USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Wakefield > Town annual report of the officers of Wakefield Massachusetts : including the vital statistics for the year 1894-1896 > Part 55
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It is the intention of the board to distribute circulars fully explaining this matter, and arrange to put in appliances on favorable terms.
IN GENERAL.
It is gratifying to repeat the statement of last year, that, so far, no accident has been reported either inside or outside the works, that in any way pertain to the plant.
Oil lamps are still used by necessity in some places, as the dynamos are taxed to their full capacity, and their location and the expense of maintaining them are shown in the man- ager's report.
A goodly number of our citizens have visited the works during the past year, and it is hoped they and others will continue to call.
An office has been opened in the Town Hall, where bills may be paid between 7 and 8, on Tuesday and Friday evenings .
206
The board will continue their regular meetings on Tuesday evenings.
Respectfully submitted. SILAS W. FLINT, CHARLES H. SPENCER, ELROY N. HEATH, Municipal Light Board.
207
MANAGER'S REPORT.
MESSRS. SILAS W. FLINT, Chairman,
CHARLES H. SPENCER and ELROY N. HEATH, Municipal Light Board, Town of Wakefield. GENTLEMEN :
I have the honor of presenting report as manager of the Muni- cipal Light Plant, for year ending Jan. 31, 1896.
This being the first report for a full year's operation since the town assumed control, it will undoubtedly be of interest to tax payers to know how much the street lighting is going to cost. I will try and give full details as plainly as possible, so that all may understand the expenses, receipts and workings of the plant for the past twelve months.
We have in operation at the present time, one hundred and forty-four street lights and one in our station, making a total of one hundred and forty-five, the full capacity of the three arc light dynamos we have installed. The street lights have been run on the moonlight schedule until 12:15 o'clock. We have also run them on dark or stormy nights, when the moon was supposed to give us light but did not, and by doing so we have run each light a total of 277 nights, or 1263 hours. This must be taken into account when the expense of operating the light is figured, for if the town were buying from a private corporation they would get the moon schedule strictly, and if they lighted the streets extra, would expect to pay extra for doing so.
On the 14th November the town voted to light the streets in the morning from 5 o'clock until daylight, from November 15th to March 15th, and on November 16th we commenced doing so. This also must be taken into account when the cost is considered.
During the past year applications have been received for about thirty extra street lights, but as the Arc Dynamos are now being run to their full capacity, it was impossible to grant the
208
petitions. If the town votes that another dynamo be added to our plant, we can place fifty additional lights on our streets, or as many as are called for to that number, as we have ample steam power to care for them. To do this would require an extra ex- pense in proportion to the number so placed, but there are places, especially through the out-lying districts where lights are very much needed, as also on some of the side streets in the centre of the town, which could not be reached with the limited number we had.
I think we have occasion to congratulate ourselves that we have had no accident in our steam, electric or gas plant, nor on outside wires and pipes, or to any of our employees or other persons not connected with the plant. We have not been obliged to shut down for one minute either arc or incandescent machines, although we have had wires broken or blown down, but have kept the plant running at all times, with very little inconvenience to our consu- mers or ourselves, and only once have we had a broken wire after lighting time. This was on January 16th, when the Greenwood circuit was out until 9 o'clock.
During the past twelve months we have had 118 street lights reported out, but the greater number of these were started within an hour after lighting time.
On May 27th we sold the old power generator, as we had no further use for it.
STREET LIGHTS NOW IN OPERATION.
5, Albion St.
4, Gould St.
7, Nahant St.
2, Avon St.
3, Green St.
1, New Salem St.
1, Bennett St.
2, Greenwood Av. 4, Oak St.
1, Burchill St.
6, Greenwood St. 1, Park Ave.
6, Chestnut St.
1, Lafayette St.
1, Park St.
2, Church St.
2, Lake St.
1, Pearl St.
1, Common St.
3, Lowell St.
2, Pine St.
1, Converse St.
31, Main St.
7, Pleasant St.
1, Cordis St.
1, Mechanic St.
2, Prospect St.
3, Crescent St.
2, Melvin St. 6, Railroad St.
