Town annual report of Braintree, Massachusetts for the year 1893, Part 7

Author:
Publication date: 1893
Publisher: The town
Number of Pages: 288


USA > Massachusetts > Norfolk County > Braintree > Town annual report of Braintree, Massachusetts for the year 1893 > Part 7


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1 length suction hose and spanner.


2 crowbars.


1 pinch bar.


1 hand saw. ·


1 dog chisel.


5 diamond point chisels.


157


2 cold chisels.


2 sets calking tools and tool box.


2 yarning irons.


1 calker's hammer.


1 6-in clip and clamp screw.


1 6-in clip, in poor order.


1 striking hammer.


1 hand hammer.


1 doz. stone drills and wedges.


1 wheel lead furnace and kettle.


1 poker for furnace.


1 small lead kettle.


2 ladles.


1 pipe laying derrick and fall for same.


1 large rope fall with self-locking appliance.


2 rope straps.


2 oak skids.


1 sledge for rock work.


97 lbs. of rope.


3 gate wrenches.


1 pair hydrant tongs.


3 hydrant wrenches.


11 lanterns and globes.


¿ of a barrell of clay.


10 lbs. of yarn.


1[large pair wood clamps for hydrants.


3 water pails.


1 extra ¿- grate for lead furnace.


1 dredging scoop and 2 handles ..


1 wrench for Coffin valve seats. .


1 22-in. hose nipple for Coffin hydrants .. ENGINE AND BOILER STOCK.


10 second-hand pump springs, bronze. 48 composition pump spring bolts. 3 hand hole plate gaskets. 12 tons Cumberland coal.


1.58


5 lbs. round lead packing. 200 lbs. cotton waste. 5 lbs. Jenkins' packing. 2 lbs rubber packing. 4 lb. Tupper's packing. 7 lbs. Eureka packing. 4 furnace door linings. ¿ can Gradey's polish. 6 bottles Standard oil polish.


1 set Knowlton's rod packing, 3-3 x2 ins. 1 set Knowlton's rod packing, 23x17, ins. 1 hand brake for boiler feed pump. 12 socket wrenches for pumps. 2 S fork wrenches.


MAIN PIPE STOCK AT PUMPING STATION-GLOBE SPECIALS.


3 branches, 4x4x4 ins.


1 plug, 4-in.


2 sleeves, 4-in.


7 branches, 6x6x4-ins.


1 Y branch, 6x6x6-ins.


1 sleeve, 6-in.


1 6x6x6-in. T, damaged.


1 45° bend, 6-in.


4 tapped plugs, 6-in.


2 plugs, 6-in. 2 plugs, 8-in.


2 branches, 8x8x6-ins.


3 reducers, 8 to 6-in. 4 sleeves, 8-in.


2 plugs, 10-in.


1 reducer, 10 to 6-ins.


1 10x10x6-in T, damaged foundry special.


1 branch, 10x10x6ins., foundry special. 1 sleeve, 12-in.


1 branch, 12x12x4-ins.


159


3 12x12x6-in. Ts, damaged foundry specials.


6 lengths 4-in. cast pipe.


3 lengths 6-in. cast pipe.


1 length 10-in. cast pipe,


4 lengths 12-in. cast pipe.


17 lengths 10-in. cast pipe, cracked.


1 length 12-in. cast pipe, cracked.


15 short pieces of 4-in. cast pipe.


50 short pieces of 6-in. cast pipe.


2 short pieces of 8-in. cast pipe.


6 short pieces of 10-in. cast pipe.


7 short pieces of 12-in. cast pipe.


1 Coffin gate hydrant, in good repair.


1 Coffin gate 8-in. hydrant, to be repaired.


4 Whittier Machine Co's. hydrants, worthless.


1 Coffin hydrant valve improved make.


5 Coffin hydrants valves and seats in good repair.


3 Coffin hydrants valves and seats to be repaired.


1 No. 6 gate box base, round.


3 No. 160 gate box bases, oval.


6 No. 16 gate box bases, round.


1 rubber valve for Ludlow hydrant.


