USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Reading > Town of Reading Massachusetts annual report 1925 > Part 15
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$1,400 yearly 5 yrs. 1,400 yearly 5 yrs.
4
May-November May-November
3rd
12- 9-96
1,500.00
1,500 Dec. 9, 1897
4
May-November
4th
7-15-98
3,000.00
1,000 July 15, 1901
3
July-January
Construction of Plant Construction of Plant Construction of Plant New Generator
6th
11-15-09
2,500.00
1,000 Nov. 15, 1910
4
May-November
Renewal of Note Lynnfield-Centre Lines
7th
1-21-10
1,800.00
1,800 Jan. 21, 1913
4
June-Dec.
New Construction New Construction
8th
7-12-11
2,200.00
2,200 July 12, 1912
4
Dec .- July
9th
3-27-13
12,000.00
1,000 yearly 12 yrs.
4
Mar. 27-Sept. 27
North Reading Lines
10th
4-16-13
13,500.00
41/4
April-October
New Construction
11th
5-15-15
12,000.00
4
May 15-Nov. 15
New Construction
$ 4,000.00
12th
7-15-15
4,000.00
13th
9-22-17
6,500.00
5 Mar. 22-Sept. 22
New Construction
2,500.00
14th
11-20-19
3,000.00
1,500 yearly 2 yrs.
41/2 May-November
New Construction
7$th
7-1-21
7,000.00
1,000 yearly 7 yrs.
6 Jan. 1-July 1
Additions
3,000.00
16th
12-15-22
7,000.00
1,000 yearly 7 yrs. 41/2
June 15-Dec. 15
Additions
4,000.00
$ 91,400.00
$13,500.00
4
2nd
5- 1-96
7,000.00
1,400 Dec. 7, 1906
4 June-Dec.
5th
12- 7-03
1,400.00
2,000 July 15, 1904
1,500 Nov. 15, 1911
1,500 yearly 9 yrs. 800 yearly 15 yrs. 500 yearly S yrs. 500 yearly 13 yrs.
4 January-July
Reading
216
REPORT OF PUBLIC LIBRARY
The Trustees of the Public Library submit the following report:
HORACE G. WADLIN
1851-1925
The Town of Reading lost a revered citizen and the Public Library a valued worker and friend in the death on November 5, 1925, of Horace G. Wadlin. Elected to the Board of Trustees on April 2, 1877; Secretary of the Board in April, 1883, and its chairman from November, 1889, until his death. A member of the Board for forty-eight years and its chairman for thirty-six years. His intellectual ability, extended experience in public work, and as Librarian of the Boston Public Library, were used to great advantage in our Library work. The present strong position of the Library as a factor in the welfare of the town is greatly due to his wisdom and foresight. The present Library Building may well stand as a monument to his memory, as the major portion of the funds for its erection were obtained from the Carnegie Corporation through his efforts. The preliminary sketches in- volving the layout of the building and arrangement up to the point of approval by the Carnegie Corporation were made by him without expense to the town.
At a meeting of the Library Trustees, held on Nov. 20, 1925, the following resolutions were adopted and placed upon the records of the Library :
Whereas the Board of Trustees of the Reading Public Library has suffered a great loss in the death of its chairman, Hon. Horace G. Wadlin,
Be it resolved that it is the unanimous wish of the Board to place on record a tribute of appreciation of this honored mem- ber. Reading has had few citizens who have held town office through as many years as Dr. Wadlin, who has served both our public schools and our Library. Of the latter he has been a Trustee for forty-eight years, during the last thirty-nine of which he has served as Chairman of the Board. To this work, he has brought breadth of culture, a true love of books, a knowledge of archi- tecture and building construction, and large executive experience in the great Boston Public Library. His method of organizing
217
the business of the Library has been thoroughly efficient and has caused the work of the Board to move smoothly and expeditiously, while his genial humor and unfailing courtesy to his colleagues have made it a pleasure to share his service. He will be greatly missed by his associates.
