USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Wakefield > Town annual report of the officers of Wakefield Massachusetts : including the vital statistics for the year 1897-1899 > Part 47
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54
500 00
North School House, due Dec. 1, 1914
500 00
Total for 1914
$7,000 00
Municipal Light, due Oct. 1, 1915
$9,000 00
North School House, due Nov. 1, 1915
1,000 00
Total for 1915
$10,000 00
.
107
Municipal Light, due Oct. 1, 1916
$9,000 00
North School House, due Nov. 1, 1916
1,000 00
Total for 1916
$10,000 00
Municipal Light, due Oct. 1, 1917
$9,000 00
North School House, due Nov. 1, 1917
1,000 00
Total for 1917
$10,000 00
Municipal Light. due Oct. 1, 1918
$9.000 00
North School House, due Nov. 1, 1918
1,000 00
Total for 1918
$10,000 00
Municipal Light, due Oct. 1, 1919
$9.000 00
Municipal Light, due Oct. 1, 1920
9,000 00
Municipal Light. due Oct. 1, 1921
9.000 00
Municipal Light, due Oct. 1, 1922
9,000 00
Municipal Light, due Oct. 1, 1923
9,000 00
Municipal Light, due Oct. 1, 1924
9,000 00
RECAPITULATION.
Due in 1899 (Temporary)
$53.870 00
1899
12,500 00
1900
15,500 00
1901
15,500 00
1902
15.500 00
1903
10.500 00
1904
10,000 00
1905
10,000 00
1906
10.000 00
1907
10,000 00
1908
10,500 00
1909
9,500 00
1910
10.000 00
1911
10,000 00
1912
10.000 00
1913
9,000 00
1914
7,000 00
·
.
108
1915
10,000 00
1916
10,000 00
1917
10,000 00
1918
10,000 00
1919
9,000 00
1920
9.000 00
1921
9,000 00
1922
9,000 00
1923
9,000 00
1924
9,000 00
Total
$323,370 00
RECEIPTS FROM LICENSES.
Edward Gayron, flying horses
$4 00
George H. Teagne, fireworks
·
1 00
Aaron Butler
1 00
E. N. Smith 66
1 00
Geo. H. Bailey 6 .
1 00
A. Shalit, pedlar
12 00
W. E. Eaton, auctioneer ·
2 00
J. S. Bonney, milk
31 50
J. S. Bonney, plumbers'
.
6 50
Total, .
$60 00
109
TOWN DEBT.
MUNICIPAL LIGHT BONDS.
18 bonds $1,000 each, due $3,000 each year from 1899 to 1904 $18,000 00 60 bonds $1,000 each, due $6,000 each year from 1905 to 1914 . 60,000 00 90 bonds $1,000 each, due $9,000 each year from 1915 to 1924 90,000 00
$168,000 00
ARMORY LOAN.
3 notes $1,000 each, due Dec. 1, 1900
$3,000 00
3
6.
66
1901
3,000 00
3
66
66
66. 1903
3,000 00
3
66
.6
1904
3,000 00
$12,000 00
LINCOLN SCHOOL HOUSE.
5 bonds $1,000 each, due Nov. 1, 1899
$5,000 00
5 .6 66 66
1900
5,000 00
66 1901
5,000 00
1 note $8,000, due Nov. 1, 1902
.
8,000 00
$23,000 00
WARREN SCHOOL HOUSE.
30 bonds $1,000 each, due $2,000 each year from 1899 to 1913
$30,000 00
GREENWOOD SCHOOL HOUSE.
14 bonds $1,000 each, due $1,000 each year from 1899 to 1912
$14,000 00
TOWN MAP AND SURVEY.
5 notes $500 each, due $500 each year from 1899 to 1903 $2,500 00
.
110
NEW CEMETERY LOAN.
9 notes $500 each, due $500 each year from 1899 to 1907 . · · .
$4,500 00
1 note $1,000, due June 1, 1908
1,000 00
$5,500 00
NORTH SCHOOL HOUSE.
11 notes $500 each, due $500 each year from 1899 to 1909 ·
. $5,500 00
18 notes $500 each, due $1,000 each year from 1910 to 1918
9,000 00
$14,500 00
RECAPITULATION.
