USA > Massachusetts > Plymouth County > Middleborough > Town annual report of Middleborough, Massachusetts 1926 > Part 10
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During Children's Book Week an exhibit was held in the Children's room of posters made by the seventh and . eighth grades, and of dolls dressed to represent various coun- tries, done by giris of the sixth grade. Prizes were offered by the Library and were awarded as follows:
To the girl whose poster best represented the spirit of Book Week, a copy of "Girl Scout Short Stories," awarded Mary Joy Crosier, seventh grade; to the boy whose poster was chosen on the same merit, a copy of "David goes to Greenland," awarded to John Howes, eighth grade. Hon- orable mention was given to Dorothy Westgate, Cecilia Para- dis, James Maddigan and Nicholas Panesis. The judges in the doll contest could make no decision between two Scotch lassies, so copies of "Dolls of Many Lands" were awarded to Dorothea Panesis and Arleen Egger. Honorable mention was given to Madeline Camandona and Irene Caswell.
Classes for instruction in the use of books and the library have been held as usual this year, about 125 pupils of the eighth grade receiving these lessons.
The Librarian spent much time in the Spring organiz-
168
ing a library in the High School. There were many usable books at the school, but no work had been done toward cat- aloging and classifying them. This was done, some equip- ment added and a good beginning made toward getting the library in order before moving into the new building.
Another phase of cooperation between the school and library is the certificate reading. Lists are sent to the library by the State Library Commission. Certificates are awarded to the children for reading a required number of these books. During the past year 408 certificates have been awarded to children reading five of the required books, and 15 large honor certificates have been given to those reading twenty books.
The library has been the recipient of many gifts of books and magazines. The largest collection numbered forty-two, coming from the Marion Moore estate at Eddyville. Many thanks are due to other contributors whose gifts were wel- comed and much enjoyed by our readers.
In October, through the courtesy of the Trustees, the Librarian had the privilege of attending the Fiftieth Anni- versary Conference of the American Library Association at Atlantic City, from which she derived much help and inspir- ation. The Librarian and members of the staff have attended meetings held throughout the State. Miss Louise Pratt was granted a three weeks' leave of absence in August to attend a course in Reference Work and Book Selection and Loan at Simmons College. The staff now consists of Mrs. Mertie E. Witbeck, Librarian; Miss Florence A. Robinson, Assistant Librarian; Miss Louise B. Pratt, cataloger, and Misses Edith G. Veazie and Miriam Bassett, assistants.
The appearance of the library has been much improved by the installation of new window shades throughout the building. Several windows in the stack room have been fitted with Chamberlin weather strips, which add much to the com- fort of those using the stack room.
At Christmas time the library issued bookmarks imprint-
.
169
ed with holiday greetings, which seemed to be much appre- ciated by our borrowers.
Especially are we grateful to Mr. Lorenzo Wood of the Gazette, for so willingly publishing articles pertaining to the library, and to Mr. Charles H. Bates, Superintendent of Schools, for the splendid spirit of cooperation he has shown in the furtherance of the happy relationship existing between the library and the schools.
I am happy to have this opportunity to express my deep appreciation to the Trustees for their unfailing loyalty and support, and to the members of the staff, without whose effi- cient and faithful service the library would have been un- able to achieve the splendid results of the past year.
CIRCULATION OF BOOKS
Central Library
Fiction
45,897
Books on Philosophy
391
Religion
333
Sociology
655
Languages
64
Science
691
Useful Arts
724
Fine Arts
848
Literature
1,438
History
878
Travel
1,171
Biography
1,452
Magazines
4,317
Books in foreign languages
237
13,199
Juvenile
Fiction
12,078
Non-fiction
9,036
21,114
170
Total circulation Central Library
80,210
East Middleboro
754
South Middleboro
291
West Side School
225
School Street School
54
Branch circulation
1,324
Total circulation for all, 1926
81,534
Total circulation for all, 1925 72,796
Gain over previous year
8,738
Number of volumes at beginning of year
28,094
Number added by purchase
801
Number added by gift
63
Number added by bound periodicals
60
Total number added 924
29,018
Number of volumes lost or discarded
408
Number of volumes owned by library, Dec. 31, 1926 28,610
Number of magazines to be found on reading tables
100
Number of newspapers
12
New cards issued-
Adults 270
Juveniles
157
Total cards issued 427
Number of registered borrowers Dec. 31, 1926
4,917
Respectfully submitted,
MERTIE E. WITBECK,
Librarian.
