USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Reading > Town of Reading Massachusetts annual report 1910 > Part 9
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The level of the first floor had necessarily to be kept- high in order to get a high basement, the floor of which could be drained properly.
The plan of the building is simple, the boys entering directly into the basement on the southeast side, and the girls entering on the landing half-way between the base- ment and the first story, on the northwest side. The public and teachers' entrance is directly in the center, from which a corridor connects with the main corridor running across back of building. The hanging space for clothes is directly in front of this central corridor, equally accessible to both class rooms and boys' and girls' entrances.
Although the building is a two-story building and there is space for two class rooms, and teachers' room and corridor on the second story, these latter are not to be finished until such time as the school outgrows the two lower rooms.
The class rooms are lighted from one side by windows which are above the average standard size, making rooms which are unusually light and cheerful.
209
C
210
Slate blackboards cover the remainder of the walls not occupied by windows, and there are book closets in each room for the use of the teachers.
Each class room is heated by warm air which comes into room above blackboards, and ventilated by a similar sized duct which goes out at floor below blackboards.
In the basement are play-rooms for boys and girls, with toilet rooms for each. These toilets are fitted with fixtures similar to those being used in the Boston schools.
At present the building is heated by means of a large hot-air furnace. When second story is finished, a second hot-air furnace will be placed beside the present one, at which time each furnace will supply two rooms. Steam heat being necessary to produce the required current of air in ventilating ducts, the same boiler is utilized to heat toilet rooms, corridors, etc., the boiler being placed in the furnace room.
There is ample cold storage space connecting directly with furnace room, and all work in connection with furnaces and heating stacks is of brick. The floor of basement is concreted.
The interior finish of building is North Carolina pine, stained a grayish green, and walls, dados, etc., are to be of colors to harmonize.
The building has been wired for electric lighting, and is thoroughly modern in every way.
The exterior, although simple, will, when grading is completed, make another school building of which we trust Reading will be proud.
The general contractors for the work are Stewart & Robertson, the stone work being done by Mr. John Muse, plumbing by Francis Brothers, and the electric wiring by Clapp & Leach, all of whom have shown their desire to give the Town of Reading first-class work at very reasonable prices.
ADDEN & PARKER, Architects. 12 Bosworth St., Boston, Mass.
211
REPORT OF TRUANT OFFICER
1910 TO 1911
Number of absences reported to me 119
Number found to be truancy .
65
Number reported by parents as ill
8
Number reported insufficiently clad
8
Number kept out by parents to work or otherwise . 38
Put on probation
5
Sent to Truant School
.
1
Respectfully submitted,
WILLIAM KIDDER,
Truant Officer.
.
·
.
-
READING HIGH SCHOOL
Graduation Exercises
CLASS OF . . 1910 . .
WEDNESDAY EVENING, JUNE TWENTY - TWO
High School Hall
214
PROGRAM
PRAYER BY REV. FRANCIS WALSH St. Agnes' Church
1 A Plea for the Little Ones (Salutatory ) FLORENCE LOUISE JENKINS
2 Early Puritan Music * MARGUERITE PARKS
3 History of 1910 + GEORGE WESTON ABBOTT
"Six O'clock in the Bay " Adams
4 The Women of the American Revolution # MILDRED GRAHAM ROBINSON
5 The House by the Side of the Road (Original Story) İ HELEN BANCROFT PARKER
" Bright Dews of the Morning " Crowe
6 America's Greatest Humorist # ARTHUR MICHELINI
7 A Step Toward More Popular Government (Valedictory) EDWARD FRANCIS EATON
" Soldiers' Life " . Sullivan .
( Adapted from "The Pirates of Penzance ") .
