USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Somerville > Report of the city of Somerville 1900 > Part 30
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Room 10, City Hall.
Department Buildings and Yard,
Cedar street, near Broadway.
GEORGE D. WEMYSS
WM.FRANKLIN HALL
GEORGE A.KIMBALL
THE LAST WATER BOARD OF THE CITY OF SOMERVILLE.
REPORT OF THE WATER COMMISSIONER.
OFFICE OF THE WATER COMMISSIONER, January 5, 1901.
To His Honor, the Mayor, and the Board of Aldermen :-
I have the honor to present herewith the twenty-seventh an- nual report of the water department, and my first as Water Com- missioner, covering the operations of the year ending December 31, 1900.
That portion of the new city charter relating to the water works is as follows: Section 41, Article 5: "The Water Depart- ment. This department shall be under the control of the Water Commissioner, who shall have charge of the construction, ex- tension, alteration, repair, care, and management of the water works, and shall exercise all the powers and rights conferred and perform all the duties imposed by law upon the present Board of Water Commissioners of the City of Somerville, but shall not expend in any year, either from the income received from the water works under his charge or otherwise, more than the amount appropriated by the Board of Aldermen therefor."
Under the above quoted provisions of the city charter, the entire management of the water works was transferred on the 25th day of January to a single Water Commissioner, appointed by the Mayor and confirmed by the Board of Aldermen, who, by virtue of his office, also became a member of the Board of Public Works.
With the spirit of progress and improvement which is so characteristic of the present day, it may, at times, be deemed ad- visable to break away from old-established customs and methods of municipal administration for the purpose of reconstruction on more modern lines, but in the passing of the old and the advent of new conditions it seems always fitting that faithful and con- scientious public service should be given recognition, especially when, as in the Board of Water Commissioners, the service is rendered without compensation. It is with a feeling of the pro- priety of things, as well as of pleasure, that the present Water Commissioner, who served his apprenticeship as clerk and super- intendent under this last Board during its entire existence, can here record his tribute to the spirit of harmony and municipal patriotism which invariably characterized the meetings and actions of the Board.
George D. Wemyss, the president of the Board, was ap- pointed March 11, 1891, and thus served the city on this Board for nearly nine years. Mr. Wemyss had previously represented his ward in the Common Council in the years 1886 and 1887, and
368
ANNUAL REPORTS.
in the Board of Aldermen in 1888 and 1889, making thirteen years of nearly continuous public service. Mr. Wemyss was also a member of the new city charter commission.
George A. Kimball was also appointed March 11, 1891, with a previous service in the Board of Aldermen during the years 1889 and 1890, thus contributing eleven years of gratuitous ser- vice to the city. Mr. Kimball had also filled the position of City Engineer from 1876 to 1887.
William Franklin Hall was appointed February 8, 1893, and gave seven years of valuable service to the city on this Board. Mr. Hall was a member of the city charter commission, and has devoted his time liberally to other public matters.
It is highly gratifying to the Water Commissioner to be able to state that notwithstanding the new conditions which have pre- sented themselves under the operations of the revised charter, the work of the department in all its details, has been carried on without friction, and that the high state of efficiency of the de- partment existing under the former regime has been maintained.
Administration.
The system of administration is conducted along simple lines and remains practically the same as heretofore.
The duties of the Water Commissioner require an intimate knowledge of every detail of the work of his department; his responsibilities extend over the superintendence of the shop and street work, including the construction and renewal of street water mains, laying and maintenance of house service connec- tions, installation and care of water meters, setting and inspection of fire hydrants, care of drinking fountains and troughs, and the construction and maintenance of all other fixtures connected with the water works.
He also has direct charge and control of the clerical and ac- counting system of the department, including the billing of over 10,000 water consumers' accounts, as well as the enforcement of the necessary processes leading up to the final payments of the water bills. The clerical work of the department also covers the recording of all labor performed, supplies furnished, and all other bookkeeping incidental to the expenditure of the appropriation accounts.
Closely allied to the above, and also under the charge of the Water Commissioner, is the inspection service of the department, including the leak and waste detection.
The permanent force necessary to accomplish the work thus briefly outlined consists of seventeen persons, as follows :-
Inspector
1
Office assistants
2
·
Maintenance force . 14
369
WATER COMMISSIONER.
