USA > Massachusetts > Worcester County > Worcester > Town annual reports of the several departments for the fiscal year ending December 31, 1879 > Part 19
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This is a reform school and not a penal institution. No odi- um, therefore, attaches to a boy sentenced here as it would if he were sent to jail for crime.
All the influences are reformatory in their nature, and the pripil is met in a spirit of kindness and love, which generally makes of him a good pupil on his return to school. And this spirit has its due effect, because the child is compelled to feel its influence and submit to its control. In the case of many of these boys, the life in this school is not a hardship. The com- fort it affords, its regular duties and wholesome restraint, fur- nishes the first opportunity they have to be good. The time to pity them was when they roamed the streets as vagabonds and slept in some outhouse.
As in former years, there have been several applications from neighboring towns for the privilege of assigning their truants
295
OVERSEERS OF THE POOR.
to this school. In every case the application has been refused. There is not room for out of town pupils, and it is better to introduce no different element of evil we know not about.
Since its origin in 1863, and up to December, 1873, the num- ber sentenced to this school was 167. Since that date, the number each year has been as follows: 1874, 11; 1875, 14; 1876, 9; 1877, 8; 1878, 10; 1879, 9.
61
167
Total,
228
For the present year, number at the beginning,
7
At the close of the year,
7
Sentenced during the year,
9
Average attendance for the year,
8 00
EXPENDITURES.
Cost of Board, teacher and pupils,
$1,143 58
Clothing, etc.,
79 10
Teaching and supervision,
250 00
Total,
$1,472 68
Unexpended balance,
27 32
Appropriation,
$1,500 00
Average cost per pupil,
$184 08
The expenses for the ensuing year will be about the same as last year, in all probability ; consequently an appropriation will be needed of the same sum, viz., $1,500.00.
All which is respectfully submitted.
A. P. MARBLE, Supt. of Schools. W. A. WASHBURN, City Marshal. C. L. HARTSHORN, Chairman Com. at City Farm.
COMMITTEE ON THE TRUANT SCHOOL.
Worcester, Dec. 20, 1879.
ANNUAL REPORT
OF THE
CITY PHYSICIAN.
WORCESTER, March 26, 1879.
To the Honorable City Council :
Report of the City Physician from November 30, 1878, to March 26, 1879.
Visits to city patients,
477
almshouse,
12
Whole number of visits,
489
Office visits,
30
Vaccinations,
30
Included in above are :
Visits to police station,
6
Labor cases,
4
Consultations,
2
Visit to Springfield,
1
Commitment of insane,
4
Respectfully submitted,
D. W. NILES, M. D.,
Ex City Physician.
297
OVERSEERS OF THE POOR.
Gentlemen of the City Council :
From March 25th, the date upon which I assumed the office of City. Physician, until within a few days of this present time, I congratulate you and our citizens that no epidemic or unusual degree of sickness has visited our beloved city. Just now, how- ever, I regret to say that we are disturbed by the presence of small-pox in our midst. Up to the time of this present writing there have been nine cases of this most dreaded disease, three of which proved rapidly fatal. I hope and trust the vigorous measures adopted by the Board of Health, have now, or very soon will stop, the spread of the disease.
The first case came from Canada, in the person of an unvac- cinated infant. This case ran on to a fatal termination, and was buried with public funeral ceremonies, without the knowl- edge of the city authorities. Three children in the same house, and six other persons, who, in one way or another, had exposure from this case, were attacked. No well vaccinated person, although many had been exposed, has, as yet, developed the disease. This fact is very important as showing the protective power of vaccination.
By providing free vaccination for all school children who choose to apply, and by refusing admission to the schools to all those not satisfactorily vaccinated, we have placed our city upon very high and commendable sanitary ground. I there- fore recommend that this wise measure of protection be continued.
The Hospital for Contagious Diseases, located at the Farm, has proved useful, and in most respects satisfactory. It is too small for our needs if we should have a general epidemic; by good fortune, we have made it answer thus far.
