USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Newton > Town of Newton annual report 1886 > Part 11
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and profit of the library to our citizens. The character of the reading in the community is rapidly changing, and is becoming more and more substantial and improving. Instead of taking on the character of a circulating library, supplying simply the lightest forms of literature for the passing away of time, or to meet a morbid appetite for sensational fiction, the library is becoming a prominent and efficient public educational institution, purifying and elevating the taste of the community. This has been brought about, not by refus- ing to secure the best of the works of the imagination of the day, and in abundant quantities, but because the improving taste of our patrons, and a freshly awakened interest in an instructive literature, has demanded a higher standard of . intellectual food. In part, this is to be attributed to the very rich additions now constantly made in the departments of history, biography, science, travel and art. It requires no more time to read a volume that will add to our permanent resources for enjoyment and usefulness, than an evanescent work that simply moves the emotions and dies out of the memory when it is laid down. Especially is one disposed to think of this when these works in the higher departments of literature in our days, are invested with all the fascination of fiction, as many of them are. In no year has the list of such books, coming constantly from the press, been larger or more attractive than during the period just closed.
The large provision made for the schools, while it has diminished somewhat the amount of money devoted to our general fund for additions to our shelves, has accomplished, thus early in a very successful experiment, a number of good results. It has awakened fresh interest on the part of the teachers in their own intellectual improvement and special preparation for their classes. It has quickened the minds of the pupils in their studies and created a taste for
235
reading. Besides these excellent influences, it has greatly interested the families with which these children are con- nected, both in the books they were reading and also in the larger varieties of the library itself. To this latter result, in no small degree, do we attribute the very considerable increase in the monthly and aggregate circulation for the year, of our books. But comparatively a small portion of our school children pass in their studies farther than the High School; the larger number leaving their books after having advanced through the classes of the grammar school. Unless a habit of improving reading has been previously established, little farther intellectual development will be secured. If, however, they have learned to appreciate the advantages offered by the Free Library, their education will still be con- tinued whatever may be the active employment of their lives. This will go far towards bridging over the chasm between school and business life, and secure a constant inspiration to the higher cultivation of the mind.
We have sought to afford the outlying wards of the city every facility for securing books from the library daily, in our power. In one or two instances during the past year, we have opened new districts of the city, and arranged for their convenience in the exchange of volumes. There are certain plans now in progress of development for bestowing larger facilities upon some portions of the city where some embarrassment has heretofore existed, and we trust during the coming season to remove every occasion for a reasonable complaint. Every day, pleasant or stormy, our faithful messenger gathers and distributes throughout the city the books selected from the library or returned to its shelves. We have obtained every work that has been specially called for, and in instances where a book has awakened a marked interest, we have sought to multiply copies to meet at an early day the wide demand.
236
The City Council appropriated last year the full sum asked for by the Trustees for the expenses of administration, and for additions to the library shelves, $8,500. With the additional income of the permanent funds bestowed by generous citizens, and the gifts of books, we have been enabled to add 1,895 new works to our catalogue. Books to the amount of 120 have been worn out in service, or have been removed from the shelves or lost, making a net gain to our catalogue of 1,775 volumes. These books are distributed among the following departments :-
Juvenile Reading and Prose Fiction, 294
Essays and Poetry,
257
Bound Periodicals,
. 92
Foreign Literature, .
50
Geography and Travels,
. 165
Biography,
136
History,
148
Natural Science and Industrial Arts,
.
215
Political and Social Science,
111
Theology,
66
Reference Library,
241
1,775
During the year, the circulation of books for home use has reached the large amount of 90,213 volumes, which, in view of our population and the distance of some portions of the city from the library, is a remarkable fact. The increase for the year over the previous one in our circulation has been 6,275, and this increase has been fairly divided among all the wards of the city. There are now in the library 25,084 volumes-about ten thousand more than when the library became a city institution. It was open 306 days dur- ing last year. Its largest daily circulation was 636 volumes;
237
its smallest, 164. In addition to this, nearly every day many persons have been present at the reference tables for pur- poses of investigation, the examination of works upon art, or for study. Since the new registry was commenced in 1885, 5,237 persons have taken out' new cards upon which to secure books.
