USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Somerville > Report of the city of Somerville 1895 > Part 22
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37
And now I beg to submit my report to your considerate judgment, with the hope that the improved conditions of the library may lead to an improved use of it, since I am sure it is a reservoir of power, of activity, of inspiration and of life.
Lately the report has been current that Professor Roentgen, of Wurzburg University, has developed a means of utilizing radiant heat by developing a light which is said to have remarkable power of penetration, so that the very action of the brain may be disclosed, and we may, as it were, see a man think.
Whatever of truth this may have, it cannot be disputed that there is a light, the so-called light of pure reason, the dry light of ancient
39
F- REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES OF THE PUBLIC LIBRARY.
philosophy, which dissolves as in a magic solvent all things, and gives to the eye of human intelligence a collyrium that heals blindness and reveals a new glory in earth and sky. For the nourishment of such light, before which other lights shall pale their ineffectual fires, this library has been provided. May we guard it with vigilance, may its light be intensified by accumulation of power, until thinking shall be harmonious communion with truth, and life, resting upon the summit of great thoughts, be bathed in the radiance of that dry light, the light of pure reason, which shall give intellectual knowledge and wisdom.
Respectfully submitted,
December 30, 1895.
JOHN S. HAYES, Librarian.
·
G
REPORT. OF THE
SOMERVILLE MYSTIC WATER BOARD.
CITY OF SOMERVILLE.
IN BOARD OF ALDERMEN, February 12, 1896. Referred to Committee on Printing, to be printed in the annual reports. Sent down for concurrence.
GEORGE I. VINCENT, Clerk.
IN COMMON COUNCIL, February 13, 1896. Referred to Committee on Printing, to be printed in the annual reports, in concurrence.
CHAS. S. ROBERTSON, Clerk.
SOMERVILLE MYSTIC WATER BOARD, 1895. 1 GEORGE D. WEMYSS, President. GEORGE A. KIMBALL (term expires 1897). Residence, 33 Warren avenue. GEORGE D. WEMYSS (term expires 1896). Residence, 5 Austin street.
WM. FRANKLIN HALL (term expires 1895). Residence, 345 Broadway.
CLERK OF THE WATER BOARD. FRANK E. MERRILL.
SUPERINTENDENT OF WATER WORKS. NATHANIEL DENNETT.
ENGINEER AT PUMPING STATION. SIDNEY E. HAYDEN.
OFFICE OF THE WATER BOARD AND SUPERINTENDENT. Prospect street, corner of Somerville avenue.
PUMPING STATION.
Cedar street, near Broadway.
Bills against the department should be rendered to the Clerk on or before the first day of each month, and are payable by the City Treasurer on the seventeenth of the month.
4
ANNUAL REPORTS.
WATER BOARD.
HISTORICAL.
Nov. 5, 1867. The first committee on water was elected in town meeting to take into consideration the matter of contracting with the City of Charlestown for a supply of Mystic water.
April 13, 1868. Formation of the " Somerville Mystic Water Committee "; members elected in town meeting (Chap. 202, Acts of 1868).
Jan. 13, 1872. Formation of the " Somerville Mystic Water Board "; members elected in City Council (Chap. 182, Acts of 1871).
March 11, 1891. Members of Somerville Mystic Water Board appointed by Mayor ; term of office three years, one member being appointed annually (Chap. 217, Acts of 1890).
Following are the names of all who have served on the above Committees and Boards, with length of their periods of service.
NAME.
From
To
Nathan Tufts, Jr.
Nov.
5, 1867
April
13, 1868
Aaron Sargent
Nov.
5, 1867
Jan.
13, 1872
George O. Brastow
Nov.
5, 1867
April
13, 1868
Samuel A. Carlton
Nov.
5, 1867
April
13, 1868
Christopher E. Rymes
Nov. 5, 1867
Jan.
15, 1877
Thomas Cunningham
Nov.
5, 1867
April
13, 1868
Jan.
13, 1872
Jan.
15, 1877
Levi Russell
Nov.
5, 1867
April
13, 1868
Robert A. Vinal
April
13, 1868
Jan.
15, 1877
Reuben E. Demmon .
April
13, 1868
Jan.
13, 1872
Cutler Downer .
April
13, 1868
Jan.
15, 1877
Horace Haskins
Jan.
13, 1872
Jan.
24, 1877
Aaron R. Coolidge
Jan.
