Town of Newton annual report 1880-1881, Part 13

Author: Newton (Mass.)
Publication date: 1880
Publisher: Newton (Mass.)
Number of Pages: 418


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appropriations has been devoted to the collection of valuable books of reference to be used within the hall, the great body of the contents of the Library is intended for general reading and circulation ; and probably few libraries have so incon- siderable a quantity of valueless literary lumber on their shelves. The bulletins in the Library, transcribed for the different agencies, give its patrons constant information of the accessions made from time to time to its catalogue.


In its early sessions, at the beginning of last year, the City Council requested the Trustees of the Free Library to arrange for a daily distribution of the books in all the wards of the city. The Trustees had stated, in their previous report to the Mayor and City Council, that such a distribution would occasion an increase in the current expenses of the Library of from $800 to $1,000. The Council, however, made no addition to our appropriation, but forwarded to the Board the request, based upon its discretion, involving this large addition to its labor and expense. As the Library is in- tended, as far as possible, to meet equally the wants of every portion of the city, its Trustees have, from the first, been anxious to respond to every reasonable request. Although the additional expense largely curtailed the resources of the Library in making additions to its shelves, arrangements were at once entered upon for a daily distribution of books; and this has been continued throughout the year. In addi- tion to this, as the presence of the assistants was required to receive and prepare the books for the different parts of the city, the Library has been opened in the forenoon, as well as in the afternoon, - a convenience not heretofore enjoyed by its patrons.


The new arrangement has met with general favor. More books have been taken from the Library, and more visits to it have been made by citizens from the distant wards. This number will continue to increase as the valuable contents of the Library for reference, and for the study of special topics in history and science, come to be better known. Gentlemen during the year, who had not before visited it, have expressed their surprise and pleasure at the facilities it offers.


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The Committee upon Public Property provided last year such additions to the shelving in the lower room for congres- sional documents, and made such improvements in the heat- ing apparatus, that no important outlay will be required during the current year. Every portion of the building now presents an inviting appearance, and affords the visitor to Edmands Hall and the reading-room comfortable accommo- dations for examining the books or reading the periodicals. The springs which have been placed upon the doors, and the rubbers upon the chairs, have obviated the irritating noise of their closing, and of the moving of the sittings. The reading-room is becoming more and more frequented by citizens from other wards, as well as from the two nearest to it.


A very fine, full-length, painted portrait of the first Presi- dent of the Board of Trustees, Hon. J. Wiley Edmands, has been given to the Library by the Newton Jersey Stock Club, and now forms a conspicuous and beautiful ornament to its walls. Another is in preparation, of equal size and excel- lence of execution, of the late Mr. George H. Jones, also President of the Board at the time of his death, whose sudden removal from office and life occurred at the opening of the present year, but was referred to in our last report. The latter picture is also the gift of the Newton Jersey Stock Club, of which Mr. Jones was an honored president. These pictures will be great additions to the works of art now gathering in Edmands Hall, as well as appropriate memorials of honored citizens who aided in the establishment of the Library, and exhibited to the close of their days the liveliest interest in its enlargement and usefulness. At some time- in the not distant future it will, doubtless, be consid- ered desirable to provide an additional hall, possibly in the rear of the present building, for the reception of such illus- trations of pictorial art and sculpture as may hereafter be given by wealthy and generous citizens of Newton to the Library. Already one large and admirable copy of the great painting of the Transfiguration by Raphael, the original now hanging in the gallery of the Vatican, has been given, and from the same donor an art fund of $5,000, with the proba-


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bility of its being some time doubled. A few fine pictures in water-colors have been purchased, and a large number of rare and very valuable illustrated works. These additions to the Library are greatly appreciated. The Trustees' room has been thrown open during the year, and desk provision made, which persons have constantly improved by availing them- selves of the opportunity for copying the pictures already quite liberally provided in our collections. During his visit in London the Superintendent secured between two and three hundred dollars' worth of richly illustrated works, as well as an addition to the general catalogue of the Library of an equal amount. These works of art are not supplied out of the annual appropriation of the city, but from the fund given for this special purpose. It meets with such favorable consideration among our citizens of fortune, and is really accomplishing so much practical good among our young peo- ple, that we cannot doubt that the fund will be very consid- erably enlarged by fresh gifts from time to time. We send our young people to Europe to avail themselves of the oppor- tunities for study in the galleries of art. We shall render these visits all the more valuable by developing and educat- ing their taste at home, and by giving them a knowledge of the fundamental canons of art criticism.


