USA > Massachusetts > Norfolk County > Franklin > Town of Franklin annual report 1890 > Part 2
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The old fence around the Northwest school-house lot has been replaced by a new one, and new steps have been substi- tuted for the old at both entrances to the house.
A new fence has also been built on one side of the Populatic school grounds.
There is much need of a fence around the Arlington school- house lot, for which we hope you will not fail to make suitable provision.
Besides these external repairs to our school-houses and sur- roundings, we have not failed to look after their internal ac- commodations. Each of the following school houses, viz : Chapel, Primary No. 2, and the Mount have been supplied with a portable closet each for the storage and better preserva- tion of reference and text-books and school supplies. Addi- tions to our school furniture of this kind was commenced last year by furnishing to the Primary No. 1 (Brick) and City
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Mills school-house, one each. Their usefulness will appear when it is remembered that all reference and text-books and school supplies are furnished at the expense of the town.
During the year there have been some exceptional expenses in consequence of changes required by the District Inspector of public buildings, so as to give better facilities for egress from the upper rooms in case of fire. During the latter part of last year he visited our school buildings and notified the Selectmen that there must be a fire-escape added to the rear of the High School building. As there was in contemplation a plan to remodel this building, your Committee visited the Chief Inspector and after stating the case obtained permission to await for a time the action of the town in the matter. As there was no definite action taken in this direction by the mid- dle of the summer vacation, we notified him to that effect and asked him to review the case and see if some less expensive arrangement could not be made. The District Inspector came and reviewed the premises and consented at our suggestion that in lieu of the fire-escape we might have a door put in the par- tition between the two main upper school-rooms, so that in case egress from one hall and stairway should be cut off by fire, the scholars could pass through this door to the hall and down the stairs on the opposite side. He also required the spaces in the centre partition between the upper and lower halls to be filled tightly with brick and mortar for at least ten inches from the floor ; and also the space under each flight of stairs near the lower part. In addition to this the doors were to be changed so as to open outwardly. All this was done during the summer vacation. For the purpose of making room for the door in the partition. it was found necessary to make changes in the steam pipes that were attached to the partition on the High School-room side ; and as the pipes in this and the ad- joining ante-room were inadequate to keeping up a uniform degree of heat with that in the other rooms it was thought best to remedy the defect at this time. Accordingly we had an ad- ditional row of pipe added and another radiator put into the recitation room. These changes, including those in the heat-
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ing apparatus, required the expenditure of a considerable por- tion of the sum estimated for the fire-escape. The changes made in the heating arrangement have proved of much ser- vice as these rooms can now be kept at the same temperature as the others without extra fire under the boiler. This build- ing is now, both externally and internally, in a good state of repair, except that the roof in front needs shingling.
The system of ventilation in this, as in all our school- houses, is found to be of little service, and the defects are so radical that it is quite impossible to overcome them. This system attempts to remove the air at the lower part of the room which, being made heavier and impure by an admixture of carbonic acid gas, is unable to rise so as to pass out of the openings in the ceilings made for the purpose. Besides this there is no provision for the admission of fresh air. It seems obvious from the nature of the case that, to secure good venti- lation in rooms occupied by a large number of persons, that there must be suitable provision made at the lower part of the room for conducting away the impure air there accumulated, and for the ingress of fresh air in due proportion. There are several methods now in use, based on scientific principles, which more or less perfectly accomplish that object. One is to enclose a space around the chimney with several openings into it from the lower part of the rooms to be ventilated. In this case, as the chimney is heated by the stove or otherwise the air in the space around it becomes lighter and rising creates a draught which removes the impure air, and at the same time fresh air is admitted through openings in different parts of the room provided for the purpose, which tends to force the im- pure air into the space around the chimney through which it passes off.