17, 1882
Jan.
20, 1885
Edwin S. Conant
Jan.
15, 1877
Feb.
1, 1883
Edward Foote
Jan.
15, 1877
Jan.
9, 1883
Loren W. Jones
Jan.
15, 1877
Jan.
22, 1878
Cromwell G. Rowell
Jan.
29, 1877
Jan.
20, 1879
Joseph A. Chabot
Jan.
22, 1878
Jan.
20, 1879
Martin W. Carr
Jan.
20, 1879
Jan.
20, 1880
Herbert E. Hill
Jan.
20, 1879
Jan.
20, 1880
John F. Cole
Jan.
20, 1880
Jan.
17, 1882
George F. Sturtevant
Jan.
20, 1880
Jan.
17, 1882
Wesley C. Crane
Feb.
3, 1880
Jan.
9, 1883
Joseph O. Hayden
Jan.
17, 1882
Jan.
22, 1890
Walter S. Barnes
Jan.
9, 1883
Jan.
16, 1889
.
Jan.
15, 1877
Jan.
20, 1880
5
G - REPORT OF THE WATER BOARD.
NAME.
From
To
James E. Whitaker .
Jan.
9, 1883
Jan. 20, 1885
John F. Nickerson
Feb.
1, 1883
Jan. 20, 1885
Milo Crane
Jan.
20, 1885
Jan.
11, 1887
John M. Woods
Jan.
20, 1885
Jan.
11, 1887
Charles H. Brown
Jan.
20, 1885
Jan.
11, 1888
Richard T. Blackwell
Jan.
11, 1887
Jan.
11, 1888
John B. Viall
Jan.
11, 1887
Jan.
16, 1889
Adna C. Winning
Jan.
11, 1888
March
11, 1891
Richard Dowd .
Jan.
11, 1888
Jan.
22, 1890
Walter C. Mentzer
Jan.
16, 1889
March 11, 1891
Samuel W. Holt
Jan.
16, 1889
March 11, 1891
Frank G. Lombard
Jan.
22, 1890
March 11, 1891
Frank A. Titus .
Jan.
22, 1890
March 11, 1891
George D. Wemyss
March 11, 1891
Now in office.
Albion A. Perry
March 11, 1891
Feb.
8, 1893
George A. Kimball
March 11, 1891
Now in office.
Wm. Franklin Hall
Feb.
8, 1893
Now in office.
CITY OF SOMERVILLE.
OFFICE OF THE WATER BOARD, February 5, 1896.
To HIS HONOR, THE MAYOR, AND THE CITY COUNCIL : -
In presenting the twenty-second annual report of the Somerville Mystic Water Board, for the year ending with the 31st of December, 1895, the Board desires to say that, in addition to the usual matters touched upon in former reports, it has endeavored to make this a more comprehensive one in respect to the different features of the water question, with a view of giving the citizens of Somerville, as well as your honorable body, a more thorough insight into the condi- tion of this department of the city's affairs, as well as to emphasize the needs, yes, pressing needs, under which the department labors, and which call for consideration on the part of the City Council in order that the affairs of this important branch of the city government may be properly administered.
ORGANIZATION.
The Board organized on February 2, by re-election of George D. Wemyss as President, and Frank E. Merrill as Clerk. Nathaniel Dennett was re-elected Superintendent.
FINANCIAL CONDITION.
COST OF WATER WORKS.
The total cost of the water works on December 31, 1894, was
$635,969.49
Expended during the year 1895 on construction ac- count
32,007.44
Total cost December 31, 1895 . $667,976.93
1
8
ANNUAL REPORTS.
WATER DEBT.
The indebtedness of the city on account of the water works on December 31, 1894, was $340,500 ; this debt has been reduced dur- ing 1895 by the payment of bonds maturing July 1 and October 1, to the amount of $19,000, the water indebtedness being now repre- sented by bonds drawing interest as follows :-
$242,000.00 at 4 per cent. per annum. 69,500.00 " 5 " 66 66 66 10,000.00 ": 51/2 66 66 66
FINANCES.
.
The income from water in 1895, being 50 per cent. of the amount collected by the City of Boston from sale of water in Somerville, and paid over to the City Treasurer of Somerville, was $89,431.46
The disposition made of this income was as follows : -
Appropriated by the City Council for
the use of the water department . $65,000.00
Paid interest on water debt 14,250.00
Paid reduction of water debt
10,181.46
$89,431.46
The following Table A shows the appropriation accounts in de- tail. This table also shows the operation of the water service department, which is self-supporting, and therefore requires no appro- priation.
