USA > Massachusetts > Norfolk County > Norwood > Norwood annual report 1911-1914 > Part 52
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L. D. Thorpe, Balance due,
$432.99
Power Equipment Co.,
217.50
$650.49
*$68,648.56
* On account of the remodelling of the Municipal Building the department was obliged to seek accommodations for their horse and wagon, and room was found at the Central Fire Station where the horse is now boarded.
Co E M
283
Drains.
A Main Drain consisting of 506 ft. of fifteen inch (15 inch) pipe, 1614 ft. of eighteen inch (18 inch) pipe and 1175 ft. of open drain, was constructed on Winter St. from the corner of Bellevue Ave. through the Everett Heights properties to Pine Swamp. This drain was laid with open joints and when the laterals are connected it will take care of this entire section.
The Main Drains under the supervision of this Department have been cleaned at various times during the year and at present are in good condition.
Statement.
Appropriation, Main Drains, $300.00
Appropriation, Bellevue Ave. Drain, $1,200.00
Received from H. W. Rhodes acct.
Bellevue Ave. Drain,
1,200.00
$2,400.00
$2,700.00
Expenditures,
Bellevue Ave. Drain,
Labor and Teams,
$1,082.82
Pipe, etc.,
1,105.43
Engineering,
111.75
Land Damages,
85.00
Cash Balance,
15.00
$2,400.00
Main Drains,
Monroe St., Labor and team, 15.70
Winslow Ave., Labor
and team,
18.00
Pipe, etc., 20.53
Concord Ave., Labor, 2.50
Everett Pasture Drain, labor, 85.25
Market Street, Labor, 60.85
Pipe etc., 97.17
$300.00
$2,700.00
SEWER EXTENSIONS, 1913
Pumping District
Length of Sewer
Length of Underdrain
Labor and Teams
Materials Engin'ering
Insurance
Total Cost
Austin Street,
1019.34 ft
1019.34 ft.
665.97
404.76
107.07
71.50
1249.30
Concord Ave.,
1396.50 ft.
1018.00 ft.
832.45
528.09
136.06
87.82
1584.42
Dean St. Wash-Pond,
353.30 ft.
358.71
117.81
47.65
33.43
557.60
Dean St. Pleasant-Pond
1242.80 ft.
7136.77
1946.84
908.36
687.20
10679.17
Hartford Street,
273.91 ft.
145.00 ft.
177.00
135.33
31.23
26.36
369.92
Heaton Ave.
477.10 ft.
473.00 ft.
312.25
173.83
48.61
29.23
563.92
Pleasant Street,
654.81 ft.
137.00 ft.
1347.91
527.83
187.57
130.36
2193.67
Pond Ave.,
993.85 ft.
5924.47
1721.66
764.61
577.17
8987.91
St. George Ave.,
581.40 ft.
706.40 ft.
1188.95
692.88
188.18
179.12
2249.13
Sturtevant Ave.,
447.17 ft.
444.00 ft.
291.30
181.04
47.24
37.28
556.86
Tremont Street,
1267.00 ft.
897.00 ft.
1027.60
482.89
151.05
106.40
1767.94
Washington Street, North, South
925.20 ft.
840.81 ft.
966.38 ft.
966.38 ft.
1854.17
1507.23
336.14
123.74
3821.28
10598.76 ft.
6646.93 ft.
21117.55
8420.19
2953.77
2089.61
34581.12
Pumping Station Filter Beds,
4768.65
9716.82
1405.73
449.07
16340.27
8285.70
2804.46
1065.55
157.35
12313.06
63234.45
Gravity System,
Phillips Ave.,
845.50 ft. 1351.90 ft.
382.00 ft. 1352.00 ft. 475.00 ft.
845.50 1866.60
280.36
112.58
71.46
1309.90
Walpole Street,
848.38
271.50
165.13
3151.61
Hoyle Street,
514.20 ft.
941.74
296.92
123.86
85.87
1448.39
2711.60 ft.
2209.00 ft.
3653.84
1425.66
507.94
322.46
5909.90
.
