USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Reading > Town of Reading Massachusetts annual report 1926 > Part 6
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Disposition of Cases in Court
Fined, 46; released, 16; on file, 40; Shirley School, 2; State Hospital, Danvers, 2; State Hospital, Tewksbury, 4; turned over to Children's Aid Society, 4; discharge, 12; House of Correction, suspended, 6; appealed, 2; turned over to parents, 3; delinquent children, 1; turned over to out of town officers, 6.
Amount of Fines Imposed by Court
Eleven at $5.00 each, $55.00; 11 at $10.00 each, $110.00; three at $20.00 each, $60.00; six at $25.00 each, $150.00; ten at $50.00 each, $500.00; seven at $75.00 each, $525.00; one at $100.00 each, $100.00; total $1500.00.
Miscellaneous
Auto accidents, 176; cases investigated, 152; buildings found open and secured, 106; summons served for out of town officers, 51; guarding pay
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rolls, 81; guarding mail, 41; children lost and returned to parents, 30; lights reported out, 29; dogs killed by officers, 25; dogs killed by autos, 18; search warrants served, 11; children found abandoned, 1; defective sidewalks and streets reported, 8; fire discovered by police, 1; lanterns put in dangerous places, 15; dead bodies taken care of, 3; amount of prop- erty reported stolen, $3571.00; amount of property recovered, $2550.00; amount of property recovered for out of town officers, $5296.60; stolen autos reported by out of town officers, 90.
You will see by this report that the number of auto accidents is in- creasing. We made 17 runs to the Winchester Hospital, two to the Melrose Hospital, two to the Mass. General Hospital and 30 runs to local physicians.
Conclusion
At this time I wish to thank the Honorable Board of Selectmen, the Judges and Officers of our District Court, our local press, and all others who have assisting in promoting the welfare of this department, also all members of the force for what they have done to make our town safe and sane.
Respectfully yours,
JEREMIAH CULLINANE, Chief of Police.
REPORT OF CHIEF OF FIRE DEPARTMENT
To the Honorable Board of Selectmen:
Gentlemen :- The annual report of the Fire Department is herewith submitted giving the record of fires that have occurred during the year ending December 31st, together with such information as I think may be of interest to the Town.
Finances
My financial transactions are all embodied in the report of the Town Accountant, to which I would respectfully refer you for any information you may desire in that line.
Manual Force
The Department consists of eight permanent men (including the Chief), and twenty-two call men. The permanent force is divided into two platoons, three men on one shift and four on the other.
On February 23rd the Department lost a kind, willing and hard-working fireman in Captain Edward H. Crowe. He was very well liked by all the members of this department and highly respected by the men under his command. He joined the department in 1892, and was made Captain of Ladder Company 1 in 1897, a position he held until his death.
IN MEMORIAM Captain Edward H. Crowe
71
Apparatus and Equipment
The Department has five pieces of motor apparatus, four of which are at the Central Fire Station, as follows: One Knox triple combination of 600 gallons per minute capacity which was purchased in 1913; one Robinson combination service ladder truck in which we have installed a White motor. This machine was purchased in 1916; one Simplex single tank combination which was built by the permanent force and placed in service in 1923; and one Seagrave "Suburbanite" which was purchased this year and placed in service in place of a double tank Robinson Com- bination which was taken from service on May 12, 1926, because the motor was broken beyond repair. At Hose 2 Station on Woburn Street there is a Ford hose truck. All the machines are in good working order.
Fire Prevention
I have issued 486 permits for fires out of doors, 18 permits for the installation of oil-burning equipment, 6 permits for the sale of fireworks, and 5 permits for the transportation of explosives.
There are now 138 fuel oil burners in use in this town, most of which are of an approved type and have the necessary safety attachments on them, but there are still a few which are not so equipped and constitute a fire hazard.
Record of Alarms
This has been the busiest year in the history of the department. We have answered 328 alarms. On April 3rd Mr. Arthur A. Rourke was badly burned in his home at 12 Willow Street. He was sent to the Winchester Hospital, where he died the next day.
