Town of Reading Massachusetts annual report 1938, Part 18

Author: Reading (Mass.)
Publication date: 1938
Publisher: The Town
Number of Pages: 378


USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Reading > Town of Reading Massachusetts annual report 1938 > Part 18


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Park Department


230


partment presents every possible activity that its present appropriations will permit.


There is a grave problem facing the town in the growing group of unemployed older children. The problem of supplying recreation and guidance to these children is worthy of serious study. One method of alleviating the situation is the development of the parks and play- grounds from the view point of all-year-round service, thus making available to these children wholesome activities under the guidance of selected supervisors. Well directed, attractive activities will afford these children a chance to use their idle hours wholesomely and profit- ably and will help to keep the town free from juvenile delinquency. It is felt that funds spent in this manner will bring the town a definite, if intangible, return on its investment. It is therefor strongly urged that the appropriations for parks and playgrounds be greatly increased over previous years.


Tennis is a popular sport. At present, the department has nine courts only three of which have good playing surfaces. The other six have tar treated gravel surfaces which are rough and uneven . An at- tempt was made last summer to surface these courts inexpensively without success. It is recommended that funds be made available to surface these six courts with asphaltic cement mixtures of the same nature as the surfaces of the three good courts.


The fences surrounding the courts at Birch Meadow and Washing- ton street are of cheap construction and in poor condition. It is recom- mended that they be replaced with good chain link fences.


The parks and playgrounds have very little play apparatus on them. The department has installed as many pieces as its finances would permit. The total number is, however, inadequate. It is recommended that additional funds be made available for the purchase of play ap- paratus.


"This department has several plans, of a concrete nature, for the development of parks and playgrounds. These plans include, among others, reclaiming and developing swampy areas, relocating areas of play, installation of apparatus, construction of play houses, develop- ment of activities from which an income may be derived, extension of supervision and many others. The present appropriations to the Park and Playground Department are, however, entirely inadequate 1 ; any particular development of the parks and playgrounds. The above developments will, therefore, proceed at a very slow pace unless greater appropriations are made by the Town for park and playground purposes.


Park Department


231


SEWER DEPARTMENT


To the Board of Public Works : Gentlemen :


The following is the yearly report of the Sewer Department :


Construction and Maintenance Account


Appropriation $ 11,410.00


Construction Expenditures :


Pay Roll $ 1,483.08


Supplies for Construction 662.85


$ 2,145.93


Maintenance Expenditures :


Pay Roll


$ 3,521.40


Int. on Bonds


3,070.00


Insurance 375.93


Equip. Maint. 242.59


Gas and Oil


122.73


Sewer Cleaning Equip. 483.25


Misc. Supplies and Tools


661.86


Transf. to Rd. Mch. Acct.


172.00


$ 8,649.76


Total Expended $ 10,795.69 614.31


Balance Unexpended


House Connection Account


Appropriation


$ 1,000.00


Transfer


200.00


$ 1,200.00


Expended :


Pay Roll $ 906.28


Pipe and Fittings 274.75


Total Expended


$ 1,181.03


Balance Unexpended $ 18.97


Sewer Department 232


On application of abutting property owners, an extension of the main trunk sewer was made in Eaton Street, from Pleasant Street Northerly to near Salem Street. This extension comprised 500 lineal feet of 12" vitrified sewer pipe, fifteen 12" x 5" Y connection for future use, and two sewer manholes. It was also necessary, because of much ground-water, to lay 500 lineal feet of 6" vitrified clay underdrain pipe below the sewer line. The sewer main was laid at an average depth of eight feet, and the underdrain at an average depth of nine feet. It was necessary to sheath much of the trench due to caving of the trench wall through prevalence of ground-water. The sewer main was laid on a 1.80% grade. There are ten houses listed as possible connections to this main, with two having been connected to date.


Preliminary to the Chapter 90 construction of Woburn Street, two extensions of sewer mains for possible future use were made. At the intersection of Bancroft Avenue and Woburn Street 36.52 feet of 8" vitrified sewer main was laid from the manhole in Woburn Street to beyond the side-line of Woburn Street; and at the intersection of Woburn and Chute Streets an extension of 35.30 feet of 8" Cast Iron sewer main was laid from the manhole in Woburn Street northerly be- yond the side-line of Woburn Street. The sewer mains on the section of Woburn Street constructed were examined for possible defects, cleaned, and manholes frames and covers adjusted to grade. Several old type manhole covers in this section were replaced with new covers, and one sewer manhole was rebuilt.


