USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Reading > Town of Reading Massachusetts annual report 1917 > Part 7
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750
Hook & Ladder Truck 500
Municipal Bldg.
2,000
Grading
1,340
$1,525
$6,090
From the above it will be seen, outside of interest charges, the amount for maturing notes is only $4,565 more than 1917.
In view of the important improvements in the Town the present year, we feel that this is not an abnormal bur- den. The amount of interest that we will be required to raise this year will be approximately $2,000 more than in 1917.
RECOMMENDATIONS
Werecommend that all departments keep their expenses as low as possible and urge that every department of the Town adopt a conservative policy. Our main thing is to do everything in our power to help win the war and keep our tax rate as low as possible under the existing conditions.
We recommend that the appropriation for tar concrete sidewalks be made $500 instead of $1,000 as in previous years.
That a small amount of money be expended on Charles and Prospect Streets.
That an appropriation be made for West Street, pro- vided the State and County will appropriate a like amount.
That Lowell Street be macadamized, from Middlesex Avenue to Woburn Street, on one side of car track.
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That the sidewalk and curb be put in shape around the Town Building and Library Lot on Lowell Street.
That the pay for members of the Police Department be increased.
There are other streets that should have money expended on them but owing to the existing conditions we think this work should be delayed for at least another year.
CONCLUSION
We wish to express to the various boards of the Town and Town Officers how much we appreciate their co-operation during the past year and acknowledge the courtesies they have extended to us.
EDGAR O. DEWEY EDWIN L. HUTCHINSON
Selectmen of Reading.
REPORT OF TOWN COUNSEL
To LAW COMMITTEE, READING, MASS. : GENTLEMEN-Herewith my report for the year 1917 :
REBUILDING LOWELL STREET BRIDGE
Shortly after a decree in this case was entered by the County Commissioners, directing the railroad to rebuild the bridge so that the conditions thereon and thereby would be rendered safe for travel, the railroad filed a petition for a writ of certiorari against the Commissioners. The Commis- sioners retained George L. Mayberry, Esq., to defend the petition. Mr. Mayberry has been retained by the Commis- sioners consistently in litigation connected with their office for a great many years. Although the pending petition is a case in which I can take no active part, I have, for the last two years constantly urged Mr. Mayberry to take action. He has requested me from time to time to furnish him with certain information, to examine papers and make reports. all of which I have done forthwith upon his request, and have also impressed upon him the great desire of the officials and citizens of the Town to have this matter finally dis- posed of. Mr. Mayberry was extremely ill for several months about a year ago which has handicapped his busi- ness tremendously. He was ill and partially inactive up to a short time ago and from that time on I have had many conferences with him and he has assured me that he will now quickly pursue this matter to a final conclusion. I re- gret the delay but, as you know, I am entirely helpless in the matter except for urging counsel to proceed, which I have done almost to the point of aggravation.
BATCHELDER V. TOWN OF READING
This case has been pending for several years and is a suit to recover for injuries to cattle caused by eating grass
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sprayed with lead poisoning used by the Gypsy Moth Depart- ment. The case is founded on the alleged negligence of the Department. I filed a demurrer to the action basing it upon the fact that the Moth Commissioner is a public official and that municipalities are not liable for the negligence of public officials. Several years ago the Selectmen offered a substantial amount in settlement of this claim. I approved of the offer of settlement as a slight compensation to one of our citizens who has suffered severely through the alleged negligence of a department of the Town.
READING SEWER
The sewer was built during the preceding year and in the course of its construction some damage was done to per- sons and property which have resulted in claims against the Town. Although the Town is primarily responsible for these claims, it has a right to reimbursement against the contractor who was immediately responsible for the injuries, and the contractor, in turn, is secured by bond to the amount of $10,000. This has resulted in an unpleasant situ- ation for me, as I realized it would be hazardous to settle a claim without authority of the bonding company, as such conduct on our part might, in some way, release the con- pany from its obligation on the bond. It has been neces- sary, therefore, for me to act as a medium between the parties, inducing the claimants to settle for a certain amount and trying to have the contractors and bonding company meet it. I have had a fair measure of success, but three claims still remain which cause me some concern, viz. : F. Wallace, James H. Mclellan and Mary Stofford. I ex- pect to have these matters adjusted within a short time.
