USA > Massachusetts > Essex County > Andover > Town annual report of Andover 1935-1939 > Part 38
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 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50
194
Later in the afternoon, samples were taken from the high and low-service reservoirs, and traces of this vegetable growth (uro- glena, an organism of the Protozoa group) which caused the taste, were discovered only in the low-service reservoir. That night, the low-service reservoir was treated with twelve pounds of copper sulphate.
The following morning analyzed samples showed the water had apparently been cleared. On Sunday, the 18th, samples again showed slight traces of uroglena and an additional one-hundred- pound copper sulphate treatment was given the water near the in- take. On the following day, samples indicated that the growth was increasing, and the State Board of Health advised that the water be treated with nine hundred pounds of copper sulphate over an area of approximately ten acres. The Town of North Andover kindly lent an outboard motor thus facilitating treatment over this large area. The copper sulphate was put in a bag and trailed from the stern of a boat.
Analyzed samples the following morning showed further treat- ment unnecessary.
Relative to the above, the following letter was received by the Board of Public Works:
To Mr. Charles T. Gilliard,
September 17, 1938
Superintendent, Board of Public Works, Andover, Massachusetts
DEAR SIR:
In response to your request received by this Department on Friday, September 16, 1938, for its advice in the matter of com- plaints relative to odor and taste of the water supply of the town of Andover, the Department of Public Health has caused micro- scopical examinations to be made of the water of Haggetts Pond.
The results of the microscopical examinations showed that the water contained large numbers of the microscopical organism Uroglena, an organism of the Protozoa group, which may impart a fishy or oily odor and taste to the water but which is not known to this Department to be a cause of sickness. Accordingly, the water of Haggetts Pond was treated on the afternoon of Septem- ber 16, 1938, with copper sulphate.
195
The Department is advised that the odor and taste of the water in Haggetts Pond has now disappeared. Should this odor and taste recur, the Department will advise you relative to further treatment if you so request.
Respectfully, ALTON S. POPE, M.D. Deputy Commissioner of Public Health
The office of the Board of Public Works now located at 32 Park Street has proven inadequate on account of the limited area. On account of this fact, the Selectmen have been requested to ask for money in their budget to erect quarters upstairs in the Town House. Plans have been drawn and submitted to the Selectmen for their approval. The estimated cost of this work is $1200.00.
On October 2nd, a blow-out pipe on the twelve-inch water main on Shawsheen Road sprung a leak. To repair this, it was neces- sary to replace an old piece of six-inch pipe on the blow-out line which had been pushed out of joint. This new section was strapped to the main pipe to prevent a recurrence of the leak.
A Works Progress Administration project to provide employ- ment for professional, technical and clerical persons to assist in making an engineering survey of underground structures in the Town of Andover, Essex County, was started Monday, Novem- ber 21st. This work includes field and office surveys and maps of existing sewer and water systems showing horizontal and vertical locations and physical characteristics.
During 1938, 376,011,000 gallons of water were pumped at the Haggetts Pond Pumping Station, a daily average of 1,030,167 gallons. The steam turbine was in operation 4492 hours and 35 minutes and the electric pump 1009 hours and 5 minutes, making a daily average run of 15 hours and 4 minutes.
On September 23rd, the greatest amount of water was pumped, namely, 1,888,000 gallons and the maximum weekly consumption was that from September 21st to September 27th inclusive, during which time 11,721,000 gallons were pumped. The water rate collections for 1938 amounted to $48,914.20.
To provide for adequate Water Maintenance during 1939, we
196
recommend an appropriation of $28,000.00, to be divided sub- stantially as follows:
WATER MAINTENANCE
Salaries and Labor
$15000.00
Coal and Power
7900.00
Engine Oil, Chlorine, Etc.
