USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Reading > Town of Reading Massachusetts annual report 1899 > Part 6
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5 00
P. J. Seaman, sundries
50
F. A. Warren, resetting boilers
85 89
Francis Bros., sundries
25
W. Bancroft & Co., brick, etc. 3 45
J. H. Carleton, fire brick, etc. 14 25
C. A. Claflin & Co., hose and gaskets . 9 16
$138 74
REPAIRS OF ELECTRIC PLANT.
Horton Manuf'g Co., turning armature
$2 50
Westinghouse Electric and Manuf'g Co., armature coils, etc. . .
41 64
Pettingell, Andrews & Co., supplies
48
Francis Bros., supplies
20
Crown Woven Wire Brush Co., brushes
18 00
Horton Manuf'g Co., grinding commutator 4 72
Pay rolls, 1899
2 00
$69 54
STATION TOOLS AND APPLIANCES.
Francis Bros., sundries $23 08
F. E. Fitts Manuf'g and Supply Co., sundries 1 00
E. C. Metcalf, cuspidores 1 35
H. K. Austin, gasolene
30
F. Wallace, lanterns
1 40
O. O. Ordway, repairing
75
H. M. Viall, express .
25
P. J. Seaman, sundries
3 90
$32 03
131
WAGES CARE OF LIGHTS.
Pay roll, 1899 . .
$743 50
REPAIRS OF LINES AND LAMPS.
Francis Bros., sundries
$5 76
H. M. Viall, express .
2 30
Littlefield & Kennedy, repairing transformers 124 20
E. O. Lundin, carbon holders 9 52
Boston and Maine R. R., freight
50
American Express Co., express
40
Western Electric Co., carbon holders
16 85
Pay roll, 1899
91 93
$251 46
CARBONS.
Standard Carbon Co., carbons
$152 64
H. M. Viall, freight and express 25 30
$177 94
GENERAL SALARIES.
S. S. Bell, manager
$1,200 16
A. R. Prentiss, clerk
250 00
$1,450 16
GENERAL OFFICE EXPENSES.
Aaron R. Gay, invoice book $3 20
American Express Co., express
15
A. W. Danforth, oil for floor
1 50
Electrical Engineer, subscription 3 00
M. F. Charles, P. M., stamped envelopes 21 80
H. Prentiss, P. M.,
11 20
W. H. Twombly & Sons, stock and printing
19 25
H. M. Viall, express 30
A. R. Prentiss, sundries
3 07
$63 47
132
RENT.
Reading Masonic Temple Corp. . .
$132 00
INSURANCE.
$489 28
Salem Savings Bank, notes $112 50
E. F. Parker, treasurer, bonds
1,840 00
Warren Institution for Savings, notes
280 00
Peoples' Savings B'nk, Brockton, "
140 00
$2,372 50
INCIDENTALS.
Reading Co-operative Association, supplies
$1 95
Meyers Putz Pomade Co., Putz pomade 1 90
. H. M. Viall, express
2 20
Standard Chemical Co., supplies .
5 60
Francis Bros., sundries
55
Standard Chemical Co., soaposo
9 75
Pay roll, 1899
170 13
$192 08
STABLE.
C. H. Playdon, veterinary service
$7 75
F. P. Abbott, board and care of horse
240 00
F. H. White,
240 00
C. D. Wells, shoeing .
17 75
Z. S. Richards, "
9 50
P. J. Seaman, iron work
32 90
J. H. Johnson, repairing harnesses
4 15
R. C. Totten, iron work
2 00
G. H. Atkinson, 6 stable brooms
3 00
F. W. Danforth, painting wagons
11 00
W. C. Taylor, repairing harnesses
3 20
Francis Bartley, blankets
2 50
John A. Blunt, shoeing
3 75
$577 50
Field & Cowles . INTEREST.
133
WIRING, LABOR AND FIXTURES.
N. Y. Insulated Wire Co., wire $169 40
McKenney & Waterbury, fixtures 362 85
American Express Co., express . 2 24
C. S. Knowles, supplies, cable, conduits
87 42
Electric Gas Lighting Co., supplies
85 26
Bibber-White Co., supplies 13 10
Western Electric Co., “
198 82
Francis Bros., sundries
12 33
H. M. Viall, freight and express
23 99
Pettingell, Andrews Co., supplies
170 93
P. J. Seaman, iron work
80
Beattie Zinc Works, battery supplies 1 40
Boston and Maine R. R., freight 11 72 .
