USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Reading > Town of Reading Massachusetts annual report 1903 > Part 10
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This collection was sent later to Knoxville, Tenn., for the ben- efit of a summer school for teachers enrolling more than twenty- five hundred people, and soon after came the invitation to allow it to become a part of a permanent exhibit at the University of Tennessee.
We feel that we are to be congratulated upon having so effi- cient a director of this work, and I recommend that her suggestion regarding drawing in the High school be carried out.
In referring to the condition of Music in our schools, it is unfortunately necessary to report that Mr. Archibald, our Super- visor of Music for nine years, felt called to accept a position with the Salem Normal School at the close of last school year.
The position thus made vacant was soon filled by the election of Mr. Ernst Makechnie, who is also Supervisor of Music in Win- chester.
In spite of the change it is encouraging to be able to report that the work is carried on with enthusiasm and both teachers and
209
pupils look forward to his weekly visits with pleasing anticipation. In his report he refers to the condition of Music in our schools as follows :
"I may say without exaggeration that the Reading schools have been doing work in music that is above the average. In all that counts for good singing, accuracy of intonation, good quality of tone, and success in reading, the results are excellent.
"In the first grade the work consists of singing dictation exer- cises and rote songs. We present the tones of the scale and teach three sets of names : the first, the Italian syllables being used by the pupils in singing ; the second, the numerals ; and the third, the- intervals, or names for two combined tones, being used by the- teacher in giving commands.
"Pupils are taught to recognize tones and intervals by ear, and if a teacher plays easy combinations of tones on an instrument, first grade children can recognize them, sing them, and name them.
"After the tones and intervals have been learned and named, we. present the pictures (staff notation ) used to represent them, and, if the first step has been carefully taught, the second is easily learned .. Pupils of the second and third grades read easy exercises in any key with rapidity and ease. In these grades we encourage much individual singing.
"In grades IV to VIII inclusive we give more attention to voice. culture and to teaching the management of the voice with special reference to obtaining a soft, pure tone. We try to explain to boys. and alto girls that there are two registers ; that the lower one, called. the "chest voice," must not be carried or forced too high, which would produce a harsh or screaming voice, and we give exercises illustrating this point. In these grades we try to extend the com- pass of the sopranos by having them sing exercises with the vowels. a and oo. Incidental to the voice culture exercises are certain physical exercises in breathing.
"The High school work is of a more advanced character. Here
-
210
the pupils have mastered the difficulties of reading and they are ready to undertake more severe and exacting tasks.
"It is the custom, in teaching literature, to acquaint pupils with the works of the best authors and to give them familiarity with some complete works. This plan is rarely followed in music, but let it be said to the credit of the Committee and Mr. Archibald that more has been done in Reading in the direction of giving complete musical works than is generally done in schools.
"My experience with High school choruses leads me to believe that they have been very much underestimated both in their appre- ciation of classic works and in their ability to perform them success- fully.
"A beginning has been made in the formation and care of a library of octavo music. To this library I should like to add, each year, one cantata, and several smaller choruses representing the best musical authorship; for in music, as in literature, we can create a taste for the best by giving the best."
With this review of our work I wish to acknowledge the hearty cooperation of our teachers and express my sincere apprecia- tion to the members of the Committee for their helpful support.
Respectfully submitted, MELVILLE A. STONE, Supt. of Schools.
211
AN OUTLINE OF THE COURSE IN HISTORY
1st Year. Ancient History, including the following subjects : A study of the early eastern nations, first six weeks of the fall term ; Greek History through the conquest of the Greeks by the Romans, fifteen weeks; Roman History through the reign of Char- lemagne, or up to 800 A. D., nineteen weeks, four periods a week.
2nd Year. Mediaeval and Modern History. Myer's Mediaeval and Modern History as text book, forty weeks, three periods a week.
3rd Year. English History, forty weeks, three periods a week.
4th Year. Two courses to be offered this year.
