USA > Massachusetts > Norfolk County > Braintree > Town annual report of Braintree, Massachusetts for the year 1928 > Part 11
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1456.41
Pay Roll 71.20
$1,536.98
HYDRANT REPAIRS
Sumner & Dunbar 1.60
The Arco Co. 3.00
Commonwealth Oil Co. 3.00
The Tropical Paint & Oil Co.
3.94
Coffin Valve Co.
50.00
Pay Roll 106.50
$168.04
TESTING, FLUSHING AND INSPECTING HYDRANTS
Pay Roll 188.20
$188.20
TOOLS
D. A. Chandler 1.98
Sumner & Dunbar
2.19
William Lillie
2.75
Forst & Braintree Auto Express
5.00
Winer's Hardware Stores
5.31
N. Y. N. H. & H. R. R. Co.
7.69
Pinel Tool 25.25
George A. Caldwell Co.
34.48
234
G. E. Warren
53.13
Edson Mfg. Co.
288.00
$425.78
MAIN PIPE EXTENSION
Braintree Service Express .50
Laing Bros. .75
Lot Phillips Co. 1.00
Haskells Garage
1.25
American Railway Express
1.85
Rhines Lumber Co.
7.93
Walworth Co. 22.94
Waldo Bros. & Bond
34.20
George A. Caldwell Co.
36.00
L. E. LaBaron Foundry
145.90
Isreal Shangold
146.30
Chadwick Boston Lead Co. 162.98
Munroe Co. 217.05
Builders Iron Foundry 405.50
N. Y. N. H. & H. R. R. Co.
691.70
H. Emery White
701.23
Albert A. Drollett 853.55
Rensselaer Valve Co. 1086.25
A. C. Trojane 4898.53
U. S. Cast Iron Pipe & Foundry 6650.74
Pay Roll 638.20
$16,704.35
MAIN PIPE REPAIRS
N. Y. N. H. & H. R. R. Co. 2.40
Woodsum Coal
2.75
Q. P. Signal Co. 18.18
235
Builders Iron Foundry 44.10
A. C. Trojane 603.33
Pay Roll 207.50
$878.26
WATER PROTECTION
N. Y. N. H. & H. R. R. Co. 7.81
Wallace & Tiernan Co. 77.78
Fields Point Mfg. Co. 132.00
John P. Shay
156.00
$373.59
INSURANCE
Hutchinson Insurance Agency
76.80
George E. Sampson 529.75
$606.55
STANDPIPE AND MAIN PIPE LOAN
National Shawmut Bank
135.00
Bonds Retired and Interest 6800.00
-
$6,935.00
SUPERINTENDENT
John W. Mulcahy
2500.00
$2,500.00
236
AUTOMOBILES SUPERINTENDENT'S CAR®
F. W. Robinson
1.50
Northlite Oil Co.
6.50
Tide Water Oil Sales Corp. 6.74
Registry of Motor Vehicles
8.00
Independence Ave. Garage
24.40
Haskells Garage
41.77
Standard Oil Co.
137.38
W. A. Penniman
940.00,
$1,166.29
METER CAR (Ford Truck)
Registry of Motor Vehicles
2.00
Northlite Oil Co.
6.50
Tide Water Oil Sales Corp.
6.74
Haskells Garage 8.39
Braintree Tire & Battery Service 95.05
Standard Oil Co.
135.58
Braintree Motor Co.
846.48
$1,100.74
DODGE TRUCK
Registry of Motor Vehicles 4.00
Northlite Co.
6.50
Tide Water Oil Sales Corp.
6.73
Everson Battery Service
22.31
Braintree Tire & Battery Service
119.10
Standard Oil Co.
135.57
Haskells Garage
180.76
$474.97
237
REO TRUCK
Norbert A. Freddette
1.20
Registry of Motor Vehicles
2.00
William's Electrical Repair Co.
4.69
Northlite Oil Co.
6.50
Tide Water Oil Sales Corp. 6.74
Haskells Garage
21.13
Qunicy Reo Co.
81.30
Community Garage
87.35
Standard Oil Co.
135.57
Braintree Tire & Battery Service
163.15
$509.63
GARAGE
William Lillie
1.29
Grossman Coal Co.
