USA > Massachusetts > Norfolk County > Braintree > Town annual report of Braintree, Massachusetts for the year 1929 > Part 10
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Preparations were made for doing so.
Fortunately, a period of rainy weather set in and relieved the situation.
The water at Great Pond is at this date, December 31, 1929, four feet, ten inches below the level usually main- tained.
Samples of water both from Great and Little Ponds are regularly and frequently analyzed by the State Board of Health. This practice is customary with all water supplies.
By a legislative act the Towns of Braintree, Randolph and Holbrook are given the right to use the water from Great Pond for a water supply.
178
At the time the Act was passed, it has been said that the estimated daily supply was approximately 1,000,000 gallons a day.
Symonds & Stevens, Engineers, in their report of 1921 estimated the daily supply as approximately 1,700,000 gallons a day.
Braintree is pumping, at the present time, an average of 1,175,000 gallons a day.
Conditions such as have existed this past year are liable to occur again.
We believe that immediate action should be taken to conserve the water supply at Great Pond and, therefore, have caused an article to be inserted in the Town Warrant to see if the Town will authorize the laying of a water main from Little Pond to supply water for commercial purposes.
If favorable action is taken, it means the conserving of approximately 450,000 gallons of water a day for do- mestic purposes.
Following is a quotation from a letter received from the Department of Public Health.
"It is obvious from the experience of the past year that the quantity of water used by Braintree, Randolph and Holbrook from Great Pond exceeds the safe yield of that source, and it is important in the opinion of the De- partment that an adequate water supply be provided to meet the growing needs of the communities dependent upon Great Pond for their water supply requirements."
The cost of entering the Metropolitan System at this time is estimated as $610,000. In addition to sinking fund and interest charges on this $610,000, a further annual charge is made estimated at $30,400 for the present year.
Following are the reports of the Secretary, Registrar, Collector and Superintendent.
179
IMPORTANT NOTICE TO WATER TAKERS AND PROPERTY OWNERS
In accordance with the provisions of a recent Act of the Massachusetts Legislature, accepted by the Town of Braintree.
UNPAID WATER BILLS ARE A LIEN ON REAL ESTATE and payment of same can be enforced through sale of the property by the Tax Collector in the same man- ner as in the collection of taxes.
The practice of SHUTTING OFF the supply for NON-PAYMENT of DELINQUENT BILLS is NOT AFFECTED by the lien law in any way.
All water bills are "DELINQUENT" if not paid within TWENTY DAYS after they are rendered and be- come due.
CHANGING OWNERSHIP OF PROPERTY
When buying or selling real estate it is important that ADJUSTMENT of WATER BILLS be made as of date of transfer in like manner as for taxes.
To assist in making such adjustments the Water Department Office will gladly furnish meter readings and other desired information upon application.
The names and addresses of new owners should be given PROPMTLY to the Water Office, in order that ensuing bills may be properly rendered and possible un- necessary expense and annoyance avoided.
We desire to express our appreciation to those con- veyancers who-without the incentive of a lien law-have previously provided for such adjustments of water rates in the transfer of property and request a general similar co-operation in future transfers of property to the mutual advantage of all concerned.
H. W. MACOMBER, Water Registrar.
180
MAINTENANCE
Hobbs & Warren $ .50
Allen Bros. Corp. .52
Burroughs Adding Machine Co ..
3.18
The Star Products Co.
5.62
N. Y., N. H. & H. R. R. Co. 6.73
Alves Photo Shop
7.00
Royal Typewriter Co.
10.00
Diamond Union Stamp Co.
10.05
W. A. Torrey & Co.
12.05
Jas. F. Burke & Co.
20.00
New England Water Works Asso.
24.00
M. J. Killory & Sons
24.00
Pratt & Pratt
69.40
H. W. Bailey & Co.
90.00
L. E. Muran 117.19
Gilman Fanfold Co.
151.05
N. E. Tel. & Tel. Co.
365.32
C. H. H. Bailey, Supt.
389.34
Post Index Co.
636.14
Underwood Typewriter Co.
1,452.50
· George A. Walker
100.00
Charles B. Cummings
100.00
Thomas E. Sears 100.00
Randolph Water Dept.
1,124.52
Holbrook Water Dept.
