USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Reading > Town of Reading Massachusetts annual report 1921 > Part 11
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Under the head "travel and description," we find new books upon China, Japan, and Korea (Bland), on Labrador (Cabot), on Ireland (Dunn and Lenox), on Borneo (Lumholtz), on Morocco (Wharton), and others of present interest. In "psychology and natural science": "The Mental Hygiene of Childhood," by White; "The Child's Unconscious Mind," by Lay; and books upon botany and the wild life of forest and field.
The important books on present-day history are represented by Mc- Master's "United States in the World War"; Usher's "Story of the Great War"; Wilson's "The Irish Case"; House and Seymour's "What Really Happened at Paris"; Lansing's "Peace Negotiations"; Ross' "Russian Bol- shevik Revolution"; Page's "Italy and the World War"; Bywater's "Sea- power in the Pacific"; Treat's "Japan and the United States"; Dillon's "Mexico on the Verge"; Williams' "American Catholics in the War"; and Regan's "What Made Ireland Sinn Fein."
The class "biography," includes new books on Roosevelt, John Bur- roughs, Lincoln, Balfour, General William Booth, John Sherman, Mckinley, James Munroe, and others and such books of immediate interest as Strachey's "Queen Victoria," "The Americanization of Edward Bok," and Mrs. Aldrich's "Crowding Memories."
Obviously, many of these books are distinctly educational, but besides these there are literary essays,-More's "New England Group and Others"; Thorndike's "Literature in a Changing Age"; Repplier's "Points of Fric- tion"; Woodbury's "Literary Essays"; Hudson's "The Truths We Live By"; Brett's "Defense of Liberty"; Professor Babbitt's "Rousseau and Romanticism"; and Miss Sinclair's "Defense of Idealism" ;- Poetry, in- cluding Untermeyer's "Modern American" and "Modern British poetry," the Collected Poems of Edwin Alington Robinson; poems by Service, Masefield, Healey and others; plays by Shaw and Galsworthy; and. such informing books on current affairs as the interesting (even if rather superficial) "Mirrors of Downing Street," Mirrors of Washington" and Lowry's "Washington Close-ups." There are also interesting books of travel and adventure, among them Furlong's "Let 'er Buck," McFee's
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"Harbors of Memory", and O'Brien's "Mystic Isles of the South Seas"; Franck's "Vagabonding Down the Andes" and Stefansson's "The Friendly Arctic"; Lucas's "Roving East and Roving West" and Beebe's "Edge of the Jungle."
This summary, brief and off-hand, includes only a small part, and not even all of the best of our recent accessions, but it indicates the range of our purchases. The books of the year include carefully-chosen fiction by all the leading writers of the day, not merely the "best sellers" of the moment but those having some claim to literary merit. Our summary takes no account, of course, of the many volumes of all kinds already in the library.
The titles of all new books are posted in the reading room, and printed in the Chronicle. The others in the library may easily be found by those who have the "library habit," or, if difficulty is encountered in the use of the catalogue, the librarian at all times will give helpful as- sistance, and the shelves are always open to readers.
We hope that the results of our selection of books will be generally approved. Occasionally, however, some reader who fails to find certain books which are wanted, criticises, not unreasonably perhaps, the omission. It is impossible, unless we have funds sufficient to buy without discrim- ination, to avoid such omissions. Sometimes a book is in such urgent demand for a time, that many copies would not suffice to meet it. Gener- ally the demand is more or less temporary, and the book loses its vogue. In a few cases we can buy more than one copy, and do so; but it is not possible nor is it advisable to multiply copies of any single book, in a small library like ours.
It was Dr. Holmes, if memory serves, who once said that he never undertook to read a work in two volumes from a public library without finding that one or the other of them was always "out." The frequency with which a desired book, especially if popular, is reported "out," is an inevitable disappointment in the use of a public library. A commercial circulating library can supply duplicates up to the limit of demand. The books pay for themselves in a short time under the fee system, and may be discarded, if not worn out, when no longer asked for, but the case is different with us.