The one great event of the year is the generous appro- priation of over $20,000 by the city for the enlargement of the accommodations of the library building. The addition provides more than an equal amount of room to that fur- nished by the original building. It has been planned with much skill, after a long consideration of the special neces- sities of the institution. It will afford a spacious well lighted room for the cases of books, and open a much needed space in Edmands' Hall for the daily patrons. It will also give a very neat and convenient room for visitors desiring to use the reference library. An additional room will be secured in the new wing for the use of school work, permitting the librarian to afford such assistance and suggestion to classes that may visit the library, as will be of great service to them. A beautiful, ample, and well-ventilated reading room-a con- venience greatly needed by the increasing number of patrons of this department-will be provided, and every requisite opportunity for the natural growth of the library for many years to come will be found in these enlarged quarters. It is expected that the work will be completed and the books arranged upon the new plan early in the summer, if not dur- ing the coming spring. We shall then have as convenient and well-appointed a library as any city of the same popula- tion in the commonwealth. There will be spaces upon the new walls, which we have hitherto lacked, where we shall be very happy to hang, for the enjoyment and improvement of our patrons, any paintings that our citizens, following the
238
generous precedents already established, may feel disposed to add to our works of art. As we shall now have larger con- veniences for the disposition of books, we shall also be grate- · ful for such donations as may be made from private libraries to the public collection. At this time, as a great boon to young students resident in our city, and for the benefit of the profession generally, we shall specially welcome any gifts towards the formation of a working law library. Such a bequest, if any citizen should be pleased to make his library a permanent blessing after he has ceased to use it, would add another important facility to our means of meet- ing the public requirements in a free library.
We have spoken heretofore of the American Library Association and its annual meetings. It is one of the very significant signs of the times. It shows both the increasing interest taken in these institutions throughout the country, the rapidsincrease in their number, the high character and intelligence of those having them in charge, and the careful consideration given to everything that concerns their useful- ness and improvement. Last year the annual meeting was held in the city of Milwaukee, Wis. About one hundred and fifty of the officers and supervisors of libraries from all por- tions of the country, were present. The papers read during the week of the Congress, were eminently practical and valuable, and the discussions animated and instructive. These essays and the proceedings of the Congress have been published in a special number of the Library Journal, making a quarto volume of nearly 200 pages. The public apprecia- tion of the work of these librarians was shown by the recep- tions given them by the Mayors of Chicago and Milwaukee, and the Governors of Wisconsin and Minnesota, and also by the very generous railroad excursions provided by several of the Western companies across the States of Wisconsin and
239
Minnesota and to Lake Superior. The librarians are care- fully and thoroughly preparing themselves for the great expansion of the public library department of educational agencies, which is evidently at hand in the present genera- tion.
The enlargement of the library building and the growth of the library itself, with the proper supervision of the read- ing room and halls, may require some small addition to our administrative force. If the Committee on Public Property aid in placing the rooms in condition for use, after the con- tractors conclude their work, we shall be able to meet all the expenses of the year out of our appropriation without seri- ously limiting the necessary outlays for current literature and for needed additions to the reference library.
Much credit is due the lady attendants for their faithful and cheerful discharge of their duties, under very uncom- fortable circumstances, during the construction of the new building. At times in the severest weather. it has been difficult to secure adequate heat in Edmands Hall and the assistants have been exposed to serious peril of health. The expectation however of an early relief and of the great improvement and comfort of the new halls, has rendered the incident personal sacrifices matters of cheerful endurance, but they are no less worthy of commendation.
In the tables which follow this report will be found the accustomed tabulated statistics. showing the actual and com- parative condition of the library for the last three years. the amounts of money received from the city, from its permanent funds. and from fines and incidental sources, and the sums paid for its administration and for books.
