USA > Massachusetts > Worcester County > Worcester > Town annual reports of the several departments for the fiscal year ending December 31, 1867-1870 > Part 79
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77 | Part 78 | Part 79 | Part 80 | Part 81 | Part 82 | Part 83 | Part 84 | Part 85
The new outlet and waste-pipes are each 24 inches in diameter, and of cast-iron, and are so arranged with gates that each may be used at will, for both supply or waste alternately, or at the same time.
These pipes are placed in a stone arch running from gate- house to gate-house entirely underneath the dam. The stone heading to this arch at the upper gate-house is 10 feet in thick- ness of solid stone masonry. The object of it is to prevent any displacement or fracture of the pipes in the settlement of the earth filling over them, and also to so place them as to render them easily accessible for any necessary repairs, freed from any liability of disturbing the earth-work of the dam in making such repairs.
22
ANNUAL REPORT OF
The lower gate-house has been finished. The waste-gate in this house is 30 inches in diameter, and has a waste culvert laid from its mouth to the southerly line of the city estate. The upper gate shaft has been finished only as far as the top of the present filling. This shaft has been arranged so as to take the supply from the surface of the Reservoir, or at the bottom, as experience may determine best. The old gate house has been taken down, and both the old supply and waste pipes have been closed in the most thorough manner.
The spiling walls in the dam have been laid with stone ob- tained upon the premises, laid in cement, and are carried up to near the surface of the work, and have been covered up so as to protect them from the influence of frost. The base of the dams are ample to carry them the full height of 20 feet without further enlargement. The dam along the road will require an average filling of 12 feet to finish it. The main dam has been raised upon the front to an average height of 6 feet above the old dam, while the back part of this dam is Io feet below the front. The average height which this dam has to be raised to finish it is about 19 feet.
The larger or the more expensive part of the work has been accomplished, as that which remains is mainly filling with earth-work and raising the spiling walls.
The amount of work done here the past season, and the quantity of materials used has been as follows :
8272 cubic yards loam. 4215 " Trenches.
37,232
" Filling.
1856 Perch spiling walls laid in cement.
2270
other stone " "
2587 Paving.
As has been before said little or no grubbing has been done in the basin of the Reservoir the past year. It is recommended that the surface of the ground to be flowed should be very thoroughly cleansed of all vegetable matter the coming year. This is a matter of great importance as affecting the general purity of the water in its use for domestic and other purposes. Your attention is earnestly called to this important subject.
23
CITY ENGINEER.
HIGH SERVICE.
Upon the summit of Union Hill, and at the summit of the hill on Harrington Avenue, at the house of T. W. Wellington, the present supply is inadequate and uncertain. These points are the highest elevations which are now supplied. The pipes supplying each locality under consideration run out to dead ends through the streets where the deficient supply is most prominent. The uncertainty of the supply is caused by the large amount of water constantly drawn from the distribution upon the streets below ; the motion of the water in the pipes absorbing a portion of the static head, thereby causing what is usually termed loss of head, at extreme points, as upon those just named.
Careful test-levels have been made of the relative heights of the several Reservoirs connected with the acqueduct, and the summits of the several hills near the occupied portions of the city. The results of those levels are condensed into the following table :
Location of Bench mark or object tested.
Elevation above
mean level of
Feet above water
pipe at canal lock
Below outlet
Leicester
Reservoir.
Water pipe at Green street at old Canal Lock,
454 20
00.00
332.05
Water pipe on Thomas street, at Union street,
459.27
5.07
326.98
Overflow pipe at Chandler Hill Reservoir,
640.61
186.41
145.64
Bolt on door-sill of Gate House at Bell Pond,
668.99
214 79
117 26
High water Bell Pond,
666.50
212.30
119.75
Base of outlet pipe at Bell Pond.
656.29
202.09
129.96
Center of door sill at Gate House to Hunt Reservoir,
663.23
209.03
123.02
High water in Hunt Reservoir two feet below cap of slope wall. Bottom of outlet pipe, Hunt Reservoir,
644.30
190.10
141.95
Top of stone sill to inlet chamber at Leicester Reservoir,
790.92
336.72
4.67
Top of flange on outlet pipe, Leicester Reservoir, Base of outlet pipe,
786.25
332.05
Proposed high water.