500.00
Auto Maintenance
1200.00
Repairs, Boilers, Pump and Property
950.00
Office Supplies
1000.00
Reservoirs and Telemeters
300.00
Supplies, Miscellaneous, Tools and Equipment
900.00
Secretarial Services
50.00
Office Rent and Light
200.00
Total
S28000.00
Services and meters increased during 1938 as follows:
Services in use January 1, 1938
2631
Services installed during 1938
36
Services in use January 1, 1939
2667
Meters in use January 1, 1938
2494
Meters installed during 1938
36
Meters in use January 1, 1939
2530
During the year 1938, 1226 feet of service pipe were laid on private property and 813 feet on Town property. A number of services were renewed during 1938.
We recommend $10,600.00 for Water Construction in 1939 to be divided substantially as follows:
WATER CONSTRUCTION
Labor, Renewing Services, Etc.
S6000.00
Meter and Meter Parts
1200.00
Pipe of all Kind
1840.00
Brass Goods, Hydrants, Etc.
1500.00
Office Rent
60.00
Total
$10600.00
197
EXPENDITURES 1938 WATER MAINTENANCE
Appropriation Refund for Petty Cash Advance
$28500.00 50.00
Approved Bills
28378.82
Balance
$ 171.18
WATER CONSTRUCTION
Appropriation
$10800.00
Approved Bills
10662.16
Balance
$ 137.84
SUMMARY COST OF CONSTRUCTION
WATER DEPARTMENT
CLASSIFICATION
APPROVED BILLS
CREDITS
NET COST
TOTALS
Office Fixtures
$ 718.65
Telemeters
2892.19
Telephones
184.77
Teams
583.65
Pipe Distribution
470918.81
Service Pipe
$ 3132.00 10662.16
1388.67
$9273.49
173466.10
Water and Land
6687.23
Suction Pipe
1309.46
Reservoirs
16985.82
Coal Shed
806.97
Grading Land
2739.12
Workshop
1271.88
Building Pumping Station
9610.14
Pumping Plant
74907.51
Construction Expenses
10182.64
Tools
4715.34
Totals
$777980.28
SEWER DEPARTMENT
Sewer Mains
83455 ft.
Cost to Abutters
$156076.00 365550.58
Jan. 1, 1939
Cost to Town
28550.00
198
RECEIPTS
Water Rates Water Construction Paid to Town Treasurer: Water Rates Water Construction
$48914.20
1388.67
$48914.20
1388.67
$50302.87
$50302.87
Article No. 3, Special Town Meeting of October 3, 1938 (Gould Road) Appropriation Approved Bills
$1100.00
1099.58
Balance
$ . 42
Article No. 16, Regular Town Meeting
(Removal of old Dean steam pump)
Money Received from Salvage
$ 125.00
Approved Bills
123.57
Balance $
1.43
HIGHWAY DEPARTMENT
The following table shows the snowfall for the year 1938:
0
January
24.5 Inches
February
8.5 Inches
March
1.5 Inches
April
1.0 Inches
November
10.5 Inches
December
2.5 Inches
Total
48.5 Inches
It is the consensus that the amount of money spent on sanding and snow removal has been excessive and in the future, less of this work will be done, in fact only the most treacherous spots will be sanded and much less snow will be hauled away from points around the Town. During the early part of April, snow fences located at points along roads where drifting occurs were
199
taken down and stored until November when they were again erected.
After the spring cleaning, the following roads were treated with "Tarvia Retread": Orchard Street, Bancroft Road, Gardner Avenue, Porter Road, Lupine Road, North Street, Osgood Street, Clark Road, Lovejoy Road, Magnolia Avenue, Dufton Road, Canterbury Street, Enmore Street, Carisbrooke Street, Topping Road, Juliette Street, Bartlet Street, and sections of Wildwood Road, Holt Street, Hidden Road, Woburn Street, Abbot Street, Sunset Rock Road, Tewksbury Street, Salem Street, Jenkins Road, Central Street, Reservation Street, Phil- lips Street, Dascomb Road, Carmel Road, Bellevue Road, Burn- ham Road and Corbett Street.
The following roads were shaped up, gravelled, rolled and given an application of "Tarvia B" and finally an application of "Tarvia Retread" and honed: George Street, Johnson Road, Cedar Road, Lewis Street, Buxton Court, Stratford Road, and sections of Cheever Circle, Coolidge Road and Walnut Avenue.
