USA > Massachusetts > Bristol County > Attleboro > Reports of town officers of the town of Attleborough 1932 > Part 12
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The city government making no provision for full payment of the lighting bill, this department was called upon to sacrifice in other places and we find the record indicates that at a meeting of the Municipal Council held December 28, 1932, the sum of $1,814.12 was transferred from the Highway Maintenance and Operation account to the Street Lighting account. This permitted the completion of payment of the lighting bill of $31,859.12 for the year 1932.
STONE
The revolving fund of $2,000.00, used during the last few years to handle our Stone account intelligently, taking care of the distribution of the product of our crushers, was again in force for the year 1932. The stone prices for which the product was charged against our work were reduced during the year. It must be noted a sizeable sum was saved to the taxpayers by the use of stone pro- ducts from our plants which were not charged against the work. This material put to work an accrued profit of real money value which was attained through intelligent and advantageous distribution of our welfare assignments as the circumstances warranted.
In quantity this amounted to 608 tons of No. 1 stone, 311 tons of No. 2 stone, 74 1-3 tons of peastone and 64 1-3 tons of dust used but not charged against the jobs which received the benefit therefrom. Benefits for our highway sub- division accounts go to Patching to the extent of 45 1-3 tons of peastone and 291 tons of No. 2 stone; to Snow and Ice 4 2-3 tons of dust; to Sidewalks and Curbing
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5 1-2 tons of No. 2 stone; to Resurfacing-Orange Street, 23 1-3 tons of peastone and 343 1-3 tons of No. 1 stone; to Resurfacing-Water Street 5 2-3 tons of peastone and 260 1-2 tons of No. 1 stone, also to Sidewalk Maintenance on Linden Street, 4 tons of dust and to Sidewalk Maintenance on Upland Road 16 tons of dust, all of these accounts being sub-divisions under the Highway Maintenance and Operation heading.
Special accounts which neglected to provide funds sufficient for the work performed and receiving benefit as outlined above included Construction of Tyler Street, 40 tons of dust and South Main and Orange Street Drain, 4 tons each of No. 1 and No. 2 stone. Other special accounts which were not finished at the expiration of the year but which carried a similar benefit for the year 1932 in- cluded Bishop Street Sewer for 2 tons of No. 2 stone and Construction of Hazel Street for 8 2-3 tons of No. 2 Stone.
Not included in the stone totals given above is a total of 111 tons of peastone used on Park Street, the charge-off for which will appear in the 1933 report.
WATER DIVISION-MAINTENANCE AND OPERATION
Acting under instructions calling for the strictest economy our water main- tenance payroll was kept as low as was reasonably possible, bearing in mind the definite importance of the service it represents to the people.
As was usual, our program of watching carefully the operation of the water meters in service was constantly carried out, a positive effort being made to keep in good repair those meters which were serviceable, while those which would cost more to repair than they were worth were removed for junk. In carriyng out our program the department was hampered somewhat by the fact that the usual funds were not available to carry out in its completeness our annual plan of meter replacement which was designed to keep up to an efficient point those implements which bear directly on the fair revenue of the department equitably distributed.
A correct indication of the kind of depression times the community is passing through can be had by observing only twenty-two regular one-inch new water services were set this year. In addition to this we had to extend three one-inch services already in use. We had fifty-one one-inch water service replacements to take care of, which consisted of twenty-one complete replacements from the main to the meter, four partial replacements from the street line to the meter and twenty-six replacements from the main to the street line. Three one and one-half inch services were replaced, two of them completely and one from the main to the street line. One two-inch service had to be replaced in its completeness. Thus it can be seen that while new services were considerably reduced, the maintenance of services already in use had to go on.
In caring for the shop and barn account we once more find a direct indication of the strict economy being carried out by the department. When one looks at our plant in the rear of County Street and realizes it must run every day, twenty- four hours a day for twelve months on the $371.68 expended, the public will understand our problem. One must think when looking into the problem, of the coal bill for heating this big plant, of the lighting bill, of the telephone service which makes possible our daily work and the emergency service arrangements in force, also the multitude of other details which are required in operating a plant of this kind and of the truly splendid record achieved for the amount of money expended.
