Town annual report of Ipswich 1929, Part 4

Author: Ipswich (Mass.:Town)
Publication date: 1929
Publisher: Lynn News Press / J. F. Kimball
Number of Pages: 290


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Ewing, Oscar H., County St.


Gauld, Thomas G., 82 High St.


Glover, Charles A., 9 Putnam Rd. Girard, Frank H., 27 Mineral St. Foley, Charles F., Turnpike Rd. Goodwin, Carrol P., 3 Argilla Rd. Brooker, George W., Topsfield Rd. Hall, Albert, 7 Liberty St. Hayward, Walter E., Topsfield Rd.


Henderson, Wayne, 6 Agawam Ave.


Hayes, George, 6 Summer St.


Hills, Elmer A., Newbury Rd.


Hills, John P., 73 Central St. Hull, Frank C., East St. Lange, Emil, 56 East St. Langdon, Harold M., 9 Warren St.


Lord, Farley C., Nabbys Point


Lord, Arthur S., 97 High St.


Lord, Raymond D, Argilla Rd.


Lord, Leon R., 12 Green St.,


MacKenney, Horace L., Old England Rd.


Farmer Printer Real Estate & Ins. Clam Dealer Merchant Carpenter Grocer


Mill Operative Merchant Manager


Teamster Manager Retired Merchant Clerk Mill Operative Stone Cutter Salesman Cashier Carpenter Barber Janitor Stone Cutter Heel Worker Garage Painter


Gardener Laborer Manufacturer Salesman Plumber Farmer Knitter Caretaker Janitor Engineer Fisherman Manager Caretaker Salesman


Printer


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IPSWICH TOWN REPORT


Mallard, Frank W., 62 High St.


Mansfield, Worthington H., Nabbys Point


Merson, Henry S., 22 East St.


Matheson, George E., 96 Central St.


Marcorelle, Arthur P., 12 Manning St.


Fireman Carpenter Stone Cutter Janitor Merchant


Moulton, Eben B., Essex Rd.


Peabody, Ernest O., 34 County St.


Perley, David S., Linebrook Rd.


Fisherman Trader Merchant


Proctor, James H., Fellows Rd.


Riley, John F., Linebrook Rd.


Laborer


Purdy, Nelson R., 55 High St.


Manager


Richardson, Burritt B., 12 Argilla Rd.


Newsdealer


Ryan, Michael, Linebrook Rd.


. Farmer Broker


Smith, Dexter M., 41 North Main St.


Painter


Taylor, George T., Linebrook Rd.


Farmer Knitter


Titcomb, Roland E., 4 Ward St.


Meat & Provisions


Woodbury, George L., 47 Turkey Sh. Rd. Farmer


Webber, Arthur W., Summer St.


Salesman


Smith, Elmer C., East St.


Thomas, Joseph E., 15 Pleasant St.


Willcomb, Daniel L., Willcomb Sq. Grocer


-


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IPSWICH TOWN REPORT


LIST OF TOWN PROPERTY


School Building's


$249,100.00


Public Buildings


161,750.00


Green Street Property


27,000.00


.


Town Farm


20,000.00


Cemeteries


5,000.00


Wharf Property


3,350.00


Land, Great Neck


8,300.00


Land, Turkey Shore


1,000.00 200.00


Woodland, Linebrook


Woodland, Common Fields


75.00


Fire Apparatus


20,000.00


Highway Department Equipment


15,530.00


Thatch Bank, Great Flats


Thatch Bank, Third Creek


Public Grounds 5,500.00


In addition to the property enumerated above, there is the shore, beach and other property given to the Town by the Commoners, the value of which is not estimated.


The value of the Water Works and Electric Light Plant will be found in the Water and Light Report.


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IPSWICH TOWN REPORT


SELECTMEN'S REPORT


To the Citizens of Ipswich :


The Board of Selectmen feel that in the year just closed that the various departments that come under their supervision have been conducted in an efficient and economic manner. The streets of the town were never in better condition as a whole than they are at present and we feel that Mr. Wood has done a hard job well. There are two or three of the outlying roads that need repairing very badly and we are trying to take care of them the best we can on available money at hand.


