USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Arlington > Town of Arlington annual report 1916 > Part 10
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5,513.65
Unexpended balance
$4.35
NATURE OF WORK. JANUARY, 1916, TO JANUARY, 1917.
Labor
Sundries
Cutting and burning brush
$356.88
Cutting and treating nests
1,107.84
Removing deadwood
221.69
Spraying
612.27
Inspection
8.43
Storehouse labor
111.81
Lost time
144.00
Vacations
82.50
Superintendent and Clerk
$1,330.25
Rent of storehouse
96.00
Team hire
508.06
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ARLINGTON TOWN REPORT
Tools, repairs and supplies
Office supplies and expense
$800.56 133.36
$2,645.42
$2,868.23
Labor
$2,645.42
Sundries
2,868.23
Total expended
$5,513.65
Appropriation
$5,500.00
Receipts
18.00
Total credits
$5,518.00
Total expenditures
5,513.65
Unexpended balance
$4.35
J. F. HIGGINS.
LIST OF JURORS.
LIST OF JURORS OF THE TOWN OF ARLINGTON, REVISED BY THE SELECTMEN, JANUARY, 1917.
Name
Occupation
Residence
Adams, Frank H.
Creamery 441 Mystic St.
Ahern, John J.
Plumber
17 Beacon St.
Allen, Abbott.
Farmer.
339 Massachusetts Ave.
Allen, W. Stuart
Manager
15 Court St.
Aylward, William P. Merchant 10 Trowbridge St.
Bacon, Major Mason
8 Bacon St.
Baker, Benjamin S.
Journalist
Blossom St.
Ball, Walter G ..
Designer
. Spring Valley
Barnes, Charles A.
Carriage Painter. 72 Henderson St.
Barr, Russell W Carpenter 53 Lancaster Rd.
Barry, Daniel P. Clerk. 57 Beacon St.
Barry, John . Market Gardener . 94 Broadway
Baston, James W Wood Carver 9 Court St.
Bean, Harlan B. Salesman . . . . 1218 Massachusetts Ave.
Beers, W. Warren Machinist. ... 402 Massachusetts Ave.
Benham, John H. Special Officer 49 Norcross St.
Bennett, John N. Carpenter 19 Avon Pl.
Bennett, Oman E.
Market Gardener .
. Off Summer St.
Bevins, James J. Restaurant. .. 606 Massachusetts Ave.
Biathrow, Clarence E. Taxi 13 Belknap St.
Birch, Arthur Machinist 74 Wollaston Ave.
Blaser, Carl A ..
Bookkeeper
. 9 Winter St.
Bond, Everett P. Clerk. . 18 Linwood St.
Bonney, Thomas S.
Undertaker
21 Fairview Ave.
Bott, William G. Salesman 158 Pleasant St.
Brooks, Ernest R. Dentist. 103 Claremont Ave.
Brooks, William A.
Commissioner . 78 Jason St.
Brown, Henry K.
Shoemaker
52 Westmoreland Ave.
Bucknam, Herman F Treasurer 41 Academy St.
Buttrick, David. Merchant. 15 Swan St.
Callahan, Frank E. Machinist. 7 Lewis Ave.
127
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ARLINGTON TOWN REPORT
Name Occupation Residence
Campbell, Clarence H .. . Real Estate
108 Broadway
Carens, George C .. Reporter. 28 Trowbridge St.
Cheney, William H. Contractor 261 Broadway
Connor, Fred Paul. Salesman. 36 Draper Ave.
Converse, Herbert B. Real Estate 39 Florence Ave.
Cotton, A. Eugene Mason ...... 1054 Massachusetts Ave.
Crosby, Nelson B.
Commissions
10 Davis Ave.
Deering, Edwin F. Marketman. .. 104 Massachusetts Ave.
Dinsmore, Robert S Conductor 52 Mystic St.
Doane, Foster P .. Salesman 243 Lowell St.
Doane, Warner S. Clerk. 51 Rangeley Rd.
Dodge, Henry D.
Engraver
12 Windemere Ave.
Donahue, John J.
