USA > Massachusetts > Barnstable County > Harwich > Town annual reports of the selectmen and overseers of the poor of the town of Harwich 1955 > Part 2
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Article 38. To see if the Town will vote to raise and ap- propriate a sufficient sum of money to build an additional Tennis Court at Brooks Park and enclose it with a fence and to act fully thereon.
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Article 39. To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate a sufficient sum of money to be used with the amount of money appropriated under Article 21 of the An- nual Town Meeting of 1955 in order to erect a Tool house at Brooks Park and install public toilets and electricity in said tool house and to act fully thereon.
Article 40. To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate a sufficient amount of money, not to exceed six thousand dollars ($6,000) to erect a comfort station with plumbing equipment and cesspools on the Old Schoolhouse Parking Lot in Harwich Port; construction and operation to be under the jurisdiction of the Park Commissioners; booths to be coin-operated; all receipts to be returned to the general treasury, and to act fully thereon.
Article 41. To see if the Town will vote to instruct the Selectmen to lay out Highland Avenue in South Harwich leading from the State Highway southerly and easterly to Uncle Venies Road and to act fully thereon.
Article 42. To see if the Town will vote to instruct the Selectmen to layout Whip-o-Will Lane in Harwich Center leading from a County Way (Rte #24) westerly to a dead end and to act fully thereon.
Article 43. To see if the Town will vote to instruct the Selectmen to lay out Lincoln Village Road in Harwich Port and to act fully thereon.
Article 44. To see if the Town will accept the layout of Elwood Road in West Harwich leading from Division Street easterly to a dead end as reported and recommended by the Selectmen under date of January 27, 1956, and to authorize and instruct the Selectmen to take by purchase or eminent domain the lands or interests in the lands within said layout and to raise and appropriate a sufficient sum of money for this purpose and to act fully thereon.
Article 45. To see if the Town will accept the layout of Sunset Road in West Harwich leading from Victory Drive easterly to Brooks Road as reported and recommended by the Selectmen under date of January 27, 1956, and to author- ize and instruct the Selectmen to take by purchase or emi- nent domain the lands or interests in the lands within said layout and to raise and appropriate a sufficient sum of money for this purpose and to act fully thereon.
Article 46. To see if the Town will accept the layout of Grassy Pond Road in Harwich Port leading from Miles Street northerly, westerly, southerly and easterly to Grassy Pond Road as reported and recommended by the Selectmen under
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date of January 27, 1956, and to authorize and instruct the Selectmen to take by purchase or eminent domain the lands or interests in the lands within said layout and to raise and appropriate a sufficient sum of money for this purpose and to act fully thereon.
Article 47. To see if the Town will accept the layout of Clifford Road in West Harwich leading from Pleasant Road easterly to a dead end as reported and recommended by the Selectmen under date of January 27, 1956, and to authorize and instruct the Selectmen to take by purchase or eminent domain the lands or interests in the lands within said layout and to raise and appropriate a sufficient sum of money for this purpose and to act fully thereon.
Article 48. To see if the Town will vote to raise and ap- propriate the sum of five hundred dollars ($500) for the purpose of widening and resurfacing Elwood Road from Divi- sion Street to a dead end and to act fully thereon.
Article 49. To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of four hundred dollars ($400) for the purpose of widening and resurfacing Sunset Road leading from Brooks Road westerly to Victory Drive and to act fully thereon.
Article 50. To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of one thousand dollars ($1,000) for the purpose of widening and resurfacing Grassy Pond Road lead- ing from Miles Street back to Miles Street and to act fully thereon.
Article 51. To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of three hundred and fifty dollars ($350) for the purpose of widening and resurfacing Clifford Road from Pleasant Road to a dead end and to act fully thereon.
Article 52. To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of five thousand dollars ($5,000) for the purpose of widening and resurfacing South Street leading from Sisson Road to Forest Street and to act fully thereon.
