USA > Massachusetts > Bristol County > Attleboro > Reports of town officers of the town of Attleborough 1898 > Part 8
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54
31
23
46.90
43.60
92.70
17 Edith S. Pearson
46
22
24
40.97
38.63
94
19 Katherine I. Sweeney
66
1st and 2d
75
38
37
67.75
63.32
93.46
12 N. Josephine Cass.
13 Mabel Whitney
50
22
28
45.92
42.54
92.64
8 Annie L. Goodrich
66
،،
* School opened in September:
Most of the pupils were previously enrolled in other schools.
32
28
29.75
24.90
89.25
46 Bertha Gibson
Mendon Road
Ungraded
43 Esther M. Murphy
44 Willard B. Atwell
Primary Grades
60
66
7 |Harriet C. MacNeil
9 Hannah M. Pratt
66
28 Lizzie J. Herrick
41 Susan K. McIntyre
TOWN OF ATTLEBOROUGH.
WATER DEPARTMENT, 1899.
COMMISSIONERS:
LUCH'S Z. CARPENTER. GEORGE A. DEAN.
WILLIAM M. STONE.
Term Expires 1899 Term Expires 1900 Term Expires 1901
SUPERINTENDENT AND REGISTRAR : WILLIAM J. LUTHER. CLERK IN REGISTRAR'S OFFICE : MISS CARRIE L. PERRY.
ENGINEER AT PEMPING STATION : GEORGE H. PALMER,
ASSISTANT ENGINTER AT PUMBING STATION : LEON HI. TINGLEY.
,
REPORT OF WATER DEPARTMENT
SUMMARY OF STATISTICS
ATTLEBOROUGH WATER WORKS.
Population by census of 1895, 8,285
Date of construction of works. 1873
Source of supply : circular well near Seven Mile River.
Mode of supplying :by pumping into stand pipe 30 feet in diameter.
PUMPING.
1 Builders of pumping machinery : Geo. F. Blake Mfg. Co. Deane Steam Pump Co.
2 Description of coal used : George's Creek, (bitumi- nous) Cost, $4.15 per ton. 2,240 lbs. delivered.
211
ANNUAL REPORT.
5 Coal consumed for the year. 516.075 118
1 Pounds of wood consumed coal in lì- 1.000 lbs 3 Total fuel consumed in a year. 517.675 1b>
6 Total pumpare for the year.
130.526. 640 gls
7 Average static head against which pump works. 160 ft
Average dynamic head against which pumb works. Blake. 175 ft
Deane. 1-8 ft
Number of gallons pumped per pound of co:l. 2.52
10 Duty. 29.100.000 lbs
Cost of pumping figured on pumping sta- tion expenses. viz :
11 Per million gallons raised against dyna- mic head into stand pipe.
12 Per million gallons raised one foot high. (dynamic) 3 0.1177
Cost of pumping figured on total main- tenance. viz : $18.945.
19 Per million gallons raised against dyna- inic head into stand pidr. $ 145.17
14 Per million gallon- raised one foot high. (dynamic)
215
ANNUAL REPORT.
CONSUMPTION.
1 Estimated population at dete. 8.900
Estimated population on lines of pipe at date. 7,400
3 Estimated population supplied at date, 6.900
-1 Total number of gallons consumed for the year. 130.526,610
Average daily consumption. 357,688
8 Gallons per day for each inhabitant, 10.1
9 Gallons per day for each consumer, 51.8
DISTRIBUTION.
1 Kind of pipe used.
Cast iron and cement lined
2 Sizes.
3 Extended,
From 4 inch to 16 inch 2,166 feet 30.28 miles
-1 Total now in nse.
7 Number of leaks. 12
9 Hydrants added, 9
10 Number now in use.
245
15 Range of pressure on mains at Park Square
for twenty-four hours, 54 to 62 lbs
SERVICES.
25 Meters added.
26 Number now in use. 788
28 Motors now in use. 2
29 Number of meters rented by the town. 532
216
ANNUAL REPORT.
30 Number of meters owned by individuals, 256
31 Number of faucets not supplied through meters, The following meters were in use at the end of the year :
5-S in.
