USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Reading > Town of Reading Massachusetts annual report 1917 > Part 10
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47 00
Heywood Bros. & Wakefield Co., seats 7 20 .
Chas. S. Jackson, repairs 2 00
Jones, McDuffee & Stratton Co.
11 52
Jordan Marsh Co., rug 19 95
The Kempton Art Shop, supplies .
2 80
Kenney Bros. & Wolkins, supplies 13 50
F. A Ladd, tuning piano 3 50
. Henry F. Miller & Sons Piano Co., tuning 6 20
Morandi-Proctor Co., supplies 35 00 .
James A. Murphy, repairs 1 25
Pettingell-Andrews Co., supplies . Prescott & Co., supplies
30 63
6 00
Reformatory for Women, flags
.
40 60
A. T. Thompson & Co., roller ·
8 50
A. J. Wilkinson & Co., repairs
145 63
. Woburn Carpet Cleaning Works, la bor 3 50
$479 85
GROUND :
Ames Plow Co., grass seed
$1 43
R. D. Clapp, repairs
85
Matthew Devaney, labor
84 00
Geo. W. Marshall, labor
1 25
Eldon A. Meekins, supplies, labor 41 75
Harry E. Smith, service
60 00
$189 28
158
Cost per pupil in average membership from all sources in all towns of over 5,000 inhabitants - also rank in the 356 towns and cities in the state, and the tax rate for schools - all for year ending December 31, 1916. (From report of Board of Education 1917, Bulletin 12.)
Rank in
Cost per Pupil
Tax Rate Schools
30 Brookline
$70 81
$2 15
43 Milton
65 35
2 62
48 Wellesley
63 31
3 07
57
Concord
62 69
5 54
96 Hingham
54 50
5 08
109
Webster
52 68
5 10
113
Winchester
51 37
4 32
119
Canton
50 66
4 69
126
Ipswich
49 53
7 26
139
Lexington
47 79
5 17
152
Stoneham
45 71
7 42
164
Tewksbury
44 52
5 06
176 Swampscott
43 08
5 59
179
Clinton
42 83
7 46
186
Westborough
42 49
8 02
191
Fairhaven
42 13
4 27
192
Spencer
41 97
6 81
193
Needham
41 86
5 39
199
Arlington
41 53
6 10
20×
Easton
40 53
4 80
209
North Attleboro
40 44
6 21
216
Walpole .
40 11
6 02
217
Andover
40 01
4 22
221
Greenfield
39 89
6 09
222
Winthrop
39 88
5 28
223
Belmont
39 86
4 39
227
Ludlow
39 48
6 25
229
Dedham .
39 28
5 13
Average for State
39 05
4 64
233
Montague
38 73
6 09
234
Westfield
38 65
8 28
237
Framingham
38 34
5 34
State
159
Fank in
Cost per Pupil
Tax Rate Schools
State
241 Amherst .
38 17
$5 53
'243 Mansfield
38 12
8 00
245
Amesbury
37 92
4 87
247
READING . .
37 68
5 95
249
Abington
37 47
10 06
252
Watertown
37 40
4 43
1
255
North Andover
37 29
6 70
257
Winchendon
37 19
6 02
260
Plymouth
37 03
5 61
263
Dartmouth
36 79
5 88
264
Norwood .
37 70
4 57
270
Marblehead
36 11
4 00
271
Chelmsford
36 05
7 30
272
Rockland
35 83
7 83
273
Orange
35 71
7 83
274
Grafton
35 57
7 05
275
Weymouth
35 55
6 64
278
Wareham
35 46
4 63
280
Easthampton
35 39
5 76
253
West Springfield
35 20
6 85
284
Franklin .
35 14
6 81
285
Wakefield
35 13
6 26
287
Adams
35 00
7 60
289
Southbridge
34 96
4 70
293
Whitman
34 57
7 11
301
Natick
34 00
6 51
305
Bridgewater
33 52
8 79
306
Athol
33 45
7 29
307
Braintree
33 40
6 07
310
Monson
32 62
7 70
314
Ware
32 13
7 62
317
Danvers
31 67
6 13
318
Methuen
31 63
7 56
320
Maynard .