828.54
374.34
42.29
Top of water table at Geo. Crompton's house, Summit of hill S. E. Catholic College,
at Geo. S. Howe's estate,
672.56
218 36
113.69
66 .“ East of 66
692.94
238.74
93.31
66 66 S. E. of O. N. Pond's house. Chandler Hill,
727.37
273.17
58 98
Sill of T. W. Wellington's house,
631.75
177.55
154.50
Copper bolt in capping stone N. door Luther Ross' house, Summit of Paine's Hill.
680.37
229.17
105.88
66 Green's Hill,
777.61
323.41
35.25 8.64
Copper bolt step to main entrance, Technical School,
563.00
108.80
223.25
Lower stone step E. entrance door, C. B. Metcalf's Highland School, High water, North Pond,
608.52
154.32
177.73
537.00
82.80
249 25
721.39
267.19
above.
629.88
175.68
156 37
693.26
239.06
92.99
659.85
205.65
126.40
above.
above.
788.61
334.41
2.36
751.00
296.80
64.86
the sea.
at Green st.
24
ANNUAL REPORT OF
By these levels it will be seen that the base of the Reser- voir is above even the highest hill in the immediate vicinity of the densely populated section of the city. It is very im- portant that the present deficiency should be remedied, both on account of the wants of the residents upon these emin- ences and for protective purposes.
For the purpose of protection against fire in these localities, the only resource is the supply from the aqueduct. The in- habitants are supplied to some extent with wells, but these are quite hard to be obtained, and subject to many failures, and much uncertainty in the dry months. It is well known that these high lands afford some of the most attractive and picturesque sites for private residences of any New England city.
These sites will be rendered all the more attractive if a per- manent supply of water can be obtained with the same certainty with which it is at present furnished to the settled limits of the city upon the lower lands. The upper Reservoir has an elevation sufficient to supply all these desirable emin- ences. This can be done by carrying an additional main from the present main at the Hunt Reservoir, first to Union Hill, via Cambridge street, Milbury, Ward, Endicot, and Winthrop, to the present termination of the pipe at Providence street. From New Worcester to Providence street, along this route, there is at present no supply mains. From this main it would be practicable to furnish an adequate amount of water for fire purposes, by hydrants suitably arranged to stand the high pressure upon the street mains.
To supply the high ground on Harrington Avenue, and upon Paines Hill, to the north of it, would require an inde- pendent main to be carried from about Harrison street, on Providence street ; down Providence and Grafton street to Washington Square; thence through Summer and Lincoln street to the foot of Harrington Avenue ; and by detaching the present pipe in Harrington Avenue from the present system, use it for the high service. Along with this change some of the present pipe, as those in Westminster and Catherine street
25
CITY ENGINEER.
above Westminster, would be changed from the present to the high service, and so of many of the pipes on Union Hill they would be changed from the present system to the high service.
The amount of pipe which would be required as mains to make these two connections in the first instance would be as follows :---
From the Main at Hunt Reservoir to New Worcester, 7400 feet. From New Worcester to the end of the present pipe
at the junction of Winthrop and Providence St., 12,275
Total main, 19,675
To supply Paine's Hill the distance from Harrison street by route above named, to the foot of Harrington Avenue, on Lincoln street, 8,590 feet.
As the quantity of water required for the supply of these summits is small compared with that supplied from the present mains on the low service, the mains would be much smaller in order to answer the desired end.
A careful examination of the whole subject has led to the conclusion that the present difficulty cannot be removed with- out these additional independent mains; and also that the trouble, annoyance, and deprivation, to which those water- takers are now subject will be increased rather than lessened in coming years. This will arise from the increased amount of water supplied from the pipes upon the lower levels.
The short supply of water the present year was wholly due to want of sufficient storage capacity in the Reservoir to retain the waters yielded by the basin. The Reservoir was filled in 1869, about the first of November. In this condition it re- mained until June, 1870. Work was commenced upon rais- ing the dam the last week in April, at which time the Reser- voir was full, and from which time until June water was wasted over the wier in amount equal, at least, to 100 million gallons ; a quantity more than sufficient to have supplied the deficiency of the present year. This wastage over the wier in May was from a full pond, and in the season after the passage of all the winter and spring freshets, most of the waters of which had
4
1
,
26
ANNUAL REPORT OF
been wasted in the same manner as those of the month re- ferred to. The Reservoir commenced falling early in June.
The annexed table exhibits the rate of fall at the Ist and 15th day of each month, from June to Dec. 31, 1870.
Date.
Depth at outlet.
Amount drawn.
Rate of fall per day.
Remarks.
Feet.
Feet.
Feet.
