USA > Massachusetts > Essex County > Ipswich > Town annual report of Ipswich 1932 > Part 6
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12
150
IPSWICH TOWN REPORT
The following licenses were granted through this office :
Billiard and Pool
1 22
Common Victuallers
Druggist Third Class
2
Junk Shop
1
Slaughtering
1
Innholder
Hawkers and Pedlers
2
Bottling
Bowling Alley
1
Auctioneers
2
Motor Vehicle Agent-Class 1
4
Motor Vehicle Junk-Class 3
1
Amusement
1
Dogs 314; Sporting 209; Trapping 9; Lobster 6; Crab 4; Duplicates 2.
For the benefit of the owners and keepers of dogs the following extract of the General Laws is hereby submitted :
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.
151
IPSWICH TOWN REPORT
(Example under Section 138 above.) If a dog is born on June 1, 1932, he becomes three months old on September 1, 1932 and should be licensed on that date for the period September 1, 1932 to April 1, 1933 (when it becomes necessary to relicense him for the year April 1, 1933 to April 1, 1934.)
Respectfully submitted,
EDWARD S. COGSWELL,
Town Clerk.
152
IPSWICH TOWN REPORT
ASSESSORS' REPORT
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 tables of aggre- gates covering the work of this Department.
In placing the value on real estate this year, fully realizing the condition of the real estate market, we used the same values where there were no changes as in 1931, by so doing we felt it better than a general reduction as the result obtained was the same the only difference being in the tax rate.
We increased our overlay somewhat over previous years feeling that owing to conditions there would be more deserving cases needing relief.
We are this year faced with our first case before the Board of Tax Appeals, namely the Crane assessment, feeling it better to have this case settled by said Board denied their application in full, if they are successful in their plea we will be faced with a deficit in our overlay account which will have to be raised in next levy after case is decided, which in all probability will not be before our 1933 rate is made, therefore we will have to increase our 1933 overlay to meet this condition if it arises so not to have it all come in one year as it might make a large increase in rate for that year.
Owing to a large reduction in revenue and increased appropriations we got an increase of $2.20 in our rate, and from all we can gather at this time there will be another reduction this year in about the same ratio. Our estimated receipts this year were about $3,000.00 in ex- cess of estimate, which amount has been applied to ex- cess and deficiency account, which now amounts to about
153
IPSWICH TOWN REPORT
$13,000.00, if some of this could be used in 1933 it will aid materially in keeping our rate down. Respectfully submitted,
C. CHESTER CALDWELL, GEORGE FALL, JOHN E. NORMAN,
Assessors of Ipswich.
We desire to record here our regret that George Fall, who has been an efficient member of the Board of Assessors since 1918, has decided to retire this year, and to express our appreciation of his loyal and intelli- gent service to the town as one of the Assessors.
C. CHESTER CALDWELL,
JOHN E. NORMAN
154
IPSWICH TOWN REPORT
WORK SHEET, 1932
Town Appropriations
State Tax
$298,476.96 $10,432.50 984.28
State Tax, Auditing Municipal Accounts
State Tax, Highways
256.00
State Tax, Parks and Reservations
13.74
State Tax, Municipal Lighting
28.63
Special State Tax, Old Age Assistance
1,713.00
County Tax
9,937.53
Less Estimated Income
59,079.07
$262,763.57
Less 1,694 Polls
3,388.00
$259,375.57
Plus 1932 Overlay
3,921.18
Less $1,713 Old Age Assistance
1,713.00
$261,583.75
Valuation of Real Estate
$6,866,835.00 693,389.00
Total
$7,560,224.00
$ 261,583.75
equals $34.60 rate
$7,560,224.00
$263,296.75
Valuation of Personal Estate
$321,842.64
155
IPSWICH TOWN REPORT
TABLE OF AGGREGATES
Number of Persons Assessed on Property
1,508
Number of Polls Assessed 1,694 Valuation of Personal Estate $ 693,389.00 Valuation of Real Estate $6,866,835.00
Value of Assessed Real Estate : Buildings, excluding land Land, excluding buildings
$5,107,365.00
1,759,470.00
$6,866,835.00
$ 237,592.49
23,991.26
3,388.00
$ 264,971.75
Rate
$34.60
Number of Horses Assessed
166
Number of Cows Assessed
490
Number of Swine Assessed
24
Number of Neat Cattle other than Cows
162
Number of Fowl Assessed
3,435
Number of Acres of Land
17,730
Amount raised on Real Estate Amount raised on Personal Estate Amount raised on Polls
156
IPSWICH TOWN REPORT
REPORT OF THE CLAM COMMISSION
To the Board of Selectmen,
Gentlemen :
The Clam Commission wish to make the following report. The clam industry in Ipswich is in a very serious condition. Various reasons may be advanced for this. The disappearance of the eel grass may have something to do with it as something of this nature is necessary to hold the spawn of the clam before it is developed enough to enter the flats. The great number of green crabs prob- ably are another of the causes because undoubtedly they destroy a great many small clams, and lastly and perhaps most of all, the demand of the market for small clams and the short sightedness of the clammers in digging up the very small clams and the utterly stripping of the flats by indiscriminate digging.