1,124.52
H. W. Macomber
1,820.00
Pay Roll 2,022.00
$9,785.63
181
GREAT POND PUMPING STATION
Braintree Service Express $ .35
Thos. E. Fogg .35
E. P. Winwood & Sons .88
Gorham Fire Equipment Co.
1.62
Good Mfg. Co.
2.40
Rhines Lumber Co.
2.41
W. H. Heath
2.50
N. Y .; N. H. & H. R. R. Co.
3.06
George E. Warren
3.70
Stanley Kerr
5.00
Railway Express Agency
6.41
Lucius A. Qualey
9.35
Simplex Wire & Cable Co.
9.62
Wm. S. Levangie
10.00
Pratt & Pratt
12.50
Winer's Hardware Stores, Inc .. .
15.65
G. & W. Specialty Co.
17.50
Curry Bros. Oil Co. 18.75
D. A. Chandler
27.80
The Ashton Valve Co.
31.04
Bethlehem Ship Bldg. Corp.
31.66
A. W. Chesterton
39.76
The Electric Maintenance Co.
48.21
Commonwealth Oil Co.
52.00
Albert E. Drollett
61.00
Wallace & Tiernan .
82.50
Eagle Oil & Supply Co.
113.22
Sumner & Dunbar
131.66
The Q-P Signal Co. 143.60
H. W. Borden 339.81
Woodsum Coal Co.
565.47
F. A. Mazzur & Co.
611.23
General Electric Co.
696.72
Braintree Electric Light Dept.
4,035.09
Pay Roll 6,179.22
$13,312.04
182
LITTLE POND PUMPING STATION
J. M. Sullivan $ 21.00
Braintree Electric Light Dept .. . . 18.21
Pay Roll 442.00
$ 481.21
SYSTEM MAINTENANCE
Levangie Service Station . $ .75
Commonwealth of Massachusetts 1.30
A. H. Wilkins 2.00
Qualey's Garage
3.00
Hollis Garage
3.50
Forst & Braintree Auto Express
3.55
Pinel Tool
4.60
Braintree Sign Co.
5.00
Geo. A. Caldwell
7.58
Economy Grocery Co.
10.00
Mass. Ameisite Co.
67.31
H. Emery White
82.20
Louis A. Reardon
100.00
National Boston Lead Co. 228.83
M. B. Main
423.63
Pay Roll
5,292.22
$
6,235.47
1
SERVICES OUTSIDE STREET
N. Y., N. H. & H. R. R. Co. .
$ .60
Albert Morrell 1.00
Forst & Braintree Auto Express 3.10
D. A. Chandler 3.81
Railway Express Agency 7.20
The Pinel Tool 16.10
W. I. Jordan
31.50
W. G. Classon 40.00
A. W. Chesterton 62.00
Geo. A. Caldwell 93.78
183
Sumner & Dunbar
128.04
Red Hed Mfg. Co.
136.38
Monroe Co.
548.66
Mueller Co., Inc. .
1,188.98
National Boston Lead Co.
2,827.86
Pay Roll 3,677.45
$ 8,766.46
SERVICES IN STREET
E. L. LeBaron Foundry $ 3.02
Albert Morrell
5.10
Railway Express Agency
7.66
Red Hed Mfg. Co.
13.50
Forst & Braintree Auto Express
13.95
A. W. Chesterton
34.00
Geo. A. Caldwell
94.46
Sumner & Dunbar
111.77
Monroe Co. 133.46
Pinel Tool Co.
230.26
Mueller Co., Inc.
448.78
National Boston Lead Co.
1,054.51
Pay Roll
1,401.17
$ 3,551.64
METERS
Thos. E. Fogg $ .35
N. Y., N. H. & H. R. R. Co. .50
Forst & Braintree Auto Express
2.70
Thos. Groom & Co.
17.75
National Meter Co.
3,517.65
$ 3,538.95
METER REPAIRS
W. B. Skinner $ 3.50
National Meter Co.
172.17
Pay Roll
677.38
$ 853.05
184
READING, TESTING, AND INSPECTING METERS
H. W. Bailey Co. $ 4.00
Pay Roll 1,483.80
$
1,487.80
HYDRANTS
N. Y., N. H. & H. R. R. Co. .$ 1.02
Railway Express Agency
5.31
National Meter Co.
