USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Reading > Town of Reading Massachusetts annual report 1909 > Part 6
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Fifth : It seems to me that when the people of the Town realize the crying necessity for a permanent dumping place, they will co-operate with and assist the Board to procure the same, rather than fight them at every turn.
Sixth : It seems to me, from long observation (and my opinion in this matter is very firm), that the requisites for a successful member of the Board of Health are simply intelligence and grit and sand - nine-tenths plain courage. He ought never to play politics, nor fear to act because of a few votes, or because of treading on somebody's toes. He ought to be as fearless as a soldier, ready to go where danger lurks, exposing himself and even his family, if need be. Hence it is that so few of us crave the office. We ought to have a physician on the Board. Why haven't we? Is it that they fear
108
making enemies or losing fees? During my seventeen years of office with your Board, one man only has served as a member all that time; his long, faithful service, his untiring, unselfish labors will never be appreciated. We who know these facts honor and respect him. Would there were more men like him in public life.
Finally, it seems to me, that as far as the foregoing remarks are concerned, your honorable Board will have no misunderstanding. You who know me, know well my intentions are good. If I speak plain truths, it is because I feel strongly they ought to be spoken. I am in a place where I get some knowledge I cannot here set down. From that knowledge I have gotten certain very firm convictions, I. am speaking truly when I say I labor for the good of the Town, rich and poor, high and low. We are all one, when health is at stake. In a word, I have fought and shall continue to fight as long as I serve your Honorable Board, " not with man " but against DISEASE, to the best of my ability and judgment.
Yours truly, GREENLEAF S. TUKEY, Inspector and Agent.
Submitted Jan. 1st, 1910.
I thank the Board, the Secretary, my craft and citizens at large for their kind co-operation.
REPORT OF ASSESSORS
Valuation of real estate
Buildings, excluding land .
$2,794,760 00
Land, excluding buildings 1,749,090 00
Total real estate $4,543,850 00
Personal estate, excluding resident National Bank stock $882,829 00
Resident National Bank stock ·
27,750 00
Total personal estate 910,579 00
Total real and personal estate .
$5,454,429'00
Increase in real estate $ 60,820 00
Increase in personal estate
154,987 00
Total increase in valuation
$215,807 00
Tax on real estate .
$95,421 52
Tax on personal estate
19,584 16
Tax on polls
3,376 00
Moth tax on real estate .
937 87
Total assessed May 1, 1909 $119,319 55 Tax assessed on polls since May 1,1909 10 00
Additional supplementary tax as- sessed Dec. 17, 1909, personal estate
2,058 84
Rssessment and supplementary tax assessed on real estate . 92 65 ·
110
Street Railway Excise Tax on 11.720 miles in Reading . ·
$2,443 26
Total assessed from all sources in
1909
$123,924 30
Total assessed in 1908
112,027 52
1909 Tax in access of 1908
$11,896 78
State Highway Tax
$186 80
State Tax
6,480 00
Wellington Bridge Tax
458 97
County Tax
5,552 05
Total
$12,677 82
Balance used for Town purposes .
$111,246 48
Rate of Taxation $21 on $1000.
Total number persons assessed on property
1682
Total number persons assessed on polls only
988
Total number of polls May 1, 1909 .
1688
Number of polls added since
5
Total polls assessed .
1693
Increase 1909
13
Number of horses
393
Number of cows
391
Number of neat cattle
37
Number of sheep
3
Number of swine
201
Number of fowls
4397
Number of dwellings
1334
Number of new dwellings
15
Number of acres of land
5734
JOHN H. ADDEN,
MILLARD F. CHARLES, MERRICK A. STONE, Assessors of Reading.
REPORT OF COLLECTOR
H. M. VIALL, Collector,
IN ACCOUNT WITH TOWN OF READING
DR.
