USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Wakefield > Town annual report of the officers of Wakefield Massachusetts : including the vital statistics for the year 1913-1916 > Part 8
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The circulation for 1913 was 54,728, which is the largest ever recorded.
The set of books for very young children has been amplified somewhat this year and the circulation continues to be excellent. It is hoped that something can be done on this line every year.
With the books for non-English speaking people we have not done so much as could be wished. Their needs are difficult to
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learn. However, certain text books of the lower grades donated by the Superintendent of Schools have found some favor with them. Curiously enough, many children find these text books interesting also.
In March, the library received a gift of about 200 books from Mr. George L. Wakefield. These books belonged to the first Cyrus Wakefield, to his wife, to Cyrus Wakefield, 2nd, and to Mr. George WakefieldI himself. The major part of these volumes covers a range of subjects as diverse as history, biography, literature, travel and poetry. There are besides several sumptu- ously bound volumes of subscription works, which the library never would have except in this way. A portfolio of Shakes- perian engravings is included in the lot and they have much artistic worth as well as a considerable value from a pecuniary point of view. While a large number of the presented books had to be used in replacing worn out volumes already listed in the catalogue, a certain number was added as new books and a sepa- rate list of them published in the JJuly bulletin
The Trustees have granted to the Kosmos Club the privilege of using the Reading Room on certain Saturday mornings next year for the purpose of Story Telling to Children. In other places this is regularly done as a part of the library work.
The Trustees have so often called attention to the inadequate quarters of the present library that every citizen should now be aware of it. As time goes on the trouble becomes more aggra- vated. Each year space must be made for the new books. The older books must be gone over, those thought least desirable culled out and stored away in the attic. Then the books remain- ing must be rearranged, books with different shelf numbers con- solidated on one shelf, the most wanted books being placed on accessible shelves ; the others elsewhere. The books that have been stored away are liable to be called for so long as the old print d catalogue remains in existence. Recataloguing the books in modern style and disposing of worthless volumes would help. There are two objections to this plan, the practical one of cost, and the sentimental one. No book lover would destroy an old book.
On Oct. 1, the scheme of new registration was begun. This
-- ---------
134
scheme is intended to show the actual number of persons using the library. Hereafter each card will be dated as issued and will be good for a period of five years. It will then expire and the holder must reregister and have a new card issued. Up to Dec. 31,. there were 1391 registrations at the Main Library and 386 at the Greenwood Branch. It is probable that the total number of borrowers is from 2200 to 2500.
The present Reading Room fulfills a number of functions. In a larger library it would be subdivided into four distinct rooms, a newspaper room, a magazine room, a children's room and a room where books of reference might be consulted and research work conducted with books taken from the library. Our Reading Room serves well as a newspaper and magazine room. It is used by persons consulting reference books from the library but no room where magazines and newspapers are in constant use can
be called an ideal place for study. Besides this, it is entirely unsuitable as a children's room and some other place should be provided for the children. This children's room need not be near the present Reading Room nor even in the same building but the need for it increases each year.
Although an increased appropriation would allow the Trustees greater latitude in arranging the program for the library for the coming year, they feel that by exercising due care the same appropriation as last year can be made to do the work. In the Reading Room, however, larger expenditures will be necessary, owing to increased prices on magazines, new furniture and fittings, together with necessary repairs.
A larger catalogue case for fiction cards is needed in the delivery room. The drawers in the present case are too well filled, consequently so heavy that they are often dropped on the floor. The result may be imagined.
The arrangement for newspaper files in the Reading Room is faulty from wear. New ones, of an improved pattern, and possibly of metal, should be installed.
Some new chairs are needed in the Reading Room and a num- ber of the old chairs must be repaired. Chairs in the library need similar attention.
Every year there are more books to be bound or rebourd. In
135
1912 there were 746 volumes bound, in 1913 only 414, a large number being held back that the appropriation might not be exceeded. As the binding is an increasing expense it might well be relieved by increased appropriation.
More books should be placed at the Greenwood Branch. The number purchased for Greenwood is small and about 100 per week are sent from the main library. To relieve this draft more books should be purchased for the main library also.
The receipts and expenditures of the past year are as follows :
LIBRARY
Appropriation
$1,120 14
Income from dog tax .
