USA > Massachusetts > Norfolk County > Norwood > Norwood annual report 1908-1911 > Part 27
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There have been completed six and a half acres of filter beds and nine and four-tenths (9.4) miles of sewers, and the cost will be about $190,000.00. As explained in the report of last year, a change in the location of the filter beds was found to be expedient, this increasing necessarily the cost of the beds in some degree. Some changes in detail in the construction of the beds were also made, the engineers and the Board feeling that as the successful operation of the entire system was abso- lutely dependent on the proper working of the filter beds, these should be made as nearly perfect as possible. In this respect, the Commissioners feel that the engineers have been eminently successful. It is by reason of the underdrains, however, that the principal increase in cost has been incurred. About one and a half miles of underdrain were originally contemplated, but as the various streets were opened up it was found necessary to extend very materially the length of underdrain, so that the total length of underdrain is about six miles. This accounts for the entire increase in cost over the original estimate, but the Board believes that it has been a wise expenditure of money.
The work of construction has been done by three contrac- tors under four separate contracts, three of which have been completed and finally closed. It was the purpose of the Board to see that the work of construction was pushed along without unnecessary delay, not only because it would be to the financial interest of the town, but because less inconvenience and annoy- ance to the citizens generally would result. The town was fortunate in having the contract for the street sewers in the cen- tral portion of the town where so much rock was encountered, undertaken by contractors so thoroughly equipped and so ener- getic as Moore & Co. Their work has been highly satisfactory to the Board. The section constructed by Charles G. Craib & Co., has likewise been put in, in a thorough and satisfactory manner. The Board here desires to record its appreciation of the conscientious and painstaking work of the engineer, Mr. Lewis D. Thorpe, and of the resident engineer, Mr. William F.
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Hunt. Their efforts have, at all times, been directed towards securing for the town the best possible results, and as a monu- ment to their labors, we believe the town has a sewer system which for tightness of its lines and general thoroughness of construction is second to none. For the detail of such con- struction reference is made to the Engineer's Report and these, the citizens of the town are urged to carefully examine.
As Superintendent of Sewers, the Board engaged Mr. Joseph E. Conley, who previously had been in charge of sewer construction work for Mr. McDonough. Mr. Conley is a par- ticularly valuable man to place in charge of the sewer system by reason of his experience in sewer matters and his familiarity with the construction of this system.
RECOMMENDATIONS.
The sewer ought, in the near future, to be extended from Washington street through Winter street and connections made with the High school. It ought, also, to be extended from Washington street through Chapel street as far as the Winslow school. This connection with the High school is estimated to cost $3,540.00, while the Chapel street sewer to the Winslow school is estimated to cost $3,400.00. The school authorities inform us that the cost of taking care of the sewerage by cess- pool at the Winslow school amounts to about $150.00 for the school year. This expenditure would pay the interest charge on the cost of extending the sewer through Chapel street as far as the school, and we recommend that the town authorize the Board to put in this line of sewer on Chapel street and pay for the same out of the sewer treasury. While the problem of the sewage disposal at the High school is not serious as compared with the condition at the Winslow, we recommend that the town vote to put in the sewer from Washington street through Winter and Bullard streets to the High school, and thereby not only take care of the school building, but a considerable number of houses on Winter street, and we believe the cost can be paid
1
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out of the sewer treasury. The financial statement heinafter submitted shows a balance of $16,391.69. The net amount available, however, is about $7,000.00 only, the balance being due or shortly to become due on account of work already done. The two lines of sewer which we have above recommended, we would advise doing provided it can be paid for out of the sewer treasury, and recommend that the Commissioners be authorized to do it with the understanding that it is to be paid for out of the sewer treasury. We recommend that the sum of $2,500.00 be raised and appropriated for maintenance for the present year. Respectfully submitted,
MARCUS M. ALDEN, PATRICK J. LYDON, CLIFFORD B. SANBORN, Sewer Commissioners.
II
FINANCIAL STATEMENT OF SEWER DEPARTMENT.
RECEIPTS.
