USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Lincoln > Town Report on Lincoln 1951-1955 > Part 18
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PUBLIC WORKS
the work of replacing most of the 4-inch mains with 8-inch pipe and reduced the balance on January 1, 1950 to $3,700. A decline in pipe renewal in 1950 permitted some recovery in the balance to January 1, 1951, despite $3,900 in legal and engineering fees.
Expenditures for pumping facilities have been cared for as required out of revenue and accumulated surplus. The renewal and replacement of pipe has also taken place generally out of revenues or accumulated balances. In 1938, however, the Town borrowed $50,000 with 11/4% 10-year serial bonds which was used with surplus and a P.W.A. grant of approximately $45,000 to replace 71/2 miles out of the 29.2 miles in the system with large pipe. An earlier project in 1937 involving a P.W.A. contribution of $13,850 cost the Water Department $17,000, paid for out of accumulated balances. The final payment of in- terest and amortization of the 1938 bonds on December 1, 1948, left the Water Department free of debt.
With present rates, or with a system of metered charges which will produce the same general level of revenue, and assuming that the present supply of water is adequate, the Water Department is in position to continue its pro- gram of additions and replacements in the distribution system out of current revenues. Thus the extension of Town water to new roads, the replacement of 6-inch by 8-inch and 10-inch pipe, etc., could be undertaken as needed on a gradual basis. Should needs of this character be low, it. would be possible to reduce rates. Prudent financial management would suggest, however, the wis- dom of accumulating a substantial balance to meet the ultimate capital cost of an expanded water supply.
If capital expenditures to enlarge the water supply for ultimate requirements must be undertaken before a sub- stantial surplus has been accumulated, the Water De- partment may need to borrow again. Borrowing by the Town for the Water Department, by which the Town pledges its full faith and credit along with the earning capacity of the water system may somewhat increase the
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acceptibility of the bonds in the capital market. It would not encroach on the legal debt limit of the Town because water debt is self-sustaining and not met by tax liabilities.
It is probably safe to assume that the Town could bor- row a very considerable sum at 2 percent on 20-year serial bonds, of which one-twentieth was paid back each year. If this rate can be obtained, the following table shows initial, average and final cost to the Water De- partment of borrowing different sums:
COSTS OF BORROWING VARIOUS SUMS WITH 2 PER CENT BONDS 1/20 Repaid Each Year
Annual Amortization and Interest
Borrowing
Amortization
1st Year
Average
20th Year
$ 50,000 $ 2,500
$ 3,500
$ 3,000
$ 2,550
$100,000 $ 5,000
$ 7,000
$ 6,000
$ 5,100
$250,000 $12,500
$17,500
$15,000 $12,750
The table suggests that the Water Department could probably undertake capital expenditures costing $100,000 without requiring a higher level of income, so long as current additions and replacements for the distribution and pumping systems remained fairly low. If any sum substantially larger than $100,000 were to be borrowed and spent, the rate structure would have to be adjusted upward to produce a higher level of revenue. Abolition of the 10 percent discount now accorded users who pay their bills promptly would be a measure to raise a small amount of revenue, - perhaps as much as $2,000 a year additional, - but would probably somewhat delay col- lections.
The table may further be taken to suggest that any capital expenditure much in excess of $250,000 is likely to require a drastic increase in water rates or a period of borrowing longer than 20 years. Neither alternative holds much attraction. Even an increase in rates by 50 percent, which would raise income initially to the level of $30,000 a year, would probably be insufficient to sustain interest and amortization charges of $20,000 a year, with- out jeopardizing replacement needs.
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What of the Future?
There seems to be no real doubt that there are sig- nificant leaks in the system. The first step would be to determine their location and render the system tight. A loss of 20% of the water pumped is not abnormal. The evidence at hand indicates that our loss is much more than this.
Metering has already been started. It may take longer to complete than the first step. The reasons for metering have been stated earlier.
Since the two steps just mentioned might possibly post- pone the need of new sources of water beyond the fore- seeable future, the attempt to put price tags on new sources becomes rather academic. In spite of this, some consideration of the cost factors in a new source should be useful. There are now in sight four possible new sources :
1. Wells in southwest Lincoln, near Sudbury river.
2. Metropolitan District Commission.
3. Town of Wayland.
4. Hobbs Brook Basin.
The following factors will have to be considered in making a choice :
1. Cost of development of the source. This applies only to wells, since they do not now exist.
2. Cost of pumps, motors, pump housings, intakes, water treating equipment and incidentals. It is to be anticipated that this item will be very nearly the same for all sources.