31 50
8 91
323
Middleboro
31 27
7 96
324
South Hadley
31 27
8 28
327
Great Barrington
30 97
4 22
328
Palmer
30 74
8 81
330
Millbury .
30 42
8 35
331
Milford
30 29
6 46
332
Hudson
30 19
7 11
334
Stoughton
29 81
6 36
335
Northbridge
29 80
8 40
337
Gardner
29 31
5 71
345
Saugus
27 96
8 32
160
Expenditure per $1,000 valuation for school support from local taxation, year ending December 31, 1916, for the seventy-six towns of Massachusetts of over 5000 inhabitants, arranged in a graduated table. (From the Bulletin of the Massachusetts Board of Education. 1917. Bulletin 12.)
Rank in State
NAME
Tax Rate Schools
Rank in State
NAME
Tax Rate for Schools
3
Abington
$10 06
137
Arlington
$6 10
13
Maynard
8 91
139
Greenfield
6 09
15
Palmer
8 81
140
Montague
6 09
16
Bridgewater
8 79
141
Braintree
6 07
22
Northbridge
8 40
144
Winchendon
6 02
25
Millbury
8 35
145
Walpole
6 02
26
Saugus
8 32
146
Reading
5 95
29
Westfield
8 28
156
Dartmouth
5 85
30
South Hadley.
8 28
166
Easthampton
5 76
34
Westborough
8 02
169
Gardner
5 71
36
Mansfield
8 00
175
Plymouth
5 61
38
Middleboro
7 86
181
Concord ..
5 54
40
Rockland
7 83
184
Amherst.
5 53
41
Orange
7 83
190
Needham
5 39
46
Monson
7 70
194
Framingham
5 34
50
Ware.
7 62
199
Winthrop.
5 25
53
Adams
7 60
208
Lexington
5 17
54
Methuen
7 66
212
Dedham
5 13
57
Clinton .
7 46
215
Webster
5 10
60
Stoneham
7 30
221
Tewkbury
5 07
68
Athol
7 29
233
Amesbury
4 87
70
Ipswich
7 26
239
Easton
4 80
75
Whitman
7 11
244
Southbridge
4 70
76
Hudson
7 11
246
Canton
4 69
78
Grafton
7 05
250
Wareham
4 63
87
West Springfield .
6 85
257
Norwood
4 57
90
Franklin
6 81
268
Watertown
4 43
91
Spencer
6 81
273
Belmont
4 39
97
North Andover
6 70
278
Winchester
4 32
99
Weymouth
6 64
282
Fairhaven
4 27
108
Natick
6 51
283
Andover
4 22
113
Milford .
6 46
284
Great Barrington
4 22
120
Stoughton
6 36
296
Marblehead
4 00
124
Wakefield
6 26
307
Swampscott
3 59
126
Ludlow
6 25
324
Wellesley.
3 07
123
North Attleboro
6 21
336
Milton
2 62
134
Danvers.
6 13
346
Brookline.
2 15
7 42
217
Hingham
5 08
67
Chelmsford
161
Cost per pupil from all sources for all towns of over 5000 population with a tax rate for schools of less than $6.00 per $1,000 valuation. (From report of Board of Education 1917, Bulletin 12.)
Name
Cost per Pupil
Tax Rate
Brookline
$70 81
$2 15
Milton
65 35
2 62
Wellesley
63 31
3 07
Concord
62 09
5 54
Hingham
54 50
5 08
Webster
52 68
5 10
Winchester
51 37
4 32
Canton .
50 66
4 69
Lexington
47 79
5 17
Tewksbury
44 52
5 06
Swampscott
43 08
3 59
Fairhaven
42 13
4 27
Needham
41 86
5 39
Easton .
40 53
4 80
Andover
40 01
4 22
Winthrop
39 88
5 28
Belmont
39 86
4 39
Dedham
39 28
5 13
Framingham
38 34
5 34
Amherst
38 17
5 53
Amesbury
37 92
4 87
READING
37 68
5 95
Watertown
37 40
4 43
Plymouth
37 03
5 51
Dartmouth
36 79
5 88
Norwood
36 70
4 57
Marblehead .