The sewer cleaning equipment purchased late in the fall of 1937 was used extensively during the year, and all mains laid on a flat gradient have been thoroughly cleaned by it. Through a planned pro- gram, other sewer trunk lines have been and are being cleaned, and in time all sewer trunk lines in the sewerage system will be so treated regularly.


Twenty-six new house sewer connections were installed in 1938, having a total length of 1,273.50 feet, at an average cost to the prop- erty owners of $27.26 per connection. Six of these connections were made to newly constructed houses, the remainder to existing houses on streets having a common sewer. In three instances, owners of proper- ties were compelled by the Board of Health to connect with the sewer as a necessary health measure, because of inefficient and overflowing cesspools which created an unhealthy condition in their neighborhood.


Sewer maintenance work somewhat exceeded that of previous years. A total of twenty-five house sewer connections became clogged and stopped. Tree roots growing through defective joints into the sewer pipe were responsible for approximately one-half the stoppages and were cleared at the expense of the department; the remainder were caused by the presence in the sewer connections of such foreign


Sewer Department


233


objects as bottles, tin cans, garbage, rags, etc. These stoppages were also cleared, but at the expense of the property owner.


One house connection was broken during excavation by a power shovel and relaid. Two other house connections, broken during storm drain installations, were repaired. Several manholes frames and cov- ers were adjusted to grade in various streets, broken manhole covers replaced, and a number of manhole covers that were noisy under auto traffic replaced with noiseless ground-joint covers.


At the Annual Town Meeting in March, 1938, under Article 33, the Town voted to accept the provisions of Chapter 280 of the Acts of 1937, entitled "An Act Authorizing the Town of Reading to Establish Regula- tions . Requiring Owners to connect with the Common Sewer therein". The Act referred to is as follows :


ACTS OF 1937 CHAPTER 280


An Act Authorizing the Town of Reading to Establish Regulations Requiring Owners to Connect with the Common Sewer Therein


Section 1. Chapter three hundred and fourteen of the acts of nineteen hundred and nine is hereby amended by striking out section thirteen and inserting in place thereof the following: Section 13. The Board of Public Works, successor to the Sewer Commissioners, under authority of section two of chapter one hundred and eighteen of the acts of the year nineteen hundred and twenty-one may from time to time prescribe rules and regulations for the connecting of estates and building's with main drains and sewers and for the purpose of requiring all owners of buildings located upon land abutting a public or private way in which there is a common sewer to connect therewith, and for the inspection of the materials, the construction, alteration and use of all connections and drains entering into such main drains or sewers, and may impose penalties not exceeding twenty dollars for every viola- tion of any such rule or regulation, or not exceeding one dollar for each day during which such violation continues. Such rules or regula- tions shall be published not less than once a week for three successive weeks in some newspaper published in the town of Reading, if there be any, and if not then in some newspaper published in the County of Middlesex, and shall not take effect until such publication has been made.


Sewer Department


234


Section 2. This act shall take full effect upon its acceptance by vote of the inhabitants of the Town of Reading at a town meeting held within two years after its passage.


Approved May 6, 1937.


The Board of Public Works, successors to the Sewer Commissioners, acting under the authority vested in them by the acceptance of said Chapter 280, Acts of 1937, by the Town, adopted the following Rules and Regulations relating to the connection of estates and buildings with the common sewer, and caused them to be published, as required by statute, in the Reading Chronicle, in publications issued July 1, July 8, and July 15, 1938 :


Rules and Regulations Adopted by the Board of Public Works Requiring Owners to Connect with the Common Sewer Effective July 15, 1938


Under the authority conferred upon the Board of Public Works of the Town of Reading by virtue and in pursuance of Chapter 280 of the Acts of 1937, the following rules and regulations are hereby adopted relating to the connection of estates and buildings with the common sewer, such rules and regulations are in amendment of, in addition to, and form a part of the existing rules and regulations previously adopted by the Board of Public Works of the Town.


Section 17. In streets in which a common sewer is in ex- istence and now available for connection therewith, owners of any building or structure upon land abutting thereon shall within ten (10) years from the date hereof, connect such buildings or structure with the common sewer.


