Town of Reading Massachusetts annual report 1955, Part 14

Author: Reading (Mass.)
Publication date: 1955
Publisher: The Town
Number of Pages: 250

USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Reading > Town of Reading Massachusetts annual report 1955 > Part 14

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

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3060.80

Echo Ave.

528.83

198.62

Elliott St.

....

....

....

489.00

Elm St.

383.28

1084.30

2168.60

Fremont

St.

.....

456.50

.....

..

588.20

2577.50

Haven St.

588.20

High St.

..

..

478.70

736.10

.....

6996.00

Hillcrest Rd.

...

...

1015.60

....

....

...

....

1503.40

Vista Ave.

. . .

....

....

715.00

....

....

....

.. .

....

3458.90

Wenda St.

300.00

1324.90

...

246.80

312.90

1574.30

....

..

...

300.00

West St.

....

....

....

1450.15

Wilson St.

...

....

...

....

....

. .

..

...

475.00

Spring St.

393.50

...

. .

....

. .

...

1401.73

Sigsbee Ave.

....

320.51

475.00

....

...

....

204.00

Union St.

Village St.

. ..

300.00

300.00

Warren Ave.

....

...

334.30

Sweetser Ave.

....

..

.....

469.09

Grand St.

...

. .

1387.50

Chapin Ave.

529.00

Charles St.

456.00

....

.. .

..

,

500.00

. .

....

450.40

...

. .

698.60

487.80

125.00

1439.29

Length of Sewer Underdrains and Sewers in Streets 1955 - Continued

Street

5"

Length of Underdrains 6" 8'

10""

Total

Total Length Sewers and Under- drains

Jere Rd.

195.46

John St.

.....

748.10

.....

. .

748.10

2364.50

King St.

175.00

.....

.....

175.00

1239.57

Kingston St.

609.30

110.00

.....

.....

719.30

1438.60

Lewis

St.

. .

..

. .

.....

.....

1111.50

2223.00

Linden St.

290.40

444.90

.....

.....

735.30

1962.20

Longview Rd.

.....

.....

.....

.....

.....

395.00

Lothrop Rd.

.....

....

..

. .

.....

.....

1519.26

Main St.

.....

1246.10

955.50

234.90

2436.50

4873.00

Maple St.

189.20

.....

.....

.....

189.20

378.40

Middle St.

254.00

.....

.....

.....

254.00

1877.78

Mineral St.

..

.....

.....

.....

1409.65

2819.30

Mt. Vernon St.

230.30

.....

.....

230.30

1218.82

Nichols Rd.

..

.....

.....

.....

.....

1802.00

Oak Ridge Rd.

.....

.....

.....

.. .

315.80

Orange St.

1521.21

.....

.....

1521.21

3042.42

Orchard Pk. Drive

.....

.....

830.00

1660.00

Parker St.

.....

.....

.....

855.55

2798.50

Pennsylvania

Ave.

.....

.....

.....

.....

.....

400.00

Pierce

St.

155.20

.....

....

155.20

405.30

Pine Ave.

226.00

.....

....

226.00

452.00

Pine Ridge Rd.

374.00

469.80

.....

843.80

3184.56

Prescott St.

1070.60

2091.80

.....

....

3162.40

6865.76

Prospect St.

886.00

.....

.....

.....

886.00

2678.00

Salem

St.

543.00

77.20

132.50

.....

752.70

1967.30

Sanborn

St.

200.00

....

.....

.....

200.00

916.30

School

St.

.....

....

.....

.....

1401.73

2803.46

Sigsbee Ave.

320.51

.....

.....

320.51

641.02

Smith Ave.

..

..

.....

.....

475.00

Spring St.

.....

.....

.....

.....

.....

393.50

Summer Ave.

.....

.....

.....

.....

. .

. .

.....

654.60

1353.20

Sweetser Ave.

175.00

.....

..

.....

175.00

509.30

Sylvan Rd.

....

.....

.....

.....

....

....

..

.....

.....

. .

.....

.....

.....

.....

...

303.60

Village St.

.....

.....

.....

825.00

2328.40

Virginia Rd.

..

. .

.....

.....

