USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Somerville > Report of the city of Somerville 1918 > Part 22
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The office equipment consists of the following :-
2- 6 circuit operating boards.
1- 5 circuit tapper board.
1- 5 circuit gong board.
2-16 circuit storage battery charging boards.
1-32 circuit protector board.
1-12 circuit automatic repeater.
1- 1 dial, 4 number manual transmitter.
2- 5 circuit punching registers.
13 punching registers and take up reels.
2 automatic time and date stamps.
1 master clock. 940 cells storage battery.
5-10 foot, 4 shelf battery racks. 4 metropolitan tappers and 2 gongs.
302
ANNUAL REPORTS.
.
The central telephone desk with its four trunk lines and connections to each individual fire station enables the operator to receive telephone notifications of fire and immediately notify the station nearest to the call, thus saving considerable time in getting a piece of fire apparatus to the fire.
The apparatus outside of the central office consists of the following :
131 signal boxes.
8 tower strikers.
45 gongs.
10 punching registers.
20 tappers.
1 automatic steam whistle.
9 private telephones. About 581/2 miles of overhead wires.
About 78 miles of underground wires.
There have been run 11,800 feet of new overhead wire.
No underground wires were installed last year owing to . lack of appropriation and the difficulty of securing material.
One new box has been added during the year :-
Box 722-North Street cor. Gordon Street.
Police Signai System.
The police signal system has been given the usual constant attention and is giving excellent satisfaction.
Boxes have been thoroughly tested and all found to be in perfect working order.
The system consists of the following :-
1-4 circuit police desk.
59 street signal boxes. 4 special boxes.
About 191/2 miles of overhead wire.
About 13 miles of underground wire.
Two new boxes have been added during the year :-
Box 425-Bolton Street.
Box 125-Chester Street cor. Orchard Street.
Supervision of Poles and Wires on the Streets.
The same attention has been given to the condition of poles and wires on the streets as in previous years.
A number of defective poles have been replaced by com- panies owning the same.
New poles have been placed in: locations granted for the purpose of supplying light and telephone service, and aban- doned poles have been removed.
COMMISSIONER OF ELECTRIC LINES AND LIGHTS.
303
New Re-
Re- Re-
poles placed moved set
New England Telephone & Telegraph Company .
2
5
1 5
Edison Electric Illuminating Company .
27
44
....
14
Permits given to the New England Telephone & Telegraph Company for attachments to the Edison Company's poles
140
Permits given to the Edison Electric Illuminating Company for attachments to the Telephone Company's poles .
10
Street Lighting.
The matter of street lighting has had the same attention as in previous years and additional lights have been placed in various parts of the city.
More lights are required in the western part of the city as some new streets are inadequately lighted.
Recommendations.
I respectfully recommend that :
Sufficient appropriations be made so that the placing of city wires underground can be continued.
An assistant inspector be employed so as to be able to thoroughly cover all old installations of electrical wiring in the city.
Conclusion.
I wish to thank His Honor, the Mayor, the members of the Board of Aldermen, and the several departments for the many courtesies received.
Respectfully yours, WALTER I. FULLER,
Commissioner of Electric Lines and Lights.
-
304
ANNUAL REPORTS.
REPORT OF SANITARY DEPARTMENT
City Hall, Somerville, March 13, 1919.
To the Honorable, the Mayor, and the Board of Aldermen of the. City of Somerville :-
Gentlemen :
I have the honor to submit to you the report of the Sani- tary Department for the year 1918.
COLLECTIONS OF ASHES AND PAPER.
January
Ashes (Cubic Yards) 10,962
Paper (Cubic Yards)
February
10,000
2,300
March
11,560
2,600
May
11,565
2,740
June
8,830
3,600
July
6,694
2,700
August
6,523
2,575
September
6,505
3,020
October
7,982
2,760
November
7,647
3,060
December
10,385
2,600
Totals
· 109,430
33,055
During the year the Sanitary Department paid to the: Highway Department $4,291.77 for the use of teams. Collec- tions of garbage amounted to 2,000 cords, all of which was. disposed of to farmers at the department yard.
Receipts.
Sale of Garbage
$13,804 80-
Use of incinerator
1,380 00·
Total
. $15,184 80.
The equipment and its valuation follows :
Horses
$9,000 007
Vehicles
.
13,675 00
Harnesses, blankets, etc.
2,665 00
Stable equipment, etc.