Forester 49 Brattle Lane
Doe, George I.
Retired
44 Jason St.
Duff, John J.
Spring Maker 12 Henderson St.
Duncan, David W. Florist 133 Mystic St.
Durgin, Winfield S.
Ice Dealer .
. 301 Massachusetts Ave.
Eaton, Joseph H.
Produce
97 Paul Revere Rd.
Fessenden, Edward S.
Assistant Treasurer . 14 Water St.
Finley, Henry .
Piano Maker 71 Wollaston Ave. 26 Academy St.
Frost, Harold L. .
Forester
Fowle, George M. Bookkeeper 21 Trowbridge St.
Freeman, Ernest H. Clerk. Woodland St.
Gale, Clarence E.
Sales Agent 82 Wollaston Ave.
Gardner, John P.
Saw Filer
. 61 Lowell St.
Giles, Harvey E ..
Harness Maker
14 Whittemore St.
Grannan, William D Undertaker
14 Wyman Ter.
Gray, Thomas. Potter
143 Pleasant St.
Grossmith, Charles W ..
Druggist.
26 Lakeview
Harding, Theodore P Stock Broker
71 Bartlett Ave.
Hesseltine, Ernest.
Bookkeeper
38 Russell St.
Hewes, George C. Clerk . 22 Orchard Ter.
Hildreth, Nathan L.
Insurance. 104 Medford St.
Hill, George H.
Wood Turner 38 Brattle Lane
Hilliard, R. Walter
Insurance.
25 Norfolk Rd.
Hogan, Thomas. Retired 57 Mystic St.
Holian, Edward.
Galvanizer.
260 Massachusetts Ave.
Holt, Ira W. Teacher 362 Massachusetts Ave.
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LIST OF JURORS
Name
Occupation
Residence
Hyde, William J
Bookkeeper
19 Glen Ave.
Jenkins, Richard O.
Case Maker 19 Harvard St.
Jewett, Joseph D Merchant 120 Jason St.
Kelly, John. Farmer. 83 Highland Ave.
Kimball, Ernest R.
Civil Engineer . 40 Upland Rd.
Kimball, Roscoe C. Foreman. 21 Linwood St.
Kimball, Samuel E. Retired . 121 Lake St.
Langill, Robert W. Fireman.
3 Moore Pl.
Lear, Harry C. Dry Goods . 21 Albemarle St.
Lenk, Oscar C ..
Auto supplies 53 Broadway
Longmore, William T
Caretaker
468 Mystic St.
LoPresti, Frank.
Barber
64 Mystic St.
Lowe, George H.
Contractor
21 Cleveland St.
Lusk, John T. Compositor 22 Crescent Hill Ave.
MacMillin, Charles M. Glass 95 Jason St.
Marvin, Louis G ..
Printer 17 Norcross St.
Miller, George H. Jeweller .66 Walnut St.
Moir, James G. .
Manager
15 Jason St.
Moore, Joseph W. 1077 Massachusetts Ave.
Morton, Edward F. Farmer 103 Spring St.
Moseley, Herbert C. Mortgages 76 Gray St.
Norton, Benjamin A. Woolens. 51 Academy St.
O'Brien, Timothy Mason 56 Palmer St.
Paine, Charles A. Salesman 921 Massachusetts Ave.
Parker, Charles A. Foreman. 135 Lake St.
Parsons, Clarence T. Broker 207 Appleton St.
Peirce, Charles A.
Market Gardener. 11 Appleton St.
Perkins, Arthur E. Office Supplies 119 Eastern Ave.
Pitcher, Osborne H. Bond Broker
20 Draper Ave.
Puffer, James P. Clerk 110 Broadway
Purcell, Edmund J.
Market Gardener 109 Broadway
Reardon, Edmond. Florist 895 Massachusetts Ave.
Reiche, J. Carl.
Insurance .12 Gray St.
Robertson, Arthur
Retired 79 Norfolk Rd. Roden, Thomas. Retired. . 5 Bacon St.
Ross, Malcolm .
Carpenter 49 Brattle St.
Sawyer, George A. . Carpenter 5 Wyman St.
