USA > Massachusetts > Plymouth County > Plymouth > Town annual report of Plymouth, MA 1890-1893 > Part 10
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14. Number of blow-offs, 36.
SERVICES.
16. Kind of pipe ; lead and cement-lined.
17. From one-half inch to one inch.
18. Extended 398 feet.
20 Total now in use, 5} miles.
21. Service taps added, 43.
22. Number now in use, 1,454.
23. Average length of service, 193 feet.
24. Average cost of service, $5.39.
27. Motors and elevators used, 0.
28. Number now in use, 2.
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Report of the Collector of Water Rates.
PLYMOUTH, MASS., January 1, 1892.
To the Board of Water Commissioners of the Town of Plymouth :
GENTLEMEN-I hereby submit the annual report of the Collector's Department of water works for the year 1891:
Financial.
The Collector is charged as follows:
Arrears
$121 12
Water rates.
17,121 28
Labor and material 378 56
Miscellaneous water
204 18
$17,825 14
And credited
By abatements
$448 27
uncollected rates
379 25
labor and material uncollected . 70 05
collected rates
16,927 57
$17,825 14
The uncollected rates have been nearly all collected since the date of this report, but could not be included, as the books were closed earlier than usual.
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Statistics.
Water is supplied to 1,580 families, 180 bath tubs, 460 water closets, 80 stores, offices and shops, 16 urinals, 140 stables, 275 horses, 130 cows, 180 hose, 2 cemeteries, 10 en- gines, 5 fish and meat markets, 1 water motor, 4 banks, 5 churches, 11 manufactories, 2 photograph rooms, 3 livery stables, 2 dental rooms, 3 saloons, 4 bakeries, 7 hotels and boarding houses, 2 hot houses, 2 printing offices, 6 public- halls, 2 banquet rooms, 1 preserving company, 2 billiard rooms, 2 cigar manufactories, gas works, Old Colony Rail- road and engines, 1 electric plant, woollen mills, county buildings, public town buildings, fire purposes and watering; streets.
Yours respectfully,
JOHN H. HARLOW, Collector of Water Rates.
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SUPERINTENDENT'S REPORT.
OFFICE OF PLYMOUTH WATER WORKS, PLYMOUTH, January 1st, 1892.
To the Board of Water Commissioners :
GENTLEMEN - I respectfully submit my eighteenth an- nual report and the thirty-seventh annual report of the Plymouth Water Works, for the year ending Dec. 31st, 1891.
Pipes Laid During 1891 and Cost of Same.
NO. OF FEET.
SIZE.
COST.
WHERE LAID.
25
4 inch.
$28 60
Foot of North street; took out old hydrant and replaced by new.
465
4
66
50
2
287 88
Winter street, between Sandwich street and shore.
746
10
66
789 69
Around Thomas' Swamp.
339
4
66
204 58
Lincoln street, from Union street to High school- house.
1,625
1,310 75
Total number of feet and cost.
Six hundred and eighty-two feet of 10-inch pipe through Thomas' Swamp are to be discontinued when the connec- tions are made with the new pipe.
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Street Mains.
The street mains are in good condition. Thirty-five leaks on the mains have been repaired in various parts of the system, four of the above leaks on 4-inch pipe were caused by lightning, August 15th, on South District Road. Three of the above breaks on the 8-inch pipe, one on 6-inch pipe, and four on 4-inch pipe were caused by putting the high service on the whole Town. The hydrants and blow-offs have been opened and pipes thoroughly flushed.
I would respectfully call your attention to the urgent need of more gates to shorten the length of sections on Main and Court streets, when breaks occur in the mains. Now a large territory has to be shut off while repairs are being made to the great inconvenience of water consumers, and hydrants are rendered useless in case of fire.
Table Showing the Number of Leaks and Cost of Repairs.
NUMBER.
SIZE OF PIPE.
COST OF REPAIRS.
1
10 inch.
$21 35
3
8
31 38
2
6
66
17 35
16
4
80 43
1
3
66
4 20
12
2
66
47 08
35
Total number and cost.
