Town of Agawam, Massachusetts annual report 1921-1925, Part 8

Author: Agawam (Mass. : Town)
Publication date: 1921
Publisher: Agawam (Mass. : Town)
Number of Pages: 584


USA > Massachusetts > Hampden County > Agawam > Town of Agawam, Massachusetts annual report 1921-1925 > Part 8


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Minnie A. Barden, precinct officer


10.00


Carrie W. Kendall, precinct officer


5.00


William H. Lester, precinct officer


10.00


Arthur A. Randall, precinct officer


12.50


Elbert L. Campbell, precinct officer


5.00


Charles F. Barden, precinct officer


2.50


John R. Lloyed, selectman


305.00


H. Preston Worden, selectman.


270.00


Giles W. Halladay, selectman


235.00


$3,364.10


Appropriation


$ 3,000.00


Transferred from Contingencies 364.10


$3,364.10


Clerk, Treasurer and Collector


Henry E. Bodurtha, services $ 2,000.00


$2,000.00


Appropriation


$ 2,000.00


Contingencies


O. C. Alderman, supplies $ 2.75


Transferred to Town Office


364.10


Transferred to Street Lights


13.52


Transferred to Town Buildings


115.39


Transferred to Liability Insurance


68.23


$563.99


Appropriation


$


600.00


$600.00


Police


Edward S. Connor, services


$ 1,750.00


47


Edward S. Connor, expenses 20.54


Daniel O. Cesan, services


61.00


Charles H. Wyman, services 252.00


James W. Cesan, services 5.00


Frankie H. Campbell, services


302.75


Roger Connor, services


7.50


Frank Connor, services


3.00


Edward T. Cordes, services


3.00


Alvin R. Kellogg, services


8.00


Edward St. Louis, services


7.00


William De Forge, services


10.00


Wilfred F. Dumas, services


10.00


Adam E. Letendre, services


5.00


John R. Daley, services


6.00


Wm. Sullivan, services


5.00


Wm. H. Seaver, services


10.00


Scott Adams, attorney


125.00


John H. Madden, attorney


50.00


J. P. Vincelette, supplies


176.04


Fisk Rubber Co., tires


24.88


Eloi Belisle repairs


5.25


F. L. Roberts, supplies


9.65


Frank J. Meyer, supplies


7.00


Joseph Borgatti, supplies


7.50


C. W. Hastings Co., supplies


3.60


A. F. Pezzini, repairs


2.00


N. E. Telephone & Telegraph Co., ser- vice


10.45


Springfield Hospital, care


17.50


Dr. J. W. Leonard, medical attendance


10.00


City of Springfield, lockup fees


59.05


J. G. Clark, transportation


2.00


$2,975.21


Appropriation


$ 2,200.00


Police Court fines


1,327.52


Sheriff, fines


106.50


Jitney licenses


1,350.00


Riverside Park Co., for service


334.25


$5,318.27


High School Building E. T. Davis & Son on contract $111,311.86


48


R. A. Turner & Co., on contract 5,575.00


T. J. Conway, on contract


7,210.54


William P. Brown, on contract


16,590.00


E. J. Broadhurst, Atty., site


8,314.06


Scott Adams, legal services


300.00


Springfield Street Railway Co., services


15.35


E. C. Knapp, court expenses


30.00


D. J. Collins, court expenses


20.00


H. E. Bodurtha, cash expenses


27.25


Wallace E. Dibble, architect


5,312.81


Julius A. Ryan, photographs


25.00


J. C. Heidner & Sons, furnishings


350.00


Frank Rudu, labor


4.00


H. W. Haskell, supplies


191.60


Ernest Hunt, tuning piano


3.00


L. E. Knott Appliance Co., supplies


289.10


Bigelow & Dowse, supplies


190.65


R. A. Fife Corporation, supplies


272.82


Meekins, Packard & Wheat, supplies


3,469.50


Charles Hall, supplies


422.10


Underwood Typewriter Co., machines


840.00


Remington Typewriter Co., machines ....