934 20
Income from trust funds
280 20
Income from fines, etc , including Branch
200 63
$2,535 17
SALARIES
Librarian .
$641 60
Assistants .
351 75
$993 35
BOOKS
New .
$374 24
Replaced
99 01
Duplicate .
37 96
Binding and rebinding
147 17
Miscellaneous
31 55
689 93
Printing
119 25
Express
11 40
Incidentals
152 46
Lighting
271 34
GREENWOOD BRANCH
Librarian
$132 90
Assistant .
51 49
Janitor .
. 30 33
136
Express
25 25
Miscellaneous
7 00
246 97
Librarians' sundries
49 69
2,534 39
Balance unexpended
$ 78
READING ROOM
Appropriation
$274 17
SALARIES
Daily attendant .
$ 60 00
Sunday attendant
.
39 00
Magazines and newspapers
138 05
Magazine covers .
14 40
Indexes and books
19 97
Incidentals .
2 75
$274 17
For the ensuing year the Trustees recommend for the Library the appropriation of $2050, including the dog tax, and for the Reading Room $300.
The Board of Trustees wishes to commend the working force of the Library and Reading Room. The force never was more harmonious and mutually helpful than today. The Librarian is untiring in her zeal for the improvement of the Library, is a member of the Massachusetts Library Club, buys all the books, and brings all the latest ideas from the Massachusetts Library Commission.
Respectfully submitted,
W. S. RIPLEY, JR.,
For the Trustees.
January 5, 1914. .
137
LIBRARIAN'S REPORT
Number of volumes Jan. 1, 1913
18,222
Added by purchase 343 .
Added by purchase to replace worn out volumes .
137
Added by gift to replace worn out volumes
13
Added by donation .
212
Magazines bound .
19
Volumes added to the Greenwood Branch :
By purchase
21
To replace worn out
9
By donation
25
Magazines bound
2
--
57
Volumes worn out
19
Volumes worn out
306
Total number of volumes, Jan, 1, 1914
18,678
Number of volumes rebound, Main library . 355
Number of volumes rebound, Greenwood . .
38
393
New names registered, Main library
452
New names registered, Greenwood . 93
545
Books and magazines circulated for home use :
Main library
42,927
Greenwood
11,801
Total circulation
54,728
.
38
18,984
138
Days open for circulation, Main library
304
Average daily circulation
141.2
Days open for circulation, Greenwood
150
Average daily circulation
78.6
New registration begun Oct. 1, 1913.
Total number of cards registered to Jan. 1, 1914, in- cluding new registrations, Main library 1,391
Total number of cards registered to Jan. 1, 1914, in- cluding new registrations, Greenwood 386
Books used for reference, Main library 2,526
Postals used for waiting list, Main library 499
Postals used for waiting list, Greenwood .
121
Donations Books
Carnegie endowment for interna-
tional peace. Year book. 1912 . 1
Dolbeare, H. M. ·
3
Doubleday, Page & Co ·
1
Hamilton. Samuel K. ·
2
Lee, H. Gertrude .
.
3
Massachusetts, Commonwealth of .
16
Massachusetts, Commonwealth .of (pamphlets )
6
Massachusetts Commandery Loyal Legion of the U. S.
1
Massachusetts Commandery Loyal Legion of the U. S. (pamphlet) . 1
Morris, Miss A.
·
1
National Child Labor Committee
(pamphlet ) 1
Poland, George M. .
1
Putnam's Sons, G. P.
.
1
Raymond, George L. 1
San Diego, Chamber of Commerce 1
Supt. of Schools, Office of 35
'Thompson, Slason . .
2
United States government ·
15
W. S. Ripley, Jr. . 3
139
Donations Books
W. S. Ripley, Jr. (pamphlet ) 1
Wakefield, George L. . 130
Magazines Donated
French, Mrs. G. R., Four Footed Friends.
Skinner, II. J., National Geographic Magazine.
Mass. Free Public Library Commission, A. L. A. Booklist. Publishers, Our Dumb Animals.
Brookline Public Library, quarterly list. Publishers, Evening Mail.
GREENWOOD BRANCH
Donations
Books
Batchelder, Calvin
1
Blanchard, Ethel .
