USA > Massachusetts > Worcester County > Southbridge > Town annual reports of the officers of Southbridge for the year ending 1922-1926 > Part 13
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Number of visits to Typhoid cases 3 Number of visits to (Anterior ) Poliomyelitis cases. .. Number of visits to (congenital) Syphilis cases S
The outlook of the early tubercular patient is very favorable. The big problem is to discover the disease in it's early stages when treatment is still effective. The early diagnosis is so important that the State has planned a ten-year program, to study and find tuber- culosis in school children, in order to prevent the progress of the disease later demonstrated in the lungs of the adult.
94
The tuberculosis dispensary opened every Monday from five to seven p. m.
It aims to co-operate with the State Dept. of Health, by encour aging periodical examinations, for people who are suffering from tuberculosis in any form.
"An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure."
Number of visits to active tubercular cases 110
Number of visits to quiescent cases 35
Number of visits to suspicious cases 10
Number of visits to contacts 35
Number of patients examined at dispensary 11
Follow-up reports on all cases of tuberculosis were sent to the State Department of Health as well as a monthly report on case examined at the dispensary.
Number of follow-up visits 19
Good health demands plenty of milk. It supplies the body with necessary materials in exceptionally healthful and economical forms A quart a day for every child is not too much, and each child shoute have at least a pint. It helps to grow. to keep well and to build grong vigorous bodies.
This is the first year that milk lunches have been served in St Mary's School.
Much credit is due the parents who have co-operated with the teachers and nurse. by encouraging the children to drink milk dur. ing the lunch period.
Number of class rooms serving milk 6
95
Number of half pint bottles served during Oct .. 1139 Number of half pint bottles served during Nov. 1818 Number of hlaf pint bottles served during Dec. 1063
Underweight in children is more or less a danger signal, and pecial instruction as well as supervision is necessary, to help them ain their normal weight.
As a result of the 1923 Tuberculosis seal sale, four children. in- luding one from St. Mary's parochial school were sent to the Wor- ester Children's Vacation Camp at Sterling Junction, during the months of July and August. Neither children selected nor the town tere under obligations of any kind.
The children were admitted to camp in four groups of two eeks' period for each group. The definite object of the health amp was to teach the underweight child right living and health abits, so as to prevent tuberculosis.
The group of underweight children have been weighed twice uring the year and the following tables show that the majority ave gained.
10 PER CENT UNDERWEIGHT
School
Enroll.
May
Dec.
St. Mary's
Grade I
27
3
1
Grade II
12
2
1
Grade III
21
0
0
Grade IV
15
3
1
Grade V
24
3
2
Grade VI
14
2
0
Grade VII
19
1
2
Grade VIII
18
1
1
Total
150
18 or 13% 8 or 6%
96
The dental clinic was opened every Monday and Tuesday fore- noon from 8:45 to 11:45, from October 1st to June 1st.
The local dentists have served their time each month in turn, and have accomplished a great deal. not only in repair work and prophylaxis, but in an educational way also.
After a year's work in the Clinic, it is gratifying to observe the improvement in the children's mouths.
Number of children who reported to Clinic for the first time 378
Number of children who had teeth cleaned 262
Number of extractions 244 Number of fillings 104
Number of treatments 35
Number of oral examinations 15
Number of tooth brushes sold 288
The routine physical examination was made by the school phy- sician assisted by the nurse. The physician's recommendations and notices of defects were sent to parents.
Number of children examined 150
Number of visits for correction of defects 50
Number of defects corrected
Class room inspections and visits were made at St. Mary's school every month.
Number of class room inspections 24
Short health talks were given and state literature distributed to emphasize the great value of forming health habits during school life.
Respectfully submitted,
MARGUERITE C. HOULE, R. N.
Health Nurss.
97
REPORT OF PLUMBING INSPECTOR
To the Honorable Board of Health :
I herewith submit my report as Plumbing Inspector for the year ending December 31. 1924.
The following fixtures have been installed during the year in houses classified below :
Water Closets 251; sinks 188; bathtubs 152; bowls 170: trays 84: slop sinks 3; floor drains 6.
