USA > Massachusetts > Bristol County > Attleboro > Reports of town officers of the town of Attleborough 1902 > Part 6
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At the present price of pipe and in view of the sniall amount of percentage on guarantees we do not recom- mend the laying of pipe unless there is prospect of rapid growth on the line, enough to very soon make it a paying investment for the town, or at least pay expenses, which the 5 per cent guarantee does not do.
155
Pumping Station.
During the year there have been no repairs made on the building and it is in good condition at the present time.
The pumping engines are in first class condition, also the electric light engine and the engine which runs the machine shop.
All repairs in connection with the pumps and boil- ers, etc., the past year have been attended to by the Chiei Engineer and his assistant, in the machine shop at the station.
The station and grounds around the station are kept neat and clean.
Well.
The well at South Attleboro is in good condition, shows no signs of weakness of the walls and has supplied all the water used during the year.
There has been no time that it was necessary to use pond water, but if the department continues to grow as fast in the next two or three years, as in the last, it may be necessary to put in another well.
The usual system of maintaining the purity of the water has been continued during the year.
Pond and Land Adjoining.
We have found it necessary to prohibit fishing and bathing in the pond to protect the purity of the water. While we have not had to use water from the pond, the fact still remains that it may be necessary at any time to do so if there should be a large fire, and for that reason
156
the Commissioners feel that every precaution should be taken to prevent contamination of any kind. Last winter we cut off the bushes and wood around the pond as far as we could on the ice, getting wood enough to pay the expense and shall continue the same this winter, hoping in tome to have the entire shores of the pond clear of brush and wood eighteen feet back from high water mark.
Fire Connections.
There were three fire connections called for during the year making a total of nineteen now connected. Having so many, the Commissioners found it necessary to establish rules and regulations especially to govern and control these connections and they adopted the fol- lowing rules, under section 8, articles 13 and 14:
13. All persons or firms wishing to have private hydrants or sprinklers connected with the town water supply shall make application to the Water Board and sign an application for same, by which they agree to comply with the by-laws of the department, and also file a plan of piping for the entire system and the water will not be turned on until the system is inspected by the Board or their rep- resentatives.
The Water Board shall inspect the system as often as they deem necessary and if any repairs are necessary they shall be made by them at the expense of the owner.
All outside piping connecting with the town system shall be laid by the Water Department at the expense of the owner.
All valves and private hydrants shall be sealed by the Water Department.
157
14. All persons or firms having private fire connec- tions for sprinklers or private hydrants on the premises or in buildings are forbidden to use the water for any pur- poses excepting fires, and shall not open any private hydrant in or out of the building for any other purposes excepting fire unless by permission of the Water Board.
For any violation of this by-law the Water Board may impose a fine of not less than $5.00 and not more than $20.00.
If water is used for any other purposes than for fires the Water Board shall estimate the amount so used and shall charge regular rates.
If the fine or bill for water is not paid when present- ed the Water Board may shut off the water furnished the private hydrants or sprinklers from the town supply until such fine or bill for water is paid and the sum of two dollars will be charged for turning it on.
These rules will be printed in large type on cards and posted in every building having private fire connec- tions.
The Commissioners also adopted the following new rules, section 8, articles 15 and 16:
15. All services shall be laid by the Water Board from the sidewalk line to the cellar at the expense of the owner. The Water Board may make an estimate of the cost of the owner's part and may demand a depos t for the same before laying the pipe.
Applicants wishing a service pipe laid when there is frost in the ground shall pay the extra expense caused by the frost, on the part laid by the town.
16. Applications for extensions of mains through private ways or grounds shall in no case be granted un-
158
less the owner thereof executes a proper instrument securing to the town the right of permanent occupation, free from any acts of interference that shall effect the safety of the pipe, and securing to the department free right of entrance for purposes of inspection and mainte- nance.
The reasons for adopting article 15 were, first, that all service pipe shall be cement lined pipe to the cellar, second. that the department shall know how all pipes are laid under ground and avcid leaks in making connec- tions.