Boutwell Road was gravelled, rolled and given an application of "Tarvia B." This work was done so late in the season that re- tread applications will not be applied until 1939.
Beacon Street from the corner of Chandler Road to the Law- rence Line, and Haggetts Pond Road from a point in front of the property of Mr. Fred Hardy to Boutwell Road and a section of Haggetts Pond Road from Bellevue Road to Lowell Street were shaped up, gravelled, rolled and given an application of "Tarvia Retread" and honed. This work was done under Article 12 of the 1938 Warrant.
A number of guide posts have been erected as aids to motorists and a number of fences repaired and painted.
The following roads have been widened and gravelled in places by W.P.A. labor: Gray Road, Tucker Road, High Plain Road, Jenkins Road, Wildwood Road, Vine Street, Prospect Hill Road, Woodland Road, Spring Grove Road, Rocky Hill Road, Boston Road, Gould Road, Sunset Rock Road, Rattlesnake Hill Road, Woburn Street, Reservation Street, Cutler Road, Chandler Road, Brundrett Avenue, Gleason Street, Greenwood Road, Cross Road, Pleasant Street, Bailey Road, Brown Street, Bellevue Road, Blanchard Street, Blood Road and Woodhill Road.
A drainage system has been installed on High Street near the
200
corner of Flint Circle. The materials were purchased by the Town and the labor supplied by the Works Progress Administra- tion. Sections of High Street and Flint Circle were regraded in the vicinity of this drain.
A low spot in front of the North School was filled, eliminating a bad drainage condition there.
A culvert on High Plain Road through which Fish Brook flows has been widened 10'-6", the sides being built of stone and the top consisting of reinforced concrete slab. This work, with the exception of the pouring of the slab, was done by the Works Progress Administration.
An old stone culvert located at the corner of Prospect Hill Road and Salem Street was removed and replaced by a thirty- six inch reinforced concrete pipe. This work was done by the Works Progress Administration and the pipe supplied from the old Burnham Road culvert which was replaced by a thirty-nine inch pipe. The remaining thirty-six inch reinforced concrete pipe was hauled to Woodhill Road where it will replace another old stone culvert which has outlived its usefulness.
A twelve-inch Akron and corrugated iron pipe culvert that crosses Beacon Street and High Plain Road was lowered on an average of two and one-half feet. This makes it possible to drain the cellars of houses in this vicinity. The labor was supplied by the Works Progress Administration and the Welfare Department.
The installation of 1230 feet of thirty-nine inch reinforced concrete drain pipe between High Street and Burnham Road was started June 24th. The Andover-Shawsheen Realty Com- pany paid twenty-five hundred dollars toward the cost of the pipe and also secured the rights of way. The remaining materials were paid for by the Town and the labor was supplied by the Works Progress Administration. This installation will relieve the Shawsheen Village culvert which has been considerably over- taxed during heavy rains.
Bad drainage conditions have been remedied at the corner of Avon and Chestnut Streets; on River Street, in front of the pro- perty of Mr. Neil Cussen; at the corner of Lowell and Lincoln Streets; on Haverhill Street near Sterling Street; back of Mr. Russell Lord's property on Summer Street; back of the pro- perty of Mr. James Marshall on Washington Avenue; back of
201
the property of Mrs. George Ward on Lowell Street and through the property of Mr. Gerard Chapin.
To prevent drain water from washing out steps built by the Andover Village Improvement Society at the "Dell" located at the corner of School Street and Lupine Road, a twelve-inch Akron pipe was installed from a point on School Street where a new catch basin was built across the grass plot to Lupine Road, thence along Lupine Road to Rogers Brook.
Scraping of gravel roads commenced April 4th and a number of these roads were afterwards rolled giving them a more lasting surface.
Curbing was laid on South Main Street in the vicinity of Mr. Sawyer's house. The materials and labor were paid for by Phillips Academy.
Curbing was laid near the vicinity of the main entrance to the Spring Grove Cemetery. The Cemetery Committee paid for all the curbing and its installation on their property, the Board of Public Works paying for the remainder of the work.