Conferring of Diplomas WALTER S. PARKER Chairman School Committee
BENEDICTION BY REV. MARION FRANKLIN HAM Christian Union Church
* Tied for first honors in scholarship
# Class honor
t Faculty honor
-
215
MEMBERS OF THE CLASS OF 1910
SCIENTIFIC COURSE
Abbott, George Weston Michelini, Arthur
Clarke, Joseph Harold
Parks, Henry Francis
Cooper, Harry Clifford
Robinson, Chester Thomas
Smith, Carl Manning
Whittier, Irving Maurice
COLLEGE COURSE
Babcock, Harold James
Buckle, Vera Pearl
Clark, Helen Louise
Clark, Maud Evelyn
Drugan, Olive Morse
Jenkins, Florence Louise Parker, Helen Bancroft Turner, Anna Rebecca Willis, Margery
NORMAL COURSE
Barr, Mabel Caroline Symmes, Marjorie Oedel Haag, Marion Lauretta Turner, Esther May
Murphy, Elizabeth Amelia
GENERAL COURSE
Charles, Melva Sumner Crowther, Elsie May Cullinane, Sadie Frances Eisenhaure, Bertha May Flint, Russell Armstrong Forbes, Frank Dawson Galvin, Maurice Francis Gear, Francis Lillian Granfield, Christine Greeley, Ethel Elizabeth Griffiths, Marguerite Jennie Knowles, Harriette Ann Maguire, John Francis Michelini, Dominick Daniel Nichols, Jesse Raymond Oxley, Frances Folsom
Parker, Henry Baxter Parks, Marguerite Pease, Christine Jones Phelps, Raymond Arthur Putnam, Georgie Amelia Quinlan, Mary Elizabeth Rice, Mae Eloise Riley, Margaret Mabel Robinson, Mildred Graham Tarbox, Edith Vivian Turner, Bernice Maude Whitchurch, May Blanche White, Ethel Morrison Whitehouse, Daniel Arthur Wilkinson, Blanche
E
Eaton, Edward Francis
Hoffman, Gordon Wesley
Kershaw, Warren Reed
216
PUPILS GRADUATING FROM HIGHLAND SCHOOL, JUNE 23, 1911
GIRLS
BOYS
Alger, Dorothy M.
Baker, Earle T.
Allen, Helen E.
Becker, Elmer A.
Bacigalupo, Julia E.
Canty, Paul C.
Badger, Marie I. M.
Coleman, Joseph A.
Bancroft, Grace U.
Crowther, Louis E.
Bangs, Emma J.
Cummings, Edward T.
Bird, Esther A.
Cummings, John F.
Buck, Ruth A.
Dane, J. Chandler
Burke, Mary L.
Dennison, Robert A.
Butters, Sarah G.
Dodge, Harry L.
Carleton, Helen
Downing, Willard C.
Chellis, Muriel M.
Doucette, Arthur L.
Cowles, Minnie T.
Duby, Russell
Cram, Ruth I.
Eaton, Roger S.
Doran, Mary
Ells, Fred W.
Emery, Gladys
Esterberg, Herbert L.
Evans, Ethel
Florence, William E.
Fay, Esther G.
Frotten, Fred A.
Fish, Doris G.
Gadbois, I. Edward
Hobby, Elsie M.
Gould, Chester T. Hobby, Harry R.
Hook, Bernice E.
Hutchinson, Mildred
Hook, Homer M.
Jewett, Marion W.
Howes, Ellsworth
Johnson, Helen M. E.
Hutchinson, Lester
Kidder, Marion L.
Jewett, Henry H.
Litchfield, R. Gertrude
MacDonald, Leon F.
McKay, Effie
McKenna, Robert
McLeod, Elsie J.
Merrill, Ashley L.
Melvin, Catherine
Moulton, Le Roy W.
Meuse, Alma E.
Murray, John
Miller, Eileen M.
Nichols, Richard B.
217
GIRLS
Mitchell, Maude M.
Norris, Raymond
Moore, Emma L.
Park, James A.
Nagel, Elizabeth I.
Porter, Earl T.
Prentiss, Myrtle E.
Richardson, Eugene A.
Riley, John
Quillan, Annie W. Reid, Margarite E.
Ruggles, Gould B.
Sherman, Mabel E.
Sherman, Erville B.
Staples, Marcia L.
Stevens, Caleb F.
Sullivan, Helen
Stevens, Donald H.
Surrette, Marguerite
Talbot, Vernon
Thomas, Susie
Thorburn, George E.
Webb, Eva M.
Wall, John T.
Wehrle, Madeleine T.
Walsh, Albert H.
Walsh, John J.
Watters, J. Goldsworth
Weston, Harold L.
Wilson, Ralph E.
