Town of Newton annual report 1889, Part 19

Author: Newton (Mass.)
Publication date: 1889
Publisher: Newton (Mass.)
Number of Pages: 628


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SECT. 4. Whoever violates any provision of the preceding sections of this ordinance shall be liable to a fine not exceeding one hundred dollars.


ORDINANCE XXII.


Gunpowder and other Explosive Compounds.


SECTION 1. No person shall keep or deposit any gunpowder within the city unless it is well secured in tight casks or canisters.


No person shall keep or deposit more than fifty pounds of gunpowder in any shop, store, or other building which is within the distance of twenty-five rods from any other building or wharf : no person


Pub. Stats., chap. 103, § 56.


No person to keep or deposit gunpowder unless, etc.


79


shall keep or deposit more than twenty-five pounds Limit of of gunpowder in any shop, store, or other building amount. which is within the distance of ten rods from any other building ; and no person shall keep or deposit more than one pound of gunpowder in any shop, store, or other building, which is within ten rods of any other building unless it is well secured in copper, tin, or brass canisters holding not exceeding five pounds each, and closely covered with copper, brass, or tin covers.


SECT. 2. Licenses may be granted by the mayor Licenses. and aldermen for the retailing of gunpowder, in form substantially as follows : to wit,-


Gunpowder License No.


LICENSE TO SELL GUNPOWDER IN THE CITY OF


NEWTON.


This certifies that of Newton is (or are) hereby licensed and authorized to sell gunpowder at retail. at on street, being place of business in said city, for one year from date hereof, at noon, provided shall duly conform to the laws and to the provisions of the ordinance printed hereon. And in case the said shall at any time during the term aforesaid infringe the laws or any of the provisions of said ordinance, then this license shall be void.


Dated at Newton this day of , in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and


No person shall sell any gunpowder within the Sales without city without such license. Every such license shall license pro- hibited. be in force one year from the date thereof, provided that any such license may be rescinded by the mayor License may be rescinded.


and aldermen, at their discretion.


SECT. 3. Every person so licensed shall keep a Sign, sign over the outside of the principal entrance from


80


the street of the building in which powder is kept. on which shall be printed in capitals the words, " Licensed to Keep and Sell Gunpowder."


City Clerk to keep record of licenses, etc. Place not to be changed.


SECT. 4. The city clerk shall keep a record of all such licenses, and of the places designated therein ; which places shall not be changed unless by consent of the mayor and aldermen in writing. Every person who receives a license shall sign his name to a copy of the rules prescribed in this ordinance, as evidence of his assent thereto.


Exceptions. Keeping in magazines.


SECT. 5. The provisions of this ordinance shall not apply or extend to the keeping or storing of metallic cartridges in fire-proof magazines, nor to cartridge manufacturers, so long as they shall keep their powder in canisters, as prescribed in Section 4, and in fire-proof magazines, located and built to the satisfaction of the mayor and aldermen, and so long as such manufacturers allow no more than one hundred pounds of gunpowder in any magazine, or five pounds of gunpowder not made into cartridges, to be in any one workshop at any one time.


Pub. Stats., chap. 102, § § 59, etc


SECT. 6. No person, except on military duty in the public service of the United States or of this Commonwealth, shall keep, have, or possess, in any building, place, vehicle, ship, or other vessel within one rod of a dwelling-house, any explosive compound other than gunpowder, in quantity exceeding one- fifth of a pound.


SECT. 7. The mayor and aldermen may license any suitable person to keep, store, and sell such compound, in accordance with the foregoing pro- visions.


81


SECT. 8. Any member of the police or of the Fire Department may enter the building or prem- ises of any person so licensed, to make the exam- ination provided by law, at his discretion ; and on alarm of fire may cause such compound there deposited to be removed or destroyed, as the case may require.


SECT. 9. Whoever violates any provision of this ordinance shall be liable to a fine not exceeding twenty dollars.


ORDINANCE XXVIII.


Telegraph, Telephone, and Electric-Light Lines.


