Report of the city of Somerville 1924, Part 17

Author: Somerville (Mass.)
Publication date: 1924
Publisher:
Number of Pages: 446


USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Somerville > Report of the city of Somerville 1924 > Part 17
USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Somerville > Report of the city of Somerville 1924 > Part 17


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160


Number of Pedlers' scales 191


Number of Junk scales 25


Number of Ice scales .


106


Number of Gasoline devices


70


Condemned for repairs or replacement on road :


Number of scales inspected and tagged .


58


Number repaired or replaced and sealed .


34


Number not reported ready for sealing 24


Condemned for repairs or replacement at office:


Number of scales inspected and tagged


60


Number repaired or replaced and sealed .


35


Number not reported ready for sealing 25


Number of complaints attended to:


Gasoline Station Tests:


Total number of calls


138


Number of different stations


78


Number of call backs to stations previously in- spected


60


Total number of gallons of gas drawn for tests


6700


Average gallons of gas drawn per pump .


3914


Total number of pumps inspected


168


Number of pumps sealed


152


Number of pumps closed


16


Total number of oil pumps .


145


Number of oil pumps sealed


94


Numberof oil pumps non-sealed


51


Considerable time is required in testing gasoline devices, whether the device is sealed or in finding out the inaccuracy of it.


Summary of tests and inspections:


Total Number


Correct


Under


Over


Loaves of Bread


138


57


22


59


Packages of Butter


68


55


S


5


Coal in paper bags


77


40


15


22


Coke in paper bags


7


7


Confectionery


8


S


Dry Commodity


576


347


204


25


Bags of Flour


32


21


7


4


Fruits and Vegetables


120


53


66


1


Grain and Feed


4


4


Ice


5


1


3


1


Meats and Provisions


37


22


6


9


Total


1072


611


335


126


-


1


275


SEALER OF WEIGHTS AND MEASURES.


Other inspections :


Clinical Thermometers


373


Marking of Bread .


54


Pedlers' Licenses


23


Pedlers' Scales


11


Ice Cream Cartons


841


Cartons approved as measures


681


Arrangements are being made for testing Taxicab Meters which is an important necessity and will be increasingly so. A course of a mile will be laid out and marked with brass płates set in the sidewalk at intervals of one-quarter, one- third, one-half, two-thirds, three-quarters and one mile. Re- sults are figured on each company's rates per initial charge and rate per fractional part of a mile. Also tests by time on waiting periods.


A new set of Glass Graduates are being ordered to test those used in drug stores, which is also an important feature of this department.


It was found on reweighing packages, in stores put up ready for sale, a number of them were deficient in weight owing to having been put up for some time and due to shrink- age. In a few cases, weighing was left to boys. The matter was brought to the attention of the store managers who read- ily had it rectified.


A case of shortage in weight on bags of coal was traced to a fault in a small platform scale. The case was taken up with the dealer, who reweighed and made adjustment with- out further controversy.


Unfortunately the public in general do not realize that this department is ready and willing at all times to cooper- ate in regard to short weight or measure. The average house- wife would rather stop trading in a store she thinks is cheat- ing her than go as witness in a court case, therefore this de- partment doesn't get in touch with as many cases as it should. If they would realize that it would be a means of checking this and a saving to those that have to make every penny count, perhaps we could get more cooperation.


276


ANNUAL REPORTS


It is the policy of this department to give the storekeeper the chance to remedy the various deficiencies before court ac- tion is taken as it has been found that a more cooperative feel- ing is established and the storekeepers are anxious to do what is right.


It is not to be inferred that this department. in following this policy, is too lenient, but due allowance is made as the case warrants.


B. S. ABBOTT,


Sealer of Weights and Measures.


277


WATER DEPARTMENT.


