USA > Massachusetts > Worcester County > Athol > Town annual report, town of Athol, Massachusetts 1935 > Part 4
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There were built during the year 2 water holes. One on Pleasant street near the property of Harlan King which protects seven houses and one on Riceville Road, protecting the CCC camps and four houses. We under- stand more will be built next year.
The Dept. has in service 7500 ft. of 21/2 inch hose, of which 5000 feet is in good condition, while the rest will have to be replaced over a period of 2 or 3 years.
Also there are 400 feet of 11/2 inch hose double jacket type, and 900 feet of 3/4 inch rubber hose used on chemical tanks and booster pump lines.
Each year we are forced to condemn as much 21/2 inch hose as we purchase, and should have enough at all times to insure a change when hose is wet or frozen. It is safe to assume that hose which is more than 10 years old is not reliable, and therefore no asset to any depart- ment.
Chief-E. E. SMITH Deputies-I. DOWER T. SCHMIDT
67
THIRTIETH ANNUAL REPORT OF THE
Athol Water Department
COMMISSIONERS
E. Warren Tyler (Chairman)
Term as commissioner expires 1938
Frank L. Thayer Term as commissioner expires 1936
Frank P. Hall (Clerk)
Term as commissioner expires 1937
SUPERINTENDENT Frank P. Hall
FOREMAN Dell Venette
CARETAKER OF FILTERS A. Harry Sawyer
CLERK Robert Wm. Glasheen Miss Teresa Hausmann, Stenographer Office of the Department, Room 17, Memorial Building 584 Main Street Telephone 341-W Shop of the Department, Electric Street Telephone 341-R
IN CASE OF LEAKS OR BROKEN MAINS OR HY- DRANTS, PLEASE NOTIFY THE SUPERINTENDENT
Day Calls, 341-W. Night Calls, 590. Night calls for foreman, 603.
68
Commissioners Report
-
To the Honorable Board of Selectmen and the Citizens of Athol:
At the annual Town Meeting held February fourth, nineteen hundred and thirty-five, Mr. E. Warren Tyler was re-elected a member of the Water Commission for a term of three years. At the annual meeting of the Com- missioners held February sixth, nineteen hundred and thirty-five, Mr. E. Warren Tyler was re-elected Chairman and Frank P Hall Clerk for the ensuing year.
In addition to the regular maintenance work the De- partment has laid two thousand one hundred and fifty- nine feet of new mains, and replaced seventy-nine feet of old main with pipe of larger size. The pipe line at Har- vard Avenue at the junction of Chestnut Street has been lowered to prevent freezing because of the changing of the grade on Chestnut Street. Three hydrants have been re-located. Fifteen new services have been added to the system and twenty-four services renewed.
The channel at the Summer Street Reservoir has been greatly improved by removing the cobblestone walls and replacing them with cement. The bottom of the channel was also cemented.
Gypsy Moth
The infestation of the Gypsy Moth on the water sheds during the year 1934 was very severe. We kept a crew
69
of men all winter painting egg clusters. Over 850,000 clus- ters were painted each containing about 400 eggs with an unknown quantity destroyed by burning brush. Com- plying with the vote of the town at its annual Town Meeting, your commissioners, after attending several de- monstrations of spraying machines, purchased from the Fitzhenry Guptill Company of Cambridge, one of their models (FX) power sprayers with a 400 gallon solution tank, costing $1,187.02. From Brewer & Carlson Company we purchased a second hand Ford Truck for $350. One thousand fifty feet of hose for use on the sprayer was purchased from the Hewitt Rubber Company for $683.55, making the total cost of equipment $2,220.57. The ma- chine proved very satisfactory and it is not only used by us, but by several of the other town departments through- out the year.
Central Filtration Plant
For a number of years a condition has existed in our present water supply due to a growth of algea which al- though not injurious to the public health, gave to the wa- ter an odor, color and a very undesirous taste. For the past few years this has been more noticeable in the wa- ters of Phillipston Reservoir, although in previous years it has been found in the waters of Newton Reservoir. Al- So due to the color, the Thousand Acre Reservoir water could only be used in very dry seasons. The commis- sioners have known that this condition existed, but be- cause of the heavy principal and interest payments due each year on the loan of 1906 amounting to $350,000.00 and the loan of 1911 of $30,000.00, it was deemed best not to burden the citizens with any additional loan until the above bond issues were paid. The last payment on the 1906 loan alone is to be made in August of this year.
