USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Reading > Town of Reading Massachusetts annual report 1915 > Part 10
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NORTH READING CONTRACT
Acting under authority granted by the Town, the Board has renewed the street lighting contract with the Town of North Reading for a period of five years from December 1, 1915.
THE BOILER PLANT
The most pressing need of the Department for the coming year is that of a new boiler at the station. It is a question of only a short time when one, at least, of the oldest boilers will have to go out of service, and it is cer- tainly advisable to install its substitute as soon as possible. The Plant might be placed in a serious predicament if the old boiler was condemned on short notice. That part of the report of Mr. Stevens which covers the installation of the new boiler, calls for an expenditure of $3630. We believe that the amount necessary to provide for this pur- pose may be considerably reduced from that total by the employment of the station force on some parts of the work of installation. The balance required is included in the amount for which the Manager asks, in his budget, for new construction. The other estimates given in the Engineer's report apply to necessities which will arise later as the business grows.
FUTURE GROWTH
The future growth of the Department is inevitable. Not only will there be extensions of the lines as the Town developes, but also there will be a corresponding increase in the boiler and power capacity required at the station. The Engineer's report outlines the method by which the demand for more steam should be handled, while the grati- fying success of the turbine recently installed in the engine room points out how, when the time comes, the second requirement may be met.
With regard to this matter there have been many inquiries from citizens as to the advisability of shutting down the Plant and buying current from the Edison Com-
.
226
pany, or some other large producer. We understand that the Finance Committee is to inquire into this, and that there will be a report covering it submitted to the citizens. The present manufacturing costs, as shown in this report. speak for themselves. When the approximate price of purchased current has been arrived at. it should be a simple matter of comparison to determine the more advan- tageous method. Outside of cost. however, there might still remain certain matters of policy and service having an important bearing on the decision.
The Municipal Light Board takes this opportunity to thank the employes of the Department for their cooperation and interest in the successful conduct of its affairs. They are engaged in an exacting form of public service. We gladly testify to the efficiency with which they carry on the daily work, and the excellent spirit with which they meet emergency demands. They form a splendid organization, working 'unitedly to the end that Reading shall have a Light Department of which its citizens may be proud.
CARL M. SPENCER GEORGE L. FLINT FRANK E. CRAFTS Municipal Light Board.
MANAGER'S REPORT
TO THE MUNICIPAL LIGHT BOARD, READING, MASS. :
GENTLEMEN-I respectfully submit my report showing the results of the operation of the Electric Light and Power Department for the year ending Dec. 31, 1915.
Notwithstanding the fact that the kilowatt output was decreased considerably on account of losing the Wakefield business, the total kilowatt hours generated for 1915 are very near the 1914 figures. The amount of current sold to Wakefield in 1914 was 105,758 kilowatt hours, but the decrease in the amount of current sold in 1915 over 1914 was only 27,575 kilowatt hours, showing that we made a sub- stantial gain in sales.
The increase in earnings over the previous year has been $1803.57 in spite of the fact that we reduced the light- ing rate at the beginning of the year, and the increase in operating expenses has only been $857.03.
The actual receipts and expenditures as compared with the estimate at the beginning of the year agrees very close- ly, there being a gain of $509.91.
The following additions to the connected load have been made during the year: Lynnfield -- 19 street lights and 12 commercial customers; North Reading- 4 street lights and 17 commercial customers; Wilmington-121 street lights and 71 commercial customers; and Reading-44 street lights and 109 commercial customers.
Considerable credit for the large increase in the num- ber of commercial customers can be attributed to the efforts of the solicitor whom we employed about three months dur-
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ing the early fall. As a direct result of his efforts we have connected 22 customers, principally in Reading and Wil- mington.
New street lights have been added in Reading on the following streets : Chute Street, Copeland Avenue, Deering Street, Echo Avenue, Fairview Avenue, Grove Street, High Street, Haven Street, Hancock Street, Hopkins Street, John Street, Locust Street, Main Street, Mineral Street, Pratt Street, Prescott Street, Sanborn Street, Salem Street, Vil- lage Street, Summer Avenue and West Street.
The total number of lamps now installed on the streets of Reading is 507. The total hours burning on the center circuit, which burns all night and every night, has been 3,781 hours, the remaining circuits having burned 3,116 hours.
