USA > Massachusetts > Bristol County > Attleboro > Reports of town officers of the town of Attleborough 1901 > Part 5
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22.00
C. L. Watson, 86.00
B. S. Freeman,
3.00
Francis Martin,
24.00
John Blaney, 22.50
Mrs. B. B. Dean, 70.00
H. N. Mason, 22.50
Hebron Manufacturing Co., 20.00
Emily Youill,
45.41
Katherine Reynolds,
1.00
$434.91
Groceries and Provisions.
S. L. Tooker, $ 10.00
C. S. Atwell & Co., 28.00
Keniston & Co., 608.00
Geo. A. Monroe & Co., 359.13
G. L. Stoddard & Co.,
17.00
Hebron Store, 8.4.25
L. Z. Carpenter, 104.00
John Daly,
48.00
Dix & Taylor,
12.00
123
Wm. Fournier. 9.00
Walter M. Brown, 58.00
E. W. Atwell, milk, 47.16
H. F. Bliss, 88.00
Nerney & Co.,
88.61
Dodgeville store,
27.00
$1,588.15
Coal.
H. A. Wilmarth & Co.,
$
8.65
Pierce & Carpenter, 20.40
Attleboro Coal Co., 147.55
G. L. Adams,
47.15
H. A. Smith,
5.50
$229.25
Shoes and Clothing.
T. E. McCaffrey,
$60.10
Enterprise Shoe Store,
1.00
P. J. Cooney, 1.50
A. B. Smith,
6.85
E. I. Perry,
4.00
Medical Attendance.
J. W. Battershall, M. D.,
$212.61
F. N. Burnett, M. D.,
23.94
F. X. Corr, M. D.,
27.06
H. H. Amsden, M. D.,
8.32
C. S. Holden, M. D.,
21.56
Dr. Richard,
6.49
$73.45
$299.98
124
Transportation.
G. B. Fittz, $50.45
R. B. Magaveny,
8.00
W. L. Elliot, 5.22
$63.67
Towns and Cities.
Town of Foxboro, $ 92.97
City of Newton, 15.50
City of Boston. 32.76
Town of North Attleboro. 328.30
City of Fall River, 54.26
City of Brockton,
I37.00
City of Lawrence,
26.00
City of New Bedford,
60.25
City of Taunton,
1.50
Town of Wrentham,
10.75
Town of Bridgewater, 12.00
J. M. Goldberg, 84.00
Mrs. Fred Gay,
15.00
City of Lowell,
26.00
- -
$896.29
Miscellaneous Aid.
Seth R. Briggs, $ 1.75
Simpson's Pharmacy, 18.70
N. Y., N. H. & H. Railroad, 1.40
M. S. Mead, .75
Chas. E. Andrews, 12.10
B. P. King,
2.00
125
WV. L. Elliot, 3.35
J. V. Curran, 3.10
G. B. Fittz. 22.50
$65.65
Carriage Hire.
W. E. Middleton, $1.50
F. H. Capron,
7.00
$8.50
Insane and Other Hospitals.
Taunton Insanc, $1.003.74
Worcester Insane, 169.46
Westboro Insane, 259.80
Medfield Insane,
162.40
Hospital for Epileptics, 169.46
Hospital Cottages for Children,
169.45
School for Feeble Minded,
169.45
$2,103.70
Burials.
D. H. Smith,
$49.10
Poor Farm. $49.10
E. A. Briggs,
$400.64
J. W. Gifford & Co.,
15.64
Attleboro Furniture Co.,
28.00
Seneca Cole,
138.27
Frank E. Luther, Superintendent,
400.00
126
Joseph Breck & Sons, 8.08
Frank Shaw, 75.00
Attleboro Coal Co., 153.82
Geo. Essex, 2.55
N. Perry & Co., 22.05
G. H. Snell, 89.80
Geo. B Fittz, 10.65
$1,344.50
Salaries.
Geo. B. Fittz, $200.00
J. V. Curran, 62.50
B. P. King.
83.33
Ellen E. Reed, Adm. est. E. R. Reed, 7.50
W. L. Elliot,
16.34
$369.67
Office Expenses.
Attleboro Savings and Loan Ass'n. $60.00 E. C. Fuller, .43
Fairbanks & Co., 7.15
M. F. Ashley, 6.59
Chas. S. Binner Co ..
