USA > Massachusetts > Essex County > Swampscott > Town annual report of Swampscott 1915 > Part 16
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Owing to the fact that the commissioners secured an additional appro- priation for the upkeep of the reservation at a Special Town Meeting, they were able to maintain the decorative plots and keep the reservation in proper condition. Special praise for the appearance of the reservation during the past summer should be given to Frank Prideaux, who gave his personal attention to its care during the entire summer. In order to maintain the reservation at the same standard as in past years, do the necessary pruning and regrading and replenish the shrubs that have died from age and water, your commissioners recommend an appropriation of $700.
Paradise Road.
The Paradise Road playgrounds are almost in the center of the Town, and are therefore more used than any other grounds under the control of the Park Department. Constant use has considerably worn sections of the grass ground, and these parts will have to receive considerable atten- tion during the coming year. The unsuccessful flooding for skating during the winter of 1914 and 1915, made it necessary for your commis- sioners to find some other way of flowing the water on to the field than that used in previous years. A pipe was therefore laid into the center of the field during the summer, and at the coming of cold weather a stand- pipe with a flusher designed by your commissioners, was installed. This has worked so well that each time that the grounds have been flooded the work has been done in about half the time and with the use of less water. The thanks of the commissioners are due the Water and Sewerage Depart- ment for its cooperation in the matter of flooding. At the opening of the skating season a request was received from the High School for permission to play ice hockey on the grounds. This would be dangerous to the other skaters, unless special provisions were made for the setting apart of a portion of the ice for this purpose. Accordingly, with the cooperation of Instructor C. F. Cuddy of the High School an inexpensive rink was established at the band stand end of the grounds. Rules were made to forbid hockey on any part of the ice except within this rink. When the rink was not in use by the High School team it has been open to any who desired to use it. Through the cooperation and courtesy of the Board of Selectmen two large arc lights were installed, one at the Ellis road end of the grounds and the other at the band stand end of the grounds, so that skating in the evening would be both safe and enjoyable.
As has been said, parts of the present playing field area needs regrad- ing, especially the banked portion along the sides and end. Owing to the
-
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PARK COMMISSIONERS' REPORT.
1915]
fact that the field area is too short by 10 yards for the playing of regula- tion games of foot ball and that a longer area would be much better for the playing of base ball, your commissioners have decided if possible to bring to the lower grade that portion of the grounds now at a high level from the present low level to the band stand. The material excavated frotn the high portion could be used to regrade the banks along the edge of the field. The playground apparatus usually placed in position during the summer needs repairing, if it is to be used the coming summer. For the purpose of the upkeep, the regrading and the necessary repairs your commissioners recommend an appropriation of $400.
Sundries.
. From the appropriation set apart as "sundries," the commission is obliged to pay its salaries, telephone bills, printing, stationery, postage and many other small items which cannot be forseen at the opening of the year. At the opening of the year 1915, the commission was given a sundry account which was not large enough to cover the items which were known to be necessary to pay out of it during the year. There was absolutely no provision made for any unforseen expense which might occur. It is therefore recommended that the appropriation for sundries for the coming year be $300.
In Explanation.
Had the Park Commissioners had available for their use during the past year all of the appropriation that was voted by the citizens of the Town they would have been able to report no bills left unpaid at the close of the year in any department. As it was, the park accounts were closed with small balances in every department. At the special Town Meeting held during the summer the citizens will remember that $300 was, on the recommendation of the Committee on Ways and Means, appropriated for special work at Jackson Park and $100 to meet extra expenses at Blaney Beach Reservation. Immediately after the meeting at which these appro- priation were made, the Park Commissioners were instructed, through the Town counsel's office, to proceed with the work, as there was no question as to the intent of the meeting. Soon after this the Commission was notified by the Selectmen that the vote on the appropriation to take the money out of the taxes of 1916 was illegal, and that no orders would be drawn against the appropriations. Included in the vote which was declared illegal were also appropriations for other Town departments.
