USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Reading > Town of Reading Massachusetts annual report 1929 > Part 20
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Balance Jan. 1, 1929
$ 1,000.00
Balance to 1930
$ 1,000.00
$ 1,000.00
$ 1,000.00
OVERDRAFTS 1928
Cr.
Appropriation
Dr.
Payments
$ 172.10
$ 172.10
$ 172.10
FIRE CHIEF'S AUTO
Cr.
Appropriation
Dr.
Wakefield Motor Sales Co.
$ 1,200.00
$ 1,200.00 $ 1,200.00
Improvement Reading Common, Plans Cr.
Appropriation
$ 500.00
Dr.
A. A. Shurtleff
$ 499.22
Balance to Revenue
.78
$ 500.00 $ 500.00
Fire Department, Pumping Engine Cr. $ 8,750.00
Appropriation
Dr.
$ 172.10
$1,200.00
281
Dr.
Seagrave Corporation $ 8,750.00
$ 8,750.00 $ 8,750.00
Police Dept., Garage Cr.
Appropriation
$ 750.00
Dr.
Whittredge Portable Buildings Co. $ 705.00
Paint and Painting
37.80
Balance to Revenue
7.20
$ 750.00 $ 750.00
Traffic Control Signal Summer Avenue and Prescott Street
Cr.
Appropriation
Dr.
Municipal Light Dept. $ 559.42
Balance to Revenue
5.58
$ 565.00 $ 565.00
Richardson House, Removal and Grading
Cr.
Appropriation
Dr.
Chas. H. Ober
$ 355.00
Balance to Revenue
245.00
$ 600.00 $ 600.00
Reimbursement, H. E. Bussell
Cr.
Appropriation
$ 345.78
Dr.
H. E. Bussell
$ 345.78
$ 345.78 $ 345.78
Rent, Post 62, Am. Legion Cr.
Appropriation
$ 1,000.00
$ 565.00
$ 600.00
282
Dr.
Reading Veterans Association $ 1,000.00
$
1,000.00
$
1,000.00
ACCOUNTING MUNICIPAL LOANS TEMPORARY LOANS Anticipation of Revenue
Outstanding Jan. 1, 1929
$125,000.00
Notes Issued in 1929
Month By whom purchased
Rate or disc. Amt.
Feb .- Second Nat'l Bank
5.25 $ 45,000.00
May-F. S. Moseley & Co.
5.49
75,000.00
July-Second Nat'l Bank
5.43 75,000.00
Dec .- Second Nat'l Bank
3.96 50,000.00
Dec .- Faxon, Gade & Co., Inc.
3.98 100,000.00
$345,000.00
Notes Paid in 1929
November
$245,000.00 75,000.00
$320,000.00 .
Outstanding Dec. 31, 1929
$150,000.00
WATER DEPARTMENT LOANS
Outstanding Jan. 1, 1929
$ 60,000.00
Paid in 1929
Outstanding Dec. 31, 1929
$ 10,000.00 50,000.00
$ 60,000.00
$ 60,000.00
SEWER DEPARTMENT LOANS
Outstanding Jan. 1, 1929
$151,000.00
Paid in 1929
Outstanding Dec. 31, 1929
$ 8,000.00 143,000.00
$151,000.00
$151,000.00
MUNICIPAL LIGHT DEPARTMENT LOANS
Outstanding Jan. 1, 1929
$ 81,100.00
Paid in 1929 Outstanding Dec. 31, 1929
$ 13,800.00 67,300.00
$ 81,100.00
$ 81,100.00
$470,000.00
December
283
MUNICIPAL BUILDING LOANS
Outstanding Jan. 1, 1929 Paid in 1929
$ 18,000.00
$
2,000.00
Outstanding Dec. 31, 1929
16,000.00
$ 18,000.00 $ 18,000.00
MUNICIPAL AND LIBRARY BUILDING GROUNDS
Outstanding Jan. 1, 1929
$ 2,000.00
Paid in 1929
$ 500.00
Outstanding Dec. 31, 1929
1,500.00
$ 2,000.00 $ 2,000.00
BROWN ESTATE LOANS
Outstanding Jan. 1, 1929
$ 2,000.00
Paid in 1929
500.00
Outstanding Dec. 31, 1929
1,500.00
$ 2,000.00 $ 2,000.00
SCHOOL BUILDING LOANS
Outstanding Jan. 1, 1929
$265,000.00
Paid in 1929
Outstanding Dec. 31. 1929
$ 35,000.00 230,000.00
$265,000.00
$265,000.00
FUNDED DEBT
Balancing Account
Total Debt, Jan. 1, 1929 $579,100.00
Paid in 1929
Sewer Dept. Loans Water Dept. Loans
$
8,000.00
10,000.00
284
Light Dept. Loans
13,800.00
Municipal Bldg. Loans
2,000.00
Mun. Bldg. Loans and Library Ground Loans
500.00
Brown Estate Loans
500.00
School Building Loans
35,000.00
Total Payments 1929
$ 69,800.00
Total Debt Dec. 31, 1929
509,300.00
$579,100.00
$579,100.00
FUND DEBT MATURING IN 1929
Appropriation from Excess and Deficiency Acct.
