USA > Massachusetts > Plymouth County > Plymouth > Town annual report of Plymouth, MA 1955 > Part 16
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JOHN A. KENNEDY,
Tree Warden.
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REPORT OF THE BOARD OF PUBLIC WELFARE
The members of the Board of Public Welfare on January 1, 1955, were Dexter M. Brooks, Chairman, Mar- garet E. McLean, John J. Magee, Paul L. LaForest, and Joseph H. Nogueira.
At the Annual Town Election held on Saturday, March 5, 1955, John J. Magee was re-elected and Fran- cis H. Murphy was elected members of the Board of Public Welfare for three years.
At the organization meeting of the Board of Public Welfare held on Tuesday evening, March 5, 1955, Dexter M. Brooks was re-elected Chairman of the Board.
The Board of Public Welfare, as the Directors of the Town Infirmary, appointed for the 49th consecutive year, Russell L. Dickson, Superintendent, and Sarah A. Dickson, Matron of the Town Infirmary.
OLD AGE ASSISTANCE
In the Old Age Assistance category of Public As- sistance, the year opened with 451 cases or persons receiv- ing this type of assistance. The case load remained with little change for the first three months of the year, and for the balance of the year showed a moderate but steady decline and the year closed with 435 being granted Old Age Assistance. This was 17 cases less than those aided at the close of the previous year.
There were 33 new cases opened, and 11 cases re- opened, making a total of 44 cases added to the "Roll of Payments" during the year.
There were 67 cases closed; 40 cases were closed by death; 13 obtained sufficient funds from various sources; 7 moved to other communities; in 2 cases the children
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took over the support of their parents; 1 was admitted to the Plymouth County TB Hospital; 1 was committed to the Plymouth County Jail; 1 was admitted to Lake- ville State Hospital for treatment, and 1 was committed to a Veteran's Mental Hospital.
The Town of Plymouth appropriated $295,000.00 at the Annual Town Meeting for Old Age Assistance; the Federal Financial participation amounted to $168,420.20 plus the Federal share of Recoveries on Real Estate Liens of $1,457.39, making a total of available funds of $464,877.59. The Commonwealth of Massachusetts par- ticipated in the amount of $196,820.68, and $6,823.71 was received from other Cities and Towns.
The expenditure for "grants in aid" for this category of Public Assistance was $441,186.80, and $2,840.43 was paid to other Cities and Towns for Old Age Assistance to persons with settlements in Plymouth and residing in other communities, making a total expenditure of $444,027.23. The balance of $20,850.36 was transferred to the Revenue Account. The cost to the Town of Plym- outh for the year was $70,500.25.
AID TO DEPENDENT CHILDREN
In the Aid to Dependent Children category of Public Assistance, the year began with 77 cases composed of 161 children and 68 parents.
The number of children and grantee relatives on the "Rolls" increased moderately throughout the year and closed with 81 cases with 171 children and 68 parents being assisted.
During the year 21 new cases were opened and 5 cases reopened adding 26 cases to the "rolls." 17 cases were closed during the year for various reasons.
The Town of Plymouth appropriated $75,000.00 for this category of assistance at the Annual Town Meeting
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held March 26, 1955, and which amount failed to meet the requirements to complete the year, and it was neces- sary for the Special Town Meeting held on Monday, Sep- tember 26, 1955 to make an additional appropriation of $14,000.00, making a total appropriation of $89,000.00. The Federal Grants received amounted to $48,579.36 which made available funds of $137,579.36. The share of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts was $44,193.89.
The expenditure for "grants in aid" for this category of Public Assistance was $134,405.49 and the balance of $3,173.87 returned to the E & D account. The cost to the Town of Plymouth, for this category of Public Assistance was $41,632.24.
DISABILITY ASSISTANCE
The Disability Assistance category of Public Assist- ance opened the year with 31 cases or persons determined to be totally and permanently disabled and receiving assistance. 19 new cases were approved by the "Medical Team" of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, and 4 cases were closed during the year. The year closed with 46 cases or persons receiving this type of assistance. This was an increase of 15 cases over those assisted at the end of last year.