The Federal Government through the Public Works
70
Administration offered to pay 45% of the cost of any im- provements to the supply. With these two things in mind we engaged the services of Tighe & Bond, consulting en- gineers, who working with the Massachusetts Department of Public Health, made a complete survey of the system. They submitted four different plans for the purification of the Athol Water Supply. Of the plans submitted it was deemed best because of the conditions of all the reser- voirs, to recommend to the town the erection of a modern filtration plant at the Summer Street Reservoir. This will enable us to filter all the water from the three reser- voirs at one central filtration plant. This plan was ac- cepted by the voters of the town at a special Town Meet- ing held September 23, 1935. The Public Works Admin- istration have accepted the same plan and agreed to pay 45% of the cost of the same.
The Town Treasurer was authorized at this meeting to issue either bonds or notes to the Town for $57,000.00 to meet our share of the expenses. (This amount to be paid back through water revenue.) This money was bor- rowed from the Merchants' National Bank of Boston at the extreme low rate of 13/4% with a premium of $57.60 over a fifteen year period. The loans of 1906 and 1911 were borrowed at the rate of 4%.
To date one contract, that for the erection of the standpipe has been awarded to the McClintic £ Marshall Corporation of Boston, the low bidder for $8,820.00. Ad- ditional contracts will be advertised for bids sometime in February, the construction of the same will be started early in the Spring.
Respectfully submitted,
E. WARREN TYLER FRANK L. THAYER FRANK P. HALL Board of Water Commissioners
71
RAINFALL AT ATHOL, MASS. Elevation 1,000 feet (Water Works)
Year Jan. Feb. Mar. Apr. May June July Aug. Sept. Oct. Nov. Dec. Total
1931
2.98
2.29
4.79
2.91
5.54
4.06 2.49
6.00
2.93
3.64
1.70
4.06
43.39
1932
4.79
2.58
5.90
2.12
2.04
1.73
5.97
3.65
5.84
5.35
4.37
1.91
46.25
1933
2.64
3.87
5.80
5.76
2.33
2.20
3.62
7.52
9.62
5.27
1.69
3.97
54.29
1934
3.58
2.69
3.34
3.73
3.59
5.49
3.60
2.95
8.35
2.83
3.95
4.63
48.73
1935
5.47
3.13
1.73
3.88
2.96
5.49
3.26
1.42
4.55
1.30
4.40
1.04
38.63
Average Previous 10 Years
3.08 2.51
3.00
3.87
2.93
5.02
4.88
3.35
2.91
3.22
4.36
2.96
42.14
PHILLIPSTON GAGE
Elevation 1,100 feet
Year Jan. Feb. Mar. Apr.
May June July Aug. Sept. Oct. Nov. Dec. Total
1931
1.71
2.24
3.81
2.84
4.52
3.81
2.41
5.62
2.47
3.70
1.41
4.35
38.89
1932
4.00
1.68
5.22
1.97
1.92
1.98
5.12
3.29
5.39
4.36
4.44
1.61
40.98
1933
2.37
3.61
4.79
5.65
2.54
2.21
2.70
6.44
8.57
4.62
1.63
3.06
48.19
1934
3.12
2.18
3.57
3.99
3.14
5.34
3.99
2.43
7.92
2.51
4.28
3.61
45.08
1935
5.77
2.71
1.71
2.39
2.62
5.15
2.67
1.47
4.34
1.11
4.12
.80
34.86
Average Previous 10 Years 2.73 2.52 2.90
3.54
3.18
4.71
4.45
3.31
2.58
3.05
4.25
2.78
40.09
72
CONSUMPTION OF WATER IN COMPARISON TO METER INSTALLATION IN ATHOL, MASS. from 1922 to 1935
Year
Consumption by years gallons
Consumption
New
Meters
Total
by days gallons
Services Installed Meters
1922
435,445,000
1,193,000
61
79
79
1923
421,210,000
1,154,000
35
79
1924
335, 435, 000
919,000
27
185
264
1925
301,500,254
826,028
26
180
444
1926
284,807,452
780,295
37
334
778
1927
250,872, 700
687,323
43
191
969
1928
258,689,600
708,714
41
246
1215