288.00

588.00

Warren Ave.

715.00

724.00

246.80

1663.20

2634.00

6092.90

Wenda St.

.....

.....

.....

.....

.....

300.00

West St.

.....

.....

. .

.....

....

.....

.....

804.50

1609.00

Woburn St.

1196.00

917.40

.....

2113.40

6998.45

Wood End Lane

.....

.....

.....

.....

.....

10,597.03

24,945.23

6224.50

2156.90

43,923.66

152,744.11

...

.....

.....

312.49

Oak St.

.....

.....

.....

.....

444.00

Park Ave.

507.30

322.70

.....

427.00

Pearl St.

.....

855.55

.....

.....

628.00

Perkins Ave.

.....

.....

.....

.....

.....

. .

..

..

..

.....

1035.15

Pleasant St. Pratt

252.20

303.30

. .

....

555.50

1517.80

Rachel Rd.

...

.....

....

.....

440.00

Scotland Rd.

1401.73

.....

.....

....

40.00

.....

.....

40.00

2031.04

Thorndike St.

204.00

Vista Ave.

288.00

.....

.....

....

....

715.00

1430.00

Washington St.

.....

1450.15

Wilson St.

804.50

.....

313.60

Middlesex Ave.

1065.65

Minot St.

972.65

437.00

.....

.....

. .

..

1274.52

Lowell St.

.....

.....

1111.50

.....

932.16

Lincoln St.

..

..

...

4580.04

Sunnyside Ave.

432.60

222.00

239.85

Temple St.

Union St.

825.00

125.00

.....

.....

229.45

. .

.....

....

Morgan Park

433.34

...

....

St.

688.25

.....

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

Street

Curb

House

Conn.

Total Length

Arlington St.

416.10

416.10

Ash St.

976.90

976.90

Bancroft Ave.

1,312.40

1,312.40

Berkeley St.

1,404.60

1,404.60

Boyce St.

352.70

352.70

Brook St.

85.50

759.00

844.50

Cape Cod Ave.

119.50

119.50

Center Ave.

425.00

425.00

Chapin Ave.

280.40

280.40

Charles St.

844.50

844.50

Chute St.

219.00

219.00

Copeland Ave.

506.00

506.00

County Rd.

279.80

279.80

Crosby Rd.

385.11

385.11

Deering St.

175.50

175.50

Dudley St.

674.90

674.90

Eaton St.

814.40

814.40

Echo Ave.

256.20

256.20

Edwin St.

265.00

265.00

Elliott St.

622.00

622.00

Elm St.

157.10

157.10

Fairview Ave.

736.10

736.10

Fremont St.

209.00

209.00

Fulton St.

44.00

44.00

Gardner Rd.

501.50

501.50

Gilmore Ave.

81.80

81.80

Glen Rd.

580.60

580.60

Gould St.

627.70

627.70

Grand St.

693.10

693.10

Green St.

36.00

173.00

2,427.21

2,636.21

Hancock St.

427.00

427.00

Harnden St.

32.00

257.80

289.80

Harrison St.

844.80

844.80

Haven St.

128.50

79.00

2,022.40

2,229.90

High St.

22.00

966.45

988.45

Hillcrest Rd.

631.80

631.80

Howard St.

2,306.10

2,306.10

Ide St.

56.50

56.50

Jere Rd.

309.00

309.00

John St.

1,527.30

1,527.30

King St.

812.10

812.10

Kingston St.

636.00

636.00

Lewis St.

555.70

555.70

Lincoln St.

44.00

370.00

414.00

Linden St.

849.60

849.60

Longview Rd.

255.00

255.00

Lowell St.

466.50

466.50

Lothrop Rd.

927.80

927.80

Length of Sewer House Connections Run Either to Curb, House or Connected - Continued

Street

Curb

House

Conn.

Total Length

Main St.

252.50

99.00

2,674.25

3,025.75

Maple St.

135.60

135.60

Middle St.

80.50

80.50

Middlesex Ave.

96.50

1,366.20

1,462.70

Mineral St.

355.60

355.60

Minot St.

77.00

879.20

956.20

Morgan Pk.

87.60

87.60

Mt. Vernon St.