The Park Commissioners have been informed that the Selectmen have honored the orders and passed the bills for other departments affected, but have refused to extend the same courtesy to the Park Department. The departments referred to are the school, which had $7,000 tied up on account of an illegality in the vote at a previous meeting, and the Board of Health, which had $700 tied up on account of an illegality in the vote at the special meeting. Two bills for work done under the vote of this special meeting at Jackson Park have been handed to the Selectmen, but remain unpaid. The total amount of these bills does not equal the $300. The only other un- paid bills which the department has are due the Swampscott Water Depart- ment. These bills are nearly all for excess water used at Blaney Beach. The expense for water at this reservation the past year was way beyond
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TOWN DOCUMENTS.
[Dec. 31
the expectation of the Park Commissioners, and is in a measure unpre- cedented, unexpected and unexplainable. Of course the increase in rate of excess water makes some difference, but the great jump in amount used is being investigated by your Commissioners. Not only have the Commis. sioners received exceptionally large excess water bills for the year 1915, but in three instances bills for excess water alleged to have used in 1913 have been presented to the Board this year for payment. Although these bills seem large, it is believed that most of them are correct. There are, however, two of the bills presented for water alleged to have been used at Blaney Beach and one for water alleged to have been used at Monument avenue, which are the subject of conference between the Park and Water Departments at the present time. As these water bills were only matters between one Town Department and another, the Park Commissioners felt that it would be better to let them stand than to have on hand at the end of the year a number of small bills due outside parties. The Park Depart- ment feels that it has conducted its business the past year in accordance with the vote of the Town and has repected the wishes of the citizens in every instance. The unpaid bills referred to are not bills contracted with- out authority or in excess of appropriations, which at the time were made in good faith by the voters of the meeting. Therefore we recommend that they be paid from the appropriation, which we understand is to be recommended to care for unpaid bills in other departments, and not left for the Park Commissioners to care for out of their 1916 appropriation.
Recapitulation.
After carefully considering the needs of the several departments under the care of the Park Commissioners, the cost of necessary repairs, the cost of the upkeep and the cost of the needed improvements, the following appropriations are recommended :
Blaney Beach Reservation
$1,200 00
Jackson Park
900 00
Phillips Park upkeep
200 00
Phillips Park special
10,000 00
Monument Avenue
700 00
Paradise Road
400 00
Sundries
300 00
Respectfully submitted,
ALFRED F. FRAZIER, STUART P. ELLIS, ARTHUR T. TAPPER,
Park Commissioners.
1915]
Report of the Chief of Police.
To the Board of Selectmen :
GENTLEMEN, -Herewith I submit the annual report of the Police Department for the year ending December 31, 1915 :
Arrested or summoned to appear in court for the following offences :
Males
152
Females .
5
Total .
157
Assault and battery
2
Attempted murder
I
Breaking and entering
I
Carrying weapon
2
Default warrants
5
Disorderly conduct .
3
Drunkenness
51
Fornication
2
For officers of other places
41
Gunning without license
. I
Insane
3
Larceny
IO
Manslaughter
I
Non-support of children .
3
Stubborn child
I
Track walking .
2
Violating automobile law
20
Violating liquor law
3
Violating Town By-Law
3
Total
157
Disposition of cases in lower court :
Appealed .
I
Committed to House of Correction
5
Committed to Insane Hospital, Danvers
2
Committed to Insane Hospital, Westboro
I
Committed to House of Correction, non-payment of fines
5
Defaulted .
3
Delivered to officers of other places
41
Discharged by court
IO
Fined and paid
39
Ordered to pay costs
2
Injuring a building .
I
Shooting game without license
I
171
CHIEF OF POLICE REPORT.
I 72
TOWN DOCUMENTS.
[Dec. 31
Placed on file
30
Placed on probation
5
Released by probation officer
IO
Sent to Superior Court
3
Total
157
Disposition of cases in Superior Court :
Cases fined and paid
2
Cases filed
I
Pending in Superior Court
3
Total
6
Miscellaneous Work :
Accidents reported and assistance rendered
71
Assisted other officers
55
Attempted to break and enter .
2
Ambulance calls
86
Buildings found open and secured .
78
Bicycles reported lost
3
Bicycles returned to owner
I
Complaints
657
Cases of larceny reported
27
Cases of breaking and entering reported
6
Defective streets and sidewalks reported
38
Dead bodies found and cared for
I
Disturbances suppressed without arrest
8
Dogs reported lost .