2 wrenches for setting Ludlow hydrant valves.


1 large box wrench for Coffin hydrants. 20 lbs. pig lead.


AT ALMSHOUSE SHED.


1 Rensselaer gate, 6-in.


11 Rensselaer gates, 8-in.


5 Rensselaer gates, 10-in.


14 Rensselaer gates, 12-in.


3 plugs, 4-in.


1 branch, 6x6x4-in., globe special.


1 branch, 6x6x4-in., foundry special.


1 plug, 8-in.


5 sleeves, 8-in.


160


1 sleeve, 10-in. 1 plug, 12-in.


PUMPING STATION STORE ROOM.


SERVICE STOCK.


27 ft. ¿- in. galvanized iron pipe.


103 ft. ¿- in. galvanized iron pipe.


116 ft. 1-in. galvanized iron pipe. 48₺ ft. 14-in. galvanized iron pipe. 6 ft. 2-in. galvanized iron pipe. 235 ft. 3-in. enamelled iron pipe. 50 ft. 1-in. enamelled iron pipe.


36 ft. 2-in. enamelled iron pipe.


431 lbs. 5-in. lead pipe, 23 lbs. per ft. 54 lbs. 3-in. lead pipe, 3 lbs. per ft. 3 ¿- in. galvanized elbows.


6 galvanized Ts. 8


66 galvanized caps.


7 6 galvanized cap drop Ts. 7 galvanized unions.


8 } to 2-in. galvanized reducing coupling. 16 2-in. galvanized elbows.


14 galvanized Ts. 7


66 galvanized drop Ts. 3 66 galvanized close nipples.


3 galvanized unions. 66


9 66 galvanized caps.


27 66 galvanized plugs. 27 galvanized couplings.


8 galvanized 45-degree elbows.


1 14-in. galvanized 45-degree elbow. 1 11-in. galvanized union.


161


13 2-in. galvanized Ts.


ENAMELLED IRON FITTINGS.


8 &-in. enamelled 45-degree elbows.


27 enamelled elbows.


13 66 enamelled Ts.


9


66 enamelled drop Ts.


12 enamelled plugs.


6 66 enamelled caps.


12 “ enamelled close nipples.


10 1-in. enamelled Ts.


7


66 enamelled plugs.


2 enamelled close nipples.


6 enamelled unions.


80


6 enamelled couplings.


1 1x1x3-in. enamelled T.


4 14-in. enamelled close nipples. 4 enamelled couplings.


1 enamelled iron plug.


1 1}x14-in. enamelled reducing bushing.


3 2x2x3-in. enamelled iron Ts. 13 2-in. enamelled iron plugs.


99 2-in. enamelled iron couplings.


3 2-in. enamelled 45-degree elbows.


8 2-in. enamelled iron elbows.


COMMON IRON FITTINGS ..


1 34-in. 45-degree elbow.


1 114x12-in. reducing bushing.


1 11/2-in. plug.


1 11/2 x14-in. reducing bushing.


2 2x34-in. reducing bushing.


5 2x1-in. reducing bushing. 8 2x11/2-in. reducing bushing.


BRASS FITTINGS ..


4 34-in. corporation stops.


162


1 3-in. cellar stop and waste lever handle.


37 " female solder nipples.


4 66 Chapman valves, S. W. T. handle.


2 Chapman valves, S. W. W. handle. 66


4 male solder nipples.


2 sill cocks.


1 1/2 in. plain faucet.


1 male solder nipple.


10 5/8-in. sidewalk stops for lead pipe.


1 1-in. cellar stop and waste.


1 1-in. sidewalk stop and waste.


3 1-in. corporation stops.


1 114-in. solder nipple.


1 2-in. cellar stop and waste.


1 34-in. lead connection. 1 1-in. lead connection.


1 2-in. lead connection.


1/2 doz. lockups seals for stop and waste valves. 15 wheels for shut-off rods.


Small piece leather for washers.


5 12-in. crown meters.


16 34-in. cast iron pipe clamps. 6 Buffalo service boxes.


MISCELLANEOUS


7 roofing slates.


