USA > Massachusetts > Worcester County > Southbridge > Town annual reports of the officers of Southbridge for the year ending 1909-1912 > Part 18
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North street and Dean street sewers were built at the request of the Board of Health. The construction of these two short lines completed the main sewer lines in that section. The soil was sandy and the cost was low. Length of sewer in North street is 176 feet and in Dean street is 175 feet.
Snow street sewer was constructed from Worcester street westerly about 230 feet; thence northerly on Moon street, the total distance being 442 feet. Most of the material encountered was sand and gravel with hard pan near the end of the line.
West and Collier Street sewer is built from the corner of Lovely street, westerly on West street to Collier ; thence through Collier to School street. A six inch underdrain was laid the length of this line. The The material on West street is mostly large boulder and gravel formation and on Collier street hard pan and ledge. The length of this line is 1007 feet.
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REPORT OF SEWER COMMISSIONERS.
The above completed the work for the season of 1909 and was finished on December 14, 1909.
There were two blockades in the main pipes dur- ing the past year. One on Union street and one on Worcester street. These are apparently caused by sticks, etc., which children put through the hole in the manhole covers. This could be remedied by having dirt pans attached to each mauhole frame. A system- atic inspection and flushing of the lines of sewer each year would also help in this matter. All dead ends should be flushed at least once each year and much better results would be obtained by doing this work twice a year,-in the Spring and in the Fall season.
There were seventy-three applications for sewer connections in the past twelve months. The majority being on the Mechanics street system completed last, year. Of this year's work, Sayles street shows the greatest desire for the use of sewers as nearly all the houses abutting this line were connected soon after the work was completed.
Respectfully submitted,
JOHN A. WHITTAKER, Engineer.
Report of Committee on Roads.
At the town meeting held April 13, 1908, under Article 5,-Appropriations for Highways it was voted "that a committee of five consisting of Messrs. A. B. Wells. A. Boyer, Jr., J. A. Whittaker, A. C. Moore and A. Langevin be appointed to report at a future meet- ing, theladvisability of commencing a policy of macada- mizing the roads."
During the year 1908 no regular meeting of this committee was held, although as the members met at various times, the road question was discussed by them as acting under the above vote. On July 8, 1909, the committee organized with A. B. Wells, chairman and J. A. Whittaker, clerk. At this meeting it was decid- ed that it is the unanimous opinion of the citizens of Southbridge that something should be done to change the methods and expense of the present system of maintatning the streets and roads of the town and that the duty of this committee is to investigate and report on the proper material to be used on the streets, the methods of construction in each case and the order in which the streets or roads should be constructed in- to permanent travelled ways.
From this date regular meetings were held week- ly until Sept. 9, after which date only special meetings were called. Following the organization of the com- mittee, a tour of inspection of the roads and streets was made. Distances were taken by cyclometer read . ings and the general condition of the ways were noted
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REPORT OF ROAD COMMITTEE.
for further discussion. Mr. Langevin, Highway Sur- veyor for the town, gave us amounts expended on different country roads as complete as possible.
The present available good material for road sur- face is limited to the gravel bank on Charlton street owned by the Harrington estate and the bank on the Sandersdale road owned by G . W. Wells. To cart this gravel on the streets requires a large expenditure for teaming Exact, data on the cost in different localities is not now at hand but we expect to have it in the future. As regards the roads leading South and West, there is no good material available, except ledge and field stone which require crushing before being of use for road surfacing. In order to save expense at Globe Village, ashes and cinders are used when they can be obtained from the factories nearby.
The growth of the town requires the laying out and construction of new streets: . The building of side- walks requires the grading of the street adjoining the walk. These items demand increased appropriations for the highway account, none of which' is available for maintainance and general repairs. The scarcity of road material obliges. the highway surveyor to scrape from the gutters and use, year after year, such material as he can obtain cheaply. This material is all worn out and the first heavy rain washes it back to the gutters. This method has been followed for years by highway surveyors who have been unable to " secure suitable road metal in many localities of the ... town except,at excessive cost.
