USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Chelmsford > Town annual report of Chelmsford 1906 > Part 6
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natural history, avoiding fiction and the drama, the healthier your mind will be. Every library should contain a good proportion of such literature. A town library is a university, and the public are taught what the great men of the past or present have to impart, if such instructors are employed in it; otherwise the people are fed intellectually upon chaff.
A library worthy of its office should supply the community : first of all, with the best literature, so that those at least who hunger for knowledge may read, mark, learn and inwardly digest truths invitingly set out by learned men ; and that the appetite of others may be stimulated ; for books can do good, as a rule, only when we are ready for them.
The laborious or monotonous lives of many are varied and brightened no doubt by the reading of fiction, but most of it is simply to be tasted, not swallowed; or is to be taken between courses as an anchovy, an olive or an almond, but not for real nourishment of the higher life.
The best fiction is a wholesome commentary on life, and often idealizes human relations and activities in such a way as to give an uplift to the reader's thought and ambition. It has its use in touch- ing our feelings-it influences our moral nature. But after all, fiction tends to become insipid when compared with the real facts of life, even though it have actual history for its foundation, or deal with the philosophy of life. It is the deep and thoughtful books of history and biography, of science and philosophy and religion that help us most. They inspire and put us in a mood for action. Most fiction has the fault of the ordinary drama in stirring the sympathies while giving them no opportunity for prac- tical exercise-it is an emotional dissipation. The reading of fiction for amusement or entertainment is profitable, if done judiciously and within bounds ; but there are some books, as Lamb says, which are not books at all, and some people may be like Ulysses' sailors and mistake bags of wind for sacks of treasure.
Some books smell of the pines, some of the workshop or the home, some bring to us the ordor of the sanctuary incense, and some that of the sewers. There is only one true test of a book : Is the reader a better man or woman for having read it ?
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It has always been the endeavor of the Trustees to place upon the shelves only what is wholesome in the fiction class, and so to restrict it, that with each purchase of books a proper propor- tion of weightier literature may be provided for those who are fond of study and research. There are yet numerous sets of standard authors to be completed or purchased entire, classes to be filled out, and reference books to be provided for teachers and pupils of the High School and other representatives of the student class.
A well written book by a wise author, when compared with its rivals of the light and inferior sort may be likened to Moses' serpent, which devoured those of the Egyptians, for it has within it all that they have of wisdom, and it will remain to do wonderful things after they are forgotten.
At the Librarian's desk there are displayed for inspection various volumes of philosophy, art, science, natural and social, and so forth, to show what wholesome and delectable viands the Library affords to its patrons. When we sit down to read such, we should be as devoutly thankful for the intellectual feast,as when we are about to partake of food and drink.
During the past year the circulation has been 10,508 volumes. the number of borrowers, 445.
The character of circulation has been as follows : Fiction, 63 per cent. ; General Works, 18.7 per cent. ; Travel and Descrip- tion, 3.9 per cent. ; History, 3 4 per cent. ; Literature, 2.7 per cent. ; Biography, 2 3 per cent. ; Natural Science, 1.5 per cent. ; Sociology, 1.5 per cent. ; Fine Arts, 1 per cent. ; Useful Arts, 1 per cent. : Religion and Philosophy, 1 per cent.
The Library has been opened to the public 201 sessions or 804 hours.
Number of books purchased and added to Library, 326.
Number of books purchased to replace books worn out, 8.
Number of books received from State of Massachusetts, 18.
Number of books received from U. S. Government, 17.
Number of books received from donations, 5.
Number of magazines bound, 31, included in books purchased. Number of books at present in Library, 7,699.
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CLASSIFICATION OF BOOKS IN LIBRARY, FEB. 24, 1906.
00-541
40- 24
80-558
10- 95
50-367
90-723
20-235
60-278 91-547
30-994
70-139
92-646
Fiction-2,551
Class 30 includes 743 volumes of Public Documents and other reports.
LIST OF DONATIONS.
Messrs. Lee and Shepherd 1 volume
The Hon. Levi S. Gould.
1 volume
Mr. Luther E. Cowles
1 volume
Anonymous. 1 volume
Mr. Walter Perham, two copies of old engravings of scenes at Chelmsford, England.
The Library is also indebted to Mr. Perham for a beautiful framed copy of a photograph taken by himself, and showing a view of the river Chelmer at Chelmsford, England. This now hangs in the rotunda of the Library.
There has been no money drawn from the " Joseph Warren Fund " which amounts to $721. 65, nor from the "Adams-Emerson Fund " which amounts to $91.13.
