USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Westford > Town of Westford annual report 1927-1931 > Part 28
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Among the homemakers three different groups were organized, namely: Chamberlain's Corner, Parker Village and Westford Center. In Westford Center a group was developed in Child Guidance and a specialist from the Massachusetts Agricultural College was obtained for these meetings. At Parker Village and Chamberlain's Corner the homemakers were interested in a series of meetings in vegetable preparation and also in a series of meetings on the improvement of home grounds. In the last project a specialist from the Market Garden Field Station made twelve home visits to assist the planning of im- provement on lawns, shrubs and flowers.
Forty-three boys and girls were enrolled in the 4-H club work, principally in the handicraft, clothing and garden clubs. Arnold Wilder, Erlene Downing, Percy Rowe and Harlene Knowlton served as local leaders. Harlene Knowlton tied for second place in county-wide can- ning contest. Erliene Downing county candidate for State Delegate .0 Camp Gilbert in canning. Priscilla Greig and Gordon Whitney were awarded a two-day trip to the Massachusetts Agricultural College for doing outstanding club work. At the Lowell 4-H Club Rally the Golden Hour Clothing Club won a special ribbon for having the largest adult attendance in competition with other clubs.
Eight educational motion picture shows were given to a total audience of 1,377.
Many local people took part in the several county-wide meetings held during the year, such as the county picnic at Wayside Inn, Sud- bury, and the Homemakers' Day at Lexington.
January 5, 1931.
JOHN A. KIMBALL
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REPORT OF FISH AND GAME WARDEN
Westford, January 7, 1931
The following is a report of the Fish and Game Warden in West- ford for the year 1930:
All our small birds and song birds are very scarce, in fact some species have disappeared. In some localities where we had quite a few some years ago, I find none. If people care to save the small birds, they will have to keep the old house cat shut up in the breeding season.
There was a small flock of aigrets on Stony Brook in the month of August, but they did not stay as long as the flock we had last year. Partridge are more plentiful than formerly, but the law was taken off too quick. The law ought to be kept on partridge for five years if we want them to increase to any extent. With the number of hunters with improved firearms, and good dogs they haven't much of a chance to increase very fast. We have quite a few quail, and if they are pro- tected for a few more years will probably increase. I can't say much for woodcocks and snipes as I haven't seen many the past year. There are a great many pheasants, we had a good number left after the hunt- ing season. I think these pheasants will get through the present winter all right. Any one knowing of pheasants or any other birds in their neighborhood. please let me know and I will keep them fed through the winter. I received a number of pheasant eggs from the Game Farm the last year to give out to people that wanted them. They had poor luck with them and raised only forty birds. It is some job to raise pheasants.
Grey rabbits are reported plentiful in some covers, but white or snow shoe rabbits are very scarce. All of the covers here have been stocked in former years, but the rabbits disappear about as quick as they are liberated. I have not received any to liberate for about three years.
The past summer was so dry, most of the brooks were very low, in fact some of them dried up. In looking them over I found no water in some brooks. I suppose most of the trout went down into the ponds. In the month of November, I made a tour of all the brooks, at that time they were all right to stock with trout. All the following brooks were stocked with trout in the past year: Town Farm Brook, Snake Meadow Brook, Tadmuck Brook, and Bonteeles Brook. The different ponds were stocked as follows: Burgess Pond, five cans small mixed pond fish, two cans of horn pout; Keyes Pond three cans of crapee, five cans of blue gills; Forge Pond five cans horn pout. All fish came by way of the Lowell Sportmen's Club in Lowell.
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There is more posted land in this town than, formerly. Not only in this town but all through the State, land owners and tenants are getting particular about who hunts and traps on their land. In some parts of the State whole tracts are posted. No Hunting. Fishing or Trapping in any part of the year.
It is against the law to set a steel trap. The price of a sporting license and trapping license is higher. This all makes more work for the District and Town Warden. In the past year, I have put more time on this work than ever before. This is because I have more time wherein I can devote to this work as I have no other position.
I have been out on this work on the following dates in 1930: Jan- uary, three times; February, six times; March, two times; April, three times; May, three times; June, four times; July, two times; August, eight times; September, four times; October, five times; November, three times; December, five times.