+20.00


E. H. Sheldon Co., supplies


+92.88


Kenney Bros. & Wolkins, supplies


5,300.00


Singer Sewing Machine Co., supplies ....


74.88


E. S. Stacy Co., supplies


386.52


Forbes & Wallace, supplies


84.69


Horace Partridge Co., supplies


35.53


Hart & Hutchinson Co., supplies


383.20


J. D. Wallace & Co., supplies


502.02


A. D. Letellier, cartage


34.84


W. J. Kelley Co.


200.00


$168,679.20


1921 Expenditures


$ 73,152.10


Balance of bond issue


$ 8,168.70


Street Lights


Agawam Electric Co., street lighting .... $ 7,708.75


United Electric Light Co., lighting 104.77


bridge


$7,813.52


Appropriation $ 7,800.00


49


Transferred from Contingencies 13.52


$7,813.52


Sewers


Cook Builders Supply Co., supplies $ 350.23


J. L. Burke, labor


53.95


Davitt Iron Foundry Co., grates


13.00


Springfield Brick Co., brick


30.00


R. F. Mahoney, labor


.50


C. E. Terry, cement


8.00


Durkee White & Towne, surveying


30.89


C. W. Hastings Co., supplies


2.50


E. S. Connor labor


74.00


Roger Connor, labor


19.50


D. F. Crowley, labor


25.70


Raymond Roberts, labor


3.00


Augustus Morin, labor


6.00


Alphonse Brisette, labor


12.00


Paul Brissette, labor


4.50


Edward St. Louis, labor


30.40


Ernest Jasmin, labor,


15.00


Quinto Avonds, labor


3.00


Leo Lonerini, labor


1.50


Silvio Costa, labor


13.50


Frank Menard, labor


3.20


Harry Cooley, labor


4.50


William De Forge, labor


3.00


Henry Milanese, labor


6.00


Ernest Favari, labor


6.00


Louis Lavotti, labor


6.00


Carlo Gaudini, labor


3.00


Peter Mutti, labor


3.00


David De Forge, labor


12.40


George Deno, labor


8.00


Melville Rivers, labor


8.00


Fred Perusse, labor


8.00


Cyril Perusse, labor


9.60


M. Perusse, labor


16.00


Frank La Rock, labor


6.40


Kenneth M. Pond, labor


14.40


Joseph J. Brady, labor


16.00


George Lawrence, labor


3.00


50


John C. Healey, labor


33.00


Bert Coville, labor


54.00


Charles H. Wyman, labor


53.50


H. P. Worden, labor


20.00


$ 994.17


Entrance fees received


$1,333.36


$1333.36


Health Department


Dr. E. H. Guild, examinations $ 6.00


Dr. F. D. Jones, examinations


3.00


Dr. J. E. Dwyer, examinations 2.00


Emerson's Laboratory, examinations


23.00


A. E. Lerche, supplies


3.60


D. O. Cesan, services


2.00


County Tuberculosis Hospital


628.58


John R. Lloyd, services


50.00


Giles W. Halladay, services


40.00


H. Preston Worden, services


40.00


Appropriation


Town Buildings


Agawam Electric Co., service


$ 166.35


A. H. Rowley, repairs


25.80


T. M. Walker Co., supplies 10.63


J. A. Roy, repairs


8.80


J. C. Healey, care


10.55


D. J. Bloom, care


22.00


D. E. Bailey, labor and supplies


26.50


C. P. Chase & Co., supplies


12.76


C. W. Hastings, insurance


1,032.00


$1,315.39


Appropriation $12,000.00


Transferred from Contingencies 115.39


$1,315.39


Assessors


Johnson's Bookstore, supplies $ 9.00


Davoll Printing House, supplies 7.25


Wakefield Daily Item, supplies .45


$ 798.18 $ 800.00


51


Florence Blish, copying


3.00


Louise M. Brown, copying 60.00


Searching records 20.00


Amos Gosselin, services 17.50


H. Preston Worden, services


200.00


William H. Porter, services 300.00


R. M. Taylor, services 500.00


$1,117.20


Memorial Day Observance


Sons of Veterans


$ 75.00


American Legion


75.00


$ 150.00


Appropriation


$ 150.00


$ 150.00


Liability Insurance


C. W. Hastings, Agt., premium


$


268.23


Appropriation $ 200.00


$ 268.23


Transferred from Contingencies


68.23


$ 268.23


Aid to Agriculture


Hampden County League


$


300.00


$ 300.00


Appropriation


.....


