USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Arlington > Town of Arlington annual report 1936 > Part 7
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Article 4. To see if the Town will make any altera- tions and repairs of a building or buildings now numbered 1083 on Massachusetts Avenue, to be used in connection with the enlargement of its Town Yard, or for any other municipal purpose or purposes; make an appropriation or appropriations therefor; determine in what manner the money shall be raised and expended; or take any action relating thereto.
Article 5. To see if the Town will make an approp- priation for equipment and materials to be used in con- nection with the alterations to the present building in the Town Yard, Hobbs Court, known as the Water Shop; determine in what manner the money shall be raised and expended; or take any action relating thereto.
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TOWN RECORDS
And you will notify and warn the voters of the Town of Arlington to meet at the time and place herein specified by leaving at every dwelling house in the Town a printed copy of this Warrant, and also by posting a copy of the same at the doors of the Town Hall, and in a conspicuous place in each of the fourteen precincts of the Town, seven days at least prior to the time of said meeting.
Hereof, fail not, and make due return of this War- rant, with your doings thereon, to the Town Clerk, on or before said day and hour of meeting.
Given under our hands, at said Arlington, this seven- teenth day of February, in the year of our Lord one thousand nine hundred and thirty-six.
GEORGE H. LOWE, JR., ERNEST W. DAVIS, HAROLD M. ESTABROOK,
Selectmen of the Town of Arlington.
CONSTABLE'S RETURN
Arlington, Mass., February 24, 1936.
Middlesex County :
By virtue of this warrant I have notified and warned the legal voters of the Town of Arlington to meet at the time and place and for the purposes herein named by causing a printed attested copy of the same to be left at every dwelling house in the Town, and by posting an attested copy at the doors of the Town Hall seven days at least before said day of meeting and by posting attested copies in two or more conspicuous places in each voting
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precinct in the Town. A notice of the time, place and objects of the meeting was published in the local papers.
(Signed) RALPH T. ATWOOD, Constable, Town of Arlington, Mass.
SPECIAL MEETING
Arlington, Mass., March 18, 1936.
Pursuant to the Warrant of the Selectmen served according to law upon the inhabitants of the Town of Arlington, by a constable of said Town and sent by mail by the Town Clerk seven days before the day of meeting to the Town Meeting Members duly elected and qualified to act in Town Meetings in Arlington, the Town Meeting Members met at the Robbins Memorial Town Hall in said Town on Wednesday, March 18, 1936, at 8:30 o'clock in the evening.
Lists of the duly qualified Town Meeting Members were used at the entrances of the meeting place and were in charge of Philip T. Robinson and James E. Sweeney.
The check lists filed with the Town Clerk at the close of the meeting showed that two hundred and twenty- three members attended the meeting.
The Moderator called the Meeting to order at 8:30 o'clock P.M., declaring a quorum present.
James C. Carr was sworn by the Town Clerk to im- partially and correctly report the proceedings of the meet- ing to the best of his ability.
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TOWN RECORDS
The Clerk read the call and the Constable's Return of the warrant, the reading of the remainder of the war- rant being waived by the unanimous consent of the meet- ing.
Town Meeting Members not previously sworn were sworn by the Moderator.
On motion of Selectman Davis:
Voted: (Unanimously) That if all the business of the meeting as set forth in the warrant is not disposed of on this date the meeting adjourn to Wednesday evening, March 25, 1936, at 8:30 o'clock P.M.
On motion of Selectman Davis:
Voted: (Unanimously) That Article 1 be taken up.
Article 1 taken up. (Reports of Committees.)
On motion of Committee Chairman Davidson:
Voted: (Unanimously) That the report of the Fi- nance Committee as presented in its printed form be now received.
On motion of Committee Chairman Davidson:
Voted: (Unanimously) That Article 1 be laid on the table.
Article 2 taken up. (Assessment for County Hos- pital.)
