USA > Massachusetts > Plymouth County > Plymouth > Town annual report of the officers of the town of Plymouth, Massachusetts for the year ending 1947 > Part 24
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Many problems and complaints have come before the Board which have been investigated and rectified promptly.
During the summer season, there are continuous com- plaints the way our beaches are being spoiled by individ- uals burning and strewing them with rubbish and gar- bage. There have been large signs placed in many places prohibiting such usage. We hope all persons using our beaches, also the shores of the ponds will be considerate enough to co-operate, thus making these places enjoyable to everyone.
Our contagious disease report for 1948 is as follows:
Chicken pox 17
Cat Bite
2
Dog Bite 30
German Measles 2
Gonorrhea 1
Measles
15
Mumps 121
Pneumonia, Lobar 1
Poliomyelitis 1
Scarlet Fever 3
Syphilis 4
Tuberculosis, Pulmonary 3
Tuberculosis-Other Forms 1
Undulant Fever 1
Whooping Cough 63
Total
265
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Over fifty persons were examined and X-rayed at the Plymouth County Hospital during the year.
All cases of contagion requiring hospitalization are be- ing sent to the Haynes Memorial Hospital in Brighton. Many parents prefer keeping their children at home under quarantine which is permissible.
Four clinics were held for the immunization against diphtheria under the supervision of Dr. Frank J. Abate, Jr., and the Community Nurses. There were 121 children present. Parents must remember diphtheria is a disease still to be greatly feared. Two children in one family died this past year of the disease. Neither had received toxoid. All parents should take this as a warning and have their children immunized.
There have been many requests for analysis of water supply from new and old wells. Samples have been collected by the sanitary inspector with analysis being done at the Steele Laboratory. Many samples have been taken by the State Department of Public Health.
Milk samples are collected regularly with complete analysis being done by our Milk Technician at the Steele Laboratory; the reports being very satisfactory.
Careful inspection is made at regular intervals of all eating establishments, pasteurization plants, stores, bakeries, fish markets and other places handling edible products.
The number of licenses granted in 1948 was 258 and number of permits 428.
MEDORA V. EASTWOOD, M.D., Chairman
PAUL W. BITTINGER
HERBERT S. MAXWELL
Plymouth Board of Health
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VETERANS' SERVICES
To the Honorable Board of Selectmen:
Gentlemen:
The Department of Veterans' Services presents here- with its report for the year 1948.
The processing and investigation of applications for Veterans' Benefits continued to consume a progressively larger share of the time and energies of the Department this year. A total of 123 applications were received, of which 56 were acted upon favorably. Every attempt was made to give prompt assistance in worthy cases while preventing persons with spurious claims from obtain- ing public funds. In the case of applicants who were in good health and employable, it was kept in mind that making access to the public though simple and easy is not necessarily doing a young veteran a favor. The De- partment exists for the assistance of the veteran, and it would fail in its duties if it contributed to the breakdown of the veterans' moral fibre by undermining the good American virtues of self-reliance and self-respect. But the people of the Commonwealth have expressed their wish that the men who fought for them in wartime shall have assistance when misfortune renders them in- capable of caring for themselves or their families; the Department stands ready to implement that wish in Plymouth as humanely and generously as is consonant with careful handling of public funds.
In addition to its relief function, the Department of Veterans' Services continues to provide information and assistance in all matters of veterans' rights and privi- leges. The following is the summary for the year:
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Allotment or Allowance
10
Bonus Applications
58
Civil Service
70
Discharge Copy
70
Discharge Recorded
84
Education
85
Employment
32
Finance
7
Flags
2
Gratuity-6 months
3
Housing
12
Information
506
Legal Aid
.24
Maternity
7
Readjustment
15
Social Security
5
Taxes
59
Telephone Calls and Letters
878
Unemployment Compensation
4
VETERANS' ADMINISTRATION
Burial
5
Compensation
40
Education
73
Training
90
Rehabilitation
22
Hospitalization
32
Insurance
130
Internment Forms
6
Loans
45
Medical - Dental
107
Pensions
44
Veterans' Benefits
123
Vital Statistics
64
Miscellaneous
57
Notary Public
8
Terminal Leave Papers
4
Other Records
93
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Appropriations and expenditures for 1948 were as follows:
Salaries Office Exp. Veterans' Benefits
Appropriation:
$3,650.00
$375.00
$20,000.00
Payments
3,650.00
374.20
19,514.89
Refunds
239.20
Balance to revenue
.80
724.31
Respectfully submitted,
THOMAS F. QUINN
DEPARTMENT OF THE INSPECTION OF BUILDINGS
To the Honorable Board of Selectmen
Dear Sirs:
The following is a summary of building activities with- in the Town for the year ending December 31, 1948.
