USA > Massachusetts > Plymouth County > Plymouth > Town annual report of Plymouth, MA 1928-1929 > Part 6
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Stop gates added, 26; discontinued, 4; number now in use, 724.
Small stop gates less than 4-inch, 114.
Number blow-offs, 42.
SERVICES
Kind of pipe: Lead and cement lined.
Sizes : From one-half to four inches.
Extended : 463 feet. Discontinued, None.
Total now in use, 8 miles, 2,960 feet.
Service taps added, 36. Discontinued, None.
Number now in use, 2,962. Average length of service, 13 feet. Average cost of service, $15.93.
Number meters added, 206.
Number now in use, 1,788.
Percentage of services metered, 60%.
Number of motors and elevators added: None.
Number now in use, 1 motor and 1 elevator. :
Plymouth Six
FINANCIAL (Published by request of the New England Water Works Association.)
MAINTENANCE
Total Water Receipts,
$37,044.30 Management and repairs, Interest on Bonds,
$24,989.64 1,777.50
Total,
$26,767.14
Profit for the year,
10,277.16
Total,
$37,044.30
Paid on Bonds and Notes, 10,666.66
CONSTRUCTION
Extension of Mains,
$12,045.26
Extension of Services,
573.42
Meters and Setting,
2,947.55
Stock on hand at shop,
1,504.51
Unexpended balance, maintenance,
1,290.93
Unexpended balance, construction,
24,195.57
Total,
$42,557.24
Bonded Debt 33/4%,
$3,333.30
Bonded Debt, at 4%,
4,000.00
Bonded Debt, at 4%,
4,000.00
Bonded Debt, at 4%,
24,000.00
Total, Paid yearly on Principal,
$35,333.30
$10,666.66
-82-
-83-
SUPERINTENDENT'S REPORT
To the Board of Water Commissioners :
Gentlemen: In accordance with the custom of this Department, I submit herewith the annual report of the Superintendent of the Plymouth Water Works for the year ending December 31, 1928.
TABLE SHOWING LOCATION, SIZE AND COST OF PIPE LAID
Location
Length
Size
Cost
Court Street,
342
8"
817.40
South Park Avenue,
290'
8"
705.56
Leyden Street,
55'
8"
280.53
Samoset Street and Murray Street,
165
8"
1
405'
8"
947.26
New High Service,
62'
6"
5,680.89
Lothrop Street and
Water Street Ext.,
550'
6"
1,099.21
North Park Avenue,
23'
6"
102.10
Alvin Road,
54'
2"
44.55
5,764'
$12,045.26
The year 1928 was a busy one for the Water Depart- ment and considerable new work was completed.
NEW HIGH SERVICE LINE
At the regular Town Meeting, held in March 1928, the Town appropriated $35,000.00 for grading and land dam- age on the newly laid out street extending from Town Brook, near Deep Water Bridge, northerly to land of Joseph Malaguti, a distance of approximately 8,000 feet.
The contractor began grading this road in July and in August the Water Department began laying the 8" main along those sections of the new work that are in cut.
No pipe will be laid in the fills until the spring of 1929, when the fills will have had a chance to settle through the winter.
38'
6"
353.98
Hedge Road,
100'
6"
3,000'
8"
680'
10"
$2,013.78
-84-
There has been 3,000 feet of 8" pipe laid on this work in 1928, and eleven gates and four hydrants have been set.
STANDPIPE
Two bids were received for erecting a 50,000 gallon standpipe on a 29' tower.
One from the Pittsburgh-Des Moines Steel Company for $4,000.00 and one from the Chicago Bridge & Iron Works for $3,450.00
The bid of the Chicago Bridge & Iron Works was ac- cepted and the tank was completed and filled with water October 27, 1928.
Only minor leaks developed in the standpipe when it was filled and these were promptly repaired by the Chi- cago Bridge & Iron Works.
An inspection of the tank by the Chairman of the Water Commissioners and the Superintendent of Water Works satisfied them that the work was satisfactory and had been performed in a workmanlike manner.
Final payments were accordingly made on Oct. 31, 1928.
In the spring, the small pumping station at Deep Wa- ter Bridge will be built and pumps installed.
