USA > Massachusetts > Bristol County > Attleboro > Reports of town officers of the town of Attleborough 1928 > Part 8
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SEWER EXTENSIONS
Outlined in 1928 sewer extensions as listed below were constructed under contract with Rocco Germane.
In Dennis Street from in front of land owned by Paul Nerney just northerly from Eldredge Street to an existing manhole at the head of Jefferson Street, an extension was put in to accommodate petitioners.
In Hebronville in response to a petition, a sewerage system as de- signed was constructed by Germane under contract with an extra for extension on Bliss Avenue going toward South Main Street voted after the rest of the work was practically completed. The unit price here was indeed remarkably low. This work started from an existing end on Knight Avenue and came through Church Street, across South Main Street, through Bourne Avenue to a point of limit of accommodation for property within Attleboro.
From Bourne Avenue it branched both ways to Bliss Avenue, one way to Hebron Avenue and the other to a point in front of a house oc- cupied by Mr. Messier. At Hebron Avenue it branched both ways as projected on the plan, one side going toward the Seekonk line to ac- commodate Attleboro property and the other toward South Main Street to accommodate the remainder of the property on Hebron Avenue.
In Lamb Street a deep extension carrying the sewer from an exist- ing manhole back to Thatcher Street was also constructed under con- tract to suit petition.
In Sadler Street, a private way, the City forces gave a splendid ef- fort in timing their operations to obtain a very economical job satisfying petitioner.
1927 SEWER EXTENSIONS
Under the 1927 program which was carried over into 1928, North Avenue, a rather difficult problem, was solved at a cost slightly in ex- cess of the estimate, the work being done by contract. Unusual condi- tions appeared in the ground water problem and in the fact that ledge outcrop was met in two places. This, of course, could not be foreseen and accounts for the slight excess in cost over the estimate.
A few charges were written against Robert Street, the pipe line on which had already been put in service, to cover minor details of testing and finishing.
On Starkey Avenue a job to accommodate the new plant of the American Re-enforced Paper Company was given priority and was rushed through by the City forces so that no inconvenience or delay was caused in the opening of this plant, thus satisfying petition.
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ANNUAL REPORT
In Twelfth Street between Robert and Mary Streets, a job voted late in the year was put in by the City forces during the fore part of 1928 to accommodate properly some large houses having a number of tenants. This extension was in response to petition.
A small charge for recording easements on Clarence Street may also be noted.
On Park Street the extension as voted and outlined was advertised but the price desired was in excess of that which the Superintendent felt could be allowed for this work and therefore picking a favorable time of the year, the City forces stepped into the breach and overcame this obstacle of price in spite of the difficulties encountered in making a water pipe crossing which had not been adequately located at the time of construction several years ago. This work, while difficult to a con- siderable degree, was very interesting and I believe should be carried further in Park Street until the ultimate development for that section of our City has been attained as far as sewer service is concerned, bearing in mind the design of our gravity system. This allows elimination of conditions complained of by Health Department.
SEWERS, OPERATION AND MAINTENANCE
In reporting the expenditures under this heading I am requesting herewith that interested parties compare the gross charges to charges prior to the World War period. In making this comparison please bear in mind the great number of connections which have been added since that time, the very definite increase in the amount of sewage passing onto the beds as indicated by the. Weir readings, the age, and use to which they have been put, of the limited number of filter beds, and finally the essential maintenance charges in the pipe line portion of the system, with a definite understanding controlling the extension not only in connections but in linear feet added to the system since the period of comparison began. It is hardly expected that the super excellence of the financial report for our sewer operations and maintenance can be maintained over a period of years in the future because a close study of the conditions to be faced during a wet season is convincing indeed of the necessity for extending our filtration area at the sewer beds. This should be looked into at once.
1925-27 STREET WIDENING LOAN
Under this account a few dollars were spent in lining up a sidewalk on Morey Street where an embankment had projected within the new street line.