$201 79
1
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Service Pipes.
The street mains have been tapped for new supplies in 43 places, at a cost of $231.63. Four services have been discontinued ; number in use is 1,454, and the street length of service pipes is 27,706 feet. Eight iron service pipes have been taken out and replaced by lead at a cost of $41.27. There have been 15 leaks in service pipes this year, caused by putting on the high service, the cost of repairs being; $43.78. 1
Gates.
Six new gates, from two to ten inches, have been set the past year. The cost of two of the above gates is included in the cost of the extensions to which they belong.
Four new gates, at street intersections, have been placed as follows: One 4-inch set on North street, junction of Water street, at a cost of $20.16. One 2-inch, set on Wads- worth's lane, junction Court street, at a cost of $13.10. The old 8-inch gate on Summer street, junction Market street, was replaced by a new one at a cost of $35.85, and the old 10-inch gate on Stoddard street, junction Russell street, was replaced by a new one at a cost of $50.45. Total cost of the four gates set, not included in the extensions, $119.56.
All the gates have been inspected and put in good con- dition.
Reservoirs.
Both high and low-service reservoirs are in good con- dition.
The weeds have been cut down and removed, both inside and outside of the enclosure, at a total cost of $70.15.
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New Takers.
There have been added to the water takers this year 30 tenements, 43 water closets, 12 bath tubs, 1 urinal, 7 stables, 1 store, 2 offices, 1 workshop, 1 blacksmith shop, and 1 fish market.
Butments at Ponds.
The butment at Little South Pond is in a very poor con- dition. I would recommend to the Board to have it rebuilt this year. A large amount of labor has been done on it the past year to keep it up at a cost of $49.85. A new set of screens has been made for the gate house on account of the high water flowing over them. The screens have been cleaned from time to time the past year. At each cleaning there was found to be very little filth collected on them. The butment at Great South Pond has been cemented and put in condition, at a cost of $9.60.
Telephone.
The route of the telephone from the Superintendent's office to the pump station has been changed to go direct to the high-service reservoir up New Fields street, from Sum- mer street, by setting 46 new poles and running five wires to reservoir and two wires from reservoir to pump station ; the three extra wires are to connect with a telehydroba- rometer in the office to transmitter at the high-service reservoir to give the height of water. The cost of the same is, 46 poles. $57.50 ; trucking, $5.75; freight, $5.31; plumb- ing, $6.71; cement, $3; labor, setting poles, running wires, building pit for transmitter, lightning arrester at reservoir, taking down the old wire and some repairs, amounting to $142.01. The telephone is in good working order.
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Boxes.
Forty-five service and six gate boxes have been replaced by new ones, and one wooden gate box taken out and re- placed by an iron extension box at a cost of $72.
Drinking Fountains and Stand Pipes.
There has been no addition to the number of stand pipes or drinking fountains the past year ; all are in good condition.
Work Shop.
The repairs on the shop, including the new water closet put in, amount to $57.71.
Labor.
Whole amount expended for labor during the year : For labor on extensions $364 32
labor trenching for service pipe. 64 75
all other labor 1,589 53
$2,018 60
Amount received for labor trenching. $305 37
Amount received for shutting off ser- vices 80 00
385 37
Total cost of labor during the year, less refunded. $1,633 23
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Schedule
Showing the nunmber of feet of each size pipe, and num- ber and size of gates on the works Dec. 31st, 1891 :
Size in inches.
Length of pipe in feet.
No. of gates.
No. of check
valves.
No. of air valves.
No. of 10-inch
blow-offs.
No. of 6-inch
blow-offs.
No. of 4-inch
blow-offs.
No. of 2-inch
blow-offs.
No. of hydrants.
