USA > Massachusetts > Worcester County > Worcester > Town annual reports of the several departments for the fiscal year ending December 31, 1873 > Part 23
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309
FREE PUBLIC LIBRARY.
Of unusual work done in the library during the past year, it is necessary to mention two or three items only. The work of arranging and numbering the books in the Green Library room was completed last summer. The manuscript catalogue has been numbered to correspond. It is now possible for any one of the attendants in the library to find books asked for by users, which have been previously picked out by author or title, in the cata- logue. Before this work was done, the intervention of the librarian was continually called for, in order that desired books might be found, and it frequently happened that much time had to be spent by him in hunting them up. The advantages attend- ant upon the accomplishment of this piece of work, are appa- rent. The two other unusual undertakings to be mentioned as having been carried to successful conclusion during the year, have been both spoken of before. They are the new issue of cards, with the contemporaneous introduction of the new system of keeping accounts with borrowers, and the preparation of the supplement to the catalogue of books in the circulating depart- ment. Enough has been said regarding both these matters. They call, here, for mention merely.
WORK OF THE COMING YEAR.
It only remains for me to mention the items of the unusual work, which, with your approval, it is proposed to undertake during the year now to begin.
In the first place, I wish to give much more time than has been possible, hitherto, to the selection of books. This work has never been neglected; on the contrary, it has been well done. Admirable have been the selections from current publi- cations ; and numbers of older standard works, many of them costly, all valuable, have been procured. But in the latter di- rection, it is evident that a large amount of work remains to be accomplished, and it is for this kind of work that time is espe- cially needed.
Work of this kind is needed in all libraries. That it is needed
$
310
CITY DOCUMENT .- No. 28.
here is evident. Thus to take at random a list of a dozen books added to those in what may be called a single department of knowledge during the last year, I find the standard lives of the English premiers, Pitt and Fox ; of the great Irish patriot and statesman, Grattan; of that interesting personality, Blanco White ; such authoritative works in the American biography, as Tudor's Life of Otis, Austin's Life of Elbridge Gerry, and Mar- shall's Life of Washington ; and works of the recognized value of Curtis's History of the Formation of the Constitution of the United States, Savage's Genealogical Dictionary, Chandler's American Criminal Trials, and James Mill's History of British India. Ours being, comparatively speaking, a new library, it has, of course, many deficiencies to supply, and will have them for years, - probably always. They are not so glaring as they would have been, however, had not the library always com- manded, in its management, the services, in some cases enthusi- astic, of cultivated gentlemen in its board of directors. Dr. Green also made it a principal part of his work to collect older books of intrinsic value. More than once have I heard him say this was his especial charge. He could not count upon the same interest in his successors that he felt, and so could not feel cer- tain they would be willing to take the trouble necessary in doing this kind of work. In engaging in this work, there is reason to believe that much aid will be afforded by members of the library committee, and in its performance the cooperation of all persons interested in the library is heartily invited, and would be gratefully acknowledged.
There is another unusual piece of work which it is the inten- tion to engage in vigorously the coming year. This is the work of making a thorough examination of the books now on the shelves of the circulating department, and of considering care- fully what additions can wisely be made to it.
We have the heart to take hold of this work, now that pro- vision has been made for the safety of the books, and, with heart, comes simultaneously time to attend to the matter.
Of course our losses in the circulating department have been
311
FREE PUBLIC LIBRARY.
large. These losses have only been made good in a few in- stances. So there are hundreds of books which at one time belonged to the library that are not now here. It is proposed to examine carefully the list of missing books, with the view of replacing such as are of present value. At the same time the attempt will be made to examine all the books in the li- brary, in order to find out whether volumes are there which should be taken out, or which belong properly in other depart- ments ; and, as stated above, in order to find out in what direc- tions we should work in making additions, and what books we ought to buy.
