USA > Massachusetts > Norfolk County > Norwood > Norwood annual report 1936-1938 > Part 63
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Locating signs on State Highway
Plan of proposed changes at V.F.W. Building
Cross sectioning gravel pits for pay quantities
Measuring overhang on signs along Washington Street Traffic Surveys
Indexing and filing plans and notebooks
Respectfully submitted,
ALBERT W. THOMPSON, Town Engineer
65
REPORT OF LIGHT DEPARTMENT
Mr. William C. Kendrick General Manager
Norwood, Mass.
Dear Sir:
I submit herewith a report of the activities and operations of this Depart- ment for the year ending December 31, 1938.
Since the year of 1924, the purchased electric energy requirements from the Boston Edison Company necessary to serve our customers, both in- dustrial and residential, las steadily increased until this year, when I regret to say the Department has had a drop in purchased energy of 763,000 K. W. Hours. This drop is entirely due to less K. W. Hours pur- chased by industrial customers. One industrial customer alone purchased from the Department 449,200 K. W. Hours less than in 1937. This was due to this customer installing and putting into operation on June 1st, a generator of their own. The total requirements for electric energy by our industrial customers for the current year was 1,040,700 K. W. Hours less than the previous year of 1937. On the basis of 1937 figures, although our industrial customers did purchase over a million less K. W. Hours this ycar, the following tabulation shows an increase in usage by the resi- dential and small power customers of 277,100 K. W. Hours.
K. W. Hours Purchased
Used By Industrial Customers
Used By
All Other Customers
1937 10,766,000
4,169,900
6,596,100
1938 10,003,000
3,129,200
6,873,200
Loss 763,000 K.W.H. Loss 1,040,700 K.W.H. Gain 277,100 K.W.H. Note: It must also be considered that during the days following the wind storm of September 21, a considerable amount of current was not being used by our customers that were without service.
On January 7 at 10.20 A. M. and December 22 at 5.55 P. M. the K. W. demand at the station was 2375 K. W., the highest demands for the year; the lowest for any one day occurring at 7.25 P. M. on September 22, the day following the big wind storm.
No major changes or additions to the station equipment have been made during the year excepting some preliminary work on a new primary circuit which will take care of South Norwood, which is now being fed from a circuit that also feeds the majority of the east side of the Town. This circuit has been overloaded for some time and is at the point now where the sooner it is relieved of the South Norwood load, the better the operating conditions are going to be, both for South Norwood and the rest of the east side of the Town.
66
Number 2 and 3 feeder circuits were placed underground this year from the Station to a point 200 ft. from Central Street on Lyman Place. In making this change, the wooden poles on Central St. now carry only street lighting wires and police signal cable, all primary wires having been re- moved and placed underground. If it is possible to also place the street lighting wires underground and reroute the police signal cable this coming year, all wooden poles on Central Street may be removed, thus improving the appearance of this street and the Station, as well as making better operating conditions.
The underground secondary cables between Cottage and Day Streets on Washington Street were replaced this year with cables of ample size for many years to come.
Approximately 600 ft. of underground distribution was placed in Vernon Street Extension with semi-ornamental street lighting poles. With co- operation from the Telephone Company in also placing their cables under- ground, it has made a very pleasing appearance to this section of Vernon Street, with advantages both to this Department and the developer of the adjacent land.
Other than the big wind storm of September 21, which I will try to outline in the following statement, the most troublesome time to our customers was the complete loss of power from the Boston Edison Com- pany on August 4, at 8.45 P. M., for eight minutes.
Wind Storm Disaster of September 21, 1938
With the work of rehabilitating our distribution system almost com- pleted, and with all services, including street lighting and signal systems nearly back to normal, I take this opportunity to express a word of ap- preciation to the public, which has cooperated so well in the emergency occasioned by the destructive hurricane of September 21, 1938.
