USA > New Hampshire > Strafford County > Rochester > Annual report of the city of Rochester, New Hampshire : for the year ending 1914 > Part 6
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I wish also to call your attention to the winter ex- pense, which is quite an item. The cost of caring for snow, ice and water at the beginning of the year was approximately $2,000; this amount, added to the costs of the numerous minor repairs that are hardly notice- able along the lines of road improvement, have a ten- dency to greatly lessen the annual appropriation. Therefore it is very difficult to plan for any extensive permanent improvements, except that a sufficient amount be appropriated for this class of work.
In conclusion, I wish to express my thanks to the Committee and Honorable Council for the support and assistance accorded me in the performance of my duties during the past year.
Respectfully submitted,
GEORGE D. DAME,
- Street Commissioner.
Report of Street Commissioner on Sidewalks
For Year of 1914
To the Committee on Roads, Bridges and Drains:
Gentlemen .- I herewith submit the following report for the year ending 1914. The expenditures of the Sidewalk Department will be found in the report of ex- penditures of the various departments.
The past year 851 square yards of granolithic walks were laid on Main, River, Union, Railroad avenue and Summer streets. 247 square yards tar concrete on North Main street; one stone crossing laid on River street; one stone crossing laid on Portland street; one cement crossing laid on Liberty street.
We have used as re-surfacing material all the . cinders that were available at the round house, also Gonic and East Rochester mills.
Respectfully submitted,
GEORGE D. DAME,
Superintendent of Streets.
-
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Report of the Manager of Opera House
To the Committee on Public Buildings of the Roch- ester City Council :
Gentlemen :- As manager of the City Opera House for the year 1914, I submit the following report. Dur- ing the year just closed I have been able to secure a considerable number of good bookings, in comparison about the same number as during 1913. The general depression in business has been keenly felt by the travelling companies, so that I have had some cancel- lations of good attractions. The outlook for 1915 is encouraging and although we may not have as many openings as in 1914, I trust what we may lose in quantity we may make up in quality.
I have endeavored at all times to keep the theatre in good order, always having in mind the comfort of our people, also the comfort of the travelling com- panies. My relations with the latter have been of the most pleasant kind and I am sure they all appreciate playing in Rochester.
It has been necessary to spend some of the earnings this year for permanent improvements, which I think will greatly facilitate the handling of shows. We doubled the size of our scenery door at a cost of $72.60. We built a platform wagon for handling scenery, bag- gage, etc., at a cost of $50.06.
I have not been able to secure a performance during the year for the Ushers' Benefit, but trust this can be
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done during the early part of the present season. For the year 1915 the ushers will be placed on the house payroll, as they should have a regular compensation for their faithful services.
In another part of this report will be found a state- ment of the receipts and expenditures showing the net earnings to be $553.82.
Respectfully submitted,
F. E. HUSSEY,
Manager.
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Report of Tree Warden
January 1, 1915.
To the Honorable Mayor and Council of the City of Rochester:
Gentlemen :- At the regular meeting of the city council held July 7 I was elected Tree Warden to fill the unexpired term of C. E. Goodwin and since that time the trees have been sprayed for brown tail moths. I find no attention has been given to the destruction of the gypsy moth of which I find a large number through- out the city. If the citizens of Rochester do not wish to see the beautiful shade trees stripped of their foliage in the spring, they will have to assist in destroying the nests of the gypsy moths on their own property at once. I find there are a great many dead trees about the city which should be removed as soon as possible on account of falling limbs.
Respectfully submitted,
M. E. JONES,
Tree Warden.
Report of Board of Health
To the Mayor and City Council of the City of Rochester:
We herewith submit our report for the year ending Dec. 31, 1914.
Report for six months ending June, 30, 1914, C. E. Goodwin, Health Officer.
Contagious or infectious diseases reported.
Measles 254
Only death
Scarlet Fever
3
one from measles
Diphtheria 2
Number rooms fumigated 64
Barns disinfected for glanders
5
Calls by Health Officer 405
Complaints 10
Dead animals buried among which were 5 horses afflicted with glanders 12
Report six months ending Dec. 31, 1914, M. E. Jones, Health Officer.
