USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Reading > Town of Reading Massachusetts annual report 1931 > Part 18
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The revenue of the department has been somewhat reduced this year, although there was actually more work accomplished. This was due to the fact that the sealing-fee for the new electric gasoline pump is only ten cents, while the fee for sealing the old style pump was fifty cents. The fees are established by the state department.
In addition to the testing and sealing of all devices in town used for buying and selling and the reweighing of many of the commodities as put up for sale to the public, to insure the delivery of the proper weight, this department enforces all regulations that govern pedlars and transcient vendors.
Below is a tabulation of the work accomplished this year :- Commodity Incorrect
Number Tested
Number Correct
Under
Over
Bread
20
16
1
3
Butter
14
13
1
Coal, in paper bags
10
6
3
1
Dry Commodities
42
34
3
5
Flour
6
4
1
1
Fruits and Vegetables
12
11
1
Grain & Feed
6
6
Ice
4
1
1
2
Meats & Provisions
14
12
1
1
128
103
11
14
Summary of Inspections
Paper cartons, 1; Labels on bread, 4; Oil jars, 6; Clinical therm., 1; Pedlars scales, 2; Ice scales, 4; Junk scales, 2; Gasoline devices, after sealing, 4.
Number of scales, weights and measures tested and sealed in the town of Reading from Dec. 1, 1930 to Dec. 1. 1931 inclusive.
214
Non Sealed Condemned
Platform scales over 5,000 lbs
3
3
under 5,000 lbs
11
11
1
Spring-balance
24
43
Computing scales
11
23
2
Slot weighing scales
2
2
Weights
163
2
Dry Measures
4
Liquid Measures
45
6
Gasolene pumps
6
51
5
Yard Measures
12
Quantity stops on pumps
67
265
142
622
1 17
CARL M. SMITH, Sealer of Weights and Measures.
REPORT OF BOARD OF HEALTH
To the Citizens of Reading :
There were three hundred twenty-nine (329) contagious cases reported during the year 1931.
Anterior Poliomyelitis
6
Chicken Pox
18
Lobar Pneumonia
1
Measles
159
Scarlet Fever
17
Tuberculosis
17
Whooping Cough
11
Number of deaths
86
Male
40
Female
46
3 were over 90 years
5 were between 40 and 56
14 were between 80 and 90
3 were between 30 and 40
25 were between 70 and 80
1 was under 1 year
16 were between 60 and 70
3 still births
16 were between 50 and 60
Respectfully submitted,
E. M. HALLIGAN, M. D., C. F. ATKINSON, G. W. S. IDE,
Board of Health
Adjusted Sealed
215
OLD AGE ASSISTANCE REPORT
To the Board of Public Welfare:
Bureau of Old Age Assistance.
The following report is submitted for the year ending Dec 31, 1931.
The Old Age Assistance Act which took effect July 1, 1931, provides for assistance to worthy citizens over seventy years of age who have had twenty years residence in the State. It is not in any sense a pension. There must be real need before aid is given. The ability of children to help in the support of their parents is carefully considered.
Sixty-one persons have applied for this type of assistance. Thirty- nine applications have been accepted. Of these, two have been can- celled by death. There are three married couples, each person being considered as a separate case. There are 11 widows and 5 widowers.
The aged people are kept in their own homes whenever pos- sible, for the greater number of them are longtime residents of the town, who through illness, unemployment or adversity have been compelled to use up their savings. Thirty-four are still at home or living with near relatives, 4 are boarding with private families and 1 in a hospital.
Old Age Assistance has placed an added burden on the Board of Public Welfare and on the taxpayers of the State But the knowledge that these good citizens of our town need not face their declining years in want, or fear of separation from loved ones, will make that burden easier to bear.
Respectfully submitted, ANNIE E. PATRICK, Visitor.
REPORT OF THE BOARD OF PUBLIC WELFARE
To the Citizens of Reading :
The Board of Overseers of the Public Welfare submits herewith the report for the year ending December 31, 1931.
The following officers were elected at the first meeting of the Board: Mary F. Daniel, chairman, Myrtle L. Leman, secretary, and George H. Sidebottom, treasurer of the Special Fund. The Board re- appointed the Visitor, Helen A. Brown and the Clerk, Leon G. Bent.
The tables of comparison shown below will give the citizens a clear and concise idea of the increase in need and in the amount of re- lief, together with the amount to be reimbursed by the State and by. other cities and towns.