On South Main Street this Department expended only a very small amount of $74.35 to fill and grade in front of the Briggs property between the old line and the new one.
It is our understanding that an agreement was reached by other officers of the City with the Briggs Hotel owners and as a result the buildings were actually brought back to the new street line showing the widening as projected. The record of detail and payment for this portion of the work was not handled by the Public Works Department. The Department did, however, work out considerable of the detail on pro- posals which were submitted to the Briggs Hotel owners.
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ANNUAL REPORT
It is expected that within the coming year after all of the work is complete on the hotel property, this Department will be able to finish properly the work which will be required in reconstructing catch basins and connections, removing present curb and resetting same back on the sidewalk line, grading off and building such portions of the new street as will be required and arriving at a satisfactory arrangement with the Fire Department covering a proper cement apron for an approach from the Central Fire Station to meet the new gutter line grade. In addition it is to be hoped that the Briggs Hotel owners will come in on a grano- lithic sidewalk proposition so that we will have in reality a widening job worthy of the name.
OAK STREET DRAIN
Settlement along the trench line and frost action which followed same warranted placing of some gravel in Oak Street between Benefit Street and the river.
SOUTH MAIN STREET DRAIN
On South Main Street just northerly from the cemetery switch an ugly drainage condition existed. This was aggravated by the closing up of a ditch outlet on the easterly side of the street at this point through the demands of new house construction.
The problem, after being studied, was solved by this Department and funds were obtained as recommended by making transfers to ac- commodate the estimated cost of the work. Two basins with necessary connections and a pipe line outlet through a properly obtained right-of- way emptying into a swamp completed the drainage relief as outlined.
The Interstate Street Railway Company, a benefactor to some degree from this proposition, being unable to contribute money to help its con- summation allowed the use of some of their labor for a few days in excavating for the basins. They also supplied a tender for our mason in constructing basins.
Paved gutter approaches to the basin on the easterly side will be set probably during the coming year and if an agreement can be reached with abuttors, a similar improvement will be made on the westerly side of the street. This, with a few additional lengths of pipe into the swamp, will complete the project which has been in service since last summer.
DRAINS MAINTENANCE
Under this account an initial appropriation was granted of $2,000. This, of course, was for straight maintenance work, cleaning and repair- ing existing catch basins and pipe lines. As the year progressed, a num- ber of small improvements on drainage conditions within the City were consolidated and submitted to the proper authorities who approved same and took steps to supply the funds for their construction.
At Allen and Bacon Streets in South Attleboro, three catch basins and proper connections were constructed to handle the condition which has been a constant source of trouble, that is, catching water from con- siderable distance on Bacon and Allen Streets before it accumulated velocity with ensuing destruction which heretofore had been caused
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ANNUAL REPORT
by its progress between Allen Street and the cranberry pond culvert. Mr. Ross, an abutting owner residing in Pawtucket gave us without charge, upon solicitation of the Superintendent, an easement allowing the outfall from these basins to be handled from his land into an estuary of the cranberry pond.
A small material charge was placed against a drainage proposition which, when constructed later on, will be an improvement at the inter- section of Brown Street with Mendon Road. This intersection is unsatis- factory at present and it is important to improve it as we have two descending grades intersecting.
On Charles and Walter Streets a nasty condition, a source of com- plaint, was remedied by constructing a basin of considerable size and relaying an outfall connection across the street to a point which marked the original pipe line at this location. When the work was finished, complaint ceased.
On Dennis Street over the culvert between Jefferson and Eldredge Streets a pair of basins ample in size were constructed and connected into the culvert itself so that a permanent improvement in handling sur- face water on this street between the limits mentioned is recorded, giv- ing considerable satisfaction to residents in that vicinity.
A small amount of material has been allotted to Dunham Street. Whatever additional material is needed will be obtained when necessary to complete the work.
