USA > Massachusetts > Plymouth County > Plymouth > Town annual report of Plymouth, MA 1930-1931 > Part 25
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26.
July
280
Aug.
A 2.05
Sapi
Oct.
418
NOV.
144
Doc.
3,79
Jan
3.85
Feb
Mor
7.94
Apr
May
June
~ 8.31
July
J27
Aug
0 5.50
Sept
242
Oct
NOV
081
DOa
Annual
Monthly
Pinfall
102.0
103.0
104.0
105.0
106.0
400
500
600
700
800
900
PLATE I
FULL POND ELEV 1000 prove MLW.
COMBINED STORAGE OF GREAT AND LITTLE SOUTH PONDS _ GRADE 98.0- 106.0 = 855,000,000 GALLONS
1925
41.0
2.24
LITTLE SOUTH BOUND
GREAT SOUTH BOND
STORAGE DEPLETION
duer
1926
June
9 284
1928
Aug.
1929
1930
1931
3.3/
POND ELEVATIONS ABOVE M.L.W. STORAGE IN MILLION GALLONS
1922
8.20
7.70
1923
2.72
DAILY CONSUMPTION IN GALLONS 1931 DATA SHOWN WEEKLY
100.000
200000
300,000
400.000
500,000
600,000
700.000
800,000
900.000
1,000,000
1,100,000
1,200,000
1,300,000
1.400,000
1:500.000
1.600,000
20,000
40.000
Jan.
4
11
18
25
F&b
J
8
15
22
Mar /
8
15
22
29
April
5
1?
19
1
26
.
May
3
10
17
24
31
June
7
14
21
July
28 5
12
19
26
Aug 2
0
I
16
23
30
Sept.
10
13
20
27
Oct
4
18
25
NOV.
/
8
15
22
29 6
Dec.
13
20 27
100.000
200,000
300,000
400.000
500000
600,000
700.000
800,000
900000
1,000,000
1.100,000
1,200,000
1,300,000
1.400,000
1,500,000
1600.000
20.000
40.000
PLATE II.
$5000 Gals
715,000 Gals.
1034000 Gals.
Ave Daily Total Consumption
TOTAL CONSUMPTION
are ally New High Service
Daily Low service
LOW
SERVICE
HIGH SERVICE
Ave Daily High Service
NEW HIGH SERVICE
1KG
284000 Gas
.
-89-
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, 1931.
TABLE SHOWING LOCATION, SIZE AND COST OF PIPE LAID
Location
Length
Size
Cherry Street
2,653'
8"
$6,283.48
33'
6"
Samoset Street,
912'
8"
1,563.96
Wood Street,
39'
21/2" galv.
129.78
9'
4"
3,646'
$7,977.22
The most important pipe laying work carried out dur- ing the year was replacing 2,653 feet of 4" pipe with 8" on Cherry Street, from Court Street to the street lead- ing to the new standpipe, erected in 1930.
This pipe was connected to the 8" line on Court Street and the 10" line on Standish Avenue, and two additional hydrants were added, thus greatly improving the fire protection in this vicinity.
An extension of 912 feet of 8" pipe was made on Sam- oset Street to A. K. Finney gravel pit. This pipe was laid by petition and the petitioners agreed to pay 6% annually on the cost of installation.
The low service 8" line on Summer Street between Market Street and High Street (a distance of 1,100 feet) has been in use since 1855, and is beginning to give some trouble. I recommend that this pipe be replaced by a 10" pipe at ar estimated cost of $2,750.00.
The present water main on Warren Avenue extending southerly along the State Highway from the Hotel Pil-
-90-
grim Annex to the shore road leading to Stone's, a dis- tance of 2,750 feet, is 4" in size. It was from this pipe that the 8" main leading to the Pine Hills standpipe was laid in 1930.
I suggest it would be well to replace this 4" main with 8" at an estimated cost of $4,000.00.
With these two projects on which our maintenance force could be employed, with some outside labor, I think our maintenance appropriation could be reduced from $28,000.00 to $26,000.00.
