USA > Massachusetts > Norfolk County > Braintree > Town annual report of Braintree, Massachusetts for the year 1929 > Part 11
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$35.00. For some reason unknown to me, these accounts were evidently considered paid and passed along to the consumers accounts where they showed up, evidently giv- ing the auditors the impression that they had been paid. They had not been paid and had the matter been called to my attention, it could have readily been corrected. Since July 1 these accounts have gradually been paid up, with the exception of two which aggregate $185.00, and I have deposited that amount in cash to cover the payment of these bills.
In regard to the correspondence course in business science that was referred to in the Auditor's Report, there is obviously a misunderstanding. An office reference set of books on Commercial Law and Accounting was pur- chased for office use. This set of books was purchased from the International Correspondence School, was received at the office of the department in four containers and has ever since been at hand accessible to the office employees.
A ten-dollar ($10.00) fine for speeding was imposed on one of the department employees while driving one of the department cars in the City of Quincy on business for the department. The Manager, in the exercise of his dis- cretion, thought this item should not be borne by the individual but should be paid by the department and so directed. If this was an error of judgment it can be easily corrected. There was, however, no concealment, nor lack of frankness in this matter.
The two-dollar ($2.00) gift referred to was given to the local mail carrier as a Christmas appreciation in accordance with a custom observed for years. I am ad- vised that this was an improper item of expenditure and the custom will, of course, be discontinued.
The trunk and suit-cases referred to in the Auditor's Report were charged in error to department expenses. They should not have been charged as a department charge, but should have been carried as a charge for mer-
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chandise purchased for customer's account. When this matter was called to my attention the item was paid by check. The memorandum of payment appears on the books and I have in my possession the cancelled check which was given in payment for this particular mer- chandise.
NEW CUSTOMERS:
Two hundred and thirty-six new services were added in 1920 making a total of four thousand, eight hundred and forty-two. Included in this total December 31, 1929, were three hundred and twenty-five unoccupied houses.
Forty new street lights were added in 1929 making the total December 31, 1929, eleven hundred and sixty- four.
Candle-Power and Total Street Lights
1071- 60 43- 250 3- 500 47-1,000
1,164 All Night Service on Street-Lighting Hours Operated-3,940
DISTRIBUTION :
9,744,100 Kilowatts were distributed during the year, 2,944,800 of which were purchased.
Used thus :
Motors at Generating Station 360,000 Kilowatts
Light in Sub Station 1,500 Kilowatts
Light in Offices
4,585 Kilowatts
Private Consumers' Light 2,450,814 Kilowatts
Private Consumers' Power . 5,581,448 Kilowatts
Street-Lighting 541,810 Kilowatts
Loss in Lines 803,943 Kilowatts Total Kilowatts . 9,744,100
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May I be allowed to direct your attention to the proposed purchase of the Benjamin F. Torrey property adjoining that of the Light Department, for the purpose of erecting two 10,000-barrel, oil fuel storage tanks.
This particular installation would reduce our pro- duction cost very materially.
I wish to thank the Municipal Light Board for the assistance and co-operation extended to me this year past.
Respectfully submitted FRED B. LAWRENCE, Manager.
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OPERATING EXPENSES
OPERATION :
601 Superintending
$15,293.26
606 Boiler Fuel 53,463.30
607 Water for Steam 767.23
608 Lubricants
111.23
609 Miscellaneous Expenses . 570.58
$70,205.60
MAINTENANCE:
611 Station Structure.
$1,452.14
612-14 Steam Equipment
3,018.19
615-16 Electric Equipment . . 677.94
634 Elec. Energy Purchased 62,172.97
$67,321.24
TRANSMISSION AND OPERATION
OPERATION :
638
Transmission and Dist.
