USA > Massachusetts > Bristol County > Attleboro > Reports of town officers of the town of Attleborough 1902 > Part 5
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Feb. 14. Examined two applicants, one master and one journeyman plumber.
April 24. Examined one applicant for master plumber. Sept. 9. Board met on business in connection with its duties.
Sept. II. Examined three applicants for journeyman plumbers.
Sept. 16. Examined one applicant for journeyman plumber.
Sept. 25. Examined four applicants, one master and three journeyman plumbers.
Dec. 2. Examined one applicant for a journeyman plumber.
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The total number of meetings held by the board dur- ing the year ending December 31, 1902, was nine.
The total number of applicants examined during the year ending December 31, 1902, was fourteen.
Respectfully submitted,
J. M. SEAGRAVE, Secretary,
For the Board of Examiners of Plumbers.
REPORT OF THE SUPERINTENDENT OF STREETS.
To the Selectmen of Attleborough.
Gentlemen :-
The following is a summary of the work of the Highway Department of the town of Attleborough for the year ending December 31, 1902.
North Division.
Although no extensive damage was done to the highways in this division by the heavy storms and freshet of the early spring, still there were a great many small washouts, all of which have been thoroughly repaired.
Park street, below Bishop street, for a distance of about one and one-half miles, has been worked to grade. The nature of this work was such that the steam road roller was employed to do the heavy work. Sand, loam, subsoil and rock to the amount of 1.391 loads were re- moved from the street after which it was given a dress . ing of 1,588 loads of gravel.
This street from Pine street to Bishop street has also received a dressing of 80 two-horse loads and 200 one- horse loads of gravel.
On Pleasant street, between Lindsey street and the Norton line, 87 loads of poor material have been removed and 120 two-horse loads and 490 one-horse loads of gravel
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used for dressing. Also between Gustin avenue and Perry street this street has received a coating of 75 two- horse loads and 75 one-horse loads of gravel.
Forest street, between Park and Falmouth streets, a distance of 1,225 feet, has been cut and brought to grade. Considering the short lengths worked this has been a very expensive job, as for a large part of the dis- tance it was necessary to cut to a depth of from. one to three feet, before a good bottom could be found.
Over 2,000 loads of material were removed, of which 1,200 loads of loam and subsoil have been sold and 800 loads used building sidewalks and for sub-filling. It required 150 two-horse loads and 1,200 one-horse loads of stone and gravel and 58 loads of ashes to bring the street to grade and dress the sidewalks.
That part of Hazel street between Maple and Car- penter streets was very low but has been partly brought toward grade, 650 loads of filling having been used for the purpose.
Mulberry and Lafayette streets have been partly filled with 660 loads of gravel and a large number of loads of material which was removed from other streets.
A distance of 1,064 feet on Pearl street, 420 feet on School street and 770 feet on Hazel street, in all 2,258 feet, has been cut, graded and coated with crushed stone.
Five hundred loads of material were removed and placed on other streets and 243 loads of gravel and 1,450 tons of crushed stone used for this work.
The cost of this work was 65 cents per foot on Pearl street and 70 cents per foot on School and Hazel streets.
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Seven hundred and eighty feet in length on Leonard street, 280 feet on Prospect street, 300 feet on Third street, 300 feet on Jefferson street and 150 feet on High- land street, a total length of 1.810 feet, has been cut and brought to grade. Four hundred and thirty-four loads of poor material were removed and 579 loads were taken up and used for sub-filling, where such was necessary, on the same streets. With the exception of a part of Second street, which received a coating of 240 tons of crushed stone, these streets were given a dressing of 114 two-horse loads and 495 one-horse loads of the best of gravel.
All of this work was laid down with the steam road roller.
Nearly all of the streets and roads in this division have been scraped and cleaned and portions of them have been given a coat of gravel.
A part of the bridge on West street at Farmers Vil- lage, which was washed away in the spring, has been re- paired and four outlets built to carry the water from the street to the brook.
Two catch basins have been built on County street, one near the Wilmarth factory connecting with the Ten Mile river, and one below Sixth street connecting with the drain running across the street. On the opposite side a large grate has been placed so that the water will pass from the gutter directly into the drain.
A number of plank outlets have been placed on sev- eral of the streets so that the water may pass from the roadway more quickly.