15 lbs. sheet lead.


1 iron drip pan.


1 2-qt. measure.


1 Fairbanks' scales complete.


1 22-ft. ladder.


1 20-ft. 6 in. ladder.


1 16-ft. ladder.


1 9-ft. ladder.


1 lawn mower.


7 pieces 8-in. drain pipe.


163


1 piece 6-in. drain pipe.


1,300 ft. hemlock lumber.


1 hand oil lamp. barrel air slack lime.


1 barrel air slack cement.


2 carpenters' horses.


1 iron wheelbarrow.


1 sand screen.


1 old wood wheelbarrow, damaged.


2 contractors' wheelbarrows, damaged.


3 coke barrels.


1 mortar hod.


1 top to democrat wagon.


1 5-gallon oil can.


2 window sashes, 9x14-in. lights.


1 old heater coil.


1 ft. trash wood.


600 lbs. cast iron junk.


1 length 10-in. drain pipe.


2 reflecting lanterns and lamps. 1 rack for pipe fittings.


20 bolts, 22x2 in. 36 lbs. miscellaneous bolts.


1 pentagon nut for coffin hydrant. 88 lbs. of old brass. 1 blank flange, 18-in. diameter.


1 old Coffin hydrant, rod and valve. 99 lbs. wrought iron junk. 2 small pieces wire netting. 1 floor mop. 1 gallon black paint.


1 qt. boiled oil.


1 pt. liquid drier.


1 lb. vermilion paint.


1 varnish brush.


1 large flat brush.


164


1 small flat brush.


37 12-in. washers.


1 pair Union flanges, 212-in.


11/2 lbs. spikes.


2 lbs. nails.


1 large eye bolt.


MISCELLANEOUS TOOLS.


1 hay scythe and snath.


1 brush scythe and snath.


1 cycle.


3 garden hoes.


1 steel rake.


1 hay rake.


1 work bench.


1 Smith combination vice.


2 hammer handles.


1 iron square.


1 saw and horse.


1 plumb bob.


3 files, in poor condition.


1


165


REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON DRAINAGE AND SEWERAGE OF THE TOWN OF BRAINTREE.


The town appointed this committee at the April meeting, 1889.


Within the first year of the appointment of this committee it called on the State Board of Health to enquire whether the Board would not send to Braintree an engineer or other competent mem- ber of the Board to view the town and suggest a plan for its drainage and sewerage. The Board said they had no authority to take such action and after several interviews and presentations of plans by the committee, during that and the next year, the Board positively declined to render the assistance asked for. The Board required the employing of an engineer who should prepare com- plete plans of the contemplated work and these plans must be submitted to it for approval or rejection.


In April, 1890, your committeee asked of the town an appro- priation of one hundred and fifty dollors ($150), which the com- mittee hoped would give to it sufficient survey and plans, by an engineer, to secure the advice of the State Board. Before using any of this appropriation for the purpose named, your committee called together a large number of influential citizens of the town to advise it as to the propriety of going forward with the sewerage and drainage matter.


At this meeting there was some difference of opinion, but upon motion it was voted .the committee ought to proceed.


It was afterwards found that the State Board would not be satisfied with the limited survey and plan proposed by the com- mittee, and for which the town had voted the one hundred and fifty dollars ($150), but that the surveys and plans must be com- plete, involving the expenditure of eight to twelve hundred dollars ($800 to $1200).


To procure so complete a survey and plan first involved the expenditure of fifty dollars ($50) for a general plan and estimate of the whole work.


166


In the fall of 1892 the committee secured the services of Messrs. Howland and Ellis, civil engineers, and they submitted to your committee plans and estimates for the drainage and sewerage of the three villages of the town and their connections and estimated the same could be done for ten to twelve hundred dollars ($1000 to $1200).


Your committee then asked of the town an appropriation of eight hundred dollars ($800) for engineer's services, and the town voted this sum.


After some months, and getting estimates from other engineers, your committee concluded a contract with Messrs. Howland and Ellis to perform the work required, agreeably to their plans and estimates, for the sum of eight hundred dollars ($800), and this sum has been paid them.