171
MIDDLEBORO FIRE DEPARTMENT REPORT OF THE CHIEF
To the Honorable Board of Selectmen :
Gentlemen :
I have the honor to present herewith, for your considera- tion, the sixth annual report of the Chief of the Middleboro Fire Department. for the year ending December 31, 1926, in accordance with Section 21 of Chapter 592, Acts of 1920.
APPARATUS
The apparatus of the Department consists of the follow- ing :
1 Maxim 500 Gallon Pumping Engine, purchased June 28, 1920.
1 Knox Combination Chemical and Hose Car, pur- chased October 14, 1912.
1 Maxim City Service Ladder Truck, purchased Octo- ber 11, 1915. 1 Maxim Hose Car, purchased May 12, 1914.
All are well supplied with ladders, 3 gallon hand extin- guishers and the most necessary appliances for aiding the extinguishing of fires.
ORGANIZATION
The personnel of the Department at the close of the year is as follows :
One Call Chief.
One Call Deputy Chief and two Assistant Call Deputy Chiefs.
One Permanent Captain.
Three Call Captains.
Four Permanent Drivers.
172
Forty-three Call Men and six Substitute Members. One Fire Police. A total of 62 members.
OPERATION OF THE DEPARTMENT ALARMS
Box 4
Squad
Still
Warden
Total
Jan.
6
18
28
Feb.
2
11
13
Mar.
1
4
23
1
29
April
1
4
17
18
40
May
1
5
7
17
30
June
2
4
2
8
July
2
4
3
3
12
Aug.
2
1
4
1
8
Sept.
1
2
3
6
Oct.
2
1
1
1
5
Nov.
1
3
8
1
13
Dec.
1
2
16
-
19
Total
16
36
115
44
211
Mileage of several companies were :
Engine 1
453.4
Combination 1
24.2
Combination 2
301.1
Ladder 1
22.9
Total
801.6
21/2-inch hose laid during year :
Engine 1
3300 ft.
Combination 1
3250 ft.
Combination 2
2250 ft.
Total 8800 ft. In addition to above Engine 1 laid 5800 ft. of 1-inch. Hose on Hand :
IMIRAL FRF
-
New Fire Station
173
5550 feet in 1st class condition
550 feet in 2nd class condition
250 feet in poor condition
6350 feet-Total
FIRE LOSSES
Assessed value of buildings and contents
$35,885.00
Insurance on same
65,700.00
Total damage
19,329.48
Total Insurance paid
16,244.48
Net loss (damage in excess of insurance paid)
3,085.00
The following permits were granted :
Garages 3
Keep and store gasoline
46
To use explosives
1
To sell fireworks
3
To transport explosives
1
Total 54
I firmly believe that the small number of fires and the low fire loss of last year can in a large measure be attributed to the system of inspection carried on by the department of which the general public is not aware.
There are 147 buildings and stores in town which have been inspected at least once a month during the year, by one of the permanent men, with a total of 1736 regular monthly inspections for rubbish and other fire hazards, with the result of each inspection on file. In addition to above, 48 special inspections have been made, making a total of 1784 inspec- tions during the year. The net results warrant this service, as may be seen from the reports that during the year the con- ditions in 26 places were reported bad, 20 of which were cleaned up upon request, the six places remaining bad being two junk yards, two woodworking plants, one grain mill and one paint shop.
A regular monthly practice of each company has been
174
held, also five general practices, in which the entire depart- ment is called out to take part in.
One new box has been located on Wareham St. east of Acorn, and two of the old type replaced with the non-interfer- ing type. Recommend that two more boxes be added to the system, one of them to be located at the West Side School.
The rear tires on Engine 1 are now six years old, hav- ing been changed from Combination 1 two years ago, and with the service that particular piece is subject to, in order to reduce to a minimum the possibility of accidents, these tires should be replaced with new ones at an early date.