While this work is going on the balance of the 8" pipe can be laid, and possibly by August 1929 water may be available on the new system.
METERS
There were 206 meters set during the year, making the total now in use 1,788, or 60% of all services are now metered.
PUMPING RECORDS
Month
Hours Run
Total Lbs. Fuel
Gravity
Pumping
Daily Pumping
Rain In Inches
Av. Max. Temp.
Av. Min. Temp.
Daily Av. Fuel Lbs.
January
278 1/4
52,090
16,969,000
23,668,000
763,000
3.27
35
22
1680
February
270
46,700
17,015,000
22,064,000
761,000
4.19
32
18
1610
March
2663/4
45,690
17,360,000
22,383,000
722,000
4.48
41
27
1480
April
244 3/4
42,640
18,066,000
20,698,000
690,000
4.78
52
35
1421
May
2551/4
41,560
19,158,000
22,034,000
711,000
2.31
62
46
1341
June
273
43,850
19,024,000
23,968,000
799,000
5.17
72
57
1462
July
303
47,510
20,007,000
26,947,000
869,000
3.95
80
65
1533
August
3513/4
54,460
20,597,000
31,587,000
1,019,000
2.12
80
67
1757
September
304
47,640
14,381,000
26,334,000
878,000
5.66
69
56
1588
October
2901/2
45,170
13,472,000
24,620,000
794,000
1.48
62
47
1457
November
2671/2
43,730
12,835,000
22,351,000
745,000
2.52
49
35
1458
December
268
44,900
12,047,000
21,554,000
695,000
3.76
41
28
1448
3,37234
555,940
200,931,000
288,208,000
43.69
Hours Run
Total Lbs. Fuel
No. Gals. Pumped
Av. No. Gals. To Lbs. Coal
Av. Duty For Year
Barr Pump Worthington Pump
2,986 3/4 386
489,200 66,740
258,670,000 29,538,000
529
31,800,000
443
26,600,000
-85-
-86-
POND HEIGHT AND STORAGE CHART
Plate I is a chart showing the pond height and storage fluctuations for Great and Little South Ponds.
This chart indicates that there was approximately 600 million gallons of water in storage in Great and Little South Ponds on January 1, 1929, a gain of 50,000,000 gal- lons over the amount in storage one year ago.
In this connection it is interesting to note that the total consumption for the year was about 489,000,000 gallons, while in 1927 it was about 547,000,000 gallons, a decrease of about 58,000,000 gallons.
CONSUMPTION
Plate II shows graphically the average daily consump- tion for each week of 1928, on the high and low service system and also the average daily total consumption for each week of the year.
The average daily low service consumption was 549,- 000 gallons, compared to 679,000 gallons in 1927, a de- crease of 130,000 gallons daily.
The average daily high service consumption was 788,- 000 gallons, compared to 821,000 gallons in 1927, a de- crease of 33,000 gallons.
The average daily total consumption for the year was 1,337,000 gallons, compared to 1,500,000 gallons in 1927, a decrease of 163,000 gallons.
The pumping records shown on the previous sheet give in some detail the records kept at the pumping station for the year.
HYDRANTS AND GATES
The regular semi-annual inspection of all hydrants and gates has been made and all are in satisfactory condition.
-87-
ANALYSES OF WATER
The State Department of Health has made the usual analyses of samples of water from our supply during the year 1928 and copies of these are on file in the office of the Superintendent.
Respectfully submitted,
ARTHUR E. BLACKMER,
Superintendent.
Pond Elevations Above M.L.M .- Storage in Million Gallons
ANNUAL
Манты
RAINFALL
102.0
10.3.10
104.0
105.0
106.0
500
600
700
800
900
1919
June
2 07
2
4 75
10
سوى
4 15
Oct
Nor
Little south
Great South 9
1920
Oct
Wer
4 19
2 90
5. 43
2.41
Jul
v
, .. 4
2 55
Sap
Oct
1 56
1.10
FEB
4 45
1922
Sap
1.60
Oct
2.70
Ner
1.13
Dac
Ten
7.11
May
A
0.34
1923
July
9
₹ 45
1.62
at
1.73
...
