USA > Massachusetts > Essex County > Saugus > Town annual report of Saugus 1892 > Part 3
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The pipes we have laid this fall and winter weigh as follows : 53 I-IO pounds to the foot for 8 inch, 35 7-10 pounds for 6 inch, 23 pounds for 4 inch, which is 3 1-10 pounds to the foot heavier for 8 inch, 7-10 pound for 6 inch and J pound for 4 inch in excess of what our con- tract called for, for which we pay nothing extra. We have up to this date, Dec. 31, '92, 445 service connections.
56
WATER COMMISSIONERS' REPORT.
Up to this time, Dec. 31, we have been unable to con- summate a new contract for water with the city of Lynn but are in hopes of being able to in the near future.
Baker Street.
573 ft. of 6 in. cast iron pipe at 79c $452 67
I 6 in. gate 20 00
I hydrant 39 00 . ·
2 tees at 2.343 .
4 68g
1 6x8 tee 8 79
I 8 in. sleeve 2 70
For cutting into cement pipe and connecting .
9 70
$537 54%
Western Ave.
1648 ft. of 6 in. cast iron pipe at 79C 1301 92
One 6 in. gate . 20 00
3 hydrants at 39C. · · ·
117 00
176 yards of rock at 4.00 .
· 704 00
3 tees at 2.343 .
·
I plug .
7 03% I 41
-$2,151 36}
Knowles Avenue.
624 ft. of 6 in. cast iron pipe at 79C 492 96
I 6 in gate . 20 00
I hydrant 39 00
I tee 2 343 .
56 yards of rock at 4.00 224 00 ·
I 8x6 tee 8 79
I 8-in. sleeve 2 70
Cutting into cement pipe and con- necting
9 70
$799 493
Oak Street.
292 I-2 ft. of 4 in. cast iron pipe at 55c. · . $160 88
I 4 in. gate 15 00
I hydrant · .
39 00
·
I tee . 2 343 .
$217 223
57
WATER COMMISSIONERS' REPORT.
High Street.
397 ft. of 4 in. cast iron pipe at 55c.
218 35
14 yds. rock at $4 00 . 56 00
$274 35
Herbert Avenue.
658 1-2 ft. of 6 in. cast iron pipe
at 79c. 520 21
I 6 in. gate 20 00
I hydrant 39 00
I tee
2 343
3 yds. of rock at $4.00
I2 00
I plug
I 4I
$594 96%
Horton Street.
393 I-2 ft. of 4 in. cast iron pipe
at 55c.
·
216 42
I 4 in. gate
15 00
15 yds. of rock at $4.00 60 00 .
I 8x4 tee 8 28 . .
I tee ·
2 343
I plug
I 4I
Cutting into cement pipe and con- necting
9 68
$313 133
Vermont Avenue.
387 ft. of 4 in. cast iron pipe at 55c. 212 85
I 4 in. gate
15 00
I hydrant
39 00
I tee . . ·
2 343
I 8x4 tee
8 28
7 yds. of rock at $4 00 28 00
I plug
I 4I
Cutting into cement pipe and con- necting . 9 67
$316 55%
Total
$5,204 63
Bill of I. K. Harris .
75 00
$5,279 63
.
58
WATER COMMISSIONERS' REPORT.
Denver Street.
1424 ft. of 6 in. cast iron pipe at 8oc 1139 84
3 hydrants at $40.00 . · 120 00
I 6 in. gate . 20 00
4 6 in. tees at $5.50 22 00
2 6 in. plugs at 75c I 50
61 yds. of rock at $4.00
244 00
For cutting into cement pipe and connecting caulkers, 3 men at 50C per hr., $1.50; men 20 hrs. at 20c per hr., $4.00 . 5 50
Lead and yarn, 12 lbs at 7c.
·
84
$1,553 68
Elm Street.
