USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Reading > Town of Reading Massachusetts annual report 1899 > Part 3
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8
3 62
Fred Wallace, lanterns and oil
2 21
E. C. Metcalf, lantern globes
3 00
W. Bancroft & Co., drain pipe
36 46
N. W. Broad, labor and material
9 13
E. H. Forbes, edgestones ·
24 87
Moore & Co., powder and fuse
6 80
Amount carried forward
$748 54 $2,500 00
44
Amount brought forward
$748 54 $2,500 00
Cummings Express, expressing
75
W. L. Jones, use of horse
3 00
W. Hazen Bancroft, glazing
70
Wm. Carney, paving
10 02
0. O. Ordway, sharpening tools
10 00
J. A. Blunt,
66
7 00
James A. Bancroft, survey bounds
12 00
L. G. Howard, land damages Unexpended . .
207 99
$2,500 00 $2,500 00
$200 still due L. G. Howard.
HAVEN STREET (Paving).
Appropriation (Loan)
$1,000 00
Amount received, discount . 1 05
EXPENDED.
A. G. Emerson, labor and team $19 44
S. W. Bowker,
11 33
J. R. Morton, 66 66 12 67
F. Chusong, labor
7 58
J. H. Brown, 66
3 11
Martin Forbes, 66
5 06
J. Doucette,
3 31
J. Ferrick,
3 11
A. Zannie,
7 39
F. Castine, 66
8 08
W. K. Pratt, 66
3 11
Geo. W. Allen, “ ·
3 50
Amount carried forward
$87 69
$1,001 05
and setting
1500 00
45
Amount brought forward
$87 69
$1,001 05:
J. Zwicker, labor
3 11
Wm. Carney, "
9 33
Jas. A. Bancroft, surveying
6 50
H. Gore & Co., paving and material
887 85
Samuel Brown, material, labor and measur-
ing paving
3 35
Unexpended
3 22
$1,001 05 $1,001 05 GRAND STREET, HARRIMAN AVE., DRAINING PEARL STREET, AND CULVERT ON CURTIS STREET.
Appropriation
$1,100 00;
EXPENDED.
A. G. Emerson, labor and team
$142 72
H. E. Nichols,
74 33
J. Cunio, 66
42 67
S. W. Bowker,
1 75
A. B. Day,
6 00
W. J. Moody,
80 33
W. E. Coney, labor
34 42
M. Glynn, ·
1 56
M. Halloran,
24 11
J. H. Brown,
73 50
Frank Castine,
4 09
Wm. Carney,
5 83
Martin Forbes,
·
3 75
Alex La Fave,
49 50
W. K. Pratt,
.
39 87
Amount carried forward
$584 43 $1,100 00
·
.
·
.
.
46
Amount brought forward
$584 43 $1,100 00
J. F. Williams, labor .
44 14
G. W. Allen, .
50 33
J. W. Killam, 66
28 39
J. H. White,
1 75
W. L. Jones, use of horse .
2 33
E. H. Forbes, granite
18 50
Moore & Co., powder and fuse
5 00
Osgood & Hart, casting
33 00
Francis Bros., sundries
1 00
James A. Bancroft, surveys and setting bounds
15 00
Boston and Maine R. R., freight
86
Cumming's Express, expressing
75
Heirs of Stephen Foster, land damages
300 00
Unexpended
14 52
$1,100 00 $1,100 00
WAKEFIELD & STONEHAM STREET RAILWAY CO.
Amount received from W. & S. Street Railway Co.
$201 89
EXPENDED.
Amount expended for removing snow
$201 89
$201 89
$201 89
WOBURN & READING STREET RAILWAY CO.
Amount received from W. & R. Street Railway Co.
$120 64
EXPENDED.
Amount expended for removing snow
$120 64
$120 64
$120 64
47
READING & LOWELL STREET RAILWAY CO.
Amount received from R. & L. Street
Railway Co.
$47 66
EXPENDED.
Amount expended for removing snow
$47 66
$47 66 $47 66
REMOVAL OF SNOW AND ICE.
Appropriation
$1,200 00
Amount received from John Stock
1 00
E. H. Forbes 8 00
66 City of Woburn
6 54
A portion of amount received from street railways, franchise and excise tax
134 12
EXPENDED.
