USA > Massachusetts > Plymouth County > Plymouth > Town annual report of Plymouth, MA 1903-1905 > Part 6
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To provide for the work recommended, I advise the appropriation of $250. This, with the balance to the credit of the account, should suffice; if circumstances do not permit using it judiciously only such part need be spent as can be employed to advantage.
G. R. BRIGGS.
Forester.
REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON EEL
RIVER AND PLYMOUTH BEACH.
During a storm on the 27th of November, 1898, the bed of Eel river was filled with sand by an overflow of the sea, and a new outlet of the river to the ocean was made.
At the annual meeting of the town, held on the 6th day of March, 1899, the undersigned, in compliance with a vote of the town, were appointed by the Moderator, a committee "to examine into the subject matter of restoring Eel river to its recent course to the harbor and also of making a new course for the river to the sea."
The committee thus appointed report, that, at a special meeting of the town, held on the 12th day of August, 1902, they made a partial report, in which they stated that in their opinion the re-opening of the river was necessary to restore and maintain the normal depth of water in the southerly part of the harbor, which had been lessened by the loss of the scouring current of an important tributary.
They further stated, that it was undesirable that the work of reopening, which it was then thought would fall upon the town, should be undertaken until a breakwater was built to protect it from future overflows.
At that time a stone breakwater was in process of con- struction on the beach by the United States government, and the committee advised delay until it was definitely as- certained how far south the stone barrier was to extend.
After the submission of the report, the Town, on the gen- eral question whether the river should be reopened, or the
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outlet to the sea be continued, voted unanimously in favor of the reopening.
At the annual meeting of 1903. the committee made an- other report, stating that the Chief of United States En- gineers had decided that the appropriation under which the stone breakwater was built was made for the protection of Plymouth harbor, and, therefore, he would not be author- ized to extend the work southerly any farther than the southerly bound of the harbor.
They further stated that he had finally agreed to use five thousand dollars ($5.000) of the unexpended appro- priation in opening the river and building a stone bulkhead to stop the outlet to the sea. Thus, instead of the work of reopening the river, the work of building a breakwater to protect the river devolved on the town.
After the submission of the report, a vote was passed au- thorizing the committee to build a breakwater, and the Se- lectmen were also authorized to borrow such a sum, not exceeding twenty-five hundred dollars ($2,500), as might be necessary to meet the cost of its construction.
The full report of the committee, to which reference may he had for an explanation of details, may be found im- mediately following this report.
The committee now report that the river has been re- opened by the United States government and a stone bulk- head, about six hundred (600) feet in length, built to stop the outlet to the sea. The free course of the river has, how- ever, been somewhat obstructed by accumulations of sand, to which the attention of the United States engineer has been called, and which will probably be soon removed. In the meantime, these accumulations cause no injury to the beach, and all the water of the river finds its way either over or around them into the harbor.
The committee also report that the breakwater which they were authorized by the town to build, was completed dur- ing last autumn, extending from the southerly end of the
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stone breakwater of the U. S. government to the stone bulkhead built to stop the outlet to the sea, and from the southerly end of the bulkhead about three hundred (300) feet farther south, in all nineteen hundred and ninety-one ( 1,991) feet in length, to which must be added two hundred (200) feet of spurs and supports to the road leading on to the beach, making a total of twenty-one hundred and ninety one (2191) feet. )
The breakwater has been built with oak posts set firmly in the ground, from four (4) to five (5) feet apart and faced on the easterly side with three (3) inch spruce plank thor- oughly fastened with six (6) inch spikes, and at suitable intervals on the westerly side, braces have been attached to the posts leading to Dutchmen set in the ground.
To avoid leaving an opening in the breakwater and to afford a necessary entrance to the beach, a raised road has been constructed sufficiently high to prevent an overflow of the sea.
The efficiency of the breakwater has been tested by three northeast storms since its completion, in all of which with- out suffering injury, it effectually prevented overflow.