Miss Earle will work with me for the purpose of getting ready the main catalogue of the circulating library for a new issue. Such an issue will be soon needed. It is proposed to make a new accessions catalogue and enter every book carefully anew. This done, preparation's will be far advanced towards the reissue of the printed catalogue.
It has been a source of great regret to us that so many mis- takes exist in the present catalogue, and that little care was taken to remove from it books known to be lost at the time of its issue. Our consolation is, that we are not responsible for these short- comings and errors. While we shall aim to make improvements in the catalogue before issuing it again, it will be our purpose, first of all, to secure accuracy in carrying out the plan adopted, what- ever that may be. In issuing the supplement which will be got out in a few weeks, provision has been made for this thing in causing the proof-sheets to be read over several times, and a sec- ond proof to be presented to us for revision.
As stated above, if time can be found during the year for this work, we shall try to fill up the gap in the card catalogue of the Green Library. As also stated before, however, this work is not pressing, and will not be undertaken until the other items of work have received due attention. We already have a manuscript cata- logue of the books in this library, although it is not in the most desirable form.
312
CITY DOCUMENT .- No. 28.
CONCLUSION.
In conclusion, I wish to thank the members of the Board of Directors, one and all, for the kindness shown me during the year. If at any time I have seemed unmindful of your services when pressing my own views upon you, let me assure you that your advice, criticism, and cooperation have been of the greatest assistance to me, and reaffirm my hearty belief that the interests of the Library will always be best advanced by the union of the contributions of differing minds. Your portion of our joint labor has not only been fittingly done. It has been done with a deli- cate consideration of my feelings.
Respectfully submitted,
SAMUEL S. GREEN,
Librarian.
GIFTS FROM DECEMBER 1, 1872, to NOVEMBER 30, 1873.
Books.
Pamphlets
Books.
Pamphlets and Papers-
American Antiquarian Society, Astor Library,
2 University of Vermont and State Agricultural College,
1
Berkshire Athenæum,
1 Worcester Academy,
5
Board of R. R. Commissioners, Mass.,
1 Association,
2
Boston Public Library,
1
Worcester Free Institute of In-
Bowdoin College,
1 dustrial Science,
1
Brown University,
1 Yale College,
2
Bureau of Education,
3
14 Y. M. C. Association, Worcester, Gardner S. Allis,
1
Chicago Public Library,
1 P. E. Aldrich,
1
1
Cincinnati Public Library,
1 Mrs. P. E. Aldrich, 1
City Library, Manchester, N. H.,
1 Phinehas Ball,
1
City of Worcester,
1
Edmund M. Barton,
1
Cobden Club,
3 Emma Hardinge Britten,
1
Cornell University,
3 Geo. E. Chambers, C. C. Chatfield,
1
Free Public Library of New Bedford,
1 E. S. Chesbrough, Samuel H. Colton,
1
1 W. H. Daniell,
3
Hartford Young Men's Institute.