Lines
$4,082.44
639 Supplies and Expenses. 172.14
640-42 Meter and Transformer
Repair and Labor .... 1,521.66
$5,776.24
MAINTENANCE:
646 Transformer Station .. $7.50
647 Transmission and Dist.
Lines 25,169.20
650-51 Meters & Transformers 2,956.20
$28,132.90
UTILIZATION
OPERATION :
654 Street Lights $1,423.68
MAINTENANCE:
657 Street Lights 2,377.14
$3,800.82
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GENERAL AND MISCELLANEOUS EXPENSES
666 Salaries Municipal Light
Board and Manager . $5,300.04
667 Salaries General Office. 14,379.57
668 Office Expenses
5,274.30
669 Office Rent
1,150.08
671 Insurance
4,359.72
673 Accidents and Damages . .
79.60
675
Transportation Expenses.
5,445.12
677 Maintenance General Struc- ture
1,462.49
678 Depreciation
17,162.34
679 Miscellaneous General
Structure
316.63
$54,929.89
Grand Total
$230,166.69
ELECTRIC OPERATING REVENUE
COMMERCIAL AND DOMESTIC:
501 Light and Power $111,477.17
501 Power 109,642.10
Flat Rates to private cons. ยท 1,149.06
$222,268.33
MUNICIPAL REVENUE:
505 Light and Power
$5,630.56
505 Street Lighting 13,378.50
$19,009.06
Total Revenue
$241,277.39
207
INCOME STATEMENT
500 Operating Revenues
$241,277.39
600 Operating Expenses 230,166.69
$11,110.70
563
Interest Income
$1,600.69
209-B Merchandise and Jobbing 859.31
2,460.00
$13,570.70
576
Interest on Bonds
$200.00
550 Miscellaneous Deductions. 3,391.20
551 Taxes
151.63
$3,742.83
Income balance transferred to Profit and Loss.
$9,827.87
PROFIT AND LOSS STATEMENT
401 Credit Balance Jan. 1, 1929 $336,342.16
402 Credit Balance transferred
from Income 9,827.87
$346,170.03
$346,170.03
403
Less Bonds paid
10,000.00
Total
$336,170.03
Investment Account
Land
$1,065.00
Structures
18,678.95
Boiler Plant Equipment 56,432.87
Prime Movers and Auxiliaries 71,322.98
Turbo Units
2,125.67
208
Electric Plant Steam 68,678.48
Poles and Overhead Construction 97,689.81
Underground Conduits 17,393.26
Consumers Meters
42,594.97
Line Transformers
58,589.37
$434,571.36
UTILIZATION EQUIPMENT
Street Lighting Equipment ..... $ 19,713.09 GENERAL EQUIPMENT
19,713.09
Office Equipment $8,924.54
Transportation Equipment 4,226.34
Laboratory Equipment 1,060.35
14,211.23
Total Plant Investment
$468,495.68
Balance Sheet Assets
INVESTMENT:
Plant Investment
$468,495.68
$468,495.68
CURRENT ASSETS :
Cash Operating Fund
$2,263.09
Cash Depreciation Fund
48,601.41
$50,864.50
ACCOUNTS RECEIVABLE
207 Consumers Light and Ma- terial $13,153.36
207 Consumers Power and Ma- terial 19,711.17
207 Municipal Light and Power and Material 286.46
$33,150.99
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Inventories
Material and Supplies . $ 18,159.45 . $18,159.45
Prepaid Accounts
Prepaid Insurance
$
2,030.27
$2,030.27
Total
$572,700.89
Liabilities
APPROPRIATIONS:
Appropriation for construction. . $ 46,168.74 $46,168.74
CURRENT LIABILITIES :
Accounts Payable 57,362.12
$57,362.12
Appropriate Surplus :
Loans Repayment
133,000.00
$133,000.00
Profit and Loss
336,170.03
$336,170.03
Total
$572,700.89
OPERATION FUND Debit
Balance December 31, 1928. .$ 2,873.71
Receipts Consumers 248,408.75
Street Lighting
13,378.50
Interest Income
77.47
$264,738.43
Credit
Bills Payable December 31, 1928 $ 36,517.67 Transferred to Depreciation 17,162.34
Operation 198,795.33
Bonds 10,000.00
Balance December 31, 1929
2,263.09
$264,738.43
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DEPRECIATION ACCOUNT Debit
January 1, 1929, Balance $ 41,395.98
Transferred from Income 17,162.34
Income Interest
1,523.22
$ 60,081.54
Credit
Amount Withdrawn for Plant
Equipment
$ 11,480.13
December 31, 1929, Balance
48,601.41
$ 60,081.54
OPERATION FUND
Balance on Hand December 31,
1929
$
2,263.09
AUDITOR'S REPORT
We have examined the accounts of Fred B. Lawrence, Manager, of the Braintree Electric Light Department, and approve same. Cash received and paid to Town Treasurer as per cash book $264,738.43.
