USA > Massachusetts > Worcester County > Fitchburg > Address of the mayor, together with the annual reports for the city of Fitchburg, Massachusetts for the year .. > Part 13
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99
65
Snow street, ease side, at Lavery's ..
Oct. 17, 1911
75
49.6
Second street, south side, Water St. to Railroad St ..
July 16, 1911
448
252.4
10,890
7,070.6
Highland avenue, east side, Lunenburg to Pearl Garnet St., south side, Mt. Vernon St. to bound No. 1. Bemis road, east side from land of Labbe southerly 123 feet to Baldwin heirs.
Oct. 4, 1910
123
84.3
233
REPORT OF CITY ENGINEER
The following sidewalks have been ordered but not yet constructed : South side of Adams street and east side of Hart- well street, abutting land of Jacob Ashline. North side of Daniels street from Clarendon street to Madison street. Some work has been done on the sidewalks ordered on the north side of Leighton street from Beech street easterly 750 feet, and on the north side of Market street from Bemis road to Sheridan street. Assessments have not been levied for walks constructed on north side of Green street from Day street to Blossom street, east side of Highland avenue from Lunenburg street to Pearl street with the exception of frontage at land of Henry O. Sawyer, east side of Hartwell street at land of Wm. M. Powell, south side of Second street from Water street to Rail- road street, east side of Snow street at land of Arsene Lavery, and the east side of South street from land of P. B. Kielty to Everett street. Assessments amounting to $5,008.52 have been levied during the year. Sidewalks constructed on Kimball street south side, Fairmount street easterly, Clarendon street west side, Fairmount street to Plymouth street, Fourth street north side, Water street to Water street lane, Green street north side from Day street to Blossom street, and on Second street south side from Water street to Railroad street, were built of tar concrete. All other sidewalks were built of cement concrete. All cement concrete was laid by day labor and all tar concrete was laid by Jeremiah Crowley. O. E. Litchfield furnished all granite curb for sidewalks.
The following table gives a comparison and summary of new sidewalks during the past twenty-one years :
Year
Length in feet
Yards of Concrete
Assessments
1891
4,458
2,772.9
$1,676 87
1892
4,925
3,143
1,940 04
1893
10,122
7,245
3,859 75
1894
9,710
6,731.8
4,058 18
1895
1,583
1,050.1
334 43
1896
1,638
1,157.5
889 89
1897
4,051
2,733.7
1,905 03
1898
4,328
2,872
2,397 25
1899
4,319
2,825.8
3,221 59
1900
3,784
2,508.3
1,394 13
1901
878
602
1,377 18
.
234
REPORT OF CITY ENGINEER
Year
Length in feet
Yards of Concrete
Assessments
1902
4,392
2,854.5
$3,396 99%
1903
2,846
1,819.1
1,787 68
1904
2,261
1,549.2
420 17
1905
3,094
2,112.3
3,498 59
1906
4,483
2,747.2
3,418 39
1907
1,826
1,135
1,560 63
1908
1,784
1,253
2,447 25
1909
4,605
2,979.2
3,307 68
1910
2,762
1,792.2
2,051 13
1911
10,890
7,076.6
5,008 52
88,739
58,960.4
$49,951 37
PAVING.
Granite block paving has been laid during the past season in Princeton road from Waites corner to the southerly end of Crocker-Burbank Co.'s "Stone Mill," connecting with the por- tion laid in 1910. A total distance of 893 feet, and an area of 2,570 square yards was laid in Princeton road. The work of paving this road, which was formerly macadamized, was started in 1910 when a distance of 935 feet and an area of 2,120 square yards was laid. This year it was deemed advisable to continue this work, beginning at the northerly terminus of the paving laid in 1910 and completing it to Waites corner. There still remains about 300 feet of macadamized road between the coal trestle of the Crocker-Burbank Co., near Wachusett station, and the southerly end of the paving laid in 1910, which has a broken up and disintegrated surface owing to the heavy traffic conditions. It would be economical to complete this section of this road during the coming year, as it is impossible to main- tain the macadam and keep it in good condition for any length of time. The paving in Princeton road was laid by the city employees upon a gravel foundation and the joints were filled with cement grout. This makes a total addition of length of block paved streets of .17 of a mile. The total amount of the block paving in streets paved the whole width of the travelled way is about 125,952 square yards, and in addition there is considerable area paved in connection with the car tracks, where the space between the track and the curb line is not
235
REPORT OF CITY ENGINEER
paved, which is not included in the above quantity. There are a number of streets paved with cobbles, having a total area of about 5,971 square yards.