With hearty congratulations to the gentlemen of the Board of Trustees in view of the early completion of the building, which has been for several years a subject of ear-
240
nest consideration and of indispensable importance to our largest success, I have the honor to remain,
Most respectfully, BRADFORD K. PEIRCE, Superintendent.
APPENDIX.
A.
RECEIPTS.
1886.
1885.
1884.
Dec. 31.
Municipal appropriation
$8,500 00
$7,500 00
$8,000 00
Fines, bulletins, etc., .
426 63
348 64
336 57
Cash on hand at last report ..
1 53
38
3 65
$8,928 16
$7,849 02
$8,340 22
B.
EXPENDITURES.
1886.
1885
1884.
Dec.
Salaries.
$3,755 07
$3,333 33
$3,599 61
Reading-room
337 74
400 46
383 39
Incidentals
279 83
247 13
267 4
Repairs.
45 35
41 96
69 90
Furniture and fixtures
00 00
61 75
12 41
Printing bulletins.
300 00
Printing and advertising.
141 50
129 37
35 25
Binding
276 20
127 55
246 52
Books.
1,805 69
1,490 81
1,673 71
Light, $542.71 and fuel, $143.43.
686 14
765 03
709 81
Distributing agencies and express
1,169 00
1,204 25
1,177 00
Blanks and stationery.
97 89
32 06
153 55
Postage account.
32 50
13 77
11 21
Total expenditure
$8,926 91
$7,847 47
$8,339 79
Bal. with City Treasurer. .$ 03
at the Library. .1 22
1 25
1 55
43
Total balance.
$8,928 16
$7,849 02
$8,340 22
242
C.
CIRCULATION.
1886.
1885.
1884.
Number of days the Library was open ..
306
306
307
of holidays the Library was closed.
7
7
7
of other week-days the Library was closed.
....
. . ...
of volumes delivered · for home use.
90,213
83,938
83.261
Average daily use.
294.8
274.3
271.2
Largest daily use, January 30, 1886,
636
541
544
Smallest daily use, Aug. 11, 1886,
Aug. 8, 1885,
...
71
Nov. 19, 1884,
...
Number of books lost and not paid for ..
13
7
8
for ...
1
of books worn out
105
114
62
of notices to delinquents.
636
424
797
of volumes re-covered.
12,263
10,829
8,945
of volumes bound ..
397
237
335
of names registered during the year
1.790
3,834
885
Total number of names registered .
5,237
3,447*
13,246
*A new registry was commenced June 8, 1885.
D.
DISTRIBUTION THROUGH THE AGENCIES AND TO THE SCHOOLS.
1886.
Books distributed at Newtonville.
11,394
Newton Centre.
10,482
Auburndale.
6,873
Newton Highlands.
6,616
West Newton.
4,752
N. Upper Falls
4.471
N. Lower Falls
2,743
Nonantum
389
From October 1, Oak Hill.
356
Total agency distribution.
48,076
Books delivered for school use
3,350
March 14, 1885,
March 1, 1884,
164
144
of books lost and paid
2
1
and withdrawn.
243
E.
ACCESSIONS.
1886.
1885.
1884.
Increase by purchase
1,598
1,240
1,183
by gift
183
220
111
by binding pamphlets.
4
9
by binding periodicals.
110
116
76
Number of missing volumes re- stored, since last report.
...
1
Total accessions for the year ...
1,895
1,576
1,380
Number of volumes missing or withdrawn since last report ....
120
122
71
Actual increase.
1,775
1,454
1,309
Number of volumes in the Library as last reported.
23,309
21,855
20,546
Total number of volumes in the Library
25,084
23,309
21,855
Number of pamphlets bound since last report.
24
.
49
Number of newspapers subscribed for ..
30
39
42
of newspapers given.
14
4
19
of magazines
subscribed
for ..
60
54
33
of magazines given ..
10
7
4
Total number received.
114
94
98
. .
244
F
CLASSIFICATION, GROWTH, SIZE AND USE.