1, Elm St.
1, Morrison Road.
1, Richardson Ave.
1, Fairmount Ave,
2, Myrtle Ave,
1, Richardson St.
209
9, Salem St. 5, Vernon St.
1, Spring St.
1, Summit Ave.
9, Water St.
2, Yale Ave.
1, Electric Station.
Total, 145 Arc Lights.
LIST OF STREET EXTENSION, ALTERNATING LINES.
Main street, from Salem to Lowell street.
Lowell street, from Main to R. J. Dillon's house.
Lake avenue, from Church to boathouse.
Cordis street, from Main to Pleasant street.
Salem street, from Lowell to Mr. Libby's house. Shumway Circle, from Morrison road to Stoneham line.
Cedar street, from Chestnut to Gould street.
Gould street, from Cedar to Walnut street.
Park avenue, from Chestnut to Summit avenue.
Have received guarantee of 5 per cent. on $1,600 on above.
We have removed a number of incandescent lights from build- ings and replaced them with gas, but with the additions of new consumers for the electric lights we are supplying a larger num- ber than we were a year ago, and by placing meters where practi- cable, we are receiving a larger income from these lights than be- fore.
Number Electric Consumers, August 1, 1894, 84
added 54
discontinued, 40
66 February 1, 1896, 98
Number of Lamps wired up Aug. 1, 1894, 1,137
66 added, · 980
discontinued, 223
66
wired up Feb. 1, 1896, 1,894
Number of Meters in use Aug. 1, 1894, . 42
added, 49 ·
66 removed, .
11
changed, ·
21
in use Feb. 1, 1896, . 80
The alternating or incandescent lights have been run from before dark in the afternoon until daylight mornings, giving the
210
consumers the benefit of an all-night service, and by so doing we have run this machine a total of 4,536 hours for the year.
Coal used, Electric Station, during year, 812 tons.
Coak used, 66
6,443 bushels.
GAS DEPARTMENT.
In the gas department we have made a number of changes. The purifying boxes have been moved from their old position and placed on iron beams and columns with good foundations. New iron covers have been put on them in place of the old wooden ones. A new friction condenser has been added to take the place of the old multitublar. A new washer and scrubber have been added, as there were none in the works. New trusses, hoisting blocks and carriages have been put in to remove the covers from purifiers. The exhauster has been placed in this room, and now everything is in good condition from the exhauster, condensers, washer and scrubber, purifying boxes, centre seal, and all con- nections to the meter,-in fact this room has been made entirely new inside the walls, and should be of ample capacity for a long time to come, or at least until the output of gas is more than double what it is at present.
We have rebuilt one bench of five retorts during the past year. We have extended our street main system to a considerable ex- tent, as will be seen below, and we have added a number of con- sumers, so that the present consumption of gas in Wakefield is about 25 per cent. more than it was a year ago.
Our street mains have been examined and repaired wherever found defective, and a large number of meters have been changed on account of their registering fast or slow or not at all, and by so doing we have reduced our leakage account from 33 32-100 per cent. that was reported by the old company in the gas com- missioners' report of 1894, to 9 36-100 per cent. for our past year's work ; this is a saving in material, and should be one of the first things taken care of, for money spent for the repair of mains and meters is as essential as the care and repair of the works.
We have also improved the quality of the gas, as the State In- spector reports an average of 17,6 candle power. We have re-
211
ceived very few complaints of poor gas, and in all cases where there was trouble it was found to be in the pipes or burners, and very easily remedied. If the consumers would send notice to our office of poor gas, or an insufficient supply, it would be attended to at once.
LIST OF STREET MAIN EXTENSIONS DURING PAST YEAR.
Lafayette street, from Church street, east, 730 ft. 3-in. pipe. Church street, from Railroad to Common st., 1410 “4 66 Chestnut street, from Emerson to Park ave., 1644 “ 6
66 from Park avenue, north, 264 “ 4 66
Bryant street, from Main to Pleasant street, 989 “ 4 66
Crescent street, from Mechanic to Crescent ct., 292 " 3 66
court, from Crescent street to end of ct., 318 " 3 66 Foster street, from Water to Richardson ave., 194 " 4
Richardson avenue, from Foster west, 219 “ 4
Gould street, from Albion to Emerson street, 400 “ 4 66
66 from Albion to Byron st., 400 “ 3 66
Total of 6860 feet of various sizes.