Article 16 seemed called for to protect the town from any trouble which might arise from laying pipe on private ground.
Stand Pipe.
The stand pipe was emptied, cleaned out and in- spected in July and was found to be some pitted with rust but lcoked to be sound, with no signs of settling of foundations, yet it was built in 1890 and the average life of a stand pipe that high is supposed to be from fourteen to sixteen years. According to that there are only four years left for the present stand pipe and with Attleboro's growth we shall outgrow it by that time or before.
At the present time it is too small for economy and we believe it is time to begin to make plans for a larger storage on higher grounds so that the town may have a continuous fire pressure of at least 90 pounds with two direct mains from the station to the centre of the town.
By beginning this year to lay out the work, taking the time to study the requirements of the town for at
159
least twenty years in the future, also taking advantage of the market and the department having time to lay the pipe, we feel that in this way a great deal of money could be saved for the town, over what it would cost to wait until it was necessary to do these things and then have to push them through in a hurry regardless of cost of inaterial or labor.
We would call the attention of the voters again to the fact that the total cost to the town for public water is only $5,000.00 and that amount is placed in the sinking fund to pay bonds when due, and this year we shall ask for only $4,000.00 from the town and recommend $5,200.00 for the sinking fund. Below is a statement of credits that the Water Department should receive from the town based on the lowest amount charged by private companies or towns :
307 hydrants @ $30.00, $9,210.00
Street sprinkling, 1,200.00
Public buildings and Street De- partinent,
1,100.00
Drinking fountains,
300.00
$11,800.00
You will readily see from these figures that the town is getting its public water at a very low price.
Recommendations.
We would recommend that the town vote to issue $10,000.00 of 31/2 per cent. bonds for thirty years to be used for construction, not to be issued until necessary.
We would also recommend an appropriation by the
160
town of $4,000.00 for the sinking fund for maintenance together with the receipts from the department.
For the coming year we estimate the receipts and ex- penses as follows :
Receipts.
From water rates, . $28,000.00
Appropriation by town for sinking
fund,
4,000.00
$32,000.00
Expenditures.
Pumping expenses,
$ 4,500.00
Repairs, incidentals, labor, salaries
and insurance.
8,000.00
Interest account,
14,300.00
S.nking fund,
5,200.00
$32,000.00
Respectfully submitted,
WM. M. STONE,
GEO. H. SNELL, D. E. MAKEPEACE, Water Commissioners.
SUMMARY OF MAINTENANCE.
Pumping Expenses.
Ccal and wood,
$ 575.12
Engineers' salaries, oil and pack-
ing,
1,985.09
$2.560.21
161
Repairs.
Repairs on pipe system, $221.93
Repairs at pumping station, 182.48
Repairs on meters, 275.38
Repairs at work shop,
49.57
Repairs on telemeter,
20.42
$749.78
Incidentals.
Telephones, $125.00
Lighting purposes, 27.81
Printing and book supplies,
140.75
Pumping station, 52.09
Clerk hire,
600.00
Office fixtures,
81.29
General incidentals,
97.15
Work shop,
124.33
Extra help at station at fire alarms,
75.00
Postage,
91.20
Freight and express,
120.26
Pipe system, 117.96
Rent,
125.00
$1,777.85
Labor.
Pay rolls,
$2,472.05
$2,472.05
Tools.
Tools,
$303.34
$303.34
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Salaries.
Superintendent and Registrar, $900.00
Water Commissioners. 193.75
$1,093.75
Insurance.
Insurance,
$233.07
Team. $233.07
Horse keeping and rent of barn, ..
$921.89
$921.89
Pipe System.
Service pipe fittings, etc., $829.87
$829.87
SUMMARY OF CONSTRUCTION OF ITEMIZED
BILLS.
Services, hydrants, pipe and laying
same, $30.433.73
Meters, 1,604.40
$32,038 13
163
REPORT OF THE SUPERINTENDENT OF WATER WORKS.
