USA > Massachusetts > Norfolk County > Quincy > Town annual report of Quincy 1876 > Part 3
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$9 25
Appropriation,
$250 00
Expenses,
9 25
Expenses less than appropriation,
240 75
TAXES.
GEORGE H. LOCKE, Collector.
DR.
To Town tax, $86,229 75
State tax,
7,060 00
County tax,
4,814 63
Two-mill tax, for reduction of town debt,
14,628 05
Non-residents' bank tax,
1,865 25
Overlayings,
1,945 69
-$116,543 37
CR.
By cash paid town treasurer, (dis- count $3,541.40, abatements $1,484.57), $111,780 62
Amount of taxes unpaid Feb. 1, 1876, 4,762 75
-$116,543 37
Discount and abatements,
$5,025 97
Appropriation, 4
5,000 00
Excess of discount and abatements,
25 97
The list of unpaid taxes can be found on page 66.
.
58
APPROPRIATIONS FOR 1875.
Schools, teaching, fuel and care,
$25,000 00
incidentals,
4,000 00
repairs,
2,500 00
Superintendent of Schools,
2,000 00
Repairs of highways,
9,000 00
Removal of snow and miscellaneous expenses of highways,
2,000 00
Support of poor,
6,000 00
Mount Wollaston Cemetery,
1000 00
Old Cemetery,
100 00
Fire Department,
4,000 00
Purchase of hose,
1,250 00
Decorating soldiers' graves,
200 00
Repairs of town buildings,
500 00
Miscellaneous expenses,
1,894 50
Town officers,
4,300 00
Bridges,
1,500 00
Street lamps,
2,500 00
Discount and abatement of taxes,
5,000 00
Extension of Phipps street,
600 00
Sumner street,
850 00
New street from Pleasant street to land of C. F. Adams,
150 00
New street from Willard street to land of Granite Railway Co., 300 00
New street from Quincy avenue to Elm street,
75 00
Silver, Charles and River streets,
180 50
Widening Granite street,
450 00
" Bridges at West Quincy,
1,000 00
Culvert on Water street,
550 00
Public Library,
3,200 00
Committee on steam fire engine,
100 00
Copying Braintree records,
250 00
59
ESTIMATE OF EXPENSES FOR THE ENSUING YEAR.
PREPARED BY THE SELECTMEN.
Support of poor,
$6,000 00
Repairs of town buildings,
500 00
Town officers,
4,300 00
Discount and abatement of taxes,
5,000 00
Interest on town debt,
6,500 00
Miscellaneous expenses,
3,000 00
Bridges,
1,500 00
Mount Wollaston Cemetery,
1,000 00
Old Cemetery,
100 00
Repairs of highways,
8,000 00
Removal of snow and miscellaneous expenses of highways,
2,000 00
Decoration of soldiers' graves,
200 00
Public Library,
3,200 00
Fire Department,
5,500 00
Street lights,
2,800 00
$49,600 00
.
SCHEDULE OF OUTSTANDING ACCOUNTS DUE THE TOWN.
Sumner Soule, support of Cordelia J. Soule,
$25 50
J. W. Hayden, support of Lydia A. Hayden,
33 00
State of Mass., support of John Tate,
21 00
66 66 P. Corcoran, 15 53
Town of Braintree, support of Delia W. Hayden,
53 53
Town of Braintree, support of Mrs. K. Harrington, 23 81
Amount carried forward, $172 37
4
60
Amount brought forward, $172 37
Town of Braintree, support of James Friele, 27 91
Town of Blackstone, support of Charles M. Shaw, 62 00
Town of Tisbury, support of Hugh Cahill, 20 08
Town of Milton, support of Charles Pierce, 18 00
Town of Randolph, support of L. P. Holbrook, 12 38
Town of Randolph, support of S. H. Leavitt, 8 00
Town of Templeton, support of James Morrow, 6 75
City of Boston, burial of Louisa Blake, 17 00
City of Boston, support of L. E. John- son, 4 00
City of Gloucester, support of Thomas Somes,
5 00
William Davenport, support of A. N. Davenport,
306 16
State Aid, due Feb. 1, 1872,
2,000 00
66 balance 1872,
700 25
66 66 1873,
365 00
66 66 1874, 237 66
" paid during past year, 3,067 80
Labor in cemetery and sale of lots, 213 50
$7,243 86
TREASURER'S REPORT.
