USA > Massachusetts > Essex County > Newburyport > City Officers and the Annual Reports to the City Council of Newburyport 1890 > Part 10
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239
SURVEYOR OF HIGHWAYS.
PAVING DEPARTMENT.
Paving blocks purchased and used by the city, or sold to outside parties and credited to the city, during 1890 :
48,600 at $25 per M . $1,215 00
34,775 at $35 “
1,217 12
Wharfage
Số 60
Expense moving from vessel
158 23
$2,675 95
A. A. Libby's bill, State street, 2295 yards at 25c.
573 75
$3,249 70
Credit-Newburyport & Amesbury Horse Railroad Co., 2400 blocks at $25 per M $ 60 00 . · E. P. Dodge Mfg. Co., 12,860 at $25, and expenses 317 22 3800 used on gutters on State street 95 00
1500 not used, lying at Green
street landing .
37 50- 539 72
For labor and blocks, paving State street, 556 yards in length, 36 in width $2,709 98 Labor of men in excavating, use of city teams and outside teams 425 60
Whole cost of paving State street
. $3,135 58
240
ANNUAL, REPORTS.
SIDEWALKS AND EDGESTONES.
Edgestones where the city paid one-half the expense, the abut- tors paying 34 cents per foot :
Ft.
Inch.
Summit Place, E. Woodwell and others . 498
Water street, Dr. J. J. Healy
22
9
Henry Fenders . 21
Woodland street, Edward P. Shaw .
195
S. B. Carter .
268
Atwood street, C. M. Pritchard
57
6
State street, L. Marquand
65
C. E. Currier
65
Dalton street, Eben Young
Bromfield street, Charles W. Piper
Hiram H. Landford
25
6
66 Charles C. Marsh
31
Thomas E. Marshall
25
R. H. Pettingell .
56
Purchase street, I. P. Noyes
50
Water street, Edward Wheeldon
57
Federal street, Sewell B. Noyes
22
8
High street, John W. Allen
45
6
Oakland street, Gilman Pearson
45
High street, Wilbur A. Stiles
83
66 Abby A. Hale
90
C. C. Adams .
. 97
2,055 4
2055 feet, at 34 cents per foot, $698.70.
Edgestones where the city paid all the expense :
Ft. Inch.
Water street, E. F. Coffin
. 142
State street
· 450
Kent Street Common
· 224
816
0
816 feet, at 68 cents per foot, $554.88,
122 8
112
9
241
SURVEYOR OF HIGHWAYS.
Edgestones purchased from the city by private parties for pri- vate use :
Putnam Free School
Wilbur A. Stiles
73
William R. Johnson .
86
Nathaniel Morse
David Smith
12
1
· Thomas H. Lunt
11 3
William R. Johnson .
10 3
William B. Morse
32
2
Leonard W. Coker
46
410
3
The proceeds of 410 feet 3 inches, sold at 55 cents per foot, $225.64 ; credited to edgestone appropriation.
Edgestones reset in the year 1890 :
Ft.
Inch.
State street, paving part .
500
6
macadamizing part
1,401
Titcomb street, Enoch Cross .
18
Fruit street, Edward Farley
55
Munroe street, Albert Currier .
194
Prospect street, D. Peirce and others
341
Atwood street, W. A. Johnson
M. Kimball
27
6
66 Putnam Free School
332
Kent Street Common, city property High street, Eliphalet Griffin . 80
90
Harris street, Mrs. Cole .
30
Milk street, J. H. Higgins
40
Milk street, R. Bayley and B. G. Gerrish
. 120
Temple street, Mrs. Jefts .
25
Auburn street, county jail
184
High street, John J. Currier
76
High street, Old Ladies' Home
82
6
Fair and Water streets, by order of county
198
9
Merrimac street, R. M. Perley
6
Titcomb street, William R. Johnson
22
6
Magnolia street, E. P. Shaw
198
Merrimac street, city
· 50
4,150 9
(31)
Ft. 135
Inch.
6
4
.
50
High street, Curtis French
30
242
ANNUAL REPORTS.
The cost of setting 4150 feet 9 inches of edgestones, at 10 cents per foot, $415.07.
