USA > Massachusetts > Bristol County > Attleboro > Reports of town officers of the town of Attleborough 1934 > Part 15
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207
ANNUAL REPORT
The rank and file of people in thinking of public affairs can appreciate ac- complishment when it comes to watching actual labor performed with either men or machines. The same rank and file, meaning the people who really pay the bills, are so busy earning their own living that by and large they find it difficult to understand the serious, silent work of planning and co-ordinating the detailed problems thrust upon this department locally by the superior forces of the national government. The writer can also understand how difficult it is for these people not in immediate touch with the mental part of these problems to see and ap- preciate the intricacies involved in carrying out our primary duty as a municipal department in protecting in a multitude of phases work problems which confront this community and the tax-payers who support and maintain it.
You can readily understand it is doubly difficult for "Mr. Average Citizen'' to have the problem brought home to him with the proper force of his viewpoints locally and nationally, because of the fact that during the year 1934 the national burden to be carried in taxes was postponed through borrowing while the local burden was immediate and pressing. As an integral part of the municipal life of the community with its established credit, which has reflected a considerable glory on all our department efforts, I am pleased to inform you the entire personnel is proud of our record of accomplishment, in spite of unusual burdens to be expected during these times. We have been much too busy giving service for the best interests of this community, in excess of that usually required from municipal employees, to complain. We solicit your full knowledge and fair consideration, comparatively or otherwise, on our results as produced with funds as provided. We further solicit your earnest attention to the problem present of maintaining our own unit costs, with the shortened unsymmetrical production results which surround us as a very positive outcome of our national alphabetical experimentation. The actual immediate benefit you have knowledge of. The unhealthy surcharge you cannot overlook as it is facing every citizen in this industrial section of the country and will have to be reckoned with.
I am most respectfully reporting that at no time either in making up the contract, carrying out its obligations, or any other phase of its execution, has the writer of this department participated in the Layne-Bowler well work, between the City and the Bowler well people, so called. The city government and the Mayor made the decisions and carried them out insofar as this department has any knowledge thereof.
PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT
Constantly and in excess of regular hours our administrative personnel, as represented by our office force, has with a spirit unparalleled and unequalled in public service locally, given freely of their time and energy, far in excess of what could be normally reasonably expected.
Our people should realize and appreciate the fact that when hundreds of thousands of dollars of Federal money are being expended under the super- vision of this department, of necessity this department must care for the details which go with this work. Of course, everyone realizes that while this special Federal program has the front page our usual duties in our street, water and sewer departments, have to be taken care of in the office as well as in the field.
Whether or not the office force has done its part can be registered fairly and positively in the affirmative by the absence of routine or unusual complaints concerning the service given our public therefrom.
Too much cannot be said by and large in praise of the very splendid co- operative spirit extended to our office force by most of the people dealing with them. Human nature being what it is and the need for our service being set at the high standard that it is, with the necessity of taking our people daily into consideration would seem in its successful results to be highly complimentary to the persons directly concerned.
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It is only fair to state that for the extra work added to this department, over which we have no control, we have been undermanned. It is earnestly hoped that the sense of proportion on our office work will be restored by definite decisions from those having control of the factors, federal or otherwise, which affect our tasks.
ENGINEERING DIVISION
Continually throughout the year our engineering force, consisting of an engineer and an assistant, a draughtsman, and for a very short period of time a rodman, with such labor as it was possible to absorb with payroll allowance, was kept continuously busy.
Continued sacrifice of legal time off was given by this personnel toward maintaining progress of our constantly increasing work. Few people, without essential training, can realize the importance of an engineering force, particularly in an expanded program such as we have been coping with.
Upon several occasions effort was made by the writer, in conjunction with the Mayor's office and the E. R. A. authorities, to enlarge our available engineer- ing facilities, through a Federal project. Consistently, those higher up at Boston in charge of the E. R. A. overruled us with limitations already set under established regulations for the state. In spite of this fact we continued to try to obtain this extra help, going to considerable time, detail and study to show that circumstances local to Attleboro, particularly with regards to trained engineers, were not com- parable to those cummunities which were used as a basis in setting up E. R. A. engineering regulations.
While not denying the basis of our argument the Federal authorities refused to change the rules which would permit us the expansion we were seeking.
These same restrictions hampered us in expanding our City Survey program. The common sense of the proposition was with us but the established regulations were against us. The net result was the ruling out of the engineering projects we so greatly needed.
Line and grade on our great number of projects was taken care of. Such survey work as was possible, coupled with practical design, also took up con- siderable time of the force at hand. The carrying out of the government desires, city, state and federal, was organized so that even though extra time was needed weekly from all of us, the work was kept moving.
