USA > Massachusetts > Worcester County > Southbridge > Town annual reports of the officers of Southbridge for the year ending 1922-1926 > Part 8
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CIRCULATION BY MONTHS FOR THE PAST TEN YEARS
1914
1915
1916
1917
1918
1919
1920
1921
1922
1923
January
4055
4182
4289
4404
4375
5170
4898
5854
5517
5260
February
3890
4137
4456
4159
4108
4899
4842
6238
5661
5136
March
4502
4345
4980
5151
4744
5457
5611
6681
6210
5678
April
3847
3614
4293
4135
4329
4971
4767
5745
5378
4472
May
3492
3481
3851
4144
3669
1362
4236
4759
4372
3980
June
3698
4167
3628
3930
3870
3686
4222
1820
4121
3999
July
3646
4146
3682
3874
3654
4163
4146
5222
4108
4106
August
3834
4005
3653
3748
3605
4276
3792
4997
3738
4128
September
3247
3607
3603
:249
3544
4130
3700
4177
3591
4067
October
3957
3931
3590
3640
1000
4552
4373
1909
1408
5149
November
3918
4137
3991
3984
4042
4564
5254
1888
4773
5342
December
375,4
4036
3848
3966
1225
4529
5458
5204
4496
5324
Total .
45840
47788
47864
48384
45165
51759
55209
63494
56373
56641
ACCESSIONS AND CIRCULATION
Volumes added in 1923
Volumes now in Library
Volumes circulated in 1922
Volumes circulated in 1923
Per Cent. circulated in 1923
Fiction
121
1,227
29,491
29,328
51.78
Children. Fiction
18
1,619
12,928
14,205
25.08
Children. Non-Fiction
40
1,054
3,090
3,929
6.93
Philosophy
1
374
183
214
.37
Roligon
1
656
71
57
.10
Sociology
22
913
375
435
.77
Language
14
165
217
177
.31
Science
6
712
398
322
.57
Useful Arts
27
1,026
1,163
1,081
1.91
Fine Arts
29
621
758
921
1.63
Literature
21
2,111
752
827
1.47
Travel
35
1,625
941
960
1.70
History
10
1.837
972
765
1.36
Biography
14
1,958
718
523
.93
Bound Periodicals
48
2,947
99
133
.23
Law Reports of Massachusetts. .
4
370
Massachusetts Public Documents.
4
220
2
1
U. S. Public Documents.
6
368
Foreign Languages
813
1,958
1,755
3.09
Current Periodicals
1,338
980
1.73
Reference Books
20
731
19
28
.04
Ammidown Collection
877
Museum
79
.
92
93
APPROPRIATION
It may be of interest to compare our expenses with those of libraries in other towns similar in size :
Percent of income applied to :
Cost of Library per capita
.486
PER CENT INCOME APPLIED Libraries in places between 10.000 and 20,000 population
Library
Books
Bindings
Periodicals
Salaries
16.4
4.34
2.86
44.06
Southbridge
17.61
3.35
3.35
39.52
Libraries in places between 10,000 and 20,000 population
Janitor
Heat and
Other
Salary
Light
Expenses
8.93
8.03
14.05
Southbridge
17.80
12.11
6.25
Libraries in places between 10,000 and 20,000 population
.697
Southbridge
486
The steps on the Foster Street entrance to the library building were rebuilt in October. The expense of doing this was generously paid for by Mr. Robert Edwards.
ELLA E. MIERSCH,
Librarian.
STATISTICS OF THE LIBRARY
Volumes circulated
56,641
Average daily use
184
Smallest monthly use, May
3,980
Largest monthly use, March
5,678
Number of borrowers' cards (New registration begun July 1)
2,140
Books added (361 replacements)
835
Books withdrawn (worn out, etc.)