CHIPPED EDGESTONES SET BY THE CITY.
Ft. Inch.
Water street
· 700
Hancock street
· 40
Milk street
. 100
S40
Cost of setting 840 feet, at 5 cents per foot, $42.00.
BRICKING AND CONCRETING SIDEWALKS.
610 2-3 yards at 30 cents .
$183 20
611 1-2 yards concreting at 25 . 152 87
$316 07
150 tons of Plum Island sand at 60 cents per ton $90 00
Wharfage .
5 00
Expense of teams and men from vessel . 25 00
$120 00
243
SURVEYOR OF HIGHWAYS.
ASHES AND RUBBISH.
The amount paid for the collection of ashes and rubbish, from December 1, 1889, to December 1, 1890, was as follows :
Month of December, 295 loads
$65 20
66
January, 275
69 27
٤٠
February, 226
60 32
March, 208
66 76
.. April, 355
74 26
May,
347
71 52
June, 234 66
61 44
July,
188 66
56 07
66
August, 186
64 66
66
September 217
67 24
66
October, 247 66
.
61 67
November, 279
·
63 40
3,057
$781 81
2,714 loads disposed of, at 5 cents per load
135 70
$646 11
There were 343 loads given away.
The above figures represent the number of loads taken during the year ; also, the pay of men, independent of teams and drivers, for the weekly collections. Three double teams, three single teams, with drivers, averaging $19.25 weekly, 52 weeks in a year, $1001.00.
The number of teams used in the collection, except at the time of paving on State street, and also during the macadamizing on State and High streets, was six.
3 double teams with driver, also 3 single teams with driver, averaging $19.25 weekly, for 52 weeks in the year . · $1,001 00
Pay of men for the year .
781 81
$1,782 81
2,714 loads sold at 5 cents per load . 135 70
Whole expense for the year .
. . $1,647 11
244
ANNUAL REPORTS.
HIGHWAY EXPENSES.
Labor on Turkey Hill Road :
Men $ 83 00
Outside teams
115 00
Gravel, 231 loads at 10 cents each .
23 10
George A. Bray, for use of road scraper at $10 per day
20 00
$241 10
Labor on Plummer Spring Road :
Road scraper, 1 day .
$10 00
Outside teams
15 00
Men . ·
14 00
Gravel, 27 loads, at 10 cents each
2 70
$282 80
W. H. Merrill, use of road scraper at Sawyer's Hill and labor of team .
$41 00
Men .
3 50
$44 50
Labor on North Atkinson street :
George A. Bray, road scraper, 2 days, at $10 per
day
$20 00
Men .
75 25
Outside team, 6 days, at $5 per day
30 00
$125 25
Labor on Collins' Court :
Men
$112 90
Outside teams
134 50
$247 40
Labor on Summit Place :
Men (city teams used)
$84 00
.
245
SURVEYOR OF HIGHWAYS.
Labor on Dexter street :
Men
$64 25
Outside teams
45 00
$109 25
Labor on Magnolia street :
Men
$47 13
Outside teams
.
.
26 25
$73 38
Labor on Payson street :
Men
.
$48 00
Outside teams
.
27 00
$75 00
Labor on Maple street :
Men
$35 00
Outside teams
12 00
$47 00
Labor on Spofford street :
Men .
$19 90
Geo. A. Bray, labor with road scraper 4 days at $10
40 00
$59 90
Cash paid for labor on Wesley street, adjoining the premises of T. K. Bartlett :
Men
$22 50
Use of teams
30 00
$52 50
.
.
The ordinary expenses for the winter of 1889-90 were quite small, and the amount usually taken was spent in repairs on the sewer trenches and cleaning of gutters throughout the city.
246
ANNUAL REPORTS.
HIGHWAY DEPARTMENT-1891.
The present year there have been laid 13 new street crossings, and eight have been re-laid, the expense, at 20 cents per foot, amounting to $111.20. 250 feet of new stone used, at 55 cents per foot, $137.50.
There have been laid 2934 yards of cobble-paved gutters at 25 cents per yard, $733.30.