Uncollected tax, 1907
$8,924 36
Interest, 1907
759 34
Committed list, 1909
119,319 55
Additional tax, 1909
55 15
Excise tax, 1909
2,443 26
Supplementary tax, 1909
2,093 74
Interest, 1909
107 71
Postage
3 26
Received account redemption J. T. Mc- Donald, 1905
36 24
Received account redemption J. T. Mc- Donald, 1906 . . Received account redemption A. F. Newhouse, 1906 ·
33 59
Received account redemption H. B. Crandall, 1906
141 50
Received account redemption Florence Buxton, 1906 7 28
Received account certificate of town liens, F. H. Grant 1 00
Received certificate of town liens A. W. Parker 1 00
CR.
W. C. Mansfield, Treas., account 1907 tax · W. C. Mansfield, Treas., account 1909 tax
$9,507 80
80,466 53
143 83
112
W. C. Mansfield, Treas., account excise tax 2,442 75 · W. C. Mansfield, Treas., account post- age 3 26
W. C. Mansfield, Treas., account J. T. McDonald 69 83
W. C. Mansfield, Treas., account A. F. Newhouse 143 83
W. C. Mansfield, Treas., account H. B. Crandall 141 50
W. C. Mansfield, Treas., account Flor- ence Buxton
7 28
2 00
W. C. Mansfield, Treas., ctf. town liens Uncollected taxes, account 1907
175 90
Uncollected taxes, account 1909
41,110 13
$134,070 81
$134,070 81
Respectfully submitted,
H. M. VIALL, Collector.
MERRICK A. STONE, Collector,
To TOWN OF READING
DR.
Uncollected taxes, Jan. 1st, 1909
$37,341 18
Interest
822 37
Amount collected, account postage, 1908
5 30
Amount collected, account postage, 1909
1 20
Three certificate fees
3 00
CR.
By cash paid Edward F. Parker, Treas.
$6,975 00
By cash paid Ward C. Mansfield,
16,534 42
Uncollected taxes Jan. 1, 1910
14,064 63
Abatements
589 50
Postage account
6 50
Certificate fees
3 00
$38,173 05
$38,173 05
C.
REPORT OF OVERSEERS OF THE POOR For the Year Ending Dec. 31, 1909
Overseers of the Poor JAMES W. KILLAM, Chairman OLIVER L. AKERLEY, Secretary GEORGE L. PRATT
Superintendent of Town Home WM. C. SMITH
REPORT OF THE OVERSEERS OF THE POOR
To the Citizens of the Town of Reading: -
We herewith submit the following report for the year ending December 31, 1909.
There have been four inmates at the Town Home during the entire year and five inmates during a portion of the year, as shown in the table on the following page.
Herbert L. Bosquet resigned as Superintendent of the Town Home, and William C. Smith was appointed to fill the vacancy.
The net expense of the Town Home was greater this year than last, but this extra expense is accounted for by the fact that a new stock shed has been built and considerable addition has been made to the live stock and equipment at the Home, part of which may be seen by comparing the lists of personal property for the two years.
The calls for outside aid have been about the same as last year, temporary aid having been dispensed to nineteen adults and twenty- four children.
The financial statement of this department may be found on the following pages.
JAMES W. KILLAM, OLIVER L. AKERLEY, GEORGE L. PRATT,
Overseers of the Poor.
116
TOWN HOME INMATES
James Hunter
.
aged 66 years
Henry W. Weston
66
62
Charles H. Ballard
63
66
Frank C. Gilchrist .
63
66
John McDonald, admitted Jan. 24, 1909; dis-
charged March 29, 1909 ·
66
73
William Leonard, admitted Sept. 23, 1909
78
66
PERSONAL PROPERTY AT TOWN HOME JAN. 1, 1910
Live stock .
$984 50
Hay and grain
247 50
Wagons, carts and sleighs
213 00
Manure
105 00
Harnesses, blankets, etc.
43 00
Two snow plows
15 00
Spraying machine
35 00
Barrels, boxes and baskets
27 75
Fuel .
121 50
Farming tools and implements
188 20
Beds and bedding
157 10
Household furniture and utensils
406 50
Provisions .
