USA > Massachusetts > Norfolk County > Norwood > Norwood annual report 1930-1932 > Part 49
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The standpipe was sandblasted on the inside of the tank and treated with Bitumastic Enamel, which is a coal tar base product to which a filler has been added to give body and stability. To the clean surface is applied a coat of Bitumastic Solution which serves as the bonding medium between the clean steel and the hot enamel. Then a coating of Bitumastic Enamel is brushed on and results in a coating approximately 1/16" thick. The hot coat sets immediately and imparts no taste or discoloration to the water in the standpipe. Heretofore it has been necessary to paint our standpipe about every five years, with the Bitumastic Enamel treat- ment we feel reasonably sure from information received from cities that have used this product that it will last from ten to twelve years. The outside of the tank was painted with aluminum.
Following are tables of statistics and records of construction work:
Operating Record at Pumping Stations
Station
Days
Hours
Gallons Pumped
Ellis
335
4,354
276,630,000
Westwood
272
2,418
134,600,000
Total
607
6,772
411,230,000
249
Water pumped in previous years:
1926 493,814,375 gallons
1929 387,820,000 gallons
1927 428,230,000 gallons
1930
418,015,000 gallons
1928 416,875,000 gallons
Gallons Pumped
Year 1931
Ellis Station
Westwood Station
January
34,310,000
February
32,440,000
March
36,030,000
April
22,600,000
12,085,000
May
20,340,000
13,620,000
June
420,000
33,680,000
July
17,790,000
19,520,000
August
22,900,000
13,600,000
September
23,270,000
10,600,000
October
23,010,000
11,335,000
November
21,340,000
10,490,000
December
22,190,000
9,670,000
The day on which the greatest amount of water was pumped was April 22, 1931-1,595,000 gallons.
The week during which the greatest amount of water was pumped was July 12 to 18, 1931-8,725,000 gallons.
Gallons of water supplied to distributing mains during the year 1931- 411,230,000.
Miles of mains at the end of the year-42.68.
Water pumped from both stations registered by Venturi Meters.
Number of services in use at end of year-2,667 aetive.
Number of meters in use at end of year-2705 house, 47 shop.
Total number of hydrants-412.
Fourteen water services were renewed and forty-one new services were added to the system.
Twenty-eight new meters were set.
Water Construction
Street
Length
Estimate
Cost
Size Main
Dean St.
Neponset 300' west
318 ft. No estimate
$ 904.09
8"'
Neponset Street
Fardy's to Fisher's
3,883 ft.
$ 7,500.00
10,664.46
00
Lenox Avenue
Dead End to Pleasant
208 ft.
700.00
679.28
6"
Pleasant Street
Lenox Ave. to Cross
1,177 ft.
3,800.00
5,793.65
250
Water Construction-Continued
Street
Length
Estimate
Cost
Size Main
Dean Street
Mahoney's to Balboni's
3,771 ft.
9,800.00
8,362.92
8ª
Pond Avenue
Dean to St. James Ave.
935 ft.
2,100.00
2,306.44
6"
Third Street
Gap to E. Cross St.
421 ft.
880.00
1,134.16
6"
Summit Avenue
287 ft.
1,600.00
1,837.04
6"
Howard Street
408 ft.
1,500.00
2,631.98
6ª
Totals
11,408 ft.
$27,888.00
$34,314.02
MISCELLANEOUS
The football field at the Senior High School was graded, six inches of loam added and seeded at a cost of $1,928.28.
The general condition of all buildings, pumps, and machinery which are under the supervision of the Public Works Department are in very good condition, however, our trucks and equipment have been worked longer than is usual on construction work and are in a poor condition.
Respectfully yours,
JOSEPH E. CONLEY,
Superintendent of Public Works
251
ENGINEER'S REPORT
Mr. C. A. Bingham,
Town Manager, Norwood, Massachusetts.
Dear Sir:
I herewith submit my report as Town Engineer for the year 1931.