The health of the inmates at the City Farm has been good for persons of their class. Many of them are aged and feeble, having no power to withstand attacks of acute disease. Four of them have died, and eight others, also have died, under my care in the city, viz :
298
CITY DOCUMENT .- NO. 34.
Ann Burke,
aged 47
Tumor.
Ellen Keagan,
57
Dropsy.
Timothy Toole,
66
62
Erysipelas.
Elsie Adams,
55
Epilepsy.
Patrick Small,
66
65
Sun Stroke.
Thomas Mullen,
47
Pneumonia.
John E. Bradley,
1
Scarlatina.
Michael Durbin,
35
Consumption.
Lydia Brown,
66
69
Debility.
Emma H. Taylor,
66
43
Specific Abcesses.
Andrew J. Mckinstry,
66
63
Bright's Disease.
Margaret McAuliffe,
66
1
Meningitis.
The number of professional visits made for the nine months has been four hundred and fifteen, of which twenty-nine were to the police office, and eighteen to the city farm. Thirty-five consultations at the office have also been given.
The regular office hours for the vaccination of school children have been held weekly, and three hundred and ninety-one have availed themselves of this opportunity. The material used has always been the best that could be obtained, and the results have been highly satisfactory.
I wish to express my thanks to Mr. Gale, the Clerk of the Board, for his assistance and uniform courtesy to me on all Qc- casions ; and also to Mr. Marble, whose office has been seriously disturbed by my weekly visits ; to Mr. and Mrs. Parkhurst, at the Farm; to the City Marshal and all the members of the City Police, my acknowledgements are due for their zeal in carrying out all my requests, and for the pleasant relations I have had with them.
Respectfully submitted.
RUFUS WOODWARD, M. D.,
City Physician.
299
OVERSEERS OF THE POOR.
WORCESTER, Jan. 2, 1880.
At the regular monthly meeting of the Board of Overseers of the Poor, held this date, the foregoing reports were unanimously adopted, and the Clerk was instructed to present the same to the City Council, with the request that the matter be printed at an early day, and the Board be furnished with five hundred copies for distribution and exchange with other cities and towns.
GEO. W. GALE,
Clerk.
DIRECTORS' REPORT.
To the Honorable Frank H. Kelley, Mayor, and to the City Coun- cil of the City of Worcester :
The library has now been established twenty years, and the wisdom of the city and its early friends in founding it is amply justified by the record of its condition and of the valuable ser- vices it is rendering, as shown in the Reports of the Librarian, the Committees, and the Treasurer of the Board.
These Reports are herewith transmitted, by a vote of the Board of Directors, as a portion of their Report.
Perhaps the most notable statement in the Report of the Librarian, is that in which it is shown that the use, already large, of the Reference Library has continued greatly to increase during the past year.
The Board would emphasize his suggestion that immediate steps be taken to do, as rapidly as possible, the work preliminary to the issue of a new printed catalogue of the whole, or portions of the books in the Circulating Department.
Details of the work done during the past year, and of that contemplated in the coming year, are contained in the tables and observations of the Librarian's Report, and are submitted for your inspection and careful consideration.
The Committee on the Library has quietly and faithfully performed its duties, but has left the Librarian to report with minuteness on the work done under its supervision.
The Committee on the Reading Room has added to its Report a list of the papers and periodicals that can be seen in our rooms.
301
FREE PUBLIC LIBRARY.
It is important that this list should be printed occasionally, and it has not appeared in our Report for several years.
The Committee on the Building mentions that the elevator has not yet proved satisfactory. It has been examined by the firm which put it in, and certain improvements have been added to it since the Report of the Committee was submitted, which it is hoped will make its working satisfactory.
A full statement of the resources and expenditures of the Library will be found in the Report of the Committee on Finance, and in the account of the Treasurer of the Directors. These Reports give also a detailed account of the investments of the Trust Funds.