I286 ft. of 6 in. cast iron pipe at 8oc. · 1028 80
Setting 3 hydrants at 40C · 120 00
I gate, 6 in. .
20 00
3 6in. tees at 5 I-2C
16 50
I 6 in. plug
75
I 10x6 tee
9 50
I IO in. sleeve 5 00
. 122 yds. of rock 48 80
Cutting into and making connect- ion to cement pipe, calker 6
hours at 50c, 3.00 ; men 40 hours at 20c, 8.00 II 00
Lead and yarn, 80 lbs. at 7c
·
5 60
$1,265 95
Jasper Street.
205 ft. of 6 in. cast iron pipe at 80c 164 00
I 6 in. gate 20 00
I 6 in. plug 75
I IOX6 tee 9 50
2 IO in. sleeves at 5.00 IO 00
Cutting out and making connection to cement pipe, calker 10 h. at 50c, 5.00 ; men 45 h. at 20c, 9.00 ·
14 00
Team 5 h. at 39C .
·
I 95
80 lbs. lead and yarn at 7c 5 60
$225 80
59
WATER COMMISSIONERS' REPORT.
Felton Street.
349 ft. of 6 in. cast iron pipe at 8oc 279 20 I hydrant 40 00
I 6 in. tee
·
5 50
I 6 in. sleeve
·
2 50
I 6 in. plug
75
14% yds. rock at 4.00 .
58 00
Cutting into and making connect- ion, calker 3 h. at 50c, 1.50 ; 20 men at 20c, 4.00 · ·
5 50
Lead and yarn, 12 lbs. at 7c
·
84
$392 29
Pleasant Avenue.
· 612 ft. of 4 in. cast iron pipe at 6oc 367 20
I 4 in. gate 15 00 ·
I hydrant .
40 00
I 4 in. tee .
3 50
I 4 in. plug
·
50
Tuttle Street.
377% ft. of 4 in. cast iron pipe at 6oc 226 32 I hydrant 40 00
I 4 in. gate 15 00
I 4 in. tee .
3 50
I 4 in plug
50
I 8x4 tee
6 50
I 8 in. sleeve
3 50
2 I-2 ft. 8 in. pipe 2 50
Cutting into and making connect- ion to cement pipe 9 00
Lead and yarn 64 lbs. at 7c 4 48
Marden Street.
355% ft. of 4 in. cast iron pipe at 60c 213 12
I 4 in. gate 15 00 ·
I hydrant . 40 00
I 4 in. tee . 3 50
I 4 in plug 50 .
I 6x4 tee
5 00
Amount carried forward, $277 I2
$426 20
$31I 30
60
WATER COMMISSIONERS' REPORT.
Amount brought foward, $277 I2
I 6 in. sleeve
75
2 I -2 ft. 6 in pipe at 8oc 2 00
287 yards of rock at 4.00 .
114 80
Cutting into cement pipe and con- necting, calker 5 hours at 50C, 2.50 ; 30 men at 20c, 6.00 8 50
48 lbs. lead and yarn at 7c 3 36
Laurel Street
244,90 ft. of 4 in. cast iron pipe at 6oc 146 70 Cutting into and making connection with cement pipe calker, 3 hours, 1.50 ; 20 men at 20c, 4.00 5 50
24 lbs lead and yarn at 7c I 68
Bought of City of Lynn for this street,
I 4X4 tee 4 00
6 in sleeve .
2 50
IIO ft. reducer, 6 in. to 4 in. at 3 I-2C 3 85
2 4 in plugs I OO
Essex Street.
402,5 ft. of 8 in. cast iron pipe at $1.00
402 50
14.& ft. for hydrant branch at 8oc.
II 44
I hydrant ·
40 00
I 8x6 tee .
7 50
I 8x4 tee .
6 50
I 8 in plug
I 00
I 8 in. sleeve
3 50
Cutting into cement pipe and con- necting calker, 3 hours at 50c., $1 50 ; 20 men at 20c., $4.00 5 50
Lead and yarn, 16 lbs. at 7c. I I2
$479 06
Main Street.