W. A. Bancroft, labor and team
$36 94
E. P. Bancroft,
29 74
A. G. Emerson,
84 96
E. H. Forbes,
95 04
F. W. Davis,
21 64
J. F. Burnham, supt, "
66
19 49
John Stock,
66
47 39
E. E. Nichols,
24 28
C. L. Martin,
66
47 86
Asa Parker,
78 20
R. B. Nichols,
יו
19 06
H. M. Viall,
66
66
2 50
S. W. Bowker,
66
100 60
66
Amount carried forwrad
$607 68 $1,349 66
48
Amount brought forward
$607 70 $1,349 66
Geo. Lampro,
labor and team
50 72
W. Newhouse,
66 66
26 31
Parker Nichols,
66 66
19 95
H. S. La Clair,
30 32
J. M. Tabbott, 66
66
30 92
Alex La Fave, labor
2 92
Wm. Muse,
5 26
J. W. Gleason,
יי
5 06
C. F. Totten,
3 50
A. Zannie,
3 50
Geo. E. Gill,
3 11
Reuben White,
2 53
J. J. Murray,
4 67
Willie E. Johnson,
3 25
H. A. Chilson,
11 09
E. Ingerson,
9 34
Dominique Doucette“
4 47
Reuben La Fave,
2 53
Chas. F. Grover,
1 75
C. P. Weston, 66
9 15
Geo. W. Batchelder, “
5 25
C. Kimball,
5 06
Z. Antonio, 66
4 67
T. H. Devine,
4 67
J. E. Burnham, labor
7 00
David Muse,
5 06
Hugh Bailey,
3 31
Alex Doucette, 66
3 21
Reuben Muse, 66
3 21
J. Zwicker, 66
9 50
Amonnt carried forward
$888 99 $1,349 66
·
49
Amount brought forward
$888 99 $1,349 66
C. R. Whittier,
·
1 67
L. Livingstone,
.
4 28
A. F. Austin,
1 17
H. Litchfield,
16 42
G. L. Flint,
3 02
C. S. McIntire,
4 09
H. Bowman,
8 36
D. J. Desmond,
4 08:
T. Murray, 66
78
Wm. Carney, 66
5 83.
Jerry Doucette,
3 50
T. F. Gould,
1 95.
W. D. Emerson,
6 23.
E. J. Lampro,
3 89
Edwin Webb,
1 36
F. Chusong, 66
5 65
A. A. Richardson, “
6 42
J. W. Killam,
5 45
J. Heselton, 66
6 22
Geo. Stratton,
78
C. B. Eames,
3 31
A. Chick,
1 75
Isaac Chase,
1 56
Chas. Austin,
58
W. E. Beard,
66
2 53
A. L. Hibbert, 66
.
1 07
D. W. Pratt,
6 52
J. E. Wilkins,
6 12
Augustus Surette, "
9 24
Fred Emerson,
67
Amount carried forward
$1,013 49 $1,349 66
50
Amount brought forward
$1,013 49 1 50
$1,349 66
H. C. Watson, labor
Geo. Lewis, 66
1 75
Ephraim Wight,
1 40
W. G. Malonson,
1 36
R. H. Gleason, 66
87
H. E. McIntire,
11 08
S. E. Harrow,
11 28
W. J. Graham,
9 33
W. E. Coney,
8 56
W. A. Allen,
7 20
E. Cloudman,
66
7 78
W. F. Welch,
7 58
John Fluke,
3 50
P. Burke,
4 67
D. J. Wilson,
4 67
J. C. Bishop, 66
4 86
Joshua White,
5 25
H. C. Davidson, 66
5 55
J. G. Eames,
66
5 25
C. Goodwin,
66
3 50
Peter White,
3 50
Ambrose Burbine, "
3 50
S. McNeil,
1 75
T. J. Irwin,
66
3 50
Leon Surette,
3 50
Wm. Bryden, 66
3 50
F. W. Lauth,
66
1 75
Henry Lord,
1 75
Stephen Hadley,
3 31
Sylvine Muse,
3 41
Albert Muse,
3 41
Amount carried forward
$1,153 31
$1,349 66
51
Amount brought forward
$1,153 31 $1,349 66
Frank Surette,
.
