USA > Massachusetts > Norfolk County > Randolph > Randolph town reports 1891-1900 > Part 47
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One of these is on Mill Street, opposite the residence of Michael Crowley, and the other at the end of the line.
The hydrants were all tested in the Fall and were all in good condition with one or two exceptions.
97
METERS.
In looking over the reports of water works, it seems that the use of water meters is being more generally adopted.
As the best authority on water works estimates that about one-third (3) of the water pumped is wasted from various causes, as leaks in the mains which cannot be seen, leaky fixtures and careless waste of water in buildings, it shows that any means that can reduce these is a saving in expense of pumping.
A simple leak of about one drop per second amounts to five gallons a day.
In many cases where much water is used it is difficult to fix rates satisfactory to both parties, but by the use of a meter the party pays for what he uses, and the water works receive pay for what they have applied.
From what little experience we have had, they seem to give good satisfaction.
The rates of water by meter will be found in the last of the report of the Water Commissioners, and any information in regard to the same will be cheerfully given by them or by the superintendent.
To the Water Commissioners of Randolph :
Gentlemen, - I submit to you my eleventh annual report as engineer of your plant for the year ending December 31, 1898.
Everything at the station is in fine condition, and unless some unforeseen accident occurs we shall have no expense for repairs the coming year. The consumption of water this year has increased only about 2,000,000 gallons over last year, and the coal about 5,000 pounds less, which shows that our plant does not grow wasteful as it grows older.
Following is the usual table :
98
DATE.
Gallons pumped.
Daily average, Gallons.
Coal burned, Pounds.
Daily average, Coal, Pounds.
January .
7,706,035
256,867
51,067
1,702
February
6,333,659
211,12I
46,251
1,542
March
7,471,443
249,048
50,904
1,697
April
7,990,460
266,349
47,036
1,564
May
8,201,046
273,368
49,482
1,649
June
11,420,975
380,699
69,304
2,310
July
12,761,868
425,395
77,941
2,398
August .
10,373,352
345,778
56,314
1,897
September
9,247,509
308,250
53,324
1,777
October .
8,510,076
283,335
52,975
1,765
November
6,326,577
210,885
47,538
1,584
December
7,162,252
238,741
52,44I
1,748
Totals
103,505,252
283,576
654,577
1,793
Respectfully submitted,
E. J. T. DEXTER, Engineer.
RULES AND REGULATIONS.
The following regulations, until further notice, shall be considered a part of the contract with every person who uses water :
1. All applications for the use of water must be made at the office of the Water Commissioners, and state fully the purposes for which it is intended to be used. Water will not be introduced into any building or premises except on the written application of the owner thereof, or by a duly authorized agent. The property will in all cases be held responsible for the water rates.
2. All persons taking water must keep their water pipes and fixtures in good repair and protected from the frost at their own expense. They will be held liable for all damages resulting from their failure to do so. They shall prevent all
99
unnecessary waste, and water shall not be left running to prevent freezing. The Water Commissioners or their agent may, from time to time, ascertain the quantity of water used, the manner of its use, and whether there is any unnecessary waste. They and their agents shall have free access to the premises supplied, to examine the apparatus, and if any fix- tures are found not to be in good order, they shall direct them repaired, and if not repaired within two days the water shall be shut off and not let on again until such repairs are made, and the sum of two dollars paid for shutting off and turning on the water.
3. The occupant of any premises, when unnecessary waste of water occurs, shall be liable to a fine of two dollars for the first offence, and four dollars for the second offence dur- ing the same year, and shall be notified thereof in writing; and if such waste is not prevented and the fine aforesaid paid within two days from the time when the said notice is given, the water shall be shut off from the premises, and shall not be again let on for the same occupant until the waste be stopped and the fine paid, together with an additional sum of two dollars for shutting off and letting on the water; and in case of a third or subsequent offence the water shall be shut off, and shall not again be let on except by a vote of the Water Commissioners and the payment of such fine, not exceeding ten dollars, as the Water Commissioners may im- pose.
4. Any person supplied with water shall not allow another to take water from their fixtures without the written permis- sion of the Water Commissioners. If any tenant, having no fixtures, has any use of such fixtures, full rates will be charged for such use by each tenant.
5. All parties using water in stables, for horses or other animals, will be charged schedule rates for the same, whether it be carried by hand or through hose.
100
6. All persons using water for building purposes are re- quired to obtain a permit from the Water Commissioners before taking water from any faucet or fixture connected with the water works, and all water takers are warned not to let any party take water from their premises until they show a permit from the Water Commissioners. Any person furnishing water in violation of this section will be subject to a fine of not less than five nor more than twenty dollars, and if the same when levied is not paid within three days from the time when the notice thereof is given, the water will be shut off from the premises, and will not be let on again until such fine is paid.