TABLE A.
RECEIPTS AND DISBURSEMENTS FOR THE YEAR 1895.
WATER MAINTENANCE ACCOUNT.
Dr Cr.
Balance from 1894 $ 311.01
Amount appropriated by City Council
from water revenue 35,000.00
Amount carried forward $35,311.01.
9
G -REPORT OF THE WATER BOARD.
Amount brought forward $35,311.01
Collections from sundry accounts for labor and materials
347.72
Balance from water service assess- ments
1,570.00
Amount transferred to extension ac-
count
$ 1,000.00
Labor and materials furnished sundry parties
347.72
Labor and materials used in mainte- nance of water works
32,906.51
Balance to 1896
2,974.50
$37,228.73
$37,228.73
WATER WORKS EXTENSION ACCOUNT.
Dr. Cr.
Balance from 1894
$ 1,639.27
Amount appropriated by City Council from water revenue
30,000.00
Transferred by City Council from water maintenance account .
1,000.00
Collections from sundry accounts for labor and material
743.16
Labor and materials furnished sundry parties
743.16
Labor and materials used in exten- sion of water works
32,007.44
Balance to 1896
631.83
$33,382.43
$33,382.43
WATER SERVICE ACCOUNT.
Dr. Cr.
412 water service assessments . at $15
$6,180.00
Collections from sundry accounts for labor and material
365.05
Amount carried forward
$6,545.05
10
ANNUAL REPORTS.
$6,545.05
Amount brought forward
Labor and material furnished sundry parties $ 339.13
Labor and material used in water ser- vice construction . 4,635.92
Balance transferred to water mainte- nance account . ·
1,570.00
$6,545.05
$6,545.05
Orders have already been placed with R. D. Wood & Co., of Philadelphia, for 375 tons of cast-iron pipe, at $22.20 per gross ton, delivered at our pumping station. This, as well as the contract made a year ago, has been placed on very advantageous terms for the city. The amount of pipe ordered will not, however, be sufficient to do what ought to be done this year in the way of replacing the old and weak cement-lined pipe still remaining in many of the streets, but it was all that the Board felt like taking the responsibility of ordering, in view of the uncertainty as to the amount which the City Council would appropriate for its use the coming year.
This report is intended to contain a feature somewhat historical in its character, as it is the desire of the Board to give a brief sketch of the financial side of the water works of Somerville, from the first movements in 1867 and 1868 to the present time, viz. :
1. The amount of bonds issued for construction and maintenance.
2: The amount of the payments made on those bonds.
3. The cost of the water works.
4. The income derived from the sale of water to the water-takers of Somerville. At the present time, and since 1887, this is fifty per cent. of all the money collected by the City of Boston from the sale of water in Somerville.
5. The operation of the high-service pumping station, shown by a chart, which makes it very easy to see what amount of water has been distributed through that system ; also a table showing the cost of operation of the high-service system for the year 1895.
11
G - REPORT OF THE WATER BOARD.
TABLE B.
YEAR.
Water Loan Bonds issued on Funded Debt Account.
Reduction of Funded Debt by payments of Water Loan Bonds.
Expenditures for Construction of Water Works.
*Revenue from Water Works.
1869
$80,000.00
$92,203.27
$ 911.39
1870
60,000.00
66,546.50
1,907.63
1871
60,000.00
43,648.66
3,151.30
1872
90,000.00
$50,000.00
43,288.33
3,719.91
1873
60,000.00
20,000.00
27,691.26
5,084.97
1874
15,000.00
13,375.76
9,652.37
1876
70,000.00
60,000.00
6,409.49
10,268.06
1877
10,000.00
13,845.74
10,735.90
1878
30,000.00
30,000.00
514.13
11,584.89
1880
60,000.00
60,000.00
791.56
12,341.60
1881
40,000.00
40,000.00
12,999.79
1882
90,000.00
90,000.00
14,697.37
1883
7,500.00
7,500.00
19,354.28
1884
20,000.00
20,000.00
19,661.67
1885
20,000.00
20,000.00
20,085.95
1886
55,500.00
55,500.00
21,542.28
1887
9,000.00
9,000.00
21,444.91
1888
25,000.00
96,500.00
19,338.89
42,650.57
1889
90,000.00
19,000.00
81,117.43
50,419.07
1890
55,000.00
13,000.00
53,411.79
51,470.91
1891
10,000.00
111,000.00
40,708.48
55,879.72
1892
28,000.00
28,000.00
34,863.17
60,150.80
1893
17,000.00
35,545.30
77,640.91
1894
18,000.00
28,375.67
78,459.73
1895
19,000.00
32,007.44
83,401.30
89,431.46
$1,005,000.00
$683,500.00
$667,976.93
$795,466.94
Total issue
$1,005,000.00
Total payments
683,500.00
Present water debt .