Contagious or infectious diseases reported
Diphtheria
2 )
No deaths
Typhoid fever
2
Number houses fumigated
8
Rooms fumigated
24
Calls by Health Officer 29
Complaints 17
Dead animals buried
4
136
Of deaths from all causes excluding still births
147
Still births
5
Deaths from tuberculosis
5
Deaths under 3 years
29
Deaths between 70 and 80 years
23
Deaths between 80 and 90 years
13
Deaths between 90 and 100 years
3
Deaths over 100 years
1
Deaths from accidents
13
Population as per census of 1910
8,868
Estimated population in 1914
9,000
Death rate per 1,000 from all causes
.16 1-3
Death rate per 1,000 due to diseases
.14 8-9
DUDLEY L. STOKES, M. D. FORREST L. KEAY, M. D. CHARLES E. GOODWIN Health Officers, January 1, 1914, to June 30, 1914.
MARTIN E. JONES
Health Officer, July 1, 1914, to December 31, 1914.
Board of Health.
Report of Overseer of Poor
To the Mayor and City Council of the City of Rochester:
I herewith submit my report for the year ending Dec. 31, 1914.
The following table shows the amount of assist- ance furnished to each applicant under the heading of
CITY POOR
Mrs. Alex McDonald
$ 54 00
Sarah McCallion
179 00
Henry Perreault
306 00
Mrs. Lavina J. McNish
106 00
Mrs. Addie F. Otis
76 35
Mrs. Sarah J. Jackson
69 75
Mrs. Helen Wilkinson
107. 26
Albert Hartford's child
78 00
Mrs. C. F. Blake
240 20
Mrs. John Downing
15 45
Mrs. Joseph Cormier
119 40
Ethel Baxter's child
96 00
Mrs. John Jacobs
72 00
Mrs. Joseph St. Laurent
5 00
Mrs. Sanford Fowler
10 00
Edwin F. Dame
3 00
Received from estate of Addie F. Otis
$1,537 41
65 00
$1,472 41
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AID FURNISHED TO SOLDIERS AND THEIR FAMILIES
Total amount
$ 916 76
Total amount of assistance furnished
$2,389 17
Appropriation for 1914
2,400 00
Balance of appropriation unexpended
$10 83
Respectfully submitted,
FORREST L. KEAY,
Overseer of Poor.
Report of City Solicitor
To the Honorable Mayor and City Council of the City of Rochester :
Your Solicitor begs to make the following report of suits against the City of Rochester, pending during the year 1914.
On November 21, 1912, Mary T. Seccomb, Alice Newhall and Harry H. Newhall took an appeal from the damages awarded them in the straightening and widening of North Main street in October, 1912, and filed a petition for assessment of damages in the Superior Court for Strafford County, claiming that they were damaged by this lay out in the neighborhood of twenty-five hundred dollars; that after full consideration of the necessities of public travel by both the legal com- mittee and the highway committee, it was decided that more land had been taken in the lay out of October, 1912, than was necessary for the convenience of the public and under a new petition to locate the south- westerly side line from Central square to Bridge street a part of the lay out made in October, 1912, was dis- continued, and this side line of the street was fixed and established, awarding to Mary T. Seccomb, Alice Newhall and Harry H. Newhall, the owners of the Hale property, and the plaintiffs in said suit, the sum of five hundred dollars, which sum has been accepted by them, disposing of the suit pending before the Superior Court without costs or expense to the city.
At the September term, 1914, of the Superior Court A. Duncan Piggott, of Rochester, petitioned for abatement of taxes upon one linotype machine, claiming the ap-
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praisal made by the board of assessors was too high and upon investigation I learned that the amount of tax actually in dispute was less than ten dollars. At the same term of court Warren T. Billings filed a petition for abatement of taxes upon certain printing presses, type, belting and accessories, claiming that the ap- praisal thereon by the board of assessors was too high and upon investigation of this case I learned that the amount of tax actually in dispute was about the same as in the Piggott case, and it required very little effort on my part to get a conference between the board of assessors and these parties and a satisfactory adjust- ment of the appraisal and tax was reached and the cases have been dismissed from the Court docket without costs to the City of Rochester.
William H. Wilkinson brought a suit against the City of Rochester returnable at the September term, 1914, of the Superior Court for Strafford County for the taking of two hundred eighty to three hundred loads of gravel, and removing of thirteen trees from his lot of land situate upon the Milton Road, so called, by George McDuffee while he was Superintendent of Streets. Upon a conference between the legal com- mittee and Mr. Wilkinson and his attorney, Mr. Emery, it was learned that a settlement could be made for fifty dollars. As this gravel was used in the construction of the State Road, under the present arrangement with the State one-half of this sum would be chargeable to the State, and when paid the action will be dismissed without costs to the city.
Should the Council deem it advisable to authorize the payment of this sum, when made the city will be free from law suits and excepting the claim of Mr. Robillard there are none other that have come to my
1
141
· knowledge indicating danger of legal disputes or com- plications.
