USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Chelmsford > Town annual report of Chelmsford 1922 > Part 4
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111.88
Interest accrued since Oct. 1, 1922.
800.10
$237,786.39
Cash entered on Treasurer's book as tax.
$182,774.59
Cash entered on Treasurer's book as interest.
111.88
Cash entered on Treasurer's book as Moth Tax.
389.12
Uncollected tax to new account.
53,340.41
Uncollected interest to new account.
800.10
Uncollected Moth Tax to new account
370.29
$237,786.39
54
TAX COLLECTOR'S REPORT FOR NORTH CHELMSFORD FIRE DISTRICT
Tax of 1920-
Tax on list of 1920 uncollected Dec. 31, 1921. $ 297.98 .33
Less abatements
$ 297.65
Interest on list of 1920 uncollected Dec. 31, 1921.
22.34
Interest accrued since Dec. 31, 1921.
8.77
$ 328.76
Cash paid Treasurer, North Chelmsford Fire District as tax .. $ 297.65
Cash paid Treasurer, North Chelmsford Fire Dist. as interest .. 31.11
$ 328.76
Tax of 1921-
Tax on list of 1921 uncollected Dec. 31, 1921. $ 349.46
Interest on list of 1921 uncollected Dec. 31, 1921
5.24
Interest accrued since Dec. 31, 1921
16.42
$ 371.12
Paid Treasurer, North Chelmsford Fire District as tax ..
$ 228.85
Paid Treasurer, North Chelmsford Fire District as interest ...
12.62
Uncollected tax to new account.
120.61
Uncollected interest to new account.
9.04
$ 371.12
Tax of 1922-
Tax on list of 1922
$ 4,181.71
Interest collected since Oct. 1, 1922.
1.20
Interest accrued since Oct. 1, 1922.
7.51
$ 4,190.42
Cash paid Treasurer, North Chelmsford Fire District as tax ...
$ 3,680.78
Cash paid Treasurer, North Chelmsford Fire Dist. as interest.
1.20
Uncollected tax to new account.
500.93
Uncollected interest to new account
7.51
$ 4,190.42
E. W. SWEETSER,
Collector.
December 30, 1922.
55
TAX COLLECTOR'S REPORT OF CHELMSFORD WATER DISTRICT
Tax of 1920-
Tax on list of 1920 uncollected Dec. 31, 1921
499.67
Interest on list of 1920 uncollected Dec. 31, 1921.
37.47
Interest accrued since Dec. 31, 1921 12.27
$ 549.41
Paid Treasurer Chelmsford Water District as tax.
$ 425.63
Paid Treasurer Chelmsford Water District as interest.
39.75
Uncollected tax to new account ..
74.01
Uncollected interest to new account.
9.99
$ 549.41
Tax of 1921
Tax on list of 1921 uncollected Dec. 31, 1921.
$ 1,396.34
Interest on list of 1921 uncollected Dec. 31, 1921
20.94
Interest accrued since Dec. 31, 1921.
48.92
$ 1,466.20
Paid Treasurer Chelmsford Water District as tax.
$ 986.52
Paid Treasurer Chelmsford Water District as interest.
39.40
Uncollected tax to new account ..
409.82
Uncollected interest to new account.
30.46
$ 1,466.20
Tax of 1922- -
Tax on list of 1922.
$ 11,947.70
Interest collected since Oct. 1, 1922.
8.22
Interest accrued since Oct. 1, 1922.
58.92
. .
$ 12,014.84
Paid Treasurer Chelmsford Water District as tax.
$ 8,019.66
Paid Treasurer Chelmsford Water District as interest
8.22
Uncollected tax to new account.
3,928.04
Uncollected interest to new account.
58.92
$ 12,014.84
E. W. SWEETSER,
Collector.
December 30, 1922.
56
Report of Assessors
For the year ending December 31, 1922
Value of buildings
$3,401,315.00
Value of land. 1,617,895.00
Total value of real estate.
$5,019,210.00
Total value of personal estate.