300 00
Fittings in blacksmith shop
75 00
$25,715 00,
.
2,600
April
10,777
2,500
305
SANITARY DEPARTMENT.
I wish to call your attention to the condition of the dump- ing privileges in the city. There is no public dump within the city limits and the only dump now in use by this department is located on Mystic avenue at the foot of Temple street. This dump is on private land and the city is paying six hundred' dollars per year for the privilege of dumping there and it is fast filling up. All of the collections of rubbish are dumped on private land. Some provision should be made in the near future to care for the disposal of refuse.
In conclusion I wish to thank the members of the City Government for their co-operation the past year and the em- ployees of the Sanitary Department for their earnest and con- scientious work.
Respectfully submitted,
EDGAR T. MAYHEW, Supt. of Sanitary Department ..
-
306
ANNUAL REPORTS.
SOMERVILLE WATER WORKS
SOMERVILLE, MIDDLESEX CO., MASSACHUSETTS.
Location: Somerville City Hall (near centre of the city) is 234 miles northerly from State House in Boston.
Greatest extent of the City north and south about 4.2 miles. Greatest extent of the City east and west about 2.1 miles.
Elevation Highland avenue at City Hall 105 feet above mean low water. Lowest building elevation in the city 13 feet. Highest building elevation in the city 145 feet.
Area of city, including land and water, about 4.22 square miles. Land, 2,461.50 acres; water and marsh, 238.50 acres. Population 1915, census, 86,854. Present population, estimated, 91,000. Entire population on line of pipe and supplied with water.
Water works owned by City of Somerville. Construction commenced in 1868. Source of supply: Metropolitan system, taking water of the Nashua river at Clinton, Mass. Range of pressure on street mains: Low service 35 to 65 pounds. High service 45 to 100 pounds.
Mayor. HON. CHARLES W. ELDRIDGE.
Water Commissioner. FRANK E. MERRILL.
Office of the Water Department. Room 10, City Hall.
Department Buildings and Yard. Cedar street, near Broadway.
307
WATER DEPARTMENT.
REPORT OF THE WATER COMMISSIONER.
OFFICE OF THE WATER COMMISSIONER, January, 1919.
To His Honor, the Mayor, and the Board of Aldermen :-
I present herewith my report for the year ending December 31, 1918, this being the forty-fifth annual report of the water department and my nineteenth as water commissioner :-
Revenue and Expenditures.
Water bills have been issued as follows :-
"Annual" water charges, amounting to .
$44,527 32
"Additional" water charges, amounting to
2,076 10
"Metered" water charges, amounting to .
221,936 26
$268,539 68
Annual and Additional
Metered
Abatements and refunds on
above charges .
$2,006 19
$2,269 16
4,275 35
Income from sale of water .
$264,264 33
Receipts; water service assessments
$1,040 27
Receipts; labor and materials sold : -
Miscellaneous accounts
3,972 37
5,012 64
Total income of water works
$269,276 97
This amount was used as follows :- For water works purposes :-
Water works maintenance $52,039 18
Water works extension
5,821 79
Miscellaneous accounts
3,972 37
$61,833 34
Interest on water loan bonds
440 00
Maturing water loan bonds
5,000 00
Metropolitan water works assessment.
125,358 55
Maintenance water works buildings
1,154 63
For other municipal purposes :-
Surplus
75,490 45
$193,786 52
$269,276 97
In addition to the appropriations from water income to other municipal purposes enumerated above, water has been furnished without charge to all the city departments that have required its use and it is paid for out of the income from sale of water.
308
ANNUAL REPORTS.
Department Receipts and Disbursements. WATER MAINTENANCE ACCOUNT.
Dr. Cr.
Amount appropriated by board of alder- men
Department accounts .
$58,400 00 681 99
Materials furnished for extension of the water works .
4,376 37
Amount expended for labor and materials for operation, maintenance, and re- newal of the water works .
$52,039 18
Amount expended for materials used in extension of the water works . 4,376 37
Miscellaneous accounts .
3,972 37
Labor and materials furnished municipal departments .
681 99
Unexpended balance
2,388 45
$63,458 36
$63,458 36
WATER WORKS EXTENSION ACCOUNT.
Dr.
Cr.
Amount appropriated by board of alder- men .
$10,000 00
Department accounts
92 33
Labor and materials furnished municipal departments $92 33
Amount expended for labor and materials used in extension of the water works
5,821 79
Transferred by board of aldermen . .