The extensions in Wilmington and Lynnfield Center were not completed until late in the summer so that we only have a small portion of the annual earnings to our credit this year: in fact, a portion of the work in Wilming- ton which was to be done by the Telephone Company has not yet been completed, and we anticipate a bill from them estimated to be $1488.95.
Satisfactory arrangements have been made with the New England Telephone and Telegraph Company and the Bay State Street Railway Company covering the rebuilding of pole lines on Washington, Minot, Haven and West Streets, and Middlesex Avenue and Summer Avenue, and we hope to commence work on some of these streets at an early date. It was planned to have the Summer Avenue line rebuilt during this year but we were unable to make satisfactory arrangements in season to do the work The above work will entail some additional expense in the repair account for the coming year and I have increased the estimate ac- cordingly. I believe, however, that the results on account of the decreased number of poles, and the better and safer line construction, will be much appreciated by everyone, as over 90 poles will be removed from the public streets.
229
I recommend the purchase of a Ford truck to be used in the line work in place of one of the teams. This has been tried out by the Peabody Electric Light Plant with good success and it would be even more advantageous for us with our outlying territory as considerable time is spent on the road. The cost of such a truck would not exceed $700.00.
In the near future I believe it would be wise to pur- chase an electric truck for the heavy work, but I do not recommend it this year.
I recommend the installation of one new boiler at the Plant during the coming year so that we may safeguard the service in case one of the old boilers has to be abandoned during the year.
I also want to recommend at this time a reduction in the heating and cooking rate, as I believe that with a slight- ly lower rate much additional business of this nature can be obtained.
The records at the office show that the following appli- ances have been sold during 1915 : 185 flat irons, 36 toasters, 16 grills, 5 ranges, 4 washing machines, 12 vacuum cleaners, 11 heating pads, 6 radiators, 10 sewing machine motors, 11 table lamps, 5 chafing dishes, 3 percolators, 4 hair dryers, 3 vibrators, 3 water heaters, 4 curling irons, 2 shaving mir- rors, 2 motors, 1 electric sign, 1 fan, 1 motor generator set, 1 violet ray set, 1 hot plate. We have also connected 43 motors for various purposes, totalling 68.83 H. P.
The following tables show data from the records at the office followed by the financial report and estimate for 1916.
LYNNFIELD EXTENSION
Total number of customers Dec. 31, 1915 82
Total commercial lamps in 40 watt units 566
Total commercial lamps in 50 watt units 969
Total number of 32 candle street lamps connected 83
Total horse power in motors 21
Total investment to Dec. 31, 1915
. $11,445.36
Total earnings for the year . $2,566.00
230
NORTH READING EXTENSION
Total number of customers Dec. 31, 1915 107
Total commercial lamps in 40 watt units 759
Total commercial lamps in 50 watt units 1,006
Total number of 32 candle street lamps connected 215
Total horse power in motors 28.5
Total investment to Dec. 31, 1915 $25,856.37 .
Total earnings for the year . $5,950.74 .
WILMINGTON EXTENSION
Total number of customers Dec. 31, 1915 . 195
Total commercial lamps in 40 watt units 1,213
Total commercial lamps in 50 watt units 1,301
Total number of 32 candle street lamps connected 376
Total horse power in motors
41.05
Total investment to Dec. 31, 1915 $41,183.56
Total earnings for the year . $8,169.68 .
TABLE SHOWING DATA FROM RECORDS OF THE PLANT
Kilowatt hours manufactured 980,688
Kilowatt hours used on street lights 156,505
Kilowatt hours sold to Reading consumers 428,838
Kilowatt hours sold to North Reading consumers 44,633
Kilowatt hours sold to Lynnfield consumers 16,673
Kilowatt hours sold to Wilmington consumers 58,463
Kilowatt hours used at station and office
10,403
Kilowatt hours unaccounted for
265,173
Coal used, tons
2,052
Average cost of coal per ton
$4.088
Incandescent lamps renewed free
3,618
44
60-candle power Tungsten street lamps installed 40-candle power Tungsten street lamps installed New poles added
636
Old poles renewed
48
Feet of wire added
295,685
Feet of wire renewed
16,711
Incandescent lamps connected in 40 watt units . 1,864
Incandescent lamps connected in 50 watt units . 1,544
144
231
Motors connected .
New services installed .