The chief labor within the Library, in addition to the attendance upon its patrons, has been the card catalogue. It is nearly completed. By the use of zinc guide-boards, the nature and value of which can be seen at a glance, as any one seeks to avail himself of this exhaustive index to the Library, the facility of discovering the authorities upon any subject is greatly increased. During the year upon which we now enter, " cross references" will be added to this cata- logue, so that all the light which the Library can throw upon any topic of study can at once be seen and secured. It is a matter of daily occurrence that persons come to the Library desiring to find authorities upon given topics without know- ing the name of a writer or of a book. Even the consulta- tion of the catalogue of all our shelves may not materially aid them. The subject may be treated in essays among others in a volume, or in some portion of a work bearing a different


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title. The card catalogue affords the facility desired to meet this exigency. Its preparation, also, is invaluable to the Librarian and her assistant, enabling them to discover these somewhat veiled resources of the Library upon special topics. The practical result in this direction many have discovered during the year, who have visited the Library to be aided in "reading up " upon certain subjects.


We desire to bear our testimony to the value of the annual " conference of librarians " now held every season in differ- ent cities of the Union. Last winter it met in Washington, D.C. At the request of the Trustees the Superintendent attended its sessions, not without benefit, he trusts, to the administration of the Library. A large body of ladies and gentlemen, chiefly the officers or trustees of public or large private libraries, attends these conferences. The sub- jects discussed in these important gatherings are of great practical importance. The construction of library buildings, the preparation of catalogues, the preservation of the books, the relation of libraries to public schools and universities, the supervision to be exercised over the distribution of books, the character of those which are purchased by public funds, and questions of like important and practical nature, are carefully considered; and the discussions are afterwards pub- lished in a permanent form.


The public library throughout the land is fast becoming one of the most prominent educators of the people, and is already exercising a powerful intellectual and moral influence upon society. It is one of the most common bequests of wealth on the part of generous citizens in the final distribu- tion of their property. All our large towns and cities have them, and free reading is secured almost as readily as water and sunshine. Thoughtful men are beginning to be pro- foundly impressed with the probable influence of these multiplied free libraries upon the moral and intellectual life of the community. Discussions upon this point not only find expression in the " conferences of librarians," but in the public press, and in the widely circulated pamphlet. During the last year the public mind has been considerably moved by the criticisms of a former officer of the Boston Free Library


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upon the character of some of the volumes upon its catalogue enjoying a very wide circulation, especially among young people. After consideration the Trustees of the Library dis- missed the subject on the ground of the indefiniteness or too sweeping character of the charges, and because, as is doubtless the truth, the public which they represented would not sus- tain them in omitting from their catalogue the works of all the authors to whom reference was made. It is understood, however, that the most objectionable of the books have been quietly removed from general circulation. The critic re- sponded to their action in a pamphlet, entitled " The Public Library and the School Children," in which he collects the reviews of the leading English literary periodicals, and some of the most thoughtful of our own, of the volumes he had previously specified. These reviews show that these works, which are very popular with certain classes of readers, circu- lating by the tens of thousands, are demoralizing in the ex- treme, illustrating in the broadest manner social sins, and condoning in a persuasive story the worst offences against the marriage relation. No Christian parent can read these re- views, not of religious, but of secular, periodicals without a shudder at the thought of such teachings forming the mental and moral nurture of our young people, and giving tone to their social sentiments. It it is some relief to know that the objectionable portion of these volumes is not to be found upon our shelves. But this fact does not entirely relieve the anxiety of intelligent observers as to the possible influence of the Public Library. While the works of certain female writers which have an astonishing circulation are so open to unquestioned criticism, and can readily be excluded from general circulation, some of our other fictions of the first class, as to intellectual ability, commending themselves to intelligent readers by their elegance of style, by their rich thought, their powerful discussion of social problems, or by their singularly acute metaphysical speculations, are, after all, simply society novels. They deal freely with domestic and social vices, and often condone or soften the moral darkness of them, in the person of their heroes or heroines. Of no work of fiction is this more true than some of those of


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the late Mrs. Cross (George Eliot). The same offences that in a coarser form appear in the sensational novels criticised by Mr. Hubbard, present themselves in a more subtle, and therefore much more injurious, form in the pages of many of the better class of fictions of the day. Any one can see, therefore, how delicate a matter it is to draw the line, and, in view of this fact, will more readily appreciate the difficulty of the Trustees of the Boston Library in making any positive declaration upon the subject.