In this report, I would like to ask all the people in Westford to take a little more interest in the conservation of wild life not alone in the Game Birds and Mammals but also our small birds as well, as they are going fast.
Hoping this report will meet with your approval, I am, yours obediently,
JOE WALL, Fish and Game Warden.
REPORT OF THE TOWN FOREST COMMITTEE
During the past year we have cut and burned the brush on the lot and cut most of the hard pine and oak trees.
The young pines that were planted are all making a good growth.
About twenty cords of wood have been cut and turned over to the Welfare Department.
Respectfully submitted :
OSCAR R. SPALDING EDWIN H. GOULD WILLIAM E. WRIGHT
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WESTFORD WATER COMPANY CONSTRUCTION ACCOUNT
Balance January 1, 1930 $118,816.55
Expenditure for the Year 1930 for Land, Extensions of
Mains, Etc. 7,054.65
Total construction cost to January 1, 1931 $125,871.29
STATEMENT OF THE RECEIPTS AND EXPENDITURES FROM JANUARY 1, 1930 TO JANUARY 1, 1931
RECEIPTS
Hydrants
$ 2 666.66
Town Hall
37.00
Library
23.00
Schools
371.20
Westford Home
55.00
Common
20.00
Monument Ground
10.00
Fire Cottage
23.00
Subscribers
12,824.27
Service Connections
29.15
Interest on Bank Deposit
194.37
Interest on Sinking Fund Investments
1,098.63
-$ 17,352.28
EXPENSES
Interest Account
$ 1,750.00
Wages
3,648.28
Expense Account
865.01
Supplies
440.62
Oil
78.63
Electric Power
1,831.32
Fuel
124.78
Taxes
1,028.09
Salaries
400.00
Depreciation
2,336.95
Loss from Exchange of Securities
28.47
Transferred to Sinking Fund
2,070.16
$ 14,602.31
Net Gain for the Year Ending Dec. 31, 1930 $ 2,749.97
WILLIAM R. TAYLOR, Treasurer.
86
Westford, Mass., January 19th, 1931.
Middlesex, ss.
Then personally appeared William R. Taylor and made oath that the above is a true statement of the cost of construction of the West- ford Water Company to January 1, 1931, and of the receipts and ex- penditures from January 1, 1930 to January 1, 1931, before me this 19th day of January 1931.
FREDERIC A. SNOW, Notary Public. My commission expires Nov. 19, 1931.
WHITNEY PLAYGROUND
-
During the past year the usual care has been given to the grounds.
There is no particular improvement contemplated for the coming year except perhaps the renewal of the rose trellis fronting on Main Street at the right of the Frost School, also the renewal of the net- ting of the back stops at the tennis court.
HERBERT V. HILDRETH, OSCAR R. SPALDING, CHARLES L. HILDRETH, Whitney Playground Committee
87
REPORT OF FINANCE COMMITTEE
The Finance Committee have carefully considered the requests of the officials of the various departments of the town government, said requests to be acted upon at the Annual Town Meeting to be held on Feb. 16, 1931.
Taking into consideration the general condition of business, the number of unemployed and the outlook for the coming year, also the desire to keep the tax rate at as low a figure as possible it was thought best to invite the various officials to a conference and discuss with them the situation.
This was done with the result that many of the requests were modified and an amicable adjustment made.
We submit herewith a tabulation which gives the result of the conference and one which we hope may meet the approval of the voters.
Voted 1930
Used 1930
Asked 1931
Recom- mended
Item 1 General Government
Selectmen
600.00
$ 538.86
600.00
$
Town Accountant
900.00
921.96
900.00
Town Treasurer
750.00
688.57
750.00
Tax Collector
1,500.00
1,431.11
1,500.00
Assessors
875.00
679.89
875.00
Town Counsel
400.00
153.30
400.00
Town Clerk
400.00
305.42
400.00
Registration and Election
575.00
771.79
300.00
$ 6,000.00
$ 5,490.90
$ 5,725.00
$ 5,725.00
Town Hall
$ 2,000.00
$ 1,997.53
$ 1,800.00
$ 1,800.00
Item
2. Police Department
3,000.00
2,912.77
3,000.00
3,000.00
Item
3. Fire Department
3,200.00
3,016.38
4,500.00
3,000.00
Item
4. Hydrants
2,920.00
3,066.66
3,360.00
3,360.00
Item 5. Sealer of Weights and Measures
125.00
116.58
125.00
125.00
Item
6. Fish and Game Warden
100.00
81.50
100.00
100.00
Item
7. Forest Fires
500.00
1,563.29
500.00
500.00
Item
8. Town Forest
200.00
199.25
200.00
200.00
Item 9. Tree Warden
300.00
299.67
150.00
150.00
Item 10.