A storm which occurred at the full of the moon on the second day of January was especially severe and, though attended by a high tide, not only failed to impair the integ- rity of the breakwater, but actually benefited it by causing an accumulation of sand.
The total cost of the work done by the committee has been fifteen hundred and ten ($1,510.23) dollars and twenty- three cents, as per the following account :-
Amount paid for labor,
$446 85
Amount paid for oak posts,
294 00
Amount paid for lumber. 763 63
Amount paid for expenses of clerk, 5 75
$1.510 23
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The committee recommend that the construction account, under the vote of the Town passed last year, be closed and that an appropriation of one hundred ($100) be made to be expended by the committee in such additional spiking as the warping of the plank may render necessary and for other incidental repairs.
Finally the committee report that they are in correspond- ence with the United States engineers' department and with Hon. Wm. C. Lovering, the member of congress from this district, which they hope may result in securing an extension of the stone breakwater outside of that built by the com- mittee.
ELKANAH FINNEY, CHARLES I. LITCHFIELD, EDW. R. MANTER, W. S. HADAWAY, E. W. HARLOW. ALFRED HOLMES. WM. T. DAVIS,
Committee.
Plymouth, January 27, 1904.
REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON PLYMOUTH BEACH AND EEL RIVER,
Made to the Town at the Annual Meeting of 1903, and referred to in the foregoing Report.
The committee appointed by the Town "to examine into the matter of restoring Eel River to its recent course to the harbor," submit the following report :-
In 1899 an appropriation of $75,000 was made by con- gress for the protection of Plymouth harbor. Of this amount the sum of $59,000 has been expended in the con- struction on Plymouth beach of a substantial stone break- water 10,044 feet in length, extending from a point 1,600 feet northerly of the Pavilion wharf, southerly to a point opposite to Manter's cliff. In the belief that the work of re-opening Eel river would fall on the Town, the committee urged the engineers in charge of the appropriation to extend the breakwater about 2,000 feet farther south for the pro- tection of the river when re-opened. Up to this time they have declined to do this, on the ground that the preliminary survey on which the appropriation was based, only contem- plated a protection to the Harbor, which should terminate at the harbor's bounds. After a prolonged correspondence with the local engineers in Boston, and an interview of a member of the committee, with General G. S. Gillespie, the chief of engineers in Washington, it has finally been promised that about the sum of $5.000 shall be
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used out of the unexpended $16.000 to reopen the river and build a stone bulkhead about 300 feet long, to stop the present outlet to the sea. Thus the construction of about 2,000 feet of breakwater to protect the river when restored to its old course devolves on the Town. The beach parallel with the river is liable at any time to be swept by the sea, and in the opinion of the committee it would be useless to reopen the river without a breakwater to protect it, and a breakwater is needed not only to protect the river, but also to protect the highway and the bridge over Eel river, which has already been seriously menaced by recent storms. The committee have heretofore, in a partial report, assured the Town of the necessity of reopening the river to restore and maintain the normal depth of water in the southerly part of the harbor, which has already been lessened by the loss of the scouring current of an important tributary. The Town also at a special meeting held on the 12th of August of last year, voted unanimously that the river ought to be reopened.
The committee do not think it either judicious or neces- sary to ask the Town to build either a stone breakwater at a cost of six dollars per foot, or a hog-yoke one at three dollars per foot. They believe that a breakwater built of piles twelve feet long, five feet apart, driven six feet into the sand, and faced with two-inch plank well spiked, seven feet high from a foot below the surface of the sand, will be all that is needed. Such a breakwater will cost about a dollar per foot, or about $2,000 for the 2,000 feet needing protection. While the committee believe that the work can be done for this sum, they ask the Town, in view of possible contingencies, to authorize the Selectmen to borrow a sum not exceeding $2,500. in anticipation of the taxes of 1904, to be paid from the taxes of that vear.