Feb
& ST
Mor
3.94
AM
6.04
2.94
June
July
1.27
..
Jeps
2.76
Oct
0.16
Nor!
Dsc
1.82
4. 10
F&b
2.95
1925
July
4.25
AUF
2.44
4 .6
4 16
Nor
3.83
Jon
3.22
7.76
1926
46.
J.22
July
4 1.75
Avy
9 4.44
Oct
7.20
4.23
J.47
3.39
Feb.
0.70
War.
1.03
May.
0.16
June.
7.62
V 2.13
Aus
w/1.86
Se pr
2.17
Oct.
4.40
3.48
DEC.
5.38
Jon.
3.27
Feb.
1.19
4.48
Apr.
4.78
1928
June
13.75
02.12
Oct
1.48
Non
2.52
OBC.
3.76
ANNUAL
MONTHLY
RAINFALL
102.0
103.0
104.0
105.0
106.0
500
600
700
800
900
Combined Storage of Great & Little South Ponds - Grade 98.0-106.0= 855-000-000 Gallons
E.R. Harlow Jr.
PLATE I
My
A
V
July
V
4. 17
.
Full Fond 1060 above M.L. M.
F.b.
, 47
5. 76
Apr
5 60
4.14
447
3.04
July
4.24
, 02
Fee
9 77
3.27
+ 47
FA 2.31
May
1101
2.46
1924
37.
& 16
8.75
1927
2.27
PLATE II
1-800-000
1-800-000
1-700-000
1-700-000
DATA SHOWN WEEKLY.
1-500.000
1-500-000
1.400.000
1-200-000
Y
1.2.77- 20
ces
option=
1-300-000
1-300-000
1-200.000
1-200-000
1-100-000
1.100.000
1.000.000
1.000.000
900-000
900.000
High Service
800.000
800.000
..
700-000
700.000
60
- 000
[22,000 CALLEME ---
-
500.000
500-000
400-000
400-000
300.000
300-000
30
6
16
23
25
18
21
28
16
23
30
OCT .
.
SEPT.
AUG.
.
.
·
.
29
6
13
ET
10
.24
15
29
12
19
26
Z
9
A
14
.
Nov.
-
Dec.
.
.
JAN.
low, Jr
DAILY CONSUMPTION IN GALLONS.
JAM
15
27
12
19
26
4
25
-
15
.
.
*
₦
.
.
.
.
Mine
APRIL
-
600-000
Consumption-
1-
1.4030
1-600-000
1-600-000
4
.
JULY
JUNE
-89-
POLICE DEPARTMENT
To the Honorable Board of Selectmen :-
Gentlemen: I have the honor to respectfully submit my annual report of the Police Department for the year ending December 31, 1928.
ROSTER OF DEPARTMENT John Armstrong, Chief
Patrolmen
Joseph W. Schilling
Edward A. Smith
Jacob E. Peck
John H. Barrett
Leo M. Murphy
John Gault
Lincoln S. Wixon
Robert M. Fogarty
Peter W. Winter
Lawrence J. Savoy
Constables
John Armstrong
Leo M. Murphy
John Gault
John H. Barrett
Robert M. Fogarty
Edwin A. Dunton
Lawrence J. Savoy
Lincoln S. Wixon
Joseph W. Schilling
Peter W. Winter
Jacob E. Peck
Edward A. Smith
Herman W. Tower
Special Police Officers
Lee W. Cole
Charles Webber
John Nauman,
Seth E. Wall
Daniel E. Beaton Daniel E. Ellis
Ralph E. Cook
Charles W. Packard
Antonio P. Diegoli
James H. Cassidy
James W. Lewis
John Smith
Nicholas Stephan
Leon D. Badger John F. Hollis Arthur G. Mayo
-90-
William H. Armstrong
William Armstrong
William Gault
Thomas W. Regan
Joseph Morey
Edward K. Morse
Charles J. Grandi
Neil Mc Kay
Fred Longhi
Henry Dries
John Kennedy
Guy C. Bunker
Daniel J. Sullivan
Thomas A. McCormack
Nelson Cushing
George E. Ginhold, Jr.
