USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Wakefield > Town annual report of the officers of Wakefield Massachusetts : including the vital statistics for the year 1909-1912 > Part 43
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Town Library, Dog Tax (921.30) all receipts and . .
1,028 70
This amount includes $300 to cover -
lighting expense of Library and Reading Room.
Reading Room
275 00
Fish Committee
.
25 00
Cemetery Department
·
330 00
.
.
252
HIGHWAY DEPARTMENT
Street Railway Tax and . $14,000 00
That Town Treasurer be authorized under direction of Selectmen to borrow $6,000 in anticipation of Street Railway Tax.
That preference be given at all times to the permanent men, horses- and carts of the Fire Department. That compensation for a. pair of horses, cart and driver be no more than $5 00 per day ; to single horse, cart and driver, no more than $3.50 per day.
SALARIES OF TOWN OFFICERS AND EMPLOYES
Selectmen
$500 00
Assessors
.
900 00
Overseers
300 00
Board of Health
100 00
Board of Health (services)
400 00
Cemetery Commissioners
70 00
Auditors
215 00
Registrars
215 00
Treasurer
600 00
Town Clerk
200 00
Tax Collector
650 00
Tree Warden
25 00
Fire Engineers
450 00
Inspector of Milk
150 00
Collector of Milk Samples
.
50 00
Superintendent of Streets
.
900 00
.
·
253
Town Counsel
500 00
Inspector of Animals
125 00
Inspector of Plumbing
480 00
Forest Warden and Five Deputies
75 00
Clerk to Selectmien
400 00
Clerk to Finance Committee
50 00
Sealer of Weights and Measures
100 00
Moderator
25 00
$7,480 00
WATER DEPARTMENT
For Maintenance . $14,000 00
and income from services.
Construction
5,000 00
Interest .
8,120 00
Bond Retirement
4,000 00
Salaries of Water and Sewerage
Board
300 00
$31,420 00
HYDRANT SERVICE
For 216 hydrants at $15.00
$3,240 00
3 standpipes, 3 fountains and 3 horse
troughs at $75.00 each
675 00
- $3,915 00
254
SEWER DEPARTMENT
For Maintenance, including engineer- ing, clerical services and superin- tendence 650 00 and income from connections.
MUNICIPAL LIGHT PLANT
ESTIMATED EXPENDITURES AND RECEIPTS
Expenditures :
Bond and note payments $9,500 00
Interest 5,063 75
Depreciation 3
per cent
on $257,797.18 .
.
7,733 91
Maintenance . · 56,623 90
Unpaid bills, Jan. 1, 1912 3,078 44
$82,000 00
Receipts .
67,000 00
Deficiency to be appropriated, repre- senting Town's cost of street light- ing, including Commissioners' sala- ries, $300, to enter tax levy 15,000 00
Fire alarm :
For Maintenance .
350 00
Construction
1,100 00
1,450 00
Total amount of our recommendations
$289,096 05
255
The following vacancies occur on the committee, due to expira- tions of the terms of W. E. Cowdrey, C. F. Winship, W. HI. Tay, J. W. Murphy and Arthur S. Hill ; also, for two years'on account of resignation of George L. Wakefield, the vacancy having been filled temporarily by E. C. Richardson.
Respectfully submitted, CLINTON H. STEARNS, Chairman, ARTHUR S. HILL, Secretary.
٠
ANNUAL REPORT
OF THE 1
WAKEFIELD
Municipal Light Board
AND MANAGER
OF THE MUNICIPAL LIGHT PLANT
TOWN OF WAKEFIELD
258
Report of the Municipal Light Board
The Municipal Light Commission presents herewith its 18th Annual Report for the year ending December 31, 1911.
. The work of the Board during the past year has been routine and giving such attention as was necessary to special matters which have come before them from time to time. £
We also have given attention to the upkeep of the plant, especial attention being given to the question of the pole lines and an attempt as far as possible to reduce the number of poles in the streets.
