USA > Massachusetts > Plymouth County > West Bridgewater > Town annual reports of the selectmen, overseers of the poor, town clerk, and school committee of West Bridgewater for the year ending 1906-1909 > Part 15
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GEORGE F. LOGUE, ALBERT MANLEY, ELLIS S. LELACHEUR,
Selectmen.
REPORT OF OVERSEERS OF POOR.
INVENTORY AT ALMSHOUSE, DEC. 31, 1909. 21 tons hay and straw,
$448 00
Grain,
31 50
9 cows, 525 00
2 horses, 335 00
84 fowl, 61 00
Manure and ashes,
100 00
Carts, wagons and pungs,
236 00
Harnesses and blankets,
59 00
Haying machinery,
54 00
Plows, harrows and cultivators,
70 00
Small farming tools,
148 00
Incubator,
15 00
Water trough, hose and sash,
31 00
Storm windows,
45 00
Lumber and shingles,
68 50
Barbed wire and tile,
12 20
Milk pails and boxes,
5 00
Wood,
50 00
Bug death, paints and fertilizer,
9 60
Vegetables,
40 98
Groceries,
38 34
Coal,
72 00
Household furnishings,
349 00
Carpenters' tools and vice,
30 00
Saw and power, 40 00
$2,874 62
33
RECEIPTS AT ALMSHOUSE.
Received for milk,
$1,458 59
Stock,
186 75
Labor,
30 62
Produce,
15 69
Eggs and poultry,
48 60
Hay,
40 06
Junk,
I IO
$1781 41
EXPENDITURES AT ALMSHOUSE.
Paid George W. Jollimore, meat, $69 50
Horace H. Alger, meat,
81 86
George R. Drake, grain, coal, etc.,
768 76
Charles D. Felch, salary,
400 00
Charles D. Felch, incidentals,
1 00
George F. Logue,
213 24
J. M. Howard & Son Co., hardware,
12 86
S. Waldo Brown, smithwork,
5 80
J. Elmer Adams, smithwork,
IO 20
Clifton F. Haynes, fish,
15 39
C. Merton Howard, plumbing and repairs,
91 39
W. H. King, fish,
14 95
C. A. Noyes Co., hardware,
3 64
George T. Shaw, stock food,
IO 50
R. R. Skillings, paper,
. 2 25
Martin Cunningham, horse,
240 00
A. Wesley Cobbett, labor,
7 84
William MacDonald, labor,
46 00
Eluf Edlund, labor,
38 66
John O. Dean Co., lime,
I 00
Carried forward,
$2,034 84
34
Brought forward, $2,034 84 A. J. Keefe, groceries, 90
E. L. Shaw, repairs on harnesses, 3 55
Brockton Drug Co., medicine,
25
Ellis S. LeLacheur, medical services,
5 00
George W. Alger, labor, William J. Harlow, ice,
10 00
19 80
Crocker Rubber Co., gloves,
95
B. E. Jones Co., dry goods,
89
E. T. Goward, berries,
I 75
H. C. Felch, labor,
25 25
Lewis G. Lowe & Son, insurance,
28 50
L. E. Higgins & Co., clothing,
3 68
N. G. Whitmore, repairs on lawn mower,
45
Henry Willis, stock,
199 00
Miley Soap Co., soap powder, etc.,
18 25
Alphonso J. Pillsbury, paper hanging,
3 00
James K. Mason, veterinary services,
11 00
Carl A. Anderson, labor,
$2,378 06
Inventory at Almshouse Dec. 31, 1909,
2,874 62
Inventory at Almshouse Dec. 31, 1908,
2,737 80
Gain in inventory,
$136 82
COST TO TOWN AT ALMSHOUSE.
Expenditures,
$2,378 06
Receipts,
1,781 41
Gain in inventory,
$596 65
136 82
Cost,
$459 83
35
Number of inmates at town almshouse, Dec. 31, 1908, 3
Number of inmates admitted during the year, I
Number of inmates discharged, I
Number of inmates remaining Dec. 31, 1909, 3
Number of tramps lodged during year,
O
AID HAS BEEN RENDERED TO THE FOLLOWING PERSONS RESID- ING IN WEST BRIDGEWATER AND HAVING A SETTLE- MENT THEREIN. .
