Town of Reading Massachusetts annual report 1922, Part 12

Author: Reading (Mass.)
Publication date: 1922
Publisher: The Town
Number of Pages: 332


USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Reading > Town of Reading Massachusetts annual report 1922 > Part 12


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It is hoped by the cemetery officials, that within a very few years the whole of the Old Cemetery will be re-seeded and cared for. If this is so it would not seem advisable at this time to do work that would probably have to be done over if this work is done by the Cemetery Dept. as planned.


216


Financial statement:


Appropriation March 1922


$875.00


Labor, loam, fertilizer, lime and seed $599.55


Cutting grass on 165 lots


70.32


Unexpended balance


205.13


$875.00


1


Respectfully submitted,


ALFRED E. GOODWIN,


Custodian of Veteran Graves.


IN MEMORY OF


ONISSEY V. BENNETT


JULY 27, 1897 - NOVEMBER 29, 1922


218


REPORT OF CHIEF OF FIRE DEPARTMENT


To the Honorable Board of Selectmen:


Gentlemen :- The annual report of the Chief of the Fire Depart- ment is herewith presented, giving the record of fires that have oc- curred during the year ending December 31, 1922, together with such information as I think may be of interest to the Town.


Finances


Our financial transactions are all embodied in the report of the Town Accountant to which we would respectfully refer you for any information you may desire in that line.


Manual Force


The Department consists of five permanent men (including the Chief) and twenty-five call men. On November 29th, Onissey V. Ben- nett, a call member of Combination B Company, died. He joined the Department July 27, 1897.


Apparatus


Combination A, a Knox triple combination pumping engine has been in service over nine years and is beginning to show signs of wear. The wheels on this machine have been rebuilt twice and will have to be replaced during the coming year. The fire pump was over- hauled this year but is still unsatisfactory and I feel that this part of the machine will have to be rebuilt during the next few years. Com- bination B, a Robinson double tank combination and hose truck, has been in service six years. This machine has had a few repairs during the year but is in good condition now. Ladder 1, a Robinson combina- tion service ladder truck, has been in service six years. In January of this year the motor was replaced by a White motor which has proven very satisfactory. Hose 2, a Ford ton chassis, equipped with a wagon body still gives very good service.


Recommendations


There has been but little increase in the number of hydrants in the last few years although the town has been built up considerable. I would recommend fire alarm boxes as follows, one on Orange Street, one on Woburn St., near Linden, one near the easterly end of Green St., one on Vine St., and one at the Pumping Station. I also recommend new doors on Hose 2 Station and twelve new chairs.


219


Fire Prevention


I have issued 538 Permits for fires out of doors, 6 permits for do- mestic use of Fuel Oil, 4 permits for the sale of fireworks, 3 permits for blasting, 6 permits for the storage and sale of gasoline. I have made regular inspections of public garages and mercantile establishments. In some cases have ordered cellars and back yards cleaned and in a few instances have had to warn of fire hazards but in all cases I find a ready co-operation in making fire prevention what it should be, one of our greatest assets.


Record of Alarms


Bell


Still


Total


January


3


3


6


February


1


3


4


March


7


11


18


April


14


32


46


May


4


8


12


June


3


2


5


July


4


1


5


August


2


3


5


September


2


6


8


October


5


7


12


November


2


12


14


December


4


2


6


-


51


90


141


Number of miles traveled


799.3


Number of feet 2 1-2 inch hose laid


18,800


Number of feet chemical hose used


1,850


Number feet ladders raised


473


Number gallons chemical used


5,575


Number covers spread


6


Number gallons gasoline used


515


Number gallons oil used


25


Value of property in danger


$102,620.00


Insurance thereon


77,750.00


Loss thereto


14,786.95


Insurance paid


13,992.95


Uninsured loss


794.00


Call for lung motor


1


Call to help horses cast


4


Call to help horse out of cesspool


1


220


Conclusion


In conclusion I wish to extend to your Honorable Board, to the Town Accountant, Treasurer and the Finance Committee our thanks for the courtesies and co-operation I have received during the year. I wish to compliment the officials and members of the department on the prompt and efficient manner in which they have performed their du- ties. I also wish to express my thanks to the Eastern Massachusetts Street Railway Company for the use of current, to the Chief of Police for services rendered by his department at fires and to the employees of the New England Telephone and Telegraph Company for the prompt and efficient service rendered in receiving alarms by telephone.


ORVILLE O. ORDWAY,


Chief Fire Department.


221


REPORT OF SUPERINTENDENT OF FIRE ALARM


To the Board of Fire Engineers:


Gentlemen :- The fire alarm system is in good condition. General repairs have been made, old cross arms replaced and trees trimmed to give clearance.