4.00
A. R. Block,
1.50
Attleboro Steam and Electric Co., . . 9.00
Providence Telephone Co., 12.50
Sun Publishing Co., 6.50
Attleboro Gas Light Co., .85
1
127
Hobbs, Warren & Co., 7.74
Benj. P. King, clerk, 8.85
$125.II
$7,651.99
February 7, 1902.
Examined and found correct.
F. L. LeBARON, BENJAMIN F. LINDSEY, Auditors.
Due From Cities and Towns.
City of Boston, $139.80
City of Fall River, 70.00
City of Taunton, 100.53
Town of North Attleboro
34.16
Geo. A. Monroe, 73.60
State,
177.50
$595.53
ALMSHOUSE ACCOUNT.
Dr.
To hay, stock, farming tools, household furniture, etc., ap- praised January 1, 1901, $2,382.75
To cash paid Town Treasurer, ... 1,344.50 Cash on hand, January 1, 1901, 86.40
$3,813.65
128
Cr.
By appraisal of personal property,
January 1, 1902,
$2,508.09
Permanent improvements, 231.53
Received from John Eden, board of Ann Eden, 50.58
Cash on hand January 1, 1902, 52.97
Cost of maintaining Almshouse, . .
970.48
$3,813.65
Almshouse Keeper's Account.
Dr.
Cash received on uncollected bills
for milk last year,
$
76.40
Cash received for sale of milk,
1,435.87
Cash received for sale of cows,
66.50
Cash received for sale of eggs, . 33.12
Cash received for sale of poultry,. .
33.00
Cash received for sale of produce,
II.43
Cr
$1,656.32
Cash paid for labor $251.75
Cash paid for milk, 295.28
Cash paid for grain, 288.47
Cash paid for provisions
and gro-
ceries.
315.15
Cash paid for cows, $113,00; pigs, $10.00; cockerels, $3.00, ... I26.00
Cash paid for lumber and hardware,
12.78
Cash paid for blacksmithing,
61.95
129
Cash paid for coal, 78.87
Cash paid for clothing, shoes, etc., . 49.36
Cash paid for repairs, 32.42
Cash paid for seeds, plants, etc., 9.12
Cash paid for ice, 11.50
Cash paid for medicine, 13.39
Cash paid for miscellaneous, 57.3I
Cash on hand January 1, 1902, 52.97
$1,656.32 Number of inmates at the almshouse January 1, 1901, 5. Average weekly number for the year, 5.96.
Average weekly cost per inmate, $3.13.
The following persons have been supported at the almshouse during the year :
Lewis Newell, died October 1, 1901; Seth Claflin, Edmund Claflin, died November 10, 1901 ; Barney Nolan, Rhoda Lewis, died November 11, 1901 ; James O'Neil, Maria Hill, - Hill, born February 17: Walter Hill, Charles Hill, Michael Quinn. Charles Rhodes, Martin Donnelly, died October 2, 1901 ; Patrick Creen,-total, 14.
At the Almshouse January 1, 1902; Seth Claflin, Barney Nolan,-2.
A list of those aided outside the Almshouse, 1901- Paul Gilman. J. W. Pierce, Alice Fisher, Emeline Wil- liams, Jane Dalton, Annie Cunningham, F. H. Guild, Mrs. Henry Kirby, Thomas Kirby, Frank Holt, Mrs. Charles Martin, E. Hathaway, Mrs. Augustus Gregory, Mary Morgan, Annie Gregory, Ed. Macdonald, Mrs. I. Lord, Thomas Smith, J. Martin, Mrs. Barton, Kate Reynolds, Narcissus LeFont. Barney Nolan, John Crehan, Clara
130
Hoddie, Mrs. Lewis Wilbur, Dalvina Vieullieux, Patrick Creen, Charles H. Rhodes, Mrs. Michael Foley, Minnie Wood, Maxine Ferneau, Mrs. William Paginton, Mrs. J. F. Selby, Mrs. John Smith, John Stafford, James Connarty J. H. Gaffney, Abraham Minner, Michael Murphy, Wil- liam Cotton, Mary Fitzgerald, Mrs. J. Radloff, J. A. Smith, Mrs. James Higgins, Mrs. Thomas Pickett, Arthur McCue, Mrs. Mary Waldron, Henry Lanergan.
Forty-three families and persons were visited once or more during the year. Five of the number had settle- ments in other towns which were acknowledged. Thirteen were State cases and all acknowledged. His- tories of the persons visited were obtained and recorded. Aid was given by the Visitor, with few exceptions, dur- ing office hours Tuesday and Saturday afternoons.
