Town annual reports of the officers of Southbridge for the year ending 1917-1921, Part 3

Author: Southbridge (Mass.)
Publication date: 1917
Publisher: The Town
Number of Pages: 752


USA > Massachusetts > Worcester County > Southbridge > Town annual reports of the officers of Southbridge for the year ending 1917-1921 > Part 3


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Tuberculosis


The Tubercular Dispensary has been open every Monday evening from 5 to 7 o'clock, in the Town Hall Building, with a physician and nurse in attend- ance. The location of the dispensary has been changed to a room on the first floor, this being one of the rooms formerly used by the high school.


There have been twenty-one (21) people examined this year, not as many as we feel should appear at this important dispensary, and the Board hopes that


83


REPORT OF BOARD OF HEALTH


some concerted action can be taken by the several boards of the town, the clubs and societies to urge the necessity of the prevention of this dreaded dis- ease by prompt action on everyone's part in detect- ing its presence at its very beginning; this can be found out by a visit to this free clinic.


We are at this time paying for the board and care of two patients at the Westfield State Sanatorium and one at the Worcester Tubercular Hospital. With these and the several that the board aids dur- ing the year means a constant increasing expense to the town, the board therefore asks for the same appropriation as last year, although if it were not for the fact of the high tax rate of this year and the condition of the country, they would feel justified in asking for an increased appropriation.


Deaths


Following is a list of the deaths for the year.


Diseases of the heart 17


Diseases of the brain 15 .


Diabetes 5


Cancer 12


Cholera Infantum 5


Pneumonia 20


Diphtheria Typhoid Fever


2


Pulmonary Tuber- culosis 8


Whooping Cough 1 Bronchitis 2


1


Tubercular Menin- gitis


3 Pul. Congestion 1


Arterio Sclerosis 6 Enteritis 2


All other diseases. 8


84


REPORT OF BOARD OF HEALTH


Cerebro-Spinal


Ulcer of Stomach


1


Meningitis


2


Indigestion


1


Nephritis


5


Angina Pectoris


1


Anaemia


2 Accidental


7


Scrofula


1


Suicide


3


Paralysis


1 Ill-defined


9


Gangrene


1 Unknown


4


Premature Birth


8


Still-born


9


Total-Males 75


Females 88 Total Deaths 163


Deaths by Months


January


13


July


16


February


27


August


14


March


13


September


14


April


8 October


8


May


11


November


13


June


10


December


16


The Board has received many complaints about the disagreeable odor and taste of the town water, this no doubt is caused by the filthy condition of the bottom of the reservoir and there being too many fish in the water. Although this water does not act as a germ distributor, yet the odor and taste are very disagreeable to the users.


This has been called to the attention of the Water Company, but as yet we do not see any improvement. We hope there may be a change for the better in the


85


REPORT OF BOARD OF HEALTH


near future.


Very respectfully, W. S. CONWAY, M.D., J. E. DONAIS, M.D., J. A. CARON, Board of Health.


Agent's Report


To the Board of Health.


Gentlemen :


I herewith submit my report for the year ending Dec. 31, 1917.


Houses placarded for contagious diseases 19


Houses disinfected after contagious diseases 19


Houses disinfected after other diseases 25


School houses disinfected


3


Garbage nuisances investigated


56


Dumps investigated


8


Yards investigated


13


Hen nuisances investigated


6


Cesspool nuisances investigated


3


Privy nuisances investigated


2


Dead animals ordered buried


10


Water in pond analyzed


1


Sewer Connections investigated


2


Brooks investigated


3


Contagious diseases investigated


5


86


REPORT OF BOARD OF HEALTH


Other nuisances investigated 15


Pond nuisances investigated


1


These nuisances after careful investigation were abated by the owners satisfactory to the Board in all but one case; that one had had to be abated by the Board of Health and bill for same has been rendered to the owner for the work done by the Board.


I wish to thank the Board and the public for their co-operation in the year's work.


Respectfully submitted,


ALBERT R. BROWN, Agent.


Milk Inspector's Report


To the Board of Health.


Gentlemen :


I hereby submit my report for the year ending De- cember 31, 1917.


I have issued twenty-nine (29) milk peddlers' li- censes, four (4) oleomargarine licenses for which I have paid the Treasurer the sum of $18.50.


I have visited the farms where this milk is pro- duced once during the year and some two or three times. I have found the conditions not altogether sat- isfactory, but improvements are being made at many places.


The question of labor being one of the reasons ad- vanced by many why more work had not been done


.