June 17
23.19
0.95
July 2
21.53
1.66
0.11
“' 15
19.94
1.59
0.12
Aug. 1
16.86
3.08
0.19
“$ 15
14.61
2.25
0.15
Sept. 1
11.78
2.83
0.17
" 15
9.24
2.54
0.17
" 30
5.70
3.54
0.25
Oct. 15
3.36
2.24
0.14
Nov. 1
1.70
1.66
0.10
Drew from Bell Pond about Oct. 23 No. 2 commenced pumping.
“' 15
1.53
Dec. 1
4.53
“ 20
7.35
31
5.57
1.78
0.16
Nov. 26, left pumping. Bell Pond filling.
The amount of water stored for use, June 17, was as fol- lows :
In Leicester Reservoir 244 millions gallons. In Bell Pond, 30
Total,
274
66
This amount was used in 138 days, which gives nearly two millions gallons per day to supply evaporation, waste, and the wants of the takers.
The rapidity with which the water fell towards the last of July induced the City Council, as a precautionary measure, to restrict the use of garden hose ; and, but for this limitation the supply would have been exhausted very much earlier than it was. The notice was issued July 26.
It is due to all those who were inconvenienced by the order to state that but for the very general and ready acquiescence in the request, very much more serious consequences would have grown out of the short supply than has occurred.
The usual heavy Fall rains not coming this year the supply was exhausted Nov. 2. To meet this contingency promptly,
27
CITY ENGINEER.
the only resource left was to pump from Mr. James Smith's Mill Pond, a body of water lying beside the Leicester Road, in which lies. the 12 inch. main between the two Reservoirs. Water was obtained here for 24 days, or until Nov. 26.
At this time the light rains had so far increased the supply from Lynde Brook as to make it just equal to the wants of the takers prudently used. There was a small amount supplied by the stream during the entire time in which water was pumped, but not sufficient for the wants of the city. The amount pumped to supply the deficiency is estimated at 1,500,000 gallons per day, or 36 millions in all.
The rains continuing light through the Fall, and the supply of water in all the streams continuing very limited, the arrangement at first made being only very temporary, it was deemed advisable to erect the apparatus in a more desirable location, where water could be obtained with less annoyance and detriment to the many business interests which there are upon the Kettle Brook stream. Accordingly Coes Pond was selected as the most desirable locality all things considered.
The apparatus has been erected here, and was nearly ready to be put in running order Nov. 26. The pump was not started at this time, because the rains had raised the stream to a point beyond the daily consumption. By reference to the table, giving the amount of water in the Reservoir, through the year, it will be seen that as the cold weather advanced near the close of December the water commenced falling, so that by the first week in January it was deemed not prudent to rely further upon the amount in store, and consequently the pump was put in operation Jan. 9, 1871. All the arrange- ments, though of a temporary nature, were found to answer well the expectations had in view in their erection. The present pump run up to a fair working limit will deliver about one million gallons each 24 hours. With the amount in store this pump may be able to furnish a proper supply through the month of February. If the drought, now exten. sively prevailing over this section of the country continues it may be needful to increase the present pumping capacity, to meet the emergency, or, at any rate, to continue the
28
ANNUAL REPORT OF
works, as at present, until the usual supply comes from its natural source.
From May last the season has been one of very rema. k- able dryness ; a season than which none could be better for the purposes of the various operations in building sewers and dams required to be performed during the past year.
The foundations of the dam are very much better done than as though the season had been unusually wet as in 1868, and so of the work upon Mill Brook. But, aside from this, it has been most trying to all kinds of water supply. Mills, springs, and wells have suffered from short supply to an extent hitherto unknown.
The records of rain-fall kept at the State Lunatic Hospital gives the following results for the seven monthsprevious to Jan. 1, 1871, which results are compared with the same months during the entire period of observations made here, to wit :
Rain fall in 1870.
Average rain fall 1841 to 1869.
June,
2.09
3.22
July,
2.39
3.81
August,
2.74
5.00
September.
1.40
3.74
October,
5.89
3.82
November,
3.48
3.93
December,
4.25
3.66
22.24
27.18
Thus the amount of rain for the last seven months has been 4.94 inches less than the average for 28 years ; and 42 inches less in the seven months than one-half the average yearly rain fall for the same time, the average rain fall being 46.74 inches.
The record kept by Dr. Fisher, of Fitchburg, shows a much greater deficiency. His record is as follows :
June,
2.38
July,
1.40
August,
1.71
September,
1.85
October,
3.65
November,
2.21
December,
2.70
Total,
15.90
29
CITY ENGINEER.