(1) American History and Civil Government. Text book, McLaughlin's History of the American Nation ; forty weeks, four periods a week.
(2) A review course in Greek and Roman History for college preparatory students; forty weeks, three periods a week. Text books, Myer's Greece and Myer's Rome-Its Rise and Fall.
(
REPORT OF THE TRUANT OFFICER FROM JAN. 1, 1903, TO JUNE 30, 1903
To the Superintendent :
Number of absentees reported
42
Cases found to be truancy
18
Cases found to be sickness
4
Insufficiently clothed
10
Kept at home
8
Out of town
2
Taken to school
17
Respectfully submitted,
F. A. BUTTERS, Truant Officer.
REPORT OF THE TRUANT OFFICER
FROM SEPT. 8, 1903, TO DEC. 31, 1903
To M. A. Stone, Superintendent :
Number of absentees reported
10
Cases found to be truancy
7
Insufficiently clothed and kept by parents
3
Persuaded to attend school
7
Clothed and returned to school
3
Respectfully submitted,
A. A. SMITH,
Truant Officer.
Reading, Jan. 16, 1904.
GRADUATING EXERCISES
READING HIGH SCHOOL
CLASS OF 1903
OLD SOUTH CHURCH
THURSDAY EVENING, JUNE 25
AT 7.45 O'CLOCK
214
PROGRAM
"NULLA DIES SINE VICTORIA"
PRAYER
REV. W. W. BOWERS
SINGING, Gloria
From Mozart's Twelfth Mass SCHOOL
SALUTATORY AND ESSAY "The Fruits of Friendship" *BESSIE MAXWELL PARKER
ESSAY "Robert Burns and His Songs" FLORA MORVENA RAMSAY
CHORUS "From the Building of the Ship" Lahee SCHOOL
ORATION "The Working Man's Point of View" FREDERICK MELVIN DAY
ORATION "The Capitalists' Point of View" W. HOMER MORRISON
SINGING "Snow Flakes" GIRLS' CHORUS
Cowen
ESSAY "The Mystery of the Roses"
*ELSIE MITCHELL PRATT
SINGING "Hunting Song" SCHOOL
Smart
ORATION AND VALEDICTORY
"Prohibition as a Method of Dealing with Intemperance" *RICHARD JOHN WALSH "Pilgrim's Chorus" Wagner
SINGING
PRESENTATION OF DIPLOMAS
MR. WALTER S. PARKER
*Equal in Rank
215
NAMES OF GRADUATES
CLASSICAL COURSE
Richard John Walsh
Ruby Hopkinson Abbott
Clover Granger Elsie Mitchell Pratt
LATIN-SCIENTIFIC COURSE
Chester Warren Nichols
Augustus Curtis Wiswall
NORMAL COURSE
Helen Augusta Emerson Bessie Maxwell Parker
GENERAL COURSE
Lawrence Houghton Crafts
Frederick Melvin Day
Frank Edward Hutchins
William Homer Morrison Emma Jane Boyd
Margaret Stanslaw Canty Ethel Helena Howard
Florence Maude Muse
Flora Morvena Ramsay
Carrie May Ridlon
Helen Adelaide Roberts;
Hattie Frances Skillen
Ermina Josephine Smith
216
GRADUATES FROM THE HIGHLAND SCHOOL, 1903
Adams, Charles
Johnson, Francis Jones, Lelia
Austin, Irving C.
Batchelder, Bernice
Killam, A. Clare Lee, Bertha D.
Becker, Edgar
Blake, Earl C.
Marshall, Hollis O.
Bosson, Genevieve
McClure, Ernest
Brown, Harold A.
McGarry, Ellen
Buck, Malcom R.
Michilini, Asunta
Buckle, Edith
Morrison, Wm. H.
Canty, Daniel
Muse, Bella C. Newell, Josephine
Canty, Timothy
Carson, Amy
Nichols, Elsie A.
Chadwick, Marion
O'Brien, John
Chaney, Eugene Chase, Nancy
Parker, Jennie F.