Article 53. To see if the Town will vote to raise and ap- propriate the sum of two thousand dollars ($2,000) for the purpose of widening and resurfacing Queen Anne Road from Rte #24 to William Walker's property and to act fully thereon.
Article 54. To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of one thousand dollars ($1,000) for the purpose of widening and resurfacing Pleasant Park Road from Park Street to a dead end and to act fully thereon.
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Article 55. To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate a sufficient amount of money to widen and im- prove Pleasant Street in Harwich Port from Miles Street to Bank Street and to act fully thereon.
Article 56. To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of ten thousand dollars ($10,000) for the purpose of widening and resurfacing Main Street (Old Chat- ham Road) leading from the residence of Frank Gomes to the so-called North Harwich Men's Club and to act fully thereon.
Article 57. To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate a sufficient amount of money to build a sidewalk along Pleasant Street in Harwich Port from Miles Street to Bank Street and to act fully thereon.
Article 58. To see if the Town will vote to instruct the Selectmen to purchase or take by eminent domain for the use of the Water Department for access from Rte #39 to its well field the following parcel of land situated in the Town of Harwich and bounded and described as follows: Southerly by the Town of Harwich, 100 feet; westerly by Snow Inn As- sociates, 869 feet; northerly by the County Road, 134 feet; and easterly by owners unknown, 963 feet; according to a plan drawn by Benjamin P. Chase, dated January 27, 1956 and filed with the Board of Selectmen and to act fully thereon.
Article 59. To see if the Town will vote to instruct the Selectmen to purchase or take by eminent domain for the use of the Water Department for water supply the following parcel of land in East Harwich and bounded and described as follows: Southerly by owners unknown 1,182 feet; westerly by owners unknown, land now or formerly of John R. For- sythe, and lands supposedly of Sparrow Howes and Arthur Kenney 1,279 feet; northerly by Pleasant Bay Road, a town way, 1,466 feet; easterly by owners unknown 1,382 feet; ac- cording to a plan drawn by Benjamin P. Chase dated January 27, 1956 and filed with the Board of Selectmen and to raise and appropriate a sufficient sum of money for this purpose and to act fully thereon.
Article 60. To see if the Town will vote to raise and ap- propriate a sufficient amount of money to install and main- tain water mains on Elwood Road in West Harwich and to act fully thereon.
Article 61. To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate a sufficient amount of money to extend the water
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mains along Great Western Road in Harwich Center to the intersection of Lothrop Avenue, and, if necessary to replace the existing water mains on Great Western Road with larger water mains and to act fully thereon.
Article 62. To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate a sufficient sum of money to extend the existing water mains northerly along Oak Street from their present location to the residence of William H. Nichols and to act fully thereon.
Article 63. To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate a sufficient sum of money to install and main- tain water mains from the existing main in North Harwich at the intersection of Old Chatham Road and Queen Anne Road running easterly on Queen Anne Road to the residence of Snow Rose and to act fully thereon.
Article 64. To see if the Town will vote to raise and ap- propriate a sufficient sum of money to extend the water main to and on Joe Lincoln Road in West Harwich and to act fully thereon.
Article 65. To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate a sufficient sum of money to extend its water main from its present location on Brooks Road a distance of approximately 600 feet and from that point up Dunes Road a distance of approximately 375 feet and to act fully thereon.
Article 66. To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate a sufficient amount of money to extend the water mains from Depot Road in West Harwich along Pine Grove Road to Hamilton Place, a private way and southerly along said Hamilton Place a distance of approximately 450 feet and to act fully thereon.
Article 67. To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate a sufficient sum of money for the purpose of painting the Standpipe at Brooks Park in Harwich and to act fully thereon.
Article 68. To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate a sufficient sum of money for the purpose of painting and repairing the Elevated Water Tank at Kildee Hill in Harwich Port and to act fully thereon.