1
Blanchard, Leon
2
Duffill, Perrins
5
Hartley, John
1
McKay, Rev. and Mrs. C. A. . 1
Pittman, Mrs. L. J.
.
6
Ripley, W. S , Jr.
4
Titus, Kirk .
1
Wakefield, George L.
.
3
Magazines Donated
Chesley, Mrs. Herbert, miscellaneous copies.
Hall, Mrs. C. B., Cosmopolitan, Harper's, National Geographic, Review of Reviews.
MacQuarrie, Mrs. Cora, miscellaneous copies.
Pittman, Mrs. L. J., miscellaneous copies.
Ripley, W. S., Jr., Cosmopolitan, Lippincott, Munsey, National Sportsman.
Seavey, Mrs. Alice P., miscellaneous copies.
· Stewart, Theodore, miscellaneous copies.
LIBRARY HOURS
Daily .
Saturdays
2-5, 7-8.30 p. m. . 2-9 p. m.
140
READING ROOM HOURS
Daily . 8-12 a. m., 1.30-5, 7-9 p. m.
Sundays
. 2-5 p. m.
GREENWOOD HOURS
Mondays and Thursdays . 3-5 p. m.
Saturdays 6.30-8.30 p. m.
H. GERTRUDE LEE,
Librarian.
WAKEFIELD MASS., Jan. 1, 1914.
BEEBE TOWN LIBRARY
Income from Jan. 1 to Dec. 31, 1913
Appropriation authorized
$1,120 14
Dog tax, 1912
934 20
Income, F. P. Hurd fund
100 00
66 C. Wakefield fund
20 00
66 Flint Memorial fund 40 00
20 00
66 C. G. Beebe fund
80 00
66 M. W. Gove fund
20 20
H. Gertrude Lee, sundry incomes
178 03
I. F. Studley, sundry incomes, Green- wood
22 60
$2,535 17
Expenditures from Jan. 1 to Dec. 31, 1913
H. Gertrude Lee, Librarian to Dec. 31, 1913 $641 60
·
Emma L. Campbell, Ass't Librarian 211 66
Idabelle F. Studley, Ass't Librarian ·
177 24
Katherine Madden, attendant 78 32
Cora MacQuarrie, attendant .
47 97
Olive Eaton, extra attendant . ·
3 52
Hildur L. Carlson, extra attendant
10 73
Franklin Poole fund .
141
Alvin W. Gordon, extra attendant . 6 70
J. H. Ringer, janitor, Greenwood . 31 33.
De Wolfe & Fiske Co., books
283 73
W. B. Clarke Co., books
158 87
J. L. Hammett Co., books
5 04
Pilgrim Press, books
3 34
HI. R. Huntting Co., books
5 30
J. H. Jansen, book
1 00
N. J. Bartlett & Co., book
2 25
R. H. Hinkley Co., books
35 64
Old Corner Book Store, books
16 04
H. W. Wilson Co , indexes
8 33
Michelson Bros., binding
147 17
Mass. Society of Mayflower Descendants, magazine ·
3 00
Charles F. Mansfield, magazines for Li- brary and Greenwood 20 22
Falcon Press, printing 36 00
Daily Item, printing 83 25
H. S. Parker, labor and material 3 85
Gaylord Bros., book pockets and supplies, 29 91
A. B. Comins, express . 10 65 .
P. Corbett, express, Greenwood 12 5) .
C. Latimer, express, Greenwood 13 50
G. H. Taylor, repairs and sundries 3 44
Lucas Bros., repairs
150
J. B. Hunter & Co., ladder anl fixture ;
17 00
H. A. Feindel, labor
2 35
Planing Mill Co., markers
4 00
W. A. Prescott, labor and stock 57 12
16 64
A. H. Thayer, sundries .
W. S. Greenough & Co., supplies . 1 50 .
Derby Desk Co., oak cabinet . 9 00
Macey, Stetson, Morris Co., filing boxes, etc. 2 15
Municipal Light Plant, lighting, fan and supplies 275 34
Otto Johnson, tinting ceiling at branch . 6 00
142
H. Gertrude Lee, sundry expenses 35 22
I. F. Studley, sundry expenses, Green_ wood
14 47
$2,534 39.