1929
256,232,500
702,007
33
204
1419
1930
213,153,100
· 583,981
47
156
1575
1931
226,661,398
620,990
52
153
1728
1932
211,208,500
577,072
27
25
1753
1933
230,396,500
631,223
16
35
1788
1934
248,229,661
680,081
18
28
1816
1935
226,940,600
621,755
15
17
1833
478
1,833
478 New Services added from 1922 to 1935 inclusive 1,833 Meters in use December 31, 1935
.9735 of active services metered December 31, 1935
73
NEW PIPE LINES
Harvard Avenue
672 feet of 6-inch
Shore Drive
576 feet of 6-inch
Summit Avenue
546 feet of 6-inch
Union Street
93 feet of 6-inch
Common Street
124 feet of 4-inch
South Main Street
148 feet of 2-inch
Total 2,159 feet
· REPLACEMENTS
Union Street
79 feet of 6-inch replacing 2-inch
THE FOLLOWING PIPE LINES HAVE BEEN LOW- ERED TO PREVENT FREEZING
Harvard Avenue across Chestnut Street 110 feet of 6-inch
REPLACED AND RELOCATED HYDRANTS
No. 91-South Athol Road opposite Sinclair station from opposite No. 22 South Athol Road 2 Way and Steamer
REPLACED HYDRANT
No. 20-Exchange Street opposite
Fire Station
4 Way
RELOCATED HYDRANT
No. 89-South Street corner of Freedom
Moved back
2 Way
SERVICES
Number of services added during the year Renewal of old services 24
15
74
METERS
Number of meters installed during 1935 17
Number of meters in service previous to 1935 1816
Number of meters in service December 31, 1935 1833
FINANCIAL STATEMENT
Accounts Receivable
January 1st, 1935
$9,407.60
Water Liens 836.82
Tax Titles 208.89
$10,453.31
Commitments Janu-
ary 1st to Decem- ber 31st, 1935 51,031.85
$61,485.16
Payments to Treas-
urer January 1st
to December 31st, 1935
$48,014.51
Tax Title
225.75
$48,240.26
Abatements
January 1st to De-
cember 31st, 1935 608.26
Accounts Receivable
December 31st,
1935
$11,863.98
Water Liens 551.96
Tax Title 220.70
12,636.64
$61,485.16
75
RECEIPTS
Sale of Water
Domestic Meter
Rates $36,171.96
Domestic Meter
Rates Liens 219.32
$36,391.28
Manufacturer
Meter Rates 4,088.17
Flat Rates $ 3,695.20
Flat Rates Liens 6.17
3,701.37 225.75
Tax Titles
Services & Miscellaneous
$44,406.57 3,833.69
Total Receipts
$48,240.26
Premium & Accrued Interest on Sale of Filtration Plant notes to be reserved for 1936 interest
57.60
Balance January 1st, 1935
29,858.68
$78,156.54
Balance December 31st, 1935 $24,099.84
Paid Vouchers No. 5060 to No. 7265
Inclusive under Expenditures 54,056.70
$78,156.54
1 1
CENTRAL FILTRATION PLANT
Appropriation
Disbursements Unexpended Balance
$57,000.00
$
293.99
56,706.01
$57,000.00 $57,000.00
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BONDS AND INTEREST
$20,720.00
Appropriation
Disbursements
$20,720.00
NEW EQUIPMENT
Appropriation
$ 3,000.00
Disbursements
$ 2,901.17
Unexpended Balance
98.83
$ 3,000.00
$ 3,000.00
MAINTENANCE
Appropriation
$37,000.00
Disbursements :
General 1
$15,083.81
Gypsy Moth Extermination
4,017.75
Extension of Mains
3,600.28
Services & Miscellaneous
2,560.65
Meters and Repairs
416.64
Automobiles and Trucks
1,386.95
Improvements
3,369.45
Unexpended Balance
6,564.47
$37,000.00
$37,000.00
Fixed Expenditures
Water Loan Bonds 1906
$350,000.00
Water Loan Bonds 1911
30,000.00
Central Filtration Plant notes 1935
57,000.00
$437,000.00
Amount paid in 29 years
$356,000.00
Amount due Bond Holders December 31, 1935 24,000.00
Amount due Central Filtration
Plant Note Holders December 31, 1935 57,000.00
$437,000.00
1.