215 35
$2,759 40
TOWN HOME
Amount received from sale of farm pro-
ducts, live stock, gravel and use of team on highway
$1,731 50
Amount received from bill overpaid
4 43
Amount received for board
5 00
EXPENDED
H. L. Bosquet, salary, Superintendent, Jan.
1, 1909, to March 31, 1909 . $125 01
.
.
117
H. L. Bosquet, miscellaneous supplies $ 6 88
W. C. Smith, salary, Superintendent, from
April 1, 1909, to Dec. 31, 1909 412 51
W. C. Smith, miscellaneous supplies 31 94
W. C. Smith, cows 160 00
John Lynch, wages
35 00
Edward H. Green, wages
60 00
George E. Ramsdell, wages
37 25
Margaret Cox, wages . 28 00
Agnes Hilton, wages
8 00
Emma Eckles, wages .
20 00
Mary Morrison, wages
130 26
George E. Hunt, wages
120 00
Silas Curtis, wages
12 60
Annie Regan, wages
8 00
E. C. Packer, labor
2 00
O. V. Bennett, labor
6 00
J. D. Canty, hay
20 00
C. E. Nokes, hay
17 00
C. S. Pettingill, cows
343 00
Municipal Light Board
43,46
C. L. Martin Co., coal 112 00
Wendell Bancroft & Co., lumber and supplies 149 56
Francis Bartley . 39 88
Reading Water Works
73 17
Rockport Fish Co.
55 28
E. L. Chamberlain
98 97
George H. Atkinson Co.
917 87
F. Wallace
425 08
M. F. Holt
43 14
W. A. Rich
30 55
C. L. Nichols
92 82
Reading Citizens' Ice Co.
10 25
A. S. Cook & Co.
13 38
F. G. MacDonald
3 40
A. D. Gordon
14 30
118
Hall & Macfarland
$ 5 00
Francis Brothers
65 83
R. H. Lord, hay .
38 18
W. H. Willis
9 65
F. L. Smalley, M. D.
100 50
E. M. Halligan, M. D.
7 50
C. R. Henderson, M. D.
4 00
C. H. Playdon
4 00
J. J. Hogan
13 11
Miley Soap Co. .
17 25
George F. Dow, M. D.
9 00
James Wilkins, labor
7 50
Prentiss & Viall
23 50
William Taylor
21 94
Quincy Market
36 67
William H. Wightman
15 00
P. J. Seaman
7 95
J. J. Cameron
8 59
H. P. Hubbard
9 25
C. D. Wells
10 38
F. W. Parker
4 75
Peter Ainsworth
18 00
George H. Towle
15 00
W. S. Parker
6 00
Chas. P. French
6 00
C. E. Mellen
7 75
Simeon C. Keith, Jr. .
2 00
Jos. Breck & Sons Corp.
7 75
Haskell Implement & Seed Co.
1 25
J. A. Murphy
75
A. D. Damon
1 50
E. C. Metcalf
45
K. H. Huse
38 00
Moth Department
14 00
A. W. Danforth
8 75
Chas. Wakefield
3 80
,
119
Wm. Draffin
$2 00
E. F. Gerry
2 03
Walter Gray
1 40
L. T. Eames
1 27
M. F. Charles
85
Carried to Poor Account
2,523 73
$4,264 66 $4,264 66
POOR OUT OF TOWN HOME
Amount received from Frank Lamprey
$18 00
EXPENDED ·
Mary L. H. Parker, supplies
$14 79
Jane Green, supplies and medical attendance 69 06
Frank Lamprey and family, supplies and medical attendance
151 21
Julia A. Morton, supplies
60 00
Delia Casey, supplies and medical attendance
23 85
Gertrude Cederburg, supplies and medical attendance .
293 78
Charles S. Coney, supplies and medical
attendance .
18 00
Margaret Hannaford, fuel 16 00
Harold Southwell, board at Massachusetts
School for Feeble Minded . 42 25
James A. Doucette, fuel and supplies .
25 55
Arletta Henderson, medical attendance
7 50
John W. White, supplies
2 51
Frank L. Johnson, fuel
7 25
Geo. Zanni, medical attendance .
