USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Wakefield > Town annual report of the officers of Wakefield Massachusetts : including the vital statistics for the year 1905-1907 > Part 53
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54
$34,071 00
Last year, to enter
tax levy 26,722 00
Increase $7,349 00
Interest
$27,033 50
Estimated for tempo-
rary loans 5,000 00
Overdraft for 1907 2,107 74
Total $34,141 24 Amount to be deducted :
To be taken from water receipts To be taken from Light Plant receipts
5,733 50
From abutter's apportioned as- sessments .
5,295 89
$19,789 39
To enter tax levy $14,351 85
14,351 85
Last year, to enter
tax levy
7,568 50
Increase
. $6,783 35
$8,760 00
3
303
STATE CHARGES 1907.
State tax
$10,040 00
Metropolitan park loan sinking fund
470 00
Metropolitan park loan interest 1,621 54
Metropolitan park maintenance
1,130 90
Maintenance Nantasket Beach
59 03
Metropolitan sewer loan sinking fund, North system
1,025 69
Metropolitan sewer loan sinking fund interest
2,390 47
Metropolitan sewer maintenance
2,027 76
County tax 1907
8,857 55
National Bank tax
347 82
Total 1907
$27,970 76 $27,970 76
" 1906
$28,527 74
POOR DEPARTMENT.
Receipts from farm, all other receipts, and . 6,000 00 This sum to include $1, 100 advanced by Town Treasurer to cover deficit to Dec. 31, 1907.
Increase $1,000 00
POLICE DEPARTMENT.
Last year
$2,450 00
Increase
200 00
2,650 00
Night watch
1,869 00 ·
TOWN HALL.
Receipts and
1,900 00 ·
Increase
$100 00
Miscellaneous
5,000 00 .
Forest warden work
100 00
Decrease
. $150 00 ·
304
FIRE DEPARTMENT.
Receipts and
$7,000 00 ·
Earnings last year
· $2,002 04
Decrease
200 00 .
Park department .
800 00
Richardson Light Guard armory
800 00
Increase
$200 00 .
State under new act assumes entire cost.
State aid
. 4,000 00
Soldiers' relief
· 4,000 00
Military aid (increase $200)
500 00
Town library, dog tax, and .
· 500 00
Reading room
250 00
Fish committee
25 00
CEMETERY DEPARTMENT.
The receipts of cemetery for its development.
HIGHWAY DEPARTMENT.
Street railway tax and . .
$5,000 00 .
That Town Treasurer be authorized to borrow $6,000 in anticipation of the street Railway tax.
That $1,000 be set aside for snow work.
That $1,000 be set aside for concrete sidewalks aud edgestones, last year $750.
That $1,000 be set aside for sidewalk repairs. These three items to be taken from general appropriation.
This amount is to inaugurate a new policy, better sidewalks. In past years we have expended large sums on the driveways of our highways, with but slight attention to sidewalks. We consider the liability of accidents due to de- fective sidewalks greater because the bulk of the population use them, therefore the wisdom in years when we are obliged to cur-
.
·
.
305
tail on the general appropriation in setting aside a specific sum for their repair.
That preference be given at all times to the per- manent men and horses and carts of the Fire Department.
That compensation for a pair of horses, cart and driver be no more than $5 per day ; to single horse, cart and driver be no more than $3.50 per day.
STREET SPRINKLING.
For street sprinkling . $1,800 00 That all this work be done by the horses and per-
manent men of the Fire Department.
SALARIES OF TOWN OFFICERS AND EMPLOYEES.
Selectmen
$500 00
Overseers
300 00
Assessors
900 00
Fire Engineers
450 00
Health
100 00
Health (Services)
300 00
Auditors
215 00
Registrars
215 00
Clerk to Selectmen
200 00
Treasurer
400 00
Town Clerk
200 00
Inspector of Milk
150 00
Sealer of Weights and Measures .