Sawyer, John H. Furniture
24 Maple St.
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ARLINGTON TOWN REPORT
Name Occupation
Residence
Schnetzer, Florentine. Jeweller
184 Appleton St.
Smith, Fred S ..
Agent.
10 Jason St.
Speakman, Fred W.
Stair Builder
15 Everett St.
Spooner, Walter. Lumber
42 Brantwood Rd.
Stinson, George H. Retired 215 Pleasant St.
Stratton, George C.
Salesman . 17 Orchard Ter.
Sunergren, Adolph F
Illustrator
15 Glen Ave.
Swadkins, Jason A.
Engineer
52 Tufts St.
Swett, Warren P.
. Salesman 56 Claremont Ave.
Taft, W. Allen.
Lumber.
44 Academy St.
Teel, George A.
Engraver
26 Bartlett Ave.
Tewksbury, George C.
Bookkeeper 45 Claremont Ave.
Thorpe, William H.
Superintendent. . 30 Russell St.
Trow, Albert W.
Retired
21 Russell Ter.
Viano, John J ..
Merchant.
185 Massachusetts Ave.
Waage, John C .. Painter 16 Central St.
Wilder, Frederick G.
Clerk. 15 Jason St.
Woodend, John E ..
Jeweller 72 Crescent Hill Ave.
Woodman, Charles W. Lumber. 1140 Massachusetts Ave.
REPORT OF REGISTRARS OF VOTERS.
JANUARY 1, 1917.
The Registrars of Voters present the following report for the year ending December 31, 1916.
Owing to the requirements of the present laws governing elec- tions and the fact that during the past year a Presidential Primary was held, the Board was called upon to hold more meetings than in any previous year.
During the year twenty-two meetings were held, for the purpose of revising the list, made necessary by the changes in addresses, etc., reported by the Assessors.
The law requires that no name on the list shall be taken from the list until a notice has been sent to the party interested.
The total number of registered voters December 31, 1915, was 2958.
Classified as follows:
Men.
2802
Women
156
2958
During the year at the various meetings the names added to the list were as follows:
February 18
5
February 26
15
April 15.
8
September 16.
156
October 18
107
October 20.
51
October 24.
85
October 28
145
- 572
During the year 224 names were dropped from the list on ac- count of death or removal from Town.
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ARLINGTON TOWN REPORT
The total number of women voters reported a year ago was 156. Since that time but one has been added, making the list at this time 157.
The revised list January 1, 1917, is as follows :
Whole number registered 3307
Whole number of men 3150
157 .
Whole number of women.
---- 3307
Number of assessed polls in the Town. 4567
EBEN F. DEWING, Chairman EDWARD N. LACEY, DANIEL F. AHERN, THOMAS J. ROBINSON, Clerk Registrars of Voters
REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES OF THE ROBBINS LIBRARY.
To the Town of Arlington:
The Trustees of the Robbins Library submit their annual report. The circulation shows a loss of 564 with a total of 54,034 as compared with 54,598 in 1915. The Children's Room shows a gain of 1,520 with 15,891 as against 14,371 in 1915.
The attendance in the Reading Room shows a loss on week days of 3,223, 24,303 as against 27,526 in 1915, with a gain on Sundays of 149 - 2,347 as against 2,198 in 1915.
The attendance in the Children's Room has risen from 10,567 to 11,090, a gain of 523, with a further gain of 318 on Sunday - 2,240 as against 1,922 in 1915.
But there is a loss of 2,287 in books taken from the Stack Room -36,972 against 39,259 in 1915. The use of periodicals also shows a loss-2,698 as against 3,468 in 1915, a loss of 770. There was a loss also in books and periodicals loaned from Arlington Heights Branch, 3,554 as against 3,769 in 1915, but a gain in books and periodicals sent from the Centre to the Heights, 1,171 in 1916 as against 968 in 1915.
The only explanation which we can offer for these losses was the fear of infantile paralysis, while the closing of the schools brought more children into the Children's Room, increasing the attendance there.
