USA > Massachusetts > Essex County > Newburyport > City Officers and the Annual Reports to the City Council of Newburyport 1896 > Part 13
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348
ANNUAL REPORTS.
Library reports, Publications. etc.
Baltimore, Enoch Pratt free
O
I
Beverly
I
Boston
I2
Brookline
I
Brooklyn
0
I
Buffalo
O
I
Chicago public
C
I
Cincinnati
I
Danvers, Peabody Institute
C
I
Fall River
I
Illinois State
I
Indianapolis.
I
Jersey City
I3
Lawrence
5
Minneapolis
O
I
New Haven.
I
Newark
2
New York Public.
4
Peabody, Peabody Institute
0
I
Philadelphia
I
Providence Atheneum
9
Providence Public.
O
I
Salem
2
San Francisco Mercantile
O
2
San Francisco Public.
I
Seattle
I
Springfield, Mass
O
I
Syracuse
O
I
Waterbury, Bronson
O
I
Worcester
I
University of Pennsylvania
I
Unknown
O
I
Wheelwright, E. M .. I
O
349
PUBLIC LIBRARY.
1
Whipple, C. K.
4
Winthrop, R. C. jr., Boston 5
0
Yale University .
o
I
Zeballos, Hon. E. S., Washington I
O
U. S. Government publications :
Bureau of education
7
3
Bureau of ethnology
I
O
Census bureau
IO o
Coast survey
I
O
Department of agriculture
I
69
Interior
O
33
Navy
2
0
State
18
15
Treasury
I
O
War
II
I
Fish commission
I
I
Life saving service
I
O
Labor commission
2
5
Patent office.
O
56
Smithsonian Institution 5
O
350
ANNUAL REPORTS.
Publications in Newburyport Free Reading Room,
DAILIES.
Newburyport Herald (morning). 66 News (evening).
Boston Advertiser (morning).
Herald 66
Post
Globe (evening).
60
Times
66 Tribune 66
Mail & Express (eve'g).
66 Traveler 66
66
Post (evening).
Haverhill Gazette 66
World (morning),
Lynn Item 66
Congressional Record, Washingt'n.
SEMI-WEEKLY, WEEKLY AND MONTHLY.
Alta California, San Francisco. Argonaut,
Bradstreet's, New York.
Christian Register, Boston.
Christian Union, New York.
Chronicle, San Francisco.
Churchman.
Commercial Bulletin, Boston.
Congregationalist.
Constitution, Atlanta, Ga.
Courier-Journal, Louisville, Ky.
Dial, Chicago.
Dispatch, Richmond, Va.
Electrical World, New York.
Enquirer, Cincinnati, O.
Financial and Commercial Chron- icle, New York.
Forest and Stream, New York.
Frank Leslie's Illustrated News- paper, New York. Gazette, Montreal, Canada. Graphic, London. Harper's Bazar, New York.
Weekly 66
Young People, New York.
Herald, Rutland, Vt.
Home Missionary.
Independent, New York.
Item (weekly) Newburyport. Journal of Education, Boston. Journal, Kansas City, Mo. Machinist, New York.
Mirror and Farmer, Manchester, N. H. Nation, New York.
Nature, London.
News, Charleston, S. C.
Observer, New York.
Official Gazette, U. S. patent office.
Pioneer-Press, Minneapolis, Minn. Punch, London.
Republican, Springfield.
Rocky Mountain Weekly, Denver, Colo.
Scientific American, New York.
(builders' ed.)
66 66 Supplement. Star, Washington, D. C. Tablet.
Times, Philadelphia.
Times, London. Tribune, Chicago. Unitarian . Weekly News, Galveston. Texas.
Portland Advertiser (evening). Providence Journal (morning). Salem Gazette 66
New York Herald 66 Sun 60
66
Journal 66
66 Transcript
351
PUBLIC LIBRARY.
MAGAZINES AND QUARTERLIES.
DOMESTIC.
Arena, Boston. Atlantic Monthly, Boston. Bibliotheca Sacra, Oberlin, O. Century, New York.
Cosmopolitan, New York.
Current Literature. New York.
Donahoe's Magazine, Boston.
