Town of Reading Massachusetts annual report 1912, Part 6

Author: Reading (Mass.)
Publication date: 1912
Publisher: The Town
Number of Pages: 310


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$150 00


EXPENDED


Pay roll


$28 75


Pipe


121 25


150 00


SCHOOL STREET CONSTRUCTION


Appropriation


$2,500 00


EXPENDED


A. Michelini, contract . $1,090 00


Henry Mellen, land, 6,016 feet


1,100 00


Spencer G. Stewart, land, 4,942 feet


197 68


Survey and plans


58 80


Service pipe


8 40


2,454 88


Balance to 1913


45 12


2,500 00


STREET LIGHTING


Appropriation


$5,000 00


EXPENDED


Municipal Light Board .


5,000 00


MUNICIPAL LIGHT BOARD, NEW CONSTRUCTION


Appropriation


$4,000 00


EXPENDED


Municipal Light Board . 4,000 00


116


NEW LIGHTS


Appropriation


$1,500 00


EXPENDED


Municipal Light Board .


1,500 00


CHARITIES


Appropriation


$4,500 00


RECEIVED


From sundry sources


15 00


4,515 00


Overdraft from 1911


. 81,088 28


GENERAL ADMINISTRATION


EXPENDED


George L. Pratt, salary


$16 66


Oliver L. Akerley, salary


16 67


Edwin L. Hutchinson, salary


100 00


Alvah W. Clark, salary


83 33


Frederic D. Merrill, salary


83 34


RELIEF GIVEN BY CITIES AND TOWNS


City of Boston


$176 33


City of Cambridge


17 37


City of Woburn


43 66


Town of Winchester


71 23


Town of Danvers


11 00


.


HOSPITALS


Massachusetts Hospital School $40 57


117


PRIVATE INSTITUTIONS


Children's Mission $172 14


OTHER EXPENSES


Groceries and provisions


$244 37


Aid


104 00


Boots and shoes


3 90


Fuel


131 44


Nursing .


·10 00


Supplies


8 75


Professional services


58 50


Printing


2 25


Burial


43 00


Penalty .


3 00


2.529 79


Transferred, Town Home


785 96


Transferred to Contingent


1.199 25


4,515 00


UNPAID BILLS


City of Woburn. aid


$103 15


Mary A. Collins, nurse


31 00


Dr. E. D. Richmond, services


41 00


175 15


TOWN HOME


RECEIVED


From Sale of :


Manure


$2 00


Hay


2 80


Cows


676 50


Cider


3 42


Apples


152 28


Hens


72 00


Milk


758 10


118


Eggs


$43 14


Vinegar


4 95


Vegetables


59 96


From Highways


59 40


From board


144 00


From telephone tolls


3 60


1,982 15


Transferred to Poor Account


785 96


2,768 11


EXPENDED


W. C. Smith, salary


$116 48


W. O. Smith, expense


7 97


Hattie Skidmore, services


49 30


George Rexford, services


25 00


Mr. Brooks, services


10 68


L. A. Deming, services


394 18


Hay and grain


1,004 44


Freight .


30 48


Groceries and provisions


464 58


Supplies


117 67


Telephone


32 75


Water


43 23


Fuel


103 41


Repairs


71 49


Lighting


58 52


Labor


15 42


Slaughtering


8 75


Ice .


19 70


Harrow


10 00


Flour


36 90


Incidentals


56 83


Seeds


32 41


Plough


10 00


119


Ploughing ·


$15 00


Express and freight


17 92


Clothing


15 00


2,768 11


OUTSIDE RELIEF BY CITIES AND TOWNS


Commonwealth of Mass.


Balance from 1911


$580 80


RECEIVED


From Commonwealth of Massachusetts 212 57


EXPENDED


Aid


248 90


.


829 70


Balance to 1913


617 13


CITY OF CAMBRIDGE


Balance from 1911


$83 46


Received . .


83 46


EXPENDED


Aid


82 28


Balance to 1911


82 28


TOWN OF NORFOLK


Received from 1911


$72 14


Received


.


.


72 14


EXPENDED


Aid


.


136 27


Balance to 1913


. 136 27


.


.


120


TOWN OF CANTON


Balance from 1911


$40 50


Received


.


40 50


EXPENDED


Aid


42 00


Balance to 1913


42 00


CITY OF SOMERVILLE


EXPENDED


Aid


$55 80


Balance to 1913 .