$ 300.00


$ 300.00


Numbering of Houses


Steele Bros., services $ 95.00


Appropriation $ 100.00 $ 95.00


$ 100.00


Interest


C. D. Parker & Co., temporary loans .... $ 3,655.96 F. S. Moseley & Co., temporary loans .... 1,081.24


Boston Five Cent Savings Bank, water loan 120.00


52


Hull Sinking Fund Com., schoolhouse loan


40.00


Old Colony Trust Co., water loan


840.00


Old Colony Trust Co., water loan


3,161.25


Old Colony Trust Co., schoolhouse loan


500.00


Old Colony Trust Co., sewer loan


880.00


Old Colony Trust Co., schoolhouse loan


495.00


Old Colony Trust Co., water loan


945.00


E. Pierson Beebe, highway loan


300.00


West Springfield Trust Co., highway loan


500.00


Old Colony Trust Co., highway loan ...


787.50


Old Colony Trust Co., High School loan


12,500.00


Old Colony Trust Co., commission


6.41


$25,812.36


Appropriation


$18,000.00


Interest on taxes and deposits


8,618.89


Net income of Water Dept.


1,119.80


$27,738.69


Town Debt


Boston Five Cents Savings Bank, water loan $ 1,000.00


C. D. Parker & Co., schoolhouse loan 2,000.00


Old Colony Trust Co., water loan


1,000.00


Old Colony Trust Co., water loan


3,500.00


Old Colony Trust Co., schoolhouse loan


1,000.00


Old Colony Trust Co., sewer loan


1,000.00


Old Colony Trust Co., schoolhouse loan


1,000.00


Old Colony Trust Co., water loan


1,000.00


E. Peisson Beebe, highway loan


2,000.00


West Springfield Trust Co., highway loan


2,000.00


Old Colony Trust Co., highway loan .... 3,500.00


Old Colony Trust Co., High school loan 13,000.00


$32,000.00


Appropriation


$27,000.00


Corporation and Bank taxes


4,038.19


License fees


1,179.00


Premium on bonds


2,815,27


$35,032.46


53


Liabilities, Dec. 30, 1922


Two notes held by Boston Five Cents


Savings Bank, due $1,000, annually,


Jan. 1, 1924-25, at 4% water loan .... $ 2,000.00 Twenty bonds of $1,000, payable an- nually, Oct. 1, 1923-42, to Old Col- ony Trust Co., at 4%, water loan .... 20,000.00


Bonds of 1913 water loan, payable $3,500, annually, July 1, 1923-43, to Old Colony Trust Co., at 41/2% .... 68,500.00 Boards of 1916 schoolhouse loan $1,000, payable annually, July 1, 1923-34 to Old Colony Trust Co., at 4% 12,000.00


Sewer bonds of 1916, payable annually, Dec. 1, 1923-43, to Old Colony Trust Co., at 4%


21,000.00


Schoolhouse bonds of 1917, payable $1,000, annually, Sept. 1, 1923-32 ..... Water bonds of 1917, payable $1,000 annually, Oct. 1, 1923-42, to Old Colony Trust Co., at 41/2%


10,000.00


Two serial notes of $2,000 each, pay- able to E. Peirson Beebe, Dec. 10, 1923-24, highway loan at 5%.


