USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Melrose > City of Melrose annual report 1900 > Part 11
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181
PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT.
other city or town would receive $2.50 for each meter so in use.
This suggested method was further explained by reference to a diagram, of which the following is a copy, except that the statistics for Jan. 1, 1901, have been substituted for those of the previous year:
City ortown.
Number of
services.
Number of
meters.
Percentage of
services metered.
Credits allowed
for meters in use.
Additional
assessments to
meet credits for
Credits in excess
of assessments.
Assessments in
excess of credits.
Belmont,
568
568
100.0
$1,420
$ 86
Watertown,
1,577
1,425
90.4
3,563
197
$1,334 3,366
Malden, .
6,548
3,176
48.5
7,940
614
7,326
Boston, .
87,490
4,455
5.1
13,365
23,508
$10,143
Arlington, .
1 570
71
4.5
177
169
8
Nahant,
436
18
4.1
45
52
7
Quincy,
4,050
125
3.1
313
443
130
Medford,
3,899
101
2.6
253
367
114
Melrose,
3,131
77
2.5
192
252
60
Somerville, .
10,291
202
2.0
505
1,143
638
Chelsea, ·
6,145
118
1.9
295
595
300
Everett,
4,405
34
0.8
85
437
352
Revere.
1,932
13
0.7
32
202
170
Winthrop,
1,483
2
0.1
5
125
120
Swampscott, ...
971
0
0.0
Totals, average,
134,496
10,385
7.7
$28,190 $28,190
meters.
The sums of $3.00 and $2.50 respectively credited for me- ters in use in Boston and in the outside cities and towns, are, of course, details subject to modification. The meters re- quired in Boston are, upon the average, larger and conse- quently more expensive in cost and maintenance than those required outside. Perhaps on this account and on account of the greater assessment paid by Boston, the difference in the prices should be made greater.
The first two columns of figures, relating to the number of services and the number of meters in use in each city and town, are the statistics as furnished by the cities and towns.
182
PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT.
The third column shows the percentages of services metered. The fourth column shows the amount of credit or payment which would be allowed each city and town on account of its meters, and the fifth column shows how much of the addi- tional assessment for meters each city and town would be required to pay. The final columns show how the meter ac- count would stand for each city and town.
In a town which has its proportion of meters, the assess- ment on account of the meters and the credit would nearly balance; a town having more than its proportion of meters would have a credit greater than its assessment, and one having less than its proportion of meters would have an assessment greater than its credit.
If the sum allowed for meters is made a little greater than the annual cost, taking into account interest, depreciation, repairs and attendance, this method would seem to offer an inducement for the introduction of meters, but it would not be compulsory.
Upon the question regarding the reductioa in the con- sumption of water by the use of meters, the experience of the city of Milwaukee is particularly instructive, and is to be seen by the following statement:
Percentage of daily consumption
Year.
Number of Services.
Number of Meters.
Services Metered.
Per Inhabitant.
1887.
13,243
1,728
I3
I13 gallons
1899.
38,191
25,639
67
85
The daily consumption of water per inhabitant in the Metropolitan water district (113 gallons) is now the same as in Milwaukee in 1887.
2. UNIFORM REGULATIONS FOR THE USE OF HAND HOSE AND LAWN SPRINKLERS.
Attention was called to the great diversity in the regula- tions made by the cities and towns in the district regarding the use of hand hose and lawn sprinklers, and to the fact that their excessive use greatly increases the consumption of water.
183
PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT.
In approving the minimum rates to be paid for the use of water, the board is called upon to treat alike, or impartially, the different municipalities. At present the use of hand hose is in most places restricted to two hours per day, be- tween the hours of 5 and 8 a. m. and 5 and 8 p. m. One town permits their use for three hours, and in two cities and two towns the use of hose is not permitted except on me- tered premises. In the majority of places the diameter of the hose nozzle is restricted to 3-16 of an inch, but in two cities and one town nozzles 14 of an inch in diameter, and in two towns 3/8 of an inch in diameter are permitted.
Experiments recently made show that under ordinary conditions of use the 3-16 inch nozzle will deliver about 48 cubic feet or 320 gallons per hour, and a 14 inch nozzle 78 cubic feet, or 585 gallons per hour.
The use of lawn sprinklers, except on metered premises, is now prohibited in all but three or four municipalities in the district.
In three municipalities their use is allowed under the per- mits for the use of hand hose.