1,688,730.00
Total value of assessed estate. $6,707,940.00
Rate of taxation, $34.00 per $1000
Number of polls assessed. 1,716
Assessed on polls only
333
Residents assessed on property-
Individuals
1,540
All others
17
1,557
Non-residents assessed on property-
Individuals
276
All others
21
297
Total number assessed 2,187
Number of horses assessed
365
Number of cows assessed. 905
Number of sheep assessed.
5
Number of neat cattle other than cows assessed.
124
Number of swine assessed
126
Number of foul assessed.
13,020
Number of dwellings assessed.
1,230
Number of acres of land assessed
13,566
Appropriations voted at Annual Town Meeting, February 13th and Special Meetings, May 18th and July 27, 1922
$179,147.97 State tax $14,040.00
State highway tax. 5,108.97
State audit 360.79
$19,509.76
57
1716 polls at $3.00 each.
5,148.00
County tax
8,918.68
Loans and interest
30,000.00
Overlayings
9,731.38
$252,455.79
Estimated receipts
15,805.83
$236,649.96
Tax on 1716 polls at $5.00 each. $ 8,580.00
Tax on property 228,069.96
$236,649.96
HERBERT C. SWEETSER, FRED L. FLETCHER, WM. J. QUIGLEY,
Assessors.
..
REPORT OF BOARD OF FIRE ENGINEERS
To the Selectmen of Chelmsford.
Greeting :
In accordance with the usual custom, we submit our report for the year ending December 31, 1922.
This department is under the authority of a Board of Fire Engineers, consisting of three men, appointed annually by the Selectmen. This year, like last, it is organized with A. C. Perham, as chief of the department, L. J. Ellinwood as first assistant engineer, and J. E. Hogan as second assistant engineer and clerk of the board.
Last year, the Board of Engineers divided the territory of the Town into five districts and placed the motorized apparatus furnished by the Town, one piece of apparatus in each district. This arrangement has been continued this year. The location and description of each piece of apparatus was ex- plained in our annual report of 1921.
This arrangement provides each district with motorized equipment and an organized company to suppress a fire in its early stage, or to check a fire until additional aid can arrive from other districts each or all of which is always subject to call if needed by any district threatened by fire.
Each company is organized with proper officers and each company has its own social organization and is provided with an apartment for its social activities.
The district chiefs are appointed annually by your Board of Engineers. The district chiefs in authority are as follows :
District No. 1. Wilhelm T. Johnson
District No. 2. Joseph D. Ryan. District No. 3. Archibald Cooke District No. 4. Henry Quinn. District No. 5. William E. Belleville.
58
Emergency cards giving instruction what to do to notify each local company in case of fire have been printed and distributed in each district to each and every family.
During the year the Board has purchased 1300 ft. of new standard size fire hose to replace the hose inherited from a previous organization which hose had become useless because of age and service.
For the better protection, care and economy of handling the costly appa- ratus in District No. 1, the apparatus in that district has been removed from the old fire house in the rear of the Town Hall and is now stationed in the new, modern Chelmsford garage at the Centre Village.
The nucleus of a Gamewell system of fire alarm with its striking ham- mer attached to the bell of the Unitarian Church in the Centre village has been installed in that District by a special committee appointed at Town Meeting in 1922. We hope to see this system gradually and economically extended.
Your Board of Engineers has endeavored to conduct the affairs of the department with financial prudence for the tax payers, and to create the efficiency of each district company in the spirit of loyal co-operation, to teach that membership in each company is an obligation of citizenship duty to be met for the welfare of all, even if at some personal sacrifice. This standard of citizenship in the department has helped produce a spirit of service that has saved much valuable property for the tax payers during the year. Our department is essentially a volunteer organization.
Vice-President Calvin Coolidge, while Governor of this Commonwealth. said, "Work worth while comes from the soul of the people." The loyalty. courage and service of the members of the Chelmsford Fire Department fight- ing fires during the past year are a splendid vindication of that principle. We give them deserved praise.
