USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Reading > Town of Reading Massachusetts annual report 1942 > Part 14
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Barnwell-New Encyclopedia of Machine Shop Practice.
Tozer-Machine Drawing.
Diamond-Primer of Blueprint Reading.
Audel's Machinist's and Toolmaker's Handbook.
Haliday-Ship Repair and Alteration
Hansen-Modern Marine Pipefitting.
Swanson-Modern Shipfitter's Handbook.
Field and Stetson-Map Reading and Aviation.
Norcross and Quinn-How to do Aircraft Sheetmetal Work.
Betz-Basic Mathematics.
Cooke-Mathematics for Electricians and Radio Men.
Hooper-Mathematics Refresher.
Moss-Practical Mathematics for Shipfitters and Other Shipyard Workers.
Thomas-Elementary Mathematics In Artillery Fire.
Wadden and Willett-Aviation Mathematics.
Reigel-Industrial Chemistry.
The children's librarian reports as follows :
The year has been a quiet but busy one. The librarian found the part-time assistant, who was here the first of the year, a very distinct aid.
159
It was with regret that due to lack of transportation facilities, most of the outside activities had to be given up. Trips to the Children's Museum to borrow exhibits for the case had to be discontinued. Also the practice of having a "Library Day" at one of the schools, when books could be obtained from the Librarian for home use, was dropped. We feel that both these outside contacts are well worth while and should be resumed when possible.
The circulation has grown, slowly, but steadily, all the year. We. find more children are coming to the library to read, for an hour, or an afternoon. This will undoubtedly increase, due to the discontin- uance of the use of the Recreation period at the Center School.
Last January a good many of the small children's books were re- placed. In the fall we had over one hundred new books before Chil- dren Book Week.
The Christmas season was observed with appropriate decorations in the room, although no tree was purchased.
The main library was closed for the three days before Christmas for painting. In 1943 we hope the outside and also the children's room can be painted.
Respectfully submitted,
GRACE J. ABBOTT, Librarian
LIBRARY STATISTICS
Appropriation
Salaries
$ 5,756.00
Maintenance
3,475.00
Interest on Trust Fund
17.88
Expended
Salaries : Librarian, Assistants, Janitor
$ 5,744.39
Fuel, light, water, sewer 500.09
Printing and supplies
243.44
Maintenance and repairs 428.65
Books, periodicals and binding 2,231.48
Miscellaneous 34.37
$ 9,182.42
Balance unexpended and returned to revenue
On salaries
$ 11.41
On maintenance
55.05
$ 9,231.00
160
Receipts
Fines collected $ 634.47
Fees from out of town borrowers
6.00
$ 640.47
Paid to Town Treasurer
$ 640.47
Balance Dec. 31, 1942
00.00
Circulation Report
Volumes in Library, Dec. 31, 1941
24709
Volumes bought
Adult fiction
429
Adult non-fiction
397
825
Juvenile fiction
242
Juvenile non-fiction
124
366
Reference Books
9
Received by gift
102
1302
1302
26011
Withdrawn during year
327
Total no. vol., Dec. 31, 1942
25684
Circulation for home use
Adult
70952
Juvenile
22186
Total circulation in 1942
93138
Total circulation in 1941
99037
Loss in 1942 5899
New borrowers registered
Adults
476
Juvenile 231
Total new borrowers
707
No. days library open
300
Average daily circulation Adult
236.5
Juvenile
73.95
Borrowed from other libraries
30
Loaned to other libraries 26
161
REPORT OF THE WELFARE BOARD
It has long been the opinion of the members of this Board that at least half the material that appears in the Town Report could be left out as non-essential and of little interest to the general public. If all town officials would bear this in mind when they start off on their epistles, the town could be saved a considerable sum of money, and this year in particular, with shortage of man-power and materials, it seems fitting that we should practice conservation.
With this thought in mind and "economy" ever being the motto of this department, we respectfully refer the citizens of Reading to the report of the Welfare Agent to us, certain that this report (appended hereto) together with the statistical and accounting details to be found in the Town Accountant's Report, will furnish all information desired as to the work of this department.