1908
Feb. 1. Balance in treasury, $22,388 34
Feb. 14. From Merrill, Oldham & Co. from sale of bonds, So,648 S9
Sept. 16. From Estabrook & Co. from sale of bonds, 41,868 00
Sept. 16. Interest on deposit, City Trust Co.,
761 93
Sept. 16. Interest on deposit, Norwood National Bank, 780 00
$146,447 16
EXPENDITURES.
ADMINISTRATION.
M. H. Howard, office table, $ 25 00
A. T. Harriott, book, 75
M. F. Hobbs, painting office,
3 35
John P. Welch, care of office,
26 35
A. B. Curtis, safe,
175 00
Hobbs & Warren Co., files,
5 68
H. J. Pearce, books,
3 00
$239 13
CONSTRUCTION.
FILTER BEDS.
Wm. Ryan, labor, $ 33 89
Boston Bolt Co., supplies,
4 50
John F. Russell, labor,
II 33
12
F. A. Fales & Co., cement,
Geo. E. Sanborn, pipe,
645 75
Central National Bank of Lynn, account of Mc- Donough contract,
12,608 99
J. E. Plimpton & Co., labor and supplies,
27 81
John Nugent, labor,
129 66
H. A. Morse & Co., lumber,
364 76
Chas. H. Douglas, labor,
9 30
Beaver Coal & Grain Co., cement,
179 00
L. M. Ham & Co., supplies,
25 37
N. J. Tuttle, supplies,
$14,516 53
PIPE LINE.
M. McDonough, account of contract,
31 83
R. J. Joyce, cotton cloth,
40 05
John Nugent, labor,
2 00
Mark Flaherty, labor,
6 35
N. Y., N. H. & H. R. R. Co., crossing railroad track, 284 88
12,538 64
G. E. Sanborn, sulphur, supplies, pipe,
1,555 00
F. A. Fales & Co., cement,
2 00
Michael Burke, labor,
2 00
Rhoades Bros., photos,
82 70
Wm. Oakes, labor,
5 00
John Conley, labor,
1,375 17
Fred A. Hartshorn, labor and gravel,
44,605 94
Moore & Co., account of contract,
30,790 21
C. G. Craib & Co., account of contract,
1,467 34
John Fox & Co., iron pipe,
2 22
Festus Lydon, labor,
$1,881 23
H. L. Bond & Co., lead and sulphur,
1,220 8I
N. Y., N. H. & H. R. R. Co., freight,
1,541 90
Merrimac Iron Foundry, castings and iron,
438 82
37 35
13
John Kennedy, labor, I II
M. H. Howard, furring, supplies and labor, 125 49
Eugene Murphy, labor, 3 00
Davis & Farnum Mfg. Co.,
54 38
Patrick McNulty, labor, 10 00
W. D. Huntoon & Co., supplies, 25 03
Jas. Hennessey, labor, 4 00
Central National Bank of Lynn, account of M. McDonough contract, 3,453 55
Norwood Water Dept., water,
153 08.
Joseph Nee, labor, 2 00
M. Gibson, labor,
2 00
John Drummy, labor,
17 50
Albert Clay, labor,
38 61
John Shannon, pipe, 65
$101,325 67
LAND AND LAND DAMAGE.
J. P. Hamlin, for land taking, $ 35 00
John Keohane, for land taking, 200 00
Thomas Johnson, for land taking, 75 00
Jeremiah Donovan, for land taking,
300 00.
G. B. Talbot, heirs, for land taking,
300 00
John Drummy, heirs, for land taking, 25 00
Timothy Keating, for land taking,
25 00
J. M. Hennessey, for land taking, Heirs of Patrick Higgins, for land taking, 50 00
Charles S. Bird, for land taking,
472 80
$1,582 80
ENGINEERING.
Lewis D. Thorpe, services,
$10,000 00
INCIDENTALS.