Section 18. In streets in which a common sewer is subse- quently constructed and available for connection, owners of any building or structure then existing upon land abutting thereon, shall within ten (10) years from the date of the completion and availability for connection of said common sewer, connect such building or structure with said common sewer.


Sewer Department


235


Section 19. In streets in which a common sewer is in ex- istence and available for connection, every owner of land abut- ting thereon shall, at the time of the erection of any building or structure thereon, connect the same with the common sewer.


Section 20. Sections 17 to 19 of the above regulations shall not apply to any building or structure which has no water service or supply of water therein.


Section 21. Any person who shall violate any of the provi- sions of Sections 17 to 19 inclusive of the above rules and regula- tions shall be liable to a penalty not exceeding twenty (20) dollars for each violation, or not exceeding one (1) dollar for each day during which such violation continues.


Immediately upon the adoption of said Rules and Regulations, every record owner of an estate abutting on a street containing a com- mon sewer was notified of the provisions of Chapter 280 and the re- sulting revision of the Sewer Rules and Regulations, by written notice and/or personal delivery. It is hoped that no great financial burden will be placed on property owners by the connection regulation, as ten years are given in which to connect. Several property owners, whose cesspools had been a source of expense and care to them, have, since receiving notification, caused their respective estates to be con- nected with the sewer. Further reduction of the sewer rental rates will be possible as the number of users increases.


At the present time, a deposit covering the costs of connecting a building with the common sewer must be paid in advance of the con- struction. In some cases, this method is a hardship on the owner. The Board, at the Annual Town Meeting in March, 1939, will ask permission of the Town to petition the State Legislature to pass legis- lation allowing these costs to be spread over a period of ten years.


The following tables illustrate the status of the Reading Sewerage System as of January 1, 1939, showing the list of streets containing common sewers, the number of connections, possible connections and revenue charges for 1938, and the lengths of services, trunk sewers and underdrains.


Sewer Department


236


READING SEWERAGE SYSTEM 1921 - 1938


Tables Showing


Streets Containing Sewers


Length of Sewer Connections


Main Sewers In Streets


Underdrains In Streets


STREETS


Streets


Possible Con- nections


Completed Per Cent Con- Con- nected nections


No Con- struction Started


Connected to Street Line


Partially installed to House


Revenue Charges 1938


Arlington


12


3


25


5


3


1


$ 25.27


Asn.


17


9


53


7


1


113.09


Bancroft .


22


13


59


9


129.99


Berkeley .


27


16


59


11


214.03


Brook.


8


1


12


7


7.36


Center


10


8


80


2


57.77


Chute.


40.35


Copeland.


8


8


100


.


141.22


Dudley .


10


4


40


6


59.35


Eaton


12


4


33


8


12.00


Elliott.


8


4


50


4


51.36


Fremont.


4


4


100


57.86


Fulton .


1


1


100


20.80


Gardner.


7


5


71


2


44.16


Gould.


3


3


100


7


1


5


474.92


Harnden


9


8


89


1


92.73


Haven .


45


30


67


7


6


2


545.66


High


16


7


7


2


63.06


Hillcrest .


10


9


90


1


104.36


Howard.


18


16


89


1


1


192.09


Ide


2


1


50


1


18.63


John.


18


12


66


6


King.


6


6


100


Kingston.


15


14


93


1


. .


106.95


Lincoln


7


5


71


Linden.


11


7


69


3


1


127.88


Lowell.


4


3


75


1


47.52


Main . .


50


40


80


.


2


1


50


1


10.58


Middlesex


24


14


58


6


2


2


191.27


Minot .


1.


8


67


2


2


85.53


Mt. Vernon


23


12


52


11


134.92


Parker


7


6


86


1


75.49


Park.


7


6


86


1


47.60


Perkins


1


1


1


100


6.00


Pleasant


37


18


49


17


2


198.44


Pratt .


4


3


75


1


35.28


Prescott


5C


85


1


5


2


480.88


Prospect


18


9


50


8


1


144.84


Salem


21


13


62


1


7


219.80


Sanborn


15


10


66


3


. .


63.56


Scotland.


1


1


100


6.00


Smith.


12


12


100


9


.


1


9.43


Temple.


33


12


36


15


6


230.30


Union. .


5


3


60


1


48.19


Village.


22


14


64


7


1


176.24


Warren1.


17


14


82


.


2


1


177.12


Washingtor


31


20


64


9


2


178.75


Wenda.