I, therefore, recommend an appropriation of $26,000.00 for maintenance, and $6,750.00 for construction.
RAINFALL
The rainfall for the year 1931 was 52.55". This is 16.71" higher than the previous year, which was only 35.84"; and, also, 6.67" above the forty-five year average of 45.88".
POND HEIGHTS AND STORAGE
On January 1, 1932, Great South Pond was at ele- vation 103.7, and on January 1, 1931, it was at eleva- tion 102.5. This rise in pond height during the year corresponds to an increase in storage volume of ap- proximately 140 million gallons, and was due to the higher than normal rainfall of the past year.
CONSUMPTION
Plate II is the usual chart showing graphically the average daily consumption for each week of 1931 on the different systems.
The average daily consumption on the old high serv- ice system was 715,000 gallons, a decrease of 84,000 gallons over the previous years' consumption of 799,000 gallons.
PUMPING RECORD
Month
Hours Run
Total Pounds Fuel
Gravity
Pumping Barr & Worthington
Pumping Fairbanks- Morse
Rain in Inches
Av. Max. Temp.
Av. Min. Temp.
January
213 34
38,430
9,411,000
18,415,000
1,218,000
3.85
35
19
February
203
37.820
9,578,000
17,246,000
1,179,000
3.38
35
22
March
219
38,830
12,024,000
18,768,000
1,354,000
7.94
40
28
April
222
38,420
11,054,000
19,248,000
985,000
3.98
55
37
May
253 34
43.790
11,361,000
22,176,000
1,039,000
5.41
67
49
June
279
46,730
10,006,000
24,742.000
995,000
8.31
73
58
July
3341/2
52,750
9,400,000
29,300 000
1,086,000
3.27
79
67
August
342 14
52,410
8,437,000
29,984,000
1,131,000
5 56
79
65
September
277
44,420
5,903,000
24,025,000
831,000
2.42
73
59
October
2471/2
40,410
4,739,000
21,372,000
954,000
4.31
64
48
November
209
36,060
5,584,000
17,871,000
905,000
.81
53
40
December
2101/2
37,400
6,205,000
18,007,000
1,096,000
3.32
41
26
3,0111/4
507,470
103,702,000
261,154,000
12,774,000
52.56
Hours Run
Total lbs. Fuel
No. Gallons Pumped
Av. No. Gals. to lbs. Coal
Av. Duty for Year
Barr Worthington Fairbanks-Morse
2,807 2041/4
470,850 36,620
245,358,000 15,796,000 12,774,000
521 431
31,100,000
25,800,000
-91-
-92-
The average daily consumption on the low service or gravity system was 284,000 gallons for 1931 compared to 287,000 gallons the previous year, and on the new high service system was 35,000 gallons for 1931 and 47,000 gallons for 1930.
The average daily total consumption for 1931 was 1,034,000 gallons compared to 1,133,000 gallons in 1930, a decrease of about 10%.
The total consumption for the year was 377 million gallons, the lowest amount recorded in the twenty- four years these records have been kept.
HYDRANTS AND GATES
The regular inspections of both hydrants and gates have been made during the past year.
ANALYSES OF WATER
The State Department of Health has made the usual analyses of samples of water from our source of supply during the past year and copies of these are on file in the office of the Superintendent.
Respectfully submitted,
ARTHUR E. BLACKMER, Superintendent.
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POLICE DEPARTMENT
January 20, 1932.
To the Honorable Board of Selectmen,
Gentlemen :
Following is the report and activities of the Police Department for the year ending December 31, 1931.
ROSTER OF DEPARTMENT
Russell P. Dearborn, Chief
Patrolmen
Joseph W. Schilling
Lawrence J. Savoy
Lincoln S. Wixon
John H. Barrett
John Gault
Thomas A. McCormack
Jacob Peck
Charles A. Packard
Robert M. Fogarty
William Gault
Edward A. Smith
Leo M. Murphy
Lockup Keeper, Milton Howland
Matron, Mary P. Burnham
Reserve Officers
Antone Almeida Peter A. Dries, Jr.