Have received guarantee of 5 per cent. on $2,950.
We have added twelve consumers on the new extensions of mains and there are a number more who will want gas from these mains another year.
On March 23, we were notified that the Citizens' Gas Light Co. would not require us to supply any more gas for Stoneham, and on that date the gas was shut off, thereby reducing our output about 40 per cent. We are still supplying the Citizens' Co. with gas for the town of Reading, and if this were discontinued it would reduce our output about 20 per cent. more.
Number gas consumers August 1, 1894, . 169
66 added, 40
66
66 Feb. 1, 1896, 209
Number gas meters in use Aug. 1, 1894,
181
66 set, 142
66
removed, . · 92
66
in use Feb. 1, 1896,
231
. 212
Gas manufactured during year,
7,633,000 feet.
Gas accounted for 66 6,918,400 feet.
Gas unaccounted for
714,600 feet,
or a loss of 9.36 per cent. for the year.
Gas coal used during the year, 770 980-2240 tons.
OIL STREET LIGHTS."
At the last annual meeting it was voted that the oil street lights should be under the control of the Municipal Light Board, and on March 1st they were turned over to the plant. Since that time we have taken care of them, and the expense has been taken from our general fund.
About all the old unused lamp posts from the centre and west parts of the town have been removed and stored at the works, and those remaining on the streets not in use will be removed next spring.
At the present time we are caring for 19 oil lamps, located as follows :
2, Albion st. 1, Farm st. 2, Oak st.
1, Crescent ct.
4, Forest st.
2, Railroad st.
1, Charles st. 1, Lake ave. 2, Valley st.
1, Private way bet. School and Eaton st. 2, Water st.
They have been lighted, as is the custom, when the moon did not rise until 9 o'clock or set before 9 o'clock in the evening. Have been lighted 168 nights, from March 1, 1895, to Feb. 1, 1896. These lights are so distributed throughout the town that it requires a drive of over ten miles every night they are lighted. The expense for operating these lights will be found elsewhere in this report.
213
WAKEFIELD MUNICIPAL LIGHT PLANT.
GENERAL EXPENSES.
Balance unexpended Feb. 1, 1895, $525 98
Appropriation,
3,500 00
$4,025 98
Income and receipts as turned over to town treasurer as follows :
Received from sale of electricity, gas and
residuals, .
·
$17,387 46
Received from sale of old power generator,
535 00
-$17,922 46
$21,948 44
Expended as follows :
Real estate gas,
$3 15
Machinery and m'f'g app. gas,
2 45
Gas mains, ·
4 20
Gas meters, .
88 67
Tools, gas, .
136 61
Steam plant,
6 65
Real estate electric,
21 24
Electric plant,
18 00
Pole lines, ·
29 34
Arc lamps, .
1 10
Transformers,
119 91
Electric meters,
149 75
Tools, electric,
91 62
Office furniture and fixtures,
41 13
Horses and wagons,
255 00
Coal gas,
3,565 89
Gas, oil,
54 27
Gas stoves, .
26 95
Retort house,
47 06
Coal, electric,
2,871 48
Carbons,
217 96
Oil and waste,
120 27
Incandescent lamps,
148 95
Globes,
56 35
214
Repairs steam plant,
$104 07
... electric plant,
44 97
arc lamps,
75 89
66
electric lines,
20 51
66
gas mains,
24 61
66
works,
7 17
benches,
353 57
٠٠
real estate gas,
54 32
66
electric,
55 83
electric station,
68 56
Care of grounds, .
1 60
Purifying material,
34 85
Stable expenses, .
450 99
General expenses,
259 03
Incidental expenses,
7 70
Coke (teaming),
14 75
Tar barrels, .
33 45
Jobbing (gas),
172 93
Jobbing (electric),
13 57
Oil lights,
105 44
Insurance,
563 25
Labor,
.