3. Cost of installing piping between source and Town mains. Since longer pipe lines should be of larger diam- eter to keep friction losses within reasonable limits, we may expect the cost of this item to be larger per mile for longer lines.
4. From any source except our own wells we would have to pay for the water itself. The Metropolitan Dis- trict Commission is about to charge $50.00 a million
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gallons. From Hobbs Brook Basin we feel sure the charge would be under $32 a million gallons at this time (Decem- ber, 1951).
5. Cost of operation. Actual power costs and those for treating chemicals should not be very different regardless of source.
NOTE: Water from source other than Sandy Pond will al- most certainly require sanitary treatment immediately or very soon after the source comes into use. How long Sandy Pond water can be used without treatment remains to be seen. Each source will need its own treatment equipment and an increase in number of sources means an increase in supervisory personnel. Hence an advantage in the most efficient use of Sandy Pond is evident.
6. Maintenance costs. As a rough estimate, we may put this item at a fixed percentage of the total of items 2 and 3.
For the sake of argument, let us assume that competent engineering advice says we will eventually use Hobbs Brook Basin as a second source. Two actions might be undertaken by the Town.
1. We buy from the City of Cambridge an option allow- ing us to draw water from the Basin whenever we wish. Obviously a good many questions such as intake location and method of determining the price we pay for the water would be covered in the option.
2. We put the line up Trapelo Road in condition to act as the main carrying the water into Sandy Pond for storage. If the decision were reached early, this second action could be carried on over a number of years.
The possibility of one other action might be canvassed. Instead of washing out Concord's right to draw water from Sandy Pond by legislative action, might the right be bought up ?
The broad conclusion we may draw is that the water situation in Lincoln is anything but hopeless and not im- mediately critical ; that several courses of action are open to us.
In spite of the apparent complications of the problem, we are sure that when a decision is necessary, all the relevant facts as they stand, can be made clear.
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Finally, the undersigned as editor, is wholly responsible for the introductory paragraphs, the section on balance dates, the first half of that on meters and the section on the Future.
February 11, 1952.
CHARLES H. BLAKE
*
ADDITIONS TO THE REPORT - DECEMBER, 1952
The very dry summer of 1952 brought us face to face with the problem of the main from the pumping station to the storage reservoir. Sandy Pond was essentially full at the beginning of the drought and dropped its level relatively little. The record shows that the pumps were run 24 hours a day and delivered the full amount (1 million gal./day) to the main and occasionally over that. This rate was not enough to keep up with unrestricted use, hence the restrictions.
In its present condition the main will probably be adequate longer than present sources. However, the main must be adding deposits at an unknown rate. The present number of services indicates a restriction on the use of water for lawns and gardens about one year in three or four. When we come, with additional services, into an arithmetical balance the restriction will be necessary about two years out of three. This arises from the relation between the sizes and frequencies of deficits and surpluses in summer rainfall.
It should be considered that the obvious place to store water from any additional source is in Sandy Pond be- cause of its capacity and its altitude relative to possible sources. This being so, the main from the present pump- ing station to the storage reservoir will have to be re- placed before any new source can be of real use to the Town.
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WATER SUPPLY
The balance dates given in the main report and com- puted for December, 1950, were unchanged at the end of 1951.
In late September, 1952, Mr. Sumner Smith handed me the meter readings for 17 residential services, cover- ing the late winter, spring and summer. This included the dry spell. Using these as a basis, I estimate the loss from the system to be roughly 46 million gallons a year or about 35% of the water pumped. A full year on a larger number of meters will give a better estimate. In the late fall of 1952 Messrs. Newmann and E. S. Taylor conducted a delicate test of the tightness of the storage reservoir. It was witnessed by Messrs. Smith, Gilbert and Blake. We concluded that the reservoir is tight.
CHARLES H. BLAKE
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PUBLIC WORKS
Report of the Superintendent of Streets
The most troublesome problem encountered in 1951/52 was ice. Snow was light and was easily handled without undue inconvenience to the public, but conditions were such throughout the winter that ice formed on the roads quickly and frequently. Although the salt spreader pur- chased in 1951 was of material assistance in breaking up ice on heavily travelled roads, the equipment for spread- ing sand to protect traffic after a sudden icing condition and when temperatures prevented effective use of salt was inadequate to meet the conditions in early 1952.
