USA > Massachusetts > Essex County > Hamilton > Town of Hamilton Annual Report 1934 > Part 5
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967 04
Motor Vehicle Excise
6,200 00
Licenses
900 00
Fines
800 00
Special Assessments (Moth)
1,500 00
Protection of Persons and Property
100 00
Health and Sanitation
1,500 00
Highways
30 00
Charities
6,000 00
Old Age Assistance (returned by State)
1,673 35
Soldiers' Benefits
240 00
Schools
325 00
Libraries
25 00
Cemeteries (other than from Trust
Funds and Sale of Lots) 1,000 00
Interest on Taxes
1,000 00
133
REPORT OF ASSESSORS
Emergency Acts, Chap. 49, of 1933,
Third Quarter 2,658 24
Available Funds (used by authority
of Commissioner ) 5,000 00
Total Estimated Receipts
40,827 35
SUMMARY
Total amount to be raised
$179,407 31
$179,407 31
Estimated Receipts
$35,827 35
Taken from Excess and Deficiency
5,000 00
692 Polls @ $2.00
1,384 00
Gain or Loss Account of Fractions
01
42,211 36
Balance Tax on Property
$137,195 95
Special Assessment (Moth)
1,072 31
Tax on Polls
1,384 00
Gain or Loss Account of Fractions
01
Total Commitments
$139,652 27
Total Number of Cars Assessed
1,112
Valuation of Cars Assessed
$227,790 00
Total Excise Levy
$6,104 86
TO THE TAXPAYERS OF HAMILTON
A new period of tax history starting as of January 1, 1935, when all property must be valued for local taxation, offers us the opportunity of advising you that the cost of local govern- ment as expressed in the 1935 tax bill on real estate and tangible personal property valued as of January 1, 1935, will be due one
134
HAMILTON TOWN REPORT
half on July 1 and one half on October 1, with the opportunity of partial payments. Tax bills are to be in your hands on or before June 14, 1935. Section 29, Chapter 59 of the General Laws, required that each person with taxable real estate or tangible personal property shall file with the assessors a list of their property on or before February 15, 1935. The 1935 tax bill will be the amount that each taxpayer is obligated to pay for the costs to run his local government from January 1 to Decem- ber 31, 1935. It can be more intelligently and fairly determined if each taxpayer will file with the assessors as required by law a list of his taxable property, both real estate and tangible per- sonal property as of January 1, 1935. The assessors in the absence of such list must estimate the best they can the value of such taxable estate.
Respectfully submitted,
GEORGE E. SAFFORD JESSE S. MANN ROBERT H. CHITTICK
Board of Assessors.
JURY LIST FOR 1935
William A. Brumby, Arlington Street, Retired Harold A. Daley, Main Street, Grocer Edward A. DeWitt, Railroad Avenue, Carpenter Walter E. Cheever, Knowlton Street, Laborer Stanley R. Berry, Essex Street, Chauffeur Wallace H. Knowlton, Bridge Street, Carpenter James L. Danforth, Union Street, Retired John J. Corcoran, Highland Street, Foreman George H. Bisson, Winthrop Street, Carpenter Carl G. Ricker, Hamilton Avenue, Electrician Lawrence R. Stone, Asbury Street, Superintendent Frank B. Crowell, Hamilton Avenue, Painter Levi E. Alexander, Main Street, Chauffeur Henry T. Rogers, Arlington Street, Machinist Harold G. Dodd, Walnut Street, Master Plumber Merrill S. Lovering, Lincoln Avenue, Carpenter Frank W. Buzzell, Gardner Street, Carpenter Elmer R. Pope, Walnut Street, Inventor Walter I. Fowler, Asbury Street, Salesman Frank H. Tuck, Union Street, Machinist John Walsh, Maple Street, Gardener
DEPARTMENT OF WEIGHTS AND MEASURES
To the Board of Selectmen of Hamilton:
Gentlemen-In compliance with General Laws, Chapter 98, Sec. 34, I herewith submit the annual report of this department for the year 1934.