216
1930
1931
Aid, Board and Care
$14,626.39
$20,103.63
Mothers' Aid
4,069.93
4,812.01
Temporary Aid
3,235.01
4,045.88
Administration
952.00
1,152.00
Old Age Assistance July 1 to Dec. 31, 1931 Total
4,280.62
$22,883.33 $34,394.14
The following reimbursements have been or will be received :
Aid, Board and Care (from other cities and towns) 3,038.93 (from the Hospital Fund) 1,003.13
Mothers' Aid from the state and other towns
2,598.92
Temporary Aid from the State
4,045.88
Old Age Assistance (from the State and other towns)
2,148.20
Total reimbursements
$12,835.06
The following table shows that the lack of employment was by far the greatest factor to be considered.
Causes for seeking aid
1930
1931
Unemployment
34
56
Illness
11
12
Old Age
11
47
Widowhood
10
12
Desertion or non-support
7
8
Mentally deficient
3
5
Total number of persons aided
269
448
Public Works and Light Department projects which require laborers, materially affect the expenditures under the Town Aid Bud- get. The system used by the Board of Public Works, by which the work was spread out to cover the greatest number of workers relieved many people from seeking aid from this department.
Co-operation with the Selectmen on their Employment Plan made a success of a theory devised last year by the Welfare Board but not satisfactorily carried out because of lack of supervision. The Wel- fare Department cannot carry on projects but it can see that men are employed by other town departments in return for aid given.
Since November, when the Employment Plan went into opera- tion, all able bodied men receiving aid have been employed and thus the town receives a return for aid given. The Board plans to continue this system, with the co-operation of the other town departments, as long as there are able-bodied men seeking aid.
¿ The largest item in the Welfare budget is that of Aid, Board and Care, or Town Aid, to be used for the relief of those cases which have a settlement in Reading or in any other town or city in the Common-
217
wealth. A person must live five years in a town or city without re- ceiving public aid before he can gain a settlement. The town or city in which a person has a settlement reimburses for the aid given.
The second largest item of expense is the Old Age Assistance, which went into effect July 1, 1931. Mrs. Annie E. Patrick was appoint- ed part time visitor for the Bureau. The Board planned for twenty cases, based on statistics given by the State. But the applications came in so rapidly that they reached a total of sixty-one by the end of the year. Of these thirty-nine have been accepted at an average of $5.73 per person. The unemployment situation has affected our aged people indirectly in that it reaches the relatives and friends whose homes in normal times offered shelter to those too old to care for themselves. Feeling that the peak has been reached on this type of aid, the Board has not increased its budget over the amount needed for last year.
Mothers' Aid, which provides partial support for mothers with dependent children. has also felt the depression, for the older children have been unable to earn, and the mother herself has found it almost impossible to obtain the extra day's work which would swell her meagre budget. The State reimburses for one-third of the aid given.
Temporary Aid, provides assistance for those who have no legal settlement in any town or city in the Commonwealth. The State reim- burses wholly for these cases. Unfortunately these people are usually not citizens, which makes it impossible for them to get work with Town departments. They are, however, being employed under the Welfare Department, whenever physically able.
Hospital care paid for directly by the Hospital Fund Trustees in no small measure relieves the Welfare Board of the expense of caring for the sick. During 1931 in addition to the reimbursement of $1,003.13 the Trustees' disbursements amounted to $5,658.79.
The four above mentioned types of aid are all part of the depart- mental organization of Public Welfare. But the Town of Reading has still another kind of assistance made possible by the generosity and kindness of its citizens. This is the Special Fund, contributed to by the following organizations :
Firemen's Relief Association, Board of Selectmen, Reading Chronicle, Reading Teachers' Club, Municipal Light Department, Police Department, Reading College Club, Pomona Grange and individual contributors.
This money has been invaluable to the Board and to those who have benefited by it. It is worth far more than its actual face value. It has bought milk for children whose parents did not ask for aid, it has bought tickets to Boston for men of specialized trades, so that they could seek work, it has paid for much needed medical appliances, has bought shoes and clothing, has been loaned to tide over a small gap in
218
employment, and to pay for medical care. It bought an oil stove which was used to cook meals of a tubercular man waiting to be admitted to the sanatorium, so that others need not be exposed to the disease at restaurant or boarding house.
The temporary loans to citizens, who would never seek aid but who nevertheless were in real need, have been the greatest satisfaction to the members of the Board, who hope that public-spirited citizens will keep this fund in existence always.
