USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Reading > Town of Reading Massachusetts annual report 1924 > Part 9
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In two or three cases it has been necessary to inspect some of the local dairies and if unsanitary conditions were found suggestions were offered whereby they could be remedied. In the majority of cases these sugges- tions were carried out.
In regard to the food value of the local milk supply, I find by taking an average of the entire year's analysis that the local milk has maintained a very satisfactory standard. As to the cleanliness of the same I have only been able to judge this by the general appearance of the milk and the conditions under which it has been produced.
Forty-one dealers and stores were licensed to sell milk this year and eleven stores were licensed to sell oleo-margarine.
The total receipts of the department were twenty-six dollars ($26.00).
Respectfully submitted,
CARL M. SMITH, Inspector of Milk.
136
DEMONSTRATION WORK IN AGRICULTURE AND HOME ECONOMICS
To the Honorable Board of Selectmen:
Gentlemen :- I respectfully submit the following report for the year 1924.
An appropriation of $200.00 was made at the annual meeting in support of the Middlesex_ County Extension Service in Agriculture and Home Economics. The following is a report of the work done by this organization in Reading for the year 1924.
Most of the Agriculture work accomplished this year in the town of Reading has been with individual farmers, especially the poultrymen with whom home visits have been made and assistance given on the particular problems in which they were interested.
In Home Economics, classes in millinery met both in the spring and fall in which a great deal of interest was manifested. A demonstration was given in the proper methods used in the canning of fruits and vegeta- bles to all the women of the town who were interested.
The boys' and girls' club work was very successful this year with a total enrollment of 65, principally in the poultry, garden and canning clubs. Mrs. Ida C. Lucas with Mrs. R. L. Perry acted as local leaders. The Reading boys and girls won the county banner at the Field Day held in the eastern part of the county for the third consecutive year, thus making the banner the personal property of the town. Club members were interested in exhibiting their poultry at the Boston Poultry Show and the Eastern States Exposition. Alice Hodson, Lucien Nelson, Virginia Harding and Faith Thaxter won the two-day trip to the Massachusetts Agricultural College for excellence in club work.
Several country-wide meetings, such as the County Picnic at Wayside Inn, the Annual Extension Service Meeting in Waltham and meetings for fruit growers and poultrymen, have been held during the year that have been of great interest to many Reading people.
I want to thank the editors of The Reading Chronicle for space given, also to thank the School and Electric Light Departments for their assistance during the year, also Reading Grange for prizes given to the boys and girls at their fair.
Respectfully submitted,
ROLLAND L. PERRY, Director.
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REPORT OF BOARD OF ASSESSORS, 1924
To the Citizens of Reading:
We herewith submit our report on work under our jurisdiction during 1924.
Valuation of Real Estate:
Buildings, excluding land
$ 7,482,930.00
Land, excluding buildings 3,581,695.00
Total Real Estate $11,064.625.00
Personal Estate 1,466,340.00
Total Real and Personal Estate assessed April 1, 1224 $12,530,695.00
Building increase over 1923
1,106,525.00
Land increase over 1923
872,045.00
Personal increase over 1923
171,492.00
Total gain on Personal and Real Estate $ 2,150,062.00
Tax on Real Estate
$ 331,938.75
Tax on Personal Estate
43,990.20
Tax on Polls
5,048.00
Tax on Real Estate for moth work
1,265.50
Total Tax April 1, 1924 $ 382,242.45
Personal Estate assessed December, 1924
$ 3,633.00
Real Estate assessed December, 1924
750.00
Additional Polls
62.00
Tax assessed as supplementary on Real Estate, December, 1924
22,50
Tax assessed as supplementary on Personal Estate, Decem- ber, 1924 108.99
Total Personal Estate, 1924
1,469,973.00
Total Real Estate, 1924
11,065.375.00
Total Real and Personal Estate, 1924
$12,535,348.00
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State Tax, 1924
$ 17,100.00
State Highway Tax, 1924
1,961.50
County Tax, 1924
13,607.80
Municipal Light Tax, 1924
50.63
Fire Prevention Tax, 1924
102.04
Total State and County Tax
$ 42,620.87
Total 1923
52,794.93
Decrease from 1923
$ 10,174.06
Balance from commitment for Town purposes
$ 322,068.32
Estimated Receipts
76,000.00
Total
$ 398,068.32
Overlay for 1924
8,143.88
Amount appropriated for Town purposes $ 406,212.20
Tax Rate for 1924, $30.00 per M.