Colby, Earl N.
Perry, Marion A.
Connelly, Agnes C.
Quinlan, Joseph F.
Cullinane, Mary C.
Daniels, Cora L.
Davis, Annie M.
Riley, Margaret S.
Doyle, Etta M.
Robinson, Charles
Eames, Forrest
Robinson, Violet B.
Esterberg, William
Flanders, Rena E.
Gear, Ralph Green, Florence M.
Hanscom, Beatrice
Hodson, Dotty M. Holmes, Terrence R.
Hunt, E. Norman Jewett, Philip L.
Smith, Rachel B. Stewart, Helen E. Wallace, Roscoe Walsh, Marion E. Welch, Lu Ida F. Weston, Nelson R.
Whall, Elizabeth
Whittier, Sumner C. Winship, Arthur G.
Parker, Charles J.
Ramsay, Donald Richardson, Harold
217
STATISTICS TAKEN FROM REPORT TO THE STATE BOARD IN APRIL, 1903, AND OTHER ITEMS OF INTEREST
NUMBER OF CHILDREN IN TOWN BETWEEN 5 AND 15 YEARS
Sept. 1899
832
1900
853
66 1901
890
66
1902
915
1903
967
NUMBER OF CHILDREN IN TOWN BETWEEN 7 AND 14 YEARS
Sept. 1899
648
66 1900
648
66 1901
680
1902
636
1903
682
Length of school year, 1902-1903
. 40 wks
Number of days lost from stormy days, etc.
19.5
Actual length of school year 9 mos. . 5 dys
Number of different pupils enrolled for the year ending June 20, 1903
1073
Average number in each of the twelve grades for first four months of school year :
YEAR I II III
IV
V
VI VII VIII IX x XI XII Spc. Tot'l
1899
120 103
102 87 108 75 93 68 56 46 17 23 5 903
1900 127 136 66
107 89
98 66 82 49 37 36
14 0 907
1901 177 102 108
77 105 87 97 64 61 42 28 25 5 978
1902 142 126
90
86 117 98 100 70 56 64
34 21 4 1008 1903 127 114 103 104 86 109 97
93 63 61 53 31 9 1050
TEACHERS IN SERVICE, WHERE EDUCATED, YEAR WHEN FIRST APPOINTED
ALSO ENROLLMENT FOR FOUR MONTHS ENDING DECEMBER 24, 1903
School
Grade
Teacher
Where Educated
Year First
Appointed
Salary
Total
Enrollment
Membership
Average
Attendance
Per cent. of
Attendance
Tardiness
Neither Absent
nor Tardy
High
Harry T. Watkins, Master
Colby University
1903
$1,700
224
215.7 209.6
97
122
75
Fred W. Gentleman, Sub-Mas. Dartmouth Salem Normal
1902
725
31
Christina M. Scott
1895
800
53
66
Y
Mabel S. Robbins
Boston University, 2 yrs.
1901
750
61
IX
Jennie E. Wier
Boston University
1901
750
64
Special
Jennie F. Currier
Radcliffe, Special
1900
750
10
Carrie L. Mason
Boston University
1902
575
Mildred L. Powell
State University of Maine
1903
550
:
Gertrude C. Brown
Boston, Paris, Lucerne
1903
550
Higliland
Alice Barrows, Principal
Bridgewater Normal
1880
950
VIII
Emma S. Page, Ass't Prin.
N. H. State Normal
1899
600
50
46.5 46.6
44.5 43.9
95.7
21
8
VII
Emma E. Morse
N. H. State Normal
1903
500
50
46.8
44.6
95.3
19
8
VII
Rosa E. Richardson
Hyannis Summer Sch., 2 yrs.