Various road metals and binders were studied and debated from the position of the engineer also from the side of the taxpayer and user as to the results for the money expended. A trip to Providence and other
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REPORT OF ROAD COMMITTEE.
parts of Rhode Island, which had two years' experi- ence with bitumen binder for trap rock, was planned in connection with the Selectmen. But other arrange- ments by the individuals caused this trip to be post- poned. Bitumen macadam, we should note here, is the kind of street surface recommended by the Massa- chusetts Highway Commission for the westerly end of Hamilton street. Since this postponement of the in- spection trip, individual members of this committee also of the Board of Selectmen have viewed and in- vestigated these Rhode Island roads. Also copies of the reports of the Rhode Island highway commission have been received and read by the committee. We believe the town should adopt a policy of permament construction in all its departments. The change from coal tar to cement sidewalks made this year is a move of progress. The walks on Hamilton, Marcy, Dresser and Main streets are mentioned here that the voters may view and compare them with the tar walks built previously. The cost of some of these walks will be found in the Auditors report of this year. The expense of repairing wooden bridges of short span should be stopped. Concrete or stone arch bridges or culverts should be substituted as fast as the present wooden bridges require rebuilding. The bridge at Cady brook on Charlton street is an example of this idea. We would recommend a reinforced concrete bridge be built here this year.
To start the work of better roads Chairman Wells in behalf of the American Optical Company offered to give to the town crushed stone from their gravel bank and crusher, if this committee would obtain the money to place the stone on some street of the town and do the work in a manner satisfactory to the engineer members of this committee. In accepting this offer
258
REPORT OF ROAD COMMITTEE.
we inserted an article in the town warrant for.a meet- ing held on September 28, 1909, at which time it was voted under Article 20 "To raise and appropriate the sum of $1,000, to be expended under the direction of the Committee on Roads appointed by the town, April 13, 1908, and that the town treasurer be and hereby is authorized to borrow the same in accordance with the provisions in the by-laws of the town and the same be paid from the tax levy of 1910."
It is the intention of the committee to build a macadam road from this crushed gravel which is to be furnished by the American Optical Company. We had decided to do this on Main street beginning near Coombs street and extending the road easterly. Mr. Langevin, highway surveyor and a member of the committee, was to have charge of the work using the town laborers. Before starting work on the plans, we were informed that the water company intended to re- place the present water pipe in this street by new and larger pipes in the year 1910. Accordingly the com- mittee decided to do their work on Central street from Main street northerly. Mr. Whittaker reported plans and cross-sections of this street as prepared for the se- lectmen in the year 1907, and that the Committee could obtain copies of these plans.
Owing to the amount of work voted at the Sep- tember town meeting it was not until December 2 that the highway surveyor was free to start work for us. As the winter season had begun and there was from four to six inches of frost in the ground the committee voted not to start work until spring. Central street. has a large volume of traffic and we expect by close observation of the amount of this traffic to obtain val- uable data regarding the kind of construction and the value of this crushed gravel to withstand wear. As
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REPORT OF ROAD COMMITTEE.
this street is watered each season the binder used will be of the same material as is used in the road.
The result obtained from the building of this street will have an important bearing on the material used in many of our streets in the center of the town. Therefore, while the committee have a scheme and plan for the developement and improvement of the streets and roads, we do not wish to go to further de- tail or expense at this time. We respectfully request a careful and judicious consideration of the work done and the cost when completed, which will be made in a later report. At that time, if results justify the pres- ent opinion of the committee, the plan and order of work will be outlined for the voters of the town.
Respectfully submitted,
A. B. WELLS, J. A. WHITTAKER, A. BOYER, JR., A. C. MOORE, A. LANGEVIN,
Committee.
Report of Committee on Bridges
The Committee on Bridges beg to report that the Mill and River street bridges are completed and these accounts closed. The contract, which was awarded to the Blanchard Brothers Granite Company of Uxbridge, Mass., called for two stone arch bridges to cost $14,- 000.00. On account of the height, the River street bridge was constructed of two arches with one pier in the river. The total cost of the work is slightly in- creased as we were obliged to rebuild part of the abut- ments and retaining walls. Highway Surveyor Lan-
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REPORT OF BRIDGE COMMITTEE
gevin also built up the retaining walls on either side of the River street bridge, to agree with the grade of the approaches. This bridge being about three feet higher than the old wooden bridge, we were also obliged to rail the roadway adjoining the pond. This work was done by A. Boyer. The engineering was done by Mr. Abbott of the American Optical Company. The total cost for the two bridges is $15,617.77, which is itemized in the Auditors' report.