SECTION 1. The Chief of the Fire Department, under the direction of the mayor and aldermen, shall have the supervision and charge of all tele- graph, telephone, and electric lines. He shall forwith report to the mayor any violations of this ordinance.


SECT. 2. No telegraph, telephone, nor electric line shall be erected nor maintained until the owner thereof shall file with the mayor and alder- men a written agreement accepting and promising to abide by and perform all the conditions and provisions of this ordinance, and all orders, rules, regulations, and amendments hereafter made in addition thereto.


SECT. 3. All writing's and authority for the erection of telegraph, telephone, and electric lines shall be subject to the right of the mayor and aldermen to permit other lines to be placed upon the same posts; but this shall not prevent a reasonable compensation therefor,


82


SECT. 4. On streets where curbstones are set, all posts shall be erected in the sidewalk, within and adjoining the curbstones; and where there are no curbstones, the posts shall be so erected as not to interfere with the gutters. No post shall be erected within fifteen feet of any hydrant, nor so as to interfere with any water-pipe, shade-tree, driveway, or intersection of streets.


SECT. 5. All posts for telegraph, telephone, and electric lines shall be straight, properly trimmed and painted, shall not be less than twenty feet in height from the ground, shall be of iron, cedar, or chestnut, and, if of wood, not less than six inches in diameter at the smaller end, and ten inches in diameter at the ground. Such posts shall be properly set in the ground to the depth of at least five feet. Wherever any wire shall cross any street or way, it shall be at a height not less than twenty- five feet above such street or way, and be protected by guards, and, where practicable, cross at right angles.


SECT. 6. All wires for the transmission of electricity for lighting and motive-power shall at all times be so insulated as to resist abrasion and heat, and be impervious to water. When placed above. the surface of the ground, such wires shall be suspended upon posts ; and, wherever in proximity to other wires, dead guard-wires must be placed so as to prevent any possibility of contact with foreign wires. This rule must apply to both arc and incandescent wires. When any such wire shall be broken, or its insulation become imperfect, the


83


electric current shall forthwith be discontinued, and the wire not used until properly repaired and insulated.


SECT. 7. Wires for the transmission of electrici- ty for lighting and motive-power shall be secured to insulating fastenings of glass, hard rubber, or other approved insulating material. All tie-wires shall be insulating in the same manner as conducting wires. All joints in wires shall be securely made, and where possible soldered, and wrapped with insulating material that will resist heat and abrasion, and be impervious to water. Continuous wires, without joints, shall be used as far as possible.


SECT. 8. Wires for the transmission of electri- city for lighting and motive-power, passing through the exterior walls of buildings, shall be firmly incased in substantial tubes of non-conducting material not liable to absorb moisture, and so placed as to prevent water from entering the build- ing along the wire. Outgoing and returning wires for arc-lights shall enter and leave buildings at points one foot at least from each other; those for incandescent lights shall so enter and leave build- ings at points at least three inches from each other. In running along outside walls, cornices, and the like, all such wires shall be rigidly fastened by non- conducting fastenings ; and where carried over or attached to buildings, must be at least seven feet above the highest point of flat roofs, and one and a half feet above pitch roofs, and placed so as to avoid ladders of Fire Departments. They should not be run over or attached to buildings; other than


84


those desiring light and power. In the interior of buildings, all such wires shall be so placed as not to come in contact with iron pipes, posts, nor girders, nor in any way so as to form other circuits or ground connections. In passing through floors or partitions or walls, they shall be surrounded by an insulating tube of substantial material, to protect them from injury by rats and mice. All inside wires must be so placed, as to be easily and thoroughly inspected. Whenever such wires enter a building, a cut-out of simple form and construc- tion shall be provided, and properly attached as near as possible to such entrance.


SECT. 9. The frame and exposed parts of all arc-lamps shall be insulated from the circuit. All such lamps shall be provided with a separate hand- switch, and also with an automatic switch which will close the circuit whenever the carbons do not approach each other, or the resistance becomes excessive. Arc-lamps must be provided with some arrangement to prevent the lower carbon from falling out, in case the lamp does not hold them securely. For inside use, the globes must rest in a tight stand, that no particles of melted copper or heated carbon can escape. Converters on alternat- ing circuits must be outside of buildings, and must be placed high enough from roof to prevent possible injury to firemen.