Three of the above are veterans of the Civil war; one other has been connected with the works for thirty-eight years, having been employed in the construction of the old Mystic works; an- other has been employed on the works for over thirty years.
While the water bills are being made out and recorded the office force is temporarily increased by the addition of one or two assistants, and during the season of pipe laying the working force is increased by the employment of seventy-five to 100 tem- porary laborers, as needed.
The maximum laboring force during the year 1900 was in the month of June, and numbered 101 men.
Water Income.
Water bills have been issued as follows :-
10,155 "Annual" water bills. amounting to . $160,049 69 1,754 "Additional" water bills, amounting to 9,840 70
675 "Metered" water bills, amounting to 48,204 61
$218,095 00
Abatements made on above charges for water charged to city departments and for other purposes 7,493 55
Leaving net amount of bills rendered $210,601 45
In addition to this, the account has credit for 12,766 12
This amount is produced as follows :--
Uncollected "Metered" water
bills, due January 1, 1900 . $12,157 69
Uncollected "Annual" water bills
46 00
$12,203 69
Less abatements made 0
on above charges :---- On "Metered" water bills . $43 57 On "Annual" water
bills 9 00
52 57
$12,151 12
Amount collected in
the year 1900 :-
"Metered" water charges
$12,114 12
"Annual" water charges 11 00
Amount uncollected De-
cember 31, 1900 :-
"Annual" water charges 26 00
$12,151 12
Amounts carried forward
$12,151 12
$223,367 57
370
ANNUAL REPORTS.
Amounts brought forward
Unexpended balance of appropriation for abatements Received from the Commonwealth of Mas- sachusetts the difference between an amount due Somerville as its propor- tion for the sale of water by the Metropolitan Water Board in 1899 ($95.80), and an amount overpaid to Somerville on its proportion of re- ceipts of the Metropolitan Water Board from various sources in 1898 ($50.38) 45 42
$12,151 12 $223,367 57
569 58
$12,766 12
$223,367 57 This amount was appropriated and applied under provisions of the appropriation order of the Board of Aldermen as follows :- For water works purposes :-
Appropriation for Mainte-
nance
$45,000 00
Appropriation for Water
Works Extension 22,000 00
Appropriation for Abate-
ments .
1,000 00
Interest on Water Loan
9,502 50
Maturing Water Loan Bonds
32,500 00
Metropolitan Water Works Assessment
28,689 24
$138,691 74
For other municipal purposes :-
Appropriation for Sewers, Maintenance
$9,000 00
Appropriation for Sewers,
Construction
24,125 12
Interest on Sewer Loan
Bonds
6,240 00
Maturing Sewer Loan Bonds
8,000 00
Sewers Construction, Uncol- lected bills of 1899 26 00
Reduction of Funded Debt (balance)
47,391 12 37,284 71
$223,367 57 In accordance with an order passed by the Board of Alder- men March 22, 1900, no charge has been made during the year for water used for municipal purposes. The water income for the year 1900 is, therefore, reduced about $12,000 on this account, the charges against the departments for water during the previous year being as follows :--
Street watering service
$5,305 04 Fire hydrant service
Sewers flushing service
4,172 00 40 00
Bonds
371
WATER COMMISSIONER.
1,815 34
Schoolhouses
393 45
Fire stations
51 26
City Hall and Annex
15 00
Public Library
50 12
Police Station .
76 72
Highway Department buildings
77 59
Health Department buildings
28 00
Water Department buildings
10 00
Sewer Department buildings
49 98
City ledge, stone crusher
45 00
Fountains and tronghs
30 00
Parks and cemetery
5 00
Other purposes
Department Receipts and Disbursements. WATER MAINTENANCE ACCOUNT.
DR.
CR.
Amount appropriated by City Council from
$45,000 00
water revenue
Collections from sundry accounts for labor
23,314 50
Collections from other sources
27 11
Materials furnished service department
$2,500 96
Materials furnished construction depart-
ment
14,530 35
Labor and materials furnished sundry per- sons
6,855 39
Labor and materials used in maintenance of the water works and renewals of pipe
40,832 89
Transferred to Water Works Extension Ac- count
3,000 00
Unexpended balance of appropriation .
708 02
$68,427 61
$68,427 61
WATER WORKS EXTENSION ACCOUNT.