The Combination 1 has been repainted and other much needed repairs attended to, and it is proposed to paint the Combination 2 and Ladder 1 this year, in order that they also may be in keeping with the present surroundings.
Undoubtedly the most notable event in the history of the Midldeboro Fire Department was when on December 30, the department moved out of the old building on School Street which had housed the Town Fire fighting apparatus for 70 years and the home of the permanent men for 12 years, to the new and spacious building on North Main Street. The well deserved words of praise and gratitude expressed on the night of the dedication make it unnecessary for me at this time to add more than has already been said, except perhaps that I feel safe in saying the entire department pledge their best efforts to prove themselves worthy of the pride they take, the convenience and comfort they now enjoy in the new station, and will continue to make this department as near 100 percent efficient as they are able.
I again take this opportunity to express my appreciation of the spirit of cooperation manifested by the Deputies, the members of the department, the Selectmen, the Police De- partment, especially, and all others who have in any way assisted.
Respectfully submitted, (signed) CARLTON W. MAXIM, Chief Middleboro Fire Department
175
REPORT OF THE GAS AND ELECTRIC DEPARTMENT
HI. J. Goodale, Town Manager,
Dear Sir :
I herewith present for your consideration and approval the thirty-third annual report of Gas and Electric Depart- ment of the Town of Middleboro for the year ending Decem- ber 31, 1926.
The past year has been the most successful, from an op- erating standpoint, of any in the history of the plant. The growth of income and manufacturing profit seems to be larger than any year heretofore. The total expense of the depart- ment was $1,888.00 less than the previous year, whereas the Gas and Electric sales increased nearly $10,000.00.
The combined manufacturing profits of $44,083.13 car- ried to Profit and Loss exceeded by $12,343 that of 1925 and that of 1924, by $10,581.00, which at that time was the largest profit made in any year since the Town owned the plant.
STREET LINES
A new power line has been built from the Station to Cambridge St. via Jackson, Pierce and Frank Sts., thereby not only relieving the overload on the old power line on Centre St., but divides the load the better to fit the water power available, and lessen the number of consumers out of service caused by line trouble.
No large extension of line in outlying districts was made during the year, the only notable one being that of Cedar and Soule Streets, adding 1.6 miles of highway occupied by over- head line, making a total of 78.94 miles.
176
At the close of the year over 300 miles of wire are strung along the highways.
It has been the custom, when deemed advisable to extend the service, to continue from the end of the previous exten- sion until our lines by this method now. extend miles from the station and using the same size feeders from the station ori- ginally put up to feed only a few thousand feet, which ac- counts for the service at the extreme ends of some of our long lines not being as good as might be.
This unfavorable condition can and should be remedied as soon as time will allow.
Improvement along this very line has been begun during this year by replacing the secondary lines or feeders from the distributing transformers in town by wire of much larger capacity, for in about all cases secondary line wires have been extended and a house at a time connected until many more connections have been made than originally planned for.
These conditions are being corrected as fast as time and the ever-increasing work will permit, but it is hoped that the end of the year will see a great improvement.
At various times past when the White Way lighting on Centre St. has been agitated, much criticism has been heard because of the number of poles already located there. This condition exists because of the attitude of the different com- panies owning and occupying their own poles to the exclu- sion of the other company unless an annual payment is made for the privilege of attaching to another company's pole. Be- cause of a recent change in ownership of one set of poles, this unsightly condition can now be remedied by the town setting a 40-foot line of poles for municipal wires and directing the other companies now using a separate pole for their wires to attach to the poles erected by the Town, and by so doing will reduce the number of poles on Centre St. by about 30. From a civic improvement standpoint it would be well worth it. Regarding the present poles on Centre St. now carrying Town wires, nearly every one should be renewed as many of them
177
are now unsafe. The expense and time put in trying to elim- inate conditions that would prevent good radio reception seems to have been fruitful as complaints are now compara- tively few, but that same willingness still exists on the part of the plant to chase down any trouble that may justly be attributed to faulty wires or apparatus.
Although some progress has been made toward the new High Tension line connecting with Brockton Edison current, the manufacturer has as yet received no benefits and the plant is as much at a disadvantage as ever.
