USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Reading > Town of Reading Massachusetts annual report 1921 > Part 10
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Year 1918
$ 146.88
$ 29,412.70
Taxes Receivable :
2,325.37
Moth Assessment, Revenue 537.05
Balances Forward to 1922: Block System Survey 204.83
Sewer Construction 3,012.02
Moth Assessment, 1921
433.50
537.05
5,147.72
Smith-Hughes Fund Public Library Building
221.69
854.92
Sundry Accounts Forward to 1922: Premium on Sewer Bonds 3,529.64
4,004.94
GENERAL ACCOUNTS (Continued)
Federal Board, Vocational Edu-
Municipal Light Department:
cation, Tuition
122.40
Cash & Bills Receivable 18,127.44
Less Loan by Treasurer . 6,800.00
11,327.44
Water Dept., Maintenance acct. ...
6,312.92
Cemetery Reserve Account
242.19
Overlay Reserve Fund
1,440.64
Reserve Fund
97.13
Excess & Deficiency Account
32,409.66
Appropriation Overdrafts:
Taxes on Property Taken .
228.76
Fire Alarm, Maintenance
480.19
Police Department
201.73
Available when collected ...
6,544.29
Tree Warden Department
2,043.47
Board of Health :
Care of Contagious Diseases 488.86
Poor Department, Maintenance
1,556.62
Mothers' Aid, Comm. of Mass.
2,451.56
Temporary Aid, Comm. of Massachusetts
1,833.57
State Aid, Comm. of Mass. ...
718.00
10,002.76
$198,184.21
$198,184.21
-
Sundry Parties, Tuition 88.00
City of Boston, Health Dept. ..
56.00
Town of Marblehead, Health De-
partment 151.00
6,544.29
Municipal Light Department Water Department
14,621.35
1,718.25
Water Department Accts. Rec. Rev- enue
1,718.25
Departmental Accts. Rec. Revenue,
185
UNPAID BILLS DECEMBER 31, 1921
Selectmen's Expenses:
New Eng. Tel. & Tel. Co.
$ 3.99
Treasurer's Expenses :
New Eng. Tel. & Tel. Co. 4.79
Tax Collector's Expenses : New Eng. Tel. & Tel. Co. 2.46
Assessors' Expenses :
New Eng. Tel. & Tel. Co. $ 2.26
F. E. & E. L. Emery
8.00
10.26
Election Expenses :
Board of Public Works, Highway Dept.
12.00
Town Clerk's Expenses :
Edgerley & Bessom
12.50
Doherty Bros.
3.75
16.25
Miscellaneous Expenses :
Cemetery Department
35.00
Police Department :
New Eng. Tel. & Tel. Co.
10.18
Fire Department:
New Eng. Tel. & Tel. Co. 5.93
1.10
P. J. Seaman
.40
7.43
Moth Department:
P. J. Seaman
1.40
New Eng. Tel. & Tel. Co.
2.14
3.54
Cemetery Department:
P. J. Seaman
1.25
New Eng. Tel. & Tel. Co.
4.46
Board of Health:
City of New York
25.00
American Railway Express
.81
New Eng. Tel. & Tel. Co.
2.07
27.88
Municipal Building:
Board of Public Works, Water Department 23.30
Board of Public Works, Highway Department .. 20.54
43.84
5.71
Central Garage
186
Richardson Property :
Water Department 7.00
Poor Department :
F. L. Smalley, M. D. 32.00
Town Home:
New Eng. Tel. & Tel. Co. 2.52
Municipal Light Board
9.92.
12.44
Board of Public Works:
Underwood Typewriter Co.
2.86
New Eng. Tel. & Tel. Co. 8.19
11.05
Board of Public Works, Sewer Dept .:
New Eng. Tel. & Tel. Co.
5.93
T. C. Fife 11.00
16.93
Board of Public Works, Highway Dept .: New Eng. Tel. & Tel. Co.
6.44
Board of Public Works, Water Dept .: New Eng. Tel. & Tel. Co.
