USA > Massachusetts > Essex County > Saugus > Town annual report of Saugus 1957 > Part 4
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There are nine subdivisions on which construc- tion is under way on a total of 270 lots, bringing to the town upon completion an approximate assessed valuation of $230,000 at no construction cost to the town (bridges, water, drainage, class A roads with a life expectancy of twenty years, etc. ) because of close supervision of the Board.
For the second year Nord Davis and Associates, Master Planning Consultants, continued our Master Plan in which all proposed projects are nearly 75% completed, and which should be fully completed by September, 1958. At present the Consultants have finished their study of new school and playground si tes and whose suggestions if followed now would insure the town of getting the best central locations at less expense .
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We are in the process of holding public hearings to rename numerous streets having like or similar names and which have created a serious handicap to our police and fire departments and to citizens involved. We also have viewed and rendered our opinion on all street acceptances scheduled for the 1958 Town Meeting.
Mrs. Irene Rich was appointed secretary and stenographer to the Board on April 19, 1957, after the resignation of Mrs. Barbara B. Lewis.
We of the Planning Board feel that by close supervision of existing laws and regulations, the Town has saved the taxpayers many thousands of dollars. We wish to thank the Town Manager, Mr. Daniel McLean, for his capable assistance and many timely suggestions without which our work would have been less productive.
Respectfully submitted,
William A. Calhoun, Chairman
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Report of the Civil Defense Director
To the Town Manager.
I herewith present the second annual report of the Department of Civilian Defense. Again I am proud to report on the activities and the program with the progress made.
However, I feel that a review of the Civil Defense Act, Chapter 639, of the Acts of 1950, as amended by Chapters 434, 460, 486, 531, 547 and 580 of the Acts of 1951 are in order.
Briefly, they state,: Sec. #20-"It shall be the duty of the members of, and of each and every officer, agent and employee of every political sub-division of this Commonwealth and of each member of ALL other governmental bodies, agencies and authorities of any nature whatso- ever to fully cooperate with the Director of Civilian Defense in all matters affecting Civil Defense."
Civil Defense is here to stay. With the United States in a state of emergency and each state automatically in a state of emergency, it behooves every person in the Town of Saugus to aid and assist in every way possible.
Progress made during the past year, I call your attention to the following:
A great deal of concentration and effort has been made with the training of members in the Control Center, Communications, Auxiliary Fire, Auxiliary Police, and Rescue Units. These five units are the most import- ant, and are well equipped to cope with any natural disaster, such as ex- plosions, fire control, hurricanes, floods, etc.
The objectives of a Civil Defense organization are to minimize the effects of disaster and to reduce our hazards by applying measures to avoid panic, protect personnel, carry out rescue and first aid activities,
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fight forest fires, control other forms of damage, and get the Town back into normal operation as soon as possible.
Control Center: - The location being in the Police Court Room, is essentially the center of communications and is used for staff meetings and for the initiation of instructions and directions to the departments in an emergency.
Communications: - This is the NERVE system and HEART of our whole organization and is located in the Judge's chamber adjacent to the Police Court Room. Here we are equipped, operating under the RACES plan with a CONELRAD radio, two-way 10 meter radio-2 meter and 6 meter Gonset mobile radios-State Police radio-and direct communication with Saugus Police and Fire Department on their frequency. The Warning Siren system comes under communications, and here again we have placed at strategic locations throughout our Town of Saugus (7) 115 decibel Federal Warning Sirens, with the main operating control located in the Police Station.
This equipment is used for direct contact with the Town of Saugus, area, sector and state, and drills are held regularly every week, for re- ceiving and dispersing messages.
Fire Auxiliary-Highest appreciation for an outstanding job to this group, for their sincerity and devotion to a job which is wholly Volunteer on their part. The group consists of 25 members and their head- quarters is located on upper Main Street. The savings to the Town on the up keep and maintenance of the equipment, plus the many hours that this group has worked, amounts to a sizeable sum.