Russell Dickson
Special Officers For Limited Territory
Martin W. Holmes, Burial Hill; John Yates, Junior High School; Charles Coats, High School; Abbott A. Ray- mond, Jr., Fresh Pond; William S. Fuller, South Pond ; Ralph Matinzi, Boy's Club; Frank Thomas, R. B. Sym- ington's Estate; Fred Smith, South Street School; John Goodwin and Alfred Nickerson, George Mabbett & Sons Company; William Cameron, Plymouth Theatre; Mal- colm Robicheau, George Wood & William E. Bailey, Old Colony Theatre; Martin Anderson, Charles Wedell, Sam- uel Gray, Alex. Bongiovanni, John F. Doyle, David Dean, James Shaw, Edward White, A. M. Douglas, John Mc- Cormack, Antone F. Lorenzo, George K. Harding, Robert Anderson, Axel Frieburg, George Fox, John Grandi, James Bain, Robert Fox, Arthur W. Stone, Plymouth Cordage Company; Lewis F. Smith, Training Green ; Thomas Baldner, State Armory; Anton Rossler, Mano- met ; George F. Barlow, Beach Park; Albertus Williams, Little Pond Grove; Nicholas Keefe, Memorial Hall; Robert J. Meharg, and David C. Durnford, Long Pond.
ARRESTS BY THE MONTH
Males
Females
Total
January,
14
1
15
February,
22
2
24
March,
19
0
19
April,
57
4
61
May,
53
1
54
June,
41
0
41
-91-
July,
83
1
84
August,
72
3
75
September,
60
4
64
October,
28
0
28
November,
49
3
52
December,
43
0
43
541
19
560
DISPOSITION OF CASES
Total number of cases,
560
Males,
541
Females,
19
Residents,
287
Non-Residents,
273
Number of fines imposed,
249
Amount of fines imposed,
$7,197.00
Appealed cases,
20
Continued cases,
18
Discharged,
53
Released,
34
Suspended sentences,
22
Filed,
84
Probation,
24
House of Correction,
16
Taunton Hospital,
10
Arrested for out of town officers,
3
Held for Grand Jury,
13
Federal Court,
3
Sherbourne,
2
State Prison,
1
State Farm,
1
Concord Reformitory,
2
Shirley School,
1
Home for Destitute Catholic Children,
2
Returned to their Homes,
2
560
-92-
OFFENCES
Male
Female
Total
Assault,
8
1
9
Adultery,
1
1
2
Breaking & Entering,
18
0
18
Bastardy,
2
0
2
Cruelty to Animals,
1
0
1
Drunkenness,
124
1
125
Disturbing the Peace,
43
0
43
Disorderly House,
1
0
1
Delinquent,
8
0
8
Eavesdropping,
1
0
1
Employing Minor,
1
0
1
Fornication,
1
0
1
False Pretence,
2
0
2
Gambling,
12
0
12
Highway Robbery,
2
0.
2
Insane,
6
2
8
Interfering with Officer,
1
0
1
Idle & Disorderly,
1
0
1
Keeping child from School,
0
1
1
Larceny,
17
0
17
Lewdness,
0
4
4
Malicious Mischief,
12
0
12
Non-Support,
16
0
16
Neglect of Family,
2
0
2
Neglected Children,
2
4
6
Murder,
1
0
1
Perjury,
2
0
2
Rape,
2
0
2
Runaway Children,
2
0
2
Suspicious Persons,
3
0
3
Threatening Language,
1
0
1
True Name Law,
3
3
6
Trespassing,
2
0
2
Vagrancy,
2
0
2
Violating Auto Laws,
169
0
169
Violating Liquor Laws,
39
2
41
-93-
Violating Probation,
6
0
6
Violating Town By-laws,
4
0
4
Violating Clam Laws,
11
0
11
Violating Pure Food Law,
1
0
1
Violating Milk Law,
2
0
2
Violating Trancient Vender Law, 1
0
1
Unlicensed Dogs,
8
0
8
541
19
560
MISCELLANEOUS WORK OF DEPARTMENT
Night lodging given to,
25
Children lost and found,
4
Buildings found unlocked,
78
Patrol wagon called out,
116
To Jordan Hospital,
13
Accidents Investigated,
111
Strayed dogs disposed of by Dr. Bradley at Police Station,
24
Telephone calls,
5,110
Liquor forfeited and turned over to State Police,
(Gallons), 200
The department feels that the eight hour day for police officers should be adopted, which is the rule in the ma- jority of nearby towns.