$321,500.00
* From 1869 to 1886, inclusive, the basis of Somerville's water revenue was as follows: - The entire revenue from sale of water in Somerville was collected by the City of Boston and payments were made to this city on the following sliding scale : -
On annual receipts up to $20,000.00, Somerville's proportion was 15 per cent.
On annual receipts, 66 66
$20,000.00 to $30,000.00, Somerville's proportion was 20 per cent.
$30,000.00 to $40,000.00
“ 25 66
66
66
$40,000.00 to $50,000.00 66 66
66 30
66
66 exceeding $50,000.00, Somerville's proportion was 40 per cent.
In 1887 the contract was changed so that Somerville should receive 50 per cent. of the revenue, and this contract is still in effect.
t In 1891 $5,000.00 of Water Loan Bonds were cancelled, City Loan Bonds being substituted for them.
34,294.06
6,818.20
1775
20,000.00
12
ANNUAL REPORTS.
It is impossible to get at the entire consumption of water in Somerville as the same source of supply is used by Chelsea and Everett, and partially by Charlestown also; hence the only figures we can get are as to the amount of water that goes through our pumping station. This is, however, an indication of the increased demand that has been made upon the water supply, especially during the last six or seven years, since the pumping station was built.
HIGH SERVICE.
The high-service system is in excellent condition and continues to give satisfaction. A great many new buildings have been erected on the high lands of Somerville, and especially in the Spring Hill district, since the introduction of the high service. This large increase of taxable property may be directly attributed to this important branch of the water works.
The standpipe has been painted during the year, and will need recaulking in places and another coat of paint the coming spring.
The following Table shows the cost of operation of the high- service system in detail, and the Water Chart shown herewith in- dicates clearly the increased annual consumption due to the growth in population on the lines of the system, the area now supplied being about the same as when the system was first introduced, viz. : 309 acres, or a little more than 12 per cent. of the entire land area of the city (2,500 acres). When the Metropolitan supply is introduced, it is expected that the Clarendon Hill district will be included in the high- service system, thus taking in all the high lands in the city.
TABLE C.
HIGH SERVICE.
COST OF OPERATION AND MAINTENANCE.
Engineer's salary .
$1,100.00 719.25
Firemen, wages
Amount carried forward . .
$1,819.25
SOMERVILLE WATER WORKS .
CHART SHOWING THE CONSUMPTION OF WATER IN THE DISTRICT SUPPLIED
18
19
JAN.
GEB.
Mich.
APR
WAY
JUNE
JULY.
AUG.
SEPT.
OCT. NOK.
DEC.
JAN.
FEB.
MCH.
APR.
JUNE
JULY
AUG.
SEPT.
JOCT.
Wov.
DEC.
IN
VAN.
FEB.
VYCH.
APR.
MAY. JUNE JULY
THE
AUG:
SEPT.
OCT.
NOV.
DEC. JAN.
FEB. MCH.
APR.
MAY.
JUNE.
JULY.
AUG
SEPT.
OCT. Nov. DEC JAN.
EB.
MAY. JUNE JULY.
76.95
AUG. SEPT.
OCT.
Nov.
DEC.
16
18
19
9
V
Yearly
6
10
8
4 OF
6 INCHES
MILLION GALLONS WATER.
Consumption.
170,496,000
36.99
HELIOTYPF. FRINTING CO. BOSTON.
Yearly Trainfa.
2. RAINFALL
16.75
125,328,000
6
7
8
6
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
RAINFALL
SOMERVILLE HIGH SERVICE
ALSO
BY THE
78.69
TTAIN FALL:
150,494,300
SOMERVILLE
Monthly Consumption of Water and Yearly Average.