Formerly, older children used to drop into the Library at noon from the High School, but find it inconvenient to do so now owing to the greater distance of the new High School.
Eight hundred and thirty-two new cards were given out this year as against 780 in 1915. The Postal Reserve shows a gain of 119, 965 in 1916 as against 846 in 1915.
The Children's Room has been exceedingly popular. Two large postal card albums were purchased and filled with attractive cards, one for Christmas and New Year, the other for Easter, which were much enjoyed, as were the picture puzzles, and three
133
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ARLINGTON TOWN REPORT
Audubon Bird Charts which were added to the Room, showing birds of all seasons in their natural colors. Good-Book Week was observed from December 4-9 and later an exhibit was made of Christmas books to aid in the selection of appropriate material for holiday reading.
The East Arlington Branch, located in the basement of the Crosby School, will soon be ready for use, after many delays in getting it and its contents in suitable condition.
The Library has been enriched the past year by the gift of books from Mrs. E. C. Turner, Arthur W. Glines, Rev. J. G. Taylor, Mr. Emil Schwab, Mrs. A. H. Burtt, and the Missionary Circle of the Universalist Church. Mr. W. E. Marshall pre- sented a handsome set of 64 Pageant Postal cards, and the editors of the Advocate have continued to send us a file of that paper.
The death of Mr. J. T. Trowbridge on the 12th of February removed from our midst not only a highly esteemed citizen of Arlington, but a former member of our Board of Trustees, when the Board consisted of only three individuals. Death also removed the most constant patron of the Library, Mr. Edward O. Grover.
Exhibitions of photographs, etc., have been given in addition to those reported hitherto.
January. No. 187. Pictures in Buckingham Palace and Windsor Castle. Part III, Dutch.
February. No. 188. Decorative Art of Rome from the end of the Republic to the Fourth Century.
March. No. 189. Longmans' Historical Wall Pictures. His- tory of England.
March and April. No. 190. Swedish Life and Costumes.
April and May. No. 191. Venice. No. VII, Ducal Palace.
May. No. 192. Berlin and its Environs, with Portraits of the Royal Family.
June. No. 193. Tunisia and Eastern Algeria.
June and July. No. 194. Verona. Part I, The City.
July. No. 195. Pictures in Buckingham Palace and Windsor Castle. Part IV, Dutch.
July and August. No. 196. Kate Greenaway.
August and September. No. 197. The Great War in Europe. No. 5.
135
TRUSTEES ROBBINS LIBRARY
September. No. 198. The Vale of Kashmir.
September and October. No. 199. Pageant at Lancaster, Mass., July 4, 1912.
October and November. No. 200. What Grandmother Wore. 1840-1870.
November. No. 201. Venice. No. VI, St. Mark's.
November and December. No. 202. Markets of the World.
December. No. 203. Water Color Paintings by H. Louis Gleason of Arlington Heights.
Respectfully submitted,
SAMUEL C. BUSHNELL, CYRUS E. DALLIN, CHARLES A. KEEGAN, WILLIAM A. MULLER, JAMES P. PARMENTER, ARTHUR J. WELLINGTON, Trustees.
136
ARLINGTON TOWN REPORT
LIBRARIAN'S STATEMENT.
LIBRARY HOURS.
Open daily, except Sunday, 10 A.M. to 9 P.M.
Children's Room, 10 A.M. to 6 P.M.
Sundays, except in August, for readers only, 2.30 to 5.30 P.M. Closed on holidays.
LIBRARY HOURS, ARLINGTON HEIGHTS BRANCH.
Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday. - 1.30 to 6, 7 to 8.30 P.M. August. - Open on Saturdays only.
Closed on holidays.
Books left at the Branch on Tuesday and Saturday, between the hours of 1.30 and 3.30 P.M., will be exchanged, and books will be ready for delivery from 7 to 8.30 P.M. of the same day.
A limited number of books are kept at the Branch and may be circulated from there.
STATISTICS.
Annual Library report for year ending December 31, 1916. Robbins Library, Arlington, Mass. Free for lending and reference.
Number of branches.
1
Days open during year (Central Library)
304
Hours open each week for lending (Central Library)
66
Hours open each week for reading (Central Library).
