USA > Massachusetts > Bristol County > Attleboro > Reports of town officers of the town of Attleborough 1933 > Part 14
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19
Overhead charges covering repairs to trucks, tires, overhaul, holiday time, etc., were taken care of and replacements on small tool items were written off.
Under the pressure of the increasing C. W. A. work, in the latter part of the year, the question arose as to whether trucks would be hired with funds to be supplied by the City, or whether additional small equipment could be provided. On this basis and with some sacrifices, the Municipal Council voted the authority necessary to acquire, at the expense of several highway accounts, a V-8 Ford Pick-Up, a proportionate part of which was paid for by this account. Roller coal, gasoline and essential material charges were taken care of in addition to items mentioned above and the payment for essential labor.
It should not be forgotten that these maintenance highway accounts had to be adjusted within their limits for the first time in history if the Federal aid prof- fered under C. W. A. regulations was to be taken advantage of to reduce effect- ively our welfare bill without increasing the local tax burden.
172
ANNUAL REPORT
STREET LIGHTING
In conjunction with our department expenditures, the street lighting bill for the year was subjected to shrinkage. The removal of several lights upon the direct recommendation of the council lighting committee, while giving rise to numerous complaints, particularly concerning the choice of those lights to be removed, accomplished a reduction in the annual expenditure for street lights.
The department has no record available as to the means or information at the command of the committee which controlled the removal list submitted to the city government and acted upon by them. Our records indicate the largest reduction was made on action taken by the Muricipal Council at a meeting held on May 8, 1933. The street lighting expenditure for 1933 amounted to $29,070.36 against $31,859.12 in 1932. Advantages could be obtained and an equal or greater amount saved by reducing the number of lights taken out and increasing the length of the removal period within the annual limit.
I believe a permanent saving under this large account could be intelligently effected without impairing the service as tendered to householders or on streets by examiring progressively the entire lighting system. It is hard for me to understand how downtown North Main Street can be darkened on the one hand by light removal as has been done, and other lights, even though they be of long standing, left in service on private ways at the City's expense. Without question, householders will complain and petition for replacement of lights removed where it affects them. They seem to find it hard to understand, judging from their inquiries to this office, why some of the removals should be made which affect them and their property in built-up sections of the City, while other lights on streets sparsely settled, as they state it, and where the lights are of no immediate service to any householder, there being no buildings in the locality, are left in place.
This department politely informs these people that the matter is in the hands of the Municipal Council, who unquestionably will be delighted to take up the complaint for solution when and if it is submitted.
How many people examine the direct ratio between street lighting ex- penditures and highway maintenance allowance provided for actual maintenance of the streets?
SNOW AND ICE
Time marches on and consistently our public demands greater service from its government, particularly the local government. No finer example of this can be had than be examining the short period locally lapsing between 1920 and 1932.
It has been said that the winter expenditure in 1920 for Snow and Ice was caused by severe weather. This expenditure amounted to $11,073.23. As far as I am able to ascertain the highway division operated at the time sidewalk plow routes, probably twenty-three in number. No highway power plows were in use.
The city did own a street car line to Briggs Corner, which I believe, and my information is gleaned from the late Mr. Hunnewell, was taken care of by trolley snow-plows, in the same manner as other street car lines within the City limits. The fact remains, however, that severe and peculiar weather conditions did overcome the department forces to such an extent, in spite of the expenditure recorded that there was grave inconvenience to the public listed for an extended period.
In tracing the growth of motor car ownership, picture what would happen today if the same inconvenience was present. We have had the same severe
173
ANNUAL REPORT
conditions and we have had severe winters since 1920. We have had some inconvenience, as is to be expected, particularly when motor traffic refuses to permit plow equipment to properly perform its allotted task in the interests of the whole public. We have had nothing like the inconvenience of 1920, and it is to be hoped we never will. We have had nothing like the expense recorded in 1920, in spite of the fact that our responsibilities are a great deal heavier, in that in addition to the sidewalk plowing and the Briggs Corner line, we now are maintaining highway plow routes which practically cover the entire highway system for which we are responsible. We have the same New England weather of all kinds to contend with.