1903
450
52
48.3
45.4
94
77
3
VI
Cora .J. Gile
Gorham Normal
1903
475
50
45.4
40.7
89.6
34
1
66
VI
May M. Badger
Bridgewater Normal
1902
425
52
19.5
45.1
91.1
36
2
66
VI-V
Alice E. Hood
Concord, N. H., Training
1902
450
49
46.6
43.5
93.4
25
5
V
Edith A. Estes
Gorham Normal
1901
450
50
47
42.9
91.3
71
3
66
IV
Bessie G. Hurlbutt
Wellesley, 3 yrs.
1901
100
40
37.3
35.3
94.6
15
2
..
IV
Ada R. Evarts Laura C. Pollard, Principal
Salem Normal
1899
500
50
19.3
46.2
93.7
27
4
III
Ruth E. Lane
N. H. State Normal
1901
450
52
48.1
44.4
92.3
49
0
66
I
Myra K. Parker
Reading High
1898
400
46
41.7
36.7
88
38
1
John St.
II
M. Grace Wakefield
Salem Normal
1890
450
47
43.3
43
99
32
5
I
Lucy E. Morgan
Oberlin College
1894
500
47
42.4
37.2
87.7
56
3
Prospect St.
IV-III
Margaret C. Duncan
Worcester Normal
1903
450
45
41.6
38.9
93.5
79
2
II-I
Clara B. Wright
Lowell Normal
1902
425
56
47.5
43.4
91.3
168
1
Chestnut Hill
VI-V-IV Gertrude B. Howard
Lowell Normal
1902
350
23
18.7
17.6
94.1
8
3
IH-II-I Florence B. Parker
Lowell Normal
1900
400
22
17.6
13.9
78.9
32
0
Lowell St.
III-II-I
Mary W. Gill
Quincy Training
1902
400
25
35.3
29.2
82.7
12
1
Annie B. Parker
Prang's Normal
1892
425
Ernst Makechnie
Graduated under Holt and Eichberg ; Paris 1 yr.
1903
500
Sewing
Mary J. Wilson
1902
125
Manual Training
Walter F. Brackett
1902
480
New Haven Normal
1902
400
43
43.9
40.3
91.8
57
4
Union St.
ILI
Annie P. Reid
Reading High
1884
400
51
45.3
41.1
90.7
30
4
VIII
Florence B. Messer
Mt. Holyoke College
1903
425
48
94.3
36
XII XI
Average
Cases of
Special Teachers Drawing Music
219
FINANCIAL STATEMENT
Appropriations :
General, for superintendent, teachers,
janitors and fuel
. $22,500 00
Contingent, for incidentals, books and
supplies
3,500 00
Received for tuition
677 00
Received for rent
13 00
Received for material sold
8 31
$26,698 31
EXPENDITURES
Paid for teachers, janitors, and fuel . $20,810 55
Paid incidental expenses
2,077 19
Paid for books and supplies
2,359 53
Paid Superintendent of Schools
1,000 00
Transportation
424 50
Truant Officer
20 00
Rent of Main st. lot Total expenses
5 00
$26,696 37
Balance
1 94
General appropriation
$22,500 00
Paid Superintendent
. $ 1,000 00
Paid teachers
. 17,824 62
Paid janitors
1,654 08
Paid fuel
1,331 45
Paid transportation
424 50
Paid Truant Officer
20 00
Paid rent of Main st. lot
5 00
Balance
-
$22,259 65 240 35
220
Appropriations for incidentals, and sup-
plies . $3,500 00
Received for tuition
677 00
Received for rent
13 00
Received for material sold
8 31
$4,198 31
Paid incidental expenses
$2,077 19
Paid for books and supplies
2,359 53
$4,436 72
Overdraft .
238 41
Balance on general account
240 35
Unexpended balance .
