USA > Massachusetts > Bristol County > Attleboro > Reports of town officers of the town of Attleborough 1933 > Part 13
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The water pipe line structures affected within the limits of the work will have to be properly taken care of. Defirite advantage of carrying this work in the winter season lies in its central location, permitting most of the workmen a warm meal at noontime. When the project is completed there should be proper legal procedure to permit the construction of a retaining wall to hold the sand bank from washing into the street from that piece of land of doubtful owner- ship mentioned above. Further reports on this work can be obtained in 1934.
Another street layout for which no funds had been provided by the city government was the improved intersection at County and Tiffany Streets. The layout was intended to allow such construction as would eliminate hazards and involved, besides grading operations, a drainage improvement of permanency which would contribute greatly to the well-being and safety of the users of these highways. The proposition was worked up by this department and presented to the C. W. A. authorities, meeting with their approval. Here again, no provi- sion was made by the city government for funds to accomplish the improved layout. The City's contribution under the C. W. A. regulations for the improvement was taken care of in its entirety by this department and the work was well under way at the turn of the year, supplying further opportunity for men to be employed gainfully in the public interests. Further report will be made in 1934.
On South Main Street in Hebronville, southerly from its intersection with Thurber Avenue, drainage conditions have given considerable public annoyance over a long period of years. The street railway, operating over the East Line, had been responsible for taking care of this troublesome drainage problem, without any degree of success. When they went into receivership and out of the street railway business, this problem was one which they left behind them. The department had recommended in the past, for several sound reasons, that the attention of the city government be drawn to the need for drainage improvements at this location, without success. The complete elimination of the causes for complaint was consolidated into a C. W. A. project and submitted to the author-
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ities at Boston, meeting with their approval. Immediately work was started and considerable progress was being made at the turn of the year. Once again, no additional appropriations were made by the city government in contributing the City's share under the C. W. A. rules and this department was called upon to carry out the City's part from the current funds under maintenance and operation in the highway account. Further report will be made in 1934 covering completion of this work.
Consistently in the press and by some interested citizens and tax-payers living in the locality of the A. B. C. street railway below Bishop Street, complaint was made concerning the condition of the street railway as affecting vehicular traffic on Park Street and Oak Hill Avenue. This unsatisfactory condition had been left by the company operating the railway and having an agreement with the city government in regard to the removal of its lines. No funds were provided by the city government to change or improve the conditions complained of. This department worked up a project calling for the rail removal on Park Street, from Bishop Street to Oak Hill Avenue, this being single track with a siding, and on Oak Hill Avenue, most of which was double track, between Park Street and Reynolds Avenue. Immediately the C. W. A. program was available the project was submitted, approved and work started, so that upon its completion the railway structures included will have been completely removed, proper foundation prepared and gravel refill put in place. This work was well under way at the turn of the year and supplied gainful occupation to a great number of our people. The city government provided no appropriation for this work, this department supplying that contribution by the City which the C. W. A. regulations imposed. It is earnestly recommended that the work upon its completion be followed up with a sensible penetration road improvement over its entire length, so that the initial advantage gained in taking care of this section of the City will not be forfeited. Further report will be made after completion.
Under our Resurfacing account, it must be noted there is a very small item of $26.92 listed as general labor, a remarkable tribute to our classification. Inso- far as our zone of operations under the account was very extensive it was necessary to use some material obtained over and over again. In the latter part of the year when the crowded operations of the C. W. A. program were upon us, it was decided that a new small dump truck was definitely an investment. The city government voted us the authority to purchase a Ford dump unit complete for $894.38. An apportioned part of the cost of a Ford pick-up truck voted, amount- ing to $109.11, was charged under this account. A proportionate allowance for highway water charges of $40.00 is charged. Bituminous material amounting to $72.00, used in caring for traffic in carrying out our several different jobs is charged. Important parts to keep our old tractors in service had apportioned charges amounting to $73.45. A charge for coal is included. Gasoline, motor oil, tire charges, telephone, small tools, horse feed and maintenance for small trucks, etc., were all classified, apportioned and taken care of.
Worthy consideration must be included in the fair analysis of our operations for the contribution toward their success due the green welfare help utilized prior to the C. W. A. program as initiated in November of 1933.
Emergency washout work was taken care of on Pond Street in February, and on Olive Street at the river bridge in August and October. Similar work was carried out on Washington Street in South Attleboro near Curtis Avenue in June and at the Speedway near East Street in April.
BRIDGES, FENCES AND CULVERTS
At Dexter Street there is a sensible responsibility that the City cannot evade in taking care of the bridge across Thacher Brook. This structure, of course, is entirely within the City's right-of-way and by the very circumstances
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of the location has been inconvenient to maintain as a timber bridge. Arrange- ments have been worked out whereby girder rail reinforcement and concrete slab have been constructed across the brook designed so it can be widened and sidewalks be constructed as the locality develops. A permanent improvement has been made by this work under our 1933 maintenance account.