J. ADAMS BARTLETT, ALBERT H. DAVIS, WILSON WATERS, A. HEADY PARK, EMMA J. GAY, FRANCES CLARK.
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REPORT OF THE TREASURER OF THE ADAMS LIBRARY.
Wilson Waters, Treasurer, in account with the Adams Library.
RECEIPTS.
March, 1905, balance on hand. $ 9 43
Town appropriation 800 00
Amount of fines from Librarian 14 67
Deposit April, 13 25 00
$849 10
EXPENDITURES.
Lowell Gas Light Co .. $ 57 19
G. T. Parkhurst, printing
37 15
Grumiaux, periodicals. 67 85
Barnard & Co., binding 32 10
N. Lovely, shoveling snow. 2 30
A. H. Park, transporting books 13 00
G. M. Wright, shaker 2 50
G. B. Wright, labor and material 17 00
De Wolfe & Fiske Co., books 103 21
Phila. Book Store Co., books 42 50
Baker & Taylor Co., books. 67 45
Emerson & Co., sundries 12 60
F. G. Pratt, labor and material
7 44
Library Bureau, cards and labels
6 05
H. L. Parkhurst, fuel. . 105 00
C. H. Greenleaf, Librarian 80 00
E. R. Clark, Librarian 120 00
Melvin Walker, labor. 26 60
Bartlett & Dow, hardware. 8 60
Ditson & Co., periodical 1 50
Postage.
63
Balance on hand 38 43
$849 10
Two months salary is now due the Librarian.
REPORT OF THE NORTH CHELMSFORD LIBRARY
The North Chelmsford Library Association, in its annual statement to the Town, has to report that, at its annual meeting, held April 5, 1905, the following officers were elected :
President, for one year . A. H. Sheldon
Vice President, for one year . P. L. Piggott
Secretary, for one year . .O. P. Wheeler
Treasurer, for one year . C. F. Butterfield
Director, for three years Emma J. Gay
The Library has been open 145 sessions, the circulation being 6100. Eighty-two new cards have been issued, the whole number of borrowers being 304.
Number of volumes added during the year :
By purchase, town appropriation. 167
By purchase, to replace worn volumes 5
By donation, Mr. A. D. T. Randolph 2
By donation, Levi S. Gould 1
By donation, Miss E. J. Gay 1
By donation, Miss L. A. Allen. 10
By donation, Mrs. O. A. G. Flint 1
By donation, U. S. Government . 2
Unbound magazines, bound at the expense of the Library ;
Miss Bessie Moore 7
Miss E. J. Gay 4
200
Two volumes are reported missing and four have been with- drawn as worn out, making the number of volumes available on the shelves 4,965, 13 of which are duplicates.
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RECEIPTS.
Balance on hand March 1st, 1905.
$ 2 96
Town appropriation for books and expenses 400 00
Membership fees 1 50
*Sale of books 4 57
Fines
4 21
$413 24
PAYMENTS.
Librarian's services $100 00
Books, town appropriation. 166 98
*Books, outside parties (see receipts for like amount) 4 57
Transporting books to and from West Chelmsford
10 40
Binding and repairing books
23 00
Lighting 21 60
Fuel 8 00
Janitor 12 75
Postage and printing
24 00
Freight and cartage. 2 00
Expense to Boston on account purchasing books
2 50
Supplies . .
6 21
Decorating two hundred and fiftieth anniversary . 5 00
Balance on hand March 1st, 1906. 26 23
$413 24
C. FRANK BUTTERFIELD,
Treasurer.
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In addition to the 11 volumes of magazines given, 41 volumes have been rebound and the books are in good condition.
We are again indebted to Mr. F. E. Bickford for the care and distribution of the books that have been sent to West Chelmsford 'semi-monthly, and to friends for gifts of magazines as yet unbound.
The financial transactions for the year appear in the following of the Treasurer.
ARTHUR H. SHELDON, President. OTIS P. WHEELER, Secretary.
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WARRANT
COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS.
Middlesex, ss.
To either of the Constables of the Town of Chelmsford, in said County, GREETING.
In the name of the Commonwealth aforesaid, you are hereby required to notify the legal voters of said Chelmsford to meet in the Town Hall, at Chelmsford Centre, on Monday, the twenty-sixth day of March, current, being the fourth Mon- day in said month, at eight o'clock in the forenoon. The polls will be opened at 8. 15 A. M., and closed at 1.15 P. M .; and they are then and there to act upon the following articles, viz .:-
Article 1. To choose a Moderator.