The board thinks it desirable that water for lawn sprink- lers should in all cases be metered, but that in cities and towns where domestic services are not generally metered the use of lawn sprinklers may for the time be permitted, under suitable regulations and on the payment of annual rate, which shall equal the value at meter rates of the water likely to be used. The board has for one city approved for the present year a rate of $10 per annum for lawn sprinklers, if used in connection with hand hose and restricted to two hours daily between the hours of 6 and 8 p.m. The average quantity of water used by lawn sprinklers is estimated to be about 60 cubic feet, or 450 gallons per hour.
The board recommends that the following regulations re- garding the use of hand hose and lawn sprinklers be adopt- ed in the various cities and towns:
Water shall, except on metered premises, be used through hand hose and lawn sprinklers, only under the following regulations :
184
PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT.
Water may be used through hand hose two hours per day, the hours of use to be between 5 and 8 a. m. and 5 and 8 p. m. The hose must be held in the hand, and must be used with a nozzle not over 3-16 of an inch in diameter.
Lawn sprinklers, discharging under the same pressure, not more than 1 1/3 times the discharge of a nozzle 3-16 of an inch in diameter, may be used two hours per day, between the hours of 5 and 8 p. m.
The board has approved during the current year, under similar restrictions, the following minimum rates:
Minimum rate for hand hose,
$3
Minimum rate for lawn sprinklers, IO
The minimum rate for hand hose generally adopted in the district is $5, and the above rate of $3 is regarded as low, and an increase in the future may he regarded necessary.
The board earnestly urges that the regulations which are adopted shall be strictly and impartially enforced by the various cities and towns.
We should esteem it a favor if the various boards or com- missioners would communicate to us, at or before the ad- journed meeting, their opinions upon the questions suggest- ed at the meeting of December 30 as above outlined, and es- pecially upon the following:
I. Is it desirable to adopt a compulsory method for the use of meters ?
2. Is an optional method for the use of meters desirable, and if so, what is your opinion of the method suggested?
3. Do you regard favorably the adoption of the regula- tions proposed for the use of hand hose and lawn sprinklers? If not, what changes would you suggest?
The board will welcome any suggestions upon the matters which have been discussed.
HENRY H. SPRAGUE, Chairman, WILMOT R. EVANS, HENRY P. WALCOTT, Metropolitan Water Board.
Boston, Feb. 5, 1901.
185
PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT.
Meter rates require quarterly payments, necessitating four bills annually for each taker, while the fixture rates only require one. Water furnished by meter is sold on credit, while for that furnished by fixture rates, payment in advance is required; meters also require a great deal of at- tention, they should be read frequently and tested occasion- ally, additional clerks, inspectors and mechanics would have to be employed, all of which would tend to materially in- crease the expense of the department. Moreover there is always the contention that the meter does not correctly register; that the bill is in excess of what it should be; nothing can or will convince the parties that the meter can- not register except water passes through it; and that if the meter in any way gets out of order it is for the advantage of the consumer. The question is never asked why a meter bill is so small, or smaller than it was for previous quarters, but the slightest increase is questioned; and the consumer never seems to realize that the less charge may have been in error, and should have been larger, but always assumes it to be correct and the large charge to be in excess of what it should be.
At the present time there are 77 meters in use, from which we derive an annual income of $3867.64, provided all collec- tions were made; but on reference to the statement col- lected and uncollected given elsewhere in this report, it will be seen that the uncollected meter rates amount to about 30 per cent. of the charges, while the uncollected fixture rates amount to only 1.6 per cent.
WATER RATES AND CHARGES.
A statement of the charges and collections is as follows:
WATER DEPARTMENT, DR.
To water fixture rates,
meter .
. $46,409 34 3,867 64
sundry charges,
. . 1,997 17
$52,274 15
186
PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT.
CR.
By collected and paid treasurer, fix-
ture rates,
. $41,590 66
By collected and paid treasurer,
meter rates,
2,732 68
By collected and paid treasurer, sun- dry rates,
1,839 20
By abatements,
3,738 97
refund sundry persons,
354 II
fixture rates uncollected,
671 66
meter
1,134 96
" sundries,
157 97
cash on hand Feb. Ist, 1901, 53 94
$52,274 15
From the above it will be seen that the total charges are $52,274.15, while the total collections only $46,570.59, which together with the abatements, $3,738.97, makes $50,509.56, showing charges uncollected to be $1,764.59; of this amount $1, 134.96 is for metered water, $671.66 is for water by fix- ture rates and $157.97 for sundries. All of these amounts represent charges as far back as 1896. Most of the items of sundry charges are disputed by the persons to whom the charge is made, and as they were prior to my having any connection with the water department, I have little know- ledge of them.