We were obliged to install a new oil burner in the town hall as the one already there was not large enough to do the work.


The Police Department has we feel been conduct- ed in an efficient manner and at a minimum cost to the town.


The Fire Department this past year has answered to more calls than in any other year in its history, with the loss of property kept at a very low mark the Board of Fire Engineers should be congratulated on the efficient manner in which these calls were handled. The Engi- neers came to the Selectmen requesting a new fire alarm as the present one could not be heard by all the call men. Therefore we caused an article to be inserted in the warrant at the last special town meeting to take care of this emergency and as a result the town voted to pur- chase a new alarm.


BENJAMIN F. BURNS, JOSEPH F. CLAXTON, JR. A majority of the Selectmen.


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IPSWICH TOWN REPORT


BOARD OF SELECTMEN - MINORITY REPORT


To the Citizens of Ipswich :


In fairness to myself, to the servants and agents of the Town of Ipswich who have so earnestly attempted to perform their duty to the best of their ability, I felt that I could not sign the annual report of the Board of Se- lectmen as was submitted to me by the Chairman. My motive in making this report may be questioned by some, but for the greater good in recognizing all who tried to do their own particular work as well as the departments which have been mentioned by my two colleagues, I chose to write my own report. I do not take issue with my colleagues because they have mentioned in praise any particular department but I do take issue because they have felt constrained to confine their praise to so few of the servants of the Town of Ipswich when I felt that there are others also deserving of praise.


I as one of the Selectmen realize that we have with- in our command the appointment of many servants for the Town and that the Board is held in a certain way responsible for the acts of these servants and the results they produce. To all those who have faithfully perform- ed the duties with which they were entrusted by the Board of Selectmen I wish to extend my sincere apprecia- tion.


I feel however that the Board of Selectmen are not answerable to such a degree for the acts of the various departments as they are for the expenditures of the town funds. We as a Board entrusted various citizens with certain obligations and after they were informed of their duties the work of each department was permitted to be done solely, and without interference, by each of the en- trusted servants. Each department through its head has rendered a report of its doings which is to be printed in the annual town report and I refer the citizens of the town to each department and there read the various ac- tivities of the town during the past year. In that I feel that credit and praise will be meted out to those who have performed their duties in a faithful manner and are deserving of commendation.


There are at present probably many situations in


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IPSWICH TOWN REPORT


the way of improvements that the Board of Selectmen might be justified in expending money for the benefit of all. The Board while seeing the conditions calling for improvements about the town have hesitated to expend any money In fact the only expenditures made by the Selectmen directly have been towards purchasing an oil burner for the Town Hall and agreeing to buy a new fire alarm for the fire station. Both of these expenditures were considered absolutely necessary and calling for im- mediate action. The heating apparatus for the town hall was declared inadequate and insufficient. Popular de- mand warranted the purchase of a new fire alarm and although the Board approved of its purchase the ques- tion was submitted to the voters at a special meeting.


Reporting as one of the Board of Selectmen as to what the Board has done during the past year, I wish to state that the Board has been most conservative in the expenditure of money. This conservation I feel warrant- ed. There have been unusual and extraordinary de- mands made on the Town Treasury during the past year. How far these demands might go or to what extent the town might be burdened is as yet problematical and in view of this situation the Board has been reluctant to expend any money except the two expenditures which were authorized.


While this report may in substance be in conform- ity with that of my colleagues I felt that some explana- tion is due to the citizens of the town as to what might by some be considered apparent inactivity. On the other hand during the past year we have been active in our endeavor to maintain the necessary work activities in the town at the lowest possible cost. That I feel was the duty of the Selectmen during the past year.


Most respectfully yours,


EDWIN H. DAMON.


-


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IPSWICH TOWN REPORT


ASSESSORS' REPORT


To the Citizens of Ipswich :


In making this, the annual report of the Board of Assessors, there has been included the work sheet that is used in computing the tax rate, and the tables of ag- . gregates covering the work of the Department.


