USA > Massachusetts > Bristol County > Attleboro > Reports of town officers of the town of Attleborough 1929 > Part 8
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HIGHWAY AUTO MAINTENANCE
It should be recorded here that our large trucks purchased in 1921 should be placed in reserve and new trucks of similar type should be purchased to replace them. This year a large booster brake was put on our oldest A C Mack, chain falls for the garage, truck covers, and a multitude of detail charges, other than those occurring from regular operations, were placed in this account. Bearing in mind our equipment, its age, and the service required, I feel the truck personnel should be complimented in view of this account record, which was only possible through their cooperation and interest.
ROAD OIL AND TAR
Our usual policy of continuing the struggle for dustless road mileage, and at the same time maintaining such black roads as we have can be readily understood by investigating the statistics of this account. We wrote off 103,200 gallons of bitumnious material of several different kinds, the grades running from No. 4 oil to heavy binder with an intermediate grade predominating. Most of the covering material was obtained from a gravel bank on Tiffany Street or a bank in South Attleboro and was purchased at a unit price delivered on to our trucks. This combination allowed a minimum of lost time and material, due to inclement weather, and worked out in such a way that no complaint was registered relative to the workmanship in handling the bulk of our road oil.
In some instances with the 85% oil it was found ne essary to utilize stone dust, and with the binders, of course, peastone was used as the conditions war- ranted.
The positive and heavy traffic increase locally has to be met economically and quickly and the material and labor under this account is really the front line in our fight against highway deterioration. The account should expand to overcome the increased wear and tear due to the conditions mentioned above and not within control of the Department.
BRIDGES, FENCES AND CULVERTS
This sub-division takes up the care, improvement, and maintenance of structures usual to highway maintenance and operation. In this community it is a rather important account, and one which is worked by the Department in co-ordination with several sub-divisions in our highway budget.
The cleaning and maintenance of the culverts, most of which are stone structures of considerable age and due to the weight and speed of traffic, is be- coming increasingly difficult. The guard fences on our embankments and slopes, particularly at our over-pass bridges, seem to hypnotize some of our motorists so that they are constantly driving into them instead of by them. I feel that a census of our licensed drivers would give sound reasons for our increased trouble in this respect. This year accompanying details will show culvert replacements and the purchase of material so that the work as outlined could carry into 1930.
The foot bridge at Hebronville is a care which few people realize the Depart- ment is charged with.
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The conditions at Bridge Street should be improved permanently by widening the street.
Some few places which have heretofore not warranted guard fences have, during this past year, been taken care of with such protection as was deemed adequate for the local conditions.
The overpass at Newport Avenue was put in first class shape by the New Haven Railroad, this Department co-operating by advertising and posting the highway during the work.
On Olive Street the bridge sidewalk failed, due to the stringers rotting out of the easterly side. This Department co-operated with the Railroad Company in replacing the stringers supporting this structure. We salvaged what was avail- able of the old sidewalk planking. This, together with new planking, was used to complete the work as projected.
On Starkey Avenue overpass the Railroad men replaced the floor system, and this Department continuing their economical policy salvaged what was possible from the deck covering, gave it a heavy bituminous coating, and placed a two-inch hard pine wearing top thereon.
Our general account here carries charges for labor and material covering the handling and continuous small jobs such as occur in general maintenance during the year.
I recommend continuing the policy of extending and replacing and recording our culverts as rapidly as possible so that failures may be reduced to a minimum and in this way the public safety in the use of our highways will be improved. Accompanying this report is a detailed statistical account showing the extent of this work.
TRAFFIC PAINTING
The condition existing under the several studies which have been made for traffic purposes did not warrant any final and complete decision on what the Department duties were in traffic marking here in the City. However, all of those instances where the Department felt public interest required it were taken care of by painting white lines in the interest of the public convenience.