Lightning caused more trouble than usual this year. Boxes 13, 223, 225, 39 and 412 which were burned out have all been cleaned, oiled, rewired and had new contact fingers installed.


A Gamewell tape punching register has been placed in the Hose 2 house, also a testing station so that the punching register and tower striker can be connected to either circuits 3 or 4. Tests for open cir- cuits and grounds can be made from there.


The system consists of the following:


150 cells of storage battery.


1 Stevens 5 circuit repeater with necessary switch boards.


36 Stevens Boxes.


20 Gamewell Boxes.


1 United States Box (spare).


1 Gamewell Box (for still alarms).


2 Stevens tower strikers.


1 12-inch Crosby chime whistle.


1 Stevens whistle blowing machine.


1 Gamewell transmitter with 60 wheels.


2 Gamewell tape punching registers.


2 14-inch gongs.


1 12-inch gong.


2 8-inch gongs.


11 inch toppers.


1 automatic light switch.


Recommendations


That the line from Main Street to the pumping station, which now crosses private land, be run on Mill Street on town poles.


That box 221 in the Union Street School and 223 in the Center School be placed on the outside of the buildings. They would then be accessible for testing and would give fire alarm service to the prop- erty in the vicinity.


That boxes be located on Summer Ave. & Woodbine St .; Orange St. near Pierce St .; Woburn St. near Bancroft Ave .; Vine St. north of Mineral St .; Mill St. at the Pumping Station.


222


In conclusion I wish to thank the Board of Fire Engineers and the Chief of the Department for their co-operation.


The Eastern Massachusetts Street Railway Company for the use of current for charging the storage battery.


Thanks are due the Electric Light Department and the New Eng- land Telephone and Telegraph Company for their assistance in changing construction.


Respectfully submitted, L. T. EAMES,


Superintendent of Fire Alarm.


READING FIRE ALARM


Telephone Reading 0430


112 Woburn and Sanborn


114 Mt. Vernon, Chute and School


121 Main and Haven


122 Haven and Gould


13 Ash and Avon


14 Oak and Hill Crest Rd.


15 Walnut and Summer Ave.


16 So. Main and South


17 Prescott near Arlington


18 Minot and Park Ave.


19 Walnut and Curtis


21 Summer Ave. near Temple


212 West and Howard


221 Union Street School


223 Center School


224 High School


225 Highland School


226 Lowell St. School


227 Prospect St. School


228 Chestnut Hill School


23 Woburn and Temple


231 West beyond Willow


24 Mineral and Hancock


25 Prospect near King


26 Hose 2 house, Woburn St.


27 Summer Ave. near Prescott


28 West south of Oak


29 West and King


31 Lowell beyond Grove


32 Franklin near Grove


33 Lowell, Grand and Gould Ave.


34 Grove and Forest


223


35 No. Main and Locust


36 No. Main and Ridge Rd.


37 No. Main front of No. 409


38 No. Main and Forest


39 No. Main and Franklin


41 Village and Green


412 Car Barns, Willow Rd.


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 Bay State Rd. near Salem


51 Main, Aslı and Washington


53 Main near Cross


55 Reading Rubber Mills


6 C. H. Bangs Co., Prescott St.


61 Lowell near Sanborn


612 Bancroft Ave. and Locust


62 Spare Box


63 Hanscomb Ave. near Weston Ave.


64 Central Fire Station


65 Middlesex and Bancroft Aves.


67 Middlesex Ave. and High


8 Out of Town


SPECIAL SIGNALS


1 Test 11.45 A. M. and 5.45 P. M.


2 Recall


22 No school signal


3 Followed by a box number 2nd alarm ·


3 Followed in one minute by 3 Boy Scout Call


4 Police call


L. T. EAMES, Supt.


224


REPORT OF TREE WARDEN


The work in the Tree Warden Dept. this year has consisted of trim- ming and repairing the trees that were damaged by the ice storm of a year ago. There is considerable of this work that remains to be done and I recommend the same appropriation as last year, fifteen hundred dollars. I purchased and planted sixty rock maple trees and I hope to be able to plant the same number the coming year as we have new streets without any shade trees and I have removed a number of old trees that had become dangerous and should be replaced.


Respectfully submitted,


HENRY M. DONEGAN, Tree Warden.


1


225


REPORT OF FOREST WARDEN


To the Honorable Board of Selectmen:


Gentlemen :- I herewith submit the annual report of the Forest Warden for the year ending December 31, 1922.


The finances of this department are embodied in the report of the Town Accountant to which I refer you for any information along that line.