Moth Department
3,000.00
2,998.98
1,800.00
1,800.00
Item 11. Health Department
3,500.00
3,280.13
4,000.00
3,500.00
Item 12.
Cattle Inspector
150.00
150.00
150.00
150.00
Item 13. Highways
16,000.00
17,868.44
16,000.00
16,000.00
.
.
Town Roads
Ice, Snow, Equipment and Repairs
2,000.00
2,000.00
2,000.00
2,000.05
Concord Road
5,000.00
5.000.00
3,000.00
3,000.00
Carlisle Road
2,500.00
2,500.00
3,000.00
3,000.00
Existing State and County Roads
6,000.00
5,000.00
6,000.00
6,000.00
Item 14. Public Welfare
12,000.00
Finance Committee ยท
800.00
Town Meeting December 9th
1,000.00
13,800.00
15,043.15
16,000.00
13,000.00
Item 15. Soldiers' Benefits
1,800.00
Finance Committee
300.00
Town Meeting December 9th
500.00
2.600.00
2,050.00
2,400.00
2,400.00
Item 16.
Schools
73,200.00
72,199.94
73,200.00
71,500.00
Item 17.
Vocational Tuition
3,000.00
1,625.62
2,500.00
2,000.00
Item 18. Library
2,200.00
2,200.00
2,200.00
2,000.00
Dog License
510.61
510.61
Item 19.
Care of Common
250.00
246.79
250.00
250.00
Item 20.
Lighting Clock
50.00
14.04
50.00
50.00
Item 21. Band Concerts
400.00
400.00
400.00
400.00
Item 22.
Memorial Day
300.00
299.50
300.00
300.00
Item 23. Publishing Town Reports
600.00
548.60
600.00
600.00
.
Item 24. Cemeteries
1,200.00
1,181.86
1,200.00
1,000.00
Item 25. Street Lights
8.600.00
8,018.33
9,800.00
9,800.00
Item 26. Liability Insurance
650.00
624.38
750.00
750.00
Item 27. Fire Insurance
1,200.00
1,105.73
400.00
400.00
Item 28.
General Loans
7,500.00
7,500.00
7,500.00
7,500.00
Item 29.
Interest on General Loans
4,800.00
2,984.81
4,950.00
4,950.00
Item 30.
Interest on Revenue Loans
2,450.00
1,936.25
2,000.00
2,000.00
Item 31. Outstanding Bills
Estimated
1,000.00
1,000.00
Item 32.
Reserve Fund
2,000.00
1,580.88
2,000.00
5,000.00
Item 33.
Farm Bureau
400.00
400.00
400.00
400.00
Item 34.
Land Damages
50.00
50.00
Item 35. Overdrawn Appropriations
4,015.82
4,015.82
$187 375.82
$182,775.82
FIXED CHARGES
State Tax
7,756.32
County Tax
7,112.73
14,869.05
14,869.05
Total
$202,244.87
$197,644.87
ESTIMATED RECEIPTS
Corporation Tax
24,323.34
24,223.34
Income Tax
24,658.20
20,959.47
Poll Tax
1,928.00
1,928.00
Excise Tax
7,000.00
7,000.00
All Other
11,430.38
11,430.38
..
69,239.92
65,541.19
1
Amount to be raised
133,004.95
132,103.68
Surplus
11,000.00
11,000.00
Total to be raised by Taxation
$122,004.95
$121,103.68
Valuation of Town 1930
40,381.60
It is hoped and expected that the tax rate for the coming year will not be over $30.00 per thousand.