The report of Messrs. Howland and Ellis to your committee is herewith submitted.


Their plan, showing their surveys for sewerage and surface and deep drainage, is in the town safe, in the care of the Selectmen, and explanation of the same will be given to the town, if required, by one of the engineers.


Your committee, in few words, would say that the plan is such that it can be used by one section or all sections of the town, also, that it can be made available for any system of sewerage or drain- age that the town may wish or be obliged to adopt.


As your committee considers the part of the plan relating to surface drainage scientific, complete, applicable to all parts of the town, it would suggest that the town, in making expenditures for surface drainage, should be governed by this plan.


No doubt the town might save much by so doing, and the plan would become very valuable.


T. H. DEARING, A. E. AVERY, *W. A. KANE,


Drainage and Sewerage Committee.


*Mr. Kane was appointed to fill the vacancy made by the resignation of Mr. H. M. White in April, 1893.


1


167


REPORT OF HOWLAND & ELLIS ON SEWERAGE AND DRAINAGE SYSTEM.


BOSTON, MASS., Aug. 22, 1893.


DR. T. H. DEARING, Chairman Committee on Sewerage, Brain- tree, Mass.


DEAR SIR :- 1


We beg leave to submit the following report in relation to the question of drainage and sewerage for the town of Braintree :


When this work was undertaken by us it was with the under- standing that the sewage was to be disposed of upon some suitable tract of land within the limits of the town of Braintree, and all the preliminary work was done with this object in view, but,, as after consultation with the State Board of Health, it was found that there was no suitable place within your territory that they would consent to the use of for this purpose, this idea had to be abandoned and the question of the disposal of the sewage left an open matter. We have, therefore, devoted our time to preparing plans for a system of sewerage and drainage that will serve to collect the sewage at the lowest point in town, namely on the borders of Weymouth Fore River, at East Braintree, and to col- lect and dispose of the surface water at suitable points into the Monatiquot River.


Accompanying this report are four plans, reference to which will be had in this report.


No. 1 is a general plan of the sewerage system, showing in double red lines the location of the main sewer ; in single red lines the locations of the street sewers, and in single blue lines the location of the sub-drains.


Sheet No. 2 shows the details of different parts of the sewerage system. Sheet No. 3 shows in blue the location of catch basins and sewers to dispose of the surface or storm water. Sheet No. 4 gives details of construction in relation thereto.


.In preparing for this work we made careful topographical surveys of your entire town, determined the levels and grades of all your


168


streets that are shown on plans, and from these levels determined the grades of the sewers, and from the grades and their lengths the sizes that were necessary.


It was at once evident that no system of sewers that would be continuous, and in which the main collecting sewer would run entirely through the streets of the town, was possible. We, therefore, located the main sewer in the valley at the side of the Monatiquot River, commencing at Quincy avenue in East Brain- tree and ending at Hancock street in South Braintree, in the hollow just south of the corner of Hancock, Pearl and Washington streets.


Most of this sewer will have to be laid on private grounds and may follow the lines indicated, or vary slightly from them, ac- cording as terms for the purchase of right of way can be had. If the line is changed from that shown on the plans no change in the grade should be had, as they are at such points as will best serve the entire town, and for considerable distance the fall is as slight as is permissible in order to keep the sewer clean.


To the east of Quincy avenue the sewer may be extended upon a slightly falling grade to such point as may be finally determined upon as the location of the pumping station. It will undoubtedly be necessary to collect the sewage at some such point and pump it over to some disposal field outside of the town, or to connect with the sewerage system of some adjoining town or city. Addi- tional legislation and considerable conference with the adjoining municipalities will be necessary before this can be definitely de- termined upon.


The location of this main sewer is so clearly defined upon Plan No. 1 that no detailed description will be necessary beyond stating that as far as has been practicable the sewer has been located upon existing streets, but this has occurred only to a slight extent, namely, through a portion of Commercial and Adams streets.