With the use of welfare labor some of our large water buildings were painted. In addition the inside of the large building was done in white on the main floor where the trucks are stored. This with a gloss white is a great improvement for the men having to work there in its cheerful and better lighted appearance.
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In taking care of our main line maintenance, the sum of $2,226.84 was ex- pended. Really remarkable progress was made in correcting and improving conditions of long standing for which the opportunity, prior to now, had not been present. Existing labor conditions of course had considerable to do with per- mitting some of this work to be accomplished at this time.
On Folden Street, owing to the extra width given in the block between Bank and North Main Streets, the first hydrant in the block from North Main Street, a five-inch, three-way Corey hydrant was moved back, as well as the four-inch, three-way Ludlow hydrant at the corner of Bank Street, to accom- modate the new widened vehicular way.
On Park Street, close to numbers 575 and 633 respectively, four-inch Ludlow hydrants were replaced with five-inch, three-way Corey hydrants relocated in positions conforming with the new curb line local thereto. When these changes were made of course 6" control gates were cut in on these respective hydrant branches in confor mance with current practice.
At the southeast corner of Hazel and Maple Streets a four-inch Corey hydrant was removed and a five-inch, three-way Corey placed. At the same time a control gate was cut in on the hydrant branch and the main supply lowered to accommodate the new grade conditions. At the lower end of Lafayette Street intersecting with Orange Street, the replacing of the existing main with an 8" line on Orange Street necessitated lowering the 6" main passing into Lafayette Street considerably to a usual position warranted by good practice. Whereas, with the additional water supply present due to the improvement, the four-inch Corey hydrant in service was removed and replaced with a five-inch, three-way Corey hydrant with a five-foot bury. Accomplishments of this kind should be steadily pursued to maintain the improvement suggested by the department in service to the City.
With the drainage and other improvements in the locality of Hazel, Mulberry and Maitin Streets taking place it was decided to improve the water supply conditions within the limits of this work, as far as was reasonably possible. At the corner of Hazel and Maple Street. we find a 6" replacement, at the corner of Martin and Mulberry Streets a 6" pipe and cross cut in, while at the northeast corner of Mulberry and Hazel Streets we replaced a 1 1-2" pipe with a 6" pipe to cover the limits of our operations. Further extension of these improvements to make them of maximum value should be undertaken without delay and the water service in the locality brought up to the standard decir ed by the department for the benefit of this thickly settled section.
In addition to this a 4" gate was cut in at the corner of Maitin and Brownell Streets, while at Park Avenue, at the corner of Dunham Street, an additional 8" gate was placed. On South Main Street at Lamb Street, a 12" gate, which has long been recommended by this department and which is of great practical value, was cut into service. Work of this kind should not be permitted to lapse.
In addition to these accomplishments, at Hazel Street corner of Major Street, the two-way, four-inch Ludlow hydrant was relocated to accommodate the Major Street work and a 6" gate cut in on the hydrant branch. On Holden Street, at the corner of Holden and Benefit Streets, and again at the corner of Hope and Holden Streets, two five-inch, three-way Corey hydrants were re- located and 6" control gates cut in on the branches. On Lindsey Street, the third and last hydrants on the street, both five-inch, three-way Coreys, were moved back owing to the widening of the vehicular way and 6" control gates were cut in on the branches. At James Street, corner of Major Street, a five-inch three-way Ludlow hydrant was relocated and a 6" gate cut in on the hydrant branch, thus accommodating street work on this end of Major Street. At Martin Street, corner of Mulberry Street, similar relocation and the placing of gate control work was done on the four-inch, three-way Ludlow hydrant at this location, the branch being 6". On the southeast corner of Washington Street and Highland Avenue, a new five-inch, two way Corey hydrant with steamer
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nozzle had replaced the old type four-inch, three-way Ludlow hydrant which seemed to be a constant target for motor vehicles at this particular corner. At the time of the change the position of the structure was moved back to afford better protection for it. The record indicates a control gate being placed here. All of the hydrants mentioned in these relocations are recorded as having a bury of five feet. On Robinson Avenue, the second hydrant from Highland Avenue, a five-inch, three-way Corey, which was relocated and a control gate cut in, had a bury of four feet and six inches.