The valuation of the Town as assessed Apr. 1, 1930, was $136,166.00 less than that of the previous year. This may have been justifiable, but your committee still thinks that there is quite an amount of property which is undervalued, and we would again request the assessors to give more careful consideration to such.
Respectfully submitted,
HERBERT V. HILDRETH, JULIAN A. CAMERON, JOHN C. ABBOT, P. HENRY HARRINGTON, OSCAR R. SPALDING, FRANK L. FURBUSH,
Finance Committee.
92
Warrant for Annual Town Meeting, Westford, Mass.
COMMONWEALTH OF MASSSACHUSETTS
MIDDLESEX, SS.
GREETING :
To the Constable of the Town of Westford in said County:
You are hereby required, in the name of the Commonwealth afore- said, to notify and warn all the inhabitants of said Town qualified to vote in elections, and also in Town affairs, to meet in their several Polling Places, viz .:
Precinct 1. Town Hall, Westford Centre.
Precinct 2. Abbot's Hall, Graniteville.
Precinct 3. Abbot's Hall, Brookside.
Precinct 4. Abbot's Hall, Forge Village.
MONDAY, FEBRUARY 9, 1931
being the second Monday in said month, at 6.30 o'clock in the morning, for the following purposes:
To bring in their votes for the following officers:
For Three Years
One Selectman .
One Member Board of Public Welfare
One Assessor
Two Members of the School Committee
One Member Board of Cemetery Commissioners
One Trustee of Public Library
One Member Board of Health
For One Year
Moderator Town Treasurer Collector of Taxes
Constable
Tree Warden One Member of the School Committee (to fill vacancy)
The polls will be open from 6.30 A. M. to 4 P. M., and to meet in the Town Hall at Westford Centre on the following
93
MONDAY, FEBRUARY 16, 1931
at 1 o'clock in the afternoon, then and there to act upon the following articles, viz .:
1st. To hear the reports of the Finance Committee, other Commit- tees, Boards and Officers.
2nd. To determine the compensation of the Tax Collector.
3rd. To appropriate money to meet the cost and expenses of the foi- lowing named departments, officers and purposes:
1 General Government.
2. Police Department.
3. Fire Department.
4. Hydrants.
5. Sealer of Weights and Measures.
6. Fish and Game Warden.
7. Forest Fires.
8. Town Forest.
9. Tree Warden.
10. Moth Department.
11. Health Department.
12. Cattle Inspector.
13. Highway Purposes.
14. Board of Public Welfare.
15. Soldiers' Benefits.
16. School Department.
17. Vocational Tuition.
18. Public Library.
19. Care of the Common.
20. Lighting Clock.
21. Band Concerts.
22. Commemoration of Memorial Day.
23. Publishing Town Reports.
24. Cemetery Commissioners.
25. Electric Lights.
26. Liability Insurance.
27. Fire Insurance.
28. General Loans.
29. Interest on General Loans.
30. Interest on Revenue Loans.
31. Outstanding Bills December 31, 1929 and 1930.
32. Reserve Fund under Section 6 of Chapter 40 of the General Laws.
33. Overdrafts of 1930.
4th. To see if the Town will appropriate the sum of $400 and elect a director under the provisions of Section 40-45 of Chapter 128 of the General Laws.
94
5th. To see if the Town will vote to install additional street lights as follows:
6 Groton Road.
4 Dunstable Road.
1 Brookside Road.
6th. To see if the Town will vote to authorize the Selectmen to enter into a contract with the Westford Water Co. for one additional hydrant on Central Street.
7th. To see if the Town will appropriate money to meet the damages assessed by the County Commissioners in the relocation of the Keyes and Groton Roads.
8th. To see if the Town will vote to discontinue that portion of an old unused way extending from the Chamberlain Road to the Stony Brook Road.
9th. To see if the Town will vote to change the name of Central Street to Prescott Street.
10th. To see if the Town will vote to authorize the Treasurer, with the approval of the Selectmen, to borrow money in anticipation of the revenue of the current financial year.
11th. To determine the manner of collecting taxes for the current year, also the rate of interest on taxes remaining unpaid at a time to be fixed by the vote of the Town, and when and how said taxes shall be paid into the treasury.