The very fact that expansion commensurate with the increase in work usually required from the engineering side of the projects had to be sacrificed is sufficient proof that in the years to come our records and planning, to be as efficient as we would like them, must be worked at unceasingly to catch up with present accomplishment and projects for the future.
The multitude of detail, different work and its type, kind and location, passing through the engineering office cannot be enumerated here as it becomes highly statistical upon delving into it. The record is plain from our engineering standpoint as to the insufficiency of this part of the Federal set-up which has been responsible for our local work policies.
RESURFACING
This sub-division of maintenance and operation under the highway account was originally projected as $8,000.00.
From the beginning of the year work of the most practical and essential character, a great deal of which could be handled with this account, was obtained from C. W. A. and E. R. A. Necessarily, when the Federal government aban- doned making provision for materials on aid projects, they insisted this burden be carried by the City, in order that projects could be obtained. With circum- stances of this kind and an unknown and unbalanced welfare labor account to
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ANNUAL REPORT
co-ordinate and with the necessity of not only providing materials but equipment and transportation for work, the intricacies of protecting the City's interests, particularly under this sub-division, were many and called for deep study and capable experience to incorporate first, for the benefit of the community, secondly for the accounting of Federal funds and thirdly, for the protection against waste of anything that had been contributed by the City, bearing in mind the fact that the contribution was kept at the lowest economical minimum which would permit work accomplishment to become a fact.
Thus it may be understood that the general account of this sub-division, amounting to $1,129.78 was made up very largely of material and included a labor item of only about 5%. This last mentioned item included labor engaged in taking up truck charges, barn charges, emergency frost-heaves, removing a tree blown down across the highway on Peck Street, repairing the compressor, which had been used on resurfacing jobs, handling some roller steel and special iron work, unloading roller coal, making the gravel banks safe, etc.
Material, on the other hand, remained high and was utilized for the most part as a contribution, direct or indirect, for which the City could obtain credit on Federal projects. The items paid for under this heading included motor oil, grease, alcohol, a portion of tractor replacement, charges on trucks, air hose, roller coal, a portion of garage coal, distributed tire charges, one hundred dollars as directed by the ordinances paid to the Water Department for a sprinkling charge, distributed tractor and truck repairs, a heavy roller weld, work on large trucks, legal warning notices for posted roads, shoeing for horses, kerosene, a small amount of gasoline used under this account, also some telephone bills. The return on this expenditure, when analyzed equitably, is one so favorable to this city that I challenge, without fear of successful contradiction, any com- parable record of accomplishment or its likelihood of repetition.
The sum of $439.10 was expended in work done on the second group of streets listed under the resurfacing heading. These streets numbered twenty- three and were located in all parts of the city. The work done on these streets covered mostly small rush jobs, frost-heaves, washouts, etc., these being usual occurrences which the maintenance of a highway system such as ours constantly imposes on the forces at our command.
The largest item listed in this group is for Thacher Street in the extent of $135.55, $119.01 of which was for labor and $16.54 of which was expended for tar cover where the surface had been excavated and gravel filled below the Tiffany School in March.
Similar conditions and road foundation made necessary an expenditure of $81.09 on Brown Street westerly from Robinson Avenue, also $59.51 on County Street and $50.78 on Clifton Street. Considerably more expensive tasks were accomplished, particularly on these streets, due to the fact that it was necessary to maintain them for heavy loads even during the spring thaw, in order to carry out other operations essential to maintaining the Federal aid payroll during a difficult period for the kind of work in hand.
The record indicates that on the nineteen remaining streets listed in this group skillful co-ordination materially reduced the City's expense to a very low unit plane, bearing in mind the quantity of work obtained.
Before outlining work on the top group of streets listed herein under the sub-division of resurfacing, I deem it important to take up the figures making up the account.
The 1934 budget was approved on April 17th, after work had been going on in a sizeable quantity, not only for emergency purposes but on Federal aid projects, a considerable part of the City's contribution for which this sub-division supplied.
On July 17th the Municipal Council voted $3,016.00 additional on a recom- mendation from this department, to and through the Mayor, for the resurfacing sub-division and $800.00 additional for drains maintenance, said communication outlining in detail the expenditures on South Main Street, between Lamb Street
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ANNUAL REPORT
and Thacher Brook, Peck Street and Oak Hill Avenue, which these funds were to replace. On August 13th the Municipal Council voted a transfer of $2,232.34 from special accounts to the highway maintenance and operation account, after detailed explanation to and through the Mayor to provide replacement for funds expended on lower South Main Street and to permit work expansion on this highway.
On July 3rd a refund of $1.00 was received from J. S. Holden covering the cost of damage to a lantern. On July 18th a refund of $7.46 to this account was made by the Farm Service Stores, Inc., to cover returned supplies for horse feed. In addition we had a total of $44.11 refunded to this account as its proportion from the State Department of Corporations and Taxation. Thus the total allocated was $13,300.91. The advantages obtained for the City's expenditures contributed herefrom were extensive and were understood by the city government.