After the expenditure of $5.000 for reopening the river and building the bulkhead to stop the present outlet to the sea, the sum of $11,000 of the appropriation of $75,000 will remain, which the engineers think will be needed to repair
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breaches at the northerly end of the beach before the passage of another river and harbor bill, probably not before 1906. Thus, though the engineers decline to apply any portion of the remaining $11,000 to the construction of a breakwater for the protection of Eel River, the whole amount of the appropriation of $75,000 will be expended for the benefit of Plymouth and its harbor.
WM. T. DAVIS, For the Committee.
Plymouth, March 2, 1903.
REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON THE PUBLICATION OF THE TOWN RECORDS.
The Committee on the Publication of the Town Records report that, by authority of a vote passed by the Town at the annual meeting of 1902, they have published an edition of five hundred copies of a third volume, covering the period from 1743 to 1783. The volume contains, including a full index, four hundred and eighty-one pages, and has been completed at an estimated cost of eight hundred and twenty- five dollars. As a further publication of the records was not expected, and is not now advised, it was found necessary, in order to include the Revolutionary period. to enlarge the volume and consequently increase its cost beyond the expec- tations of the committee. Payments so far made on its account have been, under the vote of the Town, charged to the contingent account, and proceeds from sales will be credited to that account.
As the books were not received from the binders until the close of the year, no credits will be found in the Treasurer's report. Since the first of January of 1904 circulars have been freely sent to libraries and individuals, to which satis- factory responses with subscriptions have been received, and the proceeds of sales up to the date of this report have been paid to the Treasurer. After the subscription sales
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made under the direction of the committee have been com- pleted, the remainder of the edition will be placed in the care of the Town Clerk, of whom copies can be bought at two dollars each. The records of the town for the years preced- ing and during the Revolution, now for the first time made easily accessible, possess a peculiar interest, and should be owned and read by every one interested in Plymouth history.
ARTHUR LORD, WM. T. DAVIS, WILLIAM W. BREWSTER, Committee.
Plymouth, January 27, 1904.
WATER COMMISSIONERS.
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JOHN W. CHURCHILL-Term expires March, 1906. EVERETT F. SHERMAN-Term expires March, 1906. CHARLES T. HOLMES-Term expires March 1905. HORACE P. BAILEY-Term expires March, 1905. JOHN H. DAMON-Term expires March 1904.
Superintendent-Arthur E. Blackmer.
Assistant Superintendent-Richard W. Bagnell.
Water Register-N. Reeves Jackson.
Engineer of Pumping Station-W. A. H. Jones. Assistant Engineer at Pumping Station-Geo. Phillips.
All applications for water must be made at the office of the Water Commissioners.
Superintendent's office in rear of Engine House, Main street.
Telephone call-119-3.
Rates payable at the Town Treasurer's office, semi-annu- ally, in advance, May I and November I.
Meeting of the Commissioners to examine bills and claims against the Department, the FIRST WEDNESDAY EVENING of each month.
Bills against the Department must be rendered on or before the first Wednesday of each month, or they will lie over until the following month.
Approved bills paid by the Town Treasurer at the Town office.
REPORT OF WATER COMMISSIONERS.
The Water Commissioners herewith submit their 49th Annual Report :-
RECEIPTS.
Water rates, domestic,
$22,791 13
Water rates, manufacturing,
1,759 00
Labor and material,
1,210 20
Miscellaneous,
493 57
Bond issue,
20,023 33
Appropriation,
2,000 00
$48,277 23
EXPENDITURES.
Overdrawn balance,
$1,313 54
Maintenance,
8,933 29
Pump,
2,845 09
Bonds and interest,
12,308 90
Extension mains,
5,080 55
Extension services,
405 59
Expended at new station,
12,933 75
Expended at Screen well,
2,000 00
Undrawn balance,
2,456 52
$48,277 23
PUMPING STATION.
Salaries, Labor,
$1,386 74 154 85
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Rental, heating, lighting engineer's house,
119 03
Tools and repairs on tools, 22 63
Repairs to buildings,
19 39
Materials and supplies,
26 00
Parts and repairs to machinery,
6 47
Freight and trucking,
3 25
Fuel and light,
1,106 73
$2,845 09
MAINTENANCE.