$ 38,000.00
Transfer from Water Dept.
10,000.00
Transfer from Light Dept.
13,800.00
Transfer from Sewer Dept.
8,000.00
Payment of Loans due in 1929:
Sewer Dept.
$ 8,000.00
Water Dept.
10,000.00
Municipal Light Dept.
13,800.00
Municipal Building
2,000.00
Brown Estate
500.00
Municipal Building and Library
500.00
School Buildings
35,000.00
$ 69,800.00
$ 69,800.00
FUNDED DEBT MATURING IN 1930
Sewer Dept. Loans
$ 9,000.00
Water Dept. Loans
10,000.00
Light Dept. Loans
12,800.00
Municipal Building Loans
2,000.00
Municipal and Library Building Loans
500.00
Brown Estate Loans
500.00
School Building Loans
35,000.00
$ 69,800.00
1
TOWN DEBT
DETAIL OF PAYMENT BY YEARS
Year
Sewer
Dept.
Water
Dept.
Mun.
Light
Dept.
Mun.
Bldg.
School
Buildings
Brown
Lot
Lib. and
Mun. Bldg.
Grounds
Totals
1930
$9,000.00
$10,000.00
$12,800.00
$2,000.00 $35,000.00
$ 500.00
$ 500.00
$69,800.00
1931
9,000.00
5,000.00
11,000.00
2,000.00
35,000.00
500.00
500.00
63,000.00
1932
9,000.00
5,000.00
11,000.00
2,000.00
34,000.00
500.00
500.00
62,000.00
1933
9,000.00
5,000.00
8,000.00
2,000.00
34,000.00
58,000.00
1934
9,000.00
5,000.00
6,000.00
2,000.00
34,000.00
56,000.00
1935
8,000.00
5,000.00
6,000.00
2,000.00
34,000.00
55,000.00
1936
8,000.00
3,000.00
4,000.00
2,000.00
24,000.00
41,000.00
1937
8,000.00
2,000.00
2,500.00
2,000.00
14,500.00
1938
8,000.00
2,000.00
2,500.00
12,500.00
1939
8,000.00
2,000.00
2,500.00
12,500.00
1940
8,000.00
2,000.00
1,000.00
11,000.00
1941
7,000.00
2,000.00
9,000.00
1942
7,000.00
2,000.00
9,000.00
1943
7,000.00
7,000.00
1944
7,000.00
7,000.00
1945
6,000.00
6,000.00
1946
6,000.00
6,000.00
1947
6,000.00
6,000.00
1948
2,000.00
2,000.00
1949
2,000.00
2,000.00
Totals $143,000.00
$50,000.00
$67,300.00
$16,000.00 230,000.00
$ 1,500.00
$ 1,500.00
$509,300.00
286
BORROWING CAPACITY
Total Valuation Abatement Valuation
Net Valuation
1927
$14,379,299.00
$80,596.00
$14,298,703.00
1928
15,040,325.00
89,811.00
14,950,514.00
1929
15,231,219.00
40,112.00
15,191,107.00
1929 Excise
1,017,730.00
93,194.00
924,536.00
Net Valuation for three years
45,364,860.00
Average valuation for three years
15,121,620.00
3% of average valuation
453,648.60
Total Funded Debt
$509,300.00
Less Exempted Loans : (Outside Debt Limit)
Water Dept.
$ 50,000.00
Mun. Lt. Dept.
67,300.00
Sewer Dept.
143,000.00
School Bldg.
51,000.00
$311,300.00 $198,000.00
Borrowing Capacity, December 31, 1929 $255,648.60
ACCOUNTING TRUST FUNDS Balancing Account
Balance Jan. 1, 1929
$203,333.19
Cemetery Bequests, Etc.
