USA > Massachusetts > Hampden County > Agawam > Town of Agawam, Massachusetts annual report 1931-1935 > Part 13
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Taxes 1933 Polls
844.00
Taxes 1933
146,333.66
Old Age Assistance 1932. 38.00
Old Age Assistance 1933
428.00
Motor Vehicle Excise 1931
681.94
Motor Vehicle Excise 1932
1,065.04
Motor Vehicle Excise 1933
1,781.99
Tax Titles
43,331.80
Accounts Receivable Health
1,279.91
Accounts Receivable Sewer
588.24
Accounts Receivable Public
Welfare
9,070.98
Accounts Receivable Sealer
Weights and Measures
67.94
Accounts Receivable Schools
1,451.82
Accounts Receivable Fire
13.00
Accounts Receivable Sidewalk 1928
29.40
Accounts Receivable Sidewalk 1929
186.18
Accounts Receivable Sidewalk 1930
211.33
Water Rates
5,636.99
WVater Entrances
121.80
Accounts Receivable County Aid to Highway Suffield Street
1,723.96
Accounts Receivable State Aid
to Highway Suffield Street
5,171.89
Revenue Loans
125,000.00
Surplus War Bonus
2,701.14
Phelon Library Fund
19.07
Old Cemetery Fund.
126.36
Maple Grove Cemetery Fund
127.84
Overlay Reserve
3,393.63
Overlay 1930
777.75
Overlay 193I
253.75
59
Overlay 1932 Overlay 1933
8,689.68 9,088.77 43,372.50
Tax Title Revenue
Motor Vehicle Excise Revenue '3I
681.94
Motor Vehicle Excise Revenue 32
1,065.04
Motor Vehicle Excise Revenue 33
1,781.99
Departmental Revenue
12,502.39
Special Assessment Revenue.
426.91
WVater Revenue
5,758.79
Excess and Deficiency
43,854.03
Suffield Street Sewer
67.23
Suffield Street, Chap. 90, Construction
6,997.75
Library
128.51
C.W.A. Projects
7,047.05
Water Construction North Street.
1,823.99
Water Construction Other
199.56
$275,893.96
$275,893.96
60
Auditor's Report
Agawam, Mass., January 31, 1934
This is to certify that I have examined the accounts of the Town Clerk and Treasurer, also the Collector, for the year of 1933 as set forth in their annual reports, and to the best of my knowledge they are correctly and accurately recorded.
LEAFIE N. MAYNARD,
Auditor
61
Board of Public Welfare AGENT'S REPORT
To the Board of Public Welfare and Citizens of Agawam :
We have now completed the fourth year of the present unemployment emergency. Relief burdens during the past year have been unparalleled in the history of public relief administration.
Relief of destitution is the primary duty of government and it is natural that when destitution increases costs must go up. All tax payers are interested in efficient and eco- nomical administration of relief, and in order to have this we must have an adequate force and enough office space to properly handle the present case load.
The congestion in our Town Office is intolerable and some office space must be had at once, where private inter- views can be given to applicants for aid and proper room for clerk and keeping of records.
The case load for the past four months was: October I, 1933, 179 cases-820 persons; November 1, 1933, 182 cases-799 persons ; December 1, 1933, 205 cases-917 per- sons ; January 1, 1934, 137 cases-563 persons. The decrease during December was due to C.W.A. projects, so one can readily see that the present force of an agent and part-time clerk is entirely inadequate.
During the past year the Federal Government has re- alized the need of financial assistance to the cities and towns in their burden of paying these relief costs, which have been carried almost entirely by the property tax payer.
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The first program was the Civilian Conservation Camps, which gave young men between the ages of 18 to 25 inclu- sive, a chance to work and earn their board, clothes and $30.00 a month, $25.00 of that going to dependent relatives.
The allotment was 250,000 men for the entire United States, which was based on population of two men per thousand. This would give Agawam fourteen men, but owing to our serious unemployment condition your agent was able to place forty-five men from this town, thirty- eight still being in camp, five have left to take private em- ployment and only two discharged.
This is a record Agawam can be proud of, and also the fact that there was not one rejection out of the forty-five boys sent to recruiting stations.