117.00
Pay Roll
442.00
$560.29
RECAPITULATION
Maintenance
6620.59
Great Pond
10438.37
Little Pond
606.13
Service Maintenance
5234.21
Service Outside Street
11146.91
Service In Street
3780.39
Meters
4198.07
Meter Repairs
812.68
Reading, Testing and Inspecting Meters
1472.55
Hydrants 1536.98
238
Hydrant Repairs
168.04
Testing and Flushing Hydrants
188.20
Tool
425.78
Main Pipe Extension
16704.35
Main Pipe Repairs
878.26
Water Protection
373.59
Insurance 606.55
Standpipe and Main Pipe Loan . 6935.00
Superintendent 2500.00
Automobiles
3251.63
Garage
560.29
$78,438.57
REGISTRAR'S REPORT
Water Rates Charged 1928 . .$ 80,839.41
Pipes, Labor, etc.
15,414.11
Water Rates Outstanding Jan- uary 1, 1928 9,065.70
Pipes, Labor, etc. Outstanding
4,333.10
Summonses
2.25
Town of Braintree, Hydrants
500.00
Frank C. Walsh, Rent
25.00
Telephone Account
13.40
Collections
$92,891.45
Water Rates Outstanding De-
cember 31, 1928 11,762.93
Pipes, Labor, etc. Outstanding December 31, 1928
5,477.27
Abatements, Water Rates
53.92
Abatements, Pipes 7.40
$110,192.97 $110,192.97
January 1, 1928
239
TREASURER'S REPORT
Otis B. Oakman, Treasurer. In account with Board of Water Commissioners:
Dr. Cr.
Balance from 1927 $23,956.31
Received from H. W. Macom-
ber, Collector 92,391.45
Received from Town of Brain- tree (Hydrants) 500.00
Received Interest on Deposits
808.68
Paid Orders of Commission- ers
$77,723.03
Balance, December 31, 1928
39,933.41
$117,656.44 $117,656.44
Examined and approved.
Balance found as follows. On Deposit :
First National Bank
$4,936.74
Braintree National Bank
4,396.67
Cash in Hands of Secretary
600.00
Braintree National Bank, certi-
ficates of deposits, No. 119 and No. 125 10,000.00
Mt. Wollaston Bank, certifi- cates of deposit, No. '819, 820, 821 and 822 20,000.00
$39,933.41
RALPH W. ARNOLD, HERBERT W. CURTIS, CHARLES W. EVANS,
Auditors, 1928
January 5, 1929.
240
SECRETARY'S FINANCIAL REPORT
Balance, January 1, 1928
$23,956.31
Otis B. Oakman, Treas. (in-
cluding Hydrants)
92.891.45
Braintree National Bank, interest 46.32
First National Bank, interest 162.65
Mt. Wollaston National Bank, Interest on Special Deposit 599.71
Chadwick Boston
Lead Co.
(Reels returned)
248.00
Chadwick Boston Lead Co.
(Goods returned)
55.46
Mueller Co., Inc. (Goods re- turned) 16.80
National Meter
Co. (Goods
returned)
10.00
Discounts for Cash
385.28
Paid Sundry Bills,
as
per
Vouchers
$78,438.57
Balance, December 31, 1928
39.933.41
$118,371.98 $118,371:98
COLLECTOR'S REPORT
Balance January 1, 1928
$
600.00
Collected, 1928 92,891.45
Paid Treasurer on his receipts .
$92,891.45
Balance, December 31, 1928 600.00
$93,491.45 $93,491.45
241
Examined and approved with Vouchers for ex- penditures and balance on hand as outland above.
RALPH W. ARNOLD, HERBERT W. CURTIS, CHARLES W. EVANS,
Auditors, 1928
January 5, 1929.
SUPERINTENDENT'S REPORT
To the Honorable Board of Water Commissioners of the Town of Braintree.
Gentlemen :
Two hundred and thirty-five new services were laid during the year.
Kind of pipe and number of feet laid :
Feet
In.
Five-eighths-inch lead pipe
10,239
6
Three-fourths-inch lead pipe
107
Three-fourths-inch iron pipe
931
One-inch iron pipe 1,594
One and one-fourth-inch iron pipe
67
6
Total
12,939.