These were installed in 25 single houses: 17 two tenement; 14 three tenement : 6 four tenement : 1 five tenement ; 2 six tenement ; 1 church ; 1 garage : 3 stores and 2 factories, alos additional fixtures were installed in 27 old houses.
I have made 99 water tests and 106 final inspections on this work. There has been 20 new houses and two old houses connected with the sewers and 20 new houses and 7 old houses connected with cesspools during the year in the above work.
Respectfully submitted,
ALBERT R. BROWN, Plumbing Inspector.
98
REPORT OF INSPECTOR OF MILK
To the Honorable Board of Health :
I hereby render my report for the year ending December 31, 1924.
As your Inspector I have issued 52 licenses to peddle milk ; 12 licenses to sell milk in stores and 5 olemargarine licenses for which I have collected the sum of $34.50, which I have turned over to the Town Treasurer and hold receipt for same.
The work in this department has been along the usual line of previous years, there being only a few complaints and as in former years, the milk being sold in town being from nearby farm reaches the consumer in good condition.
As before the State Department of Public Health has made the collections and analysis of milk and they have not found only a few under the legal standard. They also have undertaken all prosecu- tion along this line.
Not having any fancy dairies but all good farmers sending milk ". town I believe the town is well provided for in a general way.
Respectfully submitted, ALBERT R. BROWN,
Inspector of Milk.
99
REPORT OF INSPECTOR OF SLAUGHTERING
o the Board of Health :
entlemen :
I have the honor of submitting to you my report as Inspector of langhtering for the year ending December 31. 1924.
Whole number of carcasses inspected 445
Number of carcasses of beef inspected 80
Number of carcasses of veal inspected 152
Number of carcasses of wine inspected 213
Number of carcasses of swine condemmed 0
Number of carcasses of Veal condemned 2
Number of carcasses of Beef condemned 3
The causes for condemning carcasses are as follows: Beef. tuberculosis : veal, immature.
Condemned carcasses have been destroyed according to law.
Respectfully yours, JOHN HALPIN, Inspector.
,
REPORT OF CEMETERY COMMITTEE
To the citizens of Southbridge :
The Cemetery Committee organized for the year of 1924 with George H. Hartwell. Jr .. as Chairman and S. W. Williams as Clerk.
In carrying on the work in the Cemetery during the year we have had constantly in mind our obligation to those who have taken perpetual care out on their lots, endeavoring to fulfill our part of the contract to the satisfaction of the individuals who have placed their lots under this care.
We have given as much attention as possible to the non-care lots, mowing them three times throughout the year and graded all sunken graves possible.
The filling of Pleasure Pond is progressing rapidly. We antici- pate in a short while to be able to report the pond completely filled.
When this work is completed we would advise that this section be beautified and laid out into lots, realizing that it would be one of the most desirable in the Cemetery.
Before many years it will be necessary to do a great deal of constructive work on the drives as there has been nothing done to them for a great many years, other than keeping the edges trimmed and the weeds out. Under the heavy automobile traffic of to-day they have become flattened until there is practically no crown ou any of the dirt drives. We feel it will be imperative to do a great deal of work on them in a shortwhile, which will necessitate a large expenditure.
Another difficulty is that the drain pipes installed where there
102
is a flow of water are not large enough, causing washonts whenever we have a heavy rain. We hope during the coming year to install larger drains to take care of this trouble.
It is our desire in the coming year to take better care of the sections located on the outskirts of the Cemetery, which have been - neglected in recent years due to lack of funds.
We realize that land bordering these sections will have to be divided into and used as lots in a few years. During the coming year we hope to be able to restore these parts of the Cemetery to their former condition and be able to keep them so in years to come.
We wish to acknowledge with grateful appreciation the fine gift of Miss Ella M. Cole to the Cemetery. The land given will be increasingly valuable to us as the years go by. The financial gift will be of great assistance and add materially to our permanent fund.
It is with pleasure we accept the responsibility for the care of this land. and pledge ourselves to take such care of it that it will be a lasting satisfaction to both the Donor and the Townspeople.
We take this opportunity to thank the Town Officials for their co-operation throughout the year.