SECT. 10. For incandescent lamps, the con- ducting wire leading to each building and branch circuit shall be provided with an automatic switch or cut-out, or its equivalent, capable of protecting


85


the system from injury by an excessive current of electricity.


SECT. 11. All light and power circuits shall be entirely of metal. No gas, water, nor steam pipe, nor the earth, shall be used as a part of any such circuit.


SECT. 12. In case of fire, the Chief of the Fire Department shall have full power and authority to order and cause any electric wires to be cut or removed, and electric currents discontinued until the fire is extinguished.


SECT. 13. Except by vote of two-thirds of all members of the board of aldermen, no wire for the transmission of electricity for lighting or motive- power shall be attached to posts of the fire-alarm telegraph nor to the posts of any telegraph or telephone company upon which fire-alarm wires are placed. Such wires, excepting when permitted by a like vote to remain, shall forthwith be removed from such posts, whenever any wire of the fire-alarm telegraph is attached thereto.


SECT. 14. All dead wires where crossing public streets or ways shall be removed.


SECT. 15. Upon the completion of any circuit, and before it is used, a plat, showing the location of the wires and posts of such circuit, shall be filed with the Chief of the Fire Department ; and any change of such posts or wires shall be reported to him within twenty-four hours.


STATISTICS.


From January 1, 1889, to December 31, 1889.


Total alarms, (Bell)


56


Total alarms, (Telephone)


21


Total alarms, (Verbal)


9


Grand Total .


86


Loss on Real Estate


$29,403 75


Insurance paid on same


27,313 48


Loss on Personal Property


8,651 67


Insurance paid on same 6,022 42


Loss in excess Insurance paid .


4,719 52


Total Insurance at risk


202,000 00


Assessed value Real Estate at risk


250,000 00


Total Hydrants . 606


Total miles of streets


. 145


Area protected by Department


sq. miles 20


CITY OF NEWTON.


ANNUAL REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES


OF THE


NEWTON FREE LIBRARY


NEWTON, MASS,


FOR THE YEAR ENDING DECEMBER 31, ISS9.


BERTY AND UNJO


FOUNDED


ITY


16


UM.


RAT


ATO


NEWTON, MASS., NEWTON GRAPHIC PRESS, 1890.


BOARD OF TRUSTEES, 1890.


At Large.


JOHN S. FARLOW. JULIUS L. CLARKE.


WILLIAM CLAFLIN. A. LAWRENCE EDMANDS. EDWIN B. HASKELL.


From the Board of Aldermen. EPHRAIM S. HAMBLEN.


From the Common Council. EDWARD L. COLLINS.


ORGANIZATION FOR THE YEAR 1890.


President. JOHN S. FARLOW.


Secretary. JULIUS L. CLARKE.


Committee on Library.


PRESIDENT, ex-officio. EDWIN B. HASKELL.


WILLIAM CLAFLIN. JULIUS L. CLARKE.


Committee on Building.


PRESIDENT, ex-officio. A. LAWRENCE EDMANDS. EDWARD L. COLLINS.


EPHRAIM S. HAMBLEN.


Superintendent.


JOHN C. KENNEDY.


Librarian. ELIZABETH P. THURSTON.


Assistant Librarians.


H. W. HARLOWE, LOUISE J. SMALLWOOD.


ETTA P. CLEAVELAND. CHARLOTTE FLANDERS. KATHERINE K. WOOD.


Janitor. HENRY J. MARSHMAN.


REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES OF THE NEWTON FREE LIBRARY.


For the Year ending December 31st, 1889.