278
Number of volumes in the Library
25,322
Volumes rebound
380
Periodicals bound
48
Amount received from fines $318 31
Cost of Library per capita
94
Gifts of books and pamphlets are acknowledged from state and government departments and from the following: Miss Cole, Mrs. G. W. Wells, Mrs. Howard Edmonds, J. H. Savage, Frank Lane, U. S. Shipping Board, Eddy Town Fund.
And periodicals from the following: American Optical Company, Hamilton Woolen Co., N. E. Telephone Co., Southbridge Woman's Club, U. S. Government, Rev. L. R. Urban, Massachusetts State.
JACOB EDWARDS LIBRARY
The Library Trustees voted to ask the town for an appropria- tion of $7500.00.
ESTIMATES FOR LIBRARY BUDGET FOR 1924
Salaries
$4300 00
Coal
600 00
Coal for 1923 was $671, but we have a number of tons left.
Light
220 00
Periodicals
250 00
Books (replacements, as well as new books)
1300 00
Binding
350 00
Equipment
60 00
Repairs 60 00
No one can know just what repairs might be needed. If there should be extensive repairs needed on the building, we should need a much larger amount. In 1923, Mr. Edwards paid a bill of $106.67 for repairs to the building.
Supplies
110 00
Printing
100 00
Expenses 150 00
95
Financial Statement
RECEIPTS
Town appropriation
$7300 00
EXPENDITURES
Salaries
$4185 73
Light
213 82
Coal
671 50
Books
1285 60
Binding
244 65
Equipment
60 39
Repairs
58 62
Supplies
111 79
Printing
104 00
Expenses
117 21
Periodicals
246 10
$7299 41
$ 59
MYNOTT FUND
Amount of fund January 1. 1923
$1031 98
Interest
45 50
$1077 48
EXPENDITURES
Periodicals
$5 00
Books
24 19
$29 19
Amount of fund December 31, 1923
$1048 29
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, 1923.
There are now connected with the system 1212 buildings, includ- ing manufacturing plants, schools, public buildings, tenement houses and residences.
In accordance with the recommendation of the Town of South- bridge the commissioners have built a stretch of sewer on Oliver Street of a length of 475 feet at a cost of $1018.30, Gardner Street 260 feet at a cost of $722.67. Dupaul. Franklin and Curtis Street 585 fret $2521.44. West Street 546 feet at a cost of $727.57.
The same has been completed and accepted by the Board and assessments have been levied.
The work at the filter beds has been satisfactory and met with the approval of the State Inspector under the present conditions. In reference to the appropriation for the sewer maintenance for the coming year we recommend the sum of $3,000.00.
The topic of utmost importance in this report is that of the con- ditions at our filtration area. On August 27th of this year we re- ceived from the Department of Public Health of this Commonwealth a letter telling of complaints that had been made by the citizens of the Sandersdale section of Southbridge relative to the odors which are alleged to be prevalent in that locality. The Department of Public Health has caused the locality to be examined by one of its engineers.
The results of this examination show that the sources of these objectionable odors complained of is undoubtedly our sewage dis- posal works. They consist at present of eleven filter beds with an
98
aggregate area of 8.5 acres and 3 settling tanks with an aggregate capacity of 135.000 gallons. all of which are located on a tract of land comprising some 17 acres in the valley of Trout Brook not far from the village of Sandersdale. An examination of these works show that their condition is objectionable and that they are inade- quate for the purpose for which they were designed.
The report goes on further by recommending increasing the capacity of our plant in order to meet the requirements, and we find on careful consideration of the subject that even were we to bring before the voters a proposition that would satisfy our demands it would mean that our present plant would have to be trebled in size. and in view of the small area of available land at this location this recommendation is not a practical one for us to make.
We have in the last month visited plants in this state which are perhaps of a different type than ours, but on account of our limited area we felt that only in a change in the manner of treating our sewage would we be able to utilize our present location.