In locating and deciding upon sizes of sewers for the streets, economy in construction has been observed, and small groups, by the use of which smaller sizes of pipes can be used, have been


169


given the preference to larger groups where the size would have been increased.


In determining the sizes of pipe, the probable future growth of the town has been considered, and while it will be observed that nothing less than 8 inches for sewage has been used, we believe this will be found none too large in the near future. A few cents :


per foot could have been saved in using a smaller size, namely, in some instances 7 inch and in others 6 inch, but on account of the liabilities of stoppage and the expense which would be incurred in case of any such stoppage; it has not been deemed best to use less than 8-inch pipe.


The other sizes of pipe have been so graded that they will take care of the maximum amount of sewage expected, when running not to exceed one half full, thus allowing plenty of leeway for emergency or extraordinary occasions and also practically pre- cluding any possibility of stoppage.


The total amount of main sewer called for on this plan, from Quincy Avenue to Hancock St. is three miles and 2,560 feet. The total length of other sewers for house purposes is 21 miles 610 feet, while the total length of sub-drain is 20 miles 2860 feet, making a total of pipe and brick sewers for one or the other purpose, of approximately 45 miles. The sub-drains, however, need not be laid to any greater extent than is considered néces- sary, and as the nature of the soil, as the sewers are built, would seem to require. Their use is to facilitate the laying of the main sewers in wet ground and to permanently lower the level or the ground water in the territory through which they pass. They do not discharge into the main sewer, but into such water courses as are convenient, principally the Monatiquot River.


In building these sewers or any portions of the system, care should be taken by your engineer in charge that they be laid true to line and grade, as any slight deviation from either one is liable to impair their efficiency to a large degree.


Manholes or lantern holes are located at every change of grade and line and flush tanks at the upper end of each line.


It is preferred in the construction of the system that the flush


170


tanks be built and introduced substantially as shown, but a sim- ple manhole may be introduced in their places, and the flushing done periodically by means of hose leading from your water works hydrants. The large rush of water that it is possible to obtain from a flush tank is however preferable and would in the end result in a more economical and better use of water than to depend upon the hose. The extra cost of the flush tanks over a simpfe manhole, to wit, $22 each, should not prevent their use.


Appended are various details in connection with this work. First we give the location of the main sewer with its length and sizes. Second, a list of the street sewers with their lengths and sizes and the lengths and sizes of the sub-drains, if the latter are used. We next give a summary of both these, which shows upon one sheet the total amount planned for. We next give esti- mates of cost, first for the main sewer, second for the street sewers without sub-drains, and third the extra cost to lay sub- drains with the street sewers.


We next give the numbers, locations and elevations of the differ- ent hydrants of the town, the tops of the brass nuts on which have been used as bench marks, and by the use of these bench marks the grades of the sewers, whenever you build any portion or the whole can be determined.


On the plans the red figures underlined with a red line indicate the levels of the centres of the sewers.


We next append specifications for the construction of these sewers. These specifications and various papers are, we believe, of sufficient detail to enable anyone to carry out the general plan as proposed.


SURFACE DRAINAGE.


In studying your town. to present a general plan for the dis- posal of storm or surface water, the topographical surveys pre- viously referred to have been of great value. The proximity of the Monatiquot river to your villages, furnishes a place of dis- posal that is quite convenient.


Commencing at such points as are the natural outlets of the different basins throughout your town, we have indicated on plan


171


No. 3, sewers of such size as will be sufficient to take care of the drainage from that territory in case of maximum storm.


These sewers are gradually decreased in size until they reach a size so small that water that will flow through them can well be taken care of in the gutters, after which no sewer pipe is indi- cated in the plan, it being left with the local authorities to so curb and pave the gutters above these points that the storm-water can run in them safely and be received in the pipe and brick sewers by means of catch basins located substantially at the points indicated.


The streets of your town are principally now, or will be in the near future, macadamized, and as such streets shed the largest proportion of the water falling upon them, we have calculated to take care of the entire water that falls within the limits of your highways, and to that added a per cent. which we believe to be sufficient to take care of the water falling upon adjacent territory that may flow over and into the highways.