Work on the Main street bridge has met with a series of delays. Your committee and their engineer, J. A. Whittaker, have spent much time with the Mas- sachusetts Highway Commissioners, the County Com- missioners, and representatives of the Hamilton Wool- en Company and of the Street Railway Company re- garding the position of the bridge and the relocation of Main street and relocation of the street rail-
way tracks. These matters are now adjusted and the contract for construction has been given to the Blanchard Brothers Granite Company of Ux- bridge, Mass. This company will start work in the Spring as soon as the water in the river will permit These plans call for a single span stone arch bridge similar to the Mill street bridge, with provision for abutments, grading, curbing, fencing and drainage. The plans have been approved by the Massachusetts Railroad Commissioners and after completion, the tracks of the street railway are to be permanently lo- cated on the relocated street. We hope to have this work completed before August 1, 1910.
Respectfully submitted,
COMMITTEE ON BRIDGES. WILLIAM M. CARNEY, Clerk.
Report of Committee on Playgrounds
The committee appointed by the town in April, 1909, to investigate and report on the establishing of playgrounds held several meetings and viewed various properties, studying their location and adaptability for the purposes desired.
Playgrounds throughout this country are divided into three classes : School playgrounds, or those form- ing part of the school property of the city or town, and in use before and after school and during intermis- sions ; municipal playgrounds, under the direction of a branch of the eity or town government, and park playgrounds under the direction of the regular park commission. This town having no park commission, our efforts were directed towards the discussion and adaptability of the other two classes. We are in- formed that a playground to give the best results should have an area of not less than two acres. To obtain a tract of this size at some central location in this town is a problem. The population of this town covers such a large area that where to establish one central playground for the use of the whole town. brings each section calling and demanding it in their own locality. However after seriously considering all localities we have decided that the best interests of the town would justify the purchase of the homestead of the late Chester Dresser. This lot has a frontage on Main street, and extends southerly nearly to Forest avenue.
This property is situated in the center of the town and could be utilized for various purposes. The home-
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REPORT OF PLAYGROUND COMMITTEE.
stead on Main street is conveniently located and could be used for a hospital, or, at some future time for school or other town purposes. Between the rear of the Dark and Dresser street a small ball field can be laid out and the large oaks and other trees would make splendid locations for seats, swings and gymnastic ap- paratns. The lot south of Dresser street could be used in the same manner. Also, some citizens have said that either lot facing Dresser street would be excellent locations for school buildings. Hence it appears that in the selection of this property the committee have been guided and influenced by its adaptability to future usos by the town, rather than by the use of the entire property for playground purposes at this time. We have been unable to have a price named at which this property can be bought, but feel sure it can be adjust- ed without dfficulty if the voters wish to purchase.
SECOND PLAN.
In view of the present unknown financial condition of the town we herewith present another plan for your consideration. It is the establishing of three neighbor- hood or community playgrounds. One on the lot north of the School street school, from which the rocks should be removed and the grounds graded. Then es- tablish a diamond for baseball and place such appar- atus as the town desires. The second grounds to com- prise the old brick yard lot facing on Worcester street and now owned by the estate of L. Morton. This property to be leased for five years. Very little grad- ing is required to put this tract in good condition for use. The amount and character of the apparatus in- stalled would depend upon the generosity of the voters in making the appropriation. The third grounds to occupy land owned by estate of L. Morton. This land to be leased and supplied with apparatus the same as
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REPORT OF PLAYGROUND COMMITTEE.
the grounds on Worcester street.
The adoption of this plan would comply with the statutes, and from the use which is made of the grounds would enable the voters to better decide what special requirements are necessary to give the best results to the town.
Playgrounds should have some competent person in charge to take care of the property and to instruct the children in their games and play.