The total assessed valuation was somewhat smaller this year than last owing to the final closing of one of our largest industrial plants, and also the Excise tax which took Automobiles from the personal tax list.


Because of the loss of $260,000.00 in taxable prop- erty and no appreciable amount of new construction, and $11,000.00 increase in appropriations from the previous year, your Assessors were faced with the necessity of in- creasing the tax rate.


Under the Excise tax there was a substantial gain over the previous method, 1658 cars assessed value of $552,020.00, and with some adjustments in valuation in an endeavor to equalize values we were able to place the rate at $30.50 per thousand. And again we want to call your attention to the fact that your tax rates are made in Town Meeting and not in the office of this Board.


As the Excise tax was new this year and owners of cars not being familiar with the law, especially with re- gard to abatements where cars were exchanged, there were some cases where a hardship was imposed by not applying in the specified time for an abatement. This year we feel it will work much better, as the law is now more clearly understood, and also the time limit will this year be printed on the tax bill; namely all applications for abatement must apply within 60 days from date of bill.


We wish to thank the Dealers for their co-operation in explaining this law.


116


IPSWICH TOWN REPORT


The Board has looked into the matter of re-valua- tion and survey by expert Appraisers, and while we feel that maps are very much of a necessity we do not feel that under present conditions we would be justified in asking for an appropriation at this time.


Respectfully submitted, C. CHESTER CALDWELL, GEORGE FALL, JOHN E. NORMAN,


-


Assessors of Ipswich.


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IPSWICH TOWN REPORT


WORK SHEET FOR 1929


Appropriations


State Tax


$276,141.80 9,520.00


State Highway Tax


3,397.89


Municipal Lighting Tax


39.03


Municipal Auditing Tax


719.24


County Tax


14,449.12


Less Estimated Income


75,537.91


Balance Less 1672 Polls at $2.00


$228,729.17


3,344.00


Plus 1929 Overlay


3,066.13


$228,451.30


Plus 1926 Excess Abatements


1,129.30


Plus 1927 Excess Abatements


260.02


Total to raise


$229,840.62


Valuation of Real Estate


$6,781,720.00


Valuation of Personal Property


$754,038.00


Total


$7,535.758.00


$229,840.62


-


equals $30.50 rate


$7,535,758.00


$304,267.08


$225,385,17


$229,580.60


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IPSWICH TOWN REPORT


TABLE OF AGGREGATES


Number of Persons Assessed on Property


1,478


Number of Polls Assessed 1,672


Valuation of Personal Estate


$ 754.038.00


Valuation of Real Estate


6,781.720.00


Value of Assessed Real Estate


Buildings excluding land


$4,976,155.00


Land excluding buildings


1,805,565.00


$6,781.720.00


Amount raised on Personal


$ 22,998.16


Amount raised on Real Estate


206,842.46


Amount raised on Polls


3,344.00


Total amount raised


$233,184.62


Rate


30.50


Number of Horses Assessed


188


Number of Cows Assessed


465


Number of Sheep Assessed


10


Number of Neat Cattle other than Cows


133


Number of Swine


23


Number of Fowl


3,769


Number of Dwelling Houses


1,514


Number of Acres of land


17,730


ADDITIONAL ASSESSMENTS, DEC. 19, 1929


Real Estate 253.91


Additional Polls 33


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IPSWICH TOWN REPORT


119


REPORT OF TOWN CLERK


Town Clerk's Office, Feb. 1, 1930.


To the Honorable Board of Selectmen :


I herewith present to your Honorable Board the re- port of the Town Clerk for the year 1929 :


VITAL STATISTICS


Births


During the year 1929 the births numbered 139, a decrease of 28 from the previous year.


Males 63


Females 76


Parents residing in :


Ipswich


93


Wenham 2


Essex


12


Manchester


1


Hamilton


11


Framingham 1


Rowley


9 Sutton


1


Gloucester


3 Danvers


1


Beverly


4


Ohio


1


Fathers born in :


Mothers born in :


Ipswich


23


Ipswich 23


Massachusetts


44


Massachusetts 43


U. S. A.


15


U. S. A.


12


British Prov.


20


British Prov.