20
65
16
7,515
2
2
1
1
1
2
12
64
2
10
19,749
16
2
2
1
1
2
5
8
4,732
11
10
6
13,167
25
1
15
4
62,072
102
1
1
6
52
3
9,562
14
1
1
2
27,875
86
3
4
1
1
1,290
7
154,343
271
3
17
2 2
4
11
86
Twenty-nine miles and 1,223 feet of main and distribu- tion pipes, the street length of service pipes being 27,706 feet, with the main and distribution pipes, make a total of 182,049 feet of pipe or 34 miles and 2,529 feet. Hydrants on high-service, 51; hydrants on low-service, 35; post hy- drants, 42; flush hydrants, 44; private hydrants, post, 8.
Stock and Tools on Hand.
January 1st, 1891. $1,844 48
Furniture in office January 1st, 1891 .
76 00
$1,920 48
14
8,252
6
1
8
99
Stock and tools on January 1st, 1892. $1,596 14
Furniture in office January 1st, 1892. 226 00
1,822 14
Decrease for the year.
$98 34
Weather Record.
Showing the rainfall and melted snow for the last twelve months kindly furnished by Miss Louisa B. Knapp, volun- teer oberver for the New England Meteorological Society.
MONTHS.
RAINFALL.
January
8.36 inches.
February
5.32
March
5.04
66
April
4.02
66
May
1.99
66.
June
2.23
July
2.55
August
1.43
September
2.23
October
5.92
66
November
1.79
66
December
3.77
66
In the year 1891
44.65
66
1890
51.80
66
66
66
" 1888
50.28
66
1887
43.14
66
1889
49.14
Yours respectfully,
R. W. BAGNELL, Superintendent.
Pumping Record for the Year 1891.
MONTHS.
HOURS 1 UN.
COAL USED IN PUMPING, HEATING AND BANKING.
NO. OF BEVOLU- TIONS.
NUMBER OF GALLONS PUMPED.
DUTY.
AVERAGE HEAD.
1 No of Gallons pumped with one pound of coal.
Av. No. of lbs of ooal used per day.
January,
1083
17,890 lbs.
165,000
7,840,800
24,124,133
66 feet
438.27
577.09
February,
971
14,400
66
138,000
6,557,760
25,067,037
455.4
514.28
March,
92
13,210
131,000
6,225,120
25,938,934
471.24
426.12
April,
1013
14,925
150,000
7,128,000
26,263,694
477.14
497.05
May,
1083
16,075
164,000
7,817,040
26,766,796
486.28
518.54
June,
157
20,230
221,500
10,525,680
28,639,393
520.3
674.33
July,
164₺
21,280
232,000
11,024,640
28,516,645
518.07
686.45
August,
173
22,000
66
236,000
11,214,720
28,059,229
509.76
709.67
September,
1372
18,350
193,500
9,195,120
27,581,997
501.09
611.66
October,
122
18,300
177,500
8,434,800
25,370,330
460.91
590.32
November,
96
15,100
140,000
6,652,800
24,251,285
440.58
503.33
December,
109
17,700
158,000
7,508,160
23,348,563
424.18
570.96
Totals,
1,467
209,460 lbs.
2,107,000
100,124,640
Average head for year, 66 dynamic.
Average number of gallons to one pound of coal, 478.01. Average number of pounds of coal per day, 573.86.
Average duty for year, 26,311,582.
The above figures are a report of the year 1891, and are correct to the best of my knowledge.
W. A. H. JONES, Engineer in Charge.
100
66
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THE WARRANT
To be Hereafter Issued for the Annual Meeting of the Town to be Held in Davis Hall, at 8:30 O'clock in the Forenoon, on Monday, March 7th, 1892, Will contain the fol- lowing Articles, to wit :
ARTICLE 1. To choose a Moderator to preside at said meeting.
ART. 2. To hear the reports of the several boards of offi- cers and committees of the Town, and act thereon.
ART. 3. To choose all necessary Town officers for the en- suing year. The following officers will, in accordance with a vote of the Town, until otherwise ordered, be voted for on one ballot, to wit: Selectmen, Town Clerk, Town Treas- urer, Auditor, Assessors, Collector of Taxes, seven Consta- bles, one Overseer of the Poor for three years, one Water Commissioner for three years, two members of the School Committee for three years, one for two years and one for one year, five members of the Board of Health and three members of a Committee on the Agawam and Half-way Pond Fishery.