125.05
Rensselear Valve Co.
3,118.65
Pay Roll
654.05
$ 3,904.08
HYDRANT REPAIRS
Woodwards Spring Shop $ 3.15
The Tropical Paint & Oil Co.
3.98
Sumner & Dunbar
11.25
Bacheller Paint
29.40
Coffin Valve
619.20
Pay Roll
93.70
$
760.68
HYDRANTS, TESTING AND FLUSHING
Pay Roll $ 94.60 $ 94.60
TOOLS
Forst & Braintree Auto Express $
.70
D. A. Chandler
3.26
Wm. Allen
4.00
Geo. A. Caldwell
4.43
Pinel Tool
5.20
Winer's Hardware Stores
10.90
Sumner & Dunbar
11.53
W. S. Darling & Co.
17.50
J. M. Sullivan
18.05
Edson Mfg. Corp.
23.91
American Fire Equipment Co.
31.25
Geo. E. Warren
196.57
$ 327.30
185
MAIN PIPE EXTENSIONS
Forst & Braintree Auto Express $
1.05
Rhines Lumber Co. 1.26
Dunham Express
1.56
Braintree Service Express
2.00
The Tropical Paint & Oil Co.
12.47
Fred O. Stevens
25.00
Geo. O. Caldwell
30.40
Railway Express Agency
36.97
Waldo Bros.
55.98
Darling Valve Mfg. Co.
74.95
Israel Shangold
75.25
Nelson Sand & Gravel Co.
102.00
Mass. Ameisite Co.
105.70
Weymouth Water Dept.
109.62
James B. Clough & Sons
138.30
H. Emery White
143.65
National Boston Lead Co.
181.53
Mueller Co., Inc.
191.57
E. L. LeBaron Foundry
195.02
Monroe Co.
221.20
Builders Iron Foundry Co.
284.32
Albert A. Drollett
388.00
Holbrook Water Dept. 624.19
N. Y., N. H. & H. R. R. Co.
1,020.74
U. S. Pipe & Foundry Co. 7,450.69
A. C. Trojano 11,109.26
Pay Roll 665.40
$ 23,248.08
MAIN PIPE REPAIRS
A. C. Trojano
$
56.35
Pay Roll
81.75
$ 138.10
186
WATER PROTECTION
Alves Photo Shop $ .60
Geo. E. Warren
3.80
N. Y., N. H. & H. R. R. Co.
6.07
Quincy Ledger
12.00
G. W. Prescott Pub. Co.
18.00
Quincy Evening News
24.12
Braintree Citizen
25.00
Wallace & Tiernan
65.76
Fields Point Mfg. Co.
121.50
John Shay
156.00
Pay Roll
433.35
$ 866.20
AUTOMOBILES SUPERINTENDENT'S CAR
Enuf Said Auto Polish $ 1.00
Levangies Service Station 2.00
Sun Oil Co.
2.81
Northlite Oil
3.00
Wollaston Auto Body Repair
3.50
Registry Motor Vehicles
5.00
H. T. West Co. 9.71
Tide Water Oil Sales Corp. 10.50
Braintree Tire & Battery Co. 17.30
F. W. Robinson
28.35
Independence Ave. Garage
47.05
Haskells Garage
124.00
Standard Oil Co.
135.93
$ 385.65
METER CARS (Ford Trucks)
Haskell's Garage $ 1.65
Sun Oil Co. 2.82
Northlite Oil
4.00
Registry of Motor Vehicles
6.00
187
H. T. West Co. 9.71
Edward F. Kennedy
10.00
Tide Water Oil & Sales Co.
14.00
Braintree Motor Co.
94.45
Standard Oil Co.
211.97
$ 354.60
DODGE TRUCK
Sun Oil Co.
$ 2.81
Northlite Oil Co.
3.00
Registry Motor Vehicles
4.00
Everson Battery S. S.
9.00
H. T. West Co.
9.71
Tide Water Oil & Sales Co.
10.50
Braintree Tire & Battery Co.
32.40
Haskell's Garage
130.23
Standard Oil Co.