26


Rus .- Aus .- Poland


12


Rus .- Aus .- Poland


12


Greece


16


Greece


16


Italy


3


Italy


2


England


2


England


2


Sweden


1


Ireland


3


Scotland


1


Unknown


2


139


139


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IPSWICH TOWN REPORT


MARRIAGES


Total number received and recorded 57


Grooms born in :


Brides born in :


Ipswich


20


Ipswich 16


Massachusetts


16


Massachusetts 24


U. S. A.


5


U. S. A.


8


British Prov.


9


British Prov.


5


Rus .- Aus .- Poland


2


Rus .- Aus .- Poland


1


Greece


5


Greece


3


57


57


DEATHS


During the year 1929 the deaths numbered 65, a de- crease of 27 from the previous year.


Males 32 Females 33


The following persons were, at the time of death, over eighty years of age:


yrs


m


dys


Jan. 16-George Waymouth


92


5


5


Feb. 6-Anna P. Davis (Gloucester)


83


Mar. 5-Lydia M. Glover


85


10


4


Mar. 25-Samuel H. Thurston


83


5


26


May 15-Annie S. Jewett


81


5


23


June 29-Georgia T. Williams


86


2


28


July 26-Samuel K. Cockran


82


5


Aug. 22-Helen S. Burnham (Essex)


80


3


17


Dec. 19-Esther A. Saunders


82


10


7


I wish to call attention to the following vital statis- tics :


It is important that these records shall be correct. If any errors are discovered, the Clerk will deem it a - favor to have them reported at once, so that corrections may be made.


121


IPSWICH TOWN REPORT


Some of the many reasons why births should be re- corded :


To establish identity.


To prove legitimacy.


To prove nationality.


To show when a child has the right to enter school.


To show when a child has the right to seek employ- ment under the Child Labor Law.


To show when a child has the right to apply for a license to operate a motor vehicle.


To establish the right to inheritance to property.


To establish liability to military duty as well as ex- emption therefrom.


To establish the right to vote.


To establish the right to hold public office.


To qualify to hold title to, and to buy and sell real estate.


To prove the age at which the marriage contract may be entered into.


To make possible statistical studies of health condi- tions.


As required by Chapter 46, Section 15, General Laws of Massachusetts, notice is hereby given that the Town Clerk will furnish blanks for returns of births to parents, householders, physicians and registered hospitals' offi- cers applying therefor.


The following licenses were granted through this office :


Billard and Pool


2


Common Victuallers


29


Druggist Third Class


1


Junk


3


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IPSWICH TOWN REPORT


Innholders


8


Lodging House


1


Hawkers and Peddlers


3


Coffee House


2


Motor Vehicle Junk


1


Bottling


1


Bowling Alley


1


Auctioneers


2


Motor Vehicle Agent


3


Pasteurization


3


Junk Shop


1


Amusement


1


HUNTERS', TRAPPERS' AND FISHERMANS' LICENSES


Resident Citizens Sporting Licenses


237


Resident Citizens Trapping Licenses


22


Lobster Licenses


4


Minor Trappers Licenses


37


Non-Resident Citizen Sporting Licenses


1


Duplicate Licenses


7


308


DOG LICENSES


Male Dogs


247


Female Dogs


15


Female Dogs, Spayed


19


Kennel


3


284


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IPSWICH TOWN REPORT


For the benefit of the owners and keepers of dogs the following extract of the General Laws is hereby sub- mitted :


General Laws, Chapter 140


SECTION 137. The owner or keeper of a dog which is three months old or over shall annually, on or before March thirty-first, cause it to be registered, numbered, described and licensed for one year from the first day of April following.


The owner or keeper of a licensed dog shall cause it to wear around its neck a collar distinctly marked with its OWNER'S NAME and its REGISTERED NUMBER.


SECTION 138. The owner or keeper of a dog may at any time have it licensed until the first day of April following, and a person who becomes the owner or keep- er of a dog after April first, which is not duly licensed, and the owner or keeper of a dog which becomes three months old after March thirty-first in any year, shall, when it is three months old, cause it to be registered, numbered, described, licensed and collared as required by the preceding section.