Taking plans, deed descriptions, construction plans, assessment plans, lines and grades and final measurements were furnished for the following jobs:
Street Layouts and Widenings
Central St. Extension
Cottage St. Widening
Central St. Widening
Nichols St. Extension Mountain Ave. Extension
Garfield Ave. Extension
Corner Widenings
Rosemary Street and Walpole Street
1
Nichols Street and Winter Street 4
Winter Street and Bullard Street 2
Bullard Street and Beacon Street
1
Highland Street and Walnut Avenue
1
Walpole Street and Walnut Avenue
1
Walpole Street and Beacon Street
1
Washington Street and Walnut Avenue
1
Nahatan Street and Fulton Street
3
Harding Road and Winslow Avenue
1
Lenox Street and Plimpton Avenue
1
Maple Street and Winter Street .
1
Maple Street and Day Street
1
Construction plans, lines and grades were furnished for the following jobs:
Prospect Street Surfacing
Washington Street Widening at Prospect Street
Winter Street Surfacing
Hawthorne Street Drain
Lincoln Street Drain
Nahatan Street Drain
Drain through Baptist Church Property
Pond Avenue Drain
Cottage Street Granolithic Sidewalk
Day Street Granolithic Sidewalk
Central Street Granolithic Sidewalk
Walnut Avenue Granolithic Sidewalk
Harding Road Granolithic Sidewalk
252
Prospect Street Sewer Garfield Avenue Sewer Berwick Road Sewer Nichols Street Sewer Regrading High School Football Field
Preliminary Plans and Surveys
Highland Street Extension
Mountain Avenue Extension
Granite Street between George Street and Washington Street
Roosevelt Avenue Extension
Hill Street Extension
Dean Street Widening
Drainage between Broadway and Lenox
Drainage at George Street and Granite Street
Granite-Street Extension to Hill Street
Corner widenings on new state highway and existing streets
Miscellaneous Work
Assessor Plans (two new sections finished)
Sewer Assessment Plans
Sidewalk Assessment quantities
Plotting Sewer and Water Extensions
Water Valves Plotted
Estimated Costs for new 1932, 1933 and 1934 Construction
Plans for Cemetery Extension and Plotting 1932 Burials
Survey for New Post Office Site
Town Charts
Plans for Alterations in Municipal Building
Building Survey for Assessors Estimating Costs of Sewer and Water Connections to new Houses
Respectfully submitted,
A. W. THOMPSON, Town Engineer
253
REPORT OF LIGHT DEPARTMENT
Mr. C. A. Bingham, Town Manager, Norwood, Massachusetts.
Dear Mr. Bingham:
It is a great pleasure that I submit herewith the report of the Municipal Light Department, for the year ending December 31, 1931.
During these unsettled business periods, we have been able to continue a steady growth, our increase in output has gained 62% over 1930, which is about 12% above the average of the country. We had a considerable gain in cooking and other household appliances during the year.
During the year we continued the work of increasing, and rearranging of our commercial and street lighting lines. We replaced 199 old poles and added 59 additional poles to our lines, thus insuring better and safer service to our customers.
General Data
December 31, 1930
December 31, 1931
Gain
Lamps on Lines
118,508
126,463
7,955
Meters in U. e
4,463
4,576
113
H. P. on Motors
4,181
4,269
88
Street Lighting
Traffic and
Fire Alarm
60
250
400
600
1000
1500
Total
40 & 60
C. P.
C. P.
C. P.
C. P.
C. P.
C. P.
Candle Power
139
7,360
533
31,960
136
34,000
185
74,000
115
67,000
31
31,000
3
4,500
Total C. P. on Streets
249,820
1142 Street Lamps burned 3831 hrs. 57 min.
Electrical Inspection and Meter Division
Inspection was made of all new wiring.
Approved all meter locations.
Changing of customer's services when necessary.
Testing, checking, numbering and filing all records of meters.
Cutting out and re-connecting of meters for vacancies and non-payment.
254
Removing and installing of meters. Investigated all complaints for the billing department. Issued 464 wiring permits during the year.