Frank Leslie's Popular Monthly, New York.
Forum, New York. Godey's Ladies' Book, Philadelphia Harper's Magazine, New York. Household, Boston. Home Missionary, Boston. Ladies' Home Journal, Philadelphia Life, New York.
Lippincott's Magazine, Philadel- phia.
Littell's Living Age, Boston. McClure's Magazine, New York. Munsey's Magazine 66 Naturalist, Philadelphia.
N. E. Homestead, Springfield. New England Magazine, Boston. New World, Boston. North American, New York.
Peterson's Magazine, Philadelphia. Political Science Quarterly, N. Y. Popular Science Monthly
Popular Science News 66
Review of Reviews, New York. St. Nicholas
FOREIGN.
Art Journal, London. Blackwood's, Edinburg. Cassell's Magazine, London. Contemporary Review 66 Cornhill Magazine Edinburg Review, Edinburg. English Ill. Magazine, London. Fortnightly Review
Good Words, London. London Quarterly Review. Macmillan's Magazine, London. Nineteenth Century Strand, London. Temple Bar "
Westminster Review, London.
352
ANNUAL REPORTS.
Donations to the Reading Room.
Christian Register American Unitarian Association
Christian Science Journal George Morrill
Churchman St. Paul's parish
Congregationalist. Rev. J. W. Dodge
Congressional Directory . E. S. Moseley Congressional Record
Hon. W. H. Moody
Cook's Excursionist
Publishers
Free Russia .
Good Government
.E. S. Moseley
Manifesto.
Publishers
.Newburyport Daily News
Newburyport Item
60
New York Observer
Hon. John N. Pike
Official Gazette.
. Patent office
Outlook W. W. Goodwin
Science . Publishers
Signal Service Weather Maps. . U. S. Department of Agriculture
St. Andrew's Cross
St. Paul's parish
Tablet
Publishers
Unitarian . Mrs. Swasey
Woman's Journal.
C. K. Whipple
Home Missionary
NEWBURYPORT WATER WORKS, OCTOBER, 1895.
BEFORE IMPROVEMENTS.
REPORT
OF THE
WATER COMMISSIONERS
FROM
February 1, 1895, to November 30, 1896.
NEWBURYPORT WATER DEPARTMENT.
COMMISSIONERS.
CHARLES H. SARGENT, Term expires first Monday in May, 1902.
ALBERT W. GREENLEAF,
6 1901. NATHANIEL APPLETON, 66 66
66
66
66
66
66
1900.
JOHN N. PIKE,
66
66
66 6.6 1899.
CHARLES C. DAME, 6.
66
66 1898.
CHARLES C. DAME, Chairman of Board.
PHILIP H. LUNT, Secretary and Treasurer. HAROLD S. NOYES, Office Clerk. WILLIAM H. LAWRENCE, Superintendent. WILLIAM E. BUTLER, Chief Engineer.
Office, No. 2 Bartlet Street.
REPORT OF THE WATER COMMISSIONERS
To His Honor the Mayor, the Board of Alder- men, and the Common Council of the City of Newburyport,
GENTLEMEN: Although the Act of the Legisla- ture constituting the Board of Water Commissioners for the City of Newburyport, (Chap. 471, Acts of 1893) made no provision requiring a report from this board to the city government, the commission- ers have deemed it advisable, at the close of the first full financial year of the city since the water works have been under their supervision, to transmit to your boards a full account of the income received from water furnished to Dec. 1, 1896, of the im- provements which it has been deemed essential to make in the water plant, its present condition, with some suggestions as to further desirable changes contemplated in the future, in order to bring the works to the standard of excellence which will be satisfactory to our citizens.
The works in question were deeded to the city in February, 1895. As to the condition of the water
4
REPORT OF
supply with its accessories at that time, the public are well informed. The first duty of the commissioners was to secure a suitable office and work-shop. This they found in their present quarters, of which they took a lease for five years, thus being provided with a roomy work shop, a basement for storage, a room for the meetings of the commissioners, and a small though convenient office.