Wells, Beatrice M.
Whittier, Margaret E.
BOYS
218
STATISTICS Taken from Report of the State Board in April. 1909, and Other Items of Interest
NUMBER OF CHILDREN IN TOWN BETWEEN 5 AND 15 YEARS
Sept. 1899 .
832
1900 . 853
..
1901 . 890
.. 1902 . 915
1903 . 967
.. 1904 . 938
.. 1905 .
972
..
1906 .
1022
. . 1907 .
997
. .
1908
1005
1909 .
1029
1910
1030
NUMBER OF CHILDREN IN TOWN BETWEEN 7 AND 14 YEARS
Sept. 1899
1900
648
. .
1901 680
..
1902 . 636
.. 1903
682
..
1904 . 758
1905 . 698
759
1907
723
..
1908
695
. .
1909
737
..
1910 .
.. 1906 .
219
Length of school year, 1909-1910
10 months Number of days lost from stormy days, etc. · 393 days
Actual length of school year . 8 months 33 days Number of different pupils enrolled for the year ending June, 1909 1309
Average number in each of the twelve grades for the first four months of school year :-
YEAR
I.
II.
III.
IV.
VI.
VII.
VIII.
IX.
x.
XI.
XII.
SP. TOTAL
1899
120
103
102
87
107
89
98
66
82
49 37
36
14
0 907
1901
177
102
108
77
105
87
97
64
61
42
64 34 21
4 1008
1903
127
114
103
104
86
109
97
93
63
61 53
31 9 1050
1904
129
131
116
116
95
91
109
86
79
61 53 54 4 1123
1905
129
118
130
124
105 120
104 100
93
100
88
72 63
42
5 1166
1907
120
110
150
114
123
109
96
110
78
82
58
50
6 1212
1908
123
111
120
128
97
138
97
118
92
75
75
47
5 1226
1909
133
113
118
124
119
93
116
108
110
79
68
62 7 1250
1910
119
116
105
121
120
109
88
108
116
98
75 53 9 1237
V. 108
75
93
68
56
46 17
23
5 903
1900
127
136
66
90
86
117
98
100
70
88 100
85
76 45
48 4 1156
1906
118
129
109
127
28 25 5 978
1902
142
126
56
TEACHERS IN SERVICE, WHERE EDUCATED, YEAR WHEN APPOINTED
ALSO ENROLLMENT FOR FOUR MONTHS ENDING DECEMBER 23, 1910
School
Grade
Teachers
Where Educated
Year First
Appointed
Salary
Total
Enrollment
Average
Membership
Attendance
Per cent. of
Attendance
Cases of
Tardiness
Cases of
Dismissal
High
IX-XII.
H. T. Watkins, M. A., Master ....
Colby College.
1903
$2200
339
332.1
315.5
94.8
87
7
W. P. Raymond. A. B.
Brown University
1909
1100
Henrietta Sperry.
Smith College ..
1910
550
Dorothy Dey.
Wellesley College .
1910
550
Alice Lombard
Bay Path Institute.
1907
700
Sara A. Quimby .
Mt. Holyoke Collegr.
1909
750
Helen Chapin .
Mt. Holyoke College
1909
600
Marion West ...
1909
600
Marjorie Wheeler .
Mt. Holyoke College
1909
600
Agnes M. Gilmore
Boston University .
1909
600
Reba M. Bush·
Tufts College .
1909
600
S. Eleanor Byorkman
1910
550
Highland
. .
VIII
Emma S. Page, Ass't. Principal ..
1899
650
36
34.5 35
32.3
93.6
42
18
N. H. State Normal, Hyannis
1905
600
37
35.2
33.2
93.8
55
13
VIII
.
..
VII
Lowell Normal.
1907
600
46
42.1
39.6
94
46
4
Bessie M. Parker ..
Salem Normal ..
1905
600
45
44.7
41.9
93.4
35
16
Newburyport Training
1908
550
36
34.7
32.8
94.4
24
Lowell Normal.
1907
550
39
38
36.2
95
68
Grace E. Putnam .
Hyannis Normal
1910
550
36
34.8
32.4
92.9
34
20
Lowell Normal.