3747 ft. of 8 in. cast iron pipe at $1.00 . 374 70
78 ft. 6 in. pipe for hydrants at 8oc. 6 08
Amount carried forward, $380 78
$406 53
$153 88
$II 35
61
WATER COMMISSIONERS' REPORT.
Amount brought forward, $380 78
I hydrant .
40 00
I 8x6 tee. .
7 50
I 8 in. Plug
I 00
I 8 in. sleeve
3 50
411 yds. of rock at $4.00 . 164 40
Cutting into and making conect- ion calker, 2 hours at 50C., $1.00; 20 men at 20c., $4.00 5 00
Lead and yarn, 16 lbs. at 7c. I. 12 .
$603 30
$5,829 34
Extra price per ton as per agree- ment, 50c. or 87} tons of pipe laid
43 62
I 8x6 tee left over and on hand . 7 50
I 8 in. sleeve
·
3 50
$54 62
$5,883 96
To Mr. Chas. Davis for carriage for contractor to look over the ground . Mr. W. F. Newhall, for printing proposals and contracts . 5 80
2 00
R. Y. Russell, for printing shut off notices I 50
$9 30
$5,893 26
Total amount expended on first contract in spring 5,279 63
Total amount of contract of Oct. 31 . 5,893 26
$11, 172 89
Engineer L. G. Hawkes' bill 30 00
Inspector G. W. Caswell's bill 36 00
$66 00
$11,238 89
Respectfully submitted, J. S. MEACOM, Water G. W. CASWELL, Commissioners.
TABLE SHOWING LOCATION, ETC., OF WATER PIPES LAID SINCE 1887.
DIAMETER OF PIPES.
NAME OF STREET.
IO IN.
8 IN.
6 IN. 4 IN.
YEAR LAID
Adams ave., cast iron
2,034
1887-91
Atherton
386
1887
Avon
871
1887
Baker, cast iron.
573
1892
Central
1,278
7.568
540
1887
591
1891
Cottage
504
1 890
Clifton
484
1887
Castle
484
1887
Cliftondale ave. cast i'n
280
1891
Denver, 1424 cast iron
2,464
1887-92
Elm, cast iron
1,286
1892
Essex, 4023 cast iron
4,252₺
1887-92
Emory, cast iron
603
1891
Fair View
300
311
1887
Felton, 349 cast iron
1,000
'89'91 '92
Foster ..
494
1891
Granite court
242
1889
Hamilton
274
716
'91 '92
Herbert ave .. cast iron
658₺
1892
Horton, cast iron
393₺
1892
Jackson
1.397
1887
Jackson street court
237
1887
Jasper, cast iron. .
205
1892
Knowles ave., cast iron
624
1892
Laurel, 4 inch cast iron
468
244₺
'87 '92
Lincoln avenue
3.149
1887
Lynnwood
303
1887
Main, 37416 cast iron ..
2,36216
'87 '92
Main, Cliftondale
148
Marden. cast iron
3557%
1889
Morton.
865
1891
Mountain avenue
273
1887
Myrtle.
278
1887
Oak, cast iron
2922
1892
Pearson .
487
1887
Park avenue
268
1891
Pleasant.
1,243
1887
Pleasant ave , cast iron
612
1892
Riverside court
1,116
97
1887
Taylor
1,055
1887
Vermont ave .. cast iron
38"
1 892
Western ave., cast iron
1,648
1892
Winter .
5,330
1887
Woodbury avenue.
3.56
1891
G. W. CASWELL J. S. MEACOM,
Water
Summer
Tuttle, cast iron
37710
1892
Mt. Vernon
404
1889
1892
Maple .
1,098
1887
1887
5,230
1887
High. cast iron
Columbus ave, cast ir'n
Commissioners.
Report of Engineers of Fire Department.