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The Thacher Bridge, so called, on South Main street was damaged by the heavy storm in February, but, as it was thought, at that time, that it could be repaired at a slight expense, the Town in March made only a small appropriation to build a sidewalk. Before the work on the repairs could be commenced the constant jarring of the cars caused a part of one of the arches to fall in and after a careful examination it was decided that the only thing to do was to build a new bridge. Plans were made and it was estimated that a bridge could be built for about seven hundred dollars ($700.00).
These plans were submitted to the railway company and they agreed to pay the town three hundred and fifty dollars ($350.00) as their share of the expense.
Work was commenced in the fall anl the bridge com- pleted in about five weeks. It is 46 feet wide with a clear span, for the water, of 12 feet. The walls were laid up three feet thick with cement mortar, and wing walls, laid in the same manner, have been built on each side of the road. The string pieces and under-planking are of kyanized lumber. 3 The under planking is three inches thick and the roadway has a top planking two inches thick.
Good substantial guard rails have been put up and the street graded to the full width of the bridge and out- lets have been made to carry the water from the street. All in all we have a substantial bridge at a very small cost to the town.
Herbert A. Caswell, who was appointed in March, 1900, as foreman in direct charge of the work has in
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addition to his other duties, qualified as a third-class engineer and has run the crusher and road roller. He has given good satisfaction and is a good man for the position which he fills.
The amount of material handied the past year by this part of the department has been 1,500 tons of stone carted to the crusher from streets, banks, etc., the most of which is now in the yard, 1,700 tons of crushed stone carted to streets, 7,100 loads of gravel from banks to streets. 3.300 loads from street to street, 2,200 loads from street and banks to stone heap and dumps and 234 loads of ashes to sidewalks. Also 1,300 loads have been re- moved from streets and sold. Total amount moved was 17.334 loads.
Charles O. Claflin has had charge of the street clean- ing and sidewalk work most of the time the past year. He and Patrick Dunn are employed as permanent men, the Fire Department men and horses being no longer used. The amount of work performed has been 900 loads of gravel, cinders and crushed stone for the repairs of sidewalks, 100 loads of ashes carted from shops and stored for use the coming year, and 1,650 loads removed from streets and gutters, a total of 2,620 loads.
Owing to the delay in receiving the drain pipe order- ed for the upper end of Thacher brook drain it was im - possible to lay it in 1901, so the unexpended balance, $66.90, was transferred to the Highway Department, they to lay the pipe in 1,902. The pipe has been laid, the trench filled, banks leveled off and this part of the drain left in good condition at an expense to this department of $113.23.
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In the month of April a new horse was purchased for the street cleaning and sidewalk work. This necessi- tated the building of an addition to the barn, which has been done.
There has also been a new shed built partly from the balance of the Sprinkling Department and the balance from the highway appropriation, so that now we have ample room for the needs of this department for some time to come.
The following table shows the amounts expended for the various purposes the past year :
Park street below Bishop street, .. $1,171.00
Park street, Pine to Bishop street, 275.00 Forest street, 1,240.00
Pleasant street above Lindsey
street, 400.00
Pleasant street, Gustin avenue to
Perry street, 175.00
Hazel street, between Maple and
Carpenter streets, I30.00
Mulberry and Lafayette streets,. . 175.00
Pearl street, crushed stone, 725.00 School street, crushed stone, 300.00
Hazel street, crushed stone, 615.00
Second street, crushed stone, 550.00
Prospect street, 180.00
Jefferson street, 160.00
Highland street, 100.00
Crushing stone, 350.00
Carting stone to crusher, 450.00
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Snow and washouts, 350.00
Scraping, cleaning and repairs, .. 900.00
Street cleaning and sidewalks, .... 1,479.15 Thacher bridge, South Main street, 727.26
Repairs to bridges, 160.70
Catch basins, grates, etc., 273.84
Thacher brook drain, II3.23
Cleaning catch basins, - 78.50
Cross walks, 57.22
$11, 135.90
South Division.
Hugh A. Smith of Hebronville was re-appointed as Superintendent of this division. He has the same streets and the same number of miles under his charge as in 1901.