For the use of this department I have a Ford truck, 18-21/2 gallon extinguishers, 12 8-quart cans and pumps, brooms, shovels and minor equipment.


Before the opening of the gunning season I posted all lots and paths with fire warnings with very gratifying results.


Number of permits issued for fires out of doors 380


Number of calls for grass and brush fires 67


Number of calls from Look-Out Station 17


I have investigated all fires and sent reports of them to the State Fire Warden.


I have appointed the following deputies:


H. M. Donegan, Federal Street.


H. L. Eames, Central Fire Station.


John J. O'Brien, Central Fire Station.


In conclusion, I wish to thank all who have assisted this department in any way during the past year.


0. O. ORDWAY, Forest Warden.


r


226


REPORT ON TOWN FORESTS


To the Board of Selectmen, .


Reading, Mass.


The Planning Board, appointed as a Committee by your Board, to investigate and report on the possibility of establishing a Town Forest, respectfully report as follows:


This matter has been considered by it at various sessions. In its early stages of consideration the project seemed questionable as to ac- complishment owing to the lack of land available and suitable for the purpose. In its endeavor to find such land this Board ascertained that the Town held tax titles on over one hundred acres of vacant land in various parcels, which could be used for this purpose after the tax titles had been perfected by registration in the Land Court, and that it could be expected that the Massachusetts Forestry Association would assist in the establishing of such a forest by planting five thousand trees free of charge in such a site selected for the purpose of a Town Forest.


The Chairman of this Board communicated with the Massachusetts Forestry Association with reference to utilizing this tax-title held land for this purpose, and received a communication from that Association part of which is quoted as follows:


"I am very glad that you have written me because this gives me a new thought which might be used in any town, because there are a large number of towns in the State that hold such land just as Reading does. The cost of securing a clear title through the land court would be nominal, and as to making those areas town forests, it would be an excellent plan, because trees will grow just as well on one acre as on fifty acres, and by making these small areas town forests you will distribute your fire risk. You will also be creating little park areas which eventually will be valuable for recreational purposes, because they are scattered throughout the town. I hope very much that you will push this matter in order that we may have one example where it has been done, which we can use as an argument with other towns. If there is any other way in which I may be of help to you, please call upon me."


227


It is the opinion of the Board that such vacant land so held by the Town could be utilized for the purpose of establishing a Town Forest, thus also establishing a precedent in this direction, that other munici- palities would, in all probability follow.


Respectfully submitted,


CHESTER J. WALLACE, HENRY Q. MILLETT, JOHN L. DODGE, AMOS M. McLEAN, LEONE F. QUIMBY.


228


REPORT OF INSPECTOR OF PLUMBING


To the Honorable Board of Health:


The following is submitted as the annual report of the Plumbing Inspector for the year ending December 31, 1922:


Number of permits granted 148


Water Closets installed


90


Bath Tubs installed 71


Lavatories installed


78


Sinks installed 88


Wash Tubs installed


59


Total number of fixtures installed 386


There have been 106 houses connected with the sewer.


Respectfully submitted,


DAVID TAGGART, Plumbing Inspector.


229


REPORT OF INSPECTOR OF ANIMALS


February 1, 1923.


To the Honorable Board of Selectmen, Reading, Mass .:


I wish at this time to submit my report as Inspector of Animals for the year ending January 1, 1923.


During the early part of 1922 an inspection of all cattle, sheep, swine, etc., was made throughout the town, at which time any animal showing evidence of contagious or infectious disease was removed and premises disinfected before being used again.


The slogan "Drink More Milk" appears to be followed quite well in Reading, due, no doubt, to the quality of the milk produced.


The dairies which supply the milk to most of our people are well kept with healthy stock and clean equipment.


Remember that milk is the cheapest food known, price and food value compared.


Due to the prevalence of rabies throughout this section it was deemed advisable to issue a restraint order for all dogs within the town limits.


While this order was observed and obeyed by many, some dog-owners looked upon it as of no consequence and many are still looking for their dogs.


Several dogs were destroyed which proved upon laboratory examina- tion to be affected. Fortunately no persons are known to have been injured by any dog which was shown positive.


One cow and several dogs which were known to have been bitten, were treated at the time by the Hoegyes Method, and it is hoped that none will develop the disease.


Several animals which were bitten and not treated have since then proved positive.


I wish the dog-owners would read the back of their licenses and be- come more familiar with the symptoms of rabies. If this was done and cases of suspicious animals reported many cases would be located before damage was done.


Yours in respect,


CALVERT H. PLAYDON, M.D.V.,


Inspector of Animals.