1908
550
42
40.7
37.9
93.1
62
3
Framingham Normal.
1909
500
40
38.7
35.6
92
56
16
Salem Normal.
1890
600
40
38.1
35
94.6
19
4
Lowell Normal.
1910
500
49
47.2
44.4
94.1
16
1
V
Rose Fuller:
1910
500
39
38.3
35.8
92.3
15
13
Salem Normal.
1905
500
18
47.1
43.4
92.8
11
7
Salem Normal.
1908
500
44
43.4
40.2
92.2
15
25
Farmington Normal.
1907
600
38
36.4
33.1
91.9
37
17
Reading High School
1884
525
40
39.2
36.4
92.6
19
41
Bridgewater Normal
1904
500
41
39.5
34.1
86.3
39
7
Salem Normal.
1909
500
39
37.5
33.1
88
51
21
Lowell Normal.
1909
550
61
59.4
53.9
93.3
13
13
Lowell Normal .
1909
500
37
34.3
32.1
92.8
30
7
Chestnut Hill
I-IV
Isabelle Cordiner
Lowell Normal.
1910
550
27
26.4
24.7
92.8
19
2
.
.
3
. .
..
.
11 .
1
4€
.
1
Prospect St.
I-II
·
III-IV
Helen Knowlton .
...
.. .
.. .
.
.
.
+
. .
.
V .
Centre
III
.
IV
May Foley .
IV
Ethel M. Flanders.
TTT
Joyce L. Fielder ..
Eudora W. Gould, Principal .. Anna P. Reid ·
.
Marion H. Morgan
Julia M. Noyes.
Ada E. Dow, Principa. 1.
·
.
VI
...
VI
Julia A. Floyd . ..
VI
V
M. Louise Robbins.
M. Grace Wakefield, Principal ..
. .
.
. .
Union St.
.
VIII
32.4
93.1
53
2
Fannie C. Whittemore.
Alice E. Hood .
Concord Training School.
1902
600
36
Lavinia C. Cairns
VII
Alice Barrows, Principal
Bridgewater Normal.
1899
1000
.
. .
..
Elsa R. Anderson .
Salem Normal.
Pearl M. Pillsbury .
Tufts College .
Bridgewater Normal. .
Boston University .
Average
221
FINANCIAL STATEMENT
Appropriations :
General, for Superintendent,
teachers, janitors, fuel and
transportation . $30,000 00
Incidentals-books, supplies, in- cidentals and repairs 5,000 00
Receipts :
From North Reading tuition 2,103 75
City of Boston
31 50
Commonwealth of Massachusetts 208 50
Sundry sources
12 60
$37,356 35
EXPENDITURES
Paid for teachers, janitors and fuel . $28,587 00
Incidentals and repairs 3,269 88
Books and supplies
3,711 48
Superintendent of Schools
799 92
Transportation
1,054 00
Total expenditures
$37,422 28
Overdraft
$65 93
222
ITEMIZED STATEMENT OF EXPENDITURES FOR BOOKS, SUPPLIES, INCIDENTALS AND REPAIRS
American Express Co., express charges 819 53
Atkinson, Mentzer & Grover, books and supplies 208 40
Atkinson, Geo. H. Co., brooms, soaps, etc. . 12 74
American Book Co., text books 485 85
Allyn & Bacon, text books 76 16
Ames Implement & Seed Co., tools for school garden 4 16 American Writing Machine Co., repairs on typewriters 9 82
Allen Shade Holder Co., curtains, Centre and Union sts. 131 89
Appleton, D. & Co., text books 24 13
Allen Bros., rubber stamps and type
4 70
Babb, Edw. E. & Co., school supplies and paper .
724 42
Babcock. Harold J., labor in laboratories
7 75
Badger, W. B. & Co., refinishing furniture
14 00
Bancroft, Lewis M., insurance 12 70
Bancroft, Wendell & Co., lumber, etc.
16 55
Barnard, F. J. & Co., rebinding books .
99 11
Bay State Paper Co., cover stock .
3 15
Bean, R. F., window cleaners
3 75
Berry Bros., Ltd., shellac and varnish . 7 41
Berry & Rich, vegetables for biology department 98
Birchard, C. O., music . 10 95
Bird, Archer Co., varnish cleaner .