Tilting cement curbing on Andover Street in the vicinity of the playground and on Center Street between Church Street and Tewksbury Street was reset and gutters in the way of this curbing were gravelled and tarred.
Settled curbing on Enmore Street in front of the property of Mr. Chester A. Johnson was also reset.
Heavy rains, starting July 18th and continuing to July 29th, caused a number of washouts which required immediate attention. The rainfall, which was a record one for the month, is as follows:
July 1 - . 06 Inches
July 20 -. 15 Inches
July 2 - . 23 Inches July 21-2.79 Inches
July 10 - . 05 Inches July 22 -. 30 Inches July 12 - . 84 Inches July 23-1.00 Inches July 13 - . 14 Inches July 24 -. 41 Inches
July 14 - . 01 Inches July 25 -. 25 Inches
July 18-2.45 Inches July 27 -. 79 Inches
July 19 - . 40 Inches July 29-2.59 Inches
Total 12.46 Inches
Earth on the sidewalk in front of the property of Mr. Albert Knowles on Coolidge Road was removed so that a retaining wall
202
could be built. The work other than supervision and trucking was done by welfare labor.
Hidden Road at the corner of Main Street was widened at the point where it becomes a one-way street.
Corrugated iron pipe culverts have replaced stone culverts that have outlived their usefulness on the following streets: Haggetts Pond Road, High Plain Road, Blanchard Street, Jenkins Road, Rocky Hill Road, Gould Road, Rattlesnake Hill Road, Spring Grove Road, Reservation Street and Pleasant Street.
The "Tarvia-Lithic" sidewalks on the south and north sides of Phillips Street were built with welfare labor, with the exception of supervision and spreading. All materials were paid for by Phillips Academy.
The sidewalks and roadway in front of the John Dove School were repaired. This work was done by the Board of Public Works and welfare labor. Materials and labor other than welfare labor were paid for by the School Department.
A new stretch of "Tarvia-Lithic" sidewalk was built on the south side of Cuba Street and the following sidewalks were re- surfaced: sections of Salem Street, Park Street, Elm Street, Highland Road, Walnut Avenue, Essex Street and the north side of Punchard Avenue.
A number of tar sidewalks were resurfaced at both the Abbot and Phillips Academies by the Board of Public Works' labor, the Academies paying for all labor and materials.
The rebuilding of the wall pushed over by a falling tree during the hurricane near the Barnard Estate on Main Street was re- built; the labor being supplied by the Works Progress Adminis- tration.
The State gave the Town fifteen hundred dollars to care for roads requiring gravel fill.
During the windstorm of September 21st, a number of trees were blown over, and one hundred and thirteen men were em- ployed by the Board of Public Works that night and the following morning to clear the roads in order that traffic could function. An emergency was declared the following morning by the Federal Government, and the Town was given the use of W.P.A. labor. This labor was employed on emergency work until September 30th when most of the debris was cleaned up and disposed of. The Federal Government, however, requested that the Town
203
make out a project to care for the remaining work to be done, such as removal of trees and stumps, filling of holes made by the removal of stumps, loaming over of same and repairing stone walls. Accordingly, projects were submitted on Saturday, October 1st and considerable work was done before the Federal Govern- ment closed the project. A number of stumps remained standing after the project was closed and money left over from Article 7 of the Special Town Meeting held October 3, 1938 was used by the Town help to complete the work.
Repairs to roads built under Chapter 90 were started in Sep- tember. These repairs consisted of painting the fence on Main Street near the Railroad Tracks, filling in of joints with asphalt material on the following cement roads: Main Street, Union Street and Haverhill Street; gravelling and tarring the sides of Haverhill Street on the hill where washouts kept continually re- curring and filling in other sections of these roadsides with gravel. The State reimbursed the Town for one-half the cost of the work, which was added to the Highway Maintenance Ap- propriation.
A W.P.A. project for widening corners where the angle of vision is poor was approved. This work was started in September and to date, a number of bad corners on Andover Street have been removed.