Required several old jobs of wiring-re-wired during the year.
Fire, Police and Traffic Signal Division
No additions or changes have been made to the systems during the year. The systems are checked each month and are in good condition. Sixty- one fire alarm boxes, ten police boxes and eighteen traffic lights.
Respectfully submitted,
F. S. BARTON, Superintendent
-
255
REPORT OF BUILDING INSPECTOR
Mr. C. A. Bingham,
Town Manager, Norwood, Massachusetts.
Dear Mr. Bingham:
I herewith submit the following as the annual report of the Inspector of Buildings of the Town of Norwood for the year ending December 31, 1931:
No. Permits
Estimated
Single dwellings
31
Value # $162,200
New garages
65
16,305
New poultry houses
8
1,500
New club houses
1
300
New coal pocket
1
550
New storage plant
1
8,200
New store
1
25,000
New oil shed
1
50
New minor buildings
4
3,425
Additions to residential buildings
102
44,663
Additions to non-residential building 3
30
8,485
Additions to schools
2
97,669
Addition to theatre
1
10,635
Minor additions without cost
8
Total
256
$378,982
Number of inspections in 1931
1,357
Number of inspections made in 1931 on 1930 jobs
189
Total number of inspections
1,546
Respectfully submitted,
FORREST M. DOUGLASS, Building Inspector
Issued
256
REPORT OF SEALER OF WEIGHTS AND MEASURES
Mr. C. A. Bingham,
Town Manager, Norwood, Massachusetts.
Dear Mr. Bingham:
I herewith submit the following as the annual report of the Sealer of Weights and Measures of the Town of Norwood for the year ending Decem- ber 31, 1931:
Sealed
Condemned
Platform Scales over 5000 lbs.
20
Platform Scales under 5000 lbs.
61
Spring Scales over 100 lbs.
13
Spring Scales under 5000 1b3.
31
Computing Scales
: 0
Counter Scales
30
Counter Scales over 100 lbs.
7
Personal Weighing Scales
14
Prescription Scales
4
-
Apothecary Weights
26
Avoirdupois Weights
: 51
Metric Weights
18
Gasoline Pumps
36
Kerosene Pumps
9
Quality Stops
103
School Scales
10
Yard Measures
132
Liquid Measures
11
Leather Measures
6
Cloth Measures
16
The following inspections were made:
Number of each Tested
Found Correct
Found Over- Weight
Found Under- Weight
Bread
65
54
11
-
Butter
80
60
2
18
Charcoal in bags
12
12
Coal in bags
18
10
4
4
Coal in transit
18
15
3
Coke in bags
22
22
Confectionery
S
8
-
-
Dry commodities
95
79
11
5
Dry goods
12
12
Fruits and vegetables
20
16
4
-
-
-
-
-
-
257
Number of each Tested
Found Correct
Found Over- Weight
Found Under- Weight 5
Ice
40
25
10
Kindling wood
11
11
Liquid commodities
16
10
6
Meat and provisions
30
16
9
5
Cord wood
3
3
Paper or fibre cartons
6
6
Pedlers license
12
12
Milk jars
8
8
Coal certificates
10
10
Food packages
479
479
Labels on bread
12
12
Oil jars
18
18
Clinical thermometers
12
12
Pedlers scales
18
18
Ice scales
8
8
Junk scales
1
1
Transient vendors
8
8
-
Respectfully submitted,
HARRY M. KING, Sealer of Weights and Measures
-
258
REPORT OF THE CEMETERY DEPARTMENT
Mr. C. A. Bingham,
General Manager.
Dear Sir:
I herewith submit the annual report of the Cemetery Department for the year ending December 31, 1931.
As in previous years the department has done the usual kind of work, namely: interments, maintenance, construction, foundations, and private work.
154 interments and 5 removals were made during the year.
26 lots and 39 single graves were sold during the year 1931.
A section containing 267 square yards which had been dug over was graded and seeded.