Article 2. To bring in their votes for five Selectmen, for one year; Town Clerk, for three years; Town Treasurer and Collector of Taxes, for one year; one School Committee, for three years; two Trustees of Adams Library, for three years; three Auditors, for one year ; seven Constables, for one year; one Highway Sur- veyor, for one year; one Cemetery Commissioner, for three years; one Tree Warden, for one year; also to vote on the following question :- " Shall license be granted for the sale of intoxicating liquors in this town? " All on one ballot.
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Article 3. To choose all other town officers necessary to be chosen by hand vote, or act in relation to the same.
Article 4. To hear reports of town officers and committees and act thereon.
Article 5. To raise and appropriate such sums of money as may be required to defray town charges for the current year.
Article 6. To see if the town will authorize the Treasurer to borrow, subject to the approval of the Board of Select- men, such sums of money as may be required for the demands upon him, in anticipation of the taxes of the current year and payable therefrom.
Article 7. To act in relation to the list of jurors prepared by the Board of Selectmen.
.
Article 8. At the request of Capt. Edward H. Keyes and others, to see if the town will raise and appropriate the sum of one hundred and fifty dollars ($150.00) to be expended for the care and maintenance of the Rifle Range, or act in relation thereto.
Article 9. To see if the town will appropriate the sum of one hundred dollars ($100.00) for the observance of Memorial Day, or act in relation thereto.
Article 10. At the request of the School Committee, to see if the town will raise and appropriate a sum of money for grading the grounds around the school-house at West Chelmsford, or act in relation thereto.
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Article 11. At the request of the School Committee, to see if the town will raise and appropriate a sum of money for general repairs and improvements on the school- house at South Chelmsford, or act in relation thereto.
Article 12. To see if the town will raise and appropriate the sum of two hundred dollars ($200.00) to be paid to the Fireman's Relief Association of Lowell, in recog- nition of the services of the Lowell Fire Department in Chelmsford. or act in relation thereto.
Article 13. To see if the town will raise and appropriate a sum of money for the purpose of paving Middlesex Street with granite blocks, from Edwards Avenue to Cottage Street, or act in relation thereto.
Article 14. To see if the town will accept the provisions of Chapter 191, Acts of 1905, authorizing cities and towns to establish municipal building insurance funds, or act in relation thereto.
Article 15. To see if the town "will reimburse Charles F. Scribner for expense incurred in constructing a side- walk on Middlesex Street in front of the Post Office, North Village, or act in relation thereto.
Article 16. To see if the town will vote to accept the townway known as Wildwood Street, as. laid out by the Select- men, or act in relation thereto.
Article 17. To see if the town will vote to accept the townway known as Juniper Street, as laid out by the Selectmen, or act in relation there.
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And you are directed to serve this Warrant, by posting true and attested copies thereof at the Post Offices in the centre of the town, South Chelmsford, North Chelmsford, West Chelmsford, and at the school-house at East Chelmsford, ten days at least before the time appointed for holding said meeting.
Hereof fail not and make return of this Warrant, with your doings thereon, to the Town Clerk, at the time and place of holding the meeting aforesaid.
Given under our hands and seals this fourteenth day of March, in the year of our Lord nineteen hundred and six.
WALTER PERHAM, JAMES P. DUNIGAN, R. WILSON. DIX, A. HEADY PARK, JOHN J. DUNN,
Selectmen of Chelmsford,
INDEX
Adams Library .
42
Adams Library. Report
1
Aggregate Table.
81
Annual Town Meeting Report, 1905 15
Assessors' Report
31
Auditors' Report .
34
Board of Health Report
82
Care and Improvement of Cemeteries
Cattle Inspection .
Cattle Inspector's Report.
Cemetery Commissioners' Report
45 83 44 85
Collection and Abatement of Taxes
Enforcing Liquor Law
Expenses at Almshouse
Fire Warden's Report
Highways.
Highway Appraisal, March 1, 1906
Indigent Soldiers and Sailors.
Inmates at Almshouse.
List of Jurors
Loans and Interest
Memorial Day.
Miscellaneous Expenses
North Chelmsford Library Association Report .
Officers and Committees
Outside Poor
Receipts at Almshouse
Repairs of Public Buildings
Rifle Range
Selectmen's Report .
School Committee Report
State Aid
Street Lighting
Summary of Poor Account.
Tax Collector's Report.
29
Town Farm Appraisal, March 1, 1906
47
Town Officers, 1905-1906
3
Treasurer's Report . 25
Tree Warden's Report 84
Village Clock. 43
Warrant for Town Meeting
12
43 44 53 60 37 47 44 56 86 11
43 77 9 49 59 56 42 44 37 3 44 41 59
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