1 94
SUPPORT OF SCHOOLS
PAID TEACHERS OF HIGH SCHOOL
F. E. Whittemore, 6 mos.
. $1,050 00
Harry T. Watkins, 4 mos. 680 00
Fred W. Gentleman
680 00
Mabel S. Robbins
750 00
Jennie E. Wier
735 00
Jennie F. Currier
720 00
Carrie L. Mason
560 00
Clara D. Merriman
416 07
M. Hannah Wait
33 93
Mildred L. Powell
220 00
Christina M. Scott
320 00
Gertrude C. Brown
60 00
$6,225 09
HIGHLAND SCHOOL
Alice Barrows
$920 00
Emma S. Page
559 00
Amount carried forward
$1,479 00
221
Amount brought forward
$1,479 00
Florence B. Messer
340 50
Esther G. Bailey
116 07
Mabel R. Miller
37 50
Rosa E. Richardson
432 46
Cora J. Gile
336 25
May M. Badger
392 94
Emma E. Morse
200 00
Alice E. Hood
433 31
Edith A. Estes
433 31
Jennie A. Drew
375 00
Bessie G. Hurlbutt
376 52
Margaret C. Duncan
253 41
Ada R. Evarts
100 00
$5,306 27
UNION ST. SCHOOL
Laura C. Pollard
$498 12
Ruth E. Lane
433 31
Annie P. Reid
400 00
Myra K. Parker
400 00
$1,731 43
JOHN ST. SCHOOL
Lucy E. Morgan
$500 00
M. Grace Wakefield
450 00
$950 00
PROSPECT ST. SCHOOL
Maud B. Kenerson
$222 89
Clara B. Wright
410 00
Margaret C. Duncan
180 00
$812 89
222
CHESTNUT HILL SCHOOL
Gertrude B. Howard
$341 46
Ada R. Evarts
280 77
Florence B. Parker
100 00
.
$722 23
LOWELL ST. SCHOOL
Mary W. Gill . .
$382 09
SPECIAL TEACHERS
Annie B. Parker, drawing
$410 00
F. W. Archibald, music
390 00
Ernest Makechnie, music
200 00
Mary J. Wilson, sewing
125 00
Walter F. Brackett, manual training
452 00
$1,577 00
SUBSTITUTES
Mrs. Abbie Granger
$77 00
Mrs. Frances S. Mansfield
4 00
Mrs. Mabel Nutter
3 28
Mrs. Emma F. Bird
6 00
May E. Clapp
3 94
Florence B. Parker
1 00
Marion Pratt
8 26
Jennie B. Parker
4 23
E. Laura Moore
10 00
$117 71
PAID JANITORS
Clement Gleason, Highland . $783 33
Frank A. Butters, (7 mos.) High, Union St.
and John St.
390 00
Amount carried forward $1,173 33
223
Amount brought forward $1,173 33
Harry E. Jenkins, (5 mos.) High, Union St.
and John St.
204 50
Herbert Stock, High, Union St. and John St. 26 25
Timothy Cummings, Prospect St. 120 00
Charles F. Bessom, Lowell St.
50 00
Robert E. Parker, Chestnut Hill
80 00
$1,654 08
GENERAL FUND
FUEL
Bancroft, Wendell & Co.
$397 91
Barrows, H. C. .
28 13
Batchelder, H. W.
6 00
Bessom, Charles F.
2 00
Butters, Frank A.
3 00
Cummings, Timothy
1 00
Johnson, H. R.
127 50
Leach, W. H.
10 50
Martin, Calvin L.
423 41
Parker, Asa
16 50
Parker, Robert E.
2 00
Ramsdell, Geo. E.
6 00
Smith, Robert C.
7 50
$1,331 45
TRANSPORTATION
Borthwick Bros. .
$320 00
Lawrence & Reading St. Ry.
168 50
$488 50
TRUANT OFFICER
Frank A. Butters
$20 00
Rent of Main St. School lot
$5 00
224
CONTINGENT ACCOUNT
American Express
$17 75
Atkinson, Geo. H.
14 49
Babb, E. E. & Co.
60
Bancroft, F. J.
15 00
Bancroft, Lewis M.
99 70
Bancroft, Wendell & Co.
41 64
Beattie Zinc Works
60
Bent, L. G.