Be it further resolved that these resolutions be spread upon the minutes of the Board of Trustees and that copies be sent to the Reading Chronicle and to Mrs. Wadlin.
ORGANIZATION OF THE BOARD
The Board organized for the year by the choice of Mr. Wadlin, Chairman, and of Mr. Mansfield as Secretary. Standing Committees were appointed as follows :--
On Accounts: Messrs. Wadlin, Mansfield and Doughty.
On Books: Mr. Mansfield, Miss Bancroft and Mrs. Lucas.
On Buildings and Grounds: Messrs. Wadlin and Keneely and Miss Bancroft.
On Work with Children: Miss Bancroft and Mrs. Lucas.
The vacancy caused by the death of Mr. Wadlin was filled by the Trustees of the Library and the Selectmen in joint convention (as pro- vided by law) by the appointment of Jesse W. Morton, Esq. His tenure continues until the next annual town meeting.
EXPENSES OF THE LIBRARY
Following is a condensed financial statement:
Appropriation, direct tax, 1925:
Salaries
$ 2,800.00
Maintenance
2,750.00
Total from tax levy
$ 5,550.00
Expended
Salaries: Librarian, Assistants, and Janitor
$ 2,782.70
Books and periodicals including rebinding
2,007.23
Printing, stationery, etc. 143.62
Fuel, light, water, sewerage
246.01
Repairs
199.38
Miscellaneous
150.00
$ 5,528.94
218
Balance unexpended : On salaries
$ 17.30
On maintenance
3.76
$ 21.06
$ 5,550.00
Receipts
These include :
Fines, etc., collected (for over-detention of books chiefly) $ 293.81
Waste paper, etc., sold
2.70
Cash on hand Jan. 1, 1925
12.06
$ 308.57
Paid to Town Treasurer
300.00
Balance on hand Dec. 31, 1925
8.57
ADDITIONS TO THE LIBRARY
Volumes in the Library, Dec. 31, 1924
12,441
Volumes bought, including replacements 894
Received by gift 103
13,438
Worn out, or discarded, and not replaced
268
Total number of volumes Dec. 31, 1925
13,170
The net gain for the year is 729
Many books purchased during the year were those recommended for school reading and in the reading lists of the American Library Associa- tion. This work is more fully referred to in extracts from the Librarian's report given below.
USE OF THE LIBRARY
Volumes borrowed for home use 46,520
Increase over previous year 3,566
Largest monthly circulation, March
4,476
Smallest monthly circulation, July
3,000
Number of new borrowers registered :
Adult 284
Juvenile 184
468
Number of days open during the year
252
Average daily circulation, home use 185
219
While the population of the town has increased in five years (April 1, 1920, 7,439; April 1, 1925, 8,693) about 17 per cent, the circulation of books for home use has increased 36 per cent. These figures indicate that the use of the library for home circulation is increasing rapidly. Patrons of the Library know too well that the use of the Library for reading and reference work has reached large proportions. Especially we are confident that the closer relation between the schools and the library, already seen and certain to grow more intimate, will bring to it readers who will continue in after years the use of books begun while in school.
The following table shows the steady growth of the Library in the seven and one-half years in the present building:
Year
Popu- lation April 1
Volumes Borrowed No. of Days Vol. in Home Use Lib. Open Library
Expended
1918 (Opened 7-13)
28,723
9,736
$3,294.52
1919
32,623
10,265
2,953.59
1920
7,439
34,048
10,601
3,181.61
1921
39,236
11,042
3,763.33
1922
40,899
248
11,521
3,797.84
1923
41,607
251
11,890
5,042.36
1924
42,954
255
12,441
4,953.29
1925
8,693
46,520
252
13,170
5,528.94
In her report to the Trustees the Librarian remarks:
"Modern methods of education requiring much more research work of junior high as well as high school students is causing an increasing amount of reference work in the public libraries. These students who flock to the library at the close of school not only need attention and help but require much supervision in order to keep the reading room reasonably quiet. It is a condition of things that libraries are meeting everywhere, the adult readers seeming to be rather crowded out. While good books for children and reference helps for high school scholars are a necessary and valuable part of library work the library should not be given over wholly to them. The American Library Association this year is emphasizing adult education and is publishing some short reading lists "reading with a purpose" to help those who care to do some consecu- tive reading. Explanatory pamphlets are published on various subjects with an introductory discussion of the topic in general and a brief para- graph about each book chosen. The lists are short, varying from six to a dozen books. The library now has the pamphlets and books listed on the following subjects: Biology, English, Literature, Some Great Amer- ican books, Conflicts in American Public Opinion, Sociology and Social Problems, Ten Pivotal Figures of History. Other lists will be ready soon.