In Falmouth Street at the bend of the road just westerly from Forest Street, basins were constructed and connections put in to hook these up with Thatcher Brook which is covered at this angle. This work includes a basin and connection. The other basin replacing a pipe line connection was listed under Drains and Basin Repairs. Improvement here is noticeable and eliminated complaints from mothers in the locality who feared from the conditions formerly existing, injury to their children playing in the streets.
In Holman Street an old small basin was replaced by a proper one and the old connection was utilized to Thacher Brook, giving satisfaction to those interested.
At Mendon Road between Washington Street and Robinson Avenue, a drainage scheme to handle two intersecting down grades, Robinson Avenue and Mendon Road, was started. This called for pipe line con- struction in Mendon Road and then up hill to the intersection of Robinson Avenue and Mendon Road with the proper basins to catch surface water on the hillside gutters. Disposition of the surface water thus accumu- lated was handled through an existing pipe line in Washington Street. Permission was obtained, of course, to enter this pipe line from the Commonwealth.
At Olive and Ellis Streets two catch basins on opposite sides of Ellis Street were constructed and proper connections to the trunk line drain were placed and connecting circle curb was set at each corner so that the gutter line for surface drainage water was proper. This eliminated cause for complaint and cured an old puddle condition.
At West Street between Water and Mechanics Streets a pipe line was set after an easement was obtained from Mr. Thompson. This pipe line will carry off water intercepted by street basins which will be con- structed later. The existing street intercepting structures while doing the job for the moment cannot be expected to last much longer and an improvement may be looked for soon.
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ANNUAL REPORT
In addition to this work as outlined, all of our basins were cleaned at least twice during the year and several of those subjected to serious wash were cleaned as often as necessary, sometimes four or five times. Men doing this work reported conditions which needed repair, as the cleaning and inspection took place. There were several instances where basins old in service were properly reported to add years to their use- fulness.
WATER DIVISION
The policy of following up our inspections as promptly as possible continues to show as an investment, as the number on our complaint cards will testify. For all purposes 1,448 calls are recorded. It is no- ticeable that the number of hydrants being struck by motor vehicles is increasing. With the co-operation of the Police Department we have had better than usual good fortune in recovering the cost of damage. There are instances, however, where a hydrant is struck, something is broken, and yet as the water does not gush the responsible person ne- glects to report the accident. In some few instances our inspections have picked up evidence confirming my belief in this type of accident.
Expenditures in the maintenance of the system, bearing in mind the continued growth of same, the increase in consumption and the trouble caused by other public utilities digging in the streets and ne- glecting our services and fixtures, have been kept within very reasonable bounds. At this time it is well to mention a definite expense placed upon us by changing over services on West Street and North Main Street where the new water supply system has been constructed. In addition to these charges for our own consumers, co-operation with the contractor for purposes of test and other reasons as they came up have taken time, effort and money. The completion of the new source of supply and the placing of same in service should be preceded, in my opinion, by a general overhauling of the standpipe structure, and I so recommend.
Our consumption has gone from 396,000,000 gallons in 1927 to 416,- 500,000 gallons in 1928. This raises the daily average of pumping from 12 hours and 36 minutes to 14 hours and 7 minutes, and the pumpage for the period from 1,084,000 gallons to 1,134,000 gallons. Essential fac- tors in this increase are the ice plant put in operation on Pleasant Street, the new hook-up calling for twenty-four-hour service at the Apco-Moss- berg plant, and the unusually heavy industrial drain from some shops which formerly supplied their own needs. Further expansion of con- sumption for similar reasons may be expected. This is a powerful lever for the prompt completion of the new water supply project.
A new Reo truck replaced the old International which was traded in. Our maintenance of buildings and main line, with our insurance charges, incidentals and taxes covering this division were kept at a very low figure.
SERVICES
One hundred and thirteen new services were installed of which six were 6-inch fire services, three were 2-inch and six were 11/2-inch serv- ices. The remaining 98 were the usual 1-inch services. Details covering this work can be found on an accompanying statistical sheet.