Article 69. To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate a sufficient sum of money for the purpose of purchasing a new Tractor, with digger and loader for the Water Department and to authorize the Board of Water Commissioner to trade the old tractor, digger and loader and the sum from same to be used toward the purchase of a new tractor and to act fully thereon.
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Article 70. To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of four thousand dollars ($4,000) to be used by the Board of Water Commissioners for extending water mains where requested, provided the estimated income is at least 6% of the cost of installation and to act fully thereon.
Article 71. To see if the Town will vote to transfer to the Water Department's Construction Account the balance of $2,344.69 being the unexpended balance appropriated under Article 50 of the Warrant of the 1954 Annual Town Meeting, this sum to be used to construct and install water mains in public streets or ways as the Board of Water Commissioners shall determine and to act fully thereon.
Article 72. To see if the Town will vote to instruct the Selectmen to appoint a Committee of five persons, to include the Fire Chief, the Building Inspector, the Plumbing Inspec- tor and two others to investigate the feasibility of adopting a Gas Code in the form of a by-law and to report at the next special or annual Town Meting with the necessary Code and to act fully thereon.
Article 73. To see if the Town will vote to instruct the Moderator to appoint a committee of five persons to study advantages and disadvantages of establishing in the Town of Harwich a Board of Public Works as provided for in Chapter 101 of the Acts of 1953 and to make a report of its findings and recommendations together with appropriate legislation to the Annual Town Meting of 1957 and to act fully thereon.
Article 74. To see if the Town will vote to instruct the Selectmen to appoint a committee of five (5) persons to study the advantages and disadvantages of a municipal airport, and the advisability of acquiring land for that purpose, said Com- mittee to report to the Annual Town Meeting of 1957 and recommend appropriate action to that meeting and to act fully thereon.
Article 75. To see if the Town will vote to instruct the Selectmen to appoint a committee of nine persons, at least one of which is to be a member of the School Committee, to study the condition and utility of the several town buildings, to determine the advisability of repairing, altering, selling, destroying, or maintaining in its present condition each of these buildings, to determine the building space needs of each of the town departments and in the case of each department whether or not a need exists for new buildings or additions to present buildings, and on the basis of the above investi- gation to propose a course of action for the Town in regard
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to town buildings and the expenditure of funds thereon, and to report both the findings of the investigation and the pro- posed course of action to the Annual Town Meeting of 1957, and to bring in to that meeting any legislation necessary to the accomplishment of the above proposed course of action, and to raise and appropriate the sum of four hundred dollars ($400) for the expenses of said Committee, and to act fully thereon.
Article 76. To see if the Town will vote to elect a Tree Warden for the term of three years to take effect by appear- ing on the Annual Town Meeting Ballot at the Annual Town Meeting in 1957 and to act fully thereon.
Article 77. To see if the Town will vote to amend the By-Laws of the Town of Harwich by inserting after Article IX of said By-Laws the following:
ARTICLE Town Roads
Section 1. No road of less than forty (40) foot width shall be accepted by the Town as a Town Way unless a road of lesser width is recommended by an unanimous vote of the Planning Board in writing to the Board of Selectmen,
and to act fully thereon.
Article 78. To see if the Town will vote to amend the By-Laws of the Town of Harwich by inserting after Section 1 of Article X of said By-Laws the following:
Section 2. No road shall be accepted by the Town as a Town Way until it has been cleared to a width of at least twenty (20) feet, leveled, and hardened with a suitable mater- ial to a depth of six (6) inches, all to the satisfaction of both the Highway Surveyor and the Board of Selectmen,
and to act fully thereon.
Article 79. To see if the Town will vote to amend the By-Laws of the Town of Harwich in the following manner:
Under Article I, TOWN MEETING
In Section 1., in the second and third lines; delete the words, "second Monday in February" and insert the words, "first Monday in March".
In Section 3., in the fourth line; delete the words, "Janu- ary 1st", and insert the words, "January tenth".
and to act fully thereon.