5 94
Bessom, Chas. F.
15 45
Blunt, John A.
2 00
Brown, Frederick H.
14 00
Burgess, R. P. .
13 00
Chandler Adjustable Chair and Desk Works
246 00
Chandler & Barber
6 21
Charles, M. F.
16 25
Clapp, R. D.
34 76
Cook, A. S. & Co.
25 92
Cook, W. F.
43 54
Cummings' Express
68 21
Cummings, Timothy
4 50
Electric Light and Power Dept.
32 69
Eames, L. T.
9 85
Francis Bros.
254 82
Gleason, J. W.
6 00
Harding, H. H.
2 00
Hammett, J. L. Co.
1 87
Jenkins, H. E.
3 25
Johnson, H. R.
215 18
Kendall, H. C.
5 55
Knott, L. E. Co.
50 91
Amount carried forward
$1,267 68
.
225
Amount brought forward
$1,267 68
McDonald Bros.
19 00
McLean, J. W. & Co.
5 50
Meyers, C. F.
16 99
Miller, H. F. & Sons
8 00
Murphy, J. A.
13 00
Muse, John
27 00
Old South M. E. Church
22 50
Ordway, O. O.
75
Parker, Henry M.
16 00
Parker, Stillman E.
40 00
People's Gas & Electric Co.
15 00
Reading Water Works
137 48
Reading Masonic Asso.
11 00
Stearnes & Henderson
18 52
Stock, John
19 00
Stone, Melville A.
117 06
Symonds, O. P. & Sons
17 86
Tuttle, A. M. & Co.
220 00
Twombly, W. E. & J. F.
18 25
Typewriter Exchange
38 00
Watkins, H. T.
5 60
Webster, Cook & Co.
16 00
Whall, Thomas
7 00
Zwicker, J.
1 00
$2,077 19
SUPPLIES ACCOUNT
Allyn & Bacon
$148 28
American Library Co.
12 00
American Book Co.
.
137 78
Amount carried forward
$298 06
.
226
Amount brought forward
$298 06
Appleton, D. & Co.
8 04
Atkinson, Geo. H.
9 83
Atkinson & Mentzer
12 54
Babb, E. E. & Co.
417 89
Baird, A. F.
10 00
Bancroft, Wendell & Co.
109 54
Barnard, F. J. & Co.
257 64
Birchard, C. C. & Co.
4 00
Carter, Rice & Co.
7 00
Continental Brush Co.
44 10
Cook, A. S. & Co.
5 83
Ditson, Oliver & Co.
18 48
Eagle Pencil Co.
78 29
Ginn & Co.
470 28
Globe School Book Co.
11 25
Green, G. W.
3 50
Hammett, J. L. Co.
18 15
Harding, H. H.
30 00
Healey, Jas. A.
4 55
Heath, D. C. & Co.
24 30
Holt, Henry & Co.
19 80
Houghton, Mifflin & Co.
28 32
Kenney Bros. & Wolkins
31 71
King, Geo. F. & Co.
4 00
Knott, L. E. Apparatus Co.
27 49
MacMillan Co., The
37 76
Metcalf, E. C.
1 17
Nichols, Arthur E.
3 00
Morse Co., The
6 00
Murphy, Leavens & Co.
9 00
Amount carried forward
$2,008 52
227
Amount brought forward
$2,008 52
Parker & Page
29 17
Rand, McNally & Co.
10 45
Reading Co-operative Ass'n
4 10
Silver, Burdett & Co.
155 16
Suffolk Ink Co.
4 00
Talbot Co., The
3 00
Thompson, Brown & Co.
33 00
Twombly, W. E & J. F.
9 75
Typewriter Exchange
29 92
Wadsworth, Howland & Co.
75
Willis, W. H.
1 81
Wilson, Mary J.
7 10
Winchester, Geo. A.