The record of alarms by months is as follows: January, 12; February, 14; March, 11; April, 67; May, 50; June, 10; July, 51; August, 4; Sep- tember, 13; October, 48; November, 38; December, 10; total, 328.
Number of miles travelled, 1145.7; number of feet of 21/2 inch hose laid, 17,050; number of feet of 11/2 inch hose laid, 12,500; number of feet of chemical hose used, 4100; number of feet of ladders raised, 1026; number of gallons of chemical used, 1251; number of gallons of gasoline used, 580; number of gallons of oil used, 56; value of property in danger, $156,979.00; insurance thereon, $120,475.00; loss thereto, $18,306.16; insur- ance paid thereon, $15,675.74; uninsured loss, $2,630.42.
Conclusion
In conclusion, I wish to extend to your Honorable Board, to the Town Accountant, Treasurer and the Finance Committee, my thanks for the courtesies and co-operation I have received during the year. I wish to compliment the officers and members of the department on the prompt and efficient manner in which they have performed their duties. I also wish to express my thanks to Eastern Massachusetts Street Railway Company
72
for the use of current, to the Chief of Police for the 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.
Respectfully submitted,
0. O. ORDWAY, Chief Fire Department.
REPORT OF SUPERINTENDENT OF FIRE ALARM
To the Board of Fire Engineers:
Gentlemen :- The following is the report of the Superintendent of Fire Alarm for the year ending December 31st, 1926.
Three new boxes have been purchased to be located as follows:
312-Lowell and Dustin Streets.
54-Ash and Cross Streets.
614-Auburn and Park Streets.
The line material has been purchased and these boxes will be in- stalled as soon as overhead construction can be completed.
One new Shunt type master box has been installed on the new Junior High School on Temple Street. With this type box the sounding of the fire bells in the building also pulls the fire alarm box and calls the fire department. This type box should be installed on all of our school buildings.
As recommended last year, lines have been run from the Central Fire Station to the Wakefield line on Salem Street. This, when com- pleted, will establish a form of mutual aid between the two towns which will be a great help in case of a large fire or two fires at the same time, which has happened several times.
One ten-inch gong has been added to the system and one six-inch tapper discontinued.
The storage battery elements have been renewed.
Overhead lines have been rebuilt as follows: Parker Street, Haven Street from Parker to John, John Street from Haven to Salem, and Salem Street from John Street to the Wakefield line.
I recommend that new boxes be installed at Berkeley and Fremont Streets, Longview Road, Prescott Street and Sunnyside Avenue, and on Green Street, between Ash and High Streets.
73
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 Rd.
141 Howard 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 Temple and Summer Ave.
212 West and Howard.
213 Pratt St. and Fairview Rd.
221 Union St. School (Private).
223 Center School.
224 High School (Private).
225 Highland School (Private).
226 Lowell Street School.
227 Prospect St. School.
228 Chestnut Hill School.
23 Woburn and Temple.
231 West beyond Willow.
232 Junior High School, Temple St.
24 Mineral and Hancock.
242 Summer Ave. and Woodbine.
25 Prospect near King.
26 Hose 2 house, Woburn St.
27 Summer Ave. and Prescott.
28 West and County Rd.
29 West and King.
31 Lowell and Grove.
312 Lowell and Dustin.
32 Franklin near Grove.
33 Lowell, Grand and Gould Ave.
34 Grove and Forest.
35 No. Main and Locust.
36 No. Main and Ridge Rd.
37 No. Main front of 409.
38 No. Main and Forest.
74
3S1 Forest near Colburn Rd.