Robert A. Bartlett
John A. Kennedy
George A. Cowdrey
John A. McGrath
Ernest Burrows
John Nauman
Antone Diegoli
John A. Smith
Irving Valler
-- 94-
Special Officers for Limited Territory Orin C. Bartlett-Caretaker of the Town Wharf Milton R. Howland-At the State Wharf
Edwin L. Dixon-At State Reservation
Job H. Standish-Parks and Playgrounds
Nicholas Keefe-Town Hall
Alexander H. P. Besse-Cemeteries and Burial Hill Martin W. Holmes-Cemeteries and Burial Hill
Elmer E. Raymond-Long Pond
Abbott A. Raymond, Jr .- Fresh Pond
William S. Fuller-South Pond William M. O'Connell-Pilgrim Monument Grounds Frank C. Thomas-Symington Estate
John N. Santos-Symington Estate
Eldon L. Sherman-Symington Estate
Robert J. Meharg-At Stearns Estate, Long Pond
David C. Durnford-At Liggett Estate, Long Pond
George E. Swift-Boy Scout Camp, Elbow Pond
John Wirzburger-Standish Avenue Dump
Albert H. Shurtleff-Standish Avenue Dump
Daniel C. Wood-Manomet Dump George F. Barlow-Beach Park
Lewis F. Smith-Nelson St. Playground and Green
Silvio Pellegrini-Veterans' Field
Lester J. Mansfield-Little Pond
Ardigo Gilli-Old Colony Theatre Malcolm Robichau-Old Colony Theatre
Everett H. Raymond-Old Colony Theatre
William Resnick-Old Colony Theatre
William B. Cameron-Plymouth Theatre Joseph W. Silvia-Plymouth Theatre Fred L. Warner-Cemeteries
Edward T. Hayes-Nelson St. Playground Seth E. Wall-For all property of Charles Moning James F. O'Brien-Standish Avenue Dump George W. Nightingale-On his premises at Cedarville
-95-
For July 4th, at the Schools : Leo Callahan-Hedge School Sebastian Riedel-Knapp School Arthur Poirier-Cornish and Burton Schools Charles Coates-High School Fred J. Smith-Junior High School Chester A. Torrance-Parks and Public Playgrounds J. James O'Fihelly-Parks and Public Playgrounds John Young-Symington Estate
Plymouth Cordage Company :
Charles Wedell, Edward White, Felix Vandini, John Har- kins, John F. Doyle, Robert Fox, William F. Mitchell, Thomas Rushton, Antone Lawrence, Arthur Stone, William Cameron, John Nutterville, Alex Frieberg, Neil McPhail, David Deans, George Bagnell, Leon Lowe, Charles Grandi, John Grandi, Joseph Darsch, Alfred Darsch, Oscar Reis.
Mabbett's : Alfred C. Nickerson, Wallace E. Purrington, John J. Goodwin, Axel W. Harrison
Puritan Mills :
John J. Freyermuth, Jeremiah F. Dennehy, Peter Gellar, William L. Livingstone and George L. Reid.
For the Board of Health, Special Police Officers: Herbert S. Maxwell, Andrew J. Carr, William E. Curtin, Walter D. Shurtleff, Edward K. Morse Elmer Chandler-Street Department Nelson Cushing-Mt. Pleasant St. School Russell L. Dickson-Poor Farm James W. Lewis-Chief of Police, Carver Amedio Malaguti-Fire Patrol George A. Ward-Fire Patrol Peleg Chandler-Fire Patrol Frank Holman-Fire Patrol
-96-
Ernest C. Dunham-Fire Patrol
Ralph Matinzi-Truant Officer
Thomas W. Mullaney-Fire Patrol
George Paraschos-Little South Pond Thomas W. Reagan-Car Barn Daniel J. Sullivan-Sealer of Weights and Measures
ARRESTS BY THE MONTH
Male
Female
Total
January,
17
2
19
February,
16
2
18
March,
23
2
25
April,
28
1
29
May,
34
2
36
June,
34
0
34
July,
61
1
62
August,
87
7
94
September,
55
1
56
October,
56
5
61
November,
29
1
30
December,
14
0
14
454
24
478 Grand Total
DISPOSITION OF CASES
Residents,
206
Non-Residents,
272
Total 478.