Respectfully submitted, JOSEPH V. CURRAN, BENJ. P. KING, GEO. B. FITTZ,
Overseers of the Poor.
REPORT OF THE SUPERINTENDENT OF STREETS.
The unexpended balance available for highways and bridges January 1, 1901, was $3,687.74 ; the appropriation for general highway work, $6,000; special for Leedham street, $300.00; received from the Bristol County Street Railway Company, for the grading of Park street and Oak Hill avenue, and for work on Emery street, the sum of $1,552.01 ; from the Interstate Street Railway Com- pany for work on County street, $300.00; from the State, Attleboro's proportion of the street railway tax, the sum of $3,244.00 ; from the three street railway companies do- ing business in our town an excise tax of $1,671.59. We have also received the further sum of $1,476.82 for work performed for other departments, entrance fees to sewers, the sale of material, etc., making a total of $18,232.16. Of this amount there has been expended $15,342.22, leaving a balance unexpended of $2,899.94, which is available for the coming year.
As our town increases in value and population the travel on our streets must increase in like proportion, which will necessitate the expenditure from year to year of more money for necessary repairs. The more travel, the more wear ; the more wear, the more need of repairs. As the town is called upon from time to time to lay out and accept new streets, and if we are to cover the surface
132
of our streets with crushed stone, which should be done, the town will be obliged to appropriate more money for highway work, and I would recommend that the appro- priation for this year be not less than $8,500.00, and $10,000.00 could be expended to good advantage.
Hugh A. Smith of Hebronville was appointed in the ' spring as division superintendent of the south division and has under his charge about seventeen miles of road, as follows: Taunton avenue, Thurber avenue, South Main street from Thacher street to the Seekonk line, Thacher street from South Main to the railroad bridge, Read street from Hebronville to the bridge at South Attleboro, Locust street and Tiffany street from South Main to County street.
The amount expended by Mr. Smith the past year was $1,784.25. Of this amount $586.00 was expended on Taunton avenue. A good sidewalk has been construct- ed on South Main street from Knight avenue in Hebron- ville to Thurber avenue, and should be extended to- Dodgeville the coming year. Locust street has been much improved by having several of the hills cut down and the roadway widened out, and the same may be said of Tiffany street. The other work consists of graveling South Main street and the general cleaning up of streets.
George W. Allen of Brown street, South Attleboro, as division superintendent of the southwest division has under his charge about thirteen miles of road, comprising all of the roads north of County street and west and north of the pumping station. The amount expended by Mr. Allen has been $1,889.98. Three hundred dollars of this was the special appropriation for Leedham street.
133
Leedham street was laid out by the Selectmen in the early part of the year and at a special meeting was ac- cepted as a town way by the town and $300.00 appropri- ated to be spent. This sum and about seventy-five dollars in addition has been expended on this street. Brown street has received a good dressing of gravel and the same may be said of the Birch Hill road and New- port avenue. Most of the roads in this division have re- ceived attention.
Herbert A. Smith of Thacher street was in March appointed as division superintendent of the west di- vision, with about fourteen miles of roads under his charge, as follows: West street from North Main street to the pumping station, Tiffany street from County to West, Clifton street, Deantown road, North Avenue, Me- chanic street from West to Dennis street, Dennis street, County street from Dennis to Tiffany, Thacher street from County street to the railroad bridge, North Main from Blackinton's bridge to the North Attleboro line, Commonwealth avenue and Holden street from North Main to Bank street. The amount expended was $649.04. Parts of West and North Main streets and North Avenue have received a coat of gravel and the brush has been cut on most of the roads.
The north division with twenty-five miles of roads and ten or more miles of streets, is under the direct supervision of the Superintendent of Streets. Herbert A. Caswell, who was appointed in March, 1900, as fore- man, has retained that position the past year and has given good satisfaction. The amount expended for labor and material in this division the past year has been $5,335.56.
D
134
The amount of material handled the past year by the department has been 1,600 tons of stone carted to the crusher from streets, banks, etc., which is now at the yard, and ready for next season's work; 2,500 tons of crushed stone carted onto streets, 5,800 loads of gravel from banks to streets, 2,100 loads from street to street and to dumps, a total of 12,000 loads.