54 30
Fire alarms reported by officers
9
Fires extinguished without alarm by officers
3
Fire alarms responded to with ambulance
21
Horses found cast in buildings
2
Injured and sick persons assisted
III
Intoxicated persons assisted home
IO
Lost children found and returned to parents
23
Lights furnished for dangerous places
27
Lights reported out in streets .
241
Lights found burning in buildings
2I
Liquor raids made .
I
Poles and trees reported on fire
70
Water and gas leaks reported .
36
Value of property reported lost or stolen
$2,329 00
Value of property recovered and returned
1,195 00
I recommend that $11,000 be appropriated.
Respectfully submitted,
U. M. CORSON, Chief of Police.
SWAMPSCOTT, January 10, 1916.
.
Dogs found and turned over to dog officer
-
Wires reported down
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FOURTH OF JULY COMMITTEE REPORT.
1915]
Report of Fourth of July Committee.
To the Citizens of Swampscott :
GENTLEMEN,-The committee appointed by the direction of the Annual Town Meeting of 1915 to furnish entertainment for the celebration of the Fourth of July submits the following report. Appropriation $500.
EXPENSES :
Hadley B. Dodge, prizes for sports ·
$75 00
O. G. Poor, lumber
.
5 85
E. L. Jackson, printing
2 50
W. E. Shepard, expressing
75
Frank Prideaux, labor on grounds
II 50
R. S. Bauer, confetti .
60
Grant S. Hilton, flags
95 00
A. F. Frazier, sundries
.
33
S. S. Lurvey, Lynn Cadet Band
220 50
J. B. Blood Company, barrels .
2 10
Harry L. Blaisdell, corn crispettes
35 00
F. W. Homan, for sports .
10 00
James Sharp, sundry expenses
4 39
Eastwood Peanut Company, salted peanuts
30 00
Balance on hand
$495 52
$4 48
The thanks of the committee is, through this report, extended to Andrew W. Preston, the Lynn Gas & Electric Company, Michael McDonough, the Swampscott Methodist Church and all others who in any way assisted the committee in carrying out the program of the day.
Respectfully submitted,
ALFRED F. FRAZIER, WILLARD P. JACKSON,
STUART P. ELLIS, ARTHUR T. TAPPER,
OSCAR G. POOR,
FRANK A. B. STANTON, JAMES SHARP.
Committee.
SWAMPSCOTT, January 1, 1916.
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TOWN DOCUMENTS.
[Dec. 31
REPORT OF THE Committee on Revision of By-Laws.
To the Citizens of Swampscott :
The Committee appointed at the last annual Town Meeting, to consider the matter of revising the By-Laws, has been at work upon the same for some time.
No revision of the By-Laws has been attempted for several years, and it was necessary, therefore, to go over the matter very carefully. This requires a great deal of time, but the Committee hopes to be in a position · to make a report in full before the adjournment of the annual Town Meeting.
Respectfully submitted,
H. ASHLEY BOWEN, E. H. TOWNSEND, DANIEL F. KNOWLTON, GEORGE T. TILL, JAMES W. SANTRY.
175
BUILDING COMMITTEE AND LIBRARY TRUSTEES ..
1915]
REPORT OF THE Building Committee and Library Trustees
To the Citizens of Swampscott :
Interest in the affairs of the library centers this year in the question- what will be provided for a library building by the committee appointed at the last Annual Meeting to erect such a building for which the sum of $25,000 was appropriated ?
Inasmuch as the Library Trustees were made members of the building committee and there has been much in common between them, it has been thought well to make but one report and let it include the doings of both the trustees and the building committee.
Early in the discussion about a library building the question of a loca- tion came up, and it was met by the generosity of Professor Thomson, who donated to the Town a portion of his land on Burrill street for the purpose, An exceptionally good location was thus secured and the com- mittee (and no doubt the citizens as well) highly appreciated the gift.
The next step in the work of preparation was to solicit the Carnegie Corporation, to dismiss the contention that they had set up that the fourteen thousand dollars previously tendered us for a library building would erect a building large enough for a town of our size and give us the money to be applied towards a larger building.