The sand spreader, purchased at a cost of $1,650 pur- suant to vote and appropriation of the Town under Article 14 of the 1952 Annual Town Meeting, arrived too late to be of use until the winter of 1952/53. Operations so far have shown that, as expected, it permits more efficient application of sand, for the truck can move faster and the sand is spread thinner but more evenly so that more miles can be covered before reloading, and only two men rather than four are required on the truck. Although it is too early to tell how fast it can pay for itself, in- creased convenience to the public and safer travel for our growing and faster-driving population may be more important considerations than an exact determination of operating costs. Further observation of this equip- ment in use may indicate the advisability of buying another sand spreader before another winter.
Chapter 90 construction to which the State and County contribute was limited to completion of Bedford Road from approximately the intersection of Bedford Lane to Route 2A. The surface applied as specified by the State and County has met with such general approval that it will be used on Town resurfacing work to a considerable extent in spite of the somewhat increased cost.
The motor equipment now owned is adequate for the job. The Ford 11/2-ton Truck and the Chevrolet pick-up
12
STREETS
are new and the three White dump trucks bought just after the war are in satisfactory condition. The last pre-war truck was retired without replacement in 1952. It is possible that in 1954 the Town should start replacing the White Trucks, all of which are about the same age, so that we do not suddenly face the necessity of replacing all of them in one year.
The program of oiling Town roads was continued so that the present standard is maintained. This standard, however, is fast becoming inadequate and the Town may have to face increased highway appropriations. The older roads are high-crowned and narrow, leaving inadequate room for snow removel which results in complaints from citizens and produces hazardous conditions when there · is ice on the roads.
There has been unusual comment this winter on snow piled in driveways by the Town plows. It is admittedly annoying to the resident who wants to keep his own driveway open at all times, but so far there has been devised no method for removal of snow from narrow roads except by moving it to the sides, and a few minutes' reflection will indicate the impracticability of either try- ing to avoid piling snow in driveways or stopping to plow them out.
It is worth noting that during this period of inflation the highway appropriation has increased from $19,365 in 1941 to only $25,000 in 1953 - an increase of only 35%. Probably we are building up a backlog of deferred maintenance and improvement which must be met soon, but we recognize that during this period increased ex- pense of education has made it necessary to reduce all such expenses to a point below what they should be.
Respectfully submitted,
CLIFFORD BRADLEY, Acting Superintendent of Streets
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PUBLIC WORKS
Report of the Cemetery Commissioners
There are three cemeteries under the direction of the Cemetery Board :
1. The Burial Ground behind the Town House which was given to the Town by Deacon Samuel Farrar in 1760.
2. The Arbor Vitae Cemetery in the triangle bounded by Trapelo Road, Lexington Road and Old Lexing- ton Road, purchased by the Town in 1832.
3. The Lincoln Cemetery on Lexington Road including the Old Cemetery, given to the Town by Ephraim Flint in 1764, which had previously been a private cemetery.
The remainder of this cemetery was acquired by a gift of ten acres from George Bemis in 1883, and by purchase by the Town of two more acres in 1927.
Virtually all of the currently available lots are located in the last two acquisitions, which are known as the New Cemetery.
During the past year work on the cemetery grounds has been confined largely to regular maintenance involv- ing spring clean-up, mowing, and fall clean-up. · Certain soft spots in the roadways have been repaired, and more of this work is needed. There is an unexpended balance at our disposal for this work, so that no additional ap- propriation is needed now.
Additional lots have been surveyed recently in the New Cemetery, making a backlog sufficient to care for the Town's needs for several years to come.
A brief summary of the cemetery regulations may be useful to our fellow citizens :
1. Lots are for sale only to residents of Lincoln.
2. Lots are sold with the understanding that they may be graded immediately at the buyer's expense under
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CEMETERY COMMISSIONERS
the direction and approval of the Board.
3. All planting, setting of monuments, and any other type of work must be done under the direction of the Board.
4. Owners are encouraged to place Perpetual Care on their lots. The minimum amount is $150, but a sum amounting to approximately $1.00 per square foot of space is suggested for most lots.