Municipal Light
$16>,000 00
Armory .
12,000 00
Lincoln School House
23,000 00
Warren School House
30,000 00
Greenwood School House
14,000 00
Town Map and Survey
2,500 00
New Cemetery
5,500 00
North School House
14,500 00
Total
$269,500 00
The total debt has been increased in the sum of $9,000, as per statement below.
Notes issued account New Cemetery Loan
$5,500 00
Bonds " 6. North School House 14,500 00
$20,000 00
LESS.
Municipal Light Bonds, retired
$3,000 00
Lincoln School House, "
·
5,000 00
Warren 66 2,000 00
Greenwood School House, retired,
1,000 00 $11,000 00
Increase, .
$9,000 00
.
.
111
FLOATING INDEBTEDNESS.
Loans in anticipation of taxes of 1898, and amounts appro- priated after annual tax levy which by special vote are to be included in the tax levy of 1899.
Notes due Apr. 1, 1899
$15,000 00
** Dec. 1, 1899 .
.
. 20,000 00
6. Dec. 1, 1899 .
. 13,870 00
66 " Dec. 31, 1899
5,000 00
$53,870 00
Accrued interest to Feb. 1, 1899
. $3,689 12
Outstanding Town Orders
1,228 16
Balance of interest J. Nichols Fund
58 70
Held for tax sales redemption
50 00
Dog tax of 1898, not appropriated
546 63
Due Selectmen for money advanced . Balance of Appropriations held over :
1,000 00
Municipal Light Plant
2,932 11
North Ward School House
9,300 00
Crystal street
200 00
New Salem, street
158 00
Bennett street
1,610 08
$74,642 80
Credit.
Cash balance in treasury
. $2,533 30
Due from State Aid, 1898
2,321 00
Military Aid, 1898
424 00
both, Jan., 1899
251 50
Uncollected taxes, 1897 .
. 18,779 31
1898
.
. 41,688 47
- $65,997 58
Deficit
$8,645 22
This deficit is more than provided for in the votes for appro- priations made subsequent to the annual meeting of 1898, which will be included in the taxes of 1899, as follows :
Chestnut street Repairs . .
$3,000 00
Cedar street Drain
2,500 00
November appropriations
8,370 00
$13,870 00
Less deficit
8,645 22
Leaving nominal surplus of .
$5,224 78
.
·
·
112
DR. THOMAS J. SKINNER, Treasurer,
Balance in treasury at last report
$16,463 74
Hired on temporary loans
113,870 00
Hired on North ward school house loans
14,500 00
Hired on New cemetery loan
5,500 00
Premiums and accrued interest
1,323 42
Chas. E: Walton, collecter of taxes, 1898
89,079 76
Chas. E. Walton,
1897
20,257 03
Chas. F. Woodward,
1896
629 60
Municipal plant receipts
18,102 33
Overseers of the poor receipts
2,368 66
Road commissioners' receipts
779 83
Selectmen, receipts from town hall
416 00
School committee, tuition
647 50
State treasurer, acct. corporation tax
3,707 54
" bank tax
1,016 49
66
" State aid, 1897
2,154 00
" military aid, 1897
444 00
armory rent
500 00
66 66
" burial indigent soldiers
70 00
60
66
" highways
15 00
County treasurer " dog tax of 1898
546 63
House of correction, acct. fines
40 00
Sweetser lecture fund, income
400 00
Sweetser lecture committee, net proceeds, 2 yrs.
318 05
Sweetser burial lot fund (drawn from bank) 411 00
160 00
Beebe town library, librarian's receipts ·
23 66
J. Nichols fund, interest
40 00
Flint old burial ground, interest 48 88
Bequest from estate H. N. Flint, for old bur. ground 2,000 00
Bequest from estate H. N. Flint, for soldiers' mon't 10,000 00 Town clerk, sale of plans 4 50
Michael Welch, on acct. of tax redemption ·
10 00
Release of tax deeds
287 45
License fees received
60 00
Error in town orders refunded
62
Cash received from board of selectmen to cover overdrawal of highway department 1,000 00
Inerest on deposits 53 60
Ctemetery committee, balance unexpended returned 20 89
$307,902 62
" State paupers
180 75
W. N. Tyler, clerk of court, acct. fines
451 59
Beebe town library, interest from funds
113
in account with the TOWN OF WAKEFIELD. CR.