Adjusted
Sealed
Non- Con- sealed demned
Scales :
Platform over 5000 lbs.
2
1
. .
Platform 100 to 5000 lbs.
..
12
. .
. .
Counter under 100 lbs.
. .
5
. . . .
Beam under 100 lbs.
. .
6
· ·
. .
Beam 100 to 5000 lbs.
3
. .
. .
Spring over 100 lbs.
. .
2
. .
. .
Spring under 100 lbs.
1
25
. .
1
Computing under 100 lbs.
1
15
. .
. .
Personal weigher (slot)
. .
2
. .
1
Prescription
. .
1
. .
. .
Weights :
Avoirdupois
. .
113
13
. .
Apothecary
12
. .
. .
Metric
. .
22
. .
. .
Volumetric measures : Liquid measures
19
. .
1
Automatic measuring devices :
Gasoline meters
. .
. .
. .
Gasoline pumps
13
. .
. .
Kerosene
4
. .
. .
·
. .
. .
. .
. .
137
DEPARTMENT OF WEIGHTS AND MEASURES
Linear measures : Yard sticks
. .
2
. . . .
Vehicle tanks
1
. . ·
Trial Weighings and Inspections Required by Law
Total
Correct
Over
Under
Bread
64
54
8
2
Dry Commodities
156
123
22
11
Peddlers' Licenses
9
. .
. .
Bread Labels
64
. .
. .
Peddlers' Scales
. .
2
. .
. .
Ice Scales
. .
3
. .
. .
Junk Scales
· ·
1
. .
. .
Coal Certificates
4
. .
3
1
Respectfully submitted,
FRANK B. CROWELL,
Sealer.
. .
. .
REPORT OF THE BOARD OF SELECTMEN
To the Citizens of Hamilton:
While the past year has shown some improvement in many lines of business, the effects as yet have not been far-reaching enough to produce any noticeable benefits to municipal govern- ments. Expenditures for public welfare and unemployment relief have of necessity been very heavy. Federal relief has assisted us to a great extent in carrying this burden. Present indications are against the promise of any material reduction in these depart- ments. The uncertainty of continued Federal assistance should suggest to the voter the wisdom of scrutinizing carefully any unnecessary expenditures.
The Town is fortunate this year in that we have been allotted by the Department of Public Works and County of Essex sums of $10,000 and $5,000, respectively, provided the Town votes the sum of $5,000 additional for the construction of one-half of the remaining distance to be built on Highland Street. Your Board feels strongly that the Town should take advantage of the offer, as it is the most economical method in which we build permanent highway. The cost of maintenance of this road has been high. This project should afford considerable work for the unemployed during the summer months.
The Board recommends favorable action on the request of the Board of Fire Engineers for replacement of the Ford chemical. This piece of apparatus has been in constant use since 1916 and has served the Town well. It is not only obsolete, but would of necessity require costly repairs, out of proportion to its value to the Town.
In accordance with the vote of the last annual Town Meet- ing, considerable improvement. has been made in the water system
139
REPORT OF BOARD OF SELECTMEN
in South Hamilton. The Town has acquired a piece of property from the Boston & Maine R. R. at a nominal sum, and a tank has been erected and modern pumping facilities have been installed on the property.
The Board feels that the voters, in providing sums of money for unemployment for the coming year, should place considerable emphasis on projects of permanent value to the Town. This will require larger appropriations for materials, but we believe in the long run it will prove a wiser policy for the Town to pursue.
During the past year the Town has lost the services of two faithful public officials. The Town mourns the passing of Jonathan Lamson, a member of the Board of Selectmen for the past twelve years, and George S. Mandell, who served the Town both as a member of the Unemployment Committee and also the New High School Building Committee. We who had the privi- lege of serving with them feel a loss that cannot be expressed within the scope of these brief lines.
Without the wholehearted assistance of the Unemployment Com- mittee and the Federal Administrator, the problem of unemploy- ment would have been immeasurably more difficult for the Board of Selectmen, and we take this opportunity of thanking them and all town officials for the co-operation they have extended to us during the past year.