As soon as the weather permitted after taking possession, all pipes and connections between the pond, pumps, and Merrimac river were removed, thus making the pumping of river water an impossi- bility. The next important work was on the stand- pipe which had never been cleaned. A relief valve was placed at the pumping station, a twelve-inch gate at the stand-pipe, and thus the standpipe was emptied, the city being supplied by direct pumping for four days. The standpipe was found to be in a very filthy condition and some thirty loads of mud, etc., were removed from it. Engineer Blake made a thorough examination of the standpipe, drilling in several places to ascertain the thickness, finding many sheets to be not over 3-16ths of an inch. The necessity of a new standpipe was so apparent that no repairs have been attempted.
At the basin or pond the water was far from being satisfactory. In the wells the quality was excellent,
5
WATER COMMISSIONERS.
but the quantity was not sufficient to supply the de- mands of the city. Even with the supply of water from the pond it was necessary to resort to the Jack- man springs.
Some repairs that were imperative were made on the small pumps, and in April, 1895, continuous pumping was inaugurated, since which time the standpipe has been practically full, with no diminu- tion of pressure during the night. The pipes were flushed and everything possible done to improve the quality of the water in the basin, but the commis- sioners were soon satisfied that nothing short of a new basin, properly constructed, would be a com- plete remedy, but owing to an empty treasury. they could do nothing in that direction during the year 1895.
It also became evident that the city should own the entire water shed in that locality, and with that end in view measures were taken to secure the de- sired land. Acting under a vote of the aldermen and common council, passed March 9, 1896, viz: " That the Board of Water Commissioners of the City of Newburyport be and are hereby authorized to purchase for and in behalf of the City of New- buryport, such lands, water and water rights, as the said Board shall from time to time deem necessary, for the extension, protection and improvement of the
6
REPORT OF
water supply of said city," negotiations were opened with the Jackman heirs, and a purchase made of some six or more acres of land at the river end of the Jackman ravine. This was an important begin- ning as it secured to the city all the water to be de- rived from this basin. Believing that the water in the pond was being contaminated from the buildings on the Moulton farm, that lot of fourteen acres was next purchased, all the buildings removed, grounds cleaned up, and the field sown down to grass. This purchase was soon followed by another, of ten acres on Spring lane, covering the north side of the Jack- man ravine and running to High street. Later, in May, 1896, came the purchase of twenty-three acres, of W. B. Hopkinson, which purchase conveyed to the city the famous Bartlett boiling spring.
As soon as the condition of our treasury justified, a movement was made toward the permanent im- 1 provement of the pond. The services of Engineer Percy M. Blake were procured to furnish plans for the inspection of the commissioners. These plans as finally decided on, included the enlargement of the pond, excavating it to a uniform depth of ten feet, paving the slopes with square pavers, the con- struction of a settling basin for the Moulton brook, an intercepting canal from the Bartlett Springs, with a collecting well for the same, the laying of some
7
WATER COMMISSIONERS.
1600 feet of six and eight inch collecting pipes, with distributing valves, a gate house with its valves, screens, etc., the raising of the roadway some four feet, and the general grading of the entire area about the basin. Believing in the justice of distributing the intended outlay in our own city, all the work, as far as possible, was given to Newburyport citizens. A contract was made with Cornelius H. Kelleher for the main part of the work, a wharf was built and all stone, etc., landed direct from the vessels. As a re- sult of the work some 15,000 cubic yards of material were excavated from the pond. 563 tons of granite were used in the settling basin, 150 tons of split granite and 100 barrels of Portland cement in the construction of the gate house, and 3,920 square yards of block stone paving, equal to about 80,000 pavers in number, on the slopes of the main basin. The gate house is constructed with copper wire screens in the well, so arranged as to be removable for cleaning. All the water from the new pond must first pass through these screens before reaching the pumps. The new basin has a storage capacity of some over four and a half million gallons. In ad- dition to the above all of the old eight inch suction pipes between the pumps and the wells have been removed and replaced with twelve inch pipes and gates, so that any or all of the wells and the new ba-
8
REPORT OF
sin can be severally pumped from as necessity may require, which could not be done before on account of the small size of the old pipes. This part of the work was of more than ordinary difficulty, as the old pipes had to be removed and the new ones put in place without stopping the pumps. These changes required several tons of special castings, gates, and pipes, and being necessarily of great importance called for work of the most thorough and exact character. It was successfully accomplished by our own men under the direction of Engineer Blake.