Parts of Pine, Park, County, Railroad avenue and Mechanic streets have been picked up, the material be- ing removed to Falmouth and Mulberry streets, and a good coating of crushed stone put on, well laid down with the steam roller. Other streets have had a light coat of stone without being picked up. Still other streets have been picked up, a dressing of coarse gravel put on and then laid down with the roller.
Portions of the following streets have been graveled : Park, Emery, North Main, South Main, Maple, Union, East, Hope, Bank, Mechanic, Sixth, County, Sturdy, Holman, Florence and Charles streets. Lindsey street has received a dressing of gravel from Pleasant street to a point beyond N. H. Read's house and a good sidewalk has been built the entire length. Richardson avenue has been worked and graveled its entire length and more or less work has been done on most all of the outside roads of this division.
Patrick Dunn has been employed the past year as a permanent man in the street cleaning and sidewalk work. In the spring, summer and fall months there is work for two or three more men. The fire department men and horses have been employed a part of the time on this work, the men receiving pay by the hour, and the high- way department paying for the grain, shoeing, etc., of the fire horses.
135
The amount of work performed has been 1,300 loads of gravel, cinders and crushed stone used for the repa'r of sidewalks ; 1,250 loads removed from streets and gut- ters. The expense of this part of the highway work to the department has been : cost of hay, grain, shoeing, etc., $822.34 ; fire department men, $414.00; other men, $1.003.72; total, $2,240.06; received from sprinkling streets, $316.20; from sidewalks, $483.49, making a total cost to the department of $1,447.35.
A drain pipe has been laid from the two dry wells on Leroy street to a point on Bungay swamp, back of the Horton, Angell Co. factory, thus relieving Leroy street from the small lake which always formed there after a rain.
The two dry wells at the corner of Dean and Perrin streets have been connected with the sewer by the laving of 250 feet of 8-inch drain pipe, thus relieving this section.
A catch basin with a sewer connection has been put in at the corner of Pine and Pearl streets which will take care of the water at this point. Another bad place on South Main street at or near the corner of Chester street has been taken care of by building a catch basin and laying an 8-inch drain pipe to the low land.
The catch basin at the corner of South Main and Beacon streets has been removed and a new one put in on the same street a short distance below with a sewer connection. Two catch basins have been built at the corner of Emery and Brook streets and the same have been connected by drain pipe to Thacher Brook Drain.
The present arrangement whereby the highway de- partment pays for the grain and shoeing of the seven fire
136
horses is not a good business arrangement as far as the highway department is concerned. All of the work that we are able to get out of the men and horses of the fire department outside of the work rendered for street sprinkling will not equal the work of one man and horse for the year.
The property of the department consists of one 12- ton steam roller, stone crusher, engine and equipments. including a Fairbank's scale. 5 I-horse tip-carts, I 2-horse tip-cart. 13 snow plows, 2 road machines. 4 water carts, I sewer wagon, 3 horses, 3 single and 3 sets of double harnesses, 2 stub and 2 side plows, I small dump-cart and a large assortment of small tools such as picks, shovels. rakes, stone forks, hoes, etc. We have not shed rcom sufficient to store all of the town property and I would recommend that a new shed be built. If the town wishes to retain the crusher on the Pine street lot we shall have to expend two or three hundred dollars to put the plant in shape. If the town should wish to move the plant to some other place I would recommend that the old plant be sold and a new portable plant be purchased.
WM. H. GOFF.
Superintendent of Streets.
Ninth Report
OF THE
Water Department
OF THE
TOWN OF ATTLEBOROUGH
FOR THE YEAR ENDING DEC. 31,
1901.
TOWN OF ATTLEBOROUGH WATER DEPARTMENT, 1901.
Commissioners :
GEORGE H. SNELL, Term Expires 1902.
DAVID E. MAKEPEACE, Term Expires 1903.
WILLIAM M. STONE, Term Expires 1904.
Superintendent and Registrar :
GEORGE H. SNELL.
Assistant Superintendent : GEORGE W. BABCOCK.
Clerk in Registrar's Office : CARRIE L. PERRY.
Engineer at Pumping Station : GEORGE H. PALMER.
Assistant Engineer at Pumping Station.
EDWIN A. WASHBURN.
REPORT OF WATER DEPARTMENT.
SUMMARY OF STATISTICS.
Attleborough Water Works.
Population by census of 1900, . 11,335
Date of construction of works, I873
Source of supply : Circular well near Seven Mile River. Mode of supplying : By pumping into standpipe 30 feet in diameter, and 125 feet high.
