Town annual report of the offices of Fairhaven, Massachusetts 1935, Part 4

Author: Fairhaven (Mass.)
Publication date: 1935
Publisher:
Number of Pages: 208


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Decrease in Juvenile Delinquency


We do not need reports or figures to tell us that juvenile delinquency fell off considerably during the year just closed. Each day's work has made it clear to me that fewer offenses are being charged to child criminals. Any theorist could find reasons why this is so, but I prefer to believe that credit is due the police officers who are constantly in touch with the situation, and due the courts for the faithful performance of their duties. Indeed, the salutary effect of our efforts in 1934 probably helped in 1935.


We cannot designate any part of police work as being the most valuable, but surely the outcome of our intercepting the criminal careers of children looms prominently for such a dis- tinction. Whenever an officer of long experience sees a young man or young woman leading a normal life after having been guided, corrected, or perhaps punished a few years before he finds solace in knowing that his efforts and those of his fellow officers have not been put forth in vain. Even though the bringing of law violators to justice may be our primary objective, we cherish an ambition to prevent people from becoming criminally inclined, especially in childhood. We believe we can best befit ourselves by applying attention to the opportunity offered by juvenile delinquents.


Uncle Sam's Interest


As has been mentioned in earlier reports, for some years the department has furnished the Federal government with periodical reports of our crime records. The department has always been glad to cooperate with the United States government, and these reports have been furnished cheerfully. Nevertheless, the talk of government red tape has made me wonder, at times, if our reports do not fall into this category. That the government really is interested in our work and reads our reports was shown quite clearly in June.


J. Edgar Hoover, Director of the Federal Bureau of Investi- gation of the United States Department of Justice, and head of the much publicized G-men, inquired about one of the entries in our May report. The figure arousing Mr. Hoover's interest was the outgrowth of considerable investigating by New Bedford and Fairhaven Policemen. It showed that one morals law had been violated ten times that month in Fairhaven alone, and that these


77


infractions had resulted in arrests. Mr. Hoover's concern over Fairhaven crime leads us to have greater faith in him and in his department, and gives us somewhat more confidence in govern- ment operations that seem redundant when given a cursory ex- amination. I welcomed Mr. Hoover's inquiry, and he was given every bit of information he desired. Later, he expressed to me his appreciation of our work.


Tempering Enforcement with Compassion


We quite realize that persons with whom we must transact criminal business are in trouble, even though they have placed themselves there. To each of these people we are sympathetic to whatever limits circumstances impose. We wish them no harm, our one and only purpose being to fulfill the promises we made when we swore to uphold the laws of Massachusetts and of Fairhaven.


Investigation of some complaints leaves us no choice between building a court case and doing otherwise. Other cases present features which allow us to decide what constitutes the proper dis- position of each one. Whenever the responsibility for making a decision rests with us we try to close the case then before us in a way most in keeping with prevailing circumstances.


For one thing, we do not force a person to lose his or her employment as, for example, by reason of an operator's license suspension, provided that that employment is legitimate and that we have an alternative.


We do not obtain court warrants or summonses for first offend- ers who would be handicapped in later life by having a record for some fairly trivial violations.


To prevent neglect and desertion cases, and for our own pride, we do our best to adjust marital difficulties in the privacy of people's own homes or of the police station. We handle dozens of these cases yearly, and all persons involved are treated con- siderately, with fairness, and in confidence. We would much rather have happiness in the homes of our town than additional criminal record cards in our files.


Men of Stamina


Study of this report - or of any previous report - will reveal what achievements have been made during the period covered by the report. Like any other Chief of Police, I can perform the duties of my office up to the limits imposed by facilities, ability, and experience; but the fact that I am only one man obviates my accepting any more than my share of any credit which might come


78


to the department. Much of this credit, and my own appreciation, is rightfully due the officers who work under my direction daily and who help me carry into effect the policies I believe to be the most effective and economical. These men have training, experience, sound judgment and initiative, and, therefore, they capably carry on police business in a satisfactory, creditable man- ner. These men attack their work fervently, even in the face of obstacles and discouragement. They must sally forth into any kind of weather. They must be prepared to face problems which arise suddenly. They must deal with people of varying dis- positions, temperaments, and attitudes. They must exert their physical and mental energies so as to leave every situation better than they find it. To act duteously under some of these circum- stances requires the stamina with which my officers are endued.