The old Ford, the Dodge and the Reo trucks were maintained in service and the three light Ford runabouts were also kept up to the minute. It must be known that in addition to all of our other detail and work in covering our City constantly in giving water service, the Wading River plant adds to our costs of auto operation more than off-hand opinion would suppose.
The pipe and fittings, brass goods, made-up connections, curb boxes, cement, asphaltic paint and the myriad of other items which come under our maintenance of material account were bought at the lowest figures which we can hope for. Even though our operations are ordered curtailed by a stringent economy, the necessity for providing materials to maintain water service cannot be avoided.
Our workmen's compensation, contractors' liability policies, in fact all of our insurance, except the fleet fire for our trucks and motor cars, had of necessity to be taken care of properly. The fleet fire insurance is taken care of at the Mayor's office.
Our usual tax bills were paid to the town of Foxborough, Mansfield and North Attleborough, in accordance with the history which has been outlined in prior reports.
The best brains in the public service determined, after a competent and exhaustive investigation, the importance of permitting expenses for responsible executives intent on observation and study for the benefit of their community. The law was changed in this Commonwealth to make proper provision for these activities by executives carrying out their duties within the Commonwealth. Economy of a major sort snatched at this account.
The omission of an incidentals item in the maintenance and operation ac- count of the water department neglects to provide an essential sub-division important in our cost analysis.
MAIN LINE EXTENSION
The original appropriation for Main Line extension as carried in the 1932 bud- get was for $4,000.00. A refund of .30 for a portion of a gasoline tax rebate was the reason for the book entry of $4,000.30.
Consistently each year, the water division of this department presses for the elimination of bad dead ends in our water lines which are a constant source of annoyance and expense. In the south end of the City, due to the fact that in authorizing extensions additional dead ends have been permitted, there has been a persistent plea for their elimination. As has been stated before by this depart- ment, authorization for extension should be along lines as planned for, thus pre- venting the building up of the conditions complained of. It has been the policy of this department, in speaking with petitioners for extensions of water mains, to explain to them in detail whenever they came into the office, exactly what they could expect under the circumstances local to the extension they desired. It is very human, however, for a man with a piece of property and desiring water service to think one way and after receiving the water and getting the service from a dead end condition present at this property, to think another and entirely different way.
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It is to be hoped cooperative and intelligent planning will prohibit to a considerable degree an increase in the number of dead ends for the care of which this department is responsible.
On March 1, 1932, the Municipal Council voted that when proper easements had been submitted and accepted, the following extensions and connections be made and the cost charged to the Main Line Extension account of the Water Division of this department:
On Jessie Avenue, from Mendon Road a distance of two hundred feet more or less, -
On Adamsdale Avenue, from Allen Avenue a distance of five hundred feet more or less,-
On Ellis Street, from Clarence Street a distance of one hundred and twenty-five feet more or less.
As there were two connections to place eliminating three dead ends on Adamsdale Avenue, the total number of dead ends removed by the completion of the work authorized herein, was six. The first pair of dead ends eliminated on Adamsdale Avenue was in March by connecting from the tee at Cross Street northerly for 203 feet up to the Van de Kerkove property. The second job, which took place in May, ran from Allen Avenue a distance of 305 feet. Both of these connections were 6" pipe and each has proved its worthiness by the lack of complaint since completion. A great deal of work was done in obtaining the proper papers by interested local property-owners on this project.
At Ellis Street, the laying of 179 feet of 6" cast-iron water pipe in May, 1932, permitted the gridiron leg of Ellis Street to be completed between Clarence and Lamb Streets.