220
In April the Librarian attended an Institute for librarians from small libraries at the State Normal School at Hyannis. These institutes ar- ranged for each year by the State Dept. of Public Libraries are always helpful both in the lectures and the informal discussions between meetings.
In June at assembly in the Highland School eight honor certificates were presented by the Librarian to the pupils who had read twenty books from the State reading lists. This was a smaller number than the pre- ceding June partly because the novelty of the idea was gone, also because though the children were reading as much as ever they had not been urged to fill out the review sheets.
In July the Librarian was given an extension of the usual vacation to attend the American Library Association meetings in Seattle. The cordial welcome of the western librarians as well as the glimpses of the wonderful scenery of our country made it a pleasure not soon to be forgotten.
If it proves possible to have the library open every afternoon and the children cared for in a separate room I feel sure the library can serve the town much more efficiently during the coming year.
Respectfully submitted,
BERTHA L. BROWN, Librarian. January 4, 1926.
DEPORTMENT
For the past few years more or less confusion has been caused in the Library by a group of juveniles. The Librarian has the situation well in hand and with the extension of certain corrective methods it is hoped to reduce such disturbance to a minimum. This trouble is not local as it is the theme of conversation wherever Librarians gather. That the trouble is not new is typified in the following extract from the Trustees' report of 1870 :- "We have been in a few instances obliged to suspend temporarily from the privileges of the Library persons for dis- orderly conduct in the library room. We much regret this necessity, but our room is so small that it is imperatively necessary that good order be preserved. A little noise by each of fifty persons, amounts to a large noise in the aggregate." Again in 1872 they say :- "We are happy to credit our young men with a great improvement in deportment about the Library Rooms, the past year, there not having been a case of suspension for disorderly conduct, nor even a complaint entered by the Librarian, for any breach of etiquette about the building."
EXTENSION OF LIBRARY HOURS
In the report of 1921 it was stated that it had been suggested that the Library be opened also on Friday afternoon or evening, and that such a step "may be necessary, perhaps, as the town increases in population
221
and the number of library patrons increases." This point seems to have been reached. The Trustees have covered it in the salary budget and if it prevails the Library will be opened on Friday from 2 P. M. to 5 P. M. The schedule for open hours will then be:
Forenoon
Afternoon
Evening
Monday 10 A. M. to 12 M.
2 P. M. to 5 P. M.
Tuesday
2 P. M. to 5 P. M.
7 P. M. to 9 P. M.
Wednesday
2 P. M. to 5 P. M.
Thursday
2 P. M. to 5 P. M.
7 P. M. to 9 P. M.
Friday
2 P.M. to 5 P. M.
Saturday
2 P. M. to 5 P. M. 7 P. M. to 9 P. M.
CHILDREN'S ROOM
The work of the Library has increased to such an extent that there is on many days marked evidence of crowding and confusion. This condition can be relieved and the work of the Library increased and improved by using the lecture room as a juvenile room. This room, 30 feet by 39 feet in size, with an entrance directly from Woburn street can be easily transformed for such use. Shelving would have to be built in and the children's tables transferred from the Library room. New tables for adult use would be added to the main room and the shelving released by the removal of the juvenile books to the juvenile room would care for adult accessions for a few years. The problem of sufficient shelving for the Library room is already present. The expense of the juvenile room is covered in the budget. If the town should not consider it expedient to appropriate the money for this transfer this year it must be kept in mind that the change cannot be long deferred.