The Board has endeavored to carry out the wishes of the citizens impartially and for the best interests of the Town. We are confident that the high standing that Hamilton has always enjoyed can be maintained provided that prudence and co-opera- tion prevail at the annual Town Meeting.
Yours respectfully,
JOHN H. PERKINS ARTHUR C. CUMMINGS EDWARD A. DEWITT
REPORT OF TRUSTEES OF PUBLIC LIBRARY
To the Citizens of Hamilton:
The Trustees of the Public Library herewith submit their report for the year 1934.
Due to extraordinary demands caused by the alteration at the main library, our appropriation during the year was not sufficient to purchase the books necessary to care for the circulation. We hope that for 1935 this will not be so. We have set up in our budget for the year approximately eight hundred dollars ($800.00) for this item. The requirements for circulation at the two libra- ries necessarily means duplication in the purchase of books and in many cases obtaining duplicate copies of titles. This necessi- tates a larger budget requirement for these items. May we ask your patient indulgence until we shall have been able to supply the demand.
Alterations.
Your Trustees have from time to time during the past few years considered what alterations might be made to better care for the needs of citizens at the main library. We have realized that business conditions were such that it would not be wise to make any substantial changes at the present time from our regular appropriation.
The first meeting of the Trustees for 1934 was held the week following the Town Meeting, at which time the subject was again brought to our attention by one of the Selectmen, who suggested that the work be done in conjunction with the Unemployment Committee, the Trustees to furnish the materials and the Town to furnish the labor. Your Trustees voted to accept the offer
141
REPORT OF TRUSTEES OF PUBLIC LIBRARY
and work began. The procedure under the agreement was found to be a failure and the Trustees had to take over the project. We believe that the work has been worth while. For your informa- tion, approximately $450.00 has been expended for this project, and the result, a Reading Room that is a credit to the memory of Gail Hamilton in whose honor the Library was named. We appreciate the words of commendation from the many citizens who enjoy the service of the library.
Special Lighting.
Two hundred dollars was appropriated at the Town Meeting in March for this purpose. Because of the alterations made at the Library the lighting arrangements were entirely changed. Instead of spending the two hundred dollars appropriated, we have a bal- ance of ninety-one dollars.
The Trustees at this time desire to extend their sincere thanks and appreciation to Miss E. Louise Jones of the Division of Pub- lic Libraries, Massachusetts, and her able corp of assistants for their kind assistance in the reclassification and arrangement of books at both libraries during the past year.
Detailed statistics will be found in the report of the Librarian.
Respectfully submitted,
CHESTER H. KNOWLES BARBARA M. GAGE ARTHUR W. CHANDLER
LIBRARIAN'S REPORT
To the Trustees of the Public Library :
Herewith is presented the forty-second annual report.
The Main Library has occupied its quarters in the Town Hall for over forty-two years, with no improvements being made in all that time.
On March 18, 1934, the Library was closed for a complete renovation, to reopen on June 2nd. The shelves that filled the stack room were torn out and arranged around the walls, with only one low stack in the center. The counter in the delivery room was taken out, thus opening up a beautiful archway that had been hidden for so long a time. The Librarian's desk was moved to the delivery room and new shelves were installed. The interior walls were painted ivory and all shelves and woodwork white. New lights were installed. The effect is that of one long room. It is a pleasure to work in the rooms.
Despite the fact that we were closed for most two months, the book circulation was only 34 less than last year. There was a gain of 321 at the Branch Library. The circulation at the schools took a very decided drop.
Old and worn-out books were weeded out to the number of 1,454-at the Main Library 1,070, at the Branch Library 384.
We are adding to our reference section each year. We now have on our shelves, beside the Britannica purchases this year, Compton's Encyclopaedia for the elementary grades and the World Book for use by both Junior and Senior pupils.
There have been 113 new names added to our register.
We extend our thanks for the generous gifts of books and maga- zines that proved a great help to us.
The Main Library is open Wednesday and Saturday, the Branch Library Tuesday and Friday, 3 to 5, 7 to 9 P. M.