Burials
January 7, 1952
Aubrey W. Burgess
January 10, 1952
Caroline Rogers
January 27, 1952
Anna R. Snelling
February 11, 1952
Lydia S. Brown
March 11, 1952
Dora Farrar Joseph S. Newell
May 8, 1952
May 24, 1952
Hannah A. Benjamin Iva S. Mann Edwin B. Rice
July 29, 1952
September 9, 1952
George Kolyshkin James Wood
October 16, 1952
October 17, 1952
Elizabeth P. Witherton
October 24, 1952
Ida M. Metcalf
October 27, 1952
Joseph Ross Farnsworth
Respectfully submitted,
GEORGE E. CUNNINGHAM, ROBERT D. DONALDSON, JAMES B. BILLINGS, Cemetery Commissioners.
NOTE: For Cemetery Perpetual Care Funds, see Ap- pendix.
July 11, 1952
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PUBLIC WORKS
Inspectors of Building, Plumbing and Wiring
The Inspectors of Buildings, Plumbing and Wiring are charged with the responsibility of maintaining the standard of construction set by Town By-Laws, State Law, and accepted sound practice. Generally speaking, no construction, remodeling or alterations of buildings may be undertaken until an application has been filed and approved by the appropriate inspector who must inspect the work from time to time and may order changes if the established standards are not being met. All ap- plications may be filed at the Town House.
Building permits issued during 1952 :
New residential buildings 39
New non-residential buildings 9
Alterations and additions 18
Moving 2
Tearing down 1
Fees collected $265.00
Plumbing permits issued during 1952 67
Fees collected $124.00
Wiring permits issued during 1952
82
Fees collected $99.50
Submitted by
M. ELIZABETH CAUSER, Clerk NILS P. SWANSON, Building Inspector (deceased)
WILLIAM M. DEAN, Wiring Inspector GLENNY S. CUTTER, Plumbing Inspector
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SCHOOL BUILDING COMMITTEE
Report of the School Building Committee
The addition to the New School authorized by the Spe- cial Town Meeting of June 11, 1951, was substantially completed during the year 1952 and should be ready for occupancy in January 1953. Parking space for cars has been provided to the south of the gymnasium and the field to the west has been regraded. This work will not be completed until Spring. We believe the Town has been fortunate in having the continued architectural ad- vice and supervision of the firm of Anderson and Beck- with and that the contractor, J. F. 'Rand and Son, has provided us with a well constructed building.
Considerable thought has been given to the accoustic qualities of the Assembly Hall-Gymnasium which should prove highly satisfactory. We wish to express the Town's appreciation to Mr. and Mrs. Pearson Hunt for the gift of a fine old weathervane which will be placed above the school's main entrance.
The Committee would like to call to the attention of the Town the fact that another addition to the building, when built, will leave only slightly more than the original Ball Field as play area. This will not be consistent with the maintenance of a good diamond for adult use nor will the area be adequate for a school of this size. It is our feeling that steps should be taken while the land is avail- able to acquire additional acreage both for protection of the present plant and to provide an adequate recreation area for adults and pupils. When this is considered the question of access to the school from both Sandy Pond and Baker Bridge Roads for pedestrians and bicycles must be faced.
ELIZABETH SNELLING ELLIOTT V. GRABILL ANDREW J. DOUGHERTY PEARSON HUNT JAMES DeNORMANDIE
Education and Recreation
Report of the Library Trustees
Lincoln Public Library opens its doors in 1953 for its sixty-ninth year. To the older inhabitants of the Town, the Library is taken for granted, since during that time it has been one of the physical and cultural landmarks of the Town. Some watched it being built, and have seen its influence on the educational and recreational life of the community expand until today it compares favor- ably with the libraries of similar towns.
There are many newcomers to Lincoln in the past few years. Some find the Library a pleasant place to spend a few hours and marvel at its completeness for a small town library; others expect it to be the counterpart of a large city library with complete reference files on every subject. Obviously, the latter is impossible; the former is complimentary ; something between should be our aim.