It can be truly said we have more equipment. It is only fair to state that such equipment as we possess has come to us steadily and without undue burden to the reduction of our annual appropriations from 1920, either as a net sum or as a proportionate part of our tax dollar.
Having the equipment is one thing. To properly use it and to respond with it twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week every week is another thing. All of this is insufficient to develop that service which our public desires, ur less the municipal government allows the department to properly replace, improve and enlarge this necessary equipment to such a degree as is required by the conditions of a New England winter supplying the tests continuously and without notice on the other hand, and the commercial and domestic traffic developed locally on the other, demanding that our highways be kept open continuously for service.
All the conversation in the world, expanded by the comfort of steam heat, has never been recorded as breaking out a snow drift on any of our highways and can- not be substituted for the practical experience and consistent study of men who have placed sturdy toil, ur limited consideration, courage and wholesome interest in the successful defense of our City against the attacks of "old man New England winter" since 1920. It is recommended that funds be provided sufficient to assure the preparedness which insures winter traffic in Attleboro the desired con- venience on those streets for which the city is responsible.
STREET SWEEPING
A sum of $1,200.00 was provided on the work-sheet of the budget for Street Sweeping for 1933. Depression times, giving considerable more opportunity for a greater number of people to spend their idle time in the center of the City, contribute to a greater amount of debris which, of necessity, should be removed by those engaged under the so-called Street Sweeping account.
It is well to remember that in 1920 it is recorded that $2,611.32 was ex- pended under this same account. This figure was reduced, along with the force engaged in the work, so that for several years the expenditure carried a figure of $1,800.00. The work increased, the area remained the same, and the use of it by vehicles and stores was definitely greater than in 1920 or any time prior thereto.
Without change in the area and with the additional opportunity for in- creasing the debris and therefore the tasks of removal, this item was cut on the budget work-sheet to $1,200.00. The cost of the work was kept within this limit.
It can be readily seen therefore that the shrinkage in payroll, reacting on those older employees engaged in this kind of work, forced the direct burden of their livelihood in its completeness to a source other than this department. Count- eracting this and without the stability of trained personnel we had to ulilize welfare labor whenever possible to consistently carry out our duties under this sub-division.
Positively the real manner in which this work can be reduced is to lessen the quantity of debris present by a constant and unceasing enforcing of the ordinances by those men empowered to do so with a police badge.
174
ANNUAL REPORT
PATCHING
Shrinkage of funds available, constant economy all along the line on high- way work, ultimately imposes on any account for street patching a serious strain.
It can be readily understood that, from the very nature of things as different highway tasks are shrunk due to lack of funds, the need for patching these same highways will essentially increase.
Our mixing equipment mainly used for this purpose, needs replacement. This cannot be considered expensive when there is boine in mind the increased efficiency from its use. Contrary to the usual belief, to obtain a first-class road patch job requires trained experience and while we have utilized welfare labor to some degree in this kind of work, I believe it reasonable to provide a force of skilled workers to carry out the duties of highway patching.
It must be remembered that the hazard on the highways for men engaged in work of this kind is constantly increasing so that sound physical equipment and acute senses should be a requirement of the personnel so engaged, as a matter of fairness to them.
During the current year our patch crew covered pretty well the entire City, doing a great deal of work except on those stretches of highways whose permanency has been warrarted by the investment therein, bearing in mind the age of the surface of said highways. The detailed account of our expenditures for this work accompanies this report.
In addition to this record there were 148 2-3 tons of No. 2 stone and 46 tons of peastone used on patching which were not written off and which accrue as a credit to crushing operations.
ยท STREET CLEANING
Under the Street Cleaning account, which includes our gutter hoeing and outside road scraping operations in the spring and fall, a very interesting change should be noted and honest credit given to the advantages gleaned by the depart- ment in its use of the facilities available to carry out the task at hand.