And you are hereby directed to serve this warrant by posting up true and attested copies at the Town Hall and each Post Office in said Westford, seven days at least before the time of holding said meeting.
Hereof fail not, and make due return of this Warrant, with your doings thereon, to the Town Clerk, at the time and place of holding the first meeting aforesaid.
Given under our hands this twenty-second day of January, in the year of our Lord Nineteen Hundred and Thirty-One.
BURTON D. GRIFFITH, WILLIAM R. TAYLOR, MARK A. PALMER,
Selectmen of Westford.
TCHER
F
J.V.
ARY
O
1895
Annual Report
OF THE
J. V. Fletcher Library
OF THE
TOWN of WESTFORD, MASS.
FOR THE Year Ending December 31, 1930
3
LIBRARY REPORT
January 1, 1931.
The trustees of the J. V. Fletcher Library respectfully submit their annual report for 1930, including the report of the librarian and the list of books added in 1930.
The trustees ask for the following appropriations, viz .:
1. The sum of twenty-two hundred dollars ($2,200.00) to meet the current expenses of the main library and its branches.
2. The receipts from the dog licenses in 1930.
JULIAN A. CAMERON, Chairman, WILLIAM C. ROUDENBUSH, ALICE M. HOWARD, Secretary.
FINANCIAL REPORT OF LIBRARY FOR 1930
Salaries and wages
Librarian
$ 699.98
Assistants
232.25
Janitor
375.00
$ 1,307.23
Books
1.019.84
Periodicals
122.95
Binding
15.56
Fuel
225.00
Light
33.65
Telephone
23.41
Buildings
Repairs
23.00
Care of grounds
2.44
Janitor's supplies
10.35
Water rates
23.00
All other
16.35
77.69
Stationery and postage
5.71
Printing
11.15
Express
20.17
Cartage
125.00
All other
14.40
$ 3,001.76
Credit by refunds
51.38
$ 3,053.14
4
REPORT OF LIBRARIAN
January 1, 1931.
To the Trustees of the J. V. Fletcher Library :
The report of the Library for the year ending December 31, 1930, is herewith presented.
This year has seen a great increase in the circulation at the main library, a gain of 3,450 over last year. The gain has been due in part to the greater amount of reference work which the children are required to do for school. Also the library has been more generally used by all sections of the town. The deposit stations at Graniteville and Forge Village have likewise had a good year.
The monthly record varied from 1,812 in November to 938 in June, the only month with circulation below one thousand. November like- wise held the banner record last year. The library has been open 153 days, and the average day's loan was 117 books and 23 magazines. Seven days had a circulation of 198 or more, the largest being 239 on November 13. The smallest was 53 on August 19.
Biography still leads in popularity (aside from fiction), 677 being loaned; travel with 481, and literature, essays and poetry, 468, are nearly tied for second place. The total circulation of non-fiction is 3,159. One-third of the books loaned at the center were children's books, but the percentage for the whole town was nearly 42%.
This fall it was found necessary to have the library open at two noon hours instead of one to accommodate the children who go in the barges and therefore have little opportunity to look up reference ques- tions after school. Tuesday was the additional day chosen, but for two months it was necessary to use Wednesdays instead. Hereafter Tues- days and Thursdays will be the regular schedule of opening. The high school pupils this year also come at the noon hour instead of utilizing their free periods during school hours as last year.
The library has been fortunate in receiving a larger number of books as gifts this year. The generous contributors have been Mr. Julian A. Cameron, Mrs. William Harrington, Mrs. George F. White and Mrs. John P. Wright.
As in previous years we have been aided by the Division of Public Libraries and the inter-library loan system in supplying books which we could not otherwise provide. Through the Department of Library Work with Foreigners we have also been able to furnish books in the Rus- sian language for several readers. We have in our turn loaned three books to other libraries.
5
To assist readers who are looking for certain kinds of books in the stack-room, a white M has been pasted on the backs of the mystery and detective stories and a white W on the western and northwestern books. The required reading for the high school pupils has been marked in a similar way with a white number indicating the year for which it is recommended. As this was only started this fall there are still many books which do not have the letters or figures, but they will be placed on the new books when catalogued and on the old volumes as fast as time will permit.