55 80


SOLDIERS' BENEFITS


STATE AID


Balance from 1911 . 81,997 00


RECEIVED


From Commonwealth of Massachusetts $1,999 00


From return State Aid 2 00


2,001 00


EXPENDED


Pay roll


1,784 00


3,781 00


Balance to 1913


1,780 00


(To be refunded by Commonwealth of Mass. )


SOLDIERS' RELIEF


Balance from 1911


$268 42


Appropriation 431 58


121


RECEIVED


From Aid returned .


$12 00


TRANSFERRED


From burial of soldiers


37 00


749 00


EXPENDED


Ray roll and Aid


$502 53


Balance to Contingent


246 47


749 00


BURIAL OF SOLDIERS


Balance from 1911


$105 00


RECEIVED


From Commonwealth of Massachusetts


111 00


EXPENDED


Burial of soldiers 148 00


TRANSFERRED


From Soldiers' Relief .


37 00


290 00


Balance to 1913


179 00 (To be refunded by Commonwealth of Mass. )


EDUCATION


SCHOOL DEPARTMENT


Balance from 1911


$2 15


Appropriation


.


36,000 00


.


122


RECEIVED


From tuition, North Reading 2,451 25


Tuition, City of Boston 96 00


Tuition, J. W. Manning 20 00


Fines . 9 49


38,578 89


ADMINISTRATIVE SALARIES


EXPENDED


H. T. Watkins, Superintendent


$799 92


OTHER SALARIES


Teachers


. $26,500 48


Janitors


3,265 25 ·


Truant Officer


100 00


30,665 65


Transportation


600 00


Fuel


2,003 77


Freight on fuel


1,091 23


Teaming


215 19


BUILDING AND GROUND MAINTENANCE


Oil for floors


$98 08


Repairs .


733 50


Labor


·


91 65


Incidentals


1 00


INSPECTION


School children


$200 00 .


OTHER GENERAL EXPENSES


Labor


$37 75


Supplies


966 50 .


123


Water rates


292 66


Books


604 02


Express


156 12


Lighting


128 08


Furnishings


30 68


Telephone


118 57


Support of truants


64 99


Printing


156 33


Tuning piano


4 50


Awning


48 00


Incidentals


10 00


Architect's services


48 50


Binding books


26 27


Engrossing diplomas


13 25


Cleaning cesspools


32 00


Insurance on boilers


129 15


Freight demurrage


99


38,568 43


Unexpended balance to Contingent


10 46


38,578 89


LOWELL STREET SCHOOL HOUSE


Balance from 1911 33


Balance to Contingent 33


SANITARY TOILETS PROSPECT STREET SCHOOL


Balance from 1911


$974 00


EXPENDED


Henry R. Johnson, contract $970 00


Balance to Contingent .


4 00


974 00


SANITARY TOILETS UNION STREET SCHOOL


Appropriation $1.500 00


124


EXPENDED


Francis Bros., contract


$788 31


Louis Ellenwood, contract


500 00


W. C. Vaughn, hardware


35 00


A. Michelini, blasting


60 00


1,383 31


Balance to 1913


116 69


LIBRARY


Balance from 1911 .


$374 45


Appropriation


975 00


Appropriation (Special)


250 00


RECEIVED


From Dog Tax


702 47


Fines


124 00


Sundries


3 60


2,429 52


SALARIES


EXPENDED


Bertha L. Brown, salary


$319 59


Bertha L. Brown, expenses


3 04


Grace J. Abbott, salary


63 00


Chas. H. Stinchfield, janitor


125 78


511 41


Repairs


57 79


Books


588 77


Periodicals


84 60


Express .


10 54


Lighting


28 38


Fuel


157 63


.


.


.


.


125


Binding .


29 44


Supplies .


40 87


Rent Y. M. C. A.


625 00


Taxes Y. M. O. A. .


214 50


Printing


43 35


Furniture


24 00


2,416 28


Balance to Contingent


13 24


2,429 52


RECREATION AND CELEBRATIONS


RENT OF PLAYGROUND


Appropriation


$342 00


EXPENDED


Kirk Sweetser, rent


342 00


CARE OF COMMON AND PARKS


Balance from 1911 .


$42 28


Appropriation


. .


.


57 72


100 00


EXPENDED


Orne Green, care of Common


$49 25


Water


12 00


Labor and supplies


5 77


67 02


Balance to Contingent


32 98


.