3,874 97
Unexpended balance
.
303 24
$10,092 33
$10,092 33
Cost of Water Works.
The total cost of water works on December 31, 1917 as represented by the expenditures from appropria- tions for water works extension was $1,061,188 59
Expended during the year 1918, on extension account 5,821 79
Total expenditures, December 31, 1918 . . $1,067,010 38
Water Debt.
Water loan bonds have been issued on funded debt ac- count to the amount of $1,017,000; this has been reduced by $1,111,000, leaving the water debt on December 31, 1918, $6,000. The outstanding bonds mature as follows :-
Year
Amount
1919
$4,000
1920
2,000
309
WATER DEPARTMENT.
Water Works Income from 1898 and its Distribution.
The water income and its distribution from 1898 to 1918, inclusive, is shown in the following table :-
Total water income, years 1898 to 1918, inclusive . . $4,888,988 57 Distribution : -
Water Works Account.
Water Works Construction, Renewal, Maintenance and Operation $1,219,578 31
Water bonds 268,000 00 86,255 00 Interest .
Metropolitan Water Assessments 1,888,211 26
Maintenance Water Works buildings
3,997 68
$3,466,042 25
Other Municipal Accounts.
Various municipal departments through specific appropriations and general revenue account . .
$1,422.946 32
· $4,888,988 57
310
ANNUAL REPORTS.
Water Distribution System - Construction.
STREET MAINS.
Approximate number of feet of street mains in the city, January 1, 1918, (including hydrant branches and blow-offs)
540,639
Feet of street mains laid in 1918
477
Feet of hydrant branches laid in 1918
36
Feet of blow-off branches laid in 1918
30
Total feet of pipe laid .
543
Feet of street mains removed and replaced
85
Net increase in feet of pipe
458
Total approximate feet of pipe in the city
541,088
Total pipe mileage, approximately .
102.48
The sizes and lengths of pipe laid and removed are as follows :-
Feet
Feet
Size
Laid
Feet Removed
Size
Laid
Feet Removed
2"
85
85
12"
258
0
4"
.30
0
16"
114
0
6"
56
0
0
The street mains constructed and replaced during the year are as follows :-
Feet Removed Removed
Alewife Brook Parkway 66
66
12"
20
Gordon Street
12"
7
High Street
12"
202
Mystic Avenue
12"
36
New Hampshire Avenue
6"
7
Sycamore Street .
6"
6
Replaced :-
Warren Street
2"
85
85
2"
Hydrant branches and blow-off pipes
66
543
85
Size
Constructed :-
Size of Pipe Feet Laid
16"
114
·
311
WATER DEPARTMENT.
Hydrants, Gates, Etc.
Number of fire hydrants in city January 1, 1918
1,171
Number set during year
22
Number removed during the year
18
Net increase in number of hydrants
4
Total number of public fire hydrants .... Number of private fire hydrants, January 1, 1918
64
Number set by private companies during the year
0
Total number of private fire hydrants receiving their supply from the city mains
64
Number of gates in city, January 1, 1918. ...
1,801
Number set during the year for streets.
1
Number of section gates set.
2
Number set on hydrant branches
23
Number set on blow-off branches
0
Number set on car-sprinkler connections
0
26
Number of street gates removed
0
· Number of section gates removed
0
0
Net increase in number of gates Total number of gates in city
26
1,827
Number of check-valves in city January 1, 1918
8
Number of blow-offs in city January 1, 1918 Number added during the year.
1
Total number of blow-offs
178
Number of waterposts in city January 1, 1918 Number removed during the year
0
Total number of waterposts
79
Number of drinking fountains in city Janu- ary 1, 1918
9
Number removed during the year.
1
Total number of drinking fountains. ...
8
Number of car-sprinkler connections in city January 1, 1918
17
Number installed during the year 0
Total number of car-sprinkler connec- tions in city
177
·
79
1,175
17
312
ANNUAL REPORTS.
Water Services.
Number of services in city January 1, 1918, (approximately)
13,509
Number laid during the year
23
Number permanently discontinued
.18
Net increase in services.
.
5
Total number of water services in city
13,514
Amount received for services laid in 1918 ....
$3,494.53
Number feet service pipe in city January 1, 1918
466,56.
Number feet laid during the year.