The campaign against fire is a never ending fight and calls for as careful preparation as for the suppression of an enemy of civilization. The protec- tion must come not merely from better fire departments and building laws, but from educating every family and every member of every family to recog- nize causes of danger, and to practice habits of consideration and carefulness. If this could be done, fire would almost cease to be a public peril.
With this need in mind we have been seeking wisdom from sources of wider experience than ours. As there is not space in this report to furnish you the valuable information that we have secured, we earnestly advise each family in Chelmsford to send 10 cents to Frederic J. Haskins, Director of the U. S. Information Bureau, Washington, D. C., and procure a publication en- titled, "Safeguarding the Home Against Fire." We also earnestly advise every farmer in Chelmsford to send to same address and procure Bulletin . No. 904, entitled, "Fire Protection on the Farm."
A study of the publications issued by our Government at Washington is an education both to the adult and the child and should serve to make better citizenship and prevent much loss of property by fires.
The owners of property located away from water pressure service, and the farmer, can help this department to protect their property in time of fire on said property, by excavating a good size pocket in the brook near their buildings, thus making a reservoir of water accessible to our pumping appa- ratus so we can have a supply of water to force a stream on fire endangered
59
property. When such reservoir is completed, each owner should notify the Board of Fire Engineers of its exact location.
For months we have been working to get lower fire insurance rates for the property owners of Chelmsford because of the Town having installed motorized fire fighting apparatus. The result is lower fire insurance rates now in effect as follows :
Property insured in the water districts of Chelmsford Centre and North Chelmsford is now in class C (raised from class D) giving lower rates.
Also, property located within one mile of the fire stations of East Chelmsford, South Chelmsford and West Chelmsford is now insured in class E (raised from class F) giving lower rates.
During the year your department has responded to 32 calls for build- ing fires within the Town limits, and 4 fire calls from adjoining towns, and 4 automobile fires on the highways, and 17 grass and brush fires within the Town to assist your Forest Warden Department.
The total estimated value of building property in the Town directly en- dangered by fires amounted to $110,631.00. The total loss caused by these fires amounted to $10,317.50.
The best test of a system is what it accomplishes. The Chelmsford Fire Department has saved more taxable property from destruction by fire during the year than the cost of all the apparatus.
Have faith in your Fire Department. It is saving you fire insurance money each year now, and with its motorized apparatus and organization is protecting your property from the fire hazard.
Respectfully submitted, ARNOLD C. PERHAM. LOREN J. ELLINWOOD, JOHN E. HOGAN, Board of Fire Engineers.
REPORT OF FOREST WARDEN
Chelmsford, Mass., January 11, 1923.
Board of Selectmen.
Gentlemen :
The season of 1922 was the worst on record for forest fires in the Town as well as in the State, owing to the extremely high winds. That we had no serious fires was very fortunate. This was due in several instances to the assistance rendered by the new fire apparatus.
I wish to thank the fire department for the help given to the Forest Warden and I hope, and recommend, that the two departments may be merged and brought under one head.
The balance of the appropriation, after the fire season, has been spent for supplies and repairs for next season.
Owing to other business I regret to say that I will be unable to con- tinue as Forest Warden for the Town but will gladly render what assistance I can, in the future.
Very truly yours,
HERBERT M. STURTEVANT,
Forest Warden.
60
REPORT OF APPRAISERS
Personal Property at Town Farm .. $ 1,534.75
Household Goods at Town Farm. 763.69
$ 2,298.44
Highway Department
10,611.30
Moth Department
1,422.00
Centre Fire Department
5,774.36
North Fire Department.
6,918.60
South Fire Department.
1,758.80
Westlands Fire Department
279.00
West Fire Department.
2,399.90
East Fire Department.
1,695.40
Weights and Measures
150.00
$ 33,307.80
A detailed list is on file in the Accountant's Office.
DAVID BILLSON, JOHN F. PARKER, ALBERT H. DAVIS,
Appraisers.
REPORT OF INSPECTOR OF SLAUGHTERING
Chelmsford, Mass., January 1, 1923.