C. B. Horgan, teams, $ 46 00
100 00
14
Hugh C. Foley, labor,
493 20
J. A. Scherer, posts, 31 25
M. H. Howard, labor and supplies, 86 21
Wm. F. Hunt, pictures,
6 60
Charles H. Douglas, labor and supplies,
33 49
Ambrose Bros., printing,
92 75
Norwood Furniture Co., supplies,
4 35
N. Y., N. H. & H. R. R. Co., freight,
7 93
F. J. Squires, legal services, 38 12
City Trust Co., preparing bond,
140 00
Jos. E. Conley, for pay roll and expense,
38 42
Jos. E. Conley, salary as supt.,
350 00
George E. Sanborn, supplies,
329 19
H. L. Bond & Co., supplies,
142 07
J. F. Russell, labor, 20 00
D. W. Lewis Co., pipe,
212 58
Dalton Ingersoll Mfg. Co., iron pipe,
355 00
W. D. Huntoon & Co., supplies,
9 55
Edson Mfg. Co., pump,
47 25
W. E. Allen, wrench,
3 85
Merrimac Iron Foundry, manhole sets,
175 00
Dyer Supply Co., dynamite,
31 58
John P. Welch, care of office,
30 00
M. J. Drummy, labor,
10 00
Charles Flood, damage to fence,
I 44
Spear & Smith, labor and supplies,
45 30
$2,781 13
RECAPITULATION.
Receipts, $146,447 16
Expenditures :
Administration, $ 239 13
Construction, filter beds,
14,576 53
15
Construction, pipe line,
101,325 67
Land and damage,
1,582 80
Engineering,
10,000 00
Incidentals,
2,781 13
130,445 26
$16,001 90
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PARTICULAR SEWERS.
RECEIPTS.
DEPOSITS IN PAYMENT OF PARTICULAR SEWERS :
$ 59 53
M. M. Alden,
225 60
Mary F. Sumner,
32 36
John Blasenak,
26 97
Martin F. Lyden,
2 00
Mary Savage,
50 89
Clarke S. Gould,
36 10
John Kyne,
29 61
Horace T. Atwood,
13 38
Julia B. Hale,
51 94
Horace T. Atwood,
39 56
J. E. Shaw,
42 70
Mrs. George Allen,
74 54
Julia B. Hale,
887 94
Norwood Press Co.,
45 72
W. Allen Talbot,
58 70
Fred L. Fisher,
57 77
Fred L. Fisher,
36 10
Edna Coburn,
20 SI
Patrick Lydon,
33 0I
John Curran,
32 25
Frank Fales,
19 58
Sanborn Bros. & Grant,
46 38
Est. Edw. J. Shattuck,
24 33
. M. D. Creed,
25 21
) E. P. Tucker,
25 43
E. H. Grant,
63 27
James A. Pendergast,
36 54
Harold W. Gay,
24 00.
Harold W. Gay,
·
I7
Odd Fellows, Robert Wallace, Tachtig
$ 27 63
41 49
Rev. T. J. MacCormack,
1,114 16,
$3,305 50.
EXPENDITURES.
LABOR ACCOUNT.
Joseph E. Conley, account pay roll,
$2,274 90'
John Nugent, labor,
15 63
Spear & Smith, labor,
109 98
Geo. A. Smith, surveying,
31 00
$2,431 51
SUPPLIES AND INCIDENTALS.
T. B. Mulvehill, teams, $94 00
H. L. Bond Co., tripod and blocks, 22 51
C. G. Craib & Co., supplies, 79 40%
L. G. Marston, expressage,
2 80
Beaver Coal & Grain Co., coal,
2 12"
Geo. E. Sanborn, supplies,
23 16.
Coffin Valve Co., valve,
8 00
W. D. Huntoon & Co., supplies,
3 42
Edson Mfg. Co., diaphragms,
5 40%-
$240 81
BALANCE OF ESTIMATE OVER ACTUAL COST OF PARTICULAR SEWER RETURNED.