I express the greatest appreciation to the employees, especially the linemen, who worked so hard and conscientiously to speed the restoration of service, to the town officials who helped us, to the utility workers of other Companies, to the Boston Edison Company, to the New England Telephone and Telegraph Company, for the men and trucks furnished by the Public Works Department, and to the manufacturers and jobbers who furnished materials in record time. Along with all this valuable assistance, I want to express my appreciation for the kindness, the patience and under- standing of our 5,000 customers, most of whom were without eleetrie service for short or longer periods following the devastating hurricane, which caused nearly a complete shutdown of the entire plant.
The size of the job confronting the Department was enormous. Almost every overhead circuit was damaged or demolished by falling trees and limbs. Our first thought was to give attention to the hospital, and to the departments of public health and safety, and then to take steps which would restore services to the largest number of customers in the shortest
67
period of time, having due regard to restoring power to the industries so that men inight return to work as soon as possible. The underground system serving a greater portion of the town's business district and the Norwood Press was out of commission only temporarily while overhead circuits connected to it were cleared. The hospital service was restored the same evening of the disaster and the following morning at 3.30 A. M. the Ellis Pumping Station was again delivering water through its elec- trically driven pumps. Through the energy of the linemen and the inex- perienced help hired for the emergency, fifty per cent of the residences, practically every industry employing labor, almost all the markets and stores had their services restored within a period of six days, and in two weeks time all but a few scattered customers had been furnished electric service. All these services connected in such a short period of time were of a temporary nature and at a later date were permanently restored.
In order that the readers may more fully understand the difficulties which lay ahead of the Department and to understand the manner in which the task was performed, a few statistics should be enlightening.
Men: Normally the Department maintains one line crew totalling six men. Within ten days after the disaster, the number was increased to twenty-eight men and five crews. Experienced linemen at this time were not to be had locally but after the eighth day, the Department was very fortunate in procuring four first class linemen from the Detroit Edison Company (thanks to the Boston Edison Company), for they let us have these men.
Materials: In order to understand more fully the amount of materials necessary to restore service, a list is given as follows:
143,000 ft. copper wire 88 poles 300 crossarms
4,000 connectors
1,400 pole and house insulators
7,600 yds. friction tape
4,000 separate pieces of hardware
1,200 ft. manilla rope 75 street lighting fixtures
100 street lighting fixture globes and parts
200 K. W. of various size transformers
to say nothing of axes, saws, ladders, pliers, knives, etc., etc.
The poles had to be set, the crossarms had to be attached, wires had to be run from pole to pole and connectors had to be installed. The trans- formers had to be replaced and the house and pole insulators had to be placed in position.
68
Meter and Inspection Division
There has been five hundred and fifty-six wiring permits issued this year, an increase of two hundred and nineteen over the year ending De- cember 31, 1937. Complaints investigated for the Billing Division num- bered two hundred and twenty-five. ,
Practically all new installations for the year have been outside meters. Most of the services on customers' property that had to be replaced after being torn down during the wind storm were replaced with outside meter installations. There has been three hundred and forty-six meter removals and replacements and seventy-four new meters installed during the year.
Twenty-two low voltage complaints were checked and in most cases where low voltage did exist, it was due to the customer's inside wiring, and they were notified of the same.
I would like at this time to repeat a recommendation I made a year ago in regards to the Town adopting some by-laws with penalties attached enforcing good wiring practice. Recently, there has been a number of Neon sign transformers installed of the low power factor type, but with no set rules governing such installations, there isn't much the wire inspector can do about it.
Physical Data
Poles Set :
35' Wood 115
40' Wood.
24
45' Wood
7
Metal
4
Total 150
Replacements on public streets 133
Extensions on public streets.
3
Replacements on private property
4
Extensions on private property
6
Extensions for street lighting.
4
Total 150
Line Wire:
Secondary installed 69,979 ft.
Secondary removed
47,640 ft.
Primary installed
57,732 ft.
Primary removed 60,817 ft.
Street light installed
30,300 ft.
Street light removed. 30,600 ft.
Total
152,585 ft. 139,057 ft.
Total feet extension
13,528 ft.
69
Underground Cables:
Secondary installed
6,340
Secondary removed
625
Primary installed
2,835
Primary removed.