I am told that a clean slate in this particular has not been enjoyed by the city since 1906, a period of nine years, and I feel that the city should be congrat- ulated upon its freedom from these usually vexatious and expensive proceedings.
Respectfully submitted,
ELMER J. SMART, City Solicitor.
Report of the Trustees OF THE Rochester Public Library 1914.
At a meeting of the Trustees of the Rochester Public Library, December 30, 1914, it was voted that the report of the Secretary, Librarian and Treasurer be presented to the City Council as the annual report of the Trustees for the year 1914.
Rochester Public Library, 1914
Trustees
FRANK B. PRESTON, Mayor, ex-officio.
SIDNEY B. HAYES
Term expires 1914.
1914.
FRED P. MEADER
STEPHEN C. MEADER
1915.
JOHN YOUNG
1915.
HORACE L. WORCESTER
1916.
WILLIS MCDUFFEE
66
1916.
Treasurer JOHN L. COPP
Librarian LILLIAN E. PARSHLEY
Assistants
MAUD B. WENTWORTH E. VELMA FOSS ANNIE H. MCCRILLIS
Janitor GEORGE H. JACKSON
Agencies
ANNIE SHAPLEIGH GEORGE H. MARSH
East Rochester Gonic
Report of Library Trustees
To the Honorable Council of the City of Rochester :
Gentlemen :- The Trustees of the Rochester Public Library, as required by the City Ordinance, submit the twenty-first annual report of the trustees, also the librarian's and treasurer's report for the year, 1914.
It is gratifying to the trustees to report the interest in the Public Library as manifested by the public in the reading room, also in the circulation of books.
A petition was received from the Woman's Club re- questing the trustees to open the reading room on Sun- day to the public. As an experiment it was voted to open the library for readers, during the month of December, from 3 to 6 P. M. Number of readers for four Sundays 140, an average of 35 a day. Some of these people have seldom or never visited the library before. The need of a place where those who work during the week can spend Sunday afternoon is evident to the public and the trustees. But all this increases the expense of running the library. Heat, light, janitor and librarian will be an added cost.
The trustees believe that an increase in the ap- propriation for the year will be needed in order to meet the request of the public and respectfully ask that the appropriation for 1915 be not less than four thousand dollars.
Repairs ought to be made on the building. The slate on the roof is of such poor quality that repairs have to be made every year. The roof ought to be reslated.
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147
During the year new shelves have been added to the juvenile department, at a cost of $73.34 and other necessary repairs made about the building. The trustees are pleased to report all bills for the year paid, leaving a balance of $2.75.
We trust the Honorable Council will take into con- sideration the value of the library to our public schools and to the city and make the appropriation as requested $4,000.00.
The trustees wish to express their appreciation of the efficient work done by the librarian and her assis- tants during the year.
For the Trustees,
JOHN YOUNG,
Secretary.
Rochester, N. H., December 30, 1914.
Report of Librarian
To the Board of Trustees of the Rochester Public Library :
Gentlemen :- I herewith present the twenty-first annual report of the Rochester Public Library, for the year 1914.
As the time approaches for another annual report one wishes for a new way of stating dry facts or that some event might be remembered so interesting that the dullness of others would be forgotten or
"wad some power the giftie gie us To see oursel's as other's see us !
would prove a novelty and possibly offer suggestions as to the future conduct of the library.
To the 16,466 volumes reported last year, have come the usual losses and reverses. Dogs and babies, the natural enemies of library books, have spoiled a few; others have been lost and have never found their way back; and some worn out by their continued pop- ularity, after an average circulation of 180, have been discarded. These deducted from the 617 volumes added, make a net gain of 584, and a total of 17,050 volumes in the library.
One of the canons of library ethics is said to be, "That the purchase of books should reflect the need of the community rather than the personal taste of the li- brarian." This has been strictly followed, except that the word "want" has often been substituted for "need." During the year a fair proportion has been preserved in the various classes, a few valuable refer- ence books taking a large share of the book allowance.
149
If, merely the collecting and circulating of books, with the side issues of children's room, reading and reference rooms and their attending duties, places a li- brary in the old fashioned class, then, surely this is an old fashioned library, for we cannot give to the public either moving pictures or lectures, neither can we illus- trate the children's story hour with the stereopticon nor do we aim to make the library a social center, much as these might add to its popularity and helpfulness. It has never been necessary to attract the Rochester peo- ple to books, the problem has always been, how to make the worth while books most attractive. The cir- culation for the year shows an increase of 1,515 over last year. The number of books given out to individ- uals being 57,679. If to this number were added the 1,894 books sent to the agencies (and it takes longer to prepare one book for a station than to give several over the counter) it would bring the total up to 59,573.