A building to cost fourteen thousand dollars would be too small for our use, and we reasoned that we should be allowed to add enough to that sum to enable us to increase the size of the building to one that we could com- fortably use, and a deal of correspondence passed to and from the Carnegie Corporation in our efforts to convince them of that fact, but without suc- cess. Then one of the committee, Mr. Sprague, in the endeavor to har- monize if possible all differences of opinion, made a special effort by two separate visits to New York for a personal interview with the secretary of the Carnegie Corporation.
Mr. Sprague, shortly after his last interview with the Secretary of the Carnegie Carporation, was taken ill and was obliged to give up the effort. Correspondence was then taken up and letters and plans were sent to the Carnegie Corporation, but without gaining an altogether favorable response. In the meantime, the committee held meetings from time to time during the spring, summer and fall for consideration of the size of the building, the arrangement of its rooms and many other details neces- sary in securing a practical, useful and efficient and still a good building architectually.
In pursuance of the committee's plan to secure for Swampscott the best possible library for the money invested, libraries in nearby cities and towns were visited and inspected by members of the committee, and in
176
TOWN DOCUMENTS.
[Dec. 31
the early fall of this year library experts were consulted, that the com- mittee be assured that the building planned would meet the needs and uses of a library before the actual erection of the building was begun, and thus avoid errors tending to inefficiency found in many library buildings.
The Carnegie Corporation suggested to us in their last letter a building rectangular in shape, measuring 23 feet deep by 60 feet frontage, but as we had previously stated to them, a building of that size would be too small, inasmuch as it would serve but little more than to hold our present number of books. The reading or waiting room space after the books were in would be reduced to about 19 feet by 24 feet, which would not meet our needs for two reading rooms, one for children and one for adults, both larger than the space mentioned above.
At this time, arriving at the conclusion that we must not lose further time and delay giving up our room in the Town Hall, which room is much needed for other purposes, irrespective of what the Carnegie Cor- poration might finally decide to give us, we started work upon the cellar, making it of a size to hold a building that we should be able to erect and equip with the money the Town had appropriated and meet present needs. This cellar measures about 47 feet wide by 59 feet front.
The floor area of a building put upon a foundation of that size will be sufficient to allow space for two reading rooms, one measuring about 20 feet by 30 feet, for children, and the other nearly the same size for adults. These rooms have each ample seating capacity for twenty people with an equipment of three good sized tables. There is also a room measuring 12 feet by 15 feet, for the librarian. Around the sides of the children's room there are to be bookshelves to the height of about four feet, six inches, which will be used for children's books, and there will be room for about 2,400 books. Around the adults' room the shelf racks will be higher, and consequently there will be more shelves and they will contain about 3,400 books. Other books will be put in movable book racks placed back of the loan desk. These stacks will contain about 5,600 books.
At the rear of the building there will be book shelves built against the wall which will afford room for about 1,000 volumes. This book space will be used as the library needs may require.
In the basement will be space allotted to the use of a boiler room and coal bin, two toilet rooms, a large work room for the librarian and a special storeroom. The remaining space can some day be used for a lecture room and its connections, if desired, the size being about 18 feet by 30 feet. The attic will afford a large amount of storage room.
As soon as the need for more room for books is serious, a stack room can be built in the rear of the building for which we have plenty of room for any size that our needs may require for many years to come. It will also be practical to build a balcony over the rear of the present book stack space to hold the needed book stacks up to a capacity of at least 10,000 volumes.
We believe, therefore, that besides providing for present needs, we have given full consideration to providing in a very economical way for future growth.
Incidental to the question of a building was the work of making ready to occupy it when built, and to that end work upon a card catalogue for the books was begun. An expert, Miss Grace Hill, was employed, and
I77
1915] BUILDING COMMITTEE AND LIBRARY TRUSTEES.
she commenced work with her assistants in June and finished in late December. Her report follows :
Report to the Board of Library Trustees, Swampscott, Mass .:
Time-June 18 to December 20-6 months, 3 days.
Number of books catalogued and made ready for shelves . · 11,119
Number of adult fiction
4,312
Number of juvenile fiction .
1,560
Number of adult classed
4,598
Number of juvenile classed
649
Number of books mended
2,564
Several hundred books were also accessioned, principally reference books, and about 1,500 were discarded.