1891
1892
38.90
127,082,640
1893
1894
195,600,000
1895
14
12
T
18 0018 TRHTẶNG THỊT HE TS TẬP TỔ HỘITHE PHẠT ONT ĐƯỢC TỊCH
الـ F غو غل
13
G - REPORT OF THE WATER BOARD.
Amount brought forward . $1,819.25
Fuel for boiler : -
24,740 lbs. Cumberland coal,
$3.85 per 2,000 $ 47.63
224,000 lbs. Cumberland coal,
$4.20 per 2,240 420.00
226,995 lbs. Cumberland coal,
$3.51 per 2,240 355.69
77,100 1bs. Dominion coal, $3.20 per 2,000
123.36
$946.68
Insurance on pump and boiler .
$67.50
Insurance on building
67.50
$135.00
Telephone, rental and tolls
104.56
Electric lighting
48.00
Carpeting for pumping room
49.29
Books and stationery
30.50
Repairs and fittings to pump and boilers
80.25
Oil
19.52
Packing and waste
23.49
Soda ash
11.90
Tools and utensils
50.17
Hardware and carpentering
11.40
Ice, $5.00; Polish, $5.00 .
10.00
Standpipe and grounds, maintenance
270.09
$3,610.10
Total number of gallons of water pumped in 1895, 195,600,000.
Cost of pumping per 1,000 gallons, based on the expense of operating the high-service system, $0.01845.
WATER SERVICES.
The plan adopted by the Board and referred to in the report of last year, viz .: to charge one uniform rate of $15 in advance for all ordinary service pipes, has continued to work admirably, and has been productive of good results financially. Four hundred and twenty-nine service connections were made, but payment for some of
14
ANNUAL REPORTS.
these was made prior to January 1st, 1895 ; hence, while the cost of laying them comes into this year, the receipt of the money from the parties for whom they were put in took place last year.
Another feature of the service department is this : the Board is making connections as fast as practicable with parties who have been taking water from Cambridge, although residing in Somerville, and thirteen houses of this description were last year connected with our own main in Medford street; these being for the purpose of getting, as new customers for Mystic water, parties who had already once paid for their services, the connections were made free of expense to the owners.
TABLE D. SERVICE CONSTRUCTION.
Four hundred and twenty-nine new service connections were made in 1895, divided as follows : -
Owners' applications
415
Transferred from City of Cambridge main, Medford street 13
Metropolitan Sewerage Pumping Station, 6-inch connec- tion
1
429
The following table shows the sizes and lengths laid : -
SIZE .
NUMBER.
LENGTH.
1
Connection
1 %"
1
28 feet
2
73
4
277
66
3/4 "
421
8,770
66
Total
429
9,148 feet
Total number of service pipes laid to January 1, 1896, 8,586.
Total length of service pipe used in making service connections, 55 miles, 2,499 feet.
15
G- REPORT OF THE WATER BOARD.
SERVICE MAINTENANCE.
The following items of expense appear in the maintenance and repairs of service pipes : -
NUMBER.
COST.
Repairing leaks on service pipes ·
71
$428.45
New iron service boxes set in place of old wooden ones, decayed, etc.
80
320.00
New service gates set on old connections .
22
77.00
Services cleaned of fish, etc., by forcing from houses .
57
71.00
Services cleaned of sediment, etc., by digging up corpo- ration cocks .
23
51.75
Service boxes brought to grade by construction of new sidewalks
74
55.50
Services lowered on account of change in grade of street Services replaced at city's expense on account of defective pipe or fittings
2
15.75
17
300.61
Incidental expenses connected with above, fuel, plumbing, etc.
55.12
$1,375.18
·
.
EXTENSION OF WATER WORKS.
The past year has witnessed practically the same amount of new construction as last year, viz. : 12,162 feet, or about 2} miles of pipe, for the details of which reference may be had to Table E, making the total length of distribution pipe in the city Jan. 1, 1896, 72 miles, 1,269 feet.
RELAYING OR RENEWAL OF PIPES.
So much has been said in former reports regarding the bad con- dition of such of our works as still maintain the old cement-lined pipe, that it is difficult to approach this subject without getting more or less irritated. The past year we renewed 19,765 feet, or about 34 miles of this old pipe, while our new construction was, as stated, about 2} miles. We have now in the entire city about 52} miles of iron
16
ANNUAL REPORTS.
pipe, 192 miles of cement pipe, and the sooner the latter is replaced the better it will be for all concerned.