Board of Health.
Gentleman :
The following number of animals have been slaughtered by licensed butchers and owners on their own premises and inspected by me :
250 cattle ; 835 calves ; 713 hogs and approximately 225 pounds of meat for various reasons.
All inspections have been reported to the state authorities as required.
Respectfully submitted, W. S. HALL, Inspector.
REPORT OF SEALER OF WEIGHTS AND MEASURES
Total tests made 1,086
Total fees
$ 64.58
Total expense
127.90
Respectfully submitted,
C. A. AIKEN,
Sealer.
61
REPORT OF INSURANCE FUND COMMISSIONERS
January 2, 1923.
On deposit :
Merrimack River Savings Bank, Lowell. $ 781.65
City Institution for Savings, Lowell. 1,425.02
Lowell Five Cent Savings Bank, Lowell. 1,090.95
U. S. Liberty Bond.
1,000.00
$ 4,297.62
WALTER PERHAM, Treas.,
Insurance Fund Commission.
REPORT OF THE CEMETERY COMMISSIONERS
The Cemetery Commissioners submit their annual report.
The different cemeteries have received their usual good care.
Four new lots have been sold in the Pine Ridge Cemetery and three new lots in the West Cemetery.
The Hearse House in Forefathers has been newly shingled and general repairs on the gates to the cemetery.
There has been an increase in lots placed in perpetual care.
C. F. SCRIBNER, B. C. DEAN, R. P. ADAMS,
Cemetery Commissioners.
REPORT OF INSPECTOR OF ANIMALS
January 1, 1923.
To the Selectmen of Chelmsford :
At the annual inspection early in the year 1922, I found there were in Town 202 stables containing 916 dairy cows, 212 young cattle, 23 bulls, 180 swine, 1 sheep and 5 goats, also 1 pair of oxen.
Nineteen cows were quarantined, one died in quarantine, one was re- leased and seventeen were condemned and killed because affected with tuberculosis.
Twelve dogs were quarantined during the year, each dog was held under observation for two weeks, and all were afterward released as none of them developed rabies, although all had bitten one or more persons.
It seems rather strange that this Town has not a single accredited herd of cattle, that is herds tuberculin tested by the government under stated con- ditions and all reacting or diseased animals removed. Why not investigate this a little?
There have been no cases of glanders or hog cholera reported or found. Quite a noticeable improvement has been made in the stabling condi- tions for cattle during the last few years.
ARNOLD C. PERHAM,
Inspector.
62
REPORT OF WATER COMMITTEE APPOINTED AT A TOWN MEETING HELD MAY 18, 1922
At a Town meeting held May 18, 1922, a committee was appointed con- sisting of the Board of Selectmen, the Finance Committee, and five members, one from each village, to investigate the matter of a Town water system.
The first problem taken up was the feasibility from an engineering standpoint of extending the water system to those parts of the Town which at present have no water supply. This work was done by John C. and Walter T. Monahan, they doing a vast amount of work getting levels, etc., of the entire proposed extensions without expense to the Town. Had it not been for their willingness to do this, your committee would have been practically helpless for no money was voted for our use. It was found that the Chelmsford Centre system could be entended to serve South Chelmsford at an estimated cost of $46,000 and to serve East Chelmsford at an es- timated cost of $73,000; and that the North Chelmsford system could be extended to include West Chelmsford at an estimated cost of $43,000, making a total cost of $162,000. These amounts were based on present day costs and were arrived at after a careful investigation. The entire distance was measured, the cost of different size of pipe, hydrants, fittings, trenching, filling, etc., was obtained. The only uncertainty is in the digging, namely the amount of rock encountered, and a liberal allowance was made for that. The above amounts may be increased or decreased as the market varies.