In the Spring of 1911, a delegation from a committee appointed by the Town of Reading to consider the question of extending the pipes and enlarging the use of gas in that Town waited on the Board asking them to submit a proposition from the Town of Wakefield for extending the gas pipes in Reading and selling gas to the inhabitants of the Town of Reading. Your Board in answer to this request sent the following letter to the Reading Committee :
WAKEFIELD, MASS., May 11, 1911
MR. GEORGE L. FLINT,
Chairman Gas Committee,
Town of Reading.
DEAR SIR :
At a meeting of the Wakefield Municipal Light Commission held on Tuesday evening May 9, I was instructed to send you the following communication.
259
The Wakefield Municipal Light Commissioners agree to use their influence and do everything in their power to induce thie Town of Wakefield to appropriate $25,000.00 for extending the gas pipes to and in Reading and such further appropriations as may be necessary from time to time, and to supply the inhabi- tants of Reading with gas, at the same price and under the same terms and regulations as the inhabitants of the Town of Wake- field are now supplied, and to give the inhabitants of the Town of Reading the same reduction and advantages as are granted to the inhabitants of Wakefield in the future, provided authority is granted by the Legislature, and the Town of Reading will vote also an exclusive franchise to the Town of Wakefield for supplying the inhabitants of Reading with gas: or in case the Town of Reading should desire to install the gas pipes in Reading at their own expense, then the town of Wakefield will deliver gas to a meter at the Reading line on a sliding scale of prices appropriate to the amount of gas used, which price will not exceed $1.00 for the amount now used for the Town of Reading, and without a doubt the price will rapidly descend to 85c on account of the increased consumption of gas in Reading.
A new sliding scale to accomplish this purpose would. how- ever have to be approved by the Massachusetts State Board of Gas Commissioners, which approval the Wakefield Municipal Light Commission will endeavor to obtain at as early a date as possible.
Very truly yours, EDWIN C. MILLER, Chairman.
A bill was introduced in the Legislature to allow the Town of Wakefield to carry out the intent of this offer and a bill was signed by the Governor for this purpose. Although the bill was not entirely a satisfactory one it was one that was drafted by the State Gas Commission and was the best that could be obtained under the circumstances.
The Reading Town Committee having voted favorably to recommend in their report to the Town of Reading their accept- ance of the offer made by your Board of Commissioners, articles
260
were inserted in the Wakefield Town Warrant dated June 19, 1911. Before these articles came up for action the Town of Reading had voted to postpone any action in regard to the gas situation in Reading and immediately the articles in the Wake- field Town Warrant were indefinitely postponed.
Later the following letter was received by the Board.
September twenty-fifth, 1911
MR. E. C. MILLER, Care of Municipal Light Plant,
Wakefield, Mass.
MY DEAR SIR :-
I find that we have 2-93 100ths miles of gas main in Reading, most of which is of 3 inch diameter. We also have 136 service connections and 64 meters. The Town values this property at $5,000, and, subject to the approval of our Board of Directors, I think we would be willing to sell this property to the Town of Wakefield at the price which the assessed value bears to the total value.
Very truly yours, W. B. TENNY
Vice President,
Peoples' Gas & Electric Co.
In accordance with the same, articles were inserted in the Wake- field Town Warrant dated Oct. 13, 1911 and the following vote was passed by the Town.
Voted : That the town authorize and instruct the Board of Mu- nicipal Light Commissioners to petition the Town of Reading in the name of the Town of Wakefield for authority to construct and maintain in said Reading pipes and apparatus for the distribu- tion and sale of gas therein.
261
Application was made immediately to the Town of Reading and that Town called a Town Meeting for action, at which Town Meeting the sentiment expressed was entirely in favor of accept- ing Wakefield's offer and a committee was appointed to arrange the details and report to the Town of Reading at a later meeting. The matter is under consideration at the present time between that committee and the Commissioners of the Town of Wakefield.
In the discussion relating to this matter there has been more or less said in regard to the question of Municipal Ownership as applied to our Light Plant, and your Board feel as if it would be of value to the Town to present certain information bearing on the ownership of the Plant during the past 17 years.