Article 80. To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate a sufficient sum of money for unpaid bills of previous years as provided for in Chapter 179 of the Acts of 1941 and to act fully thereon.
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Article 81. To see if the Town will vote to transfer from surplus revenue or available funds a sum of money for the purpose of reducing the 1956 tax rate and to act fully thereon.
Article 82. To see if the Town will vote to transfer the following unexpended balance of special appropriations to surplus revenue and to act fully thereon.
Fourth of July
$118.13
Brooks Park Water Ext.
24.27
Highway Dept. Truck
115.00
Highway Dept. Pick-up Truck
613.50
Police Cruiser
306.00
Village Signs
12.45
Fire Dept., Ranch Wagon
24.00
Water Dept., Ranch Wagon
5.00
$1,218.35
Hereof fail not and make returns of this Warrant with your doings thereon at the time and place of said meeting.
Given under our hands this twelfth day of January, 1956.
ALTON E. WALKER STEPHEN WEEKES EMULOUS E. HALL Selectmen of Harwich
A true copy :
Attest :
Horace F. Wixon, Constable
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Report of the Collector of Taxes
PERSONAL PROPERTY TAXES-1954
Outstanding January 1, 1955
$1,405.80
Payments to Treasurer $1,168.20
237.60
$1,405.80
PERSONAL PROPERTY TAXES-1955
Commitments as per Warrants $41,295.54 Refunds 44.85
$41,340.39
Payments to Treasurer
$39,077.22
Abatements
404.82
Outstanding December 31, 1955
1,858.35
$41,340.39
REAL ESTATE TAXES-1954
Outstanding January 1, 1955
$28,673.86
Refunds
371.92
Audit Adjustment
.20
$29,045.98
Payments to Treasurer
$28,279.14
Abatements
723.64
Tax Titles Taken
43.20
$29,045.98
REAL ESTATE TAXES-1955
Commitments as per Warrants Refunds
$512,631.99
724.09
$513,356.08
Payments to Treasurer
$483,073.38
Abatements
5,722.60
Added to Tax Titles
415.74
Outstanding December 31, 1955
24,144.36
$513,356.08
Abatements
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POLL TAXES-1955
Commitments as per Warrants Refunds
$2,324.00 2.00
$2,326.00
Payments to Treasurer
$1,758.00
Abatements
544.00
Outstanding December 31, 1955
24.00
$2,326.00
MOTOR VEHICLE EXCISE TAXES-1954
Outstanding January 1, 1955
$4,020.43
Commitments as per Warrants
1,334.06
Refunds
76.96
$5,431.45
Payments to Treasurer
$4,796.78
Abatements
634.66
Audit Adjustment
.01
$5,431.45
MOTOR VEHICLE EXCISE TAXES-1955
Commitments as per Warrants
$46,021.70
Refunds
1,498.79
$47,520.49
Payments to Treasurer
$42,017.97
Abatements
3,441.62
Outstanding December 31, 1955
2,060.90
$47,520.49
WATER LIENS-1955
Commitments as per Warrants
$88.84
Payments to Treasurer $88.84
$88.84
Respectfully submitted,
LESLIE V. NICKERSON,
Collector of Taxes
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Report of the Welfare Department
To the Citizens of the Town of Harwich:
The following is a report of money expended for the year 1955, including all categories of relief with an average case load of 123 per month, shows a total of $113,804.37 for aid ren- dered and receipts of $89,445.14. Administration shows a total of $10,584.40 expended and receipts of $4,200.67.