Voted: (Unanimously) That the sum of ten thousand (10,000) dollars be and hereby is appropriated to pay the Town's share of the principal of the Middlesex County
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Tuberculosis Hospital Funding Loan, Acts of 1932 bonds maturing in 1936; that the further sum of two thousand seven hundred sixty-two and 50/100 (2762.50) dollars be and hereby is appropriated on account of interest and other charges on account thereof; that the further sum of nine thousand seven hundred sixty-three and 93/100 (9,763.93) dollars be and hereby is appropriated for the Town's share of the net cost of care, maintenance, and repairs of the Middlesex County Hospital, including in- terest on temporary notes issued therefor, in accordance with sections of Chapter 111 of the General Laws appli- cable thereto; and that said sums totaling twenty-two thousand five hundred and twenty-six and 43/100 (22,526.43) dollars be raised by general tax and expended under the direction of the Board of Selectmen.
There being no further business under Article 2 the Moderator declared Article 2 disposed of.
Article 3 taken up. (Land with Buildings for En- largement of Town Yard.)
Chairman Marsh of the Board of Public Works read the report of the Permanent Town Yard Committee as reported in the Meeting of March 18th and followed it with pictures on the screen. After lengthy discussion the Moderator called for a standing vote which resulted in one hundred and twenty-six voting in the affirmative and eighty-three in the negative, a total of two hundred and nine votes. A two-thirds vote being necessary to carry, the Moderator declared the motion lost. There being no further business under Article 3 the Moderator declared Article 3 disposed of.
Article 4 taken up. (Alterations and Repairs, Build- ing; Town Yard.)
Put to a vote and lost.
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TOWN RECORDS
There being no further business under Article 4 the Moderator declared Article 4 disposed of.
Article 5 taken up. (Equipment and Materials, Water Shop; Town Yard.)
On a standing vote one hundred and fifty-seven voted in the affirmative and six in the negative,
That the Town do not make an appropriation for equipment and materials to be used in connection with alterations of the present building in the Town Yard, Hobbs Court, known as the Water Shop.
On motion duly made and seconded it was voted, one hundred and three in the affirmative and eighty-six in the negative, to reconsider Article 5.
Chairman Marsh stated he desired to prepare and offer a substitute motion, and
On motion duly made and seconded it was
Voted: That the meeting recess for five minutes.
When the meeting reconvened the Moderator called upon any Town Meeting Members who had not already been sworn to rise and take the oath and six members were sworn.
The Moderator declared Article 5 before the meeting.
Chairman Marsh offered the following substitute motion:
That the sum of sixteen thousand six hundred forty-seven (16,647) dollars be and hereby is appro- priated to be expended for equipment and materials to be used in connection with alterations of the present
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building in the Town Yard Hobbs Court, known as Water Shop, said sum to be raised by general tax and expended under the direction of the Board of Selectmen.
And on being put to a vote the Moderator declared the motion lost.
The original motion was again put to a vote and carried.
There being no further business under Article 5 the Moderator declared Article 5 disposed of.
On motion of Chairman Davidson:
Voted: That Article 1 be taken from the table.
There being no further business under Article 1 the Moderator declared Article 1 disposed of.
The business under the Special Warrant having been disposed of it was voted to adjourn.
The meeting adjourned at 10:55 P.M.
A True Record, Attest :
EARL A. RYDER,
Town Clerk.
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TOWN RECORDS
ADJOURNED MEETING
Arlington, March 25, 1936.
Pursuant to the vote of adjournment on March 18, 1936, the Town Meeting Members met in the Town Hall on Wednesday, March 25, 1936, notices having been sent by mail by the Town Clerk at least twelve hours before such session. A similar notice was posted in each pre- cinct.
Lists of the duly qualified Town Meeting Members were used at the entrances of the meeting place and were in charge of Philip T. Robinson and James E. Sweeney.
The check lists filed with the Town Clerk at the close of the meeting showed that two hundred and thirty- two members attended the meeting.
James C. Carr, stenographer, was sworn by the Town Clerk to the faithful performance of his duties.
The Moderator declaring a quorum present the meet- ing was called to order at 8:10 P.M.