Due to the unemployment situation an additional appropriation of $2,000.00 was made. This money was spent in digging over a section containing 213 square yards in the Protestant section and 1,217 square yards in the Catholic section. As the original appropriation of 1930 was reduced part of this $2,000.00 was used to keep the regular cemetery workers employed during the last month of the year.
In the coming year the department will need considerable loam to grade the sections which have been dug over. However, we were able to secure some 40 loads, at a cost of about $1.10 a load, from the excavation work on the Garfield Avenue job, which aids materially in reducing our request for material in 1932.
No recommendations are being made in 1932 for work on the avenues as they all appear to be in good condition.
I would like to make mention here that due to the exceptionally wet season considerably more mowing and trimming was necessary to keep the grounds in first class condition thus cutting down the amount of work done on improvements.
For the Old Parish Cemetery would recommend that the front and back avenues be dressed over. Owing to the fire the tool house had to be repaired and painted which now makes a great improvement to the grounds.
Would recommend the same appropriation be made as in 1930.
As the men are entitled to two weeks' vacation each year I believe there ought to be extra money appropriated to take care of this instead of having it taken out of the regular appropriation.
GEORGE A. SMITH, Superintendent
259
ANNUAL REPORT OF THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES OF THE MORRILL MEMORIAL LIBRARY
To the Citizens of Norwood:
The year 1931 was one of unprecedented service to the citizens of Nor- wood by the Morrill Memorial Library. Each month, even during the summer, the circulation showed a notable increase over the circulation the samc month in 1930. The total circulation for the year was 121,711 4- volumes-an excess of 15,932 or a 15 per cent gain over the 1930 figure.
This great activity in the use of books was only the local reflection of a national situation. It was caused by unemployment and forced idleness. Our public library has proved itself a haven of refuge and solace to hundreds of our citizens who have been out of work. The number of non-fiction and reference books withdrawn during the year shows that these readers have put their time to good advantage.
In the schools also a circulation of 15,287 shows a gain of 250 over 1930 figures.
All this increased circulation has naturally made more work for the librarian's staff. But it has carried on cheerfully and with unusual success, covering much extra work in addition to the regular routine.
A new department, called the "Teen Age Shelves" has been introduced in order to make some of the adult books familiar to the youngsters who are just beginning to use the adult library. It consists at present of 180 books, which will be added to.
During the year a large replacement of books was made and at its close the library was as nearly up-to-date in replacements as in new books. Nine hundred and fifty dollars were spent for rebinding, bringing that work quite up-to-date.
It has been brought to the attention of the Trustees that Miss Jane Hewett is the chairman of the Book Review Club of Greater Boston, a local organization of 20 librarians, meeting once a week to review the fiction of the day. As the work of this group is being watched by libraries all over the country, this is an honor for Miss Hewett and Norwood which should be recorded in this report.
A column of book reviews and book gossip has been started in the Nor- wood Messenger by the trustees in order to stimulate additional interest in the library and reading in general.
During 1931 the library has received many gifts which have been duly acknowledged. The trustecs wish however again to tender their sincere appreciation to the donors at this time. A list of the names of these donors is given in the statistical report of the librarian.
A valuable gift received early in 1931 is a Collection of music belonging to the late Lucius B. White and presented to the library by Mrs. White. The collection includes orchestra, piano, violin music, chamber music,
260
songs and books about music, some valuable as early and rare editions. The collection is a large and interesting one. A small beginning has been made in classifying and preparing it for use. It is a worthy addition to the library.
By the will of the late Rev. George W. Nead, his library is given to the town. There are 363 volumes of religious and standard works. These have not yet been classified.
Out of the Book Funds, the following additions have been placed on the library shelves.
