USA > Massachusetts > Norfolk County > Norwood > Norwood annual report 1915-1922 > Part 65
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New Sewers
Sewer extensions made during the year consist of 600 feet of 8-inch pipe in Prospect Street between Florence Avenue and Cottage Street, 140 feet of 8-inch pipe in Dean Street near Washington Street to prevent sewage from backing up into cellars, and 90 feet of 8-inch pipe in Lcnox Avenue to take care of the sewage from the shops of the New York, New Haven & Hartford Railroad.
Additional Filter Built
The tenth filter bed was completed with exception of the distributing runway which will be built as soon as weather conditions permit. The addition of this bed will give us a little more than ten acres of filtering area and should be adequate for some years to come.
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The automatic pumping machinery has been operating very satisfac- torily and has required little attention other than a few repairs made necessary by the burning out of some of the electrical apparatus from the effects of lightning.
The mains have been cleaned as customary each year.
Fifty house connections were made during the year.
Drains
The School Street Drain, so called, was thoroughly cleaned out above School Street and a 20-inch pipe laid in School, Nahatan, and Maple Streets, to provide greater capacity and relieve the flooding conditions in that vicinity. A storm water drain with proper catch basins was laid in Lin- coln Street, and work was started on a 27-inch drain in Heaton Avenue. Segment blocks are being used instead of pipe in this instance as they were found to be cheaper than pipc of this size. Placing this drain in the street will do away with the open drain through the house lots on the northerly side of the street and remove a nuisance and a breeding place for disease germs. A short section of the Winslow Avenue drain was also piped during the year.
HIGHWAY DEPARTMENT
The construction of Neponset Street from East Cross Strcet to the Neponset River, for which an appropriation was made in 1918, but which work was postponed on account of conditions at that time, was completed this ycar at a cost of $24,113.00. A 6-inch bituminous macadam pavement was laid, using asphalt for the binder. This completes a much needed improvement, and provides a good road to the Canton line, with the ex- ception of East Cross Street from Pleasant Street to Neponset Street, which, it is hoped, can be built in 1920. Owing to the shortage of labor and the favorable bid received from the Canton Engineering Company, Inc., it was deemed advisable to do the work by. contract, and the afore- mentioned company was awarded the contract. One-quarter of the cost, was paid by the State, one-quarter by the County, and the balance by the Town, a very satisfactory arrangement, and it is hoped that the same ar- rangement can be made for completion of East Cross Street, the estimated cost of which is $14,000.00.
Other construction in this line includes Cross, Lenox and Guild Streets, from Broadway to Pleasant Street, and the resurfacing of Railroad Avenue from Washington Street to the railroad crossing, Market Street from Railroad Avenue to Nahatan Street and Washington Street from Press Avenue to Old Washington Street, with 22-inch of bituminous macadam. The cost of this work was $.82 per square yard, a most favorable showing when compared with the cost of similar work in surrounding cities and towns. The average cost per square yard of the Neponset Street job, in- cluding a considerable amount of subgrading and drainage, was $1.77, and on Cross Street, which was done by our own forces, was $1.40, and when compared with $2.67, the lowest price bid for similar work in one of our neighboring towns, reflects credit on the efficiency of the Department, and dispels the general impression that Town laborers do not work as hard as those employed by Contractors.
As many of the gravel roads were scraped and shaped up as was possi- ble with the machinery we had, and were then oiled to keep the dust down.
The use of a scarifying roller would greatly facilitate this work and would enable us to secure better roads for less money.
Oiling
About 60 per cent more oiling was done than in 1918. It probably will not be necessary to treat all of our macadam streets next year, although
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the dirt and gravel streets will require this treatment annually. Thirteen and one-half miles were treated with bituminous oil, which requires sand- ing, and non-asphaltic oil was applied to fifteen miles of dirt and gravel streets for dust laying purposes. Forty thousand five hundred gallons of the former were purchased at $.084 per gallon, and thirty thousand gallons of the non-asphaltic oil were purchased at $.069 per gallon. The price paid for bituminous oil included applying, while that for non-asphal- tic oil was for tank car shipments f. o. b. Norwood. It cost an additional one-half cent per gallon to apply.