Should this be accepted by the town at the next town meeting it will necessitate one officer in addition to what we now have, it will also mean an additional expense for the ensuing year.
In anticipation of the above I respectfully recommend an appropriation of $31,500.00 for the year 1929.
Respectfully submitted,
JOHN ARMSTRONG,
Chief of Police.
-94-
ASSESSORS' REPORT
Aggregate Valuation,
$25,459,050 00
Exempt under Clauses 11, 17, 18, 23,
106,725 00
Available for Revenue,
$25,352,325 00
Valuation, Personal,
$4,455,275 00
Valuation, Real,
20,897,050 00
Loss on Valuation,
1,472,775 00
To be raised by Taxation :
1927 Overlay,
116 83
State,
34,340 00
State Highway,
3,489 98
County,
56,875 98
Auditing Tax,
85 36
Town,
773,694 26
Overlay,
9,737 19
$878,339 60
Estimated Receipts, and free cash and dog tax voted by the town to be used by the Assessors, 282,745 40
$595,594 20
April 1.
Division of Taxes,
Personal,
$103,328 74
Real, 484,147 46
Moth,
470 25
Dec. 31. Additional, 697 74
July 1. Polls,
8,118 00
Dec. 31. Polls, 182 00
Rate of Taxation, $23.20 on $1,000.00.
$596,944 19
-95-
Warrants to Collector :
Property,
Polls,
$588,644 19 8,300 00
$596,944 19
Exempted under Chap. 59, Sec. 5, Gen. Laws : Charitable, Benevolent, Literary, Edu-
cational, $866,675 00
Houses of Religious Worship,
345,150 00
Commonwealth of Massachusetts,
177,500 00
United States of America,
118,200 00
Town of Plymouth,
1,656,375 00
County of Plymouth,
598,550 00
Tables of Aggregates :
Residents assessed on property,
3,511
Corporations, Firms, Etc.,
686
Non-residents,
1,340
Polls assessed,
4,150
Polls exempted, Clause 18,
38
Polls exempted, Clause 23,
12
Horses,
148
Cows,
335
Neat Cattle,
14
Sheep,
23
Swine,
2
Fowl,
4,354
Dwelling Houses,
4,042
Acres of Land,
48,000
ABATEMENT ACCOUNT
Levy of 1927,
Dec. 31, 1927, Balance,
$1,026 09
Appropriation from 1928 Levy, 116 83
$1,142 92
Dec. 31, 1928, Abatements :
Personal, $625 25
Real,
870 87
1,496 12
Overdraft to be assessed in 1929, $353 20
-96-
Levy of 1928,
Sept. 29, 1928, Overlay,
$9,737 19
Dec. 31, 1928, Abatements :
Polls, $228 00
Personal, 440 22
Real,
1,550 92
2,219 14
$7,518 05
Reserve Overlay
Dec. 31, 1927, Balance, $9,837 05
Transferred to Reserve Account, 701 42
$9,135 63
We recommend an appropriation of $7,000.00 for sal- aries and other expenses.
$
NATHANIEL G. LANMAN, CHARLES H. SHERMAN, THOMAS L. CASSIDY,
Assessors.
-97-
REPORT OF THE BOARD OF PUBLIC WEL- FARE FOR THE YEAR ENDING DECEMBER 31, 1928
Infirmary
Number of inmates remaining Jan. 1, 1928, 10
Admitted during the year, 8
18
Discharged,
3
Died,
1
4
Number remaining Dec. 31, 1928, 14
Nothing especially worthy of note has occurred at the Infirmary. Mr. and Mrs. Russell L. Dickson remain as Superintendent and Matron, respectively, with the same good care of the inmates as usual. Especially hard on the Superintendent was the care of Henry Buchanan, who died on March 3rd, 1928, as he was practically help- less for months before his death, and for weeks before the end needed care both day and night.