SOMERVILLE WATER WORKS


SOMERVILLE, MIDDLESEX CO, MASSACHUSETTS Settled, when part of Charlestown, 1630 (Home of Colonial Governor John Winthrop) Incorporated a town, 1842 Established a city, 1872


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, 1920 census, 93,033 Present population, estimated, 100,000 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. JOHN M. WEBSTER


Water Commissioner FRANK E. MERRILL


Office of the Water Department Room 10, City Hall


Department Buildings and Yard Cedar street, near Broadway


278


ANNUAL REPORTS.


ADMINISTRATION OF WATER WORKS VESTED AS FOLLOWS:


1868-1871 SOMERVILLE MYSTIC WATER COMMITTEE (5) Acts 1868; Chap. 202


1872-1890 SOMERVILLE MYSTIC WATER BOARD (5) Acts 1871; Chap. 182


1891-1897 SOMERVILLE MYSTIC WATER BOARD (3) Acts 1890; Chap. 218


1898-1899 BOARD OF WATER COMMISSIONERS (3) Acts 1898; Chap. 33


1900


WATER COMMISSIONER (1)


Acts 1899; Chap. 240


279


WATER DEPARTMENT.


REPORT OF THE WATER COMMISSIONER


OFFICE OF THE WATER COMMISSIONER, January, 1925.


To His Honor, the Mayor, and the Board of Aldermen :-


I present herewith my report for the year ending Decem- ber 31, 1924, this being the fiftieth annual report of the water department and my twenty-fourth as water commissioner:


Revenue and Expenditures Water bills have been issued as follows :-


"Annual" water charges, amounting to .


$19,917 25


"Additional" water charges, amounting to 1,255 89


"Metered" water charges, amounting to .


265,081 12


$286,254 26


Abatements and refunds


3,128 74


Income from sale of water


$283,125 52


Receipts; water service assessments


$8,559 72


Misc. accounts charged $11.412 35


Abatements 724 41 10,687 94


19,247 66


Total income of water works


$302,373 18


This amount was used as follows :-


For water works purposes :-


Under Control of the Water Commissioner


Water Works Maintenance


$69,720 13


Water Works Extension


34,114 72


Miscellaneous accounts : Maintenance .


$10,687 94


Extension


894 62 11,582 56


$115,417 41


Not Under Control of Water Commissioner


Metropolitan water works assessment $142,275 86


Maintenance water works buildings 2,983 36


$145,259 22


For other municipal purposes :-


Not Under Control of the Water Commissioner


Surplus Total


$41,696 55


$302,373 18


Receipts; labor and materials sold :


280


ANNUAL REPORTS.


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.


Department Receipts and Disbursements


WATER MAINTENANCE ACCOUNT


Appropriations made by Board of Aldermen


$84,200 00


Department accounts; receipts .


1,344 28


Water works extension account; receipts .


26,216 07


Refund


46


Amount expended for labor and materials for operation, maintenance, and renewal of the water works . $69,720 13


Amount expended for materials used in ex- tension of the water works


26,216 07


Miscellaneous accounts 10.687 94


Labor and materials furnished municipal de- partments


1,344 28


Expenditure refund


2 46


Extension Account; amount refunded


894 62


Balance


2,897 31


$111,762 81 $111,762 81


WATER WORKS EXTENSION ACCOUNT


Appropriations made by Board of Aldermen . Water Maintenance account: refunds


$35,000 00


$94 62


Amounts paid Water Maintenance Account . Amount expended for labor and materials used in extension of the water works . Balance


894 62


$34,114 72


885 28


$35,894 62


$35,894 62


Cost of Water Works


The total cost of water works on December 31, 1923, as represented by the expendi- tures from appropriations for water works extension was .


Expended during the year 1924. on extension account


$1,153,527 01


$ 34,114 72


Total expenditures, December 31, 1924 .


$1,187,641 73


281


WATER DEPARTMENT.


