USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Reading > Town of Reading Massachusetts annual report 1927 > Part 5
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my encumbering this report with a detailed statement of them.
The Town is not much involved in litigation at the present time. There is pending in the land court a suit for the perfecting of titles of certain parcels of land taken for non-payment of taxes.
A suit for damages resulting from personal injury received by a telephone worker who was hurt upon one of the poles used both by the telephone company and the municipal light department, has been settled. In this last mentioned case there was no occasion for taking up with your committee the question of settlement inasmuch as the amount of the settlement was to be paid entirely by the insurance company.
Respectfully yours,
MELVILLE FULLER WESTON, Town Counsel.
REPORT OF INSPECTOR OF ANIMALS
To the Honorable Board of Selectmen:
Gentlemen :- I wish at this time to submit my report as Inspector of Animals for the year of 1927.
All cattle and premises were examined and a report of inspection made on the blank furnished for that purpose. Suggestions for better conditions were made and carried out satisfactorily.
Over two hundred head of cattle are still kept within the town limits, which supply milk to our community. The cattle are well kept, clean, and healthy, and it appears that our supply of local milk is as good as that in any town.
There has been no outbreak of contagious disease during the past year, with the exception of rabies, which is more of an infectious than contagious nature. Rabies has been and is at present quite prevalent, and for that reason all dogs have been ordered to be restrained for a period of ninety days, with the hope that quarantine will clear up the situation.
It appears that if all dogs were immunized against rabies for a year or two, the matter would clear itself readily. Some cities have passed ordinances to this effect and are now trying it out, while others are waiting to see the result of the experiment.
In the meantime, it is well to be careful about handling strange dogs. Read the reverse side of your dog license and familiarize your- self with the symptoms of rabies. Any suspicious cases should be reported at once and I shall be glad to investigate.
Yours very truly,
CALVERT H. PLAYDON, M. D. V.
62
REPORT OF BOARD OF HEALTH
To the Citizens of Reading:
There were seventy-seven (77) contagious cases reported during the year 1927.
Scarlet Fever
20
Dophtheria
3
Mumps
24
Chicken Pox
11
Whooping Cough
6
Lobar Pneumonia
2
Tuberculosis
11
Number of deaths
Male
35
Female
35
2 were over
.90 years of age
80 and 90 years
8 were between 60 and 70 years
8 were between
50 and 60 years
1 was between
40 and 50 years
1 was between 30 and 40 years
3 were between
20 and 30 years
3 were between
10 and 20 years
4 were under
1 year
1 still birth.
Respectfully submitted,
E. M. HALLIGAN, M. D. C. H. PLAYDON, M. D. V. C. F. ATKINSON Board of Health.
REPORT OF INSPECTOR OF MILK
To the Members of the Board of Health:
Gentlemen :- The following is my report of the inspection of the milk supply of the town of Reading for the year 1927.
77
70
20 were between
19 were between .70 and 80 years
63
The work as concluded this year has varied very little from that as performed in previous years : that is, it has consisted of the licensing of all dealers and stores selling milk, in the collection of samples and the analysis of the same for their butter-fat and total- solids content, and where it has been thought necessary, the inspection of the premises upon which the milk is raised and the conditions under which it is handled.
There were two cases of contagious diseases this year directly connected with the milk supply, one in a dealer's household and the other in a milk producer's family, but by drastic application of the regulations there were no serious results.
The majority of the public today realize that pasteurized milk is the safest, and a few of the local dealers are equipping themselves to supply the same. Fully 90% of the milk sold in town today is pasteurized milk.
There were thirty-seven licenses issued to sell milk and twelve licenses to sell oleo-margarine.
Respectfully submitted, CARL W. SMITH, Inspector of Milk.