The 54 outages during the year have not proven so serious as in some years previous for the greater part of them have been for one or two minute periods, but even these prove a hardship for some power customers.
The water power available this year was about one-half as much again as last year with the result that the water power produced 47,644 K. W. H. more than in 1925 and the purchased current was 35,360 K. W. H. less. The net in- crease in current purchased and made was 12,284 K. W. II.
The Station operated all or part of 322 days and ran 5,858 hours out of a possible 8,760, producing 146,580 K. W. H.
Number of transformers purchased, 41.
Most of the transformers were of small capacity for it so happened that a large number of new customers were so located that a transformer was required for each. Number of meters purchased was 213. Some of these were used to re- place old type meters that are more liable to run slow than the present type.
Broken and burned out street lamps renewed and re placed :
Rock, South and North Middleboro :
In Town :
60 candle power 91
60 candle power 553
250 candle power 24
400 candle power
178
600 candle power 18
Total
692
GAS
The new high pressure gas line from, and purchasing of gas from Taunton has been eminently satisfactory. The actual length from the Lakeville-Middleboro line was 11,260 feet and up to the present time no leaks have developed in the welded joints.
Provision has been made to take a service off for each house beyond the low pressure system now in use, as well as for a line on old Centre St. and Shaw St. Good pressure has always been maintained and no interruption of service that has caused inconvenience.
The total cost of the new main and necessary appliances at the Gas Plant has been $15,774.40.
Steps have already been taken to improve the gas distri- bution system in the south end of the Town by installing on Oak St. from Pearl, Courtland St. from Oak, and South Main St. from Courtland to the Lakeville line, a six-inch main, connecting with and feeding into the old main at Courtland and Alden Sts., and South Main and Bourne Sts. This will greatly improve the supply in that district, but when weather and ground conditions permit all services will be cut over onto the new main, and then we expect all complaints of poor service will be eliminated.
A new six-inch cast iron main has been laid on School St., connecting the eight-inch main on Centre St. with the main on Pierce St., giving an additional supply to that part of the Town. The greatest need at present is a six-inch main on South Main St. from Webster to Courtland, to replace the old three-inch installed in 1866. Thirty-two gas services have been installed this year.
Gas costs, 1926 :
Per 1,000 cubic feet made to manufacture
$1.33
1
179
Per 1,000 cubic feet sold, to manufacture $1.55
Average price received per 1,000 cubic feet sold 1.73
The output of gas was 2,000,000 feet more in 1926 than in 1925.
STREET LIGHTING
Because of the continual request for a street lamp and ever ready criticism of present inadequate street illumina- tion, cannot refrain from once more mentioning the subject of additional street lights.
With increased automobile traffic as well as foot traffic, the deficient street illumination is more pronounced than ever.
Adequate illumination of streets is recognized among other things as a necessity for facilitation of traffic, preven- tion of accidents, and crime, as also for its advertising value.
An otherwise beautiful town can be woefully marred or inadequately served by poor street lighting. The addition of a number of the 60 C.P. lamps to the numerous dark spots now existing and extending the highway lighting, would give added safety, comfort and convenience. The present per capita cost to the town for street lights is about 44 cents. The wires now pass through most, if not all the places where addi- tional lights are needed, so that the cost of installing about. 50 or 60 could be readily borne by the plant. It would only add about $500 per year to the Town appropriation for street lights and a like amount for any other purpose would not. yield so large a return.
New additions to the amount of $42,339 have been made to the plant. With the exception of the $13,000 notes issued (which will be paid from the earnings of the plant during the next four years), these additions have been paid for from the earnings of the plant, so without any expense to the Town by direct taxation, they have added assets to that amount by the plant being municipally owned and operated.
To correct a wrong idea still held by some, wish to say that the only amount the plant receives included in the Tax Levy is the $4,000 appropriated for street lighting.
180
Once more I wish to thank you for your timely advice, as well as your cooperation and assistance in conducting the affairs of this department.
Respectfully submitted,
GEORGE A. PHILBROOK,
Manager.