Board of Public Welfare
JOSEPH D. KNIGHT, Chairman MILES C. HIGGINS, Secretary CHARLES E. WILKINSON
REPORT OF THE WELFARE AGENT
To the Board of Public Welfare:
A schedule of detailed and classified expenditures from the six ap- propriation accounts under the jurisdiction of the Welfare Board has been furnished to the Town Accountant and will appear as usual in his section of the annual Town Report. As Welfare Agent I submit the following general report on the activities of the Welfare Department during the year 1942:
162
The most gratifying result of our work during 1942 has been the success achieved in getting people off the General Relief list through employment in the rapidly expanding industry created by the war. It is regrettable that it required a war involving the whole world to bring about an economic condition where the demand for labor exceeds the supply to such an extent that no able-bodied person need remain un- employed for any length of time. Through this state of affairs, how- ever, it has been possible to demonstrate that nearly everybody, even those who have been on relief for long periods, will accept employment whenever a job presents itself which will give a person respectable self- support. As the board knows, many welfare recipients have needed some encouragement and help before they could bring themselves to the point of actually jumping off on their own. It is a satisfaction to know that our employment research efforts over the past two years, together with the substantial amount of social work done with these people by workers who do the visiting and investigating in the various categories, has brought the General Aid case list practically down to the irreducible minimum represented by the sick, the physically handi-
capped, the mentally bankrupt, and those of the aged who through non-citizenship or other ineligibility cannot qualify for Old Age As- sistance. Aside from financial saving, ($87,000.00 for General Aid in 1933, $22,500.00 in 1942), there has been the satisfaction of finding out that the people of our community, taken as a whole, will work when there is work to be done. A new and mutual belief in people has come about, more especially between those who formerly had a tendency to look down on people less fortunate than themselves and those who, for the most part through no fault of their own, found themselves mired in the social dissatisfaction not only of having to look up but of being obliged to raise their hands and ask. When the "lights go on again" let us make every effort to avoid again being manipulated into the dis- tressing social and economic disruption under which we have suffered for the past decade. This is the first and most important duty after the war is won.
There is reasonable expectation that the General Relief situation will hold its existing low level during 1943 and with this in mind we have suggested discontinuance of the appropriation made in the last several years for special labor, this, of course, only so far as the Wel- fare Department is concerned. Such persons as may have to be "coasted along" for short periods between jobs can be cared for by a small addition to the General Aid appropriation with a probable sav- ing in welfare cost.
The expenditure for Aid to Dependent Children has shown a slight decrease during the past year, due to some extent to the availability of
163
part-time employment for children in the late teens and, in some special- ly favorable circumstances, for the mothers or other persons who may have the dependent children in their charge. As in the case of General Relief, we believe this better condition will continue for some time and have therefore suggested a proportionate decrease in the appro- priation for this category for 1943.
Old Age Assistance has now become the larger part of public re- lief, not only because of the relatively large number of cases, with a consequently larger proportion of the total relief expenditure, but also because of the constantly increasing amount of administrative service these cases require under modern social work as demanded by the state authorities. Under the provisions of Chapter 729, the so-called Old Age Assistance Law which became effective May 1st, 1941, the Bu- reau went through the entire list of our Old Age Assistance cases and, in the course of several special meetings, reviewed the situation of each recipient and made all necessary increases in monthly allotments as the new law required. The result of these reviews and readjustments, which were incumbent on all local bureaus throughout the state, was a very material increase in Old Age Assistance payments, which, of course, was the intent of the statute. This increase was in effect for eight months of 1942, whereas for the coming year it will be effective during the entire twelve months. This naturally means some increase in Old Age appropriation for 1943, even with no increase in case load. From survey and analysis and from comparative records and charts which this office has built up during the past seven years, I hazard the opinion that there will not be much increase in the Old Age Assistance case load during 1943. I freely admit, however, that very few members of welfare boards and practically no welfare administrative workers of my acquaintance concur in this opinion. However this may be, there is no way to forecast what action the present legislature may take in the matters now before it which pertain to Old Age Assistance. As usual there is a swarm of bills, nearly all of them on the expansion side, and the Commissioner of Public Welfare is asking for legislation which would take the mandatory minimum payments out of the law and sub- stitute a system of equally mandatory budgetary allowances in Old Age Assistance. The effect of this latter suggestion, if adopted, is rather difficult to foresee but the indications seem to be that it would not re- sult in any greatly increased total of payments. It certainly would effect reductions in those cases which must now be paid the legal min- imum, even though their particular budgets may not come up to that amount. For some time the state department has been furnishing all local administrative offices with budget schedules which go into minute detail and which are applicable to all categories of public welfare alike.