7. All fixtures and water-closets and urinals must be of a kind and quality approved by the Water Commissioners.
8. No person shall in any case be allowed to open any fire hydrants except by a written permit from the Water Com- missioners ; but the Engineers of the Fire Department shall in all cases have control of hydrants at fires and for practice.
9. The Commissioners reserve the right to restrict the use of hose or fountain, to shut off the water in all cases when it becomes necessary to make extensions or repairs, or for vio- lation of any of the regulations, or whenever they deem it expedient.
10. The regular rates for the use of water shall be payable in advance on the first days of January and July of each year. except where water is supplied to manufacturers by special agreement. In all cases of non-payment of the water rates within ten days after the same is due, as well as for any vio- lation of these rules and regulations, the supply will be shut off, and the water will not again be let on except upon the payment of the amount due, and the sum of two dollars for shutting off and letting on the water.
11. The Water Commissioners reserve the right to change
101
the water rates at any time, except in case of dwelling-houses, and establish special rates.
12. For business requiring large quantities of water, and all supplies not enumerated in the tariff of rates, special rates will be made.
13. Parties using water for manufacturing or domestic pur- poses can erect hydrants on their grounds or stand pipes in their building, to be used only as protection against fire, without additional charge for water.
14. All service pipes will be put in by the Water Commis- sioners. All applicants for the introduction of service pipes into their premises are required to make written application therefor at the office of the Water Commissioners. The Commissioners may then proceed to lay the necessary service pipes to the interior of the building, provided all expenses incurred beyond the line of the street shall be paid by the owner of the premises, who shall thereafter maintain and keep the same in good order at his own cost; and the same shall be at all times subject to the control of the Commissioners. All applicants for whom the pipe is laid will be charged for the use of one faucet whether the water is used or not, unless they pay all expense that has been incurred in laying such service pipe, and in no case will the main be tapped more than once for the same premises, unless the additional ex- pense is borne by the owner.
The following water rates are established until further notice :
No connection made with the main pipe for any
purpose for less than .
DWELLING-HOUSES. $6 00
Occupied by one family, for the first faucet $6 00
Each additional faucet to be used by same family, 2 00
102
Two or more families occupying one house, one
faucet for all, each family $5 00
One faucet for each family ·
6 00
For first bathtub 5 00
If used by more than one family in same house, each family 4 00
Each additional bathtub .
2 00
For first pan or self-acting water closet .
5 00
If used by more than one family in same house, each family 4 00
Each additional pan or self-acting water closet .
2 00
In no case shall the charge for the use of water by a private family, exclusive of hose and stable, be more than . 20 00
Where two faucets are used, one for hot and one for cold water, emptying into the same basin, only one charge will be made for both.
Laundry tub . 3 00
BOARDING HOUSES AND HOTELS.
First faucet
$10 00
Each additional faucet
3 00
First bathtub
10 00
Each additional bathtub .
3 00
First pan or self-acting water closet 10 00
Each additional pan or self-acting water closet . 3 00
PRIVATE STABLES.
First horse
$5 00
Each additional horse
·
3 00
Each cow or ox .
1 00
LIVERY, EXPRESS, AND BOARDING STABLES. For the first four horses 12 00 ·
From five to twelve horses, each 2 00 .
103
The above prices include water for washing carriages. Offices, Stores, Markets, Barber Shops, and Restau- rants-When used for ordinary purposes, same as for dwelling houses.
Building Purposes-Each cask of lime or cement, $0 05
HOSE.
For sprinkling streets, washing windows, and similar uses, 1-4 inch nozzle, to be used only on prem- ises and street opposite, not exceeding two hours per day for six months in the year . For any use not herein enumerated, special rates will be made.
5 00
METER RATES.
For not over 1,000 gallons average per day, per 1,000 gallons 30
For over 1,000 gallons and not exceeding 2,000 gal-
lons average per day, per 1,000 gallons 25
For over 2,000 gallons, per day, per 1,000 gallons, 20
Provided that in no case where a meter is used shall the annual charge be less than $8.
Meters will be supplied by the Water Commissioners, for which an annual rental will be charged as follows :
Size 5-8 inch, $2 per year.
Size 3-4 inch, $2 per year.
All needed repairs, damages by frost excepted, will be made at the expense of the town.
Persons desirous of owning their meters will be supplied at cost.
PETER B. HAND, DANIEL B. WHITE, CHARLES A. WALES, Water Commissioners.
