USA > Massachusetts > Plymouth County > Middleborough > Town annual report of Middleborough, Massachusetts 1934 > Part 4
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80
Dogs shot
4
Number of arrests during the year
187
Males
180
Females
2
Minors
5
Non-residents
60
Native born
75
Foreign born
45
Number of commitments
25
Number of cases in Middleboro Court
585
Number of Minor cases in Middleboro Court
15
Number of non-residents in Middleboro Court
600
Nuisances
3
Summons served
175
Street obstructions removed
2
Sale of second-hand automobiles reported
600
Value of stolen property recovered and restored
$1200
Warning tags on autos 75
AMBULANCE REPORT.
Put into service on May 12th., 1934.
Operated 1105 miles.
Number of calls during the year. 112
Number of accidents covered. 47 Number of calls for a patrol. 57
State Hospital at Taunton. 2
Carrying prisoners to court. 6
The ambulance has been a great help to the department, carrying injured people from accidents to the hospital.
69 CONCLUSION
I wish to thank the Superintendent of Schools for the system he has installed into the schools for the education of the children in regards to traffic.
I wish to thank the operators of the local telephone ex- change for the good service given the department, which has been a great assistance in our work.
I wish to express my thanks and appreciation for the assistance and cooperation given me by the Honorable Board of Selectmen, the Fourth District Court, the people of the Town of Middleborough, and the officers of the De- partment, who have helped to make the administration of this department a success.
On May 12th., 1934, the Town of Middleboro pur- chased an ambulance, for the police department, which has been a great help to the department in carrying injured people to the hospital without adding any extra suffering to them and their injuries.
Respectfully submitted,
ALDEN C. SISSON, Chief of Police.
1
70
REPORT OF THE PLANNING BOARD
To the Selectmen and the Town of Middleboro:
A year ago we called to your attention the need for having adequate plans prepared and ready, in order to take best advantage of every shift in Federal relief policy. No pro- vision has yet been made for such plans; but in the absence of an appropriation, we have solicited and considered sug- gestions from the public for future E.R.A. work. These ranged from brush cutting and similar work which will un- doubtedly be carried out, to Electric extentions for which relief funds could not be used. Highway sidewalks, as distinguished from residential sidewalks, are needed most on State Routes, and are a matter for State legislations. Fencing certain school yards would involve considerable material cost and skilled labor, but very little of the E.R.A. type.
Another type of project would be playgrounds for rural schools. In the past, Federal money has had to be spent on public property. However, if the interested parties could secure the donation of suitable playground areas, the labor in improving the grounds could be handled by E.R.A.
A similar situation is found at the proposed parking space. If the merchants cared to donate the land, the im- provements could be made free.
This leaves water supply and sewerage projects. Either matter is too weighty for consideration of this Board with- out funds to secure data and competent advice. The Town lost out the last time Federal loans were available, thru lack of preparedness. We expect the same thing to happen the coming Spring.
This Board has interested itself in the formation of a separate organization which we have tentatively called the Civic Forum. When it is in operation, we hope it will fur- nish a means for spreading a knowledge of and an interest
71
in Town affairs. No existing organization, unless partisan, concerns itself with the everyday conduct of Town business. The mass of the people are becoming more isolated from and ignorant of civic matters. They naturally distrust that with which they are not familiar.
The Town should take advantage of the growing pub- licity given the Tennessee Valley Authority and the relations between the New Deal and the public utilities. The whole secret of it is that if you can double the average customer's use of electricity, you can almost halve the rate. We have already done that at least once right here. We could do it again.
We are suggesting that some sort of Electrical Week be held, in a cooperative effort by the Town and the ap- pliance dealers to increase the sale and use of electrical de- vices. We realize that the sale of electric ranges in the gas territory would not help much; but we serve a vast. outside area, and other appliances would not be in such direct com- petition.
We would also call attention to the relation between light rates and power rates. It is almost traditional that power is cheaper than light, except where the peak load is a power load. Yet here, the manufacturers using less than forty horsepower would be better off if they could take their power thru the light meter. Since low power rates have been and can still be an inducement to new industries, we suggest that power rates be studied with a view toward placing them at least on a par with light rates.