100 00


126


MEMORIAL DAY


Appropriation


$175 00


EXPENDED


G. A. R. Post 194 .


175 00


CEMETERY


Balance from 1911 .


.


$4 65


Appropriation


.


1,000 00


TRANSFERRED


From Special Account .


350 00


RECEIVED


From burial service and stone 16 20


Interest for care of lots 666 00


2,036 85


EXPENDED


Pay roll .


. $1,429 75


A. W. Danforth, clerk .


75 00


A. W. Danforth, expense


7 62


1,512 37


Fence


117 00


Reading Water Works, extension


76 23


Survey


9 50


Repairs .


37 62


Printing .


4 00


Express and freight


1 66


Books


20 75


Supplies .


10 00


.


.


127


Seeds


34 50


Labor


2 55


Plants and flowers .


209 90


2,036 08


Unexpended to Contingent


77


2,036 85


REMOVAL OF LEDGE


Balance from 1911 .


$5 22


Balance to Contingent 5 22 .


PUBLIC SERVICE ENTERPRISES


WATER DEPARTMENT


RECEIPTS


Balance on hand Jan. 1, 1912


$249 15


Bonds sold


8,373 60


Office rent and sundries


93 81


House rent and sundries


185 10


Service pipes


963 35


Interest


135 83


Meter rates


16,393 10


Hydrant rent .


5,610 00


Water for street sprinkling


500 00


Water for drinking fountains


300 00


32,803 94


PAYMENTS


1


Maintenance . . $2,409 37


Pumping station maintenance .


3,081 83 ·


Filter maintenance


.


2,717 06


Meter maintenance


911 11


128


Service pipe maintenance


$411 78


Main pipe maintenance


.


53 72


Main pipe


558 92


Service pipe


2,748 28


Meters


308 87


Interest .


7,502 50


Bonds .


2,000 00 .


Note .


10,000 00 .


Balance on hand


100 50


-


-- 32,803 94


MUNICIPAL LIGHT DEPARTMENT


Jan. 1, balance on hand


$128 70


Received from regular appropriations .


10,500 00


Wilmington appropriation . 16,000 00


Interest on bank balance


50 20


Interest on Wilmington bonds .


113 56


Consumers and sundries


41,873 91


68,666 37


PAYMENTS


Paid for bonds . $5,000 00


Paid for notes 2,200 00


Paid for interest 2,950 00


Paid for construction and maintenance 57,061 84


Paid for Commissioners' salaries . 225 00


67,436 84


Balance on hand Dec. 31, 1912 1,229 53


68,666 37


129


MUNICIPAL INDEBTEDNESS MATURING IN 1912


Appropriation


$16,475 34


TRANSFERRED


From Cemetery Special


100 00


Grouard Estate Income


424 66


Water Department


10,000 00


Water Department


5,200 00


Municipal Light Department


2,000 00


Municipal Light Department


2,000 00


36,200 00


EXPENDED


Cemetery note


$100 00


Highland School Building


3,000 00


High School Building


5,000 00


Lowell Street School Building


1,000 00


Grouard Estate Loan


1,700 00


Cemetery Bequest .


1,200 00


Reading Water Works note .


. 10,000 00


Reading Water Works bonds


7,000 00


Municipal Light notes and bonds .


. 5,200 00


Municipal Light notes


2,000 00


36,200 00


INTEREST ACCOUNT


Appropriation


$4,439 00


RECEIVED


Interest on deposit


358 09


Interest on taxes


. .


2,391 23


7.188 32


130


EXPENDED


Interest on General loans . $4,000 76


Interest on Temporary loans


2,925 90


Overdraft from 1911


20 23


6,946 89


Unexpended to Contingent 241 43


7,188 32


AGENCY AND TRUST TRANSACTIONS


STATE TAX


From tax levy 1912


$9,187 50


EXPENDED


Commonwealth of Massachusetts .


9,187 50


COUNTY TAX


From tax levy 1912


$5,056 64


EXPENDED


Treasurer Middlesex County


5,056 64


HIGHWAY TAX


From tax levy 1912


$187 00


EXPENDED


Commonwealth of Massachusetts . ·


187 00


WELLINGTON BRIDGE TAX


From tax levy 1912


$42 .20


EXPENDED


Commonwealth of Massachusetts .