NEW PUBLIC LIBRARY
The first contractor for the new public library building failed, leaving many sub-contractors and material-men on the job unpaid. This as usual has resulted in more or less detail work on my part in order to preserve the necessary security on the part of the Town for such sub-contractors and material-men and to see if the claimants had proved their claims in the manner provided by law. This, of
.
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course. will entail no additional expense upon the Town provided the matter is handled in a proper manner, and the proper manner entails considerable time and thought on my part.
BAY STATE STREET RAILWAY ON WEST STREET
West Street was rebuilt on a newly established grade during the past year. The completion of the work has left the tracks of the Bay State Railway in their old position which is several inches below where it should be. At your request I have taken this matter up with the officials of the road and have had several conferences with the Vice-Presi- dent and Engineer. I demanded that the track be changed to meet the new grade basing my demand upon the condi- tions of the original franchise granted in the early '90's.
I feel that I would have had some measure of success in this matter and would have reached a compromise if the road had not gone into the hands of a receiver. The com- promise would have been as follows :
The road recognized the conditions of the franchise but contended that the whole expense of raising the tracks should not be borne by the road where the tracks were on the side of a wide street and therefore, perhaps, not within the line of the road which would necessarily have been included in reconstruction. This struck me as a reasonable contention and I was about to submit a compromise to the Selectmen for their acceptance or rejection when the re- ceivership occurred. This, of course, put an end to further proceedings.
It is interesting to note that even before the receiver- ship the road had reported to the Public Service Commis- sion that it intended to abandon some two hundred and seventeen miles of track, among which was the Reading and Woburn line.
Since the receivership the road has assured me, through its Vice-President, that every effort will be made to main- tain the Reading-Woburn line and it will be discontinued only temporarily and then only on account of weather con-
99
ditions. The maintenance will continue until further and complete notice of change shall be given.
The above are the principal matters with which I have been concerned during the past year and in addition thereto there has been the usual requests for opinions from the different departments which in all cases have been promptly rendered.
Respectfully submitted, JESSE W. MORTON, Town Counsel.
ASSESSORS' REPORT, 1917
Valuation of real estate :
Buildings, excluding land
$4,388,325 00
Land, excluding buildings
2,440,100 00
Total real estate . $6,828,425 00
Personal estate, excluding resident bank stock 858,141 00
Resident bank stock 24,480 00
Total personal estate $882,621 00
Total real and personal estate assessed April 1, 1917
7,711,046 00
Building increase over 1916
134.710 00
Land increase over 1916 . 10,745 00
Personal estate loss this year
690,504 00
Total loss on personal and real estate
$542,049 00
Tax on real estate
$170,711 63
Tax on personal estate
22,068 11
Tax on polls
4,324 00
Tax on real estate for moth work
1,160 50
Total tax assessed April 1, 1917 Personal estate assessed Dec. 19, 1917-none
$198,264 24
Real estate assessed Dec. 19, 1917
$6,750 00
Polls, 5 at $2
10 00
Tax assessed as supplementary on real estate December 31, 1917 168 75
Street Railway Excise Tax on 11.846 miles 3,034 23
Total personal estate assessed in year 1917 882,621 00
Total real estate assessed in year 1917 .
6,835,175 00
Total real and personal estate assessed in year 1917 . $7,717,796 00
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101
State highway tax, 1917 .
$3,930 00
General State tax, 1917 ·
18,150 00
Metropolitan Fire District, 1917
90 96
Metropolitan Sewer entrance fee
7,000 00
Metropolitan Sinking Fund
5,051 52
County tax
8,300 82
Total, 1917
$42,523 30
Total, 1916
24,064 47
Excess in 1917
$18,458 83
Balance used for Town purposes
$167,792 46
Rate of taxation, 1917, $25 per $1,000.