I herewith present my fifth annual report of the ex- penses and condition of the Department with a list of all fires and alarms which have occurred during the year ; loss and insurance as near as can be estimated ; also recommendations for the ensuing year.
MEMBERSHIP.
The number of members is fifty-four :- Board of three engineers, two companies of twenty each, Hose I and 3, and one company of eleven, Hose 2.
EXPENDITURES.
The appropriation for the year was seven hundred dollars. Paid for labor on hydrants $19.45, supplies $42.32, rent of house in Ward 3 $200, labor $76.98, fuel $114.40, Lynn Water Board $58.00, use of horse $12.50, repairs on wagons $121.80, use of wagons $8.00, electric wiring hose house No. 1, $19.13, key boxes, $2.25, grading around hose house No. 3, $10.00, re- pairs on locks, $1.59, blankets, $13.50 ; Total $699.92.
APPARATUS.
The apparatus consists of three one horse hose wag- ons, 6 Babcock chemical extinguishers, three 45 ft. extension ladders, three 20 ft. roof ladders, six 18 ft. extension ladders, three jumping nets.
We have 2,500 ft. of hose, about 800 ft. first class, the most of the balance is ordinary, some of it quite poor, the first 800 ft. is all that would stand steamer service.
There are one hundred and fifteen hydrants, twenty having been added this year.
FIRES AND ALARMS.
Jan. 9. Still alarm from Ward 7, Lynn, caused by steam escaping from Geo. Faulkner's morrocco factory.
March. 12. Baxter Wiley's fish market on Cross St., Ward 2. Total loss, building $300, Ins. 300, contents $100, no insurance ; cause, children and matches.
64
ENGINEERS' REPORT.
March 29. Needless alarm for burning grass on premises of W. L. Crafts, Winter Street. No damage.
June. I. Alarm for fire in house of D. M. Chute, Lynnhurst, loss on house $40 ; Ins. $1.500 ; loss on fur - niture $15 ; Ins. $1000. Box 19, Lynn Fire Alarm was pulled in for this fire and Chief Downing and his Depart- ment responded.
Oct. 9 there was an attempt to burn an unocccupied dwelling house on Park Ave., owned by Chas. A. Seavey, Pelham, N. H. No damage.
Oct. 12. Fire in the rattan factory of Geo. A. Webster, Pleasant Ave., Ward 3, caused by overturning of lamp, loss on building $70 ; Ins. $600 ; loss on stock $600 ; Ins. $800.
Oct. 13. Alarm for fire in house of Wallace Rhodes, Lincoln Ave., Ward 4, loss $Ico ; Ins. 2,500. Caused by kerosene stove.
Oct. 30. Alarm for fire in chimney of house occupied by Thomas Gibbons, Lincoln Ave., Ward 3. No dam- age.
Nov 24. Fire in dwelling of C. P. Stanborn, Bel- mont Ave., Ward 4. Cause unknown. Loss on building and contents $700, Ins. $3200.
The members responded to fires in the woods Apr. 3, rear of Hesper St., Apr. 7, Lynnhurst, Apr. 9, rear of Town Farm, Apr. 17, Oaklandvale, Apr. 18, Essex and Turnpike, Apr. 24, Baker's Hills.
RECOMMENDATIONS.
In our preceding reports we have recommended the introduction of a system of Electric Fire Alarm. We would again urge the citizens to consider this request seriously. It makes no difference how good or how poor a department you have to depend upon, you cannot expect good service from them unless you have some
65
ENGINEERS' REPORT.
way of notifying them when their services are needed. Our apparatus is limited and there is all the more necessity of a prompt alarm, as the first few minutes are of great value.
At the fire in Lynnhurst it was necessary for a person to run at least one half mile to call on Lynn for help.
At the fire in the rattan factory the party had to har- ness a horse and drive about three fourths of a mile to ring an alarm.