Number of persons assessed on property April, 1924
3,238
Number assessed for poll tax only
1,087
Number assessed in December
8
Additional polls
31
Total assessed on property in 1924
3,246
Total assessed on polls only in 1924
1,118
Total number separate assessments
4,464
Polls assessed in 1924
2,555
Polls assessed in 1923
2,390
Increase in polls
165
Number of horses
153
Number of cows
268
Number of neat cattle
38
Number of sheep
2
Number of swine
58
Number of fowl
16,496
Number of dwellings
2,001
Number of new dwellings
52
Number of acres of land
5,751
Population as of 1920
7,424
139
Assessors' Report on the Survey of Land Under the Block System
We have now completed 57 plans which contain 2763 separate plans. Balance from 1923 $ 33.56
Appropriated 1924 250.00
Expended
$283.56
Davis & Abbott, one new plan
$181.51
Davis & Abbott, bringing plans to date
32.75 214.26
$ 69.30
We would advise that the sum of two hundred and fifty dollars ($250.00) be appropriated the coming year that the work of the Block System be continued.
ALVAH W. CLARK J. FRED RICHARDSON EDWARD B. EAMES
Board of Assessors.
140
REPORT OF TRUSTEES OF LAUREL HILL CEMETERY
The Trustees of Laurel Hill Cemetery are pleased to report the pur- chase of land for cemetery purpose, consisting of about nine acres, situated on Forest and Pearl Streets, easy of access from North Main Street, to be known as "FOREST GLEN CEMETERY". This is pursuant to the vote of the town at the 1924 March meeting.
For some time past the Trustees have recognized the necessity of additional cemetery land and as there remain unsold relatively few lots in Laurel Hill, they decided on an initial development of three acres of Forest Glen and on the improvement of the remainder as needed.
In order to put this land in suitable condition for burials it will be necessary to turn over the soil to a depth of at least five feet, remove the rock and boulders and then loam and seed. This method is now customary in all modern cemeteries.
It is estimated that $10,000 will be required to do this work and also to build a wall along Forest and Pearl Streets with a suitable entrance.
In conclusion, the Trustees would suggest that the necessary appro- priation be forthcoming at the next March meeting.
We respectfully submit the following report of the Superintendent.
GALEN A. PARKER, Chairman
PHILIP H. TIRRELL, Secretary FRANK L. EDGERLEY
WILLIAM S. KINSLEY
WILLIE E. TWOMBLY
CHESTER P. EELES
Trustees Laurel Hill Cemetery.
SUPERINTENDENT'S REPORT
Gentlemen :- I herewith submit my fourth annual report as Superin- tendent of Laurel Hill Cemetery.
Much of the work that has been done during the past season is of a nature that will be of great benefit to the cemetery in future years al- though it does not add materially to its present appearance.
141
The building that was included with the land purchased from the R. D. Clapp estate has been raised five feet making it level with the grade on the north side and giving a 20 x 20 foot basement with a southern exposure, which makes an ideal garage.
The floor above with the loft makes a good repair shop and storage place.
The tool house that was located near the Federal Street entrance has been moved and is now a part of this building. This arrangement now enables us to keep our equipment in one building where formerly we had to pay rent for a building outside of the cemetery for this purpose.
The walls on the east and south side of the cemetery have been re- paired and are now in good condition and will need no furthur attention for many years.
I would recommend that this work be continued in repairing and replacing the various fences surrounding the cemetery during the coming season.
The drainage system has been completed from the northeast corner of the cemetery west as far as Cross Avenue and a brick catch basin installed.
This is work that should be continued from year to year if money can be spared for this purpose as our avenues and paths are always badly washed after a severe storm. This could be avoided to a great extent if catch basins were installed in various places.
Two hundred and thirty feet of water pipe has been laid from Elm Avenue to Lotus Avenue. This proved to be more expensive than was anticipated as ledge was encountered and had to be blasted.
This will be of great convenience to lot owners in the west part of the cemetery and will also supply the new land purchased from the Clapp estate.
Thirty new lots have been built and enough loam is on the ground to build as many more.
Next season should see all the available land in the northern part of the cemetery developed.
Respectfully submitted,
ALFRED E. GOODWIN, Superintendent.
Financial Report 1924
Appropriation, March, 1924 $8,300.00
Transferred from Bequest Fund
1,116.79
Transferred from Veterans' Grave Account
378.08
Transferred from Reserve Fund
1,520.62
$11,315.49
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Expended
Charged to Cemetery Bequest Fund
$1,116.79
Charged to Veterans' Grave Account
378.08
Charged to Cemetery Reserve Fund
1,520.62
Charged to Maintenance
4,700.00
Charged to Annual Care
3,600.00
$11,315.49
Receipts
Amount received January 1, 1924
$ 700.36
Received for opening graves
779.00
Received for annual care
2,463.55
Outstanding bills Dec. 31, 1924
176.25
$ 4,119.17
Cemetery Reserve Fund
Balance in Cemetery Reserve Fund Jan. 1, 1924 $1,358.83
Lots and Graves sold 1924
14 single graves
241.00
10 four grave lots
1,310.00
4 eight grave lots
800.00
$3,709.83
R. D. Clapp Estate
$ 658.50
Transferred to General Fund December
31, 1924
1,520.62
$2,178.62
Balance in Cemetery Reserve Fund Dec. 31, 1924 ..