REPORT OF SEALER OF WEIGHTS AND MEASURES
To the Board of Selectmen:
Gentlemen :- The following is my report of the work completed for the year 1927 by the Department of Weights and Measures. This work included the inspection, testing, and sealing or condemning of all scales, weights, and measures in the town. Also the reweighing of commodities as put up for sale to the public, the inspection of clinical thermometers, and the enforcement of all regulations affect- ing the peddling of goods in town.
There have been several new regulations passed this year affect- ing practically everyone who peddles goods of any kind from house to house, enforcement of which will add considerably to the work of this department.
Comparisons of the work completed this year with that of the year 1927 will show that there has been a substantial increase.
The following is a tabulation of the year's work.
CARL M. SMITH, Sealer of Weights and Measures.
Trial weighings and measurements of commodities sold or put up for sale : Bread, 24; butter, 10; dry commodities, 118; flour, 4; fruits and vegetables, 58; grain and feed, 8; meats and provisions, 76; total, 298.
.
R
64
Work performed from December 1, 1926, to November 30, 1927, inclusive :
Adjusted : 1, Scales, 63; 2, weights, 2; 4, automatic liquid measuring devices, 67; total, 132.
Sealed : 1, Scales, 123; 2, weights, 275; 3, volmetric measures, 58; 4, automatic liquid-measuring devices, 253; 5, linear measure, 2; total, 731
REPORT OF MIDDLESEX COUNTY EXTENSION SERVICE
To the Honorable Board of Selectmen:
Gentlemen :- I herewith submit my report as director of the Middlesex County Extension Service for County Aid to Agriculture.
Most of the Agricultural work has been carried on in co-opera- tion with agricultural organizations in the town, furnishing speakers at meetings with an attendance of about four hundred.
Individual farm visits have been made, largely concerned. with poultry and fruit work.
In home-making a large number of interested women attended the Clothing and Millinery meetings.
In the Boys' and Girls' 4-H Club work, one hundred and nine were enrolled in the Canning, Food, Garden, Clothing, Room Beautiful and Poultry Clubs. Mrs. Lottie F. Perry and Miss Virginia Perry acted as local leaders. Roger Nichols won second prize in the County-wide room Beautiful contest for boys. Raymond Bell and Clinton Newell were the outstanding members in the Poultry Club. Raymond Bell was awarded the two day trip to the Massachusetts Agricultural College for outstanding club work.
An achievement Club program was held in the Municipal Build- ing at which the boys and girls exhibited the results of their season's work. The boys and girls also exhibited their products at the Reading Grange Fair.
I wish to thank the Town Accountant; Mr. Collins and the Board of Public Works for the use of their office; Mr. Goodwin, Supt. of the Cemetery; also the School Department for their co-operation during the year.
The officers and members of Reading Grange I wish to thank for their gift of prize money for the boys and girls.
Respectfully submitted,
ROLLAND L. PERRY. Director.
65
REPORT OF INSPECTOR OF BUILDING
. :
To the Honorable Board of Selectmen:
Gentlemen :- I herewith submit my report for the year ending December 31, 1927.
The building construction for the past year was as follows : 70 New one-family dwellings at an approximate cost of $429,200.00
Alterations and additions to dwellings at an approxi-
17 mate cost of 25,325.00
29 New one-car garages.
22 New two-car garages.
13 Alterations and additions to garages.
1 New coal pocket.
1 New building for grain storage.
1 New greenhouse
2 New boiler houses.
1 New service station.
4 New stores.
7 New poultry houses.
1 New office.
1 New tool house.
1 New Shed
16 Alterations and additions to various buildings. The above buildings were built at an approximate cost of 58,810.00
The total cost of all new and remodelled buildings the past year amounts to approximately $513,335.00
Respectfully submitted, A. RUSSELL BARNES, Inspector of Buildings.