The Town of Plymouth appropriated $24,000.00 at the Annual Town Meeting which proved an insufficient amount and it was necessary to request the Special Town Meeting of September 26th for an additional amount of $4,000.00 to meet the requirements of this category for the balance of the year.
This made the total appropriation by the Town of Plymouth $28,000.00. The Federal Grants amounted to $14,828.93 which made the total available funds for this type of assistance $42,828.93. The total expenditure for "grants in aid" for the year were $41,779.71 and $1,049.22 was returned to the E & D account. The cost to the Town of Plymouth was $11,714.17.
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WELFARE DEPARTMENT
During the 1955 year 181 cases were granted "outside" assistance. 96 new applications were approved and 49 cases were interviewed and were referred to other agen- cies or denied assistance for various reasons. 46% of the causes for applications for assistance was due to "lay-offs"; 12% was due to illness; 8% depleted savings; 7% loss of relatives support; 6% loss of other type of assistance; 6% loss of wage earner by death or absence, and the balance for a number of reasons.
126 cases were closed during the year and 31 cases reapplied again for relief.
The peak load came in the first three months of the year with 100 cases or families, composed of 259 persons, receiving relief.
Seasonal employment had little effect this year, as many of those persons being assisted were not mentally or physically able to accept employment.
The year ended with 85 cases, composed of 206 per- sons receiving this type of assistance. 59 cases were with a Plymouth settlement, 8 with settlements in other towns, and 18 cases without a settlement and which were the financial responsibility of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
The Town of Plymouth appropriated $88,350.00 and $9.18 was received from Trust Funds making $88,359.18 available for Relief purposes.
The expenditures for this category were $81,588.87, including the payment of $7,032.55 to other Cities and Towns and the balance of $5,896.77 was returned to the Revenue Account.
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts reimbursed the Town, for assistance to persons without a settlement, the amount of $11,714.15 and $5,363.83 was received from
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other Cities and Towns for persons aided with settle- ments in Communities other than Plymouth, making a total reimbursement of $17,077.98. The Cost to the Town of Plymouth for the year 1955 for this type of assistance was $64,501.71.
TOWN INFIRMARY
The services and facilities of the Town Infirmary were made available to 23 "homeless" persons this past year, a total of 3262 resident days. 7 persons remained the whole year, and the other 16 remained for shorter periods. In one instance, a whole family of 10 persons resided here for 33 days following an eviction.
The Infirmary has now been approved by the De- partment of Public Safety of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and is to be licensed by the Department of Health of the Commonwealth as provided by the General Laws of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
On May 22nd, Russell L. Dickson, who has served the Town of Plymouth as Superintendent of the Town Infirmary, and who on March 8th of this year had been appointed for the 49th consecutive year, died at the Jordan Hospital following a short illness.
Mr. Dickson had served well in his position and was a dependable, conscientious and sympathetic work- er in his dealings with human beings and those who through some misfortune, were placed in his charge for care.
His passing is a great loss to this Community.
A "Resolution" was sent by the Board of Public Welfare to his widow, Sarah A. Dickson, who is the Matron of the Infirmary, and his daughter, Flora A. Cavicchi was appointed on May 24th as Temporary Superintendent of the Town Infirmary.
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The appropriation by the Town at the Annual Town Meeting for "other expenses" this year was $7,750.00 which failed to meet the requirements for the complete year, and it was necessary for the Advisory and Finance Committee to transfer $677.99 to the In- firmary account, and this amount with $8.31 from Trust Funds made $8,436.30 available funds. The expenditures for "other expenses" totaled $8,436.30. The Common- wealth of Massachusetts, other communities and indi- viduals reimbursed the Town of Plymouth $2,239.96 during the year which left the cost to the Town $6,196.34 for the General Expense. The overall expenses including both Salaries $3,749.72 and General Expenses $6,196.34, made the total cost $9,946.06. The resident day cost was $3.05.