1,044.70

1,044.70

Nichols Rd.

158.00

158.00

Oak St.

706.40

706.40

Oak Ridge Rd.

82.50

82.50

Orange St.

363.60

363.60

Orchard Park Drive

515.84

515.84

Park Ave.

324.60

324.60

Parker St.

302.50

302.50

Pearl St.

1,234.90

1,234.90

Pennsylvania Ave.

56.50

56.50

Perkins Ave.

434.80

434.80

Pierce St.

110.20

110.20

Pine Ave.

46.00

46.00

Pine Ridge Rd.

98.20

98.20

Pleasant St.

1,899.30

1,899.30

Pratt St.

766.50

766.50

Prescott St.

28.00

97.40

3,447.30

3,572.70

Prospect St.

2,327.30

2,327.30

Rachel Rd.

446.80

446.80

Salem St.

102.20

1,536.40

1,638.60

Sanborn St.

98.00

945.90

1043.90

School St.

523.00

523.00

Scotland Rd.

923.70

923.70

Smith Ave.

602.30

602.30

Spring St.

230.00

230.00

Summer Ave.

94.00

3,679.20

3,773.20

Sweetser Ave.

43.00

188.00

231.00

Sunnyside Ave.

64.00

64.00

Temple St.

154.20

173.00

1,405.10

1,732.30

Thorndike St.

61.20

61.20

Union St.

66.00

208.40

274.40

Village St.

1,155.40

1,155.40

Vista Ave.

191.10

191.10

Warren Ave.

19.40

68.00

638.60

726.00

Washington St.

2,742.40

2,742.40

Wenda St.

202.50

202.50

West St.

1,198.70

1,198.70

Wilson St.

612.30

612.30

Woburn St.

106.40

70.50

4,688.70

4,865.60

Wood End Lane

191.20

191.20

968.20

1,276.90

73,301.96

75,547.06

SEWER HOUSE CONNECTIONS BY STREETS - 1955

Street

Per No Revenue Poss. Comp. Cent Const. Conn. Charged Conn. Conn. Conn. Started To S/L 1955

Arlington St.

11

11

100

....

....

$ 150.06

Ash St.

17

17

100

....

....

268.79

Bancroft Ave.

29

26

86

3

....

358.35

Beech St.

1

1

100

....

....

14.42

Belmont St.

1

0

0

1

....

Berkeley St.

27

27

100

....

....

309.29

Bond St.

23

0

0

23

....

3

3

100

...

....

45.06

Brande Court

1

1

100

....

....

6.22

Brook St.

10

10

100

....

....

115.25

Cape Cod Ave.

4

3

75

1

....

43.05

Center Ave.

10

10

100

126.04

Chapin Ave.

9

7

77

2

....

77.74

Charles St.

14

13

92

1

....

131.30

Chute St.

8

4

50

4

....

46.37

Copeland Ave.

8

8

100

....

....

129.81

County Rd.

15

5

33

10

....

71.77

Crosby Rd.

7

7

100

....

....

108.96

Deering St.

4

3

75

1

....

40.37

Dudley St.

15

13

83

2

....

180.38

Eaton St.

10

10

100

96.19

Echo Ave.

6

4

66

2

....

64.40

Edwin St.

4

4

100

...

....

68.78

Elliott St.

11

11

100

....

....

109.92

Elm St.

4

4

100

....

....

64.97

Fairview Ave.

19

18

91

1

....

231.16

Fremont St.

4

4

100

64.91

Fulton St.

1

1

100

....

....

22.20

Gardner Rd.

10

10

100

....

....

155.08

Gilmore Ave.

4

4

100

....

....

55.24

Glen Rd.

10

10

100

....

....

127.54

Gould St.

9

9

100

....

....

102.76

Grand St.

14

11

79

3

....

141.62

Green St.

43

42

98

1

....

765.61

Hancock St.

14

7

50

7

....

55.28

Harnden St.

7

7

100

....

....

166.41

Harrison St.

19

16

84

3

171.49

Haven St.

47

45

96

2

....

1,294.70

High St.

25

19

72

6

....

260.24

Hillcrest Rd.