284
285
Maintenance. .
The street sewers have been scraped and cleaned and four house connections were cleared of obstructions.
On Hoyle and Washington Streets the underdrains were blocked by the growth of roots of trees and same were cleared.
1
The sludge and dosing tank has been cleaned regularly and a large amount of sludge disposed of.
The tops of the Beds were scraped and harrowed and at present are in good condition. -
Statement.
Appropriation,
Appropriation,
$2,950.00 400.00
$3,350.00
Rec'd fr. Water Dept, Sale of Truck (1-2 share),
75.00
Rec'd fr. T. E. Wellington, clean- ing sewer,
2.50
Rec'd fr. C. H. Carter, cleaning sewer
13.50
Rec'd fr. Winslow Bros. &. Smith,
cleaning sewer,
7.25
Rec'd fr. D. Nalia, Rubber Boots,
4.00
Rec'd fr. Norwood Auto Sta. Clean- ing Sewer,
1.10
105.85
Rec'd fr. Lost Pay-Checks,
2.50
$3,155.85
Expenditures,
$3,481.66
Cr., Refund by J. E. Conley acct. cash
50.00
3,431.66
Balance on hand,
$24.19
Stock on Hand.
Pipe, Fittings and Tools,
$1,212.84
Tool House,
125.00
Office Furniture,
350.00
286
Share in Horse and Harness,
Share in Automobile,
$150.00 175.00
$2,012.84
Respectfully, JOSEPH E. CONLEY, Superintendent.
Boston, Mass., Dec. 29, 1913.
Board of Sewer Commissioners, Norwood, Mass.
Gentlemen :- I submit the following brief report upon the construction of the sewerage system in the pumping section known as the Pleasant Street district.
Location of District.
The section from which the sewage must be pumped comprises practically all of the area North of Hawes Brook East of the Midland division of the N. H. R. R., and Lenox St., and South of Cross Street. This portion of the town lays at an elevation so low that the sewage cannot be delivered by gravity to the filters. In order to collect the sewage from this area an under- ground reservoir was constructed into which the sewage flows by gravity from the above described section. From the reser- voir it is pumped into the 16-inch cast iron syphon where it becomes mixed with the sewage from the gravity system and flows to the filtration area.
Sewers.
The main or intercepting sewer begins at the storage reservoir and runs through Pleasant St. to Dean St. thence up Dean St. to Pond and through Pond to St. George Ave. The pipe is laid at an elevation low enough to allow of continuing South through private land to Short St. and will provide for Short St. and the proposed streets East of Washington St. and North of
287
Short. That portion of Washington St. between Concord Ave. and Short St. will also drain into this Section.
This sewer is 15 inches in diameter and has a capacity when running full of 1400 gallons per minute. Beginning at Pond Ave. a 12 inch sewer was laid in St. George Ave. to Washington St. The main sewer in Washington St. from St. George Ave. to Concord Ave. is 12 inches in diameter. North of St. George Ave. the sewer is 10 inches in diameter for a distance of 598 feet and the remainder or 327 feet is 8 inches. The Main sewer in Washington St. will collect all of the sewage from that portion of the district lying North of Hawes Brook, South of Dean St. and East of the Midland Division of the N. Y., N. H., R.R.
Lateral Sewers.
Lateral sewers were laid in the following streets,-
Concord Ave. from Washington St. to R. R. property.
Tremont St. from Washington St. to R. R. property. Austin St. from Washington St. to R. R. property.
Hartford St. from Austin St. to end.
Heaton Ave. from Pond Ave. to Washington.
Sturtevant Ave. from Pond Ave. to Washington.
Dean St. from Pond Ave. near Washington.
Permanent Underdrains.
Considering the fact that all of the sewage and ground water which finds its way into the sewers in this section must be pumped as well as filtered it was thought advisable to construct perma- nent underdrains under the sewers wherever it was possible to secure a free outlet. These drains collect the ground water which would otherwise surround the sewer pipe and conveys it to the outlet.
The surveys determined that a system of underdrains could be constructed which would provide for the ground water in all of the section lying West of and including Washington Street.