SUMMARY
The available funds for expenditures for the year 1955, exclusive of the Town Infirmary, amounted to $732,771.52 for Assistance and $38,045.74 for Administra- tion.
The total expenditures for all categories of the Pub- lic Assistance Program, exclusive of the Town Infirmary, for the year 1955, were $701,801.30 for "grants in Aid" and $35,433.94 for Administration Costs and Salaries.
The Grants from the Federal Government were $233,285.88; the Reimbursements from the Common- wealth amounted to $267,965.33; the Receipts from other Cities and Towns was $12,187.54, a total of $513,438.75 and $30,970.22 was returned to the "Revenue" and "E & D" accounts, leaving the cost to the Town of Plym- outh for assistance "Grants in Aid" $188,372.55.
The total cost of Administration was $35,433.94.
The grants for Administration received from the Federal Government amounted to $14,585.92. There
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was a balance remaining from 1954 Federal Administra- tion Funds of $1,708.78. The Commonwealth of Massachu- setts participated in the amount of $536.02 for Administra- tiontion Grants in the Disability Assistance category; $1,498.32 of Federal Grants for Administration remain available for 1956 and $988.37 was transferred to the "Rev- enue" account.
The cost to the Town of Plymouth for the Adminis- tration of the Public Assistance categories for 1955 was $16,116.53.
Collections were made from five Old Age Assistance estates as provided by the Old Age Assistance Real Es- tate Lien Laws in the amount of $4,934.37.
In conclusion, the Board of Public Welfare wishes to extend to the Jordan Hospital, the Medical Profession and to all other Vendors of Medical Services and Supplies, their appreciation for the very fine cooperation during the year 1955 in connection with the "Medical Care Plan."
Respectfully submitted,
DEXTER M. BROOKS, Chairman MARGARET E. McLEAN JOHN J. MAGEE JOSEPH H. NOGUEIRA
FRANCIS H. MURPHY
Board of Public Welfare and Directors of the Town Infirmary
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REPORT OF THE CEMETERY COMMISSIONERS
The Board of Cemetery Commissioners herewith present their report for the year 1955:
OAK GROVE AND VINE HILLS CEMETERIES
The maintenance work was carried on as usual in the various cemeteries.
We were fortunate in escaping the Dutch Elm Disease and wind damage in 1955, therefore the trees are in very good condition. More roads were hard-topped in these cemeteries.
Fill was added to part of the Vine Hills Cemetery Addition, bringing the grade of that section practically up to the grade of Samoset Street. There is much more work needed to be done before the addition is ready for use.
BURIAL HILL
This year on Burial Hill more linden and beech trees were planted and the walks were repaired. In 1956 we hope to weld all joints and railings at the main entrances to this historic burial ground.
OUTLYING CEMETERIES
A new "transite" water main was laid in the east section of the Manomet Cemetery, thereby furnishing water to the lots in that part of the Cemetery.
The entrance to the Chiltonville Cemetery was grad- ed and paved.
Respectfully submitted, JOHN B. FINNEY, Chairman, F. WILLARD DITTMAR, RICHARD T. ELDRIDGE, Board of Cemetery Commissioners. HOWARD L. PRIESTLEY,
Superintendent.