DR.
CR.
Amount appropriated by City Council from water revenue
$22,000 00
Amount transferred from Water Mainte- nance Account Collections from sundry accounts for labor and materials Labor and materials used in extension of the water works ·
3,000 00
55 20
$24,927 06
Unexpended balance of appropriation .
128 14
$25,055 20
$25,055 20
WATER SERVICE ACCOUNT.
DR.
CR. $4,315 06
236 water service assessments Labor and materials used in water service construction Balance transferred to water maintenance account
$4,287 95
27 11
$4,315 06
$4,315 06
and materials
86 00
Balance from water service assessments
1
372
ANNUAL REPORTS.
Cost of Water Works.
The total cost of the water works on December 31, 1899, as represented by the expenditures from appropria- tions for water works extension, was $741,557 57
Expended during the year 1900, on extension account 24,927 06
Total expenditures, December 31, 1900 . $766,484 63
Water Debt.
The indebtedness of the city on account of the water works on December 31, 1899, was $239,500 ; this debt has been reduced during the year 1900 by the payments of bonds, maturing July 1 and October 1, to the amount of $32,500 ; the indebtedness being now represented by bonds drawing interest as follows :-
$197,000.00 at 4 per cent. per annum. 10,000.00 at 41/2 per cent. per annum.
Total . . $207,000.00
The following table, exhibiting the financial condition of the department from its first movements, is presented for reference and comparison :-
373
WATER COMMISSIONER.
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
34,294 06
6,818 20
1875
20,000 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
1879
791 56
12,341 60
1880
60,000 00
60,000 00
12,999 79
1881
40,000 00
40,000 00
14,697 37
1882
90,000 00
90,000 00
19,354 28
1883
7,500 00
7,500 00
19,661 67
188-1
20,000 00
20,000 00
20,085 95
1885
20,000 00
20,000 00
21,542 28
1886
55,500 00
55,500 00
21,444 91
1887
9,000 00
9,000 00
42,650 57
1888
25,000 00
96,500 00
19,338 89
50,419 07
1889
90,000 00
19,000 00
81,117 43
51,470 91
1890
55,000 00
13,000 00
53,411 79
55,879 72
1891
10,000 00
+11,000 00
40,708 48
60,150 80
1892
28,000 00
28,000 00
34,863 17
77,640 91
1893
17,000 00
35,545 30
78,459 73
1894
18,000 00
28,375 67
83,401 30
1895
19,000 00
32,007 44
89,431 46
1896
12,000 00
18,500 00
16,631 83
95,719 69
1897
21,000 00
10,000 00
99,688 57
1898
22,000 00
26,970 22
a 200,735 03
1899
32,500 00
· 19,978 59
b 214,280 83
1900
32,500 00
24,927 06
c 222,322 15
$1,017,000 00
$810,000 00
$766,484 63
$1,628,213 21
Total issue
$1,017,000 00
Total payments
810,000 00
Present water debt
$207,000 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
$20,000.00 to $30,000.00, Somerville's proportion was 20 per cent.
$30,000.00 to $40,000.00, "
25
$40,000.00 to $50,000.00,
30
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 existed until January 1, 1898, on which date it was annulled, the revenue since that time being collected by the city of Somerville.
+ In 1891 $5 000.00 of Water Loan Bonds were cancelled, City Loan Bonds being substituted for them.
# Renewal.
a. Includes amount received from city of Boston for collections of metered water charges for 4th quarter of 1897, but does not include Somerville metered water charges for 4th quarter of 1898.
b. Includes collections of metered water charges for 4th quarter of 1898, but does not include charges for 4th quarter of 1899.
c. Includes collections of metered water charges for 4th quarter of 1899, also amount of charges for 4th quarter of 1900. Does not include credit for water supplied to city departments.
66
374
ANNUAL REPORTS.
Inspection and Waste.
On the annual house to house canvass, from which is secured the data necessary in assessing the water charges, 10,538 inspec- tions were made.
There has been discovered 905 defective water fixtures of the following kinds :---
Tanks and water closets
622
Faucets
235
Pipes
48
Notices covering these defects have been issued and proper attention has been given thereto by the owners or occupants of the premises.