We have examined the inventories in the report and compared same with stock on hand and approve them as rendered.
Bills Payable December 31, 1929 Accounts receivable :
$ 57,362.12
Consumers Light and Material. . $ 13,153.36
Consumers Power and Material 19,711.17
Municipal Power and Material. . 286.46
$ 33,150.99 RALPH W. ARNOLD, CHARLES W. EVANS, HERBERT W. CURTIS,
.
January 26, 1930.
Auditors, 1929.
211
Report of the Planning Board
The Planning Board presents its report for the year 1929.
Planning and Economy
It is safe to say that there is no progressive and suc- cessful business man who does not plan ahead, try to fore- see conditions as far into the future as he can, and study practical ways and means of being prepared for those con- ditions when they come. If planning is vitally necessary in private affairs it is surely of even more importance in public business, when the welfare of all the people in the community is at stake.
This is the reason for the existence of a Planning Board. The other officers and committees are dealing largely with present needs of the Town and are immedi- ately concerned with the administration of your govern- ment for the current year. On the other hand it is the Planning Board's duty to be concerned with what the Town is to become five, ten, or even fifty years from now. Your Planning Board, under the law, should watch trends and developments, and advise against the common error of seeing only the present. For to build only for the pres- ent means tearing down and rebuilding later on and re- quires adjustments that are expensive to the tax payer.
Braintree is growing rapidly. Whether it shall grow sanely and attractively or in haphazard and ugly fashion is the concern of your Board. Many real estate develop- ments are taking place. Shall there be provision for through ways in appropriate places and shall the streets be laid out so as to connect conveniently ? In other words, shall Braintree be a crazy quilt, patched and repatched, or shall there be adequate Town planning for the future growth in population and highway traffic? These are matters for the study of which you have elected your Planning Board.
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Illustrations from present facts may be pertinent here. Have you as a citizen noticed that all of the streets of the real estate developments leading off Quincy Avenue toward the east are not in line with the streets of the west side development ? The same is true of subdivision streets in other parts of the Town. Again there are many in- stances where two land developments come together with dead-end streets. In the case of Buckminster Road and Newton Street the southern sidewalk of one street con- nects with the northern sidewalk of the other street, leav- ing both in mid-air, so to speak, just missing each other. How much money will the citizens have to spend in future years to remedy these blunders foisted upon our Town by outside realtors ?
It is very patent to every wide-awake citizen that the time is ripe for some intensive, foresighted, and adequate Town planning.
Comprehensive Plan
Braintree's population has been growing rapidly in the last few years, and there can be no doubt in anybody's mind but that this growth will continue for a long time to come. This will bring with it, among other things, a fairly steady increase in average land values. Such being the case it would seem good business judgment for the Town to acquire all lands which will obviously be needed sooner or later by the Town, for various purposes, as soon as possible, before prices go any higher. This wise policy has already been started in the case of school sites, and it should be continued until the land for every public building site, park, playground, and other public use for which the eventual need can be clearly foreseen, is secured.
It may be pointed out here that provision for future highway widenings may be made by means of building lines without buying the land.
213
Three important steps in furtherance of such a policy are: (1) A careful survey of present and future require- ments; (2) the preparation of definite plans for meeting those requirements, and (3) the forming of a program for the execution and financing of these plans, distributing the work and expense so that it will not be burdensome. To- gether these three steps constitute the major part of the formulation of what is known as a "comprehensive Town plan".
