USA > Massachusetts > Plymouth County > Plymouth > Town annual report of Plymouth, MA 1884-1889 > Part 23
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PUMPING RECORD FOR 1887.
Months.
Hours Run.
Coal used, pounds.
Gallons Pumped.
Average head, feet.
January,
3512
49,035
19,681,518
81.2
February,
3203
42,240
17,503,552
79.5
March,
359
45,225
19,000,504
77.03
April,
3452
39,160
18,204,716
76.
May,
360
37,075
18,009,559
72.97
June,
3503
40,205
17,519,425
86.07
July,
3683
51,180
21,205.184
89.93
August,
384
50,140
21,322,036
84.16
September,
341
40,355
17,978,004
78.96
October,
3623
39,760
18,299,456
72.09
November,
311
34,025
14,737,484
66.24
December,
199
28,110
11,347,980
64.17
Totals,
4,0534
496,510
214,809,418
77.36
41
Suction is not included in the above.
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THE NEW RESERVOIR.
The reservoir begun in 1886 was not finished until the Fall of 1887.
The location selected for the reservoir is very desirable on account of the shortness of the pipe (about 600 feet) connect- ing it with the pump, and is very convenient for taking care of the reservoir.
An abundance of good sand and gravel being found upon the lot, it was decided to line the reservoir with cement concrete.
The formation of the ground favored the construction of a circular reservoir. The bottom of the reservoir was made 100 feet in diameter, with sides sloping outward one and one-half feet to each one foot rise, to a height of nine and one-half feet ; then a level shelf about ten feet wide, and an upper slope of two feet outward to each one foot rise, to a height of five and one-half feet. More than one-half the bottom and sides of the reservoir thus formed were of the natural earth undisturbed ; the other parts were built of sand and gravel thoroughly pud- dled, and rolled or rammed. The surface of the bottom and of the two slopes and shelf were covered with a layer of concrete five inches thick, made of one part cement, two parts of sharp sand and six parts of gravel, and coated with a layer about three-quarters of an inch thick of cement and sand in equal parts, each layer thoroughly rammed.
The reservoir was then filled with water and found to be tight.
The embankment was then carried up four feet higher than the concrete, making nineteen feet height of bank, and the shelf and upper slope were covered with earth and paved with cobble stones, making a continuous slope from the bottom of the reservoir to the top of the embankment.
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The top and outside slopes were covered with soil.
The concrete on the bottom and sides of the reservoir to a vertical height of nine and a half feet is not covered with earth.
The capacity of the reservoir is about 1,370,000 gallons, and when full of water the depth is fifteen feet, and the surface of the water 164 feet and eight inches above sea-level, or' about sixty feet above South Pond.
As a matter of engineering it is considered safer to have but one pipe through an embankment of a reservoir, but in consid- eration of the probability that at some time it may be desirable to connect the reservoir more directly with the south part of the Town, the little expense of placing an outlet in a part of the embankment while building it, and the convenience of a waste gate at present, an outlet pipe of cement ten inches in diameter was laid in the easterly embankment.
Having an outlet pipe, the pipe from the pump to the reser- voir did not need to enter at the bottom of the reservoir.
The top of the 14-inch cement pipe where it enters the reser- voir is about nine feet above the bottom of the reservoir, but bends downward on the inside slope, so that all but two feet depth of water can be siphoned out, if it should be necessary to use the water. The siphon has been tested and found tight.
Good roads lead to the reservoir on the east and west sides, passing over the top of the embankment.
NEW MAINS-HIGH AND LOW SERVICE.
At the Town Meeting, March 7, 1887, it was voted, "That the Water Commissioners are hereby authorized to lay pipes and make such changes in the present water system as may be nec- essary to complete the high and low service, substantially as recommended in their report." At the Town Meeting, April 4, it was voted, "That all labor on the Plymouth Water Works
be
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from this day forward, such as digging, trenching, etc., and in all contracts for such Works, it shall be specified that the labor- ers of the Town shall have preference over all others, and that the compensation shall not be less than two dollars per day for ten hours."