39 Main and Franklin.
392 Main and Mill.
41 Village and Green.
412 Boston Stove Fdy .. Village St.
414 Green and Beech.
42 Haven and John.
422 Eaton and Pleasant.
43 Salem and John.
44 Salem and Pearl.
442 Orange and Pierce.
45 Salem and Belmont.
452 Salem and Libby Ave.
46 Charles and Pearl.
47 Charles and Haverhill.
48 Bay State Rd. near Salem.
51 Washington, Main and Ash.
53 Main north of Cross.
54 Ash and Cross.
55 Reading Rubber Mills.
6 C. H. Bangs Co., Prescott (Private).
61 Lowell near Sanborn.
611 Home for Aged Women, Linden (Private).
612 Locust and Bancroft Ave.
614 Auburn and Park.
62 Spare box.
63 Hanscom Ave. north Weston Road.
642 Vine and Vale Rd.
65 Bancroft and Middlesex Aves.
67 Middlesex Ave. and High.
8 Out of Town.
82 State Sanatorium, No. Reading.
Special Signals
2 Recall.
2 Test-7:45 a. m. and 5:45 p. m.
3 and a box number, Second Alarm.
3 followed in one minute by 3, Boy Scout Call.
4 Police Call.
. Respectfully submitted,
HUGH L. EAMES, Supt. of Fire Alarm.
75
REPORT OF FOREST WARDEN
To the Honorable Board of Selectmen:
Gentlemen :- The annual report of the Forest Warden is herewith submitted for the year ending December 31, 1926.
The financial transactions of this department are embodied in the report of the Town Accountant, to which I refer you for any information along this line.
The following deputies were appointed by me and approved by the State Forest Warden: Henry M. Donegan, 11 Federal St., Hugh L. Eames and John J. O'Brien, Central Fire Station.
Combination C is now used for all grass and brush fires. This ma- chine is equipped with 1200 ft. of 11/2-inch hose as well as brooms and 21/2 gallon extinguishers.
During the dry season this year we had several brush fires which burnt over large arears and made it necessary to lay 12,500 feet of 11/2- inch hose. Most of these fires were the result of careless smokers, but a few of them showed evidence of being set. I have investigated all fires and sent reports to the State Forest Warden. I have issued 176 permits for fires out of doors. I have received 146 calls for grass and brush fires. I have received 38 calls for brush fires from the look-out towers.
In conclusion I wish to thank all those who have in any way assisted this department during the year.
Respectfully submitted,
0. 0. ORDWAY, Forest Warden.
REPORT OF TREE WARDEN
To the Honorable Board of Selectmen:
The work in the Tree Warden Department for the past year has con- sisted of the usual trimming, repairing and planting of trees on the roadside.
I also have a nursery planted of 3000 seedlings at the town farm. This nursery will be used to furnish trees for roadside planting, as soon as they grow to a suitable size. On account of a ruling by the State 'Forester's office, I will be obliged the coming year to charge all work done on private property other than gypsy and brown-tail moth to the Tree Warden Department and for that reason I have recommended that $500.00 of the regular Moth Department Budget be transferred to the Tree Warden Department Budget, to finance the work on private property.
Respectfully submitted,
HENRY M. DONEGAN, Tree Warden.
76
REPORT OF CUSTODIAN OF SOLDIERS' AND SAILORS' GRAVES
To the Honorable Board of Selectmen:
Reading, Mass.
Gentlemen: I herewith submit my fifth annual report as Custodian of Veterans' Graves.
One man has been employed a part of each working day from May 4 until November 25 to work exclusively on Veterans' lots.
All of the time that could be spared from grass cutting was devoted to the care of sunken graves and the latter part of the season to raking leaves and cleaning up the lots.
Following is a statement of the cost of the work done during the season.
Appropriation $500.00
Fred Marr, pay roll
$475.74
Loam, sod, dressing and seeds 24.26
$500.00
I would recommend the same appropriation for 1927.
Respectfully submitted,
A. E. GOODWIN, Custodian.
REPORT OF INSPECTOR OF BUILDING
To the Honorable Board of Selectmen:
Gentlemen :- I herewith submit my report for the year ending Decem- ber 31, 1926.