On Mendon Road in South Attleboro, between Leedham and Brown Streets, the dead end was extended to the tee position for a connection with Jessie Avenue. This extension being made with the proper appurtances, it was then connected up to an existing water line in Jessie Avenue. The Mendon Road extension was increased to an 8" tee with a 6" leg facing into Jessie Avenue. Ahead of the northerly 8" leg of the tee we placed twenty-six feet of an 8" pipe for a planned 8" line which it is expected will run from here to Mendon Road and Brown Streets. This work included 53 feet of 6" pipe on Mendon Road and 273 feet of 6" pipe on Jessie Avenue with the necessary fittings and appurtenances and included 26 feet of 8" pipe laid on Mendon Road northerly from the tee at Jessie Avenue. This connection, in addition to improving dead-end conditions, is of constant value in the fire protection afforded the group of three-deckers on Jessie avenue.
On Hope Street an extension of 139.5 feet of 6" pipe was completed in May, 1932, to accommodate a petitioner who was building a new house in this locality.
In Tufts Street, a private way, an extension of 2" water pipe line of 97 feet was made under a special vote to accommodate a new house which was practically completed.
At Oak Hill Avenue, bearing southeasterly from the foot of Park Street, 605 feet of 6" pipe line was put into service with an additional hydrant and appurtenances, replacing a 2" and 1 1-2" extension of considerable age which had proven unsatisfactory. It was noted at the start of this work that the 6" line replaced the 2" line and that the new water line left the old line for a considerable distance returning to find the line being replaced was now 1 1-2". After carrying the work as far as was authorized the existing line was knit into the new line through a tapped plug. There should be a definite improvement in dollars and cents to insurers in the immediate locality, also an increase in the house supply which heretofore was seriously limited, even for domestic use. Taps and such part of the services as were required were changed over so that the completeness of the service was improved.
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Prior to improving Merritt Place, a short dead-end street off North Main Street, investigation took place which revealed the need for a real change in the water service which residents here were obtaining. A single 1" tap served No. 2 Merritt Place, while for the other houses there was a 2" line tapped from the main in North Main Street in front of No. 145. This service line ran at random be- neath these several houses with risers to feed the different properties. These condi- tions being presented to the city government, authority was obtained to replace existing service with a 6" line taken from North Main Street for a distance of 270 feet, where a 2" blowoff was put in at the tapped plug at the dead end, thus permitting proper flushing as required. The necessary service connections were made and the road work allowed to proceed.
Late in the year, in October, the city government authorized an extension from an existing dead end in Lincoln Avenue close to Ashton Road to feed Ashton Road, thus permitting new water line to accommodate some houses in process of construction on this street. On Lincoln Avenue, to get to the tee position, 44 feet of 6" pipe with a hydrant, special gates, etc., was placed. Then the pro- jected size for the extension on Ashton Road of 8" pipe, running right and left from this 6" line, was built to the extent of 194.5 lineal feet, permitting the service desired by the petitioners. However, in this instance, a single dead end in Lincoln Avenue has been replaced by two on Ashton Road. It has been rec- ommended by this department to the city government to remove the southeily one by connecting this 8" line with a 12" line on West Street. This would strengthen considerably the water supply for all purposes available for this new plat which has so many splendid homes.
You may note elsewhere in the report the story of the drainage in Orange Street. Upon completion of this work and prior to the laying of the street surface between South Main and Pine Streets, it was decided to replace an old existing 4" water main with an 8" line. This replacement included 562.2 feet of 8" line on Orange Street between South Main and Pine Streets, with the necessary con- nection to the 6" line in the southerly block of Pine Street and a similar 6" con- nection replacing a 4" connection into Lafayette Street. All of this work was properly gated and completed, with service connections, hydrant improvements and such other appurtenances as were required for a first-class job. Definitely the benefits from this improvement in a street having a great many wooden dwellings and three-deckers cannot be measured in dollars and cents as it will be of inestimable value to the fire protection local thereto.