Re-paving a part of Merrimac street, from Bartlet street to Bridge :
Labor of men
$ 91 87
A. A. Libby's bill, paving
220 64
$312 51
Cash paid for gutter bridges :
For bridges
$69 00
Labor of highway men
15 00
$84 00
Respectfully submitted,
C. M. PRITCHARD, Surveyor
1
REPORT OF THE BOARD OF HEALTH.
REPORT.
To His Honor the Mayor and the City Council :
GENTLEMEN-The board of health herewith submits its four - teenth annual report, for the year ending December 31, 1890 :
RECEIPTS.
Appropriation .
.
$700 00
Transferred from incidentals
. 321 00
$1,021 00
EXPENDITURES.
Meteorological observer and instruments $94 00
Salary of agent and sundry expenses 193 40 .
Services of clerk
45 83
Printing and advertising, News Publishing Co. 77 75
Herald Co.
239 62
One year's expense removing house offal
300 00
Expense fumigating, and removing dead animals
70 40
$1,021 00
THE WORK OF THE AGENT.
Mr. D. C. Batchelder has served faithfully as the agent of the board. He has promptly attended to his duties, and given satis- faction both to the public and the board. The following is a sum- mary of his work. Nuisances attended to on complaint.
(32)
250
ANNUAL REPORTS.
Privy vaults (full or offensive) .
· 35
Cesspools (overflowing or defective)
30
Sinks without traps
4
Waste water running into the street .
6
Violation of swine ordinance
6
Offensive cow stable
2
Filthy house
1
Filthy yards
9
Hens in cellars
1
Nuisances not classified
3
97
.
The agent has also placed warning cards upon all houses where diphtheria and scarlet fever have appeared, and in due time removed the same. He has also attended to the fumigation of the houses in many cases. This has been done at the expense of the board when the householders were unable to bear the expense. In addition, the agent and the members of the board have together and separately made many unrecorded visits to investi- gate nuisances, contagious diseases, etc.
During the year the following cases of contagious diseases were reported :
Diphtheria.
Scarlet Fever.
Typhoid Measles. "Fever.
January .
11
5
0
4
February
7
3
0
0
March
6
1
0
0
April
7
0
2
1
May
3
2
16
3
June
5
9
10
0
July
11
1
11
0
August .
1
0
0
0
September
1
3
0
5
October .
15
0
0
8
November
11
2
0
1
December
7
1
3
1
Total
85
27
42
23
There were fifteen deaths reported from diphtheria, and two from typhoid fever,
-
251
BOARD OF HEALTH.
REMOVAL OF NIGHTSOIL AND CONTENTS OF CESSPOOLS.
Mr. C. M. Lunt has attended to this work, under contract with the city for three years, dating from June 1, 1889, at the rate of $1 75 per load of twelve barrels each.
The following is a summary of his work :
Number of loads (12 barrels) night soil
685
from cesspools · 398
..
by tank
wagon .
284
1,367
There has been an unusually large number of cesspools cleaned out, owing to the fact that many houses have been connected with the new sewerage system.
COLLECTING HOUSE OFFAL.
This work has also been attended to by Mr. C. M. Lunt, who is under contract with the city for a term of four years, beginning June 1, 1889, to collect house offal in water-tight and close- covered wagons, in consideration of the sum of $300 yearly. A section of the upper part of the city was given by Mr. Lunt, with the consent of the board, to Mr. Sidebotham to cover, and the bal- ance of the city has been attended to by Mr. Lunt. This has been a great improvement on the collection in past years ; still this has not done away entirely with the nuisance of irresponsible parties collecting swill in wheelbarrows and carts, but the board hopes in the coming years to stop all such nuisances.
CO-OPERATION OF PHYSICIANS.
The physicians have, the past year, given the board of health their hearty co-operation in reporting contagious diseases, and also in carrying out the rules of the board, so that the city has been saved from an epidemic of diphtheria. We would urge still more strongly that the physicians support the board in the management of contagious diseases, and report all cases promptly ; for without the support of physicians the efficacy of the board will be much impaired.
252
ANNUAL REPORTS.
SEWERAGE.