50 00
Theresa Froton, fuel and supplies
56 88
John McDonald, supplies
1 50
Carried to Poor Account
822 13
$840 13
$840 13
120
SUMMARY
Appropriation
.
$3,000 00
EXPENDED
1
Net expenses Town Home
$2,523 73
Poor out of Town Home
822 13
Overdrawn .
345 86
$3,345 86
$3,345 86
COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS
IN ACCOUNT WITH TOWN OF READING
Amount due from Commonwealth of Massachusetts
$293 46
EXPENDED
Annie Melonson and family, fuel and supplies $63 40
Amy L. Ballou and family, fuel and supplies 140 00
Mary E. Skinner, supplies .
79 56
Mary Clements, fuel and supplies
10 50
$293 46
$293 46
PAID ON ACCOUNT OF CITY OF CAMBRIDGE
Amount due from City of Cambridge . EXPENDED
$176 89
Charlotte White and family, fuel and supplies $176 89
$176 89
$176 89
121
PAID ON ACCOUNT OF TOWN OF WILMINGTON Amount due from Town of Wilmington
$19 55
EXPENDED
Sarah White and family, fuel
$19 55
$19 55
$19 55
PAID ON ACCOUNT OF TOWN OF NORFOLK
Amount due from Town of Norfolk
$129 44
EXPENDED
Herman Seifert and family, supplies $129 44
$129 44
$129 44
PAID ON ACCOUNT OF TOWN OF CANTON
Amount due from Town of Canton
$79 56
EXPENDED
Raymond and Elsie Hobby, supplies $79 56
$79 56
$79 56
1
FIFTEENTH ANNUAL REPORT OF THE
Electric Light Commissioners
For the Year Ending December 31 1909
OFFICERS OF THE ELECTRIC LIGHT AND POWER DEPARTMENT
Commissioners
GEORGE L. FLINT, Chairman
Term expires 1912
JAMES M. MAXWELL, JR., Secretary Term expires 1911
WILLIAM C. BUCK
Term expires 1910
Manager ARTHUR G. SIAS
OFFICE : Room 9, Masonic Block.
126
CASH ACCOUNT, 1909
January 1, to balance
$254 35
To appropriation for street lighting . 10,500 00
To appropriation for Lynnfield extension . 2,500 00
To appropriation for Commissioners' salaries 225 00
$13,479 35
To Receipts from Customers :
Commercial light
. $6,300 15
Domestic light
11,772 65
Power for motors
2,590 81
Power for Wakefield
710 94
Meter rents
171 70
$21,546 25
To Sundry Receipts :
Interest on deposits
$16 78
Rental of poles .
114 90
Sale of old dynamos, etc.
725 00
Sale of lamps
784 58
Sale of wiring material, etc.
1,220 48
Sale of scrap, etc.
16 66
Bills receivable
163 88
Refund on insurance premium
10 60
Refund on telephone tolls
3 45
Bad debts .
3 35
Petty cash (transferred ) ·
200 00
$3,259 68
$38,285 28
CR.
By Cash paid for Account of Construction :
Steam plant
$7 00
Incandescent street lamp fixtures
32 38
Lines .
1,325 92
Meters
877 93
Transformers
597 86
Lynnfield extension
2,461 85
Extension of power lines
103 44
1
$5,406 38
127
By Cash paid for Account of Maintenance :
Fuel
. $7,338 46
Oil and waste
425 15
Water
139 05
Station wages
5,384 43
Repairs, real estate .
365 37
Repairs, steam plant
1,165 18
Repairs, electric plant
1,813 30
Station tools and appliances
251 78
Wages, care of lights and meters
275 43
Repair of lines
1,658 00
Carbons
172 78
Incandescent lamps
1,385 82
Globes
52 50
Distribution tools and appliances
72 55
General salaries ..
2,079 90
Board expenses .
28 80
General office expense
754 79
Rents
120 00
Insurance
1,008 53
Law expenses
3 00
Repair of meters .