87


REPORT OF BOARD OF HEALTH


during the year, these were just reasons and I have overlooked minor changes to be attended to at a later date.


I have had but a very few complaints as to quality or cleanliness of milk during the year and these when called to the attention of the producer or ped- dler have been cheerfully received and with better results following.


I think that the town is receiving good wholesome milk and a glance at our death and contagious and infectious disease report will prove this statement.


If all would enter complaints at this office of vio- lations of the rules of cleanliness as laid down in the rules of the Board of Health it would help to get cleaner milk to all.


Respectfully submitted, ALBERT R. BROWN, Inspector of Milk.


Pluming Inspector's Report


To the Board of Health.


Gentlemen :


I hereby submit my report as Plumbing Inspector for the year ending December 31, 1917.


During the year I have issued sixty-eight (68) permits to do plumbing work from applications re- ceived and placed on file in this office, they are classi- fied as follows :


Residences


New Old Total


8 12 20


88


REPORT OF BOARD OF HEALTH


Two-tenement Houses


4


2


6


Three-tenement Houses


6


0


6


Four-tenement Houses


0


3


3


Five-tenement Houses


0


1


1


Six-tenement Houses


2


0


2


School Houses


1


0


1


Factories


2


11


13


Business Blocks


0


2


2


Garages


1


0


1


Additional Fixtures


0


13


13


- -


Total


24


44


68


These buildings contained the following fixtures :


Water Closets


169


Urinals


16


Sinks


106


Floor Drains


18


Baths


68 Refrigerators


2


Bowls


103


Dentist Spittoons


3


Washtrays


15


On this work I have made the following inspec- tions :


Water Tests


64 Final Inspections 68


Other Tests 10


Following is the number of houses connected with public sewer or cesspools during the year :


Old


New


Total


With Sewer


15 14


29


With Cesspool


4 10


14


Respectfully submitted, .


ALBERT R. BROWN, Inspector of Plumbing.


ANNUAL REPORT


OF THE


HIGHWAY SURVEYOR


To the Honorable Board of Selectmen, Citizens and Taxpayers :


I respectfully submit my report for the year end- ing Dec. 31st, 1917. I have endeavored to attend to the needs of the Town, and meet with the demands of the citizens to the best of my ability, and accord- ing to the amount of the appropriations. The item- ized account of expenditures given here below will tell you the schedule of our work. The total appro- priation was $10,000.00, but in order to meet with some emergency cases, with the permission of the Selectmen, I was compelled to overdraw the account for $134.05. The present situation is rather serious. Due to washouts and other causes, the roads need re-


90


REPORT OF HIGHWAY SURVEYOR


pairs far and near. Taxes are high, help is scarce, the cost of material has nearly doubled. Help is scarce on account of the low wages paid by the Town to men and teams, compared with wages paid else- where. Now this question presents itself from the people to the people: "Should we demand an in- crease in the wages, appropriate more money, and thus be able to maintain our roads and streets in fair condition? Or should we take a chance in try- ing to manage things for the best with whatever forces we may have to depend upon for our Town work?" Peace would no doubt restore things to their normal condition. Concluding, I shall leave our troubles in the hands of our Financial Committee, asking them to revise and advise for the best to pro- mote the welfare of our Town.


Sanitary catch basins, grates, men and teams, $691 43


Icy gutters, sand on sidewalks,


598 43


Sand,


26 00


Flood caused by overflowing of Cady Brook, 143 55


Snow storms, floods,


1,142 48


Washouts, summer 1917, 479 06


General Repairs including :


Watering troughs, culverts, Morris St. Brook :


Drain pipes, filling holes, 940 00


Scraping, levelling country roads, men


91


REPORT OF HIGHWAY SURVEYOR


and teams, 1,904 57


Filling with stone, gravel and ashes distributed thus :


Bousquet's Road, Moon St., River St., Central St., Main St., Snow St., Dudley Roads, Marcy St., Thomas St., Eastford St., North St., Westville Road, Fairlawn Ave., Oliver St., Highland St., Pleasant St., Mechanic St., Proulx Ave.,


1,559 66


Tools, miscellaneous supplies, 431 02


Gravel, 11 50


Crushed stone,


906 25


Salary,


1,200 00


$10,134 05


57 permits to open streets were issued as follows :


Hamilton Woolen Co.,


3


N. E. Tel. & Tel. Co., S. Water Supply Co., 7


5


Sewers,


6


W. & S. St. Railway Co.,


3


W. & S. Gas & Electric Co.,


29


Miscellaneous, 4


Bridges


Appropriation $2,500.00. Expended $2,499.71.


