1940: Massachusetts

Area and Population.

One of the thirteen original states. Massachusetts ranks forty-fourth in size among the states, with an area of 8,266 sq. mi.

The population of the state, according to the 1940 census, is 4,316,721 (a gain of 67,107 over the census of 1930), Massachusetts retaining eighth place among the states of the Union in this respect. Boston, the capital, is also the largest city, with a population of 770,816, a drop of 10,372 since 1930. The Boston metropolitan area, however, which comprises forty-six cities and towns, had a considerable increase in population.

Massachusetts has the distinction of having more cities with populations of 50,000 or over than any other state. Included among the largest are: Worcester, 193,694; Springfield, 149,554; Fall River, 115,428; Cambridge, 110,879; New Bedford, 110,341; Somerville, 102,177; Lowell, 101,389.

The foreign-born white population numbers 1,054,336, approximately one-fourth of the total. About 70 per cent of the foreigners have become naturalized citizens.

Industry.

The industries of the state produced 75 per cent more goods, and paid 47 per cent more wages to 26 per cent less workers than in the year 1916, considered a normal year before the boom. During the year, 183 new industrial concerns began operations.

The Index of Industrial Activities in Massachusetts, published monthly by the State Planning Board, using the average years 1925, 1926 and 1927 as a base of 100, shows a composite index figure of 86.6 for January 1940. This index is based upon production of shoes and cotton textiles, building construction, electric power, and industrial employment. The composite index remained above 80 until June, when it dropped to 77.6. In July, however, it reached 86.5, the highest for any July since 1929. During the last four months of the year, the composite index ranged from 93.2 to 95.4, less than five points below the average of the years 1925, 1926 and 1927.

Banking.

The abstract of the Bank Commissioner's report, dated January 1940, shows deposits in all Massachusetts banks, which include savings banks, trust companies, cooperative banks, and credit unions, but no national banks, for 1939, amounting to $3,078,142,853.73, a net increase of $3,577,703.58 over 1938.

Finance.

The latest report of the Treasurer of the Commonwealth for the fiscal year ending November 30, 1939, shows the net direct debt to be $31,366,090.13 (a decrease for the year of $9,318,994.20). The net contingent debt for the same period was $63,469,872.41 (an increase for the year of $4,447,444.88).

The budget appropriation for all state purposes, including the Metropolitan District Commission, for the year 1939, was $91,323,745.42, and for the year 1940 was $89,375,186.25.

Education.

The school population of the state at the beginning of the year 1940, including children between the ages of 5 and 16 years, was 772,744. These children were cared for in 2,019 schools for elementary grades, 183 junior high schools, and 263 senior high schools. The total outlay for school purposes for the year was $73,737,575.47. The cost per pupil in average attendance was $107.62. Teachers, supervisors, and principals numbered 26,006, and salaries for this group totaled $50,506,174.78.

During the year a study was made by a committee under the direction of the Commissioner of Education for the purpose of determining the facilities offered for vocational and trade-school courses within the state. This was the first step in the development of a defense program for local industries.

Transportation.

The business of the port of Boston has been adversely affected by the European blockade. In addition, several coastwise freight steamship lines carrying wool for Massachusetts mills have curtailed services to the port of Boston, making it necessary to re-ship these cargoes from New York.

The New Haven Railroad, having petitioned the United States Court for reorganization, has already closed sixty-six stations on the Old Colony division serving the South shore and Cape Cod. The Boston, Revere Beach and Lynn Railroad, the narrow gauge line serving these communities and the town of Winthrop, has abandoned service after seventy-eight years. Bus lines have been commissioned to replace them.

Defense Program.

Three large military camps have been constructed in Massachusetts: at Camp Devens in Ayer, Camp Edwards in Falmouth, and an aviation camp at Chicopee. Barracks for over 100,000 troops have been provided. At the Charlestown Navy Yard and at the Fore River ship-building plant in Quincy naval vessels of all types are under construction.

Events of the Year.

In the year 1940, for the first time since 1780, there was no session held by the Legislature, since the inauguration of biennial sessions began with the year 1939.

Boston weather is either famous or notorious, depending upon the whims of Nature, and Mark Twain on one occasion made a very characteristic after-dinner speech about it. During 1940 the Boston weather bureau was re-established. A local station now makes weather predictions, following upon many years of unsuccessful efforts to predict the Boston weather from as far away as Washington.

The record of the past year reveals many variations from normal. The first snowstorm of the winter did not occur until St. Valentine's Day. It was such a severe storm that thousands of workers were marooned all night in railroad stations and hotel lobbies. Local transportation was completely stopped for several days, and it was no unusual sight to observe clerks and stenographers skiing to work. The storm was equalled in intensity only by the blizzard of 1898, when the Portland boat was lost without a trace. At the end of the year Massachusetts and all of New England experienced two earthquakes. The first on December 20th at 2:30 A.M., and the second on the 24th at 8:45 A.M. Both were severe enough to be felt by everyone, awake or asleep; but fortunately no damage was done.

On the first day of summer, June 21, the temperature was 48° F., the coldest in sixty-nine years; on July 4, the temperature was 57° F., the coldest for that day in forty-four years; on Christmas day, December 25, the temperature rose to 62° F. Thus, Christmas day in Boston was warmer than the Fourth of July in the same year. The hottest day was July 30, with the temperature at 95° F. The coldest day in the summer was Aug. 20, at 46° F.

Boston was host to the American Legion in September, and held the biggest parade in its history in their honor. Shortly after, the seventy-fourth convention of the Veterans of the Civil War was held in Boston, with thirteen veterans, all over 90, in attendance.

Election.

On Nov. 5, over two million voters went to the polls and re-elected the Republican candidate for Governor, Leverett Saltonstall, by 5.588 votes over his Democratic opponent, Attorney General Paul A. Dever. This result was ascertained only after a state-wide recount. While the Republicans were re-electing all other constitutional officers except the state auditor, the Democratic candidate for President, Franklin D. Roosevelt, carried the state by an overwhelming majority, equalled only by that attained by David I. Walsh, the Democratic candidate for United States Senator. Governor Saltonstall is the first governor to be re-elected since Governor Ely.

State Officers.

Governor, Leverett Saltonstall; Lieutenant Governor, Horace T. Cahill; Secretary of State, Frederic W. Cook; Treasurer, William E. Hurley; Auditor, Thomas J. Buckley; Attorney General, Robert T. Bushnell; Commissioner of Education, Walter F. Downey.

United States Senators:

David I. Walsh, Henry Cabot Lodge, Jr.