100 00
Collector of Milk Samples
50 00
Clerk Finance Committee
50 00
Supt. of Streets
900 00
Forest Warden and two deputies
75 00
Town Counsel
500 00
Tax Collector
650 00
Tree Warden
25 00
Inspector of Animals
125 00
Inspector of Plumbing
480 00
- 6,885 00
306
For back bills of Board of Health for services dat- ing back four years which have been met for this purpose from $300 for services, an amount only sufficient for this annual requirement
$150 00
WATER DEPARTMENT.
For Maintenance
$14,000 00
Construction
5,000 00
Interest 8,760 00
Bond retirement
4,000 00
Salary of Commissioners 300 00
Total
32,060 00 ·
HYDRANT SERVICE.
For 189 Hydrants, at $20 each . $3,780 00
9 Standpipes, 3 fountains and 3 horse troughs, at $75 each 1,025 00
Total
4,805 00 . If appropriation were made on the same basis as heretofore, the amount would be,
For 201 fixtures, at $25 . $5,025 00
From Selectmen's Miscellaneous appro- priation for horse troughs 350 00
$5,375 00
A decrease and difference in favor of Town, amounting to $570 00
SEWER DEPARTMENT.
For maintenance, including engineering, clerical services and superintendence $800 00 For repairs on North avenue and Con- verse street, if necessary 100 00
Commissioners' salary, decrease $150 .. 150 00
Total
1,050 00
.
307
MUNICIPAL LIGHT PLANT. Estimated Receipts and Expenditures :
Receipts .
. $54,852 80
Expenditures :
Bond and note pay-
ments
$8,550 00
Interest
·
5,733 50
Depreciation 3 per
cent. on $239,-
884.43 or gross in-
vestment of $242,-
384.44, less land $2,500 .
7,196 53.
Maintenance
50,138 88
Unpaid bills Feb. I, 1908
1,129 13
Overdraft
2,104 76
$74,852 80
Deficiency to be appropriated, including com- missioners' salary, $300, to enter tax levy . 20,000 00
Amount recommended last spring to enter tax levy for street lights $12,240; increase $7,760.
Fire alarm :
For maintenance $100 00
For construction
100 00
200 00
Total amount of fixed charges and our recom-
- . mendations .
. $210,185 II Our recommendations last year .$182,262.28; increase $27,922 83
308
The following vacancies occur on the committee, due to the expirations of the terms of William G. Strong, Nathaniel Hines, Roscoe F. Jones, Thomas Hickey and George L. Wakefield in place of Fitz Hodgkins resigned.
Also for two years Waldo E. Cowdrey in place of Michael Lane resigned, and for one year due to resignation of Edward A. Rich.
GEORGE M. POLAND, Chairman. FRANK J. HENKEL, Secretary.
ANNUAL REPORT
OF THE
Municipal Light Board
AND MANAGER
OF THE
TOWN OF WAKEFIELD
FOR THE
YEAR ENDING JANUARY 31, 1908.
310
Report of Municipal Light Board.
The Municipal Light Board submits herewith its 14th annual report for the year ending January 31st, 1908.
During the past year we have changed managers at the plant, due to the resignation of Mr. C. E. White. Our new manager, Mr. A. B. Morton of Bowling Green, Ohio, who comes to us highly recommended, assumed the management of the plant on June 24th, 1907.
The manager's report shows the financial and physical operation of the plant for the past year.
From this it will be seen that the actual output, both in the gas and electric departments, has shown a healthy increase over the previous year amounting to 12 per cent. on gas and 14 per cent. on electricity.
However, as the price of gas was reduced 10 cents per 1,000 cu. ft. and electricity 3 cents per K. W. hour on March Ist, our receipts do not show a like increase, and in fact, are about $4,000 less than they would have been had this reduction not been made.
The actual cash receipts for gas are about the same as the previous year, and for electricity about 7 per cent. greater.
The expenditures have been increased, due principally to the following :
Larger amount of coal used, higher prices paid for same and a considerable amount carried over at the end of the year. Higher prices for hay and grain. Overdraft and unpaid bills of previous year.