The members of your Planning Board, in collabora- tion with other officials of the Town, County and State, have been working, with such means as were at our dis- posal, upon such a comprehensive plan for several years, reporting from time to time upon details which were ready for consideration by the Town. This work is now at a stage where some technical assistance from a professional city planner is much needed; and we hope that we may have a modest appropriation this year in order to secure such services. In view of the magnitude of the projects eventually involved and the costliness of mistakes, such an appropriation would be a wise investment.
Engineering Department
The Assessor's maps, now beginning to be avialable, are proving to be of great value as base maps for our studies. We wish to compliment the Assessors for their enterprise in having this work done.
Conditions in this Town are changing constantly, however, ad of course these maps will soon lose much of their usefulness unless they are kept up to date. For this purpose and for the more efficient execution of the other engineering business of the Town, we endorse the proposal already made many times by others, that an engineering department be established, with a suitable office, provid- ing, among other things, adequate facilities for the filing of maps and other data and a much-needed headquarters for the Planning Board.
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Zoning
One very important element in a comprehensive plan for the development of the Town is a zoning by-law. The Planning Board is joined with a special committee of six citizens, two from each precinct, the whole forming a Zoning Committee under the chairmanship of Mr. Bernard Andrews, which is making a careful study of zoning ex- perience in other communities and of the special needs of this Town. It is hoped that a revised zoning by-law may be ready for the acceptance of this year's Town Meeting.
Civic Center
The Planning Board expects eventually to recommend plans for additional recreation grounds in each part of the Town, but now we wish to call special attention again to a project of great importance to all citizens, namely the add- ing of a part of the French land, directly across Washing- ton Street from our Town Hall, to the civic center already well begun by the Town Hall, library, monument and adja- cent grounds. This year we believe that the time is ripe for definite action, before the opportunity slips away.
Therefore your Planning Board urgently recommends that the Town immediately acquire a tract which is bounded on the north by a line running from Washington Street nearly opposite the Soldier's Monument to a point 60' from the southern edge of the Doyle property on French Avenue, and extends from this line southerly to within a distance of about 120 feet from Holbrook Avenue, in the rear of St. Francis' Church, with a frontage on Washington Street of about 393 feet. The area is about 361,000 square feet, or about 8.3 acres, which may be pur- chased by the Town for about $32,800, or approximately 9 cents per square foot. This is surely a reasonable price for this valuable property in the very center of the Town.
This tract will complete the grounds for a beautiful civic center that would be the pride of all our citizens and
SKETCH OF BRAINTREE CIVIC CENTER SHOWING PROPOSED ADDITION AND POSSIBLE FUTURE DEVELOPMENT
BRAINTREE PLANNING BOARD 1930
WAR MEMORIAL
BASEBALL AND FOOTBALL FIELD
TENNIS COURTS OR PARKING SPACE
NEW LIBRARY
PLAYGROUND FOR SMALL CHILDREN
4
215
- -
RAILROAD STATION
IL UNION ST.
WASHINGTON
TOWN HALL
1
TAYLOR ST.
STREET
1
216
win the admiration of visitors. Your Planning Board has in mind for future development here a splendid site for a new public library or other public building directly facing the Town Hall, in the quiet setting of a community park somewhat like Cohasset's civic center. Here possibly could be situated some kind of enduring and appropriate War Memorial. In the southerly and easterly portions of this tract there is abundant opportunity for recreational grounds for people of all ages, including a fine athletic field already provided with a natural grandstand in the form of a long glacial ridge or "esker". It may be easily reached from through highways, the trolleys and the rail- road. Our illustration shows a bird's-eye view of the pos- sible development of the tract, and its relation to the Town Hall, Main Street and railroad station.
It will be very unfortunate for the Town if this excep- tional opportunity is allowed to lapse. It would be a great pity to allow this splendid tract of land to go into small stores, apartments, garages and nondescript buildings directly opposite our Town Hall.