Respectfully submitted,
LYDIA L. HARADEN
Librarian.
143
LIBRARIAN'S REPORT
STATISTICS
Number of volumes accessioned
16,225
Number of volumes January 1, 1935
11,245
Number of volumes added 1934
550
Books-gifts
243
Books-purchased
307
Circulation, including periodicals
21,330
Total number of borrowers
950
Fines and sale of old books
$25.57
Circulation-Books
19,677
Non-fiction
971
Main Library
506
Branch Library
465
Fiction
15,131
Main Library
3,845
Branch Library
11,286
Juvenile
3,565
Main Library
954
Branch Library
1,561
Schools
1,050
Circulation Magazines
1,663
Main Library
1,036
Branch Library
627
Borrowers
950
Main Library
350
Branch Library
600
REPORT OF HAMILTON COMMITTEE ON UNEMPLOYMENT
To the Citizens of the Town of Hamilton:
The Town appropriated for the purposes of the Unemployment Committee $3,000.00 on March 13th, and $3,000.00 on July 24th. This amount with the balance of $1,926.46 on January 1st made $7,926.46 available. Of this amount $4,490.50 was expended for wages, and $3,183.06 for material, trucking and other expenses. The balance on December 31st for the needy unemployed was $280.90.
We are greatly indebted to the administrators of the ERA and CWA for their great assistance to us. Through their cooperation our wages have been cut one-third as compared to 1933. It will be noticed our amount for material, trucking, etc., is larger than other years. This is on account of the fact that we are furnish- ing materials for the needy unemployed projects as well as the ERA and CWA projects.
Through the death of Mr. George S. Mandell the committee has lost a valued and faithful member. His efforts were untiring, and we have greatly missed his advice and services.
On account of the resignation of Mr. William A. Brumby, our chairman, July, 1934, it was necessary for our committee to be reorganized. The Selectmen appointed at that time Mr. Harold Daley, Mr. Bayard Tuckerman, Jr., and Mr. George Sprague. The committee then elected Mr. Daley as chairman and under his guidance we have been able to carry on the work.
We wish to thank all other departments and town officials for their hearty cooperation in helping us to carry out the projects- and regular routine work.
145
REPORT OF COMMITTEE ON UNEMPLOYMENT
The projects carried on by the committee during the past year with their cost, are listed below, also the expenditures by months.
Respectfully,
HAROLD A. DALEY, Chairman HAROLD E. PORTER, Secretary BAYARD TUCKERMAN, JR. GEORGE H. SPRAGUE MARCIUS N. BABCOCK
Balance January 1, 1934
$1,926 46
Appropriation March 13, 1934
3,000 00
Appropriation July 24, 1934
3,000 00
$7,926 46
EXPENDITURES BY PROJECT
Boston & Maine Water Supply
$ 240 46
Bridge Street Fire Cistern
446 00
Cemetery
1,780 00
CWA No. 1889
549 75
CWA No. 6016-3
246 49
ERA
2,000 44
Clerical
28 00
Farms Road
282 00
High School
32 00
Library
152 00
Marjorie Street
239 56
Miscellaneous Items
343 38
Moulton Street
30 00
Sand and Gravel Pit
4 00
Tools
47 32
146
HAMILTON TOWN REPORT
Town Hall
330 50
Town Truck
83 87
Cemetery Truck
14 79
Tree Warden
795 00
7,645 56
Balance December 31, 1934
$280 90
MONTHLY EXPENDITURES FOR 1934
No. of Men Employed
Labor Payroll
Other Expenditures
Average No. Men Total Per week
January
27
$258 00
$252 10
$510 10
ry
February
29
227 00
179 58
406 58
March
29
236 50
472 84
709 34
6
April
36
376 00
343 88
719 88
9
May
26
196 00
523 42
719 42
2
June
35
255 00
527 69
782 69
6
July
43
351 00
113 91
464 91
11
August
45
414 00
78 03
492 03
11
September
72
590 00
162 94
752 94
14
October
45
298 00
136 29
434 29
11
November
98
582 00
163 77
745 77
24
December
102
707 00
200 61
907 61
20
587
$4,490 50
$3,183 06
$7,645 56
-
REPORT OF THE ERA ADMINISTRATOR
To the Citizens of Hamilton:
While the CWA and the ERA are under Federal supervision, they are something which is very important to all of the people of the town.