816
Number feet discontinued 1,021
Decrease in feet of service pipe.
205
Total feet service pipe in city (approxi-
mately)
466,362
Total service mileage (approximately)
88.33
Size, number and length of service pipes laid in 1918 :-
16-3/4"-543' 1-1"-72' 3-2"-91' 2-4"-82' 1-6"-28'
Number of fire services installed during 1918. .....
3
Locations
No.
Size
James' Soap Factory-Columbia Street
1
6"
New England Bakery Co .- Joy Street
2
4"
Water Meters
Number of water meters in city, January 1, 1918
10,024
Number installed during the year, new. 121
Number reset 121
242
Number removed on account of permanent or tem- porary discontinuance of water and for substitu- tion of other meters 153
Net increase in number of operating meters
89
Number of motor registers in service
3
Total number of meters and registers 10,116
Per cent. of all services metereď
74.86
313
WATER DEPARTMENT.
Operating Meters December 31, 1918.
SIZE.
Total.
KIND.
3 /8"
1"
4 "
6"
Nash
175
175
Empire
4
1
Crown
1
7.
3
3
2
·2
16
Gem
1
1
Hersey
2
Hersey Disc Torrent
253
22
9
1
4
1
1
Trident
506
+2
23
6
6
2
3
7
Trident Comp ..
2
2
12
Union
14
13
6
L
1
Union Special ..
14
2
2
18
Columbia
44
King
658
658
Lambert
4,147
149
27
1
4,324
Worthington Disc.
3.867
3:2
6
1
3.909
Worthington Turbine ..
·2
2
Keystone
24
24
Totals.
9,696
274
81
19
26
8
6
3
10,113
Motor and ele- vator registers:
10,116
The meters installed in 1918 were classed as follows :- Applications of property owners
52
New services .
39
General installation
30
Reset
121
Total .
242
Meters were removed for the following causes :-
Vacancies and temporary non-use of water
89
Services permanently discontinued .
8
Replaced by other meters
56
Total
153
Motor registers discontinued
.
1
Meters installed yearly on old and new services under the State Compulsory Meterage law, which requires complete meterage of city by the year 1928 :-
Average installation Meters
required on
set on
Set in excess of
Total excess
Meters set on new services
1908
411
755
344
344
147
1909
411
637
226
570
201
1910
411
501
90
660
169
1911
411
528
117
777
200
+
5
1
289
583
Trident Crest ...
2
38
1
3
Year
old services old services requirements
1
314
ANNUAL REPORTS.
1912
411
423
12
789
236
1913
411
432
21
810
255
1914
411
422
11
821
231
1915
411
439
28
849
217
1916
411
434
23
872
203
1917
411
163
248 (less) *
624
154
1918
411
82
329 (less) * 295
39
* On account of war-time conditions of labor and material.
The following table shows the progress of meter installa- tion of Somerville by years and the results therefrom in water consumption :
Per Capita
Year
Popu- lation
Number of Services
Number of Meters
Per Cent Metered
tion
1897
58,000
9,601
143
1.5
88
1899
61,000
10,053
226
2.25
66
88
1900
62,000
10,291
202
2
98
1901
64,000
10,520
224
2
88
1902
66,000
10,710
269
2.5
88
1903
68,000
10,854
647
6
88
1904
69,000
11,059
1,272
11.5
89
1905
70,000
11,279
2,092
18.5
89
1906
71,000
11,489
2,829
24.5
89
1907
72,000
11,662
3,455
29.5
90
1908
74,000
11,817
4,333
36.5
89
1909
76,000
12.018
5,155
43
84
1910
78,000
12,149
5,817
48
80
1911
79,000
12,357
6,533
53
74
1912
80,000
12,596
7,171
57
79
1913
82,000
12,827
7,856
61
72
1914
85,000
13,034
8,499
65
73
1915
87,000
13,233
9,155
69
67
1916
90,000
13,420
9,763
72.75
69
1917
91,000
13,509
10,028
74.23
*73
1918
91,000
13,514
10,116
74.86
*80
* Winter of 1917-18 was of extraordinary severity and frost penetration was very deep so that water was allowed to run to waste to prevent its freez- ing. Industrial consumption was also considerably increased.
Summary of Pipes and Fixtures of the Water System December 31, 1918.