Sidewalks
Granolithic sidewalks were laid on Washington Street between Rail- road Avenue and Nahatan Street and from Cottage Street to Vernon Street; also on Walpole and Eliot Streets. It was decided to omit the usual founda- tion of cinders, this year, except where the sub-grade was of loam or clay, thus reducing the cost $.45 per square yard. It was felt that the saving effected would more than offset the cost of any replacement that may be required due to damage from frost action.
Bargain in Paving Blocks
Ninety-three thousand granite paving blocks were purchased from the Norwood, Canton and Sharon Street Railway Company at $12.00 per M (about one-third value), which are to be used for paving gutters.
Bridges
The Morse Street bridge over the Neponset River required considerable repairs and a new floor was laid and the bridge strengthened with truss rods. Two of the old plank top culverts were rebuilt with reinforced concrete tops in place of wood, thus relieving us of a constant source of danger as well as from the expense of maintaining plank tops. This type of construction also permits of continuous surfacing, which adds very greatly to the appearance of the streets.
Street Signs
One hundred much needed street signs have been painted, but owing to the press of work and the shortage of labor, these have not yet been erected, but we expect to have them up before winter is over. The signs are painted white with black letters, as this seems to be the best combina- tion, and can be seen from a greater distance than the customary black with gold letters.
LIGHT DEPARTMENT
The business of this department shows a remarkable growth in the past year. The high cost of fuel has compelled the manufacturing plants to resort to the use of electricity for power, with the result that our consump- tion has increased 512 per cent in the year ending December 31, 1919. Three hundred and twenty-one new customers were added to our accounts, an increase of 17 per cent.
The increasing demands again compelled us to change our contract with the Edison Electric Illuminating Company, as the contracts in force were limited as to the amount of current we could sell or use except by the payment of an exorbitant price per K. W. H. for the excess. Ob- viously, with our demand still increasing, this would drive the department into bankruptcy, so the new contract was made on the high tension basis at a favorable price. In changing the form of contract it was necessary for the Town to purchase the transforming apparatus at an expense of $43,000.00, but this expenditure was fully justified when the saving in cost of current was made apparent.
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Considerable work was done on street lines and wires in the way of repairs and replacements. Many of these lines have been in usc for twelve years or more and poles are fast needing to be replaced. Wherever possible this work is being done on the joint ownership plan with the New England Telephone and Telegraph Company, each paying one-half the cost of the work.
A larger heater was installed at the station in order to heat the addition which was completed during the year. The buildings were painted and otherwise repaired, so that the property is now in first-class condition.
FIRE ALARM SYSTEM
So much trouble was experienced with the operation of the alarm system that it was dcemed advisable to have a thorough examination made by the Gamewell Company. The trouble was discovered to be in the whistle at the Winslow plant and in the batteries at the Central Station. A new whistle was installed and new plates put in the batteries, since which time there has been little trouble with the system.
Some of the old wire has been renewed and we shall have to continue this practice until the old wire is entirely replaced.
The lights over boxes are in need of attention and these are to be gone over and the boxes repainted the coming season.
FORESTRY DEPARTMENT New Trees
Through the generosity of a public spirited citizen who donated $500.00 for the purpose, we were enabled to set out two hundred young shade trees this year, which were planted on Nahatan Street, Prospect Avenue, Cottage Street, Vernon Street, Florence Avenue, and Douglass Avenue. Norway Maples were selected as being the most suitable variety and fine specimens were secured from the Framingham Nurseries.
A number of dcad trees were removed, and dead wood was trimmed out of the trees along our streets as far as was possible with the money and men available.
Moth Suppression
The usual amount of spraying and painting of nests was done in the winter and spring, but the six weeks of unusually dry weather early in the season was very favorable to the development of the gypsy moth larvae, and was detrimental to one of our greatest allies, wilt disease, wnich develops best in wet weather, so we find at the end of the season that no substantial gain has been made in eliminating this pest.