14.58
P. J. Seaman
1.50
G. E. Belcher Machine Co.
35.95
Eagle Oil & Supply Co.
65.27
Worthington Pump & Machine Co. 8.32
126.10
School Department:
Geo. H. Adams 60.00
P. N. Sweetser 738.32
Stewart & Robertson
310.59
Ginn & Co.
1.95
New Eng. Tel. & Tel. Co.
28.63
J. C. Oxley
3.10
Board of Public Works:
Water Department
125.25
Sewer Department
727.28
L. T. Tarpin
1.16
F. Wallace 300.96
2,297.24
$2,692.53
T. C. Fife .48
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REPORT OF TREE WARDEN
To the Honorable Board of Selectmen:
During the year 1921 the trees of Reading were very unfortunate as they suffered great damage from the ice storm of November.
At the present time we have succeeded in clearing away the wreck- age of broken limbs but there is a great amount of trimming and repairing that should be done the present year. I have gone over the ground very carefully with State forestry officials and have also had the advice of Prof. George B. Stone, of Amherst Agricultural College, on the trimming and repair work that should be done.
After careful consideration I would recommend an appropriation of fifteen hundred dollars for work in the Tree Warden's Department.
Respectfully submitted,
H. M. DONEGAN, Tree Warden.
188
REPORT OF INSPECTOR OF ANIMALS
5
To the Honorable Board of Selectmen:
I wish at this time to submit my report as Inspector of Animals for the year ending Dec. 31, 1921.
During the early part of the year the annual inspection of all cat- tle, sheep, and swine kept within the town limits was made, also prem- ises where same were kept. Cattle showing symptoms of contagious diseases were disposed of and premises disinfected. Stables where stock were kept, in some instances were found to be unsatisfactory and sug- gestions for betterment of conditions made, which were gratefully re- ceived and carried out satisfactorily.
The cattle within the town are better than previously found on in- spection, being kept under much improved conditions. No better market milk can be found in this vicinity than that produced within our town limits.
Owing to the drop in prices of pork and pork products (wholesale) the number of swine has greatly decreased. The slogan, "Everybody keep a pig," has gone by.
During the year Rabies became quite prevalent in some portions of the State. Some few cases coming to my attention were destroyed for- tunately before much damage was done. One person, having been bit- ten, received the Anti-Rabies treatment, and one dog was also treated having been bitten by the same dog. All dogs which were in contact with any dog showing symptoms were quarantined for observation.
At present everything appears normal.
Yours very truly,
C. H. PLAYDON, Inspector.
189
REPORT OF TRUSTEES OF LAUREL HILL CEMETERY
The trustees respectfully submit the following report:
During the past year attention has been directed toward beautify- ing the cemetery and interesting owners in placing lots under perpetual care or making arrangements for annual care.
The custom in the past has been to cut grass on all lots for Memor- ial Day but the Trustees, having no authorization to use the funds of the town in this way, endeavored to reach all lot owners either by personal solicitation or by notices in the "Reading Chronicle" and only those lots under perpetual care or annual care could receive any attention.
ANNUAL CARE means the cutting of grass only, while PERPET- UAL CARE in addition to grass cutting, means reseeding, fertilizing, etc., for all time and as we have over 300 lots under perpetual care at present, the Trustees earnestly desire that all lots be so cared for.
For the first time in the history of the Cemetery, rules and regula- tions were prepared and printed in pamphlet form and mailed to each lot owner. Standards containing these rules were placed in con- spicuous places in the Cemetery. That the need of these rules is ap- parent for the care of the Cemetery, has already been evidenced by one conviction for desecration.
A new card system containing departmental records has been in- augurated under the supervision of Alfred E. Goodwin, Superintendent.
The beautiful trees of Laurel Hill were severely damaged by the ice storm of November and the approximate loss is $500.00.