36 11
4 00
Wareham
35 46
4 63
Easthampton
35 39
5 76
Southbridge
34 96
4 70
Great Barrington
30 97
4 22
Gardner
29 31
5 71
162
The per cent. of whole tax appropriated to schools for the year ending December 31, 1916, as reported in the Report of Board of Education for 1917, Reading devoted 29% of the whole tax to the support of schools; fifty other towns as much or more; twenty-five towns, less; nine, 40% or over; thirty-five, 30-39% inclusive; six besides Reading, 29% ; nineteen, 25-29% inclusive; ten, 20-25% inclusive; three, less than 20%. The average for the seventy-six towns was 31%.
Rank
Name
Per Cent.
1
Northbridge
47
Maynard
45
3
Chelmsford .
. 43
4
Bridgewater
. 42
5
Milbury
42
6
Abington
41
7
Ludlow
40
8
Mansfield
40
9
Montague
40
10
Greenfield
39
11
Grafton
38
12
Adams
. 38
13
Westfield
.
38
14
Spencer
38
15
Monson
38
16
Middleboro
37
17
Palmer
37
18
Rockland
37
19
Westboro
37
20
Orange
36
21
Norwood
36
22
Whitman
36
23
Ware .
35
24
West Springfield
35
25
Easton
35
26
Methuen
34
27
Saugus
34
28
Tewksbury
34
29
Franklin
34
.
.
.
.
.
163
Name
Per Cent.
Rate 30
South Hadley
33
31
·
Ipswich
33
32
Concord
. 33
33
Webster
32
34
Braintree
32
35
Great Barrington
32
36
Weymouth
31
37 38
Hudson
31 31
40
Clinton
31
41
Stoneham
31
42
Plymouth
30
43
North Andover
30 30 29
46
Danvers
29 29 29
48
Stoughton
49
Winchendon
.
29 29
51
Dedham
29 28
53
North Attleboro
28 28 28
56
Natick
27
57
Wakefield
27
58
Dartmouth .
27
59
Framingham
27 26
61
Wellesley
26
62
:
Canton
25
63
Winthrop
25
64
Andover
24
65
Belmont
24
66.
.
Amesbury
24
67
.
Winchester
23
44
Needham
45
Milford
47
READING
50
Arlington
52
Amherst
54
Easthampton
55
Gardner
60
Hingham
.
31
Walpole
39
Athol .
.
164
Rate
Name
Per Cent.
68
Wareham
23
69
.
Lexington
22
70
Watertown .
22
71
Southbridge
22
72
Marblehead .
21
73
Fairhaven
20
74
Milton .
18
75
Swampscott
18
76
Brookline
15
DETAIL OF EXPENDITURES, 1917 - AGRICULTURAL ACCOUNT
BOOKS :
American Book Co., books. $1 80
Edward E. Babb & Co., books 31 76
Doubleday, Page & Co., magazine subscription 1 50
Ginn & Company, books 30 29
Home Correspondence School 13 18
The Howell Co., books
13 50
Massachusetts Agricultural Ool- lege, circulars 2 00
Old Corner Book Store, books and supplies .
70 47
Williams Book Stores Oo., books 2 81
$167 31
SUPPLIES FOR PUPILS :
American Express Co., express $3 68
Ames Plow Co., supplies 67 64
Boston & Maine R. R., freight, etc. 45 08 . Central Scientific Co., supplies 22 92 .
J. L. Christiansen, photos 6 75 .
Clapp & Leach, supplies 2 60
Frost & Adams Co., supplies 18 40
Hammett, J. L., supplies 9 00
Hopkinson & Holden, step ladder joints . 1 50
165
L. E. Knott Apparatus Co., supplies $61 06
The MacMillan Co., supplies . 2 63
Pittsburg Plate Glass Co., supplies 4 62
Wards', supplies 10 20
Whital Tatum Co., supplies . 1 80
$257 88
APPARATUS FOR TEACHING :
Joseph Breck & Sons, supplies $6 67
Eugene Dietzgen Co., supplies 15 56
Kenney Bros. & Wolkins, supplies 13 00
Keystone View Co., stereoscopic slides 24 94
Ledder & Probst, Inc., supplies
265 04
A . T. Thompson & Co., lantern sup- plies .
28 49
A. J. Wilkinson & Co., supplies 24 85
1
$378 55
GENERAL EXPENSE :
J. L. Christiansen, supplies $6 40
Ralph Harris & Co., supplies 84 93 + .