Total for the year 1870, 35.16 inches, or if.58 inches less than the average here for 28 years. His record for the past five years has been as follows :
1866,
50.97 inches
1867,
41.92
1868,
42.56
1869,
47.01
1870,
35.16
An amount for 1870, 6.76 inches less than the least amount for the last five years, and 15.81 less than the largest. Facts significant without comment.
The raising of the dam, thus far accomplished, will add about 100 million gallons to the storage capacity of the Reservoir. Should the usual Spring floods appear this Spring, the quantity of water which can be stored and re- lied upon for the coming year will be about as follows :
At Leicester Reservoir, Bell Pond,
328,000,000
30,000,000
358,000,000
An amount 68,000,000 gallons over the amount stored at the commencement of the dry season the past year.
The quantity of water consumed from June 17, to Nov. 26, was nearly as follows :
In Leicester Reservoir,
244
In Bell Pond, 30
Pumped in 24 days, 36
Furnished by Lynde Brook, from Oct. 12 to
Nov. 26, estimated at 15
Total, 325 mill on gallons
Hence, the amount which can be stored for the coming year is only about 40 million gallons in excess of the amount used last year ; a quantity not ample to supply the present and in- creased demand, and also the hose, through the usual dry season, should the season of 1871 be as dry as 1870.
It is advised that work be renewed upon the dam and basin
30
ANNUAL REPORT OF
as early in the Spring as practicable, so that all waters may be retained which naturally flow in the stream after the middle of April. Should the coming winter storms prove as light as have the Fall, there will be no possibility of avoiding recourse to pumping to supply the deficiency the coming year. If such should be the fate the present location of the pump is con- sidered the most feasible. In this location the best water can be obtained with the least damage to the smallest number of mill owners, and consequently with the least expense to the city.
METERS.
There are now in use 90 meters, 10 of which have been purchased and applied by private parties.
The use of meters is the only possible, equitable mode fo making assessments. These assessments are levied to pay interest on the cost of construction and maintainance. And by the makers of the various regulations for its use, and the rule by which the tax shall be levied, the authors have in mind only the equitable distribution of the burden. But, by the present mode, so far as the actual quantity of water enters into the relation between the sum assessed, and the quantity used, nothing can be farther from the truth.
So far as the number of occupants, sinks, basins, bathtubs, hose, or other fixture upon any premises are considered the rate approximates equality. But when we come to the fact of the supply taken from these fixtures, even under the same conditions, the ordinary mode of rating utterly fails of even an approach to equality. True as this may be in regard to the rules for the assessments, when we come to the waste of water from even the best regulated aqueducts, the regulations, exact as they may be in the points of their directions and penalties, still they are next to powerless to correct the evils which they are framed to abate. Of use these rules certainly are and do much good ; but in addition to these, to effectually prevent all waste, requires the interested and vigilant aid of every taker.
31
CITY ENGINEER.
These general considerations are illustrated by comparisons made between the amount of income actually received upon those works of the greatest reputation, and what it should be if all the water supplied were paid for at the rate established for the sale of water by meter measurement. This compari- son appears in the following table, which has been compiled from the published reports of the Water Board of the cities named :
Water Works at
Date of Report.
per day.
Gallons of water furnished
sale of water.
Repored income from the
is sold.
which metered water
Rate per 1000 gallons at
sary waste.
per cent. for neces-
is sold, deducting 10
for which metered water
Income estimated at rate
1000 gallons furnished.
Income received from each
Boston,
1869
15,070,400
629,451.48
30 cents
Cambridge,
1869
1,617,481
76,149.30
30
66
1,485,188.00 11c. 4 m'ls 157,602.60 12 "8
Charleston,
1869
2,354,974
102,878 09
30
66
232.082.74 11 "8
66
Brooklyn,
1869 17,630, 400
578,451.15
20
1,158,317.28
8"9 66
Philadelphia, Chicago,
1869 34,040,409
702.469.29
No meters used. Unknown.
5"6
66
1869 14,724,999
420,686.94
7"8
There are two results which follow from the discrepancy be- tween the established rate at which metered water is sold, and the actual average value obtained by the mixed and common mode of assessing for its use.
First. The large metered consumer pays pro rata, a higher rate for the actual quantity of water used than the general unmetered consumer.
Second. To increase the rate upon the general unmetered consumer is to increase the waste, for the higher the rate the more forcible the tendency to lavish, negligent, and profuse use.
From each of these disagreeable positions the present method affords no relief.