164
The state budgets, which started coming to us some two years ago, are revised frequently and in every revision so far the tendency has been to increase the amount of aid given the recipient. It has not yet definitely been ruled that failure on the part of local boards to provide the full budget will result in disapproval of state reimbursement, but this is another phase of state control which is positively in the making. It will have the greatest effect in Old Age Assistance and in Aid to De- pendent Children because in these two forms of relief there is a high percentage of state and federal participation in the final cost. The cost of General Aid cases where the recipient has no legal settlement is now reimbursed in full by the state, with a few exceptions in high-cost hos- pital cases, nursing charges, etc., where reimbursement is on a speci- fied limited basis. There is constant agitation by the state department high-ups for the abolition of the settlement law, with substitution of an arrangement whereby a certain portion of the cost of all General Aid cases would be reimbursed to the town from state funds.
As usual, when preparing our budget for the consideration of the Finance Committee and the voters early in the year, we are confronted with the difficulty of knowing that legislative changes will undoubtedly be in effect during the year but without knowing actually what they will be until the appropriation of our budget is finished business so far as the action of the annual town meeting is concerned. The best policy indicated is to figure budgets from things as they are now and worry about necessary changes when and if the time comes to do so.
Regarding the matter of cost so far as it applies to the local tax levy, the easiest way to get a picture of the changes during the last decade is by means of a simple statement, in round hundreds of dol- lars, showing how the federal grants and the state payments into the General Receipts of the town have increased in proportion to that part of the cost which comes wholly from appropriated town funds. Of course the cost of relief is the total amount paid out for relief and this is paid for by everybody, including the relief recipient himself. It is a fact, nevertheless, that most everyone pays more attention to the tax levied on his home than to any other form of taxation imposed on him, although in these times the real estate levy is rather minor potatoes when compared with the whole schedule of taxation. There is some consolation therefore in the following table:
165
Ten-year schedule of Case Load, Expenditures, Departmental Receipts, and Town Percentage of Total Cost
1933
Case Load
Expended
Reimbursements & Grants rec'd.
Net cost on tax levy
Local per- centage of total cost
Gen. Aid
155
$ 87.100.00
A. D. C.
10
5,700.00
O. A. A.
52
14,300.00
Totals
217
107,100.00
$ 23,600.00 $ 83,500.00
78%
1934
Gen. Aid
187
65,300.00
A. D. C.
13
6,300.00
O. A. A.
69
16,900.00
Totals
269
88,500.00
24,400.00
64,100.00
72%
1935
Gen. Aid
331
73,600.00
A. D. C.
12
8,600.00
O. A. A.
83
19,500.00
Totals
426
101,700.00
34,900.00
66,800.00
66%
1936
Gen. Aid
281
58,300.00
A. D. C.
14
11,000.00
O. A. A.
149
32,400.00
Totals
444
101,700.00
26,800.00
74,900.00
74%
1937
Gen. Aid
283
64,200.00
A. D. C.
28
17,800.00
O. A. A.
204
57,800.00
Totals
515
139,800.00
83,200.00
56,600.00
40%
1938
Gen. Aid
280
52,000.00
A. D. C.
26
21,600.00
O. A. A.
244
70,800.00
Totals
550
144,400.00
82,200.00
62,200.00
43%
166
Ten-year schedule of Case Load, Expenditures, Departmental Receipts, and Town Percentage of Total Cost
1939
Case
Load
Expended
Reimbursements
Net cost on & Grants rec'd. tax levy
Local per- centage of total cost
Gen. Aid
270
52,000.00
A. D. C.
26
21,000.00
O. A. A.
260
79,700.00
Totals
556
152,700.00
91,200.00
61,500.00
40%
1940
Gen. Aid
252
52,500.00
A. D. C.
28
20,700.00
O. A. A.
272
86,300.00
Totals
552
159,500.00
102,900.00
56,600.00
36%
1941
Gen. Aid
189
34,600.00
A. D. C.
38
20,000.00
O. A. A.
284
92,200.00
Totals
511
146,800.00
102,900.00
43,900.00
30%
1942
Gen. Aid
115
22,500.00
A. D. C.
41
18,800.00
O. A. A.
300
107,700.00
Totals
456
149,000.00
111,200.00
37,800.00
25%
Tabulations are dry reading but the one shown above is instructive in that it shows the very definite trend of state and federal participa- tion in the cost of relief. The town shouldered 78% of this cost ten years ago, whereas in 1942 the town's net share in the cost is only 25%, even though the total expenditure is now half again as great as it was nine or ten years ago. This participation trend has been followed, and in many instances preceded, by an increasing amount of state and fed- eral control over the administration of the entire relief program.