EXHIBITION CASE
At the joint suggestion of the Librarian and the Art Committee of the Reading Woman's Club a glass case for exhibition purposes has been purchased and installed. There are many articles of artistic and his- torical interest in the town which the owners would gladly place on exhi- bition if such articles were properly shown and safeguarded. The case purchased fulfills the required needs.
BUDGET FOR 1926
The budget of requirements for the year 1926, based upon our present scale of expenditure, which includes as noted in previous reports, a pro- gressive advance toward a maximum, equitable for the salaries of Li- brarian and Assistant Librarian, proportionate to the services now re- quired, and comparable to the rates paid in similar positions elsewhere, is as follows:
222
Fuel, light, water, sewerage charge
$ 400.00
Printing and Supplies 150.00
Books, periodicals, building, etc.
1,800.00
Repairs
300.00
Miscellaneous
100.00
$ 2,750.00
Transfer Children's Room
500.00
Total maintenance
$ 3,250.00
Salaries
3.400.00
Total Appropriation requested $ 6,650.00
(As against an appropriation of $5,550.00 in 1925).
The regular maintenance items are the same amount as in 1925.
The salary item is increased by six hundred dollars ($600.00) It is proposed to increase the salary of the Librarian by $200.00 to $1400.00. This is the minimum salary of a grade teacher. Miss Brown has been our Librarian since Aug. 1, 1903; years of faithfulness and progress. It is felt by the Trustees that the work of the Librarian has an educational value which more than justifies the increase. Miss Abbott has been the Assistant Librarian since 1908, and it is proposed to increase her salary by $250.00 to $1,000.00 Her work is most satisfactory. The Librarian and her assistant are called upon to an ever-increasing extent for aid in refer- ence work in connection with the schools and it is not uncommon to see from fifteen to twenty pupils in the Library room at the same time during reference work with the assistance of the Library personnel. Once the "library habit" is formed it is likely to remain.
In the 1921 report the Trustees said: The place of the Library "principally is educational, its reference work, its co-operation with the schools, the help it offers in promoting vocational and industrial effi- ciency, 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 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."
By making slight increases for several successive years, we may fi- nally adjust the support of the Library portionately to the service it ought to render, without any great sacrifice or undue burden upon the tax levy. On the present basis about forty cents of the tax levy per thousand goes to the support of the Public Library. If the Library account was credited with the funds turned into the town treasury and the Dog Tax, which under the statutes is applicable to the purposes of the Library, the draft on the tax levy would be reduced to about thirty-
.
223
two cents per thousand dollars valuation. In other words, if the Library account carried its proper credits only about one per cent of the tax levy goes to the support of the Public Library.
The reason for the budget request for the Children's Room has been previously referred to.
We estimate the receipts of the department to be turned into the Town Treasury at $275.00.
CONCLUSION
The faithful and efficient services of Miss Bertha L. Brown, Li- brarian, and those of Miss Grace Abbott, her assistant, deserve our con- tinued and appreciative acknowledgment.
The services of Mr. Charles H. Stinchfield, janitor, have been on his usual order of efficiency and helpfulness.
The work of the assistants, employed from time to time has been praiseworthy and loyal.
Three vacancies are to be filled at the annual town meeting, the terms of Charles F. Doughty, Mrs. Ida C. Lucas and Jesse W. Morton expiring. The vacancy, in the case of Jesse W. Morton, is then to be filled for the remainder of the term of Horace G. Wadlin, deceased, which would have expired in 1928. The other vacancies are for the term of three years.
Respectfully submitted,
ARTHUR N. MANSFIELD, Chairman EDITH BANCROFT, Secretary CHARLES F. DOUGHTY RALPH S. KENEELY JESSE W. MORTON IDA C. LUCAS
Trustees
Adopted as the Report of the Trustees, January 22, 1926.