A disappointed applicant may sometimes ask, if the desired book seems important to him although not especially important in itself, nor in demand by others, "Why didn't you buy that? You've bought others not half so good" ;- or course, rating the value of the books by his own standards. Often, no doubt, the inquirer is justified in questioning our judgment. Indeed, he may often be right in his estimate of literary values. Unquestionably, there are many excellent books we do not buy, and some of them are probably better than those we select.
A few persons mistakenly believe that we buy for the library only such books as we ourselves like; or only those which we think ought to be
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read; or those which are written from the point of view,-religious, moral or political,-which we happen to take. On the contrary, since we have to choose,-and with limited funds selection is almost always a matter of choice of a few out of many-we try to choose the best under all the circumstances. While we never buy books which seem to us immoral in general tendency, manifestly offensive in form or matter, written merely as propaganda, distinctly unfair or prejudiced or flippant in their treatment of disputed questions, especially concerning matters held sacred by many, while, in short, we do not forget that ours is a public library, supported at public expense, and therefore that we have public responsibilities to all our citizens, whatever their creed, or race, or sex, or politics,-clearly our personal preferences can be only one factor, and often not the determining factor in selection. We buy many books which do not interest us personally, and naturally our purchase of a book does not imply our endorsement of the opinions expressed in it, our acceptance of the author's point of view, or our endorsement of what he may happen to present as facts.
We suppose this to be generally understood. It ought to go without saying, but occasionally a criticism reaches us which reflects a contrary opinion. Therefore it will do no harm to state our policy clearly. Upon no other plan, it seems to us, can a public library be successfully adminis- tered. There is no place within it for narrow prejudice upon the one hand, nor for unrestricted license upon the other.
Apart from theory, however, we encounter obstacles in making selections, that are in themselves limitations upon our action. The mat- ter of expense must always be kept in mind, and we must always consider the probable demand and usefulness to a reasonable number of our read- ers. We endeavor always to make our current purchases at least represen- tative of the best new books in the different departments of literature. But often a book is bought on account of its intrinsic value to students. or as a permanent accession by reason of its subject, even though the number of readers interested in it at present may be few; or it may be taken to complete our set of the works of its author, or to fill a gap in our list of books on some important subject, or for some other equally valid reason.
Subject to such limitations as affect our selection we are always glad to supply any book of real value or interest, if requested, or if it is not possible for us to buy such a book to obtain it by borrowing for temporary use from some other library (under an arrangement to which we are a party), and requests of this kind are invited and will be carefully con- sidered.
EXTENSION OF LIBRARY HOURS
At present the library is open every day in the week except Friday and Sunday. It has become customary for our business establishments to close one afternoon and evening during the week, in order that their
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employees may have one free day. They have selected Wednesday. Our free day is Friday, and the arrangement seems to serve satisfactorily the larger part of our patrons. There are occasional suggestions that the library be opened also on Friday afternoon or evening and on Sunday. It may be necessary, perhaps, as the town increases in population and the number of library patrons increases, to act favorably upon one or the other of these suggestions. It will be necessary to increase the appro- priation for salaries in order to cover the additional expense of service. For the present, and especially as the town is under extraordinary expense in the public works department, we are not ready to recommend it.
BUDGET FOR 1922
Our budget of requirements for 1922, based upon maintenance and salary expenditure on our present basis is in detail:
Fuel, light and water
$ 425.00
Printing and supplies
75.00
Books, periodicals, binding, etc.
1,500.00
Repairs, etc.
200.00
Miscellaneous expenditures
50.00
Total maintenance
$2,250.00
Salaries
1,550.00
Total appropriation required
$3,800.00
This is the same amount as appropriated last year.
We estimate the receipts of the Department, to be turned into the treasury of the town, at $200.00. The dog tax money which also will go into the treasury will be about $700.00.