0
Total Service pipe in System December 31, 1928 : 47 miles, 1319 feet, 6 inches.
Thirty-three services were renewed.
Five-eighths-inch lead pipe 1,362
Three-fourths-inch lead pipe 24
One-inch iron pipe 283
242
Three-fourths-inch iron pipe 29
One and one-half-inch iron pipe 231
Two-inch iron pipe 20
Total 1,949
Six-inch cast iron pipe on Pleasant View
Avenue 822
Six-inch cast iron pipe on Beechwood Street 1,033 6.
Six-inch cast iron pipe on Hollingsworth Avenue 774
Six-inch cast iron pipe on Hobart Avenue 296
Six-inch cast iron pipe on Waldron Road 660
Six-inch cast iron pipe on Hawthorne Road
755
Six-inch cast iron pipe on Wilkins Road 627
Six-inch cast iron pipe on Elmlawn Road . 541
Six-inch cast iron pipe on Oak Street 170
Six-inch cast iron pipe on Sterling Street 694
Six-inch cast iron pipe on Bower Road 160
Six-inch cast iron pipe on Nickerson Road . 180
Six-inch cast iron pipe on Monatiquet Avenue 120
6,832 6.
Four-inch cast iron pipe on Presidents Road 161
Four-inch cast iron pipe on Shepard Avenue 84
Four-inch cast iron pipe on Judson Road . 189
434
Two-inch wrought iron pipe on Cabot Avenue 94
Two-inch wrought iron pipe on Edgehill Road 97
191
243
One and one-half-inch wrought iron pipe on Harbor Villa Avenue 218
One and one-half-inch wrought iron pipe on Cliff Road 181
One and one-half-inch wrought iron pipe on Washington Street 786
1,185
One-inch wrought iron pipe on Walnut Street 93
One-inch wrought iron pipe on Morrison Road 89
One-inch wrought iron pipe on Park Street 91
One-inch wrought iron pipe on Quincy Avenue 107
380
6
DISTRIBUTION MAINS IN OPERATION December 31, 1928
Sixteen-inch cast iron pipe 741
Fourteen-inch cast iron pipe 1,151
Twelve-inch cast iron pipe
26,079
Ten-inch cast iron pipe
10,517
Eight-inch cast iron pipe
28,341
Six-inch cast iron pipe
197,127
Four-inch cast iron pipe
39,839
Two-inch wrought iron pipe
15,365
One and one-half-inch wrought iron pipe
5,186
One and one-fourth-inch wrought iron pipe
5,930
One-inch wrought iron pipe
19,772
Three-fourths-inch wrought iron pipe
1,409
351,457 ft.
66 miles, 3077 feet.
244
NUMBER, LOCATION AND DESCRIPTION OF'
HYDRANTS SET DURING 1928
Number
Location
Maker·
377
Pleasant View Avenue
Corey
378
Liberty St., near Aslıworth St.
Corey"
379 Hollingsworth-Hobart Ave.
Corey
380 Sterling St., at Weymouth Line
Corey
381
Beechwood Road
Corey
382
Beechwood Road
Corey
383
In Old Colony Gas Yard
Corey"
384
Bickford Road
Corey
385
Waldron Road
Corey
386
Hawthorne Road
Corey
387
Hawthorne Road
Corey
388
Elmlawn Road
Corey
389
Dobson Rd., near Wilkins Rd.,
Corey
NUMBER, LOCATION AND DESCRIPTION OF
VALVES SET DURING YEAR 1928
Valve
No.
6 Inches 4 Inches:
635 Beechwood Road, near
Argyle Road
1
636 Hollingsworth Avenue,
near Hobart Avenue 1
637 Hobart Avenue, near
Hollingsworth Avenue 1
638 Sterling Street, near El- liott Street 1
639
Sterling Street, near Weymouth Line 1
245
640 Beechwood Road, near Argyle Road
1
641 Presidents Road, near School Street
1
642 Quincy Avenue at Gas Company I
643 Bickford Road
I
644 Hollingsworth Avenue
Franklin Street
1
645 Summer Avenue, near Hollingsworth Avenue 1
646 Waldron Road, near Washington Street 1
647 Elmlawn Road
648 Dobson Road, near Wil- kins Road
1
1
649
Dobson Road at Com -- mercial Street
METER RECORD FOR 1928
Kind
5/8
3/4
1
I% 2'
3:
4
6
Total
Empire Crown
3384
50
5
7
2
1
3455
20
20
Gem
11
1
Hersy
1
1
3385
70
5
3: 2 1
3477.