42 20


131


CORPORATION AND BANK TAX


Received from Commonwealth of Mass. $5,710 00


EXPENDED


To Commonwealth of Massachusetts $1 95


To amount used in tax levy, 1912 4,900 00


Unexpended to Contingent SOS 05


5,710 00


NATIONAL BANK TAX


Received from Commonwealth of Mass. $538 70


EXPENDED


Commonwealth of Massachusetts . $513 52


Unexpended to Contingent 25 18


538 70


BAY STATE STREET RAILWAY TAX


RECEIVED


From Commonwealth of Massachusetts $3,246 29


From Bay State Street Railway 2,653 67


TRANSFERRED


$5,899 96


To Highways .


5,899 96


SCHEDULE OF REAL ESTATE AND PERSONAL PROPERTY OWNED BY THE TOWN OF READING DECEMBER 31, 1912


SCHOOLS


Buildings and land


$214,000 00


Personal


. 15,000 00 .


$229,000 00


132


PARKS


Common .


.


$10,000 00


Band stand


500 00


Mayall Park


500 00


Washington Park


500 00


11,500 00


TOWN BUILDINGS


Town Buildings


$21,400 00


Grouard estate


.


10,700 00


Police (personal)


311 50


32,411 50


FIRE DEPARTMENT


Fire houses


$6,600 00


Personal


13,855 00


20,455 00


LIBRARIES


Personal .


3,500 00


WATER DEPARTMENT


Building .


$1,000 00


Personal .


2,500 00


3,500 00


HIGHWAYS


Tool house


$500 00


Personal .


3,502 10


4,002 10


POOR DEPARTMENT


Town Home


$9,500 00


House, Federal street


1,550 00


Personal, Town Home


3,052 36


14,102 36


2


.


.


133


CEMETERY


Land (estimated)


$25,000 00


Tool house


100 00


Personal .


200 00


25,300 00


MUNICIPAL LIGHT DEPARTMENT


Building and land


$11,526 59


Personal


91,371 50


102,898 09


Total value of real and personal


property Dec. 31, 1912 $446,669 05


EXEMPTED PROPERTY


The following is a schedule of property used for religious and other purposes and by law exempt from taxation as reported by the Assessors Dec. 31, 1912 :


Baptist Society $19,500 00


Congregational Society


38,500 00


Old South M. E. Church 6,500 00


Christian Union Society


20,500 00


St. Agnes' Roman Catholic Church 44,000 00


Home for Aged Women 5,500 00


Quannapowitt Agricultural Association


13,800 00


Total


. $148,300 00


A


TREASURER'S REPORT


To the Citizens of the Town of Reading:


At a special town meeting held June 26, 1911, the Treasurer was authorized to issue bonds of the town to the amount of $20,000 at a rate of interest not exceeding 5% per annum for the purpose of extending the lines of the Munici- pal Light and Power Plant into the town of Wilmington. In accordance therewith I have issued the bonds of the Town for the above amount dated July 15, 1911, bearing interest at 4% per annum and payable $2,000 each year 1912 to 1921 inclusive.


I have issued notes for temporary loans in anticipation of taxes for the year 1912 to the amount of $115,000. Of this amount $60,000 has been paid, leaving a balance of $55,000 maturing in 1913.


The average daily balance of temporary loans for the year was $83,174.86, and the average rate of interest paid for temporary loans was 3.66 1-2% .


Yours respectfully,


WARD C. MANSFIELD,


Treasurer.


135


136


TREASURER'S REPORT, TOWN OF READING, DEC. 31, 1912


WATER DEPARTMENT


DR.


1912


Jan. 1. To cash balance from Dec. 30, 1911 $249 15 To cash deposits by Water Commissioners 32,490 0S


Interest · 64 71


Overpayments refunded ·


38


Total


$32,804 32


CR.


By payments as per vouchers $32,703 82 Dec. 31. By balance cash on hand 100 50


Total $32,804 32


WARD O. MANSFIELD, . Treasurer.


137


TREASURER'S REPORT, TOWN OF READING, DEC. 31, 1912


MUNICIPAL LIGHT BOARD


DR.


1912


Jan. 1. To cash balance from Dec. 30, 1911 . $128 70 To cash deposits by Munici- pal Light Board 68,487 44


Interest .


50 23


Total


$68,666 37


CR.