F. O. Dewey Co., conduit 15 00
Westinghouse Electric and Manuf'g Co., supplies 63
E. R. & E. H. Tarbell, fixtures refinished 2 15
S. S. Bell, sundries
1 00
Belcher & Loomis Hardware Co., wire and cleats
30 00
Anchor Electric Manuf'g Co., wire and moulding 2 40
266 30
Pay roll, 1899
Springfield Local Telephone Co., telephones 24 00
$1,481 74
Total charges to maintenance account
$12,174 48
SUMMARY.
Credits to maintenance account . . $12,958 91
Less charges above and · $12,174 48
Less amount due construction
501 98 12,676 46
$282 45
134
Cash on hand, Dec. 30, 1899
$13 04 Amount loaned construction account . 269 41
$282 45
RECAPITULATION.
COST OF MAINTENANCE, INCLUDING INTEREST ON BONDS AND
NOTES, YEAR OF 1899.
Fuel .
. $1,268 44
Oil and waste
133 18
Water
43 09
Station wages
2,457 96
Repairs real estate
99 87
steam plant
138 74
elecric plant
69 54
Station tools
32 03
Wages, care of lights
743 50
Carbons
177 94
General salaries .
1,450 16
General office expenses
63 47
Rents
132 00
Insurance
489 28
Incidentals
192 08
Interest
2,372 50
Stable
577 50
Wiring, labor and fixtures
1,481 74
-- $12,174 48
Add
Amount due from wiring and labor, Dec. 31, 1898
$625 89
Maintenance stock on hand, Dec. 31, 1898 . 761 77
Amount due from consumers for light, meter rent and sundries, Dec. 31, 1898 863 36
$2,251 02
Repairs of lines and lamps
251 46
135
BILLS PAYABLE.
Chas. A. Claflin & Co.
$17 35
Pettingell, Andrews & Co. .
36 16
Knowlton Packing Co.
10 94
N. Y. Insulated Wire Co.
32 72
Western Electric Co.
90 46
R. B. McKeen
85
Jenkins Bros.
1 43
Anchor Electric Co.
7 20
C. S. Knowles
8 10
Elec. Gas Lighting Co.
11 18
Belcher, Loomis & Co.
25 07
Reading Planing Mill
25
Horton Man'f'g Co.
5 90
Standard Carbon Co.
39 91
Harris Oil Co.
52 44
Reading Water Works
67 99
Field & Cowles .
24 37
Curran & Burton
449 82
882 14
$15,307 64
Deduct am't rec'd in 1899, viz:
Commercial Incandescent Light
. $1,853. 60
Domestic
2,168 16
Town 66
124 88
Meter rents
158 50
Wiring, labor and fixtures
1,770 32
Miscellaneous articles
8 00
Interest on deposits
2 95
Amount carried forward $6,086 41
136
Amount brought forward $6,086 41
Maintenance stock on hand Dec. 30, 1899
338 74
Amt. due Dec. 30, 1899, viz :
Commercial Incan. Light 551 13
Domestic
674 37
Town 66 66 30 73
Wiring, labor and fixtures
872 59
Meter rents
43 80
$8,597 77
Total cost of Maintenance, 1899
$6,709 87
Number of arc street lamps, 130.
Cost of each lamp for 1899 $51 61
INVENTORY.
CONSTRUCTION STOCK ON HAND DEC. 30, 1899.
14 Hard Pine Poles $66 15
5 Cedar Poles 12 50
175 lbs. Wire
35 00
204 Cross Arm Pins
2 55
34 Cross Arms
7 63
14 Headers
2 80
14 lbs. Solder
1 68
1 Mast Arms
14 00
40 Insulators
80
8 Pole Hoods
40 00
44 Cross Arm Braces
4 40
116 Insulators
2 32
28 Lag Screws
28
36 Bolts
36
75 lbs. Arc Cable
3 75
100 feet Lead Cable -
8 00
Amount carried forward $202 22
137
Amount brought forward $202 22
2 Converters 107 00
3 Meters 33 00
394 Incandescent Lamps
81 28
$423 50
MAINTENANCE STOCK ON HAND DEC. 30, 1899.