TEN MILE RIVER AND THACHER BROOK
A more extended effort than usual was put into cleaning the Thacher Brook and Ten Mile River and as a result the expenditure was larger than usual. The benefits of a clean brook and a river are many. The limitation of the law which the City labors under in participating in this clean-up hampers us a great deal in bringing about some of the permanent advantages so desirable to the public.
It is rather noticeable along the river that many of the people, who are the quickest to complain after a bad condition is present, show the least effort in co-operating with one another and with the city in keeping the river in such a condition that we all would be proud of its advantages.
Thacher Brook should have close attention from the Police Department so that persons, young and old, who deliberately clog the channel with debris ranging from brush to dismantled Ford cars could be made to realize the error of their ways.
SIGNS, CLOCKS AND NUMBERS
The City Clock was maintained by Mr. Josselyn with no unusual expendi- tures. The nominal charges were taken care of in accordance with control set by the Ordinances.
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The City badly needs a definite and improved policy to adequately and properly inform our public of the whereabouts of our several street locations. Improved street signs are desirable. Proper protection of this investment when it occurs is essential. The spread of time to be occupied in the placing of needed standard street signs all over the City should be determined upon. I recommend this problem be submitted to the Governing Body for recommendation and action in supplying funds to begin this improvement in marking our streets as outlined.
INSURANCE AND INCIDENTALS
The regular expenditures for vacations allowed under the law are listed. At Maynard Street a storage tank for bituminous material continues to be used profitably. The minor incidental charges listed are so small that an exact index can be gleaned of the completeness of our highway distribution. Our major insurance items chargeable to the highway division includes compensation and liability, and also our fire insurance premiums dealing with structures and im- plements local to the highway service. Our fire protection for highway motor vehicles is included under a fire fleet policy handled under a separate account.
SNOW AND ICE
From January 1st to April we had 33.75 inches of snow. Our full equipment was operated in January, February, and in March. The clearing now being taken care of by the Department consists of sidewalk plowing covering our complete mileage, highway plowing adequate to allow the use of our full road mileage to motor vehicles, cleaning up and removing the snow from the center of the City, opening up a way adequate for essential drainage structures so that a sudden thaw does not seriously damage either persons or property. In addition to this considerable sanding of sidewalks and bad street intersections was taken care of.
In the latter part of the year we had 122 inches of snow, making a total for the year of 46.25 inches. Of course in the Spring our snow equipment and gear is put in storage and during the late summer and fall, as the opportunity presents itself, the Department examines, inspects, and repairs all of this equipment as needed.
I recommend a definite expansion of our efforts in protecting exposed high- ways be made with snow fence. This equipment properly placed serves the same purpose in keeping open highways that inoculation does in keeping away typhoid. It aids materially in preventing blockades.
I strongly recommend the replacement of some of our older heavy duty motor traffic units so that they can properly handle the snow work allotted to them. This policy of replacement is important if the Department efficiency is to remain unimpaired at a time when peak effort, such as we get from a northeast blizzard, is required from the men and machines.
SIDEWALKS AND CURBING
Under the Sidewalks and Curbing account there is an original appropriation of $8,000.00. In response to the numerous petitions for improved sidewalk and granite curbing it was necessary, in order to have the work done, to appropriate $4,000.00 more, making a total of $12,000.00 appropriated to cover this account.
Some work on Bicknell Street which was authorized was intentionally postponed for completion until the grade problem arising on this street on the proposed improvements on Bank Street could be settled.
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Also on Bank Street some work voted late in the season had to be carried over to the coming Spring.
On Washington Street curb was set and granolithic placed but not completed owing to the necessity for fitting a hydrant into our general scheme. I recommend that steps be taken, particularly on our arterial highways to initiate a constructive problem in granolithic sidewalk construction.
There was in excess of 1,825 square yards of granolithic sidewalk constructed on several streets as recorded in response to orders from the City Government. These orders were usually in answer to the request of petitioners and not in extensive pieces.