11

10

90

1

....

155.91

Howard St.

39

36

92

3

....

490.48

....

....

....

....

Boyce St.

SEWER HOUSE CONNECTIONS BY STREETS - 1955

Street

Poss. Conn.

Per No Revenue Comp. Cent Const. Conn. Charged Conn. Conn. Started To S/L 1955

Ide St.

1

1

100

....

....

42.06

Jere Rd.

4

4

100

....

....

John St.

27

26

96

1

688.70

King St.

17

15

88

2

....

183.53

Kingston St.

15

15

100

....

....

153.27

Lewis St.

15

11

73

4

....

117.53

Lincoln St.

8

8

100

....

....

139.44

Linden St.

19

16

84

3

....

269.18

Longview Rd.

5

3

60

2

....

58.08

Lowell St.

18

6

66

12

....

91.63

Lothrop Rd.

17

11

64

1

5

Main St.

48

47

98

0

1

1,327.08

Maple St.

3

3

100

36.06

Middle St.

2

1

50

1

16.00

Middlesex Ave.

26

25

96

1

....

460.14

Mineral St.

15

7

46

8

....

81.67

Minot St.

21

21

100

....

....

329.30

Morgan Pk.

4

3

75

1

....

15.41

Mt. Vernon St.

25

23

92

2

....

254.09

Nichols Rd.

4

3

75

1

....

35.77

Oak St.

23

16

70

7

....

141.02

Oakland Rd.

...

....

....

....

....

119.20

Oak Ridge Rd.

6

1

14

5

....

Orange St.

14

7

50

7

....

85.02

Orchard Park Dr.

9

9

100

....

....

148.13

Park Ave.

9

9

100

....

....

92.47

Parker St.

7

7

100

....

....

74.54

Pearl St.

24

19

79

5

....

255.33

Pennsylvania Ave.

11

1

9

10

....

2.30

Perkins Ave.

7

7

100

....

....

129.08

Pierce St.

3

1

33

2

64.76

Pine Ave.

1

1

100

....

....

6.00

Pine Ridge Rd.

18

3

17

15

23.35

Pleasant St.

37

37

100

....

....

613.10

Pratt St.

13

11

93

2

....

129.35

Prescott St.

54

52

96

....

2

769.36

Prospect St.

28

25

85

3

....

356.94

Rachel Rd.

8

8

100

....

....

10.00

....

....

....

....

....

....

SEWER HOUSE CONNECTIONS BY STREETS - 1955

Street

Per No Revenue Poss. Comp. Cent Const. Conn. Charged Conn. Conn. Conn. Started To S/L 1955

Salem St.

28

25

90

1

2 499.76

Sanborn St.

14

14

100

....

...

376.64

School St.

10

10

100

....

138.85

Scotland Rd.

26

18

70

8

....

259.75

Smith Ave.

16

16

100

....

....

245.39

Spring St.

7

5

71

2

....

60.07

Summer Ave.

76

54

71

22

....

884.24

Sunnyside Ave.

6

6

100

....

....

109.50

Sweetser Ave.

5

5

100

....

....

64.41

Sylvan Rd.

2

0

0

2

....

Temple St.

27

27

100

....

....

459.38

Thorndike St.

3

1

33

2

....

15.60

Union St.

4

4

100

....

....

67.45

Village St.

25

22

88

3

....

312.03

Virginia Rd.

2

1

50

1

....

18.14

Warren Ave.

17

17

100

218.89

Washington St.

62

54

87

8

....

702.58

Wenda St.

4

4

100

....

....

59.11

Wentworth Rd.

1

1

100

....

....

25.68

Wescroft Rd.

1

1

100

....

....

19.00

West St.

23

16

70

7

....

209.94

Woburn St.

86

77

90

1

8

1,316.98

Wood End Lane

5

4

80

1

41.83

TOTALS

1544

1296

84

230

18

$20,312.03

....

....