-
Street lights installed
700
Street lights removed
Total feet
9,875
625
Total feet extension
9,250
Underground Ducts:
3,049
Steel installed
140
Total duct feet installed
Distribution Transformers
Installed Size in K. V. A.
Total K. V. A.
No.
Removed Size in K. V. A.
Total K. V. A.
No.
1
3
3
1
2
2
11
5
55
1
3
3
12
7.5
90
8
5
40
10
10
100
10
7.5
75
12
15
180
2
10
20
7
25
175
8
15
120
1
50
50
1
25
25
1
37.5
37.5
1
50
50
-
54
653
33
372.5
Total added transformer capacity
280.5 K. V. A.
Services
Secondary-overhead
18
Secondary-underground
16
Primary-overhead
1
Total
35
14-2 wire services were changed to 3 wire.
Meters Installed and Removed
New Meters Installed:
15 Amp .- 115/230 Volt-3 wire.
31
5 Amp .- 115 /230 Volt-3 wire 13
25 Amp .- 230 Volt-3 wire. 2
-
Fibre installed
3,189
70
10 Amp .- 115 /230 Volt-3 wire.
1
50 Amp .- 230 Volt-3 wire
1
5 Amp .-- 115 Volt-2 wire. 9
15 Amp .- 230 Volt-2 wire.
1
15 Amp .- 115 Volt-2 wire.
12
50 Amp .- 230 Volt-3 wire 3 phase.
1
100 Amp .- 2200 Volt-3 wire 3 phase.
1
5 Amp .- 120 Volt-3 phase with C. T. 1
5 Amp .- 230 Volt-2 wire 1
Total 74
Meter Removals and Replacements:
Change of rate
13
Not in use.
Junked 201
28
Electric Range-changed to 3 wire.
7
Stopped
13
Outside meters
34
Change in wiring
4
Defective meters
8
Customers' complaints
5
Changed to socket type
10
Overload
1
Noisy
1
Duplicate number
1
Changed to 2 rate meter
1
Replacements during storm
17
Total
346
Active meters as of December 31, 1938 4,375
Description of Public Street Lamps
Multiple Lamps
175 Watt 230 Watt 340 Watt 400 Watt
Total C. P.
9
2,250
9
3,150
20
11,000
9 (Mercury) 11,520
27,920
Total Candle Power Multiple Lamps
Respectfully submitted,
C. C. CHURCH, Superintendent
2
Changed to 3 wire.
MILLIONS OF K.W.H. 4 5
I
2
3
6
7
8
9
IO
I916
I917
1918
1919 1920
I92I 1922 1923 I924 I925 I926
11916 to 1938 Inclusive
I927 1928 1929 1930 I93 I I932 1933 1934 I935
I936
1937
I938
Amount of Electric Energy Purchased Yearly from
71
CENTS PER KILLOWATT HOUR
.25
.50
.75
1.00
1.25
I.50
1.75
2.00
-60
I916
I917
I918
I919
I920
I92I
1922
I923
1924
I925
I926
1927
1928
1929
I930
I93I
.
I932
1933
I934
1935
I936
1937
I938
Purchased From The Boston Edison Company
Average Annual Kilowatt Hour Cost of Energy
72
73
REPORT OF BUILDING INSPECTOR
Mr. W. C. Kendrick
General Manager
Norwood, Mass.