Another method is to have a tight room in the attic of the building with pipes leading to the rooms below, and also into the open air above. When the air in this room is warmer than in the rooms below a current is created as in the former case. This room is usually heated by coils of pipe leading from the boiler. We have presented this subject more in detail for the
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reason that this latter system is the one adopted by the archi- tect in the plan for remodeling our High School building. And also from the fact of having recently received from the Inspector an imperative order to have a proper system intro- duced into this and the Nason street houses.
In this connection we would earnestly call your attention to the necessity of providing some better accommodations for our High School. In Chapter 44, Section 46 of the Public Stat- utes are set forth the duties of towns and school committees in such cases as follows : "Every town shall provide and main- tain a sufficient number of school-houses, properly furnished and conveniently located for the accommodation of all the children therein entitled to attend the public schools"; and "the school committee shall procure a suitable place for the schools where there are no school-houses." "A town which for one year refuses or neglects to comply with the require- ment of this act shall forfeit not less than five hundred nor more than one thousand dollars." In our opinion, the Town Hall in which we are under the necessity of keeping one of our High Grammar Schools cannot in any sense be regarded as a suitable place for it ; and if any more desirable one could have been procured we should have secured it.
With these suggestions we leave it for you to consider whether it is not necessary for you to take some prompt and decisive action in order to discharge both your moral and legal obligations in the matter, as well as to avoid the liability to the penalty which would be incurred by longer delay.
We regard it as quite unnecessary that we should here ex- press our opinions as to how this provision should be met, as there are in the office of the Town Clerk plans and specifica- tions which, as a special committee, we after due investiga- tion and deliberation presented. We feel that we cannot do better than advise all who are interested to call and examine those plans so as to be' prepared to act understandingly in the matter.
TRUANCY.
By constant vigilance on our part, aided by our teachers and truant officers, truancy has, during the past year, been much
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less than formerly ; but still there are some incorrigible cases that need some suitable place for confinement and education such as all towns are required to provide. The almshouse is the place now designated in the town by-laws for the assign- ment of such children. We think it must be apparent to all reflecting persons that it is not a suitable place, such as was contemplated by the statute law. Even if it answered for a place of confinement it is absolutely wanting in any provision for education which is also required. Inasmuch as there is now a truant school in our county, which is in every way adapted to such a purpose, we advise the town to change their by-laws in its favor.
EXPENDITURES.
As the Auditor's report contains a full exhibit of the ex- penditures of the appropriations of money placed at our dis- posal, verified by vouchers in the hands of the Treasurer, it seems only necessary for us to refer you to it for all needed in- formation.
SCHOOL CENSUS, MAY 1, 1889.
Number of scholars between 5 and 15 years of age, 968. Number of scholars between 8 and 14 years of age, 597.
For the Committee,
GEORGE KING.
GEORGE KING, WM. F. RAY,
MISS LYDIA P. RAY,
MRS. M. A. WIGGIN,
MRS. R. M. FARNUM,
CLARENCE E. GRIFFIN,
School Committee.
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COURSE OF STUDY.
High School. ENGLISH COURSE. FIRST YEAR.
First term-Algebra, Universal History, Rhetoric. Second term-Algebra, Universal History, Rhetoric. Third term-Algebra, Universal History, Rhetoric.
SECOND YEAR.
First term-Geometry, Physics, English Literature.
Second term-Geometry, Physics, English Literature.
Third term-Geometry, Chemistry, English Literature.
THIRD YEAR.
First term-Book keeping, Chemistry, English Literature.
Second term-Astronomy, (Physiology and Temperance,) American Literature.
Third term-Botany, (Physiology and Temperance,) Amer- ican Literature.
FOURTH YEAR.
First term-Physical Geography, Geology, Literature.
Second term- Geography, United States History, Civil Government.
Third term-Artithmetic, English Grammar, Civil Govern- ment.
ONE LANGUAGE COURSE.
The same as the English Course for the first two years.
THIRD YEAR.
First term-Physics, (Latin or French,) English Literature.
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Second term-Astronomy, (Latin or French,) Physics. Third term-Botany, (Latin or French,) Chemistry.