REPORT OF INSPECTOR OF WIRES
To the Honorable Board of Selectmen:
Gentlemen :- I respectfully submit herewith my report covering the inspection of wires during the year ending December 31, 1927 : Number of recorded inspections 354
Number of old buildings wired 37
Number of new buildings wired. -56
-
66
Number of old buildings wired (not completed)
3
Number of new buildings wired (not completed) 17
Number of buildings where additional wiring has been installed and reported 63
Inspections made for ranges
12
Inspections made for hot water heaters
23
Inspections made for hot plates
1
Inspections made for oil burners 32
Inspections made for motors 19
Inspections made for refrigerating outfits 50
. The removal and renewal of defective poles and wires has been continued this year.
Respectfully submitted.
CLARENCE L. THOMAS, Inspector of Wires.
REPORT OF BOARD OF APPEAL
To the Honorable Board of Selectmen:
Gentlemen :- Six petitions for relief from different provisions of the Zoning By-Law were presented to the Board of Appeal during the year 1927, on all of which public hearings were held, as provided by the By-Law.
Two of the petitions were for variation of the By-Law, for busi- ness uses. One of these petitions was granted in part; the other was denied.
Two petitions were for extension of non-conforming use. One was granted; one denied.
Two petitions were for the erection of buildings (private garages) within less than the distances required by the By-Law. One of these petitions was granted; the other withdrawn.
Respectfully submitted, HENRY Q. MILLETT, Chairman. FRED L. NUTTER. Secretary CHARLES A. DAMON
67
REPORT OF BOARD OF ASSESSORS
To the Citizens of Reading:
We herewith submit our report on work under our jurisdiction during the year 1927 :
Valuation of Taxable Real Estate :
Buildings, excluding land
$ 9,214,275.00
Land, excluding buildings
3,657,390.00
Total Taxable Real Estate $ 12,871,665.00
Taxable Personal Estate
1,505,484.00
Total Taxable Real and Personal Estate assessed April 1, 1927
$ 14,377,149.00
Building increase over 1926
474,395.00
Land increase over 1926
49,205.00
Total increase on Taxable Real Estate
$ 523,600.00
Increase on Personal Estate
46,476.00
Total gain on Taxable Property over 1926
$ 570,076.00
Tax on Real Estate
$ 459,521.44
Tax on Personal Estate
53,747.95
Tax on Polls
5,406.00
Tax on Real Estate for Moth Work
953.00
Tax on Real Estate for Sewer
3,069.14
Total Tax April 1, 1926
$ 522,697.53
Taxable Personal Estate assessed December, 1927
$ 2,000.00
Taxable Real Estate assessed December, 1927
150.00
Additional Polls
8.00
Tax assessed as supplementary on Real Estate, December 1927
5.36
Tax assessed as supplementary on Personal Estate,
December, 1927
71.40
Total Taxable Personal Estate, 1927
1,507,484.00
Total Taxable Real Estate, 1927
$ 12,871,815.00
Total Taxable Property, Real and Personal, 1927 ..
$ 14,379,299.00
State Tax, 1927
$ 21,600.00
State Highway Tax, 1927
3,561.93
County Tax, 1927
18,838.06
County Tax, T. B., Rutland, 1927
2,618.24
Metropolitan Sewer Tax, 1927
12,362.71
68
Municipal Lighting Tax, 1927
Fire Prevention Tax, 1927
73.47 114.44
Total State and County Tax, 1927 $ 59,168.85
Total State and County Tax, 1926
55,371.09
Increase over 1926
$ 3,797.76
Amount appropriated for Town Purposes
$ 534,582.62
Amount to be paid for State Taxes
59,168.85
Amount of Overlay 2,923.92
Total assessments, 1927 $ 596,675.39
Estimated Receipts $ 78,000.00
2,703 Polls @ $2.00
5,406.00 83,406.00
Amount to be raised
$
513,269.39
Tax Rate for 1927, $35.70 per M.
Number of persons assessed on property April, 1927 3,550
911
Number assessed in December, 1927 5
Number additional polls
4
Total assessed on property, 1927
3,555
Total assessed on polls only, 1927
915
Total number separate assessments, 1927
4,470
Polls assessed in 1926
2,737
Polls assessed in 1927
2,707
Decrease in polls
30
Number of horses
116
Number of cows
203
Number of neat cattle
36
Number of swine.