19 03
Stable expense
471 89
Jobbing and line material
1,857 04
Office furniture
43 30
Salaries of Light Board
225 00
Interest
2,405 00
Bonds
3,000 00
Special Committee
50 92
Refund, account of over-payment, Town
light
7 58
Petty cash ( transferred )
200 00
Balance, cash in bank
. .
104 32
$32,878 90
$38,285 28
128
OPERATIONS FOR TWELVE MONTHS ENDING DECEMBER 31, 1909
EXPENSE
For Manufacture :
Fuel
$6,480 24
Oil and waste
308 43
Water
157 25
Station wages
5,384 43
Repairs, real estate
369 63
Repairs, steam plant
800 37
Repairs, electric plant
1,511 15
Station tools and appliances
145 47
1
$15,156 97
For Distribution :
Wages, care of lights and meters
$275 43
Repairs of lines
1,378 23
Carbons
144 10
Globes
62 53
Incandescent lamps
369 09
Repair of meters
18 98
Distribution tools
31 90
$2,280 26
For Miscellaneous Expenses:
General salaries .
. $2,079 90
General office expense
736 24
Salaries of Light Board
225 00
Rents
130 00
Insurance
1,181 93
Law expense
3 00
Stable expense
492 89
Board expenses
28 80
.
$4,877 76
$22,314 99
129
INCOME
Commercial light, less discount . $5,914 13
Domestic light, less discount
. 11,959 98
Power for motors
2,769 17
Power for Wakefield
945 24
Light for municipal buildings
365 84
Rent of meters
114 80
Rent of poles
114 90
Sale of steam
121 31
Loss in manufacturing
9 62
$22,314 99
PROFIT AND LOSS ACCOUNT
DR.
Deficit Jan. 1, 1909
. $39,229 33
Interest paid
2,426 25
Depreciation
3,373 00
Loss in manufacturing
9 62
Bad debts .
98 17
Balance of appropriation, special committee 104 59
Accounts receivable, special committee 725 00
Accounts receivable, Town light .
927 02
$46,892 98
CR.
Appropriation for interest . $2,373 75
Appropriation for depreciation
3,373 00
Appropriation for maintenance
1,753 25 ·
Appropriation for Commissioners' salaries
225 00
Jobbing profit
160 65
Interest on bank balances
16 78
Deficit, Dec. 31, 1909 .
$7,902 43 $38,990 55
·
.
$46,892 98
130
CONSTRUCTION
Additions during 1909 :
Steam plant
$7 00
Street lines .
1,712 97
Meters
1,225 17
Transformers
414 81
Lynnfield extension
2,565 22
Extension of power lines
195 42
Cost of plant to Jan. 1, 1909
.
$6,120 59 112,425 11
Cost of plant to Jan. 1, 1910
$118,545 70
STATEMENT, DECEMBER 31, 1909 ASSETS
Real estate
. $11,508 58
Steam plant
. 11,806 26
Electric plant
. 12,429 95
Street lines
. 18,455 64
Incandescent street lamp fixtures
34 08
Arc lamps
5,372 17
Meters
. . 7,406 85
Transformers
5,972 76
Lynnfield extension
2,565 22
Extension of power lines
195 42
Cash in Town treasury
104 32
Cash in Mechanics' Savings Bank (Customers' Deposits)
635 39
Stable
599 60
Office Furniture .
423 15
Accounts receivable (manufacturing ) .
4,331 43
Sundry accounts receivable . 176 15
Inventory (supplies on hand )
5,420 25
Profit and loss deficit .
. 38,990 55
$126,427 77
·
13]
LIABILITIES
Bonds outstanding
. $54,000 00
Notes payable (Lynnfield extension )
. 2,500 00
Appropriations for construction
. 20,645 04
Appropriations for bond payments . 22,000 00
Appropriations for note payments
. 18,500 00
Overdraft, construction
3,211 64
Interest accrued, not due
582 50
Customers' deposits ·
635 39
Accounts payable, construction
1,539 40
Accounts payable, maintenance
2,813 80
- $126,427 77
The increase over last year in the expenses for manufacture, distribution and general expense has been about 12 per cent. The increase in earnings has been about 15 per cent., and the increase in station output about 42 per cent.