GEORGE H. HARTWELL. Jr., ALVA L. HYDE, EMERY A. LAVALLEE. CLARENCE F. MORSE, WARDWELL M. EDWARDS. DANIEL T. MORRILL.
Cemetery Committee.
REPORT OF THE PLAYGROUNDS COMMITTEE
Hector L. Peloquin. D. D. S.
Chairman of Playground Committee.
Dear Sir :
I hereby submit the following report for the Playground sea- son ending August 8. 1924.
The five playgrounds, namely, Central. Ehn. School, Union and Saudersdale opened July 7 with an attendance of 1050 chil- dren. The daily average attendance was 900 children.
Periods
The afternoon session of four hours was divided into two per- iods, namely. Industrial and Play periods.
Industrial period included basket making. foots rests, muffin stands, window boxes, trays, raffia bags, sewing, knitting, embroid- ery, kite making. and chair caning, and as a result 983 articles were completed by the children from the various grounds. A Doll Con- test was formed between the Senior and Junior girls of the Central and School Street Playgrounds. The Contest was on an elimination basis. The contest was made possible through the generosity of Se- leetmen George W. Laughnane, who donated the patterns and also one of the prizes. Other prizes were donated by Mr. J. C. Gabree and Miss Margaret G. Butler.
Play period was divided into active games, quiet games and folk dances suitable for children of various groups.
104
Athletics
Athletic contests between teams representing the different play- grounds, and teams of the same grounds were conducted during the season. Junior and Senior baseball leagues were organized with Central Street winning the championship of both leagues. About 50 participated in the Senior leagues and 80 in the Junior games. A punch ball series was played between the Senior girls of the Cen- tral and School street playgrounds with the former winning the series. Fifteen took part in each game. A girls' athletic track meet was held during the middle of the season and proved such a success that another was held during the last week at the Central Street Playgrounds. An equal number, twenty-five, of Senior and Junior girls contested in each event for the prizes offered.
I wish to publicly acknowledge the helpfulness of the Play- ground Chairman. Dr. H. L. Peloquin, and Miss Margaret G. But- ler. for her assistance and kindness during the season. I also wish to thank the instructors for their co-operation during the season.
Respectfully submitted,
CECILIA E. POWER, ?
REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES OF THE LIBRARY
TRUSTEES OF JACOB EDWARDS LIBRARY
orge Grant ed E. Corbin uis (). Rieutord nry Tetrault or the Town
Francis L. Chapin John E. Paige E. B. Armstrong For the Fund
LIBRARIAN Ella Miersch
ASSISTANT Madolyn Murphy
JANITOR Romaldo di Bonaventura
LIBRARY HOURS Week days, except January 1, Memorial Day, Fourth of July, bor Day. Thanksgiving Day and Christmas. 10 to 12 a. m., 2 to 30. 6:30 to 9 p. m.
REPORT OF THE LIBARIAN
the Trustees of the Jacob Edwards Library :
USE
"The busiest year of all" would well sum up the library dur-
ing 1924. A large increase in the circulation of books (an increase of 18 per cent over the year before, almost 50 percent over the last year in the old building). A large increase in reference informa- tion given, in the use of the reading rooms, in the use of the chil- dren's room. 66,043 volumes were taken out of the library during 1924.
There has been a request that the library shall be open longer hours and on Sundays. This could only be done with more assis- tance. The library has the same number of full time attendants as - it had in 1900, when 21,000 volumes were circulated. It is a question whether many would use the library between twelve and two, but a certain number would probably use it between 5:30 and 6:30 and on Sunday afternoons in the winter. No library is open the num- ber of hours requested, with an income of less than $11.000 per year.
GROWTH
Seven hundred-sixty-one volumes were bought during the year, 336 of which were bought to replace wornout books. The Town Clerk wished the Mass, law reports removed from the lib- rary to the local court room. It was decided to include all of the Mass. reports, dating back to 1804. There are now in the library 25,167 volumes. It is the aim of the library to add constantly to its store of practical books, the books which help men and women to do better work. To furnish means of education to adults as well as to children. to give wholesome recreation to young and old and in every station of life, this is the work of the library.
Activities
Instruction was given to the whole high school. in small groups, on using the library, (the catalog, reference books, etc.)