1 75
Isaac Malonson,
3 60
James Doucette, 66
5 16
John White,
3 41
L. N. Adams
3 60
Peter Surette,
3 50
Thos. Horne,
3 11
J. H. White, 66
3 11
Joe White,
3 50
H. W. Batchelder, “
10 50
Leonard Buckle,
3 50
Albert Sargent, 66
2 17
Fred Smith,
2 53
Henry Wakefield, “
2 53
Jas. McKenney,
2 43
Reuben Dulong, 66
4 48
Frank Castine,
1 75
John H. Eaton,
1 56
W. H. Green,
5 25
Frank Webb, 66
3 50
F. C. Thistle
1 75
D. Weston,
5 64
A. Renning,
3 50
N. B. Hawes,
4 67
W.O.Dockendorff,“
3 64
Geo. D. Putnam, “
1 46
C. E. Shanley,
7 97
E. W. Ellinger,
7 97
Simon Clement,
6 81
Frank Clement,
6 42
Thos. Van Horne, "
.
4 50
Amount carried forward
$1,278 58 $1,349 66
52
Amount brought forward.
$1,278 58 $1,349 66
Wm. Van Horne, "
3 06
C. E. Stratton,
6 81
E. F. Hannaford, "
5 06
R. Hannaford,
9 39
P. S. Swain, 66
2 50
D. McKenney,
6 12
C. J. Nichols,
7 49
Boston and Maine R. R., freight .
25
F. Wallace, snow shovel
30
Francis Bros., "
35
Ames Plow Co., plow
15 00
Samuel Brown, repairs
14 75
$1,349 66 $1,349 66
.
FIRE DEPARTMENT.
To the Honorable Board of Selectmen of the Town of Reading :
The Board of Engineers herewith submit their annual report for the year eighteen hundred and ninety-nine.
During the year the Department responded to 16 bell alarms and one still alarm.
The Department consists of :
One Chief Engineer and two Assistant Engineers.
Steamer No. 1, two Enginemen and thirteen hosemen.
Hook and Ladder Truck No. 1, twelve men.
Hose Co. No. 2, fourteen men.
Hose Co. No. 3, Volunteer Company.
Hose Co. No. 4, Volunteer Company.
The apparatus and buildings are in good condition except the boiler on the Steamer, which has been in use since 1883, and must soon be overhauled or replaced with a new boiler.
We repeat our recommendation of last year: that a suitable house be built in the vicinity of the Chestnut Hill School, either on the schoolhouse lot or near that locality.
An urgent demand for fire protection has been received from the residents of that part of the Town called Elmdale, which we believe is a reasonable one, and with a small increase of the regular appropriation we can meet it by replacing the reel at Hill End with a wagon and putting the reel in that district where it will be kept without expense to the town.
We have placed fire alarm box No. 47, voted at the annual meeting, on Summer avenue, near Prescott street, and with the extension of the water pipes to Pine street we thought it was fox
54
the interest of the town to place a box at the corner of Salem and Belmont streets (numbered 45), relocating box 44 to the corner of Salem and Pearl'streets. There are several localities where boxes are needed. Especially is this true near the Highland School, and at Middlesex and Bancroft avenues, to cover a large amount of dwelling house property.
The Board would again call the attention of the Town to the necessity of making provision for keeping horses at the Steamer house. As a matter of economy it is worth considering, as out- side of their use in drawing the apparatus to fires they could be used to good advantage in watering streets and on the highways about the centre of the Town. If any addition to the Town Building is to be made we believe it should be done with the view of the Town keeping horses in the near future. An article will be in the town warrant to cover these recommendations.
Leonard T. Eames was reappointed Superintendent of Fire Alarm and the system has been well maintained during the year.
While we have had no large fires during the past year, the severe loss at Wakefield on the night of Oct. 23, to which our department responded, should remind the citizens of the necessity of keeping the Department fully equipped for any emergency.
In conclusion we thank the members and all others who have in any way assisted the Department, especially the Reading Rubber Mills for the free use of steam for the fire whistle.
We would recommend for the Fire Department and for care and extension of the fire alarm system the sum of three thousand and four hundred dollars ($3,400) and hydrant rental.
FRANK G. NICHOLS, Chief, GEO. L. PRATT, Ass't Chief, CHAS. H. STINCHFIELD, Clerk,
Board of Engineers Reading Fire Department.
READING, Jan. 20, 1900.
REPORT OF SUPERINTENDENT OF FIRE ALARM.
To the Board of Fire Engineers of the Reading Fire Department: I submit the following report.
The fire alarm system is in good working order at the present time. The line from Washington street to the Reading Rubber Mills has been rebuilt. Owing to changes to the roof at the Rub- ber Mills, the house the whistle machine is in had to be raised and braced. The wires on West, Grove and Franklin streets have been lowered. The tapper at E. Forbes' barn on Woburn street has- been changed to his house on Mt. Vernon street and the tapper from W. A. Bancroft's to the Charles Weston place on West street.