10,618 66
$21,401 62
Balance unexpended, . .
$546 82
SPECIAL APPROPRIATION.
Balance from las' year,
$10,133 35
Expended as follows :
Pole lines, .
. $1,262 01
Electric plant,
4,126 30
Arc lamps,
758 66
Transformers,
187 10
Electric meters,
.
Gas meters,
.
182 05
Real estate electric,
104 53
Repairs, electric plant, .
35 45
at works,
5 82
237 90
office expenses,
2,876 30
215
Tools, gas,
$0 50
Carbons,
52
Labor,
594 11
$10,133 35
EXTENSION GAS PLANT.
Appropriation,
$4,000 00
Expended as below :
Machinery and manufacturing appliances
(gas), .
. $3,103 57
Real estate (gas),
96 84
(elect.),
10 04
Retort house supplies,
4 40
Labor,
319 00
$3,533 85
Balance unexpended,
$466 15
EXTENSION GAS MAINS.
Appropriation,
. $4,000 00
Expended as below :
Gas mains,
. $2,327 97
Labor,
883 69 ·
$3,211 66
Balance unexpended,
$788 34
RECAPITULATION OF EXPENDITURES.
Munic pal Light Plant, general expenses, $21,401 62
extension works, 10,133 35
ext. gas plant, 3,538 85
66
66 ext. gas mains, 3,211 66
$38,280 48
Expended as follows :
New Eng. Tel. & Tel. Co., telephone,
$134 20
Chas. J. Lewis, tools,
·
6 00
A. S. Atherton, oats, ·
28 95
Geo. H. Taylor, tools and hardware,
135 27
E. W. Remick, blacksmithing,
43 75
Thos. Groom, stationery, ·
.
·
1 00
.
.
216
Wakefield Rattan Co., floor matting, $19 38
Geo. P. Haley, coal, · 879 96
Maryland Meter Mfg. Co., gas meters, 243 14
Fairbanks Co., scales, . ·
13 65
Littlefield & Kennedy, repair work, 8 15
Buckeye Electric Co., inc. lamps,
144 85
Fred. J. Davis, horse, .
150 00
Geo. E. Adams, waste,
43 44
Liberty Oil Co., oil,
196 97
M. J. Curley, grain,
49 81
T. M. Ward, care oil lights, 35 09
Anchor Electric Co., electric supplies, etc. 197 81
33 20
Geo. H. Hathaway, harness repairs, etc., Waldo Bros., tools, cement, fire brick, etc. 431 61
228 98
C. H. Spencer, lumber. .
F. W. Pierce, expressing, 33 11
Wakefield Coal Co., hay, lime, etc., 62 49
Cutler Bros., paint, hardware, grain, etc.,
403 97
Braman, Dow & Co., pipe and fittings, . 240 27
Francis Doane & Co., stationery, ·
87 12
Geo. M. Kelley, horse shoeing, etc.,
70 95
General Electric Co., electric machinery, 7,174 37
Ireson Rubber Co., hose, 2 07
Reading Water Works, cast iron pipe, ·
4 20
S. M. Spencer & Co., rubber stamps, etc. 7 31
Keeler & Co., furniture, 35 75
M. P. Foster, printing,
82 75
Geo. F. Blake Mfg. Co., pump repairs, .