Salaries,
$2,100 00
Labor,
3,238 95
Horse hire and railroad tickets,
646 00
Fuel and light,
.34 30
Rental storehouse,
75 00
Stopcocks, gate and check valves,
900 20
Packing, duck, lead and oil,
131 83
Rubber boots,
14 25
I I-2 inch meter,
30 00
Street Department, labor,
42 15
14-inch, 16-inch and 20-inch iron pipe at station,
833 17
Freight, express and trucking,
69 89
Fire insurance, 97 20
Stock for making pipe, 252 82
Tools, machinery and repairs to same,
108 67
Stationery, stamps and printing,
141 83
Repairs and sundries, factory and office,
57 77
Telephone,
3I 29
Miscellaneous,
127 87
$8.933 29
BONDS.
Bond paid on issue, June 1, 1885, $2,800 00
Bond paid on issue, August 1, 1890, 1,300 00
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Bond paid on issue, February 3, 1894,
240 00
Bond paid on issue, August 1, 1894. 800 00
Bond paid on issue, October 2, 1899, Bond paid on issue, May I, 1900,
1,500 00
1,000 00
Total bonds paid,
$7,640 00
INTEREST.
Interest paid on issue, June 1, 1885, $1,288 00
Interest paid on issue, August 1, 1890, 780 00
Interest paid on issue, February 3, 1894,
14 40
Interest paid on issue, August 1, 1894, 544 00 Interest paid on issue, October 2, 1899, 1,020 00
Interest paid on issue, May 1, 1901, 647 50
Interest paid on issue, July 1, 1903,
375 00
Total interest paid, $4,668 90
Bonds and interest,
$12,308 90
By vote of the Town at a meeting held on January 24, 1903, your Commissioners were authorized to contract for a new pumping station to replace the one then in use at Patuxet Lake, and for a new pump for the high pressure system. In accordance with this vote, Mr. Charles W. Leavitt, Jr., of New York, was secured by the Commis- sioners as consulting engineer, and plans were prepared by him. The contract to build the station, according to these plans, was awarded to Ernest L. Sampson for $10,965, his bid being the lowest one submitted. Mr. Sampson at once commenced building operations, and at the present time has nearly completed his contract. Bids were submitted by several pump manufacturers, and after careful consideration, your Commissioners awarded the contract to the Barr Pumping Engine Company of Philadelphia, for although their bid was the highest submitted, their pump was found by the Commissioners, as well as other competent judges,
Plymouth 8
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to be the most serviceable and satisfactory of any consid- ered. The pump contracted for has a capacity of 2,000,000 gallons per day, and was secured at a contract price of $5,500. Under this contract the pump is now being in- stalled, and the Commissioners look for an early completion of the work.
The amount expended under the several contracts on the new pumping station and pump are as follows :-
Ernest L. Sampson, on account, $8,000 00
Charles W. Leavitt, Jr., on account, 500 00
Barr Pumping Engine Company, on account, 2,750 00
Charles River Iron Works, for boiler, 834 00
Charles River Iron Works, for tank 580 00
Charles River Iron Works, for uptake. 269 75
$12,933 75
During the year the Commissioners have installed new pipes in the following streets, River street, 3,654 feet 6-inch; Atlantic street. 864 feet 4-inch: Ocean avenue, 626 feet 2- inch; Cherry street. 413 feet 4-inch: Lewis court, 242 feet 4-inch: street on Savery's land. Standish avenue. 140 feet 4-inch; at the pumping station, 180 feet 20-inch; at a cost of $5,080.55.
The Commissioners would recommend that the sum of $1,000 be appropriated by the Town for the extension of the system in new streets.