It is undoubtedly a fact that a very large amount of water is wasted annually through defective plumbing in the houses of this city, in leaky faucets and ball-cocks, in water being allowed to run to prevent its freezing in the pipes, and in the excessive use of water through hand hose ; small perhaps in any particular case, but immense in the aggregate. This unnecessary use of water throughout the district draws heavily upon the metro- politan water supply, and entails increased expenditures of money for the operation of the works and the extensions of the system necessary to meet the demands upon it.
Second only to the city of Boston, Somerville pays the larg- est amount toward the cost of the metropolitan system of water works, and anything which may reduce the present cost of opera- tion and render unnecessary the further extension of the system will be of direct financial advantage to this city. This may largely be accomplished if property owners and tenants will, by a careful and constant inspection of the water fixtures in all premises under their charge, and in such other ways as may in- dicate themselves, co-operate with this department in reducing the amount of water thus wasted so that an abundant and un- restricted supply of water for legitimate domestic and sanitary purposes may be secured at a minimum cost.
Renewal of Street Mains.
As usual, the replacing of the old cement-lined water mains with substantial cast iron pipe has been an important feature of the year's work. But two bursts on the old cement water mains are to be recorded for the year ; one cement-lined hydrant branch also gave way; in neither case was any damage caused to prop- erty. Such street mains as show any indication of weakness are generally relaid at once, thus reducing the liability of their burst- ing ; in some cases it has been found expedient, in connection with other work, to remove some small cast-iron mains and re- place them with pipe of larger diameter. Eleven thousand, eight hundred and ninety-six feet of old pipe has thus been abandoned
375
WATER COMMISSIONER.
and removed during the year, and replaced with heavy iron pipe. There is now in the city approximately three miles of the cement- lined mains, a considerable portion of which will be replaced dur- ing the coming season with iron pipe.
'The 16-inch pipe in Mansfield street and the 20-inch pipe in Washington street, both of iron, have given some trouble during the year by cracking.
There have been twelve joint leaks on pipes of various sizes, the greatest trouble appearing at the Webster-avenue crossing of the Boston & Maine railroad, owing, apparently, to the vibration of the earth caused by the passage of the frequent trains.
Extension of Street Mains.
A large amount of building has been done on Willow avenue and adjacent streets, requiring the laying of water pipes in an ex- tensive territory hitherto unoccupied. There has been laid on construction account 14,084 feet of iron pipe of various sizes ; of this, 11,784 feet have been laid in streets heretofore unsupplied with water, and 2,300 feet have been laid for improving the water circulation system and extending the high-pressure fire service.
The high-service districts of Winter hill and Central hill have been connected by a 12-inch pipe laid in Medford street from School street to a point near Walnut street, and a fire hydrant in Gilman square has been attached to this pipe, affording a fire pressure of about ninety-five pounds per square inch. In antici- pation of the paving improvements in Davis square, a high-pres- sure fire and circulating pipe was laid in Highland avenue from Grove street, through the square into Holland street, and an eight-inch fire hydrant was attached thereto in the square in front of Medina building. This pipe is now connected with the low- service system at Grove street, but it is the intention to extend it in Highland avenue to Cedar street, and in Holland street to Gorham street, connecting with the high-service systems at those points and uniting, thereby, the Spring-hill and Clarendon-hill districts.
The water main was extended in College avenue to Profes- sors' row, and important changes were made in the piping system at the latter point before the electric car tracks were laid, and numerous side connections and improvements were made in Broadway before the car tracks were placed therein. Pipes were also laid in Wigglesworth, Meacham, and Hall streets, in antici- pation of improvements to be made by the highway department. The total main pipe mileage of the city is now approximately eighty-four miles, 1,827 feet.
Hydrants, Gates, Etc.
It is gratifying to be again able to report that, notwithstand- ing the severity of the winter season and other conditions with
376
ANNUAL REPORTS.
which the department has to contend, no hydrant has failed to properly respond to its duty when called upon by the firemen. There is a city ordinance prohibiting the use of fire hydrants by any persons other than firemen in the discharge of their duties, without the license or authority of the Water Commissioner ; this is a reasonable regulation in view of the importance of an effi- cient fire hydrant service, and should be respected. With the free use of the hydrant wrench by persons without authority, and therefore without knowledge of the Water Commissioner, it is almost impossible to place the responsibility for hydrants that may afterward be found in a defective condition.