3 00
Blunt, John A., repairing
2 00
Breck, Joseph & Sons, tools and grass seed .
23 34
Brown, Albert E., music
6 00
Burgess, R. P., mason work, Centre
3 50
Carter, Rice & Co., paper and envelopes
1 50
Carter's Ink Co., typewriter ribbons
20 38
Chandler & Barber, hardware and tools
21 50
Charles, M. F., stationery and supplies 11 90
Clapp, R. D., repairs
76 13
223
Clapp & Leach, electrical work $10 50
Clark, Miriam P., supplies 1 00
Clark, C. M. Pub. Co., text books 70 60
Chamberlain Metal Weather Strip Co., weather strips 41 72
Cook, A. S., cheese cloth
1 30
Cook, W. F., retinting, Highland and Union St. schools
170 00
Cummings Express Co., express and carting ashes
82 47
Ditson, Oliver & Co., music .
10 88
Dallman, H. I. Co., brushes, mops and cleaners .
102 75
Dustbane Mfg. Co., sweeping compound
2 50
Devaney, Matthew, labor at Chestnut Hill
2 00
Dimond, H. C., rubber stamps 1 73
Davis Square Co., brass polish for laboratories
1 00
Doucette, Geo. L., fertilizer .
3 00
Esterbrook Steel Pen Mfg. Co., pens
23 50
Ells, Alfred E., preparing flower bed, Chestnut Hill
8 05
Eames, Hugh L., labor on flag poles
8 35
Edgerly & Bessom, rent of chairs, Prospect .
1 50
Eames, L. T., electrical supplies and labor
82 42
Eimer & Amend, chemicals and chem. apparatus
41 00
Fife, T. C., repairs .
145 25
Francis Bros., repairs
244 77
Galley, Chas. E., repairing typewriters
19 50
Globe Stamp Works, rubber stamps
1 75
Grimes, James W., legal services .
20 00
Ginn & Co., text books .
298 01
Hammet, J. L. Co., supplies .
207 71
Houghton, Mifflin Co., text books
40 68
Heywood Bros., Wakefield Co., repairing chairs
1 50
Hunter, J. B., Co., hardware
3 22
Howard Dustless Duster Co., dusters
6 39
Hodson Bros., painting exit signs, etc.
22 15
Heath, D. C., text books .
55 21
Ideal Ventilator Co., ventilator at High School 4 00
224
Jackson, Charles S., reseating chairs $2 70
Johnson, Frank L., painting . 12 00
Johnson, Mrs. H. L., mending flag
75
John-Manville, H. W., Co., sweeping compound . Johnston, J. G., Co., exit signs
2 50
Kenney Bros. & Wolkins, furniture and supplies
19 96
Knox & Morse, cleansing compound ·
1 00
Knott, L. E., Apparatus Co., physics supplies
67 74
Kidder, William, truant fees
50 00
Library Bureau, office supplies 14 49
Ladd, Frederick A., tuning pianos
12 25
LeFave, J. A., repairs at Highland School
8 56
LeCasse, T. Adolph, preparing biology specimens 6 20
Latin Game Co., supplies
1 45
Little, Brown & Co., text books
38 36
Longmans, Green & Co., text books
1 63
Murphy, J. A., repairing clocks 12 28
Metcalf, E. C., supplies 10 36
Municipal Light Board, light service
70 45
McDonald, F. G., supplies
19 46
Manning, J. Woodward, shrubs and labor, Pros- pect and High 254 00
Milton Bradley Co., supplies
42 53
Merrill, Charles E., Co., text books
33 79
Nichols, C. A., cleaning rug .
1 00
Neostyle Co., neostyle and paper . 36 00
N. E. Tel. & Tel. Co., telephone service
121 86
Nesmith, C. I., cleanser 8 75
Nelson, Thomas & Sons, encyclopedia
68 40
Orient Mfg. Co., Orient spray 86 00
Parker, Asa, labor on grounds 180 13
People's Gas & Electric Co., gas service
45 00
Parker & Page, manual training supplies
150 12
Parker, F. A., punch for reception 6 98
Quimby, Sara A., chemicals
9 70
3 00
225
Remington Typewriter Co., typewriter and ribbons 147 50
Reading Floral Co., preparing window boxes,
High School
15 25
Reading Custom Laundry, laundry service 5 46
Roundy, E. J., repairs on buildings .