3,550.97
Interest and Income
9,427.36
Adjustment
125.00
Transferred for Hospital Care
$ 1,550.54
Transferred for Cemetery Maint
1,677.42
Transferred for Investment
4,780.00
Transferred for Scholarships
100.00
Balance Dec. 31, 1929
217,888.56
$221,216.52 $221,216.52
CEMETERY BEQUEST FUND
Cr.
Balance Jan. 1, 1929
$ 46,339.72
Bequests, 1929
3,512.50
Interest and Income, 1929
2,304.24
Transfer from Cash, to be refunded
125.00
Dr.
Transferred for care of endowed lots $ 1,677.42
Balance Dec. 31, 1929 50,604.04
$ 52,281.46
$ 52,281.46
287
GEORGE F. BUCK FUND
Cr.
Balance Jan. 1, 1929
$ 38.88
Interest, 1929
1.80
Dr.
Balance Dec. 31, 1929
$ 40.68
$ 40.68 $ 40.68
READING HIGH SCHOOL SCHOLARSHIP FUND
Cr.
$
5,237.66
Interest
Dr.
Transferred for Scholarships $ 100.00
Balance Dec. 31, 1929 5,387.86
$ 5,487.86 $ 5,487.86
HOSPITAL FUND Cr.
Balance Jan. 1, 1929
$151,716.93
Interest, Income, etc.
$ 6,909.59
Less Accrued Interest
26.25
$ 6,883.34
Dr.
Transferred for Hospital Care
$
1,550.54
Balance Dec. 31, 1929 157,049.73
$158,600.27
$158,600.27
STATEMENT OF INVESTED FUNDS Cemetery Bequest Fund
Balance Dec. 31, 1929 $ 50,604.04
Investments Listed at Par: 12,000 U.S. Liberty Bonds, 4th 41/4's, 1933- 1938 $ 12,000.00
5,000 N. E. Tel. Tel. 1st Mort., 5's
Series A 1952 5,000.00
5,000 No. Pac. Ry. Ref. & Imp., 6's Series B 2047 5,000.00
4,000 N. Y. C. R. R. Ref. Imp., 5's Series C 2013 4,000.00
Balance Jan. 1, 1929
250.20
288
Andover Savings Bank
3,394.16
Cambridge Savings Bank
3,311.41
Essex Savings Bank, Lawrence 3,394.16
Mech. Savings Bank, Reading
14,504.31
$ 50,604.04 $ 50,604.04
READING HIGH SCHOOL SCHOLARSHIP FUND $ 5,387.86
Balance Dec. 31, 1929
Investments:
Andover Savings Bank $ 1,000.00
Charlestown Five Cent Savings Bank 1,000.00
Essex Savings Bank, Lawrence 1,000.00
First Nat'l Bank, Reading, Sav. Dept.
2,387.86
$ 5,387.86 $ 5,387.86
GEORGE F. BUCK FUND
Balance Dec. 31, 1929
Investment: Mechanics Savings Bank $ 40.68
$ 40.68
$ 40.68 $ 40.63
HOSPITAL FUND
Balance Dec. 31, 1929
$157,049.73
Investments, Securities listed at Par or Less'
$5,000 Am. Tel. - Tel. Col. Tr. 5's, 1946 $ 5,000.00
$5,000 Bos. & Albany R.R. Imp. of 1908, 4's, 1933 4,798.00
$5,000 Boston Elevated, 5's 1937 5,000.00
$5,000 Cent. Hudson Gas and Elec. 5's 1957 5,000.00
$5,000 Chicago B. & Q. R. R. Co., Ill., Div. "M" 31/2's 1949 4,347.50
$2,000 Conn. Lt. & Power Co., 1st Ref. S. F. 7's 1951 2,000.00
$5,000 Conn. Lt. & Power Co., 1st Ref. S. F. 41/2's 1956 4,787.50
$5,000 Consumers' Power Co., 5's 1936 . . 5,000.00
$5,000 Consolidated Gas of Baltimore Gen. M. 41/2's, 1954 4,922.50
$5,000 Ill. Cent. R. R. Co., Tr. 4's, 1952 . 4,437.50
$5,000 Ill. Cent. R. R. Co., St. Louis Div. 1st. M 3's, 1951 3,800.00
$5,000 Kansas City Power & Lt. 41/2's, 1957 5,000.00
289
-
$5,000 Kings Co. Elec. Lt. & Power 5's 1937 5,000.00
$5,000 N. Y. Cent & H. R. R. Deb. 4's, 1934 4,737.50 $5,000 N. Y. Tel. Co. 1st Gen. M. 41/2's 1939 4,950.00
$5,000 Old Colony R. R. 1st 5's, 1945 ..