2 Drew, Allis & Co.,
3
Highland Military Academy,
1 Sarah F. Earle,
14
Historical and Philosophical Society of Ohio,
1
Gen. M. F. Force,
1
Holton Library, Brighton,
1 William Gray,
1
Lancaster Town Library,
1 Andrew H. Green,
1
Louisiana State University,
1 Samuel S. Green,
1
National Association of Wool Manufacturers, 1
George F. Hoar, Samuel W. Hodges,
7 1
New York State Library,
1 Jas. C. C. Holenshade,
1
Newton Free Library,
1 David Landreth & Son,
1
Peoria Mercantile Library, Perkins Institution,
1 Edw. W. Lincoln,
1
Public Library of the city of Charlestown,
Public Library of Cincinnati,
1 John Miller,
1
66 66 ." the city of
Newburyport,
1 Nathl. Paine, John Lewis Peyton,
1 Charles Reiche & Bro.
St. Louis Public School Library,
2 Stephen Salisbury,
Sec'y of State, Nevada,
1 Stephen Salisbury, Jr.,
Smithsonian Institution,
1
8 Edw. Smith, Supt. of Schools,
2
A. R. Spofford, Librarian,
1
1
Southbridge Public Library,
1 Charles Sumner, 19
21
State Board of Health,
2'C. O. Thompson,
1
State Lunatic Hospital,
1 John L. Utley,
1
State of Mass., 11
3 Francis A. Walker, Supt.,
3
Stevens Institute of Technology,
1 Henry Wilson, 11
1 Friends, 2
7
U. S. Naval Observatory,
2
2 2
102 184
1 1
66 " Fall River,
1 C. L. Nichols,
1
Alpheus S. Packard, Librarian.
1 2
Publishers of Courant Alma- nac,
1 1 7
1 2
Sons of Temperance, Grand Di- vision of Mass.,
3 S. E. Staples,
1
Town of Waltham,
United States Patent Office,
HH Lo and Papers.
1 1
Mercantile Library, Philadelphia,
66 New York,
1 Wm. T. Harlow,
1
Leicester Public Library,
2 James Green,
1 Grout & Putnam,
14
1 A. P. Marble, Superintendent, Samuel May,
12
1 Clinton L. Merriam,
1
Free Public Library of Water- town,
C. L. Flint, Secretary,
2
3
" Statistics of Labor,
1
County Mechanics
REPORT OF THE LIBRARY COMMITTEE.
To the Directors of the Free Public Library :
GENTLEMEN .- The work of the Library Committee during the past year has been chiefly that of supervising the lists of books proposed to the board for purchase. This duty they have endeavored to discharge punctually and faithfully. The Committee's most difficult task is, and always must be, that of discriminating between the claims of various classes of literature, all of which have a right to some sort of a repre- sentation on the shelves of the Library.
It is no part of the duty of the Committee to compile an Index Expurgatorius, and yet, given a certain amount of money, and given also a fixed resolve not to overdraw this allowance, it is evident that some canons of criticism must be laid down, some law of selection, however unsatisfactory, determined.
Perhaps the most distinctive characteristic of Worcester as a city is the fact that two kinds of interests, usually dissociated, are here brought into direct contact. A manufacturing centre is seldom selected as the fittest place for the founding of educational institutions. Yet it so happens, probably on account of a certain felicity of situation, that manufactures and education are about equally represented here, the Free Institute of Industrial Science standing between the two, and reaching out a hand to each.
Such being the conditions of the problem, the Committee have decided that their wisest rule of selection would be one that should hold always uppermost the interests of students and mechanics. Books of reference, dictionaries and encyclopædias of all sorts, standard works on theoretical and applied science, collections of photographs and prints, these form the staple of the additions to what may be called the permanent wealth of the Library. At the same time, the Committee have felt bound to furnish an ample supply of the current literature of the day, and it is believed that during the year no book of mark,
315
FREE PUBLIC LIBRARY.
whether in the field of criticism, poetry, or fiction, has gone unpur chased.
When it is remembered that to spend public money at all for that which confessedly only amuses, without instructing the mind of the people, is at best a questionable exercise of privilege, it will be ac- knowledged that to keep a watchful eye on the purchase of purely ephemeral literature for such a Library as ours is only the plain duty of this Board. The Public Libraries of New England ought to aim at some higher line of achievement than that of first bankrupting the old- fashioned " circulating libraries " and then occupying the deserted field. There is a real danger in this direction, and it will not be amiss to have public attention called to it.
The Committee have great pleasure in repeating the favorable ver- dict rendered last year upon the management of the working details of the Library by the head officer and his subordinates. They have yet to learn that there is any library in the country where more is done to make the books answer the purpose for which they were bought, where method and system are made to bend more gracefully to public con- venience, or, in general, where the "users " are better used.
The statistics to be reported are as follows :
During the year eleven meetings of the Committee have been held; 400 volumes have been recommended to the Board for purchase for the Green Library, and 2600 volumes for the Circulating and Intermediate Departments.