69
Adults Children
Total
Number of volumes at beginning of year 24,216
4,219
28,435
Number of volumes added by purchase.
543
138
681
Number of volumes added by gift. .
99
1
100
Number of volumes replaced or found .. .
19
3
22
Number of volumes lost or withdrawn. .
61
46
107
Total number at end of year. 24,816
4,315
29,131
Number of volumes fiction lent for home
use. . 26,175
12,838
39,013
Total number volumes lent for home use 38,143
15,891
*54,034
Single numbers of periodicals lent for home use 2,670
28
2,698
Largest delivery in one day, March 18
416
* Includes 1,171 sent to Branch.
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TRUSTEES ROBBINS LIBRARY
Number of new borrowers registered during the year. 832 Number of copies of newspapers and periodicals cur- rently received. 124
Number of persons using Library for reading and study .. . 39,269
Attendance in Reading Rooms on week days. 24,303
Attendance in Children's Room on week days. . 11,090
Attendance in Reading Rooms on Sundays. 2,347
Attendance in Children's Room on Sundays 2,240
· ARLINGTON HEIGHTS BRANCH.
Number of volumes at beginning of year. 1,219
Number of volumes added during year by purchase. 45
Number of volumes added during year by gift 1
Number of volumes lost or withdrawn during year
1
Total number at end of year . 1,264
Number of books lent for home use from Branch. 1,678
Number of periodicals lent belonging to Branch .. 1,876
Number of books and periodicals received by basket from Central Library in 1916. 1,171
Number of copies of newspapers and periodicals currently received. 28
Receipts From
Payments For
Unexpended balance
Local taxation ..... . $4,000.00
Endowment funds. . . 2,694.90
Binding 389.47
Fines and sale of pub-
Salaries, library serv-
lications 347.00
ice, janitor service . 4,208.32
Other sources. 758.70
Heat. 379.65
Light. 542.10
Other expenses. 1,170.52
Balance on hand.
110.98
Total. $7,800.60
Books . $694.70
Periodicals . 304.86
Total.
$7,800.60
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ARLINGTON TOWN REPORT
LIST OF PERIODICALS.
A. L. A. Booklist.
Indian's Friend.
American Boy.
International Journal of Ethics.
American Cookery.
International Studio.
American Forestry.
John Martin's Book.
American Review of Reviews.
Keramic Studio.
Architectural Record.
Ladies' Home Journal.
Arlington High School Clarion. Atlantic Monthly.
Life.
Bird Lore.
Literary Digest.
Birds and Nature.
Little Folks.
Book Review Digest.
Living Age.
Bookman.
McBride's Magazine.
Boys' Life.
McClure's Magazine.
Catholic World.
Manual Training and Voca- tional Education.
Century.
Christian Endeavor World.
Massachusetts Magazine.
Mayflower Descendant.
Medford Historical Register.
Munsey's Magazine.
Museum of Fine Arts Bulletin .*
Musical Courier.
Musician.
Nation.
National Geographic Magazine.
New England Historical and Genealogical Register.
New England Homestead.
Nineteenth Century and After.
North American Review.
Official Gazette, U. S. Patent Office .*
Our Dumb Animals .*
Outing.
Outlook. Photo Era.
Pictorial Review.
Pilgrim Notes and Queries.
Countryside Magazine.
Craftsman.
Current Opinion.
Delineator.
Education.
Educational Review.
Etude. Forum.
General Federation Magazine.
Good Housekeeping.
Good Roads Magazine.
Harper's Bazar.
Harper's Monthly.
Harvard Theological Review.
Harvard University Gazette .* Hibbert Journal.
Home Needlework Magazine. House Beautiful. Illustrated London News. Independent. *Donated.
Library Journal.
Congressional Record .*
139
TRUSTEES ROBBINS LIBRARY
Popular Mechanics.
Scientific American Supplement.
Popular Science Monthly.
Scientific Monthly.
Practical Engineer.
Scribner's Magazine.
Public Libraries.
Something-To-Do.