Our visits took us to Fitchburg, Leominster and Worcester. At Fitchburg we found an Imhoff Trickling Filter type which has been in operation for over nine years. We were most favorably impressed with the plant both in its working and low operating cost. At Worces- ter we found a plant of asimilar type under construction. Leominster has a group of small plants of a type like ours, which although satis- factory, cannot unless they are added to, take care of their demands. We are convinced that as far as we have gone into this subject we cannot make our plant take off the amount of sewage that now flows into it, and in our recommendation we advise that an appropriation be made to cover a preliminary survey and the plans for a plant that will satisfactorily meet the conditions that are now existing, also 10 take care of the increase that we must necessarily allow for.
JOSEPH A. ALLARD, O. L. LAPIERRE, OMER L. PERRON, Board of Sewer Commissioners.
REPORT OF THE CEMETERY COMMITTEE
To the Citizens of the Town of Southbridge :
The Cemetery Committee organized for the year of 1923 with George H. Hartwell Jr .. as chairman and S. W. Williams as clerk.
Twelve new lots were sold in 1923. Twenty-one were accepted for Perpetual Care. Two Hundred and Twelve graves regraded and Fourteen lots re-seeded.
We have been fortunate in being able to interest more people each year in Perpetual Care. A large majority of the lots being sold with the Care, which adds materially to our sinking fund thereby giving us a greater income annually which enables us to keep these lots in the best of condition.
This helps in two ways: it adds greatly to the general appear- ance of the Cemetery and is a permanent satisfaction to the person owning the lot.
On the recommendation of the Malcom Ammidown Post G. A. R., we removed a number of the trees on their lot, regraded and re-seeded it.
After investigating the record systems used in a number of large Cemeteries in this vicinity we adopted a card index system indexing each lot by the owners name.
These cards also show the exact place of each burial together with a short history of the person interred.
By this system we are enabled to find at a moment's notice a
100
complete record of the ownership, also this history and location of all persons buried in every lot.
A record of this nature has been badly needed in our Cemetery work for years, we are pleased to report this year that an efficient, system has been installed.
Our chief expenditure every year is for labor. We usually retain five men from April 1st. until after Memorial Day. We then cut down each month until the middle of September, retaining two men to do the fall work. One man is retained until the early part of December doing work that would otherwise have to be done in the spring.
The Committee voted a year ago to fill Pleasure Pond, the ex- pense of keeping it filled with water throughout the summer be- ing to great.
This is fast being filled and we hope in a few years to perman- ently beautify this section.
The total amount collected by the Cemetery Department dur- ing 1923 was Two Thousand Ninety Six Dollars and Sixty Cents.
We desire at this time to thank the Citizens and Town Officials for their co-operation throughout the year.
Respectfully Submitted,
GEORGE H. HARTWELL JR. ALVA L. HYDE, DANIEL T. MORRILL. CLARENCE F. MORSE, EMERY A. LAVALLEE, WARDWELL M. EDWARDS.
Cemetery Committee.
REPORT OF THE PLAYGROUND COMMITTEE
Hector L. Peloquin. D. D. S.
Secretary of the Playground Committee.
The playground season of 1923 opened July 16. with patriotic ex- ercises, and the play season continued for five weeks.
Six playgrounds and the bath houses on the shores of "Big Pond" were under the supervision of the department.
The average daily attendance at the playgrounds was 1150.
Following the Hag salute each day, during the week of President Harding's death until the burial, the children remained one minute in silent tribute, and play activities were omitted on the day of the President's burial. President Harding said of play: "The vital basic importance of playing is now quite generally appreciated. Play is the sculptor which shapes the life of the child. He confides his dreams to play and becomes what his play is." This is also true enough of adults to make us seriously concerned for the recreational life of America. We must make the playtime of all children, and the free time for all the rest of us, richer, more satisfying and more enobling.
PLAY PROGRAM
The play program was divided into four general divisions : Simple motor play. Social play.
Creative and constructive play. Imitative play.
102
Under motor play we have:
Running, jumping, sliding, climbing, giant stride, swinging and swimming.