The outlet for the drain is at a point near the junction of St.
288
George Ave. and the extension of Pond Ave. From this outlet the water flows through an open trench to the Neponset River.
The following table shows the streets in which underdrains were laid, also length and size,-
Washington St. north of St. George Ave., 243 feet of 8 inch Washington St., north of St. George Ave. Washington St., south of St. George Ave., 598 feet of 6 inch 966 feet of 8 inch 1018 feet of 6 inch 897 feet of 6 inch 1019 feet of 6 inch
Concord Ave. Tremont St., Austin St., Hartford St., St. George Ave.,
145 feet of 6 inch
581 feet of 8 inch
5467 feet
Underdrains were also laid in Sturtevant and Heaton Avenues from Pond Ave. to Washington. These drains connect with a drain in Pond Ave. beginning at Sturtevant Ave. and running over the Main sewer in Pond Ave. to Heaton Ave. at which point it ends. At present this underdrain does not have a free dis- charge. In order to provide an outlet for this drain it will either be necessary to deepen the town brook (which flows across Pond Ave.) for a distance of about 350 feet and discharge the underdrain into it, or to lay a pipe from the end of the present underdrain through the valley of the brook to a point near the Neponset River.
It would in my opinion be better to excavate a trench in the bed of the brook and lay a 24-inch vitrified pipe drain at a grade low enough to allow of connecting the underdrain. The flow of the brook together with the ground water from the entire section would thus be provided for. This would also drain the small swamp lying East of Pond Ave. and would materially improve the surface conditions in this section.
Collecting Reservoir.
The collecting reservoir is located at a point just North of the Neponset River, and West of Pleasant St. The reservoir is
289
entirely underground and at an elevation low enough to allow the sewage from the entire pumping section to flow into it by gravity.
The 15-inch intercepting sewer in Pleasant St. discharged into a chamber located near the reservoir.
This chamber is connected to the reservoir by two pipes both of which are provided with sluice gates. One pipe leads directly into the main reservoir, and the other into the screen or suction chamber. The screen chamber is located at the end of the reser- voir and is connected to the reservoir by two openings, each of which is provided with shear gates. The sewage from the reser- voir flows through these openings, thence through wrought iron racks or screens to the suction chamber, from which it is pumped to the filters.
When it becomes necessary to clean the reservoir, the sewage can be turned directly into the screen chamber and pumped from there.
The reservoir is 92 feet, 6 inches long by 25 feet wide, inside measurement, and 6 feet, 3 inches in depth from the spring line of the roof.
The total capacity is 130,000 gallons.
All of the construction is of concrete. The roof is eliptical groined arch construction, supported by walls and center piers. The walls are two feet thick at the spring line and batter on the outside to a thickness of three feet at the bottom. The roof is six inches thick at the crown.
Three manholes are located in the roof, thus making the reser- voir easy of access. The reservoir and screen chamber are ventilated through a brick chimney or stack.
Pumping Machinery.
The pumping machinery consists of two sets of Vertical Submerged Centrifugal Suction Pumps. Each pump is di- rectly connected by means of a shaft to a ten horse power ver- tical General Electric motor.
The pumps are located in a dry well or chamber which is
290
adjacent to the rack or suction chamber, thus making them easy of access, should they at any time need repairs.
The motors are located directly over the pumps in a small brick building which is constructed over the rack and pump wells. The pumps have 4-inch suctions and each has a capacity when running at its normal speed, or 650 revolutions, of 700 gallons per minute.
The motors are so arranged that they will start and stop auto- matically when the sewage in the reservoir reaches certain levels, and can be adjusted to start and stop at any height desired. This is accomplished by means of floats which are located in the rack or suction chamber. These floats are connected to switches which throw in or out as the sewage raises or lowers in the reservoir. The pumps can be run independent or together as desired. The machinery is simple to operate and does not re- quire the services of a skilled engineer.
The entire contract for the pumping machinery was awarded to the Power Equipment Company of Boston. This contract included furnishing and erecting all of the electric equipment, pumps, piping, gates, etc., inside of the station complete and ready for use.