Major Crockett, $98 00
Mary George and children,
52 00
$150 00
AID HAS BEEN RENDERED TO THE FOLLOWING PERSONS HAVING A SETTLEMENT IN WEST BRIDGEWATER AND RESID - ING ELSEWHERE.
Martha Gassett,
City of Boston,
$17 14
Arthur C. Alger,
City of Boston, 2 00
Albert Raymond,
City of Brockton, 10 01
Harry H. Raymond,
City of Brockton, 6 35
Charles F. Alger,
City of Brockton,
2 39
$37 89
L
36
AID HAS BEEN RENDERED TO THE FOLLOWING PERSONS RESID - ING IN WEST BRIDGEWATER AND HAVING A SETTLE- MENT ELSEWHERE.
Marie Small,
City of Boston, $25 00
Mrs. George Crosby,
Town of Raynham, 132 50
Mariano C. Janeiro, City of Fall River, 24 00
Mary Janeiro, City of Fall River,
27 00
$208 50
SUMMARY.
Appropriation, $2,000 00
Received for milk, produce, etc., at farm,
1,78I 4I
Town of Dighton, 75 00
$3,856 41
Paid expenses at town farm, $2,378 06
Aid to persons residing in town and having a settlement therein, 150 00
Aid to persons residing elsewhere and having a settlement here, 37 89
Aid to persons residing here and hav-
ing a settlement elsewhere, 208 50
$2,774 45
Balance unexpended, $1,081 96
GEORGE F. LOGUE, ALBERT MANLEY, ELLIS S. LELACHEUR,
Overseers of Poor.
ANNUAL TOWN MEETING.
MARCH 1, 1909.
A meeting, duly warned, of the inhabitants of the town of West Bridgewater, qualified to vote on town affairs, was held at the Town Hall, in said town, on Monday, March I, 1909, at 7.30 o'clock p. m. Following is a record of said meeting, viz :
The meeting was called to order by the Town Clerk.
Chose Harold S. Lyon moderator.
Voted, -That the reports of the town officers be accepted and placed on file.
Voted,-That the Treasurer be and hereby is authorized, with the approval of the Selectmen, to borrow during the muni- cipal year, beginning Jan. I, 1909, in anticipation of the collec- tion of taxes, such sums of money as may be necessary for the current expenses of the town, but not to exceed the total tax levy for said year, giving the notes of the town therefor, paya- ble within one year from the dates thereof. All debts incurred under authority of this vote shall be paid from the taxes of the present municipal year.
Voted,-That the town buy a hand sprayer, cost not to exceed $ 100.
The following sums were voted and appropriated : Tree warden,
$200 00
Memorial day services,
120 00
Public lectures, 100 00
Voted,-That the Selectmen act in conjunction with the trustees of the Howard fund in regard to public lectures.
38
Voted and appropriated the sum of $488.60 for the suppres. sion of the gypsy and brown tail moth in the town.
Voted,-To postpone indefinitely article 9, in relation to joint caucuses and primaries being held in town.
Voted,-That the selectmen and overseers of the poor be elected one for three years, one for two years and one for one year, and at each annual meeting thereafter one shall be elected for the term of three years.
Voted, That the sum of $75 be appropriated to buy or lease land for a dumping place for refuse, and that the above sum be placed in the hands of the selectmen to be used at their discretion.
Voted,-To raise such sums of money as may be neces- sary to defray the town charges for the ensuing year.
The following sums were voted and appropriated :
Support of the poor,
$2,000 00
Town officers,
1,000 00
Incidentals,
600 00
Soldiers' relief,
500 00
Printing,
200 00
Abatements,
100 00
Care and improvement of Matfield cemetery,
15 00
Care and improvement of Pine Hill cemetery,
15 00
Interest on notes,
500 00
Highways and sidewalks,
1,500 00
SCHOOL APPROPRIATIONS.