Balance unexpended
78
$2,535 17
READING ROOM
Income
Appropriation authorized
$274 17
Expenditures
Emma L. Campbell, services . $60 00
Dean Waldion, services
39 00
Charles F. Mansfield, magazine 3
112 05
A. H. Thayer, newspapers
26 00
F. J. Barnard & Co., binders
14 40
Universal Binder Sales Agency, news- paper stick 75
H. W. Wilson Co., index(s . .
16 47
John Middleton, repairing chair
1 00
H. M. Meek Co., directory
3 50
Lucas Bros., repairs
1 00
.
$274 17
143
Tax Collector's Statement
TAX OF 1911
Uncollected balance Jan. 1, 1913
$30,858 81
Re-assessed by Assessors
64 40
Received as interest
2,394 22
Paid Town Treasurer
$32,135 20
Abated by Assessors
1,182 23
33,317 43
TAX OF 1912
Uncollected balance Jan. 1, 1913
$83,226 82
Re-assessed by Assessors
67 49
Received as interest
1,368 32
84,662 63
Paid Town Treasurer
$51,703 52
Abated by Assessors
2,982 87
54,686 39
Balance uncollected
$29,976 24
TAX OF. 1913
Total amount assessed
. $262,689 57
Bank Tax
2,945 50
St. R. R. Excise Tax
3,418 68
Received as interest
145 95
Paid Town Treasurer
. . $157,324 67
Abated by Assessors
3,431 32
160,755 99
Balance uncollected
$108,443 71
ALBION STREET SEWER TAX
Balance uncollected Jan. 1, 1913 . $1,176 40
Received as interest 49 76
1,226 16
Paid Town Treasurer $947 46
Apportioned by Sewer Commissioners 278 70
1,226 16
$33,317 43
269,199 70
144
BYRON STREET SEWER TAX
Balance uncollected Jan. 1, 1913
$84 50
Received as interest 6 70
Paid Town Treasurer
$91 20
GOULD STREET SEWER TAX
Balance uncollected Jan. 1, 1913 . $194 37
194 37
Apportioned by Sewer Commissioners
$194 37
RENWICK ROAD, ASHLAND STREET AND OVERLOOK ROAD SEWER TAX
Balance uncollecte | Jan. 1, 1913 $1,185 86
Received as interest
53
$1,186 39.
Paid Town Treasurer
$78 53
Apportioned by Sewer Commissioners
894 68
973 21
Balance uncollected $213 18
ARMORY STREET SEWER TAX
Total amount assessed .
$2,733 56
Paid Town Treasurer
$260 00
Balance uncollected
$2,473 56
ELM STREET SEWER TAX
Total amount assessed .
$3,918 22
3,918 22
Paid Town Treasurer
$618 19
Balance uncollected
$3,300 03
FRANKLIN STREET SEWER TAX
Total amount assessed .
$2,427 08
Paid Town Treasurer
.
Balance uncollected
$2,362 94
SEWER APPORTIONMENTS PAID IN FULL
Paid Town Treasurer
$19 12
C. E. WALTON, Collector ..
Wakefield, Jan. 1, 1914.
2,427 08
£61 14
$ 91 20
2,733 56
FOURTH ANNUAL REPORT
OF THE
Water and Sewerage Board
OF THE
TOWN OF WAKEFIELD
FOR THE
YEAR ENDING DECEMBER 31, 1913.
146
Fourth Annual Report of the Water and Sewerage Board
The annual report of the Wakefield Water and Sewerage Board is herewith presented, including the eleventh annual report of the Water Department and the fourteenth annual report of the Sewer Department.
The receipts of the Water Plant for 1913 $38,864 61
Total expenditures
.
38,310 61
Surplus
$554 00
We recommend that an amount equal to the surplus of this year be appropriated to assist in meeting the increased bond pay- ments for the year 1914. The department will be obliged to meet an increase of $4,000 for water bond payments and $3,000 for meter bonds.
The old ten-inch cement pipes on Main street have been re- placed with heavy twenty-inch cast iron pipe from Water street, south of the Town Hall, to the Rockery, a distance of 1,225 feet, with a capacity four times that of the old pipe ; also new con- nections to adjoining streets and new services to abutting water takers have been provided. This, together with additional hy- drants, has given a new back bone to the water system, furnish- ing ample water supply for any fire emergency which may occur in the principal business section.