The local and factory papers kindly printed lists of books and other information about the library.
107
Printed lists of books on various subjects have been distributed. A bulletin, giving a list of books added from July. 1923 to Janu- ary. 1925. will soon be ready for distribution.
Books for children, (some new, others new copies of old fav- orities) were on exhibition for "Children's Book Week" and lists called "Gifts for Children's Bookshelves" were distributed.
Assistants
After twenty-five years of faithful and devoted services in the library. Miss Plimpton was obliged to give up her work because of illness. Miss Murphy. a graduate of the Westfield library train- ing class, was appointed assistant.
Appropriation
The average appropriation for library purposes in towns of Massachusetts between 10,000 and 20.000 population is .697 -per capita. To be up to the average, our appropriation should be $9928.78.
Library
At the direction of Mr. Robert Edwards, through whose gen- erosity the plans were to be carried out. plans were made for plant- ing trees and shrubs on the library grounds. The Town has been toll of the legacy of twenty-five thousand dollars ($25.000.00) which Mr. Edwards left to the Town. to be used for the library. Mr. Edwards, with his sisters. the Misses Annie and Grace Edwards. carried out the wishes of their father. Mr. Jacob Edwards, in giv- ing the library building with its furnishings to the Town. and now, through his legacy. assists in its upkeep in perpetuity.
ELLA E. MIERSCH.
Librarian.
CIRCULATION BY MONTHS FOR THE PAST TEN YEARS
1915
1916
1917
1918
1919
1920
1921
1922
1923
1924
January
1182
1289
1404
1375
5170
44898
5854
5517
5260
5917
February
1137
1456
1159
1108
1899
4812
6238
5661
5136
5825
March
43 15
1980
5151
4741
5157
5671
6681
6210
5678
6526
April
3611
1293
1135
1329
1971
1767
5715
5378
472
5783
May
3181
3851
1111
3669
4362
1236
1759
1372
3980
1973
1167
3628
3930
3870
3686
1 222
1820
1121
3999
1567
July
1116
3682
3874
3651
4163
1116
5222
4108
1106
1839
AAugust
1005
3653
3718
3605
1276
3732
1997
3738
4128
5253
September
3607
3603
3249
3541
1130
3700
1177
3591
1067
1743
October
3931
3530
3640
1000
1552
1373
1909
1408
5149
5870
November
1137
3991
3984
4042
1564
5254
1888
4773
5342
5933
December
1036
3848
3966
1225
4529
5458
5204
1496
5321
5814
Total
47788
47864
18381
15165
54759
55299
63494
56373
56641
66043
.
ACCESSIONS AND CIRCULATION
Volumes added in 1924
Volumes now in Library
Volumes circulated in 1923
Volumes circulated in 1924
Per Cent. circulated in 1924
Fiction
128
4.135
29.328
34,021
51.51
Children, Fiction
39
1,711
14,205
16,504
24.99
Children, Non-Fiction
42
1,075
3,929
4,621
6.99
Philosophy
9
383
214
. 214
.32
Religion
659
57
99
.15
Sociology
21
936
435
491
.75
Language
12
723
322
360
Useful Arts
49
1,074
1,081
1,467
2.22
Fine Arts
15
635
921
1.052
1.60
Literature
28
2,136
827
959
1.45
Travel
27
1.651
960
995
1.52
History
3
1,840
765
632
96
Biography
1,980
523
706
1.06
Bound Periodicals
2,963
133
53
08
Massachusetts Public
Documents
222
1
U. S. Publie Documents
1
369
Foreign Languages
800
1,755
2,461
3.73
Current Periodicals
980
1,124
1.70
Reference Books
19
750
02
Ammidown Collection
877
79
Mu:elim
169
177
265
.40
Science
110
STATISTICS OF LIBRARY
Volumes Circulated
66,043
Largest daily use, March 15
418
Smallest daily use, Oct. 13
82
Average daily use
214
Smallest monthly use, June
4,587
Largest monthly use, March
6.526
Number of borrowers' eards
3,213
Books added 336 (replacements)
761
Books withdrawn (worn out, etc.)