80
Number of fowl
14,715
Number of dwellings
2,212
Number of acres of land
5,770
Value of Town property
$ 1,190,960.00
Value of property exempt
537,035.00
Total non-taxable property $ 1,727,995.00
Total taxable property 14,379,299.00
Total valuation, 1927 $ 16,107,294.00
Assessors' Report of the Survey of Land Under the Block System We have now completed 65 plans which contain 3308 separate lots. Appropriated 1927 $ 500.00
Expended
Davis & Abbott, correcting plans, 1926
$
27.40
Davis & Abbott, three new plans
405.45
Number assessed for poll only
69
Davis & Abbott, correcting plans, one copy 66.85 499.70 Balance to Revenue
.30
$ 5,000.00 $ 5,000.00
We would advise that the sum of five hundred dollars be appro- priated for the coming year that the work of the Block System be continued.
ALVAH W. CLARK J. FRED RICHARDSON GEORGE E. HORROCKS Board of Assessors.
REPORT OF TRUSTEES OF CEMETERIES
The report of Superintendent of Cemeteries, Alfred E. Goodwin, covering in detail the work of the department and approved by the Trustees is appended.
We would announce that lots are now available to purchasers in Forest Glen Cemetery. Albert R. Shepardson purchased the first lot in the new cemetery and was the first to be interred there. Mr. Shepardson, while chairman of the Finance Committee of the Town, showed interest in the development of the cemetery ande was so impressed with its natural beauty and fine possibilities that he asked for the privilege of selecting the first lot.
The terms of Frank L. Edgerley and Willie E. Twombly expire and their associates are pleased to state that Mr. Edgerley will be a candidate for re-election and Fred L. Nutter a candidate to succeed Mr. Twombly who resigns much to the regret of the Trustees after nine years of valuable service on the board.
Most respectfully, GALEN A. PARKER, Chairman PHILIP H. TIRRELL, Secretary FRANK L. EDGERLEY WILLIE E. TWOMBLY CLARENCE C. WHITE CHESTER P. EELES
Trustees of Cemeteries.
70
LAUREL HILL CEMETERY REPORT FOR 1927
Trustees of Cemeteries:
Reading, Mass.
Gentlemen :- During the year 1927 there have been no projects of any importance undertaken in Laurel Hill Cemetery.
The regular maintenance work has been kept up and all the remaining land in the northerly part of the cemetery has been developed into lots.
With the exception of a small section, about sixty feet square, being a part of the land purchased from the Dexter Clapp estate in 1924, all of the land suitable for lots in Laurel Hill Cemetery has been developed and will soon be sold.
The avenues have been improved somewhat during the past year, although there are some that are still troublesome in muddy weather.
I mentioned in my report last year that the fence on the north side of the cemetery was beyond repair and also that a portion of that on the west side needed replacement.
It has not seemed advisable to do this work during the past year but I hope it will be possible to make those replacements during the year 1928.
The financial statement will appear in the report of the Town Accountant.
Respectfully submitted, ALFRED E. GOODWIN, Superintendent.
FOREST GLEN CEMETERY REPORT FOR 1927
Trustees of Cemeteries:
Reading, Mass.
Gentlemen :- It gives me great pleasure, in making my report to you for the year 1927, to announce that your plan for the initial development of Forest Glen Cemetery, in so far as the lots are con- cerned, is completed and there are now seventy-one eight-grave and sixty-two four-grave lots that were ready for sale last June.
In the development of these lots, boulders and ledge were en- countered and had to be removed. This was expected from the start and was bound to occur in any land suitable for cemetery purposes that could be obtained in Reading.
A brief outline of the work done from the time of the purchase of the land by a vote of the Town in 1924 might be of interest at this time.