This year's receipts for annual care, foundations, opening graves, re- interments, etc., paid to the town treasurer were not available for this year's expenditures, under the law governing department receipts and this department should be reimbursed by appropriation in the 1922 bud- get
In July, Alfred W. Danforth resigned as Secretary of the Trustees due to failing eyseight but fortunately is still able to continue his du- ties as Trustee.The Trustees tendered him a testimonial in honor of his faithful, efficient and untiring service of thirty-one years. Philip H. Tirrell succeeds him as secretary.
October 20th, Charles W. Lee tendered his resignation due to change in residence to Wilmington. The Board of Selectmen and the Trustees
190
in joint session unanimously elected W. E. Twombly to fill the unex- pired term.
The report of Superintendent is appended.
GALEN A. PARKER, Chairman.
PHILIP H. TIRRELL, Secretary. ALRED W. DANFORTH FRANK L. EDGERLEY W. S. KINSLEY
W. E. TWOMBLY.
Trustees of Laurel Hill Cemetery.
REPORT OF SUPERINTENDENT
To the Trustees of Laurel Hill Cemetery :
Gentlemen: I herewith submit to you my report for the year 1921.
Appropriation
$2,500.00
Transferred from Cemetery Fund, May 26th
$1,000.00
Transferred from Cemetery Fund, June 5th
2,000.00
Transferred from Cemetery Fund, Nov. 4th
544.89
Transferred from Cemetery Fund, Dec. 30th
537.81
Interest on Cemetery Bequest
2,084.20
6,166.90
Total amount available
$8,666.90
Expended
Pay Roll
$5,605.89
Loam, fertilizer & seed
638.49
Tools & Equipment
1,009.70
Repairs on Tomb Door
13.50
W. F. Turner, cemetery maps
7.65
New England Cemetery Association
26.54
Printing and Advertising
134.52
Telephone & Postage
79.90
Office Equipment & Supplies
226.66
W. H. Howe, cleaning monuments
130.70
Rules & Regulations, Printing & Standards
195.90
F. E. & E. L. Emery, flowers
80.00
Jason Zwicker Est., shop rent
80.00
H. A. Feindel, cement
30.90
-
191
Wendell Bancroft Co., lumber and cement
30.74
Truck, Oil and Gas 130.15
Truck, Repairs 57.97
Paint and Oil
16.05
Freight & Express 27.36
Miscellaneous
89.29
1920 Unpaid Bills
American Agriculture Co.
44.00
Cummings Express Co.
10.99
Total Expended $8,666.90
Receipts for work performed in Cemetery, which have been paid to Town Treasurer
Annual Care of Lots, etc. $ 835.77
Building Foundations 116.82
Opening Graves 672.00
Total
$1,624.09
Unpaid Bills due for Annual Care Lots 184.72
During the past year 110 feet of new avenue have been completed with concrete gutters.
A begnining has been made in making North Avenue into a single grave section, also a strip west of Lotus Avenue.
Lots reloamed & seeded 56
New lots graded, loamed and seeded, total value $750 9
New Lots graded and loamed, total value when seeded $1800 12
Annual care lots 210
Perpetual care lots 234
Lots sold, 1921 21
Lots put in perpetual care, 1921
22
ALFRED E. GOODWIN, Superintendent.
192
REPORT OF TOWN COUNSEL
Law Committee, Municipal Building,
February 2, 1922. Reading, Massachusetts.
Gentlemen :- I beg to submit herewith my report as Counsel for the Town of Reading for the year 1921.
General Matters
There has been the usual grist of opinions submitted to the various town departments during the past year, perhaps a slight addition in num- ber, due to the organization of the Public Works Department and dispo- sition of matters arising on that account.
Litigation
The most serious case against the town was that brought by Vernon W. Jones for serious and permanent injuries received at the Lowell Street Bridge in the Fall of 1920. This case was duly assigned for trial, necessitating the complete preparation therefor. A bus had been en- gaged to take the jury on a view, and the jury was about to be impan- elled, when the case was settled by the Boston & Maine Railroad.
Shortly thereafter the administratrix of the estate of Arthur L. Con- ary, who was with Jones at the time of the accident above referred to, brought suit to recover for injuries sustained at the same time, and which resulted in his death. This case is now pending and will probably be reached for trial during the current year.