104
JOSEPH T. LEAHY, TREASURER, IN ACCOUNT WITH RANDOLPH WATER WORKS.
RECEIPTS.
Balance on hand December 31, 1897
. $2,591 88
Received for water rates
6,189 81
service connections
323 59
meter rates and rents
572 72
pipe sold
7 80
Received appropriations of town :
For hydrants
. $2,000 00
sinking fund
3,000 00- 5,000 00
Received interest on deposits
I 32
Refunded by Holbrook
1,082 94
EXPENDITURES.
*Paid orders of Water Commissioners
15,182 73
Balance on hand December 31, 1898
$587 33
*Three coupons of $20 each were not presented for payment so that the amount credited is $60 less than the amount of the orders drawn by the Water Commissioners.
FINANCIAL STATEMENT BY MONTHS.
MONTH.
Receipts.
Payments
Balance.
December, 1897
$2,591 88
January, 1898
$1,009 50
$600 00
3,001 38
February
57 00
313 34
2,745 04
March
587 08
382 75
2,949 37
April
388 21
2,289 68
1,047 90
May
310 24
836 47
521 67
June
178 00
340 38
359 29
July
1,768 33
891 06
1,236 56
August
383 42
490 58
1,129 40
September
469 70
389 15
1,209 95
October
2,209 80
3,037 71
382 04
November
317 80
693 05
6 79
December
5,499 10
4,918 56
587 33
Totals .
$13,178 18
$15,182 73
RANDOLPH, February 9, 1899.
We, the undersigned, Auditors of the town of Randolph, have this day examined the accounts of Joseph T. Leahy, Treasurer of the Water Com- missioners, and find the same correct and the balance as stated above.
C. G. HATHAWAY, M. F. CUNNINGHAM, R. P. BARRETT,
Auditors.
.
.
$15,770 06
105
JOSEPH T. LEAHY, TREASURER, in account with RANDOLPH WATER LOAN SINKING FUND.
DR.
Balance on hand December 31, 1897 $509 02
Received for town note
4,000 00
town appropriation 3,000 00
Received interest :
On town note, one year . $160 00
Old Colony Railroad bond, one year, 120 00
Maine Central bond, one year . 30 00
Town of Randolph bonds, one year, 880 00
On deposits in savings banks :
Randolph
$22 66
Brockton 48 26
North Easton
48 26
Quincy
48 36
Abington 50 89
Mass. Loan & Trust Co., 25 84
244 27
1,434 27
$8,943 29
CR.
By amount deposited in savings banks, $218 43 By amount paid for town note 4,000 00 Cash balance deposited in Mass. Loan & Trust Co. 4,724 86
$8,943 29
106
FINANCIAL EXHIBIT OF WATER ACCOUNT DECEMBER 31, 1898.
LIABILITIES.
Water bonds outstanding : amount due,-
April 1, 1902
$10,000 00
April 1, 1907 .
. 20,000 00
April 1, 1912 . 20,000 00
April 1, 1917 ·
. 40,000 00
May 1, 1918 . . 20,000 00
July 1, 1922
. 25,000 00
July 1, 1926
. 8,000 00
-$143,000 00
Interest due on bonds, Dec. 31, 1898, 1,693 33
-
-
$144,693 33
ASSETS.
Amount of sinking fund
$39,811 25
Cash in hands of Treasurer . 587 33
40,398 58
Net water debt, December 3, 1898 .
$104,294 75
Net water debt, Dec. 31, 1897, $106,724 47
Net water debt, Dec. 31, 1898, 104,294 75
Decrease of water debt in 1898, $2,429 72
107
STATE OF THE RANDOLPH WATER LOAN SINK- ING FUND DECEMBER 31, 1898.
1 Old Colony R.R. bond, registered 4 per cent, $3,000 00 1 Maine Central R.R. bond, coupon, 6 per cent, 500 00 22 Town of Randolph bonds, 4 per cent 22,000 00
. 1 Town of Randolph note, 4 per cent 4,000 00
On deposit in Abington Savings Bank 1,272 50 .
On deposit in North Easton Savings Bank .
1,243 30
On deposit in Quincy Savings Bank .
1,243 30
On deposit in Brockton Savings Bank 1,243 30
On deposit in Randolph Savings Bank 583 99
On deposit in Mass. Loan & Trust Co. 4,724 86
$39,811 25
The undersigned, Auditors of the Town of Randolph, have this day examined the sinking fund and find it to agree with the statement above made.
C. G. HATHAWAY, M. F. CUNNINGHAM, R. P. BARRETT,
Auditors.
Randolph, February 13, 1899.
108
REPORT OF TOWN TREASURER.
