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
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
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.
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.