The amount expended by Mr. Smith the past year was $1,788.07, within four dollars of the amount used the year before, and the work performed is as follows:
For the removal of snow and repairing of washouts, $139.47; scraping, cleaning and general repairs to roads, $452.24 ; cutting, grading and graveling Taunton avenue, $385.95 ; on Thurber avenue, from South Main street to a point past the camp ground, the roadway has been widened, the gutters well cut and a coating of gravel placed the entire length, at a cost of $383.09; Thacher street, from South Main street to the railroad bridge has been cut, graded and has received a coat of gravel, at a cost of $201.32; the lower end of Locust street has been dressed with gravel, cost $105.00 ; Tiffany
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street, from South Main street to the bridge, has been cut, widened and graveled, at a cost of $118.00. All of the work on these streets has been done in a substantial manner.
Southwest Division.
This division has remained, as in the past five years, in charge of George W. Allen of Brown street, as Divis- ion Superintendent. The storm of February, 1902, necessitated a large amount of extra work in this divis- ion, as a number of the roads were badly washed, but the damage was promptly repaired, at an expense of $389.50.
The largest job undertaken by Mr. Allen was the grading of Newport avenue from Orr's corner to about 300 feet west of Commonwealth avenue, through the vil- lage of South Attleborough. The entire distance has received a heavy coat of gravel, at a cost of $937.75.
Brown street has been graveled at a cost of $171.00. Because of the State failing to continue the work on Washington street as expected, it has been necessary for the town to make an outlay of $411.39 on this street. Most of this work has been done in the vicinity of Ray- mond's Hill, so called. The street has received a coat- ing of gravel, and sidewalks have been built on both sides, as far as Turner street. An appropriation of $100.00 for graveling Mendon road has been expended, and $2.96 in addition. The culvert on Leedham street has been rebuilt, the street straightened and graded at an expense of $286.64, which is $86.64 more than was appro- priated for the work. The scraping, cleaning of streets,
140
repairs to sidewalks and general repairs to roads cost $353.44, making the total amount expended in this divis- ion $2.652.68.
West Division.
Herbert A. Smith of Thacher street was re-appoint- ed as Superintendent of the West Division with the same streets in charge as in 1901. The work performed by Mr. Smith and amcunt expended is as follows :
For the removal of snow and repairing washouts, $91.42 : graveling a portion of North avenue. $373.23 ; re- pairing and graveling Tiffany street, $101.27; repairing and graveling County street, SI07.35: and for scraping and cleaning streets, cutting brush, and general repairs, $336.02. making the total amount expended in this di- vision. $1.013.29.
The property of the Street Depatiment is all in good condition and the value of same, outside of land, is ȘI0,- 550 00.
Saint Jean Baptiste Road.
Owing to the early and extreme frost in the fall of 190I, this road was not completed at the time intended.
The heavy storm in February damaged this road to a considerable extent, but, as soon as the ground became settled, in the spring, this damage was repaired and the road completed. The gutters were paved, outlets con- structed, steps and bank walls built, lots graded and the entire job completed, at a cost of $242.88 above the ap- propriation made by the town.
141
Sidewalks.
During the past year there has been set and reset new and old curbing to the amount of 4,960 feet.
The amount of new curbing that has been set is as follows :
South Main street, 780 feet.
County street,
944 feet.
Second street, 1,348 feet.
Prospect street, 496 feet.
Dunham street, 633 feet.
Grove street,
156 feet.
Pearl, Hazel, Pine, Union
and School streets, 143 feet.
Total, 4,500 feet.
Old curbing has been reset on County, Pearl, Union, West, and South Main streets, to the amount of 460 feet.
Length of gutters paved, 5,100 feet.
In connection with the sidewalk work five hundred and sixty-six (566) loads of sand and gravel have been required to do the paving and set the curbing.
Three hundred and fifteen (315) one-horse loads and thirty-three (33) two-horse loads of paving stones, not including the stones furnished and delivered on the ground by outside parties, have been used. Eight hun- dred and fourteen (814) loads of poor material have been removed from streets, of which three hundred and twenty-one (321) loads have been sold, and the remain- der used for filling.
The amount of gravel, crushed stone, ashes and cin-
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ders that has been spread on the sidewalks is as follows :
By town highway teams. . 234 loads. By town street cleaning teams. 749 loads. By Fire Department teams. 88 loads.
By W . C. Goff. on one-horse
load basis, 180 loads.
1,251 loads.
Gravel. sand and paving stones used and poor material re- moved. 1.761 loads.