C. S. Gould,
$ 4 3I
Mrs. Geo. Allen, 1
3 98 **
John Blasenak,
6 24
John Kyne,
13 22
Martin J. Lydon,
5 80
H. T. Atwood,
2 17
·
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$34 07
M. M. Alden,
2 OS
John E. Shaw,
67 30
Mary F. Sumner,
3 60
P. J. Lydon,
2 00
H. T. Atwood,
3 16
M. D. Creed,
2 87
John Curran,
2 OI
W. Allen Talbot,
1 17
Fred L. Fisher,
I 89
Fred L. Fisher,
2 22
E. H. Grant,
2 00
Julia Hale,
8 87
Julia Hale,
02
E. P. Tucker,
oS
Edna Coburn,
58 31
Norwood Press Co.,
74
Jas. A. Pendergast,
2 00
Harold W. Gay,
79
Harold W. Gay,
24
Est. E. J. Shattuck,
35
F. A. Fales,
II
90
Robert Wallace,
$243 39
RECAPITULATION.
$3,305 50 $3,305 50
Receipts,
Expenditures,
2,431 51
Labor,
240 SI
Supplies,
243 39
Money returned as rebates,
2,915 71
Balance on hand, $389 79
Total amount in Sewer treasury February 1, 1909, $16,391 69
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We hereby certify that we have examined the accounts of the Board of Sewer Commissioners and find the same correctly stated.
JAMES E. PENDERGAST, ELTON O. CLARK, FRED A. SMITH,
Auditors.
February 2, 1909.
STOCK AND SUPPLIES ON HAND.
Vitrified pipe and fittings,
$1,312 00
Iron pipe and fittings,
886 00
Tools and supplies,
482 00
Tool house,
125 00
$2,805 00
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REPORT OF SUPERINTENDENT.
To the Board of Sewer Commissioners, Norwood, Mass. Gentlemen :
By direction of your board I herewith present my first re- port as Superintendent of Sewers.
On Oct. 15, 1908, you honored me with the appointment as your superintendent. Upon assuming charge of the depart- ment a thorough flushing was given the entire system and this necessary work will be continued from time to time as deemed advisable. A complete equipment of tools and supplies were purchased for the construction of Particular Sewers, operations on which began early in November, 1908.
CONSTRUCTION.
Since beginning operations 31 connections have been made,. a total of 3086 ft. of sewer and underdrain pipe being laid, seven brick man holes and four brick underdrain traps. Twenty-nine were ordinary house connections, with an average cost of 69 cents per foot ; the other two, St. Catherines' church and Norwood Press, should be classed as regular Sewer Con- struction, larger pipe being laid, six man holes and one under- drain trap built ; also 162 cubic yards of rock excavation.
ENTRANCE CHARGES.
The cost of entering will vary according to local conditions,. such as depth of trench, nature of material to be removed whether ledge, water or quicksand. All materials are purchas- ed by the board at the lowest possible price and sold to the citizen at cost. The labor is the best that can be procured and is charged according to time taken on making connection.
FILTER BEDS.
The houses at present connected furnish sufficient sewerage-
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to operate the Automatic Syphons at filter beds twice a week. Two beds are being dosed alternately and with the excellent work of syphons are giving complete satisfaction. By a small amount of labor in the spring, repairing a few washouts on embankments, the Norwood Filter Beds will be in perfect condition.
Respectfully, JOSEPH E. CONLEY.
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REPORT OF HARRISON B. EDDY, CONSULTING ENGINEER.
Messrs. M. M. Alden, C. B. Sanborn and P. J. Lydon, Sewer Commissioners of the Town of Norwood.
February 9, 1908.
Gentlemen :
At the request of your Engineer, Mr. Lewis D. Thorpelof Boston, I present the following report upon the sewerage system and disposal plant which have been constructed under his direc- tion for the Town of Norwood :
One of the most important duties of a municipality, is to provide an adequate sewerage system and modern advances in sanitation require that in very many cases the sewage collected by suclı a system shall be purified before it is discharged into rivers. The first important step taken by the Town of Nor- wood toward securing a sewerage system, was to secure the services of the late Freeman C. Coffin, to investigate the needs of the town and draw up a general plan for sewerage. Early in 1907 the services of Mr. Lewis D. Thorpe were engaged for the review of the preliminary plans and estimates, the design of the sewer system and the direction of its construction. The work authorized by the town, known as "Proposition Number 3," has been completed and is the subject of this report.
