USA > Massachusetts > Bristol County > Attleboro > Reports of town officers of the town of Attleborough 1911 > Part 11
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Material and supplies. 359.71
Freight 2.49
245
ANNUAL REPORT
Sundry expenses :
Advertising and printing. $ 77.30 Town of Seekonk, for
taxes
17.50
Clerical work (2 years) .. 52.10
Printing and sale, of
bonds I 50.00
Rent of office. I35.00
Demurrage on car of pipe 2.48
Rubber boots
31.50
Serving notices 10.30
Legal services, notices,
etc.
75.09
Sundries
3.47
$554.74
$169,053.01
Premium on bonds credited to sewer account in 1910, to be paid toward payment of principal of bonds 3 10.00
$169.363.01
Unexpended balance
27,443 37
$196,806.08
Examined January 25, 1912, and found correct.
BENJAMIN F. LINDSEY, W. L. ELLIOT, FREDERICK L. LeBARON,
Auditors.
246
ANNUAL REPORT
FINANCIAL REPORT OF SEWER COMMITTEE.
Showing entire expenditure to date.
Dr.
Received from sale of bonds. ..... $300,000.00
Received from premium on bonds. 310.00
Received from sale of ends of
sewer pipes 1.50
$300,311.50
Cr.
Paid.
J. J. Van Valkenburgh, civil engi-
neer $ 23,079.75
Charles Miller & Son Co., for iron pipe 46,569.44
R. H. Newell. construction filtra- tion field 39,588.88
Brownell Hardware Co., for vitri- field pipe 5,547.40
Clinton Wire Cloth Co., cloth for reinforcement 497.93
Concord Foundry & Machine Co., manhole covers and coliars ... 813.72
Bruno & Petitti. contractors. . 141,086.06
Ludlow Valve Mfg. Co., valves. . . 4.215.90 Springfield Foundry Co. 638.00
Trussed Concrete Steel Co., rein- forcement 342.00
Water Dept .. material and labor .. 535.54
Highway Dept .. straightening So. Main St. and Thacher Brook Drain 2,091.02
Extra surveying and investigating Sundry and traveling expenses of committee 46.90
609.30
247
ANNUAL REPORT
Material and supplies
383.41
Freight 2.49
Amount paid for land 5,625.00
Sundry expenses :
Advertising and printing. $106.50
Town of Seekonk for taxes 17.50
Clerical work 53.90
Printing and sale of bonds 305.00
Rent of office
225.00
Rubber boots
31.50
Legal services, notices,
etc.
125.09
Serving notices 10.30
Demurrage on car of pipe 7.43
Sundries
3.47
$885.69
$272.558.43
Premium on bonds credited to sewer account in 1910, to be paid toward payment of principal of bonds 310.00
Unexpended balance .
$272,868.43
27,443.07
$300.311.50
ANNUAL REPORT
January 1, 1912.
Charles S. Holden. M. D., Chairman Committee on
Sewerage. Attleborough. Mass.
Dear Sir :- The following are some of the more promi- nent items of interest which have developed during the progress pi constructing the sewerage system up to date.
The contractor for building the filtration areas resumed operations at the field about the first of last April. and completed the work during the latter part of June.
The filtration field has been constructed in a very thorough manner and in strict accordance with the plans and specifications. There are 26 filters with a combined area of 16 acres exclusive of the embankments which separate and surround them.
The distribution system, consisting of pipe from 6 to 24 inches in diameter. is located in the embankments and has a total length of 11.000 feet.
The underdrainage system consisting of pipe from 3 to 12 inches in diameter is located from 4 to ; feet below the surface of the beds and has a total length of 23.630 feet. There are 26 manholes on the underdrainage system and ten on the distribution system.
The quality of the material of which the filters are com- posed, and which was clearly revealed during the excava- tion for the installation of the underdrainage system is in every respect as good as claimed for it in my original report-it is all that can be desired for the purpose of sewage filtration.
During the preparation of some of the areas. in addi- tion to the soil and sub-soil that had to be removed. a considerable amount of filtering material was removed in order to reduce the natural elevation of those areas to an elevation upon which the sewage could readily flow.