Support of schools,
$5,300 00
Conveyance of pupils,
650 00
Text books and supplies,
400 00
Incidentals and furnishings,
150 00
Official expenses, ยท 200 00
Medical inspection,
50 00
General repairs,
200 00
Special repairs and painting,
300 00
Superintendent of schools,
250 00
39
Sealer of weights and measures, 100 00
Shingling and painting public library, 200 00
Voted and appropriated the sum of $125 for a card system for the assessors.
Voted,-That it is the sense of this meeting that the select- men appoint Arthur C. Peckham as sealer of weights and measures.
Voted,-That the various sums that have been raised and appropriated tonight shall be assessed upon the polls and estates of this town.
Voted,-To pay the moderator $5 for his services.
Voted .- To dissolve the meeting.
A true copy,
Attest : ELLERY C. FISHER,
Town Clerk.
ANNUAL TOWN ELECTION.
MARCH 15, 1909.
A meeting duly warned of the inhabitants of the town of West Bridgewater, qualified to vote on town affairs, was held at the Town Hall in said town on Monday, March 15, 1909, at 5.45 a. m. Following is a record of said meeting, viz :
The meeting was called to order by the town clerk.
Chose as moderator, Harold S. Lyon.
Voted,-That the polls be kept open from 6 o'clock a. m. until 4 o'clock p. m.
Total vote 309. (Ballot box registered 308).
The following election officers were appointed and duly sworn : Presson West, William L. Woodworth, James H. Alger, Chester Thayer, William F. Langley, Edwin H. Thayer, Albert C. Snow, Charles H. Egan, Thomas H. Churchill, William A. Hambly.
40
The ballots for the town officers having been counted and declaration thereof made showed the election of the following named persons :
Town clerk-Edward H. Crocker.
Assessor for 3 years-George F. Logue.
Selectmen and Overseers of the Poor-Albert Manley, George F. Logue, Ellis S. LeLacheur.
Treasurer and Collector-Frank L. Howard.
School Committee, 3 years-L. Augustus Tower, Herbert Holmes.
Trustees of Public Library for 3 years-Mrs. Helen H. Foye, Ellis S. LeLacheur.
Road Commissioner-George G. Tucker.
Tree Warden-Octave Belmore.
Constables-Henry O. Davenport, William T. McAnaugh, John Romanus, William L. Woodworth, Presson West.
Auditor-George S. Drake.
On the act "to provide for the protection of forest and sprout lands from fire" the vote was, yes 175, no 30.
On the question "Shall license be issued for the sale of intoxicating liquors in this town " the vote was, yes 58, no 186. Chose, Field Drivers, five-Alfred Lawson, Albert Man- ley, Richard Cotter, Charles E. Leonard, Henry O. Davenport.
Surveyors and measurers of lumber, wood and bark, five- Algernon S. Lyon, Clinton P. Howard, Edwin H. Thayer, C. Merton Howard, Joseph C Howard.
Fence Viewers, three-Clinton P. Howard, William J. Cairns, Levi Nute.
Pound Keeper-Warden at town farm.
Voted,-To pay the moderator $ro for his services.
Voted,-That the meeting be dissolved.
Edward H. Crocker was duly sworn as town clerk by the moderator.
A true record,
Attest : ELLERY C. FISHER,
Town Clerk.
41
SPECIAL TOWN MEETING.
NOVEMBER 12, 1909.
A meeting duly warned, of the inhabitants of West Bridge- water, qualified to vote on town affairs, was held at Town Hall, in said town, on Friday, Nov. 12, 1909, at 7.30 o'clock in the evening, and the following is a record of the doings of said meeting, viz :
Chose Howard B. Wilbur as moderator.
Voted,-That the members of the Board of Selectmen, Eddy P. Dunbar and Hervey Dunham, be a committee to take into consideration the question of providing a system of water supply for West Bridgewater ; to make a thorough investigation and report their findings to the town at an adjourned meeting to be held on or before the 15th day of January next; as amended, that William G. Mitchell and Edwin H. Lothrop be added to that committee; as further amended, that John M. Richards be added to that committee. (Both amendments were accepted).