186
CONNECTED LOAD DECEMBER 31, 1915
Total number of customers
1,599
Total incandescent lamps in 40 watt units (ap- proximate )
11,190
Total incandescent lamps in 50 watt units (ap- proximate)
14,829
Total horse power in motors
381
Total number of Tungsten street lamps
1,181
MANUFACTURING COSTS PER K. W. H. BASED ON TOTAL K. W. H.
DELIVERED AT SWITCHBOARD
1909
1910
1911
1912
1913
1914
1915
Fuel
.0106
.0086
.0077
.0091
.0101
.0092
.0085
Labor
.0088
.0075
.0069
.0071
.0070
.0082
.0087
Other station expenses
.0054
.0026
.0021
.0027
.0020
.0017
.0013
Total costs
.0248
.0187
. 0167
.0189
.0191
.0191
.0186
K. W. H. delivered at
609,290 698,597 771,011 919,282 1,045,592 986,476 980,688
TABLE SHOWING EARNINGS OF LIGHT AND POWER FOR FIVE YEARS
LIGHTS
1911
1912
1913 $39,472.00
1914 $44,496.50 3,404.39
1915 $47,436.24 3,326.87
Discount
$30,217.13 4,190.06
$31,772.66 2,861.18
3,365.99
Net
$26,027.07
$28,911.48
$36,106.01
$41,092.11
$44,109.37
POWER
Total
$5,312.91
$8,321.36
$8,639.16
$8,783.49
$7,593.13
Discount
22.58
60.91
80.47
75.85
99.18
Net
$5,290.33
$8,260.45
$8,558.69
$8,707.64
$7,493.95
NET TOTAL LIGHT AND POWER
$31,317.40 $37,171.93
$44,664.70
$49,799.75
$51,603.32
43
Total
switchboard:
232
SUMMARY OF CASH RECEIPTS AND EXPENDITURES FOR THE YEAR
DR.
Balance Dec. 31, 1914 .
$1,532 85
Appropriation for bond payments ·
7,000 00
Appropriation for note payments .
2,500 00
Appropriation for interest
1,500 00
Receipts from customers
54,298 07
Interest received
172 34
Sundry receipts
1,776 36
Proceeds Wilmington construction notes .
12,000 00
Proceeds notes for construction
·
4,000 00
$84,779 62
CR.
Cash paid for construction $16,236 26
Cash paid for bonds
7,000 00
Cash paid for notes
2,500 00
Cash paid for interest
4,640 42
Cash paid for Commissioners' salaries 225 00
Cash paid for maintenance accounts
50,427 10
Cash paid for insurance
831 03
Cash paid for taxes
.
212 20
$82,072 01
Balance Dec. 31, 1915
2,707 61
$84,779 62
OPERATIONS FOR TWELVE MONTHS ENDING DECEMBER 31, 1915
EXPENSE
MANUFACTURE :
Fuel ·
$8,390 60
Oil and waste
176 95
Water .
26 24
Station wages
8,535 48
Repair of real estate
25 62
Repair of steam plant
799 03
233
Repair of electric plant
$38 03
Station tools and appliances
300 83
$18,292 78
DISTRIBUTION :
Distribution wages
$1,732 20
Renewal and repair of lines,
lamps and meters
3,792 91
Incandescent lamps .
3,187 96
Distribution tools and appliances 219 45
Stable and auto expenses
1,397 31
$10,329 83
MISCELLANEOUS EXPENSES :
General salaries .
$3,777 00
Board expenses
15 00
Commissioners' salaries
225 00
General office expenses
1,268 11
Rent of office and stock room
435 00
Advertising and printing
196 96
Insurance
1,499 10
Taxes .
212 20
Pole line rental
101 95
$7,730 32
$36,352 93
Gain in operating
15,250 39
$51,603 32
INCOME
Commercial light, less discount $10,365 35
Domestic light, less discounts .
·
25,027 87
Commercial power, less discounts
6,972 01
Power sold to Water Works
501 30
Power sold to Wakefield
13 68
Power sold to Lowell Electric Light Corporation . 6 96
Lighting Municipal buildings 566 90
Street lighting, North Reading
2,873 37
Street lighting, Wilmington
4,287 01
Street lighting, Lynnfield . .
988 87
.
$51,603 32
234
PROFIT AND LOSS ACCOUNT DECEMBER 31. 1915
DR.
Deficit Jan. 1. 1915
$30.296 93
Interest paid
4.640 42
Depreciation
6,972 2S
Bad debts
317 71
$42,227 34
CR.