. This excavation which is of a quality exceptionally good has been so disposed of that with but small expense an additional filter can be constructed with the same.
249
ANNUAL REPORT
The cost of constructing the filtration field as it now stands ready for operation is composed of the following items :
Cast iron manhole covers $ 287.00
Cast iron pipe and branches 2,665.00
Gates and valves 4,170.00
Vitrified pipe
4,375.00
For building field as per final esti-
imate
39,588.88
Total $51,085.88
My estimate for this work as per
original report was 53,075.00
Less than estimate. $1,989.12
The contractors, Messrs. Bruno & Petitti, for building the two sections of 30-inch trunk sewer from the filtration field up to near Thacher street have completed their con- tract with the exception of cleaning the sewer, water- proofing the elevated sections over the river at Dodge- ville and at Hebronville and building a section about 30 feet long opposite the Dodgeville depot. This was left unfinished in order to drain the sewer into the river while carrying on the work on sections above.
The new work laid out to be constructed for and built during 1911 was as follows: Beginning at the northerly end of the above mentioned trunk sewer; thence with a 30-inch cast iron pipe about 400 feet to Thacher street ; thence with a 24-inch cast iron pipe westerly through Thacher and Nelson streets, private property, Lamb street and other private property beneath the railroad arch bridge and along the westerly side of the Ten Mile river to Sixth street; thence with a 20-inch cast iron pipe along the said river to Wall street; thence in Wall and County streets to Water Works street; thence with sec-
250
ANNUAL REPORT
tions of 20-inch vitrified and cast iron pipe through said street and private property to Cliff and Hodges streets ; thence through the latter street to Water street; thence to Milk street. This was called Section 3.
Also Section 4, which is described as follows: Begin- ning at the junction of the above 24-inch and 30-inch sewers at Thacher street. thence easterly with a 20-inch cast iron pipe crossing the Ten Mile river near the north- erly end of the icehouse and extending along the south- erly side of the pond to South Main street, thence north- easterly along the westerly side of Thacher Brook to the junction of Maple street and the Speedway; thence through the Speedway to Dunham street ; thence with an IS-inch iron pipe continuing through the Speedway, Park and Brook streets to Falmouth street. thence with a 16- inch cast iron pipe through Falmouth to Forest street ; thence with a 12-inch cast iron pipe through Forest to Horton street. Also short sections on the westerly side of the Speedway in East, School, Pearl and Gardner streets, and each side in Dunham and Park streets. Also on each side of Brook street in Emory and Holman streets and westerly in Falmouth street. Specifications were ac- cordingly made for constructing the above work.
In consequence of high water in the Ten Mile river and Thacher Brook valleys advertising for bids for laying the pipe was purposely delayed until June 8th. Under that date the following amount of work was advertised in the Boston Herald and Engineering News, to be contracted for.
Attleborough, Massachusetts, June 8. 1911.
Sealed proposals will be received at the office of the Committee on Sewerage, Attleborough, Massachusetts, until 3:00 p. m. of Wednesday, June 21, 1911, addressed to the Chairman of the Sewerage Committee for each of the following contracts for constructing trunk sewers.
25
ANNUAL REPORT
Section 3.
Laying 396 lineal feet of 30-inch cast iron pipe. Laying 4,970 lineal feet of 24-inch cast iron pipe. Laying 3,886 lineal feet of 20-inch cast iron pipe. Laying 1,940 lineal feet of 20-inch vitrified pipe. Laying 190 lineal feet of 12-inch cast iron pipe. Laying 360 lineal feet of 16-inch cast iron pipe. Building 54 manholes.
Section 4.
Laying 7,750 lineal feet of 20-inch cast iron pipe. Laying 1,530 lineal feet of 18-inch cast iron pipe. Laying 620 lineal feet of 16-inch cast iron pipe. Laying 1,295 lineal feet of 12-inch cast iron pipe. Laying 730 lineal feet of 10-inch cast iron pipe. Laying 2,180 lineal feet of 8-inch cast iron pipe. Building 18 manholes.