Appealed Cases,
5
Continued Cases,
2
Discharged Cases,
29
Number of Fines,
235
Cases Filed,
82
Released,
22
Probation,
28
House of Correction,
13
Suspended Sentences,
17
-97-
Arrest for outside Police Departments, 18
Held for Grand Jury,
8
Taunton State Hospital (Insane), 7
Minors Lectured by Judge,
10
Medfield State Hospital (Insane),
1
State Farm,
1
Total 478
Amount of Fines imposed,
$4,995.00
CRIMES
Males
Females
Total
Assault,
7
1
8
Assault and Battery,
1
0
1
Assault with a Dangerous Weapon, 1
0
1
Abuse of a Female Child,
4
0
4
Attempt to Rape,
1
0
1
Abduction,
1
0
1
Bastardy,
3
0
3
Breaking and Entering,
6
0
6
Breaking and Entering and Larceny,
2
0
2
Drunk,
91
1
92
Disturbance,
14
0
14
Default,
1
0
1
Embezzlement,
1
0
1
Escaped Prisoners,
2
0
2
Insane Persons,
6
2
8
Illegal Sale of Intoxicating Liquor,
1
1
2
Interfering with Lobster Traps,
1
0
1
Keeping and Exposing Intox- icating Liquor for Sale,
10
2
12
Larceny,
10
10
20
Larceny of Automobiles,
2
0
2
Malicious Mischief,
2
0
2
Misappropriation of Boat,
2
0
2
Non-Support,
8
0
8
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Possession of Firearms,
1
0
1
Practicing Medicine without License,
1
0
1
Peddling without License,
6
0
6
Runaway Children,
2
1
3
Stubborn Children,
2
1
3
Suspicious Persons,
3
0
3
Trespassing,
2
0
2
Using Profane Language,
1
0
1
Unlicensed Dogs,
2
0
2
Violation of Probation,
3
0
3
Vagancy,
3
0
3
Automobile Violations : Attaching Plates to Auto,
1
0
1
Failing to Slow at Intersection,
2
0
2
Interfering with oncoming Traffic, 1 Leaving Scene of Accident,
3
0
3
Impeded Operation,
1
1
2
Operating without License,
8
0
8
Operating under influence of Liquor,
23
0
23
Operating to Endanger,
13
1
14
Operating Unregistered Auto,
3
0
3
Operating Uninsured Auto,
3
0
3
Operating without License in possession,
3
0
3
Operating with Improper Equipment,
1
0
1
Operating at Excessive rate of Speed,
22
0
22
Road Violations,
166
3
169
Town By-Laws,
1
0
1
454
24
478
0
1
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MISCELLANEOUS WORK OF DEPARTMENT
Nights Lodging given to,
41
Complaints Investigated,
1,492
Buildings Found Unlocked, 119
Lights in Stores Burnt Out,
112
Street Lights Reported Out,
78
Beacon Lights Reported Out,
21
Summonses Served for Outside Departments,
57
Fire Alarm Lights Reported Out,
29
Glass in Fire Alarm Boxes Reported Broken,
23
Children Reported Lost, and Found,
8
Traffic Lights Reported Out,
2
Automobile Accidents Investigated,
108
Cottages Inspected,
523
Cottages Found Unlocked,
35
Dead Body Recovered,
1
Prisoners Locked up for Outside Police Departments, 116 Dogs Reported Lost,
53
Dogs Found and returned to Owners,
33
Dogs Killed by Dr. Bradley,
29
Cats Killed by Dr. Bradley,
11
Stray Dogs Picked up.