The record for the year is 34 bursts of these old pipes, and the amount expended for repairs, damages and settlement of claims was $1,458.37. This does not tell the whole story either, for the safety of public and private property is continually menaced by the liability of serious conflagrations from the collapse of these weak and defect- ive pipes at the time when they may be most needed to convey water.
In view of the nearness of the new Metropolitan Water Supply, extraordinary efforts should be made the coming two years to get rid of these old pipes, so that our works may be in good condition to take care of the new water.
In a very full and interesting report by the Water Board of Winchester, of which Mr. John R. Freeman is Secretary, the same gentleman who was selected, on account of his high qualifications as an engineer, to serve on the Metropolitan Water Board, may be found a long discussion by Mr. Freeman, of the relative merits of cast-iron and cement-lined sheet-iron pipe. It is there shown that about all the advantages are in favor of cast-iron pipe. Somerville is referred to in the discussion, as one of the places that has suffered heavily by reason of cement-lined pipe. Mr. Freeman goes into the subject very fully, but we will only quote a few of the most prominent points :
' Cast-iron pipe can be laid cheaper than cement-lined.
" Cast-iron pipe will stand a pressure of 300 pounds per square inch, while cement-lined sheet-iron pipe will stand about 50 pounds.
"The average leaks per year in the cement mains of Winchester, are more than are found in the cast-iron mains of all Nashua and Lowell combined.
"Charlestown was originally piped with cement-coated sheet-iron pipe ; after from fifteen to twenty years the leaks became so numer- ous, that the whole was torn out and replaced by cast-iron pipe."
There seems to be no good reason why these old cement-lined pipes should not be speedily replaced by iron pipes, and it is the earnest desire of the Board to accomplish this result. But to do this requires money, and here is where the shoe pinches.
The income for water for 1895, or the amount paid over to Somerville by the City of Boston, was $89,431.46. The coming year
17
G -REPORT OF THE WATER BOARD.
will undoubtedly show the same, or about the same, increase, as the past two years have shown over the preceding years, and, if so, then the amount will reach $95,000; and, if $80,000 should be appro- priated for the use of the water department the coming year, there would still be sufficient left to pay the interest on the water debt. This would enable the work of renewal of defective pipes to be prosecuted with great advantage, and it would be a wise expenditure of money,. in the opinion of the Board.
In Table F is shown the streets in which old cement pipe was replaced by cast iron, together with the number of hydrants and gates reset, with cost of the whole.
WATER SUPPLY.
Under this head, in last year's report, reference was made to the project for furnishing water from the Nashua River, advanced by the State Board of Health. The action of the Legislature has given life to the plan advocated by them, and Chap. 488 of the Acts of 1895, entitled, " An Act to provide for a Metropolitan Water Supply," was approved June 5, 1895. This practically means that the existing system of the City of Boston is to be taken by the Board which has been appointed under the Act referred to, and that it is to receive a new and increased supply of pure water from the south branch of the Nashua River, of such magnitude that it is expected there will be water enough for Boston and its suburbs for many years to come. This cannot be accomplished, however, without time and money. The Act provides that the taking of the Boston Water Supply shall be on or before January 1, 1898. Therefore, by that time it is confi- dently expected that Somerville will be obtaining its water from the Metropolitan Water Supply, as it is further provided in the Act that, upon that date, the contracts of the City of Boston with the cities of Somerville, Chelsea and Everett, for a supply of water shall be cancelled.
Through the courtesy of the Metropolitan Water Board and its engineers, we are enabled to give some general idea of how the new supply is to reach Somerville.
The intention is to run two forty-eight-inch mains from Chestnut Hill Reservoir north and west, which will both pass through our city. One of these, and the one which it is expected will be first laid, will
18
ANNUAL REPORTS.
enter Somerville through Webster avenue; thence running through Union square, Walnut street, and Chauncy avenue, leaving Somer- ville by way of Middlesex avenue, on its way to Spot Pond, in Stoneham. The other main will enter Somerville, running through Willow avenue to Broadway, and thence to Medford, on its way also to the same place as the other. This will give us excellent results and be much better than if both mains, as was at first contemplated, ran through West Somerville on their way to Spot Pond. .
The water coming through these mains will be under practically the same pressure as at present, as it will all be raised by the pumps at Chestnut Hill Reservoir, so that it will flow by gravitation to Spot Pond, where it will be at about the same elevation as in the present distributing reservoir on College Hill.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.