A short history of the Library may be of interest. In 1798 a group of Lincoln people formed the "Lincoln Social Library Society." A committee consisting of the Reverend Stearns, a Mr. Hoar, a Mr. Farrar, a Mr. Wheeler, and a Mr. Tarbell framed its by-laws. Lineal descendants of these men still are benefactors and par- ticipants in the Library operations. In 1869 Mrs. Eliza Farrar, wife of Professor John Farrar, Lincoln born, be- queathed her library as the beginning of a "public library
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LIBRARY
for the inhabitants of Lincoln." George G. Tarbell built the present building and gave it to the Town in 1884. A true "public library" then came into existence, and such it has been since. The deed of gift named three life trustees to serve with the then Chairmen of the Select- men and School Committee, ex officio. The life trustees appoint their successors, and the Chairmen of the Select- men and School Committee function with them as trus- tees. The librarian is selected by them annually. The present librarian, Mrs. Farrar, is the daughter-in-law of one of the original life trustees and has ably filled that position for twenty-two years.
The care of the building and the maintenance of the library services are part of the educational responsibilities of the Town, as are the schools. Each year the trustees estimate the financial needs, the Town Finance Com- mittee considers them, and the resultant request is voted on in Town meeting as are the requests of other depart- ments.
The Town Trust Commissioners have in their care approximately $10,000 in funds that over a long period of time have been given or bequeathed to the Library. None of these funds are very large; several are of $100 or thereabouts. Each fund represents a desire on the part of the donor to do something tangible for the people of Lincoln. Most of the larger gifts are for books only, and only the income from such can be used. This income amounts to about $200 annually and is used. Of a few of the gifts the principal may be used, some only for books, other for general purposes. The tendency has been to utilize the latter for special purposes.
Throughout 1952 the Library was open three after- noons and evenings a week. This seems to have been fully justified, since the Librarian's report shows an in- creased circulation. The usual maintenance of the in- terior and grounds, repairs to the chimneys, cleaning the cesspool, etc., have been attended to as well as minor incidentals. All of this was handled within the appro- priation.
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EDUCATION AND RECREATION
A situation that should be met in the not too distant future is the fact that the Library is being outgrown. Though this has been apparent to the trustees, they have realized the need for increased school facilities and the resultant strain on Town finances. Nevertheless, the Library is a part of the educational structure of the Town and its needs should also be considered.
The Library bookshelves are full; recently new one ; have been added, and there is little room for more. Pos- sible conversion of heating from coal to oil can make usable otherwise wasted basement space, some of which could be converted to a much needed children's reading room. This latter is recognized as a real necessity by the trustees for several years. It is our hope to make it an accomplished fact soon.
Many friends of the Library have contributed in serv- ice, gifts, and exhibits during the year. We are grateful, and express our hope that their interest will continue. Mr. David Mann has supervised the operation of the tower clock; and the Fire Department helped to replace the hands. The Garden Club and various individuals have placed flowers and interesting exhibits in the book room. One juvenile user of the Library made a stool ladder to reach the upper shelves. Acknowledgment of the many gifts is made in the list following. If any have been omitted, it is hoped the oversight will be forgiven.
Donors to the Lincoln Library, 1952
Mrs. L. B. Anderson
Lincoln League of Women Voters
Rachel Billings
Mrs. Walter Lovejoy
Mr. C. V. Briggs
Mrs. R. S. Meriam
Mr. Paul Brooks
Mrs. Lester Monks
Laurie Cannon
Dr. John P. Monks
Concord Free Library
Allan H. Murphy Ethan A. Murphy
Mr. E. R. Davis
Mr. F. W. Denio
Stephen E. Murphy
Mrs. James De Normandie
Miss K. O'Sullivan
Mrs. Roland Robbins
Mrs. Robert L. De Normandie Mr. R. J. Eaton Mrs. N. W. Fradd
Mrs. Sumner Smith
Rev. C. M. Styron
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LIBRARY
Mrs. John B. Garrison
Mr. G. G. Tarbell
Mrs. H. R. Healey, Jr.
Mrs. E. S. Taylor
Mrs. Stanley Heck
Mrs Arthur E. Thiessen
Mrs. E. W. Herman
Mrs. Robert Thorson
Mrs. Chester Jones
Mrs. Henry Warner
Mr. H. B. Kane
Miss Elizabeth F. Wheeler
Mrs. W. T. King
United States Steel Corporation
Lincoln Garden Club
E.I. Dupont deNemours Company
LIBRARY STATISTICS - 1952
Number of volumes, January 1, 1952
16,022
Number of volumes added by gift
135
Number of volumes purchased
390
Number of volumes withdrawn
701
Number of volumes, December 31, 1952
15,846
Number of borrowers, December 31, 1952
839
Number of days open
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