HORACE B. SPEAR, Treasurer.
DR.
To cash in Treasury on settlement, Feb. 1, 1875, $13,464 03 Town of Braintree, support of poor, 37 13
Town of Randolph, support of L. P. Holbrook, 12 88
City of Salem, support of paupers,
208 00
Hingham and Quincy Bridges, 4 80
H. Barker, Treasurer Public Library, refunded, 500 00
William Hobart, rent of land, 1 00
C. H. S. Newcomb, for loam, 20 50
Edward Turner, 66
3 50
Daniel Baxter, 66 66
3 50
H. H. Faxon, " sand,
3 75
J. Q. A. Field, for cow sold,
55 00
E. B. Souther, for books sold,
51 30
John Donovan, acct. Neponset Bridge,
5 00
Circus licenses,
50 00
Edward Arnold, peddler's license,
13 00
District Court, fine from Samuel W. Jenkins, 6 00
J. Q. A. Field, guardian, board of Mary O'Hearn, 196 34
Edward Capen, guardian, board of Catherine V. Saville, 191 05
Income from Town Hall, 509 25
Amount carried forward, $15,336 03
62
Amount brought forward, $15,336 03
Nat'l. Mt. Wollaston Bank, rent of rooms in Town House. 300 00
W. M. French, use of police station, 20 00
G. L. Gill, lots sold in Mt. Wollaston Cemetery, 250 00
G. I .. Gill, labor on lots in Mt. Wollas- ton Cemetery, 849 75
G. L. Gill, labor on lots in Mt. Wollas- ton Cemetery, 1873, 91 00
G. L. Gill, labor on lots in Mt. Wollas- ton Cemetery, 1874, 39 00
G. L. Gill, hay sold from Mt. Wollas- ton Cemetery, 65 00
G. L. Gill, assessment of non-resident owners of lots, 48 00
Produce sold from Almshouse, 82 95
F. W. Parker, school-books furnished scholars, 80 00
County Treasurer, interest on county tax, 49 60
County Treasurer, dog licenses,
700 18
State Treasurer, interest on State tax,
.6 acct. corporation tax,
3,796 13
66 " State aid,
3,061 34
66
paupers, 25 00
66
66 " Nat. bank tax, 2,270 57
State Treasurer, income Mass. School Fund, 298 18
J.W. Lombard, liquor license, $200 00
H. P. Abbott, 100 00
S. N. Maloney, 100 00
Bernard Donnelly 66 100 00
Whitney & Nash, 66 100 00
Amounts carried forward,
$600 00
$27,442 74
80 01
63
Amounts brought forward,
$600 00
$27,442 74
Albert Hall, liquor license,
100 00
John McGowan,
100 00
William Dugan,
50 00
Michael Small,
100 00
James Sullivan,
100 00
Thomas P. Hayes,
100 00
George R. Litchfield,
100 00
John Treanor,
100 00
E. W. Underwood,
125 00
Thomas E. Furnald,
100 00
Jeremiah Ford,
100 00
Warren Reed,
150 00
Samuel W. Jenkins,
66
150 00
M. Goodhue,
100 00
Timothy Lyons,
100 00
William Norris,
100 00
C. C. Johnson,
50 00
Edward H. Treadway, "
50 00
Dennis Ford, 2d,
50 00
Henry R. Johnson,
100 00
James Mears,
100 00
William S. Pattee,
50 00
Frederick Hardwick,
66
50 00
John H. Veazie,
50 00
Thomas H. Hayes,
100 00
Alexander McFee,
100 00
2,975 00
Notes payable, borrowed in anticipa- tion of taxes, 24,000 00
George H. Locke, collector,
111,780 62
$166,198 36
64
CR.