Respectively submitted;
JOHN W. MULCAHY, Superintendent ..
PUMPING RECORD FOR 1928
Gallons -
Kilowatt
Time
pumped
hours
run
Gallons pumped with
one K. W. H.
January
35,449,000
34,160
431.05
1037
February
34,500,000
33,320
419.
1036
March
26,950,000
35,780
455.10
1032
April
35,778,0000
34,750
426.20
1029
May
38,231,000
36,940
474.10
1032
June
58347,000
36,890
463.50
1039
July
38,401,000
36,950
455.50
1039
August
40,055,000
38,450
484.00
1041
September
37,736,000
36,300
458.50
1039
October
34,362,000
33,360
422.45
1030
November
33,190,000
32,190
403.35
1031
December
33,056,000
31,850
401.40
1037
Totals
436,055,000
420,940
5296.15
12422
Daily Average
1,191,407.
1,150
14.28
1035
Largest day's pumping, Monday, August 20,1,438,000 FRANCIS J. O'ROURKE, Chief Engineer.
Smallest day's pumping, Saturday, December 15, 901,000
246
247
ANNUAL REPORT
OF THE
Electric Light Department
OF THE
TOWN OF BRAINTREE
FROM Dec. 31, 1927 to Dec. 31, 1928
Printed by Order of the Town
BR
NMOI
TREE
MA
1640
S
S
Printed by PRATT & PRATT The Braintree Observer Braintree, Mass. 1929
249
REPORT OF MANAGER
Braintree Electric Light Department
December 31, 1928.
To the Municipal Light Board, Braintree, Massachusetts.
Gentlemen :
Allow me to submit herewith the report of this. Department for the year ending December 31, 1928. This report consists of a complete financial statement in the form prescribed by the State Department of Public Utilities, and added thereto in plain understand- able language a resume of the physical and financial. operations for the past year.
I shall call your attention later in this report to the comparative costs of manufactured and purchased. current and to the advisability of increasing at an early date the boiler capacity of the plant. We have reason to believe and are making preparation for an additional power load of from six to seven hundred. kilowatts after April 1, 1929.
As per your instructions and recommendations the revised rate for domestic service went into effect Jan- uary first and we trust it will result in reducing our meter investment cost, also the billing expense per cus- tomer, and in general satisfaction to the consumer.
A considerable portion of the consumers have two meters and a few houses have three, and as the new rate calls for only one meter for each customer, we
250
1
are having surplus meters removed in all possible in- stances as quickly as opportunity permits.
We are following the recommendation of both state and local auditors in establishing in our office system accounting, a complete coordination or control of all accounts. This system, while expensive to es- tablish, will later result in economic operation and prove to be a wise investment.
NEW CUSTOMERS:
1 ..
Three hundred fifty-six new services were added during the year, making a total of four thousand, four hundred, and forty-nine.
I desire to take this opportunity to thank the mem- bers of the Board for their cooperation during the past year.
Yours very truly, 1
FRED B. LAWRENCE,
Manager.
The electric' operating revenue is $273,018.67 and the previous year it was $236,931.14 making a differ- ence or gain of $36,087.53. The operating expense is $217,096.38, and the previous year it was $177,529.39, making a difference or increase of $39,566.19 and this increase is largely due to purchasing of current.
The station output for the past year is 9,710,267 K. W. Hrs., for the previous year 7,796,470 K. W. Hrs., showing a difference or gain of 1,913,797 K. W. Hrs. 8,264,220 K. W. Hrs., was generated at the plant, cost- ing $82,111.37, or .0099357 per kilowatt at the Switch Board.
.