300 feet Moulding
$4 50
14 Cutouts 2 24
25 Switches
13 05
2 Receptacles .
2 30
196 Cord Adjusters
98
100 Bushings .
50
31 Rosettes
4 34
6 Sockets
1 08
623 Tubes .
2 74
108 Shade Holders
3 78
2 lbs. Compound
80
450 ft. Conduit
14 75
12 Cutouts
3 60
700 ft. Wire
6 75
183 lbs. Wire
4 44
250 ft Cord
6 00
40 Insulating Joints
10 00
2 gross Screws
50
120 C Knobs
60
14 Crow Feet
70
85 Fuse Plugs
1 70
7 Wire Cages .
70
2 Reflectors
1 50
2 lbs. Fuse Wire
80
5 1bs. Bell Wire
1 50
Amount carried forward $89 85
138
Amount brought forward
$89 85 51
3 Dry Batteries
8 Victor Bells
4 00
4 Carbon Batteries
1 08
200 Sockets
31 00
1 Electric Lamp
2 50
2 Cords Slabs
8 00
50 tons Coal
174 20
55 gals. oil
21 10
50 lbs. Waste
4 00
5 Arc Globes
2 50
$338 74
Total stock on hand Dec. 30, 1899 .
$762 24
No. of Incandescent Lamps installed in '99 594
Poles installed during 1899
27
Meters installed during 1899
30
Converters installed during 1899
8
Wire installed during 1899
21,000 feet
Coal used during 1899
525 tons
Number of consumers Dec. 31, 1898
151
66 66 66 added during 1899 .
52
Total
203
Number of consumers discontinued during 1899
31
Net increase
-
21.
139
Number of days and hours that street circuits were lighted during. year ending Dec. 30, 1899 :
Days. 25
Hours.
January
141
February
21
120
March
25
117
April
22
106
May
22
100
June
24
101
July
26
105
August
.
25
118
September
23
130
October
24
146
November
25
159
December
28
174
Total
290
1,517
Table showing the earnings each month from Incandescent light and meter rents and a comparison with the previous year :
Meter Rents.
1899 Total.
1898 Total.
January
Light $502 87
$12 10
$514 97
$520 44
February
377 30
12 20
389 50
349 02
March
404 35
15 70
420 05
378 00
April
281 78
12 30
294 08
297 21
May
278 04
13 30
291 34
204 21
June
200 29
14 70
214 99
148 00
July
159 63
10 10
169 73
148 81
August
275 35
12 80
288 15
235 15
September . .
391 47
20 00
411 47
269 72
October
581 23
17 60
598 83
427 93
November .
625 38
15 90
641 28
546 58
December .
666 84
18 00
684 84
476 30
Total
$4,744 53
$174 70
$4,919 23
$4,001 37
.
140
Less discount allowed for cash payment 173 87 139 41
$4,745 36 $3,861 96
COST OF ARC LAMP INSTALLED AT JUNCTION OF MAIN, MILL AND PEARL STREETS.
Appropriation
$100 00
300 lbs. No. 6 W. P. Wire, at 20c. $60 00
1 arc lamp complete, with hood
30 00
10 00 Labor
$100 00
The foregoing report shows a fairly good increase in the net earnings from incandescent lighting for the year 1899.
There has been a gain in the number of consumers, and the light furnished gives universal satisfaction. Quite a number have expressed their intention to wire their houses this year, so that the receipts should continue to increase.
The street lights have cost $51.61 each for the year, which is low in comparison with other towns that are supplied by corpora- tions. There is a great variation in the number of days and the number of hours that the lights are burning each day in the differ- ent towns. The prices range from $66 to $90 per lamp, per year, although the general price is $75, when the conditions are similar to our own.
For maintenance the current year, the Board are compelled to ask for the same amount that was voted last year, on account of the increase in the cost of coal and supplies.
Respectfully submitted,
HENRY ROBINSON, A. NEWELL HOWES, JAMES H. CARLETON,
Town of Reading Municipal Light Board.