Feet of main pipe (approximately)
541,088
Feet of service pipe (approximately)
466,362
Service connections (approximately)
13,514
Public fire hydrants
1,175
Private fire hydrants
64
Gates
1,827
Check valves
8
Meters
10,113
Motor registers
3
Waterposts
79
Car-sprinkler connections
17
Blow-offs
178
.
Drinking fountains and troughs
8
..
(Est.) 88
1898
59,000
9,806
..
Con- sump-
315
WATER DEPARTMENT.
WATER ASSESSMENTS AND CONSUMPTION.
The annual assessments paid by this city as its propor- tionate part of the cost and operation of the Metropolitan water works are given below :-
Sinking
Maturing
Year
Fund
Maintenance
Interest
Bonds
Total
1898
No division made
$14,250 19
1899
66
66
20,975 58
1900
28,689 24
1901
$12,491 73
$12,033 79
$32,291 24
56,816 76
1902
19,014 85
12,955 64
30,427 40
62,397 89
1903
15,748 56
12,763 10
48,776 77
77,288 43
1904.
16,404 42
15,393 87
54,938 64
86,736 93
1905
21,358 11
13,666 71
55,535 91
90,560 73
1906
22,345 50
17,412 51
57,402 07
97,160 08
1907
25,365 30
18,880 01
62,089 30
106,334 61
1908
24,865 73
15,221 12
68,604 23
108,691 08
1909
24,812 23
21,220 56
66,540 41
112,573 20
1910
25,018 52
18,212 28
66,825 45
110,056 25
1911
25,424 55
19,573 82
69,849 26
$246 66
115,094 29
1912
24,469 82
16,111 70
68,205 16
445 46
109,232 14
1913
24,930 94
20,691 19
70,206 83
491 92
116,320 88.
1914.
14,190 98
22,488 71
73,138 81
180 63
109,999 13
1915
14,164 65
21,376 07
74,111 12
1,129 50
110,781 34
1916.
13,249 71
21,643 98
74,058 98
1,515 62
110,468 29
1917
13,364 71
28,110 19
75,117 17
1,833 60
118,425 67
1918
14,193 89
29,185 04
79,975 44
2,004 18
125,358 55
$1,888,211 26
There has been credited to the city by the commonwealth as its proportion of the amounts received from entrance fees, water supplied outside the district, and water furnished to water companies the sum of $9,056.10.
The daily consumption of water in Somerville, as recorded by the Venturi meters, operated by the Metropolitan water works, is shown below by months for the year 1918 :-
Gallons
Gallons
Gallons
Month
per day
per capita
Month
Gallons per day
per capita
January
8,870,200
96
July
7,156,100
77
February
9,530,000
103
August
6,832,200
73
March
8,215,000
89
September
6,633,300
71
April
7,414,800
80
October
6,572,600
70
May
7,398,300
80
November
6,679,800
71
June
7,554,900
81
December 6,497,800
69
The consumption for the year was :
Low-service system
2,105,921,000 gallons
High-service system
607,212,000 gallons
Total consumption
2,713,133,000 gallons
Average daily consumption
7,433,200 gallons
Average daily consumption, per capita, for Som- erville
80 gallons
Average daily consumption, per capita, for Met- ropolitan district
105 gallons
60
.
.316
ANNUAL REPORTS.
The following table shows the daily per capita consumption of water in the cities and towns in the Metropolitan Water Dis- trict for the year 1918, as registered by the Metropolitan meters.
City or town
Jan Feb Mar Apr May June July Aug Sept Oct Nov Dec Year
Arlington
68
104
99
73 58
79 62
66
61
62
61
53
55
56
62
Boston
137
146
124
114
115
117
117
118
117
112
109 66
67
74
Everett
114
126
94
79
76
75
75
75
74
71
68
70
83
Lexington
77
114
106
87
92
94
89
87
76
64
63
58
84
Malden
59
80
81
68
63
60
60
60 62
54
48
47
62
Melrose
70
108
80
62
67
61
59
58
55
56
55
66
Milton
46
61
59
49
51
56
46
39
39
41
40
39
47
Nahant
94
122
138
89
142 101
236 101
261 106
276 109
187
124
68 112
112
I05
Revere
83
101
75
60
64
66
70
73
61
54
52
53
67
Somerville
96
103
89
80
80
81
77
73
71
70
71
69
80
Stoneham
87
151
128
101
72
66
65
61 91
58
.56 71
64
54
76
Watertown
108
137
126
108
127
131
138
147
137
131
154
134
131
Winthrop
54
96
82
68
67
66
74
72
56
49
49
47
65
Met. Dist.