(Example under Section 138 above). If a dog is born on June 1, 1930, he becomes three months old on September 1, 1930 and should be licensed on that date for the period Sept. 1, 1930 to April 1, 1931 (when it becomes necessary to relicense him for the year April 1, 1931 to April 1, 1932).


Respectfully submitted,


EDWARD S. COGSWELL,


Town Clerk


REPORT OF POLICE DEPARTMENT


To the Honorable Board of Selectmen :


Gentlemen :


I have the honor to submit to you the report of the duties performed by the Police Department for the year ending, December 31, 1929 :


Total number of arrests


215


January


19


February


15


March


9


April


18


May


23


June


17


July


26


August


26


September


14


October


17


November


13


December


18


Total


215


Recapitulation :


Crimes against Person


8


Crimes against Public Order


207


Classification of Crimes :


Assault


4


Bastardy


1


Disturbance of Peace


4


Drunkenness


65


Liquor Nuisance


2


Liquor manufacturing


8


Liquor keeping


14


Larceny


3


Non-support


4


.


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IPSWICH TOWN REPORT


Vagrancy


13


Violating fish and game laws


33


Adultery


1


Fornication


1


Violating motor vehicle laws


38


Operating under influence of liquor


14


Gaming on Lord's Day


10


Disposition of Cases :


Appealed


18


Committed to House of Correction


11


Discharged


26


Dismissed


2


Filed


34


Fined


84


Suspended


7


Probation


22


Not Guilty


1


Released


2


Cases pending


8


Miscellaneous :


Assistance rendered to persons in distress 40


Buildings found open and secured 30


Committed to State Hospital 10


Complaints investigated by Police


850


Lost children restored to parents


3


Number of dogs killed


38


Number of cows killed


1


Number of horses killed


1


Number of pigs killed


3


Number of autos transferred


255


Number of warrants served for out of town officers 2


Number of summons served for out of town officers


90


Number of hours police duty for private parties 3,000


Number of ambulance calls assisted by offi- cers 42


Estimated value of stolen property returned to owners $3,000


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IPSWICH TOWN REPORT


Number of cases before Juvenile Court


20


Inventory of Police Department :


Police badges


29


Special police badges


3


Clubs


9


Flashlights


10


Ford touring car


1


Handcuffs


9


Keys


35


Pistols


5


Riot gun


1


Gas club


1


Searchlights


1


Twisters


6


Whistles


12


I wish to take the opportunity at this time to thank all town officials who have assisted this department in the performance of its duties. I would also like to bring to the attention of the public that we have had wonderful co-operation by the State Constabulary at practically no expense to the town. I think that we are somewhat in- debted to them and I take this opportunity to thank them for their cooperation with our department. I also desire to thank our neighboring towns and cities for their co- operation which they have given us.


Respectfully submitted,


EDWARD BLAUVELT,


Chief of Police.


REPORT OF FIRE ENGINEERS


To the Board of Selectmen :


.


Gentlemen :


The following is the report of the Engineers of the Fire Department for the year ending December 31, 1929.


Number of men in department


34


Number of alarms


123


Number of bell alarms


50


Number of still alarms


73


Number of feet of 21/2 inch hose laid


29,650


Number of gallons of chemical used


1,042


Number of miles covered by apparatus


425.7


Assessed valuation of property threatened by fire


$152,995.00


Loss of property by fire


$112,628.86


Insurance on property


$219,268.00


Insurance paid


$ 81,736.20


DEPARTMENT EQUIPMENT


Motor hook and ladder


1


Auto combination chemical and hose


1


Auto triple combination pump


1


Hose reels


2


Fire alarm boxes


22


Good hose


4,000 feet


Inferior hose


500 feet


We recommend the purchase of 500 feet of hose this year, also a new hook and ladder truck. The ladder truck we now have was horse drawn and was changed seven years ago to motor drawn. This is a dangerous piece of apparatus to drive, as the driver has no control


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IPSWICH TOWN REPORT


of the rear wheels. Most of the ladders are in bad shape, having been in use for twenty years, and we are of the opinion that they are unsafe, as there are times when there are several men on one ladder taking hose lines to the roof of buildings. We recommend selling the horse drawn chassis and ladder, and keeping the motor chassis for hose and chemical which are needed very badly.