ANNUAL REPORT
... OF THE ...
SCHOOL COMMITTEE
... OF THE ...
Town of Reading
For the Year Ending December 31, 1899.
School Committee.
WALTER S. PARKER, Chairman, Walnut St., Term expires 1902 GILMAN L. PARKER, Sec'y, Washington St., 1900 66
HORACE G. WADLIN, Woburn St.,
66
66 1902
MRS. ELLEN M. BANCROFT, Sanborn St., MRS. MARY L. NESMITH, Main St.,
1900
66 1901
HENRY C. PARKER, Chute St.,
66
1901
Superintendent of Schools. MELVILLE A. STONE.
Truant Officers.
FREDERIC D. MERRILL, ARTHUR E. DAVIS.
»
.
ORGANIZATION OF THE COMMITTEE.
WALTER S. PARKER, Chairman. GILMAN L. PARKER, Secretary.
SUB-COMMITTEES.
Finances and Accounts.
G. L. Parker,
H. G. Wadlin ..
W. S. Parker,
School Houses and Property.
H. C. Parker,
G. L. Parker. Rules and Regulations.
H. G. Wadlin,.
Mrs. Bancroft. Teachers and Salaries.
Mrs. Bancroft,
G. L. Parker.
Music and Drawing.
Mrs. Bancroft,
G. L. Parker.
Course of Study. H. G. Wadlin,
W. S. Parker,,
Mrs. Nesmith.
Books and Supplies.
Mrs. Nesmith.
H. G. Wadlin,
H. C. Parker,
W. S. Parker,
REPORT OF SCHOOL COMMITTEE.
The School Committee, in compliance with the requirements of the law, submits the following annual report of the condition and progress of the schools during the year ending December 31, 1899. We earnestly call the attention of the citizens of the Town to the report of the Superintendent and the recommendations therein contained.
There has been no marked change during the year in the gen- eral management of the schools with the possible exception of the fact that after careful consideration of the matter and a public meet- ing of the parents of the Haverhill District, it was deemed best to close the school and transport the pupils to the centre. This has been done.
COMMERCIAL COURSE.
We have not been able to introduce the studies of Stenography and Typewriting in the High School course this year on account of the necessary expense attending it. We are still strongly of the opinion that it would be wise to commence the study of those subjects as soon as the necessary means are available. It is evident that there is an urgent demand for the immediate introduction of these studies, and we have made up the estimates for the year with that in view.
MANUAL TRAINING.
We would call your attention to the recommendations of the Superintendent in regard to the introduction of manual training in some of the grammar grades. It has been tried in many places
148
and without exception it has been regarded as a valuable and wise acquisition to the course of study, and on accountofthe work it has not been considered an additional burden to the requirements of the course. The state has recognized the benefits to be derived from this branch of instruction by giving it the sanction of state law, and by adopting it we are but following the lead of the best educational thought and practice as exemplified in Germany, Eng- land, France, and Russia. The committee unanimously and heartily believe in the immediate adoption of manual training. We have called attention to this matter several times in past reports and in order to bring the matter before the voters we have asked for special appropriation for the introduction of manual training, thus giving the Town an opportunity of adopting or rejecting the pro- posed measure.
A very fine piano was purchased for the Highland School by money received from the proceeds of a concert given by the pupils of the schools, under the direction of Mr. Archibald, Supervisor of Music, and assisted by several musical artists. The school com- mittee, in behalf of the town, voted an appropriation of forty-four dollars to complete the amount necessary for the piano.
VACANCIES.
The terms of Gilman L. Parker and Ellen M. Bancroft, mem- bers of the Committee, expire at the ensuing town meeting.
APPROPRIATIONS.
The Committee recommends the sum of $18,500 for regular school expenses, $3,500 for school incidentals, $1,000 for salary of Superintendent, $500 for manual training, $500 for repairs on High School.
149
Adopted in School Committee February 3, 1900.
WALTER S. PARKER, Chairman, HORACE G. WADLIN, ELLEN M. BANCROFT, HENRY C. PARKER, MARY T, NESMITH, GILMAN L. PARKER, Secretary.
READING, Feb. 3, 1900.
REPORT OF THE SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS.