-

166

88th Annual Report of the BOARD OF TRUSTEES and LIBRARIAN READING PUBLIC LIBRARY

Library Trustees

SYDNEY M. HODSON, Chairman H. IRENE LATHAM, Secretary

KATHERINE C. PIERCE

NEIL C. ROBINSON

C. NELSON BISHOP

ROBERT E. STEWART

Expenditures

1953

1954

1955

Salaries

$ 11,835.00

$ 12,846.00

$ 13,831.03

Maintenance

5,923.00

7,041.00

7,738.57

Per Cent

1.3

1.3

1.3

This year has been a busy and most successful one with the circu- lation for the library passing the 100,000 mark. With the increased circulation there is an obvious need for the purchase of more books. The staff and custodian have continued to serve conscientiously and effi- ciently. The following report prepared by Miss Turner, Head Librarian, for the trustees, gives more detailed information on library operations.

SUMMARY OF THE LIBRARIAN'S REPORT TO THE TRUSTEES

There has been a very marked increase in adult borrowing this fall and it is with a deep sense of satisfaction that we have achieved cir- culation totaling 104,254. The circulation in the children's room is nearly half that of the adult room, and it would seem that next year more of our book budget should be spent for this department. The wear and tear is greater on these books than on adult's, the bindings are less durable, the rise in prices is greater and there is need of more duplication.

This year we have sent a good many books to the bindery, but have mended about twice that number in the library. One person working two days a week, six hours a day, can almost keep up with the books that need repairs from the adult and children's departments. Last year there were 2,031 books mended - this includes washing of all books, gluing the backs of some, putting new backs and corners on nearly all of them, and mending torn pages, - the latter takes con- siderable time for children's books especially.

It has been possible to go through a bequest of books that the library had received from the estate of Julia F. Spinney. We found that we could replace some of our worn copies with fresher ones of hers and about 175 of her books have been placed on the shelf. A good number of her books were kept with the idea of possibly forming a his- torical collection.

We received from Mr. Albert Sargent a number of books relating to various Civil War regiments, which augment those we have. He

167

also presented the library with the flag of the United States that had been used to drape the altar at meetings of Post #194 of Reading, De- partment of Massachusetts of the Grand Army of the Republic.

Through the year some very beautiful Memorial books have been presented to the library. We are very grateful for these.

The question of Library Hours still vexes the public, as daily tele- phone calls testify. The hours are printed on each borrower's card, but many people leave their cards on deposit in the library when they are not using them. Many of our new borrowers have moved to Reading from cities where the library hours are longer. The children would ap- preciate having the library open all day in vacation. I think that longer hours will not only increase the circulation, but will markedly improve our public relations.

My staff have given me fine consideration and co-operation during the past year. They all have a true interest in giving better library service.

I am grateful to my Board of Trustees for the continued and in- creasing efforts they are making to solve the problems of efficient library administration.

ANNA R. TURNER,

Head Librarian

Statistical Report

Books Purchased

1954

1955

Adult

1,249

1,093

Juvenile

509

634

Gifts

122

336

Withdrawn

196

1,268

Net Total

35,551

36,346

Circulation

Adult

63,192

67,848

Juvenile

30,543

32,150

Misc.

5,595

4,256

Total

99,330

104,254

New borrowers

894

978

Fines Received

$

1,333

$1,440.85

NOTE: see the Accountant's Report for a breakdown of library ex- penses and a statement on trust funds.

168

RECREATION PROGRAM

As this is the first year your Recreation Committee has attempted to operate both a summer and winter program, this report will be in two parts.

Summer Program

Record attendance at all the parks this year once again has proven that this program is meeting with great approval. The Committee this year opened three more play areas on a part-time basis, not only to care for the increase in attendance, but also to afford greater super- vision for the smaller children in the respective localities. The three playgrounds opened were the Highland, Prospect, and Lowell Street Schools.

Two new major activities were added to the program: Archery and Basketball. As in past years, the program consisted of play days with other towns, beach trips, tennis, baseball and softball leagues. The interest in tennis continues to increase, and as a result more time was spent in tennis instruction. The program also featured special days, such as 4th of July Carnival, Boston Children's Theater Group, Davey Crockett Day, Bathing Beauty and Pet Show Day, and the Grand Finale Carnival at Birch Meadow.