The commissioners would here emphasize the fact that while they have brought the quality of the water up to the highest standard in every respect, and have largely increased the storage capacity so that they can now save all the water flowing from the springs and also retain more of the rainfall than formerly, they have not as yet added so materially to the sources of supply as to afford a surplus of water at the works that will allow any waste of the same.
The acquisition of the Bartlett and Moulton springs have given them control of all the water in that area, yet they have thought it of the greatest importance to obtain full control of the Jackman ravine as an auxiliary supply for the near future, and all work has been carried on in line with an extension in that di- rection. While the new basin was in process of
9
WATER COMMISSIONERS.
construction a temporary dam was built at the lower end of the Jackman ravine, impounding a large amount of water for use in case any emergency should arise, which fortunately did not occur. This supply was in addition to the water pumped daily from the Jackman Springs. Before long it will be necessary to improve this ravine in a way similar to the old pond, by building a permanent dam near the river, using the entire ravine as an impounding basin, connecting the same with the new basin by a ten inch pipe line around the river point, taking the - water around by gravity. This work can be done at comparatively small expense, the dam and pipe line being the main features. No paving or rock work will be needed, the nature of the soil being such as not to require it.
All of the work so far completed is of the most permanent and lasting character,-nothing but the best material being allowed to enter into these im- provements, while at the same time great care has been exercised in the expenditure of every dollar. The entire cost of the improvements will be about $23,000, while some $15,000 additional has been ex- pended in the purchase of real estate.
The report of the superintendent, which is trans- mitted herewith, will give you much information as to what has been accomplished in the streets of our
2
IO
REPORT OF
city in connection with mains, hydrants, stand pipes, meters, etc. The reports of the treasurer, auditor, also of engineer Percy M. Blake, which accompany this report, will supply fuller details of the various matters to which the commissioners have given their attention. It should be noted from the report of the treasurer that while the city has paid to date for the water furnished the public buildings, and also for fire service for the six months due July 1, 1895, no pay- ment for fire service has been made by the city since that date, although bills for the same have been duly forwarded to the city treasurer at the expiration of each of the three six months' terms which have passed by since the date of the payment above named.
The policy of the commissioners being to bring the plant to a high state of perfection as rapidly as sound business management will allow, it is evident that a new standpipe should be among the first matters to receive attention. Probably a new pipe of smaller diameter and some thirty feet higher would increase the pressure and make hydrant streams quite effec- tive. A new pumping main, direct from the station down Merrimac street, is called for as soon as practi- cable, which should be a twelve-inch pipe to re- place the present eight-inch cement pipe,- this twelve-inch pipe to extend to Market square. The
II
WATER COMMISSIONERS.
smaller size pipes which were laid in many of the cross streets should also be replaced by pipes of larger capacity. The pumps will need considerable attention the coming summer, and with the opening of spring a large amount of grading must be done around the basin, which was prevented by cold weather last November.
In regard to the question of water rates, the com- missioners would say that the manner of administer- ing a water plant has exercised the minds of those furnishing the water, for a long time. Many expe- dients have been tried, such as charging according to number of fixtures, according to number in the family, according to frontage of land, etc. It is evident that none of these plans will work equitably. The justice and consistency of selling all water by meter measurement is now generally acknowledged. Many cities have adopted this manner and many others are gradually adopting the same system. Our experi- ence has constrained us to believe in this system, and we trust the time will come when Newburyport will furnish water in no other way. At present the water rates remain the same as were charged by the Newburyport Water Company before the transfer to the city. It must be plain to all that there can be no revision of these rates by the commissioners until it is determined what sum the city is to pay for the
I2
REPORT OF
water plant, as not until that time can it be estima- ted what yearly net income will be required to pay the interest on the "Water Loan," then to be crea- ted, and also the amount to be set apart annually for the credit of the "Sinking Fund" which is to pro- vide for the payment of said loan at maturity.