The meter rates uncollected are nearly all of them good and are principally for bills rendered Jan. 1, 1901; while in most cases the parties owing the fixture rates have moved out of town and they are uncollectable. To prevent this occurrence it has been deemed wise the coming year to more strictly enforce the rule requiring payments in advance. Last year there was a misunderstanding as to who was the proper officer to issue summons requiring this payment of water bills. It was not until August that I learned from the solicitor that the duty devolved upon me, when I immediately took measures to make the collections and sent out 500 summons requiring the rates to be paid within three days in default of which the water was shut off. This
187
PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT.
was done irrespective of persons. Of the amount uncol- lected, fixture rates, $143.09 is on premises now shut off for non-payment, the parties preferring to vacate rather than to pay the water rates.
Collections were made by the public works department until the middle of February, 1900, when the board of alder- men, by ordinance, placed them in the hands of the city collector, after which time the collection of water rates was made by him, but at his request and after a conference with the board of aldermen, the collection of the sundry charges was continued by this department; so it will be seen that the collections have practically been made by three different per- sons, viz: Stephen A. Lovejoy, who continued to act as water registrar until Feb. 15, 1900, James W. Murray, and the engineer and superintendent of public works. The fol- lowing is a detail of the collections made by each:
STEPHEN A. LOVEJOY, Water Registrar.
Water rates,
$8,683 19 Sundries, shutting off water, . $4 00
cleaning services, . II 37 stock, 12 34 new services, . 19 00
repair services,
·
7 27
refund from Malden (overcharge), . 538 93
592 91
$9,276 10
JAMES W. MURRAY, City Collector.
Water rates,
Summons,
$35,621 09 65 80
Sundries, shutting off water, . $7 63
cleaning services, . 4 42
repairing services, . 9 19 sealing faucets, · 1 00 new services, · 14 40 36 64
Amount carried forward,
$35,723 53
188
PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT.
Amount brought forward, . $35,723 53
Collected for water and credited to sun-
dries, . $6 33
Collected for sundries and credited to
water, . 2 13
4 20
--* $35,727 73
W. DABNEY HUNTER, Engineer and Superintendent Public Works.
New services,
$167 03
Cleaning services,
153 4I
Repairing services,
214 24
Sale of stock and junk,
69 48
Sealing faucets,
8 62
Shutting off water,
45 00
Shutting off for non-payment,
90 00
Collected for water and turned in as sundries (S. K. Ames for lime), 3 00
$750 78
Collected from highway division, (stock and labor), $61 12
Collected from street watering divi- sion, (stock and labor), 339 49
Collected from sewer division (stock and labor), . 32 68
Collected from park division (stock and labor), . 3 68
Collected from city hall division (stock and labor), 2 45
$1,190 20
Total collected and paid treasurer, * $46,194 03
* NOTE :- This does not include $354.1I collected and refunded sundry persons, nor $53.94, cash on hand Feb. 1, 1901.
189
PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT.
The net collections are divided as follows:
Water, .
. $44,257 54
Summons, 65 80
Refunded by Malden,
538 93
Commonwealth of Mass., water rates,
22 45
New service pipes,
200 43
Cleaning service pipes for sundry
persons, 169 20
Repairing, .
230 70
Sealing faucets, .
9 62
Shutting off water,
56 03
Shutting “
for non-payment,
90 00
Sale of stock,
81 82
Collected from other divisions of the
public works department for
stock and labor, .
439 42
Total,
$46,162:54
STATEMENT FOR SINKING FUND.
WATER DEPARTMENT, DR.
To water rates, summons and lime, S. A. Lovejoy $8,683 19
To refund from City of Malden, 538 93
To sundry collections,
53 98
$9,276 10
To water rates, summons and lime, J. W. Murray, $35,686 89
To sundries,
40 84
$35,727 73
To allowances Common- wealth of Mass., for water receipts, . 22 45
To sundry collec-
tions, W. D.
Hunter,
. $750 78
Carried forward, $750 78 $35,750 18 $9,276 10
.
190
PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT.
Brought forward, $750 78 $35,750 18 $9,276 10 To sundry collec-
tions from other dep'ts., 439 42 1,190 20 36,940 38
Total collections,
$46,216 48
CR.