The Arts and Crafts Program was extremely well accepted. The increase in attendance required the need of giving the Arts and Crafts Director assistance so that all the children might have at least some instruction in this area. This particular phase of the playground activities will be increased next year by additional help so that the children may all be cared for.

The Swimming Program is hampered by the lack of bathing facil- ities. At the present time we have but two wading pools available for the seven play areas. In order that all children in the Recreational Program might participate in swimming activities, it necessitated the transportation of the children of the parks without wading pools to either Washington Street or Birch Meadow. The Committee has rec- ommended to the Board of Public Works that they build a wading pool at the Memorial Park in 1956, and, if possible, a wading pool at the Eaton Park in 1957. If wading pools are made available in these new areas, it will be possible for swimming instruction to be included in the program.

It is the hope of the Recreation Committee that when the report of the Special Committee for School Sites and Recreational Sites, appointed by the Town at its adjourned annual Town Meeting April 4, 1955, has been received that it may be able to have new areas in several other sections of the town. The Recreation Committee is very anxious to have a play area in the vicinity of Haverhill and Franklin Streets. There are a great many children in this area who are unable to avail them- selves of the Recreational Program due to the transportation problem.

The staff is made up of school teachers and college students, with the exception of the two pool attendants. The majority of the staff has had at least one or more years' of experience in playground work.

169

Winter Program

This year the Recreation Committee is starting to develop a winter program. It was hoped that a basketball league might be formed, but due to the cost of janitorial service for the gymnasium this program has been omitted.

The winter program of the Recreation Committee at the present time consists of the supervision of all skating areas. The town has available three areas at this time: Sturges (illuminated at night), Birch Meadow, and Memorial Park. Mr. Vern Schurman has also made avail- able to the Recreation Committee the skating area on his property located at Haverhill Street.

One of the handicaps encountered by your Committee is the lack of a hockey rink. The rink that has been used at Sturges in prior years was not erected by the Park Commission this winter. It is hoped next year's winter program will not only consist of skating but a hockey league, a bowling league and possibly a basketball league.

We appreciate the help and support given to the Recreation Com- mittee by the various other committees in Town, and also the Reading Chronicle for its coverage of the playground activities.

Respectfully submitted,

ALBERT CHISHOLM LEE DONLEY LAWRENCE DREW RICHARD GALE

ROBERT E. TURNER, Chairman

NEWELL H. MORTON

SUMNER TEEL

WILLIAM WILLSON, JR.

DOMENICK ZANNI

Recreation Committee

INSPECTOR OF ANIMALS

To the Honorable Board of Selectmen

Town of Reading, Massachusetts Gentlemen:

I hereby submit my report as Inspector of Animals for the year January 1, 1955 to January 1, 1956.

Fifty-eight dogs and one cat were quarantined for biting or scratch- ing people, a drop of about 33 per cent over last year and a drop of about 20 per cent over the previous year.

Two dogs heads were submitted to the Wasserman Laboratory for the examination of Rabies, laboratory reports being negative for both, with the final animal inoculation report pending on the second head.

The annual inspection of all barns housing livestock, and the live- stock in the town was conducted by request of the Division of Livestock Disease Control, disclosing there to be in the town, 51 neat cattle, 35 pigs, a drop of 50%, 16 horses, a drop of 40%, 90 sheep and 8 goats. No Contagious Infectious diseases were noted.

Very truly yours, GARDINER A. LESTER, DVM Inspector of Animals

170

SIXTY-FIRST ANNUAL REPORT

OF THE

MUNICIPAL LIGHT BOARD

for the year ended

December 31, 1955

MANAGER'S REPORT

To the Municipal Light Board

Gentlemen:

The unprecedented expansion and growth in the electrical industry by no means left the department problem free for the year 1955. The continuation of the vigorous home building program in our area coupled to the unusual customer demand for our service presented many very difficult problems.

Following is a brief account of the highlights of 1955 operations:

PEAK LOAD: 16774 Kilowatts. The peak demand again occurred on December 21, 1955 at 6:00 P.M. with a 25 percent increase over the 13394 kilowatt demand of 1954, an unusual figure. This increase pre- sents to the department itself one of the most crucial problems in its history: namely, serving this load in 1956.