The second program was a direct money grant of one- third of the cost of welfare for the first six months, which amounted to $18,259.46 for Agawam.
The third was twofold in purpose, which was the pur- chasing of farm products to assist the farmer and distribut- ing the products to the needy.
The fourth was the starting of C.W.A., C.W.S., and P.W.A., which are work projects to put the unemployed of the whole United States to work as far as possible. Through this program we were able to reduce our welfare cases by about one hundred cases.
The Government also is furnishing coal to the needy, which has been a welcome relief to Agawam.
The food commodities Agawam has received are as follows : Pork 11,000 pounds, Eggs 810 dozen, Apples 2211/2 bushels, Butter 500 pounds ; also sheets, pillow cases, blan- kets and towels from the C.W.S. program, which will be given to welfare cases.
The local branch of the American Red Cross have been a welcome relief to Agawam taxpayers through the dis-
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tribution of 5600 bags of flour, 4124 yards material, 1011/2 dozen garments made by Red Cross volunteer workers, and 40614 dozen ready-made garments.
Throughout the whole year the Board of Public Welfare have assigned men to work in return for aid to them and their families. During the year approximately 8500 days have been worked by men and in the summer as many as IIO men were working at one time on various projects such as brush cutting on the roadside, highway work, cleaning and painting of schools, building of sidewalks.
It has been my duty to give the needy cases adequate re- lief and keep the costs as low as possible, and the coopera- tion of every one during this trying period has been splen- did to note. The business men, the professional men, the taxpayers, and the recipients of aid have all worked togeth- er to bring this about.
Respectfully submitted, J. GILMAN CLARK,
Agent Board of Public Welfare
64
REPORT OF Chief of Police
To the Honorable Board of Selectmen:
Gentlemen: I herewith submit to you the annual re- port of the Police Department from January I, 1933, to De- cember 31, 1933, inclusive.
Arrests
Adultery
2
Assault
4
Assault and Battery
2
Automobile Violations
156
Bastardy
2
Carrying Revolver
I
Co-habitation
2
Drunk
26
Fugitives
2
Fornication
2
Indecent Exposure
I
Indecent Assault
I
Larceny
15
Lewd and Lascivious Persons
I
Liquor Violations
3
Non-Support
I
Runaway Boy
I
Trespass
6
Violation of Game Laws
I
Violation of Probation
4
Total number of Arrests 233
65
Dispositions
Continued from day to day
23
Discharged
I
Filed
I
Fined
159
House of Correction
7
Probation
9
Released
4
Suspended Sentences
20
Sentenced to State Farm
I
Sentenced to Shirley
4
Sentenced to Sherburne
I
Turned over to other Police
3
Total 233
Total Amount of Fines Imposed .. $2,140.00
Total Amount turned back to Town Treasurer .... 4,955.00
Turned into Town Treasurer from Insurance Co. on Automobile 353.80
In submitting my seventh Annual Report to the Town of Agawam, I feel that the past year has been a successful one from a Police standpoint, while the number of arrests have diminished somewhat from the previous year I feel that Police work in general has been well taken care of, considering our small Department. Accidents have been reduced on our highways and we have had but one fatal accident during the year.
It is our earnest desire to give the Town our very best service, and we ask for the help and co-operation of the Town People to make this possible.
Respectfully submitted,
PERLEY J. HEWEY,
Chief of Police
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REPORT OF Board of Fire Engineers
For the Year Ending December 31, 1933
To the Honorable Board of Selectmen :
Dear Sirs: The past year has been an uneventful one in most respects. Fewer calls were made on the Depart- ment than the year before. Owing to careful buying, we were able to stay well within our appropriation. A sum in excess of $200.00 was transferred to the C. W. A. fund for the purchase of material used at the Fire Stations. This work was of a repair nature, such as painting, plastering, also the installing of wider doors. These doors are of the sliding overhead type and are very satisfactory.
During the past year six of the Department members attended a Firemen's Training Course consisting of ten lessons. This school of instruction was conducted by the State Department of Vocational Training and the Depart- ment of Public Safety. All meetings were in Springfield. These men received much valuable information which we hope will be reflected in the future, as these men are now acting as instructors in their respective companies.