In 1924 very little of the actual work of development was done. A profile map was made and studied to ascertain the best place to
71
make the first group of lots that would last for several years, with due regard to future developments as needed.
After considerable deliberaton on the part of the Trustees and with the advice of a consulting engineer who specialized in cemetery work, it was decided to start work at the northeasterly corner of the land, at the junction of Forest and Pearl Streets.
In addition to the $3,972.33 for the purchase of the nine acres of land including a six room dwelling house, $2,027.67 was appro- priated for the preliminary work. Of this amount $910.31 was left unexpended at the end of the first year
In April, 1925, work was started in earnest. A steam shovel was hired and worked from June until September, digging over the ground to be used for burial purposes and removing the stones. The wall on Pearl and Forest Streets was about two-thirds completed when the appropriation was exhausted.
In 1926 the excavating was finished and teams were hired to prepare the sub-grade. Until June of that year, the greater part of the money for development had been expended for work beneath the surface of the ground. This work will never be seen, but was absolutely necessary and will be repaid in the future in the cost of opening graves.
At the end of the season of 1926 the wall had been completed except for a cap or top surface to keep out the water. A first class macadam avenue had been built from the Pearl St. entrance to the Forest St. entrance and loam had been spread roughly over the lots.
Thanks to the splendid co-operation of the Board of Public Works, there has been constructed during the past year a macadam surface on Forest St. to Pearl St., thence to Wakefield St., past both entrances to the Cemetery. Both of these streets have been widened and side- walks constructed so that they are now second to none in town.
During the past season the finished grade on the lots has been completed. The lots have been seeded, and the grass, due to an unusually wet spring and summer, is in a fine condition. A water system has been installed with outlets convenient to the lots. Most of the lot corner-markers have been set. A seal coat has been applied to the avenue surface which should last for many years. The ledge that obstructed the drainage of the lots has been blasted so that all fear of wet graves is eliminated. In fact as far as the demand for lots is concerned, judging from the past seven years, we now have enough lots to last for possibly ten years.
We shall, however, have to provide a single grave section in the near future, as it would be a great mistake to use the land now developed for that purpose. Single graves should be in a section by themselves with provisions made for its expansion as needed and the owners of such graves should have the privilege of erecting a memorial stone for each grave if they so desire.
72
If a small section is set aside for single graves among the family lots, it is soon used up and the result is that it detracts from the ap- pearance of both the single graves and the lots, as the area of a single grave is only a fractional part of the size of the family lot and as the stone on the one is necessarily much smaller that that of the other, both suffer by comparison.
Both single graves and lots have their place in a cemetery, as both are essential to its usefulness, and both can be made beautiful if kept by themselves, but if thrown together, they will ruin the beauty of any cemetery.
There are enough single graves in Laurel Hill Cemetery to last a year ; possibly two years. It would perhaps be well to wait another year before expending more money for excavating. Possibly by that time there will be enough money from the sale of lots to do the work without an appropriation for that purpose.
While there are many things that could be done to add to the appearance of our new cemetery, most of them can be postponed until later, so I will not mention them at this time. There are two things, however, that should be attended to in 1928.
First, the top of the wall should be sealed with a cement or stone cap to keep out the water, or it surely will develop cracks and broken spots during the winter weather.
Second, the cemetery in its present condition is like a new house without trimmings or paint : it can be used but is unattractive.
A small additional appropriation added to the balance left this year would provide for the planting of trees, shrubs and vines that would transform an ordinary "Burying Ground" into a beautiful, modern Park Cemetery.
To do this work properly, it should be done under the direction of an expert in this line, one who can visualize its appearance when the work is finished and also how it will appear twenty or thirty years hence.
You will no doubt recall that it was planned to do this work during the past year, but as the money appropriated for that pur- pose would only buy a few shrubs and plants, these to be set out without expert advice, it was thought advisable to postpone the work until enough money was available to do the work as it should be done.
I respectfully recommend that this work be done during the season of 1928.