Walter H. Sears, C. E., was engaged as Engineer on the Works, but the superintendence of the lining and laying of pipes was in charge of the Commissioners. Mr. Sears continued to superintend the construction of the reservoir.
In conformity with the vote of the Town, proposals were is- sued for this work, requiring the contractor, in the employment of men for the labor of trenching and filling, to give town labor- ers the preference, and to pay not less than two dollars per day for ten hours.
Before the execution of the contract, a prayer for an injunc- tion was brought by inhabitants of the Town in the Supreme Court, which decided that the vote as to two dollars per day for labor was illegal.
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The Commissioners therefore deemed it to be their duty to make a contract without limit as to price to be paid for labor.
The contract for laying nearly four miles of cement pipe was made with Messrs. Goodhue & Birnie of Springfield, May 23, 1887.
At a Town Meeting, July 2, it was voted, "That the Water Commissioners be instructed to make such an arrangement with the contractors for the system of Water Works, voted at the last meeting of the Town, that the labor of trenching, back- filling, etc., shall be separated from the contract, and the same be performed by the Town, under the direction of the Water Commissioners."
Messrs. Goodhue & Birnie were informed of the vote of the Town, and replied as follows :
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SPRINGFIELD, July 5, 1887.
N. MORTON, Chairman.
Dear Sir,-We have received your favor of the 2d inst., in- forming us of certain votes passed at Town Meeting, last Satur- day. We reply that as we are performing the contract entered into by us with your Board under date of May 23 last, we shall continue according to its terms, until we have fully completed it; having incurred large expense already, and intending to do our part faithfully and fully. We cannot consent to any modifi- cation of the contract, and we shall rely upon full performance by the Town on its part.
Yours truly,
GOODHUE & BIRNIE.
Under these circumstances, an amicable arrangement of the matter with the contractors could not be made; and the Com- missioners were of the opinion that it would subject the Town to very heavy liabilities, if they should insist upon such a change in the contract.
LOW SERVICE.
The new pipes laid are sixteen, fourteen, ten, six and four in- ches in diameter. The sixteen-inch main is 7,515 feet long, and conveys water from Little South Pond to the Pump Station. At that point a fourteen-inch branch from it supplies what water the pump needs, in addition to what is furnished by the old ten- inch pipe, for the high service.
The sixteen-inch pipe has also a ten-inch branch into Lout Pond, to be used if it should be desirable to make that pond a storage reservoir.
From the Pump Station the new main is fourteen inches in diameter, and carries water from the sixteen-inch main, for the low service, to the junction of Summer and High Streets, a dis-
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tance of 7,657 feet, and there connects with the old eight-inch pipe, which leads down Summer Street to the centre of the Town ; and with the old ten-inch pipe, which leads to the Aller- ton Street reservoir, a ten-inch branch of which leads through Russell Street, connecting with the main pipe in Court Street.
HIGH SERVICE.
The old ten-inch main from the pond furnishes by gravity the most of the water needed to supply the pump. The water is forced through a fourteen-inch pipe into the high service reser- voir, and into the old ten-inch main which carries the high ser- vice supply to the Town. This supply is carried to the north part of the Town by a six-inch pipe leading from Summer Street through Oak, Samoset and Allerton Streets. One thou- sand six hundred and seventy-seven feet of six-inch pipe was laid in Allerton Street. At the junction of Summer and High Streets, the old ten-inch pipe is connected with a new ten-inch pipe, 1,121 feet long, running down Summer Street and Mill Lane, connecting on Spring Hill with the old eight-inch pipe, carrying high service to all water-takers south of Town Brook.
The new ten-inch pipe in Summer Street has an eight-inch branch, reduced to a six-inch pipe, connecting with High Street and Bartlett Street pipes, and leading through Russell Street, on the easterly side of the old pipe, 1,646 feet to the front of the Court House, there connecting with a four-inch pipe leading to School Street ; also branching at Seaver and Allerton Streets, and connecting with the other high service pipes in Oak and Samoset Streets.
