USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Wakefield > Town annual report of the officers of Wakefield Massachusetts : including the vital statistics for the year 1900-1902 > Part 27
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700
66
Lincoln street, to C. Latimer's stable
I50
Chestnut avenue, from Prospect street to G. M. Tomp- son's residence
1,224 66
Main street, from Pratt street to fair grounds 1,500
Greenwood and Francis avenue, from Oak street to A.
M. Stewart's residence . 1,248
In addition to these extensions, a number of new consumers have been added to the present lines, requiring new service wires, meters, and in some places, transformers.
There has been used in the electric plant 794 tons of steam coal and 29 tons of coal screenings. A saving of 50 tons of coal has been made and at the same time the arc lamps were run twelve nights or 115 hours longer than last year.
216
The electric sales show a gain this year of $355.04, last year they were $59.36 less than the previous year.
Electric consumers Jan. 31, 1899
I2I
66 added during year
50
discontinued during year 38
66
66 Jan. 31, 1900 I33
66 meters in use Jan 31, 1899.
109
66 66 added during year
49
66
removed " 66
35
66 66
changed "
I3
66
66 in use Jan. 31, 1900
123
66
66 gain during year
I4
incandescent lamps wired Jan. 31, 1899
2,858
66 66 added during year .
810
66 66 disconnected during year
45 1
66 66 " wired Jan. 31, 1900 3,218
66
66
66 gain during year 359
The gas sales in Wakefield show a gain of 683,000 cu. feet. The gas sales in Reading show a gain of 26,000 cu. feet.
Gas manufactured during year . 8,736,000 feet.
" accounted for
7,325,000 feet.
" unaccounted for " 66 1,411,000 feet. showing a leakage loss of 16.11 per cent.
This loss is higher than usual owing to the extensions of gas mains and services.
The candle power of the gas has been maintained as formerly. The state inspector reports : Highest candle power 20.0, and lowest 18.8, average 19.40.
We used 897 tons of gas coal.
The gas mains were extended during the year as follows :
Feet.
Nahant street, east from Main .
550
Size. 3 inch. 66
Bennett 66 66 66
.
335
Summer "
66
1041 .
66 66
Birch Hill avenue, south from Summer .
15
Charles street, east from Main .
.
360
66 66
Main street, south to No. 623 . . .
72.6 6
66
217
-
Feet.
Size.
Park street, east from Main to No. 30,
370
3 inch.
Pearl street, east from Main to No. 9
276
..
66
Pearl street, west from Pleasant to No. 26
.
230
Eaton street, east from Crescent to Pleasant
580
66
66
Pleasant street, north from Eaton to No. 56
900
66
66
Pleasant street, Salem to Lawrence .
486
66
66
Salem street, east from Main to No. 12
54
66
66
Emerson street, south from W. Chestnut to No 20
188
66
Wave avenue, east from Main to No. 12 .
300
I
66
Walnut street, south from W. Chestnut to No. 5
193
I
66
5,950 6
In addition to this 8 1 new gas services were laid amounting to
3608
I 66
Making a total of pipe laid
9558 6
Gas consumers Jan. 31, 1899
263
66
Jan. 31, 1900
331
66
gained during year
68
meters in use Jan. 31, 1899
307
66
66 set during year
IIO
66
66 removed during year
41
in use Jan. 31, 1900
376
66
66 gain ·
69
66
Sixty-three gas stoves were added to our mains last year.
218
ELECTRIC.
RECEIPTS.
From sale of electricity . $4,836 08
sale of steam to gas dept.
600 00
sale of incandescent lamps
185 27
inventory 66
88 14
sales-electric jobbing
309 92
inventory " 66
13 50
$6,032 91
EXPENSES.
Steam coal
. $2,870 30
Screenings
58 66
Carbons .
243 92
Oil and waste
94 66
Globes .
65 72
Repairs, steam plant
177 20
66 electric plant
21 50
66
arc lamps
252 38
66 electric lines
160 66 .
66 real estate .
163 46
66 transformers and meters
III 63
Tools and appliances
123 48
Incidentals
7 03
General salaries
1,161 45
Station wages .
. 2,567 03
Distribution wages
170 58
Care of arc lamps
667 82
" " grounds
33 81
Stable expense
449 55
General office expense
121 08
Insurance
140 72
Incandescent lamps .