We have expended this year for the upkeep of the building $812.61, $438.00 of which was for reshingling the roof of the wood house, putting up steel ceiling to replace fallen plaster in the basement of the main build- ing, and some carpentry work, the balance being general repairs from time to time.
From the increase in the number applying for admit- tance to the Infirmary, and the record of those aided out- side, it is apparent that the year 1928 was harder for many people to get along in than any year recently. We have had also from six to a dozen people, mostly men with families, that we have given part time work to during
Plymouth Seven
-98-
the fall and winter to offset aid either already granted or asked for.
The income of $13.64 from the Julia P. Robinson fund was expended by the Matron, Mrs. Dickson, for the ben- efit of the inmates.
Outside Aid
This form of aid has been given to 289 persons living in Plymouth and to 21 living elsewhere in the State, but retaining their settlements here. To this larger number both at the Infirmary and Outside, we attribute our extra expenditure and the overdraft of $3,554.51 with which we closed the year. A factor in this higher cost to the town in aiding its poor is the larger weekly amount given as compared to a few years ago. During the past year we have issued 735 written orders for food and fuel totaling $6,592.59, a little less than an average of nine dollars for each order, as a matter of fact the orders run from $3.50 to the single person for food, to $5.00, $10.00 and even $12.00 in one or two instances of large families. It is not many years ago that many a family got along on $3.00 per week, under about the same conditions. However taking the present day figures of the weekly budget for a family as prepared by some of the experts of today, we are apparently giving about half enough.
Occasionally we get a call from some of the younger, improvident, people who living up to the weekly wage as fast, or faster, than it comes, find that with the cessation of work, and with no credit in their "cash and carry" system of trading, that hunger is right at their own door, and thus some of them are obliged to apply to the town temporarily. At the same time we appear to be adding a slow but constant stream of expensive cases that stretch into the future with no promise of a quick ending. Dur- ing the past year death has closed three cases in which we had been paying at the average rate of $16.75 each for care and board, and in two of them the town had been interested for quite a term of years.
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Mother's Aid
This form of aid has remained at a standstill and we have to report the same three mothers and their eleven children as was reported at the close of 1927. For the amount of expenditures and reimbursements reference is made to the Accountant's figures appended at the close of this report.
Our total expenditure during the year for all classes of aid was $32,271.21, of which $3,491.81 was returned to the town from various sources, leaving $28,779.40 as the net cost to the town of aid expended in behalf of those persons needing relief.
We recommend an appropriation of $3,554.51 to care for the overdraft, and $32,000.00 for the use of this Board during the year 1929.
-100-
DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WELFARE
Appropriation Nov. 24,
Income from Trust Funds,
$28,716 76
Payments
General Administration-
Salary of Chairman,
$50 00
Salary of Secretary,
350 00
Stationery and Postage,
87
All Other, 37 00
$437 87
Infirmary-
Salary of Superintendent, $624 00
Other Salaries and Wages, 1,245 60
Groceries and Provisions, 2,392 92
Dry Goods : Clothing,
340 43
Building,
812 61
Fuel and Light,
1,022 36
Equipment,
208 24
Hay and Grain,
276 22
Ice,
146 96
All Other,
472 36
7,541 70
Outside Relief by Town-
Cash,
$7,613 00
Rent, 2,823 00
Groceries and Provisions,
5,394 94
Coal and Wood,
1,197 65
Dry Goods: Clothing,
9 53
Medical Attendance,
243 70
Burials,
279 00
State Institutions,
182 00
Institutions other than State, 583 05
Care and Nursing,
1,792 24
20,118 11
Appropriation, (Including Mothers' Aid), $27,000 00 1,600 00 116 76
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Relief Given by Other Cities
and Towns-
Cities,
$1,495 79 567 00
Towns,
2,062 79
Other Expenses- All Other, 4 80
$30,165 27
MOTHERS' AID Payments
2,106 00
Cash,
Total Payments,
32,271 27
$3,554 51
Balance Overdrawn to be Appropriated by Town,
INCOME FROM JULIA P. ROBINSON FUND
Expended by the Board of Public Wel- fare for Inmates of Infirmary,
$13 64
PUBLIC WELFARE RECEIPTS AND REIMBURSEMENTS
$199 16
Sale of Produce,
555 00
Board in Infirmary,
22 46
Miscellaneous,
133 21
Individuals,
1,189 60
Cities and Towns,
640 05
State,
752 33
State (Mothers' Aid),
$3,491 81
WILLIAM T. ELDRIDGE, GEORGE L. GOODING, HERBERT W. BARTLETT, Members of Board of Public Welfare, Plymouth, Mass.
