USA > Massachusetts > Bristol County > Attleboro > Reports of town officers of the town of Attleborough 1904 > Part 8
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TII
164
ANNUAL REPORT.
Well.
When the Commissioners decided to recommend the building of a new well to connect with the old one, the specifications were prepared by Snow & Barbour, engineers, and bids were asked for the same, to be opened September 2, with the understanding that no award would be made until after the town meeting, and not then unless the town voted to build. This step was taken in order to start the work at the earliest possible date, which would be necessary in order to complete the well this year.
There were four bids received, as follows: C. E. Trumbull Company, $14,405.00; Seymour-Clark-Hill Company, $14,520.00; Gow & Palmer, $14,955.00; H. A. Hanscom & Co., $15,820.00.
C. E. Trumbull Company, being the lowest bidders, were informed that the contract would be awarded to them if the town voted to instruct the Commissioners to build a well as they recommended.
At a special town meeting held September 6, it was voted unanimously to instruct the Commissioners to build the new well. The next morning the contract was signed and the work was begun in a few days and pushed forward as fast as practicable. The building of the new well was finished, except the roof, which will be put on in the spring, also the conduit between the two wells was completed, so that we now have the entire benefit of the two wells. There seems to be an abundant supply at the present time, which we consider remark- able in so dry a time as we have had in the last four months. We believe the present well supply will be sufficient for many years to come, and that it will never be necessary to take water from the pond for any cause whatever.
The grading around the well will be finished as early in the spring as possible, when with the completion of the roof, we believe it will be one of the most substan-
165
ANNUAL REPORT.
tial and perfectly designed wells and conduit, for the storage and intercepting of ground water, ever built.
Extensions.
The extension of main pipe this year is very small in comparison with the last four years. The only long extension was on Pleasant street, beginning near Alger's Corner and extending as far as what is known as the "Carpenter Place," a distance of 3,719 feet. The total extension of main pipe for the year is 6,428 feet, or I.2 miles.
The table giving the size of the pipe and the streets on which they were laid will be found in the report of the Superintendent.
Pumping Station.
The station has been kept in good condition during the year. There have been two dormer windows put on the front, which greatly improves the appearance on the outside and makes a decided improvement in light and ventilation on the inside. At the present time we are installing an air and boiler feed pump on the Barr pumping engine. When completed it will greatly im- prove the efficiency of the pump, thereby reducing the cost of operating. These pumps were furnished through McLaughlin Bros. of Philadelphia, Pa.
The Deane pump has been overhauled during the year and is in first-class condition. The boilers have been inspected quarterly and reported to be in good condition, The station and grounds are well cared for and are neat and clean at all times.
Standpipe.
The standpipe has been cleaned twice this year, and both times there was a quantity of rust in the bottom ; otherwise it seemed in good condition. We would recommend that the Commissioners be instructed to sell the present standpipe as soon as the new one is put into commission, as it will be of no further use to the depart- ment.
166
ANNUAL REPORT.
Barn and Workshop.
Bids were received March 26, 1904, for the building of a barn and workshop combined, and the contract was awarded to Grant Bros., who were the lowest bidders. The work was immediately begun and the building was completed and ready for occupancy July I. The build- ing is 40 feet by 60 feet, two stories and basement. The workshop and pipeshop in the basement, carriage room, 40 feet by 40 feet, and stable on first floor, while on the second floor there is a well lighted workshop for the repairs of meters and machine work, with an office, sleeping room, grain room and hay loft.
The building is very nicely and handily arranged for the work we have to do. The old shop was moved to the river bank and used for a storehouse for tools and materials. We have a very good yard and the coming season intend to continue the river wall to the end of the lot, which will still further improve the looks and give more room for storage.
Electrolysis.
During the year we have had the usual trouble on Emory street from electrolysis. We have had to replace nine services and have had to cut out three and one-half feet of six-inch main pipe. There was a hole in the main pipe about three-quarters of an inch in diameter, and there were several other spots on the piece taken out that were nearly through.