Râja-Yoga Messenger .*
Spectator.
Readers' Guide to Periodical Literature. Safety Engineering .*
Survey.
Theosophical Path .*
Theosophical Quarterly .*
St. Nicholas.
Unpopular Review.
School Arts Magazine.
World's Work.
School Review ..
Yale Review.
Scientific American.
Youth's Companion.
LIST OF NEWSPAPERS AND OTHER PERIODICALS.
America.'
Arlington Advocate.
Arlington Weekly News.
Boston Daily Advertiser.
Review (West Medford) .*
Sacred Heart Review .*
Cambridge Chronicle.
Somerville Journal.
Catholic World.
Springfield Republican.
Christian Register .*
Unitarian Advance .*
Christian Science Journal .*
Universalist Leader .*
Christian Science Monitor .*
Watchman Examiner .*
Current Events.
Woman's Journal .*
Living Church .*
Woman's Protest Against
Missions .* *Donated.
Woman Suffrage .*
We have received reports or bulletins, or both, from the public libraries of the following places: Andover (Memorial Hall Library); Baltimore, Md. (Enoch Pratt Free Library); Belmont; Boston; Brookline; Cambridge; Canton; Chelsea; Clinton (Bigelow Free Public Library); Concord; Everett (Shute Memorial Library); Fairhaven (Millicent Library); Gardner (Levi Heywood Memorial Library); Hartford, Conn .; Lancaster; Malden; Manchester, N. H .; Massachusetts (Free Public Library Commission); Milton; Natick (Morse Institute Library); New
New York Times Book Review. Remonstrance Against Woman Suffrage .*
Boston Evening Transcript.
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ARLINGTON TOWN REPORT
York; Newton; Northampton (Forbes Library); Norwalk, Conn. (First District); Providence, R. I .; Quincy (Thomas Crane Public Library); Somerville; Taunton; Wakefield (Beebe Town Library); Wilkes-Barré, Pa. (Osterhout Free. Library); Win- chester; Winthrop (Frost Library Building); Woburn; Worcester.
Respectfully submitted,
ELIZABETH J. NEWTON, Librarian.
Arlington, December 31, 1916.
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TRUSTEES ROBBINS LIBRARY
TRUSTEES ROBBINS LIBRARY
ART FUND.
1916.
Principal of Fund January 1, 1916 $23,817.25
Accumulated Income to January 1, 1916 3,908.48 1
$27,725.73
Receipts.
Interest on
$7000 Water Bond of 1912, June and
December
$280.00
6000 Water Loan of 1913, June 127.50
4000 Water Loan of 1912, December
85.00
4000 Schouler Court Land Purchase, July and January
160.00
4000 Water Loan of 1914, May and November
160.00
2000 Street Loan of 1915, June and December 80.00
500 Turkey Hill Land Purchase of 1913, May and November . 20.00
4000 Water Loan of 1916, December 80.00
2000 Arlington Revenue Note 40.00
Deposit in Arlington Savings Bank
100.24
1,132.74
$28,858.47
Expenditures. Reimbursements to Town Treasurer on account of payments $62.81
62.81
$28,795.66
Balance divided as follows:
Principal of Fund under bequest of Win- field Robbins $23,817.25
Transferred to Principal from Income by request of Caira Robbins, Curator 1,182.75
Principal of Fund, January 1, 1917 Accumulated Income
$25,000.00
3,795.66
$28,795.66
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ARLINGTON TOWN REPORT
Investments.
Six Water Bonds of 1912, dated December
2, 1912, due serially commencing De- cember 2, 1916
$6,000.00
Two Water Bonds of 1913, dated June 30, 1913, due serially commencing June 30, 1917
4,000.00
Four Schouler Court Land Purchase of 1914 Notes, dated April 30, 1914, due serially commencing January 1, 1925 4,000.00 One Water Loan of 1914 Note, dated No- vember 1, 1914, due November 1, 1917 2,000.00 One Turkey Hill Land Purchase of 1913 Note, dated November 1, 1914, due November 1, 1918 500.00
One Street Loan of 1915 Note, No. 163, dated December 1, 1915, due December 1, 1917
2,000.00
Two Water Loan of 1916 Notes, dated June 30, 1916, due serially commencing June 30, 1919
4,000.00
Three Sewer Loan of 1916 Notes, dated December 15, 1916, due serially com- mencing December 15, 1918
Deposit in Savings Bank 295.66
6,000.00
$28,795.66
SAMUEL C. BUSHNELL, CYRUS E. DALLIN, CHARLES A. KEEGAN, JAMES P. PARMENTER, WILLIAM A. MULLER, ARTHUR J. WELLINGTON, Trustees.