In anticipation of the completion of the sewers, the mayor and city council notified the board of health to prepare suitable rules for regulating the plumbing. Therefore, your board drew up rules and regulations relating to plumbing which, as amended, are as follows :
RULES AND REGULATIONS RELATING TO PLUMBING.
Unless the board of health shall permit otherwise, the drainage system of a hotel, tenement house, dwelling house, stable with sleeping apartments, factory, or other buildings in the city of Newburyport, Massachusetts, shall be constructed as follows :
SECTION 1. Inspector. The board of health shall appoint annually an inspector of plumbing, who shall receive such salary as the city council shall determine.
SEC. 2. Plumbers. No person shall carry on the business of plumbing unless he shall have first registered his name and place of business in the office of the board of health. Notice of any change in the place of business of a registered plumber shall be immediately given to the inspector of plumbing.
SEC. 3. Filing Plans and Specifications. No person shall pro- ceed to construct, add to, or alter any portion of the drainage system of said buildings (except to repair leaks) until a notice of the work to be performed has been filed with the inspector of plumbing, upon blanks, in such form as the board of health shall order. No person shall commence work on such drainage or plumbing until the plans are approved by the board of health. Plans and specifications will be approved or rejected within five days of the time of filing. After a plan has once been approved, no alteration of the same will be allowed, except on a written application of the owner.
SEC. 4. Notice. The inspector of plumbing must be notified when any work is ready for inspection, and all work must be left uncovered and convenient for inspection until inspected and approved.
SEC. 5. Inspection. All plumbing work in new buildings, or new work in old buildings, shall be tested in the presence of the inspector of plumbing with the hydraulic, or such other test as the board of health may direct; and in case the work does not stand
253
BOARD OF HEALTH.
the test, and the same is not repaired within ten days, the water shall be turned off by order of said board, and not let on again till the plumbing has been pronounced satisfactory by the board of health.
SEC. 6. Main Drain. Every building herein referred to shall be separately and independently connected with a common sewer or cesspool. That portion of the house drain which is outside of the building, and not more than five (5) feet from the foundation walls, shall be constructed of heavy cast iron soil pipe. That por- tion of the house drain which is inside the walls, or under the building, and that portion outside of the building and within five feet of the foundation wall must be of iron pipe, with a fall of one- half inch, or at least one-quarter inch, to the foot. It must run along the cellar wall, and be securely fastened thereto, or sus- pended from the floor timbers in iron hangers. When impractica- ble, it shall be laid in a trench beneath the basement or cellar floor, provided with movable covers, and walled up of such a width as to admit of access to all joints.
SEC. 7. Traps. The house drain must have a trap located out- side the foundation walls, unless otherwise permitted by the board of health. A suitable grease trap may also be required to be located at such points as the inspector of plumbing shall devise.
SEC. 8. Fresh Air Inlets. There must be a fresh air inlet pipe entering the drain on the house side of the main trap, of same in- ternal diameter as drain, extending therefrom to the external air, and terminating at a point away from all windows and cold air box of the furnace, and protected from entrance of sand, etc., as far above the roof as the board of health shall direct.
SEC. 9. Soil Pipe. All pipes receiving the discharge from water closets must be of iron, at least four inches internal diameter, and continued of undiminished size, away from all windows, and left open at the top.
SEC. 10. Connections. All connections with horizontal pipes shall be made by one-eighth (1-8) bends and Y branches, and all changes in direction shall be by curved pipe. No trap shall be placed at the foot of a vertical soil pipe.
SEC. 11. Waste Pipes. All waste pipes from sinks, basins, bath tubs, wash tubs, etc., of two (2) inches or more, internal diameter, shall be of iron, and less than two (2) inches may be of iron or lead.
SEC. 12. Traps. Every pipe connecting a water closet with the soil pipe must be trapped close to the connection with the water closet. Every waste pipe must be trapped close to the fixture, and separately from any water closet.
254
ANNUAL REPORTS.
SEC. 13. Drip or Overflow Pipes. Drip or overflow pipes under water closets, or other fixtures, or from tanks or cisterns, shall, in no case, be directly connected with house sewers. Sediment blow off, steam exhaust pipes from boilers, shall in no case be connected with sewers directly or indirectly.