Balance $.29.


92


REPORT OF HIGHWAY SURVEYOR


Three cement bridges were built, namely at Brook- side, Cisco St., and at Eastford and old South West- ville Road. This leaves three more bridges to be re- newed, Brickville, Old Sandersdale Road and Me- chanic St.


Railings


Appropriation $400.00. Expended $399.73. Bal- ance $.27.


Railings were maintained and painted wherever needed. They are all in a fair condition.


Sidewalk Repairs


Repairs were made in the most necessary places and there still remain many sidewalks in very poor condition, and some of these are located on some of our important streets. Last year repairs were dis- tributed thus: Central, Charlton, Cliff, Chapin, Ed- wards, Elm, Everett, Hook, Hamilton, Marcy, Mill, South, Worcester, West Main Streets.


Respectfully submitted,


AIMEE LANGEVIN, Highway Surveyor.


Forest Fires


There were 20 brush fires during the past year.


93


REPORT OF HIGHWAY SURVEYOR


They were practically small fires, without much dam- age to property. Fourteen permissions to burn brush have been issued to owners of property and individuals. I greatly appreciate the co-operation of the people of our Town towards keeping their property clean.


I still demand the careful attention of all in fol- lowing the instructions. given on the Cloth Fire No- tices that we post yearly in conspicuous places and thus avoid forest fires.


Fire Wardens


Fire Wardens for 1917: Dennie Langevin, Louis Pontbriand, Alfred O. Giroux, Frank Brissette, Geo. H. Clemence, W. H. Wadleigh, Chas. F. Blackmer, John Keenan, Adelard Bouchard, Jos. Payan, Eu- sebe Laliberte.


The State Fire Warden points out the necessity of a report on the use of portable sawmills, steam rollers, steam tractors, and steam shovels operated in every town during each year. Consequently, I wish to ask the operators of such machines in this town to kindly send me their names and the kind of machine operated. Report to be sent by March 1st, 1918.


AIMEE LANGEVIN, Chief Fire Warden.


94


REPORT OF HIGHWAY SURVEYOR


Brown Tail Moths


We are attaining fair results in the suppression of Brown Tail and Gypsy Moth. This year shows a great decrease from last year, as only 316 nests were found and destroyed.


AIMEE LANGEVIN, Local Moth Supt.


ANNUAL REPORT


OF THE


FIRE ENGINEERS


In compliance with law and custom, the Board of Fire Engineers submit their annual report for year ending Dec. 31st, 1917, giving the number of fires, the value of property endangered, when alarms were given, (still alarms not included), roll call and equipment of department, together with other data. The town accountant's report will show a balance on hand of $90.50.


There were 149 calls in all, 24 box calls, 5 of them general and 125 still alarms. The value of property endangered : Buildings, $73,900.00; contents, $36,- 270.00; total, $110,170.00.


Loss on property : Buildings, $21,262.00 ; contents. $16,255.00; total, $37,517.00.


96


REPORT OF FIRE ENGINEERS


Insurance on property : Buildings, $55,050.00; contents, $21,150.00; total, $76,200.00.


Insurance paid on property : Buildings, $18,- 835.65 ; insurance paid on contents, $10,410.66; total, $29,264.31. Insurance in excess of loss, $38,683.00. Loss in excess of insurance, $8,270.79.


Roll Call


Joseph E. Duchesneau, Chief


Louis Lamothe Willard J. Claflin


George W. Laughnane


John J. Hogan, Clerk


Permanent Men


Leo Lemoine


Henry Lavoie


Steamer Co. No. 1


Joseph Brouillette, Isidore Ducheneau, Frank J. Greenwood, Clement J. Potvin, Alfred Langevin, ·