Appropriation for interest
$1.500 00
Jobbing income .
183 35
Stock
34 80
Rent of poles
343 09
Interest on bank balances
79 01
Gain in operating
15,250 39
$17.390 64
Deficit Dec. 31. 1915
24.836 70
- $42.227 34
STATEMENT DECEMBER 31. 1915
ASSETS
Real estate
$11,654 42
Steam plant
.
29.641 64
Electric plant
17.307 98
Lines .
85,791 74 .
Incandescent street lights
10,495 20 .
Meters
15,818 82 .
Transformers
10.659 27
INVENTORY :
Fuel
949 90
Station tools and appliances
811 48
Oil and waste
32 36
Jobbing supplies
2.562 70
Line material
2.713 85
Incandescent lamps
1.109 48
Repairs steam plant
335 17
Repairs electric plant . .
.
144 00
:
.
.
.
235
Repairs of lines . $197 39
Horses, wagons, auto, etc. . 1,523 56
Distribution tools and appliances 563 75
Office supplies 281 42
Office furniture
951 55
Unexpired insurance . 413 19
Cash in Town Treasury, construction
account
2,045 37
Cash in Town Treasury, maintenance account 662 24
Cash in Mechanics' Savings Bank, (customers' deposits)
1,760 28
Accounts receivable (manufacturing) 9,244 04
Sundry accounts receivable
1,191 20
$208,862 00
Profit and loss deficit
24,836 70
$233,698 70
LIABILITIES
Bonds payable $76,000 00 ·
Notes payable 36,500 00 ·
Appropriations for bond payments 49,513 00
Appropriations for note payments .
24,560 00
Appropriations for construction 36,623 30
Overdraft for construction 3,211 64 .
Customers' deposits .
.
1,760 28
Interest accrued, not due .
.
1,212 09
Accounts payable, maintenance
· 4,318 39
-- ~~ $233,698 70
CONSTRUCTION ACCOUNT
Cost of plant as shown in Town Re- port Dec. 31, 1914
$233,509 58
Electric plant
$291 98
Steam plant
73 00
Lines .
·
14,949 28
.
·
236
Incandescent street light fixtures
$1,599 25
Meters
1,995 30
Transformers
.
.
1,930 70
$20,839 51
Cost of plant Dec. 31, 1915 .
$254,349 09
CONSTRUCTION CASH ACCOUNT
DR.
Balance Dec. 31, 1914
$1,399 32
Proceeds Wilmington construction notes
12,000 00
Proceeds Reading construction notes 4,000 00
Depreciation cash used for construc- tion
5,485 56
$22,884 88
CR.
Amount paid for Reading construc-
tion
$5,456 20
Amount paid for Lynnfield construc- tion 2,187 57
Amount paid for No. Reading con- struction 1,398 91
Amount paid for Wilmington con- struction
11,796 83
$20,839 51
Dec. 31, 1915, balance-Wilming- ton construction
1.473 52
Dec. 31, 1915, balance-Reading
construction .
571 85
$22.884 88
ADDITIONAL TUNGSTEN STREET LIGHTS
From Depreciation cash
628 73 Expended .
628 73
237
DEPRECIATION CASH ACCOUNT
Appropriation from earnings $6,972 28
Amount used for construction acct. . $5,485 56
Amount used for renewal of lines and steam plant . 1,486 72
$6,972 28
LYNNFIELD EXTENSION
Total investment to Dec. 31, 1915 :
Lines
$8,650 27
Incandescent street lights 905 52
Meters .
1,122 20
Transformers
767 37
$11,445 36
NORTH READING EXTENSION
Total investment to Dec. 31, 1915 :
Electric plant $440 12
Lines
21,314 36
Incandescent street lights 1,653 78
Meters .
1,336 38
Transformers
1,111 73
$25,856 37
WILMINGTON EXTENSION
Total investment to Dec. 31, 1915 :
Electric plant $627 18
Lines . 34,504 90
Incandescent street lights . 2,429 08
Meters . .
1,859 41
Transformers
1,762 99
$41,183 56
ESTIMATES FOR 1916
EXPENDITURES :
For operation, maintenance and repairs . . $40,474 68
For interest on bonds and notes . 4,637 13 For depreciation (3 per cent. on $253,249.09) . 7,597 47
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For note payments
3,800 00
For bond payments .
.