The Cudworth Fund has purchased:
Life and letters of Sir Edmund Gosse, by Hon. E. E. Charteris The epic of America, by James Truslow Adams
American poetry to Whitman, edited by Louis Untermeyer
Fanny Kemble, by Mrs. Dorothie Bobbe
England under Queen Anne, by George M. Trevelyan
The Chickering Fund has purchased:
The autobiography of Lincoln Steffens
Impressions of Japanese architecture, by Ralph Adams Cram
French painting, by R. H. Wilenski
Respectfully submitted,
ARTHUR P. ALLEN, Chairman, W. W. EVERETT, Secretary, A. MARION SWAIN, MAUDE H. SHATTUCK, MARY E. WILLIAMS, RALPH W. TAYLOR.
-
261
LIBRARIAN'S REPORT
To the Board of Trustees:
The following is a statistical report of the Morrill Memorial Library, arranged according to the form recommended by the American Library Association.
Name of Library
Morrill Memorial Library
Town
Norwood
Name of Librarian
Jane A. Hewett
Date of founding
1873
Population scrved
15,049
Assessed valuation
$26,903,087.00
Terms of use
Frce for lending; free for reference
Total number of agencies
5
Number of days open in 1931
302
Number of hours open each week
66
Number of staff
6
Increase
Number of volumes at the beginning of the year
37,998
Number of volumes added by purchase
1,988
Number of volumes added by gift
29
Total number at the end of the year
40,015
Number of newspapers and magazines currently received
87 titlcs
104 copies
Use
Fiction
Non-fiction
Foreign
Total
Adult
56,751
13,056
576
70,383
Juvenile
28,166
6,873
35,039
Balch School
4,110
High School
498
Shattuck School
5,811
Winslow School
4,868
Deposits in other schools and the fire station
702
Total circulation
121,711
Number of pictures lent
1,737
Finance
See report of Town Accountant
1
262
Registration
Number of new borrowers registered-1931 Total number registered
Adult 202
325
527
2782
1535
4317
.
Books Added to the Library in 1931
Adult Juvenile
Total
General works
27
0
27
Philosophy
23
0
23
Religion
14
1
15
Sociology (includes fairy tales)
31
120
151
Philology
1
1
2
Natural Science
13
12
25
Useful arts
20
16
36
Fine arts
31
13
44
Literature
46
68
114
Description and travel
55
30
85
Biography
129
16
145
History
36
13
49
Fiction
655
646
1301
Total
1081
936
2017
Gifts
Music library of the late Lucius B. White from Mrs. White.
Library of the late Rev. George W. Nead by will.
Books, magazines, pamphlets and photographs from
Mrs. R. J. Chute
Christian Science Society of Norwood
Mr. W. W. Everett
Commonwealth of Massachusetts
Mr. John B. Fort
Emergency Conservation Committee
Mrs. L. C. Marshall
New York Stock Exchange
Mr. H. H. Miller
Rockefeller Foundation
Master Graham Parker
Sampson Murdock Company
Miss Maude A. Shattuck
T. Y. Crowell Company
Miss Wilda L. Vosc
United States Government
Miss Martha S. Walker
Buyers' Blue Book Company of N. E.
.
Respectfully submitted,
1
JANE A. HEWETT,
Librarian
Juvenile
Total
263
ANNUAL REPORT OF TOWN COUNSEL
Selectmen,
H. A. Baker, Chairman, Norwood, Massachusetts.
Dear Sirs:
The report of the Legal Department for the year 1931, being the twenty- third annual report, is submitted in the form of the following abbreviated statement. It is supplemented however by a detailed account in chronolog- ical order of the service rendered which is submitted for the files.
Advice was furnished through written opinions and conferences and assistance was given in appropriate manner as required during the course of the year to the Selectmen acting as such and as the Board of Survey, School Committee, Town Treasurer and Collector of Taxes, Board of Health, Board of Assessors, Board of Public Welfare, Registrars of Voters, General Manager, Town Clerk and Accountant, Building Inspector, Building By-Law Committee, Senior High School Building Addition Committee, East Side School Building Committee and Junior High School Building Committee and involved extensive consideration and action with respect to municipal problems of a widely diversified character.