Seven hundred feet of four-inch pipe was laid in Allerton Street, between Russell Street and Samoset Street.
ne an old COT W ten eigl 1 room conn the w brick
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CONNECTIONS.
The pipes of the high and low services are connected by gates as follows :
A fourteen-inch gate at the Pump Station.
A ten-inch gate on Summer Street, corner of High Street.
A two-inch gate on Spring Street, near Summer Street.
An eight-inch gate on Spring Hill.
A four-inch gate with five-eights inch by-pass, on High Street, near Market Street.
A four-inch gate in Town Square.
A four-inch gate in Russell Street, near the north corner of the Court House.
A two-inch gate on Vernon Street, near Court Street.
A six-inch gate on Samoset Street, corner of Allerton Street.
A four-inch gate on Cushman Street, near Court Street.
A six-inch gate on Court Street, near Allerton Street.
The supply can be made all high service by opening one gate at the Pump Station, or one gate on Summer Street.
It can be made all low service by closing one gate at the . Pump Station.
WELL-ROOM.
No new connection was made with Little South Pond, but a new well-room was built near the pond, five feet by six and one-half feet inside, and eight feet deep, into which the old twenty-inch pipe from the pond enters; the five feet of cove of the old pipe being removed. Since the original Works were built, the twenty-inch cement pipe has been ex- tended into the pond by the addition of about eight feet of eighteen-inch concrete pipe.
A piece of eighteen-inch concrete pipe was built into the well- room on the side next the pond, to admit of making another connection with the pond at any future time. The bottom of the well-room is of concrete about one foot thick ; the sides are brick, sixteen inches thick, laid in cement.
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LOCATION OF PIPES.
The old ten-inch pipe and the new sixteen-inch pipe lead from the well-room, the latter on the westerly side of the for- mer, and it continues on the same side to a point about 2,550 feet below the sixteen-inch gate at Small Gains Swamp, where it crosses over the old pipe and continues on the easterly side of the old pipe to a point about 250 feet above Deep Water Bridge, where it again crosses over the old pipe and continues on the westerly side of the old pipe to the junction of Summer and High Streets. Instead of following the line of the old pipe across the marsh at the homestead of Samuel W. Holmes, the pipe was laid on the upland. The old pipe crosses the brook below Deep Water Bridge ; the new pipe crosses above the bridge. At one place in the curve below the Plymouth Mills Rivet Works the two pipes are less than two feet apart. At all other places, except as above named, the distance between the old and new mains, is supposed to be not less than three feet, and is usually from four feet to six feet.
It is worthy of note, that in laying the new pipe so near the other, for a distance of nearly three miles, only one leak was found in the cement pipe, laid thirty-two years ago.
DEPTH OF PIPES.
The new pipe, where. it leaves the well-room at the pond, has six and a half feet of covering of earth, the same as the old pipe, and is laid on a level or descending grade to Small Gains Swamp, and the most of the way to Deep Water Bridge, the usual depth being about the same as the old pipe.
At Small Gains Swamp the old pipe was found to be about two feet under water. The new pipe was laid above the water, and has but little covering for a distance of four hundred feet.
The top of the pipe at the middle of the brook at Deep Water Bridge is seven and a half feet below the level of the top
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of the stone stringer of the bridge. At the top of Benson's Hill the pipe has eight feet covering. Near the foot of the hill, on the northerly slope the covering is two and a half feet.
SHELL.
The sixteen-inch pipes were laid in pieces about nine feet long, each pipe being made of three pieces of 14-Birmingham gauge-iron, double-riveted lengthwise, then forced together by great pressure and cross-riveted. More than half the pipes have two rows of cross rivets.
The fourteen-inch pipes were made in nine feet lengths, of one piece of 14-Birmingham gauge-iron, double-riveted length- wise, except about 180 feet of single riveted, which was laid on Summer Street near the junction of Billington Street. The ten- inch, six-inch and four-inch pipes laid, were all single-riveted and in nine-feet lengths.
The work was completed and water let into the pipes on the twentieth day of December.
The pipes seem to be in good working order.
LEAKS.