All necessary repairs have been made to keep the plant in the best working condition. Included in these was the re- winding of an armature for one of the arc dynamos.
We have put in a new bench of sixes to take the place of the old bench of threes. This was made necessary on account
311
of increased demand for gas. The payment of same, how- ever, was made from the depreciation account.
Two arc lamps were removed during the year and replaced by six street incandescents to obtain better distribution of light. We have also installed fifteen new incandescent street lights in locations where they were much needed.
A new fire alarm switch-board and charging apparatus has been installed and is giving most satisfactory results. There is also a large saving on the expense of charging the batteries as we have made arrangements whereby our current is ob- tained free.
As the appropriation asked for each year seems to be mis- understood or misconstrued by some of the citizens of the town, we will take this opportunity to explain same as clearly as possible.
The amount which it is necessary for the town to appropri- ate each year, represents the excess of expenditures over re- ceipts. The accounts of the plant are bound to show an apparent shortage each year, as included in the expenditures is the item for bond payments which is truly no part of the actual expense of the plant, but represents the annual install- ment paid by the town on account of its purchase. This amount should rightfully be included in the regular tax levy and borne by the taxpayers proportionately. On the other hand, as no specific appropriation is made for the street lights, the plant's receipts show nothing as against service rendered the town.
The light plant should be given due credit for services ren. dered, and as it is not possible according to law, to make a specific appropriation for street lights, such amount as is ap- propriated less whatever the bond payment may be, should be considered as cost of street lights; in fact, this is the same method as is used by the State Gas and Electric Light Commissioners in obtaining cost of street lights for different municipal plants.
The town can at no time get its street lights free, but must pay its proportional part of the plant's expense and can only
312
receive proportional benefits from any reductions that may be made.
The appropriation for the plant for the past year, as made in accordance with the state act, amounted to $21,897.40. From this was paid the bond and note maturities amounting to $8,550, leaving a balance of $13,347.40 representing the cost of street lights to the town as above described.
Our street lighting system consists of 127 arc lamps of 1,200 c.p. each, and 192 street incandescent lamps of 25 c.p. each.
By apportioning the above amount or $13,347.40 in accord- ance with the current consumption, and dividing by the num- ber of lamps of each style, it gives the cost of each lamp for the year, i. e. :
Street Arc lamps $79 57 each. 16 88
Street Inc. lamps
As shown by the manager's report, the street lights have been run 1,823 hours. This is about one-third greater num- ber of hours than is shown by the regular moonlight schedule.
However, the cost as shown above, covering this extra ser- vice, is nearly as low as is being charged by private lighting companies for a similar service furnished on a strictly moon- light schedule.
Your Light Board is planning to make such changes in the electric plant as will bring it to the most efficient point, and when this is done we will be enabled to show the town a marked reduction in the figures as shown above.
It is a well known fact that the present electric plant when in the best of repair and working condition, from a point of economy, is very inefficient.
This is due entirely to the improvements made in engines and electric machinery since the plant was installed, which was some 16 years ago.
In view of these facts, we reach a point, as is true with all manufacturing industries, when it becomes impractical to continue with present apparatus, and it is consequently ne- cessary that some means shall have been provided to cover the expense of installing new apparatus.
313
An expense account is therefore carried termed deprecia- tion, and as instructed by the State act, we charge against this account each year an amount equal to 3 per cent. of the gross investment (less cost of land) of the entire plant, amounting this year to $7, 196.53.
This amount must be included in adjusting the selling price of electricity as well as gas, and is paid proportionately by private consumers and by the town for street lights.
The amount thus accumulated is available only for renew- als (other than ordinary repairs) extensions, reconstruction, enlargements and additions in succeeding years.
It is from these accumulations that we propose to pay for the improvements as recommended below, and we might ex- plain that such expenditures in no way affect the tax levy, as they are paid for entirely from the receipts of the plant.
Should there be any question that has not been thoroughly dealt with in the above, or any matter pertaining to the plant on which a citizen of the town desires information, if the party will come before the Light Board at any of their meet- ings, such information will be most cheerfully given.