1


4


100


44.26


Wilson.


11


9


82


2


Woburn


85


51


60


0


24


4


692.64


Total.


900


590


66


182


92


36


$8,329.48


.


148.00


Summer


18


8


44


1


95.89


Sweet:er.


5


1


20


3


2


269.21


School


10


0


60


7


8 18 1


2


998.47


Middle.


3


2


66


100


133.32


Green.


53


40


75


2


88.40


.


359.25


114.13


Maple.


8.97


Pine. .


. .


1


. .


80.75


Sewer Department


238


27.54


44


LENGTH OF SEWER CONNECTIONS RUN TO EITHER CURB, HOUSES, OR CONNECTED


Streets


Curb


Houses


Connected


Total Length


Arlington.


66.50


40.00


175.00


287.50


Ash ..


401.10


401.10


Bancroft .


619.40


619.40


Berkeley


925.70


925.70


Brook


45.60


45.60


Center .


35.00


344.00


379.00


Copeland


506.00


500.00


Dudley.


284.00


284.00


Eaton.


241.30


241.30


Elliott


217.00


217.00


Fremont


209.00


209.00


Fulton


44.00


44.00


Gardner


225.50


225.50


Gould.


236.50


236.50


Green.


36.00


173.00


1,688.21


1,897.21


Harnden.


32.00


257.80


289.80


Haven .


186.00


79.00


1,304.80


1,569.80


High


22.00


252.80


274.80


Hillcrest.


570.00


570.00


Howard.


25.00


967.00


992.00


John


37.00


476.30


573.30


King


Kingston.


587.00


587.00


Lincoln


70.00


253.00


323.00


Linden.


41.00


339.70


380. 70


Lowell .


232.50


232.50


Main .


350.50


99.00


2,013.25


2,462.75


Maple.


18.00


40.00


58.00


Middle.


80.50


80.50


Middlesex .


48.00


138.00


983.20


1,109.20


Minot.


42.00


77.00


331.00


450.00


Mt. Vernon


37.00


208.00


245.00


Parker .


267.50


267.50


Perkins.


434.80


434.80


Pine. .


46.00


46.00


Pleasant


28.00


935.30


963.30


Pratt


242.00


242.00


Prescott


116.00


228.00


2,866.70


3,210.70


Prospect.


203.29


816. 11


1,019.40


Sanborn


98.00


659.40


757.40


School .


315.40


Scotland


60.00


60.00


Summer


94.00


576.20


670.20


Smith.


470.50


476.50


Sweetser.


04.00


40.00


43.00


152.00


Ide. .


285.00


173.00


800.80


1,258.80


Union.


00.00


177.00


245.00


Village.


34.00


638.50


692.50


Warren.


36.00


€8.00


565.00


669.00


Washington


50.00


48.00


991.80


1,089.80


Wenda. .


202.50


202.50


Wilson.


. . .


43.00


380.90


423.90


Woburn.


389.80


222.50


3,107.10


3,719.40


Totals


2,103.09


1,846.50


31,493.77


35,443.36


..


56.50


56.50


Temple.


599.70


599.70


Park.


786.80


786.80


Salem.


315.40


369.10


369.10


Sewer Department


239


LENGTH OF MAIN SEWERS IN STREETS


Streets


10"


12/


15"


18"


20"


24"


Totals


Arlington.


399.80


399.80


Ash ..


822.90


258.80


1,081.70


Bancroft .


1,051.52


1,051.52


Berkeley .


1,250.10


1,256.10


Brook.


847.60


847.60


Center .


020.00


620.60


Chute ..


35.30


35.30


Copeland.


500.00


500.00


Dudley


374.50


374.50


Eaton.


500.00


907.70


1,407.70


Elliott


390.00


396.00


Fremont


456.50


456.50


Gardner.


475.00


475.00


Green.


175.20


1,717.40


821.60


2,714.20


Harndenl


559.30


559.30


Haven .


1,752.80


1,752.80


High ..


1,338.05


736.10


2,074.15


Hillcrest


770.80


770.80


Howard .


500.00


1,110.00


1,410.00


Interceptors .


205.00


2,732.00 2,937.00


Jonn ..


266.00


569.60


178.50 1,014.10


King.


340.00


175.00


515.00


Kingston


719.30


719.30


Lincoln.


573.40


538.10


1,111.50


Linden


125.00


735.30


860.30


Lowell .