1957 - Total man hours operating and stand by 4500 hrs.
1957 - Total gallons of gasoline consumed 665 gals.
1957 - Total gallons of oil used 50 gals.
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1 - Ford Floodlight Truck #45
1 - Packard Floodlighting Unit #46
1 - G.M.C. Heavy Rescue Truck #47
1 - 500 gal. Buffalo Trailer Pump
3 - Oren Portable Generators
The Ford Pumper was received from the Boston Navy Yard on Surplus Property with approximately 8,000 miles on it, and with a few repairs, it is now in excellent shape and at no cost to the Town.
The Packard floodlighting unit was originally an ambulance and was donated to the Saugus Civil Defense by the General Electric Co. and our personnel converted it, by equipping it with an Oren generator and (4) large Navy searchlights obtained through Surplus Property at a cost to the Town of $10.00 .
All units were displayed at the 1957 Topsfield Fair and were judged the best CD unit in Essex County. Units were also displayed during CD week in Saugus Center and Cliftondale Square.
Provided Saugus Police Department with an ambulance for approx- imately 4 months while regular Police Ambulance was temporarily out of commission.
Our personnel just completed a thorough overhaul job on the Cadillac ambulance, replacing new rings, valves, etc. at a cost to the Town of Saugus of $35.00.
Civil Defense ambulances have provided transportation when called to Saugus General, Union and Lynn Hospitals, also Bedford Veterans Hospital. Four members of our unit were assigned to fire fighting classes at Fitzwilliams, New Hampshire, and two members were assigned to the Rescue Training School at Topsfield, Mass.
The flood lighting units have been called out on 32 occasions for various services in Saugus, Malden, Revere, Chelsea and Lynn, such as
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fires, lost children, drownings and flood lighting large areas.
Many forest fires during the year have utilized the services of our pumper in Lynnfield, Main Street woods fire, Falmouth Street fire, lynn Fells woods, Howard farm, Murray's playground, Breakheart reservation and fire in Saugus proper.
Laid 300 feet hose from hydrant to boiler room, to provide water during Trimount Mfg. Co. water break.
Auxiliary Police - This unit comprises about 35 active members who also receives considerable commendation for their participation in many hours of volunteer services such as street parades, carnivals, Halloween, Memorial Day, Fourth of July, etc.
All members are fully uniformed and thoroughly trained in the Police Blue Book, Judo exercises, First Aid training, revolver practice, etc, and they are then assigned to a member of the Regular Police Depart- ment for active training in walking a route, cruiser training and station training.
Ground Observer Corps - This has been one of the most active units over the years, and comprises about 88 active members, who have put in a total of 5,416 hours in observing the skies from their new tower which sets on top of the Police Station. These observers report daily in all types of weather, doing their two hour stretch of duty. This unit is in demand due to their having one of the finest minstrel shows around, com- posed of Ground Observer members.
During the first part of 1958, we hope to have our medical unit well established and in training, and the same applies to our Welfare, Warden, Engineering, Utilities, Transportation, Damage Survey and Radiac Decontamination units.
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Our advantage of the Surplus Property program has cost the Town of Saugus $175.00 with a saving to the Town of $8,347.00 in merchandise obtained.
I wish to express my sincere appreciation to Police Chief Roland E. Mansfield and Fire Chief Joseph Maguire and Capt. Fred Forni for their splended cooperation that has been given me during the past year.
My sincere appreciation to all of the following of my staff organiza- tion for helping to make this Civil Defense unit one of the best in Essex County.
Auxiliary Fire Chief - William 0'Brien Auxiliary Police Captain - James 0. Smith Supervisor Ground Observer Corp. - Eugene Kneprath
Chief Observer - Fred Butler
Chief Radio Officer - Andrew Donovan
Medical Officer - Dr. E. B. Faulkner
Engineering Officer - Ernest Pesce
Transportation Officer - Earle Dudman Chief Warden - Roy Clarke
Welfare Officer - John Keane
Radiac Officer - Leroy Valyou, Jr. Skin Divers - Robert Flowers
Earle Dumas, Director Saugus Civil Defense
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To the Town Manager:
The Purchasing Department of the Town of Saugus herewith submits its Annual Report for the year 1957.