Property Owners Should Cooperate
It is of the greatest importance that property owners look over their trees and paint all egg clusters found with creasote, and burn all brown-tail nests, as it is impossible for the Moth Department to do all the work it is called upon to do on private property in the short time in which spraying is effective, without neglecting its own work on shade trees. We trust that property owners will cooperate with us this year and do as much of the work themselves as possible, or if unable to do it themselves or have it donc by private parties, they will make application to the Manager in ample time so that the work can be laid out advantageously before it is time to do the actual spraying.
ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT
More time was devoted to street work this year than to any other de- partinent. The Neponset Street contract required almost constant atten-
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tion and inspection during construction. More attention has been paid to establishing proper grades and drainage than heretofore and to keeping accurate records of all work done. In addition to giving lines and grades for streets, sewers, granolithic walks, drainage, etc., plans and layouts were made for the Cemetery Department, High School grounds, Board of Sur- vey, and Drainage takings. Assessors' Map No 13, was completed and work was begun on No. 14, which comprises the territory bounded by Wash- ington Street, Westwood Town line, Prospect and Nahatan Streets. Map No. 3 was revised and brought up to date.
Town Map
A large map of the Town is being brought up to date from which we propose to have lithographic prints made to meet the demand for such. These will be sold at cost to anyone who wants them, and will provide working prints on which the progress of work can be recorded. ~
Looking Ahead
A map was also made of the territory bounded by Railroad Avenue, Pleasant, Neponset, and Washington Streets and the New York, New Haven, and Hartford Railroad, for the purpose of laying out streets in this section to the best advantage.
Useful Data
A record was made of water service shut-offs and their location plotted on index cards. That this work was necessary was indicated by the fact that it has been impossible to find some of the gate boxes, and in other cases it required much time and work to trace the service to the mains, but with the record at hand each shut-off can now be accurately and quickly found. In case of the bursting of the service connection, the water can be shut off before the cellar is flooded and any damage done.
Engineering Real Economy
To the persons not familiar with engineering work it no doubt seems an expensive proposition for a town the size of Norwood to maintain an En- gineering Department, but when it is realized that to have the work done by a private engineer would cost very much more, and the fact that having this service always at hand probably prevents the laying of sewers and drains of improper capacity, sidewalks at varying grades, etc., thus avoid- ing the possibility of having to do the work over again within a few years, the value of this important department will be appreciated and the records kept will constantly increase in value as time goes on.
CEMETERY DEPARTMENT
As in the other departments, the labor shortage prevented us from doing all the work we had laid out, so that only about one-half of the number of lots were developed as planned.
In view of the shortage of lots early in the spring, work was started on Section 40, where it was expected that it would be easier to work over the ground than in any other part of the Roman Catholic section, and in which section the shortage was greatest, but on opening the ground we found an almost solid bed of stones in varying sizes up to boulders which had to be blasted for removal. Fourteen thousand five hundred square feet, or about 40 lots, of this section were made available for use although the walks have not been built or the surface seeded as yet.
There are now available for use in the Roman Catholic section fifty-four lots and fifty-five single graves, and in the Protestant section eighteen lots
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and twenty-six single graves. Section 17 in the Protestant section is about seventy-five per cent worked over. It is proposed to complete this section in 1920, and more single graves will have to be laid out.
New Driveway
The northerly road running in from Winter Street was surfaced with broken stone and is now in good condition. We hope to be able to set out some trees on each side during the coming year.
Interments
One hundred and forty-eight interments were made and sixteen lots and thirty-six single graves were sold, so unless we have another epidemic such as we had in 1918, we have ample provision made to meet the ordinary demand for lots and graves.
POLICE DEPARTMENT
The organization of the department has remained the same as in 1918.
Decrease in Crime
The total number of arrests made was 248, 30 per cent fewer than in the preceding year; of these 51 were for intoxication, a reduction of more than 50 per cent over the preceding year.
A new Dodge automobile was purchased to replace the Reo which had reached the condition where it was too expensive to maintain any longer.