314
We ask for an appropriation in accordance with the re- quirements of the State Laws as follows: -
ESTIMATED INCOME AND EXPENSES BASED ON PREVIOUS
YEAR.
INCOME.
Sales gas
$32,166 00
electricity
10,973 70
coke
5,027 09
tar
1,219 07
" miscellaneous and sundry ac-
counts
5,466 94
-$54,852 80
EXPENDITURES.
Bond and note payments
$8,550 00
Interest
5,733 50
Depreciation 3 per cent. on $239,-
884.44, or gross investment of
$242,384.44, less land $2,500
7,196 53
Maintenance
50,400 32
Unpaid bills, Feb. 1, 1908
692 36
Overdraft, Feb. 1, 1908
2,280 09
- -$74,852 80
Deficiency to be appropriated, including Commis- sioners' salaries, $300 . $20,000 00
In addition to the above we ask for an appropriation for Fire alarm as follows :
Maintenance
$100 00
Construction
.
100 00
$200 00
315
It may be seen that a special article is placed in the war- rant : - To see if the town will raise and appropriate a suffi- cient sum of money to pay for additions and replacements at the Municipal Light Plant as recommended by the Municipal Light Board.
Our recommendations follow.
It has been intimated, in the past, that it would soon be necessary to make a large expenditure upon the electric end of the Light Plant. It is our opinion that this outlay has been held off beyond the limit of good judgment, both as to the economy and safety, especially as we are entirely depend- ent upon antiquated, badly worn and much overloaded ma- chinery for our commercial and street lights.
We do not criticise nor complain about our present condi- tions, but we do congratulate our department and the town upon the good luck and management that has brought the plant along to the present time without serious interruptions, and also upon the growth of business, which necessitates a larger and more efficient equipment.
There is no apparent way of bettering our condition by continuing to repair, alter or add to the present equipment.
The present D. C. open arcs are constantly costing more for repairs and trimming than a corporation or an individual owner could or would put up with. They are very unrelia- ble in bad weather, and a comparison on current consump- tion as shown later is also interesting.
The present plant, consisting of low pressure boilers, sim- ple non-condensing engines and belted generators of very low efficiency, is undoubtedly the most expensive combination we could have, when our load requirements are considered, and is the type of plant that has been replaced everywhere during the last five years, for more modern and profitable machinery.
Since the town bought the plant the load has been con- stantly increasing and the conditions thereby changing.
We have had no relays of engines or boilers, our station equipment is divided between A. C. and D. C. generators ;
316
we could not consequently divide the load to the best ad- vantage.
At present, when on our peak load, it is sometimes im- possible to keep the steam pressure at or above 95 lbs. and we would be compelled to cut out a circuit if the pressure went below 90 lbs. This practically proves that we have reached the maximum capacity of our present equipment and any trouble at the station would mean " darkness."
One of our greatest losses in economy, aside from the efficiency of the machinery, is due to the sizes of our units and the division of our load, and as we have no relays it is sometimes necessary to run under very adverse and expen- sive conditions until permanent repairs can be made.
All of the losses due to the above conditions concentrate in the " coal pile, " and our efforts toward economy are mostly toward the fuel cost of generating current, and our recom- mendations are for the best divisions of units, highest effi- ciency in engines and generators, and the lowest possible fuel cost per horse power, per hour, consistent with reliable service.
We are submitting four different methods that will benefit us, and we have carefully considered each of them, and have also consulted one of the best construction engineers upon the subject. The different propositions are as follows : -
PROPOSITION NO. I.
Replace present D. C. Arc lamps with 100 enclosed A. C. lamps.
Replace present D. C. Generators with belted A. C. Gener- ator to be driven by present engine and continue to take day load from Malden.
317
INVESTMENT.
One 100 K. W. belted A. C. Generator . $1,500 00 100 Enclosed A. C. Arc lamps
· 3,500 00
Necessary changes on switch board
· 500 00
Total cost (no labor on lines and arcs) . $5,500 00
SAVINGS.