We recommend the purchase of 800 feet of 21/2-inch Double Jacket hose for 1934, also 600 feet of 11/2-inch hose. Other equipment is also needed, such as boots, hats, coats, mittens, respirators, wrenches, chemical hose for booster pumps, soda and acid, also furniture for Feeding Hills Sta- tion. We hope the appropriation will cover all these items. We wish to thank the officers and members of all three companies for the fine work they have done in the past year.
67
Following is a list of calls made upon the Department during 1933.
Dwellings 16
Barns
7
Garages 2
Grass and brush
32
Dump
8
Wagons
I
Chimney
I4
Automobile
3
False
2
Total 85
These were divided as follows :
Feeding Hills 20
North Agawam 26
Agawam Center 39
Total 85
Respectfully submitted,
EDWARD J. GOSSELIN, Chairman
FRANK T. GOSS,
Secretary
JAMES W. SHEA,
Purchasing Agent
68
Assessors' Report
The work of this department has been increasingly dif- ficult during the years of the depression. This is particu- larly true in regard to abatements and valuations, and in making its decisions. This board has been guided by in- structions from the office of the State Commissioner of Taxation, which has formulated very definite rules for the conduct of this department.
It is earnestly hoped that conditions willl permit allevia- tion of such distress as may be caused by the excessive tax burden now being borne by real estate.
Horses
262
Cows
560
Sheep
25
Neat Cattle
2II
Swine
345
Fowls
9,185
Value of Fowls $
9,185.00
Value of Assessed Stock in Trade
51,375.00
Value of Assessed Machinery.
965,415.00
Value of Assessed Live Stock.
64,125.00
Value All Other Tangible
Personal Property 169,363.00
Number of Dwelling Houses Assessed
1,641
Number of Acres of Land
Assessed
13,854
Valuations
Buildings
$5,510,050.00
Land .
2,740,260.00
69
Total Real Estate .$8,250,310.00
Personal Estate 1,250,278.00
Total Valuations
$9,500,588.00
Upon which Taxes have been
levied as follows :
County Tax
$ 14,273.66
State Tax
12,330.00
Municipal Audit
646.06
Hospital and Home Care.
190.00
State Parks and Reservation
24.02
Special State Tax (Old Age Assistance)
2,210.00
Town Appropriations
435:308.10
1929 Deficits
2.00
Overlay for Current Year.
...
9,269.52
Total
$474,253.36
Less Estimated Receipts :
Income Tax
$ 28,283.90
Corporation Tax
3,025.96
Bank Tax
1.04
Railroads, Tel. & Tel. Co ..
439.48
Motor Vehicle Excise
8,500.00
Licenses
3,000.00
Fines
800.00
Gas, Electric and Water Companies
814.88
Special Assessments
100.00
General Government
200.00
Rentals
600.00
Health and Sanitation
800.00
Water Department
22,500.00
Charities
13,500.00
Old Age Assistance
4,000.00
Soldiers' Benefits
475.00
Schools
4,000.00
Libraries
75.00
Public Service Enterprises ....
100.00
70
Interest on Taxes and Assessments 6,500.00
Bills in Lieu of Taxes 875.00
Federal Emergency Relief
18,259.46
$116,849.72
Available funds (voted on by town $15,830.00
meeting to be used by assessors)
35,000.00
upon written authority from the
15,000.00
Commissioner of Corporations
and Taxation
65,830.00
Total Deductions
182,679.72
Net amount raised by Taxation on Polls and Property
$291,573.64
$474,253.36 L
No. Old Age Assistance Taxes 2210 @ $1.00 each
$ 2,210.00
No. Polls 2173 @ $2.00 each
4,316.00
Total Valuation $9,500,588. Rate $30.00 Prop- erty Tax
285,017.64
$291,573.64
1932 Excise Committed Jan. 20, 1933
$ 15.19
Omitted Dec. Assessments
3.00
Additional Polls
4.00
Additional Old Age Assistance
2.00
Total amount of all taxes listed in the Collector's commitment list
$291,597.83
ADOLPHUS PROVOST CLARENCE H. GRANGER PAUL B. JOHNSON
Assessors of Agawam
71
REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES FOR COUNTY AID TO AGRICULTURE FOR THE YEAR ENDING DECEMBER 31, 1933.