62 80
$2,359 53
PUBLIC LIBRARY
Appropriation
$900 00 Proceeds of dog tax, 1902 554 30
EXPENSES
Rent:
Odd Fellows' Building Association
$475 00
Light :
Reading Electric Light Department
$38 07
.
Salaries :
L. S. Cox, librarian 175 00
B. L. Brown, librarian and assistant 142 50
Clover Granger, assistant . 6 50
B. Y. Smith, janitor 5 00
Chas. Stinchfield, janitor
25 93
$354 93
Books :
Harper Bros.
$21 00
H. S. Meek
2 00
Scribners' Sons
4 50
Essex Pub. Co.
51 76
Desmond Pub. Co. .
16 00
Old Corner Book Store
165 29
C. E. Lauriat Co.
214 01
$474 56
Periodicals :
A. W. Danforth, subscriptions $36 60
Harper Bros.
5 00
$41 60
Amount carried forward
$1,384 16 $1,450 30
229
Amount brought forward Sundries :
$1,384 16 $1,450 30
W. E. & J. F. Twombly, printing $33 00
F. J. Barnard, binding ·
2 00
Allen, Hall & Co., furnishings .
20 50
Henry Johnson
14 64
$70 14
$1,454 30
$1,454 30
FINE ACCOUNT
Amount on hand Jan. 1, 1903
$157 00
Received for catalogues
4 30
Received for cards
6 00
Received for fines
53 13
$220 43
Paid for binding books
$50 68
Paid for cleaning
6 50
Paid for express
5 70
Paid for books and incidentals
6 57
$69 45
Balance
$150 98
The following volumes have been presented to the Library :
NAMES OF DONORS
NUMBER OF VOLUMES
U. S. Documents and Reports
16
Commonwealth of Massachusetts
26
Others
7
49
Number of new volumes added
371
Total number in library
9,961
Circulation, year ending Dec. 31, 1903
17,821
230
Largest single month, March
1,761
Smallest, July 1,396
Miss Lizzie S. Cox, who had filled the position of librarian since June 5, 1876, resigned August 1, 1903. The vacancy was filled by the selection of Miss Bertha Brown, who had assisted Miss Cox during the preceding year, and Miss Clover Granger was appointed assistant.
The Trustees have been notified by Mrs. Annie C. Lawrence Perley, administratrix of the estate of Miss Climena Wakefield, that the library is to receive a legacy of $200 from this estate. The amount will be paid to the Town Treasurer, and held subject to the order of the Trustees for the benefit of the library. Miss Wakefield was always a sincere friend of the library, and before her death had enriched it by generous gifts of books.
Except the incidents noted, the past year has been uneventful. The plan adopted early in the year of placing new accessions upon open shelves, where the books can be examined by patrons, has evidently been appreciated, and has resulted in promoting the cir- culation, which shows a considerable increase as compared with the preceding year. We regret to allude again to the disorderly con- duct of a few of the young persons who frequent the library. Some of them fail to understand that the room is not intended for social meetings, and that loitering cannot be permitted there, nor any use of the library which does not accord with its purpose.
It may be found necessary to suspend certain offenders from library privileges, until such time as they show a dispos tion to con- form to the rules. The Trustees are determined to enforce disci- pline within the building, in the interest of the patrons of the library, and they trust that they will receive the hearty co-operation and assistance of the parents of the young people who, perhaps thoughtlessly, are disinclined to conform to such reasonable regula- tions as are necessary.
The Trustees believing that it will be for the convenience of
231
patrons to extend the evening service have arranged to have the library open on the evenings of Wednesdays as well as Saturdays, and have dispensed with the Wednesday and Friday af ernoon ser- vice, opening on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday after- noons. The library will therefore be open every day in the week, except Friday, either in the afternoon or evening.
Two vacancies in the Board will require to be filled at the ensuing Town Meeting, the terms of J. Woodward Manning and Horace G. Wadlin expiring.