By Metropolitan ass'm't for maintenance and sinking fund, $6,740 49
Paid commonwealth for over allowance in 1899 for Metropolitan water rates, . II 77
Interest on water bonds, . 9,580 00
Construction, $3,812.33, maint., $19,059.83, Jan. 1, 1900, to Feb. 1, 1901, 22,872 16
Transferred to city treasury 1,000 00
Cash in hands of city col-
lector,
53 94 $40,258 36
Surplus,
5,958 12
$46,216 48
The total cost of construction to date follows:
Cost as per report of water commis- sioners, 1899, $418,560 96
Regulator put in, 1900, . $1,047 48
Extensions,
2,300 12
Services, .6
464 73 3,812 33
Total, .
$422,373 29
191
PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT.
SUMMARY OF FIXTURES AND STATEMENT OF WATER SUPPLIED JANUARY 1, 1901.
Charged
Not Charged
Totals
Rated
Metered
Public Buildings
Families
2988
2988
Boarding houses
1
6
7
Stores and shops
135
70
205
Faucets
8083
391
138
8612
Water closets
3014
173
138
3325
Bath tubs
1937
57
3
1997
Full houses
87
87
Use of W. C.
83
3
..
.
29
Urinals
3
12
23
38
Fountains
4
7
11
Sill cocks
903
20
14
937
Horses
338
168
8
514
Cows
40
2
42
Hose
1100
14
1114
Boilers
6
20
26
Motors
7
7
Number of water takers, .
3,200
66
" taps to mains,
"
in use,
2,842
" fire hydrants, .
259
stand pipes (for street sprinkling),
24
(for cemetery), .
II
66
" gates on mains,
374
66
" meters,
77
. . . .
86
Use of bath tubs
29
· ...
... . .
MAINTENANCE.
All services have been kept clean, leaks repaired, gate- boxes renewed and adjusted; all leaks in main pipes have had prompt attention, all hydrants been oiled, painted and
" vacancies,
450
3,13I
192
PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT.
kept free from snow and ice; 140 breaks in main pipes, 17 in street services and 70 in lawn service pipes have been re- paired; 59 services in street and 80 service pipes in the lawn have been cleaned; 12 stand-pipes for street watering erect- ed; 163 service boxes repaired; 33 meters set or reset and 4 hydrants taken out and reset. Each house has been exam- ined, the number and kind of fixtures noted, the name of the owner ascertained and a complete "register" gotten out which will last for three years; all bills and summons made out and delivered.
Every item of expense not directly chargeable to con- struction has been charged to maintenance.
Although the collector collects all water rates, all the in- cidental work is still done in this office and the fact that he receives the money, receipts the bill and keeps the cash ac- count by no means relieves the department of the work for- merly done by the water registrar.
The cost charged to general maintenance, the cost of re- newals together with the work done and the stock account follows:
GENERAL MAINTENANCE.
James W. Riley, salary 13 months, $1,300 00
S. A. Lovejoy, = 2 1/2 208 83
Jas. McTierney, .6 I3 850 00
W. H. Martin,
39 weeks, 682 50
G. B. Leighton, making out water bills, 6 00
Mrs. Stevens,
6. 66 12 00
S. Barker, .. notices, 4 50
Books, printing, paper and stamps, 158 65
Changing office to basement, 164 65
Telephone charges, 51 07
Advertising, . 30 95
Awards for damage by water and injuries, 96 85
Sundry bills, oil, expressage, etc., 130 82
Tools and repairs to same, . · 112 77
Stable, board two horses 13 months, . 477 00
Amount carried forward, $4,286 59
193
PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT.
Amount brought forward, $4,286 59
Shoeing,
50 93
Repairs, harnesses and wagons, · 67 90
Rent of shop, Sanford street, 13 months, 162 50
$4,567 92
REPAIR LEAKS-MAIN PIPES.
Stock, .
.
$507 43
Labor, ,
581 06
Charges by Boston & Maine R. R.,
29 20
$1,117 69
REPAIR SERVICE LEAKS.
Stock,
$79 21
Labor,
228 16
$308 07
CLEANING SERVICE OUTSIDE.
Stock, .
$46 50
Labor, .
214 95
$261 45
CARE OF HYDRANTS.
Stock, .
.
$7 89
Labor, .