Town Meeting Members not already sworn were sworn by the Moderator.
Chairman Davis of the Selectmen, requested per- mission for the Town Counsel, Selectman Lowe, the Secre- tary of the Selectmen, and Mr. Adams of the Board of Public Works to be seated in the front of the hall and such permission was granted.
On motion of Chairman Davis:
Voted: (Unanimously) That if all the business of
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the meeting as set forth in the warrant is not disposed of on this date, the meeting adjourn to Wednesday evening, April 1, 1936, at eight o'clock.
The Moderator asked if there was any other business to come up under Article 2 and there being none he de- clared the Article closed.
The Moderator declared Article 4 before the meeting. At this point Mr. Thomas G. Hennessy made a motion that Article 3 be taken from the table, which motion was seconded, put to a vote and carried.
Article 3 taken up.
On motion of Thomas G. Hennessy it was moved and seconded that the Committee under vote of the Town passed April 3, 1935, to inquire into the inequalities of pay and pensions among Town Officers, officials and em- ployees be discharged. On being put to a vote the mo- tion was lost.
There being no further business under Article 3 it was voted that Article 3 be laid on the table.
The Moderator declared Article 4 before the meeting.
Article 4 taken up. (Town Outlays and Expenses.)
That sums be appropriated to defray Town outlays and expenses for the year 1936, to be raised by general tax and expended under the direction of the respective department heads, as follows:
GENERAL GOVERNMENT
Voted: (Unanimously) :
1. Finance Committee (Finance Committee).
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TOWN RECORDS
Personal Services . $900.00
(Chairman, $250; Secretary, $50; Clerk, $600.)
Expenses . 400.00
$1,300.00
Voted: (Unanimously) :
Reserve Fund . $15,000.00
Voted: (Unanimously)
2. Board of Appeal (Board of Selectmen). Personal Services and Expenses . $150.00
Voted: (Unanimously)
3. Board of Selectmen (Board of Selectmen). Personal Services . $5,612.00
(Chairman of Board, $800; Other Board Members, $600 each; Secretary of the Board, $2,000; Clerks, $1,612.)
Material and Expenses . 1,988.00
$7,600.00
Voted: (Unanimously)
4. Town Accountant (Board of Selectmen). Personal Services . $4,592.00
(Accountant, $3,500; Clerk, $1,092.) Material and Expenses 400.50
$4,992.50
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Voted: (Unanimously)
5. Town Treasurer (Town Treasurer).
Personal Services . $4,810.00
(Treasurer, $3,200; Clerk, $1,560; Extra for Vacation, $50.)
Material and Expenses 1,000.00
$5,810.00
On the substitute motion of Edward A. Bailey it was Voted :
6. Collector of Taxes (Collector of Taxes).
Personal Services. $9,300.00
(Collector, $3,500; Clerks, $5,800.)
Material and Expenses . 2,300.00
$11,600.00
Voted: (Unanimously)
7. Board of Assessors (Board of Assessors).
Personal Services. $10,662.00
(Members of the Board, $1,200 each; Chief Clerk, $3,000; Other Clerks, $3,200; Assistant Assessors, $862.) Material and Expenses . 1,350.00
$12,012.00
Voted: (Unanimously)
8. Legal (Board of Selectmen).
Personal Services: Town Counsel
$2,000.00
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TOWN RECORDS
Expenses: Legal expenses, including among others, expenses relating to the prosecution, defense or settlement of actions or claims by, against or involv- ing the interests of the Town or relating to matters for which there have been or may be special appropriations. 15,000.00
$17,000.00
On the Substitute motion of Lilyan B. Forbes, amended by Hollis M. Gott, it was
Voted :