To the School Committee of the Town of Reading. Ladies and Gentlemen :
Herewith is respectfully submitted my first annual report, which is the seventh in the period of superintendency of the schools of Reading.
In considering the question of education in our public schools we must ever keep in mind the threefold nature of the pupils to be educated, and the work of supervision should be carried on with a proper regard for the physical, the mental, and the moral or spiritual well-being of the children.
Regarding the physical development of our pupils it is gratifying to report that in most of the schools an effort is made to secure proper exercise of the muscles by means of work in physical cul- ture, and we hope to be able to report still greater attention given to' this part of the work in the future.
Exercises of this kind, however, cannot wholly offset the evil effects of using desks and seats which do not allow a comfortable position while sitting, and to this phase of the work of supervision my attention was called directly upon entering upon my duties, July 1, 1899.
Upon the recommendation of my predecessor, it was decided to provide new seats for the Lowell Street school, and in effecting the change it was practical to throw out the cast-iron supports of the desks and seats designed for grammar grades, and replace-
151
them with those designed for primary grades, and by a small outlay for finishing the desk tops, the room presents an attractive appear- ance at about one-half the cost of entirely new furniture.
The school rooms at both Union Street and Prospect Street showed the same lack of adaptation to the grade of pupils occupy- ing them, and it affords me pleasure to be able to report that during the holiday vacation of a week it became possible to effect a change of the cast-iron fittings, so that now nearly one-half of them have been replaced by adjustable fittings and the children are now properly accommodated.
There now remain only the Chestnut Hill school and the Main Street school which should be treated in like manner during the summer vacation, when the tops can be refinished at the same time, and I recommend this for your consideration.
With the furnishing of one of the lower rooms in the High
. School building with adjustable furniture, just after the opening of school in September, I leave the matter of special attempt to secure an improvement in the physical conditions under which the teachers and pupils are required to do their work.
In connection with the thorough repair of the interior of Union Street and Prospect Street schools, it seemed specially fitting to expend more than the usual amount of money upon the repair of the desk tops, and, accordingly, the work of refinishing them was decided upon and, as a result, the year's work began with everything about those rooms looking bright and fresh as new.
The value of such surroundings can hardly be appreciated by those who are not familiar with the principles underlying the devel- opment of character in children.
We endeavor in these days to create a love for the beautiful in art and in nature, as we provide for the mural decoration of our school rooms and encourage the children to bring the beautiful flowers to school and interest them in the glowing sunsets, in con- nection with nature study. All this is designed to reach the spirit-
152
ual side of the child's nature and to lead upward to an appreciation of those things that are in keeping with homes of refinement and culture.
How little is the influence of these fine pictures compared with what it should be, when a child is forced to use a desk that bears the markings of two or more generations of pupils who have previously occupied it !
While it may be true that the lower grade pupils may be more susceptible to this influence than the older ones, even High School pupils are not beyond this. Accordingly it seemed best to repair the desks in the High School at considerable expense, in order to allow the silently working influence of environment to reinforce the requests and suggestions of the teachers in their efforts to secure conduct in keeping with that culture which properly constitutes a prominent feature in the life of the modern High School. It is to ' be hoped that the efforts of our special teacher in drawing to develop a love and appreciation for works of art will continue to be encour- aged by the committee and by the patrons of the schools, as calls shall be made from time to time for additional decorations for the various school rooms. The proper setting will be provided by the committee under the work of repairs.
NEW ROOMS.
Upon the opening of the schools, September 5th, it soon became evident that another room must be fitted up in the Highland School, if the pupils were to derive the benefit of well graded schools, and it was decided to open another room. As a result the teachers are enabled to carry on their work most advantageously and the progress of the pupils is correspondingly marked.
With the admission of the new pupils at the opening of the spring term, April 9th, it will be necessary to provide additional room, for the records show that the present enrollment in the primary rooms will not allow the admission of practically an additional room
153
of primary pupils, and I would urge upon your attention prompt consideration of this matter.
TRANSPORTATION.