250 19
Jobbing
265 00
Bad debts
I 88
Leaving a loss in the operating account of
$10,179 71 4,146 80
219
To which is to be added the following items :
Commissioners' salaries
$125 00
*Interest on bonds . 3,340 00
*Depreciation, 5 per cent.
3,669 01
Leaving as a total cost of street lighting $11,280 81
Following is the cost per arc lamp for the year ending January 31, 1900 :
Manufacturing, including commissioners'
salaries .
$29 46
Interest on bonds
23 03
Depreciation, 5 per cent. .
25 30
$77 79
GAS.
RECEIPTS.
For gas sold by meter
$13,980 45
Less discounts .
1,328 73
-$12,651 72
From sales of coke .
1,376 21
sales of tar
600 35
inventory of tar
508 00
sales-gas, jobbing
763 II
inventory gas jobbing
184 19
$16,083 58
EXPENSES.
Coal
. $3,666 82
Steam from electric department
600 00
Gas oil
47 69
Purifying .
35 16
Repairs gas mains
74 07
" meters
I 75
66
at works
80 38
benches
225 09
66
real estate
235 37
·
*Interest and depreciation, here stated, are the same per cent. of total interest and depreciation as electric plant is of the total com- bined plant, as shown by the books.
220
Tools and appliances
$132 66
Advertising
. 85 62
Incidentals
13 21
General salaries
. 1,161 89
Station wages .
1,762 97
Distribution wages
247 07
Care of grounds
33 81
Stable expense
224 78
General office expense
121 09 .
Insurance
140 72
Jobbing
998 75
Coke
177 20
Tar .
342 00
Bad debts
5 60
$10,413 70
Leaving a profit of . .
$5,669 88
We have charged :
Commissioners' salaries
$125 00
*Interest on bonds .
3,340 00
*Depreciation at 5 per cent.
3,619 03
Making a total of .
$7,084 03
From which should be deducted,
Profit on operations
5,669 88
$1,414 15
Following is the cost of gas per thousand cubic feet at the con- sumer's meter :
Manufacturing, including commissioners'
salaries
$0 96
Interest
.
0 46
Depreciation
0 49
$1 91
.
·
.
.
*Interest and depreciation, here stated, are the same per cent. of total interest and depreciation, as gas plant is of the total combined plant, as shown by the books.
221
OIL LIGHTS. EXPENSES.
Inventory, Jan. 31, 1899 .
$II IO
Labor
94 9I
Stable expense
224 77
Kerosene oil
57 07
Chimneys
IO 75
Burners
I 35
Matches
I OO
Wicks
60
$401 55
CREDITS.
Kerosene oil sold
$22 03
66
" transferred to other depts.
3 65
Inventory Jan. 31, 1900 .
17 67
$43 35
Leaving as a total cost for oil lights .
$358 20
ASSETS.
Real estate, gas
$13,816 78
Machinery and manufacturing appliances, gas
30,005 17
Gas mains
22,905 78
Gas meters and connections
3,286 24
Tools, gas-inventory-
460 55
Real estate, electrics
13,399 91
Steam plant
16,281 96
Electric plant
12,023 81
Electric lines
20,302 84
Arc lamps
3,510 69
Transformers
2,831 OI
Electric meters .
1,867 08
Tools, electric,
inventory
539 17
Office furniture and fixtures
227 30
Horses and wagons
66
406 50
Gas coal 66
811 58
Gas oil
5 50
Gas stoves
10 00
Tar
66
508 00
.
222
Jobbing material, gas
inventory
$149 54
Steam coal
23 29
Screenings
66
19 40
Carbons
66
88 37
Oil and waste
66
5 85
Globes
66
12 00
Incandescent lamps
66
88 14
Jobbing material, electric
66
:13 50
Other material, electric
66
·II2 88
Oil lights, material
..
17 67
Insurance unexpired
66
355 19
Due from electric consumers
1,132 34
Due from gas consumers
2,305 88
Other accounts due .
295 31
Cash on hand as follows :
At town treasury
Balance general appropriation .
$3,234 82
66 extension gas mains appropriation 49 88
66
electric lines 78 51
66 from bonds not yet appropriated
213 15
Cash at works .
352 72
3,929 08
To balance
39,911 89
$191,660 20
LIABILITIES.