Bills have been approved to the amount of $2,299.88 for payment from the funds of the Green Bequest, and to the amount of $7,135.35 for payment from the city appropriation.
WILLIAM R. HUNTINGTON, Chairman.
41
REPORT OF COMMITTEE ON READING ROOM.
Thomas L. Nelson, Esq., President of. Board of Directors of Free Public Library :
The Committee on the Reading Room have to report but little new in their department.
A full list of all the newspapers and periodicals of which we were in receipt a year ago was furnished with our report at that time. Since then we have substituted the daily for the weekly edition of the Albany Journal, and Iron, published at London, for the Mechanics' Magazine. We have ceased taking the Commonwealth, and Our Young Folks is no longer published. The donors of the following periodicals have dis- continued their gifts, some of them being no longer issued : The Asso- ciation Monthly, L'Avenir National, Bowdoin Scientific Review (no longer published), The Christian Quarterly, L'Etendard National, The Methodist, The Methodist Quarterly, The Texas New Yorker, and Old and New.
On the other hand, we have subscribed to Old and New, St. Nicholas, the tri weekly edition of the Philadelphia North American, the Sani- tarian (New York and Chicago), and the International Review (New York) ; and have received as gifts : The Worcester Daily Press from the publishers, the National Temperance Advocate (N. Y.), and the Boston Daily News from Rev. H. T. Cheever, the American Manu- facturer (Pittsburgh) from Jackson Bailey, corresponding editor ; the American Textile Manufacturer (New York) from Wm. R. Pope, the Biblical Messenger (Plainfield, Vt.) from George HI. Sawyer, Deutsches Kirchenblatt (New Albany, Ind.) from Rev. W. R. Huntington, and Our Paper from the Young Men's Christian Association of this city. An occasional number of the Illustrated Christian Weekly (New York) also reaches the Library. The total is thus raised from 170 in 1872 to 173 for the present year.
317
FREE PUBLIC LIBRARY.
The subscription to these various periodicals (excepting of course such as are given) has been paid for from the Reading-room Fund, aided only by the sum of $100 from the City Treasury. This fund was the result of voluntary subscriptions among our fellow-citizens. It is a most valuable auxiliary to the resources of the Library, and its value will be further seen from the fact that of the 170 periodicals on our list a year ago no less than 102 have been considered worthy to be bound for preservation. Out of this last number 44 are foreign pub- lications. All these additions to the permanent stock of reading have been made at no other expense to the city than the cost of binding. Unfortunately the income of the fund is limited, while to the issue of new periodicals there is indeed "no end." A small appropriation to this department will therefore be needed from year to year, but the greater portion of the expense will be defrayed from the annual income of the fund, which amounted this year to $686.24.
The two reading-rooms have been opened on Sundays during the past year, and have had an average of 110 visitors for each Sunday throughout the whole time. These visitors have had free access to all our periodicals and to the books on the reference shelves in the Green Library. While most of them would naturally find sufficient entertain- ment from these sources of supply, all are free to call for such books as they wish to consult or peruse, and the average number of books thus called for each Sunday has been 22. Perfect order and decorum have prevailed, and, from one year's experiment, the Library (let us hope also the community) has received no harm.
For the Committee on the Reading Room,
CHARLES A. CHASE, Chairman.
REPORT OF COMMITTEE ON THE BUILDING. .
To the President and Board of Trustees of Free Public Library :
GENTLEMEN : - Your Committee on the Building would report, that beyond the ordinary repairs, little has been done. The Building and Fixtures are in fair condition.
Respectfully submitted for the Committee.
CHAS. H. MORGAN.
318
CITY DOCUMENT .- No. 28.
REPORT OF THE FINANCE COMMITTEE.