To the Water Commissioners of Attleborough :- Gentlemen :
I submit my report as Superintendent of the Water Department. During the year we have extended the main pipe system 30.729 feet or 5 5-6 miles and the table below will show the kind, size and length of pipe laid on the several streets.
Table Showing Kind, Size and Length of Pipe Laid or the Several Streets. Cast Iron Pipe. Cement Lined Pipe.
STREET.
10"
8 "
6 "
3"
1} " |1}" 1"
King,
234
13
North Main,
3667
153
340
Hodges,
248
Elizabeth,
530
Water,
106
Washington,
7080
1637
Turner-Mendon road,
1450
Turner-Washington to Allen,
967
Allen-Turner to Bacon,
705
Pond,
405
281
449
74
Bacon,
1037
366
135
West Carpenter,
462
320
Scott,
246
99
Lord,
Mendon road,
1049
Atwood,
335
Thacher,
4025
28
Dexter,
94
Parker,
Hazel,
379
Fifth,
Prospect,
Highland avenue,
297
186
238
Horton,
91
249
Eden,
445
Hebron avenue,
71
Totals,
7080
7099
12138
130
297 1973 1839
173
On Forest street we took up 371 feet of 4-inch pipe and re- placed it with 8-inch pipe for fire protection for H. M. Williams & Co.'s new shop.
337
220
Falmouth,
648
Peck avenue,
376
349
191
164
Services.
During the year we have put in 163 new service connections which is 63 more than the year 1901, when 100 new ones were laid and which was in excess of any previous year.
Amount of service pipe laid as follows :
2.538 feet from main to service box. 6.156 feet from service box to cellar. 624 feet were laid on private land.
Four hundred and thirty-eight feet of cement lined pipe were sold to plumbers which was used for service pipe.
Extensions.
We began the extension on North Main street. March 23rd, laying 4,160 feet of main pipe, connecting the services and completing the work and turning on the water April 7. 1902.
We then laid 778 feet of main pipe on Peck Plat and began on Washington street and St. Jean Baptiste Plat April 16th. On this extension, including the mains on the side streets there were 14,209 feet of pipe. The mains were all laid, service connections made and water turned on to the entire system May 28. 1902. The water was shut off from Pawtucket at the line on St. Jean Plat at 3:30 p. m. May 31, 1902, and the Attleboro system connected thus completing the entire extension in seven weeks.
We found the old pipes on the plat in very poor con- dition, being filled with rust and vegetable matter so that in some places we were obliged to put in new cement
165
lined mains. On West Carpenter street 320 feet of I I-2-inch cement lined pipe were laid, also 281 feet of the same size on Pond street and 337 feet of I I-4-inch on Lord street, and replaced 17 old services.
Where the new pipe has been put in there is no com- plaint of poor water and the old pipes that now remain in will have to come out within a short time as much was second-hand when put in.
The next long extension was laying 4,025 feet of 8- inch pipe on Thacher street, which was completed Aug- ust 12th, making a connection through from County street to South Main street, thereby lessening our risk in case of trouble from breaks in the main pipe between Bushee's corner and Park street. With the 8-inch pipe on Thacher street we would be able to supply the town with water for domestic purposes or maintain four good fire streams.
Private Fire Connections.
There were three applications for private fire con- nections during the past year, The Attleboro Manufac- turing Company on Hazel street, H. M. Williams & Company on Forest street and James Orr, West street, South Attleboro.
The department made the connection to the mains, and ran the pipe inside the buildings at the expense of the owners, and in this way 246 feet of 6-inch pipe was used, four 6-inch gates, four indicator posts. One of the 6-inch gates and indicator posts was set on a former connection.
166
Hydrants.
During the past year there have been 29 new hy- drants set, making the total number 307, which I think is more than in any other city or town of the size in the country. All hydrants have been painted during the year and all inspected at least four times. There have been 47 repaired. all of them flushed four times, and all the hydrants on dead ends of pipe were flushed every week during the summer months.