Granite curbing as listed includes 3,098 feet placed on Council orders. In addition to this, round corners and circle curb were placed in accordance with other sidewalk work or hazard as it was presented to the Department.
On Mendon Road at Robinson Avenue and at Brown Street the circle curb set aids the drainage problem recently worked out. Similar aid is given at Hebron and Bliss Avenue and will be given at the intersection of Knight Avenue and Webber Avenue in Hebronville.
At Thacher and Linden Street safety to the pedestrian was improved by like installation.
This also holds true at Franklin and Dennis Streets, at Orange and Parker Streets, at Dennis and Jefferson Streets, and at School and Union Streets.
When the drainage scheme at Pearl and Union Streets is completed, circle purchased will also be set.
Under this account a total of 161 feet of circle curb was set and 33.5 feet was on hand to set this coming year.
NEW EQUIPMENT
The funds appropriated allowed the purchase of a new Ingersoll-Rand Com- pressor after duly advertising. This was mounted on one of our old Ford truck chassis specially equipped to handle the machine. The necessary implements to go with this outfit were also bought.
A Huber Gasoline Roller was purchased after duly advertising. The weight is fourteen ton gross with scarifier and attachements. The old roller which had been out of service since the Inspector turned it down in 1926 was part of the trade in this purchase. A very excellent allowance indeed is recorded for this roller.
The Department is in better shape because of these purchases to handle the work allotted to it. I am urging at this time the purchase of an additional light fast tandem roller for mixed asphalt work and patching. I believe with the highway work facing the City today this additional equipment is essential.
1925-1927 STREET WIDENING LOAN
Promptly upon completion of the foundation and first floor work at the Briggs Hotel by the contractor, the City Forces took care of fire and domestic water services, completed filling the cellar, rebuilt basin and drain connections, reset 122 feet of curb and three returns to new line and grade, and took care of other structures within the scope of operations of the proposed finished highway after widening. Poor foundation conditions had to be overcome.
At the Central Fire Station it was necessary to rebuild the entire apron, changing it for line and for grade and section. The cement work was completed (138 square yards) by Olof Pearson and the reenforcement was supplied by the Department. The highway foundation was then put in and a first class penetra- tion section containing 227 square yards was placed rapidly and in such a manner
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that neither fire apparatus nor traffic was interfered with. The co-operation of the Fire Chief and recognition of the water problem allowed the Department to completely succeed in its ambition to finish this work without hampering the efforts of any other emergency workers.
Immediately upon completion of the work, the improvement was thrown open its full width, an improved sidewalk was taken care of under the Betterment Act, retail stores in the block started to do business, and the Public Works Depart- ment was glad indeed that a job involving so many intricate legal difficulties had come to the point where its completeness was of practical value not only to great numbers of our own citizens but to all users of a main highway going south- erly to Pawtucket and Providence.
LEROY STREET IMPROVEMENT
On September 3rd a hearing was held and plans submitted by this Depart- ment to remove an objectionable condition on Leroy Street existing after a rain- fall. Plans for a major improvement were submitted calling for widening and grade change on Bank Street which with the proper grades worked out on Bicknell and Leroy Streets will adequately handle surface water drainage.
There is further contemplated besides this grading a projected drainage system. It will reach as far back as Peck Street at Peck Avenue and pick up from adjacent streets on its route through Benefit, Leroy and Bank Streets surface water for controlled conveyance to the river.
After taking the plans into consideration, the Municipal Council on October 1st approved them and requested through the Mayor the necessary descriptions for the make-up of an order for grading and improving Bank, Bicknell, and Leroy Streets. The request was transmitted by his Honor, the Mayor, on October 9th and on the 15th he was advised that our Engineer would be present at the Council meeting that night with the necessary engineering data for the Council covering their request. It is my understanding the legal features of this matter are now in process.