The principal items of expense which have increased over the previous year are as follows :
Fuel $410 48
Repair of steam plant 451 49
Repair of electric plant
1,484 60
Insurance
177 52
The increase in fuel cost was on account of increased output.
Repair of steam plant on account of new blow-off pipe com- plete for the boilers, repairs on the small engine, and furnace brick work under the boilers.
Repair of electric plant on account of new generator.
The increase in insurance was due to an additional premium on liability policies amounting to $387.12, which was on account of the difference between the estimated and actual size of pay roll for the policy year ending March 6, 1909, the estimate being $5,000.00, and the actual $9,424.27.
During the past year our connected load has been increased by the addition of 2,057 lamps, 103 electric flat irons and 44 h. p. in motors.
132
The present number of customers is 685, number of lamps con- nected approximately 14,000, and total horse power in motors 1482.
One circuit of street lights in the center of the town, consisting of 35 arcs and 3 incandescents, has been burned a total of 3,763 hours and 5 minutes during the past year, the remaining 103 arcs and 1 incandescent having burned a total of 3,118 hours and 40 minutes.
The total output at the switchboard was 609,290 kilowatt hours.
There have been delivered and sold to customers 229,175 kilowatt hours.
There have been used on the street light circuit 228,860 kilowatt hours.
On May 4th of the past year, we secured from the Wakefield Municipal Light Board a two years' contract to furnish the plant in that town with current during certain non-peak hours. On July 27th we commenced to furnish the current on this contract and the revenue from this source has been $945.24, as you will note by re- ferring to the statement of income. The cost for the necessary con- struction to obtain this business was $1,159.96, for which no special appropriation was made.
Under the vote authorizing the extension of the lighting and power service to Lynnfield Center, for which a special appropriation of $2,500.00 was made, we have extended the commercial service to that village and the current was turned on December 10th. At the present time we have connected 17 customers with a total in- stallation of 383 lamps and others are having their premises wired for current. The matter of lighting the streets is also being con- sidered and no doubt some action will be taken by the citizens at an early date. The appropriation has been slightly exceeded owing to the fact that we have covered more feet of street with our lines than was originally intended.
In the town of North Reading several of the citizens are anxious to obtain electric lighting and some have already had their premises wired. The manufacturing firms in the town are also interested in obtaining electric power and the outlook for business. in the town seems very good.
133
At a special Town Meeting held November 30, 1909, an appro- priation of $1,800.00 was voted for the extension of the power lines to the town pumping station. Material has been purchased for this extension and work has been commenced on same, but it was thought best not to issue the note until about January 20th, 1910, consequently the value of the material on hand December 31st appears in the item of unpaid bills.
The Manager's estimate for the cost of operation for 1910 is as follows :
For operating expenses
. $23,814 99
Interest
2,416 75
Depreciation .
· 3,556 00
Bond payments
· 3,000 00
Note payments (Lynnfield ext.)
1,000 00
Total
. $33,787 74
Estimated income from customers .
. $23,787 74
Balance
. $10,000 00
New construction .
1,200 00 .
Total to be appropriated
. $11,200 00
The above amount should be considered as the cost of the street lighting for 1910, and is approximately .049 cents per kilowatt hour, based on the kilowatt hours used on the street light circuits during the past year.
The following table shows the earnings of light and power for five years : -
LIGHTS
1905
1906
1907
1908
1909
Total
$13,477 41 1,120 23
$15,737 45
$18,619 16
$19,917 21
$21,217 40
Discounts .
1,867 39
2,349 28
2,602 77
2,863 45
Net
$12,357 18
$13,870 06
$16,269 88
$17,314 44 $18,353 95
134
POWER
1906
1909
Total .
$434 41
1907 $1,787 82
1908 $2,051 39
$3,730 84
Discounts
1 75
58
14 50
15 63
Net
$432 66
$1,787 24
$2,036 89
$3,715 21
NET TOTAL LIGHT AND POWER
1905
1906
1907
1908
1909
$12,357 18
$14,302 72
$18,057 12
$19,351 33
$22,069 16
A
GEO. L. FLINT, JAMES M. MAXWELL, JR., Municipal Light Board.