Leaks.
There were IS leaks. two on the mains, II on ser- vices and five on gate valves, making a very small num- ber for the amount of pipe. With only two leaks on the main pipes of 39 miles it shows that they are in the very best of condition. Four of the leaks on the service pipes were caused by electrolysis, or the action of the electric current, on the pipe on Emory street under the Bristol County Electric Railway tracks.
We have had three services to put in new and one has been put in twice during the year and the indications are that there will be more trouble from the same cause in the future, which may be a great source of dan- ger to the town's pipe, especially on Emory and County streets where the main pipe is directly under the tracks.
Gate Valves and Boxes.
There have been 4I new gate valves put in this year, 58 new gate boxes have been set, 26 have been brought to grade. There have been 178 new service boxes set and 124 brought to grade. It is very hard to keep all the service boxes to grade as a great number of the
167
streets are not curbed and the sidewalks wash away and wear down so as to leave the boxes exposed and danger- ous to travel and the frost will also raise them in the spring of the year. All of these cases have been prompt- ly attended to as soon as they come to the notice of the department.
The total number of service boxes is 1,4II.
Meters.
During the year 167 new meters have been set, mak- ing a total now in use of 1,449. There have been 30-4 taken out, tested and repaired and we are taking out and testing all the meters that have been in a number of years and we find most of them partly filled with rust and running slow, especially where they are on galvanized pipe.
Rusty Water.
We have had less complaint from rusty water this year than in any in the last three years, as in some of the worst cases the owners of property have had their old pipe taken out and replaced with cement lined pipe. There have been 38 replaced during the year and have had no complaint from any changed within that time.
You will see by the report of the State Board of Health that Attleboro's water continues to hold its high standard of the purity of water.
Work Shop.
The work shop on County street, in the rear of A. A. Bushee & Co.'s shop, containing one thousand square feet of floor space, where all of the service pipe is lined and meters are repaired and tested, is rather small for our
168
work, but very convenient. During the last year we have put in a water motor and made a 3-inch connection from King street so as to have power for machine work on meter repairing and have found it a great success.
We have also built a shed 34x22 and have floored over the old well house for a store room, all of which we find very necessary to carry on the work of the depart- ment.
Consumption of Water.
There has not been the increase in the use of water for the past year in proportion to the increase in income. The reason for this is the meter system and every effort to stop public waste of water and the small increase over last year shows that our efforts have not been in vain. In 1901 the total gallons pumped were 147,946,520 and in 1902 the total was 159,024,210 gallons, with an actual increase of revenue of about $3,500.00 over 1901.
Appended will be found tables showing a condensed statement of the pumping records for the year and copies of the analyses made from samples of water taken from the well.
GEO. H. SNELL, Superintendent.
REPORT OF THE WATER REGISTRAR FOR THE YEAR ENDING DECEMBER 31, 1902.
At the close of the year 1902 there was not an un- collected water bill for the year and I think it is the first time in the history of this department. The uncollected amount of $49.66 was for laying of pipe, repairs of meters, etc., which was done late in the year.
169
I wish at this time to thank the patrons of the Water Department for their prompt payment and their co. operation with Water Registrar to have made it possible to have every 1902 water bill collected, which is certainly a credit to the town and this department.
Below is given the financial report of the Water Registrar.
Financial Report.
Dr.