54
PATROL WAGON OUT
Fires,
28
Arrests,
43
Raids,
7
Hospital,
14
Automobile Accidents,
20
Investigations,
28
Mass. General Hospital (Boston),
1
Distributing Christmas Toys,
1
Returning Liquor,
1
Person, Taken Home, Sick,
1
Relief Work,
5
Removing Signs,
1
Total 150
-100-
Property recovered and returned to owners. Value $3,085.91.
Liquor Turned Over to Department of Public Safety : Gin, 12 gallons
Beer,
1031/2 gallons Alcohol, 36 gallons
Wine,
302
Whiskey, 42
Mileage of Department :
Automobiles,
29,522
Patrol Wagon,
1,159
Motor Cycles,
16,447
Foot Patrols,
11,000 (Approximate)
58,128
Total
The total expenditure for the past year has amounted to $32,076.89. I recommend an appropriation of $31,150.00 for the year 1932.
Respectfully submitted,
RUSSELL P. DEARBORN, Chief of Police.
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ASSESSORS' REPORT
Aggregate Value,
$24,968,425.00
Exempted under Clause 11-18-23,
94,675.00
Available for Revenue,
$24,873,750.00
Valuation Personal, $3,329,025.00
Valuation Real,
21,544,725.00
To be raised by Taxation :
State Tax, $29,925.00
State Highway Tax, 5,483.50
Fighting Forest Fires,
46.80
Auditing,
1,141.08
State Parks and Reservation Tax
368.54
Special State Tax, Old Age
Asst., 4,175.00
County Tax,
66,061.57
Town Appropriation,
811,089.28
Overlay, 2,578.59
920,869.36
Estimated Receipts, Free Cash and Dog Tax voted by the Town to be used by the Assessors, 271,770.68
$649,098.68
Division of Taxes :
April 1. Personal,
85,207.04
Real,
551,488.64
Moth,
640.22
July 1. Polls,
8,228.00
Dec. 31. Additional Polls, 52.00
Dec. 31. Additional Property, 103.04
-102-
July 1. Old Age Asst., 4,175.00
Dec. 31. Add. Old Age Asst.,
26.00
Rate of Taxation, $25.60 on $1,000.00. Warrants to Collector :
Property, $637,438.94
Polls, 8,280.00
Old Age Assistance, 4,201.00
Exempted under Chap. 59, Sec. 5, Gen. Laws:
Charitable, Benevolent, Literary, Ed- ucational, $991.500.00
Houses of Religious Worship, 351,000.00
Commonwealth of Massachusetts,
177,500.00
United States of America,
113,200.00
Town of Plymouth,
1,682,675.00
County of Plymouth, 598,550.00
Table of Aggregates :
Number of Persons, Corporations,
and Firms assessed on property,
4,308
Polls assessed, 4,140
Polls exempted under Clause 18,
55
Polls exempted under Clause 23,
6
Horses, 82
Cows,
334
Neat Cattle,
12
Sheep,
37
Fowl,
5,295
Swine,
2
Dwelling Houses,
4,112
Acres of Land,
48,000
Motor Vehicles assessed under
-
Motor Excise Law :
Value of Motor Vehicles registered, $1,072,760.00
Warrants to Collector (Motor Excise), $25,617.42 State rate on Motor Vehicles, $29.25 on $1,000.00.
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ABATEMENT ACCOUNT
Levy of 1929 :
Dec. 31, 1930, Balance, $4,509.33
Dec. 31, 1931, Abatements, Personal, $61.88
Real, 99.84
161.72
$4,347.61
Dec. 31, 1931, Balance transferred to
Reserve Overlay, 4,347.61
Levy of 1930 :
Dec. 31, 1930, Balance,
$4,421.13
Dec. 31, 1931, Abatements, Personal, $1,411.80
Real,
395.20
1,807.00
$2,614.13
Levy of 1931 : Sept. 1, 1931, Overlay,
$2,578.59
Dec. 31, 1931, Abatements,
Polls,
$124.00
Personal, 32.64
Real,
606.08
762.72
$1,815.87
Reserve Overlay :
Dec. 31, 1930, Balance,
$8,636.84
From Overlay of 1929,
4,347.61
$12,984.45
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To Reserve Account, 2,469.73
$10,514.72
We recommend an appropriation of $7,000.00 for sal- aries and other expenses.