7,000 00
$63,509 28
INCOME :
From sales to private consumers $57,909 28
From miscellaneous items . . 600 00
$58,509 28
Balance
$5,000 00
For new construction . $10,000 00
Balance on hand Dec. 31, 1915
2,045 37
$12,045 37
Total to be appropriated
$17,045 37
Respectfully submitted,
ARTHUR G. SIAS, Manager.
REPORT OF JOHN A. STEVENS, ENGINEER
READING MUNICIPAL ELECTRIC LIGHT BOARD, READING, MASSA- CHUSETTS :
DEAR SIRS-In conformity with your request we have examined your situation as regards the question of needed new boiler equipment to enable you to properly carry your load and to renew old boilers, which soon must be done, and we would recommend that you proceed at once to install one 72" diameter, 18' tube, horizontal return tubular boiler, designed for 150 1b. working pressure. There is room for the placing of the same in empty space at the end of your present boiler house.
The placing of this boiler requires only such minor changes in the house as the moving of a short length of suc- tion piping, the relocation of a stairway between boiler room and engine room basement, the construction of a new stair- way from boiler room to engine room floors, the enlarging of a window in front of new boiler to provide for removing tubes, the cutting down of a window at far end of boiler house back of boilers to form a door and minor changes in piping to provide for connecting new boiler to existing lines. In addition to this, we would recommend the constructing of a new door and concrete stairs with retaining walls lead- ing from yard to engine room basement for the convenient handling of supplies to same.
One of your present boilers has very nearly reached the age limit and soon must be replaced. With this new boiler installed you will be able to proceed at leisure to remove this old boiler and replace same with another new 18' tube boiler, like the one now proposed. For this you should be
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able to use the greater part of present settings, merely tear- ing away the front end, extending the walls and making minor changes or repairs in brick work. We have planned the addition to flue with this in mind, that the new work now put in may form a part of such future extensions.
Detail plans for the proposed new boiler installation, also recommended building changes are shown on blueprint Job No. 72, Sheet No. 23. The feed pumps can remain in their present location and we see no reason why for the immediate present they should not remain untouched. The station would be more convenient and the pumps could be better cared for if they were removed to the engine room basement, and, at your convenience, we would recommend that this should be done. In a side sketch of Sheet No. 23 we have shown these pumps thus moved and relocated. We have also shown position and connections for a new boiler feed pump capable of handling up to 1000 boiler horse power of demand, and as a separate item have given estimate covering cost of moving old pump and installing one new pump. If the unit were large enough we would feel like recommending a motor driven centrifugal pump, but, for a station of this size, we do not consider that such a unit would be satisfactory. If a motor driven unit is wanted, about the best solution would be found in a close-belted motor driven triplex boiler feed pump. The cost of such a 5"x8" triplex pump with 7.5 H. P. motor, not erected, would be about $560. This would be a somewhat noisy unit because of the gears. We would recommend instead a 12"x7"x12" simplex steam driven pump, the cost of which not erected would be about $250.
Below we give estimate for cost of one new boiler and recommended building changes :
One 72" horizontal return tubular boiler with castings and fittings, f. o. b., Reading $1,300 00
Brickwork for same 490 00
Foundation 230 00
241
Changes in flue work
$175 00
Piping changes complete 780 00
Trench work and floor plates
65 00
Building changes in boiler house and new door to engine room basement
260 00
$3,300 00
Minor changes and incidental items, 10%
330 00
Total .
$3,630 00
Below we give additional estimate for cost of re- locating boiler feed pumps and installing one new steam driven feed pump :
Two new foundations for old pump $80 00
Labor for moving pumps 20 00
Changes and additions to piping
225 00
New simplex steam driven pump
250 00
Foundation for pump
50 00
Added piping .
75 00
$700 00
Incidentals, 10%
70 00
$770 00
If the motor driven triplex pump is chosen this becomes . $1,080 00 Total cost for installing one new boiler as per above .
. $3,630 00
Cost for moving pumps and installing one new steam driven pump . 770 00
Total if all is done .
$4,400 00 ·
For the installing of a second boiler we would estimate the cost as follows :
Removing old boiler
$100 00
Change and repair on brickwork .
200 00
Change in flue work . . . 125 00 .
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New boiler and fittings
·
1,300 00
Piping
.
.
400 00
$2,125 00
Incidentals, 5%
105 00
Total for second boiler
$2,230 00
We would recommend that you proceed at once to in- stall the new boiler as recommended.