For the past decade social welfare has been a major feature of the national administration. Sociology, like any other science, had to gain recognition and acceptance to some degree before it could get the pub- lic financial backing to go anywhere or do anything. It is obvious that this financial endorsement has been obtained but it has brought with it what might be termed an over-emphasis of the importance of central-
167
ized bureaucratic control, with not enough value being given to the commonsense and good judgment inherent in local welfare administra- tive boards elected directly by the people. In other words, local boards are so tied up by national and state regulation that use of their own good judgment is sometimes hampered by legal regulation which has been extended in too great detail.
The intentions of the promoters of the present national program are no doubt of the best but the public must be assured that ability goes with intention and that honesty of purpose, rather than a craving for the spotlight, is the motivating factor.
Every welfare administrative employee must now be qualified under Civil Service under federal and state rulings. This might carry the as- sumption that we are, therefore, all conformists or that the privilege of personal opinion has been abrogated.
Nevertheless, I feel constrained to say that this national social ex- pansion should be subject to that same system of democratic checks and balances which has brought our country to its present state of develop- ment and power. When scouring the local market on Saturday after- noon in search for my half-pound of bacon I cannot overcome certain unkind thoughts which arise in my mind concerning that overzealous group which a few years ago was paying farmers not to raise hogs.
The people of your administrative force are grateful for the inter- ested and helpful cooperation which the board has given to all the work of the department and we are glad to report that mutually helpful re- lations with all other town departments have been maintained through- out the year.
EDWARD E. HARNDEN, Welfare Agent
REPORT OF SOLDIERS' RELIEF AGENT
January 25, 1943
Honorable Board of Selectmen,
Reading, Massachusetts
Gentlemen :
Your Soldiers' Relief Agent respectfully submits his report for the year 1942.
We have aided by Soldiers' Relief 33 cases, with the total of 69 persons.
We have 3 cases on State Aid, assisting 3 persons.
We also have 3 cases of Military Aid that assists 10 persons.
A new classification of recipients comes under State War Allow- ance. We have had 9 cases under State War Allowance, assisting 25
168
persons. There are 4 State War Allowance cases pending in the Com- missioner's office, awaiting his decision. This will assist 8 perons.
While in general the financial load of Soldiers' Relief decreased sharply in 1942, the 12th month of the year showed a rapid increase over the previous months, with a prediction the load will continue to increase each month during the year 1943.
In addition to the regular duties encumbered upon the Soldiers' Re- lief Department, we have had occasion to assist dependents of our cit- izens in the United States service in making out government forms and other papers with reference to obtaining Federal Allotments.
We have also had a great many inquiries in other matters pertain- ing to men in the United States service with advice and help for their dependents they left behind. We anticipate more of this sort in the near future.
We desire to express our appreciation for the fine cooperation existing between the Soldiers' Relief Department and the Welfare De- partment.
. Very truly yours, CHARLES W. H. SMITH, Soldiers' Relief Agent
REPORT OF PLUMBING INSPECTOR
To the Board of Health,
Gentlemen :
I herewith submit my report for the year ending December 31, 1942.
Number of Permits Granted
72
Number of Fixtures Installed 334
Bath Tubs 42
Closets
60
Lavatories
48
Sinks
62
Sink and Tray Combination
40
Boilers
30
Tankless Heaters
12
Bath Showers
30
Stall Showers
4
Refrigerators
4
Slop Sinks
2
Respectfully submitted, 334
DAVID MARTIN, Inspector of Plumbing
169
REPORT OF INSPECTOR OF ANIMALS
January 11, 1942
To the Honorable Board of Selectmen,
Town of Reading, Massachusetts Gentlemen :
I hereby submit my report as Inspector of Animals from October 26, 1942 to January 1, 1943.
There were 5 dogs quarantined for biting or scratching people. The same number were released after the period of quarantine indi- cated that no symptoms of Rabies were present.
There was also 1 cow placed in quarantine under suspicion of hav- ing Tuberculosis.
Respectfully submitted, GARDINER A. LESTER, D.V.M., Inspector of Animals
REPORT OF MOTH SUPERINTENDENT
To the Honorable Board of Selectmen
Reading, Massachusetts
Gentlemen :
There seems to be a slight increase in the number of Gypsy Moth egg clusters over 1941. This is due I believe, to the heavy infestation in the outlying woodland. In previous years we have been able to have a W. P. A. Moth Control project, which was of great assistance in creosoting the nests and spraying the wood lots.
Due to the efficiency of the new spraying machine, which the town purchased in 1942, we were able to spray the largest of the elm trees easily. This is a great help in controlling the Elm Leaf Beetle, as spraying is the only successful method of fighting this pest.