It is expected that the meters will be installed by the begin- ning of the spring term, and it is hoped that we can commence to use them at that time. The board are now arranging plans and regulations for that purpose to be published later.
The demands for new construction of water mains, where new
147
territory is being opened for building purposes, show a healthy growth of the town which must be met by the water department.
In cleaning around Crystal Lake and its tributaries, for which the appropriation of $1,000 has been expended, has made a sub- stantial improvement in the conditions. The main tributary has been cleared out its whole length down to gravel and sand. The residents around the lake, to a large extent, are co-operating with the department in a general cleaning up of the water shed.
We publish herewith a report by Lewis D. Thorpe, Civil Engi- neer, in relation to the efforts to obtain an additional water sup- ply by means of driven wells. No substantial supply has been found. We have expended $916.19 or less than one-half of the 82,000 appropriation authorized.
REPORT OF LEWIS D. THORPE, ENGINEER BOSTON, MASS., DEC. 10, 1913.
WAKEFIELD WATER AND SEWERAGE BOARD, WAKEFIELD, MASS.
GENTLEMEN :- I submit the following report upon the tests made for an underground water supply for the town of Wake- field, together with map showing approximate location of the test wells driven.
In July, 1913, I was employed by your board to examine va- rious locations from which it was thought an underground sup- ply might be secure 1. I was instructed to mike the examination as thoroughly as possible, and to test all of the locations where the natural surface and topography would indicate that it might be possible to secure water. Early in July, in company with your board, I made an examination of the various locations under consideration. Two general locations were found from which it seemed possible that a supply might be secured.
These locations are as follows :-
First .- The valley near the Lynnfield line, lying between Lowell street and the Saugus river.
Second .- The valley lying northeasterly from Bear hill through which the head of the Saugus river flows into Lake Quannapowitt.
Other locations were subsequently examined.
From surface indications, the first location, or the land near
148
the Lynnfield line, appeared most favorable for a water supply. Surface indications are, however, by no means conclusive, and the possibility of securing a supply depends almost entirely upon the material below the surface, the nature of which must be deter- mined by test wells.
The test wells also show the depth below the surface from which water can be obtained and its quality. In Massachusetts ground water is found in deposits of gravel or sand. If the sand below the surface is very fine, or if the material is composed of clay or hardpan, water cannot be secured in any quantity.
In order to make the tests, it was necessary to secure the ser- vices of an experienced well-driver. Specifications for this work were prepared and submitted to the various contractors in this line of work. Two proposals were called for from each bidder. First, that the work be paid for by the lineal foot of pipe driven, which price included the cost of all material. Second, that the work be done on a day basis, and the pipe used to be paid for by the lineal foot. Proposals were received from four contractors.
After carefully comparing the bids, it was found that the pro- posal submitted by Edward F. Hughes of Boston, was the low- est, and it was decided to award him the contract on a day basis. The wells to be of two and one-half inch extra heavy wrought iron pipe. The first well was started about the middle of August. It was located approximately 500 feet north of Lowell street and near the foot of the sandy slope which extends from Lowell street to the Saugus river.
This well i shown on the plan as Number 1.
The following is a description of the material through which the well was driven :-
0 to 1 foot, 1 " 16 feet,
Loam Fine gravel, very close and tight At 16 feet below the surface, . struck rock or boulder. No water was found at this depth.
WELL NO. 2
Located at foot of slope near edge of valley at a point about 1,000 feet north of Lowell street.
149
0 to 1 foot,
Loam
1 " 10 feet,
Fine gravel
10 “ 20 6 .
Sand mixed with clay
20 - 23 66
Gravel
23 " 26 66 26 “41
Sand
Find sand and clay
At 41 feet struck ledge or boulder
The well pumped about three gallons per minute at thirty feet ; below thirty feet there was no water.
WELL NO. 3
Located near foot of slope and about 1,800 feet north of Lowell street.
0 to 2 feet,
Loam Sand 9 425 4 25 -31 6
Fine gravel
Sand and clay
Struck rock at this depth.
No water was found in this well at any depth.
The three wells proved that the material below the surface was not such that water could be secured in this location.