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ASSESSORS' REPORT
Official Valuation of
Real Estate $37,179,100.00
Official Valuation of Personal Property 5,088,125.00
Aggregate Value
$42,267,225.00
Exempted Under Chapter 59:
Real $6,740,575.00
Personal 2,187,100.00
$8,927,675.00
Assessed Value Available for Revenue
$33,339,550.00
To Be Raised by Taxation:
State Tax
$5,430.07
County Tax 99,988.61
Tuberculosis Hospital
42,439.40
Town Appropriations 2,654,785.91
Overlay
41,008.55
Hurricane Carol and Edna
20,135.35
Underestimates 1952
279.24
Total Amount to be Raised by Taxation $2,864,067.13
Estimated Receipts Including Dog Tax voted by the Town to be used by the Assessors $865,694.40
Over-Estimates for the Year 1954 to be used as Available Funds 4,187.23
Out of Available Funds Under Approval by Commissioners
of Corporations and Taxation 317,860.00
Total Estimated Receipts and Available Funds $1,187,741.63
Net Amount to be Raised by
Taxation on Polls and Property $1,676,325.50
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Division of Taxes:
Personal Property, January 1 $145,051.25
Real Estate, January 1 1,521,926.25
Polls, March 1 9,348.00
Total Taxes to be Raised on Polls and Property
$1,676,325.50
Rate of Taxation: $50.00 on $1,000 (General Rate $33.78) (School Rate $16.22) Warrants to Collector:
Real Estate
$1,521,926.25
Personal Property
145,051.25
Polls
9,348.00
Water Liens
1,796.23
Additional Real
1,506.25
Additional Personal Property 32.25
Additional Polls
44.00
Total Warrants to Collector Exempted under Section 5, Chapter 59,
$1,679,704.23
General Laws, as Amended:
Houses of Religious Worship $429,075.00
Charitable, Benevolent, Literary, Educational
1,646,525.00
Parsonages Exempted
61,725.00
United States of America
176,000.00
Town of Plymouth
2,730,800.00
Commonwealth of Mass. 442,400.00
County of Plymouth
1,254,050.00
Total Exempted under Sec. 5, Chapter 59, General Laws as Amended $6,740,575.00
TABLE OF AGGREGATES Number of Persons, Firms and Corporations Assessed on Property 15,119
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Polls Assessed 4,674
Polls Exempted under Clauses 17A and 18,
Chapter 59 or Section 8, Chapter 58 666
Pools Exempted under Section 71, Chapter 59 144
Polls Exempted under Acts 1950, Chapter 796 (Men in Armed Forces)
126
Horses
34
Cows
82
Swine
202
Sheep
3
Fowl
25,500
All Other
4
Dwelling Houses
9,849
Acres of Land
70,000
Motor Vehicle and Trailers Assessed under Motor Excise and Trailer Law:
Value of Motor Vehicles and Trailers
Registered (1954) (1955)
3,110,750.00
Number of Motor Vehicles and Trailers
Assessed (1954)
395
(1955)
6,500
Warrants to Collector (Motor Excise
and Trailers) (1954)
$4,389.98
(1955) 137,342.23
State Rate on Motor Vehicles and Trailers $53.37 on $1,000.
ABATEMENT ACCOUNT
Levy of 1952:
January 1, 1955 Deficit
$279.24
Abatements:
Real Estate 24.60
$303.84
1955 Appropriation
279.24
Overdrawn (To be appropriated in 1956) Levy of 1953:
$24.60
January 1, 1955 Balance
$5,780.43
$217,770.00
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Abatements:
Personal
$29.12
Real Estate
22.40
To Reserve Overlay
5,728.91
Levy of 1954:
January 1, 1955 Balance
$4,265.12
Abatements:
Poll
$20.00
Personal
128.08
Real Estate
1,732.29
Real Estate (Tax Titles)
45.20
$1,925.57
December 31, 1955 Balance
$2,339.55
Levy of 1955:
1955 Overlay
$41,008.55
Abatements:
Poll
$1,872.00
Personal
563.75
Real Estate
34,053.75
Real Estate (Tax Titles)
50.00
$36,539.50
December 31, 1955 Balance
$4,469.05
Reserve Overlay:
January 1, 1955 Balance
$21,278.06
From Overlay of 1953
5,728.91
$27,006.97
To Reserve Account
10,000.00
December 31, 1955 Balance
$17,006.97
ROBERT A. CARR, Chairman, WILLIAM H. BARRETT, CARL W. RAYMOND, Board of Assessors.
NANNIE A. PRATT, Senior Clerk
KATHRYN M. TASSINARI, Junior Clerk
$5,780.43
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REPORT OF THE PLANNING BOARD
The activities of the Board for the year 1955 fol- lowed the same pattern as in previous years. Many public hearings were held, as well as meetings with a number of committees and town departments.