Number of persons assessed on property April
1, 1917
2243
Number of persons assessed on poll tax only
1192
Additional assessed in December
2
Additional polls
5
Total assessed on property, 1917
2245
Total assessed.on polls, 1917
1192
Total number of separate assessments 3437
Polls assessed in 1916
2128
Polls assessed in 1917
2167
Increase in polls
39
Number of horses
214
Number of cows
269
Number of neat cattle
74
Number of swine
39
Number of fowl
12,691
Number of dwellings
1850
Number of new buildings
52
Number of acres of land
5751
Population in 1915 .
6805
102
ASSESSORS' REPORT ON THE SURVEY OF LAND UNDER THE BLOCK SYSTEM
We have now completed 53 plans which contain 2408 separate lots. During the year we have added four plans, with a total of 148 lots.
The financial account is as follows :
Balance on hand from 1916 $184 04
Appropriation, 1917 500 00
Total $684 04 .
Clarence E. Carter, making plans, etc. $544 64
M. F. Charles, work indexing plans 21 00
G. E. Horrocks, work indexing plans . 21 00
A. M. Allen, work indexing plans 21 00
Total payments $607 64
Balance $76 40
This balance is nearly expended by the Engineer, but as he has not completed the plan he is working on, he has not presented his bill.
We recommend that the sum of $500 be raised and appropriated to continue the work the coming year.
We invite citizens and any one interested to examine these plans, which we think are a great benefit to the Board of Assessors, and others who make use of them.
MILLARD F. CHARLES
GEORGE E. HORROCKS
ARDINE M. ALLEN
Board of Assessors.
REPORT OF CHIEF OF POLICE
TO THE HONORABLE BOARD OF SELECTMEN :
GENTLEMEN-I herewith submit the annual report of the Police Department for the year ending December 31, 1917 :
ARRESTS FOR THE YEAR 1917
Total number of arrests .
111
Males
102
Females
9
Residents
48
Non-residents .
63
American born
55
Foreign born
56
Adults
92
Minors
19
CAUSES OF ARRESTS
Drunks
53
Larceny
5
Non-support
5
Bastardy
3
No home
2
Reckless driving
1
Deserters
2
Delinquent children
4
Insane
5
Assault
5
Violating auto laws
10
Escaped from institutions
6
Violating parole
3
Suspicious person
1
Disturbance on electric car
3
Violating Town by-law .
3
Total
111
103
104
DISPOSITION OF CASES IN COURT
Fined 26
Released .
32
Turned over to out of town officers
8
Cases continued
1
Insane Hospital, Danvers
6
House of Correction, suspended
3
Turned over to parents .
5
State Hospital, Tewksbury
5
State charge
1
Placed on probation
1
Placed on file .
7
Discharged
4
House of Correction ·
9
State Farm
1
State Farm, suspended
1
Women's Reformatory
1
Total
111
MISCELLANEOUS
Cases investigated . 176
Building found open and secured .
166
Dogs killed
18
Windows found unlocked
51
Fire alarm boxes found open
1
Wires found down by officers
4
Accidents reported
27
Disturbances quelled
8
Lanterns in dangerous places
10
Lights reported out
21
Defective sidewalks reported by officers
4
Defective streets reported by officers
8
Residences temporarily vacated and special police protection requested 23
Amount of property reported stolen $1,363 00
Amount of property recovered
632 66
.
105
Amount of property recovered for out of town officers
. $2,400 00
Amount of fines imposed for year 1917 . 315 00
Amount of fines awarded State
135 00
Amount of fines collected
140 00
Amount of fines due
40 00
LIST OF PROPERTY IN CUSTODY OF CHIEF OF POLICE
"Two roll top desks .
$20 00
One table
5 00
Two chairs
3 00
Four special police badges
2 00
Thirty-four regular police badges
34 00
Eight police belts
9 00
Six pairs handcuffs
20 00
Four Colt automatic revolvers
52 00
Two stop watches
14 00
Four steel lockers .
60 00
One bulletin board
6 00
Four grey helmets .
10 00
One shot gun .
10 00
Eight street traffic signs
40 00
Five holsters .