The building construction for the past year was as follows:
64 New one-family dwellings and one two-family dwelling at an approximate cost of $396,000.00
29 Alerations and additions to dwellings at an approximate cost of 40,885.00
New Junior High School
26 New one-car garages.
24 New two-car garages.
3 New garages for three cars and over.
7 Alterations and additions to garages.
1 Alteration to church.
5 New greenhouses.
1 New building containing several stores.
2 New road-side stands.
4 Alterations and additions to stores.
6 New poultry houses.
1 Temporary office.
1 Storage building.
6 Alterations and additions to various buildings.
The above buildings were built at an approximate cost of 498,480.00
The total cost of all new and remodelled buildings the past year amounts to approximately $935,365.00
Respectfully submitted, A. RUSSELL BARNES, Inspector of Building.
REPORT OF SEALER OF WEIGHTS AND MEASURES
To the Board of Selectmen: Town of Reading, Mass.
Gentlemen :- The following is my report of the work completed for the year 1926 by the Department of Weights and Measures. It consisted of the inspection, testing, sealing or condemning of all scales, weights and measures used in the town. The following figures hereto attached will acquaint you with the number of scales tested and sealed or condemned.
By a comparison with the year 1925 you will see that there has been a substantial increase in the number of scales, weights and measures. This of course is due to the opening of several new stores and the installation of new gasoline stations.
In addition to the testing of all scales and measures, the various stores have been visited at irregular intervals and the different commodities as put up in packages for sale to the public have been reweighed to assure proper weight.
The gasoline pumps are a very important factor in the work of this department. At the present time there are fifty pumps in the town.
Trial weighings and measurements of commodities sold or put up for sale : Bread, 14; butter, 12; dry commodities, 50; flour, 20; fruits and vegetables, 30; grain and feed, 10; ice, 6; meats and provisions, 26; gasoline and oil, 132; total, 300.
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Inspections made : pedlers' licenses, 2; labels on bread, 14; pedlers' scales, 3; ice scales, 5; junk scales, 1; other inspections, 13; re-tests of gasoline devices after sealing, 6; clinical thermometers, 2; total 46.
Sealed: 1, Scales, 151; 2, weights, 273; 3, volumetric measures, 41; 4, automatic liquid measuring devices, 206; 5, linear measures, 4; total, 675.
Respectfully submitted,
CARL M. SMITH,
Sealer of Weights and Measures.
REPORT OF INSPECTOR OF ANIMALS
To the Board of Selectmen:
Reading, Mass.
Gentlemen :- I wish at this time to submit my report as Inspector of Animals for the year of 1926.
Early in the year, word was received that I should make a tour of inspection of all cattle, sheep and swine kept within the town limits, and also of the premises where the same were kept.
The instructions were carried out and a report rendered as directed.
All cases of suspicious contagious disease were quarantined and de- stroyed and thereafter the premises were properly disinfected before re- placements were made.
Approximately 230 head of cattle, 100 head of swine, and two goats were examined. All live stock appeared to be in good condition and the premises well kept up. Any suggestions made for betterment of conditions were kindly received and carried out satisfactorily.
Rabies made its appearance on several occasions, necessitating constant watchfulness on the part of dog owners and prompt report of suspicious cases.
Repectfully submitted,
CALVERT H. PLAYDON, M. D. V.,
Inspector of Animals, 1926.
79
REPORT OF MIDDLESEX COUNTY EXTENSION SERVICE
To the Honorable Board of Selectmen:
I respectfully submit the following.
An appropriation of $200.00 was made at the annual meeting in support of the Middlesex County Extension Service, through the County Board of Trustees for County Aid to Agriculture. The following is an account of the work done by this organization in Reading for the year 1926.
The outstanding agricultural work in the town this year has been the assistance given the poultrymen in the organization of the Metropolitan Reading Poultry Association, having a membership of thirty-six. Four very successful meetings were held, and outside speakers presented to dis- cuss poultry problems. This organization is carrying on grading, stamp- ing and marketing activities as a means of developing a supply of quality eggs for the local market.