3-4 in.
I in.
1 1-2 in.
2 in.
Total.
Ball & Fitts.
12
12
Union Rotary,
178
5
1
2
192
Columbia,
24
24
Crown.
144
7
1
160
Naslı,
118
118
Empire,
16
1
17
Hersey,
131
1
1
133
Hersey Disc,
37
37
Thomson,
51
3
4
Trident,
12
12
Lambert,
21
24
Desper,
1
1
748
16
16
6
2
788
FINANCIAL STATEMENT.
MAINTENANCE.
Amount paid Town Treasurer by Water Registrar, being receipts from sale of water. etc .. $16.394 18
Amount appropriated by the town, 7,100 00
338
SIZE.
217
ANNUAL REPORT.
Amount received from accrued interest on bonds, 108 34
-$23, 602 52
Pumping expenses,
82,872 80
Repairs.
1,487 64
Incidental expenses.
1,580 62
Insurance, 47 50
Salary Superintendent and Registrar. 900 00
Interest account,
12,060 00
Total of maintenance. $18,948 56
Amount placed in Sinking Fund, 4,650 00
Unexpended balance, Dec. 31. 1898, 3 96
$23.602 52
CONSTRUCTION.
Unexpended balance, Jan. 1, 1898, 8 2,778 90
Received from sale of bonds, 13,000 00
Premiums received on bonds, 1.820 00
Amount paid Town Treasurer, being
receipt from sale of meters, etc.,
154 69
$17.753 59
21>
ANNUAL REPORT.
Cost of construction for 1838. as shown
by itemizedl arconuts. $11.96 5D
Unexpended balance. Dec. 31. lots.
Total cost of work- to date. $335.027 47
Bonded debt at this date. 275.000 00
Value of -inking fund at this date. 47.442 96
Examined Jan. 11. 1899. and fomal correct.
FRED'K G. MASON.
W. L. ELLIOT. Auditor.
BENJAMIN F. LINDSEY.
Statement of the Amount of Income Received from Water Rates from the Date of the Construction of the Water Works to the Present Time.
These figures do rot inhale appropriations made by the Fire District of Town.
June. 1974-April. 1:75. 10 months.
April. 1875-July. 1870. 15 .. 2.021 84
July. 1876-Max. 1877. Jo mouth -. 2.000 00
2.053 :
May. 1577-May. Ists.
May. 1sis-May. 1s79. 3.039 37
May. 1870-May. Isso. 5.447 15
219
ANNUAL REPORT.
May, 1880-May, 1881, 1,482 30
May. 1881-May. 1882, 1,540 34
May, 1882-May, 1883, 5.436 39
May, 1883-May. 1884, 5,500 00
May, 1881-May, 1885, 5.034 00
May, 1885-May. 1886. 5.500 00
May. 1886-May, 1887, 5.711 52
May, 1887 -- May, 1888,
6.092 00
May, 1888-May. 1889.
7.600 00
May. 1889-May. 1890,
8.300 00
May. 1890-May, 1891, · 8.759 46
May. 1891-May, 1892, 8,535 00
May, 1892-May, 1893, 9.616 94
May. 1893-Jan. 1894. 8 months. 9,200 00
Jan. 1894-JJan. 1895. 11,174 60
Jan. 1895-Jan. 1696, 14,188 00
Jan. 1896-Jan. 1897, 15.292 29
Jan. 1897 -Jan. 1898, 16,446 69
Jan. 1898-Jan. 1899. 16,391 18
$181,758 73
220
ANNUAL REPORT.
Statement of the Indebtedness of the Town for Water Works Construction.
BONDS
Is A. d. O., due October 1. 1902. $20,000.00
T's .J. & J., due January 1, 1904, 40,000.00
1's A. & O., due October 1, 1912, 20,000 00 4's S. & M., due September 1, 1915. 12,000.00
4's J. & J., due January 1, 1919, 20,000.00 4's J. & J., due January 1. 1921, may be refunded January 1, 1901, 18,000.00 1's 1. & O., due October 1, 1922. 25,000.00
4's J. & J., due JJuly 1. 1923. 35.000.00
1's .J. & J .. Que July 1, 1924, 10.000.00
I's JJ. & JJ .. due July 1. 1926. 25.000.00
1's .J. & J., due July 1. 1927. 10,000.00
I's J. & J .. due July 1, 1928. 13,000.00
8278,000.00
Sinking Fund Assets, 17,412.96
Balance Net Debt.