Last December when the CWA first began, the Town was carry- ing the entire burden of unemployment. The CWA, as you prob- ably all know, was not a relief measure, it was designed to put men to work whether they actually needed relief or not, the underlying idea being to get money into circulation. Evidently by the spring of 1934 the government had changed their ideas as to the methods to be employed and the CWA was discontinued and replaced by the ERA which is wholly a relief measure.
During the greatest CWA activities here in Hamilton there were about 175 men employed on the various town and state projects. . This number dwindled rapidly after the first of the year 1934, until we were allotted a quota of 38 men and that quota was in force at the time that CWA was transferred to ERA. At present there are 45 people working.
The total amount of Federal money expended in town, on town projects, from December 1, 1933, to December 31, 1934, was $31,969.40.
The share that the Town had to contribute for the purchase of tools, trucking and materials was $3,549.79.
In addition to this there was a substantial amount of money spent in town under the supervision of the State. We have no record of the actual amount, but it assisted materially in relieving the unemployment situation.
148
HAMILTON TOWN REPORT
The government also distributed the following foodstuffs and fuel :
1403/4 tons coal
405 lbs. lard
42123/4 lbs. pork
694 lbs. milk wheato
177 doz. eggs
73 bags flour
340 pks. potatoes
1482 cans roast beef
110 lbs. sugar
9 cans vegetables
1684 lbs. butter
4665 lbs. cabbage
421/2 lbs. beans
1470 lbs. veal
The first town project that was started was graveling the high- way on Chebacco Road, Woodbury Street and Farms Road. This project started in December, 1933, and continued as a CWA proj- ect and then an ERA project until May 31, 1934. At this time the ERA policy was not to do any work of that nature, therefore, we had to discontinue this work. At this time Chebacco Road and Woodbury Street were graded and ready for the oil surface to be applied. Farms Road was left in a very dangerous condi- tion and had to be completed at once by the Highway Department.
The next project to be started was under the ERA and was grading the Dorothy Winthrop Lot for a playground. This project started June 1, 1934, and furnished employment for men on the ERA until December 6, 1934. This playground is now graded and ready for seeding down and I hope that the Town will at the coming Annual Meeting appropriate the necessary money for fertilizer and seed to complete this playground.
The next project started under the ERA was a women's sewing project. This project started July 1, 1934, and is still in opera- tion, furnishing work for an average of ten women. In conjunc- tion with this project, there has been distributed in Hamilton, 2,253 articles of clothing with an approximate retail value of $2,268.88.
I feel that this project has been one of the most beneficial proj- ects we have had in town, as it not only furnished employment
149
REPORT OF ERA ADMINISTRATOR
for those in need, but it furnished all of the needy with a great many articles that they might not have been able to obtain other- wise.
At this time I wish to express my appreciation for the friendly and cooperative spirit to those who loaned sewing machines to this project and to the Community Service, who have so kindly per- mitted us to use a room at the Community House.
The next project started was a Water Hole on the Folsom estate on Bridge Street. This was not started until the latter part of September and shortly after we commenced work the fall rains set in and we were obliged to discontinue this work. Before discontinuing this project we had excavated sufficiently to provide a storage basin of about 20,000 gallons. This will prove a con- siderable advantage to the people in this vicinity as there was no storage basin there previously.
One of the principal difficulties that the ERA Administrators are confronted with is the difficulty of finding practical projects for unskilled workers during the winter months.
Among the various projects that would meet with the approval of the ERA authorities was the Eradication and Control of Insect Pests. This is one branch of work that most cities and towns have neglected for the last few years, so feeling that this would be a benefit to the town and was also work that could be carried on during the winter months, I presented to the central office a project for this class of work and it was approved by them. This work is proceeding at the present time and during the present year our town should see a very large decrease in the gypsy moth and tent caterpillars over the preceding year.