The sewer system has been constructed in substantial ac- cord with the preliminary plans, although a number of slight alterations have been made. As built it provides only for sewage and its success, as well as that of the sewage disposal plant, is largely dependent upon the exclusion of ground water and of surface water. Water from these sources is not serious- ly polluted and does not under ordinary conditions-especially such conditions as exist in the Town of Norwood-require puri- fication before its discharge into available rivers. It is, there-
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fore, more economical to collect it by means of separate con- duits and discharge it into water courses at convenient points. The town has not thus far developed to the extent which makes necessary the construction of a complicated system of surface drainage and for the most part the water is disposed of by means of natural surface channels.
About eight miles of sewers, available for house connec- tions, have been laid and serve that portion of the town most urgently in need of sewerage. The territory thus far provided for, however, constitutes only about one-third of that portion of the town for which sewerage is eminently desirable. It is to be expected that the benefits derived from sewerage, will be ex- tended to the balance of the thickly populated districts as soon as the necessary funds are available.
In the excavation for sewers, rock was encountered in nearly every street. While this was not unexpected, it did re- sult in making the excavation very expensive. The careful and skilful work of the contractors prevented any serious damage to property, and it is a satisfaction to note that no employees were injured during the construction of the system.
The geological formation in Norwood is such that large quantities of ground water are held in pockets in the rock and run through the crevices in the various ledges. This under- ground water was encountered throughout the town and requir- ed an extensive system of underdrainage to permit of satisfactory workmanship in the laying of the pipe sewers. About six and one-half miles of underdrains were laid below the sewer system, at a cost of about $24,000. The town is fortunate, however, in being so situated that these underdrains can be allowed to discharge freely into various water courses, so that the under- drains are useful in reducing the elevation of the ground water, after the completion of the sewers, as well as during the time of their construction.
Every effort was made to secure first-class workmanship on the part of the contractors and by the use of the sulphur-sand
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joints and the construction of underdrains with permanent out- lets, to reduce to a minimum the amount of leakage of ground water into the sewer system. Your Engineers were enabled to make measurements of the amount of leakage into the sewers before any house connections had been made, and it was found that the ground water collected amounted to but 12,000 gallons per 24 hours, which is equivalent to 1,500 gallons per mile of sewer constructed. This result is exceedingly satisfactory and worthy of high commendation, and the importance of this item will be realized when it is remembered that the size of the indi- vidual sewers is dependent, to large extent, upon the amount of ground water collected by them, that the amount of filtration area is more or less dependent upon the amount of ground water contained in the sewage, and that the expense of operation of a disposal plant is influenced by surplus volume due to leakage. In this connection, it may not be out of place to present the fol- lowing table, which shows the amount of leakage which has been found to exist in various local sewerage systems :
LEAKAGE OF GROUND WATER INTO SEWERS.
Locality
Gals. per day per mile of sewer
Extent of
Date
Brockton
45,000
2,000 ft,
about 1893
Brockton .
61,000
10,400 ft. *
about 1893
Brockton
178,000
10,400 ft. į
about 1893
Concord
30,000
whole system
1899
Framingham
35,000
whole system
1899
Gardner.
45,000
whole system
1898
Malden
50,000
whole system
?
Marlboro
50,000
whole system
1898
Medfield
25,000
whole systemf
1886
Metropolitan Sewerage System . ..
40,000
137 miles¿
prev. to 1890
Natick
80,000-100,000
8.58 miles
1898
North Brookfield
24,000
1.41 miles
Sept. 8-9, 1898
Westboro
1,072,000
3,010 ft.
April 3-4, 1899
* Water in river low.
Water in river high.
+ Before house connections were made.
§ Before any connections were made.
NOTE-Above figures are taken from published reports of the Massachusetts State Board of Health, except that data for Malden is taken from Engineering News, August 27, 1903, and for Concord from report of Sewer Commissioners of Concord for 1900.
system
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From the foregoing table, it can be readily seen that the amount of leakage per mile of sewer built has frequently ex- ceeded 40,000 gallons daily, and that the amount of leakage at Norwood-namely, 1,500 gallons-is insignificant. This result obtained under exceedingly unfavorable conditions, is certainly indicative of good workmanship.