Efficiency of Pumping Plant.
The contractor guaranteed an efficiency of the complete plant of 34 per cent. On the acceptance test made December 27th, an efficiency of 45 per cent was obtained in one unit and 42 per cent in the other. During the test, the average amount of sewage pumped per K. W. H. was 7340 gallons, and the total K. W.'s per hour used in pumping was 8.75.
Additional Filter Beds.
The filtration area constructed in 1907 was composed of six beds having a total area of 6.45 acres.
The average daily flow of sewage from that portion of the gravity system already constructed is approximately 450,000 gallons or about 69,000 gallons per acre per day. With the
291
quality of sewage treated, good results cannot be obtained if the quantity exceeds 75,000 gallons per day.
This amount will undoubtedly be reached from the gravity system alone within a short period.
In order to provide for the pumping section, and the con- stantly increasing flow from the gravity section, it was necessary to construct additional beds. Four beds having a total area of 5.25 acres were located adjacent to, and to the South of the present beds.
The work done on the beds during the past season, consisted of stripping all loam and subsoil from the entire area, building embankments, laying underdrains and main carrier pipes.
In order to complete the beds, it will be necessary to grade them with sand filling. This will require about 8900 cubic yards, or an average of 1.2 feet over the entire area.
This filling is necessary on account of the low elevation of the beds. Concrete distributors will be constructed similar to those in the present beds.
When the beds are completed, they will be used in connection with the present beds.
The new area is composed of excellent material for filtration purposes, and will undoubtedly give excellent results.
Distributing System.
The main embankment through which the distributing pipes are laid is a continuation of the embankment in the original or present layout.
Two beds are located on the easterly side and two on the westerly side.
Two 20 inch distributing pipes are laid in this embankment. Manholes are located opposite the centre of each pair of beds. Each manhole contains two 12-inch shear gates, which control the pipes through which the sewage is admitted to the beds.
Underdrains.
The main collecting underdrain is 15 inches in diameter, and
292
is a continuation of the drain in the present beds. The lateral underdrains are 8 inches in diameter; they are laid 36 feet apart. on centers, and six drains pass through each bed.
The underdrains are of vitrified pipe, and are entirely sur- rounded throughout their length with layers of screened gravel of two sizes.
The drains are laid with a uniform slope from the upper end of one inch in 100 feet. The depth below the surface when the beds are completed will be from 4 1-2 to 5 feet invert measure- ment. The flat grade at which the drains were laid was made necessary on account of the low elevation of the beds.
The effluent from the filters will discharge into the Neponset. River through the present twenty inch outlet.
The total filtration area, or 11.70 acres will provide for approximately 850,000 gallons of sewage per day.
Material Excavated from Beds.
The total amount of loam and subsoil removed from the new area was 21,500 cubic yards.
In addition to this, 2500 cubic yards were excavated for the underdrain trenches.
A portion of the work done during the past season was ex- tremely difficult. The main line or intercepting sewer running from the reservoir to St. George Ave. was laid at a depth of from 8 to 17 feet below the surface, and in the bottom of the trench, water and fine running sand was encountered throughout the entire distance.
Owing to the depth of the sewer, it was impossible to construct a permanent underdrain which would have a free outlet. It was therefore necessary to keep a steam pump running practi- cally all of the time.
The material was of such nature that it was also necessary to close sheet the trench from a point about 200 feet east of the railroad bridge over Dean St. to the junction of Pond St. and St. George Avenue.
In order to secure the pipe and keep it from settling or crush-
293
ing, it was necessary to excavate to a depth of about six inches below the grade and fill with gravel on top of which concrete was placed and the pipe bedded in it. The gravel for filling, and sand and gravel for the concrete was found along the banks of the trench. The cost of this portion of the work was materially increased, due to cement and lumber used, pumping water and extra labor.
The sewer through its entire length from the reservoir to St. George Ave. is laid at a depth of from 2 to 6 feet below the sur- face of the water in the Neponset River. Owing to the water bearing nature of the material, the ground water stands from 3 to 7 or 8 feet above the top of the pipe.