FOURTH YEAR.
First term-Geology, (Latin or French,) Chemistry.
Second term-Geography, (Latin or French,) Civil Gov-
ernment.
Third term-Arithmetic and Grammar, (Latin or French,) Civil Government.
Compositions, recitations and declamations are required throughout the Sub-Grammar, High-Grammar and High School grades.
CLASSICAL COURSE.
The same as the English Course during the first year.
SECOND YEAR.
First term-Geometry, Latin, English Literature.
Second term-Geometry, Latin, English Literature.
Third term-Geometry, Latin, English Literature.
THIRD YEAR.
First term-French, Latin, English Literature Second term-Astronomy, Latin, French.
Third term-Botany, Latin, French.
FOURTH YEAR.
First term-Geology, Latin, French.
Second term-French, Latin, Civil Government.
Third term-French, Latin, Civil Government.
Prang's Shorter Course, Books 4 and 5.
COLLEGE PREPARATORY COURSE.
This course substitutes Latin and Greek in the Classical and varies according to the requirements of the college for which pupils desire to fit.
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High Grammar Grade.
Complete Geography second term of first year.
Begin United States History third term of first year, and complete at the end of the second year.
Complete Advanced Grammar and Goldsmith's "Traveller."
Complete Higher Arithmetic.
Writing Books, Nos. 2, 3.
Prang's Shorter Course, Introductory Book.
Lessons on the Human Body.
Sub-Grammar Grade.
Complete South America in the Higher Geography.
Complete Elementary Grammar.
"Complete Arithmetic" as far as Denominate Numbers. Fourth Readers.
Campbell's First Book in Spelling.
Writing Books, Nos. 2, 3 (large).
Prang's Shorter Course, Book No. 2.
Lessons on the Human Body.
Intermediate Grade.
Complete Primary Geography.
Complete Language Chart.
Complete Third Readers.
Arabic notation through quadrillions.
Roman notation-chapters, lessons, current year.
Addition, subtraction, multiplication and division, as far as fifty-third page in the "Complete Arithmetic."
United States Money and Bills.
Campbell's First Book in Spelling.
Nos. 1, 2, 3, Writing Books (small) with ink.
Prang's Shorter Course in Form Study and Drawing, Book No. 1.
Lessons on the Human Body.
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Primary Grade.
Addition of three denominations.
Subtraction of three denominations.
Multiplication tables (12).
Multiply three denominations, using one figure in the mul- tiplier (987 by 8).
Divide three denominations, using one figure in the divisor, with no remainder in each denomination, (963 by 3).
Complete Reading Chart and First and Second Readers.
Campbell's First Book in Spelling.
Complete Monteith's Pictorial Chart.
Oceans, continents, motions of earth, poles, polar circles, tropics, zones, from Globe.
Writing on slates and practice paper with pencils.
Modeling in clay ; Prang Models for Form Study and Draw- ing.
Calisthenics throughout the course.
Lessons on the Human Body.
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REPORT.
SPECIAL POLICE REPORT.
TO THE SELECTMEN OF FRANKLIN :
The work has been continued by the special officers appoint- ed by the Selectmen to enforce the liquor law in the same im- partial way as in the years past.
We have served twenty-one search warrants and made eight seizures. We made two seizures from teams, one from the person and five from buildings.
James Lundy was prosecuted for keeping a liquor nuisance and convicted in the lower court, but appealed his case to the Superior Court. The case came up at the December term ; he was convicted and is now serving his sentence in Dedham Jail.
John Corbett was prosecuted for keeping a liquor nuisance, was convicted before the trial justice, but appealed to the Su- perior Court. His case came up at the September term and the jury disagreed, but at the December term the Court or- dered the return of the seized liquors. The case for keeping a liquor nuisance comes up at the April term of 1890.