37 61
Westinghouse Elec. & Mfg. Co., electric meters, 325 90
F. H. Odiorne & Co., coal, 1,218 72
Davis & Farnum Mfg. Co., gas machinery and pipe, 4,897 90
Wakefield Daily Item, advertising, 6 25
McIntosh Bros., wagon repairs, 38 88
Collins Press, order books,
4 75
Pettingell-Andrews Co., electric supplies, 3 00
Boston & Maine R. R. Co., freight, · 1,323 95
-
217
Chapman Valve Mfg. Co., valves, $23 25
Am. Steam Gauge & Valve Co., valves, 3 50
Bernstein Electric Co., inc. lamps, 1 08
John Power, bungs, ·
1 55
Chas. S. Binner, order books, ·
10 50
P. H. McNelly, horse shoeing, 39 27
Wakefield Water Co., water, 35 00
M. J. Morrisey, slating, 75 00
D. W. Hunt, teaming, 46 55
Carter, Carter & Kilham, purif. material,
11 80
Standard Carbon Co., carbons,
174 45
Smith & Anthony, iron borings,
10 75
C. F. Bickford, sawdust,
8 00
Wood & Willard, pipe cutter,
30 00
Ashton Valve Co., valves,
6 00
Angus McMillan, wagon,
100 00
Chas. F. Hartshorne, insurance,
280 00
C. Latimer, expressing, 3 80
W. K. Niver, coal, 3,266 88 ·
Boston Gas App. Exchange, gas stoves, 25 80
Roger Howard, carpentering, 8 20
John Flanley, office furniture, 2 10
Geo. E. Smith, carpentering, 44 11
Crouse-Tremaine Carbon Co., carbons, ·
7 00
Greenough, Adams & Cushing, stationery, 1 00
Morss & Whyte, wire grating, 2 00
Wm. Gallison, engine supplies,
2 00
Cotton & Woollen M'f'g M. Ins. Co., insurance, 240 00
Nathaniel Tufts, gas meters, 25 00
Edward Kendall & Sons, boiler parts, 2 86
Electrical Engineer, magazine,
3 00
Stanley Elec. M'f'g Co., transformers,
857 00
E. I. Purrington, machinist work, .
6 90
A. D. Oxley, lumber,
5 90
Chas. W. Sunman, slating,
.
6 30
D. P. Rolfe, painting, 3 50
Simplex Elec. Co., wire.
890 99
218
Russell Elec. M'f'g Co., mast arms,
$20 00
Denis Greany, mason work, . 51 42
Geo. W. Killorin, blasting, etc,
19 18
Petty cash items, postage, envelopes, etc.,
428 24
C. S. Spaulding, manager, 1,622 50
F. A. Swain, clerk,
780 00
W. E. Oakes, engineer,
985 75
Jas. L. Freelove, electrician,
808 75
Patrick McLaughlin, foreman, gas works,
1,092 00
Daniel Maher, gas stoker,
728 00
Daniel Carter, fireman,
104 00
Patrick Desmond, gas helper,
660 00
John Curran, gas stoker,
317 40
Patrick Griffin, general helper,
728 00
Walter Smith, lineman, 394 50
Louie F. Low, trimmer and patrol, . 290 50 .
Paul E. Lane, 66 66
634 50
Fred N. Lord, 66
637 00
L. S. Pierce, lineman, .
74 90
Robert Mason,
216 00
A. E. Hunt, 66
371 62
W. E. Hagan, 66
488 75
Daniel Sheehy, gas stoker,
467 00
John Campbell, laborer,
3 50
Martin Glynn,
17 50
Patrick Keefe, John Sliney,
209 30
Morris Welsh, 66
138 40
James Talbot,
27 50
John Maloney,
46 00
James Griffin, 66
156 20
John Talbot, 60
43 00
Harry Belding, lineman,
25 00
Patrick Curran, laborer,
7 00
Wm. Donovan,
20 50
James Regan,
41 50
John Drugan, 66
.
20 50
Thos. Hanley,
.
.
80
.
44 90
219
Dennis O'Connell, laborer, .
$70 50
Wm Hennessey,
63 70
Thos. Kelley,
.
9 50
Con. Doherty,
8 00
Daniel Murphy,
66
.
6 00
Timothy Sliney,
66
10 00
Horace Hale,
16 00
Churchill Barbrick,
66
1 60
Martin Joyce,
$38,280 48
ELECTRIC MANUFACTURING ACCOUNT.
EXPENSES.
INCOME.
Coal, . $3,072 56
Sales electricity, . $3,784 85
Coke,
·
357 93
Sales steam, 600 00
Carbons, ·
307 21
Inc. lamp sales, 186 97
Oil and waste,
9.5 35
inventory
41 32
Globes,
20 17
Jobbing sales, 86 77
Repairs steam plant, 246 13
inventory,
11 67
electric "
30 23
Balance, loss, . 7,136 48
/
elect. lines,
948 09
real estate,
64 08
elec. station,
162 24
66. tools, 82 75
General salaries, .