118
130
111
100
101
103
103
103
100
96
95
97
105
The district, in order of consumption, beginning with the lowest, stands as follows for the year 1918 :-
Gallons
Per Cent.
City or lowIl
per Day
Per Capita per Day
Services Metered
Milton
434,500
47
10
Malden
3.254,700
62
97.20
Medford
2,161,900
62
100
Belmont
577,900
62
100
Winthrop
941,900
65
100
Melrose
1,180,600
66
100
Revere
1,975,500
67
76.98
Chelsea
3,501,200
74
99.81
Arlington
1,290,300
76
100
Swampscott
606,100
76
100
Somerville
7,433,200
80
74.86
Stoneham
617,700
80
99.52
Everett
3,365,800
83
63.06
Lexington
493,700
84
100
Quincy
4,621,700
105
90.46
Boston
94,634,000
120
59.92
Watertown
2,434,500
131
100
Nahant
228,200
149
75.58
Total District
129,753,400
105
72.47
. 84
75
69
64
58
60
76
Belmont
58
86
68
79
68
70
73
77
67
67
67
56 52
53
51
62
Medford
60
92
81
65
63
67 65
63
Quincy
88
104
113
101
88
73
87
88
76
59
58
80
Swampscott
63
87
73
..
CONSTRUCTION - MAINTENANCE - OPERATION.
As a result of war conditions and regulations but very lit- tle construction work has been done during the year, but the department has been busily engaged, nevertheless, on the gen- eral upkeep of the system and in overcoming damage wrought by the freezeup of last winter.
The winter of 1917-18 will go down in the annals of water-
114
120
Chelsea
92
94
59
103
105
51
149
Total
88
317
WATER DEPARTMENT.
works practice as the coldest on record and one that put the efficiency of our department to the test in maintaining a supply of water throughout the trying period of many weeks when the frost penetration had reached to and below the grade of the water mains and service pipes.
The men of the department worked heroically day and night and great credit is due them for their willing and per- sistent efforts to relieve those who were sorely inconvenienced by the freezing of the water supply to their houses.
Thawing devices using hot water, steam and electricity were put into service and the situation was at length brought under control with a record of about 6 per cent. of the city's meters and 4 per cent. of the water services frozen at some time during the months of January and February; also, one 10" main, one 6" main and two 2" service mains were frozen, all at dead ends, and were successfully thawed by electricity; the fire hydrant system also suffered severely but was maintained with practically no loss of service at time of need.
The electric thawing device used consisted of a 50 k. w. transformer, taking current from the Edison system 2200 volt primary wires and delivering to the water pipes a current of varying amperage controlled by a water rheostat and conveyed by a heavy cable grounded to a fire hydrant on one side and clamped to the house service on the other, thus completing the electrical circuit. The apparatus was carried about the city on a heavy wagon drawn by a pair of horses and was set up at various points so that one connection with the primary wires would reach as many frozen services as possible, in some instances as many as eight being thus reached through cable lines several hundred feet in length. One hundred sixty-nine services were thawed by this method in a period of twelve working days, between February 13th and 26th, the lowest day's results being eight and the highest nineteen.
About a dozen others were tried but the desired results failed, probably on account of some poor metallic connection in the pipe line which obstructed the flow of the current and failed to heat the pipes although evidently forming an arc which in some instances was sufficiently intense to melt the brass fittings and led to the necessity subsequently of digging down to and repairing the connections.
On the whole the operation of the device was very satis- factory, being especially serviceable on such pipes as were too small or crooked to get an ordinary hot-water thawing tube through. It is worthy of record also that in the hands of our expert operator there was no difficulty in thawing cement-lined service pipes which we had been led to believe, from results in other places, were from the nature of their construction beyond the range of this electrical method of thawing.
318
ANNUAL REPORTS.
In May a new 20" connection with the Metropolitan sys- tem was installed by the Metropolitan Water and Sewerage Board at a point on Alewife Brook Parkway near Capen Street, and was equipped with a 6" Hersey Detector meter hav- ing a 3" by-pass. In June this installation was connected by our local department with the 12" main in Gordon Street and the low-service water from the new supply was turned into this street in place of the high-service which had previously been supplied, thus transferring 14 houses containing 28 tene- ments to the low-service system.
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