The Town took possession of the Gas and Electric Light Plant situated in Wakefield under order of the Court on August 1, 1894. The award was $75,030.00 in cash and the Town assumed the payment of $70,000.00 worth of bonds which were on the Plant
at the time, making a total award of $145,030.00. The Town at this time voted to issue $180,000.00 worth of bonds. In getting possession of the $70,000.00 worth of bonds, the Town was obliged to pay a premium of $3,500.00. They also paid legal expenses of $5,000.00 and voted $20,000.00 for repairs, extensions, altera- tions, etc., and they also voted $256.85 for the expense of adver- tising and printing the bonds. Interest, etc., was paid to Jan. 31, 1895, to the amount of $1,026.51. On $98,000.00 worth of bonds which were issued first of the $180,000.00 the Town re- ceived a premium of $4,418.33. So, the total amount received was $184,418 33 and the total amount expended was $174,813.36, leaving a balance of $9,604.97, which was in later years appro- priated and spent by the town for further additions, extensions, repairs, etc
This is indicated in Table No. 1, the amount in column 4 being the only amount raised from the tax levy.
262
TABLE No. 1
Bonds
Premium
Appropriation for Operating and Maintaining
Receipts
1894
$180,000 00
$4,418 33
$4,000 00
$8,398 15
Extension, Re- operating and pairs and New Maintaining
Interest
Premium paid and Legal Expenses
Printing Bonds
Construction
1894
$11,872 17 $29,604 97 $1,026 51 $8,500 00
$256 85
From an inspection of Table No. 2, it will be seen that nothing has been appropriated from the tax levy since 1898 for operating and maintaining the plant. That the receipts in addition to the appropriation from the tax levy practically equalled the expend- iture.
TABLE No. 2
1
2
3
4
5
Appropriation for Operating and Maintenance
Receipts
Expenditure for Operating and Maintaining
Gas Exten- sion, etc.
1895
$3,500 00
$17,622 46
$21,401 62
$2,000 00
1896
4,000 00
17,126 89
20,942 94
1897
3,500 00
18,291 63
20,120 27
1898
1,500 00
18,094 58
18,721 13
3,000 00
1899
19,615 61
19,354 37
1,750 00
1900
23,464 12
26,611 50
1,675 00
1901
29,701 49
29,322 59
1,450 00
1902
36,662 04
36,922 25
2,100 00
1903
31,699 30
31,131 70
2,000 00
$12,500 00
$212,278 12
$224,528 37
$13,975 00
Expenditure
TABLE No. 2-Continued
Electrie
Bonds Paid
Interest
1825
$3.000 00
$3.344 25
£:50 00
1896
3.000 00
.. 080 00
250 00
1897
$1.000 00
3.000 00
6.960 00
930 00
1525
500 00
3.000 00
6.84
970 00
1899
1.000 00
3.000 00
6.720
00
930 00
1900
325 00
3.000 00
6.600
00
250 00
1201
800 00
3.000 00
6.480 00
250 00
1902
1.400 00
3.000.00
1903
3.000 00
6.240 000
$5.025 00
$27.000 00
$56.624 25
$2.550 00
By adding columns 2, 5, 6. 7. 8. 9, the sum will show the amount appropriated from the tax levy during this period. This averages $13.074.00 per annum.
Nothing during this period was appropriated for lighting the streets. If $8.500.00 per year had been appropriated for the nine years it would have amounted to $76.500.00 This would have paid the interest and about $20,000.00 toward the bond payment. During this period the taxpayer carried the burden and not the consumer.
TABLE NO. 3
Appropriation
Expenditure for
Bonds and Notes
Extensioc, etc.
Mise. Credits
1904
$10.000 00
$36.100 85
$37.441 55
$1.698 21
1905
5.000 00
42.552 54
42.465 33
6.500 00*
1906
45.959 55
47.593 79
6.839 00*
$124.612 97
$127.500 .0
$15.036 21
3.300 00
264
TABLE No. 3-Continued
Electric Extension, etc.