Water Works Income from 1898 and its Distribution


The water income and its distribution from 1898 to 1924, inclusive, is shown in the following table :- Total water income $6,562,499 25


Distribution : -


Water Works Account


Water works Construction, Renewal,


Maintenance, Operation and Miscel-


laneous Accounts


$1,764,549 82


Water bonds 274,000 00


Interest 86,575 00


Metropolitan Water Assessments


2,687,437 59


Maintenance Water Works buildings 14,755 72


$4,827,318 13


Other Municipal Accounts


Various municipal departments through specific appropriations and general


revenue account


$1,735,181 12


$6,562,499 25


Water Distribution System-Construction


STREET MAINS


Approximate number of feet of street mains in the city, January 1, 1924. (including hydrant branches and blow-offs )


551,223.


Feet of street mains laid in 1924 .


3,969


Feet of hydrant branches laid in 1924


111


Feet of blow-off branches laid in 1924 .


2


Feet of inter-city connection laid in 1924


43


Total feet of pipe laid


4,125


Feet of pipe removed or replaced .


52


Net increase in feet of pipe


Total approximate feet of pipe in the city


Total pipe mileage, approximately .


4,073. 555,296 105.1


The sizes and lengths of pipe laid out and discontinued are as follows :


Size


Feet Laid 0


Feet Discontinued


Size


Feet Laid


Feet Discontinued 32


1"


0


0


8"


1,124


0


2"


165


20


10"


465


0


4"


0


0


12"


2,174


0


0


197


282


ANNUAL REPORTS.


The pipes constructed and replaced during the year are as follows :-


Feet


Size


Constructed


Size


Feet Laid 465


tinued


Boston Ave.


10"


Boston Ave. (Western end)


12"


463


Broadway


2"


122


Hillsdale Road


8"


174


Irvington Road


653


Laurel Terrace


94


Mystic Valley Parkway


12"


989


Talbot Ave.


12"


688


Upland Road


278


Yorktown St. .


2"


23


Inter-City Connection


( 12"


34


2 8"


9


Replaced :


Washington Ave. .


2"


20


20


2"


Hydrant Branches:


6"


103


32


6"


and Blow-offs


10


4,125


52


.


Hydrants, Gates, etc.


Number of fire hydrants in city January 1, 1924


1,201


Number set during year .


35


Number removed during the year . 23


Net increase in number of hydrants


12


Total number of public fire hydrants . Number of private fire hydrants, January 1, 1924 66


1,213


Number added


0


Total number of private fire hydrants receiving their supply from the city mains 66


Discon- tinued


Discon-


283


WATER DEPARTMENT.


Number of gates in city, January 1, 1924


Number set during the year for streets . 13


Number of section gates set 8


Number set on hydrant branches 34


Number set on blow-off branches 1


Number set on car-sprinkler connections 0


- 56


Number of street gates removed 5


Number of section gates removed . 2


Number of waterpost gates removed 1


Number of blow-off gates removed . 0


Number of hydrant branch gates removed 4


12


Net increase in number of gates


Total number of gates in city .


44 2,060


Number of check-valves in city


8


Number of blow-offs in city January 1, 1924


190


Number added during the year


0


0


Number discontinued 0


0


Total number of blow-offs 190


Number of waterposts in city January 1, 1924 66


Number removed during the year 1


Total number of waterposts 65


Number of drinking fountains in city


.


8


Number of car-sprinkler connection in city


17


Water Services


Number of services in city January 1, 1924 ( approximately ) 14,045


Number laid during the year .


159


Number permanently discontinued


15


Net increase in services 144


Total number of water services in city . 14,189


Amount received for services laid in 1924 .


$8,559.72


Number feet service pipe in city January 1, 1924 (city and private) approximately . 485,240


Number of feet laid during the year 5,333


Number of feet discontinued 573


Increase in feet of service pipe 4,760


Total feet service pipe (city and private) (approximately) 490,000


Total service mileage (approximately)


92.8


Size, number and length of services installed in 1924 :-


1-5/8"-12' 141-34"-4754' 9-1"-347'


1-11/2"-48'


4-2"-92' 1-4"-38' 2-6"-42'


2,016


284


ANNUAL REPORTS.