During the past year Mr. Ruggles, Chairman of the Board of Select- men, was first appointed guardian and then administrator of the estate of Lavinia Myers, by which action the town receives reimbursement for a substantial amount.
Suit was also brought during the year against Sarah A. Jones, and an attachment made of funds standing in her name in the Reading banks. When this case is prosecuted to final judgment the Town will also be reimbursed for a substantial amount.
There is still a case pending in the Middlesex Superior Court for death caused by accident by slipping on the ice on the sidewalk in Read- ing Square on New Year's Eve, two years ago. It is doubtful whether this case will be brought to trial.
Respectfully submitted,
JESSE W. MORTON, Town Counsel.
193
REPORT OF OVERSEERS OF THE POOR
The Overseers are fortunate in having the services of Miss Helen A. Brown as visitor. She is the chairman of the home service committee of the local Red Cross and is conversant with welfare work generally. We respectfully refer the citizens to Miss Brown's annual report.
There have been many calls for aid owing to the number of un- employed caused by the general business depression. These cases have been investigated, not only by the visitor, but also by the members of this board. As there has been some criticism relative to aid furnished in certain cases, it seems necessary to state that babies and young chil- dren have been a large factor in determining whether or not aid should be furnished and the amount to be furnished. Children are surrounded by conditions for which they are not responsible and we have endeavored to furnish them with proper food and comfort.
The leasing of the town home property to Mr. L. A. Deming has proved wise. A saving has been made for the town in discontinuing its management.
The property belonging to the town in use or stored at the home has been appraised by disinterested parties and is as follows:
Furniture and furnishings $267.50
Farm Wagons and Tools 99.00
Total
$366.50
This board has collected $6,950.66 from the Commonwealth as reim- bursement on account of Mothers' Aid and Temporary aid of which the greater part was for aid furnished during previous years, which had not been billed to the Commonwealth.
OTIS B. RUGGLES, CHARLES P. HOWARD,
WILLIAM S. KINSLEY,
Overseers of Poor.
194
REPORT OF VISITOR
To the Overseers of the Poor:
I herewith submit my report for the year 1921.
During the past year 40 families have been aided, a larger number than before, but 14 of these families are now self supporting. In the majority of cases the need of aid has been unavoidable, due to serious illness or lack of work. In a few cases, as in every town, ignorance and lack of thrift has caused need of aid, but the aid given was on account of the small children who could not be allowed to suffer. The number of calls recorded by the visitor was 412. Patients were accompanied to the Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston Dispensary and Tewksbury State Infirmary. Quarterly reports of Mothers' Aid cases were sent as required to the State House. Letters were written to relatives of famil- ies in need, so that they might give aid if possible. In 3 cases where a family had a settlement in another city, a notice was sent to that city and the aid charged to them. Seven families having no settlement in Massachusetts were under the supervision of the State visitor and the town will be reimbursed by the State. Denials were sent to six other towns which charged Reading for aid given to families who formerly lived here, when the Reading settlement was proved to be lost.
The visitor had charge of ordering coal for families aided, and ap- proved all bills of coal, milk and groceries. Thanks are due to kind friends who made it possible to remember several families at Christmas with useful gifts and toys. Many outside organizations also gave help at this time which was very much appreciated.
The visitor wishes to express her thanks to the Board of Overseers for giving her the opportunity to help in this work, and for their unvary- ing courtesy and assistance, and to the Clerk of the Board for his inter- est and kind assistance, without which it would be difficult to handle problems which constantly arise.
Respectfully submitted,
HELEN A. BROWN, Visitor.
195
REPORT OF PUBLIC LIBRARY
The Trustees of the Public Library submit the following report: ORGANIZATION OF THE BOARD
The Board organized for the year by the choice of Mr. Wadlin, Chair- man, and of Mr. Mansfield as Secretary. The following standing com- mittees were appointed :
On Accounts: Messrs. Wadlin, Mansfield and Carter.