To his Honor the Mayor and the City Council of Newton, Massachusetts :


It affords the Trustees of the Newton Free Library great pleasure at this time, to again report the continuous and in- creasing good accomplished by the institution under their immediate charge. Every thing pertaining to the Library has worked harmoniously and well the past year, with good results in every department. Full details of the receipts. expenditures, accessions, circulation, etc., appear in the report of the Superin- tendent, and the statistical tables of the Librarian herewith submitted. These show a decrease in the circulation of works of fiction during the past year, and an increase in works on arts and sciences, history, geography, poetry, travels, essays and periodicals. This improvement our Librarian attributes in a large measure, to the facilites now afforded each of the teachers in our public schools, for taking from the Library ten volumes at a time for use in the schools.


This privilege was availed of the past year to the extent of 4496 volumes.


The distributing agencies for the five more distant wards of the city have worked satisfactorily, having distributed during


8


the year more than one half of the entire circulation of the library.


The magazine and newspaper departments in "Chaffin" and "Jewett" halls, are liberally supplied with the current periodieals and newspapers of the day, and it is gratifying to witness the increasing number of readers in both departments. The shelving in our "publie document" room (Read Hall) is now completely filled. and we shall be compelled this current year to call on the Public Property Committee of the City Council to furnish additional shelving therein. In addition to the books provided for general circulation from the appropria- tion made by the City Council the past year, there has been expended for books and works of art from the income derived from the


"Jewett Art Fund" $178 00


" Alden Speare Fund" 36 21


"Charles Read Fund" 275 52


" Farlow Reference Fund" 221 70


a total of $711 43


The Trustees cordially renew their invitation to the Mayor and City Council and the citizens generally to visit the Library as often as possible and witness for themselves its practical operation.


Respectfully submitted by the Board of Trustees,


J. S. FARLOW, President.


SUPERINTENDENT'S REPORT.


To the Board of Trustees of the Newton Free Library :-


GENTLEMEN : - I have the honor to submit to you a state- ment of the present condition of the Library and a report of its progress through the year ending December 31, 1889.


The tabulated statistics at the close of this report present in detail the work and expenses of the Library for the year and afford an opportunity for comparison with the two previous years.


During the year the circulation of books has increased, reaching a total of 105,230 which is 530 in excess of any former year.


The Library has been much more largely used than here- tofore by persons seeking to examine its books of reference and art and spending hours in reading and studying, and this has increased to such an extent that we have found it desirable to keep the Reference Room open an hour later in the evening.


The number of volumes circulated during the year was 105,230.


The number of volumes added during the year was 2,256.


The whole number of books now in the Library is 30,622.


The amount of appropriation made by the City Council for the year was $10,295.


The work of the Library is itself constantly increasing.


10


The largest number of books delivered at the Library on any one day was 680, on Feb. 23.


The number of books covered was 12,508.


The registered number of names of persons using the Library is 8,773.


The amount collected from fines during the year was #383.66 and $27.66 has been received from the sale of Bulletins and old paper.


Some changes have been made in the Library force during the year. The long felt want of an assistant librarian to look after the Reading Room and care for the magazines and other property has been supplied in the person of Miss Katherine K. Wood, a lady of wide experience in Library work. Her desk is in Chaffin Hall, where she commands a view of the Reading Room, and thus is enabled to suppress the conversa- tional tendencies of the rising generation.


Mr. Chester A. Bass, our efficient janitor, finding a change of climate necessary owing to the illness of his wife, resigned his position. He has been succeeded by Mr. Henry J. Marshman, who thus far appears to be a conscientious, pains- taking man.


The delivery system of the Library has been much im- proved during the current year. The books have been dis- tributed every secular day with the exception of legal holidays at the nine different agencies scattered throughout the city. The books are collected in the morning, brought to the Library, and the new ones returned early in the afternoon. In addition to this the messenger delivers and collects books from eighteen of the public schools in the city. The prompt and accurate delivery of the books, together with the polite and obliging conduct of the messenger. have been the subject of commendation from citizens of the different parts of our city.


The Newton Jersey Stock Club has again placed us under


11


a special obligation by the gift to the Library of a beautiful life sized portrait of our honored President. No more fitting or acceptable gift could have been presented to the Library than such a memorial of this liberal, public spirited citizen who has so often honored himself by his liberality towards it. The portrait adorns the wall of the Farlow Reference Room.