5,000.00
$5,000 Pacific Gas & Elec. 41/2's, 1957
5,000.00 $5,000 St. Paul, Minn. & Man. Ry. 4's, 1933 4,831.25 $5,000 Penn. R. R. Co. Gen'l. Mort.
41/2's, 1965 4,753.75
$13,000 U. S. Liberty Bonds 4th 41/2's, 1933-1938 13,000.00
$2,000 Wisconsin Power & Light 5's, 1956 2,000.00
American Mfg. Co. Common 72 shares . 7,200.00
Home Bleachery & Dye Works, Pfd. 2 Shares 11.00
Sharp Mfg. Co. Pfd. 55 Shares 2,035.00
Sharp Mfg. Co., Com. 20 Shares 220.00
Andover Savings Bank
5,657.01
Charlestown Five Cent Savings Bank
5,657.03
Essex Savings Bank, Lawrence
5,657.01
Mechanics Savings Bank, Reading 14.079.96
First Nat'l Bank, Reading, Savings Dept.
13,167.22
$157,049.73 $157.049.73
I hereby certify that, in accordance with the provisions of Section 53, Chapter 41, of the General Laws, I have audited the accounts of the Commissioners of Trust Funds, have examined the securities and verified bank balances and report the foregoing to be a true and accurate statement, December 31, 1929.
LEON G. BENT, Town Accountant.
BALANCE SHEET DEC. 31, 1928 GENERAL ACCOUNTS
Cash in Banks and Office .
$ 49,341.28
Temporary Loans Anticipation of Revenue
$150,000.00
Taxes, 1928
$ 1,566.93
Overlays Reserved for Abatements
Taxes, 1929
149,219.45
For 1928. Taxes 494.29
Motor Vehicle Excise Tax
8,082.88
For 1929 Taxes 2,482.67
$ 2,976.96
Sewer Assessments and In-
Overlay Reserve Fund
950.24
Moth Assessments Revenue
371.50
Sewer Assessments Revenue
903.78
Sewer Rentals Revenue
227.70
Sewer Assessments due 1929-1936
4,207.51
Departmental Accounts Receivable Sewer Ass't. Appor'd Rec. 1929- 1936
4,207.54
Departmental Accts. Rec. Revenue
13,530.80
Water Dept. Accounts Rec.
460.88
Water Dept. Accts. Rec. Revenue 460.88
Mun. Light Dept. Accts. Rec. Rev.
33,684.80
Water Dept. Maintenance Acct. ..
16,806.97
Tax Titles Held by Town
8,628.44
Sewer Depts. Maint. and Const. Account 12,363.60
Municipal Light Dept. Advanced
19,230.92
Municipal Light Dept. Cash
250.00
Sewer Dept. House Conn. Acct.
200.00
Water Dept. Cash
100.00
Cemetery Reserve Fund 4,684.71
Public Library Cash
15.00
Cemetery Lots Sales & Bequests .
287.50
Overdraft forward to 1930
Smith-Hughes Fund
176.68
Voc. Tuition 82.98
Appropriation Balances forward to 1929:
Cemetery Lots
Junior High School Building . $ 101.66
Sales and Bequests
287.50
Drainage System Survey 1,000.00
Cemetery Bequest
Drainage System Const. 1,710.72
Transfer Account
125.00
Block System Survey 4.50
terest
903.78
Sewer Rentals
227.70
$160,372.24
$ 13,530.80
Municipal Light Dept. Accounts Receivable
33,684.80
Motor Vehicle Excise Tax Revenue
8,032.88
Moth Assessments, 1929
371.50
Taxes and Assessments Receivable
World War Memorial $ 4,069.82
Land Damages 50.00
Water Mains Extension 1,222.58
$ 8,159.28
Sale Land
748.25
Public Library Special Account .
22.60
Tax Titles Revenue Excess and Deficiency Account . .