The recourse, after purifying the shelves of the Library of every thing that is pronounced in its evil influence, and then keeping them pure, is to seek to educate the taste and con- science of the community so that it will demand something higher and better and purer. To accomplish this, we must call in the aid of the press, the school-teacher, the pulpit, and the parent. Unquestionably, except in special instances, the taste of a community properly addressed by a well-appointed library is improved and elevated. It has been so with us, in a marked degree, from the beginning. The average of the circulation of fictions (and this word embraces chil- dren's stories as well as novels) has continued to decrease, while that of substantial works of history, biography, travels, and science, has increased. It is only from homes where the intellectual and moral character of childhood is neg- lected, as a rule, that the Library with us is in anywise abused by the overcrowding of the mind with novels. In many of even these cases kind and wise restraint can be, and is, exercised by the Librarian. With intelligent and careful parents there is little difficulty in securing hearty co- operation in making the Library a blessing and not a curse to young people. We earnestly call upon our teachers of wholesome learning and our ministers of truth to aid in the cultivation of purer and higher tastes among our young peo- ple, and in thus defending a great public blessing from becom- ing, in any degree, an injury to the community. It is one of the hopeful signs of the times that numerous well-written volumes have of late been issued from the press as guides to popular and home reading. Some of these books have en-


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joyed a wide circulation. We gratefully notice the fact that one of the best and most elaborate-that of Dr. Noah Porter, president of Yale College, entitled " Books and Reading ; or, What Books shall I read, and how shall I read them ?"-has reached a second edition. It is becoming every day more and more the habit to make the Library rather a means of education and cultivation than a source of recreation or amusement. These instructive volumes about books and their reading give practical directions as to courses of study and the choicest works to be selected.


We have been placed once more under large obligations to Ex-Gov. Claflin for a very valuable donation of books and public documents issued from the various departments in Washington. If all our representatives in Congress were as thoughtful and liberal in this distribution of the useful pub- lications of the government, there would be much less waste of some very expensive volumes, and less occasion to criticise the unwisdom and lack of economy in the usual fate of the issues of the public printing-office. Mr. Melvil Dewey has kindly presented to the Library "The Bullion " and " The Engineering and Mining Journal." Many newspapers and periodicals, American and foreign, have been added, by gift, to the files of the reading-room.


No changes have been made during the year in the person- nel of the Library. Its duties, requiring constant attention during the hours that it is open, extending to eight o'clock in the evening, have been attended to in the same prompt, quiet, and courteous manner which has been, from the first, the distingushing characteristic of the Library. The lady clerks have accepted during the year a large addition to the requisition upon their services, incident to the daily distribu- tion of books in the different wards, without increased remu- neration or complaint. It is a matter of congratulation that their services can still be retained, so familiar have they become with the contents of the Library, and so well satisfied are its patrons with their polite attentions. Of the skill and facility of the accomplished Librarian in the discharge of her varied duties, it is not necessary that fresh reference should


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be made. The labors of the Superintendent have been greatly lightened by the cheerfulness and ability with which any service incident to the Library has been assumed and intelligently discharged by this officer.


Respectfully submitted.


B. K. PEIRCE.


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APPENDIX.


A.


RECEIPTS.


1881.


1880.


1879.


Dec. 31.


Municipal appropriation


$7,500 00


$7,500 00


$7,000 00


Fines, bulletins, etc.


333 91


289 41


286 08


Cash on hand at last report


17 28


29 98


32 76


$7,851 19


$7,819 39


$7,318 84


B.


EXPENDITURES.


1881.


1880.


1879.


Dec 31.


Salaries .


$3,006 24


$3,027 20


$2,601 60


Reading-room


404 27


377 13


302 65


Incidentals


240 76


180 89


203 49


Repairs .


99 18


190 23


59 39


Furniture and fixtures


86 63


35 25


111 98


Printing and advertising


105 77


53 00


59


Binding


279 93


264 18


215 05


Books


1,758 82


2,311 64


2,518 52


Light and fuel


742 15


587 84


674 85


Agency and express


977 27


520 99


377 07


Blanks and stationery


119 74


158 0S


115 17


Postage account


6 79


25 61


13 37


Total expenditures .


.


$7,827 55


$7,732 04


$7,252 65


Bal. with City Treasurer, at the Library


18 83


Total balance


23 64


87 35


66 19


$7,851 19


$7,819 39


$7,318 84


-


$4 81


-


20


C.