The liability of leaks in the old ten-inch main is much lessened. The same is the case with all pipes throughout the district under low service.
A pressure of ten to fifteen pounds per square inch is brought upon the pipes in the high service district, in excess of the pressure the pipes had formerly when the pump was running. This extra pressure has found some weak spots in the pipes, but no more than might have been expected in pipes thirty-two years old. The pressure upon all the pipes is more steady than formerly, so that after the weak spots in the old pipes have been repaired, the liability of leaks will be less than when the pump was supplying water for all parts of the Town.
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IRON PIPE.
In connecting the pump with the new reservoir, about thirty- three feet of cast-iron pipe, with an inside coating of cement, was laid from the twelve-inch pumping main through the base- ment of the Pumping Station, to the outside of the building, there having an eighth-bend and a Y of cast-iron connecting with the fourteen-inch cement pipe leading to the reservoir ; one branch of the Y leads to the pipes connecting with the Town.
In making this connection with the twelve-inch pumping main, a twelve-inch cast-iron elbow was removed, and a double elbow with twelve-inch and fourteen-inch branches put in place. The twelve-inch elbow had been in use six years. Rust had collected on the inside of the pipe to the thickness of one-half an inch, reducing the capacity of the pipe to five-sixths its for- mer size.
It may be necessary, for the greatest economy in pumping expenses, to remove the rust from the other parts of the main connecting with the pump.
July 2, the Town voted " That the Water Commissioners be instructed to take up the two-inch water pipe now laid on Ver- non Street, Robinson Street, and Highland Place, and replace the same with four-inch pipes."
The Commissioners were of the opinion that under the divided service soon to come into operation, an abundant sup- ply of water would be furnished to takers on Vernon Street and Highland Place, without any change in the pipes. Under the divided service all complaints of an insufficient supply have ceased.
The relaying of pipes on Robinson Street has been deferred to next Spring.
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RECOMMENDATIONS.
The Commissioners recommend to the Town to lay such new pipes and take up such two-inch and three-inch pipes as may be necessary to carry sufficient water for high service supply to the territory south of Winter Street, in pipes through Pleasant, South and Whiting Streets, and to carry low service supply from Spring Hill, through Sandwich Street to Winter Street. The estimated cost is $800.
Respectfully submitted,
CHARLES S. DAVIS, H. P. BAILEY, SAMUEL H. DOTEN,
NATHANIEL MORTON, 7 Water Commmissioners.
EVERETT F. SHERMAN, J
PLYMOUTH PUBLIC LIBRARY
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SUPERINTENDENT'S REPORT.
OFFICE OF THE PLYMOUTH WATER WORKS, PLYMOUTH, January 2, 1888.
TO THE BOARD OF WATER COMMISSIONERS :
GENTLEMEN-In accordance with my duty, I hereby submit my fourteenth annual report of the Plymouth Water Works.
CONSTRUCTION ACCOUNT.
There has been laid during the year 1887 the following amount of wrought iron and cement-lined water pipes :
No. of feet.
Size
COST.
WHERE LAID.
595
14
In double service
From pump to reservoir.
36
10
To connect with old 10-inch from reservoir pipe.
43
10
For blow-off on 16-inch pipe at pump.
9
6
66
66
For blow-off at Small Gains.
6
4
66
6
For by-pass at pump on reservoir pipe.
63
4
66
66
66
For blow-off below Charles Cromwell's house.
47
4
66
66
For blow-off at pump on reservoir pipe.
100
4
420
4
$255 22
265
3
114 54
Mt. Pleasant St., between Sandwich and Whiting. Extension on Centennial Street.
1,594
For blow-off at Mill Lane.
10
4
66
For blow-off at Plymouth Mills.
There has been disconnected 420 feet of two-inch pipe on · Mount Pleasant Street ; 323 feet of two-inch pipe on Allerton Street, from Russell Street to house of N. C. Lanman ; 260 feet of two-inch pipe on Allerton, between Cushman Street and house of J. H. Burtch ; and 200 feet of one-inch iron pipe on Allerton, from house of J. H. Burtch to house of R. S. Doug- lass, the services have been connected to the six-inch high serv- ice pipe.