9. Town Clerk (Town Clerk).
Personal Services . $5,738.40
(Town Clerk, Jan. 1, 1936, to March 7, 1936, $538.40; Town Clerk, March 9, 1936, to December 31, 1936, @ $3,200 per annum, $2,600; Other Clerks, $2,600.) Material and Expenses . 626.00
$6,364.40
Voted: (Unanimously)
10. Board of Public Works (Board of Public Works). General Administration: Personal Services . $19,836.00
(Chairman of the Board, $800; Other Board Members, $600 each; Clerk of the Board, $3,120; Supt. of Public
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ARLINGTON TOWN REPORT
Works, $3,900; Timekeeper, $2,340; Stockkeeper, $2,080; Other Clerks, $6,396.) Material and Expenses 1,500.00
$21,336.00
Voted: (Unanimously)
11. Engineering (Joint Board of Selectmen and Board of Public Works).
Personal Services . $29,744.00 (Town Engineer, $3,900; Others, $25,116; Clerk, $728.)
Material and Expenses . 1,500.00
Capital Outlay : New Auto, $583.00, less allowance for old auto, $55.00; Net ap- propriation . 528.00
$31,772.00
Voted: (Unanimously)
12. Elections and Town Meetings (Board of Selectmen).
Personal Services. $8,480.00
(Registrars, $600; Others, $980; Elec- tion Officers, $6,500; Other Service, $400.)
Material and Expenses . 3,300.00
$11,780.00
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TOWN RECORDS
Voted: (Unanimously)
13. Planning Board (Planning Board).
Personal Services: Secretary $50.00
Material and Expenses . 250.00
$300.00
Voted: (Unanimously)
14. Board of Survey (Joint Board of Select- men and Board of Public Works).
Personal Services . $1,520.00
(Secretary of Board, $800; Clerk, $520; Constable Service, $200.)
Material and Expenses .
300.00
$1,820.00
Voted: (Unanimously)
15. Robbins Memorial Town Hall (Board of Selectmen).
Personal Services . $5,698.00
(Superintendent, $2,600; Janitor, $1,898; Others, $1,200.)
Material and Expenses .
4,370.00
Maintenance of Grounds
1,670.00
$11,738.00
PROTECTION OF PERSONS AND PROPERTY
Voted: (Unanimously)
16. Police Department (Board of Selectmen) Personal Services . $119,286.50
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ARLINGTON TOWN REPORT
(Chief, $3,200; Officers and Patrolmen, $112,121.50; Clerks, $1,070; Others, $2,895)
Material and Expenses . 11,291.00
Expenses incurred Outside the Common wealth as described in General Laws, Chapter 40, Section 5, Paragraph 34. . 100.00
$130,677.50
Voted: (Unanimously)
17. Fire Department (Board of Selectmen)
Personal Services .
$114,129.50
(Chief, $3,200; Officers and Firemen, $109,687.50; Others, $1,242)
Material and Expenses .
8,470.00
Expenses incurred Outside the Common- wealth as described in General Laws, Chapter 40, Section 5, Paragraph 34. . 100.00
$122,699.50
Voted: (Unanimously)
17a. Fire and Police Signal System (Board of Selectmen)
Maintenance of System.
$1,585.00
Voted: (Unanimously)
18. Building, Plumbing and Gas Inspection (Board of Selectmen)
Salary of Building Inspector. $2,767.00
Salary of Plumbing and Gas Inspector . .
2,750.00
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TOWN RECORDS
Salary of Clerk.