· 77
Fixed Expenditures for 1936
February bond interest payable $
480.00
August bond interest payable 480.00
August bonds payable 19,000.00
November interest Filtration Plant notes payable 939.90
Accrued interest and premium on Sale of Filtration Plant Notes Reserved for 1936 Interest 57.60
November Filtration Plant Notes Payable 6,000.00
$ 26,957.50
78
Report of the Board of Health For the Year 1935
The following cases of contagious diseases have been reported :
German Measles 10
Measles 25
Diphtheria
1
Scarlet Fever
2
Lobar Pneumonia
10
Tuberculosis
(all types) 22
Dog Bite 4
No cases of dog bite required anti-rabic treatment and there were very few cases of contagious disease for whose care we were responsible. At the beginning of the year, we were paying for the care of four tubercular patients at Westfield, and eight at West Boylston. There have been 11 new patients, 9 were discharged as cured, and one has died. At present we defray the expenses of 4 patients at Westfield, 6 at West Boylston, and one at North Reading.
79
COMPLAINTS, of which there have been a large number, have received prompt attention. LICENSES, - Alcohol, Carbonated Water, Manicure, Slaughtering, Un- dertaking, Ice Cream, and Pasteurizing, have been issued, as well as 103 burial permits. Meetings of the Board of Health have been held every other Friday night through- out the year.
The CONTAGIOUS HOSPITAL has taken on a new lease of life with a coat of paint and other exterior and interior repairs. It is now in excellent condition, a place worthy of the name "Contagious Hospital." A very fine cesspool has been constructed and the heating plant re- novated. The present occupants have been most inter- ested in making the improvements and they are more than willing to do all the repair work of which they have knowledge. Consequently our bills have been mostly for materials and supplies. We wish to express here our ap- preciation of their cooperation with us.
No DIPHTHERIA CLINIC was conducted. All par- ents whose very young children have not as yet been in- oculated were sent leaflets which advised them to take their children to the family physician for immunization. From the time when the free clinics were first established, we have constantly advised the public that such clinics might not go on forever. Our purpose has been to prove the value of inoculation against diphtheria so that par- ents would feel the necessity of calling upon their private physician for this work just as they would if their chil- dren were ill.
The CHEST CLINIC, under the direction of the Dis- trict Nurse, was held the fourth Wednesday in each month except December. The report of work done at this clinic follows:
80
Patients examined at
THE ATHOL CONSULTATION CLINIC 285
New Patients 182
Re-examinations 103
X Rays taken
255
Pulmonary type found
11
Athol residents 5
Childhood type found
4
Athol residents 3
1
Athol resident 1
Recommended for Sanatorium Care
13
Admitted to Sanatoria (Athol residents)
6
Patients admitted from:
Orange
Warwick
Erving
Phillipston
Farley
Royalston
Millington
Barre
Leverett
Baldwinville
New Salem
Templeton
Athol
Tuberculosis Deaths 4
Patients in Sanatoria, January 1, 1936
West Boylston
6
Westfield
10
Tewksbury
1
7th - 9th - 11th GRADE CHEST CLINIC
Attendance in these grades
501
Skin tested
312
5-20-35
Positive re-actors
115 5-23-35
X Rayed - 6-3-35
Physicals 18 6-11-35
SPECIAL CHILDREN'S CHEST CLINIC
Because of the large attendance at the regular monthly Chest Clinic the State Department of Tubercu-
Other forms
81
losis decided in favor of a special clinic for school chil- dren.
On November 5th, 65 children who were either di- rect contacts or who were sent to the Clinic by family physicians, were X Rayed and skin tested under the di- rection of Dr. David Zacks.
December 2nd, 3rd, and 4th, each child accompanied by their parents was given a physical (chest) examina- tion.
One Pulmonary case was found and the child im- mediately began sanatorium treatment.
9 children were discharged and the other 55 were ad- vised to continue yearly re-examinations for an indefin- ite period.
The number of visits and other work done by the DISTRICT NURSE, MRS. LOUISE HATSTAT, with the assistance of the W. P. A. nurse, MISS NORMA MARONI, is tabulated below:
Town Nursing Visits
398
Metropolitan Nursing Visits
173
Operations (assisted at)
3
Confinements
14
Night Calls
5
School Visits
16
Baby Hygiene Home Visits
155
Board of Health Visits
45
Pre-Natal Visits
64
Post-Natal Visits
119
New Born Baby Visits
113
Tuberculosis Visits
562
Social Service Visits
1090
82
Baby Clinics
41
Diphtheria Clinics
1
Tuberculosis Clinics
18
Hospital Trips
67
Doctor's Office Visits
43
Public Health Lectures, Con- sultations, etc.
143
Total
3070
Owing to the many changes which have been occur- ring throughout the year in the milk regulations, we have been forced at our meetings and at other times to devote an unusual amount of attention to the milk situation.