As before stated, all of the ground water which finds its way into the sewer, must be pumped, therefore effort was made to exclude leakage as far as possible.
The entire work of construction, with the exception of the pumping station, was done on a day basis under the direction of the Superintendent of the Department.
The contract for the pumping station was awarded to the M. W. Allen Construction Company of Walpole.
The system was put in operation about the first of December, since which time it has been in use.
. The following table shows the size and length of sewers in each street, also length of underdrains, number of manholes and cubic yards of earth and rock excavation.
Respectfully submitted,
LEWIS D. THORPE.
FORTY-SECOND ANNUAL REPORT
OF THE
PUBLIC SCHOOLS
OF
NORWOOD, MASSACHUSETTS
FOR THE
YEAR ENDING JANUARY 31st, 1914
297
ORGANIZATION, 1913-1914.
School Committee.
Harriet W. Lane, 296 Walpole street, term expires, March, 1914.
Ralph E. Bullard, 92 Walpole street, term expires March, 1914.
Alfred N. Ambrose, 12 Vernon street, term expires, March, 1915.
Sarah N. Bigelow, 219 Winter street, term expires March, 1915.
George H. Smith, 193 Walpole street, term expires March, 1916.
Cornelius M. Callahan, 23 Railroad avenue, term expires March, 1916.
George H. Smith, Chairman.
Mary D. Taylor, Clerk.
Standing Committees.
Schoolbooks and supplies-Mr. Smith, Mr. Callahan, Mrs. Bigelow.
Finance, accounts 'and claims-Mr. Callahan, Mr. Ambrose, Mr. Bullard.
Janitors, schoolhouses and grounds-Mr. Ambrose, Mr. Smith, Mrs. Lane.
Fuel-Mr. Bullard, Mr. Callahan, Mr. Ambrose.
Committee Meetings.
The regular monthly meeting of the School Committee is held at the School Committee rooms, 22 Sanborn Block at 8 p. m. on the first Thursday of each month.
298
Superintendent of Schools.
Austin H. Fittz, 11 Grant avenue.
Telephone number, Norwood 367 M.
The office of the superintendent is at 22 Sanborn Block. His office is open from 8 a. m. until 11.45 a. m. and from 1.15 p. m. until 5 p. m. on school days; and from 8 a. m. until 11.45 a. m. on Saturdays.
Telephone number, Norwood 133.
-
/
299
SCHOOL CALENDAR.
1913-1914.
1
Winter Term.
First half: Tuesday, December 30 to Friday, February 20. Second half: Monday, March 2 to Friday, April 24.
Spring Term.
Monday, May 4 to Friday, June 19.
Fall Term.
Wednesday, September 9 to Friday, December 18.
1914-1915. Winter Term.
First half: Tuesday, December 29 to Friday, February 19.
Second half: Monday, March 1 to Friday, April 23.
Holidays.
October 12, Thanskgiving Day and the following Friday, Good Friday, April 19, May 30, June 17.
No Session Signals.
The hours at which the signals will be given for no session of the schools in stormy weather are at 7.15, 8, and 8.20 a. m .; 12.30 and 12.50 p. m.
300
A signal at 7.15 a. m. indicates no forenoon session of any schools.
A signal at 8 a. m. indicates no forenoon session of any grades below the High School.
A signal at 8.20 a. m. indicates that there will be a forenoon session in all the schools except the primary grades, (first three grades).
A signal at 12.30 p. m. indicates no afternoon session of any schools.
A signal at 12.50 p. m. indicates that there will be an after- noon session in all the schools except the three primary grades.
A signal at 6.40 p. m. indicates no session of the evening school.
301
REPORT OF THE SCHOOL COMMITTEE AND SUPERINTENDENT.
Extract from the records of the School Committee of Nor- wood:
Voted, to adopt the report of the superintendent of schools for the year ending January 31, 1914, as the annual report of the Committee.
Mary D. Taylor, Clerk.