Increase during
the Year.
Total number
of Volumes.
Volumes issued
during the
Year.
1886.
1885.
1884.
Literature. Prose fiction and juve- nile reading ....
294
'5,514
59,503
65.96 7.27
67.4 6.88
6.95
Periodicals ..
92
1,751
1,626
1.8
2.03
2.
Foreign Literature.
50
524
296
.33
.34
.35
History.
Geography and travels ..
165
2.297
7,237
8.02
7.14
7.33
Biography.
136
2,343
3,578
3.97
3 82
3.76
History.
148
2,314
4,536
5.03
4.78
4.63
Arts and Sciences.
Natural science and in- dustrial arts ..
215
2,441
5,344
5.92
5.86
5.77
Political and social sci- ence. .
111
1,288
798
.88
.69
.6
Theology.
66
1,105
547
.61
.83
1.
Reference library
241
2,442
186
.21
.23
.16
Assessions for the year
1,775
. .
...
...
Number of volumes in the Library. . .
. .
. .
...
. . .
.. . .
-
Circulation
for the
year
....
...
90,213
. . . .
...
... .
G.
Received for catalogues sold in 1886.
$16 00
Paid City Treasurer
$16 00
67.25
Essays, poetry and drama
257
3,065
6,562
25,084
PER CENT OF CIRCULATION.
LIST OF PERIODICALS FOR 1887 IN THE READING ROOMS.
MAGAZINES.
American Agriculturist American Architect Andover Review Appalachia Art Amateur Atlantic Monthly
Lend a Hand
Library Journal Life
Lippincott's Magazine
Literary News
Literary World
Littell's Living Age
London Punch
London Quarterly
Magazine of American History
Mind and Nature *
Musical Herald *
Catholic World
Century Chautauqua
Christian Thought *
New Eng Jour. of Education
New Eng. Magazine
New Englander and Yale Review
New Jerusalem *
Nineteenth Century
North American Review
Notes and Queries
Education '
Old Testament Student *
Outing Overland
Phrenologist *
Popular Science Monthly
Princeton Review
Public Opinion
Publisher's Weekly
Quarterly Jour. of Economics *
Quiver* St. Nicholas
Gardener's Monthly Harper's Magazine Haus und Herd *
Homelitic Review* Illustrated London News
Nation Nature
New Eng. Hist. and Gen. Reg.
Contemporary Review
Converted Catholic *
Cottage Hearth * Country Gentleman
Decorator and Furnisher Edinburgh Review
English Illustrated Magazine Folio *
Fortnightly Forum Gardener's Chronicle
Bibliotheca Sacra
Blackwood's Magazine Brooklyn Magazine
Canadian Methodist *
Cassell's Family Magazine
246
Sanitarian Sanitary Engineer Science Scientific American Scientific American Supplement
Scribner's Magazine Sunday Magazine. Swiss Cross * Westminster Review Wide Awake
*Represents magazines given.
NEWSPAPERS.
Abogado, El *
Commonwealth Current
Alta California
Evangeliste, L'*
American, The
Harper's Bazaar
American Hebrew *
Harper's Weekly'
Baltimore American
London Times
Beacon, The *
Montreal Gazette
Boston Advertiser
New Orleans Picayune
Boston Globe
New York Evening Post
Boston Herald
New York Herald
Boston Journal
New York Sun
Boston Post
New York Tribune
Boston Transcript
New York World
Boston Traveller *
Newton Graphic
Cambridge Tribune *
Newton Journal
Chicago Tribune Christelige Talsmand, Den *
Our Dumb Animals * Philadelphia Press
Christian Herald *
Christian Register *
St. Louis Globe Democrat Saturday Evening Gazette
Springfield Republican
Christian World * Christliche / pologete, Der * Christliche Botschafter, Der * Cincinnati Commercial
Woman's Journal * Zion's Herald *
*Represents newspapers given.
-
CITY OF NEWTON, MASS.