Bonds and Notes Paid
Interest Paid
Commission's Salary
Receipts
1904
$801 79
$3,000 00
$6,295 00
$250 00
$35,818 39
1905
7,550 00
6,464 50
250 00
39,522 68
1906
8,550 00
6,167 50
300 00
49,176 97
$19,100 00 $18,927 00
$800 00
124,518 04
* Both gas and electric extension.
During the years 1904, 1905, 1906, the town changed this method of making appropriations. An amount was appropriated for maintaining and operating the plant, irrespective of the re- ceipts, and by reference to Table No. 3, it will be seen that the sum was not enough, into $2,887.73, to equal the expenditures. By reference to the last column it will be seen that (deducting the merchandise credits from the total of column No. 3) the receipts exceeded the appropriations by $658.49. The net average amount that went into the tax levy was $17,730.00 per annum. In 1905 there were extraordinary expenditures of $3,700.00 for a new boiler and $1,000.00 appropriated in addi- tion to the $5,000.00 raised from bonds for altering over the street lighting system. Also $3,396.67 was set aside for the depreciation fund, which fund was created by act of the legisla- ture in 1905, chapter 410, section 4.
It will be noticed that the bond payment increased from $3,000.00 in 1904 to $8,550.00 in 1906.
By reducing these three years to the same basis as shown in Table 2, the amount from the tax levy would have averaged $11,968.00 per annum.
265
TABLE NO. 4
1
3
&
Bonds
Appropriation
Receipts
1907
321.837 00
$50.484 30
$52.078 6
1908
19.000 00
55.430 57
42.421 57
1909*
$25.000 00
14.000 00
34.588 85
48.25 50
1910
10.565 00
63.344 47
51.310 25
1911
12.240 00
69.858 91
50.129 55
877.702 00
$294.307 71
$220.334 60
6
Bonds and Notes
Interest
Depreci ..... Fund
1007
$8.550 00
$6.210 50
$300 00
$7.410 00
1908
8.550 00
5.733 50
300 00
7.196 53
1909*
8.550 00
5.746 50
300 00
5.405 35
1910
11,050 00
5.908 25
300 00
6.294 33
1911
10,500 00
5.466 25
3 0 00
6.750 €1
$47.200 00
$20.065 00
81.500 00
$33.087 42
* Eleven months in year.
Table 4 shows how the appropriations have been made in accordance with the state law of 1905. This law compels all of the receipts to be used for operating and maintaining. construc- tion and extensions, bonds and interest, in connection with the plant before any money can be appropriated from the tax levy.
It will be noticed from an inspection of columns 4 and 5 that the receipts are increasing faster than the expenses of maintaining and operating the plant, and in the past five years have furnished $33,913.11 toward the payment of other charges.
The average amount taken from the tax levy has been $15 .- 540.00 per annum during the past five years.
266
The depreciation account takes the place, from the year 1907 down, of the money appropriated for gas and electric extensions in former years. This amount averaged annually, to the year 1907, $5.303.00. For the past five years it has averaged $6,617.00 per annum. The total amount paid out for all charges, excepting operating and maintaining, during the past five years was $110,852.42. Of this amount $77,702.00 was raised from the tax levy and $33,913.11 from the consumers. Had the town paid $8,500.00 per annum from the tax levy for street lighting during the past five years, or $42,500.00, the difference between this sum, $42,500.00 and $77,702.00, or $35,202.00, could be assumed as the amount paid from the tax levy toward the pay- ment of the bonds.
Should the town issue no more bonds or notes the following table shows the payment on this account for the following years.
1912-$ 9,500
1913- 9,500
1914- 9,500
1915- 11,500
1916- 11,500
1917- 11,500
1918- 11,500
1919-11,500
1920-
9,000
1921- 9,000
1922- 9,000
1923-
9,000
1924-
9,000
RATES
A study of the above information is necessary in giving con- sideration to the question of rates. Your Board feel that the policy laid down by the Town is to not appropriate from the Tax Levy very much more money than would represent the sum neces- sary to be appropriated should the Town buy their street lighting from a private corporation. The State Law compels the Town
267
to appropriate a certain amount every year for a Depreciation Fund, so called, whether the money is needed or not, and the fact that the Bond and Note Payments have increased from $3,000.00 which they were up and including the year 1904 to $11,500.00 in 1910 which was the maximum, and $10,500.00 in 1911 and $9.500 00 this year, it does not seem practical yet to reduce the rates to any great extent, unless the town is ready to appropriate from the Fax Rate the payment of the Bonds and the cost of street lighting. If the Town should decide on this policy, there could be without doubt a radical reduction in the rates both for gas and electricity, should this policy meet with the approval of the Mass. Board of Gas and Electric Light Commission. It is not for your Municipal Light Board to decide this question of Town Policy but for the voters of the Town.