The Committee next investigated methods of financing, and the effect upon the tax rates. It was assumed that the Town would take over the two existing water systems from the districts in their present condition, assuming all assets and liabilities, and it was also assumed that the revenue and expenses of these present sytems under Town management would remain constant. No provision was made for the payment of any fixed sum to the members of either water district for they are members of the water district and citizens of the Town, both at the same time, and in fact have no in- dividual equity in either district. The new work was to be financied by the issue of thirty year bonds, with the establishment of a fund for retiring a certain number of these each year, partly from revenue, and partly from
taxes. Taking into account the interest on the principal invested, the fund for retirement of the new bonds and the liabilities of the present districts, all expenses such as salaries, service extensions, maintainance, etc., and figuring the revenue from the present districts plus an estimated revenue from the extensions, the Committee estimates that the extension of the water systems to supply the entire Town would cost at the rate of $3.25 per thousand. This rate will grow less each year as the outstanding bonds are retired, as the interest charges decrease and as the revenue in- creases.
We believe this rate to be high rather than low from the fact we took an expenditure of $200,000 and the present valuation of the Town as a basis of these calculations.
Although our estimated cost is $162,000 we used $200,000 in estimating the tax rate well knowing that many extra expenditures may arise in an undertaking of this magnitude.
Respectfully submitted,
HERBERT E. ELLIS, Chairman, JOHN J. KELLEY, Secretary.
63
Report of the Trustees of the Adams Library
On February 25th the Board met at the Library and elected officers for the ensuing year as follows: Chairman, Albert H. Davis; Secretary, Mrs. E. R. Clark; Treasurer, Rev. Wilson Waters; Librarians, Misses Katherine and Margaret Hall; Purchasing Agent, Mrs. E. R. Clark; Com- mittee to Approve Bills. A. H. Davis and A. II. Park; Prudential Com- mittee, Rev. Wilson Waters and Otis P. Wheeler; Committee on Periodicals, A. HI. Davis, Miss Frances Clark and Rev. Wilson Waters.
On May 9th, the Rev. Wilson Waters having been appointed by the Trustees as their agent in the matter of the bequest of the late Mrs. Orra A. George Flint, he, in company with Messrs. George Rigby, representing the selectmen, and Mr. E. R. Clark, went to Worcester and received a check for $20,000.00, with the books and portraits, from the executors of the will. In accordance with the advice of the Town counsel, the check was given over to the Town Treasurer, as were also all Trust funds in the hands of the Treasurer of the Adams Library. The Trustees authorized their Treasurer to obtain a bond of $1000, which he has done, in order to conform with the requirements of the law.
The library has continued the policy of placing on its shelves a good per cent. of solid works of history, biography and science along with the lighter literature. People who read the former class of books borrow fewer and keep them longer, which may account for a decrease in circulation. A person may take out one volume and keep it two weeks or more, whereas, in the case of the lighter class of reading, one may borrow half a dozen books in the same length of time. Also the young people and others use the read- ing room more than formerly, having access to the books themselves, and do not borrow so many to use at home. Except to individuals coming to the library, fewer books have been supplied to East and West Chelmsford.
The number of books in the Library is 12,102
The circulation for the year has been. 16,687
New books added including bound magazines 334
To replace worn out books 36
Received by gift 5
Donors' names : New England History and Genealogy Society, Rev. Wilson Waters and publishers.
The Librarians report $37.14 on hand received from fines, etc., and $36.72 paid for desk supplies, etc.
LUELLA H. S. CLARK, ALBERT H. DAVIS, WILSON WATERS, FRANCES CLARK, OTIS P. WHEELER, A. HEADY PARK,
Trustees.
64
REPORT OF THE TREASURER OF THE ADAMS LIBRARY
RECEIPTS
Balance on hand December 31, 1921 $ 2.74
Received from the Town Treasurer.
2,000.00
$2,002.74
EXPENDITURES
Books
$ 782.21
Librarian's Salary
500.00
Care of buildings and grounds
91.96
Binding
125.09
Water
12.00
Gas
89.31
Supplies
18.02
Periodicals
84.20
Treasurer's bond
2.50
Coal
233.50
Repairs
34.00
Transportation of books to South Chelmsford.
20.00
Postage
1.80
Balance on hand December 31, 1922.