When we found that the main was so badly affected, the Commissioners thought it time to have some one make a survey of the entire system and determine what amount of current we were carrying on the mains, and ascertain, if possible, what damage was being done and place the blame where it belongs, and have the railroad company do all they can to prevent the leakage of the current from the rails to the pipe, and also have those responsible settle for the damage done to the pipes.
167
ANNUAL REPORT.
The main on Emory street is directly under the railroad tracks, and the Commissioners feel that it will be neces- sary to relocate either the water pipes or the railroad track, if the trouble from electrolysis continues. At the present time it makes it very expensive for repairs on the mains, as we have to dig down on the outside of the track as well as in the centre, to get a piece of pipe out or in, and the only other way would be to cut the sleep- ers. There are over 100 feet of six-inch main pipe that will have to be taken out in the spring, as it is not safe in the present condition. Following will be found the report of A. A. Knudson, E. E., who is an expert in this line of work and who has made a great many investiga- tions and surveys throughout the cities and towns of the United States.
Copy of Report on Electrolytic Investigation of Water Piping System of Attleborough, Mass., by A. A. Knudson, E. E., 34 Nassau street, New York city. To the Water Commissioners of Attleborough, Mass .:
Gentlemen :
In accordance with your request, I have made an electrical survey in the town and suburbs of Attle- borough to determine, as far as possible, the damage already caused to the water piping system by straying railway currents, with the liability of further damage, and herewith present my report.
A table of voltmeter readings, blue prints and photographs are furnished, which are a part of this report.
The voltmeter readings are tabulated with care and are intended for future use as well as the present, as furnishing a basis for comparison of readings which may be taken hereafter.
Such further readings will be desirable in case of changes or improvements made in the track construc- tion, in order to watch the effect of flow upon the mains as to whether the conditions are improved or otherwise.
168
ANNUAL REPORT.
There are several electric railways entering the town, the most of them fed by current from the powerhouse in Pawtucket, about eight miles distant. One, the Bristol County road, with powerhouse three miles south, and one, transformer or sub-station in the town on West street.
This situation made the tracing and identifying of the various straying currents found upon your mains some- what difficult, and while there may yet be some undis- covered points where electrolysis is at work, we believe the most important, which are herein recorded, have been found.
The operation of electric cars in Attleborough, fed from the several powerhouses, causes currents to flow into and through the mains in all sorts of directions. For instance, the currents from one line flow into the mains, pass through them to other streets and pass out of them to the tracks of other lines. This effect is then reversed, sometimes with a frequency of a few seconds of time, and again at intervals of a half hour, depending entirely on the movements of the cars on the different lines.
This alternating feature of current movements upon the mains is shown in a number of cases in the table of voltmeter readings.
REVIEW OF ELECTRICAL MEASUREMENTS.
In this review, reference is had to the tables and also to the drawing, Fig. I.
Emory Street.
The main in this street, and also the service pipes, have been undergoing electrolysis for some time. This is shown by the number of samples removed. Photo No. I, on the following page. represents a group of damaged service pipes removed owing to leaks caused by electrolysis, and No. 2 shows a portion of the six- inch main under the tracks.
-
· Bates. Photo
PHOTO NO. 2. DAMAGED SIX-INCH MAIN.
PHOTO NO. I. DAMAGED SERVICE PIPES.
169
ANNUAL REPORT.
We are informed that in the part of the street where the worst damage has occurred (between Morey and Brook streets), the service pipes at every house have burst twice within two years, and in one case, four times.
The table of voltmeter readings shows the flow of trolley current to be in both directions, that is, when a Bristol County car was moving on this part of the line, the readings were: main negative to rails, or current from rails to main.
When the car was absent, the readings were: main positive to rails, or flow from main and service pipes to rails.
It will be understood that damage by electrolysis occurs in the latter case only.
This "positive section" near the terminus of an elec- tric railway, three miles from the powerhouse, in what is generally a "negative district," is not usually found in investigations of this character. One supposed cause was that the current entering the main from the rails of the Bristol County Company's tracks found its way out through the wet soil in which it lay to some creek or river which led to the powerhouse. The tests did not indicate this to be the cause.