$ 1,531.21
Perpetual Care Lots 1924
Mrs. Frances Batchelder
Lot No. .420
Amount $150.00
Mrs. Elizabeth Prescott (single graves) .262, 263, 264
75.00
Mrs. Christina Johnson
1055
100.00
Mrs. Harriet B. Allen
405
100.00
Mrs. Marguerite B. Edgar
102
100.00
Edwin M. Sawyer Estate
701
100.00
William H. Jones (single graves) 265, 266
445
100.00
Mrs. Abbie C. Higgins Estate
129
200.00
Mrs. Alice A. Danforth
577
100.00
Mrs. Harriet A. Shepard
178
100.00
John Wickins
1064
100.00
Willard & A. P. Massey
129
100.00
Miss Alice W. Emerson
552
100.00
50.00
Miss Carrie C. Horton
143
Mrs. Mary A. Hunt (single graves)
267, 268
50.00
Robert P. Burgess
1002
100.00
Ralph H. Webster, Adm.
.386
100.00
Mrs. Bertha D. Harvey
897
100.00
Mrs. M. A. Wilcox
327
100.00
James M. Estes
1094
100.00
Francis Bartley
861
100.00
Harry T. Burleigh, Adm.
377
250.00
Alice Barrows
325
100.00
George H. Clough
142
100.00
Kirk P. Sanborn
606
100.00
Mrs. Elise H. Philips
9421/2
100.00
Mrs. Mary J. Bruce
660
100.00
$2,875.00
Forest Glen Cemetery 1924
Appropriation
$6,000.00
Expended
Land purchased
$3,972.33
Bills
992.83
Pay roll
195.37
$5,160.53
839.47
Re-imbursed from Ins. Co.
70.84
Balance Dec. 31, 1924
$ 910.31
144
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. Standing Committees were ap- pointed as follows:
On Accounts: Messrs Wadlin, Mansfield and Doughty.
On Books: Mr. Mansfield, Miss Whittemore and Miss Bancroft.
On Building and Grounds: Messrs. Wadlin and Keneely and Miss Bancroft.
On Work with Children: Miss Whittemore and Miss Bancroft.
During the summer Miss Whittemore resigned on account of removal from Reading. The vacancy was filled by the Trustees of the Library and the Selectmen in joint convention (as provided by law) Mrs. Ida C. Lucas being chosen. Her tenure continues until the next annual town meeting.
Miss Whittemore's services upon the Board were exceedingly valuable, her connection with the public schools aiding materially in co-operative work between the public library and the schools, and in promoting the use of books by the pupils. The Board regretted the termination of her membership.
Mrs. Lucas occupies the same educational position, and continues the especial work to which Miss Whittemore was so earnestly devoted, and which the Trustees of the Library are fostering,-the cultivation of the reading habit among the young. She has filled the place upon the Standing Committees formerly held by Miss Whittemore.
EXPENSES OF THE LIBRARY
Following is a condensed financial statement:
Appropriation, direct tax, 1923:
Salaries
$ 2,250.00
Maintenance 2,950.00
Total from tax levy $ 5,200.00
Expended
Salaries: Librarian, Assistants and Janitor $ 2,245.20 Books and periodicals, including re-binding .. 2,063.76 Printing, stationery, etc. 123.49
Fuel, light, water, sewerage 366.86
145
Repairs
119.70
Miscellaneous
34.28
$ 4,953.29
Balance unexpended :
On salaries
$ 4.80
On maintenance
241.91
246.71
$ 5,200.00
Receipts
These include :
Fines, etc., collected (for over-detention of books, chiefly) $ 271.32
Waste peper, etc., sold
4.05
Cash on hand, January 1, 1924
18.69
$ 294.06
Paid to Town Treasurer
282.00
Balance on hand, Dec. 31, 1924
$ 12.06
REPAIRS
A special sum ($250) was appropriated to cover special repair work which has been only partially completed. Of this special sum $150 there- fore remains unexpended, which is included in the aggregate reported as unexpended in the foregoing statement. To complete the work we ask for the re-appropriation of this $150, and have included it in our budget here- inafter presented.