On Books: Mr. Mansfield, Miss Whittier and Miss Bancroft.
On Building and Grounds: Messrs. Wadlin and Keneely, and Miss Bancroft.
On Work With Children: Miss Whittemore and Miss Bancroft.
EXPENSES OF THE LIBRARY
Following is a condensed financial statement:
Appropriation, Direct tax, 1921:
Salaries
$1,500.00
Maintenance
2,300.00
Total from tax levy
3,800.00
Expended
Salaries, Librarian, assistants and janitor
$1,463.54
Books and periodicals, including re-binding
1,449.18
Printing and stationery, etc.
61.76
Fuel, light and water
467.35
Repairs
289.96
Miscellaneous expense
30.54
$3,762.33
Balance unexpended :
On salaries
36.46
On maintenance
1.21
$ 37.67
The item "repairs, etc." includes $193.00 paid on account of sewer connection. This expense was not taken into account when our budget was made up last year, but finding that it was coming against us at the close of the year, we were able to meet it by drawing expenses in other directions down to a point below our previous estimates, and have thus avoided carrying the liability over to the coming year. Next year certain
196
routine repairs will be required, especially some external painting on window frames, cornices and water conductors (from roof gutters to grade) and the sewer charge being out of the way, these other expenses may be met without materially enlarging our expenditures under the general head of "repairs, etc." A certain amount of new shelving, prin- cipally in the basement, will also be needed; but the expenditure in- volved will not be large.
We have completed the year with the appropriation placed at our disposal, and without outstanding liabilities due to bills remaining unpaid at the close. The Town Accountant using as his basis the sums directly appropriated by the Town, figures that the cost of the library amounts to 37 cents out of the tax rate per thousand. That is, for every $37.00 per thousand of valuation paid in taxes, 37 cents only was the direct tax levied for the public library. The library receipts, however, due prin- cipally to charges against books kept out longer than the time allowed by the rules, amounted to $221.09. The money received by way of the dog tax, applicable by law to the library, but under our present methods of accounting paid, together with the fine receipts, into the town treasury, amounted to $707.66. These two sums, therefore, together amounting to $928.75, in effect lessen the library expense, because they offset an equiva- lent amount of library cost, reducing it indirectly to $2871.25; and this really diminishes the library burden, if so slight an expense may be called a burden, to about 28 cents on the thousand of taxable property as fixed by the assessors.
We have in other reports pointed out the virtually negligible character of library expense when considered in relation to the total expenses of the town, and we refer to it now simply that the position of the library may not be forgotten in discussing the burden of taxation, and we repeat our statement made in our report last year : "Whatever has caused the tax rate to increase, it has not been affected by the annual cost of main- tenance of the library."
ADDITIONS TO THE LIBRARY
Volumes in library, close of 1920
10,601
Volumes bought, including replacements
652
Received by gift 86
11,339
Worn out, and not replaced
297
Total number of volumes, Dec. 31, 1921
11,042
The net gain is 441 volumes. These include 127 in the class "fiction," for adults; and 114 "fiction" for young readers; 127 "non-fiction," adults; and 57 "non-fiction", juveniles. The gifts include 27 public documents (state and national) and 59 volumes, general literature, given by individuals.
197
Among the interesting gifts, not books, was an unusual portrait of Webster, formerly belonging to Mr. Solon Bancroft, given by Mrs. Ban- croft; and a map of Reading published before the Civil War and now becoming rare, given by Miss M. Idabelle Beard from the estate of her sister, Mrs. Frank W. Parker, recently deceased.
USE OF THE LIBRARY
Volumes borrowed for home use
39,236
Increase over previous year 5,188
Largest monthly circulation, March
3,599
Smallest, September 2,821
Number of new borrowers registered 470
Whole number newly registered, during five years 1917-1921 3,120
Average new registrations, per year
624
RECEIPTS OF THE LIBRARY
These include :
Fines, etc., collected (for over-detention of books, chiefly) $209.91
1.10
Waste paper, etc., sold
Cash on hand, Jan. 1, 1921 10.08
$221.09
Paid to Town Treasurer
215.00
Balance on hand
$ 6.09
The Librarian reports:
"The circulation shows a gain of about 15 per cent over that of the preceding year. The use of the library has varied from 27 books taken on a hot August afternoon, to 436 books given out on a Saturday in De- cember. The average daily circulation (for home use) was 156.