116 31
$124 20
REPAIRS-GATES, GATE-BOXES, ETC., AND CARE OF REGULATOR.
Labor, .
$1,319 31
Stock, .
143 41
$1,462 72
INSIDE SERVICES AND CHARGES.
Labor, .
$339 85
Stock, .
.
. . .
625 43
$965 28
Amount carried forward,
$8,807 33
194
PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT.
Amount brought forward, . .
$8,807 33
RENEWALS.
Pipe
Gates
Cost
Street or way.
Total
Length Size No . Size
Stock
Labor
Cottage st .. Eighth st ...
6
4
$ 5.90
$ 2.00 120.44
362.64
Emerson st. ",
26
4
2
8
278.87
69.72
348.59
First st. ...
3
6
4.31
8.45
12.76
Faxon st ....
3
6
6.15
4 00
10.15
Florence av.
3
6
6.90
2.00
8.90
Foster st ...
80
8
80.14
20.49
100.63
Gooch st ...
3
6
.
.
.
. .
8
2
8
3
6
4
6
66
66
36
4
4
4
3,005.67
936.76
3,942.43
Grundy st ..
250
6
·
6
3
6
478.70
206.00
684.70
Larrabee st.
4
6
10.15
4.00
14.15
Lynde st
1,817
6
4
6
1,043.35
436.41
1,479.76
Walnut st ..
200
4
71.70
32.88
104.58
Waverly pl.
688
6
1
6
1
409.53
165.42
574.95
Total . ..
8,163
116,20
44
4
$5,783.96
$2,054.45
7,838 4I
STOCK ACCOUNT.
Am't paid for cast iron pipe and fittings, $6,344 79
" hydrants,
902 50
" gates and gate-boxes, .
727 73
" castings,
282 72
" regulator,
825 00
..
meters, .
308 00
lead and solder,
591 68
" brick laid,
28 80
46
freight, .
58 07
'lead lined pipe and fittings, 857 47
" brass fittings,
782 98
5
6
6.69
2.00
8.69
Grove st.
3,476
· . .
3.50
2.00
5.50
Goss av ....
405
6
242.20
288
8
Hydrants
$ 7.90
..
130.20
41.88
172.08
Hurd st ....
787
66
66
27
4
Amounts carried forward, . $11,709 74 $16,645 74
56
195
PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT.
Amounts brought forward, . $11,709 74 $16,645 74 Am't paid for lead pipe, . 159 44
66 galvanized iron pipe, II 50
" cement, sundries, sewer yard, 71 0I
66
" oil, tools and sundries, 112 58
66 ' labor, includ. inside services, 662 53
$12,726 80
CR.
Stock used on maintenance, $781 75
construction, 8,282 23
" outside services, 283 45
66 labor, inside
services,
965 28
$10,312 71
Balance stock, $2,414 09
Amount carried forward, $19,059 83
CR.
By sundry collections, . . $1,823 95
" stock balance, .
.
2,414 09
" summons,
65 80 4,303 84
Total,
$14,755 99
If from this amount, $ 14,755.99, is deducted $7,838.41, cost of renewals, which in previous years has been charged to construction, it would leave the net cost of maintenance only $6,917.58 (for thirteen months) or less than any year since 1885.
CONSTRUCTION.
There has been little new work done the past season that could be considered purely construction, as the taking out ot cement pipes and substituting iron ones is classified under renewals and is charged to maintenance.
The work done and its cost follows:
196
PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT.
EXTENSIONS.
Pipe
Fixtures
Street or way
Length
feet
Diameter
Gates
inches
Size
Wyoming av.
* $963.00
$ 84.48
$1,047.48
Beech av ...
13
6
1
6
1
57.35
11.94
69,29
Clifton pk :.
162
4
.
. .
58.65
46.57
105.22
Grove st ....
473
8'
1
8
407.85
127.44
535.29
Hurd st ....
580
6
3
6
358.02
155.03
513.05
Lebanon st.
8
6
1
38.42
5.03
43.45
Leeds st ....
215
6
1
6
130.26
91.15
221.41
Lynde st ...
533
6
306.05
257.34
563.39
Perkins st ..
111
6
83.14
40.15
123.29
Potter st ....
181
6
91.39
34.34
125.73
Scattered .
1,038
3/4
.
.
283.45
181.28
464.73
Totals . ...
3,314 5434 6 26 2 $2,777.58 $1,034.75
$3,812.33
*Regulator put in on main line.