Voted,-To pass article 3.
Voted,-That when this meeting adjourns it be to Friday evening, Jan. 14, 1910, at 7.30 o'clock.
Voted,-To adjourn.
A true record,
Attest : EDWARD H. CROCKER,
Town Clerk.
REPORT OF SEALER OF WEIGHTS AND MEASURES.
Appropriation,
$100 00
Jan. 30, Pneumatic Stamp Co.,
57
Feb. 8, Pneumatic Stamp Co., 52
Mar. 8, Frank L. Howard,
4 32
" 8, Frank L. Howard,
42
Apr. 12, John J. Hargraves,
5 00
Nov. 15, A. C. Peckham,
49 47
N. Y. & B. Despatch Ex. Co., 55
Dec. 6, Hobb & Warren Co.,
3 50
$64 53
Balance unexpended,
35 65
In addition to the above, the sealer has sealed : Two platform scales over 5000 lbs. Four platform scales under 5000 lbs.
Three computing scales.
Twelve all other scales.
Two oil pumps.
Forty-eight weights sealed.
Twenty-four dry measures sealed.
Twenty-five liquid measures sealed.
One pair steel yards condemned.
One dry measure condemned.
Two milk bottles condemned.
A. C. PECKHAM, Sealer of Weights and Measures.
REPORT OF COMMITTEE
TO INVESTIGATE WATER SUPPLY.
The committee appointed for investigation and information concerning town water, wishes to report as follows :
On the evening of December 19, 1909, the committee met with the Brockton Water Board at City Hall, Brockton, and the following information was obtained : Brockton would prefer to have this town lay its own pipes and sell the people the water. However, Brockton would lay the pipes and furnish the takers water if assured that the income would be sufficient, which would mean approximately 8. to 10 per cent. on outlay, or money invested, to be guaranteed by the town.
Mr. Kingman stated that the best thing to do was to have an engineer lay out a plan for piping the town, so that if more pipes were laid from time to time, and the mains extended, no changes would be necessary in the pipes already laid. Six-inch mains would give sufficient presure, and, connected, cost 90 cents a foot laid at present prices. Eight-inch mains, with hydrants four hundred feet apart, would cost $1. 10 per foot laid at pres- ent prices.
Mr. Kingman stated that the pressure would be sufficient for hose-probably 60 to 70 pounds. One mile of eight-inch main, with hydrants four hundred feet apart, would cost approx- imately $5800.
The cost of eight-inch main laid would be approximately $5000 per mile without hydrants. They advised not putting in hydrants unless necessary, as they could be put in at any time.
44
It was stated that if hydrants were 510 feet away from a build- ing, no decrease in insurance rates could be procured.
The water board will extend its mains in East Bridgewater so as to lay a main in Matfield, if guaranteed returns. They also stated that the addition of West Bridgewater to the service would be but a drop in the bucket, and that they will probably furnish the water for eight cents per 1000 gallons, if we lay our own pipes.
At a subsequent meeting, William G. Mitchell was ap- pointed to secure signatures of those who would take water on North Elm street, from Davis Copeland's to Prospect street, in- cluding Spring street, and the new houses on Brooks place. John M. Richards was also appointed to do the same in Mat- field, from the town line to Belmore's store. Mr. Mitchell re- ported twenty-six takers, amounting to $521, and Mr. Richards 31 takers, amounting to $505.
GEORGE F. LOGUE, Chairman, ALBERT MANLEY, WILLIAM G. MITCHELL, HERVEY DUNHAM, JOHN M. RICHARDS,
EDDY P. DUNBAR,
EDWIN H. LOTHROP,
ELLIS S. LELACHEUR, Sec'y.
REPORT OF ROAD COMMISSIONER.
RECEIPTS.
Appropriation,
$1,500 00
Street Railway tax,
667 89
Excise tax,
880 42
Edna Thompson,
5 62
$3,053 93
PAYMENTS.