813.10


813.10


Main .


1,246.10


955.50


234.90


2,436.50


Maple.


189.20


189.20


Middle. .


313.60


313.60


Middlesex.


1,423.40


1,423.40


Minot.


1,409.65


1,409.65


Mt. Vernon. .


828.52


160.00


988.52


Park.


507.30|


322.70


830.00


Parker


427.00


427.00


Perkins ..


400.00


400.00


Pine. .


226.00


226.00


Pleasant


1,496.80


843.96


2,340.76


Pratt ..


555.50


555.50


Prescott


2,265.30


1,174.10


3,439.40


Prospect.


1,260.00


1,260.00


Salemi ..


1,004.90


132.50


1,137.40


Sanborn.


716.30


716.30


School.


688.25


688.25


Smith.


475.00


475.00


Summer.


1,229.40


1,229.40


Sweetser


334.30


334.30


Temple ..


896.76


432.89


661.39


1,991.04


Union. . .


303.60


303.60


Village.


1,015.60


487.80


1,503.40


Warren.


715.00


715.00


Washington ..


424.90


246.80


312.90


1,574.30


2,558.90


Wenda.


300.00


471.00


333.10


804.50


Woburn.


732.80


2,944.70


917.40


4,594.90


Totals.


2,869 76 37 , 137.54 3,773.44 7,038.95 2,870.60 487.80 1,809.20 3,758 10 59,745 39.


300.00


Wilson.


Sewer Department


240


LENGTH OF UNDERDRAINS IN STREETS


Streets


5"



10"


Total Length


Total Length Sewers and Underdrains


Arlington.


Ash. . .


237.00


258.80


495.80


1,577.50


Bancroft .


456.00


456.00


1,712.10


Brook ..


847.00


847.00


1,695.20


Center


620.60


020.00


1,241.20


Chute.


..


...


374.50


Dudley.


880.00


527.70


1,407.70


2,815.40


Elliott.


456.50


456.50


913.00


Gardner


974.10


1,811.00


4,525.20


Harnden


588.20


588.20


2,341.00


High .


487.70


1,223.80


3,297.95.


Hillerest.


450.40


450.40


1,221.20


Howard.


1,410.00


2,937.00


5,874.00


John


748.10


748.10


1,762.20


King.


175.00


175.00


690.00


Kingston.


609.30


110.00


719.30


1,438.60


Lincoln.


290.40


444.90


735.30


1,595.60


Main .


1,246.10


234.90


2,436.50


4,873.00


Maple.


189.20


189.20


378.40


Middle.


254.00


437.00


1,409.65


2,819.30


Mt. Vernon.


230.30


230.30


1,218.82


Park.


507.30


322.70


830.00


1,660.00


Parker


427.00


Perkins.


400.00


Pine ..


226.00


469.80


843.80


3,184.56


Pratt.


252.20


303.30


555.50


1,111.00


Prescott


1,070.60


2,091.80


3,162.40


6,601.80


Prospect


886.00


886.00


2,146.00


Salem.


543.00


132.50


675.50


1,812.90


Sanborn


200.00


200.00


916.30


School.


688.25


Smith


475.00


Summer


1,229.40


Sweetser


175.00


175.00


509.30


Temple.


40.00


40.00


2,031.04


Union.


303.00


Village.


825.00


825.00


2,328.40


Warren


715.00


724.00


246.80


1,163.20


2,134.00


4,692.90


Wenda.


300.00


Wilson.


804.50


804.50


1,609.00


Woburn.


1,196.00


917.40


2,113.40


6,708.30


Total Lengths. .


9,781.15


17,237.00


6,224.50


1,656.90


34,899.55


94,644.94


Copeland


500.00


Eaton ..


396.00


Fremont.


475.00


Green.


836.90


736.10


1,410.00


2,820.00


Interceptors


2,937.00


1,111.50


1,111.50


2,223.00


Linden.


Lowell .


813.10


Middlesex


254.00


1,677.40


Minot.


972.65


226.00


452.00


Pleasant


374.00


715.00


1,430.00


Washington


Sewer Department


241


399.80


1,051.52


Berkeley


35.30


559.30


Haven .


955.50


313.60


REPORT OF THE EXECUTIVE OFFICE OF THE BOARD OF PUBLIC WORKS


To the Board of Public Works:


Gentlemen :


The following is the yearly report of the executive office :


$ 6,335.00


Appropriation Expended : Salaries


$ 5,519.71


Supplies and Misc.