We have made no estimate of the cost of this entire system, but do append a sheet giving details of costs of the different kinds of catch basins, gutters and sewers, so that from this list the cost of any amount of any kind of construction that you may decide upon at any time can be estimated.


In building gutters the Belgian block used in connection with an edgestone or curb is of course preferable as being the most durable and efficient; a very good common stone gutter can, however, be made either with or without the curb. Details of both kinds of this construction are shown on Plan No. 4, and de- tails of the cost per foot are given.


The water from no gutter should be led directly into any storm sewer, but a catch basin of suitable form should intervene.


The form of catch basin with a side inlet, shown on plan No. 4, is preferable, although the top inlet is quite commonly used. The objections to the top inlet are that they readily clog and in case of a storm have to be continually watched to see that the floating debris does not collect and prevent the water from flowing into them ; whereas in the side inlet the opening is so large that nearly


172


everything that can float in the water in the gutter will be swept into the catch basin and there deposited.


The necessity of catch basins is obvious, as it prevents clog- ging and fouling of the main sewers and affords the cheapest and best method of cleaning.


All gutters and catch basins should, of course, be kept as clean as possible so as to prevent the accumulation of too much debris in the case of storm.


No grades or exact locations of these sewers for storm-water have been given, as they are of such size as when laid to conform to the natural grades of your streets, they will take care of all the water that will be led to them. They can, therefore, be laid on one side or the other of your streets and at such depth as will least interfere with other pipes or structures in said streets.


The estimates are based upon an average depth of 42 feet from the surface of the ground to the centre of the sewers. Any greater or less depth will of course increase or decrease the cost somewhat in proportion.


In laying these sewers they should be laid under the same gen- eral specifications as are given for laying the pipe sewers or the sewerage system itself.


In laying gutters, the natural grade of the street as it now ex- ists can be followed, except that all sharp angles or changes in grade should be avoided ; your local engineer or superintendent of streets being. competent to give such grades or lines as will pro- duce the best results.


IN GENERAL.


For that section of your town lying north and west of Washing- ton street and Hollis avenue no plans have been made for the sewerage disposal nor for storm water, beyond allowing the latter to discharge itself into the natural channel that is found at the foot of the hill.


There are several houses in this section that are so low that the sewage from them cannot be taken across to the Washington street system, and so discharged into the main sewer, without go-


173


ing to an excessive depth and building either a separate system for them, or else lowering the entire Washington-street system to a depth that would render it inefficient. The sewage from these houses will therefore have to be taken care of for the present by means of approved cess-pools and the use of constant care. Ulti- mately they can probably be connected with a system of sewerage that will have to be built for the City of Quincy ; but the work at that time will be very simple, as the grades of the streets are so pronounced that no especial plans or surveys will be necessary.


DETAILS OF MAIN SEWER.


Location.


Material. Size. Length.


Commencing at Hancock street in South


Braintree, thence through the low land to and under both lines of railroad ; then skirting the pond to Pearl street, Down Pearl street to nearly marsh level .


Pipe. 12-in. 1580 Pipe. 12-in. 230


From Pearl street north, in a nearly straight line, to Union street ·


Pipe. 15-in. 2320


From Union street to River street ·


Pipe. 18-in. 3960


From River street, under the railroad and skirting the pond, to Adams street, just west of the river bridge · Thence along Adams street, crossing under the river twice, to the foot of the hill just west of Commercial street ; then pass to the southeast along the mar- gin of the river to the railroad ; then swing under the railroad to Commer- cial street; then along Commercial street nearly to the river; thence turning easterly along the river for about 200 feet, making a total of . Brick. 20x30. 5450


Pipe. 20-in. 2200


174


Location.


Material. Size. Length.


Thence easterly between the river and rail- road, to and under the latter; thence between the river and Allen street to Quincy avenue


Brick. 24x36. 2660


From this point the sewer will have to skirt the river to such point as may be hereafter determined upon as the location of the - pumping station.


RECAPITULATION.


1810 feet 12-in. pipe sewer. 2320 " 15-in. " 66 3960 18-in. 66 66




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