The location of box 44 has been changed from the corner of Spring and Salem streets to the corner of Salem and Pearl.
There has been added to the system during the year two new boxes: box 27, Summer avenue, near Prescott street, and box 45, at the corner of Belmont and Salem streets; a tapper in the houses of F. D. Merrill, Chief of Police, and a relay in S. W. Bowker's. house. This makes a system of thirty-eight and one-half miles of wire, one repeater and switch board, one steam whistle, two tower strikers, eleven house tappers, four relays, 144 jars of battery, twen- ty-two boxes, located as follows:
13-Corner of Ash and Avon streets.
15-Corner Summer Ave. and Walnut street.
16-Main, near South street.
17-Lincoln street, near R. R. Depot.
24-Mineral street, opp. Mr. Nash's.
56
25-Prospect street, opp. E. D. Harris'. 26-Hose 2 House, Woburn street.
27-Summer Avenue, near Prescott street.
28-West street, front of James Dewhurst's.
32-Franklin street, opp. Parker homestead.
33-Lowell street, near Eastern Rubber Mills. :34-Corner Grove and Forest streets.
35-Corner Main and Locust streets.
36-Corner Bancroft Avenue and Locust streets.
:37-Main street, front of J. B. Nichols'.
42-Corner Parker and John streets.
44-Corner Salem and Pearl streets.
45-Corner Salem and Belmont streets.
47-Corner Charles and Haverhill streets.
:55-Reading Rubber Mills.
(62-Corner Main and Haven streets.
63-Congregational Church.
Yours Respectfully, LEONARD T. EAMES, Supt. of Fire Alarm.
DETAILED STATEMENT OF FIRES FOR THE YEAR 1899.
Date.
Box.
Time.
Owner.
Occupants.
Loss on Building.
Ins.
Ins. Paid.
Loss on Contents.
Ins.
Ins. Paid.
Cause.
Jan.
6
62
11.57 p. m.
Mrs. A. S. Nichols .... W. E. Perkins.
..
9
63
5.05 p. m.
Miss Abbie Clapp.
... A. C. Robinson.
27
17
9.10 p. m.
Mrs. Mary Driscoll .... Henry Brooks.
Feb.
8
62
6.14 p. m.
William Weston.
. William A. Weston ... $1,500 00
$,300
$1,300
$1,100
$500
$500
Unoccupied.
9
62
12.10 a. m.
William Weston.
Mar.
9
33
7
47
12
15
9.55 a. m.
Albert W. Doyle.
Albert W. Doyle
380 00
1,000
380
225
500
225
13
15
2.40 p. m.
Mrs. C. L. Martin.
May
15
25
1.55 p. m.
Jno. B. Dixon.
Jno. B. Dixon .. C. F. Nickerson
250 00
250
2,961 250
250
800 None .
Unknown Unknown
June
12
42
4.40 p. m.
C. F. Nickerson
19
25
2.05 p. m.
Oil stove ..
Aug.
23
63
8.50 a. m.
Oct.
22
17
1.40 a. m.
James Wight, heirs ... E. F. Parker.
John T. Wall.
No loss .. . .
23
62
2.10 a. m.
No loss
Nov.
18 still
8.30 p. in.
Horton Mfg. Co
..
Peter White.
Peter White.
330 00
400
230
50
None . .
Children and matches. Sparks from chimney. Defective chimney ....
Apr.
11.05 a. m.
Mrs. M. Spaulding .
M. Spaulding
Incendiary Children playing fire. Sparks from chimney. Defective chimney .... Unknown.
8
62
6.14 p. m.
Chas. F. Nickerson
2,961 00
7,500
100
148
Edward H. Palmer
Mrs. Jas. Wight ..
Needless ....
.
Rats and matches. . Call to Wakefield .. Overheated oven ...
11.05 a. m.
The Department have travelled 124 miles. Laid 10,000 feet of hose. Used 345 feet of ladders. Used 36 gals. chemicals. Served 24 hours.
58
FINANCIAL STATEMENT OF FIRE DEPARTMENT.
Appropriation
$3,200 00
EXPENDED.