PLEASANT STREET IMPROVEMENT
Since the abandoment of service on the N-T-A, the problem presented on Pleasant Street has been a difficult one. In December of 1928, $1,000.00 was appropriated for the use of this Department in improving by removal dangerous conditions caused by N-T-A rails on Pleasant Street.
On the 3rd of May, 1929 the line was sold, as I understand it, to Perry- Buxton & Doane and its removal from the highway was begun. The buyer worked in excellent co-operation with the City. This Department took time by the forelock when they started to reset under the Sidewalk Maintenance account the curb to proper line and grade on the easterly side of Pleasant Street so that the road work could proceed immediately upon passage of the proper appropria- tion. With funds available an improved foundation and return was made into Forest Street and used as an example of what could be expected with this type of highway in piecing to the existing pavement.
On August 16th the Council voted money for the work of widening the pave- ment on Pleasant Street to include the space previously utilized by the N.T.A. Street Railway. In several places the foundation had to be improved, then a macad am base and a penetration top placed.
Fresh trenches by the Gas Company gave considerable inconvenience between Forest Street and Starkey Avenue. It is likely this section as laid will have to be ironed out to meet the final conditions in the Spring. The money appropriated was enough for the City forces to complete the work to the Railroad arches from the end of the State Road near Richardson Avenue. By careful
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working out of the material, equipment, and men available, it is hoped to complete the work up into Monument Square from funds available.
Considerable effort and investigation in detail was made by this Departmen t here and I believe at this time it is reasonable to urge the Governing Body to giv e us a proper location on Pleasant Street in anticipation of the needs of the localit y for fifty years in advance. The work outlined was brought from in front of th e City Coal Office to the State Highway this year.
LAYOUT AND CONSTRUCTION OF PAYSON, CLARENCE, BALTIC, AND FOURTEENTH STREETS
On November 12th the Municipal Council passed an order accepting Four- teenth, Baltic, and Clarence Streets, and an extension on Payson Street. A lump appropriation of $4,000.00 was passed to put these streets in shape and to relieve a bad drainage condition on Payson Street in accordance with easements passed by the Governing Body. It was necessary to make a shovel cut on a portion of Prince Street so surface water could flow from this point.
On Clarence Street because of the lateness of the season it was only possible to improve the existing conditions by placing a course of medium gravel, width 18 feet, to keep users of this highway out of the mud. In the meantime material available for the shoulders was used in the fills. In the fore part of the year coming these streets will be adequately taken care of. On Baltic Street a water line was placed to proper grade and this work prohibited entry during this year to cover the purposes outlined in the order.
SOUTH MAIN STREET DRAIN
Acting on the request of the property owner, who gave an easement without charge, a drain pipe outfall was extended a few feet with funds available. It is anticipated in the future some loam or subsoil fill will be placed in accordance with the desires of property owners who have been very reasonable up to date.
RESURFACING NEWPORT AVENUE
$189.48 of this special account was carried by the turn of the year and was utilized to reenforce the edges of the recent pavement laid and to take care of the late fall penetration during the winter. A small balance available was utilized to cover some overhead and material charges which properly belong under the account and later for the Barber seal mentioned above between the Fire Station and Highland Avenue.
BILTMORE STREET CONSTRUCTION
On December 18, 1928 an order was passed by the Council carrying an ap- propriation for the layout of the small section of Biltmore Street which runs off Pleasant Street just beyond Lindsey Street. The account was carried over, of course. During the current year all favorable circumstances were taken into consideration to obtain a proper job at the most reasonable cost. One hundred cubic yards of loam were carried to Carpon Park for use there. This soil and subsoil of lower grade from the excavation was utilized on the embankments of Lindsey Street overpass approaches.
A gravel base was put in and topped with a finer gravel which was finally treated with a tar application, giving an excellent road surface. Gravel sidewalks were also placed on this street. The residents have expressed satisfaction with the work.
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1927-1928 HIGHWAY DRAINS
On East Street, a subdivision of the Drains account for 1927, was recom- mended during the year and late in the season money was voted, some of which was allocated for the replacement of a horse collar natural cement drain. The recommendation was made because of the fact that there had been failures here which might have had serious consequences.