J. A. WHITTAKER, Chairman.
TOWN WARRANT
WORCESTER, SS. To either of the Constables of the Town of Southbridge, in the County of Worcester,
GREETING:
In the name of the Commonwealth of Massachu- setts you are hereby requested to notify the inhabitants of the Town of Southbridge, aforesaid qualified to vote in Town Affairs to meet in the Town Hall in said Southbridge, on the Fourth day of April, 1910, at 6 o'clock in the forenoon, to act on the following articles:
ARTICLE 1. To choose a moderator to preside at. said meeting.
ART. 2. To choose by ballot all necessary town officers for the ensuing year, viz :- Clerk, Treasurer, Selectmen, Overseers of the Poor, Collector of Taxes, One member of the Board of Health for three years, One Assessor for three years, Two members of the School Committee for three years, Auditors of accounts, Two members of the Cemetery Committee for three years, Three members of the Library Committee for three. years, a Sinking Fund Commissioner for three years, a Sewer Commissioner for three years, a Tree Warden, a Highway Surveyor and Seven Constables.
ART. 3. To vote by ballot "Yes" or "No" in an- swer to the question "Shall License be granted for the sale of intoxicating liquors in this town?"
265
TOWN WARRANT.
ART. 4. To hear the reports of the Auditors of Accounts. Treasurer, Clerk, Selectmen, Library Com- mittee, School Committee, etc., and act thereon.
ART. 5. To hear the report of the committee ap- pointed to investigate the accounts of the town for 1938 and other years, or act thereon.
ART. 6. To see if the town will vote to ratify the action of Selectmen and Treasurer in signing the accept- ance of the eighty-five per cent. proposition of the savings bank, or act thereon.
ART. 7. To raise and appropriate such sums of money as may be necessary to pay town debts, and charges the ensuing year, or act anything thereon.
ART. 8. To authorize the town treasurer, with the approval of the selectmen and auditors, or a major- ity thereof, to borrow during the municipal year, be- ginning Feb. 1, 1910, in anticipation of the collection of the taxes of said year, such sums of money as may be necessary for the current expenses of the town, but not exceeding the total tax levy for said year, giving the notes of the town therefor, to be paid within one year from the dates thereof. All debts incurred under authoriy of this vote to be paid from the taxes of the present municipal year.
ART. 9. To see if the town will vote to pay the enginemen, or act thereon.
ART. 10. To see if the town will vote to fix com- pensation of town officials, laborers and teams, or act hereon.
ART. 11. To see if the town will vote to make an appropriation for the observance of Memorial Day or act thereon.
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TOWN WARRANT.
ART. 12. To see if the town will vote an appro- priation to Camp Ponce for the observance of Memo- rial Day, or act thereon.
ART. 13. To see if the town will vote to give the tax collector the same power to collect taxes that the town treasurer has when appointed collector, or act thereon.
ART. 14. To see if the town will vote to allow a discount on taxes paid within a certain period, or charge interest on taxes unpaid after a certain date, or act thereon.
ART. 15. To see if the town will vote to fit up as a counting-room for the use of the tax collector, a part of the selectmen's room in the town hall building, raise and appropriate money therefor or act thereon.
ART. 16. To see if the town will vote to have the streets lighted all, night, raise and appropriate money therefor or act thereon.
ART. 17. To see if the town will vote to authorize the selectmen to replace with plain glass the stained glass windows in the easterly and southerly sides of the assessors' room in the town hall building, raise and appropriate money therefor or act thereon.
ART. 18. To see if the town will vote to authorize the selectmen to purchase an asbestos safe for the safe-keeping of the assessors' books, raise and appro- priate money therefor or act thereon.
ART. 19. To see if the town will vote to have number one engine house remodeled so as to provide stalls for horses, raise and appropriate money therefor or act thereon.
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TOWN WARRANT.
ART. 20. To see if the town will vote to buy one thousand feet of new hose for the fire department, raise appropriate six hundred and fifty dollars therefor or act thereon.
ART. 21. To see if the town will vote to increase the pay of the uniformed police officers to two dollars and fifty cents per day, raise and appropriate money therefor or act thereon.