135.93
$ 337.58
REO TRUCK
Haskell's Garage
$ 1.00
Hollis Garage
1.75
Registry of Motor Vehicles
2.00
Sun Oil Co.
2.81
Northlite Oil Co.
4.00
H. T. West Co.
9.73
Tide Water Oil Sales Corp,
13.75
Quincy Reo Co.
18.75
Bachelder Motor Co.
20.00
Braintree Tire & Battery Co.
49.45
Community Garage
131.40
Standard Oil Co.
135.93
$ 390.66
188
WHITE TRUCK
Registry of Motor Vehicles $ 2.00
Standard Oil Co.
4.80
Qualey's Garage
2,309.00
$
2,315.80
GARAGE
John J. MacDonald $
8.00
Rhines Lumber Co.
8.00
U. T. Landry
8.00
Grossman Coal Co.
105.17
Woodsum Coal Co.
29.50
W. B. Skinner
277.00
Pay Roll
442.00
$
877.67
SUPERINTENDENT
John W. Mulcahy
$ 2,500.00
$
2,500.00
INSURANCE
Geo. E. Sampson
$
830.38
$
830.38
STANDPIPE AND MAINPIPE LOAN
Bond Retirement $ 5,000.00
Interest
1,600.00
$
6,600.00
RECAPITULATION
Maintenance
$ 9,785.63
Great Pond
13,312.04
Little Pond
481.21
System Maintenance
6,235.47
Services Outside Street
8,766.46
Services Inside Street
3,551.64
Meters
3,538.95
Meter Repairs
853.05
Meter Reading, Testing and In- specting
1,487.80
Hydrants
3,904.08
189
Hydrant Repairs 760.68
Testing & Flushing of Hydrants
94.60
Main Pipe Extension
23,248.08
Main Pipe Repairs
138.10
Water Protection
866.20
Tools
327.30
Insurance
830.38
Standpipe and Main Pipe Loan
6,600.00
Superintendent
2,500.00
Automobiles
3,784.29
Garage
877.67
$ 91,943.63
REGISTRAR'S REPORT
Water Rates, Charges, 1929
$ 84,176.66
Pipes, Labor, Etc., 1929
14,505.74
Water Rates Outstanding Jan- uary 1, 1929
11,863.39
Pipes, Labor, Etc., Outstanding January 1, 1929
4,814.28
Summonses
5.25
Telephone Account
17.65
Randolph Water Department .
140.89
Holbrook Water Department
140.89
Sale of Shanty
5.00
Refund
10.68
Worcester Mutual Fire Ins. Co.
477.00
Collections, 1929
$100,469.90
Abatement of Water Rates
327.44
Abatement of Pipes, Labor, Etc.
653.75
Abatement of Farm Rent. .
325.00
Water Rates Outstanding De-
cember 31, 1929
12,094.30
Pipes, Labor, Etc., Outstanding
December 31, 1929
2,287.04
$116,157.43
$116,157.43
190
TREASURER'S REPORT
Braintree, Mass., December 31, 1929.
Otis B. Oakman, Treasurer.
In Account with Board of Water Commissioners :
Dr. Cr.
Balance from 1929
$ 39,933.41
Received from H. W. Macomber,
Collector
99,969.90
Received from Town of
Braintree Hydrant Service 500.00
Received Interest on Deposits. .
2,329.01
Paid Orders of Commissioners. .
$ 91,434.06
Balance on Hand, December 31, 1929
51,298.26
$142,732.32
$142,732.32
Examined and approved. Balance in custody of
Treasurer.
First National Bank
$ 10,511.84
Cash in Hands of Collector
600.00
Mt. Wollaston Bank Certificate of Deposit No. 917
1,153.64
Certificate of Deposit No. 914
28,000.00
Braintree National Bank Certificate of De- posit No. 177
10,000.00
Braintree National Bank
1,032.78
$51,298.26
RALPH W. ARNOLD, HERBERT W. CURTIS, CHARLES W. EVANS,
Auditors, 1929.
January 14, 1930.