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ART. 4. To revise and accept a List of Jurors, prepared by the Selectmen.
ART. 5. To see if the Town will authorize the Treasurer, under the direction of the Selectmen, to borrow money in anticipation of taxes, and for disbursement under the pro- visions of the laws relating to State Aid and Military Aid, and to defray the expenses of the Town after January 1st, 1893.
ART. 6. To make the necessary appropriations to defray the expenses of the Town and for other purposes, and raise such sums of money as the Town shall deem expedient.
ART. 7. To see if the Town will appropriate the sum of one hundred and fifty dollars to defray the expenses of Decoration Day.
ART. 8. To vote on the following question : "Shall licenses be granted for the sale of intoxicating liquors in Plymouth?" the vote to be by separate ballot, "Yes" or "No," in answer to the question.
ART. 9. To take such action as the Town may see fit in aid of the Public Library.
ART. 10. To see if the Town will authorize the Selectmen to renew any note on notes heretofore authorized which are now due, or may become due the present year, for such time and on such terms as they may deem for the interest of the Town.
ART. 11. To see if the Town will authorize the Selectmen to prosecute, compromise or defend any suit or suits within the Commonwealth in the name of the Town.
ART. 12. To make such an appropriation as may be thought expedient for the care of Training Green.
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ART. 13. To make such an appropriation as may be thought expedient for the care and improvement of the Pub- lic Parks of the Town.
ART. 14. To see if the Town will accept a way laid out by the Selectmen from Jabez Corner, so-called, to the shore.
ART. 15. To see if the Town will discontinue Town Dock, so-called, as a public landing place.
ART. 16. To see what action the Town will take concern- ing the construction of a stone wall across Town Dock and filling said Dock.
ART. 17. To see if the Town will accept the provisions in regard to Assessors of chapter 255 of the statutes of the year 1878.
ART. 18. To see if the Town will, at the annual meeting in 1893, choose three Assessors, one for one year, one for two years, and one for three years, and thereafter at each annual meeting one Assessor for three years.
ART. 19. To see if the Town will ratify and approve the agreement made October 24th, 1891, with H. B. Taylor "re- specting the flumes over which the highway crosses the Mill Pond at Manomet."
ART. 20. To see if the Town will place an electric light near the house of Josiah D. Churchill on Vernon Street.
ART. 21. To see if the Town will make an appropriation for the repair of the school-house on Spring Street.
ART. 22. To see if the Town will build a new school- house at some point between Russell and Samoset streets and make an appropriation for the same.
ART. 23. To see if the Town will build a new school-
104
house on Court Street north of Cherry Street and make an appropriation for the same.
ART. 24. To see if the Town will vote to choose Park Commissioners by ballot, and after the present year choose the same on the general ticket.
ART. 25. To see if the Town will accept and allow the location and laying out by the Park Commissioners of cer- tain lands at and near Billington Sea for Park purposes.
ART. 26. To see if the Town will accept and allow the location and laying out by the Park Commissioners of cer- tain lands at the head of Plymouth Beach, on Jumping Hill, and at the southeast corner of Vernon and Allerton streets for Park purposes.
ART. 27. To see if the Town will appropriate for Park purposes as located and laid out by the Park Commission- ers certain lands belonging to the Town at the head of the Beach and on Jumping Hill.
ANNUAL REPORT
OF THE
SCHOOL COMMITTEE
AND-
Superintendent of Schools
-OF THE-
TOWN OF PLYMOUTH
FOR-
1891.
SCHOOL COMMITTEE.
TERM EXPIRES.
H. N. P. HUBBARD,
1894
ELIZABETH THURBER, .
1893
CHARLES I. LITCHFIED,
1892
JAMES MILLAR,
1892
CHARLES H. HOWLAND, 1892
GIDEON F. HOLMES,
1892
.
CHAIRMAN-Charles I. Litchfield.
SECRETARY - Elizabeth Thurber.
SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS - Charles Burton.