1,040.00
Material and Expenses
920.00
$7,477.00
Voted: (Unanimously)
19. Wire Department (Joint Board of Select- men and Board of Public Works)
Personal Services. $5,466.67
(Inspector, $3,200; Assistant, $2,266.67)
Material and Expenses 610.00
$6,076.67
Voted: (Unanimously)
20. Sealer of Weights and Measures (Board of Selectmen)
Personal Services: Salary of Sealer $2,100.00
Material and Expenses . 760.00
$2,860.00
Voted: (Unanimously)
21. Gypsy and Brown Tail Moth Suppression (Board of Selectmen)
Personal Services . $4,750.00
(Superintendent, $1,450; Others, $3,300) Material and Expenses 656.00
$5,406.00
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ARLINGTON TOWN REPORT
Voted: (Unanimously)
22. Tree Warden (Tree Warden)
Personal Services . $4,250.00
(Tree Warden, $750; Others, $3,500) Material and Expenses . 1,210.00
$5,460.00
HEALTH AND SANITATION
Voted: (Unanimously)
23. Board of Health (Board of Health)
Personal Services . $9,066.00
Material and Expenses 2,145.00
Communicable Diseases 15,250.00
$26,461.00
Voted: (Unanimously)
24. Vital Statistics (Town Clerk) . $200.00
Voted: (Unanimously)
25. Inspector of Animals (Board of Selectmen) $500.00
Voted: (Unanimously)
26. Sewer Maintenance (Board of Public Works)
Maintenance of Sewerage System . $5,450.00
Resurfacing. 150.00
$5,600.00
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TOWN RECORDS
Voted: (Unanimously)
27. Sanitary Division (Board of Public Works) Removal of Ashes, Offal and Rubbish Personal Services: Foreman. $1,872.00
Wages, Equipment and Material 78,000.00
$79,872.00
Voted: To adjourn.
The Meeting adjourned at 11:15 P.M.
A True Record, Attest:
EARL A. RYDER, Town Clerk.
ADJOURNED MEETING
Arlington, April 1, 1936.
Pursuant to the vote of adjournment on March 25, 1936 the Town Meeting Members met in the Town Hall on Wednesday, April 1, 1936, notices having been sent by mail by the Town Clerk at least twelve hours before such session. A similar notice was posted in each pre- cinct.
Lists of the duly qualified Town Meeting Members were used at the entrances of the meeting place and were in charge of Philip T. Robinson and James E. Sweeney.
The check lists filed with the Town Clerk at the close
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ARLINGTON TOWN REPORT
of the meeting showed that two hundred and twenty- four members attended the meeting.
James C. Carr, stenographer was sworn by the Town Clerk to the faithful performance of his duties.
The Moderator declaring a quorum present the meet- ing was called to order at 8:10 P.M.
On motion of Chairman Davis:
Voted: (Unanimously) That if all the business of the meeting as set forth in the warrant is not disposed of on this date, the meeting adjourn to Wednesday evening, April 8, 1936, at eight o'clock.
The Moderator declared Article 4, item 28 before the meeting.
Chairman Marsh, read the following comparative study of the Activities of the Public Works Department covering a period from 1920 to 1935.
Believing that the physical condition of the Services of the Town, which are operated by the Board of Public Works, have been allowed to deteriorate to an alarming extent under the pinch of economy during the past few years, the Board submits the following report of condition.
This department has spent yearly sums varying from $336,000 in 1922 to $774,000 in 1931 and dropping back to $451,000 in 1935. During this period the Town has increased 75% in population. The population has not dropped backward in any year. It has increased in vary- ing amounts each year. Under these conditions, the Board feels that a survey of individual condition of each sub- division of the departmental activity is necessary at this time, including also the physical condition of the working
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organization, as well as the Capital structure which has been erected under the supervision of this Board. It is not the intention, however, to discuss this matter at length except as the appropriations involved, affect the condition of the services which are in its charge.
Briefly, the Services covered by this Board include the Maintenance and Extension of the Highways and Bridges, Sewers, Storm Drains, Water department and the distinctly Service Divisions of Sanitary Department and the Removal of Snow and Ice from the Highways.
The Budget expenses under these various items have fluctuated with the growth of the town, rising to extremely high levels during the boom period and falling sharply under the exigencies of the years of depression. During the period from 1925 to 1930 the Town gained 11,000 in population and from 1930 to 1935, only 2,500. The service to be rendered has therefore not been lessened, but let us see what we have done to maintain the structure which has been built. During this period of fifteen years, with an increase in population of 75% we have gained more than 100% in the number of dwellings. The demand for domestic service such as the removal of offal, ashes, and rubbish has more than kept pace with the population.
