbish is being taken care of by a private individual who makes a nominal charge for each barrel collected. This system of col- lection is a private enterprise, and not under the con- trol of the Health Department ..
Dumps
The two public dumps, one at Hollis Field and the other at the corner of Cleveland Avenue and Union „Street, are in very good condition, and will take care of dumping needs of the town for some time to come.
CONTAGIOUS DISEASES Fumigatin
The Board discontinued fumigation April 1, 1928, at the recommendation of the State Health Depart- ment. There has been no increase in contagious di- „seases this year, verifying the recommendation.
Measles
There were 158 cases of measles reported this year, a decided decrease when compared to 618 cases for the year 1927_
Scarlet Fever
Scarlet Fever has been continually cropping up during the past year, in a manner better described as endemic rather than epidemic. There were 130 cases reported as compared with 88 during 1927.
Anterior Poliomelitis-Infantile Paralysis
There were no cases of Infantile Paralysis report- «ed during 1928. All persons suffering from the after
157
effects of Infantile Paralysis may receive treatment by : applying to the Board of Health.
Tuberculosis
On December 31, 1928, records showed the loca- tion of cases of Tuberculosis.
Arrested cases at home 54
In Norfolk County Hospital 6
In other Hospitals 1
In State Sanitarium
1
Small Pox
During a mild epidemic of Small Pox no cases of Small Pox were reported in Braintree.
Approximately 500 people were vaccinated in one · of the local factories when it was learned that a con- tract had been established with a small pox victim, and no cases developed.
FINANCIAL STATEMENT
Expenditures
Salaries of Board
$ 600.00
. Salaries of Secretary 100.00
$700.00 $ 700.00
Contagious Diseases
Medical Attendance $ 261.00
Nurses (vaccination) 13.00
Medicines 22.30
Groceries 28.15
Loss of Wages
108.00
Hospitals
602.00
Board and Treatment (Norfolk
158
County Hospital)
3,143.52
All other (Quarantines, etc.)
615.00
$4,792.97
$4,792.97~
Expenses and Fumigation
Fumigation
$ 262.30
Supplies and Postage
54.69
Printing
121.90
Telephone Calls
5.24
Miscellaneous
256.95
$ 701.08 $ 701.08
Garbage Collection
5,066.64
Care of Dumps
1,345.20
Inspector of Plumbing
1,189.20
Inspector of Animals
125.00
Inspector of Meats and Provision's
350.00
Inspector of Milk
100.00
Vital Statistics
60.75
Dental Clinic
1,000.00
Tuberculosis Clinic
58.75
Norfolk County Hospital
(assessment)
4,963.72
$20,453.31
Respectfully submitted,
PERCY T. RICHARDS, Chairman JOSEPH G. BAILEY. HARRY H. BOUSQUET.
159
To the Braintree Board of Health:
December 31, 1928.
Gentlemen :
I herewith submit my report for the year ending December 31, 1928, with schedule of dangerous and communicable diseases appended.
I have issued eleven alcohol permits, two under- takers license, and three scavangers permits, at $1.00 each, a total of $16.00, which has been turned over to the Town Treasurer and receipt received.
E. A. VINTON, Secretary.
January
February
March
April
May
June
July
August
September
October
November
·December
Total
Chicken Pox
5
5
5
4
4 8 31
Diptheria
1
3
2
2
9
Dog Bite
1
2
2
2
1
2
1 2
13
Influenza
1
34
35
Lobar Pneumonia 2
1 1
1
2
1
1
9
Measles
.78 42 13
1
7
158
German Measles .1
1
Scarlet Fever
.8 12 10 12
9
9
4
7
6
15 14 24
130
Tuberculosis
1
1
1
1
1
3
1
4
13
Whooping Cough. 3
2
1
2
1
1
10
Gonorrhea
1
1
1
3
Tetanus
1
1
1
2
Infected Eyes
1
1
Mumps
3
1
3
1 4 1
13
Total
429
1
Septic Sore Throat
1
5 11
160
REPORT OF THE INSPECTOR OF MEATS, PRO -- VISIONS AND SLAUGHTERING
To the Braintree Board of Health.