Great care has been taken to send to the agencies only books which they have never had. This has made necessary the checking of the entire catalogue and the making of many book slips but has remedied their com- plaints of receiving books a second time and will make it possible for them to have each circulating book in the library. East Rochester has had 788 Rochester books and their circulation totaled 2,618. Gonic, in addition to the weekly and monthly magazines provided, has had 1,108 books and a circulation of 3,133. East Rochester shows an increase of 778 in the number of books given out and Gonic a decrease of 564.
Early in the year extra shelving was added to the children's room. This, together with the necessary changes involved, and the several pictures contributed, has made the room much more attractive. But the children do need a clock and would like fittings for the
150
fire place. The story hour carried out each week until the first of April, seemed to interest the little folks and will be resumed in January. Boys have patronized the room rather more than girls, especially in the early evening. It is not an unusual thing to see twenty or more boys reading at the tables, and this in spite of the fact that but very few boys' books were purchased dur- ing the first nine months of the year. The reading attendance has been 7,174, while the number of books given out was 12,759. These figures show an increase of 1,647 readers and a decrease of 479 in circulation.
At the beginning of the year an attempt was made to keep at least a partial list of the questions brought to the library for solution but it was not carried out. As usual, reference has taken a large part of each day and the library is gradually becoming better equipped to take care of this part of the work. Pupils are being taught to depend upon themselves as much as possible in looking up information wanted. There has been an increase of 1,832 readers and students over last year, the total number being 14,070. When one considers that during the year 14,070 people have been entertained, interested or instructed in the library, an average of 270 each week it would seem as if this part of the work . alone paid good interest on the time and money invest- ed.
The experiment of opening the reading rooms on Sunday afternoon resulted in 140 readers for the four Sundays of December. 106 of the number were men and boys, the large majority reading nearly the entire afternoon. About 35 of these visitors rarely come to the library during the week for reading.
The larger circulation, the increasing reference work and the great wear and tear on the books have made it necessary to add a third regular assistant to
151
the staff. This has enabled us to keep up the work of the year and meet the various wants of the public with greater ease. The regular work has gone on with the proportionate increase along the many lines of li: brary activity. An additional feature being the sorting, filing and listing of clippings. These arranged tempo- rarily in file boxes have already served to supplement the reference material.
The great need of the coming year is books. The small book allowance of the past two years has made it impossible to fill, to any great extent, deficiencies in classes. For many subjects information to be worth while must be up-to-date, new subjects are continually coming before the public, the library must be kept abreast of the times, therefore several hundred dollars could be well spent at once in additions to the more important classes.
Then in spite of the vigilent care of a painstaking janitor, the floor shows the scars of almost ten years of ceaseless travel and the walls in some of the rooms need freshening and the roof needs to be mended. If these could be attended to gradually it would not mean such a drain on the library resources.
This year for the first time the New Hampshire Library Association held its annual meeting at the li- brary. There were library folk from Concord, Derry, Dover, Durham, Franklin, Keene, Laconia, Manches- ter, Milford, Portsmouth, Wakefield and Windham. Also Miss Moore from New York City and Miss Farr from Philadelphia. This proved a most interesting oc- casion to the Rochester Library staff, bringing as it did encouragement, inspiration and suggestions from other library workers.
If we of the library staff, blinded by the light of our desires for the work, sometimes lose sight of the
152
realities accomplished; if often the results seem small as compared with the effort expended, we have only to look backward to the time when there was no public library, with its books for the asking, its opportunities for reading and knowledge, and we realize that, al- though the applause of the multitude does not reach us and appreciation of the work is rarely expressed, the public library must mean much to the City of Roches- ter, its individuals, its families, its clubs, its schools and its churches.
I wish at this time to speak of the good work of the assistants without whose co-operation the work of the year could not be carried out. I also wish to thank the trustees for their interest and encouragement.
Respectfully submitted,
LILLIAN E. PARSHLEY,
Librarian.
Rochester, N. H., December 30, 1914.
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CIRCULATION BY CLASSES FOR 1914
Library
East Rochester
Gonic
Total
Fiction
32,646
1,574
1,579
35,799
Juvenile
11,472
894
776
13,142
Biography
468
22
6
496
Periodicals
2,835
690
3,525
General Works
115
115
Philosophy
72
11
83
Religion
185
1
186
Sociology
262
20
3
285
Philology
44
44
Science
340
5
9
354
Useful Arts
371
22
18
411
Fine Arts
591
6
1
598
Literature
1,022
31
15
1,078
Travel and History
1,445
33
35
1,513
51,878
2,618
3,133
57,629
Increase in circulation over last year ;
Library
1,301
East Rochester
718
Decrease
Gonic
564
153
154
CIRCULATION FOR 1913 AND 1914 COMPARED.