Hancock Street
In order that the purchase of the French land may be made without undue financial burden to the taxpayers, we recommend that the construction on the widening of Han- cock Street, the movement for the layout of which we ini- tiated two years ago, be temporarily postponed, and that this year only the cost of property damages be paid. Much as this widening is needed, we feel that the purchase of the French land is even more urgent.
Center Street
We recommend that the proposed relocation of Center Street from the under-pass straight up the hill at a grade of over 13% be changed to a route approximately parallel to the present location, with a width of at least fifty feet, a grade of about 4.5%, and a convenient, direct connection with Washington Street. A grade of 13% is too steep for
217
any street if it can possibly be avoided, and especially for as important a highway as Center Street, with a narrow underpass at the foot of it.
New Parkway
We heartily endorse the movement under way to make a connection between Granite Street near the Quincy line with Administration Road in the Blue Hills Reserva- tion. The legislative bill for this purpose introduced by Representative Cahill calls for one-half the expense to be paid by the State and one-half by the Metropolitan Dis- trict, as is customary with parkways. The Circumferen- tial Highway leads from West Street into the south end of the Reservation, and this new road would give Braintree people direct access to the northern end without the neces- sity of taking the long roundabout route through Furnace Brook Parkway in West Quincy.
Invitation
The Planning Board has met twenty-four times dur- ing the year 1929, including both regular and special meetings. We invite all citizens having ideas regarding the development of the Town, to attend any of our regular meetings, first communicating with the Secretary.
Our relations with the other officers of the Town have always been most friendly, but this year they have been especially helpful, and we wish to thank all for their co-operation.
Respectfully submitted, THERON I. CAIN, Chairman, J. CALEB JUSTICE, Secretary, JOHN F. CLINTON, JOSEPH W. PARKER, MERTON A. TURNER,
Members of the Planning Board.
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REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES OF THAYER PUBLIC LIBRARY
To the Citizens of Braintree :
The Trustees of Thayer Public Library submit here- with their report for the year 1929.
The accounts relating to the expenditure of the appro- priations made at the 1929 Town Meeting for the support of the Library will be found in the report of the Town Accounting Officer and the account relating to the several funds in the hands of the Library Trustees are appended hereto.
The following comparative figures indicate the con- tinued growth of the Library and its branches :
Year 1929 Year 1928
Number of Books Owned
20,403
19,798
Number of Books Added
1,591
1,234
Total Number of Books Circulated
57,838
55,957
Number Circulated from Main Library
36,525
39,183
Number circulated from Braintree
Branch
8,212
....
Number Circulated from East Braintree Branch
13,101
16,774
Average Daily Circulation
194
192
Percentage of Fiction
69%
60%
Total Number of Borrowers
2,943
4,509
In explanation of the above tabulation, it should be stated that the decrease in the circulation from the main library is due to the opening during the year of the branch at Braintree. The decrease in the circulation from the East Braintree branches appears to be due to the fact that the library is unable to supply new books in sufficient quantity. The Quincy Avenue Branch when first opened was equipped with new books, but as these became used and the library unable to replace them because of insuffi- cient funds the patronage dropped off. The decrease in the figures showing total number of borrowers is due to the fact that the Librarian has carefully revised and cor-
219
rected the list, eliminating all names of persons who for various reasons have not borrowed books during the last three years.
The Trustees have been giving careful study to the library situation in Braintree and have received much assistance from the State Library Department. The amount of money appropriated for the support of our Library System is, far below the appropriations of other towns of comparable size in this section of the State. It is imperative that the amount available for the purchase of books be materially increased. If the citizens are to get the service to which they are entitled from the Library System, it is important that the library and its branches be open to the public more frequently and for longer periods, and this in turn calls for more employees.
Immediate action should be taken to improve condi- tions in our East Braintree Branch, preferably, by moving our quarters out of the Jonas Perkins School; and some provision should be made in the near future for at least a small branch to provide for the rapidly increasing number of readers in Braintree Highlands.