Upon consultation with the people of Haverhill Street district, it was decided to transport the pupils of that school to the town schools. Your generous proposal to transport the pupils morning, noon, and night, was more liberal than most towns offer, and with the increase of numbers from pupils who otherwise would have walked to the town schools, it became impossible to carry it out for the four winters months, with the funds available. The success of the undertaking is apparent to all who mark the effect upon the pupils who are thus brought in competition with more of their own age, and into schools where the work of each grade is carried out more thoroughly than is possible in small schools with more than three grades.
COURSE OF STUDY.
Coming now to the consideration of the intellectual work of the schools, I wish first to refer to the change in the High School course of study. It was thought best to substitute Tarr's Elemen- tary Physical Geography for the former work in Geology and Astronomy in the science work of the senior class.
Apparatus has been purchased for conducting the work in Physics and Chemistry along the lines of the Harvard require- ments, and already the pupils are manifesting an increasing interest which augurs well for their success in these subjects.
Early in the present school year your attention was called to the desirability of extending the commercial work of the school, and the approval of the committee was manifested by a vote to add to the curriculum Typewriting and Stenography.
In accordance with this vote the work in Bookkeeping has been carried on in a way to lead up to these subjects at the proper
154
time, and considerable thought has been given to the matter of a commercial course. The addition of this line of work will necessi- tate the employment of another teacher, but we feel that the enroll- ment of over one hundred and fifty warrants our recommendation of this addition to the teaching corps of the High School.
In the lower grade work it is a pleasure to report that the teachers have been accomplishing excellent results in spite of having insufficient material in some lines. With Baldwin's. Physiology and Tarbell's Language Series now in the hands of the pupils, we can reasonably expect still better results in these subjects.
ARITHMETIC.
In the teaching of Arithmetic great gain has been made in the- last ten years, and the lines in which this advance has been made are in the concrete work of the lower grades, and in the adaptation of the work under different topics to the mental capacity of the child.
By the former plan the sense training of the Kindergarten is carried into the work of the primary grades, and by use of blocks. of suitable shapes and sizes the definite idea of ratio is established experimentally, and an excellent foundation is laid for the complete- mastery of the multiplication tables through a clearer appreciation of the ratios concerned.
The Speer number work gives special help for this develop- ment, and the work in first and second grades would be greatly strengthened by the use of the Speer number blocks. I recom- mend the purchase of a set of these for each primary building.
Adaptation to the capacity of the pupil is accomplished by what is called the "spiral plan" in numbers. Several series of arithmetics constructed on this plan are now available, but the. series that specially commends itself to the writer is the Werner Arithmetic, whose author has happily combined, in his first book,. the development of the ratio idea, which is emphasized by the Speer Arithmetic, and the introduction of various topics, as whole-
155
numbers, fractions, decimals, measurements or compound numbers, and percentage. By both of these plans the pupils are continually trained to an accurate use of the senses, to an exercise of the imag- ination in connection with surfaces and solids of various forms, and are given the least possible opportunity to fall into a mechanical way of performing the operations needed in the practical affairs of life.
I recommend that the first book of the Werner Arithmetic be placed in third and fourth grades to supplement the material now used.
GEOGRAPHY.
Upon taking up my work last July I found that an exchange had been effected with the Frye Primary Geography, the Frye. Elementary having been taken in its place. As the new book is an improvement upon the old in a general way and especially in having in the latter portion a supplement on the United States, I wish to submit for your consideration the plan of using this book in the sixth grade, using chiefly the supplement on the United States. This would defer the use of the Complete Geography till the seventh grade, when the pupils are better able to comprehend it.
READING.
In considering the work of our schools in reading it is a pleas- ure to be able to report a good supply of good supplementary material in the primary grades. A continuance of your liberal appropriation for suitable material for the grammar grades will put. this department of the work in a very satisfactory condition.
Reading should hold the first place in the work of the primary grades and even beyond those grades, for this is the study that makes possible the best results in nearly all lines of school work. In no other study can a teacher do so much toward developing a taste for good reading and so toward forming a high appreciation for the best in literature, the best in life.
156
With the materials that will soon be available it will be possi- ble to outline a course in reading that will be well adapted to the ability of the pupils in the different grades.
NATURE STUDY.
The work in Nature Study is carried on with a good degree of interest, but still better results will be obtained when a greater variety is secured for the pupils of different grades. Time and experience, together with suitable reference aids, will bring about improvement here.
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