Respectfully submitted,
RUSSELL A. TRUFANT JESSE CARPENTER, JR. EVERETT M. WILLIS ENID S. CROSIER JANE V. PHINNEY
72
WATER DEPARTMENT
To the Board of Selectmen,
Middleboro, Mass.
Gentlemen :-
This year has been a very busy one for this department as more extensions have been made than for the past twenty years.
Some of this work has been done by the Government's assistance thru the C.W.A. and E.R.A., and other extensions thru direct appropriations.
The first job was the extension on Wareham St. and Cherry Streets, which was a C.W.A. Project and was started Dec. 2, 1933 and finished in the Spring of 1934. The origi- nal 6" line on Wareham St. extended from the force main leading to the Standpipe a distance of about 1600 feet to a point near Wood St. This line was paralleled with an 8" line when the two were brought together and increased to 10" and continued a 10" line to a point about 270 ft. beyond Cherry St. Leading westerly on Cherry St. a distance of 950 ft. an 8" line was laid to Leland's Green Houses. Lead- ing from the main line easterly on Cherry St. a 6" line was laid a distance of 780 ft. In all, there was laid 3016 ft. of 10" pipe, 2551 ft. of 8" and 948 ft. of 6", and 12 hydrants were set. The total cost of this job was $25,531.81 of which the Welfare and Water Departments furnished $2700.68, the Government $4699.00 for material and $15,576.78 for labor and the Peirce Trustees $2555.35 for materials.
Another C.W.A. Project was the laying of a 12" main connected to the existing 10" and 8" mains on Wareham St. and running thru Lincoln, Jackson, Peirce, Frank and Cam- bridge Streets to connect with the 8" main at Clara St., which runs under the tracks of the N.Y.N.H. & H. Railroad to Arlington St. near the factory of the George E. Keith Company. The object of this line was to increase the fire
73
protection of the manufacturing district located on Cam- bridge and Arlington Streets, and also to increase this pro- tection in the center of the Town. Where this new line intersected the existing mains of the streets crossing the thru line, they were cut into the new line, thus increasing the pressure as well as the volume of water which can be delivered from the hydrants in the high valued section of the town, as well as at the manufacturing center along the railroad. Six new hydrants were installed at critical points to add to the fire protection.
On April 1st of 1934 the C.W.A. was discontinued and the E.R.A. established in its place.
In May all the water works projects were ordered dis- continued and all unfinished projects stopped by June 30th, or finished thru Town funds.
Under the C.W.A. and E.R.A. we were enabled to finish the Peirce St. job as far as Oak St. and the town was asked to appropriate $7,000 to finish the job. This was voted at a Special Meeting held June 5, 1934. This work is completed with the exception of repairing Frank St. so as to leave it in as good a condition as it was before the pipe was laid. The total cost of the job to date is $20337.15. The Peirce Trustees furnished the material used under the C.W.A. at a cost of $8321.59 and the Government paid $5814.65 for labor. The cost from the funds furnished by the town has been $6200.91, leaving a balance of $799.09, part of which will be used to resurface the road. The total length of this line is 5120 ft.
Plymouth and Summer Streets, Warrentown.
At the Annual Meeting it was voted to extend an 8" water main in this section as a C.W.A. Project, from the end of the line laid in 1929 thru Plymouth and Summer Streets, to serve the property owned by Clinton Morse, and a 6" main on Plymouth St. from Summer St., a distance of about 950 ft. For this work the Government allotted
74
$2307.00 for payroll, and the town purchased the material at an expense of $4234.75, making the total cost of this extension $6541.75. Length of 8" pipe laid on Plymouth and Summer Streets 2606 ft. Length of 6" pipe Plymouth St.939 ft. Seven hydrants were installed.
East Grove Street Extension.
At the Annual Meeting the town voted an appropriation of $1200 to lay an 8" water main on East Grove St. from Fairview St. easterly, a distance of 813 ft. As there was some pipe left from the Wareham St. and Warrentown ex- tensions, this was used on this job so that there was a balance left of $605.43, making the total cost of this job $594.57. One hydrant was installed at the end of the line.
East Main, Plympton and Plymouth Streets.