By payments as per vouchers $67,436 84 Dec. 31. By balance cash on hand 1,229 53


Total


$68,666 37


WARD O. MANSFIELD,


Treasurer.


138


TREASURER'S REPORT, CEMETERY BEQUEST FUND, DEC. 31, 1912


DR.


1912


Jan. 1. To cash balance Dec. 30, 1911 $378 46


Payment of note


14,000 00


Payment of bond


2,000 00


Sundry bequests


550 00


Interest


546 13


Total


$17,474 59


CR.


By payment accrued interest on bonds $113 56


Payment for care of lots . 666 00


Investments


16,000 00


Balance cash on hand Dec. 31, 1912


695 03


Total


$17,474 59


WARD O. MANSFIELD,


Treasurer.


139


TREASURER'S REPORT, PUBLIC LIBRARY BEQUEST, DEC. 31, 1912


DR.


1912


Jan. 1. To cash balance Dec. 30, 1911 $266 17


CR.


By balance cash on hand Dec. 31, 1912 .


$266 17


WARD C. MANSFIELD,


Treasurer.


140


DR.


TREASURER'S REPORT


1911


Jan. 1 To balance of cash from Dec. 30, 1911.


$5,998 39


To cash, H. M. Viall, Collector, Tax 1909.


$292 96


H. M. Viall, Collector, Tax 1910.


15,232 58


H. M. Viall, Collector, Tax 1911


28,717 97


.. H. M. Viall, Collector, Tax 1912 .


86,438 07


H. M. Viall, Excise Tax


2,653 67


H. M. Viall, certificate of taxes


3 00


H. M. Viall, return postage ·


5 55


Temporary loans.


112,225 77


Water bond payment 2,000 00


Sale of property taken for taxes.


1,496 80


Commonwealth of Massachusetts, Moth Department 822 74


974 24


Commonwealth of Massachusetts, temporary aid ....


212 57


Commonwealth of Mass., Corporation Tax, etc .. .. 1,687 29


.. School Department, tuition North Reading.


2,567 25


.. School Dept., telephone tolls, fines, etc


9 49


Town Home, sale of stock and fowls.


747 00


Town Home, sale of produce, etc


1,207 33


Poor Department, Town of Canton


40 50


Poor Department, Town of Norfolk


72 14


Poor Department, City of Cambridge.


83 46


. . Poor Department, Frank Lamprey


15 00


Moth Department, private work and material sold ..


1,110 60


.6 Police Department, court fines, etc.


248 16


Highway Department, sidewalk construction, etc ...


258 34


Cemetery Department, labor, etc ..


682 20


Cemetery Account, sale of lots and graves .


1,495 00


Cemetery Account, interest ·


108 43


6 6


Grouard Estate, rent 500 04


50 00


Public Library, Dog Tax.


702 47


Public Library, sale of catalogues, fines, etc


127 60


Fire Department, material sold, telephone, etc.


19 37


Health Department, sundry items


4 57


Tree Warden, sundry items ..


70 75


Sealer of Weights and Measures


38 17


Interest


358 09


Insurance, fire loss, 1911.


1,134 70


Miscellaneous Expense, license fees.


68 26


Miscellaneous Expense, telephone hearing, etc.


3 50


Soldiers' Relief. returned


12 00


State Aid, returned .. .


2 00


44


Petty cash


3,600 00


Total receipts


$268,099 63


Total cash.


$274,098 02


Commonwealth of Mass., Salem Street construction


Haag Estate, on account of sale of property.


141


TOWN OF READING, DEC. 31, 1912


1912


Dec. 31 By payments as per vouchers


$267,225 80 By balance, cash on hand 6,872 22


Total.


$274,098 02


WARD O. MANSFIELD,


Treasurer.


REPORT OF COLLECTOR


TOWN OF READING


IN ACCOUNT WITH H. M. VIALL, Collector


DR.


Uncollected tax Dec. 31, 1911, account 1909 $434 25


Interest collected, account 1909 . 34 86


Uncollected tax Dec. 31, 1911, account 1910


14,438 23


Reassessed, account 1910 84 71


Interest collected, account 1910 .


1,284 33


Overpaid, to be refunded, account 1910


2 16


Uncollected tax Dec. 31, 1911, account 1911


41,735 50


Interest collected, account 1911 .