This demand is the basis for a sharply-expanded budget needed to assure adequate capacity to meet customers' needs in the ensuing years.

CUSTOMERS: 11,488. Service was extended to 771 new customers, a 43.6 percent increase over last year.

There were 206 new services installed in Reading as against 565 for the outside towns, a 2.5 to 1.0 ratio. This is a reversal of proportions which existed in 1945, i.e .: Reading services exceeded the outside towns for 1945 by 236 new services.

ENERGY PURCHASED: 49,402,413 Kilowatt Hours. Again the cost of incoming electricity purchased at our Ash Street station decreased, which reflects an increase in the use of electricity during "off-peak" hours, i.e .: more customer use during the daytime and late night hours. The average cost per kilowatt hour was 1.535 cents for 1955 as against 1.546 cents in 1954, and 1.594 cents in 1952.

ENERGY SOLD: 43,796,722 Kilowatt Hours. This was an increase of 5,711,658 kilowatt hours over previous year, marking a new annual high in electric sales. This is the highest annual gain in the department's record. The national average home consumption of 2728 kilowatt hours for 12 months ended November 30, 1955 was surpassed by our figure of 2856 kilowatt hours.

OPERATING REVENUES: $1,297,078.49. The trend of more elec- tricity per dollar continued this year. The average revenue per kilowatt hour declined to 2.96 from 2.99 cents for the year 1954. This is account- able to the fact of more electricity used in the lower rate steps.

ADDITIONS TO PLANT: $170,928.37. The construction requirements to keep pace with customers' demand for our service is reflected in the fact that our cost of plant increased from $1.3 million to $2.6 million since the past war boom. Percentage-wise, this compares favorably with

172

the 100 percent for new construction incurred by the electric industry as a whole.

The installation of an additional 13,800 volt cable line to North Reading was started in the latter part of the year and scheduled for completion early in 1956. This is to take care of the increase of growth in North Reading of 18.9 percent over 1954. This will also strengthen our Reading circuits considerably at the same time. This reflects a substantial savings in that an added load in two areas can be taken care of by one move, at a portion of the over-all expense if two projects were required.

A temporary Regulating station was installed in Lynnfield Center to more adequately serve the load in that area, pending the installation of more adequate feeders to this area and again strengthening our Reading services at the same time.

Extensions and enlargements of the distribution facilities to new and existing connections required expenditures of $163,000 for 2330 K.V.A. of net additional installed line transformer capacity, 934 new meters, poles, conductors and for new street lighting installations.

Acknowledgement and appreciation is accorded to the members of the Municipal Light Board for the time, interest and efforts they have devoted to the conduct and guidance of this department's activities and to the co-operation received from other Boards and Town Departments.

Acknowledgement is also made of the retirement on October 14, 1955 of Clarence L. Thomas who had served the Department for 35 years and as Manager since 1946.

In accordance with the provisions of Section 57, Chapter 164 of the General Laws, I submit herewith my estimate of income and expenses of the plant for the year ending December 31, 1956.

ESTIMATED INCOME AND EXPENSES FOR 1956

INCOME:

From Private Consumers

$1,421,382.22

From Tax Levy-

For Street Lights

17,000.00

For Municipal Buildings

20,711.21

From Miscellaneous Income

1,500.00

Mdse. and Jobbing

6,000.00

TOTAL INCOME

$1,466,593.43

EXPENSES:

Production

898,542.04

Distribution

164,473.10

Utilization

17,300.00

Commercial

54,095.61

New Business

200.00

173

General and Miscellaneous

75,213.82

Depreciation

130,908.08

Bond and Note Payments

39,000.00

Interest on Bonds and Notes

16,410.25

Uncollectible Operating Revenue

1,800.00

Taxes - Outside Towns

25,000.00

Interest on Consumers Deposits

250.00

TOTAL EXPENSES

$1,423,192.90

Excess - Income over Expenses

$ 43,400.53

K.W.H. Purchased

56,724,522

K.W.H. Sold

52,248,768

K.W.H. for Reading Street Lights

580,000

Expense per K.W.H. Sold

2.7238c

Cost of Street Lights

$ 15,798.04

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