In the Report of the Librarian will be seen a consolidated statement of the reports relating to the financial affairs of the Library.
From comparatively small beginnings the Library has, under the management of its successive Boards of Directors, aided by our very able and faithful Librarian and his assistants, who for years have devoted their talents and energies to its interests and to its increase and improvement, become an educational force of great power and influence, cooperating with our admirable sys- tem of public schools in educating our people, and making Worcester a place desirable as a residence to all who value knowledge and education, and the privileges and means of obtaining them; and the Board desire most earnestly to insist that, even in a pecuniary point of view, money is well spent when voted for the maintenance and increase of a Public Library. The Board, therefore, most confidently appeals to the City Gov- ernment to aid it in keeping its present high reputation and in increasing its usefulness.
In behalf of the Board of Directors,
P. C. BACON,
President.
Worcester, Jan'y 10, 1880.
Report of the Librarian
OF THE
FREE PUBLIC LIBRARY,
To Hon. Peter C. Bacon, President of the Board of Directors of the Free Public Library :
Following is the twentieth annual report of the Librarian :
It is the ninth made by me while in your service. Herein are tables in which are given the facts relating to the work done in the library during the past year, and to its present condition, which are of general interest, such as the number of volumes added, the number used, a classified account of our entire ex- penditures, and a statement of the present financial condition of the institution.
In the appendix will be found a list of givers of books and pamphlets. It is only necessary for me to add a few words in regard to our affairs during the year which has just closed and respecting work which must be undertaken at once.
The following organizations and individuals should be men- tioned here by name, on account of the value of their gifts, or for some other equally potent reason, namely : The City of London, England ; the United States Government, and several of its Departments ; the State of Massachusetts ; E. S. Ches- brough, Esq., Engineer of the City of Chicago; the City of Boston; the American Institute of Mining Engineers; the Franklin Institute of Philadelphia; the New York State Library; the Boston Athenæum; the Boston Public Library ;
303
FREE PUBLIC LIBRARY.
Harvard College Library; Professor Alexander Agassiz, of Cambridge ; A. C. Fearing, Jr., Esq., of Newton; Hon. Charles L. Flint, Secretary of the State Board of Agriculture; Francis T. King, Esq., and Mr. John E. Marshall, of Baltimore, for a valuable volume and pamphlets, relating to the construction of the hospital connected with the Johns Hopkins University ; Gen. M. F. Force, of Cincinnati; Gordon W. Burnham, Esq., and Mr. W. T. Washburn, of New York City ; the widow of Charles Pickering, and Dr. Samuel A. Green, of Boston ; Charles Francis Adams, Jr .. Esq., of Quincy ; and Hon. W. W. Rice, Hon. Stephen Salisbury, Hon. George F. Hoar, Hon. Charles Devens, Col. John D. Washburn, and Stephen Salis- bury, Jr., Esq., of this city.
Among the books added to the library by purchase during the past year, I find none whose titles it is important to record in this report.
It is to be regretted that the income of the Green Library fund has to be so exclusively devoted, as is now the case, to the purchase of current literature, and that a portion of it, at least, cannot be spent with the more legitimate purpose of adding to our collection expensive works of reference. There are several valuable sets of books, which, were they accessible, would fur- ther the industrial interests of the city, and which it is, there- fore, desirable for us to buy. It is, on this account, to be hoped and expected that as the city grows prosperous again, it will make us as large appropriations as formerly, and thus enable us to use the Green Library fund in the interests of thorough and profound investigation.
The use of the reference library has grown rapidly during the past year. The number of volumes placed in the hands of readers and students is more than 4,200 greater than in the pre- vious year. Thus the experience of every one of the last nine years has been repeated. The use of this department has risen from almost no use, nine years ago, to the consultation of 34,311 volumes during the year now reported on. It must always be borne in mind that in the figures, as given in the annual reports, only such volumes are counted as are put into the hands of readers and students, or used by officers in furnishing informa-
304
CITY DOCUMENT .- NO. 34.
tion sought for. None are counted to which a person has helped himself from our well filled and much used reference shelves.