224
REPORT OF SUPERINTENDENT OF FIRE ALARM
To the Board of Fire Engineers:
The following is the report of the Superintendent of Fire Alarm for the year 1925:
Four new boxes have been added to the system:
213 Fairvew Ave. and Pratt St.
381 Forest St., west of Main
422 Pleasant and Eaton Sts.
452 Salem St. and Libby Ave.
Overhead construction has been rebuilt on South Main St., from Avon to South St .; on Charles St., from Pearl to Haverhill Sts., and on West St., from King St. to Box 231.
The storage battery must be renewed the coming year.
I recommend that new boxes be placed at the following locations:
Auburn St., at or near Park St.
At or near the corner of Ash and Cross Sts.
Lowell and Dustin Sts., and change Box 31 to the corner of Lowell and Willow Sts.
Also I recommend that connections be made between the Central Fire Station with the Central Fire Station in Wakefield, which would establish a form of mutual aid that would be of great advantage in case of a large fire or two fires at the same time.
READING FIRE ALARM
Central Fire Station Telephone, Reading 0430
112 Woburn and Sanborn
113 Woburn and Bancroft Ave.
114 Mt. Vernon, Chute and School
115 Woburn and High
12 Central Fire Station
121 Main and Haven
122 Haven and Gould
13 Ash and Avon
14 Oak and Hill Crest Road
141 Howard and Hill Crest Road
15 Summer Ave. and Walnut
16 So. Main and South
17 Prescott near Arlington
225
18 Minot and Park Ave.
19 Walnut and Curtis
21 Summer Ave. and Temple
212 West and Howard
213 Pratt and Fairview Ave.
221 Union Street School (private)
223 Center School
224 High School (private)
225 Highland School (private)
226 Lowell Street School
227 Prospect Street School
228 Chestnut Hill School
23 Woburn and Temple
231 West beyond Willow
24 Mineral and Hancock
242 Summer Ave. and Woodbine
25 Prospect near King
26 Hose 2 House, Woburn St.
7
27 Summer Ave. near Prescott
28 West south of Oak
29 West and King
31 Lowell beyond Grove
32 Franklin near Grove
33 Lowell and Grand
34 Grove and Forest
35 No. Main and Locust
36 No. Main and Ridge Rd.
37 No. Main front of No. 409
38 No. Main and Forest
381 Forest west of Main
39 No. Main and Franklin
392 No. Main and Mill
41 Village and Green
412 Boston Stove Foundry, Willow Rd.
414 Green and Beech
42 Haven and John
422 Pleasant and Eaton
43 Salem and John
44 Salem and Pearl
442 Orange and Pierce
45 Salem and Belmont
452 Salem near Libby Ave.
46 Charles and Pearl
47 Charles and Haverhill
48 Bay State Road near Salem
51 Main, Ash and Washington
53 So. Main north of Cross
226
55 Reading Rubber Mills
6 C. H. Bangs Co., Prescott St. (private)
61 Lowell near Sanborn
611 Home for Aged Women, Linden St. (private)
612 Bancroft Ave. and Locust
62 Spare box
63 Hanscom Ave. north of Weston Ave.
642 Vine and Vale Rd.
65 Middlesex and Bancroft Aves.
67 Middlesex Ave. and High
8 Out of Town
Special Signals
2 Recall.
2 Test-7.45 A. M. and 5.45 P. M.
22 No school signal
3 Followed by a box number, Second Alarm
3 Followed in one minute by 3, Boy Scout Call
4 Police Call
Yours respectfully,
HUGH L. EAMES, Supt. of Fire Alarm.
227
REPORT OF SEALER OF WEIGHTS AND MEASURES
Reading, Mass., December 31, 1925.
To the Board of Selectmen,
Town of Reading, Massachusetts.
Gentlemen :- The following is my report of the inspection of the scales, weights and measures used in trade in the Town of Reading:
The inspection as you doubtless know, consists in examining the scale, weight or measure to ascertain if it is perfectly constructed and mechanical- ly right. If so, it is then tested for its accuracy and if found to be ac- curate it is sealed, otherwise condemned from use. I can report to you at this time that all scales, weights and measures in use in the town have been inspected and the above specifications carried out. For detailed report see the following table.