-The Social play includes :
Ring games, competitive games, races, tag games. chasing, hunt- ing, throwing ball and bean bag games.
Line games as :
Hill Dill, London Bridge.
Co-operative games as :
Prisoners' Base and relaying racing.
.
Ball Games as :
Medicine, Captain Dodge, Bat Volley and Basket.
Creative and Constructive Play :
Sewing and embroidery and other forms of hand work found in making articles of reed, raffia and cane. The children completed 996 such articles.
Imitative play includes :
Dramatics, Folk Dancing.
CLUBS
The story tellers clubs on the kindergarten grounds had many members. The favorite stories were those learned from the Bubble Books and on the phonographs.
The dramatic club consisted of boys who delighted the younger children by a production of Punch and Judy. The outfit for which was made by the pupils of the Continuation School.
ATHLETICS
The junior and senior boys entered the contests and races with intense enthusiasm and the team spirit was splendid. The Secretary
103
of the Committee Dr. Peloquin devoted much time to this depart- ment.
RECOMMENDATIONS
The summer activities are many and varied, our greatest need is a public tennis court.
Winter sports have not been included in the program. It is the concensus of opinion of all playground people, that whenever possi- ble a winter program should be planned which should include safe skating and sliding.
The preparation of a new play field encourages the hope that this will soon be possible. Such a field may be so graded that the area could be flooded in winter without extra embankment. Slides built and banked with snow make safe sliding places for children. New swings and slides are needed on several grounds.
The supervisor acknowledges the helpful co-operation of the playground committee, and the good will and loyalty of the instruc- tors.
Respectfully submitted,
MARGARET G. BUTLER.
REPORT OF THE SEALER of WEIGHTS and MEASURES
To the Citizens of Southbridge :
I respectfully submit my report from November 30, 1922 to November 30, 1923.
Adjusted Platform Scales over 500 pounds 5
Sealed Platform Scales over 5000 pounds 9
Condemned Platform Scales over 5000 pounds 3
Adjusted Platform Scales under 5000 pounds 4
Sealed Platform Scales under 5000 pounds 86
Non Sealed Platform Scales under 5000. 8
Condemned Platform Scales under 5000 pounds 8
Sealed Slot Weighing Scales 9
All other Scales Adjusted 12
All other Scales Sealed
351
All other Scales Condemned
15
Number of Weights Adjusted
3
Number of Weights Sealed
834
Number of Weights Condemned
24
Number of Liquid Measures Sealed
140
Number of Liquid Measures Condemned
6
Number of Milk Jars Tested 140
Number of Milk Jars Condemned
3
Number of Linear Measures Sealed
36
Number of Linear Measures Condemned
2
Oil and Molasses Pumps Sealed
62
Oil and Molasses Pumps Condemned
7
Total Adjusted
2
Total Sealed 1620
Total Condemned
67
Certificates Issued in the Office and Outside 258
Inspection of Stores
61
106
Inspection of Hawkers and Peddlers 17
Inspection of Milk Wagons 11
Inspection of Coal Certificates
Inspection of Junk Dealers 25
?
"Inspection of Ice Wagons 37
Marking of Food Packages 523
During the year many inspections were made at different times of which no record was kept. The scales of hawkers, peddlers, coal dealers, ice dealers and those in markets, grocery stores, etc,. were inspected to insure against carelessness and fraud.
Within the last few years many outside hawkers and peddlers have been eliminated from this town, to the benefit of our merchants who pay rent and taxes and give employment, it is no more than right that they should be protected.
The department has received few complaints of short weight this year, although many violations of the law were noted and quick ly adjusted. All of the violations were slight, and it was not deem- ed advisable to bring them to the attention of the court.
Some incorrect scales have been seized and condemned during the past year, and are held at the Sealer's office.
A Ford truck should be secured for the use of this department.