Bills approved to the following persons :
Paid Ames Plough Co.,
$12 35
Alger's Express,
95
Good Roads Machine Co.,
8 00
S. Ellis Ryder,
10 77
George G. Tucker,
253 70
John Courtney,
165 50
Sumner P. Ames,
163 00
George G. Hopkins,
229 28
Walter L. West,
187 00
John Cairn,
75
J. M. Howard & Son,
I 20
Daniel O'Leary,
119 13
John Peterson,
37 25
Carried forward,
$1,188 88
46
Brought forward,
$1,188 88
James Henessey,
63 25
Chester Thayer,
3 00
Arthur A. Webber,
57 50
Terrance Keenan,
23 75
George W. Alger,
91 16
Frank P. Hatch,
29 45
Charles E Leonard,
78 00
Philander Lambert,
17 75
Elmer E. Howard,
115 18
Charles C. Thayer,
I22 99
Thomas E. Snell,
6 50
Joseph B. Taveres,
I 13
John Blake,
73 50
Henry M. Howard,
43 75
Bradford Copeland,
92 50
J. E. Ryder,
3 00
Joseph C. Howard,
47 75
Marshall Ferrar,
25 00
Mrs. Arthur Packard,
2 80
William Halgreen,
9 00
K. M. Lively,
15 50
John Hayward,
65 00
Charles H. Fuller,
61 25
Patrick O'Connor Est.,
88 00
Roland C. Bennett,
70 00
George F. Ryder,
74 25
Manuel Lewis,
5 00
Henry D. Davenport,
54 00
Frank Enos,
19 00
Samuel G. Copeland,
57 25
Clinton P. Howard,
. 106 90
Henry Bartlett,
70 00
T. Prescott Snell,
78 59
Carried forward,
$2,870 58
47
Brought forward,
$2,870 58
Arthur H. Alger,
47 28
Orvis F. Kinney, .
47 28
William Howard,
9 40
Albert Manley,
21 00
Bradford E. Wilbur,
II 14
S. W. Brown,
3 50
W. L. Woodworth,
2 25
Charles H. Eagan,
I 50
Octave Belmore,
1 00
$3,014 93
Balance,
. 39 00
$3,053 93
GEORGE G. TUCKER, Road Commissioner.
REPORT OF TAX COLLECTOR.
Faank L. Howard in account with the town of West Bridge- water.
1906 TAX.
Due by last report, $93 54
Cash paid treasurer,
$88 02
Remitted,
5 52
$93 54
Interest paid treasurer, $13 55.
1907 TAX.
Due by last report,
$751 35
Error in subsequent assessment,
4 49
$755 84
Cash paid treasurer,
$633 47
Remitted,
20 28
653 75
Jan. 1, 1910, uncollected, Interest paid treasurer, $50 73.
$102 09
1908 TAX.
Due by last report,
$5,545 50
Cash paid treasurer,
$4,667 55
Remitted,
48 51
4,716 06
Jan I, 1910, uncollected, Interest paid treasurer, $130 22.
$829 44
49
1909 TAX.
Commitment, Subsequent assessment,
$20,285 44 6 00
Total tax list,
$20,291 44
Cash paid treasurer,
$16,197 10
Remitted,
21 75
16,218 85
Jan. 1, 1910, uncollected, Interest paid treasurer, $26.94.
$4,072 59
FRANK L. HOWARD, Collector of Taxes.
REPORT OF TREASURER. Consolidated Cash Statement for the Year 1909.
Jan. I, 1909, cash balance,
$1,838 83
Cash receipts from all sources,
38,337 19
$40,176 02
Cash disbursements for all purposes,
34,820 81
Cash balance Dec. 31, 1909,
$5,355 21
CASH STATEMENT IN DETAIL.
RECEIPTS.