The most unsatisfactory piece of mechanical measuring device in use today is the gasoline pump in that it entails considerable labor to make them accurate and then when tested, within a short time they are found to be inaccurate.
In addition to this the various stores have been visited at irregular intervals and packages of the different commodities as put up for sale to the public have been re-weighed to make sure that the people were re- ceiving the weight they were entitled to. I am pleased to report that the number of cases in which short-weight was found were not very numerous as you will see by the following table.
The total amount collected for sealing all scales, weights and measures is $48.82. While in itself this does not seem a large amount when you realize that the fee collected is only fifty cents for the large platform scales and ten cents apiece for all other scales and but three cents each for all weights and measures you can readily see that the amount represents quite an amount of work accomplished.
Work Performed from December, 1924, to December, 1925, inclusive
1. Scales
Sealed
Adjusted
Condemned
Platform, 100-5000 lbs.
24
14
Counter, under 100 lbs.
27
8
Spring, under 100 lbs.
33
8
Computing, under 100 lbs.
28
13
3.
228
2. Weights
Avoirdupois
181 3
Apothecary
Metric
3. Volumetric
Liquid Measures
44
1
Dry Measures
4
4. Automatic Liquid Measur- ing Devices
Gasoline Pumps
22
Oil Pumps
5
Measures, Stops on Pumps
108
23
5. Linear Measures
Yard Sticks
11
-
-
Total
487
69
4
Trial Weighings and Measurments of Commodities Sold or Put Up For Sale
Commodity
No. Tested
No. Corrected
Under
Over
Bread
36
27
1
8
Butter
36
30
5
1
Dry Commodities (coffee, tea, sugar, beans, etc.)
130
103
8
19
Flour
26
15
5
6
Fruit and Vegetables
46
35
4
7
Grain and feed
12
12
Ice
13
14
2
7
Meat and provisions
32
26
1
5
Gasoline
73
49
19
5
Totals
404
301
45
58
Incorrect
CARL M. SMITH,
Sealer of Weights and Meausres.
229
REPORT OE INSPECTOR OF MILK
Reading, Mass., December 31, 1925.
To the Members of the Board of Health,
Town of Reading, Massachusetts.
Gentlemen :- The following is my report of the inspection of the milk supply for the Town of Reading for the year 1925.
The inspection for this year has not varied in many respects from that conducted in previous years. It has consisted of the licensing of all dealers in milk and of all the stores and restaurants selling milk in the town, the collection and analyses of the milk for the butter fat and total solids content and in the inspection of the premises upon which the milk is produced and the conditions under which it is handled and bottled. Also several complaints have been investigated and I am pleased to report that where suggestions were offered for the remedy of the cause of the com- plaints, they were in most cases readily complied with. The average for the butter fat and total solids content of the local milk this year was about the same as that of last year.
I would like to call your attention and the attention of all interested mothers and fathers of small children to a bill that will shortly be intro- duced to the Legislature to the effect that all milk drawn from a cow, unless such cow has been tested within a period of one year by the tuber- culin test and has been found not to react thereto, must be pasteurized. This to my mind is a worthy measure and merits the support of all inter- ested people.
Yours very truly,
CARL M. SMITH, Inspector.
230
REPORT OF INSPECTOR OF ANIMALS
December 31, 1926.
To the Honorable Board of Selectmen,
Reading, Massachusetts.
Gentlemen :- I wish, at this time, to submit my report as Inspector of Animals for the year 1925:
During the early part of the year a tour of inspection was made of all cattle, sheep and swine, and the premises where such animals were kept. Where conditions of the premises were found unfit for proper comfort and health of the live stock, suggestions were made for betterment of such conditions and a subsequent visit made to see they were carried out. Cattle were examined and any showing symptons of contagious or infectious disease were disposed of and the premises disinfected.
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