Of the 34,311 volumes, whose use is here noted, more than 30,000 have undoubtedly been used for serious purposes, and less than four thousand for mere amusement. This showing is even better than the excellent one made last year.
In view of these facts, the Board of Directors may well feel proud of the success which has attended the execution of the plan adopted by them nine years ago. Citizens are coming very generally to appreciate the advantages of having con- stantly at hand a large reference library, selected with especial reference to their wants, to consult with such personal aid as they choose to avail themselves of in its use, and with experts in general bibliography continually at their service for giving information in regard to books. Plans have been formed for making this department of the library still more useful. They will be laid before you in due time.
The Sunday use of the library and reading room has, as usual, increased during the past year. 2,827 volumes have been delivered to readers for use within the building, as against 2,482 volumes during the previous year, and 13,951 persons have used the rooms. The number the year before was 12,883.
The use of the circulating library has fallen off, somewhat, during the past year. It has been anticipated this would be the case. The use of this department will probably fall off still further the present year. The number of volumes, how- ever, used during the past year, has been very large, namely, 123,087.
The principal cause for this diminution of use, is to be found in the fact of the more general resumption of business, and in the consequent abridgment of the amount of time which can be given to reading, and lessening need for unusual occupation.
Other causes are, that we are constantly raising the standard of the character of books circulated, and that we have not had money enough placed at our disposal to enable us to satisfy the varied wishes of a numerous constituency.
We could increase the number of volumes circulated by removing existing restrictions, which allow but one volume to
305
FREE PUBLIC LIBRARY.
be taken out at a time, and two only in a single week. It seems hardly wise to pursue this course, however, excepting in the case of important needs made known to the librarian.
While the young ladies in charge of the circulating depart- ment are relieved from a portion of their usual work, it is pro- posed to have them study, under the supervision of the librarian, the character and general scope of the contents of the books in the library, with reference to making their services more val- uable in the assistance of readers.
The editions of the catalogue and supplement to the cata- logue of the books in the circulating department of the library are exhausted. Work preparatory to issuing a new catalogue of the whole or portions of the books in this department must be begun at once.
Considerable progress should be made in the work the pres- ent year. Plans have been carefully formed for carrying it for- ward, which will soon be laid before the Library and Financial. Committees.
In regard to Poole's Index of Periodical Literature, a new edition of which is now being prepared by the united labors of a number of libraries, it may be stated that the work upon it is progressing very satisfactorily.
The catalogue of 5,000 selected books suitable for general use, to be prepared and issued under the auspices of the Amer- ican Library Association, has been placed under contract, and the editor has begun work upon it.
The thanks of the library are due to several other libraries for courtesies extended to us during the past year, and particu- larly to the Boston Public Library, the Boston Athenæum, and Harvard College Library, for frequent loans of books.
As we have few opportunities to return the favors which these libraries extend to us, I would suggest that we extend still further the privileges which have been accorded inhabitants of towns near Worcester, and besides allowing them to examine books within the library building, occasionally, and under proper regulations, permit students to take books to their homes.
The list of additions, which we are issuing in conjunction with the Boston Athenæum and the Young Men's Library As-
306
CITY DOCUMENT .- NO. 34.
sociation of Buffalo, has proved useful, and is secured at a very small cost.
The account of the librarian has been examined, and the following certificate handed to me :
CITY OF WORCESTER, FREE PUBLIC LIBRARY, Dec. 1, 1879.
I have examined the librarian's account, from December 1st, 1878, the date of the last settlement, and find it stands as follows :
Cash balance in librarian's hands, Dec. 1st, 1878, $127 87 Received for fines, sales of catalogues, and mis-
cellaneous,
491 63
$619 50
Paid to treasurer of Directors, for which his re- ceipts are on file,
507 12
Balance in librarian's hands,
$112 38
J. EVARTS GREENE,
For Committee on Finance.