4,000.00


Four serial notes ot $2,000 each, pay- able to West Springfield Trust Co., Nov. 5, 1923-26, at 5%, highway loan Serial notes payable to Old Colony Trust Co., $3,500 yearly, Dec. 15, 1923-26, at 41/2%, highway loan High School bonds, payable to Old Colony Trust Co., $13,000 annually, Sept. 1, 1923-31, $12,000 annually, Sept. 1, 1932-41, at 5%


8,000.00


14,000.00


Highway loan of 1922, payable $4,000 annually, Dec. 15, 1923-26, to C. D. Parker & Co., at 41/2% 16,000.00 66,000.00


237,000.00


Temporary loans


-$498,500.00


Assets


Cash in treasury, general


$


554.35


54


20,000.00


Cash in treasury, high school fund


8,168.70


Cash in treasury, bridge loan


3,604.14


Due on 1917 taxes


1,333.89


Due on 1918 taxes


1,888.22


Due on 1919


taxes


6,471.17


Due on 1920 taxes


9,760.98


Due on 1921 taxes


20,615.78


Due on 1922


taxes


69,610.06


Due on State aid


208.00


Due on water rents


(estimated )


5,000.00


Due on water connections (estimated )


800.00


$12,801.29


JOHN R. LLOYD, GILES W. HALLIDAY, H. PRESTON WORDEN,


Selectmen, Overseers of Poor, Board of Health.


55


REPORT OF Trees and Forest Warden


FRUIT AND SHADE TREES


This season we had an unusually heavy infestation of cat- erpillars, including Tussock moth, Tent caterpillar and fall web worm. These are all common caterpillars and make nests or webs. Usually they do but little damage but this year they did do material damage, especially to small shade and fruit trees. Large shade trees were but little damaged except by the unsight- linesss of the webs and nests. With the exception of the Tent caterpillar which appears annually, these caterpillars appear in large numbers only once in six to ten years and usually after a rather mild winter such as we had last winter, and are very dif- ferent in this respect from Gipsy and Brown tailed moths, which, if not controlled by inspection every year, would soon get so nu- merous that they would eat every leaf on all trees both large and small.


Remedy


For private grounds for these common caterpillars, would advise inspection and picking the egg masses (this to be done be- tween Nov. 1 and April 1) which will greatly reduce the cater- pillars another season and if sprayed with arsenate of lead about June 1 this will still further reduce them. Beginning about May 1 inspect your trees and schrubs once each week and at the first sign of a nest or web burn them off with a kerosene torch made by wrapping an old sack on the end of a pole. Would ad- vise the removal entirely of all wild cherry trees as they are not of much value as shade trees and are particularly attractive to caterpillars. Another method of controlling these caterpillars


56


is to begin about May 15, and spray every two weeks with ar- senate of lead until about Sept. 1, but this is much more expen- sive and even then you probably will find occasional use for the kerosene torch. All spraying to be effective must be done thoroughly.


Relative to our public shade trees while admitting the un- sightliness of these webs, and nests and some small damage to the trees by leaf eating, yet I think the benefit would not war- rant the expense of controlling these pests as much of this work would necessarily be' of a preventative nature by spraying all our public shade trees annually several times. This one item would cost at least $1,000, plus the cost of the other work necessary in this connection and would bring the total cost to at least $1,500 and perhaps $2,000 annually. As much as I desire the health and beauty of our shade trees, I think this work too costly for the benefit we would obtain especially as it will probably cost us more and more each year to control the Gipsy moth and this must be done absolutely, also another pest (Satin moth) is headed this way which probably will make more expense for the Town in the near future.


THE GIPSY MOTH


This and the Brown Tailed moth is a very different prop- osition from the other caterpillars. Like the Brown Tail the Gipsy if allowed to become numerous will entirely defoliate the trees every year resulting in their death in from two to three years and unfortunately they are much harder to identify than the Brown Tail thereby making their control more expensive. I presume most Citizens of the Town are familiar with the Gipsy moth law which says land owners must within a stated time designated by the Board of Selectmen inspect their trees and all egg masses of Gipsy moth found be destroyed by creosot- ing or otherwise, failure to do this compells the Selectmen to employ a competent person to do this work the cost to be borne by the owner and to constitute a lien upon the property the same as taxes. I suppose our State Legislators knew what they were doing when they passed this law but to your servant, to say the least, it looks like a funny law. Considering the fact that all moth work done by owners must be verified by the local moth su- perintendent and again by the State District Superintendent and the fact that the cost of the first inspection is practically no more than the verification would be, I fail to see any benefit from this


57


law only added expense to our Citizens, another reason why we decided to inspect both private and public trees is this, I pre- sume there are but few land owners in Town who know what a Gipsy moth looks like or would recognize one if they found it and the cost of instructing each one would be more than doing the inspection.