At the annual meeting in March, elections must be held for two members of the School Committee for three years, one for two years, and one for one year.
107
REPORT OF THE SCHOOL COMMITTEE.
The School Committee respectfully submit their an- nual report for the year ending Dec. 31st, 1891, to- gether with the report of Superintendent of Schools.
At the annual meeting in March, 1891, the Town made the following appropriations :
Support of schools.
$23,800 00
Books and supplies 1,800 00
$25,600 00
In addition to the above, the
School Department has placed
to its credit :
Mass. school fund
$79 00
Income of Murdock fund 18 25
Balance undrawn 1890. 788 61
885 86
Cr.
$26,485 86
Expenditures for 1891. 26,096 44
Balance undrawn .
$389 42
-
108
Classified Expenditures.
Salaries of teachers. $17,906 29
. Salary of Superintendent. 1,200 00
Horse hire for Superintendent. 150 00
Salary of music teacher and horse hire ... 750 00
Books and supplies 1,761 37
Town of Bourne 178 01
Fuel 1.036 85
Janitors and care of school-houses.
1,212 93
Truant officer 100 00
Design for school-house 109 00
Repairs 1,407 35
Printing 110 75
High School exhibition and diplomas 80 75
Incidentals
93 14
$26,096 44
The Committee recommend the following appropri- ations for the current year :
Support of schools
$24,700 00
Books and supplies. 1.800 00
$26,500 00
The Committee have, during the past year. made many needed and extensive repairs in the Russell Street School-house. The building is now in good con- dition, and will not for several years, probably, need anything done to it.
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The school-house on Spring Street is poorly venti- lated, too small and inadequate to the wants and ne- cessities of that locality. We feel that alterations and enlargement of the building should be made during the summer vacation, and recommend an appropriation of $ 500.00 for this purpose.
The number of scholars attending this school is too large to be taught in a satisfactory manner by one teacher, the distance travelled by some is considerable, and taking into consideration the fact that Miss Smith's school on Oak Street is too crowded, as well as Miss Holmes' at Cold Spring, the Committee are of the opinion that the necessity for a new school-house ex- ists, to be located at some point between Summer and Samoset Streets. This matter will be presented to the Town at its annual meeting.
The increase in the number of the scholars in the ex- treme northerly part of the Town, will probably, in the near future, require the enlargement of the present school-house or the erection of a new building. The Committee, on visiting the school, found that one of the rooms was overcrowded. By placing a part of the scholars in the larger room, temporary but not satisfac- tory relief has been obtained. This matter will also be presented to the Town at the annual meeting.
As stated in our last report, a school at Indian Brook has been opened. It appears that nearly all the scholars come from the neighborhood of Ship Pond, the teacher also boarding in that locality, and necessitating
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a travel of one and a half miles each way to attend school, and it is apparent to your Committee that the location of this school-house should be changed for their better accommodation, and a place selected in the im- mediate locality of Ship Pond. This would necessitate the moving of the present school-house, which the Com- mittee do not think advisable, or the erection or pur- chase of a building suitable for the school. This matter will be presented to the Town at the annual meeting.
More than the usual number of changes have occurred in our corps of teachers during the past year. By the death of Mr. Aaron H. Cornish, who was a teacher in the Town for a period of fifty years, although not all that time in the public schools, the Town has lost a faithful and beloved teacher. His place was filled by transferring Mr. E. E. Sherman from the Chiltonville Grammar ; Mr. Keyes, of Bridgewater, being engaged to fill Mr. Sherman's place. The vacancy caused by the resignation of Miss Ada B. Chandler was filled by the engagement of Miss Annie M. Klingenhagen. Since the close of the last term, Miss Emma F. Eames accepted a position in a neighboring State. Her resig- nation was sent in too late to fill the vacancy prior to the commencement of the Winter term. The vacancy caused by the resignation of Miss Frances A. Hadaway of the Manomet Grammar School has been filled by the appointment of Miss Katie W. Hadaway, and that by the resignation of Miss Lydia A. Sampson of the
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Manomet Primary, by the appointment of Miss Laura Holmes.
