USA > Massachusetts > Barnstable County > Harwich > Town annual reports of the selectmen and overseers of the poor of the town of Harwich 1956 > Part 2
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Article 46. To see if the Town will vote to instruct the Selectmen to lay out Nevins Lane in West Harwich leading from Depot Road to Arbutus Avenue as approved by the Harwich Planning Board and to act fully thereon.
Article 47. To see if the Town will vote to instruct the Selectmen to lay out Arbutus Avenue in West Harwich lead- ing from Depot Road to a dead end as approved by the Har- wich Planning Board and to act fully thereon.
Article 48. To see if the Town will vote to instruct the Selectmen to lay out Hudson Lane in West Harwich leading from Lower County Road northerly and westerly by Pleasant Road and to act fully thereon.
Article 49. To see if the Town will vote to raise and ap- propriate the sum of twenty-eight hundred dollars ($2,800) for the purpose of widening and resurfacing Parallel Street in Harwich from Bank Street to South Street and to act fully thereon.
Article 50. To see if the Town will vote to raise and ap- propriate a sufficient sum of money to widen and improve Oak Street in Harwich Center from the residence of Ada Nichols north to Queen Anne Road and to act fully thereon.
Article 51. To see if the Town will vote to raise and ap- propriate a sufficient sum of money to surface the unsurfaced portion of Long Road in Harwich and to act fully thereon.
Article 52. To see if the Town will vote to raise and ap- propriate a sufficient sum of money to resurface the street designed on the town map as Colonial Way in Harwich Port and to act fully thereon.
Article 53. To see if the Town will vote to raise and ap- propriate the sum of eleven hundred dollars ($1,100) for the purpose of widening and hardening Robbins Road in Harwich Port leading easterly from South Street to Forest Street in Harwich and to act fully thereon.
Article 54. To see if the Town will vote to raise and ap- propriate the sum of fifteen hundred dollars ($1,500) to be added to the sum appropriated under Article 40 in the an- nual warrant of 1956 for the erection of a comfort station with plumbing equipment and cesspools on the Old School-
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house Parking lot in Harwich Port; construction and oper- ation 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 55. To see if the Town will vote to raise and ap- propriate the sum of five hundred dollars ($500) to be added to the sum appropriated under Article 38 in the annual warrant of 1956 to build an additional tennis court at Brooks Park and to act fully thereon.
Article 56. To see if the Town will vote to authorize the Board of Park Commissioners to perform day labor in the parks, and to determine the hourly wage to be paid to such commissioners and to act fully thereon.
Article 57. To see if the Town will vote to rescind all actions taken at previous Town Meetings whereby the Town voted to require that all water extensions have a 6% guarantee and to act fully thereon.
Article 58. To see if the Town will vote to raise and ap- propriate a sufficient sum of money to be used by the Board of Water Commissioners to purchase a new truck for the Water Department, and to authorize the Board of Water Commissioners to sell or trade in a 1948 truck now in use and to apply the money received against the purchase price of the new truck and to act fully thereon.
Article 59. To see if the Town will vote to raise and ap- propriate 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 60. To see if the Town will vote to raise and ap- propriate a sufficient sum of money to extend the water mains from Lower County Road along Mandeville Road (a town way) a distance of approximately 575 feet and to act fully theeron.
Article 61. To see if the Town will vote to raise and ap- propriate a sufficient sum of money to extend and maintain water mains to and along First Avenue (Sequattom Road) from Pleasant Lake Avenue, easterly to the end of the town road, and to act fully thereon.
Article 62. To see if the Town will vote to raise and ap- propriate a sufficient sum of money to extend the water mains to and on Joe Lincoln Road in West Harwich and to act fully thereon.
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Article 63. To see if the Town will vote to raise and ap- propriate a sufficient sum of money to install and maintain water mains on Green Needle Lane and Pine Needle Lane in West Harwich, extending from Lower County Road southerly along Green Needle Lane and southerly along Pine Needle Lane and to act fully thereon. Easements are registered in the Land Court Registry of Deeds.