As soon as we received notice that Towns would have to look after their moths we decided (as there was no appropria- tion made for this purpose) to discontinue our tree work and use the balance of the Tree Warden appropriation which was $228.30 on this work as far as it would go, which we have done with about two-thirds of the Town covered inspecting all trees ne- cessary both private and public. As this work must be done again next fall would recommend an appropriation of $400 for the suppression of the Gipsy moth $100 to finish this sea- son's work (which must be done by April 1) and $300 for next season. This appropriation should be made separate from the Tree Warden appropriation as the two offices may not be held by the same person. The Moth Superintendent is appointed by the Board of Selectmen and approved by State Officials while the Tree Warden holds an elective office. The amount of the Tree Warden appropriation, of course, will be whatever the voters agree on.


To date (Jan. 10) we have found 141 egg-masses of the Gipsy moth with about one-third of the Town unfinished which must be done by April 1.


TREE WORK


We have removed several large dead and dangerous shade trees and where necessary replaced them with new ones. We have cut the roadside brush in several of the worst places but more of this work must be done in the near future especially on Provin Mountain State Road and Barry Street, Feeding Hills, the latter street being especially bad. We started in to give North Agawam a thorough cleaning up but when about one-half through were obliged to discontinue our trimming for Gipsy moth work, the balance of this work will have to wait for an- other season. From old age, maple blight and any number of other causes many of our maples are slowly dying and your ser- vant knows of no remedy, only to remove all dead branches as practical and when they become too unsightly remove them en-


58


tirely. There is lots of this work which should be done right now but we are obliged to keep within our appropriation and I presume there are but few who realize the actual cost of this work.


EDWIN M. HITCHCOCK, Tree Warden and Moth Superintendent.


Expenditures


C. W. Hastings, insurance $ 10.00


J. W. Adams Co., trees


42.00


H. Foot & Co., supplies


19.20


C. W. Hastings Co., supplies


1.50


C. W. Hegeman, supplies


1.75


Morris A. Cohen, supplies


1.21


Harry Zundell, supplies


1.49


H. W. Fitch, repairs


2.25


R. E. Browninger, supplies


1.00


Fitzhenry & Guptill Co., supplies


1.48


E. M. Hitchcock, Warden and Supt.


307.50


Fred Drew, labor


24.00


William White, labor


3.00


S. Stanislaus, labor


17.00


R. Ely, labor


9.00


J. Ferraro, labor


4.00


Ralph Mitchell, labor


46.50


William Voudren, labor


4.50


C. Thompson, labor


17.00


Harold Donnelly, labor


244.50


$758.88


Appropriation


$ 800.00


$800.00


59


REPORT OF Library Trustees


BOOKS


Number at Agawam 6,388


Number at Feeding Hills 4,303


Number at North Agawam 650


CIRCULATION


Agawam


6,338


Feeding Hills


7,457


North Agawam


4,125


BORROWERS


Agawam


300


Feeding Hills


542


North Agawam


301


LIBRARIANS


Agawam, Carrie W. Kendall Feeding Hills, Mrs. C. H. Granger North Agawam, Grace M. Dumas