MACADAM.
Macadam pavement has been laid during the season in Ashburnham street from Westminster street to Westminster Hill road, a distance of 2,130 feet, and an area of 6,192 square yards. This makes a total addition to our macadam mileage of .4 of a mile. A bituminous binder was used in this work.
. GRADE CROSSINGS.
Repairs to the sidewalks and paving upon the Rollstone street grade crossing were completed during the year. Settle- ment between the two bridges and at the northerly approach to the river span made it necessary to reset the curbing and relay a considerable amount of the paving in the roadway. The work of loaming the slopes at both approaches was also done. The sidewalks were skin coated with tar concrete throughout the entire job, as I deemed the work done in 1910 to be inferior to the quality of work which is called for in the specifications. The adjustment of the land damage claims on account of the construction of this crossing was successfully accomplished during the summer. The total amount of these claims is $46,617.20, of which the Boston & Maine Railroad pays 65 per cent, State of Massachusetts 25 per cent and the city 10 per cent. The cost to the city would be $4,661.72. The re- port of the auditor has not been received as yet.
I would like to call attention again to the dangerous cross- ings on the New York, New Haven & Hartford Railroad in South Fitchburg at Duck Mill road and Bemis road. This section of the city is a growing one and train traffic is yearly increasing, so that it would be advisable to take definite action at an early date for the appointment of a Commission to con- sider the need and method of abolition. As all legal procedure in these questions is very slow it is none to early to take action upon this during the coming year.
236
REPORT OF CITY ENGINEER
ASSESSORS' PLANS.
After a conference with the Board of Assessors it was decided that the area in Ward Four which is bounded on the north side by the southerly lines of land of Alvah Crocker, Bur- bank Hospital, and Essex street ; on the east side by Nutting street ; on the south side by Simonds street, crossing High, Elm and Mechanic streets, to Prospect street, at a point south of Prince street; and on the westerly side by Prospect street, should be done this year. This work was done during the summer months by employees of this department. The amount expended was $500. I would recommend that the same amount be expended next year. Considerable work has also been done in making the necessary changes in existing plans required by real estate transfers to keep them up to date.
PARK DEPARTMENT.
A survey was made and plans furnished for the transfer of about 11.27 acres of the City Farm land to the Park Commis- sioners for the purpose of establishing a playground for the South Fitchburg district. This land is at the southerly end of the farm on both sides of Canton street and lies westerly from Abbott avenue at its junction with Water street. Work was also done in connection with the taking of land for the Salem street playground.
WATER DEPARTMENT.
Surveys for two purchases of land at Meetinghouse Pond and the taking of measurements for making plans for extensions to water mains and for the locations of gates, hydrants, etc., were done at the request of the superintendent of this depart- ment. Considerable field work was also done in connection with propositions for increasing the storage capacity of the city's supply. During the periods of heavy rainfall considerable water is wasted from the Falulah brook and Wachusett lake watersheds. Studies are being made and data secured to determine the best method for increasing the storage capacity . of the water supply.
237
REPORT OF CITY ENGINEER
BRIDGES.