By cash paid selectmen's orders 137,797 07
Principals on loans
. 125,300 00
Interest on loans
13,161 18
Beebe town library payments
1,138 48
Reading room payments
174 06
State aid
2,362 00
Sweetser charity " net proceeds," 2 yrs.
318 05
State treasurer, State tax
3,960 00
, 66
bank tax .
572 80
66
Metropolitan sewerage :
Sinking fund $110 33
Maintenance . ·
42 30
Interest do. 437 77
590 40
County treasurer, county tax
6,566 28
Sweetser lecture committee, income of fund
400 00
J. Nichols temperance fund payments
80 00 4
Chas. F. Woodward, collector, for tax deeds .
471 12
C. W. Eaton, acct. tax deeds, etc. 18 00
Sweetser burial lot payments
411 00
Flint old burial ground income (placed in bank) 48 88
Flint bequests for soldiers' monument, invested 10,000 00
Flint bequests for burial ground, invested 2,000 00
$305,359 32
Balance in treasury
2,533 30
$307,902 62
114
DR. THOMAS J. SKINNER, Treasurer,
To annual appropriation
$400 00
Dog tax of 1897
604 22
Interest from Dr. Hurd Fund, 1 yr.
100 00
" C. Wakefield Fund, 1 yr.
20 00
" Flint Memorial Fund, 1 yr. . ·
40 00
Mrs. Harriet A. Shepard, sale of catalogues
20 58
66 66 sundries . 3 08
$1,187 88
$1,187 88
DR.
THOMAS J. SKINNER, Treasurer,
To annual appropriation $175 00
$175 00
115
in account with the BEEBE TOWN LIBRARY, CR.
By balance overdrawn, as per last report . $18 66 Mrs. Harriet A. Shepard, librarian, to Feb. 1, '99 600 00
to sundries,
23 66
Little, Brown & Co., books
$167 71
N. J. Bartlett & Co.,
197 68
Balch Bros.,
3 50
W. E. Rogers,
.
3 00
W. A. Wilde & Co.,
.66
10 00
Henry M. Meek, 66
2 00
$383 89
F. J. Barnard & Co., repairs of books
31 23
M. P. Foster, printing, adv., etc.
95 50
Wakefield Item, advertising
1 50
- F. W. Pierce, express
2 70
Total payments
$1,157 14
Balance unexpended
30 74
$1,187 88
in acct. with the PUBLIC READING ROOM, CR.
By F. J. Barnard & Co., sundry repairs
$13 80
A. H. Thayer
160 26
Total payments
$174 06
Balance unexpended
94
$175 00
.
·
116
STATE AID.
The following individuals have been paid State Aid direct by the treasurer, which amount is re-imbursed by the State annually. Other State Aid, consisting of military aid, soldiers' relief, and Spanish war, is paid direct by selectmen, and will be found in auditor's report.
Branch, Wm. H. $72 00
Kingman, Wm. W. $20 00
Brown, Mary V.
48 00
Locke, Lucinda 8 00
Burdett, John W . 48 00
Madden, Margaret 48 00
Beard, Sarah B. 28 00
Mansfield, Jas. F. 48 00
Blair, James H. 42 00
McLaughlin, J. B. 48 00
Blair, Mary J. 28 00
Mellen, Hattie 48 00
Baxter, Augustus G.
16 00
Miller, Elizabeth A. 48 00
Baxter, Mrs. A. G.
16 00
Moses, Elizabeth 48 00
Chandler, Augusta M.
48 00
Newhall, Lucien E. 48 00
Cowdrey, Adah E.
24 00
Oliver, James 54 00
Cutter, Lizzie S.
48 00
O'Connell, Dennis
12 00
Davis, Annette
48 00
O'Connell, Mary 32 00
Davis, Angelina
40 00
Ogden, James
4 00
Dennison, Elizabeth
48 00
Parker. W. D.
48 00
Douglas, Elizabeth
48 00
Parker, Flora W.
36 00
Dadley, Wm. R. P.
32 00
Ryder, Florence A. B.