EXPENDITURES


Agawam Electric Co., services $ 28.80


H. W. Carter, repairs 2.00


H. W. Cowles, expressage 4.50


J. C. Healey, repairs 2.63


H. J. Campbell, repairs 272.97


60


E. A. Kellogg & Sons supplies 10.95


Johnson's Bookstore, supplies


131.11


Library Book House, supplies


309.75


Forbes & Wallace, supplies


37.62


H. R. Hunting Co., supplies


241.08


Library Bureau, supplies


122.15


Grace M. Dumas, librarian


75.00


Alice B. Granger, librarian


75.00


Carrie W. Kendall, librarian


75.00


$1,388.56


AVAILABLE


Appropriation


$ 200.00


Income of dog fund


711.32


Phelon Library Fund


22.75


Rent of tenement


156.00


$1,090.07


61


REPORT OF Board of Water Commissioners


The Board of Water Commissioners respectfully presents the nineteenth annual report of the department covering opera- tions of the fiscal year ending Dec. 30, 1922.


RECEIPTS


From water rents


$ 9,860.75


From water connections 934.75


$10,795.50


EXPENDITURES


City of Springfield, water $ 4,831.47


W. C. Johnson, reading meters ..


130.25


A. H. Barlett, printing


36.48


H. Mueller Co., supplies


314.94


Farmstore Co., supplies


2.75


Worthy Paper Co


4.50


D. M. Crowley, Supt.


1,042.00


N. E. Plumbing Supply Co., supplies


1,177.29


Chapman Valve Co., supplies


101.00


National Meter Co., meters


1,133.80


Dorance Colburn, repairing


226.46


John L. Burke, Sec.


77.00


E. A. Kellogg & Sons, supplies


80.22


B. A. R. R. Co., freight


6.63


M. Albert, supplies


12.00


W. J. Eldred, books


41.50


American Express Co., express


8.36


Town of West Springfield, service


35.00


62


Machin & Kratovil, supplies


1.25


William De Forge, labor


148.10


D. F. Crowley, labor


45.10


Frank Menard, labor


10.90


Jerry Grady, labor


43.00


Oliver Parent, labor


45.00


John Griffin, labor


21.60


Melvin Goyette, labor


1.60


Edward Eagan, labor


22.50


Clifford Menard labor


12.00


Steve Gendreau, labor


15.00


John Parent, labor


6.00


F. Blondo, labor


9.00


Joe Carbeno, labor


33.00


$9,675.70


CONSTRUCTION-EXTENSION OF MAINS


H. W. Cowles, cartage $ 139.82


N. E. Plumbing Supply Co., supplies ...


238.43


N. Y. N. H. & Hartford R. R. Co., freight


533.55


Springfield Gas Light Co., supplies


25.00


R. D. Wood & Co., pipe


4,917.42


William De Forge, labor


10.50


D. F. Crowley, labor


141.00


Frank Menard, labor


7.50


Melville Goyette, labor


7.60


E. Larson, labor


1.60


Jerry Grady, labor


135.00


Oliver Parent, labor


138.75


John Griffin, labor


85.50


Edward Eagan, labor


159.00


Clifford Menard, labor


20.25


A. Cormier, labor


14.75


Steve Gendreau, labor


141.00


Louis Draghetti, labor


66.00


Julius Wheeler, labor


16.50


John Curran, labor


25.50


Frank Blondo, labor


106.50


Ernest Jasmin, labor


48.00


M. Menard, labor


51.00


Jim Prova, labor


143.50


63


Joseph Carbonneau, labor


88.50


Harold Cooley, labor


27.00


James Devens, labor


133.50


Felix De Cotean, labor


32.25


E. Wallance, labor


4.50


Dwight Blaisdell, labor


5.25


Ernest Couture, labor


3.00


Lewis Coustello, labor


51.00


D. Bailey, labor


24.75


David De Forge, labor


15.75


E. Costa, labor


12.00


Edmund Costa, labor


19.50


Wesley Colson, labor


18.00


John Parent, labor


42.75


Walter Johnson, labor


15.00


James Costello, labor


8.25


John Begley, labor


24.00


Henry Bourdo, labor


9.00


Lewis Galvin, labor


50.25


John Miner, labor


48.00


Louis Kammerer, labor


14.25


Joseph Morin, labor


3.00


George Lawrence, labor


49.50


D. Baker, labor


1.50


E. Stafford, labor


10.50


James Costa, labor


6.00


Joseph Costa, labor


6.00


George St. John, labor


3.00


P. Pattison, labor


9.00


D. M. Crowley, Supt.


500.00


$8,408.67


A. R. KELLOGG,


D. M. CROWLEY, J. L. BURKE,


Commissioners.