191
SECRETARY'S FINANCIAL REPORT
Balance, January 1, 1929 $ 39,933.41 Otis B. Oakman, Treasurer (In-
cluding Hydrants 100,469.90 Braintree National Bank, Inter- est 36.49
First National Bank Interest . Mt. Wollaston National Bank, In-
293.88
terest on Special Deposit . . 1,153.64 Braintree National Bank, Inter- est on Special Deposit 845.00
National Boston Lead Co. (Reels Returned) 152.00
Discounts for Cash
357.57
Paid Sundry Bills As Per Vouch- ers
$ 91,943.63
Balance December 31, 1929
51,298.26
$143,241.89
$143,241.89
COLLECTOR'S REPORT
Balance January 1, 1929 $ 600.00
Collected, 1929 100,469.90
Paid Treasurer on His Receipts
100,469.90
Balance December 31, 1929
600.00
$101,069.90
$101,069.90
Examined and approved with vouchers for expendi- tures and balance on hand as outlined above.
RALPH W. ARNOLD, CHARLES W. EVANS, HERBERT W. CURTIS,
Auditors, 1929.
January 14, 1930.
192
SUPERINTENDENT'S REPORT
To the Honorable Board of Water Commissioners of the Town of Braintree :
Gentlemen :
One hundred and sixty-two new services were laid during the year.
Kind of pipe and number of feet laid :
Feet
In.
Five-eighths-inch lead pipe
6,784
6
Three-fourths-inch lead pipe
75
Three-fourths-inch iron pipe 610
One-inch iron pipe 960
Total 8,429 6
Total Service pipe in System December 31, 1929: 48 miles, 4,468 feet.
Seventy-five services were renewed.
Five-eighths-inch lead pipe 957
Three-fourths-inch lead pipe 63
One-inch iron pipe 210
Total 1,230
Feet
Six-inch cast iron pipe on Washington St .. . 274
Six-inch cast iron pipe on Holmes St .. 36
Six-inch cast iron pipe on Morrison Rd .. 360
Six-inch cast iron pipe on Somerville Ave. 406
Six-inch cast iron pipe on Harrison Ave. 48
Six-inch cast iron pipe on Dewey Ave. 398
Six-inch cast iron pipe on Oak St. 393
Six-inch cast iron pipe on Fountain St. 247
Six-inch cast iron pipe on Brow Ave. 182
Six-inch cast iron pipe on Depot Sq. 411
Six-inch cast iron pipe on Hobart St. 800
193
Six-inch cast iron pipe on May Street 165
Six-inch cast iron pipe on Nelson St. 525
Six-inch cast iron pipe on Liberty St. 1,153 Six-inch cast iron pipe on Trefton Drive 800
Six-inch cast iron pipe on Popple Island School 2,653
Six-inch cast iron pipe on Tatnic Rd. 268
Six-inch cast iron pipe on Adolph Rd.
Six-inch cast iron pipe on Jefferson Rd. 215
2,872
Six-inch cast iron pipe on Shepard Rd. 441
Six-inch cast iron pipe on Elmlawn Rd. 145
Six-inch cast iron pipe on Storrs Ave. 299
Six-inch cast iron pipe on Talbot Ave. 583
Six-inch cast iron pipe on Norton Rd. 596
Total six-inch pipe 14,330
Four-inch cast iron pipe on Burroughs Rd ... 281 Four-inch cast iron pipe on Columbus Ave .. . 367
Four-inch cast iron pipe off Webster Rd. (N. Y., N. H. & H. R. R.) 554
Total four-inch pipe 1,202 One and one-fourth-inch wrought iron pipe on Thorndike Rd. 184
One-inch wrought iron pipe on Spencer St .. . 131
One-inch wrought iron pipe on Victoria Rd .. . 148
Total
279
DISTRIBUTION MAINS IN OPERATION December 31, 1929
Feet
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 28,348
194
Six-inch cast iron pipe 211,457
Four-inch cast iron pipe 41,041
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
6,114
One-inch wrought iron pipe 20,051
Three-fourths-inch wrought iron pipe
1,409
367,452
69 miles, 3,132 feet.