The Town of Agawam was not asked for an appropria- tion by the Trustees for County Aid to Agriculture this year (1933) because $150 of the $250 appropriated in 1932 did not reach the Trustees until after they had closed their books for the year 1932, so this amount was deposited to the Town's 1933 account. Here is a detailed account of the expenditure of this $150.
Balance of 1932 Appropriation received in
January, 1933 .. $150.00 Expended as follows :
4-H Club Department
Robert C. Allen ---
Expenses as 4-H Club Leader $30.82
Florence Blish-
Expenses as 4-H Club Leader. 1.38
Dorothy Brown-
Expenses as 4-H Club Leader 13.50
Kenneth Brown-
Expenses as 4-H Club Leader. 5.94 Earle Dickinson-
Expenses as 4-H Club Leader 17.16
Mrs. George Moore-
Expenses as 4-H Club Leader 7.08
Virginia McVeigh-
Expenses as 4-H Club Leader 1.50
Mrs. Marion Pond-
Expenses as 4-H Club Leader 15.66 Chester Pilch-
Expenses as 4-H Club Leader 12.84
72
Helen Ramah-
Expenses as 4-H Club Leader. 7.70 113.58
Home Bureau Department
Mrs. Sara T. Brown-
Expenses as Home Bureau Leader .... .. $ .72 Mrs. John Coughlin-
Expenses as Home Bureau Leader ........ 2.43
Mrs. E. L. Catchepaugh-
Expenses as Home Bureau Leader. 1.00
Mrs. Mabelle Dalgleish-
Expenses as Home Bureau Leader. ...
.. .40
Mrs. Ethel Demarais-
Expenses as Home Bureau Leader. .... .50
Mrs. Hendrick Fickweiler-
Expenses as Home Bureau Leader. ...... .16
Mrs. L. J. LaFleche-
Expenses as Home Bureau Leader 1.64 Mrs. J. L. Matteson- Expenses as Home Bureau Leader .. ..... .68
Mrs. Frank S. Noble-
Expenses as Home Bureau Leader .42
Mrs. Claudia Torrey-
Expenses as Home Bureau Leader. ... .75
Mrs. George A. Toussaint-
Expenses as Home Bureau Leader. .16 8.86
Total Expended 122.44
Balance available for 1934 expenses.
$ 27.56
Report as to Work Accomplished
Reports coming to the Trustees show that there were 90 4-H boys and girls enrolled during the year 1933, 260 women in the Home Bureau work, 33 men visited and assisted by the County Agricultural Agents, or a total of 383 Agawam people were reached by the field workers em- ployed by the Trustees. The Agricultural Agents made
73
130 farm visits; the Home Bureau agents, 40 home visits ; and the 4-H Club agents 276 home and farm visits to see boys and girls carrying on 4-H projects.
Dorothy Brown of Feeding Hills, a 4-H girl, won a full year's scholarship to Massachusetts State College valued at $500. for her outstanding work as a 4-H girl not only in com- petition with other girls in Hampden County, but also with those from all over the State. Chester Pilch received the only award granted by the State Department of Agricul- ture to older 4-H boys in the entire State of Massachusetts for his work as a young farmer.
Thirty-six local people assisted the county workers as group leaders and helpers during the year.
The Trustees for County Aid to Agriculture, the Hamp- den County Improvement League, and the Massachusetts State College work as one united group in behalf of farm men, women, and boys and girls. All funds appropriated by the Towns for this work are spent in the Town for the purpose of reimbursing local people who serve as 4-H and Home Bureau group leaders-not one cent goes to County or State Workers.
OTIS E. HALL,
Managing Director and Clerk of the Trustees
74
REPORT OF Sealer of Weights and Measures
January 18, 1934
To the Honorable
The Selectmen of Agawam:
It is gratifying to know that in a town the size of Aga- wam that the percentage of underweight commodities sold in the town is the remarkably low one, of less than one-half of one per cent, (.00468).
Articles sealed 368
Articles condemned
Another duty of the Sealer of Weights and Measures is the weighing of all coal purchased by the town. This has resulted in a substantial saving to the taxpayer.