In conclusion, the commissioners deem it but just to themselves to allude to the expenditure of thought, time and labor required of them in caring for this department of the interests of the city, with which they have been entrusted. They have held and at- tended sixty-four meetings of record (twenty-three in 1895 and forty-one in 1896) during the time cov- ered by this report, while frequent visits to the works, numberless consultations with each other, and ne- cessary interviews with parties carrying on or con- nected with the improvements, have required their daily attention and oversight. They trust these ef- forts, and the results arising therefrom, will meet with your approval and be favorably considered by all our citizens.
Respectfully submitted,
CHARLES C. DAME, JOHN N. PIKE, WATER NATHANIEL APPLETON, CHAS. H. SARGENT, A. W. GREENLEAF, Newburyport, Feb. 27, 1897.
COMMISSIONERS.
13
WATER COMMISSIONERS.
FINANCIAL STATEMENT
OF THE
Receipts of the Newburyport Water Works,
MADE TO THE WATER COMMISSIONERS FEB. 1897.
RECEIPTS.
Water Rates.
From Feb. to June 1, 1895 .. . $ 419 97
" ' June I to Dec. I . 15,642 89
$16,062 86
Meter Rates.
From Feb. to June 1, 1895. . . $ 1,553 57
" June I to Dec. 1, 1895. 2,304 75
$3,858 32
Sundry Water Receipts. ..... 7 70
Total receipts from consumers $19,928 88
City of Newburyport.
Paid Aug. 8, 1895 for fire ser- vice . . $ 3,480 00
Paid Aug. 8, 1895, for public
buildings 608 50 4,088 50
Total receipts for water to Dec. 1, 1895. . $24,017 38 From interest.
74 53
service pipe construction 426 76
rent. 45 00
sundries 4 50 55° 79
Total receipts to Dec. 1, 1895. $24,568 17
14
REPORT OF
Amount bought forward. . ... $24,568 17
Water Rates.
From Dec. 1, 1895 to June 1, 1896 .
14,303 65 " June 1, 1896 to Dec. 1, 1896 16,193 96
30,497 61
Meter Rates.
From Dec. 1, 1895 to June 1,
1896 ..
2,409 99 " June 1, 1896 to Dec. I, 1896 . 3,084 OI
5,494 00
Sundry water receipts . . 651 92
Total receipts from consumers. .... $36,643 53
City of Newburyport.
Paid Dec. 10, 1895 for public buildings
633 50
Paid June 11, 1896, for pub- lic buildings 633 50
$1,267 00
Total receipts for water to Dec. 1, 1896. . $37,910 53 From interest .
$394 14
plumbing.
319 45
sale buildings 200 00
service pipe construction. 175 20
66 rent .
60 00
sale grass. 35 00
sundries 21 20
$ 1,204 99
Total receipts from Dec. 1895 to Dec. I,
1896. 39,115 52
$63,683 69
15
WATER COMMISSIONERS.
FINANCIAL STATEMENT
OF THE
Expenditures of the Newburyport Water Works
MADE TO THE WATER COMMISSIONERS, FEB. 1897.
-
PAYMENTS.
From Feb. 1895 to Dec. 1, 1895. On construction account :
Service pipe. $ 2,203 99
Pumping station
94 02
Extension of mains
27 75
General
178 38
$2,504 14
On maintenance account :
Pumping station . $4,164 17
Mains . .
104 80
Reservoir
65 77
Hydrants
152 85
Service pipe
334 24
Gate .
2 63
General
2,463 06
$7,287 52
Plumbing
155 75
Total payments to Dec. 1, '95 . $9,947 41
From Dec. 1, 1895 to Dec. 1, 1896. On Construction account :
Service pipe.
$ 1,104 08
Extension of mains
490 64
Amounts carried forward $1,594 72 $9,947 41
16
REPORT OF
Amounts bought forward $1,594 72 Jackman springs. 219 81
$9,947 41 General .
1,073 00
Pond improvement
12,423 20
15,310 73
On maintenance account :
Pumping station
5,377 26
Mains
344 57
Hydrants
34 32
Service pipe.
106 25
Gate
88
General
3,907 84
$9,771 12
Plumbing
75 70
$25,157 55
Real estate
14,613 97
$39,771 52
Total payments from Dec. 1, 1895 to
Dec. 1, 1896. $49,718 93
SUMMARY.