It is clear that the ideal police officer is the one who has capabil- ity and willingness to work. A man with one of these qualities but without the other is worthless. That my officers have both qualities to a marked degree is, indeed, a fact which speaks for itself.


Nobody would commit a crime if he knew a policeman was watching him. It follows that few crimes are committed when officers are present. These simple facts indicate our almost utter dependence upon civilians for information and evidence; and without this help from outside sources our progress would be greatly impeded. Thus we see that successful law enforcement depends not alone upon having suitable men as officers but also upon the availability of a constant flow of incoming reliable in- formation. I am grateful to the people who bring this informa- tion to us, and I want to record by praise of our informants.


Circumstantial Valiency


Turning over in my mind some of our experiences of the year I have recalled one incident which is an unforgetable one in the minds of three of the officers and which typifies situations for which we must be prepared. Also, it is one which aptly illustrates the civic value of staminal police officers.


At 11:01 o'clock the evening of May 6 a report was received by telephone that there was a man with a gun in the Oxford sec- tion. The three officers on duty responded, and found the report to be correct.


Forming a wedge, the officers approached the man. One saw that the gun was trained on himself, and all three heard the trigger pulled unsuccessfully. Next there came a shot from the outlaw's weapon; and perhaps only luck saved the officers' lives. Thirdly the gunman directed a bullet into his own body. As the


79


police wedge approached, one of the officers fired two shots in the approximate direction of the man. This encounter lasted less than seven minutes, and in that short interval, a man both violated the law and took self-imposed punishment, choosing death as the price of his crime.


Only good fortune can claim the credit for saving the lives of the three policemen. True, men in our work know the risk they may face when they accept their appointments; but the salient point I want to make is that in every commercial occupa- tion the element of risk is lessened by the institution of various types of safeguards, and that police are necessarily without such protection. Thus the hazards faced by policemen are equalled only by those encountered by firemen and exceeded only in war- fare.


The Element of Transportation


Today transportation is the department's largest expense out- side of labor. This is as it should be, I believe, as we must necessarily travel from the station to wherever we are needed, to court, and to a thousand and one other places. Also, the value of cruiser cars is determined by the distance they travel. Because the money spent for these valuable services is a considerable amount, I thought a little information on the subject might prove inter- esting and helpful.


For purposes of identification, we have designated one cruiser car No. 1 and the other No. 2. Necessity requires that I use my personal car in police work from time to time. In the summer- time the department uses a motorcycle in traffic work.


During 1935 we used in these vehicles 5,3271/2 gallons of gasoline and 2541/2 quarts of oil. Purchases of these two items during the year total 5,399 gallons of gasoline and 104 gallons of oil. The average cost of oil is 52c a gallon, while the price of gasoline ranges from 12 to 121/2 cents a gallon.


I ran my car 9,030 miles in department work. The motor- cycle ran up a mileage of 2,518 miles. Car No. 1 was driven 47,624 miles, plus some travel when the speedometer was not working, and Car No. 2 covered 14,590 miles.


From these figures we see that the total mileage for the year is 73,762. The total cost of maintaining these transportation facilities was $1,292.15. A little more arithmetic shows us that the average cost per mile has been less than two cents.


Outside of gasoline, the biggest item of transportation cost during the year just closed has been that of keeping Car No. 1 in repair. We had to spend $334.37 for repairs to Car No. 1,


80


whereas an outlay of only $95.30 was necessary to keep Car No. 2 on the highways. Epensive though the repairs to Car No. 1 are, they tell only half the story. The other half of the story is that whenever a police car is in a garage for repairs the department loses the use of it. Also, time and gasoline must be used in taking cars to and from the repairmen.


In the twenty months we have owned Car No. 1 it has given us no less than 77,928 miles of service; and just how many additional miles I cannot say.


I think that I speak truthfully when I say that Car No. 1 owes us nothing, particularly in the face of its tremendous mileage, high repair cost, and the fact that it can spend less and less time on the job.