At the fire on Belmont Avenue the party who gave the alarm ran at least three fourths of a mile. Another diffi- culty is the bell on the school house in Ward 3, it is so small and situated so that it is impossible to hear it at any great distance. We hope when the committee report plans for a new school building they will consider this and make arrangements for a large bell that can be heard over the whole town.
This system can be introduced by making five annual payments, so that this will not increase our taxes very much.
A Hook and Ladder carriage is very much needed. We have a few ladders but no way of getting them to a fire. We have been very fortunate in the past, but it is not always safe to trust to good luck in fires, as the bad is more often to the front. Our hydrant pressure is not very high, especially in the daytime when there is a great draft upon it, and if we have a fire requiring streams from more than two lines of hose to any height we must carry our lines up on ladders.
What might be of still greater importance is the res- cuing of any person that might be cut off from escape from any upper story that was on fire.
We need also hooks and chains for the pulling down of walls.
66
ENGINEERS' REPORT.
We would recommend that a carriage be purchased and located in the house of Hose I, Saugus Centre.
The town should purchase 1000 ft. of first class hose, as in case of fire we have not got an extra length to put on our wagons ; but have got to take the chance of a short allowance on each wagon, which is not a safe proceeding.
We think the time has arrived when the town should provide horses to draw our apparatus to fires. We are very much handicapped, especially in Ward 3, where in the daytime we have no horse to depend upon. The horse we use is out of town all day and is quite a distance from the apparatus in the night, so that it is very unreliable service.
Horses could be kept in the houses and worked on the highway and not be any more expense to the town than hiring. This plan is adopted by nearly all the towns in this vicinity, why cannot we?
Another important subject to consider is the paying of firemen for services performed. Since the department was organized five years ago no member of the three companies has received one cent for any fire service. All the recompense that has been received is criticism from side-walk firemen and newspaper reporters "who know-it all." We would suggest that the article in the Public Statutes exempting poll taxes of the members of the department be adopted, and also provision be made for paying the members for time while employed in actual service.
We would extend our thanks to the Board of Select- men for courtesies shown us during the year, and also to all the citizens who have assisted us in the discharge of our duty. We wish also to thank the members of the
67
ENGINEERS' REPORT.
department for the courteous treatment received from them, and also for the prompt and able manner in which they have discharged their duties during the year.
Respectfully submitted, CHARLES I. HITCHINGS,
Chief Engineer.
C. I. HITCHINGS, JAMES F. PRATT, WALTER S. DODGE, Board of Engineers.
7
REPORT OF BOARD OF HEALTH.
SAUGUS, MASS., Jan. 1, 1893.
The Board of Health respectfully submits its annual report for the year 1892.
The Board was organized as follows :
GEO. M. GALE, M. D., Chairman ;
J. N. KNIGHT, M. D., Secretary ; CHAS. F. CLARK, Health Officer.
Regular meetings of the Board are held at the Town Hall on the last Monday of each month at 2 p. m.
The rules and regulations previously made and published by the Board of Health in 1891 for the public health and safety were adopted by this Board.
At the adjourned town meeting of Saugus, March 22, 1892, Article 37, relating to an appropriation for the purchase of a suitable wagon and apperatus for cleans- ing cesspools and vaults, was referred to the Board of Health. In compliance with the above we wish to say that we have investigated the means employed in other places and find that a tank-wagon could not be used to advantage in Saugus, but that air-tight barrels would be best adapted for our use. We would recommend that at the next town meeting an appropriation for $250 be made for the purchase of a suitable wagon and appar- atus for cleansing cesspools and vaults, consisting of 12 air-tight barrels, and other articles required for the same, and to be under the control of the Board of Health.
All privies and vaults should be cleansed at least once a year.
We have to record the following cases of contagious diseases reported during the year :
Scarlet fever 23 cases.
Diptheria 2 cases.
mostly of a mild type.
69
BOARD OF HEALTH REPORT.