REPORT
OF THE
WATER BOARD
FOR THE
YEAR ENDING DEC. 31, 1886.
LIBERTY AND
UNION
FOUNDED
1873.
CITY
¥88
NONANTUM ORATE
NEWTON : PRESS OF THE NEWTON JOURNAL. 1887.
THE NEWTON WATER WORKS.
Organization for 1887.
WATER BOARD. EDWARD W. CATE, President.
FRANCIS A. DEWSON. DR. CHAS. FRED CREHORE.
· ALDERMAN GEO. PETTEE. COUNCILMAN GEO. D. DIX,
ALBERT S. GLOVER. Water Registrar and Clerk of Board. ALBERT F. NOYES, Engineer of Board. H. NELSON HYDE, JR., Superintendent.
PAST BOARDS OF GOVERNMENT OF THE NEWTON WATER DEPARTMENT.
CONSTRUCTING COMMISSION. 1875-1878.
Hon. R. M PULSIFER. Col. F. J. PARKER. HON. R. R. BISHOP. WATER COMMITTEES OF CITY COUNCIL.
1878.
Aldermen OTIS PETTEE and E. W. WOOD. Councilmen J. WESLEY KIMBALL, NATHAN MOSMAN and G. E. PIKE. 1879.
Aldermen G. D. ELDREDGE and E. R. SECCOMB. Councilmen J. WESLEY KIMBALL, NATHAN MOSMAN and EDWARD SAWYER. 1880.
Aldermen WM. P. ELLISON and J. WESLEY KIMBALL. Councilmen NATHAN MOSMAN, GEO. E. WALES and E. W. CATE ..
1881.
Aldermen WM. P. ELLISON and J. WESLEY KIMBALL. Councilmen NATHAN MOSMAN, E. W. CATE and H. A. INMAN. 1882.
Aldermen E. W. CATE and J. WESLEY KIMBALL. Councilmen DAVID T. BUNKER, ALSON A. SMITH and FRED. W. FREEMAN.
WATER BOARDS. 1883.
EDWARD W. CATE, FRANCIS J. PARKER, FRANCIS A. DEWSON, Alderman J. WESLEY KIMBALL, Councilman FRED. W. FREE- MAN.
1884.
EDWARD W. CATE, FRANCIS J. PARKER, FRANCIS A. DEWSON, Alderman NOAH .W. FARLEY, Councilman ALBERT F. UPTON.
1885.
EDWARD W. CATE, FRANCIS A. DEWSON, CHAS. FRED. CREHORE, Alderman NOAH W. FARLEY, Councilman ALBERT F. UPTON.
1886.
EDWARD W. CATE, FRANCIS A. DEWSON, CHAS. FRED. CREHORE, Alderman GEO. PETTEE, Councilman GEO. D. DIX.
REPORT OF NEWTON WATER BOARD.
WATER BOARD OFFICE, CITY HALL,
WEST NEWTON, January 20th, 1887.
To His Honor the Mayor and City Council of the City of Newton :-
The Water Board has the honor to present for the con- sideration of the City Government its report for the year ending Dec. 31st, 1886.
The work of the department during the past year has much exceeded the work of any previous year; the extensions of main pipe were commenced early in April and were con- tinued to the last of December. The best season for this class of work is considered to be from April 15th to Novem- ber 15th, and in many places work is not done at other times for the reason that it is attended with increased expense and a liability of imperfection owing to the presence of frost. The Board, nevertheless, on account of a demand for new mains, to supply houses in process of erection, deemed it expedient and alike conducive to the interests of the depart- ment and the water-takers to continue this work to the very close of the year, requiring of applicants for extensions suffi- ciently large guaranties to reimburse the department for the increased cost and instructing its employees, in doing the work, to use special care to leave the streets in good and safe condition for travel.
During the past year there has been laid 22,164 feet of main pipe of different sizes, as follows :
12 inch
1187 feet.
8 «
- 4213
6 66
13938 6
2 66
- 2826
256
REPORT OF WATER BOARD.