No. Kind
Est. Cost
44 Single Family Dwellings
$258,150
94 Summer Camps
133,650
29 Garages
24,900
22 Other Buildings
55,170
80 Alterations and Additions to Dwellings 64,980
27 Alterations and Additions to Other Buildings
76,375
296
$613,225
Respectfully submitted,
EDWIN H. CUNNINGHAM, Building Inspector.
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REPORT OF THE PARK COMMISSIONERS
PARKS AND GARDENS
All Parks have been kept neat and clean during the past year. Grass cutting and trimming, snow removal from walks and sanding, has taken a major part of our labor. The Department can purchase some very good and rugged Park Settees at a very reasonable price and $100.00 for this purpose has been added to the budget. The Department recommends that an appropriation be made for the dredging of Town Brook at Brewster Garden.
PLAYGROUNDS
The playgrounds have been kept in the best possible condition. One unit of the Field House at the Standish Ave., Playground has been completed at a cost of $5,000.00. Playground apparatus has been kept in good condition. Owing to the good weather about 100 yards of clay and 100 yards of loam, has been carted to various playgrounds for repair work in the spring. The toilet building at Veterans' Field, has been painted inside and out. Sev- eral places have been dyked, to flood for skating, but the weather is not favorable for this sport. The De- partment wishes to thank Mr. George Briggs for his donation of Tennis Balls.
The summer playground program for 1948 was re- ceived very enthusiastically by the children of the Town. More than four hundred children took advantage of the recreational facilities and supervised activities of the playgrounds.
The Senior and Junior baseball league was a very popular activity. Games were scheduled four days a week at the Standish Ave., and Stephens Field play- grounds, with approximately one hundred-thirty boys participating; competition in both leagues was keen. Ap-
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propriate prizes were given at the end of the season to the league champions.
Regular swimming classes were conducted daily at Nelson Street, Stephens Field and Manomet by competent swimming instructors. Certificates were awarded to all who successfully passed the Red Cross Swimming Test.
Instruction in Arts and Crafts was given at Nelson Street and Stephens Field with many of the younger boys and girls attending. Shell and Leather Craft was taught and many of the projects were put on display at the end of the season.
Tennis, volley ball, badminton, softball, archery, horse- shoe pitching, basketball as well as organized games were enjoyed throughout the summer months at the playgrounds.
One of the highlights of the summer playground season was the baseball trip to Fenway Park in August. All boys and girls between the ages of ten and sixteen who were regular attendants at the playgrounds made the trip. This trip was made possible by various organizations in the Town and enjoyed by approximately 250 boys and girls.
The climax of the playground season was the Play- ground Field Day held at Stephens Field. Champions from the various playgrounds competed in baseball, basketball, horseshoe pitching, croquet, tennis, swim- ming and novelty games. At the conclusion of the day, prizes were presented to the winners.
The Manomet Playground has not been developed; the appropriation of $600.00 remaining.
CAMPING GROUNDS
Receipts from The Indian Reservation during 1947 were $1,289.50; for 1948 they were $1,600.50.
Nelson Street receipts were in 1947 $1,091.85; in 1948 they were $1,476.30.
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Much work is to be done at Indian Reservation and Morton Park-mowing underbrush, removing uprooted trees, etc.