We wish to take this opportunity to thank everyone who has in any way assisted us during the past year.


GEORGE W. BROWN, Chief THOMAS R. ROBERTS, CLARENCE J. DUPRAY,


Engineers.


REPORT OF MOTH SUPERINTENDENT


To the Citizens of the Town of Ipswich :


I herewith submit my annual report as Moth Super- intendent.


Work the past season has been carried along on the same general lines as in past years and which have been adopted and recommended by the State Department, i. e. creosoting and spraying.


The number of egg clusters of the gypsy moth found the past season was the largest for several seasons. How- ever the amount of striping last summer was not as great as in 1928. This season shows a very satisfactory de- crease in gypsy moth egg clusters. Nevertheless this pest is still persistent and a continued fight against it is nec- essary. The Browntail Moth has this present season showed a very alarming increase. This is somewhat gen- eral all through the town, but more especially in the Line- brook section. This is a situation which should be given very careful attention, as this insect is not only hard but also expensive to control especially if it gets back into the larger trees.


The Satin Moth was not as prevalent the past year as it has been in some seasons past, but did however cause some defoliation on willows and poplars which are its only food plants. A heavy increase was noted last summer in the feeding done by the Elmleaf Beetle but probably an extra spraying on the Elms on the roadsides will keep this insect in control.


While this department anticipates no extremely large increase in labor this year, it does seem necessary to request a slightly larger appropriation this year. This is in view of the fact that I expect to do an increased amount of private work, the receipts from which will be returned to the Town and also to purchase an increased amount of spray material as there is no surplus left from last year.


Respectfully submitted,


FRANCIS C. WADE,


Local Superintendent. :


REPORT OF TREE WARDEN


I herewith submit my annual report as Tree Warden.


The work in this Department varies little from year to year. It consists mainly of the removal of dead limbs, those that are in a dangerous condition and such as inter- fere with private property as dwellings, over head wires, etc. Work was done along the above lines the past sea- son and also some bolting and guying to prevent further splitting where a tendency to do the same had become apparent. A small quantity of brush cutting was done, chiefly on curves where the vision was obstructed. More of this work should be done each year as it serves a three fold purpose, i. e. reducing such growths as wild cherry which are of no value except as food plants to insect pests, eliminates blind corners and curves and also assists in snow removal as well as preventing drifting.


Several trees were removed the past summer, one of which had been killed by gas and the others were either in an unsafe condition or were dead from natural causes. Several more should be removed this coming summer.


The only offset to tree removal is tree planting and as this department has done practically no planting for three years I would recommend that planting in a small way be part of the yearly program. This could be done at a very small outlay by the establishment of a munici- pal nursery on a small piece of ground such as a lot on the Town Hill property.


I would recommend an increase in the appropria- tion for the care of the Town's Shade Trees and am in- cluding the same in my budget.


Respectfully submitted,


FRANCIS C. WADE,


Tree Warden.


REPORT OF PARK COMMISSIONERS


The Board of Park Commissioners herewith submit, their annual report.


The work the past year has been along much the same lines as previous seasons, namely, maintaining smooth lawns on the several plots from Market Square to and about the First Church, called The North Green. This was also done on the South Common as well as the public landing at the head of Elm Street. The continued drought the past summer did not help to keep these lawns in the best of condition, but by some watering they were in a fairly presentable condition throughout the summer.


Beds of flowering plants were maintained on each of the Commons and Tulips were again planted last Fall. A slight change was made in this part of the plant- ing as all of the beds were planted to one variety of tulip. Due to the coming celebration this summer we would recommend a little more fancy planting and are asking for increased funds to cover this improvement.


Some little filling was done at the Giles Firmin Gar- den the past summer and two of the old ditches redug. We hope to gradually continue the filling and at some time in the future complete the road which nearly circles the Park and have in the center a small pond which would furnish a nice skating rink for the small children of the neighborhood.




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