230


REPORT OF DEMONSTRATION WORK IN AGRICUL- TURE AND HOME ECONOMICS


In the Town of Reading for the Year Ending Dec. 31, 1922


An appropriation of $150 was made at the annual town meeting for demonstration work under the direction of the Middlesex County Bureau of Agriculture and Home Economics. Following is a report of the work done by this organization in Reading.


Agents of the Bureau made thirty-nine farm and home visits during the year. The Agricultural Agent conducted the largest poultry-culling demonstration ever held in the County, with an attendance of 109. He also organized a poultry automobile tour to study some successful poultry plants in the northern part of the County. The Home Demonstration Agent gave five days to three different groups in millinery work, teaching 120 women how to make hats. She also organized a group of women for continued study of home economics projects and gave a demonstration of making dress forms.


Bureau moving pictures were shown once to an audience of 110.


Boys' and Girls' Clubs had a total enrollment of fifty-three enrolled as follows. Canning, 20; Garden, 18; Poultry, 12; Home Economics, 2; Corn, 1. Club Agents held nineteen meetings, at which instructions were given to Club members. Many other meetings were held under the leadership of Mrs. Ida Lucus, who worked in co-operation with the County Bureau. Two-day trips to M. A. C. were won by Laurence Lucus and Annie Crowell. Five dollars in prizes awarded by the Grange for second best work were awarded to Perry Philbrook and Albert Hodgkins. Hobert Crowell made one of the finest records in the County in the Pig Club.


Middlesex County continues to lead all others in the United States in the number of boys and girls enrolled in Club projects. There were 2,965 enrolled in various Club projects and they produced $75,475 worth of products during the year. All of these young people were under the leadership of Agents of the County Bureau and 184 paid and volunteer local leaders.


ROLLAND L. PERRY, Director.


231


REPORT OF TOWN COUNSEL


January 25, 1923.


Board of Selectmen,


Gentlemen :-


I submit herewith my report as Town Counsel for the year 1922.


I was consulted by, and submitted opinions to the various depart- ments of the Town, as in previous years. There was nothing of particu- lar interest in that connection.


With regard to litigation-one of the cases of Conary and Jones against the Town on account of death and injuries respectively, suf- fered at the Lowell Street Bridge was brought to trial during the past year and settled for $4,000.00 by the railroad. The death case I ex- pect to be reached for trial during the current year and hope that a settlement can be effected along the same lines. I think the Town is to be congratulated in getting out of one of the cases without cost and with the probability of accomplishing the same result in the other.


The case of Herbolzheimer against the Town for injuries is pending and will probably be reached during the current year. This was an ac- cident caused by the operation of the Municipal Light Department, which carries a liability insurance to the amount of $10,000. The plain- tiff is in a very deplorable physical and mental condition, and if a jury find that this was caused by the accident a verdict may be rendered in excess of the amount of the insurance, and the Town will be re- quired to pay the excess.


Other than as above set forth there are no pending matters of par- ticular interest.


Respectfully submitted,


JESSE W. MORTON, Town Counsel.


,


ANNUAL REPORT


OF THE


SCHOOL COMMITTEE


OF THE


TOWN OF READING


For the Year Ending December 31


1922


234


SCHOOL COMMITTEE


Walter S. Parker, Ch .. 55 Walnut St.


Leone F. Quimby, 25 Howard St.


Mrs. Elizabeth H. Brown, 83 Prospect St.


Term expires 1924


Henry Q. Millett, 59 Linden St.


Term expires 1924


Mrs. Ida A. Young, 86 Woburn St.


Term expires 1925


Jesse W. Morton, 114 Woburn St.


Term expires 1925


School Committee Office, High School


Clerk, Margaret Hunt


Res. 30 Hill Crest Road Office Hours, 8.30 a. m. to 4 p. m., except on Saturdays, 9 a. m. to 12 m.


Superintendent of Schools


Adelbert L. Safford, Office, High School Res. 8 Middlesex Avenue Office Hours, 8.30 to 9:30 a. m. on school days


Attendance Officer


Abigail H. Mingo


Office-High School


School Physician


Charles R. Henderson, M. D. 126 Woburn Street


School Nurse Mabel M. Brown, R. N., Office, High School Res. 53 Fourth St., Medford


Janitors


Salaries


High School, Clement Gleason, 64 Orange St. High School Matron, Ara A. Pratt, 29 Orange St. 1,040.00


$1,300.00


Highland School, Jesse N. Hutchinson, 79 Bancroft Ave. 1,300.00


Grouard House, Wm. Killam, 15 Locust St. 127.50 Grouard House, Myrtle Mansfield, 98 Pearl St. 100.00


Center School, David W. Pigueron, 88 Orange St. 1,040.00


Union St. School, David W. Pigueron, 88 Orange St.