ANNUAL REPORT
OF THE
School Committee
OF THE
TOWN OF READING
FOR THE YEAR ENDING DECEMBER 31, 1909
-
SCHOOL COMMITTEE
WALTER S. PARKER, Chairman, Walnut St.
Term expires 1911
HOWARD W. POOR, Mt. Vernon St. Term expires 1911
MRS. ELIZABETH H. BROWN, Prospect St.
Term expires 1910
HENRY C. PARKER, Chute St. Term expires 1910
EDWIN L. HUTCHINSON, Lowell St. Term expires 1912
CHARLES A. LORING, Summer Ave. Term expires 1912
Superintendent of Schools and Secretary of School Committee HARRY T. WATKINS
Truant Officer WILLIAM KIDDER
Medical Inspector E. DALTON RICHMOND, M. D.
ORGANIZATION OF COMMITTEE
WALTER S. PARKER, Chairman
HARRY T. WATKINS, Secretary
Sub - Committees
W. S. Parker
FINANCES AND ACCOUNTS H. W. Poor
E. L. Hutchinson
BOOKS AND SUPPLIES
W. S. Parker Mrs. Brown
SCHOOLHOUSES AND PROPERTY
C. A. Loring
E. L. Hutchinson
H. W. Poor
RULES AND REGULATIONS
E. L. Hutchinson
H. W. Poor
C. A. Loring
TEACHERS AND SALARIES
W. S. Parker
H. C. Parker
H. W. Poor
MUSIC AND DRAWING
Mrs. Brown
H. C. Parker
C. A. Loring
H. W. Poor
COURSE OF STUDY
H. C. Parker
Mrs. Brown
H. C. Parker
REPORT OF SCHOOL COMMITTEE
Another year has passed and we have made some progress towards the attainment of our ideal in education.
We are far from realizing to the full, the completion of our ideal. We have met many difficulties which have been hard to overcome.
The many changes in our corps of teachers is a problem which has been worked out in a very satisfactory way by the Superintendent.
Just how far we should go in our endeavor to keep our best teachers, is a serious question which is constantly before us.
The employment of efficient teachers, is the most important thing in connection with the whole educational system.
Our former Superintendent, M. A. Stone, after several years of highly satisfactory service, accepted a position in Shelburne Falls where his whole time would be engaged.
The Committee concluded that some arrangement should be made whereby the whole time of the Superintendent might be given to Reading. After careful consideration of the matter, the Committee elected H. T. Watkins as Superintendent of Schools and as Principal of the High School for the year 1909 -1910. This arrangement is not an untried experiment. Other towns have worked under the plan for many years. The Superintendent has been very successful with the plan thus far.
We desire to call the attention of the citizens to the financial statement and the Superintendent's report which ac- company this document.
The terms of Elizabeth H. Brown and Henry C. Parker expire at the ensuing town meeting.
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APPROPRIATIONS
We recommend that the town raise and appropriate the sum of $30,000 for regular school expenses, and the sum of $5,000 for school incidentals, the amount being in each case the same as was granted by the town last year.
Adopted by School Committee, Feb. 10, 1910.
WALTER S. PARKER, Chairman
ELIZABETH H. BROWN HENRY C. PARKER
HOWARD W. POOR CHARLES A. LORING
EDWIN L. HUTCHINSON
ADDENDA
As we go to press, we understand that both retiring mem- bers decline to stand again as candidates for the school board. The Town will by that action lose the services ( two very valuable members of the School Committee.
Mrs. Brown is in many ways especially adapted to render valuable services to the schools and the general cause of education. Her education and successful experience as teacher together with her later service as wife and mother, rendered her eminently fit to pass upon all questions which pertain to the successful training of boys and girls.
Mr. Henry C. Parker by education, by highly successful experience in dealing with young people, by a natural sym- pathetic nature and a careful study of the problems of education, was enabled at all times to give to the town services of a high order.
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