Aside from the donations of money listed above, the Board wishes to gratefully acknowledge the many gifts of usable clothing from in- terested friends, a carload of heavy timbers procured through the kind- ness of Louis Ellenwood, a number of large boxes of stockings, gloves, handkerchiefs, ties, other clothing and toys given by the Sunday School of the Old South Church at 'Christmas time, two layettes made by the members of the Junior Woman's Club, and warm clothing, mended and put in order by the Women's Service League of the Church of the Good Shepherd.
Miss Helen A. Brown, Mrs. Annie E. Patrick, and Leon G. Bent, have all given unstintingly of their time and energy for which the Board is sincerely grateful.
MARY F. DANIEL MYRTLE L. LEMAN GEORGE H. SIDEBOTTOM Board of Public Welfare.
REPORT OF TOWN FOREST COMMITTEE
To the Board of Selectmen,
Town of Reading,
Reading, Massachusetts.
Gentlemen :
The Town Forest is becoming more than a mere name. It is now a real living forest of little pines. To those who had a part in the plant- ing of the first trees a few years ago, there will come increasingly, year by year, a thrill as they see little seedlings of yesteryear become a maturing stately symbol of growth and development in the years to come. Already bushy green heads are forcing their way up above the thick and grasping undergrowth of sweet ferns, blueberry bushes and sprouts.
More land has been cleared and planted in 1931, making at present a total acreage of 45 acres cleared, and 37 acres planted.
The total number of trees set out since the opening of the Town Forest on April 19, 1930 is as follows :
White Pine, 19,000; Red Pine, 14,000; Spruce, 4,000; Total 37,000.
219
The expenses for 1931 were as follows :
Labor, $682.32; Express, $13.42; Supplies, $3.40 ; Totals $699.14.
In 1930 the expenditures amounted to $1496.91 which includes the cost of surveying, takings of land, land court charges, clearing and planting.
We have had visitations by officials from the State Department of Forestry, and are informed that a larger percentage of trees, set out by us, have survived than is usual in the planting of forest land. Comparatively, Reading ranks very high with other cities and towns in the development of a Town Forest. We hope the citizens will have an increasing interest in this project and will visit the Forest on occasions other than the blueberry season.
Very respectfully yours, LELAND W. KINGMAN O. O. ORDWAY HENRY M. DONEGAN Town Forest Committee
REPORT OF THE BOARD OF APPEAL
To the Honorable Board of Selectmen :
Gentlemen: Thirteen petitions for relief from different provisions of the Zoning By-Law were presented to the Board of Appeal during 1931, on all of which public hearings were given, as required by the By-Law. Of these petitions, ten were granted, three were denied.
Of the petitions granted, three were for permission to construct additions to residence buildings, and two were for permission to build private garages, all five of these bringing the structures nearer the lot lines than permitted by the By-Law, but in every case constituting a technical rather than a practical violation; one asked for an extension to the Baptist Church, one was for permission to place an apartment house nearer to the rear lot line than allowed by the By-Law, thereby permitting a greater set-back from the street, two were for extension of now conforming use of business premises, and one was for permission to install and use temporarily, equipment for processing rock and gravel used in the construction of state road.
Of the three petitions denied, two were for establishment of new business in residential zone, and one was for extension of non-conform- ing use.
Respectfully submitted, HENRY Q. MILLETT, Chairman, FRED L. NUTTER, Secretary CHARLES A. DAMON
Board of Appeal
220
REPORT OF THE CHIEF OF POLICE
To the Honorable Board of Selectmen. Gentlemen ;
I herewith submit the annual report of the Police Department of the Town of Reading for the year ending December 31, 1931.
Arrests for the year 1931-474
Males, 464; Females, 10; Residents, 117; Non-Residents, 357 ; Adults, 418; Minors, 56; American born 409; Foreign born 65.
Causes of Arrests
Assault and battery, 7; drunkenness, 155; robbery at night, 2; Larcency, 9; Driving under the influence of liquor, 39; Default,3; Theft of Automobiles, 4; Automobile law violations, 221; Warrants from out Town officers, 10; Insane. 5; Capias, 5; Non-support, 6; Neglected child, 2; Keeping and exposing liquor sale, 3; Stubborn child, 1; Assault with attempt to rob, 1; Vagrancy, 2; Indecent ex- posure, 1; Promoting lottery, 1; Issued checks without funds to meet the same, 1; Railer and brawler, 1; Throwing glass in the street, 1.