Total Expenditures Welfare Aid
$113,804.37
Welfare:
Outside Poor (20)
$8,305.83
Harwich Cases, Other Towns (6)
345.45
Poor Other Towns (5)
3,994.93
State Cases (7)
1,352.75
Total (38 cases aided)
$13,998.96
Old Age Assistance:
Paid from Town Fund
$41,589.28
Paid from U. S. Fed. Fund
35,208.54
Total (96 cases aided)
$76,797.82
Aid to Dependent Children:
Paid from Town Fund
$11,347.94
Paid from U. S. Fed. Grant
5,406.14
Total (21 cases aided)
$16,754.08
Disability Assistance:
1
Paid from Town Fund
$4,410.26
Paid from U. S. Fed. Grant
1,843.25
Total (5 cases aided)
$6,253.51
Total Receipts Welfare Aid:
$89,445.14
O.A.A. U. S. Fed. Grant
$29,629.78
A.D.C. U. S. Federal Grant
7,947.83
D.A. U. S. Fed. Grant
1,834.00
$39,411.61
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O.A.A. Other Cities & Towns
$2,170.41
O.A.A. State
33,798.74
O.A.A. Recovery Account
577.29
A.D.C. State
5,533.51
D.A. State
2,606.69
$44,686.64
Welfare-State
$2,488.06
Welfare-Other Cities & Towns
2,858.83
$5,346.89
Total Expense for Welfare Administration:
$10,584.40
Salaries paid from Town Approp.
$5,910.00
Salaries paid from U. S. Federal Grant Adm.
3,930.00
$9,840.00
Salaries:
Board of Welfare
$900.00
Welfare Agent
3,600.00
Social Worker
2,880.00
Jr. Clerk & Typist
2,460.00
$9,840.00
Other Expense:
Travel
$184.20
Office Supplies
99.11
Postage
71.26
Office Equipment
265.38
Other
124.45
Total Other Expenses $744.40
Total Federal Grant Admin. Receipts:
$4,101.20
Old Age Assistance
$2,077.39
Aid to Dependent Children
1,824.88
Disability Assistance
198.93
$4,101.20
Administration Receipts-State:
Disability Assistance (to Accounts Receivable)
$99.47
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SUMMARY OF WELFARE EXPENDITURES FOR YEAR ENDING 1955 WITH COMPARISON OVER 1954:
1955
1954
Total cases aided
160
164
per month average
123
128
Expenditures:
O.A.A.
$76,797.82
$81,856.95
(96 cases)
(105 cases)
A.D.C.
$16,754.08
$18,708.42
(21 cases)
(19 cases)
D.A.
$6,253.51
$4,592.96
(5 cases)
(3 cases)
G.R.
$13,998.96
$13,326.47
(38 cases)
(37 cases)
$113,804.37
$118,484.80
Receipts-Federal, State, Other Cities & Towns:
O.A.A.
$65,598.93
$73,343.79
A.D.C.
13,481.34
14,328.75
D.A.
4,440.69
4,158.02
G.R.
5,346.89
3,814.80
$88,867.85
$95,645.36
Harwich Share of Expenditures:
O.A.A.
$11,084.59
$12,183.54
A.D.C.
2,448.81
3,410.90
D.A.
1,476.18
1,385.99
G.R.
8,651.28
8,097.02
$23,660.86
$25,077.45
Medical Costs:
O.A.A.
$16,111.38
$12,624.10
A.D.C.
1,281.58
2,597.30
D.A.
2,345.09
2,039.06
G.R.
4,166.29
3,206.78
$23,904.34
$20,467.24
Respectfully submitted,
OLIVER L. WILLIAMS, Agent
STEPHEN WEEKES ALTON E. WALKER EMULOUS E. HALL
Board of Public Welfare
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Report of the Water Department
To the Citizens of the Town of Harwich:
The Superintendent and Board of Water Commissioners present for your consideration their 19th Annual Report for the year ending December 31, 1955.
Nineteen fifty-five was an unusually busy year, due, we believe, in good part to the action taken at the two Town Meetings.