The wagon scale owned by the town with a capacity of 14,000 pounds is inadequate for the accomodation of heavy type trucks.
The present scale should be exchanged for one of a much heavier capacity.
The inventory of the Sealer's Department. which was taken on December 31, by former Sealers Daniel T. Morrill, Fred G. Adams and Albert Brown has given the amount of $1490.00.
The fees collected during the year and paid to the Town Treas- urer amount to $163.25.
Respectfully submitted, FELIX GATINEAU,
Sealer.
SOUTHBRIDGE PLANNING BOARD
It is with some satisfaction that the Planning Board sees pro- Jects which it recommends taken up and urged forward by many citizens. Last year this board gave its warm support to the move- avent for a recreation field on Dresser Street, and it is gratifying to note that a fair start has been made. The board is in complete ac- cord with the special committee in charge of the work in its desire to secure an appropriation large enough at the coming town meeting to complete the work in one year, rather than to drag along through a period of years.
It is estimated that the sum of eight or nine thousand dollars will put the field in condition for general use and the citizens of the town could do no better than give their sanction to the request of the special committee when it asks for an appropriation.
Regarding the plan of establishing a town engineering depart- ment. this board in its last annual report went on record as favoring such a step, and pointed out some of the advantages to be derived from such a course. This board asked that provision be made for an engineering department, headed by an experienced engineer to have superintendence of all maintenance and constructive work, such as highways, sewers, etc. We feel as we did then, that the town would be taking a step in the right direction by adopting the suggestion.
In our last report, also, we spoke of the school problem, and the need of better primary facilities. This need is being met in a measure by the erection of a four-room modern building at the corner of pleasant and River Streets. We still call attention to the Elm Street primary school as unfit for use, and trust that some time in the not distant future it will be replaced by a suitable school building.
The board would still urge that a new set of by-laws be drawn
108
up and submitted to the atorney general of the state, and when ap- proved by him, to be adopted by the town. A new building code should be adopted, based on modern practice, and especial attention should be given to laws regarding electric wiring, so that all possible danger from fire in that regard may be eliminated.
The board had this year sketches drawn giving in detail a plan indicating how streets and roads should be laid out to meet the growth of the town for many years to come. Our chairman, Mr. Arm- strong, had his engineers make a study of the town and its environs and he instructed them to make sketches. As a result of this work there are now available for the town whenever it cares to use them, plans that give a comprehensive view of how the town should be de- veloped as regards streets, roads, parks, sanitation and the numerous other things which should be handled with forethought and not in a haphazard way. For this work the town has been under no expense.
At the last meeting of the board this year these plans and sketches were shown, and the members feel that a real good job has been done. The housing problem was discussed by the board and various sug- gestions brought out at the meetings, all of which are along proper lines, and invite further study of this very pressing question.
The board has kept in touch with the trend of activities followed by the state planning board, and has taken interest in what other towns are doing. In this way we feel that the interests of South- bridge. in so far as they come into relationship with the planning board, have been duly considered.
E. BENJAMIN ARMSTRONG. Chairman_ J. E. O'SHAUGHNESSY. JOHN E. PAIGE, ALEX J. PAQUIN, GEORGE GRANT,
Planning Board.
·
REPORT OF SPECIAL COMMITTEE
To the Citizens of the Town of Southbridge : -
Special Committee appointed at the Annual Town Meeting :- Park Commissioners together with E. Benjamin Armstrong and James A. Christensen.
Committee organized with William C. Lunen, Chairman. Hector M. LeClair, Secretary. the other member being George Silk.
Appropriation of $2,500.00 was inadequate to complete program per plans as made out by James A. Christensen, and consequently bids were asked for the following work :- Clearing 5 acres; 660 lincar feet of open ditch; 450 feet 8-inch tile under drain; 1,025 feet tile under drain 6-inch ; 7 pes. 6x8 tile Y's; 3 pes. 6x6 tile Y's; the mov- ing of temporary bridge and grading to the limit of appropriation, at day rates.