Claims
Claims based principally upon personal injuries alleged to have been received through defective street conditions were investigated, views were taken, reports were obtained and opinions were rendered as to liability to the respective claimants and as to disposition. The following were adjusted upon recognition of probable liability by reasonable compromise settlements for small sums and upon releases delivered, namely,-Brownell, Hand and McLeon and Dean, the latter being for property damage only, and the following were denied on the ground that no liability existed, namely,-Flaherty, King, Costello, Dowd and Hadley. Other claims involving alleged property damage respectively were refused recognition as liability on the part of the Town was not shown. The Florence Moro accident claim reported upon last year and as to which direct Town lia- bility was denied, was settled by compromisc agreement without litigation for a small sum taken from available special funds not a part of the Town Treasury. Several small claims for sums due to the Town had attention.
A claim based on personal injuries sustained by Catherine Collins while crossing Washington Street, in the South Norwood section so-called, due to an alleged defective condition existing in said way was after investigation referred to the Eastern Massachusetts Street Railway Company for at- tention on the ground that responsibility for such condition as existed at the time rested on that Company and that the Town should be relieved of liability to respond in damages to this claimant. The officials of the Street 1
264
Railway Company have reported that this claim has been adjusted by negotiation between the claimant and that Corporation.
The claim of Attilio Balboni, as to one parcel, and of Attilio and Clorinda Balboni, as to another parcel, for damages resulting from takings by eminent domain in the widening of Central Street where the awards made were not acceptable were for the purpose of making mutually satisfactory compromise settlements put in suit through petitions filed in the Superior Court and thereafter such settlements were effected and the petitions were dismissed.
1
Litigation
The City of Worcester brought suit against the Town by writ issuing out of the Superior Court for Worcester County under date of December 31, 1930, and returnable on March 2, 1931, to enforce a claim for relief in the form of hospital care furnished to a Norwood charge and as to which liability on the part of the Town was denied, although settlement was ad- mitted. The suit was settled with the approval of the Board of Public Welfare by agreement through Counsel without entry of writ by the pay- ment of the sum of $91.00 and a proper release was secured.
The Metropolitan Crushed Stone Company of Boston, as an alleged creditor of Thomas Smith, Jr. and James A. O'Brien of Fall River, doing business as the Smith Construction Company, brought a suit in equity against them through a bill in equity filed with a writ which issued out of the Superior Court for Suffolk County on December 9, 1931, and which was entered in that Court on January 4, 1932, in which suit the Town of Norwood was joined as a party respondent together with the Standard Accident Insurance Company. Smith and O'Brien are the parties with whom as the Smith Construction Company the Town entered into a contract on July 15, 1931, under the direction of the State Department of Public Works, for the construction of a widening and relocation of a section of Winter Street and the Standard Accident Insurance Company is the surety on the bond in the sum of $15,800.00 required by and given to the Town as security for the proper performance of the contract.
The purpose of the suit as stated in the Bill of Complaint is to establish the petitioner's claim for the sum of $5,879.64 due to it for materials and labor furnished to said contractors for the construction of the work with interest and costs and to be subrogated to the right, title and interest of the Smith Construction Company in and to monies due or to become due to said Smith Construction Company from the Town of Norwood and the right, title and interest of the Town in and to the bond of the Standard Accident Insurance Company with the further purpose that all other claimants to the funds be brought into the suit as parties.
The petitioner as well as many other persons had prior to this suit filed claims with the Town Clerk for monies alleged to be due to them by the contractors for labor or materials or both and to establish liens. An alleged assignment of funds by the contractors had been presented by
265
another person and four parties had brought actions at law against the contractors in which the Town has been summoned as alleged trustee. In the suits at law and the proceeding in equity above described the Town has appeared and answered and in the latter case has named and is seeking to make parties all persons known to have any interest in the funds retained or the bond security.
While the extent and length of this litigation cannot at present be deter- mined, yet it is hoped that it may be brought to a conclusion during the year 1932 and it is expected that the expense to the Town, other than that for which it is liable under the contract in any event, will be limited to the amount required to meet a situation which is not of its making but in which it is compelled to be a party litigant and to protect its position.
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