1,064 00
Wages, station, ·
2,047 12
Care of arc lights,
1,363 05
Distribution wages,
390 00
Incandes. lamps, .
206 32
Jobbing, 86 02
Stable account,
644 18
Care grounds,
73 05
General expense, .
128 00
office ex-
penses, .
148 89
Incident'l expenses,
7 50
Insurance,
202 10
$11,848 06
arc lamps,
101 09
$11,848 06
·
26 00
220
GAS MANUFACTURING ACCOUNT.
EXPENSES.
INCOME.
Coal, .
. $3,358 65
Sales gas, . $11,702 50
Steam, . .
600 00
Tar sales, ·
. 747 30
Gas oil,
57 23
" inventory, 281 00
Retort house sup-
plies, ·
.
47 37
66 inventory, 15 00
Discounts to gas
793 85
inventory,
152 51
Purifying material,
54 85
Repairs gas mains,
459 41
$14,054 01
" meters,
57 85
66
at works, .
77 67
benches, .
413 77
real estate,
54 32
tools,
58 68
General salaries, ·
536 00
Wages works,
·
1,893 00
Distribution wages,
390 00
Meter takers' wages,
78 00
Jobbing,
·
393 51
Tar,
252 45
Coke (teaming), ·
23 25
Stable expenses, ·
161 06
General expenses, .
127 99
Care of grounds, .
73 05
General office ex-
penses, · 148 89
Incidental expense,
7 50
Insurance,
· 202 09
Balance, gain, · 3,733 57
$14,054 01
.
Coke sales, . 798 47
Jobbing sales, 357 23
consumers', ·
221
ASSETS.
Cash on hand as follows :-
At works, · $490 09
At town treasury :-
Balance general ap- propriation, 546 82
Balance extension
gas plant,
466 15
Balance extension gas mains, . 788 34
Balance from bonds,
not yet appropri- ated, .
213 15
Real estate gas, . 17,704 64
Machinery and man-
ufact'r'g app. gas, 38,327 35
Gas mains,
. 23,755 02
Gas meters,
. 3,150 55
Tools, gas,
343 85
·
Steam plant,
.
. 20,650 04
Real estate, electric, 17,272 67
Electric plant,
. 15,753 85
Pole lines, . 24,011 60
Arc lamps,
. 4,386 58
Transformers,
. 2,776 73
Electric meters,
. 1,584 30
Tools, electric,
372 30
Office furniture and
fixtures, 95 83
Horses and wagons, 505 00
Coal gas,
.
1,634 53
Gas oil, .
10 00
Gas stoves,
20 00
.
Coal, electric, 555 31
Carbons, 131 01
Oil and waste, 55 27
Incandescent lamps, 41 32
Globes, :
100 09
LIABILITIES.
Bonds,
. $177,000 00
Accrued interest,
2,360 00
Deposits,
14 00
Accounts payable,
169 46
$179,543 46
222
Repairs materials, . 147 58
Purifying materials,
30 00
Hay and grain, 32 01
Postage and enve-
lopes,
25 00
Gas jobbing material,
152 51
Electric jobbing ma- terial,
11 67
Oil lights material, .
29 40
Insurance (unexp'd),
412 13
Tar (on hand),
·
281 00
Coke “ "
15 00
Sundry debtors,
120 61
Electric consumers,
682 57
Gas consumers,
1,190 57
Notes receivable,
315 00
Balance,
356 11
$179,543 46
OIL LIGHTS.
EXPENSES.
INCOME.
T. M. Ward,
.
$35 09
Sold lamp post, $7 00
Kerosene oil,
46 25
Inventory, 29 40 .
Lumber oil shed,
12 84
Balance, loss, 499 33
Glass,
5 00
Matches,
1 00
Chimneys,
5 00
Removing old lamp
posts,
54 00
Stable expenses,
161 05
Labor,
215 50
$535 73
Respectfully submitted.