The case against James Gordon for illegal transportation and delivery of liquors was duly tried before a trial justice and he was convicted and sentenced, but appealed to the Superior Court ; when it came up at Dedham he withdrew his appeal, but owing to some technical error in the returns from the jus- tice he does not take his sentence until the April term of this year.
There are a number of persons who are wanted for illegal liquor selling in Franklin that are hiding from justice.
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We have a few persons who continue to sell liquor from the pocket, but it is not as common as it was a year ago.
The selling of cider is still one of the great evils in the way of effectually enforcing the liquor law. When men can go and buy cider by the bottle, and step outside of the premises and drink it, then pass the bottle back and have it filled again and so on indefinitely, we feel the spirit of the law is broken, even if the letter of the statute is followed. There ought to be some way of reaching this kind of business. Cider containing 10 per cent of alcohol is worse than beer containing half that per cent.
We feel there is a decided gain in favor of sobriety and good order in the town over past years, that there has been more of a gain during 1889 than any year since the town employed a special agent to enforce the law.
All of which is respectfully submitted.
AARON R. MORSE, SILAS W. NICKERSON, Special Police.
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REPORT OF PUBLIC LIBRARY.
TO THE INHABITANTS OF THE TOWN :
The Library has been open two days of each week except during the regular vacation in August.
The number of different persons who have taken out books during the year is 631 ; number of books drawn 10,496.
The librarian has collected fines to the amount of $28.60. Received from sale of catalogues and cards, $21.60. Total receipts, $50.20.
Number of volumes covered, 1015. Cost of covering, $20.30.
Three volumes were not accounted for on the examination of books in August.
There have been added to Library 154 new vols. ; also 50 volumes to replace worn out copies ; 40 copies have been re- bound.
The Library has received by donation : Journal of House of Representatives ; Journal of the Senate, 1889 ; Massachu- setts Special Laws ; Consular Reports, 19 vols. ; Statistics of Railways in the United States, 2 copies from Edward A. Moseley ; Report of Springfield Public Library ; Report of State Library ; Report of Hopedale Library, from W. M. Goddard ; Report of Interstate Commerce ; Report of Bureau of Education ; Census Reports, 4 vols., from Hon. J. M. Candler ; Report of Board of Education, 1887, 1888 ; Report of California State Board of Forestry, from E. M. Somers ; General Court of Massachusetts, 2 vols .; Tornado Circular ; Robert Elsmere, 14 copies ; My Story of the War, from Hon. J. G. Ray ; From Boyhood to Manhood, the Life of B. Frank- lin, from Wm. M. Thayer ; total, 54 vols.
Expense of taking charge of the Library, $346.15.
Expended for books, $204.49.
WM. M. THAYER,
For the Directors.
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REPORT OF OVERSEERS OF POOR.
The board of Overseers of the Poor present the following report for the year ending Feb. 1, 1890 :
Appropriated,
$3,500 00
Expended, 2,743 56
Unexpended,
$756 44
OUTSIDE POOR.
Total number of persons having applied for and received aid during the year are 133 ; of these 54 have legal settlements in other towns ; 11 were State paupers; the remaining 68 have settlements in this town. We have bills to the amount of $91.06 due from the State.
ALMSHOUSE.
Mr. and Mrs. George Peck have had charge of the alms- house and farm for the past year. The farm has been profit- able to the town and is being improved.
Present number of inmates, eight. For repairs the town
Appropriated,
$500 00
Expended,
509 81
Overdrawn,
$9 81
With this money we have painted and shingled all the build- ings, repaired the barn outside and in, put in new drain pipes, repaired chimneys, bank wall, and built a piazza on the south side of the house, which makes a pleasant and comfortable place for the old people.
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We would also recommend putting in steam heat for com- fort and safety.
G. E. EMERSON, W. H. BRIGHT, C. M. ALLEN, Overseers of the Poor.
AMOUNT RECEIVED FROM OTHER TOWNS.