Another permanent improvement was made at the Seven Mile River crossing at West Street close to the Pumping Station in South Attleboro. For years · this bridge structure consisted of an approximate two lane highway and a street railway track. As the traffic increased in the past few years and the street railway was abardoned, a problem of considerable hazard arose and interfered seriously with the flow of traffic on this No. 123 Route. The necessary steel and. material was assembled and the concrete slab carrying the roadway was wider.ed within the reasonable limits set after the removal of the decayed and dangerous timber structure which the street car line had abandoned. This improvement, while lacking in publicity, was immediately noted by the users of the highway as being of vast importance in accelerating with safety the pace of traffic using this highway, particularly large vehicles moving southwesterly. The value is far in excess of the cost recorded.
Easterly from the ice house driveway on West Street, a culvert which has given annoyance, particularly when Orr's Pond water level is high in the winter, was taken care of, after heavily loaded traffic had caused a failure. The re- placement was of a necessary portion of the culvert which had failed, with addi- tional length to cover the extension of the width of the highway replacing the removed street car rails. This work as completed maintained in security our highway at this point.
Guard fence repairs which were necessary have been taken care of on West Street adjacent to the water reservation, on Cliff Street, at Lindsey Street by the overpass, Mendon Road at the railroad overpass, North Main Street by the Simmons' bridge, and Olive Street, on several occasions. Again on Read Street, and on South Main Street in I ebronville, at Thurber Avenue, Union Road, and on the sidewalk side of Washington Street, fence repairs were made as required.
On Mechanics Street after passing the Golf Ground driveway a 12" cor- rugated pipe culvert was constructed replacing an old stone culvert which had failed and caused inconveniences, particularly as the outlet had been hidden so as to withhold the free flow of water which should have been cared for.
On Oak Hill Avenue similar work was done in replacing the first stone culvert westerly from Reynolds Avenue with a 12" corrugated pipe culvert. Passing traffic was maintained in security which had not heretofore been the case due to the old unsatisfactory stone culvert.
On Pond Street a culvert head wall feature was taken care of and the culvert cleaned. Similar work was done on a 12" culvert on Read Street. On Slater Street a 10" corrugated pipe culvert replaced an old stone culvert which had failed seriously under a heavy load.
In addition current repairs and maintenance charges were written off for work as the occasion demanded on the river and railroad bridges on Cliff Street, Olive Street, Pike Avenue, South Main Street at Hebronville, Starkey Avenue, Thacher Street and Thurber Avenue.
The general overhead charges for labor and material are listed.
Arrangements for decking at the Olive and Thacher Street overpasses were in negotiation and arrangements were made by transfer to set up a special account so arrangements could be co-ordinated with the N. Y. N. H. & H. R. R. to carry out their part of the work. The account protected the work so that immediately the liaison was established the combinations of efforts of the City and Railroad could produce results. The account amounted to $1,500.00 and was obtained by transfer from the Highway Sidewalk Maintenance account a- mounting to $880.45, also Highway Bridges, Fences and Culverts amounting to $619.55. This permitted the work to be completed in 1934.
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EQUIPMENT-MAINTENANCE AND REPAIR AND ROAD ROLLERS
Money expended and chargeable to the repair and care of our equipment was, wherever and whenever possible, kept to a minimum by having work of this kind carried by different accounts on which the equipment had been worked, worn out or broken down.
On the face of it a department of this size, not having a secondary plant® program having a business continuity, is at a grave disadvantage in protecting itself under our municipal budget system. I feel certain any business man can appreciate the handicaps we labor under by lack of the program mentioned. I also appreciate the fact that perhaps these times would present difficulty in planning such a program. Notwithstanding this, an examination of the expanded operations required of the department constantly, in the order of their importance to the public convenience, would be sufficient argument in favor of obtaining and maintaining the necessary equipment for our work, from the highway basis of efficiency. Figured from the standpoint of economy, our record for the year under the heading of dollars and cents, is remarkable. It must be remembered the season of the year usually taken advantage of to overhaul and place in first- class condition all of our equipment, was sacrificed in the interests of the federal C. W. A. program and its many direct benefits to the entire community, and other municipal departments.
How many people have considered the true magnitude of the effort con- tributed by the department, particularly in the method in which its equipment was utilized so advantageously for the City as a necessary contribution toward obtaining Federal aid, without cash appropriation on the part of the municipality.