CHARLES S. SPAULDING,
Manager.
$535 73
ANNUAL REPORT
- OF THE-
SCHOOL COMMITTEE
-OF THE-
TOWN OF WAKEFIELD,
-FOR THE-
YEAR ENDING JAN. 31, 1896.
SCHOOL COMMITTEE FOR 1895-96.
Selim S. White, 34 Chestnut Street,
Miss Eliza M. Greenwood, 10 Lafayette St., Melvin J. Hill, cor. Pleasant and Bryant Sts.,
William B. Daniel, Pearl Street, . .
66
66
1898
Wm. S. Greenough, 36 Avon Street, . .
. Term expires 1896
66 1896
66 66 1897
66 66 1897
Ashton H. Thayer, Greenwood, . .
66 66 1898
WAKEFIELD, MASS. : PRINTED BY A. W. BROWNELL. 1896.
ORGANIZATION OF THE BOARD.
Ashton H. Thayer, Chas. E. Hussey, Secretary and Treasurer
SUB-COMMITTEES. Rules and Regulations.
W. S. GREENOUGH, S. S. WHITE. . A. H. THAYER.
Course of Study.
M. J. HILL, S. S. WHITE, MISS E. M. GREENWOOD.
Teachers and Salaries.
A. H. THAYER, MISS E. M. GREENWOOD, S. S. WHITE.
Text=Books and Supplies.
S. S. WHITE. M. J. HILL, MISS E. M. GREENWOOD.
Music and Drawing.
MISS E. M. GREENWOOD, W. B. DANIEL, M. J. HILL.
Prudential.
A. H. THAYER, W. B. DANIEL, W. S. GREENOUGH.
W. B. DANIEL,
Finance and Accounts.
W. S. GREENOUGH,
A. H. THAYER.
Truant Officers.
ALVIN L. VANNAH, RUFUS F. DRAPER.
Superintendent of Schools. CHAS. E. HUSSEY.
Office Hours. Tuesdays and Fridays, 4 to 5 p. m., at School Committee Room, Lincoln Building.
Meetings of School Committee.
Third Friday evening of each month at 7-30 p. m., at Lincoln Building.
Chairman
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SCHOOL COMMITTEE'S REPORT.
John Muir, in his interesting work, "The Mountains of California," in his vivid word painting, pictures not only their beauty, but the difficulty and peril of mountain climb- ing. If the only reward consisted in a view of his imme- diate surroundings, the prospect would be discouraging and a continuance of the journey would seem profitless and fool- hardy.
To those directly interested in the public schools, and espe- cially to the school committeeman-or woman-the immediate outlook at times is discouraging, and the question will some- times arise whether 'tis better in the mind to suffer, or to cease our fight against the sea of troubles and, by not oppos- ing, end them.
The educational problem may not lead those directly inter- ested along such rough and perilous paths as those followed by mountain climbers, but the road is not strewn with. brierless roses, nor are the sharp and jagged corners of the boulders of criticism always padded with justness or charity. Present methods are often compared -and not always favor- ably -with those of forty or fifty years ago, when teachers tried to teach-and sometimes succeeded-fifty or more pupils of various ages. That grand work was done in those days by some teachers is no argument for making martyrs of teachers of the present day.
No educational system is so good that it cannot be im- proved, and few school boards are so poor that they do not endeavor to have good schools. Times change, and new con- ditions arise and must be met, and the duties of school boards
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are often various and perplexing. To be sure it is a compar- atively easy matter for committees to shift their duties, if so inclined, on to the broad shoulders of the superintendent, and, if matters go smoothly, take all the credit ; but if other- wise, to unselfishly let him have all the glory. But it is our desire that the youth of our town may receive the best " com- mon school education" possible. Knowledge certainly is power, acting as a lever in rolling many of the boulders from life's pathway almost unconsciously and without effort, so that many who possess this powerful lever do not appreciate it as much as those who for some reason have been deprived of its power. We wish every boy and girl might be able and willing to continue their schooling until they graduate from the High School, or some other school equally as good. A little learning may be dangerous, but we never knew of one's having too much.
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