"There has also been a larger amount of reference work done than in any previous year.
"During 'Children's Book Week' in November,-to which attention was called by a brief article in the Chronicle and by posters and sugges- tions for buying displayed in the library, and posters placed in the schools, -an increased number of children came to the library.
"Library Hall has been used for the Children's Story Hours during the year, also by the Woman's Club chorus, citizenship and parliamentary classes; the meetings of the League of Women Voters; the School Nurse Committee ; and for the annual meeting of directors of the Reading Home for Aged Women."
Besides the special gifts of books and other library material pre- viously mentioned, the librarian acknowledges gifts of plants to add to the attractions of the reading rooms.
198
The increase in reference work mentioned marks the increasing use of the library by pupils of the schools, seeking information upon sub- jects assigned by the teachers, or in connection with their regular school work. To meet this more effectively it will probably be necessary to en- large our supply of current reference books.
We have, in previous years, reported progress in re-classifying and cataloging our collection of books, undertaken for the purpose of facili- tating the use of the library in the new building. During the past year, however, routine work, constantly increasing, has occupied so large a part of the time of the librarian and her assistants, that very little has been done upon re-classification.
Our financial limitations have prevented the employment of expert service in such work. Indeed the demands of the regular service are now so great that an extension of the employment of the temporary assistant (paid by the hour) has been required, and. this additional service will probably be continuously demanded. This, of course, shows that the place of the library is appreciated, and that it is supplying a definite need. Once the "library habit" is formed it is likely to remain, and thus the institution finds a place to serve the public.
Its place primarily is educational, its reference work, its co-operation with the schools, the help it offers in promoting vocational and industrial efficiency, these activities fall under that head. But it is more than edu- cational in the restricted sense. For it offers also a wider knowledge of the books which enlarge life,-the treasures of romance, of poetry, of art, and of spiritual comfort to be found in books,-promoting in that way the joy of living, the spiritual welfare of the individual and the social well- being as well,-reading for enjoyment and the amenities of life, not merely for ends commonly considered more practical.
REVIEW OF PURCHASES
A hasty review of some of our recent purchases will confirm what we have said. Especial attention has been given to the needs of young readers. Among books bought for them are those in which episodes of history are brought into narrative form, books which while instructive are nevertheless interesting, like Altsheler's "Rock of Chickamauga," and others of that series; Barnes' "Midshipman Farragut"; Smith's "Young Puritan in King Philip's War"; and others relating to our colonial history. Books telling the story of our great industries,-Bassett's "Story of Glass," "of Leather," "of Wool," etc .; others telling in familiar lan- guage the "Wonders of Science"; Fabre's "Secret of Everyday Things"; Crabtree's "Wonders of Insect Life"; and many of that kind. There are books portraying in fiction our everyday life, like Crump's "Boys' Book of Firemen"; Otis' "Light-keepers"; Scoville's "Everyday Adventures," etc. And besides these there are books about camping, about Indians,
199
fairy tales, not yet outclassed, stories of sport and adventure, nature stories, and new versions of old classics in poetry and prose for young readers.
You will find also the "Book of games and parties"; on "The Lighter Side of School Life"; "One Thousand Poems for Children"; and, in- directly for children, through the help they offer to parents or teachers, Wheelock's "Stories for Little Children," "Talks to Children," "Songs With Music." "Talks to Mothers," etc.
For adults the books of the year include among those relating to the "useful arts," manuals of housewifery, (Balderston), of personal hy- giene (Bussey), of the care of automobiles (Scholl), of household account- ing (Sheaffer), books relating to wireless telegraphy and experimentation (Bucher), to gardening (Taylor), to bee keeping (Pellett), and others.
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