With a deep sense of the gravity of the financial status of our town, the Treasurer submits his annual report and asks that the points enumerated therein be given the closest and most careful scrutiny, that the problems presented be weighed with deliberation, so that at the coming town meeting action may be taken with intelligence, and adjustment effected to the advantage of the town.
Our valuation, as shown in the Assessors' report, is $1,- 875,450 - three per cent of which fixes our debt limit at $56,263.50.
Our town debt at present is over $50,000, showing an in- crease during the past year of about $7,000. This increase, however, is not the present source of anxiety, since it is easily accounted for and provisions have been made for its payment by the appropriations for the road plant ($5,000) and the additional appropriations for the removal of snow ($1,500) and pauper aid ($800).
The immediate source of anxiety is the older portion of the town debt, items which will fall due in the near future, and which, had the provisions of the Public Statutes been com- plied with, would be extinguished at maturity. To illustrate :
On August 1, 1889, a loan of $8,500 was contracted for the widening of Allen Street and the building of Highland Avenue. This loan falls due August 1, 1899. According to Public Statutes, Chap. 29, Sec. 9, . . "when [a debt is] payable at a period not exceeding ten years, the city or town shall raise by taxation annually not less than eight per cent
109
of the principal thereof, and shall set apart the same for a sinking fund until an amount is raised sufficient, with its ac- cumulations, to extinguish the debt at its maturity ; and shall raise any balance necessary for such extinguishment by tax- ation in the year before the maturity of the debt."
Sec. 1 of Chap. 133, Acts of 1882 : ". .. Any city or town required by Chap. 29 of the Public Statutes to establish a sinking fund for the payment of its indebtedness may, instead thereof, by a majority vote, provide for the payment of such indebtedness in such annual proportionate payments as will extinguish the same within the time prescribed in said chap- ter; and when such vote has heretofore or shall be hereafter passed, the amount required thereby shall, without further vote, be assessed by the assessors in each year thereafter until the debt shall be extinguished. . . . "
According to these provisions, either plan should have been adopted and we should have today on hand an amount suffi- cient to pay the entire loan. Instead, however, appropria- tions have been made for the past ten years to cover the in- terest only ; the principal still remains unprovided for, and we have no funds with which to meet its payment in the com- ing August. Furthermore, a note of $6,300 becoming due in 1900 and a note of $3,000 becoming due in 1901, each is- sued for a similar purpose, have been ignored in the same way, the interest only having been provided for.
These facts call in the loudest terms for immediate action by the establishment of a sinking fund. The payment of the notes falling due August 1, next, must also be specifi- cally provided for.
Another source of annoyance is the present state of the treasury in regard to current expenses. Several times dur- ing the past year we have been sorely pressed for money, and experience has taught that each year under our present system encompasses us with more difficulties than the one
110
preceding it. Our borrowing capacity is annually decreas- ing, as the following application will show :
The tax levy of any year is supposed to cover the appro- priations of that year - nothing more - and is never wholly collected at the end of the year. The current expenses, on the other hand, accrue as regularly as the sun rises and sets, and the entire amount is presented for payment within the financial year. Now as the taxes which are intended to meet the payment of these expenses, and which comprise our only source of revenue, are not entirely collected in one year, and as the expenses must be paid, and as we cannot pay something with nothing, our only course is to borrow in anticipation of these outstanding taxes, and make the date of payment overlap on another year. This overlapping process, while perfectly legal, gives a false sense of security, and when carried on in ever increasing amounts for a long period of time will eventually bring us to a point where we must call a halt, and we are dangerously near that point at the present time.
It will be seen by consulting the financial statement that there are outstanding nearly $27,000 in taxes. This vir- tually means that expenses to the amount of $27,000 have been contracted and paid by borrowing on this overlapping process. It will also be seen that we owe in notes in an- ticipation of these taxes $22,000. These notes become due and must be paid at various periods in 1899. They cannot be renewed, and unless we have the actual cash with which to pay them - which experience shows will not be the case - they can only be paid by the substitution of notes in anticipation of the taxes of 1899. This method will take $22,000 directly out of the $35,000 we are authorized to borrow, and really give the town a borrowing capacity of only $13,000 to meet the expenses of the entire year.
Every dollar spent over any appropriation adds to the
111
debt of the town ; but, furthermore, every dollar of such ad- ditional debt and every dollar of an increase in uncollected taxes takes a like amount from this $13,000; so that, as I have before stated, our borrowing capacity is decreasing every year.
With this explanation, a glance at the following table, showing the respective amounts of uncollected taxes at the end of each financial year for the past fifteen years, may prove of interest and will throw some light on our present financial stringency.