Gentlemen :
I herewith submit my annual report for year end- ing December 31, 1928, as Inspector of Meats, Provi- sions and Slaughtering. I have inspected 390 animals, 2 hogs, 35 hog's livers, and 5 hog's heads were con- demned as unfit for human consumption.
53 markets, and provision stores were visited. All except 5 were found O. K. These 5 have promised to make changes as recommended.
Respectfully submitted, HARRY F. VINTON,
Inspector of Meats, Provisions and Slaughtering.
161
ANNUAL REPORT
OF THE
School Department
OF THE
TOWN OF BRAINTREE
FROM
Dec. 31, 1927 to Dec. 31, 1928
Printed by Order of the Town
B
F
. NMOJ
R
TR
EF
1640. LASSACHUSE
TTS
Printed by PRATT & PRATT The Braintree Observer Braintree, Mass. 1929
-
163
SCHOOL COMMITTEE
Mr. Ralph B. Woodsum, Chairman, 45 Hollis Avenue, Braintree.
Mrs. Alida N. Stevens, Recording Secretary, 75 Tre- mont Street, South Braintree.
Dr. Franklin H. Merriam, 1000 Washington Street, South Braintree.
Mr. Henry D. Higgins, 490 Washington Street, Braintree.
Mrs. Harriet B. W. Kimball, 137 Shaw Street, East Braintree.
Mr. C. Frederick Tarbox, 27 Willard Street, East Braintree.
Superintendent of Schools
Mr. C. Edward Fisher, 39 Oak Street, Braintree. Office Telephone 0782.
:
Office Hours
On school days from four to five p. m., except on Tuesday.
Secretary
Mrs. Emily Lawley, 101 Brook Street, Wollaston.
Office Hours
Eight to twelve, one to five, on days when schools are in session.
1.
Meetings of the School Committee
Second Monday evening of each month at eight o'clock in the Town House, Washington Street, South Braintree.
164
REPORT OF SCHOOL COMMITTEE
January 2, 1929.
To the Citizens of the Town of Braintree :
The School Committee finds it necessary to earn- estly urge immediate and favorable action in regard to the addition to the Abraham Lincoln School, and also in regard to the construction of a grade school in the Highlands section of the Town
Your Committee has given much time to serious study of the probability of future development of the Town as well as the increased school facilities which must accompany such growth. This problem is a large and important one which means much to the Town. If one examines the' history of other communities and their development, it should be possible for Braintree to profit thereby and avoid, at least to some extent, the heavy burdens which they might have avoided had sufficient foresight been exercised in an attempt to an- ticipate future conditions. We need go no further than our next door neighbor for an illustration of this fact. If too great emphasis is laid upon avoiding present out- lay for sites and construction, it merely means the pil- ing up of demands so that expenditures, instead of be- ing distributed over a period of years, come in exces- sively large amounts periodically. This is unquestion- ably poor business from any angle one may view it.
In the past few years, the growth of our Town has been such that for some time to come it will be neces-
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sary to increase our facilities almost annually, or pay the penalty of allowing an accumulation of construc- tion, which will be so urgently needed that it will be reluctantly done, and thus lay an unreasonably large burden on the community at one time. This is exactly what has happened in Braintree in the past. In the near future, we hope to present to the citizens a suffi- ciently definite program to justify them in voicing ap- proval of its adoption as best meeting the requirements of the Town.
Your Committee has carefully studied the two housing problems referred to it by the last Annual Town Meeting from the point of view of present and future needs. An addition to the Abraham Lincoln School, as planned by this Department, will relieve the present over-crowded conditions at this school as well as at the Thomas A. Watson School. In the former building today, there is a class of mixed sixth and seventh grade pupils having sessions in the assembly hall. Next fall it will be necessary to have seventh and eighth grade pupils in this hall and a mixed room of fifth and sixth grade pupils numbering over fifty, unless an addition to the building is ready for occu- pancy at the opening of the school year in September.