By virtue of the By-Laws of the Town of Saugus, municipal purchasing is governed by statutes that unequivocally determine procurement procedures.
Governmental purchasing is fundamentally to satisfy the needs of using departments, and it has been a sincere effort on the part of the Purchasing Department to satisfy these needs, maintaining at all times the continuity of service at the lowest cost.
No mechanical equipment is too complicated that it cannot be defined in a clear, concise and accurate manner, and competitive bids on this theory on comparable types of equipment lead to fair and reasonable prices. The end result, of this theory of inviting proposals, is that industrial groups feel they may submit proposals in a truly competitive arena.
The Purchasing Department would like to take this oppertunity to thank the Public Works Department and the Building Department, and specifically the respective department heads Mr. Pesce and Mr. Daniels for their cooperation and assistence during this past year.
With the aid of the Public Works Department personnel and machinery, three previously unpaved school yards were paved with a 2" bituminous concrete surface. These areas were shaped for proper
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drainage, and the excavation work for the placing of a proper foundation to support a bituminous concrete pavement was accomplished by the Public Works Department at a considerable saving to the Town of Saugus.
I would like to express my gratitude to the Superintendent of Buildings, Mr. Daniels, for whose cooperation on a number of occasions has lead directly to great savings, in utilizing town employees skill in fabricating and erecting playground equipment that otherwise would prove quite expensive if purchased.
Since becoming the Purchasing Agent, more vendors are now submitting proposals, resulting in competitive prices on all types of materials, maintaining at all times an avowed policy of dealing with reputable suppliers.
In conclusion, the Purchasing Agent wishes to thank the Town Manager, department heads and town employees who have co-operated with this department throughout the year.
Respectfully submitted,
John T. Raiche
Purchasing Agent
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Board of Zoning and Building Appeals.
The Board of Zoning and Building Appeals submits herewith its Report for the year 1957. The Board is a tribunal created by Chapter 40 of the General Laws, as amended, and is one of three town boards named by the Honorable Board of Selectmen. Its purpose is to hear appeals from the arbitrary restrictions placed upon the Superin- tendent of Buildings in his issuance of permits under the zoning and building by-laws. The duties of the members of the Board are to re- ceive petitions, to hold monthly hearings, and to grant or deny the petitions, to hold monthly hearings, and to grant or deny the petitions presented. Unofficially the Board members endeavor to advise poten- tial petitioner to avoid the necessity of a hearing.
During the past year, twelve public meetings were held in which twenty-eight petitions were heard. Of these petitions, sixteen were granted; four were granted with conditions; five were withdrawn without prejudice; and two were denied. One petition is pending. One petition placed on the table in 1956 was denied. The Board expects to see a larger number of petitions presented to it during the year 1958. This is due to a change in the zoning by-law which requires a minimum area of 10,000 square feet instead of 7,500 square feet required formerly.
On March 26, 1957 the Board reorganized. On the motion of Mr. Laverne, the Board voted to retain as Chairman Peter A. Rossetti who has been a member for eight years, six of which he has served as
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chairman. On the motion of Mr. Hogan, the Board voted to retain as clerk Daniel H. Silver. Mr. Silver is an associate member of the Board. The reappointment by the Honorable Board of Selectmen of William E. Laverne as member of the Board took effect on the same date.
The members of the Board wish to express their apprecia- tion for the assistance given them by the Honorable Board of Select- men, the Town Manager, Mr. McLean, the Board of Assessors, the Town Counsel, Mr. Cunningham, and the Building Inspector, Mr. Daniels. The Board is especially appreciative of the cheerful cooperation and help given to the Clerk of the Board by Mrs. Evelyn Sproul and Mrs. Irene Rich of the Assessors' Office.