48 00
Edmands, Rodney 44 00
Sweeney, William
8 00
Ellis, Frank M. 48 00
Shanahan, Daniel A. Skinner, Ann M.
40 00
Emerson, Hannah M.
48 00
Stevens, Emma
20 00
Evans, Wm. O.
36 00
Townsend, Geo. W.
48 00
Evans, Honora
48 00
Walsh, Louisa 48 00
Fay, Patrick
24 00
Wiley, Julia A.
48 00
Fay, Mary
12 00
Wiley, Elbridge A. 48 00 Willan, Elvira 48 00
Foster, Mary F.
48 00
Fairbanks, Zephaniah F. 10 00
Woodis, Vasti 48 00
Hall, Mary A. 48 00
Hamilton, Margaret 48 00
Hawkes, John 36 00
Hawkes, Dolly
36 00
Kidder, Matilda L.
48 00
Whipple, Bethiah 48 00
Whitford, John
72 00
Total
$2,362 00
48 00
Emerson, John H. 72 00
117
LIST OF TAX DEEDS HELD BY THE TREASURER FOR NON- PAYMENT OF TAXES:
No.
To Whom Taxed.
Tax of
Date of Deed.
Amount.
109
Sarah W. Stevens
1887
July 13, 1889.
$37.33
113
John D. Young
1888
Aug. 11, 1890.
6.27
114
Isaac Evans.
1888
.
. .
6.27
115
Stephen D. Learnard
1889
June 27, 1891.
7.48
116
Samuel P. Abbott
1889
66
7.48
117
Chas. N. Campbell.
1889
6.75
118
Samuel P. Abbott
1890
June 6, 1892.
7.55
119
Stephen D. Learnard.
1890
7.55
121
Frank I. Barrett .
1891
July
3, 1893.
10.33
122
Samuel P. Abbott.
1881
7.65
124
Stephen I). Learnard.
1891
.6
7.65
125
Martha M. C. Reid
1891
66
50.45
127
John Doherty .
1892
Sept. 3, 1894.
17.70
128
Stephen D. Learnard.
1892
7.74
129
Martha M. C. Reid
1892
59.53
130
Martha M. C. Reid
1893
56.90
131
Albert T. Emery
1893
11.00
132
Rebecca M. Stanley
1893
7.31
137
Martha M. C Reid.
1894
June 8, 1896:
64.90
138
Elizabeth Dearborn
1895
July 19, 1897.
8.55
140
David H. Bigelow
1895
66
66
42.27
142
David Gillespie
1895
150.60
144
James Scales
1895
66
. .
66
7.42
145
James Scales.
1895
.6
.6
66
8.35
146
Sarah E. Pratt.
1895
10.59
147
Sarah H. Boynton
1896
Feb. 21, 1898.
84.26
148
John Hay
1896
66
66
7.04
149
Elizabeth Dearborn
1896
66
8.66
151
Michael Welch.
1896
21.34
:52
Martha M. C. Reid
1896
66
66
68.06
6.
*
66
. .
..
..
66
June 4, 1895.
6.
..
..
6.
118
NOTE AND BOND ACCOUNT. NOTES AND BONDS ISSUED.
Date.
Amount.
Account.
Rate.
When Payable.
April 1, 1898.
$5,000 Temporary.
4 per ct.
April 1, 1899.
66
20,000
66
4.69
Oct. 10, 1898.
4: 21,
10,000
4
April 21, 1899.
May 26,
10,000
3.18
Nov. 26, 1898.
.. ..
66
10,000
3.18
66
June 1,
5,500 Cemetery .
4
Annually from '99.
" 30,
10,000 Temporary.
3.05
Dec. 30, 1898. .. 66
Nov. 1,
12,000 North School.
*4
$ $500 annually to 1909
Dec. 1,
2,500 66
66
+4
66
$1000
..
1918
66
1,
6.
20,000 Temporary.
±4
66
Dec.
1, 1898.
66
1,
2,500
Cedar St. Drain.
66
66
66
1,
8,370
Nov. Approp'ns.
14
31,
5,000
Temporary.
4
60
66
31,
Total.
$133,870
* Sold at 1.0703.
+ Sold at 1.0775.
# Sold at 1.0075.
NOTES AND BONDS PAID.
Date of Note.
When Paid.