Respectfully submitted,


GEORGE T. SYKES,


Chief of Police


OFFENSES


Males Females Totals


Accosting a Female in a Public Place


1


0


1


Allowing an Improper Person to Operate


1


0


1


Assault and Battery


18


2


20


Assault to Rape


1


0


1


Being a Delinquent


21


0


21


Being an Idle and Disorderly Person


1


0


1


Being an Unlicensed Operator


7


0


7


Carrying a Revolver


1


0


1


Disturbing the Peacc


12


0


12


Drunkenness


85


3


88


Failing to Keep to the Right of the Road


1


0


1


Failing to Slow Down at an Intersection


1


0


1


Failing to Stop when Signalled to do so


1


0


1


Fairhaven By-Laws Violations


2


0


2


False Alarm of Fire


2


0


2


Illegitimate Children Law Violations Insane


6


2


8


Larceny


8


0


8


Law of the Road Violations


37


0


37


Leaving the Scene of an Accident After Injury to Property


1


0


1


Lewdness


3


0


3


Liquor Keeping with Intent to Sell


1


0


1


Maintaining a Disorderly House


1


0


1


2


0


2


81


Males Females Totals


Neglect of Family


2


0


2


Neglect of Minor Child


1 0


1


Operating a Motor Vehicle After Right was Revoked


1


0


1


Operating a Motor Vehicle so as to Endanger


7 0


7


Operating a Motor Vehicle While Under the Influence of Intoxicating Liquor


20


0


20


Operating a Motor Vehicle with


Defective Brakes


3


0


3


Operating a Motor Vehicle Without Having Certificate of Registration in Possession


3


0


3


Operating a Motor Vehicle Without Having an Operator's License in Possession


2


0


2


Operating a Motor Vehicle without Lights


2


0


2


Operating an Uninsured Motor Vehicle


1


0


1


Operating an Unregistered Motor Vehicle Parole Violator


1


0


1


Possession of Lottery Slips


5


0


5


Promoting a Lottery


5


0


5


Rape


4


0


4


Refusing to Show Operator's License to an Officer


1


0


1


Scallop Law Violations


4


0


4


Selling Leased Property


2


0


2


Shellfish Laws Violations


3


0


3


Speeding


59


1


60


Statutory Rape


10


0


10


Taking Scallops out of Season


3


0


3


Unlawful Appropriation of a Motor Vehicle


3


0


3


Vagrancy


1


0


1


Weekly Wage Law Violation


3


0


3


361


8


369


DISPOSITION OF CASES


Fined - Suspended


34


0


34


House of Correction - Suspended


8


0


8


Fined


136


2


138


Not Guilty


27


2


29


Filed


63


0


63


State Prison


1


0


1


Lyman School


1


0


1


Probation


9


0


9


Lyman School - Suspended


10


0


10


Continued


9


0


9


State Farm


7


0


7


1


0


1


82


Males Females Totals


Released Without Arraignment


28


2


30


Defaulted


4


0


4


Pending


3


0


3


Taunton Insane Hospital


6


2


8


Nol Prossed


4


0


4


House of Correction


1


0


1


House of Correction and Fined


2


0


2


Board of Parole


1


0


1


Fined, House of Correction Suspended, and Probation


7


0


7


361


8


369


ARRESTS BY MONTHS


January


22


0


22


February


7


1


8


March


47


1


48


April


30


0


30


May


25


0


25


June


32


1


33


July


27


1


28


August


29


1


30


September


21


0


21


October


20


0


20


November


13


2


15


December


15


1


16


288


8


296


ARRESTS BY AGES


6-10 years


1


0


1


11-15 years


9


0


9


16-20 years


44


0


44


21-25 years


61


0


61


26-30 years


38


2


40


31-35 years


37


0


37


36-40 years


22


2


24


41-45 years


13


1


14


46-50 years


21


0


21


51-55


years


17


3


20


56-60 years


4


0


4


61-65 years


9


0


9


66-70 years


7


0


7


83


71-75 years Unknown


Males Females Totals


1


0


1


4


0


4


288


8


296


OFFENSE SUMMARY


Local Offenses


361


8


369


Out-of-Town Offenses


38


2


40


399


10


409


ARREST SUMMARY


Local Arrests


288


8


296


Out-of-Town Arrests


37


2


39


325


10


335


In Memoriam FRED A. ROUNSEVELL Died April 26, 1935 Aged 79 years, four months, two days


Fines Imposed in Fairhaven cases


$3,079.80


Court fines received by the Town


2,349.90


Telephone calls, etc., January 1-December 31, 1935


25,975


Complaints January 1-December 31, 1935


1,742


Reports January 1-December 31, 1935


2,140


29,857


Resident Arrests


139


Non-Resident Arrests


155


Other Arrests-Addresses not known


2


Stolen Property reported to the value of


$3,660.98


Property recovered to the value of $2,814.34


Number of children lost, found, and returned to their homes 24


Number of persons injured in automobile accidents 70


Number of dead bodies found


7


Number of doors found unlocked or open


47


Number of windows found unlocked or open 21


84


Number of street lights reported out Number of occasions when sections of the Town were without street lights 3