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SERVICE PIPES.
The street mains have been tapped for new supplies in thirty- three places, at a cost of $175.85, making a total number of taps to date, 1,317, the street length of service pipes being 26,340 feet.
Seven leaks have occurred the past year in service pipes. Cost of repairs, $23.74.
In seven cases galvanized iron service pipes have been re- placed by lead, at a cost of $21.75.
STREET MAINS.
The past Summer has subjected the street mains to a severe test. We have had more breaks the past year than ever before, caused by frequently shutting and opening the gates in order to make the required connections to the new system. The high service was put on December 20, and there were many breaks, and it was expected, as there must be some weak places in a pipe that has been laid thirty-two years that had never been exposed to such high pressure.
The cost of all repairs on main and distributing pipes has been $385.64.
Leaks and obstructions have occurred as follows:
NUMBER.
SIZE OF PIPE.
COST.
8
10 inches.
$77 93
4
8
28 45
2
6
22 85
24
4
159 66
1
3
66
7 49
16
2
89 26
55
$385 64
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GATES.
Thirty-nine new gates, from two to sixteen inches, have been set the past year. Thirty-five have been set on the new system, one four-inch was set on the extension on Mount Pleasant Street. The cost is included in the cost of the extension. One two-inch set on Davis Street, junction of Oak Street, at a cost of $9.45 ; one two-inch set on Bartlett Street, junction Russell, at a cost of $12.80; and one old four-inch gate taken out on High Street and replaced by a new one, at a cost of $17.52.
RESERVOIR.
The reservoir is in good condition, and nothing has been ex- pended on it this year.
BOXES.
Forty two service and ten gate boxes have been replaced by new ones, at a cost of $72.32.
NEW TAKERS.
There have been added to the water-takers this year, twenty- six families, thirty-four water closets, fifteen bathing tubs, one fountain, one restaurant, one green house, one straw factory, and one fish market.
LABOR.
Whole amount expended for labor during the year :
for labor on extensions. . $163 95
for all other labor. 1,204 02
$1,367 97
Amount received for labor, trenching $239 34
for shutting off services. 78 50
317 84
Total cost of labor during the year, less refunded. .. $1,050 13
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SCHEDULE
Showing the number of feet of each size pipe, and the number and size of gates on the Works, December 31, 1887 :
SIZE IN INCHES.
LENGTH OF PIPE IN FEET.
NUMBER OF GATES.
20
56
16
7,515
2
14
8,252
6
12
64
2
10
19,685
16
8
4,616
9
6
11,524
17
4
53,395
75
3
9,562
13
2
28,565
70
1
1,290
7
Totals,
144,524
217
The street length of service pipes being 26,340 feet, with the main. and distribution pipes, make a total of 170,864 feet of pipe, or thirty-two miles and 1,904 feet.
Yours respectfully,
R. W. BAGNELL, Superintendent.
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LOCATION AND SIZE OF MAIN AND DISTRIBUTING PIPE LAID TO DEC. 31, 1887.
Between what Street or Place.
Streets.
Size of pipe. 2 inch.
Court and house of Henry Voght.
Atlantic,
1
Atlantic and house of C. G. Davis in field.
Allerton,
6
Samoset and Court.
Reservoir and Vernon Street, woolen mill pipe.
8
Samoset and Cushman.
3
Vernon and Samoset, woolen mill pipe.
66
3
Samoset and house of E. S. Diman, Jr.
4
Samoset and Russell.
Alley,
2
Middle and Carver.
Allen Court,
1
South Street and house of Ellis Barnes.
Bourne,
3
Court and Plymouth Cordage Company's block.
Bartlett,
2
High and Russell.
Bradford,
2 Sandwich and house of Charles Burton.
2
Union and house of Timothy Hartnett.
*** Afor
56
6
Brewster,
4 inch. Court and Water connected with sixteen feet on Water Street.
Court,
8 Main and Samoset.
66
6 Samoset and Woolen Mill Avenue, woolen mill pipe.
6 Samoset and house of William Gooding.
4
House of William Gooding and Kingston line.