On Section 3 five bids were received and on Section 4 six bids were received. The lowest bid for the two sec- tions amounted to $67,177.40, the highest $107,362.89. Bruno & Petitti being the lowest bidders the contracts were awarded to them.
During April sealed proposals were requested from the foundry companies for furnishing 110 manhole collars and covers as per plans and specifications submitted.
Eight bids were received ranging from $5.80 to $7.44, also one bid of $15.65 for the company's own design. The contract was awarded to lowest bidder, the Springfield Foundry Co., for $5,80, f. o. b. cars Attleborough.
Under date of April 6, it was duly advertised that sealed proposals would be received by the committee for furnishing the following amounts of cast iron pipe.
30 in.
24 in.
20 in
18 in. 27.95 tons
12 in. 46.17 tons
10 inch
8 in.
47.19 tons
415.12 tons
763.95 tons
17.55 tons
38.71 tons
252
ANNUAL REPORT
Also 186 pieces of special castings or about 59.06 tons. Six bids were received the highest $25.25 for straight pipe and $50 for specials. The lowest, Charles Millar & Son Co. $22.20 for straight pipe and $45 specials f. o. b. cars Attleborough, received the contract.
On October 19, 19II, sealed proposals for furnishing 1812 feet of 20-inch vitrified pipe and a few specials were received. The contract was awarded to the lowest bidder under the specifications, the Brownell Hardware Co. at 56 1-4 cents per foot for straight pipe f. o. b. cars Attleborough.
The contractors for laying the pipe on Sections 3 and 4 were considerably delayed at times by the slow delivery of cast iron pipe and one week of rainy weather. The difficulties attending the laying of the pipe have been at times rather trying, but not much more so than was anti- cipated. A cutting to a depth of ten feet often times revealed several kinds of materials, sand, gravel, quick- sand, boulders and ledge appearing very unexpectedly.
Our experience with quicksand along Thacher Brook, especially from Mape street to Falmouth street, confirms the opinion expressed early in my investigation for a sewerage system for the town, that it would be impracti- cal to construct an underdrainage system in connection with the sewer system and have it continue to operate much longer than during the construction of the sewers. Any opening sufficiently large to admit water into a drain would also allow the admission of the fine sand, which is so abundant in places and a drain beneath the Thacher Brook sewer having a grade identical with that of the sewer would not fail to become inoperative in a short time.
The town is very fortunate in possessing a 50-foot wide strip of land from Maple street down to South Main street, a distance of about 4,200 feet. Thacher Brook from Maple street down for about 2,000 feet is located in the center of this reservation. The brook then continued
253
ANNUAL REPORT
in a very crooked manner down to South Main street. A new channel has been dug for the brook within the reser- vation and close to its southeasterly boundary extending upward from South Main street, a distance of about 2,200 feet, and the 20-inch sewer is located in the same reserva- tion 8 feet from its northwesterly location line, all the way from South Main to Maple street.
If Thacher Brook was thoroughly cleaned out once a year and the excavated material removed from the banks the section through which it passes would be consider- ably benefitted.
During the laying of the two trunk lines from the junc- tion on Thacher street, while crossing the river at the ice- houses and along the pond to South Main street and above; also while crossing the river at Lamb street and while laying the 24-inch pipe in the river beneath the railroad bridge we were aided very materially by Mr. Sykes, agent of the Knights Mills at Dodgeville, who very kindly and considerately lowered the water several feet to meet our convenience for a duration of nearly four weeks. And right here it seems fitting to say that dur- ing all the while we have been building the sewer over . the Dodgeville and Hebronville Mill property, the con- tractor and the town through its engineer have been shown the greatest consideration by Messrs. Sykes and Howland, agents of those mills, and this opportunity is taken to assure them, also other abuttors along the lines, who have renderd us aid, that we deeply appreciate the services they have rendered the department.
The contractors for laying pipe have ceased operations until weather conditions in the spring will permit of their resuming work.
Under their contracts the following amounts of pipe remain to be laid.
Section 4.
On Falmouth street from Brook street to Forest street 620 feet of 16-inch.
256
ANNUAL REPORT
Thacher Brook-Trunk Sewer.