Captain Lieutenant Engineer on Steamer Asst. Engineer on Steamer Stoker


97


REPORT OF FIRE ENGINEERS


Hosemen


Michael Maloney Henry Desaulniers


Hormidas Duplissis Joseph Morin Michael Birmingham


Adelard Delage


Arthur Durochere Joseph Ford


George Lamothe


Emery Duchesneau


Govan J. Wright


Hook and Ladder No. 1


Joseph Lucier, John B. Casavant, Leander Coutre


Captain Lieutenant


Origene Lacasse


Oliver Paul


John B. Lippi


Philias Dufault


Henry Lusignan


Felix Lavallee


Wilbrod Paul


George A. Larochelle,


First Substitute


Steamer Co. No. 2


James Pollard, Richard Morrissey,


Captain Lieutenant


Alfred Gaumond


John Mallinson Nelson Allard


William Walters James Murphy Hector Collette Paul Potvin Peter Dufault


Adelard Allard


James Reilly Paul Grenier


98


REPORT OF FIRE ENGINEERS


Hook and Ladder No. 2


Hosea Weld, Frank J. Walsh,


Captain Lieutenant


Patrick May


Calixte Boucher


George W. Lavallee Louis E. Farland


Charles F. Reilly


Paul Breen


Napoleon Laranger Joseph Lariviere,


Stewart, No. 2 Hose


Equipment of Department


Two horse drawn steamers, 2 horse drawn hook and ladder trucks, 1 automobile hook and ladder truck, 1 automobile combination chemical and hose wagon, 1 automobile supply wagon, 2 hand hose reels, 1 racing cart, 4500 feet hose in good condition, 16 nozzles, 5 six-gallon hand chemicals, 4 three-gal- lon hand chemicals, all in service and in good con- dition with the exception of one hook and ladder and the two steamers we refer to later in report.


Jan. 2 .- Box 42, alarm at 8.45 a. m., recall 9.30 a. m. Fire in dwelling owned by Dina Robinovitz, Golf St. Cause, thawing out sink pipe. Loss on building $1,719, partially insured.


99


REPORT OF FIRE ENGINEERS


Jan. 7 .- Box 35, alarm at 9.25 a. m., recall 10.55 a. m. Fire in dwelling and dry goods store owned by Mrs. Joseph Blanchard, 16 Hamilton St. Cause, defective chimney. Insured.


Feb. 6 .- Box 25, alarm 4.25 p. m., recall 5.10 p. m. Fire in dwelling owned by Mrs. W. E. Alden, Ham- ilton St. Cause unknown. Partially insured.


Feb. 14 .- Box 52, alarm 7.15 p. m., recall 7.25 p. m. Fire in dwelling owned by Frank McGuirk, Mor- ris St. Cause, chimney fire. No loss.


Mar. 13 .- Box 24, alarm 1.20 a. m., recall 2.30 a. m. Fire in dwelling owned by Albert Ahamel, Plympton St. Cause, defective chimney. Insured.


Mar. 19 .- Box 38, alarm 9.30 p. m., recall 2 a. m. Fire in dwelling, bakery and grocery store owned by Uldric E. Chicoine, Elm St. Cause, defective chim- ney. Insured.


April 14 .- Box 47, alarm 9 p. m., recall 9.10 p. m. Fire in dwelling owned by Albert E. Bonnette, Me- chanic St. Cause, cigarette. Partially insured.


April 23 .- Box 34, alarm 12.15 a. m., recall 1.10 a. m. Fire in baker shop owned by Lariviere estate, off Central St. Cause, defective oven. Insured.


April 23 .- Box 47, alarm 2 p. m., recall 2.30 p. m. Fire in Knife Manfg., owned by T. J. Harrington, Worcester St. Cause, hot oil. Insured.


·


100


REPORT OF FIRE ENGINEERS


May 1 .- Box 45, false alarm.


May 19 .- Box 42, 4.00 p. m. False alarm.


May 19 .- Box 42, 6:30 p. m. False alarm.


May 25 .- Box 48, alarm 7.30 a. m., recall 8.00 a. m. Fire in barn owned by Joseph Girouard, Worcester St. Cause unknown. Partially insured.


June 12 .- Box 26, alarm 9.10 p. m., recall 9.45 p. m. Fire in woodshed owned by Patrick Cunneen, Pleas- ant St. Cause unknown. Insured.


July 2 .- Box 53, alarm 11.30 a. m., recall 11.45 a. m. Fire in woodshel owned by Napoleon Duval, Elm St. Cause, sun. Insured.


July 4 .- Box 53, alarm 2.00 a. m. False alarm.


July 4 .- Box 42, alarm 10 p. m., recall 10.15 p. m. Fire in woodshed owned by Michael Kinney, San- dersdale. Cause, spontaneous combustion. Loss $35.


July 24 .- Box 48, alarm 4.25 p. m., recall 4.45 p. m. Fire in barn owned by Eugene Darling, Charlton St. Cause, struck by lightning. Partially insured.


Sept. 12 .- Box 42, alarm 4.20 p. m., recall 4.30 p. m. Fire in dwelling owned by Frank McGuirk, 39 Morris St. Cause, overheated stove. No loss.