Norfolk,
$101 74
Wrentham,
62 00
North Brookfield,
11 59
Hopkinton,
3 00
Medway,
139 50
Oxford,
165 18
Milford,
107 00
Uxbridge,
16 50
J. Dolan,
84 70
Harrison estate,
43 75
State of Massachusetts,
338 41
Total,
$1,073 37
RECEIPTS FROM TOWN FARM.
Hay,
$194 05
Milk,
401 99
Potatoes,
58 70
Sweet corn,
130 56
Beef,
160 24
Wood,
44 40
Fowls and veal,
14 26 .
Vegetables,
13 50
Eggs,
25 65
Boarding horse,
20 64
Berries, eggs, etc.,
32 56
Total,
$1,096 55
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INMATES AT ALMSHOUSE.
AGE.
TIME.
George Daniels,
47
52 weeks
Levi Fisher,
80
52
66
Orin Adams,
78
52
66
Daniel Green,
84
52
66
James W. McPherson,
76
52
66
Charles A. Clark.
76
52
66
Pliny Cook, (died)
88
32
66
Henry Grimes,
73
21
66
Lucy Kimball,
75
36
66
Alonzo Eddy,
-
2
66
William Nottage,
39
4
66
407 weeks
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REPORT OF ENGINEERS OF FIRE DEPARTMENT.
The Engineers would present the following report for the past year :
Appropriated, $2,800 00
Expended,
2,668 87
Unexpended balance, $131 13
FIRES.
House of Emery Pond; damage slight; cause un- known.
May 24, small building in rear of Bassett's straw factory, used as a foundry ; loss, $50.
June 8, another fire in the same property destroyed the straw factory and boarding house ; loss about $40,000; insured ; cause unknown.
Sept. 13, shop and barn owned by J. W. Wyman was burned ; loss, $500; insured, $300.
Your department consists of six engineers, two engine com- panies, two hose and one hook and ladder company. Your department is in good condition.
We would strongly recommend the purchase of a steam fire engine, also more hose. For other appropriations we would refer you to the recommendations of the Selectmen.
G. E. EMERSON, FRANK SHINER,
L. E. MORRISY, L. J. KELLY, THOMAS SPENCE, WM. BUCKLEY,
Engineers.
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ASSESSORS' REPORT.
State tax,
$2,320 00
County tax,
1,469 28
Town Grants (less corporation tax for '88), 37,538 94
Total,
$41,328 22
VALUATION,
TAX.
Real Estate :
Land,
$642,115
Polls, $2,249 50
Buildings, 1,084,455
$1,726,570 at 1 78-100 per ct., 30,733 05
Personal property, 395,825
7,046 19
Bank stock, residents, 123,640 66
2,200 79
$2,246,035
$42,229 53
Total amount ordered assessed, 41,328 22
Overlay, $901 31
Rate of Town Tax per $1000, $17.80
State 66 1000, .532
66 County 1000, .153
Value of property owned by religious and literary institutions exempt from taxation by statutes :
Personal, $142,121
Real estate, 164,050
Total,
$306,171
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PROPERTY OF THE TOWN OF FRANKLIN, MAY 1, 1890.
Thirteen School-houses,
$21,000
Public Buildings, 5,000
Public Parks, 3,000
Town Farm,
2,800
Fire Apparatus,
6,500
Cemeteries,
1,000
Trust Fund,
1,000
Total,
$40,300
STATISTICS.
Number of persons assessed on property,
817
66
for poll tax only, 678
Total,
1,495
Number of Males assessed for poll tax at $2 each, 1,124
Females “ 66 50c “ 3
66 Dwelling houses taxed,
780
66 Barns 66
407
66
Acres of land 66
15,595 3-8
66
Horses 66
521
66
Oxen 66
29
66
Cows 60
697
Other neat cattle 66
91
66
Swine
67
66
Sheep
7
66
Dogs
293
Soldiers enrolled,
649
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WILLIAM ROCKWOOD, CALVIN M. SMITH, C. MILTON ALLEN, Assessors of Franklin.