The second supposed cause was that the positive con- ductor at the powerhouse was connected to the tracks instead of, as usual, to the line. Tests upon the rails, however, when a car was leaving the terminus, showed the current to be flowing towards the powerhouse in the usual direction.
'A series of tests, unnecessary to describe in detail, finally disclosed the fact that current from the Interstate line, operating through Park and Pine streets, a short distance away, was being delivered to the six-inch main in this street through the branch main in Morey street, and from this main delivered to the Bristol County's tracks. Drawing Fig. I will give a fair idea of the
170
ANNUAL REPORT.
course of these currents, and but little further explana- tion will be necessary.
The principal cause of these conditions is that the Bristol County tracks furnish a better conducting path to the junction where the two roads meet than the Interstate tracks. This junction is just south of Hebronville.
The reason is plain, however, after an examination of both lines. The Bristol County tracks have heavy 60- foot rails ; the Interstate, at least a large part of the line, has comparatively light, 30-foot rails. This, of course, means twice the number of joints and bonds in a given distance for the Interstate line and a correspondingly higher electrical resistance than the Bristol County's, through a medium of water mains.
Examination of the main in Emory street, where un- covered for a short distance (12 feet), which lays directly under the tracks, shows it to be practically destroyed. Two soft spots were found, caused by elec- trolysis, which were shaved down to about half way through the iron. Further examination was stopped on request of the Superintendent, as there was danger of a puncture, in which case a length or more would have to be removed, which would entail much time and labor, as some of the track ties would have to be removed. It was thought desirable to postpone such work until the main actually burst. in the hope that it would last until spring. Two other pittings, further south of the first discovered, were found, but of less size and depth.
Commissioners Makepeace and Snell, as well as others of the Water Department, were present and saw the damaged main.
Referring to the voltmeter readings, the table shows the main both positive (+) and negative (-). This is explained by the movements of the car on this road, which operates under half-hour schedule.
Fig1
ST
ST.
EMORY
3 miles to PH >>
Bristol
County
Ry tracks
+
+
3
- Damaged
section
Volts + 10to 60-
MOREY
01921 Amprs
Interstate Ry tracks
NY. NH. ¥ H.RR
ATTLEBORO
RY STATION
Electrical conditions causing electrolysis to mains U service pipes in Emory St. 1-Current leaving Interstate Ry tracks for mains in Park St. 2-Passing through mains in Park & Morey Sis to main in Emory St 3- Leaving math in Emory St for Bristol City Rytracks
DUNHAM
ST
UNION
y olts
PINE
3
Test in Culvert
PARK
ST
10 too 9 Amp'r
-
S T.
ST.
Fountain
PLEASANT
ST
Volt53 to 5 8 - vito 6,7+
171
ANNUAL REPORT.
When there was no car in the vicinity, the main was constantly positive to the rails, ranging from I to 6.8 volts. When a car was moving in the vicinity, reversals took place ranging from 3 to 5.8 volts (-). From this it will be seen that the main is subject to electrolysis the greater part of the time.
The six-inch main in Morey street was also uncovered for the purpose of determining the current flow and ex- amination of the joints. The flow of current was towards Emory street and, computed in amperes by the "drop" method, ranged from o. to 21. amperes. At one time, when a Bristol County car was passing, there was a slight reversal. Two joints examined show evidence of electrolytic action, one of them slightly leaking. The same measurement on the main in Emory street gave 16.8 amperes maximum, the flow being south.
Another measurement in the culvert at Park and Brook streets (see Fig. I), gave but 0.9 amperes maxi- mum, showing that practically all of the current enter- ing this main goes by way of the main through Morey street to the main in Emory street, on its way to the Bristol County tracks. It is quite probable, also, that some current from cars centring in Park street finds its way to the tracks in Emory street.
Further tests were made on this line to and beyond the powerhouse, with the result of obtaining the same character of readings (+) and (-) at each point tested. This is doubtless due to movements of cars on both roads.