The most important problem which has been undertaken this year by this department in the line of new construction work was the bridge or viaduct at Fifth street. When the question of plans and specifications for this structure was referred to me by the City Council I began an investigation to determine the best method of securing them for the city. By the middle of February I reached the conclusion that I would recommend to the City Council that a consulting engineer be secured for the purpose of perfecting plans. This course was advisable because of the importance of this structure from an engineering and architectural view point. Engineering prob- lems which required the skilful handling of trained bridge designers were involved. Some of these difficulties are oc- casioned by the agreements entered into between the Boston & Maine Railroad, New York, New Haven & Hartford Railroad, the Wheelwright Paper Company and the city. These specifi- cations, stipulations and agreements which affected the design of this structure are as follows : The decree of the County Com- missioners specified that no pier or abutment should be placed upon the locations of either railroad or the land controlled by them. The Wheelwright Paper Company secured an agree- ment with the city which specifies that the structure upon their land should be of reinforced concrete and that the piers should be placed at least 100 feet apart. Also that the structure must not interfere with the use of their coal trestle or driveway and must be higher than the finishing room in their main mill. The specifications regarding the crossing of railroads and use of coal trestle occasioned the design of the 204 feet 9 inch span of this bridge. I believe the expense for plans, specifications and pre- liminary investigation upon this bridge is small compared with the amounts spent for this purpose by other cities on structures of similar magnitude. The perfected design successfully handles all engineering questions involved and the plans have been approved by the parties interested.
A description of the design of this structure follows : The viaduct consists of five reinforced concrete spans ; one of 204 feet 9 inches across the railroad locations and the Wheelwright Paper Company's coal trestle ; three spans of 113 feet across the
238
REPORT OF CITY ENGINEER
intervening land of the Wheelwright Paper Company and Nashua river ; one span of 76 feet 3 inches to an abutment at west side of driveway and one of 32 feet 71/2 inches across the driveway to an abutment at easterly or Fulton street end of bridge. The construction features of the span across the loca- cations of the railroads and coal trestle consist of two reinforced concrete ribs spaced 26 feet 8 inches centers; span of 204 feet 9 inches and rise to crown of arch of 48 feet; steel floor beams incased in concrete are carried by 10-inch eye beam hangers from these ribs. The floor consists of a 5-inch reinforced con- crete slab, the roadway being 23 feet wide at points where the ribs pass through and 26 feet where the head room under the ribs is sufficient to give clearance for travel. The floor beams extend beyond the center of each rib a distance of 6 feet 8 inches and will carry the granolithic sidewalks. The arch ribs are wind braced at the crown and quarter points of the span. This bracing consists of steel frames incased in concrete. The 113 foot spans from the pier at coal trestle to pier No. 4 in the east- erly bank of the river and the 76 foot 3 inch span to the drive- way will consist of three reinforced concrete ribs spaced 13 feet 4 inch centers on which open spandrel walls will be erected to the level of the lower side of floor slab. Floor beams of re- inforced concrete will be spaced 5 feet 3 inches apart across these spans and will be built into the spandrel walls and have sidewalk brackets extending out at each end. A 5-inch floor slab of reinforced concrete will complete the principal construct- ion details. The reinforcement for the spans thus far described will consist of structural steel in the ribs and twisted square bars in the floor, spandrel walls, piers, cross walls between columns on piers, in the foundations of piers and abutments. The 32 foot 71/2 inch span across the driveway leading to the Wheel- wright Paper Company's mill will be similar in construction to the 113 foot spans with the exception that steel twisted square bars will be used for reinforcement. Paneled railing will be upon both sides of the structure and a complete lighting system will be installed. The electric wiring will be placed in conduits underneath the sidewalks. This department
has furnished the engineering required for the construction work thus far done, since the contract for this bridge was awarded to the McHarg-Barton Co. of New York. The esti-
239
REPORT OF CITY ENGINEER
mated amount of their contract is $82,528.50. Work began upon the construction of the east abutment and pier No. 4 on the east bank of the river on Oct. 4, 1911. Excavations have been done on piers No. 2 and No. 3 on the Wheelwright Paper Co.'s land. First-class work has been done by the contractors in placing concrete to date. The specifications provide that the city should furnish and lay the granite block paving on the bridge. I would recommend that Fifth street be paved from Water street to the westerly approach, and that Harvard street be macadamized to Summer street. It would be advisable to do this work before the bridge is open to traffic.