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PLYMOUTH PUBLIC LIBRARY
The following reports of the Librarian and the Presi- dent for the year ending Dec. 31, 1928, are respectfully submitted to the tax payers of the town:
It is hardly necessary for the President to make an ad- ditional report after the detailed one of the Librarian, but I feel that we should endorse some of the recommenda- tions in the Librarian's Report and express our apprecia- tion of the efficient service rendered by the working force of the Library during the past year.
We have added one full-time assistant who had been serving only part time. This seemed advisable and, of course, made an additional expense, but as the Library is growing in circulation, as you will see by the report of the Librarian, it must follow that the expense will in- crease.
At the time of our last report we were just complet- ing the room in the basement for the Children's Depart- ment. This Department has been in operation during the past year and is working very satisfactorily. This, of course, means some additional help and necessarily a slight increase in expense, but we feel that this change is a great benefit to both the Children's and Adult's De- partments as the children now use the side entrance and do not go through the main room of the Library, thus avoiding much confusion.
The three full-time assistants are doing very satisfac- tory work and we feel that they are entitled to some in- crease in salary, and it will be necessary to ask for a slight increase in our appropriation to meet this expense and to provide for additional books.
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We feel that the Town appreciates the work that the library is doing both at the Library and also its activities in connection with the Jordan Hospital and the branch library at Long Pond and hope that the Town will appro- priate the sum of $9,000 for the use of the library for the coming year.
Respectfully submitted,
THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS,
Edward L. Burgess, President.
7
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REPORT OF THE LIBRARIAN FOR THE YEAR 1928
To the Directors of the Plymouth Public Library :
1928 has come and gone, and with it the busiest and most progressive year of our Library history. It is in- teresting to review briefly the events which have made this history, and which have contributed to the steady growth of our Public Library, which is sharing, as far as its resources will allow, the continued and rapid develop- ment of all other public libraries throughout North Amer- ica. The public library in the United States is an estab- lished institution, and as one foreign visitor remarked, "An American town would as soon think of being with- out a church, as without its public library."
It is most important to note here that the greatly in- creased use of the Library, which has practically doubled in every department since 1924, has taken place in almost the same population as that of 1924, and is not the result of a large, new influx of residents. It would seem that the granting of as many privileges as possible, the abol- ishing of all unnecessary red-tape, the untiring efforts of the staff to assist the public in every way, and to make the public feel that the Library belongs to them, that every request will be filled so far as it is in any way pos- sible, and last, but not least, the attempt to furnish a wide and unbiased variety of books for a wide and varied reading public has brought results.
However, with all this appreciated growth, the Library is far from being able to supply all of the demands made upon it. Our book supply, which should equal at least five books per capita, is still only one and three-fifths books per capita. In order to take care of the amount of work which has been done during the past year, another full time assistant is absolutely necessary. The American
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Library Association recommends one assistant to every 20,000 books circulated, and with a total circulation of 104,789 for 1928, five full time assistants should be pro- vided instead of the four which are now trying to carry all of this work. The response with which all of the Li- brary's extension activities have been met, has been more than gratifying, and the only problem is, how are these growing demands made by the schools, the branch li- braries at Long Pond, Ellisville and the Jordan Hospital, to say nothing of our immediate public, to be supplied ? When a request comes from a teacher for a set of books for reference work in her school-room, and there is not one book left to send her, then it is forcibly borne in on one that the need for more books is real and acute. After having considered the detailed record of the year's work which follows, it is to be hoped that the residents of Plymouth will feel that the Library has proved itself to be worthy of continued and increased support, as the demands made upon it multiply and as it grows in use- fulness and scope.
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