By State Treasurer, State tax, $7,060 00
66 National bank tax, 2,649 47
66 66 One - fourth am't received for liquor licenses, 743 75
County 66 County tax,
4,814 63
H. Barker, treasurer Public Library, dog licenses, 700 18
Notes payable, amount borrowed in anticipa- tion of taxes, 24,000 00
Notes payable, sundry persons,
18,500 00
Interest
66
66
on notes,
7,129 69
Town orders,
84,380 92
Balance in treasury, Feb. 1, 1876, 16,219 72
$166,198 36
,
CORRECTED STATEMENT OF THE TOWN DEBT OF LAST YEAR.
DR.
Notes payable and accrued interests per last year's report,
$112,589 18
CR.
By cash in the treasury, $13,464 03
Due, as per schedule of outstanding accounts, 6,802 82
Plank on hand at Neponset Bridge, 100 00
-- $20,366 85
Net am't of town debt, Feb. 1, 1875,
$92,222 33
-
65
STATEMENT OF TOWN DEBT.
NOTES PAYABLE.
State of Massachusetts, due Dec. 9, 1878,
$5,000 00
Nov. 1, 1881,
20,000 00
Dec. 9, 1883,
5,000 00
March 23, 1884,
20,000 00
66
Dec. 9, 1888,
5,000 00
66
June 1, 1889,
10,000 00
Woodward fund on demand,
28,000 00
Interest accrued on the above notes,
1,059 17
$94,059 17
CR.
By Cash in the treasury, $16,219 72
Due, as per schedule of outstanding accounts, page 59, 7,243 86
Unpaid taxes, as per list, page 66, 4,762 75 28,226 33
Net am't of town debt, Feb. 1, 1876, $65,832 84
Net am't of town debt, Feb. 1, 1875,
92,222 33
Feb. 1, 1876, 65,832 84
Decrease for the year,
$26,389 49
Amount of two-mill tax for re- duction of town debt, $14,628 05
Town notes paid, $18,500 00
1
66
LIST OF UNPAID TAXES, FEB. 1, 1876.
WOLLASTON.
Baker, H. G.,
$7 50
Beal, Frank,
9 00
Beal, Joseph H.,
102 00
Bowker, J. E.,
12 00
Bowker, John E.,
36 00
Clark, Cyrus T.,
7 50
Carpenter, Edwin J.,
44 00
Coombs, Henry B.,
37 25
Craig, Charles H.,
40 50
Cuttee, Henry C.,
11 25
Gordon, Alexander,
34 50
Gordon, Thomas,
41 25
Greenwood, - -
42 00
Hodges, - -
4 50
Hobart, Walter H.,
40 50
Jones, Henry A.,
53 00
Jackson, Edward C.,
32 25
Linden, Thomas H.,
32 00
McIntyre, Farrington,
200 00
Perry, Nathan D.,
2 25
Perry, James T.,
42 50
Pinkham, George F.,
648 50
Pinkham & Beals,
411 75
Pinkham, Horace A.,.
138 50
Pinkham & White,
39 75
Quincy Point Land Co.,
297 00
Richardson, Joseph,
4 50
Seelye, W. C.,
50 75
Shirley, France,
6 00
Sparrow, Edmund S.,
95 75
Stewart, W. H.,
45 00
Amount carried forward,
$2,569 25
67
Amount brought forward,
$2,569 25
Tupper, H. W.,
3 75
Whittebone, A. & F.,
11 25
Wilson, John,
9 00
Wollaston Land Associates,
991 50
Wollaston Foundry Co.,
150 00
$3,734 75
QUINCY.
Allis, Richard,
$5 75
Billings, Caleb F.,
85 25
Bowditch, Galen, & Co.,
6 25
Bowen, Michael,
29 00
Carroll, Thomas H.,
10 25
Curtis, Franklin,
62 00
Donaher, Dennis,
35 75
Donaher, Peter J.,
17 75
Eldridge, John S.,
110 00
Farrell, Patrick, Estate of,
8 50
Gillard, William,
39 50
Glover, James M.