We trust that the above covers the whole matter in satisfactory form and gives the information in detail as you desire it. If we can in any way serve you further, kindly call upon us.
Yours very truly,
JOHN A. STEVENS.
AQB-2-500-3600-2300 CURTIS STEAM TURBINE, MUNICIPAL LIGHT PLANT, READING, MASS.
Annual Report
OF THE
SCHOOL COMMITTEE
OF THE
TOWN OF READING
For the Year Ending December 31 1915
SCHOOL COMMITTEE
WALTER S. PARKER, Ch .. 55 Walnut St. Term expires 1917
HOWARD W. POOR, 27 Mt. Vernon St. Term expires 1917
MRS. IDA A. YOUNG, 86 Woburn St. Term expires 1916
JESSE W. MORTON, 114 Woburn St. Term expires 1916 ARTHUR N. MANSFIELD, 107 Woburn St. Term expires 1918 MRS. ELIZABETH H. BROWN, 83 Prospect St. Term expires 1918
Superintendent of Schools
ADELBERT L. SAFFORD, 78 King St. Tel. Reading 170.
OFFICE
High School, hours 8.30 to 9.30 A. M. Tel. Reading 181-W
Secretary to the Superintendent
MYRTLE D. WELLS, 55 Prescott St. Tel. Reading 491-M
Truant Officer
WILLIAM KIDDER, 26 Lowell St. Tel. Reading 324-M .
Medical Inspector E. DALTON RICHMOND. M. D., 24 Woburn St. Tel. Reading 259
Janitors
HIGH SCHOOL, Clement Gleason . 64 Orange St.
HIGHLAND SCHOOL, Jesse N. Hutchinson . 20 John St.
CENTRE SCHOOL, William Kidder 26 Lowell St.
UNION ST. SCHOOL, William Kidder . 26 Lowell St.
LOWELL ST. SCHOOL, Sylvanus L. Thompson PROSPECT ST. SCHOOL, Timothy Cummings
167 Lowell St.
25 Temple St.
CHESTNUT HILL SCHOOL, Daniel Sewell 47 Hopkins St. . HIGH SCHOOL MATRON, Mrs. Ara A. Pratt . 29 Orange St. GROUARD HOUSE, Charles H. Stinchfield . 20 Highland St.
246
ORGANIZATION OF SCHOOL COMMITTEE
WALTER S. PARKER, Chairman
ADELBERT L. SAFFORD, Secretary
Sub-Committees
A. N. Mansfield
FINANCES AND ACCOUNTS H. W. Poor
J. W. Morton
BOOKS AND SUPPLIES
J. W. Morton Mrs. Ida A. Young W. S. Parker
SCHOOL HOUSES AND PROPERTY
A. N. Mansfield J. W. Morton H. W. Poor
RULES AND REGULATIONS Mrs. Elizabeth H. Brown H. W. Poor A. N. Mansfield
H. W. Poor
TEACHERS AND SALARIES W. S. Parker J. W. Morton
MUSIC AND DRAWING Mrs. Ida A. Young J. W. Morton Mrs. Elizabeth H. Brown
H. W. Poor
COURSE OF STUDY Mrs. Ida A. Young J. W. Morton
247
REPORT OF SCHOOL COMMITTEE, 1915
TO THE CITIZENS OF READING :
Another year has passed in the history of Reading Schools and it becomes our pleasurable duty to render an account of our stewardship in the department of education.
Attention is called to the very interesting report of the Superintendent and the first report of the teacher of Agri- culture.
The different changes that have been made in subjects of study, besides entirely new features of work, have been amplified and explained in these reports. We earnestly hope that all interested citizens will make a very careful study of them.
The introduction of the study of some modern foreign language in the elementary grades, seven and eight, is a new departure which calls for explanation. It is to be taught as a living language by the oral method. All Euro- pean countries are in advance of the United States in the matter of teaching some other language than the vernacular to young pupils in elementary grades. There is an obvious reason for that fact, yet on the other hand it is an open question whether we have not reached the time when the schools of the United States should allow her pupils an opportunity for the earlier study of some of the modern foreign languages. All educational authorities agree that a pupil at the ages of ten to twelve years will more readily acquire a speaking knowledge of a foreign tongue than at any subsequent period. The time is now ripe for the study of Spanish, because of our more intimate relations with the
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