On this kind of labor a considerable amount of benefit was obtained for the community from the use of Welfare labor. Constantly the need has been brought to the attention of the city government for improving our equipment to accomplish this kind of work. I know of no more positive argument in favor of bringing our street cleaning and grading equipment up to date than the financial record under this sub-division.
In the year 1920 under this account there was expended a sum of $7,998.46. This figure was constantly reduced since so that between $3,000.00 and $4,000.00 could reasonably be considered as necessary to properly carry out this work. This year our work-sheet allowance was $1,850.00.
Insofar as we have heard considerable satisfaction expressed from people living along and using our outside roads daily with the tasks accomplished. it must be positively admitted that the cooperative effort of all of the forces engaged in this work contributed magnificiently toward the department's success- ful attack in favor of municipal economy.
I believe in and recommend, from the standpoint of a municipal investment, bringing up to date without delay our equipment used in carrying out these operations.
At no time should we forget our admiration for the beautiful shade trees we have in our City and while so engaged and by the same premises, we should never forget the expense and labor involved in our street and drain cleaning due to these very same shade trees.
175
ANNUAL REPORT
SIDEWALK MAINTENANCE
The problem of sidewalk maintenance and repair is one which, in my opinion, should have allocated funds sufficient to carry on properly and progressively a five-year plan for the replacement of worn-out tar walks and much-used gravel walks with municipally built improved walks of either bituminous or cement construction. I feel certain that the advantages to our people, particularly to those of them who use a sidewalk a great deal, warrant this consideration. It would give the department a great deal of pleasure to constantly and con- sistently be in a position to carry out this improvement.
How often can we all observe people passing up the advantage of a gravelled sidewalk to walk on the oiled surface of the highway, in spite of the fact that they assume by so doing a risk which most of them will admit is unreasonable. In clinching the argument therefore in favor of improvement on sidewalks one must look into the causes and finally decide that in these modern times, with the thin soles worn by our people, particularly on the shoes of our women, the municipality is called upon to definitely make a decision which will control the policy on side- walk maintenance.
We have listed within this report expenditures which include sidewalk repair on a great number of streets and of several different kinds and types, including bituminous, concrete, gravel and dust. In studying the situation we must in fairness recognize the problem present of controlling at considerable expense the vegetable growth of weeds and shrubbery which only the most constant pedestrian traffic keeps down.
A great deal more was accomplished than was indicated by our expenditures due to the aid we obtained from welfare forces.
In was necessary in the latter part of the year to upset a definite plan on sidewalk maintenance, improvement and extension which the department had worked out so that emergency provision could be made by transfer covering an important cross-town bridge and in providing funds for the City's share of C. W. A. projects which would reap a large, immediate and positive dividend for the public benefit in obtaining jobs for the needy, and a definite cash advantage to a sorely pressed municipal treasury in the obtaining of extra payroll and materials, the use of which will run over into 1934.
CRUSHERS
At the South Attleboro crusher there was replacement of parts as required. These charges are small bearing in mind the fact that heretofore very little work had been done on renewing parts at this plant.
This plant has turned out a great deal of material, all of which has been used to excellent advantage. There were toggle seats, toggles, babbits, nuts, bolts, washers, sprockets, gears and buckets which had to be replaced. These ap- purtenances were responsible for most all of the expenditure of $197.37 for material listed herein.
The labor item, amounting to $40.96, had to do with placing and taking care of not only crusher bin and elevator parts, but a screen repair.
The advantages of having crushing plants equipped for service can be appreciated more than ever in the winter work which the C. W. A. has forced upon us. It must also be noted that besides providing a productive opportunity for labor from welfare help, these plants have contributed wholesomely to the benefit of the community in reducing costs on some of our work.
176
ANNUAL REPORT
TEN MILE RIVER AND THACHER BROOK
Under this account the bulk of our work was directed toward the brook while at the same time the C. C. C. was contributing to improving the Ten Mile River in rather an extensive manner which would have been expensive if the City had been paying the bill.