813.93


Total Expended


$ 6,333.64


Balance Unexpended


$ 1.36


The following table shows the expenditures made this past year in the major departments, the payroll of each, and the entire expenditures of the Department of Public Works.


Note: Highway includes all other departmental accounts not spe- cifically mentioned below, such as Chap. 90, Betterments, Drainage, Snow and Ice, etc.


B. P. W. Water


Highway


Sewer


Park


Totals


Pay Roll


$5,519.71 $15,539.28 $ 61,140.40 $ 5,910.76 $1,932.60 $ 90,042.75


Bills


813.93 39,797.90


64,620.40


6,065.96 1,544.90


112,843.09


Totals $6,333.64 $55,337.18 $125,760.80 $11,976.72 $3,477.50 $202,885.84


In closing this report, the Superintendent wishes to express his ap- preciation to the members of the Board for their many helpful sug- gestions and kindnesses extended to him during the year, and to assure all those in any way associated with him in carrying on the work of the Department of his gratitude for their interest and co-operation, and to acknowledge the assistance, co-operation and helpful sugges- tions which he has received from the other department heads of the town.


PHILIP WELCH, Superintendent.


242


BOARD OF PUBLIC WELFARE


The report of Superintendent of Welfare Harnden should be read for a complete statement of the welfare situation in Reading and the Town Accountant's report gives the detail of expenditures. This re- port made for the Board by its Chairman is intended to consider only the broader aspects of the relief situation in the town.


The amount expended for relief is the major consideration of every- one. It is a source of anxiety to all citizens in these days of increasing taxes. Conditions over which we have little control are responsible for many of these large expenditures, and it appears probable that the town must face large appropriations for some years to come.


Citizens are undoubtedly informed on the reasons for this but it seems advisable to be somewhat specific in outlining these causes at this time.


In an effort to improve conditions the government has sponsored various projects and passed new laws which directly affect the welfare situation in Reading. This legislation is of a permanent nature and its continuance means appropriations by towns and cities permanently. We shall be simply fooling ourselves, therefore, if we think that in a few years we shall be back where we were when welfare was handled as a side issue by the Board of Selectmen acting as Overseers of the Poor. To properly administer relief under present mandatory laws requires and will require an organization regularly employed for the purpose which must of necessity be efficient if this important work is to be properly done. This organization must work under the supervision of your Board of Welfare and Bureau of Old Age Assistance.


Old Age Assistance is now administered under laws of the Com- monwealth passed in conformity with Federal statutes. Under these laws towns are largely reimbursed by the state and government for amounts spent. In seeking appropriations for the purpose, however, the amount paid back by the state cannot be taken into consideration by the Bureau of Old Age Assistance. It goes directly to the Town Treasurer and is not available for further expenditures for Old Age Assistance specifically. Thus the amount asked for is large and it must be so if the laws are lived up to. Every application is passed upon by the Bureau and every effort is made to keep expenditures as low as possible consistent with legal requirements and actual need. Mr. Harn- den's report indicates that the tendency in legislation is wholly toward increasing this form of assistance and it should not be forgotten that, in spite of state and governmental reimbursement the town's portion is constantly creeping up.


243


A similar situation exists in Aid for Dependent Children. New legislation has resulted in increased costs which will continue. This is a particularly necessary form of relief and no one can doubt that it must be continued.


The value of W. P. A. projects in decreasing welfare costs in 1938 was very evident. There are many more men and women thus employ- ed as this is written than there were in the early part of 1938. Con- tinuance at the present load means less general aid expenditures in 1939 in all probability. There is much agitation for decreasing the costs of W. P. A. in governmental circles and no one can foresee just how long it will be effective. Those of us who have had the duties of handling welfare monies realize all too well how quickly the welfare load increases when W. P. A. activities are curtailed. There seems to be no alternative in most caeses since there are no industries here to employ those who may be dropped. A boom in business of such magnitude that it will attract men to jobs in other cities and towns seems the only possible remedy and just at present that seems remote. Therefore, unless W. P. A. continues to use large numbers of men and women, relief costs will be large. It is unnecessary to more than men- tion here that in the minds of many people W. P. A. employment has not tended to awake the ambitions of many of those whom it employs, to any serious extent.




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