BATHING BEACHES
The bathhouses, beaches and floats have been kept in a reasonable safe condition. The bathhouse at Stephens Field has had two coats of paint and the toilet building has been painted inside. A new raft with springboard has been built for Indian Reservation, Manomet. There will be a new one ready in the spring for Nelson Street; one-half of the workshop roof has been shingled.
Receipts for Stephen Field - 1947 were $37.55, 1948 were $42.40.
Receipts for Morton Park - 1947 were $35.70, 1948 were $42.15.
Receipts for Beach Park - 1947 were $528.00, 1948 were $834.55.
The Department invited the Woman's Club and the Garden Club to make a survey of the Park Property and submit recommendations for a long-range program and the Department takes this opportunity to thank them for their interest in this project. Their report is on file and may be seen on request.
During the past year, two men have retired. Mr. Joseph Silvia retired under the Servicemen's Disability Act after serving the Department for more than ten years. Mr. Horace Dickerman retired under the Town's Contribu- tory Retirement System.
Respectfully submitted by .
JOHN A. SIEVER, Chairman EDWARD J. E. HAND ARTHUR SIRRICO CLIFTON C. WOOD, Supt.
NINETY-FOURTH ANNUAL REPORT of the
Water Commissioners
and
Superintendent
of the
Town of Plymouth
H
M
1620.
A
ACH
MOJ
1948
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NINETY-FOURTH ANNUAL REPORT OF THE WATER COMMISSIONERS
The Board of Water Commissioners presents its ninety- fourth annual report, covering the year 1948.
The rainfall during the year amounted to 49.98 inches, which is about four inches more than the average. At the end of the year the level of the water in Great South Pond was 104.55 ft., which was about 12" higher than at the beginning of the year and very nearly the same level as at Dec. 31, 1946.
The new pumping station at Manomet has been in successful operation throughout the summer season and has provided an ample and dependable supply of water. The gasoline engine which had been ordered early in 1947 was finally delivered in the fall of 1948 and installed as an emergency power unit for pumping if there should be a failure of the electric power supply. The grounds around the station have been graded and the road and parking space next to the building hard surfaced.
The Holmes or Union House land adjoining land al- ready owned by the Town and including frontage on both Great and Little South Ponds has been acquired by the Town as authorized at the annual meeting in March 1947.
MAINTENANCE
Some progress has been made in taking care of repairs to the buildings of the Water Department. At the Lout Pond Station the roof ventilators have been removed, the roof repaired, new copper gutters installed and the outside of the building painted. The roof of the engi- neer's dwelling house has been repaired and partly re-
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shingled. The old barn, now used as a garage, has been painted. The Deep Water Station has been painted. At the Howland St. Shop, new windows and window frames have been installed, on the southwesterly side.
The pumping units at the various stations have op- erated satisfactorily. The Diesel engines at the Lout Pond Station have been inspected as usual. It was necessary to install a new pump shaft on the Fairbanks unit as some wear had developed.
Details of maintenance operations are covered in the report of the Superintendent which follows.
We cannot avoid the substantial increase in the costs which appears in all items of our operating and main- tenance operations.
1948 RECEIPTS FROM WATER RATES (As reported by the Collector)
Plymouth Manomet
$55,063.03
10,648.46
$65,711.49
NEW SCHEDULE OF WATER RATES-EFFECTIVE MAY 1, 1948
Because of the substantial increase in all of the op- erating and maintenance expenses of the Water Depart- ment, the Water Commissioners considered it necessary to increase the charges for water service and adopted the following regulations and schedules of rates, effective May 1, 1948. This is the first change in rates since 1924, when there was a reduction in charges for all the terri- tory then served. The minimum rate in Manomet was $25.00 per year when service in that area was first under- taken in 1932. This charge has been reduced in successive steps to $12.00 and is now established at $16.00.
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PLYMOUTH
CHARGES FOR METERED WATER
First 20,000. cubic feet used during six months, 15¢ per 100 cu. ft. Next 180,000. cubic feet used during six months, 10¢ per 100 cu. ft. Over 200,000. cubic feet used during six months, 8¢ per 100 cu. ft.