Bonds outstanding
$165,000 00
Interest accrued, not yet due
2,200 00
Guarantee deposits .
2IO 20
* Appropriation for bond payments
15,000 00
*Appropriation for gas main extensions
6,750 00
*Appropriation for electric line extensions
2,500 00
.
$191,660 20
*While the above appropriation accounts are not strictly liabilities in the ordinary acceptation of the term, they belong in any proper sys- tem of accounting upon the same side of the ledger as bonds out- standing and are for convenience grouped with them under the same designation.
223
GENERAL ACCOUNT.
RECEIPTS.
Balance unexpended Feb. 1, 1899
.
$2,975 58
$2,975 58
Income and receipts as turned over to town treasurer, as follows :
Received from sale of gas . $12,013 70
sale of electricity
4,394 46
miscellaneous sales, .
3,027 45
Insurance, returned premiums received
180 00
$19,615 61
$22,591 19
EXPENDITURES.
ELECTRIC.
Real estate
$7 00
Steam plant
18 42
Tools
154 36
Incandescent lamps
164 74
Jobbing .
265 00
Steam coal
.
2,194 12
Carbons .
165 46
Oil and waste
63 84
Globes .
74 72
Repairs steam plant
155 27
" arc lamps
22I 26
66 electric lines
I66 14
real estate
163 46
Screenings
62 10
General salaries
. 1,161 45
Station wages .
· 2,567 03
Care of arc lights
667 82
Distribution wages
170 58
Repairs transformers and meters
III 63
Incidentals
7 03
$8,576 49
electric plant
15 06
224
GAS.
Real estate
$13 76
Tools
139 95
Gas stoves
8 42
Jobbing
895 00
Gas coal .
3,843 07
Gas oil
48 69
Purifying .
35 16
Repairs gas mains
98 78
66
gas meters
I 75
66
at works
77 68
benches
220 27
real estate
235 37
General salaries
1,161 89
Station wages .
. 1,762 97
Distribution wages
229 07
Coke, teaming
79 70
Tar
67 10
Advertising
86 62
Lime .
5 70
Incidentals
7 02
$9,017 97
MISCELLANEOUS.
Office furniture and fixtures
$10 65
Horses and wagons .
268 09
Care of grounds
67 62
Stable expense
328 52
Hay and grain
243 52
General office expenses
23 04
Postage and envelopes
92 88
Printing and stationery
79 50
Insurance
429 06
Oil lights
165 68
Telephone
38 35
Guarantee deposits returned
15 00
$1,761 91
Total expenditures
$19,356 37 Leaving balance unexpended Feb. 1, 1900
3,234 82
$22,591 19
225
APPROPRIATION EXTENSION GAS MAINS ACCOUNT.
Balance unexpended Feb. 1, 1899 · $612 13
Appropriation Nov. 13, 1899 · . 1,750 00
$2,362 13
Expended as follows :
Gas mains
. $1,928 0I
Gas meters
· 384 24
$2,312 25
Leaving balance unexpended Feb. 1, 1900
.
$49 88
APPROPRIATION EXTENSION ELECTRIC LINES ACCOUNT.
Appropriation March 20, 1899 . . $1,000 00
Turned over to town treasurer . 6 00
--
$1,006 00
Expended as follows :
Amount overdrawn Feb. 1, 1899
$144 58 .
Electric lines
594 4I
Electric meters
I33 90
Arc lamps
54 60
$927 49
Leaving balance unexpended Feb. 1, 1900 $78 51
APPROPRIATION COMMISSIONERS' SALARIES.
Appropriation .
$250 00
Paid commissioners
250 00
226
RECAPITULATION OF EXPENDITURES.
General appropriation account . $19,356 37
Appropriation extension gas mains account
2,312 25
66 electric lines account 782 91
$22,451 53
Expended as follows :
C. H. Spencer, lumber $29 82
Standard Carbon Co., carbons .
145 28
Standard Thermometer & Electric Co., arc lamps
116 10
George H. Taylor, hardware
95 93
D. W. Hunt, teaming
3 00
George H. Hathaway, harness repairs
18 40
Cutler Bros., hay, grain, etc.
89 74
Waldo Bros., bench repairs, cement, etc.
247 66
Giles & Tupper, blacksmithing .