Article 64. To see if the Town will vote to raise and ap- propriate a sufficient sum of money to connect the water mains along Gorham Road in Harwich Port from the resi- dence of Harold Eldridge to the residence of Arthur Gorham and to act fully thereon.
Article 65. To see if the Town will vote to transfer to the Water Department's construction account the following balan- ces:
Art. 47-1955 Town Meeting- Uncle Venies Road $654.10
Art. 48-1955 Town Meeting- Kelley St. to Lothrop Ave. 3,292.61
Art. 49-1955 Town Meeting- Ginger Plum Lane 1,803.68
Art. 54-1955 Town Meeting- Pleasant Lake Ave. 2,571.90
Art. 55-1955 Town Meeting- Queen Anne Road-East 1,008.20
Art. 57-1955 Town Meeting- Brooks Road 117.65
Art. 62-1956 Town Meeting-
Oak Street 250.76
Art. 65-1956 Town Meeting- Brooks Rd. & Dunes Rd. 959.08
$12,466.18
these sums to be used to construct and install water mains on public streets or ways as the Board of Water Commissioners shall determine and to act fully thereon.
Article 66. To see if the Town will assume liability in the manner provided by Section 29 of Chapter 91 of the Gen- eral Laws for all damages that may be incurred by work to be performed by the Department of Public Works of Massa- chusetts for the improvement, development, maintenance and protection of rivers, harbors, tide waters and foreshores in accordance with Section 11 of Chapter 91 of the General
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Laws, and to authorize the Selectmen to execute and deliver a bond of indemnity therefor to the Commonwealth and to act fully thereon.
Article 67. To see if the Town will vote to amend the By- Laws of the Town of Harwich by inserting under Article VIII, General Provisions, after Section 1., the following:
"Section 2. No town officer acting on behalf of the Town shall make any contract or agreement in which such officer has any personal financial interest, direct or indirect." and to act fully thereon.
Article 68. To see if the Town will vote to accept and adopt the following changes in the Protective By-Law of the Town of Harwich:
Under Section I-Establishment of Districts in Para- graph (b), delete the present wording in this paragraph and substitute the following:
"The Industrial District shall be located as follows: From the Dennis Town Line west of Depot Street, North Har- wich, along the north side of the New Haven Railroad tracks easterly to include area on the northside of railroad tracks to the south side of Great Western Road to a point approxi- mately 500 feet west of railroad crossing, continuing north of railroad tracks 1,000 feet deep easterly to Lothrop Avenue; thence continuing 200 feet north side of railroad tracks east of Lothrop Avenue to the Old Chatham Road Railroad Bridge. Also from Dennis Town Line easterly on the south side of the railroad tracks 1,000 feet in depth to the railroad cross- ing, continuing 1,000 feet in depth easterly south of Great Western Road to the junction of the Old Chatham Road or Kelley Street, including the narrow strip of land between the railroad tracks and the north side of Great Western Road from the railroad crossing through to the road leading to Holmes oil plant." and to act fully thereon.
Article 69. To see if the Town will vote to rescind the vote under article 34 of the annual Town Meeting February 14, 1955, whereby the Town accepted and adopted the re- location and alteration of Deep Hole Road in South Harwich leading from Old County Road southerly to Nantucket Sound and to act fully thereon.
Article 70. To see if the Town will vote to establish a standing committee on government for the purpose of study- ing any and all possibilities for improving the Town Govern- ment; to authorize this committee to investigate any and all phases of Town Government; to instruct this committee to
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make an annual written report of its findings and recommen- dations to the town; the said committee to consist of seven members to be appointed by the Moderator; one from each post office district and any vacancies occuring thereafter shall be filled by a vote of a majority of the remaining com- mittee members. Said committee shall continue in operation until terminated by a vote of the town at an annual town meeting and to act fully thereon.