At a Special Town Meeting held June 5, 1934, the town appropriated $18,000 to lay a 10" water main from the junc- tion of East Main and Montello Streets to Plymouth St., an 8" main on Plympton St. from Plymouth St. to the Green Church, and an 18" main on Plymouth St. from the Green toward Waterville for a distance of about one-half mile. This work was intended to be done wholly at the expense of the town, but the appropriation was too small to complete the job so that as the E.R.A. were again approving water extension projects we were enabled to obtain an allotment of Government money in the amount of $466.10 to complete the work. The total length of pipe laid was 5528 ft. of 10" on East Main St., 646 ft. of 8" on Plympton St. and 2562 ft. of 8" on Plymouth St. Eight hydrants were installed and four blow-offs placed on the line. The 10" pipe as it passed thru the river bridge was incased in a 2" kyanized spruce box in which the pipe was packed in mineral wool. This precaution was taken to prevent, if possible, its freezing.
75
Frozen Mains and Services.
In the middle of February the 8" main leading to Warren- town as it passes thru the bridge over the Nemasket River froze, thus cutting off the water supply from this section of the Town. The Electric Light Department was called upon to thaw out this line and when it was thawed out it was found that all the pipes were broken so that all had to be replaced. This bridge is composed of a series of stone arches so that when the pipe was originally laid over this bridge it was necessary to enclose the pipe in concrete. Altho the pipe was inclosed in a dead air space, this method was not sufficient to protect it from freezing during the very extreme cold weather of last winter. Temporary repairs were made as soon as possible and this fall we have attempted to so protect the pipe that it will not happen again. We first constructed three sides of a concrete box inside of which we placed another box made of 2" kyanized spruce, leaving a three inch air space between the concrete and the outside of the planking. Inside of this plank box we surrounded the pipe with seven inches of mineral wool, after which the wooden box was completed. The top of the concrete box is made of a number of reinforced slabs separated with asphalt expansion joints so that if it ever becomes necessary to get to the pipe to make any repairs these slabs can be removed without destroying the concrete. This is the only main that was frozen. We did have fifteen frozen services and ninety-eight frozen meters.
We have continued this year as in the past years a care- ful inspection of the main gates, curb stops, hydrants and meters.
The main gates are all carefully tested once each year and any defects found, immediately remedied.
The curb stops are all tested and the necessary repairs made, and the hydrants flushed and inspected twice each year.
76
All meters over five years old are removed, taken to the shop and necessary repairs made.
We feel that as all of our income is derived from the sale of water, that it is necessary to keep the meters in such shape that they will register the water passing thru them as near 100% as possible.
The conditions at the pumping station are very good except that the extensions that have been made to the dis- tribution system have added a burden which must be cor- rected soon.
Recommendations.
The added extensions made this year of our distribution system have placed such a burden on our filtered water supply and on our storage that something should be done immediately to correct this condition. I therefore strongly recommend that our filteration plant be increased by add- ing a new coke filter, a new filter bed, the construction of additional storage for filtered water at the Pumping Station, and the installation of a new pump to replace the present steam turbine now held as a reserve pumping unit. This pump is of small capacity and very inefficient; also the boil- ers are 26 years old and while we are still allowed to carry sufficient steam pressure on them, it can be only a short time when this pressure must be reduced and when it is, the steam pump will be of no value. The time to do this is when sufficient time can be given to do this work in an efficient manner and not wait until it is forced upon us, in which case it is very likely to cost much more, and as is often the case, an unsatisfactory job is done.
I wish to thank all those who have worked so faithfully to keep this Department in the high state of efficiency which it is now in.
Respectfully submitted,
H. J. GOODALE, Town Manager & Supt. Water Dept.
77
SUMMARY OF STATISTICS FOR THE YEAR ENDING DECEMBER 31, 1934.
Population by census of 1930-8593. Date of con- struction-1885. By whom owned-Town of Middleboro. Source of supply-well south of village near Nemasket River. Mode of supply-pumped direct overflow to stand- pipe.
PUMPING STATISTICS
1. Builders of Pumping Machinery, two Goulds Electri- cally Driven Centrifugal main units; 1 Gould driven by Moore Steam Turbine, and 1 DeLaval complete turbine and pump, auxiliary units.