229


Number of occasions when all street lights were reported out 4


Number of Motor Vehicle Accident Reports filed with the Police Department Number of Motor Vehicle Sales and Transfers filed with the Police Department


47


Class 1 230


Class 2


6


Class 3


10


Individual


256


502


Motor Vehicle Licenses and rights suspended or revoked


88


Motor Vehicle Registrations revoked


9


Aircraft Licenses or rights suspended


1


Traffic Check-ups


1,642


Radio calls


2,010


POLICE DEPARTMENT EXPENDITURES


Chief George T. Sykes


$2,346.42


Investigating and Patrol Duty


Regular Men


$6,485.71


Extra Men


2,230.50


8,716.21


Police Duty Extra Men


208.90


Desk Duty


Regular Men


$2,607.15


Extra Men


775.60


3,382.75


Traffic Duty


Extra Men


556.10


Flashlight Batteries


7.80


Telephones


310.31


Auto Hire


95.00


Maintenance of Automobiles and Motorcycle


1,197.15


Printing


21.50


Stationery, Postage, Office Supplies


44.49


First Aid Supplies


23.70


Signal Light


74.00


New Motorcycle


271.25


85


Physicians Equipment for Men Town Clerk's Fees Furniture and Fixtures Traveling Expense Supplies Ammunition


28.00


23.33


20.50


566.80


10.40


5.65


15.32


$17,925.58


Unexpended Balance


74.42


Appropriation, Annual Town Meeting


$18,000.00


Report of the Assessors


To the Board of Selectmen and the Townspeople of Fairhaven:


The Board of Assessors submit the following report for the year 1935.


RECAPITULATION


Appropriations:


Town Appropriation,


Annual Meeting


$454,884.56


Special Town Meeting, April 23rd


560.44


State Tax


16,815.00


Audit


1,255.32


Parks and Reservations


127.00


County Tax


14,421.89


Overlay (1935)


10,556.46


Total


$498,620.67


Estimated Receipts:


Income Tax


$28,675.99


Corporation Tax


7,678.60


Licenses


2,549.48


Fines


1,265.30


Old Age Assistance


6,484.38


General Government


634.60


Protection of Persons and Property


413.23


Health and Sanitation


3,180.68


Special Assessments


850.61


Highways


749.60


Charities


17,335.36


Soldiers Benefits


1,267.08


Schools


7,248.97


Rent of Land and Wharf


1,609.34


Motor Vehicle Excise Tax


9,398.95


Interest on Taxes and Assessments


4,536.46


87


Race Track Distribution


Loan Authorized


885.00 36,000.00


Total


$130,763.63


Net amount raised on Polls and Property Total Valuation-$11,288,220.00 at $32.00 3317 polls at $2.00


$367,857.04


$361,223.04


6,634.00


$367,857.04


Sewers


629.98


Excise on Certain Ships and Vessels 1-3 of 1% of $37,360


124.53


Total of all taxes committed to Tax Collector (June 24th, 1935) 30 Polls at $2.00 each (4/15/35)


$368,611.55


$60.00


The additional $60.00 is for 30 added polls up to April 1st, 1935. Special warrant given to the Collector per State Auditors request. Same to be added to 1935 Overlay.


Value of Buildings


Value of Land


$7,683,140.00 2,366,760.00


Total


$10,049,900.00


Value of Per.


1,238,320.00


Tax $321,596.80 39,626.24


Polls


6,634.00


Total amount raised on Polls and Property


$367,857.04


To be raised


357,300.58


Overlay


$3,922.46


Polls


6,634.00


Total Overlay for 1935


$10,556.46


To find the amount to be raised, add the annual Town Meet- ing Appropriations, the State and County Taxes and deduct from this sum the total Estimated Receipts minus Available Funds.


The tax rate is determined by deducting the sum of the Esti- mated Receipts, Polls, (Free Cash in Treasury, if any) from the


$11,288,220.00


$361,223.04


88


total Town Appropriations and dividing the balance by the total Valuation. The rate may be in fractions and is corrected by increasing or decreasing the Overlay.