In one case arrests have been made, and the parties were convicted in the Lynn Police Court, for illegally maintaining a baby-farm in Saugus ; the house had been condemned by the Board of Health in 1891 on account of bad drainage and a general unhealthy condition of the house and premises.
Several licenses have been granted parties during the year to maintain a boarding house for infants, the license permits the boarding of not more than two in- fants, subject to the provisions of Chapter 318, Acts of 1892.
Complaints have been made to the Board for abate- ment of nuisances in different sections of the town. In- vestigations have been made and notices served to abate said nuisances, which in the majority of cases have been promptly attended to, and as a rule the owners and oc- cupants of premises comply fully with our request. Most of these cases, on investigation, revealed full privy vaults, cesspools and obstructed drain pipes : we also found some leaking of sinks in cellars and collection of garbage in yards. Notwithstanding a few cases as men- tioned above, we consider that the general sanitary con- dition of the town has been good for the past year. During the year we have escaped the visitation of any serious epidemic. What will soon be required as the town progresses, to put us in a thorough sanitary con- dition will be a general system of sewerage, which an introduction of a public water supply generally demands.
Massachusetts was the first State in the Union to establish a State Board of Health, which was about 22 years ago. The special object of a Board of Health is to work for the public health and safety, with a special view to prevent and suppress all epidemics. When epidemics occur their full force is felt in densely packed tenement-houses, where the pure air cannot freely cir- culate, and where the sunshine is excluded. It is there
70
BOARD OF HEALTH REPORT.
that the germs of disease find the condition most favora- ble for their growth and development. Pure air and sunshine are protectives against infection, and indis- pensable to perfect health.
In consideration of the appearance of epidemic cho- lera during the past year in foreign cities, and the possi- bility of its appearance in this State, we issued a circular requesting that great precautions be taken to keep all premises in a thorough sanitary condition. All meas- ures of cleanliness taken beforehand are of more im- portance as a protection of a community against any epidemic than removal or disinfecting of filth after the disease has made its appearance: The presence of imported cases of disease is not likely to prove danger- ous to any community if the place is in a thoroughly good sanitary condition.
It is still apprehended in the minds of some physicians that unless great precautions are taken there is liable to be a visitation of cholera in the spring or summer, as the disease still continues to prevail in Hamburg and Prussia. This shows that great care is required to pre- vent its gaining a foothold on this side of the Atlantic.
We would call the attention of all owners and occu- pants of premises to the great importance of perfect cleanliness in and about all dwellings ; the cellars should be kept clean, dry and free from all decaying matter and well ventilated. Stagnant water should not be allowed to remain near your place of residence, no gar- bage or other refuse matter should be allowed to accu- mulate in your yards, nothing that produces obnoxious or injurious odors about the premises should be allowed, thereby polluting the air and producing a predisposing cause of diptheria, scarlet fever, sore throat, cholera infantum and other conditions of ill health.
71
BOARD OF HEALTH REPORT.
If the cellar is damp, neuralgia, rheumatism and affections of the lungs are liable to appear, also the conditions of all stables, cesspools, water-closets and all the premises should be kept clean, see that drains are not obstructed, well ventilated and trapped and drinking waler should be free from contamination.
Impure air and water are the conditions which favor the spread of disease after it is once established. Much ill health can undoubtedly be prevented by careful atten- tion to the suggestions given above.
GEO. W. GALE, M. D.,
Chairman.
CONSTABLE'S REPORT
The whole number of arrests made during the year was thirteen. Of this number four for drunkenness, one for non-support; two, assault and battery ; one, larceny ; one, adultery ; one, fornication ; two, keeping baby farm without license; one, cruelty to cow. Per- sons committed to Danvers Insane Asylum, two. One search warrant served for the illegal sale of liquor.
CHARLES F. CLARK, Constable.
REPORT OF CHIEF OF POLICE.