Dear Sir:
I herein submit the following as the annual report of the Inspector of Buildings of the Town of Norwood for the year ending December 31, 1938:
No. Permits Issued
Estimated
Value
New Houses (without garages)
20
$ 91,000
New Houses (with garages)
8
45,900
Cellars
2
550
Additions to Residences
84
36,942
New Garages
33
9,885
Additions to Garages
8
1,290
Additions to Non-Residence
11
22,375
Additions to Factories
4
7,600
New Two-Family House
1
5,500
New Filling Station
1
5,500
Alterations to Stores
12
11,550
Remodel House and 2 Car Garage
1
1,000
New Theatre
1
60,000
New Church
1
26,000
Water Tank
1
52,000
New Store
1
25,000
Skating Rink
1
15,000
New Bath House (Hawes Brook)
1
2,285
Sheds
2
2,100
Silos
2
650
Hen Houses
2
650
Addition to Oven (Baker Shop)
1
600
Pigeon House
1
50
Play House
1
10
201
$425,637
Number of Inspections during 1938
1,022
Number of Inspections during 1938 on 1937 Jobs
115
1,137
Respectfully submitted,
F. M. DOUGLASS, Building Inspector
74
SEALER OF WEIGHTS AND MEASURES
Mr. W. C. Kendrick General Manager Norwood, Massachusetts
Dear Sir:
The following scales, weights and measures were tested during the year 1938:
Not
Sealed
Sealed
Condemned
Platform scales over 10,000 lbs.
2
Platform scales over 5,000 lbs.
21
Platform scales under 5,000 lbs.
76
Spring scales over 100 lbs.
8
Spring scales under 100 lbs.
53
Computing scales
75
2
Counter scales
37
Personal scales
17
Prescription scales
9
Weights, avoirdupois
470
8
6
Weights, apothecary
47
Weights, metric
19
Gasoline pumps
2
Stops on pumps
6
2
Gasoline meters
62
Oil pumps
14
Bulk station meter systems
7
6
Grease-measuring devices
9
2
Yard measures
219
Leather measures
12
The following inspections were made:
Number of each Tested
Found Correct
Found Underweight
Found Overweight
Beans
30
28
2
Bread
65
30
20
15
Butter
40
25
10
15
Charcoal (in paper bags)
16
14
2
Coal (in paper bags)
25
20
5
Coal (in transit)
10
6
4
Confectionery
22
18
4
Dry Commodities
60
40
12
8
Dry Goods
10
10
Flour
44
28
6
10
75
Fruits and Vegetables
54
43
4
7
Ice
20
16
4
Kindling wood (in paper bags)
8
6
2
Lard
26
18
2
6
Liquid Commodities
30
16
S
6
Meats and Provisions
40
28
6
6
Potatoes
60
40
15
5
Wood (kindling)
S
8
This is a complete report of all the inspections I have made during the past year.
Very truly yours, HARRY M. KING, Sealer of Weights and Measures
76
REPORT OF CEMETERY DEPARTMENT
Mr. William C. Kendrick
General Manager
Town of Norwood, Massachusetts
Dear Sir:
I submit herewith the annual report of the Cemetery Department for the year ending December 31, 1938. The work conducted in the Cemetery Department has been the same as in previous years, namely that of inter- ments, maintenance, construction, foundations and private work.
The department made 157 interments and five removals during the year. The W.P.A. park project No. 9572 began March 24, 1938, and con- tinued to August 31, 1938, when the workers were transferred to project 16502, namely digging and removing stone from section 55. 2230 sq. yds. were dug over and 1230 sq. yds. were graded in this section. The work is completed in this section with the exception of top loam and bound stones, and work on this project is being continued in sections 45 and 46.
In conclusion, I should like to express my appreciation for the co- operation and interest shown this department by the Town Officials.
Respectfully submitted,
GEORGE A. SMITH, Superintendent, Cemetery Department
77
ANNUAL REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES OF THE MORRILL MEMORIAL LIBRARY
To the Citizens of Norwood:
The following report for the year ending December 31, 1938, is submitted by the trustees of the Morrill Memorial Library.
On February 28, Miss Jane A. Hewett, our librarian, observed her fortieth anniversary as librarian. The trustees recognized it and noted it in the records.
At the March meeting, the trustees decided to charge non-residents one dollar ($1.00) a year for use of the library as of March 1.
The librarian's report of September showed a gain in circulation every month since January. The total gain for these months was 2470 and the increase was maintained during the remaining months of the year.
Total circulation for 1938 is 118,056 volumes.
The hurricane did considerable damage to the library and grounds. Many of the tiles were blown from the roof and three trees were lost on the grounds. The tiles have been replaced.