251
1,446,047 kilowatts were purchased from the Weymouth Light and Power Company and supplied from the New Edison Station at North Weymouth and cost at the Switch Board .02201 per kilowatt hour.
Distribution costs for both manufactured and pur- chased current is $111,504.38 or .01196 per kilowatt hour.
You will note that the surplus or Profit and Loss account balance is $336,342.16 as against $284,365.95 at the close of 1927, and represents a net profit of $51,976.21 and it is from this fund that we pay for new construction in plant accounts in field such as new con- struction on streets that are widened by order of the town or county commissioners, or on streets that are being newly developed.
Distribution was as follows :
Generating Station Motors 326,500
Offices and Station Lights
7,774
Street Lighting
374,990
Customer's Light
1,581,254
Customer's Power
5,892,704
Flat Rates
17,631
Line Loss 151/2 %
1,509,414
Total Kilowatts
9,710,267
Some one may ask the question "What causes line loss?" This is one of the disadvantages of a distribu- tion system, especially if it extends over a large terri- tory in proportion to the number of users, and twenty years ago, 50% loss was not unusual. At the present time with more efficient transformers and improved load factor it does not constitute such a distinctive ele-
252
ment of loss. It is largely the lost power or energy dissipated in each and every transformer on a distribu- tion system which is kept energised and ready to serve the consumer each and every minute of the twenty- four hours of the day, which in the case of the domes- tic consumer is used only a small percentage of the twenty-four hours.
We have 258 transformers on our lines, ranging from 2 kilowatt to 1500 kilowatt, or an aggregate of six thousand, seven hundred and seventy-three kilo- watts, therefore the 151/2 % loss.
Poles set for year New Construction or on streets not previously developed :
60 ft. Poles 1
55 ft. Poles 2
50 ft. Poles 1
45 ft. Poles 1
40 ft. Poles 18
35 ft. Poles
117
140
Poles set for replacement or those unfit for further use:
40 ft. Poles
57
35 ft. Poles 211
268
Total poles set for year
408
Wire Used for Year
Size
Secondary
Primary
Arc
House Conn. Total Ft.
No. 6
22,957
41174
99905
3100
171,136
No. 4
59,963
28224
2160
90,347
No. 0
36700
F 2576
39,276
.
253
Tree Wire :
Size
No. 6-A
3215
3,215
House Cable :
Size
No. 6-2 C
11366
No. 6-3 C
2411
13,777
Arc Cable :
Size
No. 10-2
1000
No. 8-2
4575
5,575
Parkway Cable:
Size
No. 4-2 C
90
90
Guy Wire :
Service guys
11,868
Total
335,284
STREET LIGHTING
958-lights were operated 366 nights for a total of 3912 hours and 33 minutes, and consisted of 896-60 Candle, 13_250 Candle, 5-400 Candle and 44-1000 Candle.
In addition to the above number we have installed during the year
105-60 Candle 28-250 Candle 3_1000 Candle
Have removed 5-400 Candle leaving a total De- cember 31, of 1089, as follows: 1001-60 Candle 41-250 Candle 47-1000 Candle 1630_60 Candle
254
Renewals of Light Bulbs for the year.
51-250 Candle 33-400 Candle 72_1000 Candle
Costing $1602.73 (Part of Maintenance Account) 96 new street fixtures were installed as replacements. to worn-out units and 136 were installed on new con -. struction.
Kilowatts Used in Street Lighting:
374,990 @ .02
$7,499.80
Operation Wages 1,827.04
Maintenance 3,752.41
Total
$13,079.25
OPERATING EXPENSES
Operation :
601 Superintending $14,847.99
606 Boiler Fuel 59,039.23
607 Water for Steam 1,090.18
608 Lubricants 190.20
609 Miscellaneous Expenses . 659.17
75,826.77
Maintenance :
611 'Station Structure . 1,442.71
612-14 Steam Equipment 3,833.21
615-6 General Equipment 1,008.68 .