38 00
Hardwick, Henry, balance,
57 75
Hayes, John,
14 00
Mahoney, Owen,
6 50
Pope, Edmund,
139 50
Shea, James,
12 50
Torrey, Frances,
40 50
Warren, Sally C.,
28 50
Wentworth, Abigail L.,
3 00
Whiting, George S. T., balance,
9 25
$759 50
BOSTON.
Eaton, Ebenezer,
$6 00
Haughton & Sawyer,
3 00
McGrail, Peter,
2 25
Squantum Land Co., G. F. Dodge, Trust., 237 00
$248 25
Amount carried forward,
$4,742 50
68
Amount brought forward, $4,742 50
FREETOWN.
Nichols, C. C.,
$10 50
WEYMOUTH.
Humphry, James,
$7 50
RESIDENCE UNKNOWN.
Lane, John,
$2 25
$4,762 75
WOODWARD FUND
CASH ACCOUNT.
HORACE B. SPEAR, Treasurer, in account with the Woodward Fund.
DR.
To cash on hand, Feb. 1, 1875, $725 39
interest on Portland Water Co. bonds, 480 00
66 scrip, 38 64
" Vt. & Can. R.R. bonds, 240 00
" United States bonds, gold, $360.00, premium, $52.42, 412 42
interest of sundry persons, 870 75
" Town of Quincy on note, 1,680 00
rent of Peter Butler, 1,000 00
loans secured by mortgage, 4,300 00 - $9,747 20
69
CR.
By fencing material on farm, $149 38
41 31
building fence, « " school-house lot, 208 45
repairs on house,
32 00
Boston Safe Deposit & Trust Co., rent of safe, 20 00
loan on mortgage,
1,200 00
2 bonds City of Cleveland, 1,000 each, 7%, 2,060 00
interest accrued on same, 49 00
4 bonds City of Boston 1,000 each, 5 % gold, 4430 00
interest accrued on same, 63 33
expenses,
100 26
balance on hand,
1,393 47
$9,747 20
STATEMENT OF THE FUND, FEB. 1, 1876.
Personal property received from estate
of Dr. Woodward, per appraise- ment, Sale of land,
$30,089 83 · 18,743 02
" pews, 120 00
Income account, 20,852 62
$69,805 47
Invested as follows : -
6 bonds U. S. sixes, 1,000 each, at ap- praisement, $7,020 00
8 bonds Portland Water Co., 1,000 each, at appraisement, 8,000 00
Amount carried forward,
$15,020 00
70
Amount brought forward, $15,020 00
3 bonds Vt. & Can. R.R. 1,000 each, at appraisement, 3,030 00
5 bonds Vt. Cen. R.R. 1,000 each, at appraisement, 4,000 00
6 bonds Hartford & Erie R.R. 1,000 each, at appraisement, 2,520 00
2 bonds City of Cleveland, 1,000 each, 7 %, 2,060 00
4 bonds City of Boston, 1,000 each, 5 % gold, 4,430 00
Notes secured by mortgage,
8,800 00
Portland Water Co. interest scrip,
552 00
Loan to Town of Quincy,
28,000 00
Cash, deposited in bank,
1,393 47
$69,805 47
The Greenleaf Farm, and one pew in the Universalist church.
Income account, Feb. 1, 1876,
$20,852 62
¥
1875, 16,794 54
Increase,
$4,058 08
HORACE B. SPEAR, .
Treasurer.
CHIEF ENGINEER'S REPORT.
TO THE SELECTMEN OF QUINCY :
Gentlemen, - I most respectfully submit the following report :-
The department is under the control of a Chief and five Assistant Engineers.
There are three hand engines with hose carriages, one four- wheeled hose carriage in poor condition, which, by a vote of the town, will soon be replaced with a new one. The com- panies are full, and manned by 195 volunteers.
The steam pump at William Panton's shop has done good service, and has proved quite an addition to the department at fires and in filling reservoirs.
The several houses belonging to the department are in good condition, and a coat of paint is all that is needed to keep them as they should be.
There are belonging to the department 1,300 feet of new hose, 2,700 feet of good hose, 300 feet not reliable, and 300 feet condemned.