To T. L. Nelson, Esq., President of the Board of Directors of the Free Public Library of Worcester :
The Finance Committee submit the following report of the Receipts and Expenditures, on account of the Free Public Library, for the fiscal year of the city, ending November 30, 1873 :
City Appropriation for 1873,
Dog Fund, from County Treasurer,
$12,800 00 2,174 19
$14,974 19
Bills approved, and payments thereon as follows :
For Books and Stationery,
$6,670 60
Printing,
229 68
Binding,
767 19
Gas (Aug. 1, 1872, to Dec. 1, 1873),
1,063 46
Salaries and care of Building,
4,104 57
Coal and Wood,
450 31
Furniture and Fixtures,
86 00
Insurance,
330 75
Repairs,
386 39
Incidental Expenses,
16 10
$14,105 05
Balance on hand Dec. 1, 1873,
869 14
$14,974 19
The balance of $3,787.11 reported on hand December 1, 1872, was afterwards transferred to the Sinking Fund, by order of the City Gov- ernment, and so does not appear in this Report.
For the Committee.
H. A. MARSH, Chairman.
FREE PUBLIC LIBRARY.
THE GREEN LIBRARY FUND.
The Finance Committee of the Free Public Library submit the fol- lowing report of the Green Library Fund, for the fiscal year of the city, ending November 30, 1873 :
Statement of the Fund, Dec. 1, 1872.
Notes secured by Mortgage,
$16,048 50
Bank Stocks (par value),
6,700 00
Worcester City Notes,
11,010 90
$33,759 40 -
Statement of the Fund, Dec. 1, 1873.
Notes secured by Mortgage,
$27,048 50
Bank Stocks (par value),
6,700 00
Deposit in People's Savings Bank,
629 19
$34,377 69
Income for the year ending Nov. 30, 1873.
Interest on Mortgage Notes,
$1,429 17
Interest on City Notes,
446 99
Dividends on Bank Stocks,
577 50
Interest on Bank Deposits,
19 50
$2,473 16
One quarter of Income added to Fund, as per provisions
. of Will, $ 618 29
Balance of Income appropriated for purchase of Books, 1,854 87
$2,473 16
BOOK ACCOUNT.
Balance in City Treasury, Dec. 1, 1872,
$1,448 84
Appropriated for purchase of Books,
1,854 87
Interest on Bank Deposits,
27 45
Expended for purchase of Books,
$2,303 63
Balance Dec. 1, 1873,
1,027 53
$3,331 16
Respectfully submitted for the Finance Committee.
319
$3,331 16
H. A. MARSH, Chairman.
320
CITY DOCUMENT .- No. 28.
THE READING ROOM FUND.
REPORT OF THE TREASURER.
Nathaniel Paine, Treasurer, in account with the Reading Room Fund of the Free Public Library :
DR.
To balance of Cash Dec. 27th, 1872,
$79 95
" Cash for Interest on City Bonds,
300 00
" Cash for Interest on United States Bonds, 386 24
" Cash from City Appropriation,
100 00
" Cash for Books purchased for Library, 17 31-$883 50
CR.
By cash paid for subscriptions to newspapers and periodicals,
$852 07
" Cash for postage,
3 04
" Cash paid for Books for Library,
17 31
" Balance of cash Dec. 26, 1873,
11 08 -$883 50
The Fund is invested in :---
City of Worcester Bonds,
$5,000 00
United States Bonds, Total fund,
5,650 00
-$10,650 00
Respectfully submitted,
NATH'L PAINE, Treasurer.
Worcester, Dec. 26, 1873.
I have examined the above account, and find the same to be correct, and that the investments are as stated.
H. A. MARSH, Chairman Finance Committee. Dec. 26, 1873.
REPORT OF THE CITY ENGINEER.
To the City Council :
GENTLEMEN :- The City Engineer respectfully submits the fol- lowing Annual Report :
The supply of water in quantities sufficient for all the purposes of our growing city has been a desideratum for years past, and it is a matter for congratulation that we have it now in such abundance.