Conforming to a vote of the town there has been no seeding of flats this year. No large area of flats were closed this year as had been previously done.
The Commission want to call the attention of the citizens to the fact that if something drastic is not done the clamming industry will soon be a thing of the past. A great many people do not realize that the clam indus- try is the real major industry in Ipswich today and every citizen is interested in its revival.
The Commission recommend a program of seeding the depleted flats and the closing of a large area for future clamming. It is up to the citizens as to whether this great industry will be saved to the town of Ipswich or be taken over by the State and finally leased out to private control.
HENRY S. BOWEN, CHARLES E. POOR, THOMAS R. ROBERTS, Clam Commissioners.
157
IPSWICH TOWN REPORT
PUBLIC WELFARE REPORT
To the Citizens of Ipswich :
The Board of Public Welfare respectfully submits the following report for the year 1932 :
Expenditures
Out Poor
Mothers' Aid
$28,830.99 1,845.00
Old Age Assistance
5,282.00
Labor, paid by cash $7,291.89
Labor, paid by orders 1,938.00
$9,229.89
Town Infirmary
6,000.00
$51,187.88
Reimbursements Receivable
From State and Cities and
Towns
$4,000.00
From State Mothers' Aid 612.00
From State Old Age Assistance 3,000.00
From Town Infirmary
896.90
$ 8,508.90
$42,678.88
The reimbursements are approximate, as the exact figures were not available when this report was sent to the printer. However, they are not overstated.
Desiring to know how our expense compared with that of other industrial towns, a score of questionnaires were sent out. Quotations from several of the replies will serve to show that the expense in Ipswich has been below that of the average town similarly situated.
158
IPSWICH TOWN REPORT
Population
Expense for each 1000 Inhabitants
Amesbury
10,000
$ 7,900
Salem
43,353
10,000
Gloucester
25,000
10,500
Marblehead
8,202
12,400
Easthampton
11,000
14,500
Ipswich
6,000
7,500
In fairness to Ipswich, it may be said that some of the other towns had assistance in keeping their expense down which Ipswich did not have. It is maintained that any criticism of the local Board for extravagance would be unmerited. The Board has not spent too much, but too little. The fact is, that the poor have not been ade- quately aided, even though no case of actual suffering has been permitted to go unrelieved. The Board would welcome investigation by any unprejudiced expert in welfare work.
The poor have been given short allowance because it was realized that the town's finances should not be subjected to a too severe strain. In the effort to keep down the cost, the general policy has been to find out if the applicant had any resources upon which he could call before coming to the town-if he had any money on deposit or elsewhere, if he had any property upon which he could secure a loan, or if any members of his family, relatives or friends could assist him. And when it was found that he was helpless and in actual need, if he was a single man, he was offered a temporary home at the Town Infirmary; if a married man with a wife and no children, he was given a weekly allowance of $3.00, or $4.50 if circumstances warranted, and was requested to reimburse the town by work furnished by the Unemploy- ment Committee at $3.00 per day; if he had two to four dependent children, he was given $6.00 weekly and al- lotted two days' work to reimburse the town; if there were six or more children, he was given $9.00 weekly and three days' work for reimbursement. Beside these amounts, he was allowed wood and medical attendance. Of course, those who were unable to work were not ex- pected to do so. These allowances were indeed small,
159
IPSWICH TOWN REPORT
being barely sufficient to keep soul and body together. But the Board had no money to use except that which came from the taxpayer-the large taxpayer whose in- come had arrived at the vanishing point, and the small taxpayer working part time or at reduced wages many of the latter having defaulted and many others standing in line for abatement of the tax on their little homes. The dependent poor could not starve, nor could the poor taxpaper be utterly broken down. This was the problem which the Board had to solve, and it is heartening to know that their efforts have been understood and appre- ciated by the great body of representative citizenship.