6 00
Four blue helmets
10 00
Twelve blue caps
32 00
One motor cycle
260 00
Two Colt revolvers
18 00
Three pairs twisters
3 00
Thirty-two billies
38 00
One dark lantern
1 50
One watchman's clock
5 00
One wooden locker
10 00
One stretcher .
10 00
Six rubber stamps .
70
Total
$679 20
106
ROSTER CHIEF Jeremiah Cullinane PATROLMEN Oscar H. Lowe William F. O'Brien
George O. Stock
SPECIAL OFFICERS
Morton Skidmore
William Pierpont
Timothy J. Cullinane
*John Stock
David J. Whelton
J. William Quillan Jesse N. Hutchinson
William C. Oram
William S. Dennison
James W. Sias Clement Gleason
Percy R. Danforth
O. O. Ordway
Martin Welch
William R. Zwicker
William E. Swain
Charles H. Rich
James C. Nichols Lemuel W. Allen
Walter Bowman
William Killam
Elmer Bancroft
James Scott Parker
Charles Heselton
Frederice K. Wallace
Harold F. Parker
James Remick
J. B. VanBuskirk
Frank F. Strout
Sylvanus L. Thompson
John L. Goodrich
Frank Slack
tGeorge S. Barnes
Owen McKenney George W. Davis
* Special Officer John Stock died May 5, 1917
+ Special Officer George S. Barnes is in the Army
CONCLUSION
I desire at this time to thank the Honorable Board of Selectmen, the judges of our district court, our local press and all others who assisted in any way in promoting the welfare of this department: also all members of the force for what they have done.
Respectfully yours, JEREMIAH CULLINANE, Chief of Police.
Reading, January 1, 1918.
J. Stanley Evans Joseph Shaw
George W. S. Ide
Everett Skinner Arthur H. Jewett
REPORT OF BOARD OF FIRE ENGINEERS
TO THE HONORABLE BOARD OF SELECTMEN :
GENTLEMEN-We herewith submit the annual report of the Board of Fire Engineers, giving the record of alarms that have been received during the year ending December 31, 1917, together with such information as we believe may be of interest to the Town.
MANUAL FORCE
The Department consists of a Chief Engineer, two Assistant Engineers, five permanent men, and twenty-five call men.
APPARATUS
Combination A has been in service over four years and still continues to give the best of service. Ladder No. 1 has been in service sixteen months, Combination B has been in service fifteen months, and have both proved very satis- factory.
FINANCES
Our financial transactions are all embodied in the report of the Town Accountant, to which we refer you for any information in that line.
CONCLUSION
In conclusion, we wish to extend to your Honorable Board, and to the Town Accountant and Treasurer, and Finance Committee our thanks for the courtesies and co- operation we have received during the year. We wish to compliment the officials and members of the department on the prompt and efficient manner in which they have per- formed their duties. We also wish to express our thanks to the Bay State Street Railway Company for the use of cur- rent, to the Chief of Police for services rendered by his department at fires, and to the employes of the New Eng- land Telephone and Telegraph Company for the prompt and efficient service rendered in receiving alarms by telephone.
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RECORD OF ALARMS FOR YEAR ENDING JAN. 1, 1918
Number alarms, 99: 51 telephone; 48 bell.
Telephone
Bell
January
2
3
February
.
3
1
March
อั
1
April
18
7
May
8
6
June
2
2
July
3
5
August
0
8
September
1
1
October
1
2
November
8
10
December
0
2
-
Total Alarms
51
48
Number hours worked .
87 1-2
Miles travelled
798 1-5
Number feet 2 1-2 inch hose
15,900
Number feet chemical hose
950
Number feet ladders used
577
Number gallons chemicals used
522
Number covers used
8
Number gallons gasoline used
447 1-2
Number gallons oil used
21
Valuation of property in danger
. $54,975 00
Loss by fire
. $14,044 35
Insurance paid
$11,362 36
Total loss
. $2,681 99
O. O. ORDWAY, Chief
W. R. ZWICKER, Ist Asst. and Sec'y Board of Fire Engineers.
REPORT OF SUPERINTENDENT OF FIRE ALARM
TO THE BOARD OF FIRE ENGINEERS :
GENTLEMEN-I herewith submit the following report for the year 1917 :
During the year the system has given efficient service at all times.