CIRCULATION.


1881.


1880.


1879.


Number of days the Library was open . · of holidays the Library was closed . of other week-days the Li- brary was closed


306


307


307


6


6


6


of volumes delivered for home use


85,333


83,393


77,437


Average daily use .


278.8


2713


252


Largest daily use, Feb. 19, 1881;


526


657


515


Smallest daily use, Dec. 26, 1881;


8


48


23


Number of books lost and not paid for


2


17


1


of books worn out and withdrawn


51


112


117


835


974


of notices to delinquents, of volumes recovered


16,453


11,517


11,481


of volumes bound


577


500


482


of names registered dur- ing the year . ·


631


902


849


Total number of names registered,


10,157


9,526


8,624


1


1


-


Feb. 24, 1879-80


Feb. 3, 1880; May 30, 1879


21


D.


ACCESSIONS.


1881.


1880.


1879.


Increase by purchase


994


1,256


1,453


by gift


164


270


173


by binding pamphlets


5


8


1


by binding periodicals


.


79


60


62


Number of missing volumes re- stored since last report ·


-


-


2


Total accessions for the year . Number of volumes missing or withdrawn since last report


1,242


1,594


1,691


53


129


118


Actual increase


1,189


1,465


1,573


Number of volumes in the Library as last reported . ·


17,013


15,548


13,975


Total number of volumes in


the Library .


18,202


17,013


15,548


Number of pamphlets bound since last report .


15


49


2


Number of newspapers subscribed for


39


40


36


of newspapers given .


20


15


11


of magazines subscribed for


31


30


30


of magazines given .


3


3


2


Total number received .


93


88


79


.


·


22


E.


CLASSIFICATION, GROWTH, SIZE, AND USE.


added


during the


Year.


Total Number


of Vols.


Vols. issued


during the


Year.


1881.


1880.


1879.


LITERATURE.


Prose fiction and juvenile reading .


162


4,411


58,984


69.1


69.5


65.3


Essays, poetry, and drama .


162


2,226


5,888


6.9


6.8


8.2


Literary periodicals .


75


1,211


2,118


2.5


2.2


2 7


Foreign literature


1


447


288


.34


.4


.4


HISTORY.


Geography and travels


104


1,638


6,170


7.23


7.0


8 2


Biography .


121


1,698


3,365


3.94


4.3


4.9


History


97


1,691


3,480


4.08


4.0


4.3


ARTS AND SCIENCES.


Natural science and indus- trial arts .


150


1,575


4,301


5.04


4.8


4.9


Political and social science .


48


911


329


.4


.4


.4


Theology


66


850


297


.34


.4


.5


Reference library


.


203


1,544


*113


.13


.2


.2


Accessions for the year,


1,189


Number of volumes in the Library ·


18,202


Circulation for the year,


85,333


PER CENT OF CIRCULA- TION.


Vols.


.


* Represents books loaned for home use by special permission.


23


F.


Received for Catalogues sold in 1881 .


$32 00


On hand for


1880 :


11 00


$43 00


Paid City Treasurer .


43 00


G.


ESTIMATED EXPENSES FOR THE YEAR ENDING DEC. 31, 1882.


Salaries


$3,400


Reading-room


400


Incidentals


250


Repairs


100


Furniture and fixtures


75


Printing and advertising Binding


280


Books


2,000


Light and fuel .


725


Agency and express .


1,300


Blanks and stationery


120


Postage account


10


$8,760


Probable amount of fines


$300 00


Cash on hand .


18 83


Required appropriation


8,441 17


8,760


.


100


1


CITY OF NEWTON.


ANNUAL REPORT


OF THE


CHIEF OF FIRE DEPARTMENT


OF THE


CITY OF NEWTON,


FOR THE


Year ending December 31, 1881.


WITH A STATEMENT OF THE FIRES AND ALARMS, ALSO LOSSES AND INSURANCE DURING THE YEAR.


E W


BERTY AND UNION


FOUNDE


1G3


88 A CITY 1873


NC


NO


UM


NT


PORATI


AT


BOSTON : FRANKLIN PRESS: RAND, AVERY, & CO. 1882.


REPORT.


HEADQUARTERS FIRE DEPARTMENT CITY OF NEWTON. OFFICE CHIEF OF DEPARTMENT, WEST NEWTON, Dec. 31, 1881.


To His Honor the Mayor, and City Council.