45 80
J. M. Perley, hay, screenings, etc. 104 33
New England Tel. & Tel. Co., telephone service
38 35
McIntosh Bros., wagon repairs, etc. .
24 04
F. W. Pierce, expressing
14 05
Liberty Oil Co., oil .
123 22
General Electric Co., electric supplies
122 39
Buckeye Electric Co., incandescent lamps
128 00
Francis Doane & Co., stationery
5 88
Braman, Dow & Co., pipe and fittings
51 26
Am. Gas Light Journal, journal .
3 00
M. P. Foster, printing and stationery
21 43
Boston & Maine R. R. Co., freight
1,390 81
J. M. Curley, hay, grain, etc.
93 17
Anchor Elec. Co., electric supplies
79 93
Philadelphia Elec. & Mfg. Co., clutches
67 61
M. T. Davidson, pump supplies
5 20
John Flanley, burlap, etc. .
8 90
Davis & Farnum Mfg. Co., cast iron pipe and fittings
50 55
Wakefield Water Co., hydrant service
35 00
John Power, bungs .
I 46
C. F. Hartshorne & Son, insurance
152 56
George E. Smith, carpentering .
14 64
A. W. Brownell, printing and stationery
54 IO
227
A. B. Woodman, horse-shoeing . $37 00
66 61
E. I. Purrington, machinist's work Nath'l Tufts Meter Co., gas meters Simplex Elec. Co., wire .
311 65
C. S. Knowles, electric supplies 16 34
S. M. Spencer & Son, rubber stamps, etc. . 4 92
Fort Wayne Elec. Co., electric meters
89 40
Stanley Elec. Mfg. Co., transformers .
148 II
Chandler, Farquhar & Co., tools
12 12
Walworth Mfg. Co., pipe fittings, etc.
14 34
F. E. Fitz Mfg. & Supply Co., steam supplies
56 80
Keystone Meter Co., gas meters
60 90
Washington Carbon Co., carbons
8 75
Goldmark & Wallace, copper dynamo brushes
5 80
Merritt Stevens, carpentering
80 82
E. A. Hallett, reward 10 00
Standard Chemical Co., washing powder
2 68
O. C. Little Pulley Coating Co., pulley coating .
3 00
J. J. Murray & Co., arc lamp globes .
51 02
Sterling Varnish Co., varnish
I 85
Frank S. Pratt, steam coal
251 77
James L. Russell, tape
I 50
Westmoreland Coal Co., gas coal 104 05
Heywood Bros. & Wakefield Co., machinist, labor, etc 20 50
William Tidd & Co., barrels 15 20
Shaffer & Budenberg, stationery
2 25
F. H. Odiorne & Co., gas coal .
2,740 58
Malden & Melrose Gas Light Co., gas coal
38 79
George W. Killorin, teaming
39 00
Mansfield & Cheney, steam coal
208 89
Jandus Elec. Co., arc lamps
22 80
Poulsen & Co., clutches
991
The Fairbanks Co., repairs of scales .
56 68
Wm. M. Crane & Co., advertising matter
16 30
Mineralized Rubber Co., packing
I 63
H. C. Howes, tools .
5 00
C. H. Sprague & Son, steam coal
1,293 44
R. D. Wood & Co., cast iron pipe and fittings
697 30
18 00
George Cutter Co., pulleys
259 20
228
S. B. Dearborn, envelopes and postage stamps . ·
$84 80
C. Doyle, loam
. 7 00
F. K. Black, paint, etc. 5 29
S. F. Littlefield & Co., hardware
63 53
Roebling Sons Co., wire rope .
40 68
Garlock Packing Co., steam packing .
18 00
D. & W. Fuse Co., junction boxes
6 24
Wakefield Daily Item, advertising
52 79
Bibber, White Co., telephones, etc. .
32 59
Walworth Cons. & Supply Co., pipe fittings
385 95
Swett & Lewis Co., battery and lamp
3 50
Pettingell, Andrews & Co., electric supplies Charles W. Sunman, slate roof repairs
40 33
J. B. Wiley, mason work .
15 4I
S. T. Parker, plants, etc. .
12 15
W. S. Greenough & Co., stationery
II 70
L. H. Kirk, grain
35 45
Eagle Oil & Supply Co., tools
14 35
Lead Lined Iron Pipe Co., pipe
25 39
The Phillips Co., gauge cocks .