The financial statement will appear in the report of the Town Accountant.
Respectfully submitted,
ALFRED E. GOODWIN, Supt. of Cemeteries.
73
REPORT OF CUSTODIAN OF SOLDIERS' AND SAILORS' GRAVES
To the Honorable Board of Selectmen:
Gentlemen :- I herewith submit my sixth annual report as Custo- dian of Veteran Soldiers' and Sailors' graves.
As in former years, one man has been employed a part of rach working day, from April 14 until October 27, caring for Veterans' lots that receive no care from their owners.
The latter part of the season was devoted to raking leaves and cleaning up the lots.
I would recommend the same appropriation ($500.00) for 1928. Respectfully submitted,
A. E. GOODWIN, Custodian of Soldiers' and Sailors' Graves.
REPORT OF PUBLIC LIBRARY
The Trustees of the Public Library submit the following report for the year ending Dec. 31, 1927 :
ORGANIZATION OF THE BOARD
The Board organized for the year by the election of Mr. Mansfield, Chairman; and Miss Bancroft as Secretary. Standing Committees were appointed as follows :
On Accounts: The Board of Trustees.
On Books: Mr. Mansfield, Miss Bancroft and Mrs. Lucas.
On Buildings and Grounds: Messrs. Keneely, Morton and Doughty.
On Work with Children: Miss Bancroft, Mrs. Lucas and Mr. Keneely.
EXPENSES OF THE LIBRARY
The following is a condensed financial statement:
Appropriation, direct tax, 1927
Salaries
$ 4,080.00
Maintenance
3,200.00
Total
$ 7,280.00
1
74
Expended
Salaries: Librarian, Assistant and Janitor $ 4,016.33
Books and periodicals, including rebinding 1,751.76
Printing, stationery, etc. 105.30
Fuel, light, water, sewerage
338.06
Repairs and furnishings 918.56
Miscellaneous 58.57
Total
$ 7,188.58
Balance unexpended :
On Salaries
$63.67
On Maintenance
27.75
Total
$ 7,280.00
Receipts
Fines collected (for over-detention of books) $ 331.74
Waste paper sold .
2.05
On hand Dec. 31, 1926
14.67
Paid to Town Treasurer
325.00
Balance on hand Dec. 31, 1927
$23.46
ADDITIONS TO THE LIBRARY
Volumes in the Library Dec. 31, 1926
13,880
Volumes bought, including duplicates and replacements :
Adult Fiction 260
Adult Non-Fiction
219
479
Juvenile Fiction
246
Juvenile Non-Fiction
87
333
Reference
3
815
Received by gift, Mass.
14
Received by gift, others
75
89
14,784
Withdrawn during year
445
Total number of volumes Dec. 31, 1927
14,339
Circulation for home use, adult
34,895
$ 348.46
75
Circulation for home use, juvenile
17,873
Total
52,768
Increase over previous year
2,552
Largest monthly circulation, March.
Smallest monthly circulation, July.
Number of new borrowers registered :
Adult
292
Juvenile
263
Total 555
Number of days on which Main Library Room was open during year 291
Average daily circulation
120
Number of days Children's Room was open
303
Average daily circulation
59
Volumes deposited in schools
328
No record is kept of the total circulation of these books, but it would add very materially to the circulation given above.
The Main Library Room was closed for two weeks beginning July 11, 1927. This curtailment of the Library privileges reduced the circulation by at least 1000 volumes.
The following table gives interesting data pertaining to the Library for the past five years :
Popu- lation April 1
Volumes Borrowed Home Use
No. of Days Vols. in Lib. Open Library
Expended
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
1926
50,216
290
13,880
6,800.89
1927
52,768
291
14,339
7,188.58
The cost per book circulated in 1927 was 13.6 cents; the average for the last five years is 12.6 cents; circulation per capita in 1927 of 5.8 book, and cost per capita of about 80 cents (both the last figures based on a population estimate of 9000).
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