MYRON TAYLOR, Treasurer.
GEORGE McK. RICHARDSON, Auditor.
REPORT OF THE SCHOOL COMMITTEE FOR THE YEAR 1916.
To the Inhabitants of the Town of Arlington:
In presenting its report for 1916 your Committee desires to congratulate you upon the year which is past as one particularly satisfactory to it considering the objects accomplished and the advancement made during that time. This report, neces- sarily brief, covers a period devoid of spectacular accomplish- ment, but full of steady progress along the more or less routine lines of school administration.
The Committee must reiterate what has been said and what is well known about the crowded conditions of our schools. It need not dwell upon the report of the Special Committee appointed in accordance with the Town Meeting held last June to investi- gate and set before the public the existing situation and suggested remedies. Your Committee emphatically endorses the ·recom- mendation that a sixteen-room Junior High School be constructed at once in the west end of the Town. It is of course impossible to get the best results without adequate housing, and it must be apparent that the longer a thing is delayed the worse conditions will become, and the harder it will be to remedy them. The Town accomplished much in this regard in the completion of the High School, but it cannot rest at this point. The demand for more room is constantly increasing, and your Committee cannot urge too strongly some immediate action to relieve the situation.
The Committee is gratified to be able to report the advance- ment made this last year in the improvement of housing facilities at present available. Perhaps the greatest accomplishment in this line is the work for fire prevention done at the Russell School. The basement has been made thoroughly fireproof, metal doors have been placed at all the openings and a sprinkler system has been installed through the basement and connecting halls. For further safety, an underground pocket for soft coal was constructed outside the limits of the building. These changes involved a
143
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ARLINGTON TOWN REPORT
very considerable outlay, but the Committee feels that its action in effecting them was beyond criticism. Aside from the fact that school buildings are required by law to contain adequate protection against fire, it is surely the highest duty of the towns- people, through those in authority, to use every possible means to safeguard the lives of the children entrusted to their care.
There will be a good deal of interest in the effect produced by the failure to open the public schools in September owing to the prevalence at the time of infantile paralysis in neighboring cities. Naturally such an occurrence might be expected to set the whole year's program back by that length of time, besides occasioning a possible loss of interest on the part of the pupils which would have to be overcome before even normal progress could be attained. Your Committee is much pleased that such is not the case. In- stead of the excess of vacation exercising an injurious effect upon the students, they seem to have gained in enthusiasm, and with the encouragement and help of an unusually able corps of teachers have already made up much that was lost.
The townspeople are aware that during the autumn they suffered a real misfortune in the resignation of the Superintendent, Mr. Scully, whose faithful service for more than ten years carried to those who were acquainted with his work the conviction that the Town could hardly get along without his services. He brought into school affairs an enthusiasm and devotion that we cannot expect to duplicate. To fill the vacancy caused by Mr. Scully's resignation the Committee, after much deliberation, selected Mr. George C. Minard, of Bristol, Rhode Island. He is a man of wide experience in the Boston schools and elsewhere, and the Committee appointed him from a large field of candidates in the belief that he was well fitted to carry on the work of this department. So far he has amply justified this opinion.
It is with some regret that the Committee must introduce into a report which it hopes would be otherwise acceptable the ad- mission that its appropriation has been slightly exceeded. In explanation it is only fair to state that this excess was largely three items: Repairs, supplies, and heat and power; also expense increased by the infantile paralysis scare. All of these items are of extreme importance. They are items which are bound to increase from year to year, sometimes to an extent that cannot
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