Through the cooperation of the property owners, the spraying on private property in 1942 shows a fifty per cent increase over 1941. As spraying is the most successful method in both Moth and Elm Leaf Beetle control, the more property owners that have this work done, the better results we will have in fighting these pests.
I wish to thank the Board of Selectmen and the Town Accountant for their cooperation and advice.
Respectfully submitted, MAURICE H. DONEGAN, Moth Supt.
170
REPORT OF TREE WARDEN
To the Citizens of Reading :
During January, February and March, the Tree Warden Depart- ment had four men removing dead wood and trimming the small branches adjacent to the wires. The cost of this work was paid by the Electric Light Department.
We did the usual amount of oil spraying on private property dur- ing March and April.
The department planted about one hundred and seventy-five (175) trees on the roadside during 1942.
It was necessary to remove five (5) trees that were destroyed by leaky gas mains. The cost of this work was paid by the Malden & Melrose Gas Co.
During the late summer and fall, the men removed dead wood and low limbs from street trees. They also did a large amount of work on private property, removing dangerous trees and limbs. This type of private work was about double that of previous years, and we are find- ing it difficult to keep up with all the requests, due to the labor short- age.
I wish to thank the employees of this department, the Electric Light Department, the Board of Public Works, and all others who have assisted me in the past year.
Respectfully submitted, MAURICE H. DONEGAN, Tree Warden
REPORT OF INSPECTOR OF WIRES
To the Honorable Board of Selectmen : Gentlemen :
I herewith submit the sixth annual report as Inspector of Wires for the Town of Reading, for the term ending December 31, 1942.
Mr. Albert C. Maxwell, former Inspector of Wires, resigned office to enlist in the U. S. Coast Guard, July 27, 1942.
Chief Hugh L. Eames was appointed temporary Inspector of Wires Oct. 26, 1942.
Mr. Charles F. Trevor was appointed Inspector of Wires, Novem- ber 9, 1942.
171
The following is a classified report of inspections made during period ending Dec. 31, 1942:
Oil Burners, 21; Receptacles, etc., 45; New Houses, 6; Ranges, 26; Water Heaters, 2; Motors, 40; Stokers, 1; Heat Regulators, 2; New Stores, 1; Water Pump, 1; Rewire, 4; Fluorescent Lights, 15; Welding Machine, 1; Repairs and Additions, 16; Fixtures, 6; total permits granted 187, inspections, 520.
I take this opportunity to express my appreciation to the Honor- able Board of Selectmen for their cooperation, and other Departments who have assisted in the proper administration of this office.
Respectfully submitted,
CHARLES F. TREVOR
REPORT OF BOARD OF HEALTH
To the Citizens of Reading :
There were one hundred eighty-one contagious diseases reported during the year 1942.
Chicken Pox
48
Dog Bite
50
German Measles
4
Influenza
2
Lobar Pneumonia
9
Mumps
21
Meningitis
2
Measles
6
Scarlet Fever
6
Septic Sore Throat
1
Typhoid Fever
1
Tuberculosis
3
Whooping Cough
28
Respectfully submitted, 181
E. M. HALLIGAN, M.D.
C. R. BAISLEY, M.D.
C. F. ATKINSON
Board of Health
172
REPORT OF BUILDING INSPECTOR
January 26, 1943
To the Honorable Board of Selectmen,
Gentlemen :
I hereby submit a building report for the year 1942.
Due to war conditions there were only fifty-nine (59) permits ap- plied for and granted, and these are as follows, with the estimated cost of same :
21 New Dwellings and Other Types of Buildings $ 74,350.00
6 New Garages 2,075.00
26 Alterations and Additions to all Types of Buildings 23,075.00
2 Hen Houses 550.00
3 Small Utility Buildings 400.00
1 Support for Water Tank 75.00
59
Total Estimated Cost of All Building Construction .... $100,525.00 The sum of one hundred forty-seven ($147.00) dollars was received in fees for the above building permits. I have inspected several build- ings that were reported to be in a condition requiring attention, and these were taken care of in a satisfactory manner.
Respectfully submitted, GEORGE H. SIDEBOTTOM, Building Inspector
REPORT OF DOG OFFICER
Reading, Mass., December 31, 1942
To the Honorable Board of Selectmen Gentlemen :
I hereby submit my report as dog officer to Dec. 31, 1942.
I have canvassed the town to see that all dogs were licensed.
Unlicensed and strays have been found and disposed of as follows : 229 have been destroyed.
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