We recommend an appropriation of $900, the same as granted last year, in addition to the proceeds of the dog tax, for the maintenance of the library during the year ending January 31, 1904. Respectfully submitted,
HORACE G. WADLIN, Chairman, CYRUS M. BARROWS, Secretary, J. WOODWARD MANNING, HENRY G. KITTREDGE, HARLEY PRENTISS, FREDERIC E. WHITTEMORE,
Reading, January, 1904.
Trustees.
.
SUMMARY OF ACCOUNTS
APPROP'ATION
SUNDRY CREDITS
TOTAL AMOUNT INCLUDING APPROP'ATION
EXPENDED
UNEX- PENDED
OVER- DRAWN
Salaries of Town Officers.
$3,500 00
$3.500 00
$3,573 47
$73 47
Town Building and Office
300 00
300 00
493 16
193 16
Printing.
750 00
750 00
699 55
$50 45
Election Expenses
300 00
300 00
348 38
48 38
Burial Agent's Account ..
35 00
35 0€
Decoration and Care of Soldiers' Graves
125 00
175 00
175 00
Electric Lights G. A. R. Hall
50 00
50 00
50 00
Soldiers' Relief. .
1,500 00
1,500 00
1,328 40
171 60
Soldiers' Relief, Acct. City of Brockton.
$115 46
115 46
115 46
Soldiers' Relief, Acct. Town of Wakefield.
10 25
10 25
10 25
Soldiers' Relief, Acct. Town of North Reading ..
44 43
State and Military Aid.
2,800 00
2,800 00
2,678 00
122 00
Account Charles L. Haag.
85 54
85 54
Grace Mckay vs. Town of Reading
61 60
61 60
Care of Old South Clock.
50 00
50 00
50 00
Rent of Playground ..
171 00
171 00
Care and Improvement of Common and Parks
150 00
150 00
148 70
1 30
Edgestones around Common.
150 00
150 00
148 88
1 12-
Spraying Apparatus ..
65 00
65 00
63 35
1 65
Reading Home for Aged Women
75 00
75 00
75 00
Swan Estate.
108 00
108 00
11 85
96 15
Reading Water Works.
14,290 00
14,290 00
14,290 00
Municipal Light & Power Plant.
12,280 00
1,400 00
13,680 00
13,680 00
Interest on School House Bonds
1,320 00
1,320 00
1,300 00
Interest on School House Notes ..
312 50
312 50
312 50
School House Bonds, issue Aug. 1, 1895
2,000 00
2,000 00
2,000 00
Haven Street Note
1,000 00
1,000 00
1,000 00
1,000 00
22 46
1,022 46
915 62
106 84
Interest ...
600 00
1,910 33
2,510 33
2,794 06
283 73
Abatement of Taxes ..
600 00
600 00
599 77
23
Highways, Bridges and Repairs of Sidewalks ... Macadamizing Main St. from Minot St. to B. & M. R. R. Crossing ..
3,000 00
4,298 58
7,298 58
7,298 58 426 25
Concrete Sidewalks and Edgestones (Abut-
200 00
87 43
287 43
175 62
111 81
Concrete Gutters, Crosswalks, Paved Gutters
250 00
3 25
253 25
245 50
7 75
Repairs of Concrete.
300 00
54 68
354 68
354 68
Removal of Snow and Ice
500 00
500 00
467 60
32 40
.
Street Sprinkling. ..
426 25
426 25
ters to pay one-half).
20 00
Miscellaneous Expenses.
44 43
Fire Department.
4,450 00
7 85
4,457 85
4,520 05
62 20
Forest Fires ..
150 00
150 00
147 51
2 49
Fire Alarm Box 41, Green and Village Sts.
75 00
75 00
66 02
8 98
Police Department.
2,600 00
122 00
2,722 00
2,725 15
3 15
Board of Health
600 00
4 30
604 30
478 07
126 23
Laurel Hill Cemetery.
900 00
1,462 84
$2,362 84
1,773 07
589 77
Tree Warden Account.
200 00
200 00
200 94
94
Overseers of the Poor Account.
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