Night Officer Needed
The need of an additional officer for night duty at the Central Station is keenly felt, as under the present arrangement, anyone telephoning after the Chief goes off duty has to wait until the officer on the beat is notified and reaches the telephone. This might require ten minutes if the officer happened to be at the Guild Street end of the beat, and he might be called to some remote part of the town, leaving his beat uncovered while he was answering, as it is impossible to reach the other officers on duty without , actually going out and finding them on their routes.
Should Install Signal System
I still feel that we should begin to install something in the way of direct communication with all the men on duty by means of a proper signal system. A very substantial start can be made for $5000.00, and the longer this is put off the more it will cost the Town.
The arrests and disposition of the cases for 1919 were as follows:
Found guilty 230
Arrested for other towns. . 17
Discharged .
18 Amount of fines imposed. . $1220
Males arrested . 248
Dismissed for want of prosecu- tion . .
6
Females arrested. 11
Placed on file.
37
Minors arrested. 49
Placed on probation. 13
Released 40
Continued 2
Value articles reported stolen $8577.50
Appealed .
10
Value articles recovered. .. $5514
Suspended sentence.
6
Value articles recovered for
House of Correction 2
Lyman School 1
other towns. . . .. $2800 State Farm. 2
Non-residents arrested . 61
Fined . 100
Residents arrested . 187
Doors and windows found open 127
.
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INSPECTION Sealer of Weights and Measures
Sixteen hundred and twenty scales, measures, weights, cans, pumps, etc., were tested by the Sealer of Weights and Measures during the year, of which twenty-four scales and eight measures were condemned for in- accuracy.
Ninety-eight store inspections were made for the purpose of reweighing packages put up, but in each case they were found to be full weight.
Buildings
One hundred and one inspections, representing the expenditure of more than $267,000.00, were made by this Department in 1919. This work in- cludes the actual inspection of construction as it progresses and the ap- proval of plans and issuing of building permits as provided by law.
Wires
Two hundred and twelve inspections of wiring installations were made by the Superintendent of Wires. Very few changes had to be ordered to have the work comply with the requirements of the Board of Fire Under- writers.
Animals
During the year seventy-one premises were inspected, which, with a very few exceptions, were found to be in satisfactory condition. Inspec- tions were also made of 393 cattle, 116 swine, 74 goats and 2 sheep, all of which, with the exception of one cow which was ordered killed, were found to be in a healthy condition. A report of each inspection was sent to the Department of Animal Industry and a copy to each owner, as required by law.
RECOMMENDATIONS AND REMARKS
Upon the success of municipal government depends to a large degree the welfare of its inhabitants, and as the, municipality develops and ex- pands, demands will increase, requiring expenditures never before thought of, and if we are to keep abreast of the times, we must anticipate our needs well in advance of their actual necessity, that expenditures may be arranged so as not to unnecessarily increase the already heavy financial burden being carried by the average family. Realizing that the only return the taxpayer receives for his contribution is in service rendered, and that only through efficient management and foresight can adequate services be ren- dered, I wish to enumerate some of the immediate needs of our Town as I see them, and some of the things for which we must begin to prepare in the near future.
Water and Public Health
The general health of the community is of course of paramount import- ance, and as this depends to a large extent upon the purity and adequacy of the water supply, extent of sewerage system, sanitary housing con- ditions, and rigid food inspection, these matters should receive our first consideration. We must admit that while our town water is not actually detrimental to health, it could be of better quality. Also, that we are nearing the limit of our present supply. Therefore, I recommend that an adequate appropriation be made to search for a new supply, and if found in sufficient quantity, consider the advisability of abandoning the Westwood Station. In the event of not finding water near enough, so that the cost of conveying it into our system would be exorbitant, it may be necessary to construct the additional filter and install new pumping machinery at Westwood, but I feel that this should not be undertaken until every suspected source of supply is investigated.