The reservoirs are in good condition, with the exception of the one at the High School-house, which, to be of any service, must be taken up and sunk deeper. There have been a number of dams placed along the brook, and Messrs. Tirrell & Sons have arranged a place in the rear of their works in case water should be needed on Granite Street.
The following property belonging to the department has been destroyed by fire during the past year : 100 feet hose at the burning of Robertson's block, one engine house with engine, 50 feet linen hose, 2 stoves, 3 tables, 3 pipes, 16 spanners, 25 chairs, 2 jacks, 1 wrench, 6 lamps, 1 desk, 3 lanterns, 1 duster, 2 fire-hats.
72
RECOMMENDATIONS.
Our board would respectfully recommend one or more steam fire engines, and 4 more reservoirs ; one near Mr. Ricker's on Faxon's plain, one at the foot of Mt. Pleasant, one on Edwards' Hill, near Mr. John Drake's, and one at Wollaston. The one at Mr. Charles Curtis's, on Franklin St., should be arched in the same way as those in the centre of the town.
FIRES SINCE MAY 1ST, 1875.
May 12 George Curtis's barn, about 6 P.M.
66
16 J. Q. A. Wild's barn, 101 P.M.
30 Fire in woods on Quincy Avenue.
Aug. 26 Goodnow's building and Central House, 1 A.M.
Sept. 5 T. J. Nightingale's barn and outbuildings, 11 P.M.
7 James Edwards' mill, 10 P.M.
9 Daniel Baxter's barn, 3 A.M.
66 12 Edward Turner's tool house, 6 A.M.
66 13 barn, 6 P.M.
Oct. 14 Mrs. F. Hardwick's store, 2 P.M.
Dec. 9 Barn burned at Wollaston in rear of horse car stables (no alarm).
Jan. 22 Niagara engine house, about 12 o'clock at night.
All of which is most respectfully submitted to your hon- orable board, together with a schedule of town property in charge of each company.
E. A. SPEAR, Chief Engineer.
73
SCHEDULE OF PROPERTY BELONGING TO THE TOWN, ATTACHED TO THE DEPARTMENT.
Tiger, No. 2. One engine and hose carriage, 600 feet of hose, 10 spanners, 8 spanner belts, 1 wrench, 2 stoves, 1 dust- er, 1 broom, 3 oil cans, 2 boilers, 1 jack, 1 shovel, 4 benches, 8 settees, 7 chairs, 5 tables, 4 lanterns, 48 mugs, 62 bowls, 58 plates, 80 spoons, 1 ladle, 6 lamps, 7 spittoons, 2 fire hats.
Granite, No. 3. One engine and hose carriage, 600 feet of hose, 2 stoves, 12 spanners, 1 wrench, 1 jack, 4 pipes, 5 lan- terns, 3 chairs, 1 table, 2 fire hats.
Vulture, No. 4. One engine and hose carriage, 600 feet of cotton and 150 feet of linen hose, 11 spanners, 5 belts, 2 pairs rubber pants, 7 suction hose spanners, 5 belts, 3 stoves, 3 shovels, 1 coal hod, 1 jack, 1 oil can, 2 pails, 4 lanterns, 1 spare piece of suction hose, 7 chairs, 5 tables, 8 settees, 8 lamps, 12 cuspadores, 35 mugs, 14 bowls, 70 spoons, 2 fire hats.
Hook and Ladder, No. 1. One carriage, 6 hooks, 9 ladders, 12 buckets, 3 pitchforks, 2 Johnson pumps, 2 axes, 2 guy ropes, 1 jack, 2 tables, 10 lamps and fixtures, 2 stoves, 2 shovels, 12 settees, 1 chair, 3 lanterns.
W. M. French, Hose No. 1. One four-wheeled carriage, 4 Johnson pumps, 1,300 feet new hose, 1,350 feet cotton hose, 100 feet linen hose, 11 spanners, 4 spanner belts, 2 cylinder stoves, 1 cook stove, 2 brooms, 1 shovel, 1 chamois skin, 1 oil can, 1 table, 2 axes, 2 pipes, 1 crotch, 3 lanterns, 1 wrench, 1 jack, 6 lamps, 1 coal hod, 1 sponge, 1 duster, 1 pair scissors, 23 oak chairs, 2 mugs, 5 bowls.