Jan. I, 1909, cash balance,
$1,838 83
County treasurer, dog tax,
309 30
State Treasurer,
Mass. school fund,
$1,108 40
National bank tax,
564 27
Corporation tax,
423 73
State aid,
1,906 00
Indigent soldiers,
36 41
Gypsy and brown tail moth,
540 30
Superintendent of schools,
750 00
On account of school district,
166 67
Carried forward,
$2,148 13
5 1
Brought forward, $2,148 13
On account of state wards, 88 50
On account of High school tuition, 16 00
On account of inspection of animals, 45 00
On account of street railway tax, 667 89
$6,313 17
Poor department, Town of Dighton,
$75 00
Police court,
196 00
Henry S. Porter fine,
20 00
Notes,
6,500 00
Licenses,
6 00
Street railway, excise tax,
880 42
Library,
10 00
Trustees of Howard funds an ac-
count of music,
40 00
Edna Thompson, on account of gravel,
5 62
Martha K. Crosby, on account of supplies, I 57
7,734 61
On acc't of Superintendent of Schools,
Town of Raynham,
$75 00
Town of East Bridgewater,
175 00
250 00
Interest,
Interest on deposits,
$36 04
Interest on taxes,
221 44
257 48
Almshouse,
Albert Manley, milk,
$1,458 59
Charles D. Felch, cash,
322 82
1,78I 4I
Carried forward,
$1,8484 80
52
Brought forward, On account Tree Warden, I. N. Nutter, treasurer, Mary F. Drake, treasurer,
$1,8484 80
$71 55
7 58
8 80
Clarence C. Puffer, Octave Belmore,
17 15
105 08
Taxes,
Tax collector on account 1906 taxes,
88 02
Tax collector on account 1907 taxes,
633 47
Tax collector on account 1908 taxes,
4,667 55
Tax collector on account 1909 taxes,
16,197 10
21,586 14
$40,176 02
PAYMENTS.
Almshouse,
$2,378 06
Gypsy and brown tail moth,
1,250 95
Highways,
3,373 15
Incidentals,
532 95
Interest on notes and bonds,
606 13
Schools,
9,519 79
Memorial,
135 00
Matfield cemetery,
15 00
Pine Hill cemetery.
16 00
Moderator,
15 00
Notes,
6,500 00
Library,
533 18
Poor (not in almshouse),
396 39
New school bond,
2,000 00
Public lectures,
100 00
Town officers,
1,251 45
Carried forward,
$2,8623 05
53
Brought forward,
$2,8623 05
Tree warden,
295 62
Printing,
200 35
Soldiers' relief,
320 00
State aid,
1,951 00
Weights and measures,
64 35
Hand sprayer,
68 12
Abatement,
3 38
County tax,
1,606 94
State tax,
1,530 00
State highway tax,
158 00
Cash balance Dec. 31, 1909,
5,355 21
$40,176 02
TRUST FUNDS.
Mrs. Henry Copeland fund, deposited in Brockton Savings Bank,
$114 38
Interest to Oct. 15, 1909,
4 60
$118 98
South Street cemetery fund, deposited in Peo-
ple's Savings Bank,
162 47
Interest to October, 1909,
6 54
$169 0I
There are outstanding new school bonds amounting to eleven thousand five hundred dollars at 4 per cent., two thou- sand payable Feb. 1, 1910, and two thousand each succeeding year.
FRANK L. HOWARD,
Treasurer.
AUDITOR'S REPORT.
WEST BRIDGEWATER, MASS., Jan. 11, 1910. I have examined the accounts of all the town officers entrusted with the care, receipt and expenditure of money for the year 1909 and find them correct.
GEORGE S. DRAKE, Auditor.
CITIZENS' CAUCUS.
A caucus for the nomination of town officers, required by law to be chosen by ballot, to be elected at the annual town meeting in West Bridgewater, will be held at the Town Hall, Monday, February 21, 1910, at 7.30 o'clock, p. m. The meet- ing will be called to order by the Chairman of the Caucus Committee.
REPORT OF TRUSTEES OF PUBLIC LIBRARY.
TRUSTEES.