Pumping.
Builders of pumping machinery: Deane Steam Pump Co., Barr Pumping Engine Co.
Descripton of coal used: George Creek Coal.
Coal consumed for year, 498,200 1bs.
Total pumpage for the year, 147,946,520 gal.
Average dynamic head against which pumps work :
Deane. 188 ft.
Barr, 225 ft. Number of gallons pumped per pound of coal, .. 297 gal. Duty, including banking, 55,600,000 1bs.
Duty, without banking, 87,800,000 1bs.
Consumption.
Estimated population, 12,000
Estimated population on lines of pipe at date, 11,000
Total number of gallons consumed for
the year, 147,946,520 gal.
140
Average daily consumption, . 405,333 gal. Gallons per day for each inhabitant, . . 34 gal.
Gallons per day for each consumer, 37 gal.
Distribution.
Kind of pipe in use : Wrought iron, cast iron and cement lined.
Sizes: From 1 inch to 16 inch.
Extended,
8,229 ft.
33.18 miles.
Total now in use,
Number of leaks,
19
Hydrants added,
15
Number now in use, 278
Range of pressure on mains at Park Square for twenty- four hours, 54 to 62 lbs.
Services.
Meters added,
325
Number now in use, 1282
Motors now in use, . 2
Number of meters rented by Town,
1025
Number of meters owned by individuals, 257
Following is the kind and number of meters in use at the end of year :
Ball & Fitts, 8
Union Rotary,
29I
"A" Union Rotary, II2
Columbia, 25
Hersey, I27
Hersey Disc, 35
Crown,
163
141
Nash, 340
Empire, 44
Thompson,
Lambert.
59
Trident,
30
FINANCIAL STATEMENT.
Maintenance.
Dr.
Amount paid Town Treasurer by
Water Registrar, being re-
ceipts from sale of water, etc. $27.325.34
Amount appropriated by town,
5,000.00
Amount of accrued interest,
87.50
$32,412.8.4
Cr.
Pumping expenses,
$ 3,922.34
Incidental expenses,
1,542.23
Salary, Superintendent and Regis- trar. 900.00
Salary, Water Commissioners, 131.25
Insurance. 168.88
Repairs,
817.82
Team.
167.68
Labor,
2,913.32
Tools,
268.16
Pipe system,
2,211.09
Coal shed.
1,174.56
Interest account,
13,192.50
Total of maintenance,
$27.409.83
142
Amount placed in Sinking Fund,. . 5,000.00
Unexpended balance, Dec. 31, 1901, 3.0I
$32,412.84
Construction.
Dr.
Received from sale of bonds, $20,000.00
Premium on bonds, I,086.00
Cr. $21,086.00
Amount overdrawn,
$ 1,562.07
Note,
2,500.00
Cost of construction for 1901 as
shown by itemized accounts,
15,429.12
Unexpended balance,
1,594.8I
$21,086.00
Total cost of works to date,
$389,917.30
Bonded debt at this date,
317,000.00
Value of Sinking Fund,
62,493.40
January 24, 1902.
Examined and found correct.
F. L. LeBARON, FREDK. G. MASON, BENJAMIN F. LINDSEY,
Auditors.
143
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 not include appropriations made by the Fire District or Town.)
June, 1874-April, 1875, 10 months, $ 789.98
April, 1875-July, 1876, 15 months, 2,021.84
July, 1876-May, 1877, 10 months, 2,000.00
May, 1877-May, 1878, 2,653.33
May, 1878-May, 1879, 3,030.37
May, 1879-May, 1880, 3,447.54
May, 1880-May, 1881, 4,482.30
May, 1881-May, 1882, 4,540.34
. May, 1882-May, 1883,
5,436.39
May, 1883-May, 1884,
5,500.00
May, 1884-May, 1885,
5,034.00
May, 1885-May, 1886,
5,500.00
May, 1886-May, 1887, 5,714.52
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-January, 1894, 8 months, 9,200.00 January, 1894-January, 1895, 11,174.60
January, 1895-January, 1896, 14,188.00
January, 1896-January, 1897, 15,292.29
January, 1897-January, 1898, 16,446.69
January, 1898-January, 1899, 10,394.18
January, 1899-January, 1900, 19,968.89
January, 1900-January, 1901, 21,424.4I
January, 1901-January, 1902, 27,325.34
$250,477.37
144
Statement of the Indebtedness of the Town for Water Works Construction.