$230.557.04
221
ANNUAL REPORT.
Cash Balance Unexpended in Construction Account. 5,785.09
Net Balance, $224,771.95
REPORT OF WATER COMMISSIONERS.
To THE CITIZENS OF ATTLEBORO :
The Board of Water Commissioners herewith submits its annual report for the year ending December 31, 1898 :
As in former years the reports of the Superintendent of Water Works and Water Registrar, the pumping statistics and copies of the analysis of samples of water from the well ac- company this report.
Extensions of pipe were made as itemized in the report of the Superintendent. The laying of the ten inch and eight inch pipes on Mill street and Railroad avenue proved to have been authorized by the town none too soon for use in the great fire of May 18th.
The amount of water used at this fire was over a million gallons, equal to double the capacity of the stand pipe and sufficient to cover the area occupied by the buildings which were destroyed to a depth of five feet.
.).).)
ANNUAL REPORT.
This amount of water was all pumped with one pump. the Deane pump purchased at the time the pumping station wa- built. It was necessary. however. to run it at double its rated capacity and we believe the town should have a new pump cabable of delivering not less than two thousand gallons per minute. From the report of the Superintendent it will be seen that it will be economy to purchase a high duty vertical pump at an estimated cost of not over fifteen thousand dol-
A. We are now situated in case of accident to the Deane pump or in case repairs were being made upon it the second jump at the station. the Blake pamp. would be capable of joanaping bar little. if any. more water then is used during some hours of the day for domestic consumption.
A large amount of money has been expended in furnish- ing street mains of large size. hydrants. hope and apparatus for the fire department. but all these are useless in case of fire unless they are supplied with plenty of water under a good pressure.
It is customary as well as prudent to have all the import- ant parts of a water works plant in dupleate in order that in case of accident to one piece of machinery the entire efficiency of the works may not be crippled. We therefore recommend that a suitable pump be added at the pumping station.
Beginning in JJanuary. las, an assistant engineer was employed at the station permanently. The Board believed
223
ANATAL BEPORT.
that the pumping station should never be without an engineer on the premises, and under the present arrangement such is the case while we are also enabled to arrange the work so that there is never more than fifteen feet of water out of the stand pipe at any time and the assistant engineer runs the pump in the evening so as to leave the stand pipe full at ten o'clock each night,
Private telephone lines connect the pumping station with Orr's factory and three houses in the village of South Attle- boro, so that assistance can be readily called night or day.
During the warm months of the summer a considerable amount of complaint was heard in regard to the water being rusty. As the ground becomes warm during the summer there is always a tendency for water in the dead ends to be- come foul and these dead ends have been flushed at least once a week from April to November. During the past summer however, the water was found at times to be red from iron rust at houses on some of the street where there is a good circulation of the water in the street mains.
The attention of the State Board of Health was called to this matter and they are making a careful examination and experiments with a view to getting rid of this trouble. We are informed by them that there is no iron in the water at the well and analysis of water from the well indicate that the quality of the water is one of the purest in the state.
·
224
ANNUAL REPORT.
The following communication was received from the State Board of Health on Jan. 25, 1899, as this report was about to go to the printer and we add the same to our report. It will be found to furnish a clear statement of the conditions which at times produce this iron rust and gives the conclusions drawn from the experiments which have been made during the past year. Further investigations are being made as suggested by the State Board of Health :
OFFICE OF STATE BOARD OF HEALTH, 1 STATE HOUSE, BOSTON, January 24. 1899. j
TO THE WATER COMMISSIONERS OF THE TOWN OF ATTLEBORO :
GENTLEMEN : The State Board of Health received from you on December 19, 1898. a communication requesting from this board such recommendations as it is able to make at the present time as the result of the studies which have been made during the past year with a view to eliminating the iron from the publie water supply of the town.