The children in Graniteville and Forge Village are still interested in obtaining certificates for reading. One hundred thirty-two common (five books) and seventeen honor (20 books) certificates were given from January to June. A picture of the winners at Graniteville was tak- en in June and sent to the Library Commission, who enlarged it and used it in their exhibit at the Eastern States Exhibition at Springfield and at the exhibition of the work of the State Departments held at the Armory in Boston.
Library Hall was used last spring for several meetings of special interest in this Tercentenary year. Rev. David N. Beech, of Belmont, gave a lecture on "Cromwell and the Puritans", and later meetings dealt with reminiscences of Westford history by local people. The trus- tees are glad to give permission for use of the hall to the townspeople upon request for meetings of educational and general interest. The lib- rary congratulates the Tadmuck Club on the acquisition of the new Club Home, but regrets that they will no longer find it necessary to use the library hall.
Those needing costumes for plays and other occasions have appre- ciated the opportunity of borrowing from the trunkful of old-fashioned clothes at the library, the only drawback to their usefulness being the small size of many of them. Additional gifts would be welcomed, especially of larger size.
The librarian attended the Library Institute for small libraries held at Westfield Normal School in April. In June came the Northeastern Library convention at Swampscott, with the opportunity of seeing and hearing Eric P. Kelly (Dartmouth College professor), winner of the Newberry medal for the best children's book of the year-"Trumpeter of Krakow"; Rollo W. Brown, author of "Lonely Americans", and Mrs. Edward MacDowell, whose husband founded Peterborough Colony, New Hampshire. Since that time the librarian has visited various libraries in Massachusetts, among them being Foxboro, Framingham, Walpole and Sherborn. On her vacation in Maine she had the opportunity of visiting the libraries of Bangor, Brunswick, Augusta, Lewiston, Aub- urn, the State library, the college libraries of Colby and the University of Maine, and others.
The librarian attended the lecture course in Library Service under the auspices of the Division of University Extension, given at the Bos- ton Public Library on Tuesday forenoons for eight weeks this fall. Of
6
special interest and enjoyment were the talks given by the librarians on the following subjects-getting books read, the picture collection, and the personal equation in library service.
A valuable add.tion to the reference department was made this year by the purchase of the Encyclopaedia Britannica. This has al- ready proved very useful to the school children in looking up biography of authors.
While the circulation of books has greatly increased, that of the magazines has decreased. All except current numbers may be borrowed and the list for the coming year is as follows:
Geographic News Bulletin Illustrated London News Life Literary Digest
WEEKLIES
Publishers' Weekly Saturday Evening Post Westford Wardsman
MONTHLIES
A. L. A. Booklist
Ladies' Home Journal
American
Libraries
American Boy
Library Journal
American Home
National Geographic
Antiques
Nature
Asia
Needlecraft
Atlantic Monthly
Normal Instructor
Book Review Digest
Open Road
Boys' Life
Parents' Magazine
Child Life
Pictorial Review
Cosmopolitan
Popular Mechanics
Country Gentleman
Popular Science Monthly
Country Life
Readers' Guide
Current History
Review of Reviews
Delineator
Saint Nicholas
Forecast Forum
Scientific American
Good Housekeeping
Scribner's
Grade Teacher
Theatre
Harper's Monthly
Travel
Woman's Home Companion
House Beautiful Hygeia
World's Work
PERIODICALS GIVEN, 1930.
American Issue Bell Telephone Quarterly
School Arts Magazine
Better Homes and Gardens
From the Publishers From the American Telephone & Telegraph Co. From M. E. Day
7
Christian Science Journal Christian Science Monitor Christian Science Sentinel
Columbia Concord Journal Federation Topics Living Age Middlesex County Bulletin
National Grange Monthly National Republic New England Poultryman Our Dumb Animals Our Message
Parties Poultry Success Specialty Salesman Magazine The Starry Cross Virginia
From Miss Mary E. Burbeck From Miss Mary E. Burbeck From First Church of Christ, Scientist, Lowell. From the Publishers
From the Publishers
From the Tadmuck Club From Mr. Harry B. Prescott
From Middlesex Co. Extension Service From the Westford Grange
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