Except, consumption over 200,000. cubic feet taken from the gravity system will be sold at the rate of 5¢ per 100. cubic feet.
Water rates are billed semi-annually, including min- imum meter rates in advance, and are due in thirty days from the date rendered. If not paid within sixty days thereafter, they may become a lien on the property in the manner provided by law.
Water service may be discontinued for non-payment of charges, in which case there will be an additional charge of $2.00 before it will be turned on again.
No adjustment for vacancies unless the Water Depart- ment is notified and water shut-off in the street.
ALL SERVICE PIPES INSIDE OF THE CURB SHUT- OFF ARE THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE OWNER.
MINIMUM METER RATES (Semi-annual)
Size of Meter
Minimum Charge
Consumption Covered by Min. Chg.
5/8"
$ 6.00
4,000 Cu. Ft.
3/4"
6.00
4,000 Cu. Ft.
1."
9.00
6,000 Cu. Ft.
11/2"
9.00
6,000 Cu. Ft.
2"
13.50
9,000 Cu. Ft.
3"
25.00
16,667 Cu. Ft.
4"
45.00
35,000 Cu. Ft.
MANOMET
CHARGES FOR METERED WATER
First 10,000. cubic feet used during six months, 30¢ per 100 cu. ft. Over 10,000. cubic feet used during six months, 15¢ per 100 cu. ft.
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Water rates are billed semi-annually, including min- imum meter rates in advance, and are due in thirty days from the date rendered. If not paid within sixty days thereafter, they may become a lien on the property in the manner provided by law.
Water service may be discontinued for non-payment of charges, in which case there will be an additional charge of $2.00 before it will be turned on again.
No adjustment for vacancies unless the Water Depart- ment is notified and water shut-off in the street.
ALL SERVICE PIPES INSIDE OF THE CURB SHUT- OFF ARE THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE OWNER.
Seasonal customers may be rendered an annual bill, covering excess consumption, if any, and the minimum meter charge for the year.
Requests in writing must be made to Superintendent's office before water can be let on or shut off. Water will not be let on until all outstanding bills are paid.
The Town is not responsible for frozen service, breaks etc.
Minimum Charge, $8.00 Semi-Annual, $16.00 Annual
Charge for Water Connections on New Extensions of Mains
On August 3, 1948 the Water Commissioners adopted the following regulation:
"That in all cases of extension of water mains after this date, there will be an initial fee charged each water taker from such extension, amounting to a $1.50 per front foot of the property, the minimum amount of any fee to be $75.00. This must be paid before the service is connected, and the Water Com-
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missioners may make such changes in any of the foregoing conditions in unusual cases, as in their opinion, the circumstances may warrant."
It is the considered judgment of the Water Commis- sioners that the property owners should pay for part of the cost of such extensions because of the increase in the value of the property when water service is avail- able and in order to avoid placing the burden of the full cost of such construction on other water takers or the general taxpayer.
If the property on both sides of the street in which the extension is made is supplied with water, the Town will be reimbursed to the amount of $3.00 per foot, or roughly one-half the cost of such construction.
CONSTRUCTION
The report of the Superintendent shows the amount of construction work during the year with the appropria- tions to which the expenditures were charged.
It is of interest that a total of 2.68 miles of main pipe were laid in 1948. In 1947 there were 3.24 miles, as shown by the report of that year.
During the last two years, 52 new hydrants have been installed, including renewals, replacements and those installed on new extensions.
The current program of extensions and improvements in our distribution system, provides a substantial better- ment in the fire protection system in the areas covered.
APPROPRIATIONS REQUESTED FOR 1949 For the operation of the Water Department:
Maintenance and Labor
$35,679.00
Salaries
20,918.00
Emergencies
2,500.00
Regular construction
5,500.00
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SPECIAL ARTICLES
New Truck 2,000.00 Construction at Priscilla Beach: 6,100.00
Ocean View Road and Arlington Road
(If these streets are accepted by the Town) Cape Cod Ave., Reed Ave. and adjacent streets 40,000.00 (If accepted by the Town) Special Construction $150,000.00
This appropriation is requested in order to continue the program of laying and relaying of water mains and improvements to the system as recommended by Met- calf and Eddy in their report on the Water System dated October 17, 1945.