In the work of investigation, the banks have been consulted, the Assessors' and Town Clerk's Departments called upon for information, and every effort made to ascertain the financial condition of the applicant, the Agent of the Board meeting with unfailing courtesy and co-operation by all these officials. Cognizance, even, has been taken of the idle stories heard upon the street and of the unreliable information whispered secretly in the ear-all have been looked up, with the result that only an occasional one has had any foundation in fact. To keep in close touch with all those receiving aid, the Board every Friday evening has reviewed each case, making readjustments whenever necessary, also reassignments of work, Mr. Reedy and Mr. Hodgkins of the Unemploy- ment Committee being generally present, and their secre- tary, Miss Shulayko, acting as interpreter and all-around assistant, Mr. Amory being present at the meetings of the Committee on Wednesday evenings. These meetings have continued until after midnight, many of them not con- cluding until 1.30 on Saturday mornings. To properly manage the increasing volume of work,regular meetings are now held on Tuesday as well as Friday evenings. It is not too much to say that, notwithstanding the close supervision maintained by the Board, fraud or imposition has occasionally crept in, but it is certain that the amount has been negligible. Such things are incident to Welfare operations in all other communities.
It is our pleasure to state that the Unemployment Committee, working without funds for more than three
160
IPSWICH TOWN REPORT
months, has rendered a service to the Board and to the Town that has been of much value. To find work each week in the various departments for over one hundred men has been a task of no small proportions, yet the Committee has accomplished it, working with no little degree of patience and persistance, without reward and at a sacrifice to their own personal affairs. Many worth- while projects have been attempted and brought to com- pletion, and thus the town has had considerable in return for unemployment outlay. We refrain from mentioning what these projects are because it is understood that they will be specified in the report of the Unemployment Com- mittee. The arrangement whereby the Board and Com- mittee have been working together is about the best that can be devised and we recommend that it be continued. It seems too much, however, to ask the Committee to do this without something approaching adequate compensa- tion. This is said without the consent of the members of the Committee.
In the combined Out Poor and Infirmary Divisions the Board has handled $51,000 at a cost of $1,050 for salaries of Board and Agent, or approximately 2%. There is surely no cause for complaint on the grounds of ad- ministrative charges. The Agent is practically a full-time man at part-time pay. His automobile is constantly at the service of the Board free of charge. In some communities the work of the Old Age Assistance Division is conducted by a separate Bureau at an additional administrative cost, but here the work is done by the Board of Public Welfare at no extra charge.
Prospects in the Out Poor Division for 1933 are not reassuring. Immediate improvement in the labor situa- tion is a forlorn hope. Finding jobs is out of the question. They cannot even be bought. Our clamming areas, from time immemorial the resort of those temporarily out of employment, always prolific hitherto, are now nearly de- pleted. When every other help fails men must turn to the town, and the town must aid, if ever so little. New applications are being received practically every day. For a time at least the expense must grow heavier instead of lighter, because of the increase in the number of de- pendents and the fact that the small allowances that have been made must necessarily be increased.
161
IPSWICH TOWN REPORT
MOTHERS' AID
There has been no change in the number of Mothers' Aid cases during the past year, but the amounts allowed have been somewhat reduced because of the lower cost of commodities. The total amount now being given is $31.00 a week, plus medical attention, medicine, and an occasional order for fuel. The state reimburses the town 331/3 % on expenditures in this Division.
OLD AGE ASSISTANCE
Thirty-five persons above the age of seventy years are receiving this form of public assistance, at a total cost of $150.00 a week. The smallest allowance is $3.00, the largest $8.00, the latter being given to a man who has lost both legs. The average is $4.29 per individual. The number of this class of dependents has been reduced this year by three, who have passed beyond the need of aid or sympathy. The reimbursement by the state is one- third the total expense.
CABLE MEMORIAL HOSPITAL
The number of persons treated at the hospital dur- ing 1932 who were unable to pay for the same was 91, the total charge being $2,496.15. This accounted for all but $3.85 of the town's appropriation of $2,500.00. Em- phasis should be laid upon the fact that the town makes this appropriation not for those who are unwilling to pay for their care, but for those who are actually unable. The members of the Board of Public Welfare are the ones who are to pass upon question of the patient's abil- ity to pay. Unless in case of emergency, none should go to the hospital of their own accord, or be sent there by others, with the expectation that the town will pay the bill, until the Public Welfare has been consulted and has determined that the patient is entitled to free treatment. There are families in town with as many as five children, all of whom have been born in the hospital, the town paying the institution and the doctor in each case. The Scriptures say, "be fruitful and multiply," but they do not add, "at the expense of the public." It is a rather ungracious thing for a man or woman to go to the hos-
162
IPSWICH TOWN REPORT
pital and, after receiving treatment, to walk out saying, "I cannot pay." They should say this before they go in, when, if they prove their case, they will be cheerfully admitted and afforded best of care and treatment.