Since receiving your application for advice as to some method by which the rusty appearance of the water in the dis- tributing system of the town of Attleboro might be remedied, the Board has caused an investigation to be made to determine the condition of the water and the cause of the presence of iron therein, and if possible to discover some suitable method
225
ANNUAL REPORT.
of preventing trouble from this cause. In the course of these investigations several experiments have been made, with the · assistance of your Board, upon varions methods of treating water.
Analyses of water supplied to the town of Attleborongh from the well near the Seven Mile River have been made regu- larly by this Board about once each month since the well was completed, and the results show that the quality remains about the same as in the beginning. The water is clear, nearly colorless, and almost always odorless. It is also soft, and contains bnt little organic matter, and as drawn from the well it is of excellent quality for drinking and other domestic uses.
It has been found, however, that the water in the pipes in various parts of the system contains an excessive amount of iron, and since the quantity of iron present in the water of the well has always been insignificant, so far as is shown by the chemical analyses. it is evident that the water takes up iron from the pipes in its passage through them.
Further examination of the water of the well has shown that it contains carbonic acid gas in large quantities, and a considerable quantity of dissolved oxygen. Our investigation of this and other water supplies. and experiments conducted in the laboratory have shown that some waters in which these substances are present will attack the metal of pipes through which the water is conveyed, and it is probable that the corro- sive action of the Attleborough water upon the pipes through
15
ANNUAL REPORT.
which it is conveyed is caused by the presence of one or both of these substances. Various means of preventing the water from attacking the pipes have been tried. one of which was to ' remove the carbonic acid gas by aeration. but the quantity of oxygen that remained in the water was such as to callse the water to attack the pipes and while the quantity of iron that would be taken from the pipes in this way might be smailer than under the present condition -. the water wouldi, nevertheless, be liable to continue to be objectionable for many purposes.
The effect of adding lime to the water has also been tried. but our investigations have not been carried far enough to determine definitely what results can be obtained in this way. The only recommendation that the Board can make at the present time is that the investigation be continued. since the water is of excellent quality for domestic nses and would not be objectionable in any way. were it not for the presence of iron in excessive quantity in the distributing system.
It is possble that further investigations might show the Source from which comes the carbonic acid which enters the well and it may be practicable to neutralize its influence with- ont affecting unfavorably the quality of the water of the well. In continuing the investigation, it appears to be of much im- portance to examine the condition of the water in the ground about the well and it is suggested that as the next step in the investigation you cause test wells to be driven in the region
227
ANNUAL REPORT.
about the well in order to make it practicable to examine the water and determine if possible the source from which the car- bonic acid gas comes, and whether its entrance into the well can be prevented or its effect neutralized in any way. The Board will continue to co-operate with you in these investiga- tions and will make all necessary analyses and will give you further advice in the matter when the results of further inves- tigations are available.
BY ORDER OF THE BOARD. SAM'L. W. ABBOTT, Secretary.
At the annual town meeting the commissioners were in- structed to dispose of the old water tank if it could be done without expense to the town. We accordingly advertised it for sale in Attleboro and Providence papers. We received but one bid. that being from a Providence party offering thirty-five dollars ($35) for it. We accepted the bid. requir- ing also that twenty-five dollars ($25) should be deposited with us to ensure the clearing up of the ground after the tank and brickwork had been removed. The umber of meters. hydrants, services and gates connected with the system having become so large that it was considered advisable to employ an assistant and have all repairs upon them done by the depart- ment as in other towns. and therefore Mr. Win. J. Stone was employed for this position. In the report of the superinten-
228
ANNUAL REPORT.
dent will be found a recommendation to replace cement lined pipes with cast iron pipes of larger sizes on Pine, Dunham, Park, Mechanic, and Hodges streets at an estimated cost of $3,840.00 We believe this work should be done this year for the reasons stated in the superintendent's report. The town cannot afford to allow the new factory of Mr. D. E. Makepeace 10 be without proper fire protection by delaying this work, which must be done eventually.
For the coming year we estimate the receipts and expenses as follows :
RECEIPTS.