Amount.
Account.
Apr. 1, 1897. . .
Apr.
1, 1898.
$ 5,000 00
Nov. 4, 1897 .
May
4,
20,000 00
Dec. 1, 1897 .
June
1,
2,500 00
Dec. 1, 1897 .
June 1, 66
500 00
Oct. 1, 1894.
Oct. 1,
66
2,000 00
Apr. 1, 1896.
Oct. 1,
1,000 00
Greenwood School. Temporary Loan. Lincoln School.
Nov. 4, 1897.
Nov. 4,
10,000 00
Temporary Loan.
Nov. 4, 1897 . . . .
Nov. 4,
5,000 00
Temporary Loan.
Nov. 4, 1897 ....
Nov. 4,
5,000 00
Temporary Loan.
May 26, 1898 ....
Nov. 26,
66
10,000 00
Temporary Loan. Temporary Loan.
May 26, 1898 .
Nov. 26,
יי
10,000 00
Dec. 1. 1897 . . ..
Dec. 1,
6,300 00
Temporary Loan.
June 30, 1898.
. .
Dec. 30
66
10,000 00
June 30, 1898 . .
Dec. 30,
10,000 00
Temporary Loan. Temporary Loan.
Total.
$125,300 00
Temporary Loan. Temporary Loan. Municipal Light. Warren School.
Apr. 1, 1898.
Oct 10,
66
20,000 00
Nov. 1,
66
5,000 00
May 1, 1891 ....
3,000
Chestnut Street.
14
66
1,
10,000
6 6
3.05
66
Temporary Loan. Temporary Loan.
Apr. 1, 1896.
Oct. 1,
3,000 00
119
CLOSING REMARKS.
During the year 1899 the following amounts will enter the tax levy from votes already passed :
Municipal Light Plant
$3,000 00
Lincoln School House
5,000 00
Warren
.
2,000 00
Greenw'd
1,000 00
North
.6
500 00
Map and Survey
500 00
New Cemetery
500 00
W. Chestnut St. Repairs
3,000 00
Cedar Street Drain
2,500 00
November appropriations .
.
8,370 00
$26,370 00
There will be a further sum required for interest, $14,000, making a total of $40,370 before any appropriations are made at the annual meeting.
Respectfully submitted,
THOMAS J. SKINNER, Treasurer.
WAKEFIELD, Feb. 10, 1899.
120
REPORT OF THE INSPECTOR OF MILK.
TO THE HONORABLE SELECTMEN. TOWN OF WAKEFIELD, MASS :
The inspector has collected at nine different times during the year sixty-one samples of whole milk, which he caused to be analyzed, the average solids of which were found to be twelve and eighty-six one hundredths (12.86) per cent.
No samples of whole milk were found of sufficiently low stand- ard to make it advisable to prosecute. Complaint having been received of the quality of skimmed milk sold from the milk car of H. P. Hood & Sons, six samples were taken at the Boston and Maine Railroad Station from local dealers immediately after being taken from the car.
All of the samples were found to be below the standard for skimmed milk. viz. : nine and three-tenths (9.3) per cent. of solids. exclusive of fat and conviction was secured upon com- plaint and a fine of fifty dollars imposed.
The number of licenses issued during the year is fifty-five (55) and eight registrations as dealers at stand, booth or market places.
The inspector has during the past year paid the market-price for samples taken. as that removes technical complications in proving complaints where intention to sell is alleged.
The expenses of the inspector for the year are as follows : For inspection and analysis
$100 00
Advertising appointment. Citizen and Banner 2 00
Wakefield Daily Item 1 50
Geo. H. Hathaway. team for visiting dairies 1 00
67 pints of milk at 3 cents
2 01
Total $106 51
121
CORRECTION.
Receipts 55 licenses
$27 50
8 registrations
·
4 00
$31 50
$75 01
$50 00
Net cost
$25 01
The $50 fine comes back to the town.
JOSIAH S. BONNEY,
Inspector of Milk.
122
REPORT OF THE BOARD OF HEALTH.
TOWN OF WAKEFIELD, MASS.
The town has been fortunate during the last twelve months in the small amount of sickness and the absence of any considerable epidemic of disease.