The report of the MILK INSPECTOR, Mr. Thomas Dillon, follows:
"Considerable improvement has been made in the dairies and milk rooms of the farms producing milk for the Town of Athol. This helps to insure us a cleaner and better product. All the dairy farms supplying milk to Athol have been inspected and tests made of the milk for butter fat, solids and sediment. I am pleased to report that the sediment tests showed the milk to be very clean as a whole. The following shows the results of the butter fat and solids tests and compares them with the required standard tests of the state. It may be of further interest to know that in addition to the regular dairies supplying milk to the town that we have two grade A dairies that are qualified to make milk to be pasteurized and sold as grade A milk. I wish to state that all funds collected by me for milk licenses have been deposited with the treasurer of the Town of Athol.
Table
Butter Fat Total Solids
Supply for town of Athol
4.05%
12.76%
State Requirements
3.35%
12.00%
83
GARBAGE and RUBBISH have been collected effi- ciently by MR. FRANK SIMONDS. No complaints were received about the Public Dump as they were when it was located on the South Athol Road.
MR. P. L. McDONALD, the PLUMBING INSPECTOR, issued 92 plumbing permits this year. 36 cases were in- vestigated before these permits were issued and 14 cases of allegedly illegal plumbing jobs were examined.
The amount of work done at the DENTAL CLINIC is reported by MRS. RIDD and DR. H. E. SMITH as fol- lows:
102
Clinic Days
Children Attending
717
Permanent Teeth Filled
325
Permanent Teeth Extracted
32
Deciduous Teeth Filled
42
Deciduous Teeth Extracted
587
Cleanings
149
No Charges
241
MR. C. E. VAUGHN, the SLAUGHTERING INSPECT- OR, makes the following report:
Animals killed and inspected:
Veal
272
Hogs
107
Beef
86
Sheep
2
Total
467
Three veal were condemned, all underweight. One hog, which was hurt in a truck, and died in the slaughterhouse, was condemned.
84
Two pigs condemned, underweight.
Hours labor for the year, 440.
Miles travelled during the year, 811.
None of our appropriations have been increased the past few years. However, with the changes that have come about in the work of the District Nurse, we are pro- tecting our citizens better than at any time previously. We have succeeded in conducting the affairs of the Depart- ment economically and at the same time for the best in- terests of the public health.
Respectfully submitted,
FRANK W. FULLER MARION B. SIBLEY STANLEY B. LYMAN Board of Health.
85
Report of the Treasurer
Cash on hand January 1, 1935
$86,576.81
Total Receipts 827,326.77
$913,903.58
Payments as per weekly warrants issued by the Board of Selectmen and Town Ac- countant
$770,614.28
Cash on hand December 31, 1935
143,289.30
$913,903.58
Tax Titles
Tax Titles held Jan. 1, 1935 $ 6,858.74
Additional Commitments by Collector
6,868.16
$ 13,726.90
Less :
Tax Titles Redeemed $7,390.42
Tax Titles Assigned or Sold
26.03
7,416.45
Tax Titles held December 31, 1935 $ 6,310.45
CHARLES W. FAULKNER, Treasurer.
86
Payments on Indebtedness in 1935 in Detail
Paid Merchants National Bank, Boston, Mass.
Municipal Land Loan of 1928 $ 4,000.00
Sewer Loan of 1922 2,000.00
Sewer Loan of 1932 2,000.00
Town Hall & Memorial Building Loan of 1923 2,000.00
Playground Loan of 1934 3,000.00
Paid First National Bank, Boston, Mass.