Other bridges which have received attention during the year are the two span truss bridge in Falulah road, the iron truss bridge in Kimball street, and the old barn bridge in Bemis road. It was determined after investigation to use con- crete in repairing the roadways of these bridges. Expanded metal was used for reinforcement of this concrete. I inspected the old barn bridge in Bemis road and investigated the strength of its members. I found it in good condition and it is safe for the present traffic conditions in that section of the city. During the coming year it needs a small expenditure for paint- ing and minor repairs. However, I believe it would be economical to replace this structure with a concrete or steel girder bridge whenever the increase in traffic conditions war- rants the expenditure.
All other bridges throughout the city are in good condition and with the exception of painting the iron bridges no large amount need be spent for maintenance during the coming year.
MISCELLANEOUS.
Street numbers have been furnished applicants for newly constructed houses and a few changes have been made where required. Lines and grades have been furnished without cost to prospective builders whenever requested. Considerable of the time of your engineer has been spent in consulting with committees and in furnishing estimates, giving advice and in- formation for new construction work. When requested by the legal department plans and photographs were made of locations where accidents have occurred which may result in claims for
240
REPORT OF CITY ENGINEER
damages against the city. As clerk of the Board of Street Commissioners I have many important duties to perform which take considerable time and add to the responsibility of my duties in this department.
FINANCIAL STATEMENT.
The amount expended during the year for the work of the department was $4,560.21, which was divided as follows :
Paid salary of city engineer,
$1,500 00
Services of assistants,
2,541 00
Teams and car fares,
305 25
Paper and office supplies,
116 63
Lumber and stakes,
54 13
Printing, stamps and stationery,
28 20
Stone bounds,
15 00
$4,560 21
Received appropriation,
$3,000 00
Assessors' plans,
500 00
Street construction,
205 35
Sidewalk construction,
278 68
Paving construction,
22 30
Macadam construction,
6 50
Water department,
113 15
Public Parks department,
30 40
Sewer department,
126 07
$4,282 45
Deficit balance,
277 76
$4,560 21
The following table shows the appropriation for the En- gineering department each year for the last twenty-one years, together with the additional receipts and the yearly expen- ditures.
241
REPORT OF CITY ENGINEER
Year
Appropriation
Receipts
Expenditures
1891
$1,500 00
$73 15
$1,781 73
1892
2,500 00
75 65
2,785 49
1893
2,500 00
320 00
3,694 85
1894
3,000 00
374 53
3,425 14
1895
3,000 00
54 20
2,967 23
1896
3,000 00
33 00
3,041 65
1897
3,000 00
85 00
3,212 04
1898
3,000 00
25 00
3,090 27
1899
3,000 00
2,981 99
1900
3,000 00
5 95
3,510 71
1901
3,000 00
50 00
3,805 30
1902
3,000 00
169 80
3,800 10
1903
3,000 00
3 00
3,943 86
1904
3,000 00
290 05
3,690 97
1905
2,500 00
1,237 08
3,546 59
1906
2,800 00
970 13
3,957 05
1907
2,800 00
897 77
3,899 31
1908
3,000 00
1,476 88
4,564 11
1909
3,000 00
1,262 60
4,713 04
1910
3,000 00
1,689 90
5,192 32
1911
3,000 00
1,282 45
4,560 21
The inventory of the personal property of the department shows a value of about $2,000. This does not include a large number of street, water, and other plans in the office, the value of which is difficult to estimate.
Thanking the City Council and the city officers for their kindness and courtesy to me at all times during the year and with an expression of appreciation of the faithful and con- scientious service rendered by my assistants, I respectfully sub- mit this, my first annual report.
Respectfully submitted, TIMOTHY J. SHEEHAN, City Engineer.