The death rate is unusually low this year and will compare favorably with that of other towns similarly situated. The total number of deaths for the year is, excluding still births, which are not included in figuring death rates, one hundred and twenty- seven (127) ; still births, twelve.
The death rate for the year on the estimated population for 1898 is 13.99 per thousand.
The physicians have reported the following cases of contagious diseases : Diphtheria, 7; Scarlet Fever, 22 ; Measles, 21 ; Typhoid Fever, 11.
The board would urge the necessity for the early establishment of a sewer for at least the business portion of the town.
The method of disposal of sewage in the center of the town is in the opinion of this board a menace to public health and entire- ly unfit and discreditable to such a community as ours, and there can be devised no way which is not quite or nearly as objection- able, excepting a sewer to carry it off.
It is believed that in securing the services of an expert plumber to inspect all sanitary and soil pipe connections in plumbing, a permanent sanitary advantage has been gained by the community, and by the tenants of the inspected houses in particular.
All sanitary plumbing done is examined by a disinterested ex- pert and the work done is as good as can be found anywhere.
This will be of great value in the event of a sewer being built as all plumbing now inspected is in proper condition for sewer connection. .
123
Paid out for the 1898 :
Unpaid bills for 1897 $206 56
G. S. Tukey, inspector of plumbing 349 50
Wm. H. McCausland, services 146 20
Charles Dutton, M. D., medical attendance 42 00
Joseph W. Heath, M. D., medical attendance
.
28 00
Josiah S. Bonney, drugs and services 19 39
Butler Bros., fumigating 8 50
Edw. E. Lee, groceries furnished families quarantined
45 50
Dead animals (buried upon complaint) 3 00
Mansfield & Cheney, coal (quarantined family) 3 66 ·
Labor cleaning Center pond, 2 days
4 00
Constable service .
1 10
Telephone service (1897 and 1898) .
20 85
500 printed envelopes
10 90
$888 50
Received :
Plumbers' Licenses .
$6 50
JOSEPH W. HEATH, M. D., WM. H. McCAUSLAND, JOSIAH S. BONNEY.
.
124
REPORT OF THE INSPECTOR OF PLUMBING.
TO THE HONORABLE BOARD OF HEALTH :
Gentlemen :- I herewith submit the following report of duty performed from Jan. 1, 1898, to Jan. 1, 1899.
There have been one hundred and twenty-seven permits granted, which have been inspected and tested and left in a safe and thorough condition and I have no scruples in saying the work performed by our plumbers has been first-class (second to none).
There has been no violation of the town ordinance but what has been adjusted to the satisfaction of the Board and inspector.
Much dissatisfaction has been expressed by the plumbers of Wakefield owing to the disadvantages met with in winter, viz. : chilling of the metal, cold from open houses, etc., they being obliged, according to the town ordinance, to set all traps before the test is made.
Therefore I will recommend to your notice, for approval, that between the months of November and April they be released from setting their traps, but put in place all spuds to take the same and that a second inspection be made when traps are set, but in all occupied houses where there is heat, also the remaining months of the year I recommend no change, whatever, and I think with instructions from your Honorable Board this change can be made without any alteration of the ordinance, which I would not recommend.
I sincerely thank the secretary and other members of the board for their hearty support and kind assistance, also the craft, for the gentlemanly manner in which they have assisted me in the performance of my duty.
Most respectfully,
G. S. TUKEY, Inspector.
REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES
-OF-
THE BEEBE TOWN LIBRARY
-AND-
PUBLIC READING ROOM,
-WITH -
LIST OF PERIODICALS
IN THE READING ROOM.
1899.
126 .
ORGANIZATION OF TRUSTEES.
Chairman
William E. Rogers.
Treasurer
Thomas J. Skinner.
Secretary
William W. Taft.
STANDING COMMITTEES.
LIBRARY.
Peter S. Roberts, Charles N. Winship,
Otis V. Waterman.
FINANCE.
Otis V. Waterman, Harry Foster, Ashton H. Thayer.
BOOKS.
Harry Foster, Maitland P. Foster, Peter S. Roberts, William W. Taft, William E. Rogers, Mrs. Emma F. Howland.
READING ROOM.
Maitland P. Foster, Ashton H. Thayer, William W. Taft.