Farmers interested in orcharding have been helped largely through farm visits whenever requested. A total of seventeen visits have been made to those requesting individual farm service.
In homemaking the women have taken a very active interest in the projects developed, and the largest clothing group in the county met in this town. Mrs. Rolland Perry and Mrs. B. Inez Sias have been very active as clothing leaders and assisted in the development of this work. Two millinery meetings were held during the year and were well attended. A series of meetings on food selection was conducted, the purpose being to help the homemakers in the selection and preparation of food in order that the general health of the family might be improved.
In the boys' and girls' 4-H club activities work was carried on in food, clothing, poultry, gardening, and canning clubs, and in the room beautiful contest. One hundred forty-one boys and girls were enrolled under the local leadership of Mrs. Ida C. Lucas and Mrs. Rolland Perry. Gladys Burns and Emma Nichols won first and second prizes in a county-wide room-beautiful contest. Clinton Newell was awarded a two-day trip to the Massachusetts Agricultural College for outstanding club work. An achievement club program was put on in the spring, at which time the boys and girls told about and demonstrated the work they had accomplished during the year. Assistance was given the Reading Grange in the judging' of the boys' and girls' work. Club members in this town were in com- petition with 3,960 boys and girls of Middlesex County.
In addition to local meetings held, several county-wide meetings were conducted, such as the county picnic at the Market Garden Field Station, the annual meeting of the Extension Service at Waltham, and sectional meetings of fruit growers and poultrymen. These were attended by many Reading people.
ROLLAND L. PERRY, Director.
80
REPORT OF TOWN COUNSEL
The Law Committee of the Town of Reading:
Reading, Mass.
Gentlemen :- Since my appointment as Town Counsel in March, 1926, I have performed the customary duties which pertain to that office; in- cluding the usual attendance at hearings, consultations with town officers and boards, the giving of advice and opinions, and the drafting of votes and correspondence; including, also, professional services in connection with the following matters:
1. The disposal, by settlement for the total sum of $18,895.00, of the suits of Solomon Davis, Ruth A. Lumsden and Charles P. Howard, for damages for the taking of their land for school purposes; including the preparation of the necessary votes, releases, and agreements.
.
2. The disposal, by settlement for the total sum of $1,000, of the suits of Emma L. Chamberlain and Fred F. Smith, for damages for the taking of a right of way over their land for sewer purposes, and for damages claimed to have flowed from the construction work done pursuant to such taking; including the preparation of the necessary votes, releases, and agreements.
3. The disposal, by settlement for $50, of claim of Mrs. Sarah Haag for personal injuries due to defect in sidewalk.
The foregoing settlements were made after full discussion, and under the authority of votes of your committee.
4. Drafting of standard form of contract and specifications, for use of the Board of Public Works in letting contracts for the laying of water pipes.
5. Drafting, under instruction of the Board of Selectmen, a code of rules for the regulation of street traffic.
6. Drafting, and attending to the execution of, a contract between the town by the Municipal Light Board and the Edison Electric Illumi- nating Company of Boston, for the purchase of electric current.
7. Drafting, for use of the School Committee, contract for trans- portation of pupils during the coming year.
Respectfully submitted,
MELVILLE FULLER WESTON, Town Counsel.
81 REPORT OF BOARD OF ASSESSORS
To the Citizens of Reading:
We herewith submit our report on work under our jurisdiction during the year 1926:
Valuation of Taxable Real Estate :
$ 8,739,880.00
Land, excluding buildings.
3,608,185.00
Total Taxable Real Estate
$12,348,065.00
Taxable Personal Estate
1,459,008.00
Total Taxable Real and Personal Estate assessed
April 1, 1926. .
$13,807,073.00
Building increase over 1925.
591,230.00
Land increase over 1925.
7,530.00
Total increase on taxable real estate. $ 598,760.00
Personal decrease over 1925. 75,672.00
Total gain taxable property over 1925.