ART. 22. To see if the town will vote to engage an expert accountant to audit the accounts of the town officials, at an indefinite time, once each year, rais- and appropriate money therefor or ast thereon.
ART. 23. To see if the town will vote to transfer to unappropriated funds from Foster street Sidewalk, .99; Marcy street Sidewalk, $5.96; Main street Side, walk, .14; Dresser street Sidewalk, $10.83.
ART. 24. To see if the town will vote to build a crosswalk on Hook street at Morse Bros. elevator, raise and appropriate money therefor or act thereon.
ART. 25. To see if the town will vote to build two catch-basins on Everett street near property of A. L. Desaulnier, raise and appropriate money therefor or act thereon.
ART. 26. To see if the town will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of $200, to be expended for public band concerts, or act thereon.
ART. 27. To see if the town will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of $200, to be expended for "hor- ribles, band concerts and fire-works, July 4, 1910," or act thereon.
ART. 28. To see if the town will vote to repair the gravel walk on the easterly side of Eastford street
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TOWN WARRANT.
from property of Wm. Chicoine to Cohasse bridge on said street, raise and appropriate money therefor or act thereon
ART. 29. To see if the town will vote to require the selectmen and the auditors to record in their books every note issued by the town treasurer and approved by said boards, a true record of the vote authorizing the issue of the note, date of issue, rate of interest, to whom sold and amount of net proceeds, or act thereon.
ART. 30. To hear the report of the Committee on Playgrounds and act on the recommendations therein, raise and appropriate money therefor or act thereon.
ART. 31. To see if the town will vote to construct a sewer on Main street from Coombs street westerly to a point near Foster street, raise and appropriate money therefor or act thereon.
ART. 32. To hear the report of the sewer commis- sioners regarding the transfers of accounts and to act thereon.
ART. 33. To see if the town will vote to construct a sewer from the manhole at the junction of Mill and River streets, westerly along River, Pleasant, Walcott and Plympton streets to the northerly end of Plymp- ton street, raise and appropriate money therefor or act thereon.
ART. 34. To see if the town will vote to build a tar or cement-concrete sidewalk with stone curbing, on the easterly side of Coombs street, raise and appro- priate money therefor or act thereon.
ART. 35. To see if the town will vote to lay out a town way known as Goddard Court extension, com-
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TOWN WARRANT.
mencing at the southerly end of Goddard Court and extending over land now or formerly of Charles E. Wilson to Dresser street, raise and appropriate money therefor or act thereon.
ART. 36. To see if the town will vote to build a cement-concrete sidewalk on the westerly side of God- dard Court from Main street to the land of Mary E. Webster, raise and appropriate money therefor or act theron.
ART. 37. To see if the town will vote to build a crosswalk from the sidewalk on the westerly side of Chapin street to the sidewalk on the northerly side of Main street, of cement-concrete or other suitable mate- rial, raise and appropriate money therefor or act there- on.
ART. 38. To see if the town will vote to build two catch basins on the extension of High street, two catch basins on South street and a culvert connecting said catch basins, raise and appropriate'money therefor or act thereon.
ART. 39. To see if the town will vote to build a crosswalk from the sidewalk on the westerly side of Elm street to the sidewalk on the southerly.side of Summer street, raise and appropriate money therefor or act thereon.
ART. 40. To see if the town will vote to accept the report of the selectmen as to the re-location of Foster street from the southerly corner of North street northerly to Central street, a distance of about two hundred and fifty feet, or aet anything thereon.
ART. 41. To see if the town will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of thirty-four dollars and ninety-
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TOWN WARRANT.
six cents ($34.96) to be paid to the heirs of Ellen M. Hartwell to reimburse them for money paid in taxes on land also assessed to another person and on which. the town received double taxation, in accordance with the recommendation of the selectmen, or act thereon.
ART. 42. To see if the town will vote to cut down the hill on East Main street, beginning at the easterly line of the property of J. B. Demers, for a distance of about three hundred feet south-easterly, raise and ap- propriate money therefor or act thereon.
ART. 43. To see if the town will vote to build a cement-concrete sidewalk on the westerly side of Fiske street from Mill to end of street, raise and appropriate money therefor or aet thereon.
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