Temporary bridge was constructed with suitable approaches to allow private dumping.
Contract was awarded to the lowest bidder, Noe N. Carpentier.
The Committee met on the ground frequently and also as indi- viduals kept in constant touch with the work.
In anticipation of the High School grading job, we were assured all of this filling free of charge. The Committee deemed it advisable to cancel the laying of the Central Under Drain, thereby increasing the amount available for grading. This adjustment was readily agreed to by Mr. Carpentier.
Up to the present time the open ditch has taken care of several
110
severe storms while the under drain is working to expectation.
Program for the coming year should be :- The completion of the rough grading and also the preparation of top surface, so that the - field can be used at the earliest possible time.
About 7.000 cubic yards of material will be necessary to bring the field to grade at an approximate cost of $9,000. It would be ad- visable to take a new cross section and refigure the same before this figure is accepted as final.
The nearest location for filling material seems to be on Marcy Street, on land of A. Marcy Bartholomew. He will permit the taking of material, providing we agree to certain reasonable stipulations re- garding the condition in which we leave the property. We may take the material best suited for our purpose and will be allowed to avoid ledges should any be encountered.
In place of tile for the central drain a blind stone drain would be advisable, using suitable material from the filling, with possibly a catch basin and a short length of pipe near the outlet.
By getting a steam shovel on the above named land and doing the job all at the same time, we figure that approximately $3,000.00 would be saved the town, instead of having the town appropriate small sums to do this work in three or four years' time. The field would then be available, for what it is intended for within one year instead of in three or four years.
We. therefore, would suggest an appropriation of $9,000.00 to complete the work as laid out above.
We wish to thank Messrs Genereux, Chapin, Plimpton and Crossman for the assistance rendered to Mr. Christensen.
1
111
We also wish to thank Mr. E. Benjamin Armstrong for giving us, Gratis, the services of his civil engineer, Mr. Christensen, who has had as his aim to give the town an athletic field, when completed, second to none in the state, for a community of the same size.
H. M. LeCLAIR, Secretary.
·
REPORT OF SPECIAL COMMITTEE
To the Citizens of the Town of Southbridge :
Acting as your committee for the purpose of investigating the feasibility of establishing a town forest. we herewith submit the re- port of our findings for your approval. Various tracts of land, suit- able for the purpose have been personally visited by your committee and their adaptability for the establishment of a town forest given due consideration, resulting in the selection of a desirable acreage in close proximity to the center of the town, which we are further investigating, with a view of ascertaining the possibility of later be- ing available, should the town desire to acquire the property for this purpose. Owing to this reason we are unable to make a con- plete report and offer our rcommendations at this time.
Respectfully submitted.
GEORGE L. POTTER, Chairman. OSWALD J. LALIBERTE, Secretary. SAMUEL L. IDE.
RECOMMENDATIONS FOR 1924
-
GENERAL GOVERNMENT
Moderator
50.00
Law $600.00
Selectmen
2200.00
Town Clerk 1200.00
Accountant
1800.00
Election and Registra-
Treasurer
1650.00
tion 2800.00
Tax Collector
2400.00
Town Hall
3500.00
Assessors
4500.00
PROTECTION OF PERSONS AND PROPERTY
Police Department $35,000.00
Sealer of Weights and
Fire Department
24,986.00
Measures
$1000.00
Tree Warden
300.00
Forest Fires 600.00
Moth Extermination .. .
600.00
HEALTH AND SANITATION
Board of Health $9750.00
General Cleaning
$6000,00
HIGHWAYS
Highways
$15,000.00
Street Lights ... $14,000.00
Sidewalk Repairs
5,500.00
Maintenance
of
Per-
-
Railings
500.00
manent Roads
8,000.00
Bridges
500.00
Street Oiling
2,000.00
CHARITIES AND SOLDIERS' BENEFITS
Outside Poor
$20,000.00
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