984 61


Overpaid, to be refunded, account 1911


2 04


Error, account 1911


16


Committed list, account 1912


132,504 42


Error in moth tax, account 1912


2 00


Excise tax, account 1912


2,653 67


Additional tax, account 1912


18 00


Reassessment, account 1912


106 27


Supplementary, account 1912


701 66


Interest collected, account 1912 .


87 27


Tax certificates


3 00


Account redemption property


240 71


Account sale unredeemed property


1,022 34


Account postage


5 55


$196,345 74


142


143


CR.


By cash paid W. O. Mansfield, Treasurer, ac- count 1909 $292 96


Abatement, account 1909 29 15 . Amount uncollected (in litigation) account 1909 147 00


Cash paid W. C. Mansfield, Treasurer, ac- count 1910 15,232 58


Abatement, account 1910


386 61


Amount uncollected, account 1910 .


190 24


Cash paid W. O. Mansfield, Treasurer, ac- count 1911 28,717 97


Abatement, account 1911


644 83


Amount uncollected, account 1911


13,359 51


Cash paid W. C. Mansfield, Treasurer, ac- count 1912 .


89,091 74


Abatement, account 1912


387 47


Amount uncollected, account 1912


46,594 08


Cash paid W. C. Mansfield, Treasurer, ac- count certificates 3 00


Cash paid W. O. Mansfield, Treasurer, ac- count redemption 240 71


Cash paid W. C. Mansfield, Treasurer, ac- count sales 1,022 34


Cash paid W. O. Mansfield, Treasurer, ac- count postage . 5 55


$196,345 74


Respectfully submitted,


H. M. VIALL, Collector.


Reading, December 31, 1912.


Approved :


JOHN H. SHELDON,


Town Accountant.


REPORTS OF DEPARTMENTS


REPORT OF SELECTMEN


TO THE CITIZENS OF THE TOWN OF READING :


Following an honored custom, your Board of Selectmen respectfully presents its annual report for the year ending Dec. 31, 1912.


HIGHWAYS


Edward H. Crowe was reappointed Superintendent of Streets and he has given the Town good service this year. In another part of this book will be found the report in de- tail of the Superintendent. This is a new departure which we believe will be found very valuable in following the work of the Street Department.


On account of the extraordinary demand made to the Selectmen for better streets we ask the Town this year for an increased appropriation for highway construction. The valuation of the Town has increased in the past ten years over two million one hundred thousand dollars without a cor- responding increase in money available for the highways. It seems to us in view of this fact the Town should raise more money for this purpose.


Last year we expended $1,000 for oiling streets. This wherever used proved very satisfactory, and the demand for the further use of oil was so great that we ask tor $1,000 ad- ditional for the purpose. We believe if the Town as asked decides to spend $2,000 for oil the amount expended for street watering can safely be reduced $500. We therefore ask for $1,000 for street watering this year.


147


148


We have on hand $1,000 for work on Lowell Street, from High Street towards center of Town, and the State Highway Commission have also appropriated $1,000 to go with the above appropriation. The work will start this spring. While we have no definite assurance of the fact, still we have reason to believe that it is the intention of the Commission to construct a state highway on Lowell Street, from High Street to the Wilmington line.


Citizens living in the vicinity of Haverhill Street ask for a special appropriation of $1,000, providing the State Highway Commission will appropriate a like amount, to be. used on that street. This Board recommends the appropria- tion be made under this condition, as the street is in very bad shape and nothing has been done there for a great many years.


We require citizens asking for edgestones and concrete sidewalks to pay in advance their half of the expense when, ordering the same. We believe this safeguards the Town from loss in case the property should change hands.


CONTRACT WITH GAS COMPANY


In according with a vote of the Town at a special meet- ing the Board of Selectmen entered into a contract with the Malden & Melrose Gas Light Co., giving the latter the right to extend the gas service through the principal streets of the Town.


POLICE


Chief of Police William T. Leggett resigned March 30, 1912, and after careful consideration the Board appointed William E. Swain of Wilmington to fill the vacancy.


MOTH DEPARTMENT


Henry M. Donegan was reappointed Local Superinten- dent. The work has been carried on in a satisfactory man- ner to the State Department having the supervision of this work and to the Board of Selectmen.


149


FINANCIAL


We respectfully call attention to the financial report, which shows a reduction the past year of $12,200 in the Town debt. The departments have all kept within their appro- priations, and there is a net unexpended balance of $5,600.64 available for 1913 appropriations. Notes maturing in 1913 aggregate $26,100, against $34,200 in 1912.