One steam pump. 1 hose carriage, 1 pipe, 300 feet of lead- ing hose in charge of Hose Company No. 1, and located at John Hall's.
E. A. SPEAR,
Chief Engineer.
74
MOUNT WOLLASTON CEMETERY.
The Board of Managers of the Mount Wollaston Cemetery respectfully submit their Second Annual Report, as required by the By-Laws : -
SALE OF LOTS.
The number of lots sold the past year is twenty-five (25), for which the sum of two hundred and fifty ($250) dollars was re- ceived. No lots have been sold in an unfinished state, and the amount of money received for " grading " is included un- der the head of Labor on Lots.
GRADING AND CARE OF LOTS.
There has been charged the past year for grading new lots and work done on lots the sum of nine hundred and seventy- seven -75% ($977.75) dollars, of which sum one hundred and twenty-eight 5% ($128.50) dollars remain unpaid by the owners of the lots. In addition to the above sum ($977.75) there can be realized about three hundred ($300) dollars from the sale of twenty-one (21) lots, which are graded and ready for sale, and on which all charges for labor have been paid by the town.
NON-RESIDENT ASSESSMENT.
By vote of the town the Board of Managers were author- ized to levy an assessment of such a sum as should be thought just, on non-resident owners, and the sum of two ($2) dollars was assessed on each lot of such owners. On examination of the record of owners of lots it was found quite difficult to find the present residence of some, and others, whose residence was supposed to be known, were not readily reached, while some have not yet responded, who will probably do so, and another class may not intend to answer at all. The sum of forty-eight ($48) dollars has been collected to the present time. Unsatisfactory as this may be, the Managers are more than ever convinced of the justness of this assessment, and
75
suggest that authority be given by the town to continue the same, hoping to be able at the close of another year to show a more satisfactory result, and, at the same time, to give the town some definite information respecting the non-resident owners of lots.
IMPROVEMENTS.
In addition to the general care of the cemetery, it is thought that considerable improvement has been made in the northerly part, whereby the land has been more economically laid out, increasing the number of lots, and by continuing the work on the plan proposed, a large increase in lots will be the result, and the grounds lying on the new street, on the west- erly side, will be made available.
INVENTORY.
The following is an inventory of the property at the ceme- tery : -
1 horse-cart, 1 harness, 1 wheelbarrow, 1 grindstone, 1 lawn-mower, 5 forks, 5 rakes, 1 hay-rake, 3 spades, 7 hoes, 3 shovels, 1 pick, 1 scythe, 1 axe, 1 iron bar, 2 saws, 1 pair steps, 1 new out-building.
FINANCIAL.
Cash on hand Feb. 1, 1875,
$185 80
Appropriation for 1875,
1,000 00
Collected for lots sold,
250 00
66 " labor on lots,
849 75
66 from non-resident owners,
48 00
for hay sold,
65 00
66
" unpaid bills of 1873,
91 00
66
' " 1874,
39 00
$2,528 55
Expended, as appears by the selectmen's account,
2,308 82
Balance of cash on hand,
$219 73
76
Balance due from owners for labor on lots, -
Unpaid bills of 1873,
16 00
'1874,
69 00
1875, 128 50
Respectfully submitted,
$213 50
ENSIGN S. FELLOWS, Chairman. GEORGE L. GILL, Secretary.
PUBLIC LIBRARY OF QUINCY.
The Trustees of the Public Library ask leave to offer their Fifth Annual Report, relative to the progress and to the pres- ent condition of that institution.
During the year 1875 the Library was open 267 days. The whole number of borrowers was 3,458, to whom 34,551 vol- umes were issued from Feb. 1, 1875, to Jan. 1, 1876. The greatest number (4,776) issued in any month was in March, and the smallest number (2,044) was in August. On the 6th of March, 502 volumes were issued, being the greatest num- ber in any one day ; while the smallest number was 14, on the 17th of August. 462 volumes and 227 pamphlets have been added to the Library from Feb. 1, 1875, to Jan. 1, 1876. Of these, 405 volumes have been purchased, and 57 volumes and 227 pamphlets have been presented to the Library.