At points where the main rests in wet soil, as in Emory street, damage by electrolysis may be looked for.
Washington Street Line.
This line runs from Providence and Pawtucket to Attleborough and North Attleborough.
Tests were commenced at the terminus of the water main at the boundary line of Pawtucket, at Washington and Turner streets, north of the N. Y., N. H. & H. R. R.
172
ANNUAL REPORT.
bridge. The character of the readings indicate the source of current feeding the line to be from Pawtucket or Providence, and not from the sub-station in Attle- borough. This was confirmed by direction tests upon the rails.
The readings, as will be noted, grow higher as the distance is increased from the powerhouse, until the point at Orr's Corner, where the highest is reached, viz., 56 volts.
Tests for direction upon the main were made at two places and at both the flow of current in the main was south, or towards Pawtucket.
There were no "positive" readings on this line. That is, where the main was to the rails, not even at the ter- minus where it was expected the current flowing though the main would be delivered. In all probability, it is passing into the soil and finding its way back through some unknown route. The main near this dead end will bear watching in future, although no direct evidence of electrolysis has yet been discovered.
County Street.
The electrical conditions discovered upon the main in this street are important and should receive careful attention.
This line of tracks runs through County street for three-quarters of a mile, from Park to Dennis streets, with the terminus near the latter street.
The road was built in the summer of 1900 and the tracks placed directly over your 14-inch force main. This was done in the face of a strong protest made by your Board, which protest may be found recorded in the eighth annual report of the Water Department for the year ending December 31, 1900, at pages 13 to 19.
It will be noticed that the readings are both (+) and (-), except in one case, at the terminus, where the main continued (+) to the rails. Near this point the flow of current through the main was west. Tests made at
173
ANNUAL REPORT.
two different times near the bridge which is not far from Park street, the central part of the town, showed a remarkable condition, the changes from (+) to (-) being exceedingly frequent.
The flow upon the rails, and also main, was found to be of the same character as between main and rails, viz., changing at frequent intervals. That is to say, it would be flowing for a few seconds or a few minutes of time south, when a sudden reversal would occur and it would then flow north.
As will be noted, the plus readings are higher than the negative, in one case, at the terminus, continuously plus, and near the bridge, at one time reaching 30 volts.
¡As this important main passes through the brook un- der the bridge and lays in wet soil for a considerable distance in the street, and as these electrical conditions have prevailed in more or less degree since the road was built four and a half years ago, it is safe to conclude that this main is already damaged by electrolysis, to what extent cannot be known until uncovered and ex- amined. It was not deemed wise, at this season of the year, to make such examination, owing to the expense and difficulty of digging in frozen ground directly under the tracks.
It is not deemed necessary, for the purpose of this report, to give all the details leading to the causes of the erratic movements of straying currents in this street.
It may be said, however, that the geographical posi- tion of the railway line in County street, with respect to the location of the powerhouse on West street, as well as a number of other lines operating in nearby streets, all contribute to bring about these results.
North Main Street Line.
The readings on this line are similar to those on County and Emory streets as to being in both directions, and they fully indicate harm to the mains.
The continuous "negative" reading at the corner of
174
ANNUAL REPORT.
Park and North Main streets, reaching 80 volts, is un- usual to find in any city, and is probably largely due to the track auxiliary wire being disconnected at the pole near this location.
The high reading at this point will account, to some extent, for the conditions found on County street.
The continuous "positive" reading taken near the sub- station on West street, viz., 20 volts maximum, indicates certainly a dangerous situation for both service pipes and main in this street: Recently a service pipe burst near this point, and unless these electrical conditions are improved, more can be expected to fail, as well as the main, anywhere between the terminus near the railway station and the sub-station on West street. The most likely points for damage, however, are upon North avenue, where the ground is low and the main is in wet soil, and also on West street, anywhere in the vicinity of the sub-station.
Interstate Line.
This line, which has before been referred to as being responsible for the damage to the pipes in Emory street, has its Attleborough terminus on the south side of the N. Y., N. H. & H. R. R. tracks.