CONCLUSION
We acknowledge the continued efficient services of Miss Bertha L. Brown, Librarian; Miss Grace Abbott, assistant, and those of Mr. Stinch- field, our janitor.
Two vacancies are to be filled at the Town Meeting. The members whose terms expire are Mr. Wadlin and Mr. Keneely.
Respectfully submitted,
HORACE G. WADLIN, Chairman, ARTHUR N. MANSFIELD, Sec'y, RALPH S. KENEELY, FRANK C. CARTER,
FANNIE C. WHITTEMORE, EDITH BANCROFT.
Adopted as the Report of the Trustees, January 27, 1922.
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Twenty - seventh Annual Report OF THE
Electric Light Commissioners
For the Year Ending December 31 1921
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OFFICERS OF THE ELECTRIC LIGHT AND POWER DEPARTMENT
Commissioners
WILLIAM G. LONG, Chairman Term expires 1923
FRANK E. CRAFTS, Secretary Term expires 1922
HERBERT G. EVANS
Term expires 1924
Manager ARTHUR G. SIAS
Office MUNICIPAL BUILDING
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MANAGER'S REPORT
To the Municipal Light Board, Reading, Mass .:
Gentlemen :- I respectfully submit herewith my report covering the operation of the Municipal Light Plant for the year ending December 31, 1921.
Operating Account Creditor
By commercial lighting
$ 77,282.49
By commercial power
19,643.40
By municipal lighting
1,780.88
By municipal power
2,061.58
By cooking and heating
6,616.42
By power to Wakefield
66.75
By power to Lowell Electric Light Corporation
155.88
By street lighting, Reading
17,500.00
By street lighting, Lynnfield Ctre
1,566.57
By street lighting, North Reading
3,302.19
By street lighting, Wilmington
5,910.53
By total income
$135,886.69
Debtor
To fuel
$ 33,654.23
To oil and waste
210.13
To water
89.00
To wages at station
16,912.76
To repairs of real estate
296.56
To repairs of steam plant
621.92
To repairs of electric plant
240.22
To station tools, etc.
714.16
To manufacturing cost
$ 52,738.98
To distribution wages
$ 3,018.76
To repair lines, lamps and meters, etc.
13,624.85
To street series lamps renewals
2,842.14
To distribution tools
435.31
To garage expense
4,532.09
To distribution cost
$ 24,453.15
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To general salaries
$ 9,118.18
To Municipal Light Board, salaries
225.00
To committee expense
178.01
To office expense
2,492.26
To rent of stock room
150.00
To insurance
3,761.87
To taxes
650.29
To legal expense
19.04
To miscellaneous expense
$ 16,594.65
To total operating expenses 93,786.78
Balance to Profit and Loss
42,099.91
$135,886.69
Profit and Loss Account Debtor
To balance December 31, 1920
$ 1,306.59
To bonds paid in 1921
13,000.00
To notes paid in 1921
6,300.00
To legal services on account of bond issue
10,85
To bad debts
477.84
To interest incurred
7,423.10
To depreciation allowed
16,767.55
To balance of jobbing account
846.43
$ 46,132.36
Creditor
By interest on bank balances
$ 114.20
By balance of operating account
42,099.91
By premium on bonds
105.00
By total
$ 42,319.11
Balance as of Dec. 31, 1921
3,813.25
$ 46,132.36
Balance Sheet Assets
Land
$ 2,575.80
Buildings
20,658.81
Steam Plant
83,427.99
Electric plant
37,737.05
Lines
130,067.54
Transformers
24,635.29
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Meters
25,268.82
Street Lights
12,771.29
Inventory fuel
7,694.88
Inventory oils, waste and station supplies
2,043.28
Inventory line and distribution
17,880.01
Inventory jobbing
3,986.19
Inventory prepaid insurance
1,905.92