Lowell St. School, Arthur J. Condry, 27 Hancock St. 1,040.00


Prospect St. School, Arthur J. Condry, 27 Hancock St. Chestnut Hill School, Harry S. Lovejoy, 47 Hopkins St. 520.00


Term expires 1923


Term expires 1923


235


ORGANIZATION OF SCHOOL COMMITTEE


Walter S. Parker, Chairman


Adelbert L. Safford, Secretary


SUB-COMMITTEES


W. S. Parker, Chairman, is member ex-officio of each sub-committee


L. F. Quimby


Finances and Accounts H. Q. Millett J. W. Morton


Books and Supplies


Mrs. Ida A. Young


J. W. Morton


School Houses and Property J. W. Morton L. F. Quimby


H. Q. Millett


Rules and Regulations


Mrs. Elizabeth H. Brown L. F. Quimby


H. Q. Millett


Teachers and Salaries


L. F. Quimby


J. W. Morton


Music and Drawing


Mrs. Ida A. Young .J. W. Morton Mrs. Elizabeth H. Brown


L. F. Quimby


Course of Study


Mrs. Ida A. Young


J. W. Morton


236


REPORT OF SCHOOL COMMITTEE, 1922


To the Citizens of Reading:


In conformity to law, the School Committee submits the following report of the School Department of the town for the year nineteen hundred twenty-two.


The schools have made commendable progress during the past year, as indicated by the report of the Superintendent and by the other reports herein contained. We earnestly invite the attention of the citizens of the town to a careful reading of those reports.


Our schools cost a good deal of money, but they are worth it. It has been well said, "The school is the greatest wealth-producing agency in the world, because it develops and furnishes with power and purpose that greatest instrument for creating wealth-the human mind. The wealth of the world, both material and spiritual, is in the possession of the nations that spend most on their schools." President Wilson said, "We must make the world safe for Democracy." But also we must make Democracy safe for the country. If our country is to continue on the safe highway to- wards an ideal democracy, it must be by means of universal education. The expenses of the School Department are increasing year by year, as we should naturally suppose they would with the increasing number of pupils. This, however, does not account for the whole of the increased expense. Two years ago, by adopting the school budget at the annual town meeting, the voters of the town agreed to the adoption of a new schedule of salaries, considerably in advance of what had been paid here- tofore, with a minimum and an annual rate of increase to a maximum for the different grades for those teachers who remain in the service of the . town. Those natural increases provided by the schedule have taken effect and account for much of our increased expense in the budget. This year the position of superintendent and principal of the High School have been separated. This would of necessity increase the expense by about the amount of the principal's salary. We have changed the method of financing the Grouard House: Formerly we bought the goods needed to run the establishment and took the money received from the patrons to pay for the goods bought; but under the new plan all money received for food sold is paid to the Town Treasurer and this money cannot be used by the School Committee. In this way the school budget is increased about one thousand dollars. The money turned back into the town treas- ury should offset the major portion of this sum. It must be borne in mind that the greatest increase comes in the salaries of teachers, and Reading adopted a schedule of salaries somewhat similar to that of other towns of


-


237


her size and financial standing. The fuel, repairs, and general mainte- nance were never so high in cost as the present time.


The finance committee of the School Committee of the present year has made a very careful study of the needs of the repair of buildings and other matters and has endeavored to ask for only what was absolutely needed. In connection with the increased expense of the school budget, the various amounts which are received by the town from different sources should be taken into account. These credits amount to about $25,000- making the net cost of the schools so much less.


Attention is called to the fact that twenty pupils of the Agricultural Department earned $10,892.45 during the past year in various projects connected with the school. This department has received from the state authorities high commendation. The report of the school nurse is worthy of careful attention. The health of the children is of first and vital im- portance in their education. In earlier times the special thing taken into consideration was the knowledge side of education; now education has a wider significance. It is a matter of growth. We should begin in the cradle and continue through life. The person should be affected physically, intellec- tually, spiritually. Character is the end of education and service is the test of character. It is not only, "What do you know?" but, "What can you do?"; not only, for yourself, but can you be of service to your fellow- men and the community? There is a lesson here for parents. The child at the beginning of life soon learns the act of obedience to the will of the parents. If he is rightly trained he should in boyhood days be of service to mother and father in making some contribution to the happiness and welfare of the home. The child who is not trained to do something for the good of the family life is not having a fair chance to make himself a use- ful member of society later in life. We are born into a world of law and obedience to law is the foundation of all civilization, material, intellectual, social, spiritual. Let us quote from a prominent educator :




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