USA > Massachusetts > Essex County > Andover > Town annual report of Andover 1898 > Part 4
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Hay Scales,
25 00
Water Carts,
630 00
Memorial Day,
200 00
Dog Tax, (two years)
1157 25
Notes Paid,
89000 00
Drinking Fountain,
113 07
Park Commissioners,
197 19
250th Anniversary,
806 00
Ridge Street,
513 10
Maintenance,
4400 00
Sinking Fund,
825 00
Abatement of Taxes,
899 61
Overseers' Orders :
Almshouse Expenses,
4491 42
Almshouse Repairs,
306 20
Relief Out,
6796 34
State Aid,
1857 00
Military Aid,
192 00
Cash on Hand,
722 14
$197005 27
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WATERWORKS.
George A. Parker, Treasurer, in account with the Town of Andover.
DR.
Balance on hand, January 12, 1897,
$1654 21
Maintenance, 4400 00
Service-pipe,
4317 21
Redemption of Bonds,
5000 00
Interest,
6400 00
$21771 42
CR.
Orders paid,
$9744 03
Bonds Redeemed, (Nos. 37, 38 and 39)
3000 00
Interest on Bonds, 6360 00
Balance, deposited Andover Nat. Bank, 2667 39
-$21771 42
Two bonds and thirteen coupons have not been presented for redemption.
SINKING FUNDS. WATER LOAN. - DR.
Balance as per last report, Jan. 12, 1897, $4845 50
675 00
Received from Town,
Interest,
200 75
$5721 22
CR.
Deposited in Andover Savings Bank, $1805 15
Deposited in Central Savings Bank, 229 56
Deposited in Haverhill Savings Bank, 950 56
Deposited in Lowell Five Cents Savings Bank, 154 52
Deposited in Essex Savings Bank, 853 75
Deposited in City Institution for Savings, 643 32
Deposited in Broadway Savings Bank, 1084 39
$5721 25
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MEMORIAL HALL NOTES.
DR.
Received from Town,
$150 00
Interest,
3 00
- $153 00
CR.
Deposited in Lowell Institution for Savings,
$153 00
WARE SIDEWALK FUND.
Amount as per last report, ..
$87 89
Andover Savings Bank, interest,
3 52
$91 41
CR.
Deposited in Andover Savings Bank,
฿91 41
RICHARDSON FUND. FRYE VILLAGE SCHOOL.
Amount as per last report,
$1046 47
Andover Savings Bank, interest,
42 26
- $1088 73
CR.
Deposited in Andover Savings Bank,
1088 73
SPRING GROVE CEMETERY FUND.
Amount as per last report,
$550 00
Lawrence Savings Bank, interest,
22 22
Deposited in Lawrence Savings Bank,
$572 22
80
TRUST FUNDS FOR CARE OF CEMETERY LOTS.
Cash deposited in Andover Savings Bank,
$2000 00
Interest to January, 1897,
154 06
$2154 06
Paid for care of lots, 1897,
71 00
$2083 06
GEO. A. PARKER,
ANDOVER, Jan. 15, 1898.
TREASURER.
Cornell Fund.
Amount of Fund,
$5000 00
Deposited in Savings Bank,
5000 00
Cash on hand, 1897,
' $ 65 13 · 264 00
Dividends, 1897,
$329 13
Amount expended,
$258 27
Cash on hand,
70 86
$329 13
FRANK E. GLEASON, JOSEPH A. SMART, Trustees.
CHARLES GREENE,
ANDOVER. Mass., February, 1898.
Auditors' Certificate.
We have this day examined the accounts of the several Town Officers and find them correctly cast and satisfactory vouchers for all payments made.
The Town Treasurer has on deposit in the Andover National Bank six hundred and eighty-one dollars and twen- ty-three cents ($681.23), and forty dollars and ninety-one cents ($40.91) in cash, and twenty-six hundred and sixty- seven dollars and thirty-nine cents ($2667.39) to the credit of the water loan.
LOUIS A. DANE, GEORGE A. HIGGINS, CHARLES B. JENKINS,
AUDITORS.
ANDOVER, MASS., JAN. 29, 1898.
Sewer Commissioners' Report.
To the Citizens of Andover :
Your Board of Sewer Commissioners feel that they have done all in their power to enable them to place the whole question of a system of sewers for the Town before you for definite action, and in doing so a brief review of the question as it has been before the Town since the election of the Board, would seem desirable.