64


REPORT OF THE


Selectmen, Overseers of the Poor and Board of Health TOWN OF AGAWAM, MASS., FOR THE YEAR ENDING DECEMBER 30, 1922


We closed the business of the Town for the year just ended with the following reports and recommendations :


The money appropriated and the income from jitneys and fines, was ample to take care of our expenditures as voted at our last Annual Meeting. Some amounts had to be transferred from one department to the other to take care of those Depart- ments. There will have to be a change on appropriations this coming year.


By State Law, all fines, fees, or income derived from other sources will have to be accounted for and allowance made by the , assessors for the coming year.


Full amounts will have to be appropriated for all Depart- ments. For instance, we appropriated $2,200 for the Police De- partment, plus income from fines, fees, and licenses. This additional income cannot be used until the following year.


THE TOWN POOR DEPARTMENT


The appropriation for this Department was not sufficient to care for all which we thought were deserving cases. We have many applicants now who feel we have no heart whatever. We placed all possible accounts on the State and outside towns. We


65


have several families for the care of which the State re-imburses us one-third. We cannot see how this Department can be taken care of any more cheaply at present.


BOARD OF HEALTH


The only worry the Board of Selectmen has in this Depart- ment is how the Town of Agawam can relieve itself of paying $628.58 for the maintenance of the Hampden County Tuber- culosis Hospital. This amount increases every year. The Town seems to derive no benefit. We have been very fortunate and have had very few contagious diseases this past year.


POLICE DEPARTMENT


This Department in a financial way has taken care of itself. Our expenses were $2,975. The appropriation, $5,080, includ- ed jitney fees which were $1,350, and fines which were $1.430. This additional income was a great benefit to the Town.


STREET LIGHTS


There has been several additional lights placed in the Town and the cost has been taken care of except for a deficiency of $13.15.


HIGHWAY DEPARTMENT


Plenty of room for sincere thought on all expenditures of money." We are well within our appropriation due to co-operation of the State and careful scrutinizing of expenditures. We had to spend nearly $1,000 of our appropriation on Springfield Street to take care of and protect same, then succeeded in getting the State to finish this road at its own expense, costing them about $8,000. It ask no assistance from the Town of Agawam. With these two amounts the Town and State has spent about $92,000 from Feeding Hills to the Agawam Bridge within the last four years. This is one of the best pieces of road in Agawam. The Selectmen have been working hard with the State officials to have them take this road over under their supervision to maintain and care for the same as the River Road. We feel this may soon be accomplished.


The South End Bridge has been put into the best of shape and the Agawam Bridge all over-hauled. Work on the North


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Agawam Bridge is partly done. We have $3,604 with which to do this work. This will put all bridges in A No. 1 shape for many years to come.


Other roads have been cindered and gravelled, which has improved many stretches.


Our recommendation is as follows: If any large expenditures are to be made the following year, they should be only in col- laboration with the State and County, which project we have been working on, and feel they will be ready to co-operate with the Town of Agawam the coming Spring if the Town is in shape to do its part. We recommend no other expenditures, in fact we feel the Town should go very carefully for a few years until some of the larger expenditures like the new High School, roads and water bonds, are taken care of so as to bring the tax levy down to a more normal standard. Our taxes have been rising alarmingly for the past few years, due we feel to the desire of our constituents for all modern improvements, not- withstanding the slow growth of the Town.


THE REPORT OF THE SELECTMEN ON THE NEW HIGH SCHOOL


The building is completed except for a very few small de- tails and the Selectmen, with the Town Clerk have moved into the new quarters which is a pleasant change and reflects great credit on the Town. As part of the Building Committee, we wish to state that all contracts are completed except for a few minor details, all bills have been approved and paid except for a few small unsettled matters.




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