Disposition of Cases in Court
Fined, 240; Filed, 65; Probation, 10; Released, 76; Discharged, 26; Turned over to out Town officers, 12; House of Correction, 8; House of Correction suspended, 18; Danvers State Hospital, 5; Lan- caster school, 1; Defaulted, 3; Shirley school suspended, 3; Grand Jury, 3; Continued, 3.
Miscellaneous
Horse shot, 1; Automobile accidents, 224; Cases investigated, 251; Vacated houses, special attention given, 20; Guarding mail, 76; Guarding pay rolls, 75; Lost children found and returned to parents, 37; Accidents other than automobiles, 7; Doors found open and secured, 135; Automobiles reported stolen by out Town officers, 149; Street lights out and reported, 37; Summons served for out Town officers, 101; Wires found down and reported, 6; Dogs killed by officers, 33; Dogs killed by automobiles, 25; Dogs found and returned to owners, 14; Goods found by officers outside stores and brought to the station valued at $100.00; Old people found and taken home, 5; Windows found open and secured, 27; Windows found broken in buildings, 5; Property reported stolen, $14431.00; Property recovered, $13443.00; Property recovered for out Town officers, $2050.00, Search warrants served, 6; Dead bodies taken care of, 2; Messages delivered at night by officers. 21; Defects in streets and sidewalks reported, 11; Automobile transfer, 240; Police ambulance has made the following runs to hospitals : Win- chester, 20; Mass. General, 7; Mass. Memorial, 3; Melrose, 2; Peter Bent Brigham, 2; Private hospital in Wakefield, 2; State hospital, Danvers, 5; State hospital, Tewksbury, 3.
221
Amount of Fines Imposed by the Court
64 at $5.00 each, $320.00; 121 at $10.00 each, $1210.00; 13 at $15.00 each, $195.00; 13 at $20.00 each, $260.00; 3 at $25.00 each, $75.00; 4 at $30.00 each, $120.00; 29 at $50.00 each, $1450.00; 1 at $75.00 each.
I recommend a new ambulance as our Studebaker is getting old being a 1927 car, and I recommend we replace the 1928 Ford touring car on account of the cost of repairs.
Conclusion
At this time I wish to thank the Honorable Board of Selectmen, the Judges of the District Court, the Clerks of the Court, our local Press, and all others who have assisted in promoting the welfare of this department; also the members of the force for what they have done.
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 1931 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 nine (9) permanent men (including the Chief) and twenty-one call men.
Apparatus and Equipment
The Department has five pieces of motor apparatus and a sedan for the use of the Chief. The Chief's car and four pieces of apparatus 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, equipped with a booster tank, of 600 gallons per minute capacity which was purchased in 1928. One Robinson combina- tion service ladder truck in which a White motor has been installed, this machine was purchased in 1916. And one Simplex hose truck equipped with a portable pump which was built by permanent force in 1923 and is equipped for grass and brush fires.
At Engine No. 2 station on Woburn St. there is a Seagrave com- bination of 400 gallons per minute capacity equipped with a booster tank. This machine was purchased in 1926.
222
Engines 2 and 3, the ladder truck and the Simplex hose truck are in good condition. Combination A (the Knox Combination) is in very poor condition. and should be replaced this year. This machine was purchased in 1913 and is now nineteen years old. The company that built it have been out of business for more than twelve years and I have very much trouble getting repair parts for it and I doubt very much if this machine would stand up in the event of a large fire.
Recommendations
I would recommend the expenditure of $12,500.00 for the pur- chase of a triple combination of 750 gallons per minute capacity I would also recommend that a reward of ($25.00) twenty-five dollars be offered for the information leading to the arrest of any person sound- ing a false alarm. And I would also recommend that your board study the matter of a new fire alarm system this year as no fire department is any more efficient than its alarm system.
Fire Prevention
I have issued 825 permits for fires out of doors, 34 permits for the storage of oil and the installation of oil burning equipment, 6 permits for the sale of fireworks, 5 permits for the transportation of explosives and 4 permits to conduct blasting operations.
The members of the permanent force and myself have made regular inspections of all mercantile establishments and garages.