A special account, I believe, was supplied to pay for boots, tools, etc., the expenditure of which was not within the jurisdiction of this department, nor was the control or supervision of that work. The record indicates an appropriation of $200.00 under the date of October 23, 1933, to care for materials for this work, the vote being approved by the Mayor on October 25, 1933. It is to be hoped the C. C. C. will return and clean out the river channel as well as they did the em- bankments.
The importance of Thacher Brook must be recognized as a serious physical feature in the well-being of the community. I urge and recommend that steps be taken to enclose or cover that portion of the brook between the end of the Cambridge Street drain and Maple Street as soon as is possible.
As is usual, this department contributed its services night and day during flood threats from the Ten-Mile River. One especially bad threat was present during the week ending April 15th when the water ran slightly over the walls at the water-yard for hours. It may be readily understood that but for the preparations promptly taken, after the heavy rains set in, by the writer and Public Works Department employees, serious damage would have been done. We have no jurisdiction or responsibility for this work and contribute our efforts, loss of sleep and hard labor on the basis of the community welfare which is directly affected by the results these flood waters cause locally.
Our sincere thanks is tendered herewith to the responsible authorities of the Dodgeville Finishing Company who control the dam site and who have willingly cooperated for the bests interests of the City during flood season.
SIDEWALKS AND CURBING
This account was included as part of our highway maintenance and operation. The funds were limited. It is true that more work was obtained for this sub- division through the efforts of the department than would have been possible, except for aid given which affected this account in its contribution for the City in obtaining C. W. A. project support.
Engineering work of getting out plans for record and making out data sheets for use of the Municipal Council on Betterments was carried from this department. The orders included curbing on the westerly side of Garden Street for Samuel Moran, on the southerly side of Shaw Street for Leith Young et al and on the northerly side of Lincoln Avenue for Thomas E. McCaffrey and Walter G. Moon. All of these were completed, except for very minor finishing details due to weather conditions on Lincoln Avenue curbing which will necessitate the carrying of the assessment to 1934.
Sidewalk orders were passed for the southerly side of Beacon Street for the Swedish Church, the northerly side of School Street for Fritz W. Anderson, the westerly side of Garden Street for Samuel Moran and the easterly side of Pleasant Street for Grace F. Capron. The work was completed.
The approximate number of linear feet of curbing set under these orders was 232.08, with two 2-foot returns. The total number of square yards of granolithic sidewalk placed under the orders was 214.82.
The department placed curbing in front of city-owned property listed as follows:
South Main Street at the Finberg School-315.50' with two 2-foot returns
177
ANNUAL REPORT
Webber Street at the Finberg School-234.30' with two 2-foot returns
On Forest Street in conjunction with other improvements on this busily travelled way, 116 linear feet of curb was placed on the northerly sidewalk within the limits of the railroad structure. On the southerly side of the street 77.68 linear feet were placed. This widened the used vehicular way, utilizing every inch possible. The improvement was needed in order that traffic might main- tain a pace in security fast enough to clear itself, particularly when the manu- facturing plants in the locality are busy.
Round corners of size and importance, a contribution for a C. W. A. project, were purchased for the road grading and drainage improvement at County and Tiffany Streets, totalling for the four corners 138.27 linear feet of circle curb. These will be set in 1934, as the project is worked out to completion.
Circle curb was also purchased and placed at both corners of the street in- tersections of Hawthorne and Thacher Streets, Lincoln Avenue and Blackburn Road, Lincoln Avenue and Roosevelt Street, and Maynard and Forest Streets. The curb for the Lincoln Avenue corners was carried under the account for that street. Corners were also set at the intersection of Forest and Horton Streets and an exact gutter-paving job was carried out with this work to eliminate bad drainage conditions which gave trouble prior to this improvement to factory workers and other pedestrians and would have interfered materially with the improved road surface placed on Forest Street. Insofar as there was no action on a planned drainage project recommended for this intersection this work re- moved causes for complaint.