Sixty-five plans for recording were signed as not re- quiring the approval of the Planning Board. Seven sub- division plans were approved and one disapproved.
Early in the year Walter H. Neaves, who had been one of our members for five years, playing an important part in setting up our rules and regulations, notified us that he would be unable to continue to give the time required and wished to resign. His resignation was accepted with sincere regrets. The Board of Selectmen was notified of the vacancy and a joint meeting held, at which time Edward Chase was appointed to fill the vacancy. Mr. Chase's knowledge of engineering and of the town in general has been a welcome addition to the Board.
The Board held several well attended meetings, to which the Board of Selectmen, Board of Appeals and Commissioners of Public Safety were invited, together with an invitation to the general public, for the purpose of discussing changes in the Zoning By-Laws regarding the location of cesspools and wells on lots of 60-foot frontage and 6000 square foot area. A great majority of those present favored increasing the frontage and lot area. Articles regarding this will be found in the town warrant for the annual town meeting with our recom- mendations.
JAMES A. WHITE, ELLIS W. BREWSTER, AMEDEO V. SGARZI, A. LINWOOD ELLIS, EDWARD CHASE, Plymouth Planning Board.
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PLYMOUTH HOUSING AUTHORITY
The Plymouth Housing project at Olmstead Ter- race remained fully occupied through 1955. The 40 families now in the project include 74 adults and 112 children. Six families moved out during the year, and in each case the vacancy was filled immediately. No major undertakings marked the year except for the exterior painting of thirteen buildings. Toward the end of the year, the Authority found it necessary to raise the cost of utilities for each tenant $1.50 per month, to match the increased consumption of gas and electricity. The gas and electricity charges are now as follows: two-bedroom house, $11.35; three-bedroom houses, $12.50.
Income limits and rental charges may be summar- ized as follows:
Minor
Admission
Continued
Dependents
Limits
Occupancy Limit
Rent
One or Less
$3,650.00
$3,900.00
18% of Income
Two
3,775.00
4,025.00
16% of Income
Three or More*
3,900.00
4,150.00 14% of Income
*$100 deduction from total income for each minor de- pendent child in excess of three.
PLYMOUTH HOUSING AUTHORITY Plymouth 200-1 Mass.
BALANCE SHEET - DECEMBER 31, 1955
Assets
Administration Fund:
Plymouth National Bank
$4,956.47
Plymouth Federal Savings & Loan
23,301.12
$28,257.59
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Tenants' Accounts Receivable
388.75
Debt Service Fund
$5,547.06
Debt Service Trust Fund
793.80
Debt Service Trust Fund-Investment 4,000.00
10,340.86
Development Costs
$447,000.00
Less-Dev. Cost Liquidation
32,000.00
415,000.00
Total Assets
$453,987.20
Liabilities
Tenants' Prepaid Rents
$ .27
Accounts Payable-Development
2,613.42
Accrued Insurance
2,615.78
Bonds Authorized
$447,000.00
Less-Bonds Retired
32,000.00
415,000.00
Matured Interest and Principal
$7,943.55
Operating Reserve
10,218.77
Reduction of Annual Contribution
1,941.21
Debt Service Reserve
6,521.37
Unamortized Bond Premium
4,793.80
31,418.70
Net Income (see operating statement)
2,339.03
Total Liabilities $453,987.20
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IN MEMORY OF JOHN SIEVER
It is with deep respect and a sense of real personal loss that we record here the passing of John A. Siever on November 25, 1955.
For over 15 years John Siever was a member of the Park Commission, and for several of those years had been Chairman. His work in helping build better recreation facilities for our people, both young and old, and his interest and initiative in helping develop the beauty and attractiveness of the town through the Park system will always be a lasting tribute to him.