3 00
Smith & Anthony Co., iron borings
7 59
Waterproof Paint Co., paint
II IO
Andrew J. Perham, horse .
60 00
Henry K. Barnes, tools
9 10
Combination Harness Co., harness
18 50
R. J. Lawder, electric wiring
25 75
A. W. Chesterton & Co., steam supplies
8 13
L. W. Ferdinand & Co., floor brushes
I 50
Carter, Carter & Meigs, chemicals
6 50
Jenkins Bros., valves, etc. .
4 80
H. A. Simonds, testing scales
3 47
United Elec. Imp. Co., incandescent lamps
31 35
Hugh Morgan, mason work
I 60
R. & J. Farquhar & Co., plant bulbs
5 88
Geo. H. Allen, veterinary .
2 00
Wakefield Lumber Co., lumber .
7 20
Locke & Howland, lumber
15 5I
. J. Laybolt, hardware
24 47
C. W. Trainer Mfg. Co., pipe covering
22 16
29 41
229
Rufus Kendrick, fire pails
$ I 50
Cotton & Woollen Mfg. Mut. Insurance Co., insurance 240 00
C. Latimer, expressing
2 35
Municipal Engineering, magazine
2 00
McKenney & Waterbury, desk lamp .
2 50
H. W. Johns Mfg. Co., tools, etc.
8 77
S. Thaxter & Son, tools, etc.
3 75
Pass & Seymour, junction boxes
613
J. J. Cameron, harness repairs .
5 75
Siemens & Halske Elec. Co., electric meters
13 65
Ira Atkinson, grain .
18 75
Rufus C. North, horse shoeing .
3 00
Morrison & Stoddard, carpentering
50
Morss & Whyte, wire gauze
25
John Miniken, blacksmithing and wagon repairs
107 75
Burton Oil Co., harness dressing
I 00
W. Kendall, pung
21 00
A. H. Thayer, stationery .
1 15
S. E. Ryder, mercury, etc.
I 00
Thomas Groom & Co., stationery
I 15
George M. Kelley, horse shoeing
I 50
W. A. Cutter, oil
I 08
Petty cash, postage, envelopes, freight and expressing
138 40
$11,903 61
PAY ROLL.
Charles E. White, manager
$1,425 82
Fred A. Swain, clerk
897 52
W. E. Oakes, engineer
165 00
Patrick McLaughlin, gas foreman
1,092 00
Fred N. Lord, trimmer
739 00
W. E. Weare, electrician and lineman
210 00
Daniel Maher, stoker
728 00
Patrick Desmond, stoker .
728 00
Julius Simon, electrician and lineman
859 25
James Griffin, general helper
728 00
Byron W. Foster, engineer
813 00
Paul E. Lane, trimmer
42 00
Louis F. Low
10 00
230
C. L. Jones, engineer
$18 00
Charles Walter lineman
37 72
C. P. H. Lattemoor, engineer
21 00
Frank McGlory, laborer
60
Daniel J. Donovan,
66
8 44
Samuel Harrie,
66
8 00
Wm. Curran,
66
75 92
Michael Curran,
66
I 22
Arthur Johnson
66
2 00
John McNally,
7 62
Thomas Donovan
66
4 00
Gilbert A. Berry,
66
40 7I
Timothy Sliney,
66
69 26
Martin Glynn,
66
99 45
Thomas Conley,
66
219 28
James Regan,
66
59 03
Patrick Regan
60 80
Patrick Keife,
66
160 14
Patrick Welsh,
66
52 49
Michael Welsh,
66
6 II
John Sliney,
66
54 20
Wm. Sweeney,
7 00
Patrick Sexton
66
2 60
John Burbine,
66
2 49
William Barry,
IO II
George Lemanders
66
IO II
Harrie Hubbard
66
I 78
Thomas Landers
66
89
John Watts,
52 14
Patrick Murphy,
66
7 33
Joseph Mills,
66
27 33
John Murphy,
66
17 16
Dennis Horgan,
66
16 27
Monday Malonson
66
15 16
John Yulter,
66
14 94
William Logan,
66
18 05
Dan Murphy
66
.
II I6
Michael Logan,
228 93
.
.
27 77
J. J. Cronin .
.
.
.
.
.