$91 33
FUEL :
Russell Coal Co., fuel $181 45
REPAIRS :
:
Hodge Boiler Works, repairs
$22 58
FURNITURE :
Macey-Stetson-Morris Co., supplies $123 58
DETAIL OF EXPENDITURES, 1917 - TUITION TO INDUSTRIAL SCHOOLS
City of Boston $11 76
Town of Wakefield .
175 00
City of Somerville .
8 87
$195 63
1
LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL ACCOMPANYING SCHOOL BUDGET FOR 1917
TO THE HONORABLE, THE FINANCE COMMITTEE OF THE TOWN OF READING :
GENTLEMEN -- The School Committee herewith presents for your consideration and recommendation their estimates for the school budget for 1918.
The total amount for the general account is $63.100, for the agricultural account, $4,400, and for tuition to State Industrial Schools, $350. No special appropriations are requested.
The amount asked for teachers' salaries, item 1, is made up of the salaries in force January. 1918, plus the amount required by the schedule for regular annual increases for length of service. Also, a small sum is allowed for substi- tutes. There has been no increase in the maximum salaries for teachers, although the committee has received a petition for a 25% increase from some of the teachers in the Junior High School, and no new positions have been created in 1917. The amount required, however, is $1,967 greater than the sum expended last year for this item, because the increases provided for in the schedule adopted three years ago become effective by yearly installments and do not come into full effect until September, 1918. The amount required for janitors' salaries is $722 more than the sum expended for this purpose in 1917. This increase has been made because the Committee has been unable to get suitable men to do the work for the salaries previously paid. We are having great difficulty, at the present time, in securing any one to take care of the Chestnut Hill School at an advance of 25% over the amount paid last year. For item 3, an advance of one hundred dollars is asked to pay for the additional duties
166
167
imposed upon the Attendance Officer by recent legislation. This work has not been done previously in Reading. For item 4, one hundred more is asked to provide for the increased cost of transportation of pupils from Haverhill Street, and a larger number of pupils transported to the Junior High School. This item has grown to considerable proportions, but it should be borne in mind that the Town voted to take on the expense of transporting pupils to the Junior High School without request or recommendation to do so from the School Committee. The Committee is not opposed to the plan, but feels that the responsibility for the increased expenditure does not rest with them. In items 6, 7, 8, 11 and 12, the estimates are $2,136 less than was expended last year for these purposes. This cut is made, as the School Committee says in its annual report : "because the Committee feels that the exigencies of war conditions require the strictest economy consistent with the mainte- tenance of the efficiency of the schools, and that upkeep and needed improvements that can be deferred without serious consequences should be put off until the general financial situation has improved."
Estimates for Fuel, item 10, are made without any reli- able quotations from contractors owing to the unsettled con- ditions prevailing at this time in the fuel market. The estimate of $6,000 is conservative, and the Committee does not feel sure that it will be sufficient, but felt that it was best to recommend this sum at present and make a further recommendation later, if necessary.
Outside of fuel and salaries, the estimates are $2,000 less than was expended last year for the same purposes.
The estimates for Agriculture and for Tuition to Indus- trial Schools are the same as last year. The receipts from tuition, and reimbursements for Agriculture were about $2,600 last year and should be about the same in 1918. Also, the Agricultural Account carries its proportion of overhead expenses of the High School, and a portion of the salaries of the principal and a teacher of English and a teacher of Science, amounting to $1,475.
168
The receipts from tuition and other sources for the General Account is estimated at $2,250. About $1,000 of the amounts due in 1917 has not been paid, so that the receipts for 1918 should be at least $3,000.
The expense of Tuition to Industrial Schools is a vari- able amount, and cannot be regulated by the School Con- mittee since under the statutes any pupil who is eligible may attend a State Industrial School with the approval of the State Board of Education, and the Town is obliged to pay the tuition whether the School Committee approves the attendance or not. One boy from Reading recently entered the Industrial School at Somerville, and there is the usual number from Reading at the Evening Industrial School for Women at Wakefield. The amount estimated is to meet these charges.
The School Committee, as already stated, has endeavored to reduce the budget to a minimum for this year, and hopes that your Honorable Board will find it possible to recom- mend to the Town the appropriation of the amounts requested.