448 19
Reading Water Works, water service
160 45
Richmond, E. D., salary, Medical Inspector
200 00
Rockport Fish Market, biology specimens
1 05
Scott Paper Co., paper towels
2 00
Sanborn, Benjamin H., text books
61 42
Stewart & Robertson, biology cabinet
124 75
Silver, Burdette & Co., text books
33 05
Stanley Liquid Soap Co., soap
75
Scribners, Charles, Sons, text books
46 50
Standard Electric Time Co., repairs on clock
14 40
Smith, A. A., school census .
50 00
Studley, E. H., engrossing diplomas
14 20
Stein, Franc O., sweeping compound 3 75
Thompson, J. J., resurfacing blackboards
74 30
Thorp & Maeter Co., paper
1 44
Twombly, W. E. and J. F., printing and supplies
143 85
Talbot Chemical Co., Tabo
15 00
Tarbel, E. H., lamp shade
1 00
Welch, W. F., fertilizer
16 00
Ward, Samuel Co., ink and supplies
8 75
West Disinfectant Co., disinfectant
40 00
Wallace, Fred, supplies .
3 85
Willis, W. H., chemicals
4 97
Watkins, H. T., travelling expenses, etc. 87 32
Wadsworth, Howland Co., drawing materials 26 75
White, Harold E., laboratory assistance
1 00
$6,981 36
REPORT OF PUBLIC LIBRARY
Appropriation .
$1,000 00
Proceeds of dog tax, 1909
737 28
$1,737 28
EXPENDED
Rent :
Odd Fellows' Building Association
·
$600 00
Salaries :
Bertha L. Brown, librarian . $300 00
Grace J. Abbott, assistant ·
43 75
C. H. Stinchfield, janitor · 51 99
395 74
Books :
Old Corner Bookstore, Inc. $459 48
C. E. Lauriat Co.
64 75
Robert Appleton
54 00
578 23
Periodicals :
M. F. Charles .
. $58 95
H. W. Wilson Co. 10 00
-
68 95
Sundries :
Municipal Light Board, lighting $46 91
W.E.&J.F. Twombly, printing 25 50
Library Bureau, supplies 19 40
91 81
$1,734 73
Unexpended to 1911
.
$2 55
1
227
FINE ACCOUNT
Amount on hand Jan. 1, 1910 $77 36
Received from fines, sale of catalogues,
cards, etc. 56 32
$133 68
Paid for expressage
$6 28
Postage and small supplies 8 82
$15 10
Balance
$118 58
During the year 225 new titles have been added to the library. Duplicates and replacements number 115. The volumes given to the library include the following: From the United States Government ( documents and reports), 5; Commonwealth of Massachusetts (documents and reports), 28; other sources, 13. The number of volumes worn out and not replaced is 103. The number lost is 4. The total num- ber now belonging to the library is 11,959. During the year the circulation for home use was 16,212 volumes ; the largest circulation for any single month being 1,648 in December, and the smallest 586 in January, during which month the library was open only eight days.
The librarian, Miss Bertha L. Brown, reports to the Trustees as follows :
" The closing of the library from January 11, 1910, until February 21 (on account of the epidemic of smallpox in this town) necessarily reduced the circulation for the year. * The number of card holders now registered is 1,711, and 291 new names have been added during the year. This number includes some who formerly held cards, but who had not used them since the new registration was begun in June, 1908. The Woman's Educational Association of Mas- sachusetts lent the library from June to October their traveling library of books and pictures on Egypt, and in December sent us another set on Dutch art, which will remain until next June."
228
During the year the Trustees have added to the library a carefully selected list of books in the different depart- ments of literature, including the more important recent publications in biography, history, travel, general literature and fiction. As usual the titles have been published in The Reading Chronicle, and added to the card catalogue in the library.