NUMBER, LOCATION AND DESCRIPTION OF HYDRANTS SET DURING 1929
Number
Location
Maker
390
Morrison Road
Corey
391
Somerville Avenue
Corey
392
Dewey Avenue
Corey
393
Oak Street
Corey
394
S. B. Depot Square
Corey
395
Hobart Street
Corey
396
Nelson Street
Corey
397
Liberty Street
Corey
398
Trefton Drive
Corey
399
Wildwood Road
Corey
400
Wildwood Road
Corey
401
Jefferson Road
Corey
402
Jefferson Road
Corey
403
Jefferson Road
Corey
404
Jefferson Road
Corey
405
Jefferson Road
Corey
406
Sheppard Road
Corey
407
Talbot Road
Corey
408
Norton Street
Corey
409
Off Webster Road
Corey
NUMBER, LOCATION AND DESCRIPTION OF VALVES SET DURING 1929
Valve
195
6 Inches
4 Inches
Washington, near Holmes
1
Oak, cor. Storrs
1
Storrs Avenue
1
Fountain Street
1
·
Brow Avenue
1
Depot Square, near Pearl
1
Depot Square, near Holbrook Ave.
1
Hobart Street
1
658
Nelson Street
1
659
Trefton Drive
1
660
Arbutus Avenue
1
661
Wildwood Road
1
662
Tatnes Road
1
663
Adolph Road
1
664
Jefferson Road
1
665
Jefferson Road
1
666
Jefferson Road
1
667
Jefferson Road
1
668
Sheppard Road
1
669
Talbot Road
1
670
Norton Street
1
671
Off Webster Road
1
METER RECORD FOR 1929
Size
5/8
3/4
1
11/2
2
3
4
6
Total
Kind
Empire
3478
50
5
7
3
4
2
1
3527
Crown
20
20
Gem
1
1
Hersey
1
1
3479
70
5
7
4
4
2
1
3549
Respectively submitted,
JOHN W. MULCAHY,
Superintendent.
No. 650 651 652 653 654 655 656 657
1
PUMPING RECORD FOR 1928
Gallons pumped
Kilowatt
Time
hours
run
K. W. H.
January
33,655,000
32,360
410.40
1040
February
30,767,000
29,550
373.50
1041
March
34,846,000
33,800
422.05
1031
April
35,436,000
33,810
422.55
1048
May
35,736,000
34,180
429.30
1045
June
30,460,000
29,010
370.20
1049
July
40,632,000
38,490
484.45
1055
August
38,672,000
42,450
628.45
911
September
39,802,000
38,130
474.10
1044
October
32,725,000
31,620
316.20
1035
November
36,229,000
34,640
435.25
1046
December
38,398,000
37,340
470.05
1028
Totals
427,358,000
415,380
5,238.50
12373
Daily Average
1,170,844
1,165
14.21
1031
Largest day's pumping, Tuesday, July 9, 1,910,000 gallons
FRANCIS J. O'ROURKE,
Smallest day's pumping, Saturday, November 9, 906,000 gallons
Chief Engineer.
Gallons pumped with one
196
197
ANNUAL REPORT
OF THE
Electric Light Department
OF THE
TOWN OF BRAINTREE
FROM
Dec. 31, 1928 to Dec. 31, 1929
Printed by Order of the Town
TO
TREE
S
1640.
Printed by PRATT & PRATT The Braintree Observer Braintree, Mass. 1930
198
REPORT OF THE MUNICIPAL LIGHT BOARD JANUARY 30, 1930
To the Citizens of the Town of Braintree:
The people who really have an interest in the munici- pal electric light department, are the people who own it, the citizens of the Town of Braintree, and the members of the Municipal Light Board desire to have the citizens understand the history of the department, the value of the plant and the operation of the system.
It is twenty years since the department was first en- trusted to the Board. What has been accomplished in that period can be illustrated briefly by a comparison of the conditions which existed twenty years ago with the con- ditions under which the plant is operated at the present time.
When your Board was first entrusted with the opera- tion of the plant, electric current was being furnished dur- ing the evening hours and during the morning hours to less than seven hundred consumers and the total revenue from the sale of current during the first year's operation of the plant under the direction of the Board was approximately $17,000.00. The present plant furnishes twenty-four-hour service, serves four thousand eight hundred and forty-two consumers, and the total revenue from the sale of current for municipal lighting, house lighting, domestic and com- mercial use during the year 1929 was $264,738.43. The modest equipment of twenty years ago has been replaced by an equipment, modern, efficient and economical, is in excellent condition. Within six months after your Board took charge, a twenty-four-hour service was established and such service has been continued without interruption
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to the present time. For the past twenty years the plant has been almost wholly self-supporting and has been re- placed and increased almost wholly from earnings requir- ing very little money raised by taxation. In this way, without any substantial burden on the taxpayers, the mod- est plant of twenty years ago has been built up into a manufacturing and distributing organization with an equipment which if owned by a private corporation, would be valued at more than a million dollars. To carry the illustration a little further at rates normally charged for electric current in communities enjoying similar service, the plant would easily pay a reasonable return upon an investment of more than a million dollars.