REPORT OF THE PARK DEPARTMENT
Parks and Gardens:
The regular maintenance work was carried on at all parks during the year. At Brewster Garden portions of the wall along Town Brook were repaired, the brook bed was cleaned, four new lights were installed replac- ing one lost in the hurricane, several azalea plants were set out, and several springs causing water to stand in places were drained into Town Brook. The brook bed between the two bridges was cleaned. The brook bed from Market Street bridge to the Town line at the Kyle lot was also cleaned. One hundred and forty feet of stone wall, approximately four feet high, was laid from Spooner Park along the brook to the town line at the Kyle lot. The Burgess lot bought by the Town in 1954 has been drained, rough graded, and ready to be loamed and seeded in early spring.
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The hurricane logs from Morton Park were turned into rough lumber, netting about 6,000 board feet to be used for repair work, picnic tables, benches, etc.
Considerable work has been accomplished at the Cleft Rock property. About eight acres have been mowed and brush burned. It took so long getting a State permit to enter on the Massachusetts highway that nothing has been done to the entrance roadway. This work will be started as soon as the frost leaves. We are asking for another appropriation this year of twenty-five hundred dollars to continue this work.
Playgrounds:
All playgrounds have been kept in a safe condition. The slides, swings, seesaws, and climbing towers have been checked regularly for defects. The stadium and bleacher seats have been repaired, painted, and inspected by the State Board of Public Safety and permits re- ceived for using them.
The soft ball league played their games at the Nook Farm Playground. Also the High School used this field for practice. At Stephens Field the Little League ball diamond has been graded, loamed, and seeded. Two new dug-outs have been installed, and the toilet building has been painted inside. The tennis courts have been repaired and taped, and all routine work carried on as usual. The High School and the Rockets played their games at the Standish Avenue Playground.
A new floor has been laid on the band stand at Veterans' Field, and the new tennis court has been com- pleted, and should be enclosed with chain link fencing. This tennis court can be entirely enclosed with a ten- foot high chain link fence for $936.00 by using material given to the department by the Honorable Judge Sgarzi for which we here extend our appreciation.
All neighborhood playgrounds - Holmes Field, South
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Street, Nelson Street, and the Manomet Playgrounds - have been well utilized by the children in these local- ities. For the supervised playground activities, please see the Supervisor's report.
REPORT OF PLAYGROUND SUPERVISOR
A total of 8,073 boys and girls attended the eight- week summer playground program sponsored by the Plymouth Park Department. This was an average weekly attendance of 1009.
The eight-week summer playground program de- signed for boys and girls from ages 6 through 15 again proved successful. A total of 215 boys and girls partici- pated in the summer's organized activities: 86 boys took part in the junior baseball league; 36 boys in the senior baseball league; 73 boys and girls in the arts and crafts classes at the three playgrounds; and some 20 boys and girls in the tennis classes and the tournament play.
Other routine daily activities carried on throughout the summer at the playgrounds were: basketball, cro- quet, archery, volley ball, horseshoes, games, swings and slides. More than 150 boys and girls attended the ball game in Boston as guests of the Boston Red Sox.
Bathing and Camping:
The bathing beaches, camp grounds, and picnic areas were well patronized during the season. Swimming classes were conducted by the Red Cross. Boats and life buoys were kept in readiness and the attendants warned to be on watch for accidents. The sea wall was extended 325 ft. at Beach Park and the space between the wall and Eel River graveled and sealed, making it possible to park many more cars. We hope that this year we may continue this work and gravel the remaining portion of town owned land at this point. We are asking for an appropriation this year to erect 600 ft. of steel cable
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guard fencing along Eel River from the bridge to the end of the rip-rap. The remaining part from the rip-rap to the Hornblower line should be fenced as soon as some suitable installation has been made to hold the banking along the river. We hope that with the increasing rev- enue at this place we may be able to make much needed improvements each year.
We wish to thank the fishermen for their fine cooperation during the season.
We are asking for an appropriation to build an all concrete bath house at Morton Park this year. It seems as if this is the time to do it as the old building must have an all new sewage system; as the cesspool drainage is too near the bathing area and the present site of the building could be utilized for more bathing beach.
The Indian Reservation camp ground was well patron- ized during the season, and an increase in rental fees was put into effect increasing the revenue.
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