20-inch sewer from 30-inch on Thacher to Dunham street $39.935.00 18-inch sewer in Speedway from Dunham to Falmouth street 7.340.50 16-inch sewer in Falmouth from Brook to Forest street 2.660.00
12-inch sewer in Forest from Falmouth to Horton street 4.072.50
12-inch sewer in Emory from Brook street. easterly. 200 feet. 720.00
Io-inch sewer in Emory and Dunham streets, 761 feet 2.448.00
8-inch sewer in side streets. adjacent to Speed- way and Brook street. 2.180 feet. 6,043.00
Total $264.636.93 Add 10 per cent. for engineering and in- spection 26,463.69
Total cost as per my estimate
$291.100.62
Actual Cost of the Above Work When Completed.
Amounts expended as per books of the department, amounts due and amounts to be paid contractors for fn- ishing the work on the above sections : Charles Millar & Son Co. for cast iron pipe. 1910. $12.117.62
Charles Millar & Son Co. for cast
iron pipe. 191I 34.451.82 Amount now due. 1.285.92
$47.855.36
R. H. Newell, construction filtra- tion field. 1910. $27.989.75
ANNUAL REPORT 257
R. H. Newell, construction filtra- tion field, 1911. 11,599.13
$39.588.88
Brownell Hardware Co., furnish-
ing vitrified pipe, 1910 ..... $4,375.59
Brownell Hardware Co., furnish- ing vitrified pipe, 1911 1,171.81
$5,547.40
Clinton Wire Cloth Co., reinforce-
ment, 1910 $218.45
Clinton Wire Cloth Co., reinforce- ment, 191I 279.48
$497.93
Concord Foundry & Machine Co., manhole covers, 1910. 813.72
Bruno & Petitti, contractors on Sections 4, 2, 3 and 4, 1910. . . . $ 36,880.48
Bruno & Petitti, contractors on Sections 1, 2, 3 and 4, 19II . . . . 104,205.58
6 per cent. held back on Sections I and 2. 5,655.97
15 per cent. held back on Sections 3 and 4. 9,260.35
$156,002.38
Ludlow Valve Mfg. Co., valves, 1910
$4,100.00
Ludlow Valve Mfg. Co., valves, 19II 115.20
$4,215.20
Attleborough Water Department,
1910 $210.56
258
ANNUAL REPORT
Attleborough Water Department,
19II 324.98
Town Highway Department, 1910,
$535.54 straightening South Main St. 900.00
1,191.02
Town Highway Department, 19II, straightening Thacher Brook. J. J. Van Valkenburgh, engineer- ing and inspection, 1909. ... $ 181.25 . J. J. Van Valkenburgh, engineer- ing and inspection, 1910. .... 9,094.75
J. J. Van Valkenburgh, engineer- ing and inspection, 19II ... .
13,803.75
$23,079.75
Less amount paid for surveys,
plans and report. 1,500.00
$21,579.75
Springfield Foundry Co., IgII, manhole covers 638.00
Trussed Concrete Steel Co., 1911, reinforcement 342.00 Freight, 191I. 2.49
Materials and supplies, 1910 $ 23.70
Materials and supplies, 19II 359.7I
$383.4I
Bruno & Petitti, 1912 .- Under present contracts-
On Section 2, 30 feet of 30-inch sewer, at $3.50 $ 105.00
On Section 3, Hodges street, 1,333 feet of 16 and 20-inch, at $4.50. 5,998.50
On Section 3, Hodges street, 120 feet of 12- inch, at $2.00. 240.00
259
ANNUAL REPORT
On Section 4, Falmouth street, 620 feet of 16-inch, at $1.75 .. 1,085.00
On Section 4, Forest and Emory streets,
1,295 feet of 12-inch, at $1.50. 1,942.50 On Section 4, Falmouth street, 200 feet of IO-inch, at $1.25. 250.00
On Section 4, Emory, Holman and Forest streets, 800 feet of 8-inch, at $1.00. 800.00
24 manholes on the above lines at $40. 960.00
Cost of work when Sections 1, 2, 3 and 4 are completed $291,474.08 My estimate for the same work (note excep- tions below) 291,100.62
Difference $373.46
In my original report it was stated that the estimate did not in- clude the cost of possible rock ex- cavation.