Respectfully submitted, By order of the School Board, ADELBERT L. SAFFORD, Supt.
Reading, Mass., January 28, 1918.
SCHOOL COMMITTEE ESTIMATES FOR 1918
- Expended 1917
Requested for 1918
Agr.
Gen.
Gen.
Agr.
$3,058 63
$39,232 95
1 Teachers' and Supt.'s salaries . .
$41,200
$3,175
140 00
3,478 00
2 Janitors' salaries
.
4,200
125
3 Other salaries :
320 00
Truant Officer Medical Inspector
450
1,394 40
4 Transportation of pupils
135 16
5 Tuition to Truant School
200
167 31
2,057 08
6 Books
1,500
275
257 88
3,681 83
7 Supplies for pupils
3,200
150
378 55
855 90
8 Apparatus for teaching
500
250
91 33
540 92
9 General expense
550
60
181 45
4,213 23
10 Fuel .
.
6,000
200
1,869 54
11 Building maintenance
1,800
75
123 58
2,671 77
12 Repairs .
.
.
2,000
90
$4,398 73
$60,450 78
195 63
Tuition to Industrial School
$63,100
$4,400 350
·
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
1,500
.
TREASURER'S REPORT
TO THE CITIZENS OF READING :
In accordance with the votes passed at the several town meetings during the year, the following bonds and notes have been issued : Sewer loan bond issue, $100,000 at 4%, payable $4,000 each year 1923 to 1947 inclusive; Brown Es- tate lot bonds, $7,500 at 4%, payable $750 in 1918, $500 each year 1919 to 1932 inclusive; Town Office Building, $40,000 bond issue at 4 1-2%, payable $2,000 each year 1918 to 1937 inclusive; Municipal Light enlargement and extension, $6,500 notes at 5%, payable $500 each year 1918 to 1931 in- clusive; Municipal Light re-equipment bond issue, $55,000 at 4 1-2%, payable $3,000 each year 1918 to 1935 inclusive and $1,000 in 1936; completing Library and Town Office Buildings and grading lots, $2,640 note issue at 6%, payable $1,340 in 1918 and $1,300 in 1919; Water Works bonds, $16,000 at 4 1-2%, payable $1,000 each year 1918 to 1933 in- clusive; Sewer loan notes, $5,000 at 5%, payable $1,000 each year 1918 to 1922 inclusive.
Notes have been issued for revenue loans to the amount of $173,500. Of this amount $100,000 has been paid, leaving a balance of $73,500 to be paid in 1918.
LEWIS M. BANCROFT, Treasurer.
170
171
TREASURER'S REPORT, CEMETERY BEQUEST FUND DECEMBER 31, 1917
DR.
1917
Jan. 1 To cash balance from Dec. 30, 1916 $1,700 56
To cash payments of notes 3,475 00
To cash sundry bequests 950 00
To interest
765 86
Total
$6,891 42
OR.
By payment care of lots $853 50
By investments 3,500 00
Dec. 31 By cash balance on deposit in
Mechanics Savings Bank . 2,537 92
Total
$6,891 42
LEWIS M. BANCROFT, Treasurer.
172
TREASURER'S REPORT, TOWN OF READING DECEMBER 31, 1917
MUNICIPAL LIGHT DEPARTMENT
DR.
1917
Jan. 1 To balance from Dec. 30,1916 $284 94 To deposits by Municipal Light Board .
148,144 96
Total
$148,726 90
.
CR.
By payments as per vouchers $95,484 33 Dec. 31 By balance cash on hand . 53,242 57 Total $148,726 90
LEWIS M. BANCROFT, Treasurer.
173
TREASURER'S REPORT, TOWN OF READING ' DECEMBER 31; 1917
WATER DEPARTMENT
DR.
1917
Jan. 1 To cash balance from Dec. 30, 1916
$236 35
To cash deposits by Water Commissioners . 43,179 28
To interest
76 07
Total
.
$43,491 70
CR.
By payments as per vouchers $38,512 02 Dec. 31 By balance cash on hand 4,979 68 Total
$43,491 70
LEWIS M. BANCROFT, Treasurer.
174
TREASURER'S REPORT, PUBLIC LIBRARY BEQUEST DECEMBER 31, 1917
DR.
1917
Jan. 1 To cash balance from Dec. 30, 1916
$305 67
To interest 12 32 .