181
Financial Reports
FINANCIAL REPORT OF ASSESSORS
Town Appropriations
$373,304.12
State Assessments
State Tax
17,640.00
State Highway Tax
7,082.55
State Auditing Tax
25.83
Municipal Light Tax
28.73
County Assessments
County Tax
22,310.30
Overlay
2,419.57
Total $422,811.10 $422,811.10
Unexpended Balance of 1925
$7,285.03
ESTIMATED RECEIPTS
Income Tax
$22,551.80
Corporation Tax
9,445.57
Bank Tax
415.55
Licenses
803.00
Fines
1,404.00
Special Assessments
2,581.26
General Govt.
1,264.40
Protection of Persons, etc.
2,322.28
Health and Sanitation
887.76
Highways
602.17
Charities
9,347.72
Soldiers' Benefits
1,635.30
182
School Dept.
12,048.52
Libraries, Dog Licenses
2,683.86
Interest on Deposits
661.54
Interest on Taxes
3,253.14
Interest on Notes
489.32
Herring
295.00
Water Dept.
25,040.13
Fire District Income Tax
104.80
Street Railway Tax
34.16
Nemasket Bridge
3,000.00
Total
$100,871.28 $108,156.31
Net Amount raised by Taxation
$314,654.79
Polls-2,680 @ $2.00
$5,360.00
Value of Personal Property
$1,440,556.00
Value of Buildings
5,407,770.00
Value of Land
2,552,620.00
Total Valuation for Taxation
9,400,946.00
Tax Rate
32.90
Property Tax
309,291.12
COMMITTED TO COLLECTOR
Assessed on 2,680 Polls @ $2.00 $5,360.00
Assessed on Personal Property
47,395.72
Assessed on Real Estate
261,899.07
Total Assessment to cover Appropriation $314,654.79 Assessed on Moth 341.83
Total Assessment
$314,996.62
Persons, firms, etc., assessed on property
Residents
2,950
Non Residents
380
Persons assessed for Poll Tax only
650
Number of horses assessed 304
183
Number of cows assessed
809
Number of swine assessed,
78
Number of sheep assessed
0
Number of neat cattle assessed
77
Number of fowl assessed
12,385
Number of dwelling houses assessed
2,068
Number of acres of land assessed
38,481
Taxes abated in 1926 have been as follows:
Amount 1922 Assessment
$13.74
Amount 1923 Assessment
64.95
Amount 1924 Assessment
327.82
Amount 1925 Assessment
2,965.61
Amount 1926 Assessment
1,252.32
December Assessment :
Value of Real Estate
$1,125.00
Value of Personal Estate
700.00
49 Polls @ 2.00
.
98.00
Total Valuation added December 1926
$1,825.00
Tax on Property, December 1926
60.01
BENJAMIN C. SHAW, WILLIAM G. BOYNTON, HARRISON F. SHURTLEFF,
Assessors of Middleboro.
184
MIDDLEBORO PUBLIC LIBRARY
REPORT OF THE TREASURER FOR 1926 PEIRCE FUND
Receipts :
Peirce Trustees
$1,937.39
Cash for Books
59.36
Interest on Deposits
.82
$1,997.57
Balance on hand, January 1, 1926
638.53
$2,636.10
Payments :
Library Book House
$992.62
Desmond Publishing Co.
61.60
C. E. Lauriat
77.14
American Library Ass'n
85.29
John J. Sullivan
51.00
L. A. Wells
54.03
F. J. Barnard
137.70
H. R. Huntting
14.61
H. Goldberger
186.90
Houghton, Mifflin
7.67
Encyclopedia Brittanica
28.35
New York Times
12.00
Library of Congress
35.00
Miscellaneous
170.66
$1,914.57
Balance on hand, January 1, 1927
721.53
$2,636.10
SPECIAL FUNDS
Receipts :
Interest on Copeland Fund $163.50
185
Interest on Harriet C. Beals Fund
50.62
Interest on Harriet O. Peirce Fund
25.30
Interest on Deposit
7.25
$246.27
Balance on hand, January 1, 1926
269.37
$516.04
Payments :
Ginn & Co.