The above construction account includes the cost of excavating the following amount of rock-see monthly estimates.
On Sections I and 2, 319 cubic yards, at $4.00. $1,276.00
On Sections 3 and 4, 136.5 plus 203 cubic yards, at $6.00. . 2,037.00
Straightening Thacher Brook, not in my estimate. 1,191.02
700 feet of 20-inch vitrified pipe on hand 393.00
$4,897.02
Actual construction account less than estimate $5,270.48
It might be well to state that the above
260
ANNUAL REPORT
estimates do not include the amounts ap- pearing on the books under the heads of-
Sundry expenses 1908-1911, which include advertising, legal services, printing, sale of bonds, rent of office, express, clerical, etc., total $ 885.69
Committee expenses, 1908-1911, total .. 46.90 .. Extra surveying and investigating, 1908 -- 1910 (not by me), total. 609.30
Cost of land. 5,625.00
Total $7,166.89
There is one other item of expense not included in the above. It is the cost of raising the railroad tracks at Hebronville, which the railroad officials considered necessary before allowing our sewer to be constructed beneath it. This expense has not yet been adjusted.
In conclusion, I will say that since in constructing the heaviest and most difficult portions of the proposed sew- erage system the cost has not exceeded the estimate. It is fairly safe to predict that the cost of constructing the entire system as reported will be reasonably close to the original estimate.
Respectfully submitted,
J. J. VAN VALKENBURGH,
Engineer.
Report of the Sealer of Weights and Measures
For the year ending Dec. 31st, 191I.
To the Honorable Board of Selectmen :
Gentlemen :- I have the honor of submitting to you the record of my doings for the year 191I.
In accordance with your instructions I have made one visit extra to the stores outside of the town and two to the stores in the centre this year, and inspected the scales, etc., and have made 182 tests of various articles offered for sale. I found some that were off weight a small amount, but nearly as many were over weight as under. In one case I found a team coming into town selling package butter that was under weight, but a warning was sufficient to bring the size of the package up to the standard.
I find that the merchants as a whole are willing and ready to obey the laws, and that the scales that need ad- justing are as often against the merchant, as the cus- tomer.
Early in the year I had a complaint that potatoes were being sold from a freight car in town and that short weight was being given. Without being known I went to the car and purchased two bushels of potatoes. I then took them to a store on Park street, and after testing the scales in said store to make sure they were accurate, weighed the potatoes and found both bushels five pounds short. I then went to the car and tested the scales of the man that was selling and found them correct, but saw at a glance that the vender was weighing his basket into every bushel of potatoes. I swore out a warrant for
262
ANNUAL REPORT
his arrest and took him into court, but was unable to make a conviction because the people that complained were unwilling to go into court and testify. The vender pleaded guilty but was allowed to withdraw his plea as the judge felt that in my case a mistake had been made rather than an intention to defraud and the man was dis- charged, myself being the only witness against him.
Number of Scales, Weights, Etc., Adjusted, Sealed or Condemned During the Year.
Adjusted
Sealed
Cond,
Platform Scales over 5,000 lbs.
capacity
4
I2
Platform Scales under 5,000 lbs. capacity
45
85
4
Computing Scales
9
52
3
All other kinds of Scales
36
247
I6
Weights
17
778
Dry Measurers
426
3
Liquid Measures
310
7
Milk Jars
166
5
Linear Measures
3
42
I
Measuring Pumps
3
26
I
Total
II7
2144
40
On account of the law relative to milk bottles being sealed by the state, the work in that line has been very light this year, and accounts for the fact that the expense of this office has been about the same as previous years, although the work on the scales has been increased by the extra inspections.
Cash Account.
Dr.
Cr.
To cash received for fees $104.82
263
ANNUAL REPORT
Sept. 22. By cash paid Town Treasurer .. $73.82
Oct. Ist. By cash paid Town Treasurer. . 23.45
Dec. 30. By cash paid Town Treasurer .. 7.55
$104.82 $104.82
Labor Account.