At the Annual Town Meeting on February 15, the towns- people voted a sufficient sum of money to increase the town's water supply by the installation of wells, construction of an auxiliary pumping station, purchase and installation of pumping equipment, and laying of water mains. Later, prop- erty owners in North and East Harwich petitioned for a Spe- cial Town Meeting, as a result of which the Commissioners met with the Finance Committee and the Selectmen to dis- cuss the feasibility of extending water mains to these areas. Paul Howard, of Whitman & Howard, Engineers, was re- quested to submit a plan for these proposed extensions, and to give an estimate of the costs. After Mr. Howard's report, the Finance Committee and the Selectmen recommended that this meeting be called, and on June 3 the voters acted in favor of this article. On June 20 sealed bids were received for pipe, hydrants, valves and fittings for the water main con- struction project. Warren Foundry & Pipe Corporation was the low bidder for pipe and fittings; Public Works Supply Company for Darling hydrants; Sumner & Dunbar for tap- ping sleeves and valves, and H. R. Prescott for gate valves.
Twelve contractors submitted bids for the installation of water mains and James A. Munroe & Son of North Attle- boro was the successful bidder. A contract was signed with Whitman & Howard to supervise the entire project. Work was started October 3, and to date 12 miles of mains have been laid out of the approximately 17 miles voted.
On April 4 bids were received for the digging of the gravel packed wells from Layne, New York City; R. E. Chapman & Company, and D. L. Mahar Company. The contract was
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awarded to the latter with a bid price of $125.80 per linear foot. At the present writing two gravel packed wells are com- pleted and the third is nearing completion.
Plans and specifications have not been drawn up for the substation which will house pumps and motors for these wells. We do plan to have these wells part of the system for the coming summer.
Upon request, D. L. Mahar submitted a figure for test work in the East Harwich area. Two sites were chosen and in October work was started on well testing off Muddy Cove Road and off Pleasant Bay Road. These sites yielded a good supply of water, and an analysis by the Massachusetts De- partment of Public Health revealed excellent quality in both places. As the Pleasant Bay Road location can accommodate three wells, an article will appear in the Town Warrant for the purpose of obtaining this site by purchase or eminent domain, since this is private property.
At the Special Town Meeting an additional sum of $800.00 was voted to be used with the $1,300.00 appropriated at the Annual Town Meeting for the purchase of a ranch type sta- tion wagon, and on June 11 bids were received from Manson Motors, Newton Motor Sales, Bragle Chevrolet of Hyannis, and Chase Chevrolet of Chatham. Manson Motors was the low bidder with a price of $2,095.00.
Maintenance work was carried on as usual. All hydrants and valves were checked during the year, and the Diesel Engines were overhauled. During the dry weather of July the engines were used 20 hours daily for nearly three weeks. We reached a new high in water consumption this year with 130,238,350 gallons pumped, taxing to capacity our present facilities during our peak periods. Next season the new wells will alleviate this situation.
One hundred fourteen service installations were made during 1955. Early in March bids were advertised for general water works supplies in connection with these installations and on March 21 these bids were opened with the following submitting prices:
Neptune Meter Co. of New York Meters and Fittings
Red Hed Manufacturing Co. Brass Goods Service Pipe
Eureka Cement Lined Pipe Co. Cement Lined Pipe Co. Service Pipe
and awards were made to Neptune Meter Company, Red Hed Manufacturing Company, and Cement Lined Pipe Company.
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Recently the Superintendent with a representative from Roy O. Leonard "Steeple Jacks & Riggers" inspected the tanks and found them in need of painting. We recommend that this be done every three years, and an article will appear in the Annual Warrant requesting funds for this work.
Another article in the Warrant concerns our need for a new tractor, loader and digger, as the one now in use is con- stantly out of repair. We feel that the additional service work in prospect necessitates such a purchase.
Receipts for the year amounted to $62,127.56, an increase of 6% over the previous year. This amount exceeded our operating expenses by $11,058.42.
At the Annual Election, Francis J. Hibbert was re-elected for three years to the Board of Water Commissioners, and Norman O. Nickerson was elected to fill the unexpired term of Walter E. Cahoon who resigned early in 1954.
The Board has met 79 times during the year to transact department business.
A brief summary of the statistical data follows:
Service Connections
Taking Water December 31, 1955
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