Amounts of uncollected taxes at dates given :
March 1, 1885, $3,328 26
Dec. 31, 1892, $11,995 26
1, 1886,
5,303 84
31, 1893, 14,831 78
1,1887, 4,085 81 31, 1894, 15,362 74
1, 1888, 9,258 69 31, 1895, 18,936 20
1, 1889, 7,306 48
31, 1896, 25,162 46
1, 1890, 8,671 13
31, 1897, 25,813 98
1,1891, 10,036 07
31, 1898, 26,818 63
Dec. 31, 1891, 11,811 00
As before stated (I feel I cannot too strongly impress this point), every dollar of this amount outstanding repre- sents a dollar of expense which has been paid by borrow- ing, and which, therefore, reduces our borrowing capacity by a like amount. The oft-repeated assertions that "the town can borrow " (implying unlimited amounts) and that " the town is making money by the delay in payment of taxes " (implying that since we borrow money at about four per cent and receive six per cent we should be only too glad to encourage this delay), will upon a little reflection appear utterly unworthy of notice, since the first assertion can be refuted by the statement that our borrowing capacity is limited, and the second by the statement that our loans must be repaid within one year, to say nothing of the fact
112
that the figures in the treasurer's interest account show the assertion to be untrue.
In regard to the state of the treasury as affected by these features, the treasurer does not hold himself responsible. On one point, however, he admits culpability - in neglect- ing to ask during the past two years an appropriation to cover the " expense " account. This account is comprised of court fees and fees for the returns of births, marriages and deaths, all of which are regulated by law, yet which are to be paid out of the money raised by taxation, and which, therefore, should be covered by an appropriation, yet so far as I can discover none has ever been asked or granted.
The amounts paid for returns of births, marriages and deaths will vary but little from year to year, but the amount of the court fees is an uncertain quantity. A retrospect of the past fifteen years will throw some light on the subject of our town debt and how it accrued, and will clearly prove that the little items annually accumulating will amount in a few years to a sum which refuses to be ignored. I present, therefore, in detail, the " Expense " account for the past fif- teen years, representing amounts paid but unprovided for by taxation :
1884, net $214 00
1894, net $349 94
1885,
256 60
438 71 ce 889 36 1892, 1893, 1889, net $401 53 809 51
1895, ce 412 36
1886, 624 05
1890, 1891, ce 310 31 1896, " 248 62
1887, " > 501 99
1897, ce 135 16
1888,
435 17
1898,
267 57
It appears safe to assume, when a single item of this kind ignored for fifteen years amounts to over $6,000 of town debt, that a large portion of our debt has accrued in just such a way as this ; that while the gain has been imperceptible, it has been gradual and continual, until now it has assumed alarming proportions.
113
The treasurer is a firm believer in the good results to be attained by submitting tables of comparison ; figures will tell the story of good or ill results in a concise and truthful manner, and will act at once as judge and jury.
In summing up, careful deliberation is requested on the following points :
1. Specific action in relation to the notes falling due August 1, 1899.
2. The establishment of a sinking fund for the payment of the town debt.
3. The adoption of more stringent measures for the col- lection of taxes.
4. The appropriation of amounts sufficient to cover current expenses.
The interest account is presented herewith :
INTEREST ACCOUNT.
DR.
Appropriation
$2,500 00
Interest received on overdue taxes
1,058 68
Interest received on bank deposits 56 72
$3,615 40
CR.
By payment of interest :
On street loans $712 00
On anticipation of taxes loans . ·
1,155 70
On all other town notes .
1,557 75 .
$3,425 45
Amount unexpended
$189 95
114
DR. JOSEPH T. LEAHY, TREASURER, IN ACCOUNT
Balance on hand December 31, 1897 . Received :
$3,606 29
From money borrowed on notes
70,000 00
Taxes of 1895 (additional)
$II 80
1896
6,623 26
1897
9,500 00 .
1898
22,500 00 -- 38,635 06
State Treasurer :
Massachusetts school fund, 1897 $281 28
Massachusetts school fund, 1898 294 43
corporation tax, balance of 1897
149 78
corporation tax, in part, 1898
3,685 25
National Bank tax, 1898
1,945 06
military aid, 1897 .
312 00
State aid, 1897
2,624 50
burial soldiers
70 00- 9,362 30
Selectmen for sundry accounts
749 0I
other towns, pauper account :
Milton
$94 68
Canton
30 00
Weymouth
42 00
Braintree, 1897
60 00
Braintree, 1898
60 00
Taunton
52 00
Avon
6 15
Boston .
14 15
Holbrook
401 25
Milford
I 25- 761 48
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