NATHANIEL G. LANMAN,
CHARLES H. SHERMAN, THOMAS L. CASSIDY,
Assessors.
-105-
REPORT OF THE BOARD OF PUBLIC WELFARE FOR 1931
The work of the Welfare Department may be classified under the following heads: The Infirmary; the Mothers with Dependent Children; Old Age Assistance; and the Outside or General Welfare Work. The latter includes aid given our own people outside the Infirmary ; aid given to people living in Plymouth whose legal settlements are in other places ; and the help given to our people now resid- ing in other towns, cities or hospitals.
The citizen who is still enjoying full time work or is not dependent on his weekly salary is little aware of the hard- ships in many homes in our town. Never in the history of the local Welfare Board has there been such a demand for aid as during the past year, but more especially these last months. The business depression of long duration is being keenly felt; and each succeeding week brings new demands for our relief.
As a general rule the temporary aid cases are families who live from day to day on the weekly pay envelope. When this ceases, or other misfortune overtakes them, the family is dependent on charity. The heads of some of these families, getting very little work for a year or more, have struggled along month after month, and reluctantly they are obliged to appeal for assistance.
Then there are other families, who although hit hard, are still by careful planning and the strictest economy, making the grade without assistance. Families of this kind are to be admired. And when prosperity comes again, as it always has in the past, they will enjoy the satisfaction of having met the struggle independently.
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Infirmary
Number of Inmates on Jan. 1st, 1931,
16 5
Admitted during the year,
2
Died, Discharged to care of self or relatives,
2
Discharged to State Infirmary,
1
5
Number remaining on Dec. 31st, 1931,
16
We have had one woman and one man at the Jordan Hospital during the year; the woman having died there, while the man is still a patient. The above with the addi- tion of four men at the State Infirmary at Tewksbury, at the expense of the Town, constitute what we call full sup- port cases.
The Infirmary remains under the same able manage- ment of Mr. and Mrs. Russell P. Dickson, superintendent and matron. The usual work has been done in the garden and the produce used on the Infirmary table. From this produce Mrs. Dickson has also put up 200 jars for future use, as well as 12 glasses of grape fruit and 32 glasses of grape jelly.
Under the direction of the Matron the income of the Julia P. Robinson fund was used for the benefit of the inmates.
Mothers with Dependent Children
One of the families we reported last year has become self-supporting, which leaves us with only two. And as usual the cost of this department is reduced by the receipt of one-third of the expense from the State.
Old Age Assistance
In addition to our constantly increasing budget, State Legislation has placed still another branch of work on the Welfare Board. This Old Age Assistance Law passed
21
-107-
by the General Court went into effect on July 1st, 1931; is very often misunderstood and referred to as the Old Age Pension. The law distinctly states that this is not a pension, but public assistance given to deserving citizens in need of relief and support, seventy years of age or over. And it does not relieve the children from support- ing their parents if they are able to do so.
At the present time there are sixty-seven people who are receiving assistance under this act. And while we spent only $7,193.00 this year for this work, it will cost at least $25,000 next year, so great have been the appli- cations. This work is under the general supervision of the State and they will share in the expense to some ex- tent; just what that will be is not known as yet.
Unemployment Appropriations
The appropriation of $35,000 to the various depart- ments of the Town at the Special Meeting held Jan. 5, 1931, for the benefit of the unemployed, helped the strain on the Board for the first two months of the year very much. But soon after March 1st, 1931, most of the money having been expended, the families were again seeking help from us. And as no monies have been appropriated by the town for this work since that time, all the assist- ance has come from the budget of the Welfare Board, through its General Welfare Work.