Total
ØR. $317 99
Dec. 31 By balance cash on deposit
Mechanics Savings Bank . $317 99
TREASURER'S REPORT, GEORGE F. BUOK TRUSTEE FUND, DECEMBER 31, 1917
DR.
1917
Jan. 1 To cash balance from Dec.
$216 40 30, 1916
To interest 5 44
Total
$221 84
UR.
Sept. 1 By cash paid for signs . $168 60 Dec. 31 By balance cash on deposit Mechanics Savings Bank . 53 24
Total
$221 84
LEWIS M. BANCROFT, Treasurer.
175
TREASURER'S REPORT, TOWN OF READING, DEC. 31, 1917
1917
Jan. 1 To cash balance from Dec. 30, 1916 $7,647 06 H. M. Viall, Collector, Taxes, Interest and Moth Assessments . $178,816 32
Commonwealth of Massachusetts :
Corporation Tax 8,073 19
Income Tax
17,727 34
· National Bank Tax
649 96
Aiding Mothers
1,128 75
State and Military Aid
1,839 50
Soldiers' Exemption .
165 22
West Street
4,000 00
Middlesex County, Lowell Street
2,058 34
Middlesex County, West Street
4,000 00
Mary E. Temple, Memorial Park Gift
1,500 00
Reading Water Works
3,000 00
Revenue Loans
173,500 00
Bonds and Notes
155,390 00
Carnegie Corporation
9,407 00
Miscellaneous Receipts
18,166 58
Total Receipts
$579,422 20
Total cash
$587,069 26
1917
By Discount revenue loans $3,336 75
State Tax .
18,150 00
National Bank Tax
521 24
Metropolitan Sewerage Loan:
North Metropolitan District, Sinking
Fund
1,595 82
Interest
3,155 38
Serial Bonds
300 32
Special Assessment, Chap. 159, Acts 1916
7,000 00
State Highway Repairs
3,930 00
Fire Prevention
90 96
Other payments as per vouchers
533,899 67
Dec. 31 Cash on hand .
15,089 12
$587,069 26
LEWIS M. BANCROFT, Treasurer.
H. M. VIALL, COLLECTOR DR.
Amount uncollected tax, account 1914 $1,323 4T
Interest collected, account 1914 143 66
Amount uncollected tax, account 1915 14,611 87 Interest collected, account 1915 1,356 06
Amount uncollected tax, account 1916 54,168 68
Interest collected, account 1916
1,130 81
Error in Moth tax, account 1916
1 00
Overpaid Treasurer, account 1916
02
Amount committed list, account 1917
197,103 74
Amount Moth tax, account 1917
1,160 50
Error in Moth tax, account 1917
1 00
Amount Excise tax, account 1917
3,034 23
Amount Supplementary tax, account 1917
178 75
Interest collected, account 1917
132 45
Paid after abatement, account 1910
2 46
Paid after abatement, account 1911
2 30
Paid after abatement, account 1912
3 03
Paid after abatement, account 1913 .
11 96
Paid after abatement, account 1914 .
9 07
Paid after abatement, account 1915
2 22
Postage
1 60
Certificates
6 00
Sale of unredeemed property
520 67
Redemption of property
225 86
·
$275,131 41
176
IN ACCOUNT WITH THE TOWN OF READING
CR.
Paid Treasurer, account 1914
$970 51
Abatement, account 1914
496 62
Paid Treasurer, account 1915
14,766 36
Abatement, account 1915
421 36
Uncollected taxes, account 1915
780 21
Paid Treasurer, account 1916
37,758 88
Abatement, account 1916
738 70
Uncollected taxes, account 1916
16,802 93
Paid Treasurer, account 1917
124,535 40
Abatement, account 1917 .
1,360 58
Uncollected taxes, account 1917
75,714 69
Paid Treasurer, account paid after abatement
31 04
Paid Treasurer, account postage
1.60
Paid Treasurer, account sale of unredeemed property .
520 67
Paid Treasurer, account redemption of property
225 86
Paid Treasurer, account certificates
6 00
$275,131 41
H. M. VIALL, Collector of Taxes.
Reading, Dec. 31, 1917.
Approved :
JOHN H. SHELDON, Town Accountant.