Accounts receivable, electric
8,956.95
Accounts receivable, sundries
5,186.56
Cash in operation fund
3,506.09
Cash in deposit fund
856.90
Total assets
$389,159.37
Deficit
3,813.25
$392,972.62
Liabilities
Appropriation for construction
$ 30,678.26
Loans repayment
172,200.00
Bonds outstanding
138,500.00
Notes outstanding
18,200.00
Town Treasurer (Special Loan)
6,800.00
Deposits
856.90
Interests accrued, not due
1,860.60
Accounts payable, operation
23,876.86
Total liabilities
$392,972.62
Reconstruction Fund
Debtor
To balance Dec. 31, 1920 $ 6,343.31
To transfer from Depreciation Fund
27.94
$ 6,371.25
Creditor
By additions steam plant
$ 6,342.99
By additions electric plant
21.26
By additions transformers
7.00
By total
$ 6,371.25
Construction Fund
Debtor
To appropriation
$
7,000.00
To transfer from Depreciation Fund
17,146.16
$ 24,146.16
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Creditor
By additions to buildings
$ 224.94
By additions to steam plant
440.22
By additions to electric plant
334.18
By additions to lines
14,464.12
By additions to transformers
4,398.68
By additions to meters
3,686.32
By additions to street lights
597.70
$ 24,146.16
Operation Fund Debtor
To balance Dec. 31, 1920
$ 1,891.27
To receipts from customers
140,876.69
To appropriation from tax levy
17,500.00
To Town Treasurer (Special Loan)
4,300.00
To interest on bank balances
114.20
$164.682.16
Creditor
By expenditures
$117,685.42
By transfer to Depreciation Fund
16,767.55
By bonds retired
13,000.00
By notes retired
6,300.00
By interest paid
7,423.10
By balance Dec. 31, 1921
3,506.09
$164,682.16
Depreciation Fund Debtor
To transfer from Operation Fund $ 16,767.55
To sale of transformers, etc.
1,675.49
$ 18,443.04
Creditor
By transfer to Construction Fund
$ 17,146.16
By renewals
1,268.94
By transfer to Re-Construction Fund
27.94
$ 18,443.04
Cost of Plant
Cost as of Dec. 31, 1920 $421,048.20
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Additions
Buildings
$ 224.94
Steam Plant
6,783.21
Electric Plant
355.44
Lines
14,464.12
Transformers
4,405.68
Meters
3,686.32
Street Lights
597.70
30,517.41
Total cost Dec. 31, 1921
$451.575.61
Lynnfield Extension
Total investment to Dec. 31, 1921:
Lines
$ 14,250.22
Street Lights
1,164.68
Meters
2,143.75
Transformers
1,922.98
$ 19,481.63
North Reading Extension
Total investment to Dec. 31, 1921:
Electric plant
$ 440.12
Lines
31,065.69
Street lights
1,937.00
Meters
2,780.53
Transformers
3,634.98
$ 39,858.32
Wilmington Extension
Total investment to Dec. 31, 1921:
Electric plant
$ 627.18
Lines
53,777.26
Street Lights
3,024.32
Meters
3,934.46
Transformers
4,415.48
$ 65,778.70
EARNINGS FROM LIGHT AND POWER-5 YEARS
1917
1918
1919
1920
1921
Light
$65,445.22
$71,283.85
$ 86,221.78
$ 92,850.17
$107,342.66
Power
10,898.42
17,812.24
29,072.32
33,301.94
28,544.03
$76,343.64
$89,096.09
$115,294.10
$126,152.11
$135,886.69
Note-The above table includes the income from the appropriation for street lights.
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The K. W. H. generated in 1921 were 4.5% less than in 1920, due to the reduced demand for power used for manufacturing purposes.
The K. W. H. sold were 10.5% less than last year, and the current unaccounted for increased from 18.2% to 21.7%.
The increase in income from commercial lighting was 11.3%, while the decrease in power income was 22.6%, the total increase in income being 7.7%, which includes the appropriation for street lights.