Our main reservoir in Leicester, at an elevation of 340 feet above Main street, affords pressure enough generally for fire pur- poses, without the expensive apparatus and attachments of fire engines.
The high service pipe connecting with this reservoir, and for which an appropriation of $240,000 was originally made, was laid, and the water let into it as far as Providence street, on the 27th of May, as far as Elliott street on the 7th of June, and through its entire length, ending at Catharine street, on the 27th of June, since which time there has been no lack of water for all necessary purposes.
The entire cost of the high service pipe has been $231,597.35, $8,412.65 less than the original estimate.
Eight thousand dollars of this balance has been transferred to the Pauper Department, leaving $412.65 still to the credit of the high service.
322
CITY DOCUMENT .- No. 28.
At the commencement of the year we had in our main reservoir, 505,310,240 gallons. Jan. 28, 612,822,551 66
Feb. 20, 584,531,751
Mar. 27, 545,834,487
April 5, 663,330,185
which was the full capacity up to the crest of the overfall.
The rise continued, and, by means of flashboards, there was Stored on May 1, 747,917,845 gallons. " 11, 775,572,141 66 which was all that it was considered safe to withhold.
From the 5th of April, when the water reached the overfall, to the 12th of May, it is estimated that 171} millions of gallons were wasted-enough for the supply of the city for nearly three months, all of which might have been stored had the capacity of the reservoir been increased by the additional five feet upon the dam originally designed, and which should not be delayed another year.
On the 23d of June the water had fallen to the crest of the overfall, and it continued to decrease quite uniformly till October 9th, when it stood 74 ft. below the rollway, with 393,555,995 galls.
Since that time there has been a gradual increase till, Dec. 1, we have 4462 millions of gallons.
Bell Pond Reservoir has been but little used since the comple- tion of the High Service, the gradual accumulation of vegetable substances rendering the water more and more impure. Initia- tory measures have already been taken to ascertain the amount of the accumulation, with a view to its removal from the basin.
This reservoir is of value to the city in case of fires, and should be put in good condition even if not needed for household pur- poses.
The system of sewerage heretofore inaugurated has been carried on as the public necessity and demand required. The contract for building the greater part of the sewers the past season was awarded to E. S. Knowles, who, it is believed, has executed the work in a creditable manner.
An abstract of the sewers built from December, 1872, to De- cember, 1873, with their lengths, sizes, manholes, catch-basins and
323
REPORT OF CITY ENGINEER.
inlets is appended to this report, and also a tabular statement of the entire sewerage of the city.
The number of permits given to enter sewers by private drains for the year is 218.
The whole number of permits given is 1595.
We have now of sewers already built 30-66% miles, with 591 catchbasins and 1255 manholes. To maintain them in a proper condition it requires constant attention and a considerable force. It is made the duty of the Commissioner of Highways to superintend the cleaning of cesspools and dispose of the material taken therefrom. However readily this may have been done in years past, it has now become a work of such magnitude as to add considerably to the duties of that officer, and it is believed that this work can be better and more economically done under the head of the Sewer Department, and that the City Ordinance should be so changed as to keep the departments distinct.
There yet remains 340 feet of the main Mill Brook sewer to be built, which, in consequence of the leased property of Court Mills, was deferred till the lease should expire. As that hindrance will be removed during the coming year the remaining gap should be filled in, to save the property in that location from the liabilities of a flood arising from the now contracted channel, and for the security of the work already built. The main sewerage of the Piedmont district, now emptying into the old Mill Brook chan- nel near Sargent's card-clothing factory, will have to be continued with an increased capacity, sufficient for the subsidiary drains from this district, across the meadow about 3000 feet, into the Mill Brook sewer, near Cambridge street Bridge. Measures should be taken for at least securing the right of way for such a sewer, by laying out a street over the projected route, before the land is mapped out and sold in house lots.
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