RECAPITULATION.
MAINTENANCE-GENERAL.
General,
$4,567 92
Repair leaks main pipes,
1,1I7 69
service pipes, . 308 07
Cleaning outside services, . 261 45
Care hydrants,
124 20
" gate boxes,
1,462 72
inside services, . 965 28
$8,807 33
Renewals, stock,
$5,783 96
labor, .
2,054 45
$7,838 41
Stock balance,
2,414 09
ts
Hydrants
Stock
Labor
Total
- | No.
.
.
Amount carried forward, $19,059 83
197
PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT.
Amount brought forward, $19,059 83
CONSTRUCTION.
Regulator, . $1,047 48
Extensions,
2,300 12
New services,
· 464 73
$3,812 33
Cash balance,
318 24
Total,
$23,190 20
STATEMENT OF RECEIPTS AND EXPENDITURES.
Amount appropriated,
$22,000 00
Receipts,
1,190 20
$23,190 20
Total labor per pay roll, . $8,830 90
١١ invoices per bill book, 14,041 26
- $22,872 16
Treasury balance,
318 04
$23,190 20
SEWER DIVISION.
The work in this division of the public works department has been small in comparison with the amount done in pre- vious years. It has consisted chiefly in making house con- nections, maintaining sewers, dividing sewer assessments and adjusting such matters as were unfinished by the board of sewer commissioners.
SUITS.
The case of Frank L. Allen of Worcester vs. the inhabi-
* NOTE :- Items are not given as they appear elsewhere in this report : the receipts under sundry collections ; invoices under general maintenance and stock account ; labor under general maintenance and labor by streets.
198
PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT.
tants of Melrose has been before an auditor, who has taken all the evidence. The pleas of the attorneys in the case have been submitted and they are now awaiting the result of his finding. Judging from the evidence and the testimony of the experts, Melrose need not fear a large award.
CONTRACTS.
On May 2, 1900, advertisements were inserted in the Bos- ton and New York papers for proposals for furnishing this division with pipe and specials. Nine bids were received and opened May 10, 1900, with the result as shown below:
Canvas of bids for about 27,000 ft. sewer pipe and specials. Amount at list $10,275.76 :
Name of Bidder and Address
Per cent.
off list
Amount of bid
U. S. Clay M'f'g Co., Walter M. Everts, man-
ager, 186 Devonshire street, Boston, .
74 $2,671 70
Waldo Brothers, 102 Milk street, Boston, ·
72 2,877 21
David W. Lewis, 192 Devonshire street, Bos- ton, 65 3,596 52
Harry Stevens, Melrose, Mass., 65
3.596 52
Bryant & Kent, 30 Kilby street, Boston, 65 3,596 52
The H. Wales Lines Co., Meriden, Conn.,
65 3,596 52
Berry & Ferguson, 102 State street, Boston, . 65 3,596 52 W. G. Nash 220 State street, Boston, . 65 3,596 52
Perrin, Seamans & Co., 57 Oliver street, Boston,
62
. 3,904 79
The United States Clay Manufacturing Co., Walter M. Everts manager, 186 Devonshire street, Boston, Mass., were the lowest bidder. This firm and agent, and also quality of goods made by them was unknown to me, therefore I wrote asking them to forward samples of their pipe and also to give the names of any place or parties near Melrose where they had supplied the same. This they failed to do, and after consulting with the mayor, all bids were rejected and a contract made with Berry & Ferguson, 102 State street, Boston, Mass., for the Knowles, Taylor & Anderson pipe. at
199
PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT.
72 per cent. off the manufacturers' list, which is the same brand as all pipe used in the sewer construction, except that purchased in 1894.
Cement was bought of Waldo Brothers and brick of the Bay State Brick Co. Bids were not advertised for on either of these articles as the quantity required of each was so small.
SEWER ASSESSMENTS.
On December 31, 1899, the board of sewer commissioners levied assessments on 179 estates; by law the owners of these estates had until March 1, 1900 to have their accounts apportioned. In the meantime (Jan. I, 1900) Melrose changed from a town to a city, and under the provisions of its charter a board of sewer commissioners was discontinued, and the city solicitor gave as his opinion that the appor- tionment of these accounts might be made either by the mayor or some person authorized by him. Accordingly on March 1, 1900, the mayor authorized the engineer and super- intendent of public works to do this and consequently on March Ist, 104 of these accounts were apportioned and certi- fied to the assessors.
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