Record of Alarms
Month
Bell
Still
Total
January
6
4
10
February
1
5
6
March
5
19
24
April
18
52
70
May
6
20
26
June
5
5
10
July
3
9
12
August
2
4
6
September
3
10
13
October
10
28
38
November
10
41
51
December
6
23
29
-
-
Totals
75
220
295
Miles traveled
1184.2
Number feet of 21/2 inch hose laid
15,650
Number feet of 11/2 inch hose laid
23,150
223
Number feet of chemical hose laid
5350
Number feet of ladders raised
720
Gallons of chemicals used
96
Number of times boosters tanks used
47
Gallons of gasoline used
875
Gallons of oil used
33
Value of property in danger
$ 92,566.44
Insurance thereon
94,700.00
Loss thereto
13,251.46
Insurance paid
12,441.46
Conclusion
In concluding, I wish to extend to your Honorable Board, 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 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,
ORVILLE O. ORDWAY,
Chief of Fire Department.
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 31st 1931.
The financial transactions of the department are embodied in the report of the Town Accountant to which I refer you for any in- formation along this line.
The following deputies were appointed by me and approved by the State Forest Warden : Henry M. Donegan, 11 Federal St., John L. O'Brien and Hugh L. Eames, Central Fire Station.
Combination C. is used for grass and brush fires. This machine is equipped with 1800 feet of 11/2 inch hose as well as brooms and pump cans. A portable gasoline pump of 100 gallons per minute capacity was added to the equipment this year. Although I have had very little use for this pump this year it is a valuable addition to this department.
224
All woodland has been posted as in former years. And all fires were investigated and reported to the State Forest Warden.
In concluding I wish to thank all those who have assisted this department during the year.
Respectfully submitted, ORVILLE O. ORDWAY, Forest Warden.
REPORT OF THE SUPERINTENDENT OF FIRE ALARM
To the Honorable Board of Selectmen,
Gentlemen :
The following is the report of the Superintendent of Fire Alarm for the year of 1931.
Two new boxes have been installed. Box 1212 at Main and Haven sts. and Box 623 at School and Dudley sts. with auxiliary stations in the Grouard House and the Opportunity School giving both of these schools fire alarm protection. Box 68 has been located at Grove and Franklin Sts.
The Fire Alarm wires in the square have been placed under- ground with 3 fire alarm box pedestals, one combination fire and police pedestal and one terminal pedestal. 5048 feet of lead covered cable was placed in underground ducts containing spare wires for future growth of the system. At points where overhead wires enter the underground the cables are protected against lightning and heavy currents by vacuum arresters. About one mile of overhead wire and one hundred cross arms were removed.
It was necessary to install a charging outfit for the first alarm battery when the Eastern Massachusetts Street Railway Company discontinued their service. A 1/2 k. w. generator driven by a 34 h. p. motor was purchased and is giving satisfacton.
About 3 miles of wire was rerun, 11/2 miles of new wire run and North Main street construction was rebuilt with the widening of the state road. Tree insulators have been placed where needed and trees trimmed to avoid grounding, and the whistle valve has been repaired.
One box has been damaged to such an extent that I recommend that it be replaced.
I recommend a fire alarm box in the terminal pedestal at the corner of Main and Charles Sts. Also that a substantial reward be offered for the information leading to the arrest and conviction of persons sounding false alarms or tampering with the fire alarm system.
225
Fire Alarm
112 Woburn and Sanborn.
113 Woburn and Bancroft Av.
114 Mt. Vernon opp. Chute.
115 Woburn and High.
12 Central Fire Station.
121 Reading Sq., opp. Pleasant
1212 Main and Haven.
122 Haven and Gould.
123 Green east of High.
13 Ash and Avon.
14 Oak and Hill Crest Rd.
141 Howard and Hill Crest Rd.
15 Summer Av. and Walnut.
152 Summer Av. and Penn. Av.
16 So. Main and South.
18 Minot and Park Av.
19 Walnut and Curtis.
21 Temple and Summer Av.
211 Prescott and Arlington.
212 Prescott and Sunnyside Av.
213 Pratt and Fairview Av.
217 West and Howard.
221 Union St. School. (Private)
223 Lowell and Salem.
224 High School. (Private)
225 Highland School. (Private)
226 Lowell St. School.
227 Prospect St. School.
228 Chestnut Hill School.
23 Woburn and Temple.
231 West beyond Longwood Rd. 232 Junior High School.
24 Hancock and Mineral.
242 Summer Av. and Woodbine.
25 Prospect and King.
252 Longview Rd.
26 Engine 2 house, Woburn St.
262 Berkeley and Fremont.
27 Summer Av. so. of Prescott.
28 West and County Rd.
29 West and King.
291 West and Longwood Rd.
31 Lowell, Grove and Willow.
312 Lowell and Dustin.
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