FOR THE YEAR ENDING DEC. 31, 1892. Whole number of arrests, 14, as follows :-
Violation of town by-laws . 3
Maintaining a liquor nuisance
3
Assault on officers
2
For out of town officers
I
Vagrants
Drunk
.
2
Larceny
·
I
Number of search warrants served for liquor 33
Number of places liquor found in IO
I would recommend that the town employ three regu- lar patrolmen, also that the town procure a light team for the use of the police department, as it cost the town a great deal more for team hire the last year than it would cost to keep a team.
FRANK W. JOY, Chief of Police.
.
2
REPORT OF APPRAISING COMMITTEE.
VALUATION OF TOWN PROPERTY.
WARD I.
School House
$1,500 00
Land
200 00
- $1,700 00
WARD II.
School House
·
$2.500 00
Land
1,200 00
Old Town House
2,000 00
Land
.
1,200 00
Town Hall
40,000 00
Hose House
.
2,500 00
Land
.
5,000 00
Public Library
2,000 00
Almshouse and Barn
3,000 00
Land
.
4,200 00
Wood Land
3,000 00
Cemetery
.
.
$68,100 00
WARD III.
School House
$3,000 00
Land
1,100 00
Essex School
2,800 00
Land
800 00
WARD IV.
School House
$4,000 00
Land
1,200 00
Hose House
3,000 00
Land
500 00
$8,700 00
WARD V.
School House
$1,800 00
Land
200 00
.
2,000 00
Fire Department
2,000 00
Water Department
50,000 00
Total
$140,200 00 EDWARD BREWER, CHARLES FLORENCE, Appraising MARION V. PUTNAM, Committee.
-
.
- -
$7,700 00
.
.
.
1,500 00
·
.
FREE PUBLIC LIBRARY.
TRUSTEES' REPORT.
The larger appropriation granted by the town at the annual meeting in March for the purchase of books for the Public Library has enabled us to make larger addi- tions than usual, and, as a natural consequence, the public interest has been more general and the circulation has been considerably increased. Through the courtesy of the local press, lists of the books added have been printed, promptly and correctly, from time to time as the additions have been made.
Early in the year we availed ourselves of an excellent opportunity to complete our set of bound volumes of Harper's Monthly Magazine. Later we purchased the lacking volumes of the New England Magazine. The eighty-five volumes of the former are full of information relating to the greatest men and most important events of the last forty-two years, while the latter is especially rich in the local history of Massachusetts and New Eng- land. The unusually large number of magazines donated by friends, who have repeatedly favored us in the past, has also added considerably to our magazine literature. The indexes to Harper's and the Atlantic, purchased during the year, makes their contents more readily available.
It is to be regretted that so many families do not ap- preciate the importance of having catalogues of the library in their own homes. Were its contents more generally known a much larger number of our citizens would find both pleasure and profit in availing them- selves of its privileges.
76
FREE PUBLIC LIBRARY REPORT.
The books were again carefully examined at the close of the year. None have been lost, and, while some are badly worn, only a few are unfit for further service. About twenty-five volumes will need rebinding.
Books have been delivered at the Cliftondale post-office every Wednesday since last April. Through the kind- ness of the Postmistress, Miss Fisk, the only expense to the town has been for the transportation of books. Citi- zens of Cliftondale, if not personally known to the libra- rian, may secure cards entitling them to receive books by sending their names with the endorsement of Miss Fisk.
The current expenses of the library have been some- what larger than usual. That the people might be in- formed concerning the previous additions it was neces- sary to print a supplimentary catalogue early in the year. As a larger number of books has been purchased, the cost of cataloguing has been proportionately greater. Eighteen dollars were paid for the transportation of books to Cliftondale. To these three causes the in- creased expenses has been chiefly due.
No addition has been made to the shelf-room since the library was fitted up in 1887. It has already been nec- essary to remove from the shelves a considerable num- ber of the books to make room for more recent acces- sions. More shelves should at once be provided.
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