Oct. 2 .- Box 46, alarm 3.30 p. m., recall 3.40 p. m.


101


REPORT OF FIRE ENGINEERS


Fire in dwelling owned by A. O. Co., North St. Cause unknown. Insured.


Oct. 6 .- Box 47, alarm 9.10 p. m., recall 9.55 p. m. Fire in dwelling owned by Joel Delage, 37 Mechanic St. Cause unknown. Insured.


Dec. 31 .- Box 24, alarm 1.25 a. m., recall 2.45 a. m. Fire in dwelling owned by James Pendergast, Pleas- ant St. Cause, sparks from heater. Insured.


Dec. 31 .- Box 25, alarm 1.37 a. m., recall 6.00 a. m. Fire in dwelling owned by Hamilton Woolen Co., Oliver St. Cause, overheated stove. Insured.


In submitting our report we wish to state that af- ter careful consideration and on advice of competent authority, we decided to rebuild one good steamer out of the two old ones we had; we hoped that the work would be finished this year, but owing to the demands for government work, it is not completed yet.


The same is true of the triple combination chemi- cal, hose and pumping engine. At the annual town meeting it was voted to appropriate $9,000.00 to purchase one. The selectmen with Mr. N. M. Baker and Chief Duchesneau were elected to purchase same and after receiving specification and prices from the principal manufacturers gave the contract to the Seagraves Co. of Columbus, Ohio. The apparatus was to be delivered in Southbridge in November, 1917, for $9,000.00, but the company has not been able to do so because some of the material used in


102


REPORT OF FIRE ENGINEERS


the construction was and is difficult to obtain, due to war conditions. We hope, however, that the delivery will be made in the near future. With this addition- al piece of apparatus and our rebuilt steamer, our equipment will be sufficient to place the town in a better insurance class, thus enabling the people to get a much lower rate on fire insurance. We recom- mend a permanent man to run the triple combina- tion pumps at a salary of $1,092.00. We recommend the pay of the driver of the auto hook and ladder truck be increased from $900.00 per annum to $1,- 092.00. As seen in the list of equipment we had to discard considerable hose this year, and we must purchase some this coming year. We recommend an appropriation of $13,000.00, this we feel will be enough for us and it is a smaller amount than last year, considering it will take care of three perma- nent men, salaries of all the call men, electrician and maintenance of department.


We respectfully ask the drivers of all kinds of ve- hicles to give the fire apparatus the right of way when going to fires. -


In conclusion, we wish to thank the people of the town for their co-operation, the owners and drivers of horses for their service and the firemen for their obedience and good work.


JOSEPH DUCHESNEAU, Chief, LOUIS LAMOTHE, GEORGE W. LAUGHNANE, WILLARD J. CLAFLIN, JÓHN J. HOGAN, Clerk.


ANNUAL REPORT


OF THE


SEALER


To the Citizens of Southbridge, Mass. :


I respectfully submit my report from November 30, 1916, to November 30, 1917.


Platform scales over 5000 lbs. adjusted 15


Platform scales over 5000 lbs. sealed,


16


Platform scales over 5000 lbs. condemned, 2


Platform scales under 5000 lbs. adjusted,


4


Platform scales under 5000 lbs. sealed,


139


Platform scales under 5000 lbs. condemned,


7


Counter scales adjusted, 65


Counter scales sealed, 125


Counter scales condemned, 18


Beam scales adjusted,


1


Beam scales sealed,


1


104


REPORT OF SEALER


Beam scales condemned,


1


Spring scales adjusted,


2


Spring scales sealed,


119


Spring scales condemned,


7


Computing platform scales adjusted,


5


Computing platform scales sealed,


43


Computing platform scales condemned,


4


Computing hanging scales adjusted,


0


Computing hanging scales sealed,


6


Computing hanging scales condemned,


2


Slot weighing scales sealed,


3


Slot weighing scales condemned,


1


Prescription scales sealed,


5


Prescription scales condemned,


1


Weights, avoirdupois, adjusted,


48


Weights, avoirdupois, sealed,


1024


Weights, avoirdupois, condemned,


73


Weights, apothecary, adjusted,


18


Weights, apothecary, sealed,


67


Weights, apothecary, condemned.