16
THIRTY-NINTH ANNUAL REPORT
OF THE
STREET COMMISSIONERS
OF THE
CITY OF FITCHBURG
MASSACHUSETTS 1911
T
JR
G
*A TOV
MAR. 8.18
IT
FEB.3, 1764.
A
FITCHBURG: H. M. DOWNS PRINTING CO. 1911
BOARD OF STREET COMMISSIONERS.
JOSEPH A. RIVERS, DAVID C. DACEY, THOMAS A. MONAHAN,
Term expires February, 1912 Term expires February, 1913 Term expires February, 1914
ORGANIZATION FOR 1911.
THOMAS A. MONAHAN, TIMOTHY J. SHEEHAN,
MICHAEL J. HOGAN, EUGENE OAKMAN,
Chairman Clerk and Engineer Superintendent Bookkeeper
REPORT OF STREET COMMISSIONERS.
To the Honorable City Council :
GENTLEMEN : - The Board of Street Commissioners, estab- lished under the provisions of Chapter 132 of the Acts of 1899, respectfully presents its twelfth annual report, covering the work done for the year ending Nov. 30, 1911.
CONTRACTS.
Six contracts have been awarded for furnishing material to the department, all of which have been ratified by the City Council. They are as follows : -
1. Under date of April 17, 1911, to Orin E. Litchfield, for granite sidewalk curb, delivered on the streets where ordered for 29 cents per linear foot for straight rock faced ; 41 cents per linear foot for straight pointed faced ; 45 cents per linear foot for circular rock faced and 53 cents per linear foot for circular pointed faced.
2. Under date of April 17, 1911, to Orin E. Litchfield, for granite flagging delivered on the streets where ordered for 35 cents per linear foot for square ends and 43 cents per linear foot -for skew ends.
3. Under date of June 26, 1911, to F. A. McCauliff, for broken stone loaded into city teams at crusher, 75 cents per ton of two thousand pounds.
4. Under date of June 12, 1911, to Samuel J. Thompson for screened sand delivered on streets as ordered at 58 cents per cubic yard.
5. Under date of October 2, 1911, to F. A. McCauliff for 130,000 granite paving blocks more or less, delivered on Main street, as ordered, at $55.00 per thousand.
6. Under date of October 2, 1911, to the McHarg-Barton Co., of New York, for doing all work, and furnishing materials necessary to construct Fifth street viaduct, according to the plans and specifications, for the following prices : -
246
REPORT OF STREET COMMISSIONERS
For earth excavation, in foundations, per cubic yard, $1 25
For rock excavation, in foundations, per cubic yard, 1 00
For earth fill in approaches, per cubic yard, 75
For cinder filling under sidewalks, per cubic yard, 50
For gravel filling in roadway of viaduct, per cubic yard, 1 00
For steel bars for reinforcement of concrete, per ton of 2,000 lbs., 50 00
For structural steel for reinforcement of concrete, per ton of 2,000 lbs., 90 00
For concrete, Class A, per cubic yard, 4 00
For concrete, Class B, per cubic yard,
For concrete, Class C, per cubic yard, 9 00
12 00
For concrete, Class D, per cubic yard,
12 00
For concrete, Class E, per cubic yard, 12 00
For concrete, Class F, per cubic yard, 12 00
For hand rails erected in place, per linear foot, 2 25
For scrubbing concrete surfaces, per square foot, 30
For painting concrete surfaces, per square foot, 06
For storm water inlets and drain pipes, erected, per inlet, 50 00 For electric conduits, laid, per duct foot, 25
For each single lamp, erected,
50 00
For each cluster lamp, erected, 90 00
For complete electric wiring of bridge,
750 00
PERMITS.