(ROAD ROLLERS)
Constantly and throughout the year the policy outlined was applied to our 1 oad rollers, both steam and gas, and it must be recorded herein that ultimately these machines will need a severe and complete overhauling, with the likelihood of replacement. It is fair to inform our people in this report that no provision was made in our 1933 highway budget for new equipment.
DRAINS MAINTENANCE
It is recorded here that in conjunction with the plans carried out from a previous year, which lapped the calendar date of December 31, 1932, splendid improvements were extended and put in first-class working shape, greatly to the benefit of the localities whose drainage they served and therefore of inestimable benefit to the City at large.
The Leroy Street work was carried through to the corner of Benefit Street and the turn was made coming toward Peck Avenue. A basin was constructed to a manhole and pipe-line structures placed which permitted the elimination of a cross-gutter at the corner of Leroy and Benefit Streets. This was a place which was a constant annoyance to users of the highway, particularly in the winter or during heavy thunder showers. Only because of the fact that the carry-over material was available to be of service on our reduced maintenance drainage account and welfare labor was supplied, could this work have gone on in the fore part of the year.
In the latter part of the year arrangements were made to further continue the work and the project was developed so that in the coming year the complete locality will be served with a pipe extending across the railroad right-of-way through Peck Street and thence into Perrin Street, to serve an overflow which will relieve a very irritating condition during all heavy storms, with the essential
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basins and manhole structures. A street adjustment will be necessitated, charging the gutter grades in Peck Street and eliminating the grade-crossing in the designed improvement.
Another branch of this drain will be carried through Peck Avenue, Peck and Hope Streets, relieving one of the worst suffering localities we have when drainage is being corsidered, aiding materially in reducing the amount of water which has heretofore been carried to the Peck Street arch. With the improvement spoken of in drainage, it will be necessary then, to resurface the street to ac- commodate with section and profile these new drainage conditions. When completed, of course, this entire project would carry directly to the Bungay River, through Leroy and Bank Streets, that surface water which, regardless of its origin, depending upon the season of the year, has so severely upset so many of our citizens. The inadequate structures, blind or with scant outlet, present before the improvement started will, of course, be eliminated entirely.
Without the aid of welfare labor, with funds at hand, this extension and splendid improvement could never have been attempted, particularly during its intermediate phase.
As has been explained, material being on hand to cover the lap of the year from 1932 to 1933, work was continued on projecting and extending through Parker Street to Mulberry Street, the so-called Orange Street drain. The necessary basins and other structures were completed so that the improvement in this locality has been expanded with a truly beneficial result, not only to residents of the section, but to commercial and industrial users of the highway. People without number have gone out of their way to speak very favorably of this improvement which has been so urgently needed. Once more it can be truly said this splendid improvement could never have been attempted, without the valuable factor of welfare labor to aid in this splendid project.
Hundreds of observers, not familar with drainage work of the kind mentioned herein or its cost, can hardly appreciate, without some study the actual benefit derived, particularly by the winter use of our welfare help on projects of this kind. It must be said that the efficiency of those men contributing to this success was a great deal higher than is usually noted for labor of this kind.
On Olive Street, again in the fore part of the year and as was noted when the project really was inaugurated and material to begin was arranged for, a third splendid drainage improvement was completed, through its first phase, from the river through to Robert Street with the necessary structures being placed. An outlet was made entering the Ten Mile River below the Olive Street river bridge, the outlet being made possible through the permission of the Wolfenden people, who contributed the easement necessary over their land for this pipe line.
The bowl described previously, which has been thus relieved, has up until this time long been a cause for much complaint which has been entirely eliminated since this, the first step toward the projected system in this area, was completed. It must be remembered, of course, that we are ambitious to enter into the second phase of this drainage system which will reach up into County Street eliminating further undesirable conditions and serving as a primary factor toward the ulti- mate rail elimination and road improvement so much desired on County Street. 1934 will without question see this work extended.
On South Avenue some work was done in search for the drainage outlets at the foot of Uhlig's Hill, the record of which had not been filed with the City's engineers. Not only was the practical and immediate benefit to be obtained from this work the driving force but the need for drainage knowledge in proposed plans for highway improvement on this Route No. 123 of necessity was considered. Basically South Avenue is such a busy route, of such construction and on such foundation, that an expensive job of the finest quality, should be attempted and it is recommended the State and County be solicited again as they have been continuously, until the project is ordered.
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Later in the year, in conjunction with one of the City's first C. W. A. projects worked up by this department, minor charges for East Street drainage were taken care of. It should be noted, however, that aside from the road work, excellent care was taken of the drainage in the project mentioned.