Total for salaries, $977.53 ; cost per book, not including supplies, $.087 ; cost per book, including supplies - about Ioc. - perhaps a trifle more ; expended for L. C. printed cards, $59.74 ; amount still credited at Library of Congress, $9.02.
The Dewey classification was used for all books except Individual Bio- graphy, which is arranged alphabetically by the person written about and marked B. Fiction in the English language, which is not classified at all, but is to be arranged alphabetically by authors in the new library. Most of the regimental histories and G. A. R. material are not classified, but can be kept in an available place on the basement shelves.
Discarded books are now stored in the basement in two groups :
I. Books worn out. Can be given away or sold for old paper.
2. Old books, no longer useful in this library, but may be of value to others. These should be sold to second-hand book dealers, or given or exchanged with other libraries. Duplicates - about 95 volumes were not catalogued, but shelved in a separate place, and should be exchanged or sold. Lists of these books have been made, which can be sent around to various libraries, or book-dealers.
Three hundred and twenty-six books were sent to bindery. About 200 are now waiting to be sent. These should be done as quickly as possible, as most of them are late fiction in demand.
Everything was gone through except the material stored on top of the bookcases. There may be some books here, but it is principally maga- zines and papers. Unbound magazines were left undisturbed. Old U. S. documents were returned to the Superintendent of Documents, Washing- ton, D. C., and old state documents not useful should likewise be returned to the State House, Boston.
All books have been catalogued to date, but there are still a hundred or more late fiction in circulation which have not been catalogued. These can be done any time before the new library opens, together with new books, purchased in 1916.
The classified books are now arranged correctly on the shelves, and in moving, it is very important that this order be not disturbed, but that the books be moved by shelves, transferring them in their present order to the shelving in the new library.
In order that the old charging and call system may continue to work smoothly, the fiction has been kept in accession order. In the new library
178
TOWN DOCUMENTS.
[Dec. 31
this arrangement will end, and the fiction must be arranged alphabetically by author. Numerous well printed guides should be placed on the shelves in the new library, to aid readers in finding the subject they want.
My greatest concern in leaving the work is that an assistant be appointed who is capable of taking full responsibility in classification, cataloguing, and other technical work; who can supervise the moving, install the charging system, develop the children's department and work with schools, build up the reference department, etc.
I consider myself fortunate on the whole in the assistants who have done so large a share of the work. I can commend Miss Bartol in her typewriting work, and Miss Bain deserves special mention for her faithful and responsible part in the work. If the new library can afford two assistants, Miss Bain will make a most capable one to take charge of the mending, pasting, writing of book cards, etc., also for the business side, as making up of statistics, reports, etc.
For the confidence placed in me and all courtesies extended while in Swampscott, I thank you. If I can aid you by letter at any time I shall be very glad to do so, and I hope some day to visit the new library and find it serving all the people of Swampscott in a most efficient way.
Respectfully submitted,
GRACE HILL, Organizer.
It is the intention of the committee that free access shall be allowed to the book stacks by the public for choice of books desired, to be read either in the library or at home.
Unfortunately the librarian, Miss Honors, has been ill for some weeks past and consequently the usual statistics about the purchase of books and the circulation of the library cannot be furnished in time for this report to go to press.
It can be said, however, that they do not differ much from those of past years, being probaby a little in excess for the circulation and about the same for books purchased and the maintenance expenditure.
The architects, Messrs. Kelley & Graves, were requested at the time when work upon the cellar was begun to make from their preliminary sketches and plans working drawings and specifications to accompany them, that bids may be advertised for and the work carried to completion as soon as possible. They have now completed their work and advertise- ments for bids will soon appear. A picture of the proposed building may be seen at the library room in the Town Hall.
Respectfully submitted,
Chairman. Secretary.
SWAMPSCOTT, January 3, 1916.
The above report is a copy of the original report, received by the Board of Selectmen for publication and signed by the Chairman and Secretary. It was sent back for the signatures of the entire committee, and the follow- ing report was received :
179
BUILDING COMMITTEE AND LIBRARY TRUSTEES.
1915]
Report of the Building Committee-New Library Building.
To the Citizens of Swampscott :
Your committee, appointed at the last annual meeting to have charge of the erection of a building to be used as a public library, beg to state that they commenced their work by first considering a possible site for the building.
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