9


Weights, metric, adjusted,


15


Weights, metric, sealed,


60


Weights, troy, sealed,


49


Dry measures, sealed,


10


Liquid measures sealed,


190


Liquid measures condemned,


9


Oil measure pumps adjusted,


1


Oil measure pumps sealed,


23


Oil measure pumps condemned,


5


Molasses measuring pumps sealed, 14


105


REPORT OF SEALER


Molasses measuring pumps condemned,


4


Milk jars sealed,


14


Ice tream cans sealed, 149


Yard measures sealed,


45


Yard measures condemned,


1


Tape measures sealed, 1


Measuring machine, 1


During the year three thousand six hundred and forty-nine inspections were made of stores, milk- wagons, junk dealers, hawkers and pedlers, itinerant vendors, coal dealers, ice dealers, hay, butter, dry commodities, meat, provisions, vegetables, bread, furit, etc., besides frequent visits not recorded.


The department has received few complaints of short weights this year, although many violations of the law were noted and quickly adjusted. All of the violations except one, who paid a fine, were slight and it was not deemed advisable to bring them to the attention of the court.


More incorrect scales have been seized and con- demned during the last year and are held at the Sealer's office.


The duties of the Sealer of Weights and Meas- ures are becoming more important and harder each year, as the Government and State inspectors require more work and time put in the position to stop fraud and deceit and give a greater protection to the pur- chasing public.


The inventory of the Sealer's department taken in December by Fred Adams, Albert R. Brown and Os-


106


REPORT OF SEALER


car Gatineau gave the amount of $364.50.


During the year 22 hawkers and pedlers, and junk dealers have taken a license and paid the town $395.00.


Fees collected during the year and paid to the Town Treasurer, $139.29.


Respectfully submitted,


FELIX GATINEAU, Sealer.


ANNUAL REPORT


OF THE


LIBRARIAN


Trustees of Jacob Edwards Memorial Library


George Grant Fred E. Corbin Louis O. Rieutord


For the Town


John M. Cochran Francis L. Chapin John E. Paige


For the Fund


Librarian


Ella E. Miersch


Assistants


Mabel W. Plimpton


Ruth Beecher


108


REPORT OF LIBRARIAN


Janitor


Fred Gelineau


Library Hours


Week Days, except Jan. 1, Memorial Day, Fourth of July, Labor Day, Thanksgiving Day and Christ- mas :- 10 to 12 a. m., 2 to 5.30; 6.30 to 9 p. m.


Librarian's Report


The Library has added during the year 523 vol- umes, making the total number of volumes in the library 22,636. The books for which there is natur- ally at present the greatest demand are those on sub- jects connected with the war. We have bought a good number of highly interesting books about the war, as well as books on military training, aviation and submarines. We have also added a new set of Shakespeare, Funk & Wagnall's "New standard dic- tionary" and the "Standard reference work" (an en- cyclopedia for children's use). A bulletin, contain- ing a list of all the books added in 1917 can be ob- tained free of charge at the library.


The use of the books, both for reference and home use, increases constantly. 48,384 volumes were taken out during 1917; five years ago 38,971 were taken


109


REPORT OF LIBRARIAN


out and ten years ago 30,216 volumes were circu- lated.


The Massachusetts library commission has kind- ly added small collections of books in Swedish and Polish to the Italian and Greek "Libraries" which they had sent us previously. All of these are being used by our townspeople, the Polish most of all, with the Greek a close second.


We were asked by the Library War Council to col- lect both books and money for libraries for our sol- diers. Over 600 volumes and $240.68 were contribu- ted for this purpose, as well as many periodicals.


The high cost of living affects the library as well as everybody and everything else. The increasing cost of all supplies, of books and binding and coal makes itself felt in every purchase. Meantime our needs and the demands upon us are constantly in- creasing.


ELLA E. MIERSCH,


Librarian.


Accessions


Bound volumes in library Jan. 1, 1917,


22,199


Added by purchase, 383


Added by gifts, 71


Added by binding periodicals, 69


523


22,722


110


REPORT OF LIBRARIAN


Wornout books,


193


Replaced,


107


86


22,636


Registration


Names registered to January 1, 1917,


3493


Names registered in 1917,


669


Names now registered at the Library,


4162


Circulation


Days library was open,


307


Volumes circulated,


48,384


Average daily use,


158


Smallest daily use Jan. 1,


17


Largest daily use, March 10,


344


Smallest monthly use, September,


3249


Largest monthly use, March, 5151


Amount received from fines,


$181.22


Circulation by Months for the Past Ten Years


1908-9


1909-10


1910-11


1911-12


1912


1913


1914


1915


1916


1917


January


3543


3594


3775


3641




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