634 Electric. Energy ' Pur_
23,480.63
29,765.23:
chased
255
TRANSMISSION AND OPERATION
Operation :
638 Trans. and Dist. Lines . . 4,965.22
639 Supplies and Expenses . . 371.17
640-2 Meter and Transformer,
Repair Labor 1,451.51
6,787.90
Maintenance :
647 Transmission and Dis- tribution of Line 50,288.88
650_1 Meters and Trans. 1,880.07
$52,168.95
UTILIZATION
Operation :
654 Street Lights
1,827.04
1,827.04
Maintenance :
677 Maintenance Structure 850.74
657 Street Lights 3,752.41
666 Salaries Municipal Board
and Managers
5,300.04
667
Salaries Clerks
10,981.08
668
Office Expenses
2,532.47
669 Office Rent
780.00
671 Insurance
4,705.62
673 Accidents
2.00
675 Transport, Equipment .
6,494.67
679 General Expense
244.37
.678 Depreciation
15,077.09
50,720.49
$217,096.38
256
ELECTRIC OPERATING REVENUE
Commercial and Domestic :
Light 109,889.10
Power 141,840.26
Flat Rate Sales to Private
Consumers
1,304.30
$253,033.66
MUNICIPAL REVENUES -
Power
5,863.35
Light
2,113.66
Street Lighting
12,008.00
$ 19,985.01
Total
$273,018.67
INCOME STATEMENT
500 Operating Revenues
273,018.67
600 Operating Expenses 217,096.38
. .. +
$ 55,922.29
Interest Income
1,299.16
Mdse. and Jobbing
5,978.15
7,277.31
$ 63,199.60
Interest on Bonds
600.00
Miscellaneous Deductions
623.39
1,233.39
Income Bal. Transferred to · Profit and Loss
$61,976.21
257
PROFIT AND LOSS STATEMENT
401 Credit Balance January
1, 1927
284,365.95
402 Credit Balance Trans-
ferred from income 61,976.21
346,342.16
403
Less Bonds Paid
10,000.00
Total
$336,342.16
Investment Account
Land
1,065.00
Structure
19,442.51
Boiler Plant Equipment
58,068.82
Prime Movers Auxiliaries
73,933.62
Turbines
2,208.00
Electric Plant Equipment
68,145.52
Overhead Lines, Poles and Fixtures
87,695.56
Underground
17,946.87
Consumers Meters
41,752.09
Transformers
52,096.76
$422,354.75
Utilization Equipment
Street Lighting Equipment . .
19,621.08
General Equipment
Office Equipment
6,005.09
Transportation Equipment 5,638.53
Laboratory Equipment
915.33
12,558.95
Total Plant Investment
$454,534.78
258
Balance Sheet Account
--
Assets
Investment :
Plant Investment
454,534.78 Current Assets :
Cash Operating Fund 2,873.71
Cash Depreciation 41,395.98
44,269.69
Accounts Receivable
Electric Material
2,757.91
Light Consumers
13,044.95
Power Consumers
12,672.65
28,475.51
Inventories
Material and Supplies
.
21,349.97
Prepaid Accounts
Prepaid Insurance
3,398.62
Total
$552,028.57
Liabilities
Appropriations :
Appropriations for Construc- tion
46,168.74
Current Liabilities : -
Bills Payable
36,517.67
259
Appropriate Surplus :
Loans Repayment
123,000.00
Bonds
10,000.00
Profit and Loss
336,342.16
Total
$522,028.57
OPERATION FUND
Debit
Bal. of December 31, 1927 .
15,774.01
Receipts-Consumers
246,347.32
Sundries
20,190.29
Street Lighting
12,008.00
Interest Receipts
303.66
$294,623.28
Credit
Bills Payable December 31; 1927
18,9,62.23
---
Transferred to Depreciation Cash
15,077.09
Plant Renewals "Additions"
37,914.44
Operation
202,019.29
Bonds
10,000.00 -
Stock:
7,776.52
Balance on Hand December
31, 1928
2,873.71
$294,623.28
DEPRECIATION ACCOUNT
Debit
Balance January 1, 1928
35,579.44
260
Amount Transferred from In-
come
15,077.09
Income from Interest
995.50
$ 51,652.03
Credit
Amount Withdrawn for Plant
Equipment
10,256.05
Balance on Hand December
31, 1928 41,395.98
$ 51,652.03
OPERATION FUND
Balance on Hand December
31, 1928
$
2,873.71
AUDITOR'S REPORT
We have examined the accounts of Fred B. Law- rence, Manager, of the Braintree Electric Light De- partment; and approve same. Cash received and paid to Town Treasurer as per cash book $294,623.28.