THE COURT
There have been seven cases brought before the Court, the charges being mostly non-support and deser- tion, judgment being rendered against the defendents in every instance. The Town Counsel and Police Depart- ment has co-operated with the Public Welfare, the police in one case locating the offender in a distant city and returning him here for judgment.
TOWN PHYSICIAN
Owing to the large increase in number of those who have applied to the Board for medical attention, impos- ing a much larger amount of work upon the doctor than heretofore, his compensation was increased this year. His salary covers medical attendance only, surgical work be- ing an additional charge. He has treated 1,497 town cases and 208 state cases. The increase in number of patients cared for by the Town Physician will explain the larger drug and medicine bill.
THE TOWN INFIRMARY
The number of inmates has been the largest in many, years, 17 being the maximum, 13 the minimum, and 15 the average. The weekly cost per inmate has been dropped to $6.55, which is somewhat below what it would have been at Tewksbury. No additional appropriation has been made for the Infirmary, the amount voted by the Annual Meeting being found sufficient. Under the supervision of Mr. and Mrs. Dorr, the Infirmary, both in- side and out, has experienced a wonderful transforma- tion. The place is as clean and tidy as hands can make it, the inmates are supplied with an abundance of whole- some, home-cooked food, are happy and contented as may be, and a cheerful, home-like atmosphere pervades the place at all times. Through the good offices of the Light Commissioners under the immediate direction of
163
IPSWICH TOWN REPORT
Manager Mallard, electric lights have been installed, at a practical cost of $150.00 for material. The opportunity to dispel the gloom and dispense with the danger of loss of life to the aged inmates through the use of oil lamps, could not be passed by, especially when the expense was so small. The cost of electric lights will not be much more than that of lamps and lanterns, and this will soon be reduced by the saving of expense for work that has hitherto been done at other places.
Outside the House, the grounds are well kept and the appearance is inviting. The sheds and barn are models of neatness. There is a fine herd of accredited stock, which the Superintendent is proud to exhibit. Al- though the past year was a poor season for farming operations, crops being none too good and the selling price of products at a ruinous level, the inventory shows an increase of $239. In addition to the regular farm work, the farm team has moved two families, has hauled 1,000 yards of gravel from the pit to Farm Road, and is credited with 18 days' work in hauling wood from the lot to the woodyard.
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
We are indebted to Miss Gladys F. Hall of Salem, Field Secretary of the Essex County Red Cross, and to Miss Alice M. Smith of Ipswich, local representative of the same organization, for a considerable quantity of cloth which has been distributed to the needy. Also for 960 bags of Red Cross flour of excellent quality, Mr. James Wile trucking the same from Gloucester to Ips- wich at no cost to the town. Acknowledgment of other trucks loaned by various persons will be made in the report of the Unemployment Committee. Dr. Charles W. Townsend's contribution of $25 for relief work and 20% of the Salvation Army special appeal fund for 1932 amounting to $47 for relief work, also $50 in order blanks from the First National Stores were gratefully accepted. The work of the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children merits appreciation. Miss Pamela Dulaney of Beverly and Mrs. Vera R. Ross of Ipswich have been un- tiring not only in behalf of the little people but of all persons who were in need. The expenditure of their
164
IPSWICH TOWN REPORT
liberal fund derived from private contributions has saved the town hundreds of dollars. There has been closest co-operation between the S. P. C. C. and the Welfare Department, the duplication of assistance being avoided and the work of investigation made more thorough. The $1,400 given by the school teachers from their salaries, all of which was expended for labor at the Green Street Stadium, was a distinct help in relievingthe unemploy- ment situation.