We attach herewith the report of the State Board of Health upon an analysis of the water supply of the Town. The samples for analysis were taken from Great and Little South and Lout Ponds, from the high and low service reser- voirs, from two low service taps in the centre of the Town,
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and from two high service taps on the outskirts. All sam- ples were collected the same day.
Respectfully submitted, JOHN W. CHURCHILL, H. P. BAILEY, CHARLES T. HOLMES, JOHN H. DAMON.
Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
Reply of the State Board of Health to an application from the Board of Water Commissioners for advice in relation to the quality of the water supplied to the Town of Plymouth, under the provisions of Section 117 of Chapter 75, of the Revised Laws of Massachusetts.
Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Office of the State Board of Health, State House, Boston, February 4, 1904.
To the Board of Water Commissioners of the Town of Plymouth :-
Gentlemen : In response to the request from your office received January II, for an examination of the water of Great South, Little South and Lout Ponds, which you state is at present affected by a bad taste and odor, and advice as to its quality, the Board has caused the sources mentioned to be examined and samples of their waters to be analyzed.
The results of the analyses show that the offensive taste and odor of the water at the present time are due to the presence of the organism Uroglena in the waters of Little South and Lout Ponds.
The cause of the appearance of this organism in water
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is not known, and the Board knows of no practicable method of preventing its appearance and growth in the waters of ponds and reservoirs used as sources of public water supply. Water containing this organism is not known to be danger- ous to health if used for drinking, but the offensive fishy and oily odor which the organism imparts to water frequently renders it unfit for this purpose.
In response to an application from the Water Commis- sioners of Plymouth in 1895 for advice as to the best method of preventing the objectionable conditions resulting from the presence of this organism in the water supply of Ply- mouth, and of improving the quality of the water, the Board advised that the conditions in the vicinity of the ponds from which your present supply is drawn appear to be favorable for obtaining water freely from the ground by means of wells or filter galleries, and advised that you make an investigation as to the practicability of obtaining a water supply for the Town by this plan and avoid the direct use of water from the ponds. A copy of this communication is enclosed herewith.
The Board would again advise that you investigate the practicability of securing a supply of ground water for the Town and avoid the frequent trouble from offensive tastes and odors in the water supply of the Town resulting from the presence in the water of Uroglena and other organisms.
By order of the Board,
SAM'L W. ABBOTT, Secretary.
SUMMARY OF STATISTICS.
PLYMOUTH (MASS.) WATER WORKS.
Published by request of the New England Water Works Association.
Population by census of 1900 : 10,000. Date of construction : 1855.
By whom owned: Town.
Source of supply : Great and Little South Ponds and Lout Pond.
Mode of supply : Gravity for low service, and pumping for high service.
PUMPING.
I. £
Builders of pumping machinery: Worthington.
2. Coal: (b) )Bituminous; (d) Brand, various; (e) $5.50 per gross ton.
4. Total fuel, 467,660 pounds.
5. Total water pumped, 165,597,696 gallons.
6. Average static head, 65 feet.
7. Average dynamic head, 73 feet.
8. Number of gallons pumped per pound of coal, 354.09.
9. Duty of pump, 21,557,607.
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COST OF PUMPING FIGURED ON PUMPING STATION EXPENSES. VIZ. : $2,845.09.
IO. Per million gallons against dynamic head into direct pipe, $17.18.
II. Per million gallons raised one foot high (dynamic), $0.22.
COST OF PUMPING FIGURED ON TOTAL MAINTENANCE. VIZ. : $11,778.38.
12. Per million gallons raised against dynamic head into direct pipe, $71.12.
13. Per million gallons raised one foot high (dynamic), $0.97.
FINANCIAL
MAINTENANCE.
RECEIPTS.
EXPENDITURES.
A. Water rates, domestic,
$22,791.13 1,759.00
BB. Interest on bonds,
4,668.90
Total,
$16,447.28
$24,550.13
1,703.77
Profit for the year,
$9,806.62
$26,253.90
$26,253.90
Paid bonds, Carried to Construction Acc. 2,166.62
$7,640.00
Total,
$9,806.62
CONSTRUCTION.