Uncollected bills, January 1, 1902, $ 97.71 Charged for meter allowances, Jan-
uary 1, 1902, to July 1, 1902, . . 3.501.25 Charged for meter allowances, July
I, 1902, to January 1, 1903, . . 3,823.25 Charged for meter rents, January
I, 1902, to July 1, 1902, . 1,061.90
Charged for meter rents, July I, 1902, to January 1, 1903, . 1,185.50 . . Charged for excess water, January I, 1902, to July 1, 1902, 6,754.20 Charged for excess water, July I, 1902, to January 1, 1903, . 6,202.92 . Charged for repairs of meters, Jan- uary I, 1902, to July 1, 1902, . . 56.10
Charged for repairs of meters, July I, 1902, to January 1, 1903, . .. 58.83
Charged for sale of meters, Janu- ary I, 1902, to July 1, 1902, . . 55.00 Charged for sale of meters, July I, 1902, to January 1, 1903, . ... 33.00
170
Charged for guarantees, January I,
1902, to July 1. 1902. 104.64
Charged for guarantees, July I,
1902, to January 1, 1903. . . 161.52
Charged for miscellaneous, Janu-
ary I. 1902, to July 1, 1902. . . 2.612.21
Charged for miscellaneous, July I, 1902, to January 1. 1903, 1,907.25
Cr.
$27,615.28
Abatements, January 1, 1902, to January I, 1903. $ 26.18 Cash paid Town Treasurer. 27,539.14
Uncollected bills. December 3I,
1902.
49.66
$27,615.28 GEO. H. SNELL, W'ater Registrar,
Examined January 15, 1903. and found correct.
BENJAMIN F. LINDSEY, FRED L. LeBARON, BYRON R. HILL,
Auditors.
171
TABLE SHOWING RAINFALL FOR YEAR 1902.
Departure
Month.
Rainfall.
Normal.
from
Normal.
January,
.2.23
4.18
-1.95
February,
6.62
4.05
-+-2.56
March,
5.40
4.58
+ .82
April,
3.37
3.32
+ .05
May,
1.09
3.20
-2.IT
June,
4.47
2.99
+-1.48
July,
4.02
3.78
+ .24
August,
2.87
4.23
-1.36
September,
3.67
3.23
+- . 44
October,
.4.83
4.4I
+ .42
November,
1.67
4.II
-2.4+
December,
6.06
3.7I
+2.35
-
Total,
46.30
45.80
+- . 50
Monthly average,
3.90
3.81
+ .0416
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Synopsis of Pumping Records for the Year Ending December 31, 1902.
1902
Total Pumping Time
per Month.
Average Pumping Time
Total Coal Used per
Average Coal Used
Total Gallons of water
pumped per month.
Average gallons of water pumped per day.
Hrs.
Min.
Hrs. Min.
Pounds
Pounds
Gallons
Gallons
January,
163
15
16
44,695
1441
11,953,720
385,604
February,
145
15
01
11
38,885
1388
10,500,840
375,030
March,
159
15
õ
8
41,090
1325
11,683,680
376,893
April,
163
15
01
26
39,200
1306
12,067,360
· 402,245
May,
181
15
5
50
43,715
1410
13,717,120
442,488
June,
190
15
6
25
44,720
1491
14,511,800
483,727
July,
204
00
6
35
46,865
1511
14,678,360
473,495
August,
205
15
6
37
40,395
1303
15,820,760
510,218
September,
207
45
6
55
48,505
1616
14,326,760
474,225
October,
192
30
6
13
48,940
1579
13,881,760
447,798
November,
166
00
5
32
42,900
1430
11,938,250
397,614
December,
177
15
5
43
48,365
1560
12,943,800
417,542
Totals for Year,
2155
15
528,275
158,024,210
Daily Average for Year,
5
54
1447
432,239
Average Duty for Year, Including Banking, Average Duty for Year, Without Banking,
58,200,000 foot pounds. 90,900,000 foot pounds.
NOTE-Amount of coal used for lighting purposes and machine shop, Leaving total amount for pumping,
20,000 pounds, 508,275 pounds.
per Day,
Month.
per Day.
MONTH.
WATER ANALYSIS -- ATTLEBOROUGH.
Commonwealth of Massachusetts-State Board of Health.
(Parts in 100,000)
1902.
DATE OF
APPEARANCE.
AMMONIA.
NITROGEN AS
Ni-
Hardness.
Oxygen
Consumed.
39015
Feb.