The cause, however, which enters in, to affect all efforts at
32
ANNUAL REPORT OF
an equalization in this matter is the one before alluded to- that of waste. To all managers of water works this evil is patent. But to apply the sure remedy is the vexatious pro- blem, and cannot be done except by the use of some me- chanicism which shall indicate the quantity each taker allows to pass through his service.
Should gas companies assess the consumption upon the same principle as is water rated, it would ruin every gas com- pany in the States ; and where the evil bears severely upon water works is in the large increase of expenditure needful to supply and control this waste.
The following facts derived from experiments are instruc- tive, as showing what vast quantities of water may be care- lessly or recklessly wasted :
A stop wasting, a broken, intermittent stream, (a leak very common) wastes 180 gallons every 24 hours.
A common garden hose nozzle will deliver under a head of 60 feet, 192 gallons per hour, or 4608 per day. The 2 inch bib in common use will deliver 320 gallons per hour under 60 feet head, or 7680 per day. As the head increases the quantity delivered also largely increases.
The number of hose upon the works at April, 1870, was 677. If 100 of these should be allowed to run with full force during 24 hours, they would waste not less than 500,000 gallons.
At the same time there were 10,920 bibs, taps, etc. ; if these should waste, on an average, 10 gallons each the quantity would be 109,000 gallons for the 24 hours, an amount equal to about three times that used at the Washburn Iron Com- pany Rolling Mill.
The rate at which metered water is sold in this city is 15 cents per 1000 gallons. The following table gives the num- ber of gallons of water a taker is entitled to use for the sum named in the left hand column, also the number of gallons per day, per annum for the sum given :
CITY ENGINEER.
33
Rate in Dollars.
Number of Gallons at 15 cts. per 1000.
Gallons per day per an., omitting fractions.
1
6,6663
18
2
13,3334
36
3
20,000
55
4
26,666
73
5
33,333
91
6
40,000
109
7
46,666
128
8
53,333
146
9
60,000
164
10
66,666
183
15
100,000
274
20
133,333
365
25
166,666
457
30
200,000
548
35
233,333
639
40
266,666
731
45
300,000
822
50
333,333
913
75
500,000
1370
100
666,666
1826
The several places metered by the city range from 150 to 37,000 gallons per day. The meters applied by private parties are put upon dwelling houses, and the amount regis- tered ranges from 80 to 150 gallons per day.
The subject of meters and their use is now receiving the at- tention of many professional men connected with water works in all parts of the country.
The report of the Water Commissioner is herewith trans- mitted, which gives the number of leaks repaired the past year, the amount and character of the property in his charge, with its appraised value.
The streets in which pipes have been laid the past year are given in the Water Commissioner's Report. The present value of the property is $649,727.90.
The nature, amount, and disposition of the water investment will be given in the report of the City Treasurer.
PHINEHAS BALL,
City Engineer.
WORCESTER, JAN. 16, 1871.
= =
-
5
1
REPORT
OF THE
WATER COMMISSIONER
OF THE
CITY OF WORCESTER. 18770.
1
ANNUAL REPORT
OF THE
WATER COMMISSIONER.
To the City Engineer :
The Water Commissioner presents the following as his Fourth Annual Report, for the year ending Dec. 31, 1870.
The orders for laying street mains remaining over from last year and all orders passed this year, have been complet- ed. Also the relaying of the 16 inch main, New Worcester Hill ; the 8 inch on Belmont, and the 6 inch on High Street, which was necessitated by the regrading of these streets.
The whole amount of distributing mains laid this year is 29,156 feet. Old pipe relaid, 1,786 feet, making a total of pipe laid this year, 30,942 feet, of which a detailed account will be found on next page.
Of the 587 applications for service pipe this year, there have been laid 581 ; the applicants for the remaining ones wishing theirs postponed until next Spring.
There have been repaired upon the pipes during the year, 77 leaks, as per table on following page. There were re- maining, January 1, 1871, a few leaks which have since been repaired, and at the present time there are no known leaks on the pipes, which with the fixtures connected therewith, are in good condition.
The appraised value of stock and tools on hand,is $16,791.23 a detailed account of which is herewith appended.
WILLIAM KNOWLES, .
Water Commissioner.
January 16, 1871.
Schedule of Distributing Mains with Fixtures, laid in 1870.
STREETS.
Size of Pipe.
Amount Laid.
Street Branches.
Hy. Branches.
Hydrants.
Gates.
Plugs.
Auburn Place,
2
128
Austin,
8
253.6
2
2
1
1
Abbott,
4
203.6
Bridge,
6
349.6
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.