F. G. Nichols, salary. chief engineer, year ending May 1, 1899 $60 00
Chas. H. Stinchfield. salary, (clerk) engineer, year ending May 1, 1899 55 00 . Geo. L. Pratt, salary, engineer, Dec. 1, 1898, to May 1, 1899 . 20 83
L. T. Eames, engineer steamer No. 1, year ending Dec. 31, 1899 90 00
Ora L. Milbury, ass't engineer steamer No. 1, year ending Dec. 31, 1899 76 00
W. H. Bancroft, steward Hose 2, Oct. 1, 1898, to Nov. 1, 1899 . 70 00
E. H. Crowe, steward H. & L. No. 1, year ending May 1, 1899 35 00
Parker Nichols steward, hose No. 3, year ending May 1, 1899 30 00
Firemen's pay roll, May 1, 1898, to Apr. 15, 1899 1,169 51
W. A. Bancroft, horse service, hose No. 2, year ending Nov. 1, 1899 75 00
S. W. Bowker, horse service, year ending Nov. 1, 1899 160 00
E. H. Forbes, horse service, year ending Nov. 1, 1899 90 00
A. G. Nichols, horse service, hose No. 3 16 50
C. H. McIntire, “ 66 4 4 21 00
Borthwick Bros. "
3 65
C. H. McIntire, storage of hose No. 4, year ending May 1, 1899 15 00
Amount carried forward $1,987 49 $3,200 00
59
Amount brought forward
$1,987 49 $3,200 00
Geo. B. Stevens, care of hose, year ending
May 1, 1899 35 00
Geo. B. Stevens, cleaning extra hose . 19 30
C. L. Martin, use of horse 1 50
S. W. Bowker, " " " 15 75
J. B. Nichols, " " "
1 50
C. H. McIntire, use of wagon
15 00
W. A. Bancroft, " " pung
8 00
W. A. Bancroft, hauling Hose 2 to Wake- field 3 00
S. W. Bowker, horse service to Wakefield, 16 00
E. H. Forbes, 66 66
10 00
C. L. Martin, fuel
112 90
Reading Water Works, water rentals
14 07
S. S. Bell, manager, electric light and sup- plies . 15 50
J. H. Johnson, harness and supplies 135 00
Geo. H. Atkinson, supplies
5 51
Geo. M. Stevens, 66
12 88
C. Callahan, 66
4 00
I. H. Wiley, 66
2 25
Fuller, Leonard & Small, supplies
13 25
Heseltine & Co., 3 00
Francis Bros., hardware and labor 42 21
Boston Coupling Co., supplies and repairs 22 75
Geo. L. Pratt, labor and supplies 6 96
W. Bancroft & Co., labor and supplies 67 87
Henry K. Barnes, two extinguishers 36 00 .
66 66 supplies 3 85
Samuel Brown, repairs
25
Horton Mfg. Co., “
2 51
Amount carried forward
$2,613 30
$3,200 00
60
Amount brought forward $2,613 30 $3,200 00
Fife Bros., Carter & Co., repairs . 2 25
W. H. Twombly & Sons, printing stationery 3 00
C. K. Littlefield, care of flag 2 00
O. O. Ordway, repairs 8 35
Cummings Express, expressing
4 05
American Express Co., 66
1 00
Borthwick Bros., labor
3 50
A. T. Perkins, labor 75
L. T. Eames, 66
2 00
F. G. Nichols 4 50
C. H. Stinchfield, stationery, stamps, etc. 1 42
S. Clement, Jr., services as fireman
8 50
W. G. Heselton,
1 50
F. M. Cook, 66 66
1 50
F. W. Cail,
66 66
2 00
J. J. O'Brien,
1 75
Webster Eames,
8 45
S. E. Harrow,
66 66
6 50
Thos. Clement, 66 66 66
6 75
Reading Lunch Room, refreshments
2 00
$2,685 07 $3,200 00
FIRE ALARM. EXPENDED.
L. T. Eames, Supt. Fire Alarm, Jan. 1, 1899, to Jan. 1, 1900 $ 75 00
Geo. M. Stevens, supplies
211 62
Beattie Zinc Works Co., supplies
107 50
Francis Bros., supplies
4 83
J. H. Johnson,
1 50
Amount carried forward
$400 45 $3,200 00
66
61
Amount brought forward
$400 45 $3,200 00
W. Bancroft & Co., supplies and labor
34 29
Fife Bros., repairs
50
Horton M'fg Co., repairs
45
Cummings Express, expressing
5 55
J. Weasel, labor
50
F. S. Vermille, labor
30 62
J. A. Boyd, labor
10 00
$482 36
Unexpended
32 57
$3,200 00 $3,200 00
FIRE ALARM BOX NO. 27.