All the floors in the library have been refinished this year. The leakage in the walls of the hall leading to the Young Adults' Room is still in evidence and the town authorities are still at a loss to account for it.
In October the trustees secured an indefinite loan of a group of sixteen paintings and art objects from the Federal Government. These have been placed in the library and the framing of the paintings was underwritten from the Plimpton Fund.
At the November meeting of the Old Colony Library Club at the East Milton branch of the Milton Library, Miss Dorothy Shumaker of the Norwood Library staff spoke on "Highlights Among New Children's Books.
As part of her publicity work, Miss Barbara Jordan, another member of the staff, had a collection of amateur photographs on exhibition at the library. These photographs were taken by Norwood residents.
During December the trustees held an informal meeting of the board which was attended by Miss Edna Phillips of Gloucester, a candidate for the position as librarian of the Morrill Memorial Library.
Respectfully submitted,
W. W. EVERETT, Chairman, MARY E. WILLIAMS, Secretary, A. MARION SWAIN, MAUDE A. SHATTUCK, RALPH W. TAYLOR.
78
LIBRARIAN'S REPORT
To the Board of Trustees:
The following is a statistical report of the Morrill Memorial Library for the year 1938, arranged according to the form recommended by the Ameri- can Library Association.
Name of Library
Morrill Memorial Library
Town
Norwood
Name of Librarian
Jane A. Hewett
Date of Founding
1873
Assessed Valuation
$22,726,530.00
Terms of Use
Free for Lending; Free for Reference
Number of Agencies
5
Number of Days Open in 1938
301
Number of Hours Open each Week
66
Number of Staff
7
Increase
Number of Volumes at the Beginning of the Year
51,160
Number of Volumes Added by Purchase
1,815
Number of Volumes Added by Gift
54
Number of Volumes at the End of the Year
53,029
Use
Fiction
Non-Fiction
Foreign
Total
Adult
62,421
16,312
415
79,148
Young Adult
10,979
1,247
12,226
Juvenile
9,462
3,434
12,896
Balch School
2,532
Callahan School
3,643
Shattuck School
4,465
Winslow School
3,065
High School
81
Total
118,056
Finance
See Report of Town Accountant.
Registration
Adult
Young Adult
Juvenile
Total
Number of Borrowers Registered in 1938 185
56
236
477
Total Number of Registered Borrowers
3369
712
787
4868
79
Books Added to the Library
Young
Adult
Adult
Juvenile
Total
General Works
26
1
1
28
Philosophy
25
0
0
25
Religion
8
0
4
12
Sociology (includes fairy tales)
67
15
66
148
Philology
4
0
0
4
Natural Science
32
4
7
43
Useful Arts
43
7
28
78
Fine Arts
59
3
4
66
Literature
82
2
15
99
Description and Travel
98
2
6
106
Biography
103
9
12
124
History
75
5
12
92
Fiction
600
164
280
1044
Total
1222
212
435
1869
Gifts
Books, magazines, newspapers, pamphlets and flowers have been re- ceived from the following:
American Legion Auxiliary
Francis Heylin
Capt. Henry F. Barry
K. of C., Norwood Council
Mrs. Robert Brookings
Norwood Free Press
Mrs. Rupert J. Chute
Mr. Michael Sward
Commonwealth of Massachusetts
United Spanish War Veterans
General Duval
Veterans of Foreign Wars
Mr. W. W. Everett
Miss Mabel F. Walker
Mrs. Frances Freedman
Mr. Leo A. Wells
M. Pierre Frondare
Mr. William T. Whedon
Mrs. Allan Haskell
Mr. Ray L. Wilbur
Mrs. Jessie W. Young
JANE A. HEWETT, Librarian
SO
ANNUAL REPORT OF TOWN COUNSEL For the Year 1938
Selectmen Charles E. Houghton, Chairman Norwood, Massachusetts
Dear Sirs:
I submit herewith in summarized form the thirtieth annual report of my conduct of the Legal Department of the town covering its activities for the year nineteen hundred and thirty-eight.