This Board was created at a special Town Meeting held May 22, 1893, the Town at that time electing a Board of Sewer Commissioners ander the provisions of Chapter 236, Acts of 1893. They immediately advised with the State Board of Health and secured the services of Mcclintock and Woodfall, engineers, to make a complete survey of the Town and plans and estimates of the various systems possible. The report of the engineers was substantially as follows :
" The report is accompanied by a map of that part of the Town of which we have made a study, and a set of profiles showing the levels on each street, and grade of proposed sewers with location of manholes, etc. The Town of Andover is made up of several villages. In our study we have planned for Main, Frye and Abbott Villages and Ballard Vale.
The main village lies on high ground, while the remaining villages lie along the banks of the Shawsheen River. After a careful study we have come to the conclusion that it was best to plan a system so that the sewage could all be dis- charged at one point.
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The area for which we have planned sewers is 1000 acres ; the present population is about 6200 ; we have planned for a future population of 15,000. Our main sewer is planned to carry 3,000,000 per day, or at the rate of 200 gallons per person per day. In figuring the size of our outlet we have allowed 75 gallons per day per person. As this will all flow off, say in 18 hours, we shall have a flow at the rate of 100 gallons per person per day. The amount of ground water that will find its way into the sewers is uncertain and depends on the character of the ground, and the care with which the sewers are built. Observations on existing sewers show that we may expect as much water from extraneous sources as we get from the houses. This gives us 200 gal- lons per person per day or at the rate of 3,000,000 per day for a population of 15,000.
The sewers are planned to carry only house drainage ; no surface water should be admitted. The surface or storm water can easily be taken care of by the present water courses. The cost of a system of sewers planned large enough to carry storm water would be about three times that of one planned to carry house drainage only. As the extra cost would be so large and the benefits derived so small from the building of a combined sewer, we recommend the building of a system for house drainage only. A careful study of the levels shows that the sewage can all be collected at a point on Haverhill street near Poorhouse Road. The sewers as a rule have good grades, the small sewers having a fall of 5 feet in 1000.
The question of an outlet has been one requiring consid- erable study. The natural outlet is into the Shawsheen River ; but this, on account of its small size and sluggish current, would not be a suitable point for a permanent outlet and probably would not be approved by the State Board of Health.
A second point where the sewage might be discharged is on filter beds along the bank of the Shawsheen below Frye
85
Village. The soil at this point is unfit for sewerage purifi- cation and would have to be removed and replaced by gravel drawn about a mile. These beds would cost from $6000 to $7000 per acre to prepare.
There is only available land enough to last a few years, and then the sewer would have to be extended to the Merri- mac River or a pumping plant put in and the sewage pumped to other land. We should not recommend treatment on land at this point.
A third point of discharge is into the Merrimac River by means of a sewer about three miles long, following the general line of the Shawsheen River. The sewer would be a 24-inch pipe laid on a grade of one foot in 1000. There will be a number of deep cuts and in several places the sewer will have to be built on an embankment, and in other places covered by banking over the sewer. This line will give a permanent outlet, and one requiring the minimum annual expenditure to maintain, as the Superintendent of Sewers can look out for this line as well as the sewers lying in town. The sewers should be provided with an overflow into the Shawsheen River for use when the Merrimac River is high. The outlet would be into the Merrimac River at the mouth of the Shawsheen River. If any trouble should arise at this point the sewer might be extended into deep water by means of an iron pipe.
In view of the large additional expense to continue the sewer to the Merrimac River we think it but fair to look for temporary relief. In this line we suggest a temporary outlet into the Shawsheen River at a point 1200 feet from Haverhill Street. The sewage could be brought to this point on such a grade that it could be continued to the Merrimac River at any time.
This outlet would require the building of a settling tank that would take out all of the solid matter, allowing only the soluble matter to reach the Shawsheen River. A small filter
86
bed could be built to receive the sludge or it could be com- posted.