$3.75
Mildred E. Jenney
.75
Mertie E. Witbeck .50
J. Harrison, Tr. 6.00
Middleboro Trust Co. (rent of box)
5.00
$ 16.00
Balance on hand, January 1, 1927
500.14
$516.14
Respectfully submitted,
ALLAN R. THATCHER,
Treasurer.
1.86
CEMETERY TRUST FUNDS
Lot Endowed
Fund
Balance
Central and S. Middleboro Cemeteries :
M. H. Cushing Central and Nemaskett Hill :
$400.00
$536.50
Joseph and Nathaniel Leonard
400.00
561.20
Central and N. Middleboro Cemeteries : Everett Robinson
300.00
576.88
Rock and Ewer Cemeteries :
Tinkham and Gibbs
150.00
187.92
Nemaskett and Rock Cemeteries :
Vaughan and Thomas
50.00
51.49
Central Cemetery :
Harding C. Angus
100.00
105.17
John Barden
100.00
105.38
Sylvanus Barrows
135.00
148.95
Sarah E. Bartlett
100.00
113.83
T. H. and H. A. Besse
100.00
109.29
Andrew J. Bisbee
100.00
109.04
Samuel S. Bourne
100.00
118.14
Rufus J. Brett
100.00
105.63
Edward C. Bryant
200.00
212.37
Frederick O. Burgess
61.27
64.96
C. W. Clark
100.00
100.42
Joseph W. Cobb
100.00
110.78
Charles A. Cole
20.00
21.00
Robert V. Cole
82.14
89.97
Richard Cox
25.00
26.27
Edward H. Cromwell
100.00
107.70
William E. Crosby
100.00
111.37
Josiah C. Cushing
200.00
232.32
Lydia B. Cushing
50.00
52.89
187
William L. Dean
100.00
107.45
Edward B. Dorrance
150.00
185.87
Mr. and Mrs. James Dowsing
51.61
54.23
Mary E. Drake
100.00
115.86
Hannah S. Drew
100.00
115.02
Arlon R. Dustin
50.00
53.63
Andrew M. Eaton
100.00
107.45
Ziba Eaton
100.00
112.22
Egger and Southwick
100.00
114.09
Axel E. Fagerberg
100.00
107.25
George C. Fairbanks
100.00
105.73
David H. Farrar
100.00
108.67
N. N. Fenno
100.00
113.70
Albert F. Finney
100.00
107.25
William J. Francis
60.00
64.35
S. B. Gibbs
100.00
109.17
Gilmore Lot
100.00
109.90
John B. Griffith
100.00
108.37
William M. Haskins
100.00
121.02
Simeon Hathaway
100.00
108.25
George H. Hermann
100.00
106.12
Henry M. Hodges
100.00
111.61
P. B. Holmes
100.00
121.58
Jacob Johnson
75.00
78.85
B. F. Jones
100.00
108.99
Sarah P. Jones
100.00
104.72
Annie M. Keedwell
100.00
108.31
George H. Keene
100.00
106.19
Henry C. Keith
100.00
110.17
Clara S. Kelley
100.00
112.47
Eliza H. Kelley
100.00
114.31
William A. King
100.00
105.80
('alvin D. Kingman
100.00
107.82
John B. Knowland
100.00
111.96
Robert W. Lashures
100.00
111.74
Otis Leach
100.00
105.83
188
Mrs. Lehman
60.00
63.45
James Allen Leonard
150.00
161.20
Lewis Lincoln
200.00
238.97
James Livingston
100.00
108.29
Galen E. II. Lovell
100.00
107.25
Thomas J. Lovell
100.00
108.42
Mary A. MacDaniel
100.00
108.12
Benj. S. MacLaughlin
100.00
107.25
Arthur C. MacMann
75.00
80.50
John N. Main
100.00
105.73
J. P. McCully
100.00
105.15
John R. Merrick
50.00
53.63
Clara S. Metcalf
100.00
107.64
Alden Miller
100.00
109.54
Albert F. Mitchell
100.00
107.25
Ebenezer Nelson
75.00
75.08
Simeon L. Nickerson
100.00
107.25
Susan R. Noreville
100.00
108.29
E. S. Ober
100.00
107.25
Sophronia P. Osborne
100.00
108.93
Willard Osborne
100.00
107.64
A. Judson Partridge
100.00
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