As the year lengthened projects supervised by the department continued and expanded under this account, without overdrafting our highway maintenance and operation funds. The expenditures necessary to carry out our own work and that assigned on approved Federal projects under this sub-division, however, went to $15,832.75. It is readily noted that we have already accounted herein for the expenditure of $1,129.78, under the general account, and that of $439.10 covering streets where emergency washouts, frost-heaves, etc., were taken care of, making a total of $1,568.88.
Detailed record will be appreciated covering the expenditure of $14,263.87 on our larger jobs of resurfacing. A small item of $37.28 allowed the smoothing- off of an E. R. A. widening project on Clifton Street, consisting of $27.23 for labor and the balance in the amount of $10.05 chargeable for transportation material. These charges accrued in June, tapering off a widening project. It is to be hoped these widenings may be carried further and expanded to the extent of permitting the construction of a proper foundation for Clifton Street. It will take more funds than this department has had available.
On Brown Street, between Robinson Avenue and Edgewood Avenue, we have had on the hill a deep, very narrow cut, which filled easily with snow and would not permit plowing as there was no chance to push it. This cut was widened on both sides. We had hoped to get it back to the line as projected as the desirable one for Brown Street but we were unable to obtain the agreements duly required. Thus all of the task we would like to have done was not per- missible. The excavation was hard-pan and rock. This improvement is definite- ly a boon to traffic and is the beginning of a project which should be obtained without delay. Easterly from the cut, toward Edgewood Avenue, other widening such as was possible and could be fairly included in the project, was taken care of. Of the $228.31 expended, the labor charge amounted to $160.13, practically all of which went toward the drilling and supervision, while the balance of $68.18 went toward the cost of materials, transportation and equipment. This work was carried on as part of an E. R. A. project, the Federal government carrying the bulk of the labor payroll.
The County and Tiffany Street C.W.A. project carried over from last year into the fore part of this year, worked out with excellent results. The task when com- pleted showed a proper intersection built on the lines developed by the relocation adopted by the city government, with a foundation excavated properly to take care of the necessary gravel refill worked to line and grade and surfaced ade- quately with tar. This project opened up the view at this location and removed a vicious hazard for motorists, particularly truck-drivers.
The work included a stream change and control with the catch basins and drainage required to complete a first-class job, also with circle curb as a wheel guard to control turning traffic at the intersection. Stumps were removed where required to properly finish the work. The task was completed practically as outlined in the project prior to the passing of the budget and along lines where this account absorbed considerable of the City's contribution as authorized by the Mayor. The job as a whole was quite invloved in that many different kinds
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of operations in the public work were required, although none of them could be considered large. The City supplied the supervision of necessity in organizing and handling the green help. Also, of course, the City supplied truck-drivers, steam-roller men, skilled compressor help, transportation and the material necessary to complete the work.
It is to be hoped that work will be permitted both on County and Tiffany Streets to obtain continuous and progressive improvement which will allow these streets to be utilized for a definitely growing public convenience.
East Street work, also a C. W. A. project carried over from last year, was in process at the beginning of the year. The project included essential drainage which was well completed, with a substantial foundation properly graded with adequate and ample gravel refill, rolled and tar-treated, all of which, with the water pipe improvements made necessary at James Street and East Street by this work, contributed substantially to our record of accomplishments on the East Street work. The City supplied the supervision, transportation and some materials essential toward the completion of the work not listed as being supplied by the Federal government on this, one of the first C. W. A. projects we were able to have passed late in 1933. All of the work was done as skilfully as was possible, in a very hard winter. Tar treatments had to wait until spring. We sincerely hope that a low retaining wall can be constructed on the northerly side of this improved part of East Street and final disposition made of the land ad- jacent thereto, the title for which is still in doubt.
There was obtained on this East Street work at a remarkably low cost to the City a highly desirable improvement long craved by the many people in this thickly settled locality. It is a real value for the public convenience and judging from comment is appreciated greatly.
On Lindsey Street, which was included as part of a widening project, a great deal was accomplished to improve a busy, narrow lane at small cost to the City, which was absorbed by this account. Substantially, work of this kind on this street should be continued and in some places expanded to include a sensible road foundation which would support the twelve-month traffic this high- way now has to sustain.
On North Avenue and West Street, after the Mayor consulted a Council committee and had made an agreement with the Interstate Transit Corporation, an E. R. A. project was handled, which, after eliminating the rail structure, allowed excavation of the very poor foundation thereunder and refill with road gravel brought to line and grade, shaped and rolled, after which a surface treat- ment with tar was provided for. Rail removal on North Avenue had been started on the side track some years since. This railroad work was unsatis- factory, insofar as the ties were not removed except in a very few cases, being left in some places with spikes protruding by the railway company.