Respectfully submitted,
Daniel H. Silver Clerk
Members:
Peter A. Rossetti, Chairman
Walter F. Hogan
William E. Laverne
Associate Members :
Richard J. Spencer
Daniel H. Silver
Irving E. Campbell
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"1957 Report of the Library Department"
"Town of Saugus"
Ernest L. Shapiro, chairman Harold J. Adlington Lillian D. George Kaler A. Perkins Catherine F. Reynolds Katherine C. Silver Board of Library Trustees January 15, 1958
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December 31, 1957 has closed another good year in the library department. The record of our circulation fig- ures shows an increase in juvenile circulation over a period of five years.
Juvenile Circulation
1953
1954
1955
1956
1957
Main Library
12,780
16,173
18,380
18,978
22,204
Cliftondale
11,890
12,024
12,532
15,834
14,938
East Saugus
5,904
5,434
4,600
3,696
5,403
Lynnhurst
1,910
1,900
2,538
2,797
2,257
North Saugus
1,332
875
1,642
4,265
3,620
Oaklandvale
3,345
3,262
3,219
3,735
3,597
37,161
39,668
42,911
49,305
52,019
It is very gratifying to have this steady, upward trend. If we can set our young people on the road to read- ing we are giving them a lifetime habit of inestimable value. People read for enjoyment as well as enlightenment and bless- ed are those whose friends are books.
Our young people's interest has been greatly stim- ulated by our staff members who have conducted story hours for the children: Mrs. Gladys H. Warren and Mrs. Margaret D. Adams, working at the Main Library and through the schools; and Mrs. Grace Stephens and Carol Lynch at the East Saugus Branch. Our summer reading project for the youngsters was most successful this year - the interest was well sustained throughout the season.
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The physical needs of our Boys and Girls room at the Main Library have been improved this year. Through the helpful co-operation of our custodian, Robert Metzler, we were able to move book cases and broaden the area. This extra space makes better accommodation for the large group of children who use the room daily.
We have added a new metal book case to our adult department at the Main Library, which will shelve approx- imately one thousand volumes. In a small way this re- lieves our present congestion. With the moving of an old oak book case and a library table to make room for the new installation almost all available space is now occupied. Our study area for students is most inadequate. With the great need for facilities for leisure time reading we lack space for such use of our library by the senior citizens of our town. In order to have our library grow as such a de- partment should to justify its existence it is imperative that we expand our physical set up. There is land on which to build an addition to the present structure. With the increased need for education we must be ready to supply adequate facilities for extra curricula activities.
We participated again in the community celebration of Brotherhood Week. A quiz for sixth graders was spon- sored by the library. High School juniors always compete in a Brotherhood Essay Contest. Prize books for the winners were chosen by the librarian and presented through the
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American Legion - at Baccalaureate.
The library has been used as a meeting place for the Saugus Youth Commission and the Service League. Our public relations have been furthered by book reviews - given by Mrs. Warren and Miss Blackmer. A special display of books and pamphlets on handwork was arranged by the librarian at the Fair of the Saugus Arts and Crafts Society held at the Saugus Iron Works in the fall. We are always glad to assemble such displays for any civic group.