The results obtained in the improvement of the plant have not been reached by maintaining excessive or even high rates. The Town itself pays for street lights a rate about one-half of the rate paid by other Towns in our immediate vicinity. The price of current to domestic and commercial users has been reduced from time to time, as circumstances would permit, until at the present time there is only one Town in Massachusetts which in any section of its schedule carries a rate lower than the Town of Braintree.
There are, however, some things which escaped even prudent contemplation. During the year 1929, the esti- mated revenue of the plant upon which the management was justified in relying under normal circumstances, has been seriously impaired, owing to the temporary curtail- ment of activities by some of the largest power consumers. This direct shrinkage in the revenue which the depart- ment was justified in expecting, happened to come at a time of very unusual expenditures. The estimate for the year for poles and line construction was exceeded by more than $12,000, more than $7,000 of which excess was due directly to relocation of highways and sidewalks. A new system of accounting was also installed during the past
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year involving the department in a substantial expense, perhaps wisely incurred, but coming at an inopportune time.
A comparison of the bills payable and quick assets for the last two years illustrated the temporary financial result occasioned by the direct loss of revenue.
1928
1929
Bills Payable
$36,517.51
$57,362.12
Bills Receivable
25,475.51
33,150.99
Inventory
21,349.97
18,159.45
Cash
2,873.71
2,263.09
$49,699.19
$53,573.53
The immediate result of these circumstances is that an abnormal amount of bills payable remain outstanding temporarily. The revenues of the department have now returned to normal; and, in the opinion of the Board, the expected revenue of the plant should take care of unpaid bills before May 1st and leave a substantial cash balance on hand.
Attention is particularly directed to the explanation given by the manager, Mr. Fred B. Lawrence, of the vari- ous items criticised by the State Auditors. The answer would seem to be simple and adequate. On all the facts, Mr. Lawrence does not appear to be an improper bene- ficiary of the department, but appears to have taken upon himself the voluntary responsibility of guaranteeing ac- counts which would otherwise have been charged off to profit and loss. His conscientious effort to save the de- partment from loss appears to have been the basis of an unfortunate misunderstanding.
Respectfully submitted,
A. A. CARSON, NORTON P. POTTER, CHARLES G. JORDON, The Municipal Light Board.
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REPORT OF MANAGER
Braintree Electric Light Department
December 31, 1929.
To the Municipal Light Board :
Allow me to submit herewith the report of this de- partment for the year ending December 31, 1929.
This report is in the form required to be submitted annually to the Department of Public Utilities and is sub- stantially a resume of the physical and financial operations for the year 1929.
Beginning January 1, 1929, we not only reduced our domestic lighting rate for the purpose of bringing our usual large yearly surplus within the equitable amount allowed by the department of Public Utilities, namely, eight per cent on our total valuation, but we also inaugu- rated the changing of our accounting system throughout. This proved to be a difficult and arduous task. We pro- duced, however, after a period of nine months of intensive strife and effort, a smooth-running, efficient system that is now functioning perfectly.
In order to effect this change, we had to employ out- side, temporary help at large salaries in addition to the regular office help, and the utter indifference and careless- ness of the temporary help to details of business as con- ducted in Public Utility accounting was reflected in the alleged irregularities at our office that were later reported from the State Department of Accounting. These I wish to explain in detail.
On June 30, 1929, from the large number of accounts that were overdue and eligible for transfer to Profit and Loss, there were seven that I thought were perfectly good provided we extended time of payment. I, therefore, guar- anteed these particular seven accounts, totaling $1,059.77 for material other than light and gave the office an I. O. U. for that amount. I might add that two of these accounts were for my own sons, one for $113.71 and the other for
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