On South Main Street at Hebronville, between Atwell's curve and the culvert at Smith's ice-house, woeful conditions had been rampant for years during stormy, wet weather. The street railway company contributed in part to the condition by neglecting during construction of the line to permanently eradicate the causes which made these conditions possible. They opened up a ditch into the field below the Atwell property, which sometimes worked and sometimes did not, depending upon the action of the railway maintenance crews. When the street railway company got into financial difficulties and abandoned maintenance, the conditions became worse. To cap the climax, a lot of land was sold and a new house built in the locality of the outlet, ponding the surface water to such an extent that for days, especially in the winter time during thaws, severe annoyance was caused to our public here.
Promptly C. W. A. operations started, the department worked up a project and a permanent improvement was begun which will be reported on upon its completion.
On this same East Line, so-called, between Lamb Street and Thacher Brook, a condition, horrible in itself from a highway point of niew, was left the City by the street railwway. This condition, despite efforts of the Public Works Department, was not improved. This department made plans and worked into a project the rail removal and a drainage system which would properly handle not only the present conditions within the limits described on South Main Street and streets adjacent thereto, but future development as well. There are legal features covering easements which we in this department, though it is not really our work, in the interest of this improvement, have been glad to obtain. When the completion of the project takes place and it is followed by properly surfacing the highway to the full width available, a lasting gratitude and appreciation can be expressed by those people who will reap the immediate benefit therefrom. Withir ir drainage figure for 1933, a city contribution toward this project as listed has already been made.
Of course, fair-minded people reading annually of the consistently per- manent improvement expansion in drainage made by this department within their current maintenance funds could logically wonder how the government can expect to have these ever-increasing structures properly maintined when pains are taken, in spite of the growth mentioned, to reduce the funds available for this maintenance. Only with the aid of welfare workers were we able to carry on this work. To those who would doubt the need for skilled workers to cover this kind of job I most respectfully extend an invitation to participate in a regular cleaning of the vaults for instance under the Peck Street arch, or some of the catch basins and heavily laden pipe-lines in those localities which receive severe punishment during heavy downpours of rain. I am sure the experience, even though it might be brief, would do a lot more to inform the budding experimentalist than any loose writing originating from imaginary experts.
Covering a great area as we do, with the many miles of highways and with the great number of old drainage structures, as well as the new ones, we are adding constantly, repairs to pipe lines, catch basins and manholes are required. During the year 1933 these repairs were taken care of as needed. There are miscellaneous items proportioned to this sub-division. During the year 1933 splendid progress was made within our budget account for the public benefit in the improvement of our system. It is sincerely hoped this progress will be maintained until the entire City is adequately taken care of and such drainage is supplied as will not only take care of the surface water but when necessary, the sub-structure of our highways.
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ROAD OIL AND TAR
The problem of surface treatments, as affecting our highway planning program, was at times perplexing, irsofar as different combinations of material and different allotments of work under other sub-divisions of the highway main- tenance account had to be co-ordinated to obtain the maximum benefit at the minimum cost, due to the economy control set-up.
Sacrifices under this account also had to be made to supply funds from which an immediate return could be obtained.
Out of our total of 25,529 gallons of tar used for treatment, 15,690 gallons of it were sprayed under our Road Oil and Tar account.
A total of 30,240 gallons of asphaltic road oil were sprayed under this account, as were 9,880 gallons of cut-back asphalt. The value of working out treatment is immediately established when we realize it allowed the surface of South Avenue across that very poorly-supported section which lies between Snell Street and Uhlig's Bill, to carry through another winter season. We all know the hazards of the very poor fourdation left us on this part of Route No. 123 and every intelli- gent person can realize that it carries rapid, heavy traffic every day in the year. Any one interested can establish the fact that for several years we have been trying to obtain State and County aid in rebuilding, with a substantial drainage Improvement and proper foundation, this section of highway.
Extending our Orange Street improvement work reported in a previous year, the cut-back asphalt treatment was utilized. Again on Hazel, Carpenter, School, East, Pearl, Dunham, Lafayette, Mulberry Streets and the Speedway, it met with great success. In Hebronville, on Bourne Avenue, Hebron Avenue, Bliss Avenue and Church Street, like results were obtained.
From the city's stone stock 34 1-3 tons of peastone were charged off and approximately 122 2-3 tons of peastone were purchased from outside sources.
An asphaltic cut-back was used on squeegee work.
An excellent grade of sand, with a few loads of stone dust to correct bleeding was used for cover on work.
Under this account there were 134 tons of peastone, 32 tons of No. 2 stone and 2 tons of dust which were used but not written off this year and which can accrue as a credit return under our crushing operations.
Constant irspection is maintained to control recommendations for treatment which are handled under this sub-division to obtain the most advantage from funds available.
Covering in this type of work requires skill and affects directly the result of the work. A great deal of time and care is necessary in teaching green men. Nevertheless, on numerous occasions we utilized welfare help, picking whenever possible those men who had some interest and ability for this work.
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