The operating expenses increased 3.7% and fixed charges 4.3%, leaving a net loss for 1920 and 1921 as defined by statute of $7,674.98. This loss is directly chargeable to the trouble caused by the sleet storm of November 27th and 28th, the amount expended for repairs to the lines and street lamps being $4,529.29, and for renewals of poles and wires $1,268.94.
There were 556 street lights burned out by lightning during July, the cost of same being $405.88.
The estimated loss in income was $2,500.00, therefore under normal conditions we would have shown a gain instead of a loss.
The balance of the operating account to the credit of Profit and Loss was $6,363.97 more than last year, but the net deficit has increased $2,506.66. The total indebtedness of the plant has been reduced $23,- 581.74 during the year.
"The average cost per K. W. H., as defined by Statute was 9.7 cents, and the amount which was appropriated for street lighting was practi- cally the actual cost of furnishing the service.
The center street light circuit has been operated a total of 3,753 hours and 40 minutes during the year. The number and size of lamps on this circuit is 54-60 candle power, 6-100 candle power, 31-250 candle power and 25-600 candle power. The remaining circuits have been operated :3,019 hours and 10 minutes and have the following lamps installed: 419- (60 candle power, 8-100 candle power, and 35-250 candle power. There :are also 3-40 candle power lamps on Haverhill Street, between Franklin ;Street and the North Reading line which are connected to the North Reading street light circuit, and have burned 1,556 hours.
The number of each size of street lamps renewed during the year in Reading was 11-40 candle power, 785-60 candle power, 31-100 candle power, 236-250 candle power, and 51-600 candle power. In North Reading 488-40 candle power; in Wilmington 583-40 candle power; and in Lynnfield Center 231-40 candle power.
We have added during the year the following new street lights: In Reading 12, North Reading 6, and in Wilmington 42 public lights and 2 on a private way.
The number of customers has increased 322 since December 31, 1920 as follows: Reading 123, North Reading 49, Wilmington 127, and Lynn- field Center 23. We have connected 89 new services in Reading, 41 in
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North Reading, 127 in Wilmington, and 23 in Lynnfield Center. We have been obliged to refuse service to many prospective customers on account of lack of money to finance the necessary extensions. Several of these we can undoubtedly reach during 1922.
The increase in connected load on our lines has made it necessary to take steps to reduce the losses in distribution and this coming year we should increase the size of wire on some of our primary feeders as well as on the secondary distribution lines.
The addition of the power at the Sewerage Pumping Station should give us considerable additional revenue each year as the amount of sew- erage increases.
As business in general gets back to normal conditions our power sales will again be on the increase and lighting rates may be reduced.
The power station equipment is in good condition, and with the ex- ception of some new spray nozzles in the old cooling pond, I believe that only ordinary repairs will be necessary. We have the new nozzles at the station and plan to install them in the spring. The new condenser is operating very satisfactorily and the saving in fuel is fully up to our expectations.
I have never before seen so much damage to a distribution system as was caused by the sleet storm the latter part of November. On Mon- day and Tuesday, the 28th and 29th, we were unable to make any pro- gress that was noticeable, although we made every effort to maintain a portion of the service. On Tuesday night we had only one circuit work- ing, the Reading Rubber Mills line, but on Wednesday we restored the service in the center, and gradually the remaining circuits were put in temporary condition to turn the current on again. Our customers were wonderfully patient and almost without exception, suffered the great inconvenience without complaint. Our employes worked hard to get the service restored as quickly as possible and they should be given much credit for their efforts. The greatest handicap that we had was the broken limbs from the trees which lay on the wires and which had to be removed before the lines could be pulled back in shape. The tremendous weight of the ice on the wires also made it almost impossible to work on them.
We had the assistance of the Tree Wardens in all of the Towns, also Messrs. Clapp & Leach, J. M. Maxwell & Son, and E. L. Howe, Electricians, who, with their men and trucks helped to clear the trees away from the wires and repair broken wires. The Street Department also loaned their men and trucks and assisted materially. Through the courtesy of the Lynn Gas and Electric Company, and the co-operation of Mr. C. O. Blood of Lynnfield Center, we were able to get the service partially restored in Lynnfield Center on Friday night. Mr. Blood very kindly furnished a truck and driver for six days and refused to take any pay for the service.