Article 71. To see if the town will vote to accept and adopt the following changes in the By-Laws of the Town of Harwich by inserting after section 3 of Article VI the fol- lowing new sections:
Section 4. The Board of Selectmen shall have the authority to coordinate the planning and operations of the Highway, Water, Police and Fire Department heads as well as that of all appointed officials in order to obtain the best possible results and to eliminate wasteful labor and expense for the benefit of the taxpayers and other residents of Har- wich.
Section 5. The Board of Selectmen shall bring to the attention of the voters of the town at a public meeting any project involving the expenditure of five thousand dollars ($5,000) or more, three weeks prior to any regular or special town meeting, in order to report in proper detail the ad- vantages and disadvantages which will result from such pro- ject and costs and to act fully thereon.
Article 72. To see if the Town will vote to raise and ap- propriate a sufficient sum of money, either by transfer from unappropriated available funds in the Treasury or by issuance of a loan or both for the purpose of repairing, painting and renovating the Exchange Building, as recommended by the report of the Building Committee acting under article 75 of the Annual Town Meeting of 1956 and to act fully thereon.
Article 73. To see if the Town will vote to instruct the Selectmen to sell at public auction the Exchange Building as recommended by the report of the Building Committee acting under article 75 of the Annual Town Meeting of 1956 and to act fully thereon.
Article 74. To see if the Town will vote to instruct the Selectmen to appoint a committee of three to negotiate with any approved Historical Society, State or otherwise for the possibility of taking over and maintaining the Exchange Building as a Historical site and to report back to the next annual meeting as recommended by the Building Committee acting under Article 75 of the annual Town Meeting of 1956 and to act fully thereon.
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Article 75. To see if the Town will vote to raise and ap- propriate a sufficient sum of money for aerial mosquito con- trol work and to act fully thereon.
Article 76. To see if the Town will vote to raise and ap- propriate a sufficient sum of money for unpaid bills of pre- vious years as provided for in Chapter 179 of the Acts of 1941 and to act fully thereon.
Article 77. To see if the Town will vote to accept the lay- out of Highland Avenue in South Harwich leading from State Highway (Rte. #28) easterly to Uncle Venies Road as re- ported and recommended by the Selectmen under date of February 15, 1957 and to authorize and instruct the Select- men to take by purchase or eminent domain the lands or in- terests in the lands within said layout and to raise and ap- propriate a sufficient sum of money for this purpose and to act fully thereon.
Article 78. To see if the Town will vote to accept the layout of Railroad Avenue in Harwich (Center) leading from Pleasant Lake Avenue easterly to Oak Street as reported and recommended by the Selectmen under date of February 15,1957 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 suf- ficient sum of money for this purpose and to act fully thereon.
Article 79. To see if the Town will vote to accept the layout of Lincoln Village Road in Harwich Port leading from the State Highway (Rte. #28) southerly to a dead end as reported and recommended by the Selectmen under date of February 15, 1957 and to authorize and instruct the Select- men 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 80. 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 a well field the land situated in East Harwich and bounded and described as follows: Northerly by Pleasant Bay Road by two lines about 747 and 719 feet; easterly by owners unknown about 1,200 feet; south- erly by owners unknown about 1,550 feet and westerly by the lands of Ralph B. Allen et al, Frank E. Sweetser, Roland J. Conway et ux, Charles H. Schmelzer et ux, Harold F. Shaffer et ux, Thomas M. Wright et ux, Albert T. Chesbro et ux, Grace
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H. Congdon and C. J. Landen Co., Inc., according to plan drawn by Benjamin P. Chase, dated February 15, 1957 and filed with the Board of Selectmen and to raise and appro- priate a sufficient sum of money for this purpose and to act fully thereon.
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 1957 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.