One feature of the sewerage system which is worthy of note is the use of sulphur and sand in the making of the pipe joints. While this method has been adopted in a few places, as for example, in the city of Newton, Mass., and upon the Joint Trunk Sewer System in the valley of the Rahway and Eliza- beth rivers, New Jersey ; it is comparatively new and was adopted by your engineer only after a very careful study of its use in other places. At first some little difficulty was experi- enced in the manipulation of this material, but the obstacles in the way of success were soon removed and most satisfactory re- sults were obtained throughout the system. Flour of sulphur was mixed with very fine sand in nearly equal proportions. In some cases an excess of sand, amounting to 25 per cent. was found to slightly improve the mixture, rendering it somewhat thicker and less likely to run out of the joint through very small spaces between the packing and the pipe.
The sand and sulphur were mixed cold and heated in an iron kettle supported upon a gasolene furnace. The gasolene furnace was found to be superior to other means of heating the mixture, because of the ease with which the temperature could be regulated. This is an important feature because the mixture of sand and sulphur when heated becomes plastic and is not thin enough to pour until it has reached a certain tempera- ture. If the temperature of the mixture is raised above this point, the sand and sulphur again becomes stiff and plastic, is no longer suitable for pouring, and is very likely to burn. It, therefore, becomes necessary to maintain the temperature of the jointing material at a certain definite point, comparatively slight variations only being permissible. With a little practise a man
26
of ordinary intelligence can learn to handle the material skil- fully and when so handled, it has proved to make a very satis- factory joint. In the future work to be done by the town, it would seem to be highly desirable that the use of this material for making joints should be continued.
At the present time, comparatively few houses have been connected with the sewers, although this number will probably be greatly increased during the coming year. In the making of house connections, the utmost care should be exercised to se- cure water tight joints. The construction of the sewer system has proved that such joints can be made, but the benefits accru- ing from the work thus far done can easily be off-set by careless workmanship in the making of the joints of particular sewers. Such work should be subject to constant and critical inspection and any connections which are not properly made should be taken up and re-laid.
For the most part the sewers are laid with very good grades and should be self-cleansing throughout such portions as are pro- vided with a substantial flow of sewage. It is desirable that the upper ends of the various laterals should be flushed from time to time, and manholes have been provided at the various "dead ends" for the purpose of flushing. These manholes have not yet been connected with the water system, but such connections should be made at an early date. The amount of water used for flushing need not, and should not be large, but the sewers should be frequently and regularly inspected, and such water as is necessary for their proper cleansing should be used.
Ventilation has very wisely been provided by means of the various house connections which are laid, or are to be laid, with- out running traps, thus each stack provides free communication between the air of the sewer and the outside atmosphere. It has been found in a number of cases where the experiment has been tried, that the air of our sewers is less foul than that overlying our city streets. With a system as well designed and carefully constructed as is that in Norwood, the air in the sewers should be-
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of excellent quality and no fear need be entertained of unpleasant or unsanitary conditions resulting from the sewer system, or house connections as designed and constructed. The manhole covers have been provided with very few small perforations. While such means of aiding ventilation is not universal and is open to the objection that some surface water may find its way into the sewers, it is believed that the number and size of holes has been so regulated as to secure whatever benefit may be de- rived by way of ventilation, without the danger of the admission to the sewers of a material amount of surface water.
The only other feature of the sewer system which is at all unusual, is the cast iron inverted siphon which conveys the sew- erage under the Neponset river at a point near the Ink works. This siphon is 16 inches in diameter and about 3900 feet in length. The lowest point in the siphon is 14.3 feet lower than its outlet. In commenting upon this siphon, I can do no better than to quote from my report of February 8, 1908, as follows :
"Inverted siphons have been in use for conveying sewage for many years and have been entirely successful. This siphon is, therefore, not an experiment and no fear need be entertained of its failure to operate with perfect satisfaction. If, through any accident, the siphon should become clogged, provision has been made for drawing off the sewage at the lowest point, and a manhole has been constructed so that inspection will be rendered comparatively easy. The capacity of the siphon is sufficient for present and future needs of the town for many years to come."
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