1913
1914
Increase
Decrease
Fiction
34,215
35,799
1,584
Juvenile
13,648
13,142
506
Biography
452
496
44
Periodicals
3,677
3,525
152
General Works
28
115
87
Philosophy
51
83
32
Religion
167
186
19
Sociology
283
285
2
Philology
19
44
25
Science
262
354
92
Useful Arts
344
411
67
Fine Arts
481
598
117
Literature
990
1,078
88
Travel and History
1,497
1,513
16
56,114
57,629
2,173
658
Increase in classes
2,173
Decrease in classes
658
Total increase
1,515
Increase in circulation of non-fiction
589
155
JUVENILE CIRCULATION FOR 1913 AND 1914.
1913
1914
Increase Decrease
Stories
11,954
11,473
481
Biography
47
64
17
Periodicals
447
355
92
General Works
1
1
Religion
37
22
15
Sociology
32
41
9
Philology
1
1
Science
53
59
6
Useful Arts
19
58
39
Fine Arts
114
186
72
Literature
92
144
52
Travel and History
442
356
86
13,238
12,759
196
675
Decrease in circulation, (Largely stories) Increase,(wholly in non-fiction)
675
196
Total decrease
479
,
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STATISTICS FOR 1914
Number of books purchased from general fund 392
Number of books purchased from Jennie Farrington fund
95
Number of books added by binding
61
Number of books given
69
Total number added during 1914
617
Number of books lost or injured
13
Number of books worn out and discarded
20
Net gain for the year
584
Books not yet accounted for in inventory of 1914
2
Total number of books in library December 30, 1914 17,050
Registration for the year
450
Entire number holding library cards
6,300
Total circulation
57,629
Increase over last year
1,515
Number of books given out to adults, Rochester
44,870
Number of books given out to children, Rochester
12,759
Entire number
51,878
Number of books given out at East Rochester
2,618
Number of books given out at Gonic
3,133
Number of days open to the public
305
Average circulation daily® 189
Largest circulation any one day, March 7
472
Smallest circulation any one day, September 23
25
Largest month, March
5,258
Smallest month, September
3,406
Number of books given out to teachers for school work 453
Largest number of books reserved for pupils
469
Number of unbound periodicals, pictures and clippings circulated 2,088
157
Number of readers for the year
14,070
Increase over last year
1,832
Number of adult readers
6,896
Number of juvenile readers
7,174
Increase in adult readers
185
Increase in juvenile readers
1,647
Number of pamphlets and periodicals filed
1,217
Number of books classified and accessioned
617
Number of books repaired
8,033
Number of books rebound
731
Number of books newly bound
61
Number of out of town patrons
20
Number of visitors to museum
295
DONORS OF GIFTS TO LIBRARY OR MUSEUM
Allen, Mrs. Anna S.
American Jewish Committee.
American Medical Association.
Bailey, Prof. Franklin H.
Beverly, Mass., Industrial School of.
Blair, Mrs. Robert.
Boston Association for the Relief of Tuberculosis.
Bureau of Railway News and Statistics.
Carnegie Endowment for International Peace.
Chase, Mrs. Abbie McD.
Children of the Fifth Grade, Allen School.
Daggett, Andrew N.
Daughters of the American Revolution.
Davis, Mrs. Mary A.
Firth, Frank J.
Gourley, Elizabeth L.
Gunnison, Mrs. William T.
Horne, Byron H.
158
Kansas, Humane Society of. Kimball, Edward L. Lake Mohonk Conference. Libraries :
Berlin.
Concord.
Congressional.
Dover.
Haverhill, Mass.
Laconia.
Manchester.
Milford.
Nashua.
New Hampshire College.
New Hampshire State Library Commission.
Somerville, Mass. Wolfeboro.
Massachusetts, District Court of.
Meserve, John S.
National Association of Corporation Schools.
National Child Labor Commission.
New Hampshire, State of.
New Zealand, Government of.
Oklahoma, State Bar Association.
Osgood, Mrs. T. W.
Parshley, Mrs. A. S.
Pennsylvania Prison Society.
Philpot, Lawrence N. Publishers: Beacon. Christian Science Monitor. Coming Country. Filipino People. Ford Times.
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