ADDITIONS TO THE LIBRARY
Volumes in library, close of 1923
11,890 ›
Volumes bought, including re-placements
957
Received by gift 95
12,942
Worn out or discarded and not replaced
501
Total number of volumes December 31, 1924
12,441
The net gain is 551 volumes. We have bought during the year an unusual number of books for the young, including many duplicates, needed in promoting systematic reading, not merely recreational but cultural, through the schools. The results are referred to in extracts from the report of the librarian given below.
The purchase of carefully selected books for adult readers-fiction, history, travel, biography, and in the fine and industrial arts has not been allowed to lapse, however, and has its proportionate effect in the con- tinued increase in circulation, as seen in the following statement :
146
USE OF THE LIBRARY
Volumes borrowed for home use
42,954
Increase over previous year
1,347
Largest monthly circulation, March
4,844
Smallest, January
2,836
Number of new borrowers registered :
1 Adult 300
Juvenile 206 506
Number of days open during the year
255
Average daily circulation, home use
16S.4
The month during which the smallest number of books is circulated for home use usually falls in the summer. During 1924, however, January has that record, perhaps owing to weather conditions. It is a curious co-incidence that the number circulated in that month (2,836) exactly matches the number circulated in August, 1923, the month of smallest circulation in that year.
The circulation during the year covered by the present report was, upon the average, nearly six books per person registered for the borrowing privilege (exactly, five and seven-tenths), the registered borrowers number- ing for the past five years about 47 per cent of the population of the town. A circulation of five books per registered borrower is usually considered a fair number. In her report to the Trustees the librarian remarks:
"The use of the library increases each year, which is the more gratifying now, when many libraries, owing to the competition with the moving pictures and radio, are reporting a decrease in their circulation of books for home use.
"There continues to be much reference work done for the pupils of the High and Junior High School classes, and books are frequently reserved for their use at the library, so that all may have an equal chance, since the material required on many subjects is too limited to supply a whole class, if taken out for use at home.
"That the children appreciate the library is shown by the fact that of the 506 cards issued to new borrowers this year, 206 were issued to children from the age of eight to that of 14.
"As usual, Children's Book Week was observed in November with posters displayed in the schools, and with story hours for the younger children in Library Hall. These brought an increased number of children to the library, and many who had not been borrowers of books applied for borrowers' cards at that time.
"Last spring great interest was shown in the certificates awarded to those children who (after reading) wrote simple book reviews of books selected from graded lists prepared by the Massachusetts Library Commission. In June, at the Highland School, the Chairman of the Library Trustees presented 44 'honor' certificates to pupils from different schools, each honor pupil having read and reported upon 20 books. The full report sent to the Library Commission for the year indicated that 420 certificates had been awarded, of which 58 were
147
'honor' certificates. Of the 12 towns in which the highest numbers of certificates were awarded, Reading ranked fifth. Since many pupils received several certificates the total number writing book reviews, indicating a more than mere superficial knowledge of the books which they had read, was 163, or about 20 per cent of the entire number of pupils enrolled in the six grades undertaking this work.
"A set of the books on the certificate list,-229 volumes,-has been deposited in the schools so as to be readily available. The teachers report that the pupils are eager to read them. They include of course, classics for young readers, adapted to the different grades. Since the younger children attending the Prospect Street, Lowell Street and Chestnut Hill Schools can seldom visit the Central Library, unless chaperoned or otherwise safeguarded, about 50 additional volumes have been bought for deposit at these schools.
"The Living Age, International Book Review and the Saturday Review of Literature have been added to the list of magazines regularly open to readers in our reading room. The library is indebted to Mr. George Fisher, who continues to send us each month the Scientific American, and this year also the National Sportsman. The Christian Science Church supplies its publications, and an unknown donor has given the library a year's subscription to the Christian Register periodical.
"Of the purchases of the current year, 192 volumes are to be classed as fiction for adults; 260, non-fiction for adults; 239, fiction for juvenile readers; and 129, non-fiction for juvenile readers. The replacements of volumes lost, wornout, etc., number 60 for adult readers and 77 for juvenile readers. The gifts include: Official publi- cations of the United States, 4; of Massachusetts, 11; and 80 from other sources. "'
BUDGET FOR 1925
Our budget of requirements for the ensuing year, based upon our present scale of expenditure, which includes as noted in previous reports a progressive advance toward a maximum, equitable for the salaries of the librarian and assistant librarian, proportionate to the services now required, and comparable to the rates paid in similar positions elsewhere, is as follows:
Fuel, light, water, sewerage charge
$ 400.00
Printing and supplies
150.00
Books, periodicals, binding, etc.