Our library has been the fortunate recipient of several groups of memorial books. The following gifts have been added:
WORLD OF MATHEMATICS-4 vol. - Newman REPTILE WORLD - Pope
FAMILIAR ANIMALS OF AMERICA - Barker
presented by Mr. & Mrs. James Sacco in memory of Howard Thelwell Long
AMERICAN STORY - Miers NEW WORLD HISTORY OF ART - Cheney MASTERWORKS OF JAPANESE ART - Terry, ed. MODERN BIOLOGY - Moon and others 200 YEARS OF AMERICAN BLOWN GLASS - McKearin AMERICAN SCIENCE AND INVENTION - Wilson PICTORIAL HISTORY OF THE AMERICAN THEATRE - Blum PICTORIAL HISTORY OF JAZZ - Keepners ANIMAL KINGDOM-3 vol. - Drimmer
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presented by friends in memory of Arline Pike Johnson
SCANDINAVIAN COOKERY FOR AMERICANS - Brobeck ALL ABOUT THE PERENNIAL GARDEN - Free ENCYCLOPEDIA OF GARDENING - Taylor WILD ANIMALS OF THE WORLD - Bridges BIRDS OF AMERICA - Pearson
presented by neighbors and her daughter in memory of Ellen Paridon
WORLD'S GREAT RELIGIONS - Life, ed.
presented by Mr. & Mrs. Harold Adlington in memory of Ida Adlington
Through the Trustees and staff members our library was represented in regional library projects. The North Shore Library Club held its June meeting in Saugus. The subject under consideration was recruiting for library service. The librarian attended a meeting at the Abbott Public Library, Marblehead, for the discussion of State Aid to Libraries and proposals for regional library service. In closing our annual report we wish to thank our borrowers for gifts and courtesies shown us. Also we extend grateful thanks to the staff for its faithful ser- vice. No department can function at its best without the loyal co-operation of its members.
Following pages carry a table of the American Library Association form of statistics.
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Name of the library
Town
Saugus Free Public Library Saugus, Massachusetts Miss Huldah Blackmer
Librarian
Date of founding
1887
Population served (1957)
18,645
Library appropriation per capita
$1.12 7
Total number of agencies
Consisting of: Main Library - Cliftondale Branch - East Saugus Branch
Lynnhurst Branch - North Saugus Branch Oaklandvale Branch - High School
Hours open for lending and reference (per week) :
Main Library 37를 Lynnhurst ( juvenile only) 3
Cliftondale 21 North Saugus 6
East Saugus
9
Oaklandvale ( juvenile only)
3
High School (hours per school year) 828
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Book stock:
Volumes at beginning of year
Volumes added
Volumes withdrawn
2,076
34,489
New or' re-registered borrowers
Adult
Juvenile
Main Library
2,325
1,506
Cliftondale
681
1,047
141
163
East Saugus
219
410
50
131
Lynnhurst
112
17
North Saugus
64
150
3
26
Oaklandvale
168
19
Total
3,289
3,393
788
834
Grand total
6,682
34,638
1,927
Total - December 31, 1957
Registration:
Active Borrowers
Adult
Juvenile
594
478
1,622
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Library staff:
Miss Huldah Blackmer, librarian
Mrs. Gladys H. Warren, assistant librarian
Mrs. Frances Sperry, branch librarian - Cliftondale, Lynnhurst, North Saugus Mrs. Grace Stephens, branch assistant - East Saugus
Mrs. Elizabeth Platt, assistant - Oaklandvale, Cliftondale
Mrs. Margaret D. Adams, assistant - Main Library, Oaklandvale
Hourly workers: Phyllis Brown, Joan Huggins, Rosemary Kelley, Dorothy Kyle Carol Lynch, Robert Metzler, Robert Bertrand.
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1957 Report of the Assessors Department
Town of Saugus
Board of Assessors;
Chairman Shanles S. Coopin
Gnade & Addison.
January 15, 1958
The Board of Assessors is probably one of the most important factors in the operation of local government. This Board places a value on real and personal property within the Town for the purposes of taxation. The only exception to the above being the personal property of the telephone company upon which the State Department of Corporations places a value.
The Board hears all complaints pertaining to assessments and in all cases is guided by the Cleminshaw formula that was adopted by the Town of Saugus in 1945. This is an excellent system and operates well and provides for an equalization of values that is missing in many of our communities throughout the Commonwealth.