BY-PASS CONSTRUCTION
The Town will be involved in considerable expense to take care of the water mains in the places where they will be affected by the new road construction by the Commonwealth. We are unable to estimate the cost of this work at this time, as the final plans have not been available to your Commissioners.
Respectfully submitted,
E. R. BELCHER, Chairman R. T. ELDRIDGE, Secretary DANIEL F. MULCAHY ARTHUR ADDYMAN C. BROOKS HUDSON
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SUMMARY OF STATISTICS
(Published by request of the New England Water Works Association, Plymouth, Mass., Water Works.) Population, 13,175.
Date of Construction, 1855.
By whom owned, Town.
Source of Supply, Great and Little South Ponds, Man- omet Well.
Mode of Supply, Gravity for Low Service and Pumping for High Service, Well.
PUMPING
Builders of pumping machinery, Fairbanks-Morse and Wolverine-Gould. .
Description of fuel, Oil.
Amount used, 11,7201/2 gallons.
Pumpage for the year:
Fairbanks-Morse, 182,058,000 gals.
Wolverine-Gould, 217,614,000 gals.
399,672,000 gals.
Less NHS (Electric)
15,730,000 gals.
383,942,000 gals.
Plus Manomet Well
(Electric) 15,595,000 gals.
Total pumped 399,537,000 gals.
Average static head, 68 ft.
Average dynamic head, 74.5 ft.
Number gals. per gal. of fuel oil:
Fairbanks-Morse 37,810
Wolverine-Gould, 31,515
Duty of pumps:
Fairbanks-Morse
173,765,000.
Wolverine-Gould, 144,835,000.
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COST OF PUMPING FIGURED ON PUMPING STATIONS EXPENSES, VIZ: $9,373.92.
Per million gallons against dynamic head into direct pipe, $23.461.
Per million gallons raised one foot high (dynamic), $0.314.
COST OF PUMPING FIGURED ON TOTAL MAINTENANCE, VIZ: $41,954.00.
Per million gallons against dynamic head into direct pipe, $95.006.
Per million gallons raised one foot high (dynamic), $1.275.
STATISTICS ON CONSUMPTION OF WATER Total population, estimated, 13,175.
Estimated population on pipe line, 12,500. Estimated population supplied 12,500. Total consumption for the year, 542,789,000 gallons. Average daily consumption, 1,483,000 gallons. Gallons per day to each inhabitant, 112. Gallons per day to each tap, 385.
STATISTICS RELATING TO DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM
Kinds of pipe, Cement lined sheet iron and cement lined cast iron.
Sizes, From 2-inch to 30-inch.
Extended, 14,190 feet.
Discontinued, None.
Total now in use, 81 miles, 3,923 feet.
Cost to repair per mile, $10.43.
Number of leaks per mile, 0.195.
Small distribution pipe less than 4-inches, 8 miles, 3,661 feet.
Hydrants now in use, 376 public, 73 private.
Stop gates added, 38. Discontinued, None. Number now in use, 991.
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SERVICES
Kind of pipe, Lead and Cement lined, and Copper Tubing Sizes, From one-half inch to six-inch.
Total now in use, 10 miles, 5,045 feet.
Service taps added, 70. Discontinued, None.
Total now in use, 3,850.
Average length of service, 13.2 ft.
Average cost per service, $38.82.
Number meters added, 70.
Number now in use, 3,030.
Percentage of services metered, 78.7%.
SUPERINTENDENT'S REPORT
To the Board of Water Commissioners
Gentlemen:
In accordance with the usual custom, I submit herewith the annual report of the Superintendent of the Plymouth Water Department for the year ending December 31, 1948.
The year 1948 was a busy one for the Department with material coming in much faster making it possible to cover considerable more work than could be accomplished the past few years when deliveries were much slower.