RECEIPTS AND EXPENDITURES.
RECEIPTS.
Municipal appropriation, . $8,000 00
Income from invested funds :
Green Library fund,
$1,649 82
Reading room
632 89
$2,282 71
Receipts from dog licenses,
2,810 98
fines,
404 75
sale of catalogues, 56 47
2
307
Payments for missing or damaged books, .
10 61
Sale of condemned books,
87
Sundries,
18 93
Total,
$13,585 32
Cash on hand at last report :
Green Library fund,
$1,869 51
Reading room "
518 41
Fines, catalogues, &c.,
127 87
Special city appropriation,
986 66
$3,502 45
· $17,087 77
EXPENDITURES. BOOK ACCOUNT.
Books :
Green Library fund,
$1,496 44
City appropriation,
2,099 99
$3,596 43
Pamphlets :
Green Library fund,
1 25
City appropriation,
11 54
$12 79
Periodicals :
Green Library fund,
$191 98
City appropriation,
62 17
Reading room fund, .
574 30
$828 45
Binding,
856 62
BUILDING ACCOUNT.
Repairs and additions,
$253 66
Furniture and fixtures,
169 88
Insurance,
25 00
Fuel,
250 10
Lights,
928 83
FREE PUBLIC LIBRARY.
308
CITY DOCUMENT .- NO. 34.
SALARY ACCOUNT.
Administration and cataloguing (including wages
of janitor), $5,199 45
Extra service,
731 87
SUPPLY ACCOUNT.
Printing catalogues,
$138 71
Blanks and stationery, .
138 95
Postage,
124 17
Paper covers (covering paper),
00 00
Sundries,
337 42
$13,592 33
Cash on hand, December 1, 1879 :
Green Library fund,
$1,829 66
Reading-room fund (including $20.78
spent by the Treasurer of the Read-
ing-room fund, after December 1, but before he made up his account),
566 74
Special city appropriation, . ·
986 66
Money received for fines, sale of cat- alogues, &c.,
112 38
$3,495 44
$17,087 77
ACCESSIONS.
Increase of volumes by purchase :
Green Library,
419
Intermediate Department,
249
Circulating Department,
1,352
2,020
Increase of volumes by gifts :
Green Library,
. 3
Intermediate Department,
295
Circulating Department,
5
303
FREE PUBLIC LIBRARY.
309
Increase of volumes by binding pamphlets :
Intermediate Department, 6
Increase of volumes by binding periodicals :
Green Library, 68
Intermediate Department,
158
Circulating Department, 11
237
Increase by placing unbound volumes of peri-
odicals in the library :
Intermediate Department, 4
2,570.
Number of volumes withdrawn since the last report :
Circulating Department,
176
Number of volumes missing since the last report :
Green Library, 5
·
Intermediate Department,
1
Circulating Department, .
22
28
204
2,366
Number of volumes in the library as last reported :
Green Library,
. 18,628
Intermediate Department,
8,939
Circulating Department,
. 17,588
45,155
Total number of volumes in the library, 47,521
Increase of unbound pamphlets by purchase :
Green Library, 15
Intermediate Department, 20
24
-
35
.
310
CITY DOCUMENT .- NO. 34.
Increase of unbound pamphlets by gift :
Intermediate Department, 243
Total increase for the year, 278
Number of newspapers subscribed for :
Reading room fund, 82
Green Library fund,
16
City funds, 1
99
Number of newspapers given to the reading room, 44
Number of magazines subscribed for :
Reading room fund, 39
Green Library fund, 32
City funds, . 17
88
Number of magazines given to the reading room, 9
CIRCULATION.