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ANNUAL REPORT
The fire service installations which are financed by the City be- tween the main and the foundation call for expenditures in excess of what has been usual heretofore and note should be taken of this in tlie budget. If this service continues to be extended, I believe that a defi- nite pipe system to accommodate properties within the first fire district, for fire services only, should be planned.
Sixteen 1-inch, two 11/2-inch, and three 2 inch services were replaced either because of pipe trouble in the shell or filling up of the service orifice due to age.
Analysis of unit charges on service work should take into consid- eration the position of the water main and the location of the property to be served as it is sometimes necessary to practically cross the street with the water service. Another important factor is the locality. Some places having boulder gravel, others large boulders, and a few having ledge, as compared with property having water service in easy digging, the constant cost mounts. Consideration and comparison with other cities demonstrates clearly the reasonable figure we have been obtain- ing in Attleboro for a long period of years. As the number of fire serv- ices increases within the annual period, it is well to note that the unit lowers. This sort of work must be figured on the investment basis as the charges are entirely unusual for consideration by the average man in the street.
MAIN LINE
In 1928, 5,765 linear feet of main line extensions, all of which were six inch, were laid for a sum approximating $10,192.16. This is indeed a remarkably low figure for the work obtained in spite of the fact that several of these extensions were in streets where unfavorable geological conditions were encountered. The market price on cast iron as com- pared with that of a few years back is distinctly favorable to the mu- nicipal corporation.
On Carpenter Street between South Main and Pine Streets, an 8- inch grid iron leg was placed, connecting with Union Street in passing, and made up into Pine Street to include a replacement of a short piece of 6-inch by 8-inch completing the Pine Street leg of the grid-iron of S- inch to Carpenter Street from a northerly direction.
On Mendon Road easterly from Washington Street a very small service pipe was replaced by 8-inch pipe for a distance to a point where 6-inch had been brought around from Turner Street. This is indeed a valuable addition to the fire protection afforded an extensive area in this locality.
Besides this work, new hydrant positions were picked out on Starkey Avenue, where a Mossberg was replaced, and at James and School Streets, where a 4 inch connection on School Street was plugged and a new connection for a larger hydrant was made off of the S-inch pipe in James Street between School and Pearl Streets.
A 11/2-inch line was run in Sadler Street to accommodate a special condition in a private way.
At Thirteenth Street a needed gate was cut in.
On Washington Street opposite the Lincoln School a special 2-inch line was carried fro mRosewood Avenue on the westerly side of the street to accommodate a new house. This was because of inability to cross the street owing to a ledge condition below the cement road.
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ANNUAL REPORT
The usual vote received by this Department for main line extensions starts with a proviso mentioning guarantees and easements and finishes with "said installation to be made within the current financial year." I feel that at this time the inconsistency of this form which fails to take into consideration the calendar or the action of those required to file papers should be called to the attention of the honorable body respon- sible so that improvement in eliminating friction can be obtained.
PUMPING STATION DIVISION
At the Pumping Station the filtration area, as has been previously reported, under concentrated pressure of the increased demand particu- larly for our industrial consumers required emergency attention. A spec- ial job calling fo particular care from an expert shovel runner was handled at the Station in such fashion as to give almost immediate re- lief to a situation which was rapidly becoming perilous. The immediate and satisfactory result is recorded herewith because of the prompt co- operation of His Honor, the Mayor and the Honorable Municipal Council as a body in supplying the funds required.
A favorable soft coal market showed its value in making up the pumpage units.
The statistical sheet accompanying this report is worthy of study to illustrate in some degree the problem which has been solved to keep the City satisfied for 1928, years after the design of the water system as outlined was considered adequate.
The co-operation and keen interest of the Chief Engineer at the Station should not be underestimated.
A. B. C. STREET RAILWAY
The A. B. C. Street Railway has been maintained and operations continued with a rapidly aging car at a minimum cost conducive to pub- lic safety and the best interests not only of those served but of the City Treasury.
There seems to be a point now present in the operating charges where expenses consistently run behind income in the statements re- ceived monthly from the Interstate Street Railway Company.