IN accordance with the requirements of the ordinance I have the honor to submit my Third Annual Report of the Fire Department for the year ending Dec. 31, 1881, giving a complete list of fires and alarms, losses and insurance, a ros- ter of its members, and such other information as may be of interest to your honorable body.


MANUAL FORCE.


The manual force numbers 79 officers and men, divided as follows : -


PERMANENT FORCE.


1 Chief of Department.


1 fire-alarm operator.


3 engineers of steamers.


3 drivers of steamers.


1 driver of truck.


Total, 9.


CALL FORCE.


1. Assistant Chief of Department.


8 foremen of companies.


4 assistant foremen.


8 clerks.


4


3 stokers.


9 laddermen.


37 hosemen.


Total, 70.


The above force has proved efficient, and under the very best discipline.


APPARATUS.


The apparatus in service consists of -


3 steam fire-engines.


7 four-wheel hose-reels.


1 two-horse truck.


IN RESERVE.


1 four-wheel hose-reel, which is not adapted to our service, and should be sold.


I would recommend the placing of Pompier ladders upon each of the coal-tenders, which would prove of great value, particularly on the south side of the city, pending the pro- viding of a better ladder service for this section.


REPAIRS TO APPARATUS.


No. 1 Engine has been furnished with a new steel boiler and other necessary repairs, also new jacket for the boiler, this latter being done by the permanent employees at this station.


No. 7 Reel, and the coal-tenders attached to the several engines, have been varnished, and are now in good order.


No. 2 Engine is in excellent repair, but should, with Reels 1, 2, and 6, be varnished.


No. 3 Engine will require necessary repairs the coming year.


No. 1 Truck is in good repair. As this apparatus answers all alarms, the ordinary wear is considerable. Heavier wheels may be needed.


No. 4 Reel. - This reel was purchased the past year, hav- ing been built by the Abbott Downing Company of Concord, N.H., and is considered a model of its class.


Reels 1, 5, and 6 should be fitted with brakes.


5


HORSES.


17 horses are permanently employed ; 3 additional are de- tailed from the street department in response to all alarms for service in the coal-tenders, making a total of 20 horses used by this department. During the year a new pair of horses `was purchased for No. 2 Engine, taking the place of the pair formerly in service, which were condemned for old age and unfitness for duty. The horse used in the Fire-Alarm De- partment was also condemned. It will be necessary to pro- vide another at the earliest opportunity. New horses will be needed for No. 1 and + Reels, also No. 3 Engine.


HOSE.


There is a total of 11,900 feet of hose in service, - 4,950 feet of cotton rubber-lined ; 6,950 feet of leather. The leather hose is constantly proving defective, and each year will require the purchase of new to take its place. The cot- ton hose now in service has proved a good investment for the department and the city. I would recommend the continued purchase of this. grade of hose as our needs may require. 1,000 feet will be necessary the coming year. For location, quality, and quantity of hose, see table.


FIRE-ALARM TELEGRAPH.


The fire-alarm telegraph was first introduced in 1873, and consisted of 3 strikers for tower-bells, 4 engine-house gongs, 16 signal stations, 1-4 circuit-repeater, 1 switch-board, 4 gal- vanometers, battery, and 33 miles of wire, at a total cost of $12,000. Since then continued additions to the system have been made. In 1880 and 1881 nineteen additional signal sta- tions were added, making the estimated cost of this depart- ment at the present time $22,000. This important aid to the department, under the efficient care of the operator in charge, Mr. G. W. Ulmer, has rendered valuable assistance. That the present efficiency of this branch of the service may be in- creased, I would recommend additional signal stations in the following localities : -


Crafts and California Streets.


Bowers and Harvard Streets.


6


Temple and Putnam Streets.


Cherry and River Streets. City Marshal's office, City Hall. Auburn and Greenough Streets. Pine Grove Avenue and Grove Street.


Homer and Cedar Streets.


Hammond Street, near railroad bridge.


Kenrick Street and Waverly Avenue.


Tremont Street and Waverly Avenue.


Hunnewell Park.


I would recommend that the present telephone-line owned by the city be extended to Stations 5, 6, and 7, this year. Extended repairs will be necessary on Fire-Alarm Circuits 1, 3, and 4.


WATER-SUPPLY.


The gradual extending of the water-mains, and placing of additional hydrants, have helped to facilitate the labors of this department very materially. With the nine additional hydrants set the past year, the department has now under its control a total of 391.




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