The old wires on several streets must be replaced this year, if the Town still wants the alarm to give efficient ser- vice.
Owing to changes at the Electric Light Plant, the light- weight pipe on the whistle must be replaced with heavier in order to carry the pressure.
NUMBER AND LOCATION OF BOXES Test 11.45 A. M. and 5.45 p. M.
121-Main and Haven.
122-Haven and Gould.
13-Ash and Avon.
14-Hill Crest Road and Oak.
15-Summer Avenue and Walnut.
16-South Main and South.
17-Prescott, near Arlington.
18-Park Avenue and Minot.
19-Walnut and Curtis.
2-Recall.
21-Summer Avenue and Temple.
212-West and Howard.
22-No session of school, 7.40 A. M. and 12.30 P. M.
221-Union Street School (Private.)
223-Centre School (Private.)
224-High School (Private.)
109
110
226-Lowell Street School ( Private.) 227-Prospect Street School (Private.) 228-Chestnut Hill School (Private.) 23-Woburn and Temple.
231-West, beyond Willow. 24-Mineral and Hancock.
25-Prospect, near King.
26-Hose 2 House, Woburn Street.
27-Summer Avenue, near Prescott.
28-West, beyond Oak.
29-West and King. 3-Followed by a box number, second alarm.
31-Lowell, beyond Grove.
32-Franklin, near Golf Links. 33-Lowell, Grand and Gould Avenue.
34-Grove and Forest.
35-North Main and Locust.
36-North Main and Ridge Road.
37-North Main, near Hose 3 House.
38-North Main and Forest.
39-North Main and Franklin. 4-Police call.
41-Village and Green.
412-Oar barns, Willow Road.
42-Haven and John.
43-Salem and John.
44 -- Salem and Pearl.
45-Salem and Belmont.
46-Charles and Pearl.
47-Charles and Haverhill.
48-Pine, near Salem.
51-Main, Washington and Ash.
55-Reading Rubber Mills ( Private.) 6-C. H. Bangs Co. (Private.) 61-Lowell, near Sanborn.
612-Bancroft Avenue and Locust. 63-Woburn and Sanborn. 64-Central Fire Station. 65-Middlesex and Bancroft Avenues.
111
67-Middlesex Avenue and High.
69-Mt. Vernon, opposite Chute.
8-Out of Town.
10-Brush Fire Signal.
INSTRUCTIONS
To GIVE AN ALARM: Open door of box, pull down the hook once and LET GO. Remain at the box to direct firemen.
To GIVE AN ALARM BY TELEPHONE: Say to telephone operator, "Fire Department Emergency." Give fireman exact location of fire, street and street number, and name of person calling.
L. T. EAMES, Supt. of Fire Alarm.
REPORT OF INSPECTOR OF WIRES
TO THE HONORABLE BOARD OF SELECTMEN :
GENTLEMEN-I respectfully submit herewith the annual report of the Inspector of Wires for the year ending Decem- ber 31, 1917.
INTERIOR WIRING FOR LIGHT, HEAT AND POWER Number of buildings in process of construction which have been wired for light, heat or power
28
Number of old buildings wired 42
Number of buildings which have been rewired, or where additional wiring has been installed .
98
Number of inspection notices received from electrical contractors and others
141
Number of inspections made
243
SUMMARY FOR FIVE YEARS
1913
1914
1915
1916
1917
Total
New buildings wired
47
58
32
41
28
206
Old buildings wired
46
62
46
42
42
238
Re-wiring and additional
51
48
40
91
98
328
Inspection notices received
144
153
119
136
141
693
Inspections made
173
225
243
255
243
1139
The revised edition of the National Electrical Code will be ready for distribution about March first, and will contain changes in the rules for interior wiring. It is suggested that electrical contractors and others who contemplate the installation of wires in buildings, secure copies of same as soon as they are available.