Art. 18-1956-Driveway & Parking Area- Fire Station $884.92
Art. 19-1956-Auxiliary Generator-
Fire Dept. 2.37
Art. 48-1956-Widening & Resurfacing Elwood Rd. .70
Art. 49-1956-Widening & Resurfacing Sunset Rd. 1.87
Art. 51-1956-Widening & Resurfacing Clifford Rd. 1.36
Art. 20 .- 1956-Driveway- South St. to Sisson Rd. (School) 65.00
Art. 11-1956-Fourth of July celebration 1956 156.18
Art. 68-1956-Painting & Repairing Water Tank Kildee Hill 1,684.84
Art 69-1956-Purchasing New Tractor for Water Dept. 29.56
Art. 80-Unpaid bills
34.18
Art. 57-1954-Hardening & Improving Victory Drive .97
Art. 55-1954-Widening & Resurfacing Earle Terrace 2.80
Art. 58-1953-Hardening & Improving Long Pond Drive .20
Art. 78-1955-Grading & Surfacing Trumet Rd. .45
Art. 17-1955-Connect two sets of Bleachers Brooks Park 1.64
$2,867.04
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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 1st day of February, 1957.
ALTON E. WALKER STEPHEN WEEKES EMULOUS E. HALL
Selectmen of Harwich
A true copy : Attest:
C. Conrad Nickerson, Constable
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Report of the Collector of Taxes
1956
PERSONAL PROPERTY TAXES-1955
Oustanding January 1, 1956
$1,858.35
Refunds 7.80
$1,866.15
Payments to Treasurer
$1,681.29
Abatements
70.98
Outstanding December 31, 1956
113.88
$1,866.15
PERSONAL PROPERTY TAXES-1956
Commitments as per Warrant
$58,859.78
Refunds 80.85
$58,940.63
Payments to Treasurer
$55,680.26
Abatements
808.90
Outstanding December 31, 1956
2,451.47
$58,940.63
REAL ESTATE TAXES-1955
Outstanding January 1, 1956
$24,144.36
Refunds
236.17
$24,380.53
Payments to Treasurer
$23,958.16
Abatements
363.09
Tax Titles Taken
59.28
$24,380.53
REAL ESTATE TAXES-1956
Commitments as per Warrants Refunds
$665,669.90
1,156.89
$666,826.79
Payments to Treasurer
$625,685.35
Abatements
9,773.54
Added to Tax Titles
94.57
Outstanding December 31, 1956
31,273.33
$666,826.79
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POLL TAXES-1955
Outstanding January 1, 1956
$24.00
Re-Committed March 1, 1956
2.00
$26.00
Payments to Treasurer
$22.00
Abatements
4.00
$26.00
POLL TAXES-1956
Commitments as per Warrants Refunds
2.00
$2,438.00
Payments to Treasurer
$1,830.00
Abatements
598.00
Outstanding December 31, 1956
10.00
$2,438.00
MOTOR EXCISE TAXES-1955
Outstanding January 1, 1956
$2,060.90
Commitments as per Warrants
2,953.09
Refunds
125.11
$5,139.10
Payments to Treasurer
$4,623.82
Abatements
515.28
$5,139.10
MOTOR EXCISE TAXES-1956
$50,782.45
Commitments as per Warrants Refunds
729.69
$51,512.14
Payments to Treasurer
$43,682.57
Abatements
2,760.28
Outstanding December 31, 1956
5,069.29
$51,512.14
Respectfully submitted,
LESLIE V. NICKERSON,
Collector of Taxes
$2,436.00
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Report of the Welfare Department
To the Citizens of the Town of Harwich:
The following report of money expended for the year 1956, including all categories of relief with an average case load of 111 per month, shows a total of $118,581.04 for aid rendered and receipts of $97,628.68. Administration shows a total of $10,877.73 expended and receipts of $4,275.26.