Appropriation ·
$50 00
EXPENDED.
Geo. M. Stevens, box and supplies
$48 76
Unexpended .
1 24
$50 00
$50 00
NEW HOSE.
Appropriation
$250 00.
EXPENDED.
Eureka Hose Co., 450 feet surprise hose and couplings
$250 00
$250 00
$250 00.
REPORT OF TRUSTEES OF LAUREL HILL CEMETERY.
The Trustees believe they have made a wise expenditure of the money appropriated for Laurel Hill Cemetery.
While without a stretch of the imagination the amount allotted us could not be termed "liberal," satisfactory results have been accomplished.
The general appearance of the Cemetery, we believe, has never been better than during the past year. In addition to the general work of keeping the Cemetery in good repair, paved gutters have been put in where urgently needed, and a portion of the new part near the Highland street entrance levelled, graded and sown to grass.
The Trustees wish to publicly express their feeling of loss in the death of the late Oren N. Jones, whose services in the Cemetery have been invaluable to the Town. They were able to place im- plicit confidence in his judgment, and by his varied capabilities he was able to accomplish a great deal at minimum expense. It is not probable that he can be fully replaced by any one man.
The Trustees recommend that the sum of $1,100 be appro- priated for the coming year. This sum is named after a most con- servative estimate of the needs.
GALEN A. PARKER, Chairman, A. W. DANFORTH, Supt. and Sec'y, ALDEN BATCHELDER, W. E. TWOMBLY, GALEN A. PARKER, HERBERT BARROWS,
Trustees of Laurel Hill Cemetery.
63
LAUREL HILL CEMETERY.
Appropriation
$900 00
Amount received from sale of lots
160 00
EXPENDED.
Merrick & Adams, shrubs, etc. $10 00
W. B. Jeffrey & Co., plants
13 00
F. Wallace, killweed 1 00
Francis Bros., hose and tools
12 35
Osgood & Hart, castings 10 50
T. Groom & Co., record book for bequests
5 75
O. O. Ordway, sharpening tools, etc.
4 88
O. N. Jones, labor, team, etc.
484 35
J. Zwicker, labor
192 17
W. S. Hadley," .
101 24
Stephen Hadley, labor
. 104 83
F. J. Hadley, 66
19 50
R. Dulong, 66
10 51
Albert Green, 66
20 25
J. H. Jennings, 66
18 00
W. E. Coney, 66
22 50
H. S. La Clair, 66
7 58
Percy Jeffrey, 66
5 00
A. L. Jones,
66
4 00
Edmund Buxton,
6 25
Leon Dyer,
8 67
Overdrawn .
2 33
$1,062 33
$1,062 33
BOARD OF HEALTH REPORT.
To the Citizens of the Town of Reading :
The Board of Health most respectfully submit the annual re- port for the year ending December 31, 1899.
Number of cases of Contagious Diseases 48, as follows :
Diphtheria, 9
Measles,
13
Scarlet fever,
23
Typhoid fever,
3
No deaths.
Number of permits to do plumbing, 109
66 " lay drains, 66
All of the work in this line has, with few exceptions, been done in a very satisfactory manner.
As usual there have been a great number of complaints re- ceived of surface drains and the unhealthy condition of cesspools, and we have endeavored to adjust such matters in a careful way, and in most cases the parties have conformed to the rules of the Board when notified thereof.
The Board would recommend to property holders that cellars, vaults, cesspools and drains of all sorts be thoroughly cleansed be- fore warm weather, and thus prevent the occurrence of those forms of illness due to bad drainage, which are so much more easily pre- vented than stayed.
The Board asks the hearty co-operation of every citizen in the maintenance of the healthful condition of our town, by suggestions of ideas and the report of any and all unsanitary circumstances which may come to their notice.
65
Your Board is always ready to give advice, so far as able, upor any matter pertaining to the public health. Our plumbing inspec- tor, who is expert in his calling, will be pleased to answer any in- quiries pertaining to plumbing, and give advice if wished.
The Board feel grateful to Inspector Tukey for his cheerful disposition in assisting the Board where his duties have not actually called him to do so.
To the Honorable Board of Selectmen and citizens we extend our hearty thanks for hearty co-operation.