To the School Committee of Norwood:
I submit herewith the report of the superintendent of schools for the year ending, January 31, 1914.
Receipts and Expenditures.
Receipts.
Appropriations (exclusive of appropriations for
transportation of pupils and evening school), Tuition,
$64,650.00
384.05
Sale of schoolbooks and supplies,
15.33
Sale of incidentals,
7.20
Expenditures.
Teachers,
$44,355.52
Janitors and sweepers,
4,135.85
Schoolbooks and supplies,
4,685.12
Incidentals and repairs,
8,609.39
Heating and lighting,
3,070.60
School physician,
200.00
$65,056.48
.10
Balance,
$65,056.58
302
Transportation of Pupils.
Note. The Statutes of Massachusetts require that, " Every town shall provide and maintain a sufficient number of school- houses,-conveniently located for the accommodation of all children therein who are entitled to attend the public schools." Because of this requirement it is the legal duty of the School Committee to provide transportation for a child who lives at such a distance from the school he attends that he cannot reas- onably be expected to walk. Under the rules of the School Committee of Norwood any child in the first six grades who lives a mile or more from the school he attends is given two car tickets for each day he attends school. A pupil in the grades above the sixth who lives a mile and a quarter or over is given two tickets a day. A pupil in the high school who lives between a mile and a quarter and a mile and a half is given one ticket a day; and over a mile and a half, two tickets a day.
Receipts.
Appropriation,
Sale of school tickets,
$1,200.00 73.38
$1,273.38
Expended,
1,049.75
Balance,
$223.63
Evening School.
Note. Extract from Statutes of Massachusetts: "Any town may, and every-town of ten thousand or more inhabitants shall, maintain-evening schools."
Receipts.
Appropriation, Sale of books, 13.75
$3,000.00
$3,013.75
303
Expenditures.
Teachers,
$1,648.00
Janitors,
144.00
Schoolbooks and supplies,
720.54
Incidentals and repairs,
318.05
Heating and lighting,
61.84
$2,892.43
Balance,
$121.32
Unpaid Bills.
The School Committee has rendered to the Town Accountant a statement of unpaid bills to the amount of $693.35. These bills remain unpaid because in the fall the School Committee under- stood that the fiscal year would end December 31, 1913, and so planned to meet the expenses incident to occupying the New Balch School by using the balance that would result from this shortening of the fiscal year. The Committee spent $4,805.95 for these expenses and on December 31 the appropriation was practically exhausted. It then transpired that the fiscal year would not end until January 31, 1914, and the town was asked for an additional appropriation of $5,300. This appropriation was secured to pay the salaries of teachers and janitors for the month of January and was insufficient to meet other bills neces- sarily contracted during that month.
Efficiency of the Schools.
The efficiency of the schools is determined in the main by five considerations :
1. By the organization of the schools.
2. By the buildings and equipment.
3. By the program of studies.
4. By the quality of the teaching.
5. By the cooperation of the public.
The Organization of the Schools.
The aim of the work of the schools is to develop in each child
304
the fullest self-realization of which he is capable. It follows therefore, that if a teacher is given too many pupils she cannot do efficient work. For this reason educators are generally agreed that forty pupils are too many for one teacher. If we judge the efficiency of the schools of Norwood by this standard we find that of the forty-six regular classrooms below the high school, sixteen are occupied by classes of forty pupils or more, twenty-one by classes of between thirty and forty, and nine by classes of less than thirty.
With the accommodations now provided by the New Balch School it will be possible at the beginning of another school year to lessen the number of pupils in many, if not all, of these rooms in which the membership is too large (1) by opening classrooms; (2) by transferring pupils wherever it is practicable to do so from a school of forty or more in one district to a school of less than thirty in another district. Three additional classrooms should be opened in September: two at the New Balch School and one at the Guild School. The room at the Guild School now used for instruction in the Manual Arts, a purpose for which it is not well adapted, should be utilized as a regular classroom. If these three rooms are added to the classrooms already in use and transfers made from large classes in one district to small classes in another district the organization of the schools will be put on a more efficient basis.
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