2. Description of fuel used:
(a) Electric power for Main Units
(b) Bituminous coal for auxiliary units $.0202
(c) Price per K.W.H .- average
(d) Average price of coal per Net ton, delivered $8.50 K.W.H. consumed for the year
(a) Main Pump 166,300
(b) Filter Pump 34,379
3. Coal consumed for the year, heat and power, Ibs. 169,533
4. Total pumpage for the year, passed through meter gal.
118,692,000*
5. Average Static head against which pumps work in feet 295
6. Average dynamic head against which pump works, in feet 300
7. Number of gallons pumped per K.W.H. Main pump only 665
8. Duty equals gallons pumped (4) Less *x 8.34 lbs. x 100 x dynamic head (6) divided by total K.W.H. Consumed by main pump 166,535,707
78
9. Cost of pumping figured on Pumping Sta- tion Expenses $9,501.53
10. Per million gallons pumped $80.51
11. Per million gallons raised one foot dynamic 0.27
*Of total amount 8,001,000 gallons were pumped by steam.
STATISTICS OF CONSUMPTION OF WATER
1. Total population 1930 Census 8,593
2. Estimated population on lines of pipe 5,925
3. Estimated population supplied 5,425
4. Total Consumption for the year
118,692,000
5. Passed through meters, gallons 85,023,750
6. Percentage of consumption, metered 71.7
7. Average daily consumption, gals 325,184
8. Gallons per day to each inhabitant 54
9. Gallons per day to each consumer 59
10. Gallons per day to each tap
236
11. Cost of supplying water per million gallons figured on total maintenance $78.03
12. Total cost of supplying water, per million gallons figured on total maintenance, plus interest on bonds and bonds $112.71
STATISTICS RELATING TO DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM.
Mains.
1. Kind of pipe-cast iron, wrought iron
2. Sizes-1 inch to 16 inches
3. Extended during year, feet
4. Total now in use, miles
27.42
5. Length of pipe less 4 in. in diameter, miles .166
6. Number of hydrants in use 204
7. Number of stop gates smaller than 4 in. 1
8. Number of blow offs
10
9. Range of pressure on mains 84-120
24,284
Services.
10. Kind of. pipe-wrought iron, cement, lined, cast iron
79
11. Sizes-1/2 inch to 6 inches
12. Extended, feet
2391
13. Total now in use, miles
15.63
14. Number of service taps added
35
15 Number of service taps discontinued
0
16. Number now in use
1381
17. Average length of service, feet
59.77
18. Number of meters added
37
19. Number of meters now in use
1321
20 Percent of services metered
98
21. Percent of receipts from metered water 99
22. Number of motor 0
TOTAL LENGTH OF MAIN PIPE
16 in. 12 in. 10 in. 8 in. 6 in. 4 in. 2 in. 11% in. 1 in. Total
400 13,204.9 17,919 21,873.5 73,887.2 14,615.2 2,832.7 40.9
4.6 144,778
Total length of miles 27.42
Number of hydrants added, 35
204
Number of Main gates added, 47
297
Number of blow offs added, 4
10
Service connections made, 35
1381
Number of services now taking water
1346
Feet of service pipe put in during the year, feet
1391
Feet of service pipe within street lines
37,131
Meters set during the year
37
Meters now in use
1321
Meters
5/8 in. 12 in. 34 in. 1 in. 11/2 in.2 in. 3 in.
American
338
2 3
Trident
247
1
2
Lambert
205
1
1
Worthington
156
Hersey
226
1 4
3
2
1
1
Federal
71
4
Nash
15
3
2
Keystone
24
1
Empire
2
1
1
1
Crown
2
1284
2
11
16
3
4
1
Total
1321
WATER DEPT.
THE COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS-DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC HEALTH WATER ANALYSIS
Appearance
Residue on Evaporation
Ammonia
NitrogenAs
Z
Date of Collection
Turbidity
Sediment
Color
Total
Free
Albuminoid
Total
Chlorine
Nitrates
Nitrites
Hardness
Iron
Min.
1934
dist.
v. cons.
fil.
253015
Jan. 4
iron
0
80.0
.102
. 040
8.0
. 400
.000
35.