We wish our citizens who do not now use the library would become card holders and avail themselves of its re- sources. As to its capacity for usefulness to every one in the community we can do no better than to repeat what we said some years ago: "The time has passed when the public library which fills its true place in the community can confine its work to the distribution of fiction or books intended merely for recreation. That is but one phase of its usefulness, however important that phase may be. The library now takes a leading position as an educational insti- tution, supplementing the public schools and having func- tions which the limitations of the public schools prevent them from exercising. The artisan or mechanic may find among its books those which will enable him to increase his efficiency and add to his income. The tradesman sometimes has problems that may be solved through books; he may find such books in the public library. The farmer may find there the latest information which has appeared in print upon soils or cultural processes. Questions are constantly arising about current events, or the past history of our country, or the numerous topics which interest those who read the daily papers. In the public library are books of reference which throw light upon these questions. The relation of the public library to young readers who are just entering upon the active duties of life, and who may be led through its opportunities into friendly companionship with books, and thus made to rely upon their help, needs only to be suggested to impress us with its importance."
229
The activities of the library could be much extended and its usefulness enlarged if we had here a modern, well equipped library building with separate reading rooms for adults and children. This may come in time. Until then the Town may congratulate itself that it possesses a collec- tion of books well worth the attention of all our citizens, and capable of being used far more widely than at present.
We again put upon record our appreciation of the faith- ful service of the librarian, Miss Brown.
The terms of Cyrus M. Barrows and Mrs. Marion F. Davies expire with the current year.
It is desirable that an appropriation as large as that for the year just closed shall be made for the maintenance of the library during the ensuing year, to wit, $1,000, and the proceeds of the dog tax. The fixed charges of the library, as we have pointed out in previous years, cannot be reduced. These cover rent, light and services. The amount remain- ing after these fixed charges are paid, is the minimum amount upon which the library can be operated with its present degree of efficiency .
Respectfully submitted,
HORACE G. WADLIN, Chairman, CYRUS M. BARROWS, Secretary, J. WOODWARD MANNING, HENRY C. PARKER, MARION F. DAVIES, GRACE L. TWOMBLY, Trustees.
READING : For the year ending December 31, 1910.
1
REPORT OF TAX COLLECTOR, 1908
DR.
Uncollected taxes Jan. 1, 1910
$14,064 63
Interest .
1,321 03
Amount collected, account postage 72
OR.
Paid W. C. Mansfield, Treasurer
$14,870 40
Abatements
515 26
Postage account
72
$15,386 38 $15,386 38
MERRICK A. STONE,
Reading, January 1, 1911.
Collector.
REPORT OF INSPECTOR OF ANIMALS AND PROVISIONS
To the Honorable Board of Selectmen :
I herewith wish to submit my report as Inspector of Cattle for the year ending Dec. 31, 1910.
The annual inspection of neat cattle, sheep, swine, etc., was ordered by the Chief of the Cattle Bureau in October, which was carried out in an impartial and thorough manner.
I have examined about 400 heads of cattle and 70 stables where cattle are kept, answered all questions truth- fully, pertaining to light, ventilation, water supply, drain- age, cleanliness, etc. I find that with few exceptions the cattle are equal to those of any town about here; but I regret very much having to report some stables as being unclean and one or two as filthy. While it is often incon- venient to keep the stable perfectly clean there is no excuse for it being filthy, and those especially where only one or two cows are kept for home use.
Unfortunately, a stray rabid dog which presumably passed through town infecting one here caused some uneasi- ness for a short time, but fortunately up to this time no other ill effects have been noticed and it is sincerely hoped will not.
One outbreak of glanders has been encountered and through careful isolation and compliance to the quarantine laws no further trouble is expected, and all at the present time are being thoroughly disinfected. The slaughtering industry is not quite so flourishing as in 1909, there being 302 more heads slaughtered in 1909 than in 1910.
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1910: Cattle 884
Calves
558
Hogs
697
Sheep
30
Goats
5
2,174
Yours very truly,
C. H. PLAYDON, M. D. V.
TREASURER'S REPORT
To the Citizens of the Town of Reading :
In accordance with the vote of the Town at a special meeting held Sept. 29, 1909, to provide funds for the build- ing of the Lowell St. School House, I have issued the notes of the Town to the amount of $6,500. The first note for $1,500 falls due Sept. 27, 1911, and $1,000 each year there- after until 1916, when the last one will have been paid.
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