As the Town has increased its mileage of accepted streets and extended its Storm Drain system, it has im- posed additional maintenance charges. With the exten- sion of the Highways, there has been corresponding in- crease in the Sewerage System. This imposes additional inspection and cleaning service, as well as the mainte- nance of the necessary pumps at low points in the system. Sidewalks also require maintenance and service under all weather conditions, but much more service under winter conditions.
Now, let us look into the extensions of plant and see what we have done to keep them in condition.
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ARLINGTON TOWN REPORT
SANITARY DEPT.
Going back to 1919 and 1920, in the horse drawn equipment era, we had 42.28 miles of accepted streets and 29.78 miles of private ways, a total of 72.06 miles.
In 1920 the Health Department Collections were ex- tended to Hibbert St. and Sylvia St. for the first time. Thus, this was probably the first year that the Health Department collections were extended to the extreme limits of the town. In this year the cost of the collec- tions amounted to $10.70 per dwelling. These figures are compiled from Town Records showing the number of dwellings as reported by the assessors and the records of the Public Works Department under Health Department. The unit of cost seems to us more important than the total appropriations.
In 1922 and 1923 this collection cost averaged $11.48 per dwelling, while with the rapid growth of the town from 1925 to 1930, this cost advanced for various reasons to about $13.00 per dwelling. But with the depression years this cost has dropped back to $11.54, which in- cludes more frequent collections than were given in 1920. The cost at this time, 1935, under motor equipment is almost exactly the same as fifteen years ago, when horses furnished the motive power.
In 1920, when heavy snow storms occurred, the horses under the Health Dept. were used for snow work and the collections discontinued until the sidewalks were cleared. The streets were not cleared in the same manner in those days. We had one horse drawn blade snow plow which was used to clear up the principal intersections and finish the work which the Elevated made for us with their track plows.
The principal problem today, in the Sanitary De-
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TOWN RECORDS
partment is the lack of suitable disposal equipment and plant. With the building up of the town, we are now collecting upon 95.43 miles of accepted streets and private ways, an increase of 30% in total mileage, and from 6,900 dwellings as against 3,000 dwellings in 1919. The build- ing up of the farms, and the encroachment upon lowlands suitable for rubbish and ash dumps have made longer hauls necessary. The situation is now acute.
The appropriation in 1919 was insufficient for full service, so the Town record states, so for four months in the summer, collections of rubbish were made monthly instead of weekly. There were many complaints. Per- haps we are approaching a similar situation.
SEWER DEPT.
In this department we have had an increase of 90% in the length of the system, yet the maintenance appro- priation for 1936 is almost exactly the same as it was in 1920. It certainly seems reasonable 74.2 miles of sewer system cannot be maintained for the same amount of money as required for 39 miles. Yet that is the relation of system and maintenance in 1922 and 1935. The aver- age annual expense for maintenance of the Sewer System over a period of twenty years is around $5,400, showing no increase with extension of system.
STORM DRAINS.
This extension of plant shows tremendous growth. Here we have a 200% increase in the length of the system. The cost of maintenance is under the Department of High- ways and Bridges and it has not always been segregated so that the cost of maintenance must be considered as a part of the General Maintenance of Highways. No separate budget item is set up for this work. It is, how-
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ARLINGTON TOWN REPORT
ever, a very considerable item of expense. In 1922 we had a system of 13 miles of drain with 527 catch basins. In 1935 we have 39 miles and 1466 catch basins.
Most of the 1,000 tons of sand used upon the streets and sidewalks this last winter must either be swept up from the gutters of the streets or dug out of the 1,466 catch basins.
HIGHWAYS AND BRIDGES.
With appropriations for General Maintenance of Highways remaining at the same total as it was in 1922, it seems reasonable that something is being neglected.
We take the year 1922 for comparison, because the substitute motion will be for almost identically the same amount as was expended in 1922. The only variation is in the amount of Highway Maintenance and Reconstruc- tion. This year we ask for about one third the amount used in 1922 for Reconstruction and have placed the dif- ference in the Maintenance item.
Compare these Maintenance items for Highways and Bridges and see what they must cover.
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