Respectfully submitted, GEO. F. DOW, M. D., Chairman, CALVERT H. PLAYDON, M. D. V., FREDERIC D. MERRILL, Secretary,, Board of Health ..
For financial statement see Miscellaneous Account of Selectmen. Reading, January 1, 1900.
PLUMBING.
To the Honorable Board of Health, Town of Reading :
GENTLEMEN :- I respectfully submit to you the following report of duty performed since Dec. 31, 1898.
There have been 109 permits granted to date. The work has been inspected, tested, and found free from leakage, and left in a satisfactory condition, and in the performance of my duty I have made 259 visits.
I have answered 208 questions relative to plumbing.
There has been one violation of the ordinance rectified by your board.
Found one journeyman without his license renewed. Assisted in the examination of one applicant for master plumber.
I wish to thank the Secretary and other members of the Board, also the craft, for their kind co-operation.
Most respectfully submitted,
GREENLEAF S. TUKEY,
Inspector.
READING, Jan. 1, 1900.
REPORT OF INSPECTOR OF ANIMALS AND PROVISIONS.
To the Honorable Board of Selectmen :
I wish to submit the following report for the year ending Jan. 1,1900.
The State Board of Cattle Commissioners having received an appropriation with which to pay for animals condemned as tuber- colous, ordered an examination of all cattle, sheep and swine kept within the town limits. They also ordered an examination of the buildings where same were kept, in regard to light, ventilation, drain- age, water supply, etc. The examination was completed by Nov. 20, 1899, and all animals which showed evidence of contagion in any way were destroyed. I may also state that previous to the order from the State Board a strict watch had been kept and several cases of contagious diseases of the horse having been found they were destroyed at the owners' loss.
The inspection of meats and provisions now come under the head of Board of Health matters and will be referred to there.
Most respectfully submitted,
CALVERT H. PLAYDON, M. D. V. Jan. 1, 1900.
REPORT OF THE CHIEF OF POLICE FOR THE YEAR ENDING DEC. 31, 1899.
To the Honorable Board of Selectmen of Reading:
GENTLEMEN :- I have the honor of submitting to you my sixth annual report of the doings of the Police Department, for the year. Number of arrests 43
Causes of arrest.
Assault
2
Breaking and entering
1
Bastardy
2
Cruelty to animals
1
Disturbing the peace
2
Disorderly house (keeping)
1
Drunkenness
15
Default
1
False weights (using)
1
Insane .
2
Incest .
2
Larceny
2
Non-support
2
Neglected children
2
Profane language (using)
1
Railer and brawler
1
Tramp
1
Vagrancy
4
43
69
Arrested on Warrants
. 19
Arrested without Warrants .
. 24
43
Residents
24
Non-residents
19
43
White
42
Colored
1
43
Adults
. 39
Minors
.
4
43
Males
40
Females
3
43
NATIVITY OF PERSONS ARRESTED.
Canada
1
England
1
Italy
2
Ireland
2
Nova Scotia
1
Scotland
1 33
Russia
1
St. Kitz
1
43
OCCUPATION OF PERSONS ARRESTED.
Bookkeeper . · Butcher
2
.
1
United States
70
Chair worker
1
Farmer
1
Gardener
1
Hostler
1
Housewife
3
Junk dealer ·
1
Laborer
13
Merchant
1
Mason
1
None
6
Rubber worker
1
Stone cutter
2
Student
1
Shoemaker
1
Salesman .
1
Tailor
1
Teamster
1
Washer woman
1
Morocco worker
1
Laster
1
43
DISPOSITION OF CASES.
Defaulted
2
Fined
14
Committed for non-payment
3
Committed on sentence .
10
Committed for grand jury
3
Discharged
1
Committed to State Almshouse
2
Committed to lunatic hospital
2-
Placed on file
8
Amount of fines imposed
$140 00
Amount of fines paid
118 00
1
71
In the case of cruelty to animals the fine of $25.00 goes to the use of the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. In the cases of non-support the fines, $20.00, go to the complainant. (wife), leaving us a balance of $73.00.
Total of sentences to penal institutions, five years, eight months and ten days.
Accidents reported
4
Assisted home
1
Bicycles found
1
Complaints received and investigated
134
Disturbances suppressed
2
Dead bodies cared for
Dogs killed
11
Defective streets and sidewalks found
5
Fires discovered and alarm given
3
Lanterns hung in dangerous places
3
Lost children returned to parents
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.