While this method of disposal would not do as a permanent thing we cannot see why with constant attention it might not work all right until the amount of sewage became so great by extension of the sewerage system as to cause the river to be polluted. When this happens, or in case the Shawsheen River is used as a water supply, the outlet to the Merrimac would have to be built. The estimated cost of this scheme including the sewer from settling tank to Lowell Street, settling tank, house over tank, gates, 2-acre filter bed. drain, etc., is $6498 00 15 per cent. for engineering and contingencies 975 00
Total, $7473 00
If this outlet could be used for a few years it would give time for the building of sewers most needed. After these were paid for the Town could build the outlet and would not feel the burden so much as they would to build both at once. It is also well to consider that the interest saved will go far toward building the outlet when required into the Merrimac River."
This report was transmitted to the Town March 6th, 1894, and referred back to the Commissioners with instructions to report at the next annual Town Meeting. By vote of the Town at the annual meeting of 1895, the subject of sewerage was postponed to an adjourned meeting which was held March 20th, 1895, at which time your Board of Sewer Com- missioners presented the following report :
SUPPLEMENTARY REPORT OF SEWAGE COMMISSIONERS, MARCH 14TH, 1895.
To the Citizens of Andover :
Your Sewer Commission make the following report in addition to that made in March, 1894.
At that time the Commissioners published the report of the en-
87
gineers employed by them to make surveys and estimates for the whole town. From the report which they then made, the Commiss. ioners thought it might be better to seek temporary relief by enter- ing the Shawsheen River at a point below Frye Village, but on a thorough examination of the whole subject, including an equitable adjustment of assessments, they are unanimously of the opinion that the Town should be prepared to carry the outlet to the Merrimack, and in estimating cost, increase in taxation and assessments, this outlet has been figured. That part of the town which will require sewers in the next ten or fifteen years, lies on the east side of the Shawsheen River, and the whole of the occupied area of that portion of the town has been estimated.
The general laws relating to sewers and sewer assessments are very elastic, allowing the Town to pay from one-fourth to two-thirds of the entire expense, but in light of the fact that the benefits to be derived are largely felt by the abutters on streets in which sewers may be laid, the expense should fall largely on them. If the Town provides the outlet from Frye Village to the Merrimack it will have done its part and the remainder of the expense should be bourne by the abutters. This would mean one-third of the entire cost of the contemplated system that will be required during the next fifteen years ; viz : 79724 feet of sewers at an estimated cost of $166,490. The part to be bourne by the abutters would be 2-3X $166,490 equals $111,020, which divided on a frontage of 95,293 feet equals $1.17 per foot front, to be paid by the abutters, provided the Town bears one-third of the expense.
The probable effect on property owners will be
Interest on $55000 at 4 per cent.,
$2200
Care and superintendence,
800
Total expense, $3000
equal to a tax levy of about 65 cents per $1000. Should the Town pay but one-fourth of the expense, the assessment on abutters will be about $1.31 per foot front, and the tax levy be about 50 cents per $1000.
These figures, as regards assessments, are made from a careful study of that portion of the town mentioned, and ample allowance has been made for property not liable to assessment. In the matter of 'assessments there are several ways in which they may be ad-
88
justed; by assessing the frontage per lineal foot and by areas, are the more common ways. Your Commissioners are of the opinion that the most equitable way is a combination of both of these plans, assessing a part as a frontage tax and a part by the area contained between the street line and a line parallel to and 120 feet distant from it, no portion of said area to be assessed twice. This method leaves no room for question as to the proper size of corner lots, etc.
Whatever may be the method of assessment, the burden can be lightened by apportioning the assessment through a number of years, and the Legislature has, in case of various towns, allowed apportionment extending over a period of ten years, and there is no reason why Andover should not enjoy the same privilege. The Commissioners recommend, first, that that portion of the system of sewers planned by Mcclintock & Woodfalls, lying on the east side of the Shawsheen River, together with the outlet to the Merrimack River, be adopted by the Town, and that the Commissioners be in- structed to proceed with the construction of that portion of the system which they deem for the best interests of the Town.
Second, that the Commissioners be instructed to petition the General Court for an act empowering the Town of Andover to lay and maintain an outlet sewer through the Town of North Andover and City of Lawrence, authorizing the issue of bonds to an amount not exceeding $50,000 in excess of the debt limit as prescribed by law, and authorizing the apportionment of sewer assessments into ten annual payments.
That the citizens may fully understand the cost of the proposed improvement, a few estimates are appended. These estimates are ample and are made for sewers of a capacity for a population of 15,000.