STATISTICS


Number of horses assessed


91


Number of cows assessed


781


Neat cattle, other than cows


15


Swine


77


Dwelling houses


3200


Acres of land


7497


Number of fowl


3550


Additional Assessments, as of December 20th, 1935


Number of persons assessed


8


Value of Real Estate


$6,380.00


Tax $204.16 6.40


88 polls at $2.00


$176.00


Recapitulation of Motor Vehicle Excise Tax.


Cars


Value


First Commitment


1588


$240,290.00


Tax $8,017.70


2nd Commitment


306


64,540.00


1,713.08


3rd Commitment


316


62,090.00


1,278.91


4th Commitment


144


32,410.00


470.00


Total for 1935


2354


$399,330.00


$11,479.69


Respectfully submitted,


CLARENCE A. TERRY,


CHRISTOPHER J. BIRTWISTLE, LEWIS E. BENTLEY,


Assessors of Fairhaven


Value of Personal Estate


200.00


$6,580.00


$210.56


PUBLIC WELFARE Case Load


JAN.


FEB.


MARCH


APRIL


MAY


JUNE


JULY


AUG.


SEPT.


OCT.


NOV


DEC.


TOTALS


No. Family Cases First Day of Month


160


196


232


187


181


155


156


138


186


172


150


15;


No. Persons Represented


696


882


1,010


843


834


704


71


642


824


778


662


684


No. Single Persons First Day of Month


41


46


55


53


48


50


48


46


52


49


49


41


No. New Cases Opened During Month


22


8


5


3


10


5


6


16


5


9


7


14


No. Old Cases Reopened During Month


35


64


14


18


15


20


15


49


15


23


14


48


Total Cases Open During Month


258


314


306


261


254


230


22


249


258


253


220


260


No. Cases Closed During Month


16


27


66


32


49


26


41


11


37


52


12


10


Total Number Cases Open End of Month


242


287


240


229


205


204


184


238


221


201


208


250


Expenditures


Food


$2,044.67


$2,635.99


$2,293.13


$2,655.47


$1,984.03


$1.994.42


$2,623.46


$2,274.09


$2,727.37


$2,677.04


$2,830.46


$4,489.54


$31,229.67


Shelter


153.50


110.00


205.50


249,00


180.00


197.50


212.50


317.00


399.25


355.75


308.93


486.37


3,175.30


Clothing


35.30


181.29


141.41


170.18


220.36


191.12


183,64


89.22


193.91


404.81


156.38


434.42


2,402.04


Fuel


1,351.02


1,128.11


1,167.96


1,056.27


598.38


28.53


57.13


39.76


55.47


163.04


946.48


1,075.57


7,667.72


Medical Care in Home


234.00


205.72


235.37


240,21


205.24


266.55


260.85


237.04


128.99


154.55


151.27


283.71


2,603.50


Board


12.00


75.33


88.35


187.71


142.95


53.13


111.37


186.30


92.82


102.49


37.00


27.54


1,117.49


Transportation


26.35


25.50


8.79


32.33


42.50


17.25


39.75


47.03


36.50


27.55


11.54


25.75


340.84


Cash


326.00


364.00


405.00


435.50


549.00


440.50


449,00


584.25


512.00


358.51


582.25


609.99


5,616.00


Clerks and Investigators


204.75


204.75


208.00


231.55


208.00


204.75


256.95


269.00


256.75


208.00


136.00


208.38


2,596.88


Supplies and Stationery


15.94


40.00


42.74


10.00


10.00


20.00


10.00


13.00


14.82


4.16


9.31


60.42


250.39


Commodity Distribution


30.69


26.07


22.75


50.53


68.18


63.50


72.14


88.07


91.82


69.57


84.25


2.8


670.38


Hospitals


100.00


202.04


200.00


349.13


509.59


674.15


662.69


271.97


509.66


557.22


475.90


1,068.61


5,580.96


Other Services


10.00


28.30


55.00


40.00


8.99


10.00


40.00


28.50


24.58


60.00


10.45


47.02


362.84


Total Outside Relief


4,544.22


5,227.10


5,074.00


5,707.88


4,727.22


4,161.40


4,979.48


4,445.73


5,043.94


5.142.69


5,740.22


8.699.13


63,614.01


Other Cities and Towns


513.65


1,685.48


661.85


1,240.73


107.64


State Institutions


78.00


90.00


341.00


1


1,948.57


524.65


6,682.57


304.00


813.00


$71,109.58


SOLDIERS' AID Case Load


JAN.