At the present time, there are thirty-six individual deal- ers in fuel oil operating in the Town of Agawam. Each dealer has been periodically checked and his measures ex- amined so that the best interests of the consumer may be guarded.
Respectfully submitted, EDWIN U. LEONARD,
Sealer of Weights and Measures
75
REPORT OF Superintendent for Gypsy Moth Control
To the Honorable
January 18, 1934 The Selectmen of Agawam:
The program of the Gypsy Moth Department for the past year has been one of steady eradication of this forest and orchard pest.
Only one new infestation has been located and that yielded but one cluster.
Such old infestations as remain in the town have been entirely eradicated or reduced to a state of helplessness that has earned the commendation of the Inspector of the State Department of Gypsy Moth Extermination.
Respectfully submitted,
EDWIN U. LEONARD,
Superintendent
76.
REPORT OF THE Forestry Department
To the Selectmen of Agawam:
Have removed some dead and some dangerous trees this year in sections of the town where it was necessary. There are more trees to be taken care of and much trim- ming to be done.
The elm-tree beetle had begun to be destructive and this year the trees were sprayed.
Respectfully submitted,
FRANK RANDALL,
Tree Warden
77
REPORT OF THE BOARD OF Water Commissioners
Receipts
Water Rates
$ 20,993.62
Water Connections
717.62
Hydrant Damage
I36.50
$ 21,848.04
Payments
Administration :
Commissioners' Salaries
$
540.00
Salary of Superintendent
1,248.00
Salary of Clerk
500.00
Printing, Stationery and Postage
202.49
Telephone
33.3I
Insurance on Truck.
72.00
Upkeep of Truck
85.99
Gas and Oil
191.64
Meters and Equipment
525.4I 8,409.49
All other
13.08
Service Boxes
41.25
Service Pipe :
Labor
1,004.7I
Pipe and Fittings
248.39
Water Department :
Payment on Bonds
6,500.00
Interest
2,503.75
22,119.51
W. S. KERR, D. M. CROWLEY, D. K. BODURTHA, Water Commissioners
78
.
Water Consumption
ANNUAL REPORTS of the
School Committee and the
Superintendent of Schools of the Town of AGAWAM, MASS.
OF AG
NCORP
5.1855.
ORA
C
For the Year Ending December 31 1933
Agawam Public Schools
ORGANIZATION OF SCHOOL BOARD
Clifford M. Granger, Chairman Term expires 1935 Post Office Address, Feeding Hills
John J. Caldon Term expires 1935
Post Office Address, Agawam
Warren C. Bodurtha Term expires 1934 Post Office Address, Agawam
Leslie C. Miller Term expires 1934 Post Office Address, Feeding Hills
Joseph I .. Roy Term expires 1936
Post Office Address, North Agawam
Sidney F. Atwood, Secretary Term expires 1936 Post Office Address, Feeding Hills
SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS
Benjamin J. Phelps Telephone : 4-2831
SCHOOL CALENDAR-1934
Winter Term-January 2 to February 23
Spring Term-March 5 to April 27
Summer Term-May 7 to June 15, Elementary Schools Summer Term-May 7 to June 22, Junior-Senior High School Fall Term-September 5 to December 21
8I
OFFICE HOURS OF THE SUPERINTENDENT High School Building-School Days, 8.30-9.30 a.m., and by appointment.
SECRETARY Emma Mellor Telephone : 4-1630
HOURS OF SESSIONS
Elementary Schools 9.00-12.00 a.m. 1.00-3.30 p.m.
Junior High School 9.00-12.00 a.m. 12.30-3.00 p.m.
Senior High School 9.00 a.m .- 12.30 p.m. 1.00-3.00 p.m.
82
REPORT OF School Committee
To the Citizens of Agawam :
The year 1933, in many sections of our country, was marked by the severe curtailment of educational opportu- nities for the school population of the Nation. Agricultu- ral, industrial and social depression seemed to unite in a concerted attack upon the public school system. In sev- eral of our southern and western states it was found neces- sary, on account of a lack of funds, to close the public schools for a large part of the school year. In Massachu- setts our educational program, for the most part, was car- ried on with only a minimum loss of efficiency.