Charles N. Winship,
CATALOGUE.
Mrs. Emma F. Howland, Maitland P. Foster, William E. Rogers.
Librarian
Purchasing agent for Library . .
Harriet A. Shepard. Janitor of Reading Room, .
Rufus F. Draper. William E. Rogers.
127
TRUSTEES' REPORT.
The past year has been for the reader a phenominal one, inas- much as its chief topic has been war, and war makes history. For the first time in a generation our country has listened to the roar of its guns in hostile combat; we heard the drum and bugle, and with moistened eyes we cheered the old flag as it broke out to the breeze, for the nation was at last awake to the fact that it had a mission to perform without its confines. What that mission was and how we carried it out has been a matter of intense interest to all readers. For obvious reasons newspapers and magazines, those daily, weekly and monthly books, have had the call over bound volumes. The former give us the events as they occur in swift rotation, while the latter sum them up and set forth the results arrived at.
The trustees of your library have done their best with their exceedingly limited means to furnish the public access to books containing descriptions and illustrations of the stirring scenes of the war as viewed by eye-witnesses. The whole world is today talking of our startling and complete success at arms. Why was it and how was it that we made so clean a sweep and with such astoundingly far reaching results ? It was not due to our strength and numbers alone, but in a great measure it was owing to brains. Had that Spanish official, who boasted before war was declared that if it came he would engage with twenty-five thousand men to capture Washington and plant the red and yellow banner of Spain on our capitol, had the advantages of our schools and public li- braries he would never have made that speech. The Spaniard was absolutely ignorant of us, and we, through those very agen- cies, knew his resources, character, and ability thoroughly. The school and public library furnish education, and education must always win, and the history of the world proves it has. But we must not forget that the conquest of Spain and her retirement
128
from the western hemisphere is not the only page of history recorded in 1898. The British lion who so haltingly advanced toward Khartoum in 1884 at his child's cry of distress, and who at the sight of its mangled form so ingloriously retired, has wakened and in his retributory march through the Soudan never faltered until Mahdism is but a horrible dream of the past and the habitation of one of its devotees is unknown. For a brief but graphic account of the utter annihilation of the False Prophet's vast army we invite attention to our catalogue of pur- chases.
But war changes the map of the world, and how much our war is to change it is a question which we have at the present writing yet to decide. We offer our readers some of the very latest and most accurate books of information on the subject of the Phil- ippines, Cuba and Porto Rico. We feel that it is too bad that we had not the money to buy more than we did for our library upon these topics of vital interest; these are the times when we are making history, and there are books which our citizens ought to have the opportunity to read and which we cannot buy. We believe that our mission is and our aim must be to provide books which can and will educate the reader, and we find that, like the enameled and sugar-coated tablets of medicine of today, the more the book disguises and conceals its educational purport the more popular it is. The photographic and half-tone illustrations of modern literature, while expensive, so enliven and make attract- ive its information that we wonder that the dry prose of fifty years ago was read at all generally.
We have added a number of works on art, science, sociology, biography, history, travel and geography, but they are all too few, because books of permanent value on these subjects are costly and the majority of the library's patrons must and will have fiction or nothing. This taste must not, however, be put aside as all wrong. The best works of fiction are potent, vital factors in the acquirement of an education. One cannot read them with- out learning something on the great topics above mentioned. We are not buying what we ought nor adding what the town owes its citizens, nor can we until reading men are alive to the act that Wakefield is doing about one-half as much for its public
129
. Rbrary as other towns of our size are. Our librarian's report shows that we have issued nearly twice as many cards as we did the year before, and our circulation has increased by some 3000 books. This is certainly a handsome showing.
BEQUEST.
That good friend to and life-long worker in the cause of edu- cation, Mr. Franklin Poole, during the past year left in his will a bequest of $500 to the library, which will be paid as soon as the town votes to accept it. We hope his example will be emulated. The trustees have voted to procure and hang in the library a picture of its generous friend.
APPROPRIATIONS.
The trustees again urge that they cannot do justice to the wants of the readers upon the amount hitherto appropriated and, as last year, are unanimous in recommending for the library an appropriation of $500 and the proceeds of the 1898 dog tax. For the Public Reading Room they recommend $175 be appro- priated.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.