Total cost of complete system as planned by McClintock & Woodfalls, $232000 00
Cost of system as recommended by Com- missioners, 166490 00
Cost of portion of system for which there seems to be an immediate necessity :
75645 00
With tank emptying into Shawsheen,
With outlet into Merrimack, 127500 00
Estimated assessment, town paying 1-3 cost, $1.17 per front foot
€
89
Estimated assessment, town paying 1-4 cost, $1.31 per front foot Estimated increase in tax rate, town paying
1-3, 65 cents
Estimated increase in tax rate, town paying
1-4, 50 cents
The tax for a few years, or until assessments shall be made, would be about three times this amount per year.
At that meeting the second recommendation contained in this report was acted on, and it was
Voted, That the Town, by its Sewer Commissioners, petition the General Court for authority to establish a system of sewerage with an outlet therefor through North Andover and Lawrence into the Merrimac River ; for authority to issue bonds for construction of its system of sewerage in excess of municipal indebtedness; for authority to apportion sewer assessments over a term of years, and to do all other acts necessary and convenient to the introduction of sewerage in said Town of Andover.
Voted, That five hundred dollars be raised and appropri- ated for the use of the Sewer Commissioners in further investigating the matter of sewerage.
Owing to an undesirable section which was enacted in the bill which was presented to the General Court, your Commis- sioners did not deem it advisable to ask the Town to accept it, and turned their attention to the devising of some scheme whereby sewage could be treated economically, and visited Brockton and Worcester to investigate the practicability of applying the schemes which are there in use to the needs of Andover, but could not satisfy themselves as to the propriety of their application. They reported to this effect at the annual meeting in 1896, and asked authority to petition the General Court for the repeal of the undesirable section of the Andover Sewer Act. The Town
Voted, That the Town instruct the Sewer Commissioners to appeal to the Legislature to repeal Section 15 of Chapter 386, of the Acts of 1895, entitled "An act to authorize the
90
Town of Andover to establish a system of sewerage." Owing to its being late in the session the General Court referred the bill to the Legislature of 1897.
Your Commissioners during 1896, were mainly employed in investigating the various systems of purification, and visited Brentwood, N. H., for the purpose of seeing the " Glover System " in operation. This system proved in no way desirable for Andover.
At the annual meeting of 1897, owing to non-action on the part of the General Court, your Commissionors recommended that no definite action be taken. During 1897, Section 15, of Chapter 386, Acts of 1895, was amended by the General Court, and your Board of Sewer Commissioners feel justified in asking the Town to accept it as amended.
Practically starting where we left off in 1895, referring back to report of that year and the events of later date, we would recommend
First, That Chapter 386. Acts of 1895, as amended by Chapter 130, Acts of 1897, be accepted by the Town.
Second, That that portion of the system of Sewers planned by McClintock and Woodfall, lying on the east side of the Shawsheen River, together with the outlet to the Merrimac River be adopted by the Town.
Third, That the Town authorize the issue of Bonds to be designated The Sewer Loan, to the amount of eighty thousand dollars, the proceeds from sale of said bonds to be used for sewer construction.
Fourth, That the Sewer Commissioners be instructed to proceed with the construction of that portion of the sewer system which they believe to be a present necessity, together with a system of tanks emptying into the Shawsheen River at a convenient point below Frye Village.
Respectfully submitted,
E WM. S. JENKINS, J. L. SMITH, JOHN E. SMITH,
Sewer Commissioners.
Park Commissioners' Report.
To the Citizens of the Town of Andover :
In presenting their first annual report to the town, the Park Commissioners wish to express gratitude for a map which was put into their hands by the Selectmen of the town, containing accurate and minute details with reference to the Carmel Woods, and also valuable suggestions as to the prop- er way in which the woods might be developed for park pur- poses. The plan was of great value to the Commissioners, and they have availed themselves, so far as possible, of the suggestions contained in it.
With the limited amount of money at their disposal for the year 1897, they decided that it was clearly their duty to ex- pend the whole amount so far as it would go in opening up Carmel Woods. They accordingly laid out a carriage trail following, as far as possible, any existing cart trail, through the extreme length of the park, and in the middle of the park carrying the trail in an approximately circular form around the highest part of the woods, thereby making a central drive to which they have given the name of " The Outlook." Several narrow footpaths have been made by one of the Commissioners, and it is hoped that as soon as spring weath- er opens this work may be further extended. In opening the carriage trail they were greatly aided by the courtesy of Mr. John H. Flint, who gave to them the right to cross over a portion of his land adjoining the park land, thus giving to the park a suitable temporary entrance.