231
W. Landers,
laborer
$17 82
Geo. Manders
52 81
Joseph Chambers
TO 89
Fred Sullivan,
66
34 88
John Neiss,
66
40 48
James Doucet,
29 32
John Kane,
66
6 88
Tim Gleason,
66
4 05
M. Hurley,
66
36 77
John Deveau,
66
22 89
William Doucet,
66
89
Peter Hubbard,
66
I 33
Frank Doucet,
66
22 22
Albert Hawkes,
66
64 86
John Foley,
66
25 99
John O'Neil,
66
37 54
Thomas Flynn,
66
28 22
Albert Deveau,
10 00
Charles Hatch,
66
20 89
Fred Neiss,
66
20 89
James McLaughlin,
66
5 25
Mat Donohoe,
66
14 00
Patrick Hurton,
22 22
Joseph Muse,
22 22
W. Dagan,
66
I2 00
Henry Reed,
66
10 00
W. Lemanders,
66
6 00
Howard Hart,
66
6 22
W. de Roche,
66
8 43
Phil de Roche,
66
4 55
John Dulong,
66
2 00
Stephen Macullar,
5 44
John Murray,
4 66
Richard Bolton,
5 55
George H. Winn,
7 08
James Logan,
66
6 44
W. F. Lakin,
66
I 44
$10,547 92
232
LIST OF UNPAID BILLS JANUARY 31, 1900.
Boston & Maine R. R. Co.
$32 79
Cling Surface Mfg. Co.
7 5℃
Giles & Tupper
2 00
Morrill & Atwood
15 86
New Eng. Tel. & Tel. Co.
12 35
J. M. Perley
14 35
C. H. Sprague & Son
I33 30
Standard Carbon Co.
93 25
Geo. H. Taylor
I 18
United States Carbon Co.
9 97
J. B. Wiley
2 00
A. B. Woodman
3 50
$328 05
Feb. 21, 1900.
CHARLES E. WHITE, Manager.
ANNUAL REPORT
-OF THE- -
SCHOOL COMMITTEE
-- OF THE
TOWN OF WAKEFIELD.
: FOR THE-
YEAR ENDING JAN. 31, 1900.
SCHOOL COMMITTEE FOR 1899-1900.
Ashton H. Thayer, Chairman, Greenwood, Term expires 1901
Mrs. Ida F. Carlisle, Sec'y, 9 Summit Ave.,
66
66
I90I
William B. Daniel, 9 Pearl Street, 66
66 1900
Melvin J. Hill, West Chestnut Street,
66 1900
G. H. S. Driver, 290 Main Street,
66
66 1902
Eden K. Bowser, 3-A Avon Street,
66 6 1902
SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS. U. G. Wheeler, 27 Yale Ave.
2
ORGANIZATION OF THE BOARD.
ASHTON H. THAYER, MRS. IDA F. CARLISLE,
WM. B. DANIEL, .
.
Chairman
· Secretary
Treasurer
SUB-COMMITTEES.
RULES AND REGULATIONS.
A. H. THAYER, WM. B. DANIEL, G. H. S. DRIVER.
COURSE OF STUDY.
M. J. HILL, EDEN K. BOWSER, A. H. THAYER.
TEACHERS AND SALARIES.
A. H. THAYER, M. J. HILL, MRS. CARLISLE.
TEXT BOOKS AND SUPPLIES.
MRS. CARLISLE, M. J. HILL, WM. B. DANIEL.
MUSIC, DRAWING AND CALISTHENICS.
MRS. CARLISLE, WV. B. DANIEL, E. K. BOWSER.
PUBLIC PROPERTY.
W. B. DANIEL, G. H. S. DRIVER, E. K. BOWSER.
FINANCE AND ACCOUNTS. M. J. HILL, G. H. S. DRIVER.
W. B. DANIEL,
TRUANT OFFICER. H. A. SIMONDS.
SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS. U. G. WHEELER.
OFFICE HOURS.
Mondays from 7 to 8 p. m. Other school days, 4 to 5 p. m. from November to April, and 4.30 to 5.30 p. m. the rest of the year. School Committee Rooms, Flanley Block.
MEETINGS OF SCHOOL COMMITTEE.
Third Friday evening of each month at 7.45 p. m., at School Committee Rooms.
SCHOOL COMMITTEE'S REPORT.
Another year has passed and the school committee herewith present their annual report of the " condition and needs of the public schools."