At the Special Town Meeting held October 3rd, one thousand dollars was appropriated to blast ledge on roads worked on by W.P.A. labor. Edward Topping was the low bidder and after the blasting, some of the stones were hauled to Jenkins Road where stone walls were built to replace the old wooden guard rails.
To provide for adequate Highway Maintenance for 1939, we recommend an appropriation of $54,000.00, to be divided sub- stantially as follows:
HIGHWAY MAINTENANCE
Salaries, Labor, Teams and Trucks
$29300.00
Tarvia, Oil and Asphalt
11000.00
Gravel, Sand, Stone and Patch 1450.00
Scraping Roads and Equipment
1500.00
Horses and Wagons Upkeep
500.00
Auto Maintenance
875.00
Catch Basins and Drains
1000.00
204
Signs, Fences and Stone Bounds
500.00
Bridges
500.00
Sidewalks
5000.00
Tools, Supplies, Equipment and Miscellaneous
2000.00
Secretarial Services
50.00
Office Rent and Light
325.00
Total
$54000.00
EXPENDITURES 1938
Appropriation
$52550.00
Chapter 90 Refund
457.72
$53007.72
Sidewalks
$ 2748.46
Bridges
178.35
Fences and Bounds
312.48
Catch Basins and Drains
763.13
Tools, Supplies and Equipment
2424.02
General Maintenance
45635.48
Chapter 90 Maintenance
936.44
Total Expenditures
52998.36
Balance
9.36
$53007.72
$53007.72
SANDING AND SNOW REMOVAL
During the winter months, the Town of Andover could not keep Main Street ploughed the same as the State Highways be- cause of lack of a scraper plough. Many complaints were entered and after investigating, it was learned that a machine called an Austin "77" Grader was ideal for doing this type of work and also for ploughing slushy roads, and in the summer time, it could be used for scraping and building gravel roads at a big saving to the Town.
Accordingly, the Board of Public Works entered into a con- tract with the Alexander Supply Company to hire a so-called "77" to do these various types of work at a rate of seven dollars
205
.
per hour for ploughing snow and three dollars per hour for all other types of work (not including operator and fuel).
The contract protected the Town as it stated the money spent for hiring this machine would go as part payment for same and after the rentals paid amounted to the cost of the machine, the Town could vote to accept the machine.
Before the Board entered into this contract the Finance Com- mittee was consulted, and they agreed that renting this machine and allowing the cost of rental to go as part payment was good judgment on the part of the Board of Public Works.
This contract also stated that the Alexander Supply Company should pay for all repairs, but it was also understood that eventu- ally, the cost of these repairs as stated above would be added to the cost of the machine, and the Town would have to pay in rental the cost of repairs which meant deferred payments. When repair bills came in, and the Board was cognizant of the fact that the repair bills would be added eventually to the cost of the machine, they paid these bills to the extent of four hundred forty-two dollars and eighty-five cents so as not to defer payment. This, however, was in violation of the contract.
When the State auditors checked up on the contract, they came to the conclusion that the Alexander Supply Company should assume the repairs as stated in the contract.
A joint meeting of the Town Counsel, the Alexander Supply Company, Board of Selectmen and the Board of Public Works was held at which it was agreed to cancel this original contract, and that the Alexander Supply Company should repay to the Town all expenditures for repairs, namely, four hundred forty- two dollars and eighty-five cents, and a new contract was drawn which gives the Town an option to purchase this grader, which option this Board will execute when the Town Meeting author- izes such purchase.
If the Town does not wish to accept this machine at a Town Meeting for the small amount due, the Alexander Supply Com- pany will only be too glad to take the machine back, and the Town would be the loser to the extent of the present value of the machine even though they have had the use of the machine for the prevalent rates.
We recommend an appropriation of $15000.00 (subject to change) for Sanding and Snow Removal, $2500.00 of which is to
206
be available for the purchase of snow removal equipment, if necessary, at the discretion of the Board of Public Works.
Out of the above appropriation $118.00 is to be used to reim- burse the State for the Town's share for plowing Lowell Street and Haverhill Street.