Decrease in annual cost of trimming $490 00
66
" " repairs · 200 00
$690 00
Less interest a 4 per ct. on $5,500
220 00
Net gain per year
$470 00
If no notes were issued the gain would be $690 per year.
As this does not in any way increase the capacity enough to be of value in future years, and is probably but very little, if any, saving in current, it is considered not practical.
NOTE .- The present coal consumption equals a fraction over ten pounds per K. W. hour.
The total output is 275,000 K. W. hours per year, as fol- lows : -
Generated at the plant . 238,000 K. W. hrs. Bought from Malden 37,000 66 66 ·
Total .
. 275,000 “ “
PROPOSITION NO. 2.
The same as No. I on machinery, except a smaller genera- tor, and use Flaming Arc lamps in place of present D. C. lamps and enclosed A. C. lamp.
318
INVESTMENT.
One 75 K. W. belted A. C. Generator . $1,200 00 134 Flaming Arc lamps
· 7,700 00
Necessary changes on switch board
.
500 00
Total cost .
$9,400 00
SAVINGS.
Decrease in annual cost of trimming · $590 00
66 66 " " repairs
310 00
One man's time on (electric) pay roll .
700 00
16 K. W. for 2,000 hrs. per yr. (street lights) at 10 lbs. of coal per K. W. hr. (coal cost .002 per 1b.) 640 00
$2,240 00
Less 4 per cent. interest on $9,400
376 00 .
Net gain per year .
$1,864 00
This plan only increases our capacity about 25 K. W. and as it is a saving in current used, instead of in the manufac- turing cost, it is not considered practical.
PROPOSITION NO. 3.
To run the Plant 24 hours per day and buy no current.
Replace 100 D. C. arcs and 34 enclose A. C. arcs by 134 Flaming arcs, and install a complete high pressure condens- ing steam plant with direct connected A. C. generators :
INVESTMENT.
One 40 K. W., one 65 K. W., one 90 K. W., en-
gines and generators ; two 200-horse-power
high pressure boilers ; one 200-horse-power condenser ; the necessary pumps, heater, pip- ing, building and stack (approximate) . .$30,000 00 I34 Flaming arc lamps · 7,700 00
Inside and outside wiring and incidental expenses 2,000 00
Total cost
·$39,700 00
319
SAVINGS.
Decrease in repairing and trimming arcs . $900 00 243,000 K. W. hrs. (present output outside of Malden) at 4 lbs. coal per K. W. hr. 1,940 00 · 32,000 K. W. hrs. (taken as in No. 2 on street lights.) at 10 lbs. coal per K. W. hr. 640 00
37,000 K. W. hrs. now taken from Malden at 2.7 cts. per K. W. hr. 999 00
One man's time on pay roll .
700 00
$5,179 00
Less expense :
4 per cent. interest on $39,700 00 . $1,588 00
I extra engineer 900 00
2,488 00 .
Net gain per year .
. $2,691 00
NOTE I. - The estimated coal consumption by this plan is six pounds per K. W. hour.
NOTE 2. - If A. C. enclosed arcs are used, a 90 K. W. generator will be needed in place of the 65 K. W. as above. Additional cost, $1,000. The A. C. arcs would cost about $4,000 less, but it would cost about $740 more per year to maintain them and they would consume a great deal more current.
NOTE 3. - Malden current now costs 3} cents per K. W. hour less the saving on 4 lbs. of coal at 2.7 cents.
PROPOSITION NO. 4.
Run plant 24 hours per day and buy no current (as in No. (3).
Change to all Flaming Arcs, as in No. 3.
Install complete gas producer plant and gas engines direct connected to A. C. Generators.
320
INVESTMENT.
One 60-horse power gas engine and generator, one 100-horse power gas engine and generator, one 140-horse power gas engine and generator, gas producer equipment and all auxiliaries erected and operating and Arc lamps $40,000 00
Brick building (I quotation received) . 8,500 00
Addition on coal shed, painting, wiring and heat-
ing apparatus for new building, necessary out- side line extensions, lightning arrestors inside and on lines, cut outs, transformers and chang- ing incandescent street lamps
3,600 00
Total cost
. $52,100 00
SAVINGS.