Total. .3.012 loads.
I would recommend that the same amount be ap- propriated the coming year for sidewalk work under the betterment plan. and I would also recommend that five hundred dollars ($500.00) be appropriated. to be expend- ed by the Selectmen, for re-dressing old concrete walks which are becoming badly worn in many places.
Street Sprinkling.
In order to give our streets the same service that is required in cities it would be necessary for us to put on seven carts. In most cities two miles of street is all that one cart is called upon to sprinkle, but. during the past vear. we have endeavored to cover thirteen miles with four carts.
The carts driven by W. C. Goff and R. D. Manches- ter have had three and three quarters miles each and the other two carts driven by the Fire Department. have had about five and one-half miles together.
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Considering the amount of ground covered I feel that good service has been rendered, and while some sec- tions of the streets have not been sprinkled as much as we would like, they received all the attention that it was possible to give them without putting on more carts. And I would recommend that we add one more cart.
Thacher Brook Drain Bridges.
An appropriation of thirteen hundred dollars ($1,300.00) was made to build four bridges over the Thacher brook drain at East, School, Pearl and Forest streets.
After a very careful examination of the Forest street bridge, which was found in most excellent condition, it was decided that it was not advisable to rebuild it.
Substantial bridges have been built at East, School and Pearl streets. When making our estimates for these bridges I was informed by the engineers that the drain would not have to be lowered much, if any, but, after the grade was given me it was found that the drain would have to be lowered about 20 inches, which added about sixty dollars ($60.00) to the cost of each bridge. As we struck quicksand and were much troubled with water, a plank curb two and one-half feet wide and 54 feet long was laid under each wall.
The walls were laid up solid with cement and were two and one-half feet thick at the bottom and 22 inches at the top. Kyanized lumber was used for the cross- timbers and planking of the bridges. The approaches to each bridge have been filled in with gravel and paved gutters laid on Pearl and School streets.
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Although the drain was thoroughly cleaned out and the bushes cut the entire length last year, the growth was so rapid at some points that it was necessary to do some of the work over again. If we expect to get bene- ficial results from the drain this work must be done each year. We have on hand seven thousand (7,000) feet of kyanized lumber which will be available for planking up the sides of the drain, if the town decides to extend this class of work ; if not, it can be used for bridge construc- tion.
Respectfully submitted, WM. H. GOFF, Superintendent of Streets.
Tenth Report
OF THE
Water Department
OF THE
TOWN OF ATTLEBOROUGH
FOR THE YEAR ENDING DEC. 31
1902
T 10
TOWN OF ATTLEBOROUGH WATER DEPARTMENT, 1902.
Commissioners :
WM. M. STONE, Chairman, Term Expires 1904;
GEORGE H. SNELL, Clerk, Term Expires 1905;
DAVID E. MAKEPEACE, Term expires 1903.
Superintendent and Registrar : GEORGE H. SNELL.
Assistant Superintendent : GEORGE W. BABCOCK.
Clerk at 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, 1873
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 Company, Barr Pumping Engine Company.
Description of coal used : George's Creek coal.
Coal consumed for the year,
528,275 lbs.
Total pumpage for the year, 158,024,210 gal.
Average dynamic head against which pumps work :
Deane, I88 ft.
Barr, 225 ft. Number of gallons pumped per pound of coal, .. 310 gal. Duty, including banking, . 58,200,000 lbs.
Duty, without banking, · 90,900,000 lbs.
Consumption.
Estimated population, 12,500 Estimated population on lines of pipe at date, . . . . 11,500 Total number of gallons consumed for the year, 158,024,210 gal.
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Average daily consumption, 432,943 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 I inch to 16 inches.
Extended,
30,729 feet, or 5.8 miles.
Total now in use,
39 miles.
Number of leaks,
18
Hydrants added,
29
Number now in use,
'307
Range of pressure on mains at Park Square for 24 hours,
54 to 62 pounds.
Services.
Meters added,
167
Number now in use, 1,449
Motors now in use, 3
Number of meters rented by town,
1,197
Number of meters owned by individuals, 252
Kind and number of meters in use at the end of year : Ball & Fitts, 4
Union Rotary, 308
"A" Union Rotary I26 Columbia, 25 Hersey, 129
Hersey Disc,
Crown,
161
149
Nash, 47I
Empire, 43
Thompson, 48
Lambert, 63
Trident,
29
Shedd,
I
FINANCIAL STATEMENT.