By 105 hours at 30c each. $31.50
By 183 1-2 hours at 50c each with team 91.75
By repairs .15
By small brush .IO
By 1-1b. shot .IO
By postage .66
.IO
Bolts
Pennies used in testing slot machines .30
$124.66
To cash received from Town Treasurer, as per vouchers $124.66
In submitting this my fourth annual report I wish to thank the merchants of the town, whom I have without exception found willing and ready to render me all the assistance in their power.
Respectfully submitted,
W. J. NEWMAN,
Sealer of Weights and Measures.
Report of the Tree Warden
To the Citizens of Attleboro :
During the year 1911 several trees were removed and trimming work was done in the following streets: Cum- berland avenue, Newport avenue, Highland avenue, North avenue, Pleasant street. Carpenter street, School street, Parker street, Pine street, Lafayette street. Maple street, South Main street, Dean street, East street. Olive street and the Carpenter street school yard. Dead trees were removed in Fourth street, Mulberry and Parker streets. Lafayette and Maple streets and Cumberland avenue.
Respectfully submitted,
GEORGE W. ALLEN.
Tree Warden.
ANNUAL REPORT
OF THE
BOARD OF HEALTH
OF THE
Town of Attleborough
For the Year Ending December 31, 1911
ORGANIZATION, 1911.
Board of Health.
CHARLES S. HOLDEN. M. D .. Chairman. WILLIAM O. HEWITT. M. D .. Secretary. RALPH P. KENT. M. D.
ARTHUR B. READ. Plumbing Inspector, and Agent of the Board to Issue Permits. JOSEPH M. SEAGRAVE. Plumbing Inspector. CALEB E. PARMENTER. Inspector of Milk and Meat.
Annual Report of the Board of Health
To the Citizens of Attleborough :-
The annual report of the Board of Health, for the year ending Dec. 31, 1911, is herewith submitted. Appended are the reports of the Inspectors of Meat, Milk, and Plumbing, comparative tables of mortality, and a record of the contagious diseases reported to the Board during the year. The organization and personnel of the Board has remained the same as during the previous year.
In January, Henry H. Wilcox, of Taunton, ceased to be Inspector of Plumbing, the Board having previously appointed, with the consent of the Civil Service Commis- sion, Arthur B. Read and Joseph M. Seagrave, as pro- visional inspectors.
On Oct. 9th, the Board having been authorized by the Civil Service Commission to take such action, made these appointments permanent.
General Work.
The Board of Health has held thirty-three meetings during the year. The regular meetings are now held on the second and fourth Monday evenings. Several con- ferences with other town officials have been held, and the Board has spent considerable time inspecting and remedying unsanitary conditions in various parts of the town.
The Board has on occasions, sought advice from the State Board of Health, usually through the District Health Inspector, Dr. Elliott Washburn, of Taunton, who has been ever ready to co-operate with the Board, and to discuss matters pertaining to the health of the town.
268
ANNUAL REPORT
The Board feels that the work of its department has been accomplished during the past year in a fairly satis- factory manner, under the conditions that have existed.
The Health Department has a list of duties and re- sponsibilities that is being added to constantly year by year, and its work will probably continue to increase not only because of our growing population, and that effect on departmental growth, but also by reason of the uni- versal and increasing interest shown by the public, and rightly so in efforts undertaken toward the prevention of unnecessary diseases, and toward the protection of the public health.
It is being more generally recognized that the function of a Health Board is to have control of all conditions affecting the health of the community, and not solely to inspect nuisances and grant garbage licenses. The old and expensive way formerly conceived by communities to cure disease without adopting measures to prevent its spread, has given way by progressive steps in the mod- ern conception to the sentiment of that old, wise axiom that "Prevention is better than cure."
The good that this town will derive in the future from the work of its Board of Health, will depend largely as it has in the past, on the attitude shown by its citizens in favor of all sensible measures taken to promote good, healthful conditions here. While the number of those interested and public spirited in health matters has in- creased, it seems apparent that such an attitude is not general in the town. We believe, however, that this condition of affairs may be due to apathy or misunder- standing, rather than to evil intentions.
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