8,628.44
22,842.27
$290,317.38
$290,317.38
DEBT ACCOUNTS
Net Founded Debt
$509,300.00
Sewer Construction Loans
$143,000.00
Water Department Loans
50,000.00
Municipal Light Dept. Loans 67,300.00
Municipal Building Loans
16,000.00
Mun. Building and Library Loans
1,500.00
Brown Estate Loans
1,500.00
School Building Loans
230,000.00
$509,300.00
$509,300.00
TRUST FUNDS
$217,888.56
Cemetery Bequest Fund
$ 50,604.04
George F. Buck Fund
40.68
Hospital Fund
161,855.98
Reading High School Scholarship Fund 5,387.86
$217,888.56
$217,888.56
.
Trust Funds, Cash and Securities
292
GRACE V. VIALL, COLLECTOR Dr.
Amount uncollected, Dec. 31, 1928, account 1927 Tax $ 199.57 Interest collected, account 1927 Tax 11.60
uncollected, Dec. 31, 1928, account 1928 Tax 156,050.51
charged back from tax title account 79.56
Interest collected, account 1928 Tax
5,887.28
66 uncollected, Dec. 31, 1928 account 1928 Sewer 1,241.28
Interest collected account 1928 Sewer 34.92
Poll Tax Warrants, 1929 5,712.00
General Tax Warrants, Sept. 1929 461,354.99
Moth Tax, Sept. 1929 919.75
Sidewalk Assessment, Sept. 1929 24.79
66 Sewer Commitment, 1929 1,936.89
Motor Vehicle Excise, Warrants, 1929 30,178.79
General Tax Warrant, Dec. 1929
154.54
Interest collected, account 1929 Tax
268.03
66
Interest collected, account 1929 Sewer
.73
Interest collected, account 1929 Excise 5.55
uncollected Sewer rentals, Dec. 31, 1928
307.50
Interest collected, account Sewer rentals
28.10
Sewer Rentals, Jan. 1, 1929
4,418.10
" Sewer Rentals, July 1, 1929
4,548.90
Sewer Betterment, Oct. 11, 1929
208.02
Advanced payments on apportioned Sewer and Interest 71.35
Costs and Charges
678.90
$674,321.65
293
IN ACCOUNT WITH TOWN OF READING
Cr.
Amount Paid Treasurer account 1927 Tax
$ 166.54
abated account 1927 Tax
44.63
66 paid Treasurer account 1928 Tax and Interest
158,317.07
66 abated account 1928 Tax
1,022.81
transferred to tax title account 1928 Tax
1,110.54
" unpaid account 1928 Tax
1,566.93
paid Treasurer account 1928 Sewer and Interest
1,276.20
paid Treasurer account 1929 Tax and Interest
315,102.73
abated account 1929 Tax
1,210.76
transferred to tax title account 1929 Tax
2,529.66
unpaid account 1929 Tax
149,590.95
paid Treasurer account 1929 Sewer and Interest . .
1,032.81
66
unpaid account 1929 Sewer
904.81
paid Treasurer account Motor Vehicle Excise and Interest
19,922.15
abated account Motor Vehicle Excise
2,179.31
66 unpaid account Motor Vehicle Excise
8,082.88
paid Treasurer account 1927 Sewer Rentals and Interest
9.20
paid Treasurer account 1928 Sewer Rentals and Interest
298.89
unpaid account 1928 Sewer Rentals
18.00
paid Treasurer account 1929 Sewer Rentals and Interest
8,765.72
abated account 1929 Sewer Rentals
1.09
unpaid account 1929 Sewer Rentals
209.70
paid Treasurer account Sewer Betterment
96.02
transferred to deferred payments Sewer Better- ment
112.00
" paid Treasurer account advanced payments on
apportioned Sewer and Interest 71.35
" paid Treasurer account costs and charges
678.90
$674,321.65
GRACE V. VIALL, Collector of Taxes.
Reading, Mass., Dec. 31, 1929
Approved: Leon G. Bent, Town Accountant.
GRACE V. VIALL, COLLECTOR.
294
REPORT OF TREASURER
For the Year Ended December 31, 1929
The transactions in the General Cash Account, in summary form, were as follows :
Balance January 1, 1929
$ 44,429.58
Receipts :
Grace V. Viall, Collector
505,737.58
Municipal Light Department
303,089.43
Water Department
56,056:88
1:
Sewer Department
1,779.41
School Department
16,315.77
Cemetery Department
8,698.24
Tree Warden and Moth Department
836.25
Other Departmental Receipts
14,741.55
Interest on Deposits
1,684.59
Temporary Loans in Anticipation of Revenue
345,000.00
Trust Funds Income
6,245.00
Trust Funds Transfers
6,557.42
Sales of Property, Taxes, Interest and Costs
1,814.39
Commonwealth of Massachusetts, Taxes ..