608
Number of volumes in the library
25,167
Volumes rebound
366
Periodicals bound
38
Amount received from fines
$348.26
Gifts of books have been received from the following:
Mrs. C. D. Paige, Miss Cady, Mrs. C. F. Aldrich, American Chemical Society, Eddy Town Fund, Wm. S. Hart, U. S. Shipping Board.
And periodicals and newspapers from the following :
American Optical Co., Hamilton Woolen Co., Rev. L. R. Urban. New England Telephone Co .. Southbridge Press, Mrs. L. S. Smith.
-
111
FINANCIAL STATEMENT
.
Receipts
Town Appropriation
$7800 00
Expenditures
Salaries :
$3474 99
Library Staff
1300 00
Janitor
189 61
Light
638 44
Coal
1228 35
Books
262 35
Periodicals
229 66
Binding
53 18
Equipment
41 27
Repairs
132 39
Supplies
71 42
Printing
177 20
Expenses
$7798 86
$1 14
MYNOTT FUND
$1047 29
Amount of Fund January 1. 1924
45 50
Interest
$1092 79
Expenditures
$5 00
Periodicals
80 10
Books
85 -10
$1007 69
Amount of Fund December 31, 1924
REPORT OF THE SEWER COMMISSIONERS
To the Citizens of the Town of Southbridge :
Your Board of Sewer Commissioners herewith submit their re port for the year ending December 31,1924.
In accordance with the recommendation of the Town o Southbridge the commissioners have built a stretch of Sewers 01 Taft and Spring Streets and on Columbus Avenue. The cost of the same being levied from our assessment revenues. The same have been completed and accepted by the Board and assessments have been levied.
The work of the filter beds has been satisfactory and me with the approval of the State Inspector under the present con ditions. However the present conditions should be remedied in the near future.
In reference to the appropriation for the Sewer Maintenance for the coming year we recommend the sum of $3000.00. Also ar additional $3500.00 to remedy conditions extending along the 10 inch Sewer line, within the lines of the American Optical Company on East Main Street. A length of 1200 feet of the present Akror Pipe line should be relaid with cast iron pipe. The present condi tion of that line is the source of continuous trouble and nuisance.
OMER L. PERRON, JOSEPH A. ALLARD,
Board of Sewer Commissioners
REPORT OF HIGHWAY SURVEYOR
A Road Scraper was purchased at a cost of $1,200.00 which was taken from the Highway account.
Four thousand five hundred and forty dollars and twenty-nine cents was spent on Worcester street repairs which was taken from the Permanent Road account.
Cost for removing snow and ice $3.016.71.
Turned in to Town Treasurer for empty barrels, use of steam roller. etc, $258.00.
EDMOND RICHARD. Highway Surveyor.
APPROPRIATIONS AND EXPENDITUDES OF THE HIGHWAY DEPARTMENT FOR 1921
APPROPRIATIONS
EXPENDITURES
Help
Teams
Misc.