Seventy new services have been connected, thirty of these in Plymouth and forty in Manomet, adding to the revenue for the sale of water. Fifteen applications have already been made for connections the coming year.
Meters are being delivered in three, four and five months, depending on the sizes, that formerly took at least seven months on order. It was possible to receive and set seventy meters the past year. This does not mean
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that the above mentioned seventy new services were metered. It has been necessary to use our judgment as to placing meters where the use of water was greatest. There are some one hundred unmetered services in just the Plymouth system that are on metered rates, to say nothing of many in Manomet. There are also some meter replacements required. I hope that the Commissioners will see fit to take advantage of the prompt deliveries promised for the coming year and recommend the pur- chase of as many meters as possible, in order that we may take care of the many services that have had to go unmetered during the war years when meters were scarce.
Many services have been renewed, many corporations on services have been drilled, so that improvement of some 123 services has been realized and the takers have been made very happy.
The Department experiences its troubles as well as its triumphs and we were not without mishaps. Sixty-two leaks developed on services, four occurring in the Man- omet system and the others in Plymouth. All of these were repaired at a cost exceeding Two Thousand Dollars. In some cases complete renewal was necessary.
Sixteen leaks were repaired in mains. Fortunately, these did not happen at night so very little overtime was required which helped considerably to keep the cost down.
Some hydrant repairs were necessary and the usual inspections were carried on. Ten new hydrants were set.
Analyses of samples of water from the ponds, well and taps, at times specified by the Department of Public Health of the State, have been continued.
The table following will give you some idea of the immense amount of work covered during 1948.
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The auxiliary well supply at Warners Pond operated 13,940 KWH. during the months of June, July, August and September, and pumped 15,594,900 gallons of water.
Three 6" sprinkler systems were connected during the year, one at the Shore Club of the Hotel Mayflower at Manomet, the others in the downtown section, Tavern- elli's on Sandwich St., and the American Woolen Co. on Murray St.
Other work is mentioned in detail in the report of the Commissioners.
Pumping records are shown in the usual table at the end of the report.
Respectfully submitted,
THEODORE BRINK, Superintendent
1948 PUMPING RECORDS FAIRBANKS-MORSE
WOLVERINE
NHS
Month
Hours Run
Fuel Oil in Gals.
Gals. Pumped
Hours Run
Fuel Oil in Gals.
Gals. Pumped
Gals. Pumped
Gravity in Gals.
Rain in Inches Max.
Min.
Jan.
167
554
17,135,000
132
363 1/2
13,653,000
1,081,000
8,028,000
7.43
29
13
Feb.
1611/2
532
16,774,000
146
4051/2
15,188,000
1,245,000
6,936,000
2.58
32
15
Mar.
1831/2
599
19,104,000
1541/2
425
16,126,000
1,365,000
8,587,000
4.14
43
26
Apr.
1581/2
5201/2
16,504,000
130
358 1/2
13,642,000
1,069,000
10,077,000
3.86
52
34
May
1721/2
5651/2
18,045,000
1341/2
370
14,196,000
992,000
11,439,000
8.64
59
43
June
147
4851/2
15,452,000
163 14
4501/2
17,229,000
855,000
12,884,000
3.20
68
52
July
176 1/2
584
18,365,000
205
565
21,259,000
1,179,000
13,578,000
2.76
80
61
Aug.
20214
671
20,974,000
2011/2
553 1/2
20,760,000
2,218,000
14,245,000
1.87
79
62
Sept.
210
6981/2
21,718,000
169
468
17,579,000
2,695,000
14,141,000
1.53
70
51
Oct.
166
554
17,294,000
1331/2
3691/2
13,846,000
930,000
14,927,000
6.97
57
42
Nov.
1241/2
4141/2
13,110,000
1361/2
3771/2
14,396,000
819,000
13,979,000
4.47
60
43
Dec.
2191/4
727
23,139,000
391/4
1081/2
4,184,000
982,000
14,431,000
2.53
50
29
Total
2,090
6,9051/2
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