All the hydrants have been carefully inspected during the year and repairs have been made wherever needed. A number of old-style hydrants have been removed and others of larger diameter and modern construction have been substituted there- for. A new hydrant has been set in Dover street, near Davis square, and in Somerville avenue, near Union square, for the further protection of the valuable interests in those localities. Twenty hydrants have been moved or abandoned, and forty-seven hydrants have been set, the net increase being twenty-seven, and the total number now in the city 897.
The hydrant which stood on Broadway, 138 feet west from Waterhouse street, has been sold to the Boston Elevated Railway Company, and removed, at their expense, to a point near their Clarendon-hill car house. The Boston & Maine railroad has set one hydrant in their yard at the old asylum grounds, which has been connected with our Washington-street main at the expense of the railroad company. A revised list, given in the appendix, of private fire hydrants supplied with water from the city of Som- erville mains shows the number to be forty-two.
The number of main gates set during the year was 101; number removed on the line of the work, thirty-two; making a net increase of sixty-nine, and a total number of 1,203 in the city.
One 12-inch check valve was set in Professors' row, near Boston avenue, on the Clarendon-hill connection with the metro- politan water works high-service main. The high-service dis- tricts are now all provided with check valves, so that, in case of a failure or temporary shutting off of the metropolitan high-ser- vice mains, the low-pressure water will at once enter the pipes of our system.
Twenty-four blow-offs have been constructed on dead ends and at other suitable points for draining the pipes, removing sedi- ment, etc. There are now in the system 108 blow-offs, and they are of valuable service in flushing the sewers as well as in the various requirements of the water works.
One waterpost for filling street-watering carts has been con- structed, at the request of the highway department, on Vernon street, near Central street. The waterpost formerly standing on Broadway. 193 feet east from Willow avenue, was, by request, re- moved and set on Liberty avenue at Powder-House park.
·
377
WATER COMMISSIONER.
Iron gate boxes have been set in place of old wooden ones wherever needed, and in Davis square and Cross street substan- tial brick gate chambers have been constructed on account of the paving improvements.
Drinking Fountains and Troughs.
No increase has been made in the number of troughs or fountains. Those in service have received necessary minor re- pairs, and the horse troughs have been regularly washed out and cleaned.
The large stone horse trough which had for years stood in the centre of Davis square was removed at the time the brick pavement was being laid. The question of resetting it was be- fore the local public for some time, and arguments pro and con were expressed; it was finally decided, however, to leave the square unencumbered for the present, and a new combination trough and fountain was set nearby in Cutter square. The trough constructed at this point is of a style adopted by the water departments of a number of cities, and, while not especially orna- mental in appearance, it has the recommendation of being very substantial and easily cleaned, as well as being comparatively in- expensive.
The combination trough in Gilman square was lowered about fifteen inches, to conform to the new grade established for the square.
Service Department.
The number of new service connections made during the year has been 238, this number being ten less than that of the previous year. One of the houses was formerly supplied by the city of Cambridge. In making these connections 8,987 feet of service pipe has been laid. The total mileage of service pipes is approximately sixty-five miles, 668 feet, and the number of house connections, 10,291.
The maintenance of the service system requires constant at- tention as the pipes grow older and become defective or their effi- ciency becomes impaired through accumulations of rust, sedi- ment, or other causes. At noontime or midnight, in sunshine or storms, at all seasons of the year, the services of the men of this department are required, and when the warning comes that a water pipe is leaking they respond quickly to the summons and make the necessary repairs expeditiously and with as little incon- venience as possible to other water consumers, although at times, especially in the winter season, it becomes necessary to tempora- rily shut off the water from an entire street or section.
A large number of service boxes have been set, raised, and lowered to grade, and such other attention given them as has been necessary.
378
ANNUAL REPORTS.
The service pipes in Cross street have largely been relaid with new and heavy material in anticipation of the contemplated paving improvments in this street, and the work will be com- pleted early in the spring. The size of these service pipes has been generally increased, and they have been so extended in the sidewalk locations and reconnected with the houses as to allow the cutting off from the main of a large number of separate house connections, thereby reducing the liability of defective pipes in the street, and the necessity of breaking up the pavement for repairs.
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