Respectfully submitted, JOHN C. KENNEDY, Superintendent.



APPENDIX.


A.


RECEIPTS.


1889.


1888.


1887.


December 31.


Municipal appropriation


$10,295 00


$10,170 00


Fines, bulletins, etc.


418 38 5 64


56


1 22


$10,719 02


$10,616 95


$8,779 01


B.


EXPENDITURES.


1889.


1888.


1887.


December 31.


Salaries


$4,042 15


$3,518 16


$3,636 42


Reading room


504 60


463 60


456 85


Incidentals


169 76


168 85


241 10


Repairs


11 80


428 28


160 36


Furniture and fixtures


63 29


233 95


845 66


Printing bulletins


188 40


Printing and advertising


36 75


123 35


87 35


Binding


380 05


242 55


141 42


Books


3,061 49


2,455 49


972 58


Light


569 40


539 80


543 60


Fuel .


288 40


553 50


305 79


Distributing agencies & express,


1,425 21


1,292 95


1,193 95


Blanks and stationery


102 72


392 43


172 60


Postage account


21 50


10 00


20 77


Total expenditure


10,677 12


10,611 31


8,778 45


Bal. with City Treasurer, $0.11


Bal. at the Library . . 41.79


Total balance


41 90


5 64


56


$10,719 02


$10,616 95


$8,779 01


446 39


$8,500 00 277 79


Cash on hand at last report .


14


C.


CIRCULATION.


1889.


1888.


1887.


Number of days the Library was open .


304


305


230


of holidays the Libra- ry was closed . . .


9


8


8


of other week-days the Library was closed . of volumes delivered for home use


105,230


104,700


70,005 304.3


Largest daily use, Feb. 23, 1889, March 17, 1888 .


680


641


November 26, 1887,


526


Smallest daily use, July 25, 1889,


187


90


November 26, 1888, July 1, 1887


128


Number of books lost and not paid for


15


12


10


of books lost and paid for


2


4


5


of books worn out and withdrawn


50


39


24


of notices to delin- quents . .


177


262


649


of volumes covered


12,508


13,460


13,954


of volumes bound


884


601


318


of names registered during the year


1,026


1,025


1,485


Total number of names regis- tered


8,773


7,747


6,722


-


75


Average daily use


346.1


343.2


=


15


D.


DISTRIBUTION THROUGH THE AGENCIES AND TO THE SCHOOLS.


1889.


Books distributed at Newton Centre


13,676


Newtonville .


11,902


Newton Highlands


8,324


Auburndale .


6,578


West Newton


5,259


Newton Upper Falls


2,908


Newton Lower Falls


2,440


Oak Hill


933


Nonantum


763


Total agency distribution


52,780


Books delivered to 18 of the 20 Public Schools.


to Eliot


546


Bigelow


482


Prospect


423


Underwood


421


High


383


Adams .


291


Claflin .


272


Hyde


191


Lincoln


190


Pierce


174


Oak Hill


120


Barnard


100


Rice .


100


Franklin


90


Davis


30


Jackson


30


Total number of books delivered for school use


4,496


Mason


279


Williams


374


16


E.


ACCESSIONS.


1889.


1888.


1887.


Increase by purchase


2,050


1,804


971


by gift


128


103


300


by binding pamphlets


8


7


4


by binding periodicals .


136


96


91


Number of missing volumes restored since last report


1


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


2,323


2,010


1,366


67


55


39


Actual increase


2,256


1,955


1,327


Number of volumes in the Library, as last reported .


28,366


26,411


25,084


Total number of volumes in the Library .


30,622


28,366


26,411


Number of pamphlets bound since last report


32


74


20


Number of newspapers subscribed for


34


36


31


of newspapers given


9


7


15


of magazines subscribed for


79


71


60


of magazines given


11


9


16


Total number received


133


123


122


17


F.


CLASSIFICATION, GROWTH,


SIZE, AND USE.


Increase


during


the Year.


Total Num-


ber of


Volumes.


Volumes is-


sued during


the Year.


Per Cent of Circulation.


1889.