STONEHAM
The People's Gas and Electric Co. of Stoneham, which is con- trolled by the Malden & Melrose Gas & Electric Co., ceased to purchase gas of Wakefield about Oct. 10, 1911. The gas in Stoneham is being furnished from the plant located at Malden at the present time.
ELECTRICAL DEPARTMENT
In order to carry out the plan for unifying the Station and Plant, a second hand alternating current Generator was purchased to replace the two machines attached to Engine No. 1. This Generator was similar to the one purchased in 1909 and equips the plant in such a way as to make it elastic so that the load can be divided to the best possible advantage in regard to the two engines. The Exciters were unified so that they are now in keeping with the rest of the Electrical equipment. By reference to the figures of the Manager the increase in the output of electricity can be ascertained.
268
STREET LIGHTING
At the request of citizens in Greenwood a number of Arc Lamps were removed along the main street between Wakefield and Greenwood for the reason that the lights did not seem to pene- trate under the trees in the summer time, making the sidewalk dark. In place of these, Incandescent Lights were substituted, and placed on the opposite side of the street so that the light would be thrown under the trees as far as possible. This change has proved very satisfactory to the parties interested. A few Arc Lamps were also taken out at the other end of Main street, near Lowell street for the same reason, as the Incandescent Lights seem to be much more satisfactory for street lighting in these lo- cations.
Eight new Incandescent Lights were installed at the following places for street lighting : two on Aborn avenue between Pleasant and Main streets, one on corner of Eustis avenue and Nichols street, one on Nahant street, one on Greenwood avenue. one on Stark avenue, one on Kendrick Road and one on North avenue opposite the station.
GAS DEPARTMENT
One bench of Retorts was renewed this year at a cost of $1,374.90. There was installed an outside producer furnace in connection with these retorts and it would seem as if there was an economy of nearly 25% in the consumption of coke and, also, there was a still further slight economy in the yield of gas per pound of coke. Doubtless these Furnaces will save in the length of life over the ordinary Furnaces enough to make the change profitable to the Town. The State Gas Tests which are made at various times in the year have shown that the town is manufac- turing gas well above the candle power required and of good quality.
The Water Gas Set has been operated at times during the . year and the amount of water gas made is shown in the Man- ager's Report. It was understood when the commissioners
269
recommended the purchase of a Water Gas Set that it was not for the purpose of decreasing the cost of making gas but for the reason that the coal gas set could not produce gas enough when the maximum demand for gas was on or if a break should happen making it necessary to shut down one set of benches. The Town would be in a serious condition without the Water Gas Set. In order to get the most economical results from a Water Gas set it would be necessary to run it continuously and, of course. this cannot be done in Wakefield until the demand for gas is much larger than at the present time. On account of the 8 Hour law, so called, which was signed by Gov. Foss in the Spring of 1911, the labor cost during the year 1912 will increase. The Municipal Light Plant must necessarily be run 7 days in the week or con- tinuously ; until the passage of this law the men worked 56 Hours. eight hours per day for 7 days. Now they cannot be permitted to work but 48 Hours, that is not more than eight hours in any one day and only for six days in the week.
FIRE ALARM
The Fire Alarm System has been carefully watched and every- thing done that was considered necessary to keep it as efficient as possible. On account of the Cutler fire in July the Town was put to some expense on account of transformers, fire alarm boxes. and other apparatus being injured through the lightning. The Town Committee appointed to consider the subject of fire pro- tection recommended to the Town in November that one fire alarm circuit in the center of the Town be put underground in conduits. The law gives a Town where the Telephone Company puts in conduits, one conduit for use of the Fire Alarm System which reduces the cost of installing fire alarm wires underground, considerably. The following old box has been replaced with a new one : Box 8. And the following new boxes have been installd by vote of the Town: 59-65-113.