We respectfully call attention to the Town Accountant's report for the financial statements of the different depart- ments.


In closing, we acknowledge the valued assistance ren- dered this Board by Town Accountant John H. Sheldon.


ALVAH W. CLARK, EDWIN L. HUTCHINSON, FREDERIC D. MERRILL, Selectmen of Reading.


REPORT OF OVERSEERS OF THE POOR


TO THE CITIZENS OF THE TOWN OF READING :


We herewith submit our report for the year ending Dec. 31, 1912.


In March William C. Smith resigned as Superintendent of the Town Home, and L. Adelbert Deming was appointed to succeed him. Mr. Deming came highly recommended and with more or less experience. He has proven a capable man for this position and the Board is pleased with his man- agement. Mrs. Deming, the matron, has taken hold of the work in a very able and satisfactory manner and we feel the Town Home is being efficiently managed.


In accordance with instructions from the Town we dis- continued the milk business, keeping two cows to supply the Home with milk.


There have been six inmates throughout the year at the Home. This is more than for a number of years past. The expense of running the Home the past year was materially less than for some time and the coming year it will probably be reduced over this.


We have asked for $550 for extra repairs at the Home this year. The State Inspector condemned the bath room used by the inmates. He recommended that a new one be installed in the main part of the house, for the Superinten- dent and family, and that the bath room in the ell formerly used by them be given over to the inmates.


150


151


We recommend the house be painted two coats of white paint on the outside and that some painting and papering be done on the inside.


We believe it is economy to make these repairs as noth- ing of the kind has been done for about twelve years. We also recommend the heating plant be overhauled as we are convinced that by so doing there will be a large saving of coal.


The financial statement of the department may be found in the Town Accountant's report.


ALVAH W. CLARK, EDWIN L. HUTCHINSON, FREDERIC D. MERRILL,


Overseers of the Poor.


SCHEDULE OF PERSONAL PROPERTY AT THE TOWN HOME. DEC. 31. 1912


Live stock


$235 00


Hay, grain and feed


98 00


Wagons, carts and sleds .


225 00


Manure


48 00


Harnesses, blankets, etc.


42 25


Fuel


86 00


Farming tools and implements


286 22


Beds and bedding .


115 10


Household furniture and utensils


450 00


Provisions and supplies .


250 00


$1,835 57


REPORT OF ASSESSORS


Valuation of Real Estate :


Buildings excluding land . $3,315,825 00


Land excluding buildings


. 2,093,160 00


Total real estate . 85,408,985 00


Personal estate excluding resident


$1,114,482 00


National Bank stock


23,400 00


Total. personal estate


. $1,137,882 00


Total real and personal estate assessed April


1,1912 .


. $6,546,867 00


Real estate increase over 1911


$202,700 00


Personal estate increase over 1911


282 00


Total increase


$202,982 00


Tax on real estate


$105,477 23


Tax on personal estate


22,189 53


Tax on polls


3,742 00


Tax on real estate for moth work


1,095 66


Total tax assessed April 1, 1912 Personal estate assessed Dec. 19, 1912


$132,504 42


33,200 00


475 00


Real estate assessed Dec. 19, 1912 . Tax assessed on polls since April 1 .


24 00


152


153


Tax assessed as supplementary on personal estate Dec. 19, 1912


$686 40


Tax assessed as supplementary on real estate Dec. 19, 1912 9 26


Street Railway Excise Tax on 12.006 miles 2,653 67


Total assessed from all sources 1912 $135,853 75


Total assessed in 1911


127,512 31


Total gain in 1912 over 1911


$8,341 44


State highway tax .


187 00


Wellington Bridge tax


42 20


State tax .


9,187 50


County tax


5,056 64


Total State and County taxes .


$14,473 34


Total State and County taxes 1911


13,499 16


1912 in excess over 1911


974 18


Balance used for Town purposes $121,380 41


Rate of taxation per $1000, $19.50


Total number persons assessed on property 1765


Total number persons assessed on polls only 1106


Total number of separate assessments


2871


Total number of polls April 1, 1912 .


1871


Number of polls added since


12


Total number assessed


1883


Increase of polls over 1911


79


Number of horses


354


Number of cows .


354


Number of neat cattle


59


Number of sheep


7


Number of swine


367


154


Number of fowls


14234


Number of dwellings .




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