10,500.00
Town Hall and Memorial Building Loans Water Loan 1,000.00
Paid Commonwealth of Massachusetts
Emergency Welfare Loan of 1933
10,000.00
Water Loan
12,000.00
Tax Title Loan of 1935 (due Oct. 1, 1936)
5,000.00
Paid Union Trust Co., Boston, Mass. Water Loan 6,000.00
Total Payments in 1935 $ 57,500.00
87
Town of Athol Indebtedness December 31, 1935
Municipal Land Loan of 1928
Due in 1936
$ 4,000.00
Playground Loan of 1934
$3,000 due each year 1936-38
$2,000 due in 1939
11,000.00
Town Hall and Memorial Building Loan of 1918
$7,500 due each year 1936-39 30,000.00
Loan of 1922
$3,000 due each year 1936-42 21,000.00
Loan of 1923
$2,000 due each year 1936-43 16,000.00
67,000.00
Emergency Welfare Loan of 1933 Due in 1936 10,000.00
Municipal Relief Loan of 1935 $3,000 due each year 1936-42
21,000.00
Sewer Debt
Loan of 1908
14,000.00
Loan of 1922
$2,000 due each year 1936-42
14,000.00
Loan of 1932
$2,000 due each year 1936-43 16,000.00
44,000.00
88
Water Debt
Due in 1936
19,000.00
$1,000 due each year 1937-41
5,000.00
24,000.00
Central Water Filtration Loan of 1935
$6,000 due each year 1936-43 48,000.00
$3,000 due in 1944 3,000.00
$1,000 due each year 1945-50
6,000.00
57,000.00
Total Bonded Indebtedness $238,000.00
Temporary Loan in Anticipation of Revenue 50,000.00
Total Debt $288,000.00
C. W. FAULKNER, Treasurer.
89
Report of the Board of Public Welfare
The Board of Public Welfare herewith submits its annual report, covering the year from January 1 to De- cember 31, 1935, inclusive:
There are three specific reasons why Welfare oper- ates. In the first place, the law says that all needy per- sons in our midst shall be taken care of, and it leaves the towns no choice. This includes non-citizens, non-resi- dents, as well as residents. In the second place, it is the only humane way to do; and last, it is for the protection of all, as riots and civil strife would result if persons were allowed to go hungry and cold.
Your Welfare Board has done its best in taking care of the local situation, distributing aid as economically as possible, yet striving to see that no one suffered for lack of the necessities of life.
Never has Welfare passed through such an uncertain time as experienced from month to month during 1935. Delays in changing over from E. R. A. to W. P. A., fail- ure by the Federal Government to pay its workmen on time, and the general "tightening up" of Federal relief, caused a fluctuation in Welfare cases far greater than in
90
1934, when the E. R. A. operated in a smooth and effi- cient manner, with a home office much in control of the local situation. Under W. P. A. and its distant control, it is practically impossible to get new Welfare charges en- rolled for Federal work. There has also been a slowing up of available openings in C. C. C. camps, with word that no applications will be received in January. While cities and towns are still absolutely dependent on Federal as- sistance, Welfare is unable to secure the benefits today as were derived under C. W. A. or E. R. A. Food prices and in fact the cost of all life's necessities have greatly increased over 1934. These increases of course are reflect- ed in the Welfare budget. The irregularities in the shoe business, the closing of one old-time factory, throwing all hands out of employment, and the inability of the average man to secure credit, have been important fac- tors for increasing Welfare expenses.
The shiftless, the inebriates, and the ne'er-do-wells, will always be with us. These persons are far in the mi- nority, but prominent enough to often make some persons wonder why they are tolerated by Welfare. In practically every case they represent large families and the children are not to blame for their parents' faults, and must be cared for. When the head of the household of this na- ture is in jail, the town has total support of the family, and it is generally costly. It is a hard question to decide, many times, whether it is best to bring charges to place the man in jail, or to try other methods. Through pa- tience and studying the make-up of the offending indi- idual, it is often possible to steer the family safely over a long period, without interruption.
Most of the Welfare applicants wish to work. The average man wants employment at a living wage, and we are constantly besieged by persons who expect us to provide work for them. At this time, we wish to thank
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the several manufacturing concerns who have co-operated with us in the past year by giving employment to Welfare recipients who qualified for the open jobs.
The Welfare Department has secured its share of E. R. A. and W. P. A. projects. At the present time, a pro- ject is closing which will furnish the town nearly 400 cords of wood. This fuel is being distributed to Welfare and Soldiers' Relief cases, at a cost to the town of around $2.00 per cord. A septic tank has just been finished at the Infirmary, which cares for all sewerage that hereto- fore emptied on the surface of the ground. A project is now in operation at the Infirmary which will remove large quantities of rocks and convert waste land into till- age.
The number of persons aided means but little in cost comparison. It is the kind of aid that shows in dollars and cents. A large group may be aided one month cheap- er than a smaller group another month. For instance, a family of eight may need only one small grocery order to tide them over, while a family of three may be given med- ical, hospitalization, in addition to other support. One of the most expensive cases of the year was a family of eight. The man had weeks of hospitalization; one son was also in the hospital for several weeks, and we had the total support of the family at a cost of over $1,300. It is not an Athol settled case, and the outlay will eventually come back to the Town treasury.
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