177
REPORT OF THE OVERSEERS OF THE POOR
TO THE CITIZENS OF READING :
We herewith submit the following report for the year ended December 31, 1917.
L. A. Deming was reappointed Superintendent of the Town Home. His management of the home has been satis- factory to this board and to the State Inspector. Although there has been a large increase in the cost of provisions, supplies and fuel over 1916, yet under his management with the assistance of the Matron, Mrs. Deming, the cost of run- ning the home has been kept nearly within the appropria- tion. This is the first year that the receipts of the home have been credited to the general revenue account. The receipts so credited this year have been $353. In previous years the receipts have been appropriated for the use of the home. The home and buildings are in first class shape. Considerable papering and painting has been done by the Superintendent and a new linoleum carpet has been laid in the men's sitting room.
During the year there has been an average of eight inmates at the home. Three died at the home. Four were transferred to hospitals for mental diseases, two of them died and two are still being treated. One left the home and at the close of the year there were five inmates.
PERSONAL PROPERTY AT THE TOWN HOME DECEMBER 31, 1917
Live stock
$433 75
Hay, grain and feed .
470 00
Wagons, carts and sleds 235 00
Farming tools, implements, etc.
390 00
Fuel
62 00
Beds . bedding, household furniture and
540 00
utensils
Provisions and supplies
302 40
$2.433 15
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Assistance rendered the outside poor has been kept under the appropriation. This could hardly have been expected under existing conditions as our estimate was based on 1916 costs and everything in supplies and fuel have advanced in price during the year.
Aid rendered to mothers with dependent. children under the provisions of Chapter 763 of the Acts of 1913 was about the same as last year and there is an unexpended balance . in this account of about $500.
For the financial statement of the Poor Department, we respectfully refer to the report of the Town Accountant.
EDGAR O. DEWEY EDWIN L. HUTCHINSON Overseers of the Poor.
REPORT OF SUPERINTENDENT OF STREETS
READING, MASS., Jan. 1, 1918.
TO THE HONORABLE BOARD OF SELECTMEN :
GENTLEMEN - I herewith submit to you my report of the Highway Department from August 3, 1917, (the date on which I took charge of Department) to December 31, 1917. Owing to the lack of funds, considerable work which we would liked to have done we were unable to do. We have cleaned all the catch-basins, (which have increased about 60% the past two years), have cleaned some of the ditches, (more should be cleaned the coming season); there have been many small repairs made, and gravel has been put on various sidewalks. There has been about 1700 tons of stone crushed at our own crusher since August 3, 1100 of which was used on West Street, and the rest on Main and Lowell Streets, and for repairs. We have on hand 40 street signs and 7 town line signs, which will be put up early in the spring.
CONSTRUCTION
Two sections of West Street have been completed this year, from Woburn Street (south), under direction of the Massachusetts Highway Commission, (F. D. Sabin, Engi. neer), the State, County and Town paying one-third each, from this year's allotment of $6000.
Although we did not get to within 500 feet of the Woburn line, we completed 4222 square yards of asphalt road, at a cost of $1.17 per square 'yard, including catch- basins and shoulders. Owing to the lateness in the season when the Bay State Street Railway Company completed re-laying their tracks in Main Street, and the cold weather setting in so early, we were unable to do as much work on Main Street as was planned. Owing to the increased cost of
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181
labor and material, I would recommend a larger appropria- tion to put Main Street in first class condition, as it is the principal street through town. Washington Street has been graded, from Main Street to Village Street. We were for- tunate in obtaining material from the Office Building Lot, otherwise. we would not have reached much beyond Elliott Street. Vine Street, from Mineral to near High Street, was also graded with material from the Office Building Lot. The small appropriation for Hanscom Avenue would not make a very big showing, so we used it where we thought it would do the most good. We have lowered the grade about two feet in front of O. E. Carter's house and filled in the hollow at Weston Road about three and one-half feet. There was a balance of $400 from the 1916 appropriation on Lowell Street, which we have used to fix the shoulders on Lowell Street, which were breaking off' badly, and to construct a short piece of tar macadam on Lowell Street, from Highland Street to Salem Street. We have taken up the old paved gutter and put the macadam to the sidewalk line, which gives about four feet wider road space, which has been much appreciated by the travelling public.
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