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SELECTMEN'S REPORT.
The Selectmen submit the following report of the work done upon the highways, bridges and sidewalks in town for the year ending January 31, 1890 :
At the annual meeting in March, 1889, the town appropri- ated for the repair of roads, bridges and sidewalks the sum of nine thousand dollars, and authorized the Selectmen to expend upon some one continuous piece of road a sum not less than two thousand dollars.
The town at that meeting also authorized the Selectmen to expend one thousand dollars upon sidewalks, five hundred dollars of which could be used for concreting.
As soon as possible after the organization of the Board, the Selectmen made a careful inspection of the roads through- out the town, and it is needless to say that they found them in a very bad condition.
To put all of the ninety odd miles of road in town in good condition was out of the question, even with the unusually large appropriation which the voters had made.
The Selectmen therefore decided to lay out a large portion of the road money in putting in thorough repair certain con- tinuous portions of our highways, and to use the remainder in making general repairs.
In selecting the portions to be thus thoroughly repaired the board took into consideration, first the roads which were used the most, and secondly, the portions of the roads upon which the least money had been expended in former years.
A careful account has been kept of the work done and the material used upon such roads as have been thoroughly re- paired, and the result is given below.
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In former years a large portion of the coarser material taken from our gravel pits has been wasted, but during the past year nearly all of that material has been utilized in filling up low, wet places in the roads, or in laying the foundation for new sidewalks.
WORK DONE AND MATERIAL USED.
Central street, between Cook's hill and Nelson Corbin's :
Length of road, 335 rods
Material,
Cost,
4,709 cubic yards $1,936 02
Between Corbin's and Thayer's corner :
Length of road,
40 rods
Material,
765 cubic yards
Cost,
$165 00
Between Bright's and the railroad bridge at Ray's farm :
Length of road, 323 rods
Material,
3,351 cubic yards
Cost,
$1,842 88
School street extension :
Length of road,
62 rods
Material,
783 cubic yards
Cost,
$279 40
Depot street :
Length of road,
12 rods
Material,
49 cubic yards $24 55
Cost,
Alpine street :
Length of road,
72 rods
Material,
1,000 cubic yards $329 22
Cost,
Pleasant street :
Length of road, Material,
72 rods
967 cubic yards
Cost,
$281 72
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Crescent street :
Length of road, Material, Cost,
80 rods 695 cubic yards $267 27
Garfield street :
Length of road,
13 rods
Material,
Cost,
624 cubic yards $49 60
Peck street :
Length of road,
21 rods
Material,
340 cubic yards
Cost,
$119 05
Oak street :
Length of road,
248 rods
Material,
997 cubic yards
Cost,
$335 50
Pond street :
Length of road,
18 rods
Material,
63 cubic yards
Cost,
$30 50
Cottage street :
Length of road,
45 rods
Material,
614 cubic yards
Cost,
$214 80
Totals :
Length of roads,
1,347 rods
Material,
Cost,
14,957 cubic yards $5,875 60
It therefore appears that five thousand eight hundred and seventy-five and 60-100 dollars have been expended in perma- nent repairs. .
That four and one-fifth miles of road have been thoroughly repaired, and that the cost of putting on material has averaged forty-six cents a cubic yard.
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A little over seventeen hundred square yards of concrete sidewalk has been laid, at an expense to the town of four hun- dred and twenty-six dollars and fifty cents, and an equal ex- pense to the abutters.
The rest of the appropriation (excepting $349.44 cents which was used to pay bills that came over from last year, and $160.45 unexpended at the close of this year, $509.89 in all) has been expended in general repairs of roads and sidewalks.
ESTIMATES FOR CURRENT EXPENSES FOR THE YEAR 1890.
The Selectmen, as required by Sec. 5 of Art. 1 of the By- Laws of Franklin, have prepared the following estimates for current expenses of the town for the fiscal year of 1890, and respectfully submit the same :
For Support of schools, $8,500 00
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