When vacancies occur in the most southerly part of the Town, much difficulty is experienced in finding teachers who are willing to go so far from the centre of the Town, with the irregular and uncertain means of communication. Vacancies that occur will be filled at the earliest possible moment and to the best pos- sible advantage.
The Committee have been duly notified by the County Commissioners of the establishment of a Truant School at Walpole.
Although there have been but few cases of habitual truancy, due to the efforts of our efficient truant offi- cer, Capt. Joseph W. Hunting, it is a relief to us that a place has been provided for the suitable and proper care of such cases as may be brought before us in the future.
We would urge upon the parents and friends of the scholars and those interested in the cause of education, to visit the different schools of the Town, not only to acquaint themselves with the routine and management of the school-room, but to give encouragement to the teachers and scholars. Death during the past year has removed from our midst an honored and esteemed member, Mr. Charles O. Churchill. He was a man of sterling integrity and character, deeply interested in the welfare of his Town, faithful in all his undertakings, and an interested and active co-worker with us until
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sickness prevented his regular attendance at our meet- ings.
The death of Mr. Charles O. Churchill and the resig- nation of Mr. John W. Churchill created two vacan- cies in the Board which have been filled as required by law by the election of Mr. Charles H. Howland and Mr. Gideon F. Holmes.
The number of school-houses in the Town is 27, with 40 teachers, and 1,497 scholars. For the names and salaries of teachers, attendance of scholars and course of studies, we call your attention to the Superin- dent's report.
The Committee call attention to the request they have previously made that all bills against the School Department be presented monthly, the regular meet- ings of the Board being held on the first Monday eve- ning of each month.
CHARLES I. LITCHFIELD, } JAMES MILLAR, H. N. P. HUBBARD, CHARLES H. HOWLAND, GIDEON F. HOLMES, ELIZABETH THURBER,
School Committee.
PLYMOUTH, February 2, 1892.
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REPORT OF THE SUPERINTENDENT.
To the School Committee of the Town of Plymouth:
GENTLEMEN-In compliance with your rules, I present the following as my report for the year ending Dec. 31st, 1891 :
The course of study, in all the schools of the Town, dur- ing the year, has remained unchanged, as the subjects taught seem as well arranged as is practicable under present con- ditions ; but some of the methods of instruction have been much improved. The effort has always been made to avoid too much supervision, which cramps the original thought of the teachers and ends in a mechanical and unnatural treat- ment of the subject before the class. This freedom, in- creased very much the past year, has brought an unusual degree of independence to our teachers, and rendered their labors, in my estimation, very valuable. In all the schools, from Primary to High school, the pupils are accustomed to study the subjects of their lessons where it is possible in the form of topics, and thus they learn the use of books of reference ; and, instead of memorizing text books, they be- gin to acquire habits of investigation. The old practice among teachers of depending on the one established book for their questions, and of requiring the prescribed answers from their pupils, has ceased, and the rational and attrac- tive method of a free treatment of the subject of the lesson has become the rule. The teacher of geography does not
8
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wish to rely on any one text book for the work of his class, but asks for half a dozen, so that the pupils may learn that writers on any subject may differ very materially; a fact which it is best they should discover in the school- room. So, also, the intelligent teacher of history in a Grammar school is very well aware that he is not keeping step with the movement of the times, if he undertakes to teach the history of his country by the use of any common text book alone, instead of beginning, at least, to introduce his class to the original sources, which are now made easily accessible
In a review of the work of the schools at the close of the year, it was clearly evident that the teachers and pupils of our schools had made great progress in the practice of these methods, so rational to the teacher, and so attractive to the scholar.
Our teachers have, for the most part, learned to teach by teaching, with some help from educational journals and other pedagogical matter ; but they are not supplied with many of the books which would keep them always in touch with the external school-world, and supply them with every new idea as soon as it is published. These books, written by the ablest men and furnished at the lowest possible prices, and having direct relation to the work of the school-room, ought, I think, to be liberally furnished to all teachers of the Town.
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