The Honorable Municipal Council evidently has taken cognizance of this state of affairs by mentioning in the council alternative ideas cov. ering transportation service for our residents in the Briggs Corner Dis- trict. With the result of this study pending a marking time period is the policy of this Department.
The essential work on track and car maintenance will of course go on unless definite orders are given to halt. I do believe, however, that definite and prompt action covering the problem of this street car line should be taken.
RIFLE RANGE
Under this account the usual taxes, target charges, and so forth were taken care of. The few remaining dollars were expended under the direc- tion of the local officers of the company at the range. I believe that as a matter of policy this is most satisfactory for all of the interested parties.
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ANNUAL REPORT
It is to be hoped that the governing authorities will see their way clear to increase the allotment for the Rifle Range so that normal im- provement and maintenance can be undertaken as part of a program to revive interest locally in small arms practice and proficiency.
NEWPORT AVENUE
Newport Avenue through South Attleboro Village needed consider- able attention to maintain it ever since the severe treatment accorded it during the two separate construction operations of the Commonwealth on Washington Street between North Attleboro and Pawtucket. A prim- ary recommendation for improing this section of the road was held up with the expectation that something definite could be obtained on the likelihood of any changes in the Street Railroad line and also the sub- mission of a tentative plan for a sewer control to take care of the village.
The conditions finally became such that the Department felt a posi- tive surface improvement should be started on the highway. It was estimated there were 4,000 square yards between the Fire Station and Highland Avenue, calling for twenty-two feet width of improved surface which could be taken hold of, for about $10,000.00 under contract and State Highway specifications, to give the public a penetration surface A recommendation was made to cover this plan as outlined and an ap- propriation obtained for $10,000.00
Meanwhile, the road surface in the other end of the village showed rapid deterioration. With this pressure on the Department it was de- cided to get as many square yards as possible from the funds available. Therefore, the work was undertaken by the Department personnel. The case as submitted to the Massachusetts Public Works Board, governing reasons for the conditions as they existed on this road, was thrashed out once more at Boston, and with the aid of his Honor, the Mayor, we obtained the use of a steamroller from the Commonwealth. Instead of 4,000 square yards the City is going to benefit by having 5,857 square yards. In addition, the work as outlined called for resetting curb in front of the Roy property, constructing improved catch basins with con- nections, and replacing an old and unsatisfactory stone culvert in front of Roy's, and also replacing an old stone culvert and catch basins at Station No. 7+05.
The season was getting late when this work was started, but its importance warranted the investigation noted. Work as outlined above was opened to traffic in two parts and it is expected it can be called finished after a seal coat is applied in the coming year.
In the meantime it is well to note the unusual amount of work car- ried by this job, due to the unbalanced section which had been in use from the car track southerly. A small piece in front of Coupe's Tan- nery comprising 204 square yards was also worked in so that a stone road exists from Highland Avenue to the brook at Coupe's Tannery, and from Orr's Corner curve down to the new culvert; 6,061 square yards of this being new work.
Recommendations for relaying and completing with necessary man- holes a drain from Coupe's Tannery easterly to the new catch basins have been adopted. In the coming year this work will be done promptly. Once having the drainage correct for this small remaining piece, an effort will be made to ascertain final decision covering the trolley siding in the roadway. If possible, this should be removed and once the work as it exists is properly brought together with the new piece and is sealed,
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ANNUAL REPORT
South Attleboro Village will have a highway condition adequate to han- dle the traffic load to which it is subjected. No material was wasted from this work. The excavation was classified and that which was good for road purposes was used on Adamsdale Road, Orr Street and lower Newport Avenue. Waste was utilized for hill and embankment protec- tion.
RESURFACING
On South Main Street three pieces of penetration were placed, the first improving a bad condition from Thatcher Brook northerly to a summit where the road section was badly out of balance and the founda- tion poor, thus causing a high maintenance charge. In this piece there were 1,287 square yards.
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