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OUTSIDE CONSTRUCTION
During the year defective poles have been replaced by the Bay State Street Railway Company, New England Tele- phone & Telegraph Company, and the Municipal Light De- partment on the following streets: Salem Street, Oak Street, John Street, Pleasant Street, Village Street, Parker Street, Ash Street, Eaton Street, Sanborn Street, Lincoln Street, Howard Street, Main Street, High Street, Prospect Street, West Street, Woburn Street, Pearl Street, Ellis Avenue. Joint pole lines have been arranged for on several streets but the work has not progressed as rapidly as usual, owing to the high cost of labor and materials, and the general policy of curtailment which nearly all public service companies have adopted. The pole and wire conditions on the public streets have been materially improved during the past few years, through the co-operation of the Electric Light, Street Railway and Telephone interests, and it is to be hoped that the work can be continued as rapidly as con- ditions will warrant.
Respectfully submitted,
ARTHUR G. SIAS, Inspector of Wires.
Reading, Mass., Jan. 16, 1918.
REPORT OF BOARD OF HEALTH
TO THE CITIZENS :
Number of contagious diseases reported
72
Diphtheria
8
Scarlet Fever
1
Measles
50
Tuberculosis
8
Typhoid Fever
2
Infantile Paralysis .
1
Ophthalmia Nenatoram
2
Whole number of deaths from all causes, exclu- sive of still births
76
Males
42
Females .
34
Still births
7
Male Female
3
Number of deaths over 1 year and under 10
1
2
4
6
10
13
14
7
5
4
2
1
42
34
.
Number of deaths under 1 year . 4
Number of deaths over 10 years and under 30 Number of deaths over 30 years and under 50 Number of deaths over 50 years and under 70 Number of deaths over 70 years and under 80 Number of deaths over 80 years and under 90 Number of deaths over 90 years
E. M. HALLIGAN, M. D. GEORGE L. FLINT O. H. PLAYDON Board of Health.
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REPORT OF INSPECTOR OF PLUMBING
TO THE BOARD OF HEALTH :
GENTLEMEN-The work of the plumbing department for the year 1917 was as follows :
Applications filed
55
Fixtures installed
266
Bath tubs
43
Closets
55
Lavatories
55
Sinks .
58
Wash trays
53
Urinals
2
Respectfully submitted,
DAVID TAGGART, Plumbing Inspector.
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REPORT OF INSPECTOR OF MILK
To MEMBERS OF THE BOARD OF HEALTH OF TOWN OF READING :
GENTLEMEN-I herewith present my annual report for the year ending December 31st, 1917.
On the above date there were in this town eight dealers and fifteen stores licensed to sell milk; also, twelve stores were licensed to sell oleomargarine.
Sixty-six samples of milk were collected and analyzed for total solids and fats; also, six samples of cream and one · of vinegar for their contents.
The inspection of the milk was carried out along lines similar to those of last year. That is, along lines that would tend to produce a clean, sanitary and healthful milk. In some cases it has been successfully accomplished, in others there is still a chance for improvement. However, as the conditions of a year ago were not all that could be desired and the production of clean, sanitary milk is a work that involves considerable care in a great many small ways, it is gratifying to see that there has been a number of changes in many of the barns, equipments and methods.
The approval of your board of a number of rules and regulations relative to the SANITARY PRODUCTION, TRANSPOR- TATION AND DISTRIBUTION OF MILK within this last year, will be a great help along the aforesaid lines.
The standard of the local milk supply was practically the same as that of last year. The average fats of this year's analysis were 3.72+% fats; 12.17+% total solids.
The total receipts of the departments for the year were $17.50.
CARL M. SMITH, Inspector of Milk.
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REPORT OF SEALER OF WEIGHTS AND MEASURES
TO THE BOARD OF SELECTMEN OF THE TOWN OF READING :
GENTLEMEN-I herewith present my annual report for the year ending Dec. 31st, 1917.
In addition to the regular sealing of the scales, weights and measures this year, great stress was laid upon the necessity of the weighing of several of the more common household commodities, because of the increase in prices and shortage of the same, by the state departments. Coal, coke and charcoal in bags, bread, potatoes, sugar, flour, vegetables and meats were the more common of the num- erous articles weighed.
I am glad to report that the cases of short weights were few and that these were remedied when the attention of the proprietors was called to the fact.
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