Decrease on trimming and repairing arc lamps $900 00
243,000 K. W. hrs. saving of 72 lbs. coal per K. W. hr. ·
3,645 00
32,000 K. W. hrs. saving of 10 1bs. coal per K. W. hr. 640 00
37,000 K. W. hrs. Malden current at 2 cents 740 00
I electric man on pay roll 700 00 .
I fireman on pay roll
800 00
$7,425 00
Less expense :
4% interest on $52, 100
. $2,084 00
I extra engineer
900 00 2,984 00
Net gain per year
$4,441 00
NOTES. - The guaranteed coal cost, under favorable condi- tions, is 2.6 lbs. per K. W. hour, including steam coal for one boiler.
In Proposition No. 3, there would be a credit of from $2,000 to $2,500 from the sale of the present boilers and machinery.
In Proposition No. 4, it would not be advisable to sell the boilers, as it is necessary to have steam for running the com-
321
pressors on the high pressure gas mains, and for various other purposes about the gas works, also for the fire whistle and a blast for the gas producers.
We would only run one boiler at a time and the coal con- sumption at the boiler is included in the 2.6 lbs. per K. W. hr., as guaranteed by the manufacturers.
The credit would therefore be less than in No. 3, to the amount that the boilers would sell for.
In all of the propositions mentioned no allowance has been made for any increase in sales of current, and as the proposed units in Nos. 3 and 4, each allow a margin for the different parts of the day and night, the additional sales would mean only a slight amount of coal additional.
This would enable us to offer very attractive prices to motor users and as that load would come during the day and greatly help toward better economy at the time when there is very little output, it leads us to believe that at least a 25 K. W. motor load could be obtained and at only 2 cents per K. W. profit ; this would mean $1,200 per year velvet for the town.
We do not recommend the purchase of any land, as the new building can be built on the land between the present engine room and the stable, and will then leave sufficient driveway and yard room.
In the building the basement could be used for a repair shop, and storage, and in putting in the foundations, a large one should be built for the smallest engine, so that if it is necessary, at some future time, to again increase the ca- pacity of the plant, a 20-horse-power engine and generator can be set in place of the proposed 60-horse-power unit, at a small cost.
The figures as shown in the various propositions can lead us to but one conclusion, and after very thorough investiga- tion into the requirements of the plant, the efficiency of the gas producer engine installations and the flaming arc lamps, we are satisfied that, for the best interest of the town, it is our duty to recommend an installation as per Proposition No. 4.
322
The machinery as proposed, makes a very flexible plant, and as our load is a variable one, it enables us to run at all times on an economical basis, with relays at hand to insure reliable service, and a sufficient margin in capacity to provide for a 50 per cent. increase in output.
The gas producers and engines are giving universal satis- faction, both in economy and reliability, and have been so perfected that any number of units can be synchronized and run in parallel on an alternating current load for lighting without any trouble.
The economy figures some on the pay roll, but very largely on the coal consumption, and there is no other practical device in operation that can produce power at one pound of coal per horse-power hour.
The new building can be built, the machinery installed, and all changes made without any interruption in service.
GAS HOLDER.
Some of the disadvantages and bad results on account of inadequate storage capacity :
From following makes it will be seen that we filled our 40,000 cu. ft. holder approximately three times in 24 hours. Make, 1908, Feb. Ist, 119,000 cu. ft. Output, 125,000 cu. ft. 1908, Feb. 6th, 120,000 "
123,600 “ " 1908, Feb. 7th, 122,000 " 66 122,400 " "
On the above dates, in the four hours between 6 p. m. and Io p. m., the output was respectively as follows :
Make, 19,000 cu. ft. Output in 4 hrs., 35,800 cu. ft., or at the rate per hour of 8,950 cu. ft.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.