$ 523,088.00
Tax on Real Estate
$ 419,834.21
Tax on Personal Estate.
49,606.14
Tax on Polls.
5,434.00
Tax on Real Estate for Moth Work
997.80
Tax on Real Estate for Sidewalk
86.16
Tax on Real Estate for Sewer
3,083.75
Total Tax April 1, 1926.
$ 479,042.06
Taxable Personal Estate assessed Dec., 1926
$ 8,910.00
Taxable Real Estate assessed Dec., 1926
3,575.00
Additional Polls
40.00
Tax assessed as supplementary on Real Estate Decem-
ber, 1926 302.94
Tax assessed as supplementary on Personal Estate, Decem- ber, 1926 121.55
1,467,918.00
Total Taxable Real Estate, 1926.
12,351,640.00
Total Taxable Real and Personal, 1926
$13,819,558.00
State Tax, 1926
$ 21,600.00
State Highway Tax, 1926.
3,923.00
County Tax, 1926.
17,523.60
County Tax, T. B., Rutland
. . 330.77
Total Taxable Personal Estate, 1926.
Buildings, excluding land.
82
Metropolitan Sewerage Tax, 1926
11,829.64 50.74
Municipal Lighting Tax Fire Prevention Tax, 1926.
113.34
Total State and County Tax, 1926. $ 55,371.09
Total State and County Tax, 1925.
53,280.44
Increase over 1925 $ 2,090.65
Amount appropriated for Town Purposes
508,372.56
Amount to be paid for State Taxes.
55,371.09
Amount of Overlay.
2,960.34
Total assessments, 1926. $ 566,703.99
Estimated receipts
$80,000.00
Less 2717 Polls
5,434.00
Sewer Tax
11,829.64
97,263.64
Amount to be raised.
$ 469,440.35
Tax Rate for 1926, $34.00 per M.
Number of persons assessed on property April, 1926.
3372
Number assessed for poll only.
1008
Number assessed in December
11
Number additional polls
20
Total assessed on property, 1926.
3383
Total assessed on polls only, 1926.
1028
Total number separate assessments, 1926
4411
Polls assessed in 1926
2737
Polls assessed in 1925
2693
Increase in polls
244
Number of horses
125
Number of cows
241
Number of neat cattle.
38
Number of swine
79
Number of fowl. 14,815
Number of dwellings
2138
Number acres of land
5770
Value of Town property $998,535.00
Value of property exempt. 534,955.00
Total non-taxable property $1,533,490.00
Total taxable property 13,819,558.00
Total valuation 1926.
$15,353,048.00
83
Assessors' Report on the Survey of Land Under the Block System
We have now completed 62 plans which contain 3080 separate lots. Balance from 1925.
$ 5.50
Appropriated 1926
250.00
$255.50
Expended
Davis & Abbott, correcting plans
$ 36.00
Davis & Abbott, two new plans 219.50
$255.50
We would advise that the sum of five hundred dollars be appropriated for the coming year that the work of the Block System be continued.
GEORGE E. HORROCKS J. FRED RICHARDSON ALVAH W. CLARK
Board of Assessors.
REPORT OF BOARD OF HEALTH
There were sixty-three (63) contagious cases reported during the year 1926.
14
Diphtheria
2
Chicken Pox
6
Mumps
5
Measles 29
2
Tuberculosis
5
Number of deaths
73
Male
34
Female
39
4 were over .90 years of age
11 were between. .80 and 90 years
14 were between. 70 and 80 years
16 were between. 60 and 70 years
Scarlet Fever
Spinal Meningitis
63
84
11 were between .50 and 60 years
2 were between .40 and 50 years
5 were between. . 30 and 40 years
5 were between. 1 and 10 years
3 were under
2 were still births.
.1 year
Respectfully submitted,
E. M. HALLIGAN, M.D. C. H. PLAYDON C. F. ATKINSON
Board of Health.
REPORT OF INSPECTOR OF PLUMBING
To the Board of Health:
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