FEB.


MARCH


APRIL


MAY


JUNE


JULY


AUG.


SEPT.


OCT.


NOV.


DEC.


TOTALS


No. Family Cases First Day of Month


27


28


28


26


29


20


16


17


19


21


19


26


No. Persons Represented


130


134


138


125


138


95


72


80


87


91


86


125


No. Single Persons First Day of Month


2


1


2


1


0


2


2


1


0


1


No. New Cases Opened During Month


1


1


2


1


0


0


0


0


2


0


0


0


No. Old Cases Reopened During Month


5


1


2


5


2


4


7


4


2


4


8


6


Total Cases Open During Month


35


34


36


34


32


24


25


23


25


26


27


33


No. Cases Closed During Month


3


32


32


28


30


20


18


19


21


22


19


27


28


Expenditures


JAN.


FEB.


MARCH


APRIL


MAY


JUNE


JULY


AUG.


SEPT.


OCT.


NOV


DEC.


TOTALS


Food


$34.00


$177.04


$72.58


$104.08


$74.50


$88.50


$12.00


$23.00


$100.00


$26.00


$89.50


$255.97


$1,057.17


Shelter


16.00


32.00


48.00


8.00


20.00


44.00


20.00


36.00


20.00


20.00


40.00


304.00


Clothing


12.49


11.49


8.85


25,69


23.26


13,17


5.47


25.10


32.91


60.42


77.43


296.28


Fuel


105.95


222.95


173.53


90.27


81.94


9.64


85


85


1.23


.80


78.65


130.25


896.91


Medical Care in Home


61.84


54.25


169.28


54.60


55.08


61.89


95.50


89.50


5.90


99.50


179.51


926.85


Transportation


3.00


2.50


2,50


2.50


2.50


2.03


2.03


.75


17.81


Cash


290.50


366.50


282.50


320.50


282.00


219,50


243.50


507.00


447.50


302.50


330.50


530.50


4,123.00


Hospital Care


21.58


429.95


143.91


913.49


Burial


22.00


Total


$349.45


$872.82


$644.85


$965.41


$570.63


$465.95


$356.69


$653.82


$722.94


$818.81


$822.48


$1,213.66


$8,557.51


6


2


3


7


0


5


12


6


261.93


29.40


23.47


3.25


22.00


Total Number Cases Open End of Month


Report of the Auditors


January 1, 1936.


We hereby certify we have examined the accounts of the Tax Collector, Treasurer, Selectmen, Overseers of the Poor and the School Committee of the Town of Fairhaven, for the year ending December 31, 1935 and find them correct.


CHARLES E. SHURTLEFF, RICHARD A. DENNIE, DELBERT J. HAYDEN,


Auditors.


Report of the Highway Department


To the Honorable Board of Selectmen:


I hereby submit a report of the activities of the Fairhaven High- way Department for the year of 1935.


An appropriation of $28,000 was voted for this department at the Annual Town Meeting, $3000 of which was for the purpose of purchasing a new motor truck. This truck was bought as soon as possible and it has been in constant use throughout the year, giving entire satisfaction. A new snow plow, of latest design, has been purchased and I feel that with the addition of this new equipment the efficiency of the depart- ment has been increased considerably.


During the year approximately 16,000 square yards of street have been sealed and about 1,400 square yards resurfaced, the latter made necessary because of sewer construction. Due to the rapid and extreme changes of vehicular traffic we find the type of construction of many of our streets obsolete and in some cases dangerous, namely, excessive high crown, in some instances being six or eight inches above the curb and sidewalk. Where- ever new work is undertaken this condition will be remedied. There are still many streets requiring sealing or resurfacing.


E. R. A. and W. P. A. Work


The Highway Department has had supervision of many Federal projects under the Relief Program and considerable benefit has been derived, not only in the work accomplished but also from the stand point of keeping needy people from local relief roles. One type of work undertaken has been the in- stallation of a much needed drainage system in various sections of the Town. This is one of the most worthwhile undertakings and is appreciated by the residents of the several localities and also is of lasting value to the Town. Several sections of road resur- facing and reconstruction was undertaken in conjunction with the W. P. A. Program, but owing to the inability of securing an early approval by Federal authorities we were unable to start this work when it was reasonable and proper. However we were faced with the problem of having 200 men idle and the possi- bility of many of same applying for local relief. We undertook this work realizing the possible difficulties that exist in that




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