From water rates,
$17,350 00
Appropriation by the town for :
Maintenance,
$2,450 00
Sinking fund. 4,650 00
$7,100 00
$24,450 00
EXPENDITURES.
Pumping expenses, consisting of coal,
oil and salaries of engineers. $2,800 00
Repairs, incidentals and salaries. 1,200 00
Interest account. 12,800 00
~$19,800 00
Sinking fund,
4,650 00
$24,450 00
229
ANNUAL REPORT.
During the year the last claim for damages on account of taking of land around Orr's Pond was settled, a deed from the owner of the land, George Brown, having been delivered to the town the parties accepting the amount allowed by the commissioners.
In the latter part of December bids were requested for the bonds authorized by the town to the amount of twenty thousand dollars ($20,000.00) for the purpose of refunding outstanding bonds of like amount. The new bonds to run twenty years making them payable at the same time the old bonds would have become due. By this act of refunding the old bonds a premium of twenty six hundred dollars ($2,- 600.00 was realized which has been placed to the credit of the sinking fund as required by law.
There are also outstanding bonds to the amount of eighteen thousand dollars ($18,000.00) which may be refund- ed in the same manner JJanuary 1, 1901.
In October, 1898, much to the regret of the Water Com- missioners, Mr. Wm. J. Luther resigned the position of Regis- trar and Superintendent of the water works to accept a posi- tion with the Attleboro Gas Light Co. Mr. L. Z. Carpenter was appointed to the position of Registrar and Superintendent of the water works.
RESPECTFULLY SUBMITTED,
WM. M. STONE, Water G. A. DEAN,
1. 7. CARPENTER ) Commissioners.
130
ANNUAL REPORT.
SUMMARY OF MAINTENANCE ACCOUNT.
PUMPING EXPENSES.
Coal, $1.193 60
Engineer at pumping station. 900 00
Assistant engineer at pumping station. 730 00
Oil and packings. 19 20
$2,872 80
REPAIRS.
Repairs at pumping station.
$325 41
General repairs on pipe system and
hydrants. 831 42
Repairs on meters.
225 19
Repairs on telemeter and telephones,
76 11
Repairs on services.
29 51
$1,487 61
INCIDENTALS.
General incidentals not easily classified. $344 12
('lerk hire,
370 00
Freight and express,
58 50
Postage,
55 40
Rent,
125 00
Telephones,
122 92
Stationery and account books,
14 50
Printing, 18 55
131
ANNUAL REPORT.
Gas.
$ 1 04
Cleaning vaults at pumping station, 20 00
Teaming. 10 01
Printing bonds. 57 00
Incidentals on services. hydrants and pipe, 144 11
Assistant,
129 50
Fittings and supplies for work shop, 76 94
$1.580 62
SALARIES.
Superintendent and Registrar. $900.00
INSURANCE.
Insurance.
17.50
SUMMARY OF CONSTRUCTION ACCOUNT.
Hydrants. pipe and laying of same, 8.066.06
Services, 576.37
Meters. 473.00
Land, 596.53
Dam. 2.256.54
$11.968.50
132
ANNUAL REPORT.
Report of the Superintendent of Water Works.
TO THE WATER COMMISSIONERS OF ATTLEBOROUGH : GENTLEMEN :
Herewith I submit my report as superintendent of the Water Department. During the year cast iron water pipe has been laid as follows :
LENGTH AND SIZE.
STREET.
12"
6"
Mill Street,
529
Railroad Avenue,
962
Parker,
454
North Main,
1963
31
39
105
Fourth,
1205
62
Prospect,
351
Third
323
58
Second,
208
First.
575
Sixth,
424
Totals.
2492
1236
1683
1886
Except in the case of Mill street, Fourth street, Parker street and Second street cement pipes were replaced by the iron pipe.
Early in May the work of laying larger sized cast iron pipes on Mill street and Railroad avenue for the protection of the shops was begun by first laying a twelve inch pipe from South Main street to Union street.
133
ANNUAL REPORT.
An eight inch pipe was then laid on the east side of the railroad in front of the shops from Mill sereet to Bailey street, thence across the railroad to Railroad avenue near the store of Mr. G. A. Sweeney and thence mp Railroad avenne to Park street.