1888.


1887.


Literature.


Prose, fiction and juvenile


reading .


356


6.467 67,457 64.11 66.34 64.62


Essays, poetry and drama


240


3.723


7,139


6 79


6.43


6.78


Periodicals


268


2,190


3,212


3.05


2.41


2.08


Foreign literature


96


683


613


.58


.46


.33


History.


Geography and travels


241


2.778


8,629


8.20 4.40


7.49


8.31


Biography .


224


2,899


4,628


History


168


2,801


5,065


4.81


4.70


4.83


Arts and Sciences.


Natural science and industri-


al arts


259


3.023


6,343


6.03


5.77


6.69


Political and social science


128


1,581


1,329


1.26


1.09


1.15


Theology


42


1,254


768


.73


.68


.69


Reference Library :


234


3,223


47


.04


.16


.09


Accessions for the year


2,256


-


Number of volumes in the


Library


30,622


Circulation for the year


-


105230


G.


Received for catalogues sold in 1889


$13 00


Paid City Treasurer


13 00


.


.


4.47


4.43


LIST OF PERIODICALS FOR 1890 IN THE READING ROOMS.


MAGAZINES.


All the Year Round.


Edinburgh Review.


American Agriculturist.


Education.


American Architect.


Engineering and Building Record.


American Garden.


English Illustrated Magazine.


American Naturalist.


Folio.


American Notes and Queries.


American Philatelist.


Forum.


Garden and Forest.


Gardener's Chronicle.


Good Housekeeping.


Atlantic Monthly.


Haus und Herd.


Bibliotheca Sacra.


Home-Maker.


Illustrated London News.


Journal of Franklin Institute.


Cassell's Family Magazine.


Lend a Hand.


Catholic World.


Library Journal.


Century. Chambers' Journal.


Life.


Lippincott's Magazine.


Chautauquan.


Literary News.


Civil Service Record .*


Literary World.


Common School Education.


Littell.


Contemporary.


London Punch.


Converted Catholic .*


Magazine of American IIistory.


Cosmopolitan.


Magazine of Art.


Country Gentleman.


Magazine of Western History.


Critic.


Medical Bulletin .*


Decorator and Furnisher.


Nation.


Art Interchange.


Harper's Magazine.


Blackwood's Magazine.


Camp News .*


Fortnightly.


Andover Review.


Appalachia. Art Amateur.


20


Nationalist .* Nature.


New Eng. Hist. and Gen. Reg. New Eng. Jour. of Education. New England Magazine. Nineteenth Century. North American Review.


Notes and Queries. Official Gazette, U. S. Pat. Office .* Open Court .* Our Dumb Animals .* Outing. Overland.


People's Cause .*


Philanthropist .*


Political Science Quarterly. Popular Science Monthly.


Public Opinion. Publisher's Weekly. Puck. Quarterly Journal of Economics. Quarterly Review. St. Nicholas. Sanitarian.


Science. Scientific American. Scientific American Supplement. Scribner's Magazine.


Stamp World .* United Service Magazine.


Westminster Review.


Wide Awake.


Writer.


Youth's Companion.


NEWSPAPERS.


Alta California.


American Citizen.t Atlanta Constitution. Baltimore American. Boston Advertiser. Boston Commercial Bulletin. Boston Globe.


Boston Herald. Boston Journal.


Boston Post.


Boston Transcript.


Boston Traveller.t


British American Citizen.t


Brooklyn Eagle. Charleston News and Courier. Chicago Tribune.


Christian Leader.t


Christian Register.t Cincinnati Commercial.


Denver Times.t


Florida Times Union. Harper's Bazar.


Harper's Weekly. Independent.


London Times. Montreal Gazette.


New Orleans Picayune.


New York Evening Post.


New York Herald.


New York Sun.


New York Times.


New York Tribune. New York World. Newton Graphic. Newton Journal.


Paradise of the Pacific. t Philadelphia Press. St. Louis Globe Democrat. Saturday Evening Gazette. Springfield Republican. Washington Evening Star.


Woman's Journal.t Zion's Herald.t




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