Work on this project on West Street at North Avenue as agreed upon by the Interstate Transit Corporation people did have these people remove rails but in spite of objection by the Superintendent most of the ties were not touched. As a net result, when our men came along, the burden of tie removal and disposi- tion was taken care of by them in the public interest. Abutting property owners along the work were given first chance at obtaining ties from the locality close to their property, insofar as it would have been more expensive than the wood was worth to have done otherwise, unless it were absolutely required. From the balance left over ties were sent to the City Farm, some of the soundest to our yards, either for the purpose of blocking, kettle or drying wood, saving the department some money.
The Interstate Transit Corporation people had started by the end of the year, in accordance with their agreement as stated above, to make payments as agreed upon. Insofar as North Avenue is about 5,150 feet long and the rails were on West Street for about 1,770 feet, the size of the task handled by hand can be appreciated.
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ANNUAL REPORT
Bearing in mind the type and kind of project and considering all of its amplifications, I am sure sensible people will appreciate the fact that a positive benefit was obtained by the City.
The recorded cost to this department on this project of $932.80 for this year records a real investment of unadulterated permanency. As the cold weather came upon us arrangements were made, on the recommendation of this department, to and through the Mayor, from funds available within the depart- ment for the year 1934, to create a special fund which was set aside to permit the surface treatment needed to be carried out on the work as soon as the weather permitted in 1935. Of the $296.53 recorded for materials, $64.20 of this is a gravel charge at 10c per yard paid to the New England Deaconess Association. All of this amount was utilized by them toward paying water charges owed to the City. Additional gravel as needed for the upper end of the work on North Avenue was purchased from Henry Richardson and was paid for from a special account not included under this heading called "North Avenue Gravel," in the amount of $93.70. It will be necessary to make provision for further payments to take care of Mr. Richardson's final gravel bill as measured and checked by our engineers.
The truck-drivers, expert supervision and labor, of necessity supplied by this department, totaled an expenditure of $636.27, so that this account contributed the sum of $932.80 to the project as outlined.
There was difficulty and delay in co-ordinating to plan final disposition of this work, insofar as it applied to West Street, definite recommendations for which had been made on August 6, 1934. The final vote providing funds and ordering work for the complete West Street job was not passed until the meeting of the Municipal Council on November 15, 1934, the Mayor approving same on November 24, 1934. It can be readily understood therefore how the winter season interrupted the completion of this work, although it was left in such shape that no substantial hardship was imposed upon the public. To do a first-class construction job on North Avenue, with its length and width and very poor foundation, will run into considerably more money than the city government has authorized up to the present time. Record rail removal from the North Attleboro line down North Avenue, West Street and North Main Street as far as Simmons' Crossing, a total distance of approximately 7,880 feet as an ac- complished fact.
On Oak Hill Avenue, between Reynolds Avenue and Park Street, a C. W. A. project obtained late in 1933 and outlining A. B. C. rail removal, made necessary a surface improvement. The need cannot be underestimated when it is borne in mind that for practically all of this distance the street car line was double track and that the used vehicular part of the highway ran over one of these tracks for a large part of this distance. Promptly in the spring of the year and with full knowledge of the need for economy the road work followed the rail removal and gravel refill in a manner so well taken care of and carefully planned that it not only met the approbation of the residents of the locality but the Hospital authorities as well. Many people went out of their way to compliment the department on the improvement and on their consideration in taking care of all of the features which entered into the work from the standpoint of the public. This sub-division carried as the City's contribution material charges amounting to $678.68 and a labor charge for supervision and expert help as required in the amount of $362.27 to make up a total of $1,040.95. Of the materials charges, $444.52 was utilized to pay for Tarvia, while the balance was for cement, stone, gasoline and other small transportation charges.
At Park Street an intersection job was worked out which has given definite satisfaction for an extremely low expenditure. While this whole improvement has served its purpose and has been a high-grade investment for the City it is of necessity essential that it be taken care of and the treatments required be given as needed in order that the maximum benefit from the work already done can be obtained for the City.
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ANNUAL REPORT
While Oak Hill Avenue is segregated in this report from Park Street it should be borne in mind that Federal contributions included it under the original ap- proval as outlined in the project submitted for rail removal and gravel refill, which forced this highway surfacing work within the limits outlined and gravel refill from the Park Street bank which was included in the project. It was necessary during the course of the work to remove some trees in obtaining the street section. In other places the sidewalk outline was grubbed and excavated in such manner as to prevent surface water from interfering with the progress of the work. A great deal of benefit was obtained with no expenditure in excess of that required to maintain the project for the City. It should be still further noted that immediately the work was done a practical continuation of the project was sought which would expand and capitalize all work already performed in the interests of the public safety and convenience under the rail removal project.
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