On the morning of May 17th, the pipe laying had reached a point nearly opposite the market of Mr. Seneca Cole, the pipe then being of no use in case of fire. By seven p. m. of the same day the pipe laying had reached the south line of Park street, a gate having been placed upon the end of the pipe and also another gate on the fire supply pipe for Horton Block. As this gate was not held in place by any pipe be- yond the same, it was considered dangerous to turn the full pressure upon the pipe because in case of fire in any other part of the town the gate would probably have been forced off when direct pressure of 100 lbs. per square inch was applied to the pipes, Besides the cement lined pipe on Railroad Avenue and in front of the shops still had the full pressure upon it.
Shortly after midnight on the morning of the 18th, the alarm was heard for the great fire which destroyed so many factories and adjoining property. It at once became evident that the new main near the shops would be needed if the fire was to be stopped. The gate was accordingly opened which let the water into this pipe from Mill street. A few minutes after it was opened it could not have been reached on account
131
ANNUAL REPORT.
of the intense heat from the Watch Case shop. Several streams were thus rendered available from the new hydrant near the Steam Power Building and I am informed by the chief engineer of the fire department that without these streams the fire certainly could not have been checked when it was. Undoubtedly the great flow of water which was kept up continually, served to relieve the gate on the end of the pipe from any undne strain or water hammer so that it remained in place.
To those who have seen how easily the cement lined pipes are broken open, the pressure lost, and the supply wasted, it became terribly evident that at any moment the town might be at the mercy of the fire with the entire supply of water run- ning to waste at some remote point. At the pumping station at South Attleboro the Deane pump was kept running at a rate more than double its rated capacity.
The chief engineer states that from eighteen to twenty- two streams were in use, one of which was an open butt. How the pressure was kept up on so many streams seems in- eredible. Fifteen streams having three-quarter inch nozzles and 140 feet head at the nozzle wonkl require 2000 gallons per minute. The rated capacity of the pump is about 1000 gallons per minute. A few years ago, at the time of the trial between the Worthington and the Blake pumps. each pump was considered as doing its best if six streams were maintained, and when the seventh was thrown by one of the pumps it was
135
ANNUAL REPORT.
considered that the limit had been reached, and it probably had been. In case of a break in the Deane pump we should have had to have fallen back on the Blake pump. with the possibility that perhaps some help could have been received from the Worthington pump, which has always been kept in connection with the works at Bushee's shop. But few streams could have been thrown by the Worthington pump, however, unless both boilers had been running to supply steam for it, All these facts show that prudence requires that another pump be installed at the pumping station having a maximum capacity equal to the greatest amount of water used at the fire.
The natural conditions at the pumping station indicate that a vertical pump would be the best style to have, while the economy to be derived from a high duty pump will warrant the investment of the increased cost. Such a pump could be con- tracted for under a guarantee of the makers that it would develop a duty of 100,000,000 foot pounds, and under ordinary every day runs it would show a duty of 80,000,000 foot pounds where the Deane pump develops a duty of 40,000,000 foot pounds. This means that just one-half of the coal bill would be saved in the case of the high duty pump. Below will be found a comparison of the cost of coal in case the water used in 1897 had been pumped by the different pumps owned by the department and the cost in case a high duty pump had been used.
.
136
ANNUAL REPORT.
Kind of Pump.
Number of gallons pumped.
Duty in ft. lbs. per 100 lbs. coal.
Coal re- quired. Long tons.
Cost of .coal at $4.15 per ton.
Worthington
126,000,000
14,000.000
617
$2,560 55
Blake.
126,000,000
28,500,000
303
1.257 45
Deane.
126,000,000
40,000,000
216
896 40
High Duty,
126.000.000
80,000,000
108
448 20
Also a comparison of the cost of pumping the amount of water that will probably be used in five years from now at the rate of increase which has been shown in the past.
Kind of Pump.
No.
Gallons Pumped.
Duty in ft. ibs.per 100 lbs. coai.
Coal required long tons.
Cost of coal.
Worthington
190,000,000
14,000,000
926
83 860 90
Blake,
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