3.50
. 70 Inlet to Filter
253016
Jan. 4
sl.
6
76.0
. 098
.038
7.8
.400
.000
30
2.80
. 60 Outlet of Filter
253017
Jan.
3
0
66.0
. 012
. 020
7.4
.300
.000
29.
.24
. 00 Final Effluent
255193
Apr. 10
sl.
cons.
10
65.0
.080
.018
6.4
. 400
.000
27.
3.50
. 55 Inlet to Coke Filter
255680
Apr. 30
s1.
cons.
6
67.0
. 080
. 016
6.4
.200
.000
29.
2.60
. 55 Inlet to Coke Filter
255194
Apr. 10
sl.
8
63.0
.070
.022
6.4
. 400
. 000
27.
1.68
.52 Outlet of coke Filter
255681
Apr. 30
sl.
7
64.0
.074
. 020
6.4
.300
.000
25.
1.70
.50 Outlet of Coke Filter
255682
Apr. 30
none
0
57.0
. 006
. 012
6.4
.200
.000
26.
.19
.00 Final Effluent
258919
Sept. 6
dist.
cons.
27
71.0
.110
.064
6.4
.220
. 000
34.
4.20
. 76 Inlet to Filter
258920
Sept. 6
dist.
sl.
25
72.0
120
.038
6.3
.250
.001
35.
2.40
. 60 Outlet Filter
258921
Sept. 6
vsl.
20
66.0
.000
.014
5.4
.250
.000
34.
.51
.02 Final Effluent
80
fil.
none
fil.
fil.
fil.
fil.
fil.
fil.
fil.
PUMPING STATION RECORD 1934
Main Pumps Time Pumping Electric, Steam
Coal used Pounds
Filter Supply Time Pumping
Month
Hours
Minutes
Minutes
Minutes
Gallons
Pumped
Daily
Average
K.W.H. used
Main Pump
Daily
Average
Power
Station
Heater
Hours
Minutes
Minutes
K.W.H. used
Filter Pump
Average
January
168-45
5-26
9,871,000
318,419
14,827
478
5196
289-40
9-20
2781
89.7
February
171-
4-30
6-16
10,217,000
364,892
15,050
537
2900
5888
294-50
10-32
2814
100.
March
185-25
4-25
6- 7
11,052,000
356,516
16,328
526
1150
4767
327-25
10-33
3090
99.7
April
176-32
2-
5-57
10,423,000
347,433
15,558
518
2000
2786
319-45
10-39
2985
90.9
May
202-55
2-
6-37
11,975,000
386,290
17,869
576
850
1246
372- 5
12-
3426
110.5
June
169-15
5-38
9,919,000
330,633
14,850
495
316-45
10-33
2879
95.8
July
179-50
5-55
5-59
10,683,000
344,613
15,745
508
2500
364-10
11-45
3175
102.4
August
171-10
5-31
9,987,000
322,161
14,924
481
260
344-50
11- 7
2964
95.6
September
34-38
560-
19-49
8,548,000
251,600
2,899
133,145
325-20
10-50
2851
95.
October
145-45
13-
5- 7
8,817,000
284,419
12,745
411
1993
2380
295-45
9-32
2553
82.3
November
140-17
4-30
4-49
8,222,000
274,000
12,251
408
2000
3034
272- 5
9- 4
2342
78
December
151-37
7-
5- 7
8,978,000
289,613
13,254
427
2400
5038
284-50
9-11
2519
81.2
Total
1917- 9
603-20
118,692,000
166,300
138,938 30,595
3807-30
34,379
Daily Averages
6-54
325,183
10-26
94-2
Greatest number of gallons pumped in one day-502,000 gallons, February 28. Least number of gallons pumped in one day-173,000 gallons, September 23. Of the total pumpage 8,001,000 gallons were pumped by steam pump.
RALPH SAMPSON, Engineer.