General Welfare or Outside Work
Never has this part of the work been as large and pressing as during this past year, and at the end of the year we were helping over 200 families. And the prospect for the new year is very dark. Every week more and more families are coming on the town for the very neces- sities of life. We are unable to give them anything else.
Including the $34,000 of the Unemployment Fund, ($1,000 having been used for Soldier's Relief,) which was used for cases that would have been on the Welfare Department, this department spent during the year past
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a total of $102,722.74 and this does not include the $7,193.00 spent for Old Age Assistance. The prospect for the coming year does not look any brighter, but we hope that by the strictest economy we can reduce the amount somewhat. And recommend the following budget :
That the Town appropriate for the use of the Board of Public Welfare for the year 1932, the sum of $85,600 for Infirmary, Outside Aid and Mothers with Dependents.
For the Bureau of Old Age Assistance the sum of $25,000.
For 1930 and 1931 unpaid bills of the Board received in 1932, $825.78.
We cannot close this report without calling attention to the long and faithful service of Mr. Herbert W. Bartlett in this department. He became secretary of what was then the Poor Department, but now the Board of Public Welfare, in November, 1903. For nearly 28 years he has listened to the cry of the needy in our town, and has relieved their distress. His tasks became so great that on May 31, 1931, he was obliged to resign from this depart- ment, and give his full time to the work of Collector of Taxes. Although not a member of the board his wisdom and judgment are always at our call. Of him we can surely say, "Well done good and faithful servant."
WILLIAM T. ELDRIDGE, GEORGE L. GOODING.
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PLYMOUTH PUBLIC LIBRARY
(In-as-much as the town makes an annual appropriation for the support of the Public Library the following re- ports of the directors and librarian of the Plymouth Public Library Corporation are herewith respectfully submitted to the Honorable Board of Selectmen of the Town of Plymouth for the convenience and information of the voters.)
During the year 1931 the work of the library has been carried on quietly and smoothly under the efficient leadership of the librarian, Miss Haskins, to whose com- prehensive report your attention is called.
The death of Mrs. Lillian Dorr, who was obliged to retire on account of ill health, was a matter of profound sorrow to the directors and particularly to her fellow- workers on the staff. Her cheerful disposition and faith- ful service endeared her to all with whom she came in contact during the two and half years she was connected with the library.
During the months of July and August the library was closed in the evening at eight o'clock. There are few readers who wish to use the reading room in the eve- ning in the summer and the early closing makes a wel- come break for the attendants, in the long hours of duty during these montl:s of intense heat.
There may be a few borrowers of books who are in- convenienced by the early closing hour, but they must be few indeed who cannot arrange to visit the library be- tween the hours of ten A. M. and eight P. M. for the exchange of books. Most of the progressive public li-
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braries in the State have adopted the plan and our ex- perience with it here the past summer has convinced the directors that it should be continued in the future.
The library staff gives faithful service in health and it has seemed only fair, in the opinion of the directors and in accord with customary and progressive business procedure to allow memberss of the staff two weeks sick leave with pay each year if necessary. This relieves li- brary workers from financial worry during illness and provides for proper medical and nursing care, thus re- ducing the period of disability to a minimum.
Early in the year it was felt by the directors that the dingy condition of the walls and ceiling of the reading room for adults was seriously interfering with the il- lumination of the room to say nothing of the shabby appearance produced by it. The library was therefore closed for a few days while the necessary work was done, the improvement in lighting both natural and artificial and in general appearance being highly satisfactory.
The directors take pride in the quiet dignity of the library interior and feeling that upon them rests the re- sponsibility for maintaining it so, they have caused the fine old colonial frosted and cut glass shades on either side of the main entrance and on the opposing wall, which have long been broken and unsightly, to be com- pletely restored, the work having been done by the Pair- pont Corporation of New Bedford in a satisfactory man- ner.
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