12
Feb. 13
None
None None
.01|4.20 .0000 .0010 .34 .0120 .0000|1.7 .0060 .01
39580
April
8
April 9
None
.00 4.00 .0006 .0032 .30 .0090 .0000 1.6 .0040 .02
40367
June
1
June
9
None
V Slight
.02 3.50 .0004 .0030 .33 .0100 .0000 1.7 .0050 .02
41531
Aug.
7
Aug.
8
None
V Slight
.00 4.20 .0000 .0014 .27 .0070 .0000 2.0 .0040 .08
42529
Sept.
30
Oct.
2
None
None
.02 3.70 .0002 .0032 .32 .0070 .0000 2.0 .0050 .08
43406
Dec.
2
Dec.
4
None
None
.00 4.50.0006.0026 .36 .0070 .0000 2.1 .0040 .01
Average,
.00 6.01 .0003 .0026 .32 .0086 .0000 1.8 .0046 .03
173
No.
Collection.
Examination. Turpidity
Sediment.
Co'or.
Residue on
evaporaton.
Free
Aibu- mi- noid
Chlorine.
trates.
Ni- trites.
IRON
174
ATTLEBOROUGH WATER WORKS.
Water Ordinances.
Section I. Water Commissioners shall, at their first meeting after the annual town election, choose from their number a chairman. Two members shall be a qiorum for the exercise of the powers and performance of the duties of the Water Commissioners. The Com- missioners may appoint and remove at their descretion a clerk, who shall also be Water Registrar, a superin- tendent and such employees or agents as they may deem necessary, and may prescribe their duties. They may fix the salaries of such clerk, employees and agents sub- ject to the instructions and control of the town.
Sec. 2. The Water Board shall have the exclusive and entire charge, superintendence and oversight of ali lands, structures, works and apparatus designed and pro- vided for obtaining and supplying pure water for the uses of the town. They shall have the exclusive control and management of the uses, repairs and extensions of such works and structures, whether newly determined upon or otherwise.
Sec. 3. The Water Board shall have control and jurisdiction over all sources of supply possessed by the town, and all lands appurtenant thereto, owned or law- fully controlled by the town, and they may exercise al! rights as to entry upon and passage over private prem- ises which now are or may become vested in the town, belonging or relating to the management of the water works and supply of water.
175
Sec. 4. The Water Board shall use diligent care for the protection and security of all sources of water from which a supply is obtained, so that the purity thereof may not be impaired.
Sec. 5. The Water Board shall, as often as once in each calendar month, meet and examine all bills and claims incurred by them in the prosecution of their duty and all claims approved shall be certified by them before payment of the same by the Town Treasurer.
The Water Board shall keep a full record of their proceedings, and they shall at the annual town meeting make a report in detail to the town of their official acts and doings for the year preceding with estimates of ex- penditures and receipts for the year succeeding, and such suggestions and recommendations as may seem to them for the benefit of the town.
Sec. 6. The Water Board shall make all proper ar- rangements for the sufficient supply of water for use at fires, and for furnishing the same in the most efficient and suitable manner. They shall, in consultation with the Selectmen arrange for such supply of water as may be required for operating any public fountains, or orna- mental public water works, for flushing and cleansing public sewers and drains, for sprinkling streets, and for any other use clearly distinct from that of ordinary water takers.
Sec. 7. The Water Board shall have exclusive charge of the supply of water, may make all thenecessary arrangements therefor, and such rules and regulations and rates as they may deem to be judicious.
176
Sec. 8. The following rules and regulations are hereby established, and, together with such rules, regula- tions and rates as shall, from time to time, be made by the Water Board, under the authority of the preceding section, shall be considered a part of the contract with every person who takes the water, and the fact of taking shall be considered as expressing assent on the part of the taker to be bound thereby.
Whenever any of them is violated, although two or more parties may receive the water through the same pipe, the water shall be cut off and not let on again ex- cept by order of the Water Board, and on payment of one dollar, and in case of such violation, any payment for the water by the person committing such violation. shall be forfeited.
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