Arrangements to obtain the maximum benefit planned on Gardner Street were carried out by extending the new 10" line started at Pine Street from Howard Avenue through to Park Avenue for 196 feet. The necessary essential ap- purtenances, fittings, etc., were placed so that the work fitted the 8" line in Park Avenue. Investigation here uncovered the need for an additional gate on Park Avenue which was placed and carried under our maintenance account. This improvement is a highly sensible and practical one. The department would be pleased to carry this line, in addition to the 8" line on Park Avenue, through to Dunham Street and from there easterly and westerly to replace the 4" and 6" lines which are inadequate to supply the protection needed in the locality. I so recommend.
WATER MAIN EXTENSIONS AND REPLACEMENTS IN EMORY AND PINE STREETS
It was found necessary to pick up small deferred charges to the amount of $27.03 under this account. As the opportunity presents itself the account should carry a proportional share of base charges.
NEWPORT AVENUE WATER MAINS
Early in the year advantage was taken of conditions favorable to utilizing welfare help to further extend an 8" water main on Newport Avenue from Zoar
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Avenue southerly for three hundred and eighty-nine feet on the easterly side of the street. This permitted the placing of a new 5" three-way Corey hydrant properly gated and is in accordance with the policy desired by this department of carrying our water supply to people and developments along Newport Avenue to the City line.
The material utilized was purchased at a remarkably low price. The work as carried out is a part of the permanent development which is of major importance in serving the southerly end of the City. The department expects further op- portunity to carry on developments of this kind.
I recommend that the city government without delay take up specifically the procedure in this development so that there may be no conflict of opinion, misunderstanding, or premeditated discrimination concerning the regulations which the City has in force governing guarantees for water extensions. A clear- cut decision in this matter would be of material aid to intelligent planning.
PUMPING STATION DIVISION
In order to support the needs of the community during 1932 for its domestic and industrial water supply, it was required that both of the pumping-stations, the old one at South Attleboro and the new one at Wading River, be used. This was in accordance with the necessities of adequate supply. The bulk of this work was carried on from the South Attleboro station, there being a total of 303,521,000 gallons of water pumped for distribution from this location during the year.
In order to maintain the Wading River lines and pumping units 457,000 gallons of water were pumped to wash out these lines and keep the wells clear. These washing operations were made necessary by local conditions at the well- fields at the Wading River. Also, operations requiring only small portable gasoline pumps and not included in our figures cared for the well-cleaning by city forces during August and September.
In addition to the amount of water used as noted above from the Wading River, 129,727,000 gallons of water were pumped from this station during the year for consumption, both domestic and industrial.
Operations at South Attleboro covered every day in the year, while at the Wading River actual pumping ceased for the year on October 20, 1932. Be- tween January 1, 1932 and this date there was variable daily pumpage, ranging from 300,000 gallons to 485,000 gallons, according to consumption.
A large item under the Pumping Station Account is the expenditure for payroll for the regular force of four men employed. These men went to con- siderable inconvenience in carrying out arrangements made which would not necessitate the hiring of additional help, in order to cover both stations as re- quired. Chief Engineer George Cook had no inclination to take on the responsi- bility of putting on a green man for a random day now and again as vacations required. The overtime item was to take care of this kind of extra work where there was positively no leeway and for emergency work in which the plant in South Attleboro is always subject to operation.
The fuel item includes power bills for the Wading River in the amount of $7,773.22, most of which, from the April charge paid in May, to the end of the year, is for the minimum. A small fuel charge is present in the first quarter of the year, which upon inquiry from this department, ceased as noted. There is also a charge for fuel oil amounting to $234.58, as the Wading River station must be kept ready to use and not permitted to freeze, regardless of whether it operates every day or not.
Most of the balance of this large item covers the cost of soft coal used at the South Attleboro pumping-station, which was bought during the year and which
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had to be of quality and kind to suit the chief engineer, Mr. George Cook. A few dollars of the amount represents the cost of trimming the coal pile as needed. This amount is very small as the bulk of this work was done by welfare help after the year was under way a short time.
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