The reading nearest the terminus was found to be the highest anywhere on the line, viz., 60 volts. All of the readings are continuously negative and all very much higher than would guarantee even an approach to a healthy state for the mains in the same streets as the tracks, or even in adjoining streets, as already shown.
Fig. I shows the tracks of this line at the terminus.
The tests were continued on this line through Dodge- ville and Hebronville to the terminus of the six-inch main at the junction of South Main street and Knight avenue, a short distance from the junction of the two roads, the Interstate and Bristol County.
·
175
ANNUAL REPORT.
Norton, Mansfield and Taunton Line.
This line runs through Pleasant street, beginning north of the Taunton steam railway tracks.
Tests were made as far as Richardson street, the terminus of the six-inch main. The voltmeter readings through this street are similar in character to those on some other streets, the current flowing at intervals be- tween the main and tracks in both directions. They are exceptionally high and point to a wholly inefficient track return, with the usual result of throwing current into and through, not only the main in this street, but a large portion of the underground mains of the town, with con- sequent harmful effects, corresponding to the force and direction of such currents.
Summary and Conclusion.
From what has been said in the foregoing, it is apparent that a serious condition exists as to corrosion of the water mains by electrolytic action, due to railway currents in Attleborough.
The prime cause of this effect upon underground mains is the use of the "grounded" return by the rail- way companies.
In other words, the tracks which are "grounded" are depended upon to return the current to the powerhouse. Where the tracks consist of heavy rails, well bonded at the joints and reinforced by auxiliary overhead copper conductors, the current is more largely confined to a legitimate path, and a less amount strays through the soil to mains.
Such construction is lacking upon the railway lines entering Attleborough. There is one auxiliary track feeder on the Interstate poles, but judging from its appearance and from voltmeter readings, it is of but little use for the purpose intended. Two places have been found where the tap connections to the feeder on the poles are broken off.
Besides the inefficient track return on practically all of the lines entering and passing through the town, the
176
ANNUAL REPORT.
case is aggravated by the tracks in two of the streets, County and Emory, being, as stated, placed directly over the mains.
In regard to the damaged main and service pipes in Emory street, through the peculiar current action described, it is our opinion that the railway companies operating the Interstate and other lines in the town are responsible for said damage, and should reimburse the Water Department for the expense it has been subjected to in replacing a portion of the main and a number of service pipes. These will be specified later, by your Superintendent.
The condition of the main at this present time should also be taken into account, and from the examination made when uncovered, we believe the following is a fair appraisement :
One hundred and twenty feet total loss, or 10 12-foot lengths, besides the cost of opening and replacing the street under the tracks in making repairs.
We have no doubt that there is at least 500 feet more or less damaged, ranging from 10% up to total. The condition of the main as found is such that it is likely to fail at any moment at some point within this 500 feet.
It is regarded as unfortunate that the Bristol County tracks were placed directly over your main. The reasons given in your objections to this course, printed in our 1900 report, are now demonstrated to have been sound, by the results herein stated.
The portion of the town where mains and pipes are believed to be in the greatest danger from electrolysis is in County street and the upper portion of Park street, north of the N. Y., N. H. & H. R. R. tracks, more par- ticularly, however, the 14-inch main in County street, as it is located for some distance in wet soil, with the tracks directly over it. No actual inspection was made of the main at this time, and no appraisement of damage can be reported, but from observations compared with previous similar cases where mains have failed, we are
177
ANNUAL REPORT.
confident that damage by electrolytic action is progress- ing and a rupture is anticipated if the present condi- tions are to continue for any considerable length of time.
In this connection we have to commend your fore- sight shown in the following statement taken from your 1901 report, page 24:
"May 30 we put a 14-inch gate on the force main on County street, just north of Fourth street, so in case there was any trouble on County street, between Fourth and Park streets, the town could be supplied through Fourth street."
Attention is again called to the very high negative readings at Park and North Main streets, and also the high positive readings in the vicinity of the sub-station on West street.
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