81
Daily Average
Hours
Hours
Hours
Daily Average
Daily
82
RAINFALL AND TEMPERATURE
RECORD 1934
Temperature Degrees
Precipitation Inches
Rain and
Snow-
Month
Highest Lowest
Mean Melted Snow
fall
January
52
-4
27.7
3.61
5/8
February
45
-22
16
3.67
193/8
March
65
-5
33.85
4.18
91/2
April
74
21
46.9
3.99
May
85
30
58.53
2.74
June
92
39
66.36
4.27
July
92
46
71.56
1.79
August
86
37
66
1.81
September
84
37
65.2
3.44
October
74
26
48.3
3.38
1/8
November
70
19
44
2.97
18
December
63
2
28.9
3.37
2
Totals
39.22
3134
Mean for the year
47.94
- Below Zero
RALPH SAMPSON,
Observer.
83
REPORT OF THE TOWN CLERK
For the Year Ending December 31, 1934
Record of the annual town meeting January 15th, 1934 with its adjournments.
Article 1. To choose all necessary town officers, the following officers to be chosen on one ballot, viz: a Moderator for one year, a Town Treasurer & Collector of Taxes for one year, one Selectman for three years, two members of the School Board for three years, one member of the Plan- ning Board for five years.
Meeting called to order at 11 o'clock A. M. by the Moder- ator and the warrant was read by the Clerk.
Voted that the polls be opened at 11:30 A. M. and remain open until 8 P. M.
The following Election Officers were sworn in :- Luke F. Kelley, John Perry, Ralph W. Maddigan, Luke F. Callan, Stephen F. O'Hara, Elwyn B. Lynde, John J. Mahoney, Harold S. Thomas, Mary Cromwell, Mabel Sears, Sarah Connors and Elizabeth Flynn.
The result of the vote was as follows:
Moderator
Fletcher Clark Jr.
1285
Blanks
354
-1639
Town Treasurer & Collector of Taxes
Samuel Breck
965
Abraham G. Newkirk
602
Blanks
72
-- 1639
84
Selectman Adnah H. Harlow Frederic H. Noble John H. Pushee Blanks
538
680
383
38
- -1639
School Committee Priscilla S. Alger Kendrick H. Washburn
1126
1181
Blanks
971
-- 3278
Planning Board
Russell A. Trufant
1078
Blanks
561
-1639
Total vote 1639, 1036 Men, 603 Women.
Article 2: To raise such sums of money by tax or other- wise, as may be necessary to defray the expense of the town for the current year, appropriate the same and to act any- thing in relation to the assessment and collection of taxes for the year.
Voted: Departmental appropriations amounting to $381,661.79.
Article 3: To authorize the Town Treasurer, with the approval of the Selectmen, or a majority thereof, to borrow during the municipal year beginning January 1st. 1934 in anticipation of the revenue of said year, such sums of money as may be necessary for the current expenses of the town but not exceeding the total tax levy of the preceding financial year, as provided in Section 3, Chapter 719, General Acts 1913 and amendments thereto, giving the notes of the town
85
therefor, payable within one year from the date thereof, all debts incurred under authority of this vote, to be paid from the revenue of the present municipal year.
Voted: that the town of Middleboro authorize the Town Treasurer, with the approval of the Selectmen, or a majority thereof, to borrow during the municipal year beginning January 1st, 1934 in anticipation of the revenue of said year, such sums of money as may be necessary for the current expenses of the town, but not exceeding the total tax levy of the preceding financial year, as provided in Section 3, Chapter 719, General Acts 1913, and amendments thereto, giving the notes of the town therefor, payable within one year from the date thereof, all debts incurred under authority of this vote, to be paid from the revenue of the present muni- cipal year.
Article 4: To hear the report of any committees or officers of the town, appoint any committee, and act thereon.
The following report was read by Mr. Lewis Harding :-- Reporting for the Committee which was appointed to study the possibility of holding secret ballots on appro- priations of $300. or over. Investigation has been made of this proposition and it is found to be impracticable. If such a general law was passed, it would tend to destroy the essential elements of a town meeting, which is essen- tially a deliberative assembly. A town meeting may vote to have a secret ballot on any one article after an open discussion on the same, but a general rule of the type proposed, namely to have a secret ballot on all appropriations of $300. or over is not only impracticable, but would also be contrary to the dictum expressed by the Supreme Court of this State in various decisions. Conferences were held with the Director of Division of Accounts in the State House with respect to this matter and he advised very strongly against the same. There is no general rule which now permits it and no town or city has any special act which allows this in any respect.
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