In Agawam, we operated under a school budget that was but little more than the skeleton of previous budgets. In spite of that, we are proud to report we managed by the strictest economy, to stay within the confines of the amount voted us at the last annual Town meeting. In order to do so we had to place another cut upon the salaries of our teachers and our janitors. We feel that both teachers and janitors realized the gravity of our financial condition and we know that they accepted the situation without a protest. Our repair bills were less than usual along the masonry and painting lines, because a large part of that work was taken care of by workers from the Welfare Department. By giv- ing some of our teachers a heavier pupil load we were able to eliminate several teachers, which meant further saving for the system. Of supplies and text books, our purchases were limited to those most essential. We did not, of course, by these measures of economy advance the efficiency
83
of our school program, but we feel that we did maintain a standard of school values entirely comparable with the standards of previous years.
So much for 1933 finances and their reactions on the Agawam school system. What shall we say about the problem of funds to carry on our educational program in 1934? Along this line we would like to call to your atten- tion a few facts bearing upon this matter. In 1933 we re- ceived considerable over $20,000 from the State School Fund on account of our teachers. In 1934 this amount will be much less as we have fewer teachers in our system. Since the general acceptance of the NRA codes, school sup- plies have taken a tremendous advance in price, some kinds of paper being quoted at nearly double the figure of pre- vious years. We have also been notified of an advance in the price of bituminous coal. Old worn-out text books, besides being unsightly and unsanitary, are generally out of date. Some replacements must be made along these lines in 1934. Our Commercial Department has won many honors for our High School in the past and we feel that we must maintain there the most up-to-date and efficient equipment possible. A number of old typewriters should be replaced by new ones in the immediate future. These are some of the items of expense that we would have you consider when you grant your Committee an appropriation for 1934. The public schools of our town must be main- tained, and their standards of efficiency will always be reg- ulated to a large extent by the support, both moral and financial, of the citizens of Agawam. That support has always, in the past, been given most generously, and we trust that the future will show the same loyal co-operative spirit toward your school program.
Since our last report was printed we have closed the so-called Suffield Street School and transferred the pupils from that section to the Agawam Center School. This change has been of great benefit to those children formerly attending that outlying school, and we understand that the parents, as a whole, are much pleased with the new arrange- ment.
84
During the past year we have had blower systems in- stalled in the boilers at the Agawam Center School and at the Springfield Street School. We find that we can burn there a much cheaper grade of coal than was previously used in those buildings, and that in addition there is a ten to fifteen per cent saving in tonnage also.
The increase in our school population at the opening of our schools in September was noteworthy for one reason. The enlarged enrollment was entirely in the Junior-Senior High School, while the elementary schools showed a de- crease from the figures of the previous year. Old man De- pression must, we suppose, shoulder the blame for such a situation.
During the past few weeks our school and Town build- ings have been overrun with an army of CWA painters and workmen. This type of project, besides giving many of our citizens much-needed work, has made it possible for us to have our buildings put in much better condition than our school funds have permitted in recent years. For several years past we have done only the most necessary things along the lines of painting and masonry work. The Town would seem to be very fortunate in getting so much of this work done now at only a nominal cost to the tax payers.
In conclusion, we wish to thank parents, teachers and pupils alike for their splendid loyalty and co-operation dur- ing the gloomy days of 1933. Let us all carry on for 1934 with new hopes, new aspirations and new courage for the battle of Life.
Respectfully submitted,
CLIFFORD M. GRANGER, Chairman SIDNEY F. ATWOOD JOSEPH L. ROY WARREN C. BODURTHA JOHN J. CALDON LESLIE C. MILLER
85
Financial Statement DECEMBER 31, 1933
Appropriation
$ 128,000.00
General Expense
Salaries of Teachers, Supervisors and
Principals
82,839.20
Text Books
1,612.29
Stationery and Supplies 3,078.72
Wages of Janitors
8,584.02
Fuel
4,839.47
Miscellaneous Operating Expenses
2,146.27
Repairs and Replacements
1,477.02
School Libraries
5.25
Health
1,877.16
Transportation
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