During the past year the Assessors placed a value upon the following type properties :
Real Property 10,000
Personal Property 250
Polls 5,500
Motor Vehicle Excise 8,000
Cost of operating the Assessors Department for 1957 was as follows:
Salaries $13,900.00
Expenses 4,261.51
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AN ANALYSIS OF THE TAX RATE FOR 1957
EXPENDITURES
Town Appropriation
Appropriations taken from Available Funds
Hurricane Damage Def., $298.96 and Removal of Manager, $649.80
2,750.00
Court Judgments
1,688.00
Overlay Deficits
7,155.20
Metropolitan Water Purchase
State Parks and Reservations
State Audit of Municipal Accounts
State Examination of Retirement System
Smoke Inspection Service
Metropolitan Water Connection Charge County Tax
Tuberculosis Hospital Assessment Overlay
52,910.51 3 . 161.6 67,246.73
$2,727,693.30
Gross Amount to be Raised
$2,438,256.18 62,110.32 948.76
Tax Title Foreclosure
33,799.2 22'0 3,359.93 54.99 329.90 11,876.24
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ESTIMATED RECEIPTS AND AVAILABLE FUNDS
Income Tax
Corporation Taxes 01d Age Tax (Meals )
Motor Vehicle and Trailer Excise Licenses
Fines
Special Assessments
General Government
Protection of persons and Property
Health and Sanitation
Charities (other than federal grants)
Old Age Assistance (other than federal grants)
Veterans ! Services
Schools
Libraries
Public Service Enterprises ( such as Water Department )
Cemeteries (other than trust funds and sale of lots)
Interest: On Taxes and Assessments
State Assistance for School Construction
Unclassified
County Tax
Metropolitan Parks
Smoke Inspection Service
Amount to be taken from Available Funds
Net Amount to be Raised by Taxation on Polls and Property
RECAPITALIZATION
Number of Polls --- 5800 @ $2.00 each
$ 11,600.00
Personal Property: Valuation - $ 2,066,558. @ $64.90 134, 119.61
Real Estate: Valuation - 25,341,725. @ $64.90
1,644,677.95
Fraction Total - $27,408,283. 11.25
Total Taxes Levied on Polls and Property Tax Rate $64.90
1,790,408.81
$183,342.88 65,031.15 5,159.80 185,783.18 22,502.89 1,144.25 3,306.95 5,260.61 5,174.70
13,577.27 19,767.81
92,087.86 5,534.05 13,647.40 1,151.83
165,528. 02 7,826.26 6,941.59 69,544.91 885.00 928.42 999.06 45.28 62,110.32 1,790,408.81
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Herewith is submitted the Report of the Treasury Department of the Town of Saugus for the year ended December 31, 1957.
The duties of the Town Treasurer are to receive and disburse all monies of the Town, borrow temporary money in anticipation of revenue, if necessary, and to float all Bond Issues. The Treasurer is custodian of all Trust Funds, Cemetery Perpetual Care Accounts and the Contributory Retirement Fund. Tax Titles and Tax Possessions also come under the jurisdiction of this office.
Cash in Treasury, January 1, 1957
427,675.01
Receipts to December 31, 1957
4,230,536.95 $4,658,211.96
Expenditures to December 31, 1957 4.083,897.00
Cash in Treasury, December 31, 1957 $ 574,314.96
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Bank Statements show cash balances as of
December 31, 1957, as follows:
Saugus Trust Co.
$
322,586.76
Merchants National
31,036.56
National Shawmut
75,847.46 47,732.53
Petty Cash
50.00
National Shawmut, Spec.
71,591.09
Land Sale Account in Safe Keeping
100,000.00
$ 648,844.40
Add: Deposits in Jan., 1958
applicable to 1957
48,997.50
$ 697,841.90
Deduct: Checks Outstanding
123,526.94
Cash in Treasury, December 31, 1957
574,314.96
First National
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The following Trust Funds are in the
custody of the Treasurer:
Surplus War Bonus Fund
$ 784.91
Postwar Rehabilitation Fund
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