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Business Principles Should be Applied
Any manufacturer who hasn't at hand accurate information as to the cost of producing and selling the articles which he is manufacturing in- vites failure. So in the Water Department, sound business principles demand that we know exactly how much water we are pumping into the mains, how much we are selling, and the cost. This information is impossi- ble to obtain at present. With means for accurately measuring both the pumpage and sales at hand, we can more easily trace the losses and be better equipped to make economies which will result in a more favorable showing in this Department, and I have asked for an appropriation for the pur- pose of installing a large meter at the Ellis Station and the usual number of small service meters. Taking the theoretical pumpage for the' year ending July 1, 1919, and deducting 20 per cent for slip, we can account for only about 50 per cent of the water pumped into the mains. This indi- cates either underground leaks or unmetered water for which the Town receives no revenue. Ordinarily the amount of water that cannot be ac- counted for in cities and towns that are metered amounts to 15 per cent to 20 per cent, and on this basis we should be able to cut down our pumping approximately 30 per cent, saving about $5000.00 per year, as well as conserving our limited supply.
Sewers and Drains Needed
Sewer and drain extensions will have to be made in several sections of the town that are growing rapidly, especially in the vicinity of Adams and Hill Streets, and as recorded elsewhere in my report, the siphon under the river will need to be enlarged to care for the increasing amount of sewage being turned into the sewers.
Eventually we shall, no doubt, replace the open drains with pipes, and some work should be done in this connection each year.
Sanitary conditions could be improved by compelling householders to dispose of the rubbish that accumulates in their yards (oftentimes con- taining decomposed garbage and affording excellent breeding places for flies and disease germs) at least twice a year. As to whether this should be done at the expense of the Town or property owners, is a debatable question, but there is no question but that it should be donc.
Better Sidewalks Needed
Our main streets are in pretty good shape, and by continuing the present policy of doing a little each year, we need not worry much over that phase, but the sidewalks in the residental sections are in very poor condition and should be given consideration. The policy has been to construct granolithic walks only when the abuttors for a substantial distance agreed to pay one-half the cost. I feel that any property owner on a public street who desires a granolithic walk and is willing to pay onc-half the cost should have his request granted, and while this procedure will probably result in "piece-meal" sidewalks at first, it will have a tendency to create a desire on the part of more people for this type of construction, and eventually will result in more of this work being done on the equal payment basis.
Memorial Museum
Other improvements that can be made to good advantage later on are a Public Comfort Station in the centre of the Town. We should also have in mind the need of a Municipal Building, and this is an opportune time to ask, "What form of memorial is Norwood going to erect to her war heroes?" It certainly reflects discreait on the Town not to have taken some action in this matter, especially in view of the fact that this was the only town hercabout that did not erect an honor roll. Why not a Municipal Building
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containing a Memorial Museum, in which a suitable tablet could be erected and where relies of the war could be displayed? Such a building would be a source of patriotic inspiration as well as a testimonial of our appreciation of the service the men of Norwood rendered to the cause of Liberty and Democracy.
Materials and Supplies
Following are some of the prices paid for materials used in sufficient quantities to warrant purchasing under contracts. In all but two instances the material received complied with specifications. On analysis, two tank cars of non-asphaltic road oil were found to be below standard, but were accepted at a reduced price.
Coal, Anthracite $11.09 ton delivered
Coal, Bituminous.
6.50 F. O. B. Norwood
Asphalt Binder .
0.125 gallon applied
Asphalt Road Oil.
0.0775 gallon applied
Non-Asphaltic Road Oil
0.069 gallon
Gasoline .
0.255 gallon
Mobiloil
0.63 gallon
Portland Cement.
2.49 bbl.
Arsenate of Lead (dry powder)
.30 1b.
Arsenate of Lead (paste) .
105 1b.
MANUFACTURERS COOPERATE
I take this opportunity to express my gratitude for the valuable services rendered by the Winslow Bros. & Smith Co. and the Geo H. Morrill Co. in making analyses of samples of various materials purchased for the Town.
This service has provided evidence as to whether or not the materials received were of the quality specified, and in the instance of the non-as- phaltic road oil resulted in a saving to the Town of more than $300.00.
I also wish to express my appreciation of the hearty cooperation of all Town officials with whom I have come in contact and of the efforts of those men of the various departments who have made possible the accom- plishments of the year.
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