$ 2,166.62
Overdrawn Balance,
$1,313.54
2,000.00
Extension of Mains, by Commissioners,
5,080.59
20,023.33
Extension of services,
405.55
$24,189.95
Expended, New Station and Screen Well, Undrawn Balance,
2,456.52
Cost of works,
Town appropriations,
$161,556:73 188,821.28
$7,640.00 paid yearly on principal. Bonded debt, at 34 per cent., at 4
$37,999.80
From profits,
86,040.00
$350,378.01
$124,039.80
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Profits of maintenance, Appropriation, Bond issue,
14,933.75
$24,189.95
AA. Management and repairs,
$11,778.38
B. Water rates, manufacturing.
Total water receipts, Miscellaneous,
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DISTRIBUTION.
I. Kind of pipe used: Wrought iron, cement-lined; wrought iron on Beach.
2. Sizes, from 2-inch to 20-inch.
3. Extended. 5,935 feet.
4. Discontinued, 4,654 feet.
5. Total now in use, 45 miles and 4,240 feet.
6. Cost to repair per mile, $10.90.
7. Number of leaks per mile, 1.20.
8. 3
Small distribution pipes, less than four inches : Total length 10 miles and 1, 148 feet.
9. Hydrants added. 7; discontinued, I.
IO. Number now in use, 158 public, and 35 private.
II. Stop gates added. 13; discontinued, 3.
12. Number now in use, 471.
13. Small stop gates, less than four inches, total, 136.
14. Number of blow-offs, 37.
SERVICES.
16. Kind of pipe: Lead and cement-lined.
17. From one-half inch to four-inch.
18. Extended, 616.0 feet.
20. Total now in use, 6 miles and 1.908 feet.
21. Service taps added, 67.
22. Number now in use, 2, IIO.
23. Average length of service, 9.2 feet.
24. Average cost of service. $6.05.
27. Motors and elevators added, none.
28. Number now in use, I motor.
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REPORT OF THE COLLECTOR OF WATER RATES.
Gentlemen: I hereby submit the annual report of the Collector's Department of the water works, for the year 1903.
The Collector is charged as follows-
Arrears,
$1,544 80
Water rates,
25,749 57
Labor and material,
1,629 36
Miscellaneous,
249 66
$29,173 39
CR.
Abatements,
$344 46
Uncollected labor and material,
419 16
Uncollected rates,
2,155 87
Total collections,
26,253 90
$29,173 39
Water is supplied to 2,146 families; 1,223 water closets; 532 bath tubs; 107 stores, offices and shops; 142 stables; 466 horses; IOI cows; 17 urinals; 4 cemeteries; 10 engines; 10 fish and ineat markets; I water motor; 4 bakeries; 3 laun- dries; 4 banks; 7 churches; 10 manufacturies; 2 photograph saloons ; 4 saloons; 10 hotels and boarding houses; 3 hot houses; 3 printing offices; 5 public halls; 2 banquet rooms; I billiard room; 2 cigar manufactories; 289 hose; gas works; N. Y., N. H. & H. railroad engines; 2 electric plants; woolen mills and County buildings; public Town buildings; and watering streets.
Yours respectfully,
N. REEVES JACKSON, Collector of Water Rates.
SUPERINTENDENT'S REPORT.
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To the Board of Water Commissioners :-
Gentlemen : I herewith submit the annual report of the Superintendent of the Plymouth Water Works, for the year ending December 31, 1903.
Account of pipe laid by vote of Water Commissioners for year ending December 31.
WHERE LAID.
LENGTH FT.
SIZE IN.
TOTAL COST.
Ocean Ave .- For Lahey Bros.,
626
2
$206.81
River St.,
3654
6
2,578.20
Cherry St. (Extension),
413
4
234.86
Savery's New Street,- West Standish Ave.,
140
4
94.85
Atlantic St .- To house of N. S. Holmes,
860
4
474.61
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