The steady growth of our schools makes constantly changing con- ditions as well as needs. Changes, perhaps not so noticeable to the average citizen as to those whose duty it is to look after the welfare of the town's children, and who, in doing this realize fully that growth means expense, and expense means increased appropri- ations from year to year.
The growth of the public schools and the public school system has kept pace and even distanced other lines of progress in the last century. From the simple study of the historic three r's,- reading, riteing and rithmetic-the course of study has come to in- clude manual training, sewing, drawing and, in many places paint- ing, modeling, cooking, &c.
It is questioned by some whether these studies are essential or even practical in connection with the public schools, and it is charged by others that more is attempted than can be thoroughly done ; that the work is too hard, etc. It seems hardly reasonable to question the practicability of boys knowing how to use ordinary hand tools or of girls knowing how to sew and cook. Of course these studies require time, but that school work by itself, is too severe for the ordinary child, is questionable, but, taken in connec- tion with other so called duties (duties of pleasure), we admit that this, supplemented by the school work is hard, but which shall be the dominant factor, study or play? " All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy " 'tis true, but where would the reverse of this land him ?
No one questions the necessity of a certain amount of recreation,
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but if parties, clubs and the various other social functions are to be of greater importance than, or allowed to interfere with, school work, where is the fault, in the school system or in the home system? To be perfect or to approach perfection, means constant drill and hard work, for months and years. The frequent criticisms by magazine articles and otherwise, fail to touch upon this phase of over work, but attribute all the trouble to the schools. Is it not a fact that most of the complaints come from those homes where the boys and girls are most burdened with home duties in the form of social pleasures? It is the duty of educators as well as parents to train boys and girls to be healthy, broad-minded men and women, and a failure to do this means that there is a fault somewhere, pos- sibly in the school system, possibly in the home.
No thinking person questions the necessity of at least a fair amount of learning for all, neither will any reasonable person deny the desirability of at least a moderate amount of recreation, to blend these two ; to train a child in the way he or she should go, requires more than the slight supervision which it is possible for a school committee to give, therefore the superintendent has become a fac- tor in school matters which few towns to-day care to do without. Schools can in a way be run without such supervision, especially in small towns, but still, even then, the results are not so satisfactory as can be obtained by skilled supervision. In saying this we do not forget that the schools of this country were born, lived and flourished for years under the superintendence of school committees only, and we believe the school board still essential to the continued success of the public school system, especially if it be kept free from that curse of so many systems-politics. School boards, composed as they are, of men and women of various tastes and dispositions, are inclined to be conservative and matter of fact; they are not as a body idealists ; they want results ; results at as reasonable a cost as possible but they haven't the time to attend properly to the innum- erable details which are required to obtain those results, hence the need of a superintendent.
The superintendent of to-day is one who is specially fitted by education and training, for his work, and the broader his mind and the more liberal his education the more successful will he be in his specialty.
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Superintendents, as a class, are a body of men-and women, for there are a number of such-with whom it is a pleasure to meet ; men who, largely, have worked their way to the front from the va- rious conditions and occupations, and the influence of such must leave its mark in the work and efficiency of the schools.
Six years ago, after many years of supervision by· school boards, and by request of the committee, the town voted to employ a super- intendent of schools. After careful investigation and acting in con- junction with the school committee of Reading, Mr. Chas. E. Hussey, by unanimous vote of the joint committee, was chosen superintendent for the two towns, in which capacity he served efficiently until last July, when, much to the regret of his friends, including the large corps of teachers who had served under him, he tendered his resignation, to take effect in September. The selec- tion of a new superintendent was at once entered upon by the com- mittee and from among the numerous applicants, Mr. U. G. Wheeler of West Springfield was chosen for the position. Mr. Wheeler's fitting for the work, given in brief is as follows : a farmer boy ; a college graduate and a successful teacher, and, so far as we have been able to learn, an efficient superintendent.
SCHOOLS.
If numbers count for anything, our schools are in a flourishing condition. Some are over-run, especially in the primary grades. The schools have suffered this past year more than usual by sickness among the teachers or their immediate connection, and in one case the " Reaper " in passing touched one of the " flowers " by the way, and in one short week, she had laid down the work which she loved and for which she was so well fitted, answered the summons, and gone to her long rest.
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