Total receipts
$63,683 69
Total payments. 49,718 93
Excess of receipts $13,964 76
Due from City of Newburyport .. $ 260 01
N. & A. Street R. R. Co. 6 49
City of Newburyport, note 10,000 00
Merchants National Bank 3,609 94
Cash on hand 88 32
$13,964 76
Respectfully submitted,
PHILIP H. LUNT, Treasurer.
I7
WATER COMMISSIONERS.
AUDITOR'S CERTIFICATE.
Statement of the receipts and payments of the Newburyport Water Commissioners from February 1, 1895 to November 30, 1896, inclusive :
RECEIPTS.
PAYMENTS.
Water rates
$46,560 47
Meter 6
9,352 32
Sundry water receipts
659 62
Fire service.
3,480 00
Public buildings
1,875 50
Interest
468 67
Plumbing
319 45
231 45
Real estate
235 00
14,613 97
Construction
1,251 38
service pipe.
601 96
3,308 07
66
pumping station
94 02
extension of mains
518 39
Jackman springs . .
219 81
Pond improvement
12,423 20
Maintenance :
General.
25 70
6,370 90
Pumping station
105 00
9,541 43
Reservoir
65 77
Mains
449 37
Hydrants .
187 17
Service pipe
440 49
Gate
3 51
$63,683 69
$49,718 93
Due from
City of Newburyport.
260 0I
N. & A. St. R. R. Co.
6 49
Notes receivable.
10,000 00
Merchants National Bank deposit , .
3,609 94
Cash at office
88 32
$63,683 69
$63,683 69
3
18
REPORT OF
Newburyport, Dec. 21, 1896.
I have examined the accounts of the Newburyport Water Commissioners from Feb. 1, 1895 to Dec. 1, 1896, and find the same correct and properly vouched.
I find cash in Merchants National Bank
$3,609 94
Cash at office
88 32
$3,698 26
A. B. ADAMS, Auditor.
19
WATER COMMISSIONERS.
SUPERINTENDENT'S REPORT.
To the Honorable Board of Water Commissioners,
GENTLEMEN: Agreeably to the annual custom of superintendents, I hereby submit to you a report of the Newburyport Water Works for the years 1895 and 1896.
PUMPING STATION.
During 1895 very little was done at the pumping station in the way of repairs, but considerable work was done to assist Mr. Blake and other engineers in behalf of the city for the water hearing case.
PUMPING ENGINES.
Since the works were turned over to the city noth- ing has been done to either set of pumps but what was absolutely necessary to keep them running although in a very bad condition. The cylinders are leaking badly and should be renewed or re-bored without delay.
The large set of pumps are very weak, and it would cost nearly as much to put them in good or- der as it would cost for a new set with all the latest improvements. It is only by great care on the part of our engineer that they can be made to do service.
20
REPORT OF
NEW PUMP FOR CONDENSER.
A new Barr duplex steam pump was purchased to supply the condenser with river water (about 45,000 gallons per day) which had formerly been wasted to the river. The condenser has recently been clean- ed and repaired.
BOILERS.
The boilers have been regularly inspected by the Hartford Steam Boiler Inspection and Insurance Co., who report the care and condition of them good. In 1895 two tubes in No. 2 had to be plug- ged on account of leaks by corrosion.
NEW SUCTION PIPES.
The new suction pipes leading from the receiving basin and wells to the pumps are giving good satis- faction. It is now possible to draw the wells down to the foot valves, which was an impossibility with the old suction pipes.
NEW RECEIVING BASINS.
The Moulton and main receiving basins which were finished last year have given the city some- thing that is well worth the money expended. We can now supply the city with good wholesome water.
A pipe line should be laid from the Jackman springs dam to the receiving basin by way of the river bank and save cost of pumping the same water twice.
21
WATER COMMISSIONERS.
RELIEF VALVE.
April, 1895, a five-inch relief valve was placed in the pumping station, and connected to the force main, and with a waste pipe leading to the basin. This valve is used when the stand pipe is out of commission, and can be used if an accident should occur to the tank; the city would then be supplied by direct pumping.
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