As in past years, the principal service has been of an advisory character, in many instances through written opinions, and furnished to the following departments and officials, namely, Selectmen, School Committee and its Superintendent, Town Treasurer and Collector of Taxes, Finance Com- mission, Board of Health, Board of Assessors, Board of Public Welfare, Planning Board, Board of Appeal, General Manager, Temporary General Manager, Town Clerk and Accountant and Clerk of Selectmen, Inspector of Buildings, Special Committee on Peabody Fund, so-called, Contributory Retirement Board, and Board of Registrars of Voters.
In addition, service was rendered as requested or as voluntarily under- taken, when it seemed advisable, in the form of attendance at hearings, conferences and views taken, court activities, drafting and revising various instruments and other papers and attention to an extensive correspondence.
As appears from the itemization which follows, the service rendered dealt, as in past years, with a variety of essential problems and questions and covered a wide field of municipal activities. A detailed account of the service, arranged chronologically in departmental order, has been prepared and placed in the files and is available for reference purposes.
Litigation and Claims
LITIGATION
Charles P. Pond, et al (Flora M. Pond, Executrix) vs. Norwood: Flora M. Pond, et al vs. Norwood:
The court status of these cases with respect to disposition by trial or otherwise remains as stated in the report for the year 1937 which cases have been placed, however, upon the so-called inactive list and therefore subject in due course, while in that condition, to dismissal. Irrespective of that situation the payment of the betterment assessments to which one of the suits relates by the party now holding title to the properties involved dis- poses of such suit as to its legal effect because the basis of the claim that the betterments are excessive or illegal no longer exists, assuming that any attempt is made in the future to press the suit to trial.
81
City of Boston vs. Norwood (two cases):
Norwood vs. City of Boston (two cases):
The initial suit brought on December 15, 1936, remains in the same status as existed at the end of the year 1937 and as fully stated in the re- port for that ycar, to which report for details reference is hereby made.
Attempts were made during the year 1938 by Agent Latham of the Board of Public Welfare and myself to hold further conferences with officials of the Welfare Department of the City of Boston who have immediate super- vision of the subject matter of the suit, with a view to settlement of the various claims involved in the suit by negotiation as had been proposed rather than through court trial, but on account of a pressure of other matters in the Welfare Department of said City, and doubtless due in part also to a change in the administration of the City, with its effect in conse- quence on the personnel of the Legal Department of the City, no such con- ferences were held, but a renewal of the same in the year 1939 is in prospect.
There is also pending another action in contract brought by said City against the town through writ issuing out of the Superior Court for Suffolk County under date of December 31, 1938, returnable on March 6, 1939, in which writ the ad damnum named is $6,000 and which writ further states that the claim is for welfare aid furnished, the details of which are at present unknown and will not be available until the suit is entered in court, at the time above stated. It doubtless represents alleged welfare relief claims arising subsequent to those covered by the first action above mentioned, and the total of which is considerably less in all probability than the amount of the ad damnum of the writ.
There is still pending in the Superior Court for Norfolk County a suit in contract brought by the town against the City of Boston by way of cross action to recover the sum of $1,811.26 for claims for relief furnished to Boston settled recipients and reported as pending at the end of the year 1937 and which will follow the same course of action as the suit first above mentioned of Boston vs. Norwood.
On November 26, 1938, a further suit was brought by the town against the City of Boston by a writ issuing out of the Superior Court for Norfolk County in an action of contract returnable on January 3, 1939 to recover on claims amounting to $754.24 for old age assistance rendered and welfare relief furnished in the form of hospital care and otherwise.
Doubtless all these cases will be treated together for the purpose of negotiation with a view to settlement or for trial if it becomes necessary.
It is hoped and expected that the various claims embodied in these suits will be disposed of during the year 1939, by appropriate action.
Norwood vs. Julia Smith: This suit was reported as pending for trial at the end of the year 1937 and is defended by the insurer of the owner of the motor vehicle which the defendant was operating at the time of the colli- sion of the same with a fire truck owned by the town on May 23, 1937, and for damage to which fire truck compensation is sought by the town, through
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