Maintenance.
Dr.
Amount paid Town Treasurer by
Water Registrar, being re-
ceipts from sale of water, etc.,$25,263.08
Appropriation by town,
5,000.00
$30,263.08
Cr.
Pumping expenses, . $ 2,560.21
Incidental expenses, 1,777.85
Salary, Superintendent and Regis-
trar,
900.00
Salary, Water Commissioners, 193.75
Insurance,
233.07
Repairs,
749.78
Team, 921.89
Labor,
2,472.05
Tools,
303.34
Pipe system,
829.87
Interest account,
14,120.00
Total of maintenance, $25,061.81
-
150
Amount placed in Sinking Fund. .. . 5,200.00
Unexpended balance, December 31,
1902, 1.27
$30,263.08
Construction.
Dr.
Unexpended balance, $ 1.594.81
Received from sale of bonds. 30.000.00
Premium on bonds, 1,733.10
Amount paid Town Treasurer by
Water Registrar for pipe lay-
ing, etc.,
2,276.06
Cr. $35,603.97
Cost of construction for 1902 as
shown by itemized accounts, $32,038.13
Unexpended balance,
3.565.84
$35,603.97
Total cost of works to date.
$421.955.43
Bonded debt at this date.
327,000.00
Value of Sinking Fund. 50.554.42
Examined January 17, 1903, and found same correct.
BENJAMIN F. LINDSEY. BYRON R. HILL, FRED L. LeBARON.
Auditors.
151
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, 2,021.34
July, 1876-May, 1877, 10 months. 2,000.00
May, 1877-May, 1878, 2,653.38
May, 1878-May, 1879, 3,039.37
May, 1879-May, 1880.
3,447.45
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
152
January, 1898-January, 1899, 16,394.18
January, 1899-January, 1900, 19,968.89
January, 1900-January, 1901. 21,424.4I January, 1901-January, 1902, 27,325.3-4
January, 1902-January, 1903, 27,539.14
$278,016.51
Statement of the Indebtedness of the Town for Water Works Construction.
Bonds.
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
31/2's J. and J., due January 1, 1921 10,000.00
4's A. and O .. due October I. 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 31/2's O. and A., due April 1, 1932, 30,000.00
$327,000.00
Sinking Fund assets, 50,554.42
. Balance net debt, $276,445.58
153
REPORT OF WATER COMMISSIONERS.
To the citizens of Attleborough :
The tenth 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 the Water Works and Water Regis- trar and such statistics as are given from the work of the Water Department.
A brief examination of the Superintendent's report will suffice to show that the season has been an un- usually busy one.
At a special town meeting held February 3, 1902, the town voted to issue $30,000.00 worth of bonds at 31/2% for the purpose of laying pipe where guarantees had been given, including North Main street, Peck Plat, Washing- ton street and St Jean Baptiste Plat.
Bids were asked for on 500 tons of 6", 8" and 10" cast iron pipe and the following bids were received February 4, 1902 :
R. D. Wood & Co., $29.79 per ton.
Warren Foundry, 28.70 per ton. U. S. Cast Iron Pipe Co., .. 28.35 per ton.
The contract was given to the U. S. Cast Iron Pipe . Co., lowest bidders. We feel that the town was very fortunate buying at that time as prices advanced very soon after and kept up during the year.
154
Extensions and Distribution.
There have been more extensions this year than in any year in the history of the department both in mains and services. The extension of the main pipe for the year is 30,729 feet or 5 5-6 miles.
The table giving the sizes of the pipe and the streets on which they were laid will be found in the report of the Superintendent.
The number of new services, 163 : replaced services where galvanized pipe was taken out and cement lined pipe put in, 38; making the total amount of service pipe laid 9.318 feet, which, with the main pipe laid, makes a total of 734 miles for the year.
For the coming year there are no prospects of any calls for long extensions but there will probably be calls for a number of short ones.
There is one guarantee that was given by Murphy & O'Connell to run a 6" pipe from Thacher street to Lona Cutt Village, so called, about 2,500 feet, but as they did not get the street to grade it was given up for this year. On all the other guarantees given during the year the pipe was laid.
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