At the Thomas A. Watson School equally crowded conditions confront us, which will result in two classes meeting in the assembly hall-or in a portable build- ing-at the opening of the next school year. The pro- posed addition to the Abraham Lincoln School will greatly safeguard the lives of about one hundred and forty children, living west of Quincy Avenue, who are compelled to cross that busy thoroughfare daily on their way to and from the Thonias A. Watson School; most, if not all, of these children could be assigned to the enlarged Abraham Lincoln unit.
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Your Committee has been in consultation with: several architects, builders, and engineers, and has had". before it for study several excellent sets of plans, which present as many possible solutions to the existing prob --- lems at the Abraham Lincoln School. In building an addition to this school there are two features of salient. importance-the matter of having the building com -. pleted as soon as possible after the opening of school. in September, and the necessity for keeping the school. in session while some of the construction is going on. The School Committee submits to the citizens for their" approval the desirability of having this authority vest -.. ed in your School Committee, four of whose members. have served on previous school building committees in. the Town within the past few years. We feel that this : will tend toward much greater speed and dispatch. Unified authority and control in operation and con -- struction is of paramount importance.
To many of our citizens it may prove a great sur -- prise to learn that your Committee considers the need of a school in the Highlands section to be equally urg -- ent and important. A grade school in this section will. relieve the conditions at the Monatiquot, Noah Torrey, and Pond Schools, and to a lesser degree may in the. future indirectly affect the Hollis, South West, and Penniman Schools. Unless this school is ready for oc -- cupancy in the fall of 1930, the School. Department will face a housing problem which only the two platoon system at certain schools can solve. Consider for a: moment the fact that the Town is transporting one' hundred thirty-five grade school pupils by busses from the Highlands section. Crowded conditions at the Monatiquot School forced upon the School Depart- ment the necessity of sending some of these pupils to other schools, so that the busses from the Highlands;
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also leave pupils at the Pond and Noah Torrey Schools. "There is at least one instance of three children in the same family attending as many different schools. There will be an approximate saving of $4,500.00 in transportation, when a school in the Highlands section iis ready for occupancy. A study of the school popu- lation by grades in Precincts One and Two proves con- (clusively that part time sessions must be resorted to unless the Highlands School is completed in the fall «of next year.
The Town is growing so rapidly, especially in „school population, that these units must be of suffici- ent size to provide for future growth. There are three hundred more pupils in schools today than there were a year ago, and a proportionate increase is anticipated next year. It is at least 40% cheaper to provide addi- tional facilities in the construction of the original build- ing than to enlarge-in the near future-a school al- ready completed.
The following reports of the Superintendent and of the heads of the departments have been accepted by the School Committee and are a component part of its report. The Committee appreciates the spirit of cooperation shown by the Superintendent, Prin- cipals, and teachers, and their conscientious efforts to keep our schools on an ever-increasing plane of usefulness to our citizens. We are always ready and
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willing to welcome any helpful suggestions or con- structive criticism.
Respectfully submitted,.
RALPH B. WOODSUM, Chairman .. ALIDA N. STEVENS, Recording Secretary ... HENRY D. HIGGINS, DR. FRANKLIN H. MERRIAM HARRIET B. W. KIMBALL, C. FREDERICK TARBOX,
School Committee ..
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REPORT OF SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS
January 2, 1929.
' To the School Committee :
I present, herewith, as Superintendent of Schools, my eighth annual report of the School Department.
Since coming here I have seen the membership of the High School double, and of the elementary" schools increase about 40% : a building program car- ried out which has provided an excellent modern High School Building, three more grade school buildings, and an addition to a grade building: an estimated in- crease in population of 60%, and in valuation of 120%, and still the community is but at the beginning of what is likely to be an unusual growth with all the problems attendant upon the same. No small part is played in such a situatoin by the School Department, and, as was pointed out in my report last year, action is necessary at once to provide increased accommoda- tions for school children, particularly in East Braintree by an addition to the Abraham Lincoln School, and in Braintree Highlands by the construction of a complete . school unit in that section of the Town.
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