In the period during which the Library was closed, between the 11th of September and the 1st of October, a thorough re- organization, both of its force and of its working system, was effected. The system in use before that time, and which had been in use ever since the Library was organized, was anti- quated and cumbersome, and under it there was a constant accumulation of undone work which finally had to be cleared off at great and unnecessary expense. The delivery of books was very slow, and borrowers were often compelled to wait for hours ; while the new books added to the Library were not catalogued, and soon became inaccessible. To remedy this a complete reform had become necessary, and the time when the catalogue, which had been in preparation for a year previous, was ready for use, was thought as good a time as any to effect it. To insure as great a degree of success as
78
possible in what they proposed to do, the Trustees examined the systems in use in other public libraries, and finally decided to adopt that of the City Library of Boston, which seemed to be the most effective and economical. Accordingly, on the recommendation of the officers of that library, Miss M. I. Brooks, one of its assistants, was engaged as librarian, and through her the necessary changes were effected. They in- cluded the whole system of calling for books and their deliv- ery to borrowers, the caring for them on the shelves, and the keeping up of a regular and thorough catalogue of all additions to the Library. Under the system, introduced by her, double the present number of volumes could be issued without any ma- terial increase of expense, and no arrears in the work of cata- loguing are allowed to accumulate. This last is the most important and perplexing work connected with every public library. Books always accumulate rapidly, and they become practically useless unless constant care is taken to keep them accessible. In private libraries this is of comparatively little consequence. The persons using them can rummage the shelves, examine their contents, and find out for themselves what they want. In general town libraries this is out of the question. The borrowers have to call for particular books, and they cannot tell what books to call for until they know what are on the shelves. For the purposes of a town library, therefore, 5,000 well-selected volumes, made thoroughly ac- cessible by means of a good catalogue, are of more value than 20,000 volumes buried in the book-cases. On this point all librarians concur. For popular use the thoroughness and ex- cellence of the catalogue measure the efficiency of the public library.
In the early days of the library of this town, Mr. W. W. Greenough, the first chairman of the Board of Trustees, initi- ated a policy as respects the catalogue, which has since been successfully carried out. Mr. Greenough's experience, from long connection with the City Library of Boston, saved us from blunders into which many other towns have fallen. The character of the catalogue was settled upon, and the standard, both as regards thoroughness and cost, placed very
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high. At the same time, it was determined to accomplish gradually what was desired, and not to call upon the town for any large and special appropriation. The unexpended bal- ance of the dog-tax was annually set aside, and from this source the necessary fund was gradually accumulated. Through the exercise of careful economy a sufficient sum had been gotten together in the Spring of 1874 to author- ize the commencement of the work. As it went on it devel- oped on our hands, and finally assumed proportions nearly twice as large as were originally intended. Fortunately, how- ever, the estimates had been very liberal, and the price of printing and material had fallen, so that the final cost of the catalogue has not exceeded the accumulation of the catalogue fund. Unfortunately, however, owing to circumstances con- nected with the leasing of the present Library building, to which it would be useless now to recur, but for which the trustees were in no way responsible, the cost of preparing that building for library use exceeded the estimates and appropriation therefor by several hundred dollars. This amount the Treasurer was obliged to borrow from the cata- logue fund, which was reduced by so much. As the prepa- ration of the catalogue was, however, already far advanced, and as it would have been very expensive to discontinue the work and stop the press, it was decided to continue at once, and to anticipate the dog-tax of next year. * This was accord- ingly done. The catalogue was promptly finished, and the deficiency in the catalogue fund, amounting to some $700.00, will be met out of next year's dog-tax. By pursuing this course we have been enabled to supply the town with one of the most thorough public library catalogues ever prepared, without calling for any special, or, except in the case of last year, unusually large appropriation.
After its publication the practical use of the catalogue had yet to be ascertained. It had cost a considerable sum of money, and yet more labor, and it remained to be seen whether, after all, a mere list of names of books, such as had been issued in the early days of the Library, was not equally serviceable. This question could be decided only by the char-
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