Number of days the Circulating department was open, · · 306
Number of days the Reference department was open, · Number of days the lower Reading room was open, Number of volumes delivered for
365
66 .6 home use,
123,087
" reference "
34,311
Average daily use (home and reference), (Circula- ting department 402, Reference department, 112), 514
1,193
Largest daily use (home and reference), April 19, . (Largest in Circulating department, Feb. 8, 1,030 volumes ; in Reference department, Nov. 1, 290 volumes). 213
Smallest daily use (home and reference), Aug. 14, (Smallest in Circulating department, Dec. 10, 159 volumes ; in Reference department, August 21, 18 volumes).
-
359
311
FREE PUBLIC LIBRARY.
Number of books lost, and paid for : Circulating department, 14
Number of books lost, and not paid for :
Green Library, 5
Intermediate Department, 1
Circulating Department,
4
10
Number of books worn out and withdrawn : Circulating Department, 176
Number of notices to delinquents, volumes bound, 1,437
5,190
66 names registered during the year, 1,627
Total number of names registered (a new registry made July 1, 1873,) 17,125
SUNDAY USE.
The reading-rooms are open from 2 to 9 P. M. Number of persons using the upper room, 5,374
" lower room, . 8,577
Total number, . ·
13,951
Average number of persons per Sunday using the rooms, 263
Largest Sunday attendance (Feb. 23), 429
Smallest 66 (June 1), 117
Number of volumes delivered (for use within the building), 2,827
Average number of volumes delivered per Sunday, 53
SAMUEL S. GREEN,
Librarian.
APPENDIX.
GIFTS TO THE LIBRARY.
DONORS.
Books.
| Pamphlets
land Papers.
DONORS.
Books.
Pamphlets land Papers
Acton Patriot,
Adams, Charles Francis, Jr., Boston, 1 Agassiz. A., Museum of Comparative Zoology, Cambridge, 1
Allen, Edward G., London, Eng., 1 No. of a periodical, 1
American Antiquarian Society, 2
American Institute of Mining Engip- eers, 1
Amherst College Library,
Anonymous, 1 prospectus, 1 newspa- per, 1 folded paper, 2
Apprentices' Library, New York City, Arundel Society,
Baird, Henry Carey & Co.,
Baker, Frances M., 1
Bartholomew English and Classical School, Cincinnati, O.,
Bell Telephone Exchange, 1 sheet,
Benét, S. V., Chief of Ordnance, U. S. Army, 1
Bigelow Free Library, Clinton,
Bodleian Library, Oxford, Eng., Boston City of,
Messenger of the City Council, 3
Superintendent of Public Schools, Boston Athenæum, 1 folded paper, 1
Boston Public Library, 2
Boston University,
3
Bowditch, William I,, Cambridge,
Bowdoin College and Medical School, Maine,
Bradlee, C. D., Boston, 1 folded sheet, 4 papers,
Brookline Public Library,
Brown University,
Burnham, Gordon W., 1
Cambridge Superintendent of Public Schools,
Chesbrough, E. S., Chicago, Ill., 1
Chicago Public Library,
Childs, George W., Philadelphia, Pa., 1 paper,
City Library, Manchester, N. H.,
Clarke, Robert & Co., Cincinnati, O., 1 Cobden Club, London, Eng., 3 papers, Cook & Townsend, Marlboro,
Crane, T. Frederick, Ithaca, N. Y.,
Cutler, E., 2 newspapers,
Cutter, C. A., Boston, 1 folded paper, Dartmouth College, Hanover, N. HI., Delaware Historical Society, Wil- mington, Del., 1
Devens, Charles,
Dewey, Melvil, Boston, 1
Dexter, George, Cambridge,
Dexter, Julius, Cincinnati, O.,
Earle, Henry C.,
Earle, Sarah F.,
Emerson, James, Willimansett, 1
1 Estes & Lauriat, Boston, Evans, Henry N., Exeter, N. H., Town of,
3 Fall River Public Library,
Fearing, A.C. Jr., Secretary Bunker Hill Monument Association, 3 Ferree & Co., Philadelphia, Pa., Flint, Charles L., Boston, 3 sheets, 64 Force, M. F., Cincinnati, O.,
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