An account of the expenditures by the Commissioners for the year 1897 will be found at the end of this report.
It would be of very great value if such wood as is cut down could be sold and the proceeds taken to be used in
92
further development of the park, and for this purpose an ar- ticle is inserted in the warrant for the Town Meeting giving the Park Commissioners power to sell such wood as they may cut down.
There should be a considerable clearing out of underbrush, and dead wood throughout the twenty-nine acres, this being deemed necessary as preventing fires and as giving existing trees a better chance for growth. They would recommend also the provision of seats at various places in the park, and they believe that in order to produce the best results, trees, wherever growing close together, or undesirable trees inju- rious to the development of other trees, should be cut down. They also think that the existing carriage road should be widened so that teams could pass in either direction.
The entrance on High Street needs considerable work and expenditure of money in order to make it presentable and safe for passage, and it also seems desirable to have an en- trance to the park at some other place, and having this in view they have found out that an entrance can be purchased at the southwest corner of the park through land of Mr. John H. Flint including the street near the late residence of Mr. Joseph M. Bradley. This street and the continuation of it to the park will not only provide a new entrance to the park, but will give to persons going toward the park some of the most desirable views from high land that can be found in Andover. The price of this land, together with the land al- ready used as a temporary entrance, (comprising about 4 1-2 acres), is one thousand dollars, and the Commissioners ear- nestly recommend that this amount be expended for the pur- pose.
For the further prosecution of work in the park, cutting down trees and clearing out underbrush, they ask for the sum of one thousand dollars, lioping with that amount to be able to open up the territory and make it what it was in- tended to be : a park for the use of the citizens. In the fu ture only a small yearly expenditure will be necessary.
93
RICHARDSON FIELD.
The Commissioners report in regard to this field, which contains 155,542 square feet, that the owners ask seven cents per square foot for this land. The small lot of land, owned by Mr. J. W. Berry at the northeast corner of the Richardson field containing upwards of 18,000 square feet, can be purchased for about $1,250. Upon the figures above named the determination of the cost of the two lots is made easy and amounts to the somewhat large sum of $12,137.94. These prices might possibly, in case of an actual purchase, be very much reduced, and, in case of a failure between the Commissioners and the various owners to agree upon a price, the land could be taken by right of eminent domain and the final determination of price be left to the award of a jury, and it is highly probable that a jury would allow for both lots a value much below the sum above named.
Considerable time has been devoted to plans looking toward the development of Richardson field either as a park or for playground purposes. The great obstacle to the de- velopment of the field is, of course, the brook, and also the generally low situation of the land, which renders it, at cer- tain seasons of the year. almost impassable and which makes it generally moist. In order to drain the field it would be necessary undoubtedly to lower the brook and change its course. From the point where the brook enters the field to where it flows under the culvert at Bartlet Street there is a fall of over three feet. By taking advantage of this fall the brook could probably be lowered, sufficiently to give a prop- er flow to the water, and then covered over so that it would no longer be an obstacle to the full enjoyment of the field, or detrimental to the beauty of its appearance ; but whatever is done by way of lowering the brook will have to be supple- mented by raising the grade of the field, which can only be brought about by filling, and it is estimated by a competent engineer that on the average the field should be filled in about two feet above its present level.
94
In order, however, to make Richardson field an ideal source of beauty to the town, it should be made a portion of the grounds surrounding the school buildings on Bartlet Street, and in order to adapt it thoroughly to this purpose the street between Richardson field and the Punchard school field should be discontinued altogether, or if not discontinued should be raised up to such an extent as to make its existence there no detriment either to the beauty of the Richardson field or to its uses as a ball ground or general playground. For this purpose some considerable grading would be needed near the Punchard school, and the area of the park by the land taken from the Punchard school field could be very much increased.
In presenting the above particulars with reference to the Richardson field, your Commissioners consider that they have done all that they were required to do by the vote at the last Town meeting, and instead of recommending the purchase of the land, they prefer to leave the matter for the determi- nation of the citizens. Inasmuch, however, as the Richard- son field to-day has no houses upon it, they would invite the citizens to consider whether it might not now be a good plan for the town to take it and to hold it for such improvement as in time it may be deemed wise to make upon it.
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