Total Expenditures Welfare Aid
$118,581.04
Welfare:
Outside Poor (16)
$5,470.27
Harwich Cases, Other Towns (4) 1,900.64
Poor Other Towns (8)
3,255.50
State Cases (6)
3,288.17
Total (39 cases aided)
$13,914.58
Old Age Assistance:
Paid from Town Fund
46,500.00
Paid from U.S. Federal Fund
28,640.67
Total (84 cases aided)
75,140.67
Aid to Dependent Children:
Paid from Town Fund
11,000.00
Paid from U.S. Federal Grant
8,338.50
Total (16 cases aided)
19,338.50
Disability Assistance :
Paid from Town Fund
8,700.00
Paid from U.S. Federal Grant 1,487.29
Total (5 cases aided)
10,187.29
Total Receipts Welfare Aid:
97,628.68
O.A.A. U.S. Federal Grant
27,605.75
A.D.C. U.S. Federal Grant
8,707.67
D.A. U.S. Federal Grant
2,089.85
38,403.27
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O.A.A. Other Cities & Towns
1,840.33
O.A.A. State
34,489.92
O.A.A. Recovery Account
5,773.60
A.D.C. State
6,821.22
D.A. State
4,925.66
53,850.73
Welfare-State
2,271.50
Welfare-Other Cities & Towns
3,103.18
5,374.68
Total Expenses for Welfare Administration
$10,877.73
Salaries paid from Town
Appropriation
6,050.00
Salaries paid from U.S.
Federal Grant Adm.
4,030.00
10,080.00
Salaries:
Board of Welfare
900.00
Welfare Agent
3,600.00
Social Worker
3,120.00
Jr. Clerk & Typist
2,460.00
10,080.00
Other Expense:
Travel
230.60
Office Supplies
113.62
Postage
71.63
Office Equipment
223.48
Other
158.40
Total Other Expenses
797.73
Total Federal Grant Administration Receipts
4,275.26
Old Age Assistance
2,333.91
Aid to Dependent Children
1,503.22
Disability Assistance
438.13
4,275.26
Administration Receipts-State:
Disability Assistance (to Accounts Receivable)
219.06
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SUMMARY OF WELFARE EXPENDITURES FOR YEAR ENDING 1956 WITH COMPARISON OVER 1955:
1956
1955
Total cases aided
144
160
per month average
111
123
Expenditures:
O.A.A.
$75,140.67
$76,797.82
(84 cases)
(96 cases)
A.D.C.
19,338.50
16,754.08
(16 cases)
(21 cases)
D.A.
10,187.29
6,253.51
(5 cases)
(5 cases)
G.R.
13,914.58
13,998.96
(39 cases)
(38 cases)
$118,581.04
$113,804.37
Receipts-Federal, State, Other Cities and Towns:
O.A.A.
63,936.00
65,598.93
A.D.C.
15,528.89
13,481.34
D.A.
7,015.51
4,440.69
G.R.
5,374.68
5,346.89
91,855.08
88,867.85
Harwich Share of expenditures:
O.A.A.
10,654.40
11,084.59
A.D.C.
3,946.03
2,448.81
D.A.
2,546.81
1,476.18
G.R.
7,370.91
8,651.28
24,518.15
23,660.86
Medical Costs:
O.A.A.
13,239.83
16,111.38
A.D.C.
1,185.27
1,281.58
D.A.
6,831.59
2,345.09
G.R.
2,702.64
4,166.29
23,959.33
23,904.34
Respectfully submitted,
OLIVE 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 submit for your consideration the 20th Annual Report of the Harwich Water Department.
Early in the year the Board organized with Francis J. Hibbert as Chairman and Harold A. Thompson as Secretary. Norman O. Nickerson was reelected to the Commission for a three year term at the annual election in February.
During the year the five (5) miles of water mains re- maining from the seventeen (17) miles which had been voted at the 1955 Annual Town Meeting and the Special Town Meeting held on June 3, 1955 were installed except for the main on Depot Avenue, South Harwich, where a delay due to land taking for the purpose of widening and relo- cating the road prevented the completion of this project.