8.15
$2,002.74
WILSON WATERS,
Treasurer.
65
North Chelmsford Library Corporation
REPORT OF TRUSTEES
Under a revision of the by-laws of the Corporation, the annual meeting was held on December 20, 1922, at the Library Rooms, with a large mem- bership present.
Reports were heard from the various officers and committees, and were approved, and placed upon the records. Officers were elected for the ensuing year.
The librarian's report was satisfactory, showing that our usual average circulation had been maintained during the year, that a considerable number of new subscribers had been listed, that new books had been purchased within the means of the Corporation.
Reference books were in increased demand by the students of the High school, and we were able to satisfy all requirements to a very marked extent.
As a result of having organized a house-to-house delivery and collection of books in the West Village, our circulation was considerably increased, and we likewise gained a number of new subscribers. We have been as- sured that our method of distributing and collecting the books is most satisfactory to that part of the Town, and we naturally feel that the arrangement was a good one.
As we have been advising the voters and taxpayers for some time, the Town appropriation for the purpose of conducting our library is in- adequate, and we express the hope that the time will come in the near future when we may receive a material addition to our annual allotment.
Cursory examination of the reports of this Corporation, filed during the last few years, will demonstrate to anyone, that, in comparison to the work done by other libraries in towns throughout the State, our work has been done at a ridiculously low cost to the taxpayer.
A request was made last year to the Finance Committee for their approval of an increase in the appropriation, and in addition, the matter was personally presented to them for their consideration, but for reasons that seemed sufficient to them at that time, no recommendation was forth- coming for any increase; but with the knowledge of the educational value of our institution, and the further pleasure that the reading of good books may give to several hundreds of our citizens, we hope that the committee will see their way to more favorable decision this year.
No property improvements were possible under present conditions, al- though there are some matters that must receive attention in the near future.
Respectfully submitted,
HENRY T. RIPLEY, H. ELLEN SARGENT, SARAH E. SHELDON,
December 29, 1922.
Trustees.
66
TREASURER'S REPORT, 1922, NORTH CHELMSFORD LIBRARY CORPORATION
RECEIPTS
Balance from 1921
$ 6.44
Town appropriation
1.200.00
$1,206.44
EXPENDITURES
Librarian and assistant.
$ 415.92
Fuel
121.25
Books
370.69
Light
36.36
Bindery
176.30
Supplies
11.29
Carrying books to West Chelmsford.
40.50
Miscellaneous
14.85
$1,190.16
Balance on hand
16.28
$1,206.44
STEWART MACKAY, Treasurer.
67
REPORT OF DEMONSTRATION WORK IN AGRICULTURE AND HOME ECONOMICS, TOWN OF CHELMSFORD
FOR THE YEAR ENDING DECEMBER 31, 1922
An appropriation of $250 was made at the Annual Town Meeting for demonstration work under the direction of the Middlesex County Bureau of Agriculture and Home Economics. Following is a report of the work done by this organization in Chelmsford :
Agents of the Bureau made 132 farm and home visits during the year. The County Agricultural Agent held a program meeting, gave a poultry-culling demonstration and a pruning demonstration and held a fertilizer meeting during the year. He also organized a poultry automobile tour to study some of the successful poultry plants in the northern part of the County. The Home Demonstration Agent attended the program meeting, gave a dress-form demonstration, a jelly and jam demonstration and held a two-day Fall millinery class at which forty women learned how to make hats.
Bureau moving pictures were shown six times before a total audience of 1.210.
Boys' and girls' club work, organized in the Town for the first time, created much interest and resulted in some fine work. Fourteen meetings have been held with boys' and girls' clubs by agents of the Bureau. Matthew Ochinski and Stacy Krasnecki were awarded two-day trips to M. A. C. for excellent work in gardening and canning. During the summer there were three Canning Clubs, one Pig Club ,and two Garden Clubs with a total en- rollment of 53. At present there are three Home Economics Clubs and a Poultry Club with a total enrollment of 68.
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