79,442.51
Miscellaneous Receipts
5,174.80
Total Receipts
$1,353,173.82
$1,397,603.40
Disbursements :
Temporary Loans
320,000.00
Notes and Bonds, Funded Debt
69,800.00
Interest on Funded Debt
24,015.50
Interest on Temporary Loans
13,827.30
State Taxes and Assessments
33,722.96
County Tax
23,151.46
Other Disbursements
863,744.90
Total Disbursements
$1,348,262.12
Balance December 31, 1929 FUNDED DEBT
$ 49,341.28
Outstanding January 1, 1929
$579,100.00
Bonds and Notes Paid in 1929 $ 69,800.00
Outstanding December 31, 1929
509,300.00
$579,100.00
295
NOTES ISSUED IN ANTICIPATION OF REVENUE
Outstanding January 1, 1929
$125,000.00
Notes Issued in 1929 345,000.00
$470,000.00
Notes paid in 1929
$320,000.00
Outstanding December 31, 1929
150,000.00
$470,000.00
A more detailed statement of receipts and disbursements, and statement of the Trust Funds will be found in the report of the Town Accountant.
PRESTON F. NICHOLS, Treasurer.
REPORT OF INSPECTOR OF ANIMALS
To the Honorable Board of Selectmen :
At this time I wish to submit my report as Inspector of Animals for the year ending January 1, 1930.
Cattle inspected 250. Goats inspected 3.
Hogs inspected 100
The premises where the above listed animals were kept were in- spected and found to be satisfactory in practically all instances. Sug- gestions were made for improvement in a few cases, and later inspection showed the suggestions had been carried out.
Several of our dairies have applied for accreditation by the State and Federal authorities. Of course, that necessitates a tuberculin test on all cattle owned by the applicant, and subsequent additions to the herd must be disease free.
Rabies have been prevalent during the year. A number of cases have been reported, and I again urge that the utmost care be used in handling strange dogs.
The disease can be prevented by inoculation. The inoculation is safe and inexpensive and provides a year's immunity. If all doge were inoculated, it is easy to see that the disease would be greatly checked.
CALVERT H. PLAYDON,
Inspector of Animals.
1
296
REPORT OF THE PLANNING BOARD
To the Citizens of Reading :
The Planning Board submits the following report for the year 1929 :
During the past year the Board has convened on nineteen oc- casions, and in addition has been in session with the Board of Selectmen, Board of Public Works, Finance Committee, Board of Appeal, property owners ; has held public hearings and attended several forum meetings ; all in connection with matters which this Board thoroughly believed were of importance to the future welfare and growth of the Town.
After the Annual Town Meeting of March, 1929, both time and effort were expended in the preparation of a report and recommenda- tions in connection with the improvement of Reading Common. This project was formulated following the result of a vote at the above meet- ing; namely, that this Board be allowed an expenditure of $500.00 to employ an engineer to make a study of and draw plans for the improve- ment of the Common, to furnish a proper setting for the World War Memorial. Our complete plan and report were presented in detail at the Special Town Meeting of June 19, 1929, under Article 12, but met with adverse vote, on the grounds that the Town was not fairly repre- sented at that meeting. It was therefore decided that the proposition should be held over until the annual meeting in March, 1930. As the report of this recommendation is already on file with the proper Town officials, it has not been incorporated in this annual report.
Early in the fall of 1929 it was definitely learned that almost im- mediate steps were to be taken to erect new buildings on the westerly side of Reading Square. Bearing in mind the belief that there was a distinct advantage in having a newly established or set-back line on this side, which would create a wider roadway and a more impressive alignment of buildings, bring relief to both traffic and parking facilities, and ultimately enhance all property values in and around the area af- fected, this Board considered it necessary to again approach the Town relative to the widening of the Square. Although at a previous Town Meeting it had been voted to indefinitely postpone action on this pro- ject, the Board was convinced that it should again bring in a similar recommendation. We agreed, as a Board, that the change at this time, that is, before the erection of new buildings, would be the last economi- cal opportunity.