HOLIDAY BENEFACTIONS
The churches, patriotic orders, benevolent fraterni- ties, and many individuals including Mrs. Amy L. Good- hue, Miss Margaret Chisholm, and others, were especially active during the holiday season, and the viands from the many baskets which they distributed graced what might otherwise have been barren tables on Thanksgiving and Christmas Days. From the receipts of the Policemen's ball, 40 baskets were filled with good things to eat and placed in needy homes, the contents of each basket be- ing valued at not less than $3.25. The regular drivers of local fire apparatus give Mrs. Ross 5% of their wages with which to buy clothing and shoes for the children. The proceeds from the Firemen's ball, $99.00, were given for the same purpose and entrusted to the same careful hands. Ten baskets, each containing food values of $3.50, were sent to as many homes, and toys were given to 600 children by this generous organization. The Rotary Club played host to 800 school children at the Town Hall, candy, toys, etc., being given to every one. In many schools the teachers, from their own incomes, spent lib- eral sums for Christmas gifts to their pupils. At the Shatswell School shoes were bought for a number of pu- pils by the teachers, baskets laden with food sent to several families, and 60 pecks of apples were distributed. These benefactions could not have been otherwise than helpful to the Public Welfare. The choir of Ascension Memorial Church, accompanied by Mr. Perry, the rector, visited the Infirmary on Wednesday evening of Christmas week, carrying with them for distribution among the in- mates good things in variety and in quantity sufficient to stock a store. Many a heart was warmed by this mani-
165
IPSWICH TOWN REPORT
festation of the Christian spirit and many an eye mois- tened with gratitude. These things taken together served to recreate the old-time holiday atmosphere, and their memory has doubtless helped many of our people to be patient in their distress, knowing that someone cares.
WALTER F. POOLE, CHARLES V. HILLS, JOHN R. MORRIS,
Board of Public Welfare.
The declination of Mr. Morris to be a candidate for re-election to the Board is received with profound regret by his colleagues. Perhaps no official ever rendered more faithful and conscientious service to the town than he. His knowledge of the routine work of the Board, gained through years of experience in distressing times, specially fitted him to further serve the town in the present crisis. His place will be difficult to fill.
WALTER F. POOLE, CHARLES V. HILLS.
166
IPSWICH TOWN REPORT
BOARD OF PUBLIC WELFARE
Inventory of Stock, Tools, Furnishings, etc., at Ipswich Infirmary, 1933
January 1, 1932
January 1, 1933
No.
Value
No.
Loss
Cows
4
$ 400.00
7
$
Value 525.00
Gain $125.00 20.00
$
Bulls
1
65.00
2
85.00
Steer
1
50.00
0
50.00
Heifers
4
300.00
7
200.00
100.00
Horses
3
250.00
3
300.00
50.00
Fowl
26
39.00
100
125.00
86.00
Ducks
8
8.00
25
25.00
17.00
Geese
4
8.00
8
12.00
4.00
Turkeys
0
2
10.00
10.00
Shoats
2
30.00
0
Hogs
0
1
18.00
18.00
Carts-Wagons
6
300.00
6
250.00
50.00
Spreader
1
80.00
1
70.00
10.00
Mowing Mchs.
2
100.00
1
80.00
20.00
Plows
2
45.00
2
40.00
5.00
Cultivators
3
30.00
3
30.00
Horse Hoe
1
4.00
1
4.00
Hay Fork
1
50.00
1
45.00
5.00
Harrows
4
60.00
4
55.00
5.00
Horse Rake
1
60.00
1
60.00
Potato Digger
1
2.00
1
2.00
Sled
1
10.00
1
20.00
10.00
Drag
1
4.00
1
12.00
8.00
Roller
1
25.00
1
25.00
Wheel Barrow
1
3.50
1
3.00
.50
Tedder
1
18.00
1
16.00
2.00
Tools
168.00
150.00
18.00
Harness - Blankets
75.00
60.00
15.00
Blocks - Ropes
25.00
20.00
5.00
Dairy Utensils
8.00
8.00
Scales
18.00
18.00
Grindstone
10.00
10.00
Grinders
18.00
15.00
3.00
Win'w'ng Mch. 1
10.00
10.00
Sprayer
1
53.00
50.00
3.00
Engines
2
80.00
1 70.00
10.00
Pump Jack
9.00
8.00
1.00
Wood Saw
16.00
16.00
Lawn Mower
9.00
8.00
Water Tank
60.00
60.00
Furniture - Bedding
800.00
900.00
100.00
Ranges-Fixts .- Lts.
250.00
700.00
450.00
Heating Plant
1,400.00
1,400.00
$4,942.50
$5,515.00
$906.00
1.00
$333.50
30.00
167
IPSWICH TOWN REPORT
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.