The average length of main pipe laid in the eight years preceding last year is 13,493 ft .; showing an excess of 8,671 ft. laid in 1886.
In considering applications for extensions it has been the policy of the Board to discourage the laying of four inch pipe except where the extension is to be a short one and no hydrant service therefrom is required.
The weights and thicknesses of pipe used by the Board, as well as by all previous Boards or Committees having charge of the works since their completion, are those adopted by the Commissioners constructing the works; the weights were computed by the "Shedd " formula and were as follows:
Table giving the dimensions, weights, etc., of straight pipes used :
Nominal Diameters.
Classes.
Heads to which the Pipes are adapted.
Lengths over all.
Thicknesses.
Standard Weights.
INCHES.
FEET.
FT.
IN.
INCHES.
POUNDS.
24
C
224
12 41-2
1, 1-32
3,227
20
B
177
12 41-2
27-32
2,208
20
b
138
12 41-2
25-32
2,058
16
B
204
12 41-2
25-32
1,645
12
c
216
12
11-16
1,070
12
B
151
12
5-8
982
8
c
240
12
19-32
623
8
b
142
12
17-32
564
6
B
232
12
17-32
428
4
B
312
12
1-2
280
From investigations and reports of the New England Water Works Association and recommendations of the Engineer, it was deemed wise by the Board to institute experiments upon cast iron pipe to afford means of comparing the actual bursting pressure of carefully inspected pipe with the theoretical bursting pressure, upon which the Board had been acting.
257
REPORT OF WATER BOARD.
Through the courtesy of the Commandant of the Water- town Arsenal opportunity was given the Board to have cer- tain tests made there; an appropriation of $150 was made by the Board and the prosecution of the tests was placed in the hands of Dr. Crehore and the Engineer. Under their direc- tion six lengths each of six and eight inch pipe, taken indis- criminately from the main pipe in stock, all of which had been carefully inspected at the foundry, were taken to the arsenal and severally burst; the detailed report of these tests is hereto appended for the further information of the City Council. The tests show that the theoretical and actual strengths of the pipe are substantially the same. It is the purpose of the Board to further pursue these investigations in order to ascertain, if possible, the varying pressure to which our pipe system is subjected. This matter may be difficult to determine, but, if successful, the Board feel it very probable from the information obtained that it may be able, with safety, to reduce the weight heretofore used, and thereby to save to the city considerable of the amount annually expended for main pipe.
As stated in our report for 1885, the Board felt confident of having on hand at the opening of the working season a sufficient quantity of pipe to meet all demands likely to be made upon it for extensions during the year; the demand, however, was so great that the supply became exhausted in November and the Board was obliged to make a purchase of seventy-five tons of six-inch pipe for immediate delivery ; the order was placed with the Warren Foundry Co. and the price paid was $32 per ton delivered at Newtonville.
At the same time the Board, believing that the interests of the department would best be served by their making a contract for a supply of main pipe for the season of 1887, and believing further, in view of the extensions called for this
258
REPORT OF WATER BOARD.
year, and the great probability of a like demand next year that a large order would be expedient, under authority of the City Council made a contract for six hundred tons of main pipe for delivery in the spring of 1887; the contract price is $30.40 per ton for 12 inch pipe ; and $31.30 per ton for 8 inch, 6 inch and 4 inch pipe; the price of pipe at date of writing and the prospect of a considerable rise in iron in the near future have already demonstrated the wisdom of this purchase.
SUPPLY AND SERVICE PIPE.
Besides the length of main previously mentioned, 145 feet of supply pipe and 14,748 feet of service pipe have been laid. The number of supply pipes laid was five and the num- ber of service pipes was 298. A larger number of services was laid than in any year since the works were constructed.
The proportion of lead pipe to iron pipe used was greater than in 1885, and the Board feels that the public is gradually coinciding in its opinion that lead is the cheapest and best pipe for this class of work. The Board is considering the expediency of insisting upon using lead pipe in all cases where services are applied for to be laid by the city.
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