Bonds.
4's. A. and O., due October 1, 1902, $20,000.00
7's. J. and J., due January I, 1904, 40,000.00
4's. A. and O., due October 1, 1912, 20,000.00
4's S. and M., due September 1, 1915, 12,000.00
4's. J. and J., due January 1, 1919, 20,000.00
4's. J. and J., due January 1, 1921, 10 000.00
4's. A. and O., due October 1, 1922, 25,000.00
4's. J. and J ., due July 1, 1923. 35.000.00
4's. J. and J., due July 1, 1924. 40,000.00
4's J. and J., due July 1, 1926,
25.000.00 .
4's. J. and J., due July 1, 1927, 10,000.00
4's. J. and J., due July 1, 1928, 13,000.00
31/2's. J. and J., due July 1, 1929, 15,000.00
31/2's. J. and J., due July 1, 1930, 12,000.00
31/2's. O. and A., due April 1, 1921 20,000.00
$317,000.00
Sinking Fund assets, 62,493.40
Balance net debt. $254,506.60
REPORT OF WATER COMMISSIONERS.
To the Citizens of Attleborough :
The ninth annual report of the Attleboro Water Commissioners is herewith submitted as required by the Town Ordinances.
Following this report will be found the report of the Superintendent of Water Works and Water Registrar
145
and such statistics as are given from the work of the Water Department.
During the year most of the changes have been made as recommended by the Commissioners in their last re- port and voted upon by the town.
The growth of the department far exceeds that of any year in its history both in income and new business taken on, there having been one hundred new services put in during the last year, with the future looking very bright for the department.
During the year we have replaced all of the remain- ing old cement lined pipe with iron pipe which has amounted to 6,503 feet and have extended the main pipes '8,229 feet or over a mile and a half. The tables giving the sizes of the pipes and the streets on which they were laid will be found in the report of the Superintendent.
There was the usual complaint of rusty water during the summer months but not to the extent of former years as in some of the worst cases the owners of prop- erty have had new services of cement lined pipes put in which has entirely rectified the trouble from rusty water. Out of the twenty-one new services we have put in to prevent this trouble there has been only one case where the owner claims that it has not prevented the rust, al- though on making inspection of the water from the faucet we cannot detect the rust and as there is at the present time galvanized pipe running the length of the cellar and up to the sinks, we feel sure that some of the trouble may be from the old pipe left in the house. In all other cases where the changes have been made they have given perfect satisfaction as far as we know.
T 10
146
In view of these facts the Commissioners have offer- ed to change the galvanized pipe from the main to the service box whenever the owner will change his pipe to cement lined and will do the owner's part for him at actual cost of same in order to give him water with- out rust. We will here publish the letter from the State Board of Health to show the result of their investigations and we hope in the future those contemplating building new houses or changing the plumbing will insist on having pipe either cement or tin lined and also use copper hot water tanks instead of iron, although the first cost will be a trifle more it will prove much cheaper in the end. We would also caution the public against the use of lead pipe as it might cause lead poisoning.
COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS. Office of the State Board of Health, State House, Boston,
February 7, 190I.
To the Attleborough Water Board,
Attleborough, Mass.
Gentlemen :-
In response to an application from you for advice as to the result of studies made by this Board with a view to eliminating iron from the public water supply of the town of Attleborough, the Board, on January 24, 1899, presented a statement of the results of investigations which had been made up to that time. The results showed that the water, as it was drawn from the well used for the supply of the town was clear, nearly color- less and odorless and was soft and in other respects of excellent quality for drinking and domestic uses; but it
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was found that the water as drawn from the pipes in various parts of the distributing system in the town con- tained an excessive quantity of iron, and since the quantity of iron present in the water of the well had al- ways been insignificant, it was evident that iron was taken up by the water in its passage through the pipes.
The cause of the action of the water upon the pipes was found to be the presence of large quantities of car- bonic acid gas and oxygen, and various means of remov- ing these substances from the water were tried. But while it was found to be feasable to remove the carbonic acid, it was also found, in several of the processes tried, that so much oxygen would remain that the water would continue to act upon the pipes and probably take up enough iron to injure its quality. The experiment of adding lime to the water had also been tried, and investi- gations on this line have been continued, but no practi- cable way of treating the water has been found that could be depended upon at all times to prevent its action upon the pipes without involving danger of injuring its qual- ity.
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