Total
Balance
Highway
$15,200.00
$6,027.50
$1.777.75
$7,394.75 $15.200.00
General Cleaning
6,800.00
4,446.75
1,389.68
952.51
6,788.94
$11.06
Permanent Roads
12,000.00
4.007.82
615.50
7,363.79
11,987.11
12.89
Sidewalk Repairs
5,000.00
1,513.25
471.50
2,978.25
4,963.00
37.00
Bridges
1,300.00
389.37
235.00
364.01
988.38
311.62
Railings
500.00
258.00
16.00
59.34
333.34
166.66
Oiling Streets
2,000.00
1,995.90
1.995.90
4.10
East Road
400.00
292.75
31.00
53.30
377.05
22.95
$43,200.00 $16,935.44
$4.536.43 $21,161.85 $42,633.72
$566.28
-
RECOMMENDATIONS FOR 1925
GENERAL GOVERNMENT
Moderator $50.00
La w $600.00
Selectmen 3.500.00
Town Clerk $1,600.00
Accountant
$1.900.00
Election and
Treasurer $1,900.00
Registration $2.000.00
Tax Collector $2.600.00
Town Hall $5,000.00
Assessors
$5.000.00
PROTECTION OF PERSONS AND PROPERTY
Police Department $28.200.00
Fire Department $27,000.00
Tree Warden $2.000.00
Moth Department $500.00
Damage to Persons
and Property $500.00
HEALTH AND SANITATION
Board of Health
$10.350.09
General Cleaning $6,800.00
Sewer Maintenance $6.500.00
HIGHWAY
Bridges
$1.300.00
Maintenance of Perman-
ent Roads $10,000.00
Street Oiling $2500.00
Railings
Sidewalk Repairs
$5000.00
Street Lights $14.300.00
CHARITIES AND SOLDIERS' BENEFITS
Outside Poor
$30,000.00 Almshouse $6,600.00
Mothers' Aid
$8,000.00 Soldiers' Relief $3,000.00
EDUCATION
School
$138,000.00 Library $9,000.00
Highway
$20.000.00
$500.00
Game Warden $100.00
Engineering Department $5500.00
Sealer of Weights and
Measures $1.100.00
Forest Fires $800.00
116
RECREATION AND CELEBRATION
Band Concerts
$350.00
Playgrounds and Bathhouses
$2,300.00
UNCLASSIFIED
Insurance
$3,100.00
Interest $20.000.00
Memorial Day
$450.00
Maturing Debt
$39,410.00
Care of Town Clock
$100.00
Annual Reports
Ambulance
$600.00
Cemetery
$1.950.00
Total
$430.960.00
Water and Ice Supplies $1,000.00
VALMORE P. TETREAULT. Accountant
TOWN WARRANT
Worcester. ss. To either of the Constables of the Town of Southbridge, in the County of Worcester,
GREETING.
In the name of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts you are hereby requested to notify the inhabitants of the Town of South- bridge. aforesaid, qualified to vote in Town affairs to meet in the Town Hall in said Southbridge. on Monday. the second (2) day of March 1925 at 5:45 o'clock in the forenoon to act on the following articles :
Article 1. To choose a moderator to preside over said meet- ing.
Article 2. To choose by ballot all town officers for the ensu- ing year :- viz: Clerk : Treasurer: three Selectmen; one member Board of Public Welfare for three years; one member of Board of Health for three years: one Assessor for three years: Collector of Taxes: two members of the School Committee for three years; one Park Commissioner for three years: one Sinking Fund Commis- sioner for three years: one Sewer Commissioner for three years; two Cemetery Commissioners for three years: Tree Warden: High- way Surveyor : three Constables and all others provided for by law.
Article 3. To vote by ballot "YES" or "NO" in answer to the question, "Shall licenses be granted for the sale of certain non-intoxicating beverages in this Town."
Article 4. To hear the reports of the Town Accountant, Treas- urer, Clerk, Selectmen, School Committee. Library Committee, etc. and aet anything thereon.
118
Article 5. To raise and appropriate such sums of money as . may be necessary to pay town debts and charges for the current financial year.
Article 6. To see if the town will vote to authorize the Treas- urer with the approval of the Selectmen to borrow in anticipation of the revenue of the current financial year or act anything thereon.
Article 7. To see if the town will vote to authorize the Se- lectmen to cause an audit to be made of the town's accounts of 1925, or act anything thereon.
Article 8. To see if the town will vote to pay its Enginemen or act anything thereon.
Article 9. To see if the town will vote to give the Collector of Taxes the same power to collect taxes that the Town Treasurer has when appointed Collector of Taxes.
Article 10. To see if the town will vote to have all taxes due and payable October 1, 1925, and if not paid on or before October 15, 1925. to have interest charged at the rate of six per cent. per annum from October 1. 1925. or act thereon.
Article 11. To see if the town will vote to fix the compensa- tion of town officers. laborer and teams, or act anything thereon.
Article 12. To see if the town will vote to set aside a certain sum of money received by the town as its portion of the excess tax collected to meet the Soldiers' bonus provisions : said money to be held by the Trustees of Public Funds and to be known as the World War Memorial Fund, with authority to invest the same as provided by law and to hold the principal and interest thereof until such time as the town, acting in conjunction with the local Post of the American Legion, may ereet a memorial to the soldiers of the World War, or.aet anything thereon.
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