Authorized at the same Town Meetings was the con- struction of the three (3) Pumping Stations which are in effect complete. Only a small amount of painting remains to be done. Sealed bids for the building of these stations and a portion of the Access Roadway were received and opened on April 16. The results of the bids were as follows:
Anderson & Spinney $30,724.00
Frank Joy
27,594.00
S. R. Nickerson
27,500.00
S. R. Nickerson of Hyannis, the low bidder, was engaged to do this work. These buildings are of cement block con- struction and each has an A Type roof with heavy asphalt shingles.
Plans and specifications for the furnishing and installa- tion of Pumping Equipment, Piping and Electrical Work were drawn up and bids submitted for this project were opened on May 2. A contract was signed with P. D. Granger of Sandwich for the bid price of $54,234.13. Other bidders were:
D. L. Maher $56,300.00
Scott Bros.
62,778.00
R. H. White
54,770.10
Three electric motor driven deep well turbine pumps were installed, one in each station, and the required minimum out- put of these pumps reads as follows:
Station #1-600 Gallons of Water Per Minute
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Station #2-300 Gallons of Water Per Minute Station #3-500 Gallons of Water Per Minute
The three stations are now working automatically and the 1,000 G. P. M. Electric Pump at the Main Station will be in operation by spring.
Among the repairs and renovations accomplished this year was the overhauling of the Sterling Diesel Engine in the Main Station. The Buda gasoline engine was removed from the Main Station and placed in Station 3 as an additional standby in the event of a power failure. This change made room for the new 1,000 G. P. M. Pump and the 100 Horse Power Electric Motor. With these arrangements, we can depend upon an approximate output of 1,500 gallons of water per minute during a power failure and an output of 2,400 gallons of water per minute under normal operation. We now have adequate pumping facilities and water available to take care of immediate expansion. In view of this, we are increasing the subscribers' yearly allowance from 40,000 gallons of water to 50,000 gallons effective January 1, 1957.
The contracts for painting and repairing the Elevated Water Tank at Kildee Hill and the Standpipe at Brooks Park were awarded to the lowest qualified bidder, Roy O. Leonard, Framingham, Mass. The amount of his bids for painting the Elevated Tank and Standpipe was $10,120.00 and $4,220.00 respectively. The exterior surface of the Standpipe was power wire brushed wherever rust, scale, loose or blistered paint were present, and given one complete coat of paint. The entire interior was properly cleaned and two full coats of paint applied.
The Elevated Tank exterior was spot sandblasted where needed and these spots given two coats of paint prior to the finish coat. The interior of the tank and riser pipe were power sanded and received a subsequent three full coats of paint. The finished job on both tanks is most satisfactory and we wish to commend the Contractor for his fine work.
Under Article 69 at the Annual Town Meeting, a sum of money was appropirated for a new tractor, loader and trencher. Bids were received from the following:
Baker Tractor Co. $3,685.00
Bridgewater Equipment Co. 3,899.00
Fisk, Alden Co. 3,930.00
Southeastern Equipment Co. 4,250.00
Pesco Equipment Co. 5,000.00
The award was made to the low bidder, Baker Tractor Co.
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The 3/4 ton 1948 truck now owned by the Water Department has reached the point were it is expensive to maintain and we are requesting funds in an article to be inserted in the 1957 warrant for the purchase of a new one.
Total receipts for this year amounted to $78,531.48. The expense of operating the department was $52,605.06, the dif- ference being returned to the general fund of the Town of Harwich.
During the year 213 service connections were made bring- ing the total to 2,053 installations. Bids for general water work supplies were invited and awards made to the following companies:
Neptune Meter Company Meters and Fittings
Red Hed Mfg. Company Brass Goods
Cement Line Pipe Company Service Pipe
Pubilc Works Supply Company Service Boxes
Whereas the work of the department has left the Town of Harwich well provided with water supply for the present, we urge the citizens to consider the acquisition of the parcel of land in East Harwich already shown to be an excellent location for wells which will be necessary in the future.
Appended are the statistics of the department for the year 1956:
Service Connections
Taking Water December 31, 1956
1,079
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