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The hearty co-operation of all who assisted us was very much ap- preciated and appropriate letters have been sent to them.
There is a great deal of work to be done on the lines to get them back into proper operating condition and it will be some time before it has all been completed. We have already replaced about 70 poles, and there are others which we find from time to time that have become weak- ened as a result of the storm. Many of the wires were stretched almost to the breaking point and it is necessary to replace them with new wire in many instances.
The State Board of Public Utilities has adopted a new classification of accounts for all Municipal Light Plants as well as for private com- panies and it will be necessary to change our books January 1st in com- pliance with the order of the Board.
Lamp and Appliance Department
Our records show that the following appliances have been sold by us during the year: 5 Christmas Tree Outfits, 6 Curling Irons, 1 Egg Beater, 11 Fans, 44 Flat Irons, 2 Heaters, 4 Heating Pads, 2 Hot-Plates, 35 Motors, 4 Percolators, 2 Pumps, 9 Radiators, 3 Ranges, 1 Sewing Ma- chine, 5 Sewing Machine Motors, 2 Soldering Irons, 13 Toasters, 21 Vacuum Cleaners, 6 Washing Machines, and 1 Water Heater.
There are now two appliance stores in town and much of the busi- ness which previously came to us has gone to them.
The Jobbing Account shows a loss this year on account of the de- creased number of sales and marking down of prices in appliances.
In making my estimate for the coming year I have made what I think is adequate allowance for the completion of the repairs to the lines.
I have also estimated to receive a normal increase in income, and believe that the results at the end of the year will show that the esti- mate is conservative.
The estimate is given below and is followed by data from the rec- ords at the office.
ESTIMATE FOR 1922
Expenses
For operation, maintenance and repairs $ 92,859.88
For interest on bonds and notes 7,008.93
For depreciation (4% on $448,989.81)
17,959.59
For bond payments
12,500.00
For note payments
4,300.00
For loss in preceding year
6,817.70
Total expenses
$141,446.10
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Income
From sales to private consumers $124,046.10
From sundry items
300.00
From tax levy (at average cost per K. W. H. as defined by Statute)
For street lights $ 15,300.00
For Municipal Bldgs. 1,800.00
Total to be appropriated 17,100.00
$141,446.10
Respectfully submitted,
ARTHUR G. SIAS, Manager
WILLIAM G. LONG
FRANK E. CRAFTS
HERBERT G. EVANS
Municipal Light Board.
DATA FROM RECORDS OF PLANT
Kilowatt hours manufactured
2,193,092
Kilowatt hours for Reading Street Lights 178,892
Kilowatt hours sold
1,292,806
Kilowatt hours used at station and office
246,207
Kilowatt hours unaccounted for 475,187
Coal used, net tons 3,308
Average cost of coal per net ton
$10.173
Poles added
182
Feet of wire added
178,968
Motors connected
35
New services installed
280
Street Lamps installed
62
Connected Load December 31, 1921
Number of customers
2,939
Horse power in motors
1,120.5
Number of public street lights
1,433
Number of private street lights
11
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Reading
Number of customers December 31, 1921
1,900
Number of 40 candle power public street lights 3
Number of 60 candle power public street lights 473
Number of 100 candle power public street lights
14
Number of 250 candle power public street lights
66
Number of 600 candle power public street lights
25
Number of 60 candle power private street lights
3
Number of 100 candle power private street lights
1
Horse power in motors 864
Earnings for year
$ 94,366.06
Lynnfield Center Extension
Number of customers December 31, 1921
195
Number of 40 candle power street lights
122
Horse power in motors 37
Earnings for year
$ 7,403.36
North Reading Extension
Number of customers December 31, 1921
260
Number of 40 candle power public street lights
261
Number of 40 candle power private street lights
3
Horse power in motors 150
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