270
POLE LINES
In connection with the work done by the Bay State Railway Co. on Water Street in widening and improving that street, many poles were removed and the Town wires were transferred to the Railroad poles giving a first-class line along this street at the present time. Under an arrangement with the Railroad Co , we are, also, removing poles and transferring the wires on to the railroad poles on Albion Street from Lake Street to the Stone- ham line. During the next year there will be considerable work to be done on the pole lines, for reason that a great many tele- phone poles in the Town which have been up a long while will have to be replaced and the Town, under its contract with the Telephone Co., is obliged to pay its share of the cost of the replacing of these poles.
REAL ESTATE
Necessary repairs have been made to the Real Estate. During the year the coal sheds caught fire and were seriously damaged. The Town received $2,240.00 as settlement for the loss and the coal sheds have been replaced, corrugated iron being used for the roof and in other places, instead of the slate that was formerly on the sheds The large Gasometer has been painted and other repairs have been done to keep the Real Estate in proper condi- tion. Increase in the Gas Receipts has been 10 38-100 per cent and the increase in Electric Receipts 22 38-100 per cent.
The commissioners wish to thank the citizens for the patience and consideration they have always shown the Board when unavoidable troubles and perplexities have arisen. The Manager and all employees of the Plant have worked together harmoniously and faithfully to make the operation of the Plant suceessful. There can be no doubt that the time is approaching when the
271
citizens will all realize what a valuable property they have in their Municipal Light Plant and in the value of the franchise of furnishing the Town with gas and electricity.
.
EDWIN C. MILLER, Chairman, L. WALLACE SWEETSER, Secretary, CURTIS L. SOPHER,
{Municipal Light Board.
Report of Manager
MESSRS. EDWIN C. MILLER,
L. WALLACE SWEETSER AND DR. CURTIS L. SOPHER Municipal Light Board of Wakefield.
GENTLEMEN-The eighteenth annual report of the Manager, showing the operation of the plant for the year ending December 31, 1911, is respectfully submitted.
COMPARATIVE REPORT OF FISCAL YEAR ENDING
DECEMBER 31, 1911
Ending Ending Dec.31,1911. Dec.31,191)
Hours street lights were operated
1845
1812
Hours Commercial and house incandescent
lights were operated (24 hour service)
8660
8660
Total number of gas consumers
1507
1392
Showing gain on previous year
115
130
Total number of electric consumers
412
355
.
.
.
272
Showing gain on previous year
57
51
Services laid during year .
·
105
108
Gas ranges sold .
75
100
Hot plates sold . .
.
.
15
10
Water Heaters sold
12
8
Gas heaters sold
16
19
We have now 1106 gas ranges connected.
Gas manufactured :
Coal gas
32,226,500
Carburetted water gas 8,496,500
40,723,000
37,341,000
Gas accounted for
32,098,400
29,646,500
Gas not accounted for
8,624,600
7,694,500
or
21 per ct.
20 per ct.
Current bought of Reading K. W. hours
111,047
90,181
Commercial current mfg. K. W. hours
82,853
69,026
Arc current manufactured K. W. hours Tons of steam coal used in electric dept.
87,389
85,924
Tons of coke used in electric dept.
747 66
806
66
Tons of gas coal carbonized
. 3209 “
2906 6
Gas oil used
48,580 gals. 37,935 gals.
On hand :
Gas coal
.
150 tons
128 tons
Steam coal
None
None
Tar .
. 6,700 gals. - 6,750 gals.
Coke .
5 tons
25 tons
Gas oil
. 3,750 “
6,250 “
Number of street lamps in operation :
Arc lamps .
42
48
Incandescent lamps
464 420
.
.
·
612 tons
311 tons
273
STREET LIGHT EXTENSIONS
Aborn avenue from Pleasant street
Eustis avenue from Elm street to Nichols s
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