Therefore, the present Board has diligently worked on this propo- sition, conferring with Town and State officials, property owners, and with the public by means of the press and civic meetings. With facts and figures obtained, the Board of Selectmen was requested to call a special Town meeting, inasmuch as it would be too late to defer action
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until the annual meeting of March, 1930, since ground had been broken in January for the erection of a new building. The owner of this property consented to suspend building operations until the matter was presented to the townspeople for their reconsideration. The special Town meeting was held on February 17, 1930, when the thorough and detailed proposition was placed before the citizens, under Article IV. However, by casting ballots, a two-thirds vote required in favor of the motion under said Article was not carried.
While spending the greater part of the past year on these two foregoing major projects, the Board has given some thought to the Town's lack of proper playgrounds, the present condition of Memorial Park, and the matter of reforstation. There is much opportunity for recommendations and constructive work on these worthy civic develop- ments, and we trust that some time, in the not too distant future, the Town will give these subjects further study and adopt favorable action thereon.
Respectfully submitted, LELAND W. KINGMAN, Chairman. FREDERICK E. BOYERS, Secretary. WINTHROP D. PARKER GEORGE W. G. POOLE GEORGE W. DAVIS
TREE WARDEN'S REPORT, 1929
To the Honorable Board of Selectmen :
Gentlemen :
I have planted one hundred and eighty trees on the roadside during the past year. There is a demand for young shade trees in the residential section and I intend to plant a larger number the coming year.
The moth situation remains about the same for the last three years. No browntail webs have been found in the town limits, but every tree has to be looked over carefully for gypsy moth eggs, and the same creosoted during the winter months.
I would recommend the same appropriation as last year for each department.
Respectfully submitted,
HENRY M. DONEGAN, Tree Warden.
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REPORT OF THE CHIEF OF THE FIRE DEPARTMENT
To the Citizens of Reading :
The annual report of the Fire Department is herewith submitted giving the record of fires that have occurred during the year ending December 31, 1929 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 in- formation you may desire in that line.
Manual Force
The Department consists of nine permanent men (including the Chief) and twenty-one call nien.
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 Seagrave combination of 600 gallons per minute capacity equipped with booster tank which was purchased this year. One Robinson combina- tion service ladder truck which is equipped with a
White motor. This machine was purchased in 1916 and one 1910 Simplex single tank combination which was built and equipped by the permanent force in 1923.
The Ford hose truck that did service for ten years at hose 2 sta- tion on Woburn street was this year replaced by the Seagrave Com- bination pump of 400 gallons per minute capacity which was purchased in 1926 and formerly stationed at the Central Fire Station.
A Hudson sedan was purchased this year for the use of the Chief and I have also purchased a Davis inhalator which is used ex- tensively in resuscitation work.
All machines and equipment are in good working order at the present time.
Recommendations
I would recommend again this year the purchase of a new fire alarm system as the one we are now using is obsolete and very much over loaded. I also recommend the purchase of a foam generator to use when large quantities of inflammable liquids are on fire.
Fire Prevention
I have issued 789 permits for fires out of doors, 27 permits for the installation of oil burning equipment, 6 permits for the sale of fire- works and 2 blasting permits. The members of the permanent force and myself have made regular inspections of the mercantile district.
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Record of Alarms
Month
Still
Bell
Total
January
17
2
19
February
13
2
15
March
30
11
41
April
26
7
33
May
21
8
29
June
16
5
21
July
15
9
24
August
12
10
22
September
7
3
10
October
38
13
51
November
27
5
32
December
9
7
16
Totals
231
82
313
Miles traveled
1,234.7
Number of feet of 21/2 inch hose laid
17,950
Number of feet of 11/2 inch hose laid
13,650
Number of feet of chemical hose used
5,500
Number of feet of ladders raised
1,058
Gallons of chemical used
362
Gallons of gasoline used
780
Gallons of oil used
32
Value of property in danger
$298,557.00
Insurance thereon
282,100.00
Loss thereto
16,585,77
Insurance paid thereon
14,804.77
Uninsured loss
1,781.00
The department has been to Wakefield five times on mutual aid and has made one run each to North Reading, Wilmington and Stoneham to render aid at fires.
There have been 14 calls other than fire duty at follows : 2 to un- lock doors, 2 to release flags, 3 to help horses out of mud, 3 to remove cats from trees, 1 to look for lost persons, 2 to pump out cellars, 1 to remove dead man from roof and 1 to release cow from mud.
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