The investigation and recommendation of the condition of this drain war- ranted the Department being in a position to properly handle any further failure as it arose. It was reported last year that 18 inch double strength pipe was purchased and stored handy for any emergency which might arise. : hen the ground water level was at its lowest in that year, this replacement was advertised. The price submitted was in excess of funds allocated for the work. Late in the same year the work was re-advertised and a careful canvass of the bids was made. This indicated, that to obtain a competent contractor satisfactory to the Engineer within the limits of the funds as allocated, would be difficult.
The job was to be a wet trench in sand of uncertain nature about ten feet deep carrying on the one side a large gas main flush up against the trench and on the other side a sanitary sewer. It was of primary importance that the sewer should be maintained properly during the work and after its completion. This was also true of the gas main. In addition, sewer, gas, and water services would have to be taken into consideration. Constant average flow in the drain and peaks during rain storms had to be adequately cared for during the work.
The Superintendent, therefore, carried out this work with Department forces. The 262. 3 linear feet of 18 inch pipe was set and the trench was adequate- ly braced so that up to this time there has been no report of trouble either with the sewer or the gas line. The cost of the work came within the limits set and the Department was able to salvage a great deal of the bracing for other purposes. After properly handling the backfilling, sheeting, and rolling the trench, and all the settlement as computed having taken place, the street within the limits mentioned was surfaced and given a coat of tar.
The co-operative effort of all interested is appreciated. This work proved a good training ground for the men engaged and is definite proof of local ability when properly dire ted. At this time I wish to call your attention to the need for continuing the replacement of this drain in Union Street and Olive Street.
The cost statistics are listed in the accompanying report.
Promptly after authorization in the early Spring when the East Street construction was completed, the forces engaged were moved over to Newport Avenue in South Attleboro. The work here consisted of relaying about 630 feet of 12 inch drain to new alinement and proper grade from the brook at Dean's northeasterly. The existing drain grade and alinement was entirely unsatis- factory and lacked proper facilities for maintaining what efficiently should have been obtained from it. There was not a single manhole on it. A new combi- nation manhole was built at the angle point before the pipe line entered the brook and connected with 12 inch pipe to the down stream face of the stone arch with discharge into the brook.
An 18 inch concrete parapet wall was set on top of the arch to properly retain the sidewalk. The stone work here was pointed up. From this lower basin the existing pipe line was salvaged where possible and relaid to a manhole 310 feet northeasterly. The line then continued to connecting basins built the previous year near 416 Newport Avenue. It was necessary to use 124 feet of new pipe. This work when completed paved the way for constructing the last piece of stone road through the South Village.
On Mendon Road at Robinson Avenue work already started and reported last year was properly completed, clearing the way for the penetration job from Washington Street to Robinson Avenue. At the intersection of Brown Street with Mendon Road, catch basins were built to take care of the surface water from
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the descending grades and eliminated the inconvenience of bad cross gutters. The water from these catch basins was carried through 18 inch pipe 117 feet long emptying into the chain of ponds southerly from the intersection. This improvement should be extended easterly along Brown Street not only to ac- commodate surface water but to handle sub-drainage on this clay and hard pan hill to allow the street to be kept in excellent condition.
On Hebron Avenue, after an easement was obtained from Frank Frenier, a catch basin was built draining into a low spot adjacent to the railroad slope. It will be necessary to pave the approaches in the coming Spring. This work, of course, was placed in service before Hebron Avenue was repaired.
A special effort was made and an easement acquired to construct on Knight Avenue a drain which consisted of 94 linear feet of 12 inch pipe, and connections. This pipe line running across private land to the river drained two basins at the foot of Webber Avenue and one near Bridge Street intersection. When finished in the coming spring with round corners and street returns, it will improve appreciable a condition that has been bothersome.
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