We hope that the citizens will approve of our recom- mendations and that a substantial increase will be made in the appropriation for Library purposes at the Annual Town Meeting.
By the death of Mrs. Amy C. Manning, on September 19, 1929, the Trustees of Thayer Public Library and the Town of Braintree have lost one who for nine years has served as an able, devoted and honored member of this Board.
Respectfully submitted,
STACY B. SOUTHWORTH, Chairman. ALBERT E. AVERY. MABEL S. ROGERS. CLARA G. WETHERBEE. JOHN W. HARDING, .
Secretary and Treasurer.
220
FINANCIAL REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES OF THAYER PUBLIC LIBRARY FOR THE YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 1929
RECEIPTS
Cash on Deposit, January 1, 1929 $ 1,052.97
Income from Foundation Fund 500.55
Income from Caleb Stetson Fund 130.00
Income from Rachel R. Thayer Fund
8.17
Interest on Bank Balances
23.38
Refund
18.01
$1,733.08
EXPENDITURES
Repairs
$ 25.28
Rent Safe Deposit Box
10.00
Books .
321.38
Traveling Expenses
50.00
Treasurer's Surety Bond
12.50
Rent
25.00
Wages
3.90
Supplies
66.00
Cash on Deposit, December 31, 1929
1,219.02
$ 1,733.08
FUNDS AND ASSETS OF THE TRUSTEES OF THAYER PUBLIC LIBRARY As of December 31, 1929
FOUNDATION FUND
Principal Account: $7,500 Fourth Liberty Loan 41/4% (at Cost) $ 6,479.09 5 Matured Shares, Braintree Co-Operative Bank .. 1,000.00
Deposit Weymouth Savings
Bank 2,520.91
$10,000.00
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CALEB STETSON FUND
Principal Account :
5 Matured Shares, Braintree Co-Operative Bank $ 1,000.00 Deposit Braintree Savings Bank 1,500.00
$ 2,500.00
RACHEL R. THAYER FUND
Principal Account :
Deposit Home Savings Bank, Boston $ 172.50 $ 172.50
We have examined the account of John W. Harding, Treasurer of the Trustees of Thayer Public Library, and find it correct.
We have also examined the assets and income ac- counts of the Foundation Fund, Caleb Stetson Fund and Rachel R. Thayer Fund, and find them correct.
CHARLES W. EVANS, RALPH W. ARNOLD, HERBERT W. CURTIS,
Auditors, 1929.
January 14, 1930.
NATHANIEL H. HUNT TRUST INCOME ACCOUNT JOHN W. HARDING, Treasurer
INCOME
Cash on Deposit, January 1, 1929 $ 419.81
Income Received for Year 1929 1,144.13
$1,563.94
EXPENDITURES
Books and Papers $ 812.81
Cash on Deposit, December 31, 1929 751.13
$1,563.94
222
We have examined the account of John W. Harding, Treasurer, showing income and disbursements of Nathan- iel H. Hunt Trust, Income Account, and find it correct and properly vouchered.
RALPH W. ARNOLD, HERBERT W. CURTIS, CHARLES W. EVANS, Auditors, 1929.
January 14, 1930.
223
Report of Police Department
To the Honorable Board of Selectmen :
Gentlemen :
I herewith submit my report of the Police Depart- ment for the year 1929 :
Whole number of arrests 331
Residents
176
Non Residents 155
Male
318
Female
13
1. Crimes Against the Person-No. of Arrests 26
224
Non. Res. Total
Male
Female Res.
Assault and Battery
15
1
13
3
16
Manslaughter
1
0
0
1
1
Non-Payment Wages
2
0
1
1
2
Rape
1
0
1
0
1
Threats-intimidation
3
3
6
0
6
2. Crimes Against Property-No. of Arrests 27
Arson
2
0
2
0
2
Larceny
22
0
10
12
22
Leased Personalty (concealing)
0
1
1
1
1
Malicious Mischief
1
0
0
1
1
Trespass
1
0
1
0
1
3. Crimes Against Public Order-No. of Arrests 278
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