Cherry,
4
Court and land of Plymouth Cordage Company.
Centennial,
3
Court and land of.C. G. Davis.
Cushman,
4
Court and house of J. W. Mixter.
Chestnut,
2
Davis and Samoset Streets.
Chilton,
2
Court and house of B. L. Bramhall.
57
8
4
4
( From end of three-inch to Water Street, and connecting with sixteen-feet · of pipe on Water Street.
Carver,
2
North and Leyden.
· Church,
2
Town Square and house of Charles B. Harlow.
Cross Road, 3
From South to house of R. E. Caswell.
Cliff Road,
4
Warren and Sandwich road.
Chiltonville,
4
South District road and house of Mrs. Richard Harlow.
4
Terry's Corner and store of Plymouth Woolen and Cotton Factory ..
Davis,
2 Davis and Vine Hills Cemetery.
2
Between J. W. Mixter's and Allerton Street.
3
House of B. L. Bramhall, 322 feet.
Between what Street or Place.
Streets.
Size of pipe.
Emerald,
2 inch. Water and Bradford Streets.
Edes,
2
Russell and house of J. C. Barnes.
Franklin,
4 Pleasant and Mayflower.
Fremont,
4
Sandwich and Union.
66
3
Union and house of Charles Burton.
2
End of three-inch pipe to house of C. B. Rice. Pump and main line.
Force pipe,
12
66
14
66
Pump and new reservoir.
Hall,
2
Court and land of Mrs. James Hall.
Highland Place,
2
Davis and house of Adam Nichol.
Howland,
4
Court and house of Charles Finney.
Howland Court,
2
Howland and land of John Churchill.
High,
6
Summer and Russell.
4
Market and Russell.
10
66 Summer and Russell.
Jackson Place,
3
North and land of William H. Whitman.
Lothrop,
2
66
Court and Murray Streets.
66
3
66 Murray and Woolen Mill Village.
Leyden,
4
Main and Water.
Main Line,
20
Pond and Gate House.
58
10 inch. Gate House and Summer Street.
6.
.6
16
Gate House and Pump Station.
14
Pump Station and Summer Street.
Market,
8
Sandwich and Main Street.
Main,
8
Leyden and Court.
Murray,
2
Lothrop and residence of John Murray.
66 Middle,
3
Residence of John Murray and land of Timothy Lynch. Main and Carver.
Mayflower,
4
Robinson and Washington.
2
Washington and residence of Thomas Pierce.
Massasoit,
2
Sandwich and house of C. H. Eaton.
Morton Place,
1
Pleasant and stable of E. F. Erland.
Nelson,
4
Court and residence of John O'Brien.
North Depot Avenue, 6
Court and Railroad Station.
North Green, 2
Sandwich and Pleasant.
North,
4
Court and Water.
Oak,
6
Summer and Samoset.
Pleasant,
6
. . Sandwich and Franklin.
4
Franklin and Washington.
59
3
Residence of Thomas Pierce and South Street. Mayflower and Sagamore.
Mount Pleasant, 4
4
Streets.
Size of pipe. 2 inch.
Washington and South.
Russell,
10
High and Court.
6
High and School Street branch, below Court House.
Robinson,
2
Pleasant and Sagamore.
66
1
Mayflower and residence of J. F. Schubert.
Stoddard, Summer,
10
Russell and the Reservoir.
Billington and intersection of High.
66
14
Billington and intersection of High.
10
High and Market, via Mill Lane.
3
Court and land of Charles Spooner.
66
6
Allerton and Court, woolen mill pipe.
House of Silas D. Brown and Oak.
4
Chestnut and house of William B. Taylor.
66
4
House of William B. Taylor, 174 feet.
3
End four-inch pipe to house of Peter M. Nelson.
Summer,
4
Billington, (through land of H. I. Seymour) and house of E. S. Paulding.
2 Main pipe into Oak Grove Cemetery.
60
8
High and Market.
Spooner, Samoset,
4
Court and house of Silas D. Brown.
6
10
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