Elizabeth Kingman,
Term expires 1910
L. Augustus Tower,
Term expires 1910
Edith F. Howard,
Term expires 1911
Charles R. Packard,
Term expires 191I
Helen H. Foye, Ellis S. LeLacheur,
Term expires 1912
Term expires 1912
ORGANIZATION.
Chairman, Secretary,
Charles R. Packard
Treasurer,
Elizabeth Kingman L. Augustus Tower
Our library building in this first year of its use has met the hearty approval of the public, and proves to be in arrange ment well adapted to all details of library work.
Early in the year a change was made in the administration of the library by the resignation of Miss Perkins, who had served as librarian since its establishment in 1879. With its acceptance the trustees expressed for themselves and in behalf of the town sincere appreciation of her long and devoted service in the following resolution :
Resolved, That Miss Mary L. Perkins, librarian of the public library of West Bridgewater, from its establishment in 1879 to the present time-by her faithful work in its care as it has increased from a few hundred volumes to over six thousand -and by her kindly interest in meeting the wishes and needs
56
of its patrons as well as in all matters pertaining to its welfare, has given to this town a public service that calls for respect, honor and gratitude from its citizens.
Resolved, That this tribute be entered in the records of the library and be printed in the town report for 1909.
Mrs. H. E. Cary, who had been acting librarian for some months, accepted the permanent position offered by the trus- tees and with earnest purpose has maintained the library's use- fulness as one of the educational institutions of the town.
One immediate and most happy result of moving the library into a former school building in proximity with others, is to bring the many pupils of these schools into closer connec- tion with the library.
There are many obstacles in a country town to a free use of one valuable part of the library unless it is made accessible to the schools. All good libraries, according to their means of support, furnish a well chosen reference department. The books to serve their purpose must be up to date in all subjects relating to the world's progress. If during school life the habit is formed of consulting these works of reference, it would with many, be continued after school days were over. In this part of the library's usefulness the co-operation of the teachers is necessary in directing their pupils; and it is the librarian's pleasure to give all who desire her ready assistance.
There have been added to this department within the year the following important works : The United Editors Perpetual Encyclopedia, combined with an unabridged dictionary, in 40 vol- umes. "The plan of this work is to give a development of modern knowledge. The world is a new world. The sciences, education, invention, religion, discovery, etc., are present day studies, and in each department the Encyclopedia and Diction- ary gives the last word."
Rand, McNally & Co.'s Atlas of the World, not a revised, but an essentially new work brought to 1909.
The Flags of the World, their history, blazonry and associ- ation and a work on Heraldry.
57
With more than usual pleasure the book committee has placed in the library "The Story of Oil," recently published, written by a graduate of our High school in the class of 1898.
A previous work, "A History of the American Whale Fishery," was presented by its author to the library at the time of publication.
It will be seen from the librarian's report the issue of books to the public has been larger than for some years. As usual, the demand for light reading is excessive to the neglect of other departments, which remain with well filled shelves. The per- centage of fiction issued by all libraries is high and is accepted by authorities as one of the many uses the public library pro- vides for entertainment within the home. With a view to encourage a taste for more permanent literature many of the leading libraries of the country are now limiting their purchase of fiction. The latest report of the Boston public library states : " Ot current fiction 759 volumes were sent us for examination. These were read usually by two, frequently by three persons, and outline reports indicating the character of the books filed with the librarian. Of the entire number 147 were selected for pur- chase." Cannot those who seek the library largely for recrea- tion find pleasure also in reading for a more serious purpose ?
The privilege is given to adults, if desired, of two issues on the same card, a magazine or volume of non-fiction with one of fiction.
To the "Three Young Friends" who presented the picture of six noted British poets, the trustees, and all interested in making our library more attractive, extend their thanks. We acknowledge also a gift of seven volumes from the A. U. asso- ciation, Boston, and one from a resident of the town.
The extension of open hours until 8 on Saturday evenings has met the approval of the public and will be continued.
We call attention to a list of the books purchased during the year, printed with this report for the convenience of the public.
The appropriation of $200 from the town for outside paint-
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