We have examined the inventories in the report and compared same with stock on hand and approve them as rendered.
Bills Payable December 31, 1928 $36,517.67
Bills Receivable 2,757.67
Consumers Light Account
13,044.95
Consumers Power Account
12,672.65
$28,475.51
RALPH W. ARNOLD, CHARLES W. EVANS, HERBERT W. CURTIS, Auditors, 1928.
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Report of the Planning Board
The Planning Board presents its report for the year 1928.
War Memorial and Civic Center
It is probably to be taken as a matter of course that in the near future a permanent Memorial to the Soldiers of the Great War will be sought for the town. No exponents are needed for this worthy recognition and a definite and early movement toward this end will undoubtedly receive the wholehearted support of every citizen.
Braintree's record in the country's history, its lo- cation in this birth-place of patriotism, its gifts to the nation, are heritages which we cherish jealously. Therefore another important epoch in its annals should and will be fittingly commemorated. The nature of the commemoration may be the subject of a careful and thoughtful survey, but its final selection, whether it be monumental, structural or recreational, deserves and requires a fitting site which must have the proper setting and be commonly available to all.
We urge that all or part of the Asa French estate be acquired for this purpose. In the exact geographi- cal center of the town and opposite our impressive Town Hall, one of the finest civic center sites lies with- in our power to preserve and save for posterity. Here our Memorial would find its logical location and future civic architectural and recreational uses would have
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their opportunity. Your Planning Board cannot feel. that the urging of this step is visionary or impractical -rather we feel it to be an imperative duty.
Zoning
We cannot get away from the fact that Braintree: is rapidly growing, and it becomes very important that. this growth be under the control of its citizens. Zon -- ing alone gives this control; therefore this ever insist- ent problem will not down. Unsightliness, overcrowd- ing, future expense can only be avoided by foresight. in town planning. Commercial investments are en- couraged and residential districts are protected by zon -. ing. Your Planning Board urgently recommends the- Town to study and adopt an adequate and forward .. looking Zoning By-law.
Street Widening
Hancock Street between South Braintree Square- and Plain Street has long been very dangerous on ac -. count of its extreme narrowness, as your Planning- Board has pointed out in previous reports. We are glad to say that a survey and relocation of its lines to. a width of approximately 55 feet has been completed. this year by the County Commissioners and the pro -. ject is now ready for consideration by the Town. We strongly recommend favorable action.
A number of other streets in the town need widen -. ing, either because of the volume of through traffic which they are bearing or because of the need for parking facilities in business centers. Braintree citi -. zens may well be proud of their progressive spirit. shown in undertaking several extensive widening pro -. jects in recent years, notably on Washington Street and.
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1
in Norfolk Square. Not only do we all reap the bene- fit of these in our immediate enjoyment of the improve- ments, but great savings are made by such foresight- edness, since the earlier such work is done the less it costs the taxpayers. We hope the Town will continue to make such widenings, a little each year.
We commend the residents of River Street who have themselves initiated a movement to broaden that very narrow thoroughfare between Washington and Railroad Streets. This is a project which is worthy of the hearty support of all the citizens.
In cases where immediate widening is not urgent- ly needed or is inexpedient but which will require wid- ening in the future, we recommend that building lines be established to prevent the construction of buildings within the future limits of the street. This policy will save the paying of large damages when the taking is made.
Street Trees
We wish to record our feeling of commendation for those officials who have been responsible for pre- serving so many of the shade trees of our town during recent reconstruction of our streets. We recommend that whenever permanent sidewalks are made spaces be provided for new trees where there is need for them and that a small appropriation be made each year to provide for such planting. We are now enjoying the
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benefits of our fore-fathers' thoughtfulness in this: matter, and it is clearly our duty to consider likewise: the interests of future generations.
Respectfully submitted,
THERON I. CAIN, Chairman MERTON A. TURNER, Secretary JOHN F. CLINTON, J. CALEB JUSTICE, - JOSEPH W. PARKER,
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