Circle curb was purchased for the southerly corner of County and Eldredge Streets. The setting was held up pendirg decision on a drainage project pro- posed for the locality for which Federal aid is expected.
Six round corners, the curb for which was provided late in 1932, for four Mulberry Street corners at Parker Street, and for two of the Mulberry Street corners at James Street, were placed in conjunction with drainage work mentioned herein, adding sixty-six linear feet to the circle curb record.
Early in the year, as the Olive Street drain construction progressed to the intersection of Olive and Robert Streets, four round corners and such straight curbing as was required to carry out the design, working toward the extersion of this system at a later date, were purchased and set. This will add 11 linear feet of straight curb and 48.09 feet of circle curb to our list.
A contribution for the City for the C. W. A. project at East Street came from this account in purchasing eight round corners, consisting of 88.06 linear feet of circle curb, to be placed as follows :- two on the easterly intersection of East and Parker Streets, four at the Fast and James Street intersection and two at East and Hazel Streets. The labor in placing this curbing was part of the project.
In addition, and working along the same lines, circle curb was bought for the round corners at South Main and Chester Streets, both round corners at South Main and Short Streets, both round corners of South Main and Dexter Streets and both round corners of South Main and Spring Streets, a total of 87.97 linear feet. Work of this kind was looked upon favorably by C. W. A. officials at Boston.
A circle curb set at the southerly corner of Claflin and North Main Streets is recorded under the North Main Street account but included in the computation of circle curb set for street intersection improvements. The total number of linear feet of circle curb set in 1933 was 280.63, while 314.30 linear feet of circle curb was purchased to be set on projects in process at the turn of the year ..
In addition to the few orders for granolithic sidewalks mentioned above, : we had approved as a C. W. A. project, the City's contribution for w ich was absorbed by this department and on which winter work was done in the very
178
ANNUAL REPORT
late part of the year, cement walks. A great deal more of this kind of work will be recorded in front of city property and will be reported on later having been carried out in 1934. Under C. W. A. projects during this year, 461.52 square yards of granolithic walk were placed.
Also a total of 221.00 square yards of granolithic walk were placed in front of the Finberg School on South Main Street, the work being carried out co- operatively, as was the curbing work, with the School Department. A grano- lithic round corner placed at South Main and Beacon Streets amounted to 4.41 square yards.
A refund of $175.60 came to us for the school granolithic work to cover one-half the cost of the work, while this same department paid bills amounting to $565.05 for the granite cuibing delivered to their property as their contribution. The Public Works Department handled the labor portion of the work of placing curb and gutter. These facts must be considered to correctly interpret our statistical analysis.
Sard, lampblack and other small items were provided from the account as a contribution toward C. W. A. sidewalk work.
Consideration should be given the fact that in the fore part of the year welfare labor was utilized in sidewalk improvements placed prior to the initiation of C. W. A. projects.
HIGHWAY AUTO MAINTENANCE
Reasonable consideration of the facts, bearing in mind the department operations consistently by the use of six Mack trucks, four Chevolets, and a couple of Fords, all dump models, besides handling two Caterpillar tractors ard a wheel tractor, all Fordsons, will unquestionably assess the highway automobile main- ter ance charges in the highway division as miraculous. This could be doubled when the age of the trucks is taken into corsideration. Remarkable is a record which allows us to report that among other things, we are still using two Mack trucks purchased in the Spring of 1921. Our crawler tractors, after a great many years of tenacious service, and the Chevrolets, even the 1929 purchase, are still bar ging out every day the earrings of ho est dollars for the City of Attleboro. Without question, a serious and positive irspection should take place and while it would be impossible to spare the number of our units with the present complete program as laid down by the City and Federal aid projects, there certainly is the soundest kind of argument for replacing at orce several of these urits. The right is reserved in operating and supervising both in a positive and negative manner the operations of these vehicles, but the record is very definite in weighing the truth of the fact that the equipment has produced in a class by itself, far in advance of anything we know of, in returrirg dividends to the City for the in- vestments, during the severest kind of work which can be expected of these types and kinds of vehicles.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.