EXPENDITURES 1938
Appropriation
Transfers
$15000.00 2741.00
17741.00
Approved Bills
17740.51
Balance
$ . 49
Allotment under Provisions of Chapter 498, Acts of 1938 $1500.00 Approved Bills 1454.57
Balance $
45.43
Article No. 1-Special Town Meeting of October 3,
1938 (Blasting)
Appropriation
$1000.00 998.34
Approved Bills
Balance $
1.66
Money appropriated to be used with W.P.A. and Wel-
fare labor
$18417.00
Approved Bills
18397.38
Balance $
19.62
Article No. 7, Special Town Meeting of October 3, 1938 (Storm Emergency) Appropriation
$ 7000.00
Approved Bills
6993.50
Balance $ 6.50
207
Article No. 12, Regular Town Meeting (Hard Surfac- ing Roads) Appropriation Approved Bills
$ 5000.00
4967.63
Balance
$
32.37
Article No. 38, Regular Town Meeting (Diverting
Drain)
Appropriation Approved Bills
$ 4500.00 4441.77
Balance
$
58.23
Article No. 8, Regular Town Meeting (Ford Truck) Appropriation Approved Bills
$ 620.00
571.70
Balance
$
48.30
(Allowance on old truck)
$
55.00
Article No. 9, Regular Town Meeting (Plymouth)
$ 810.00
Appropriation Approved Bills
695.00
Balance
$ 115.00
(Allowance on old car)
$
75.00
Article No. 10, Regular Town Meeting (Ford Dump)
Appropriation
$ 1030.00
Approved Bills
1016.00
Balance 14.00
(Allowance on old truck) $
180.00
SEWER DEPARTMENT
The sewer manholes of the outfall sewer line in Lawrence were repaired and the pipe cleaned.
The sewer pump at the Sewer Pump House on Riverina Road was reconditioned and worn parts replaced.
208
The motors at. the Sewer Pump House, along with other elec- trical apparatus damaged during the flood, were repaired.
The Merrimack Boiler Works was employed to weld a break measuring over 4'-0" long in the eighteen-inch sewer main on Riverina Road.
The sewer manhole covers on hard-surfaced roads constructed during 1938 were brought to grade.
A sewer service was installed at the Richardson School on Lowell Street. This work was done by welfare labor and the materials purchased by the Playground Committee.
To provide for adequate Sewer Maintenance and Construction, we recommend an appropriation of $5,900.00 to be divided as follows:
SEWER MAINTENANCE AND CONSTRUCTION
Labor, Salaries, Etc.
$2650.00
Light and Power
2000.00
Sewer Pipe, Tools, Etc.
800.00
Maintenance of Buildings, Equipment and Cleaning Pipe
414.00
Office Rent
36.00
Total
$5900.00
EXPENDITURES 1938
SEWER
Appropriation
$6950.00
Labor, Salaries
$3048.62
Light and Power
2032.23
Sewer Pipe, Tools, Etc.
735.08
Maintenance and Buildings
Equipment and Cleaning Pipe
353.28
Rent
36.00
Outfall Sewer Repairs
321.07
Total Expenditures
6526.28
Balance
423.72
$6950.00
$6950.00
209
PARK DEPARTMENT
Stone dust was placed on the paddle tennis courts at the Play- stead and the bleachers repaired and painted.
Stones have been placed around the Ballardvale Playstead to prevent cars from crossing the field. Labor was supplied by the Works Progress Administration.
Both playsteads were rolled in the spring by a roller lent to the Town by the Andover Country Club.
The playground apparatus at the Ballardvale Playstead was painted.
The fence at the Shawsheen Park was repaired and given two coats of white paint. In addition, seven missing sections of this fence were replaced.
Marl has been placed on the baseball diamonds at both the Ballardvale and Andover Playsteads. Due to the wind erosions, this work is necessary every few years.
The cutting of the lawns at the following places comes under the Park Department:
Park at corner of Whittier Street and Chestnut Street 4.9 Acres
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.