Number of fire services installed during 1924 (Included in above) 2


Location of Fire Services No. Size


Somerville Ave., No. 517; Wm. E. Cotter Spring Hill Garage


1 6"


South St., No. 33; Art Craft Box Co. Factory Building 1


6"


Water Meters


Number of water meters in city, January 1, 1924 .


12,079


Number installed during the year, new


974


Number reset 118


1,092


Number removed on account of permanent or tem- porary discontinuance of water and for substi- tution of other meters . 159


Net increase in number of operating meters


933


Total number of meters in service .


13,012


Number of motor registers (included in above)


3


Per cent .- of all services metered


91.6


Operating Meters December 31, 1924


Size


3/4 " 1" 11/2'


2"


3"


4"


6"


Total


No. 12556 285


105


17


25


12


8


1


13,009


Motor and elevator registers


.


3


13,012


The meters installed in 1924 were classed as follows :-


Applications of property owners


18


New services


163


General installation


793


Reset


118


Total


1,092


Meters were removed for the following causes :-


Vacancies and temporary non-use of water


92


Services permanently discontinued .


6


Replaced by other meters .


61


Total


159


285


WATER DEPARTMENT.


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 Set in excess Meters set on set on of new services required on old services old services requirements


1908


411


755


344


Total excess 344


147


1909


411


637


226


570


201


1910


411


501


90


660


169


1911


411


528


117


777


200


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


2481


624


154


1918


411


82


329+


295


39


1919


411


166


245+


50


23


1920


411


115


296+


246+


45


1921


411


663


252


6


60


1922


411


67


344+


338+


181


1923


411


430


19


319+


244


1924


411


811


400


81


163


+ Deficiency.


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


Con- sump- tion


(Est.)


88


1898


59,000


9,806


143


1.5


88


1899


61,000


10,052


226


2.25


88


1900


62,000


10,291


202


2


66


88


1901


64,000


10,520


224


2


88


1902


66,000


10,710


269


2.5


66


88


1903


68,000


10,854


647


6


88


1904


69,000


11,059


1,272


11.5


Met.


89


1905


70,000


11,279


2,092


18.5


89


1906


71,000


11,489


2,829


24.5


66


89


1907


72,000


11,662


3,455


29.5


66


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


66


80


1911


79,000


12,357


6,533


53


66


74


1912


80,000


12,596


7,171


57


66


79


1913


82,000


12,827


7,856


61


72


1914


85,000


13,034


8,499


65


66


73


1915


87,000


13,233


9,155


69


66


67


1916


90,000


13,420


9,763


72.75


66


69


1917


91,000


13,509


10,028


74.23


66


73


1918


91,000


13,514


10,116


74.86


66


80


1919


92,000


13,544


10,322


76.21


69


1920


93,033


13,554


10,472


77.26


77


1921


95,000


13,631


11,190


82.11


73


1922


96,000


13,844


11,447


82.68


66


76


1923


98,000


14,045


12,079


86.0


81


1924


100,000


14,189


13,012


90.6


66


77


1897


58,000


9,601


66


286


ANNUAL REPORTS


Summary of Pipes and Fixtures of the Water System December 31, 1924


Fee of main pipe (approximately )


555,296


Feet of service pipe (approximately )


490,000


Service connections (approximately)


14,189


Public fire hydrants


1.213


Private fire hydrants


66


Gates


2,060


Check Valves


8


Meters


13,012


Motor registers


3


Waterposts


65


Car-sprinkler connections


17


Blow-offs


190


Drinking fountains and troughs .


8


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


Year


Fund


Maintenance


Interest


Maturing Bonds


Total


1898


No division made


$14,250 19


1899.


20,975 58


1900.