1,800.00
Repairs (as explained below)
300.00
Miscellaneous expenditures
100.00
Total maintenance
$ 2,750.00
Salaries
2,800.00
Total appropriations required
$ 5,550.00
(As against an appropriation of $5,200 in 1924.)
1
148
The items termed "maintenance" are in the aggregate reduced from $2,950 appropriated in 1924, and the reduced amount includes under "repairs" the sum of $150 left unexpended out of last year's appropria- tion (because work intended is not yet completed) and therefore the total budget contemplates the re-appropriation of this unexpended amount, standing to the department's credit (in the town treasury) at the close of the year, leaving the additional appropriation out of taxes, to complete the budget, only $200 in excess of the total of last year.
The increase in the aggregate is due to the estimate for salaries, increased, as compared with last year, from $2,250 to $2,800. This in- crease is partly due to a continual increase in the amount of service required by the enlarged use of the library, which we believe the town will regard with satisfaction, but also carries forward a contemplated progressive in- crease in the compensation of the librarian and assistant, explained in previous years and allowed. This annual progressive increase will finally bring our salary list to an equitable point, and eases in this way the burden upon annual appropriations, as compared with what would have been required if the aggregate advance had been allowed to fall in a single year.
We have repeated from year to year in explanation, and now repeat, a paragraph that we hope will not be forgotten:
"The use of the library is constantly increasing . It is an important educational institution and ought to be used up to its limit. The building is now open only two hours less in each week than are the grade schools. . . The outside time re- quired from the librarian, that is, service time beyond the number of hours the library is actually open to the public is probably as great as that required from the teachers, at least from those in the lower grades. . The teachers have ten weeks vacation in each year. The librarian and assistant but three only. At present the combined salary list (librarian, assistant librarian, minor assistants, and janitor taken together) is but little more than the amount paid to one minor grade teacher only."
We have also repeated from year to year and now repeat, that the cost of maintenance of the library, including salaries, does not materially affect the change in the general tax rate from year to year, and that the enlarged use of the institution, which we have been able to report annually, and for which we are constantly working, has been accomplished without a corresponding advance in the expense of the library in relation to the general cost of municipal administration. Its cost to the town is almost negligible as affecting the tax rate. Its value, on the other hand, as affecting the welfare of the town, and, indirectly, affecting the value of property here, we cannot over-estimate. We do not need to enlarge upon this, and simply re-call what we have said frequently in previous reports. In the consideration of the heavy burden of taxation, national, state and municipal, which we are all bearing, this, in behalf of the library, ought not to be over-looked.
149
We estimate the receipts of the department to be turned into the town treasury at $250.00. They will probably run above that amount since they were about $275 (as reported hereinbefore) in 1924. These receipts, together with the refund on dog tax (approximately $900) which under the statutes is applicable to the purposes of the library, but under our present method of accounting is treated as a treasury receipt, offset an equivalent amount of our direct appropriation. That is, if, as formerly, the dog-tax refund went directly to the library, our budget of expense, to be met from taxes, would be reduced equivalently.
CONCLUSION
The faithful and efficient services of Miss Bertha L. Brown, librarian, and those of Miss Grace Abbott, her assistant, deserve our continued and appreciative acknowledgment.
The helpful assistance of Mr. Charles H. Stinchfield, janitor, also merits our thanks, and we have found the minor assistants employed from time to time, interested and loyal.
Three vacancies are to be filled at the town meeting, the terms of Ralph S. Keneely, Horace G. Wadlin, and Ida C. Lucas, expiring. The vacancy, in the case of Mrs. Lucas, is then to be filled for the remainder of the term of Miss Whittemore's service which, if she had not resigned, would have expired in 1926. The other vacancies are for the term of three years.
Respectfully submitted,
HORACE G. WADLIN, Chairman ARTHUR N. MANSFIELD, Secretary
RALPH S. KENEELY CHARLES F. DOUGHTY EDITH BANCROFT IDA C. LUCAS
Trustees.
Adopted as the Report of the Trustees:
January 23, 1925.
ANNUAL REPORT.
OF THE
SCHOOL COMMITTEE
OF THE
TOWN OF READING
For the Year Ending December 31
1924
1
152
SCHOOL COMMITTEE
Walter S. Parker, Ch., 55 Walnut St.
Leone F. Quimby, 25 Howard St.
Mrs. Ida A. Young, 86 Woburn St.
Term expires 1925
Jesse W. Morton, 114 Woburn St.
Term expires 1925
Mrs. Ruth A. Lumsden, 116 Summer Ave.
Term expires 1927
Term expires 1927
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