SEC. 14. Refrigerator Wastes. No waste pipe from a refriger- ator, or other receptacle in which food or provisions are stored, shall be connected with a drain, soil or other waste pipe, but must be separated therefrom by an open sink or tray, furnished with a trap.
SEC. 15. Ventilation of Trap. All traps must be furnished with a vent pipe, run from the crown of the trap. The vent pipe from a water closet trap must be at least two (2) inches in diameter ; other vent pipes must be as large as the waste pipe from the trap. All ventilation pipes from a soil or waste pipe must be run of un- diminished size, separately or combined together, to the roof, and at least two (2) feet above it, and left open, or may be run into a soil pipe above all connections. In no case shall a soil, waste or ventilation pipe, from a soil or waste pipe be connected with a chimney. No brick, earthenware or sheet metal pipes shall be used for ventilation pipes from a soil or waste pipe.
SEC. 16. Pipes. An open pipe, four (4) inches in diameter, of extra heavy cast iron, must run from soil pipe outside outermost trap to at least two feet above the roof.
SEC. 17. Cast Iron Pipes. All cast iron pipes must be free from holes and other defects, of a uniform thickness of not less than one-eighth (1-8) inch, and a diameter of four (4) inches or less.
INTERNAL DIAMETER
ORDINARY PIPE
EXTRA HEAVY PIPE
Inches
Lbs. per foot
Lbs. per foot
2
3 1-2
5 1-2
3
4 1-2
9 1-2
4
6 1-2
13
And before being connected shall be thoroughly coated, inside and out, with coal tar pitch, applied hot by immersion, or some equivalent substance satisfactory to the board of health.
SEC. 18. Joints. Connections between lead and iron pipe shall be made with brass ferules, full size of the iron pipe, caulked
255
BOARD OF HEALTH.
into the iron pipe with soft lead, and united to the lead pipe with a wiped joint. All joints in the cast iron pipe and fittings must be so filled with oakum and soft lead as to make a tight joint, and no putty or red lead used. There shall be at least 12 ounces of soft lead used to each inch in diameter of pipe.
SEC. 19. Water Closet Supply. No water closet shall be sup- plied directly from the house supply pipe, but shall be supplied from a special water tank or cistern used for no other purpose, and the flooding pipe shall not be less than one and one-quarter (1 1-4) inch in diameter.
SEC. 20. Traps, Vents and Back Air Pipes. No trap, vent or back air pipe shall be used as a soil wash or conductor pipe.
SEC. 21. Rainwater. Rain water conductors must not be con- nected with house drain or sewer, and surface water must not be allowed to enter drain or sewer.
SEC. 22. Whoever violates any provision of these rules is liable to a fine not exceeding $100. [Public Statutes, Chap. 80, Sec. 28.
IN BOARD OF HEALTH, May 17, 1890.
Adopted.
Attest. ERNEST H. NOYES, Chairman.
C. W. DAVENPORT, Secretary.
RULES OF THE SEWER COMMISSIONERS
Governing private connections with the public sewers :
1. Applications for privilege to enter must be made to the city clerk, and must be accompanied with a certificate from the board of health that the system of plumbing to be connected is properly constructed, and is approved by said board.
Connections between private drains and the public sewers 2. shall be made with the best quality drain pipe, not less than four (4) inches in diameter, and the joint connecting with the sewer shall be a sweep or eighth turn, so called.
3. The connection with the sewer shall be made under the per. sonal supervision of the superintendent of sewers, or his regularly appointed duty.
4. All excavations in the public way for laying connections shall be refilled carefully, the filling properly rammed and the sur-
256
ANNUAL REPORTS.
face left in proper condition and satisfactory to the superintend. ent of streets.
5. Permission to enter may be revoked by the commissioners, unless all the conditions required by them or by the board of health, are strictly complied with.
6. All connections with sewers must be made by a regular licensed drain layer.
Adopted in Board of Sewer Commissioners, May 21, 1890.
Attest. H. R. PERKINS, Chairman.
PAUL A. PATHE,
Secretary.
In order that these regulations might be properly carried out, it became necessary to appoint an inspector of plumbing. The agent had not the time to give to this work in addition to his other duties, and again it was thought best to appoint the most competent man that could be found.