60


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 1


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


1919


13,765 81


33,723 64


78,335 58


2,257 87


128,082 90


1920


12,559 45


37,814 68


74,903 80


2,227 81


127,505 74


1921


11,956 69


43,942 28


75,848 98


2,241 89


133,989 .84


1922


11,119 49


37,015 40


77,490 17


2,582 78


128,207 84


1923


10,716 17


42,846 98


82,407 74


3,193 26


139,164 15


192


10.620 44


42,583 87


85,035 59


4,035 96


142,275 86


$2,687,437 59


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.


287


WATER DEPARTMENT.


The daily consumption of water in Somerville, as re- corded by the Venturi meters, operated by the Metropolitan Water works, is shown below by months for the year 1924 :-


Gallons


Gallons


Gallons


Gallons


Month


per day per capita


Month


per day per capita


January


7,985,600


80


July


8,083,800


80


February


8,018,200


80


August


7,775,200


77


March


7,487,300


75


September


7,759,300


77


April


7,718,300


77


October


7,632,500


76


May


7,441,000


74


November


7,582,200


75


June


7,902,300


79


December


7,749,200


77


The consumption for the year was :-


Low-service


2,181,297,000 gallons


High-service system


658,889,000 gallons


Total consumption


2,840,186,000 gallons


Average daily consumption


7,760,100 gallons


Average daily consumption, per capita, for Som- erville


77 gallons


Average daily consumption per capita, for Met-


ropolitan district


95 gallons


The following table shows the daily per capita consump- tion of water in the cities and towns in the Metropolitan Water District for the year 1924 as registered by the Metropolitan meters :


City or town


Jan Feb Mar Apr May June July Aug Sept Oct Nov Dec Year


Arlington


53


53


52


52


59


62


79


63


59


62


58 63


59 62


64


Boston


122


118


113


107


105


106


110


109


112


110


108


115


112


Chelsea


82


$1


77


75


71


73


77


77


76


74


75


79


76


Everett


104


103


98


94


90


96


103


107


107


106


101


115


102


Lexington


50


49


51


55 51


49


54


Medford


54


54


54


51


52 61


50 55 69 47


94 62 57 75


75 57 52 67 45 278


59 53 66 46 182 89 S1


107 85


74


75


82


Revere


68


68


65


67


71


75


$9


89


75


71


74


Swampscott


67


69


62


64


77


104


137


80 121


80 102


76 77 83 67


70 75 66 93 64


77 63 65


87


Watertown


65


60


59


57


57


63


72


64


66


Winthrop


47


48


49


48


49


59


74


71


60


54


50


49


55


Met. Dist.


101


99


95


91


90


93


98


96


97


95


93


98


95


68 54 51 65 52


58 52


53


Melrose


64


63


61


58


64


Milton


42


44


44


45


44


Nahant


60


55 77


76


76


79


87


94


93


Somerville


Stoneham


68


70


70


72


73


79 77


80 82


77


77


69


64


64-


Malden


49


49


49


62


77


103


194


51 261


Quincy


78


57


58


59


61


70


89


70


63


64


53 66 50


57 55


47


76


57


126


75


77


74


77


73


68


63


58


11


65


59


Belmont


56


288


ANNUAL REPORTS.


The district, in order of per capita consumption, begin- ning with the lowest, stands as follows for the year 1924:


Total Per Day


Per Capita Per Day


Services Metered


Milton


537,000


47


100


Medford


2,441,400


53


100


Malden


2,859,900


54


99


Winthrop


969,000


55


100


Arlington


1,395,000


59


100


Watertown


1,657,100


63


100


Belmont


887,200


64


100


Lexington


448,000


64


9,9


Melrose


1,247,400


64


100


Stoneham


600,900


73


100


Revere


2.293,300


74


100


Chelsea


3,551,700


76


100


Somerville


7,760,100


92


Quincy


4,352,400


82


91


Swampscott


731.100


100


Everett


4.491.500


102


80


Boston


87,680,900


111


70


Nahant


195,800


126


Total District


124.099,700


95


Operation - Maintenance - Construction


Operation and maintenance of the department has been mostly of a routine nature. A systematic inspection and re- cording of all fire hydrauts was made and many of the street gates were packed and oiled. Our transportation equipment has been still further strengthened and for the first time may be said to be in fairly satisfactory condition, although experi- ence is demonstrating that our lighter type of trucks is not dependable for service in cold weather or in deep snow. An acquisition of special benefit to the department is a steam truck, of use at all times as a carrier and of especial value in the winter season for thawing hydrants and other water- works fixtures that may become frozen. The body and cab of this outfit were built in our department shop by our own men who also rigged up the thawing device and converted the second-hand touring car into a serviceable and up-to-date truck.


A large shed has been erected in our pipe yard by the building department for the storage of special castings, valves and small parts needed in our work, and has demonstrated its usefulness.


An event of much importance in our clerical depart- ment was the return to our General Office in September after an enforced absence of six months during the remodeling of City Hall. While this work was going on the department was temporarily quartered on the top floor of the recon- structed portion of the building.


289


WATER DEPARTMENT.


The new quarters, while in substantially the same lo- cation as the old office are more spacious, lighter and better adapted to carrying on the department work and all the clerks and the water commissioner are greatly pleased with the changes.


The outstanding construction work of the year has been the installation of over 3,000 feet of street mains in the west- ern part of the city to provide water supply to new houses in that section: the installation of nearly 700 feet of 12" pipe in Talbot avenue to provide an additional feeder to the high-service system of the city, and the installation of nearly 1,000 new water meters.


An inter-city connection between the low-service sys- tem of Somerville and that of the city of Medford was made in Boston avenue at Mystic Valley Parkway, that may be used by either city in emergencies.


The number of new service connections made was 80 less than that of the previous year. The nature of premises sup- plied by these services is shown in the following table :


Apartment Houses


2


Battery Stations


2


Churches


2


Court House


1


Dwelling House


121


Dwelling & Store


.


1


Factories


3


Factory: Fire pipe


1


Garages: Private


10


Garage: Public


1


Garage: Fire pipe


1


Laundries


2


Lunch Room .


1


Office Buildings


2


School


1


Stores


5


Tenements &


Stores ( Blocks)


2


Voting House


1


·


159


Water Consumption


The water consumption in our city dropped to a daily average per capita of 77 gallons from an average of 81 gal- lons in the previous year. The city is now so nearly metered that the changes in the per capita consumption indicate with a fair degree of accuracy the variation in the income to the city from the sale of water.


290


ANNUAL REPORTS


The records show that this drop of four gallons a day in the per capita water consumption was accompanied by a fall- ing off for the year of about $7,000 in the income from the sale of water.


This drop in water consumption and income has a sort of reflex action on the State's Metropolitan Water Assess- ment so that what is lost in water income through decreased consumption may be offset in the charge for water levied by the commonwealth.


Financial


The department books closed with unexpended balances on the original appropriations in both Water Maintenance and Water Works Extension accounts and all bills contracted dur- ing the year have been paid. There being no bonded debt there was, therefore, no water-works indebtedness of any kind at the end of the year.


Water Rate Lien Law


Chapter 391 of the Arts of 1923, Mass. Legislature, en- titled "An Act Relative to Collection of Water Rates" was accepted by the Board of Aldermen and approved by the Mayor in March last.


This Act provides that unpaid water bills may under certain conditions become a lien on real estate and that the property may be sold by the city to satisfy its claim. It does not. however, deprive the city of the power of the shut-off wrench to enforce payments from delinquents.


Pensioners


Two of our department pensioners have passed to the great beyond during the year and tribute is here paid to the names and memory of these men :


1 Thomas Fitzpatrick, John Brady,


291


WATER DEPARTMENT.


who during their long period of employment served the city efficiently and faithfully and held the esteem and respect of all thir associates.


There are now seven former employees of this depart- ment on the payroll of pensioners.


Conclusion


The tables which follow are of value for reference and are made a part of this report.


Respectfully submitted.




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