During the year 47 permits were issued for use of street and sidewalk; 21 permits were issued for connecting with main sewers, from Dec. 1, 1910, to May 1, 1911, when the mainte- nance of the sewer system wast ransferred to the Sewage Disposal Commissioners ; and 613 permits were issued for excavations in different streets, of which number 404 were to the Fitchburg Gas & Electric Light Company, 64 to the Water Department, 15 to the Sewage Disposal Commissioners, and 130 to other cor- porations and individuals.
The following table shows the number of permits issued each year for the past twelve years :
247
REPORT OF STREET COMMISSIONERS
Year.
For Excavation.
For Sewer Connection.
For Use of Street.
1900
244
51
12
1901
316
57
26
1902
181
57
14
1903
374
50
13
1904
217
35
21
1905
276
56
22
1906
224
42
16
1907
233
55
24
1908
351
65
23
1909
416
98
34
1910
567
173
24
1911
613
21
47
STREET WATERING.
The total length of streets watered or oiled during the past season was 163,745 feet, or 31.01 miles. The cost of watering and oiling, including the cost of repairs to carts, was $9,191.26, or $296.40 per mile of streets watered or oiled.
During the past season your commissioners have considered it advisable to use oil more extensively for laying the dust. The recommendation of the Water Commissioners to reduce the amount of watering of streets by one-half made this course ab- solutely necessary in order to meet their demands for conserving the water supply. The oiling of streets cost $3,234.78. A light asphaltum oil, furnished by the Standard Oil Company, was used in most of the streets treated. After the oil had become incorporated with the road material it gave universal satisfac- tion. One application was sufficient in most of the gravel and macadam roads which received treatment this past season. An automobile sprayer, furnished by the American Car Sprinkling Company, gave the best results in applying the oil to the streets. The penetration method was used as in past years, with the exception that compressed air furnished to the spraying apparatus from a compressor connected with the gasolene engine of the automobile forced the oil into the road. Your commis- sioners are of the opinion that the use of oil will aid materially in preserving the surface of macadam and gravel roads by bond- ing the ingredients together, besides successfully handling the troublesome dust nuisance.
248
REPORT OF STREET COMMISSIONERS
Year.
Miles of Street Watered.
Total Cost.
Cost per Mile Watered. $208 40
1900
22.51
$4,691 09
1901
23.49
4,011 03
170 75
1902
24.26
4,346 09
179 14
1903
24.20
4,200 42
173 57
1904
24.95
4,708 26
188 71
1905
25.51
5,579 06
218 70
1906
26.00
5,844 46
224 78
1907
26.06
5,691 14
218 39
1908
26.90
7,230 87
268 80
1909
28.70
8,072 23
281 26
1910
29.35
8,090 91
275 66
1911
31.01
9,191 26
296 40
In the above table the total cost and the cost per mile watered includes the repairs to carts, but not the cost of new carts. New carts have been purchased during the past twelve years as follows :
1901, one cart at a cost of $230.60.
1902, two carts at a cost of 511.20.
1904, one cart at a cost of 320.00.
1905, two carts at a cost of 512.00.
1906, two carts at a cost of 511.00.
1909, two carts at a cost of 664.80.
During the past twelve years all street sprinkling has been done by day labor.
EXPENDITURES AND RECEIPTS.
Expended
Appropriation and Loans
Assessments and Other Receipts
Street construction,
$16,076 45
$15,155 60
$920 85
Street maintenance,
43,497 95
32,000 00
9,907 31
Sidewalk construction,
19,079 88
13,145 40
5,934 48
Sidewalk maintenance,
3,874 14
3,500 00
434 70
Sewer construction,
263 86
333 13
Sewer maintenance,
1,176 94
3,500 00
3,580 02
Paving construction,
16,761 33
14,802 84
1,958 49
Paving maintenance,
9,633 92
6,000 00
1,326 99
Macadam construction,
5,075 70
4,854 36
221 34
249
REPORT OF STREET COMMISSIONERS
Expended.
Appropriation and Loans. $4,000 00
Assessments and Other Receipts. $8,226 35
Macadam maintenance, $15,171 90
Street watering and oil- ing,
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