The next project under the ERA was cutting back the corner of the embankment on the left-hand side of the Miles River Road. This has always been a very bad corner for the automobiles, as the bank came so close to the traveled way that it obstructed the motorist's vision until they were within a very few feet of the
150
HAMILTON TOWN REPORT
corner. The material that was excavated was used to widen the road at various places and I feel that this project has been of great value to those who drive on the Miles River Road.
Below we are submitting a detailed report on the cost of these various projects to show the share born by the CWA, ERA and the Town.
Graveling and Grading Chebacco Road, Miles River Road and Farms Road
There was 10,671 yards of gravel placed on these roads. This does not include gravel used by the Highway Department on Farms Road.
Wages paid from Federal funds
$17,832 50
Trucking paid from Federal funds
3,580 50
Total Federal funds
$21,413 00
Trucking and materials paid by Town
2,450 33
Total Federal and Town funds
$23,863 33
Athletic Field at New High School
On this project we moved 8,627 yards of loam and filling. The School Committee paid for the service of an engineer to establish the grades on the field.
Wages paid from Federal funds
$4,633 25
Materials paid by Town
164 92
Trucking paid by Town
659 04
Total Federal and Town funds
$5,457 21
151
REPORT OF ERA ADMINISTRATOR
Sewing for Welfare
Wages paid from Federal funds
$2,416 00
Materials paid from Federal funds
1,411 15
Total Federal funds
$3,827 15
Materials paid by Town
63 51
Total Federal and Town funds
$3,890 66
Water Hole for Fire Protection
Wages paid from Federal funds
$568 00
Materials paid by Town
17 00
Trucking paid by Town
4 00
Total Federal and Town funds
$589 00
Insect Control
Wages paid from Federal funds
$593 00
Materials paid by Town 12 00
Total Federal and Town funds
$605 00
Removing Dangerous Corner on Miles River Road
On this project we removed 1,459 yards and widened the road on the bend, using 129 yards of gravel.
Wages paid from Federal funds
$1,717 00
Materials paid by Town
130 41
Trucking paid by Town
235 19
Total Federal and Town funds
$2,082 60
152
HAMILTON TOWN REPORT
Of this amount, on the Miles River Road $782.00 of Federal funds and $186.61 Town funds was spent in the fiscal year of 1935. We have included this, so that we can give a full report of this completed project.
This amount of $968.61 is not included in the total amount of Federal grant from December 1, 1933, to December 31, 1934.
Extension of the Fire Main upon which we are now working comes wholly in the year 1935, so I shall not submit a detailed account at this time. This is another type of work that can be carried on during the winter months, as the rapid progress made so far proves, and it has the added advantage of being a perma- nent improvement to the Town.
I submit this report to the citizens of Hamilton in an endeavor to furnish them with the information to which I think they are entitled and also I wish to thank the officials of the various depart- ments for the splendid cooperation that I have received.
Respectfully submitted,
WILLIAM W. BANCROFT,
ERA Administrator.
REPORT OF THE BOARD OF HEALTH
To the Citizens of the Town of Hamilton:
GREETINGS :
The Board of Health submits the following report for the year ending December 31, 1934.
Garbage and Rubbish Contracts.
At the Annual Town Meeting held in March it was voted to increase the routes of the Garbage and Rubbish Collection to take in Hamilton Center. This caused an increase in these contracts as follows :
1934
1933 $690 00
Increase
Garbage
$1,135 00
$445 00
Rubbish
840 00
595 00
245 00
Total Increase $690 00
At that time $2,200.00 was appropriated for this Department. Due to the above increase in the Garbage and Rubbish Contracts and to the unanticipated cost of contagious diseases this amount was found to be insufficient to carry through the year. Conse- quently at a Special Town Meeting held July 24, 1934, an addi- tional $2,000.00 was appropriated, making a total appropriation of $4,200.00.
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