Mr. William Holker, who had been appointed superintendent of the sewers, was appointed, temporarily, inspector of plumbing.
The first house to be connected with the sewer was that of William B. Morse, corner of Washington and Summer streets.
Mr. Francis Curtis was appointed inspector of plumbing July 25th.
At first there was considerable friction in enforcing the rules, Lut as the citizens became better acquainted with and understood them, the friction ceased for the most part.
WORK OF THE INSPECTOR.
From August 1 to December 31 the plumbing of 105 separate establishments was inspected and certified to as properly com- pleted ; many more have been inspected once, in a partial state of plumbing, which will be completed in due course, and two have been found not properly completed, and no certificate has been issued on their account.
The service of the inspector is onerous and difficult, and was at
257
BOARD OF HEALTH.
first especially so, from the tendency of workmen from abroad to imagine our wholesome rules to be migratory. It has sometimes been necessary to notify firms of the short-comings of their employes. In nearly every case the principals have compelled proper care, and it has been easy of late to secure excellent work, almost every plumbing establishment showing a proper pride in maintaining a good reputation in this respect. But they have unfair competition in the out-of-town firms who take jobs here at lower prices, presuming on their non-registration ; and notice to the inspector and entrance to the sewers, as required by our rules, being omitted, we have reason to believe trouble will arise in the future from bad work.
If our plumbers are held to the rules, all offenders should be prosecuted ; or, at least, the rules should be advertised for public protection. For four months past the hydraulic test has been applied in all cases ; thus at least three examinations of each job become necessary, viz : First, for first test of main pipes inside ; second, to prove fixtures properly set and vented before the wood work is built up ; third, on completion of sewer connection to drain; safety pipes and vent pipes, at which last inspection, if all is found satisfactory, the certificate is granted. Hence, the incom- plete work will always require a record and careful following up. No case has been found of deficient drainage or ventilation in completed cases, except where improper substances were put in the drains ; but sufficient proof has arisen in some, while incom- plete, of the necessity of all the strictness exercised.
No disfigurement seems to be caused by the safety pipes when plumbing is properly located. It is objected to by many on that account ; yet, in not a few such cases, it has been needlessly placed in front, merely to save a very few, if any, dollars of addi- tional cost.
It does not yet appear how the safety pipe may be safely omitted in connection with close, separate sewers.
In the case of brick sewers carrying off the rainfall with the house drainage, every connection is a vent, the sewer air is every- where, and the sewage, leaking into the earth at thousands of
(33)
258
ANNUAL REPORTS.
points, makes the entire subsoil of street and cellar filthy and dan- gerous.
It is not uncommon in large cities to find springs issuing in underground apartments, which prove on pumping to be partly filtered sewage.
There has been one complaint from an offensive vent pipe, from the house it was to protect ; it was carried higher, and is now sat- isfactory.
The 105 inspections may be classified as follows : Hotels, three ; workshops, three; boarding houses, five; halls, three ; stores, four ; saloons, two ; eating houses, two ; tenements, eighty- six. A few were counted in two classes.
The board can do no better than repeat here a part of the report of 1888.
The dangers from sewers, so popularly dwelt upon, are chiefly dangers from defective construction, and from lack of proper inspection and supervision in the making of connections.
All difficulties of this kind were minimized by completing the work as one piece of engineering under municipal control.
The abundant writings extant concerning the dangers from sewer gas have probably misled people, and done much to preju- dice against sewers.
It is true the old-fashioned sewers, which in many cities are no better than cesspools elongated to reach through the streets to the water front, are a source of disease and death. But the modern sewer, as it is built in Newburyport, is a small, smooth, mechan- ical, true, practically tight water way, so devised that no filth may remain in it to decompose, no water to stagnate. A small, smooth running stream of comparatively inoffensive sewage discharges itself from the outlet while yet only a few hours old. No offen- sive gases arise from such sewage, and the only danger of sewer gas poisoning in our houses will practically be from our fixtures and plumbing inside the houses and the house drain. This dan- ger we have minimized by carefully prepared rules and regulations, with an inspector to see that they are carried out.
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