The only well which yielded any water at all on No. 2 pumped three gallons per minute. At this depth a thin stratum of water- bearing sand was found. On driving through this layer fine sand and clay was encountered and continued down to ledge.
The next tests were made in the valley lying northeasterly from Bear hill.
The first well, or 1-A, was driven on the Foster land. It was located about 100 feet north of Ash street, and within 200 feet of the Wakefield and Reading line. This well was driven to a depth of 29 feet, 6 inches through fine sand. A thin stratum of gravel was found overlying the rock. The material was so close and compact that no water could be pumped at any depth.
The next well, or 2-B, was driven about 25 feet south of Ash street on the Gilman land. This was driven to a depth of 16 feet, 6 inches and struck ledge. Sand was found at a depth of 5 feet and gravel at 10 and 15 feet. The well pumped 15 gallons per minute at these depths.
150
A surface examination of the location shows that the hills sur- rounding the valley south of Ash street are largely of ledge for. mation. This, together with the fact that ledge was found within 16 feet of the surface at the well driven, shows that it would be impossible to secure water in any quantity in this section.
The next test, or well 3-C, was driven on the Carpenter estate. This was located at the edge of the valley, and about 700 feet northerly from Ash street. The material driven through was as follows :-
0 to 5 feet, 5 " 15 66 15 “ 30 " 30 “ 35 35 - 37 6 6 inches,
Loam and subsoil Yellow sand and clay Fine gray sand and clay
Clay Gravel and fine sand Struck rock at this depth
-
At 37 feet the well pumped 12 gallons per minute.
A sample of this water was sent to the State Board of Health for analysis.
The analysis determined that the water was not of a suitable quality for domestic use, the quantity of iron being excessive.
The next tests were made on land belonging to the Boston Ice Co. Three wells were driven on this property, and were located about midway between the Western division of the Boston & Maine Railroad and North Avenue.
These wells are indicated on the map as No. 4-1), 5-C and 6-F.
Sand and gravel was found in all three wells, but rock was struck at a depth of from 10 to 12 feet in each case.
WAKEFIELD PARK
One well, No. 7-G, was driven in this location.
Following is a description of the material through which the well was driven :-
0 to 3 feet, 3 " 10 " 10“20 " 20 “ 25 66 Gravel
Loam and subsoil Coarse gravel Sand and gravel
151
25 to 33 feet
Fine gray sand and gravel Struck boulder at this depth
At 25 feet the well pumped 12 gallons per minute.
GREENWOOD PLAYGROUND
This location is near Oak street, in the Greenwood section of the town. Two tests were made at this point.
The first, or No. 8-H, was driven to a depth of 8 feet through hardpan and struck rock.
The second test, or No. 9-H, was made at a point about 300 feet northerly from No. 8-H. This was driven to a depth of 16 feet and struck rock. At 10 feet below the surface the well pumped 15 gallons per minute. Below this depth fine gray sand was found and continued down to the ledge.
ALMSHOUSE LAND
Four tests were made in this location with the following re- sults : -
0 to 3 feet, 3 " 10 " 10 "15 4 17 “
No. 1
Loam and subsoil Fine sand Fine sand and gravel Struck ledge
No. 2
0 to 3 feet, 3 " 10 " 16 “
Loam and subsoil Fine sand Struck ledge
No. 3
Struck rock at 8 feet
No. 4
Fine sand to 13 feet Struck ledge at this depth
As before stated, in order to secure water from driven wells, the water-bearing material underlying the surface into which material the wells are driven must be composed of coarse sand or
152
gravel. The tests have shown that such conditions do not exist within the limits of the town.
From surface indications it was thought that water-bearing material would be found in the section lying north of Lowell street and a supply of water secured. The material was, how- ever, found to be composed largely of clay mixed with sand and gravel, from which it was impossible to pump water in any quantity.
In the Bear hill valley, or that section lying between Ash street and North avenue, four of the six wells driven struck rock at depths varying from 10 to 16 feet. The other two were driven deeper, or 29 feet on the Foster land . and 37 feet on the Carpenter land. The well on the Carpenter land yielded 12 gal- lons per minute, but the water was found to be unsuitable for use.
The tests, together with a thorough examination of the topog- raphy, definitely determined that it would not be possible to secure a supply in this section.
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