USA > Massachusetts > Worcester County > Worcester > Town annual reports of the several departments for the fiscal year ending December 31, 1878 > Part 11
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46
35
1874. .
.
3,058.91 562
2,257.25
1,150
3,534
1.421
49
28
1876.
1,122.25
140.75
4,819
700
1.284
23
19
1877. .
·
.
919
1,086. 5
2,016
1,029
56
1.222
21
18
1878.
211
. .
349. 5 326
666
2,222
3,197
1.254
11
9
Total, . . Pipe taken up, . .
13,455.4 349
8,276.25
136,459.76 7,893
2,822
86,907.53 4,786
62,191.47 1,221
7,118.16 1,800
32,508 53,216
1,980 15,186
700 79.714 3.354
724
601
Total in feet, .
13,106.4 2.482
8,276.25 1.567 5
128,566.76 24.35
1,487
82,121.53 15.553
60,970.47 11.548
5,318.16 1.007
32,508 52,886 6.157 10.014
1,980 .375
15,186 2.876
700 76.360
695
601
Total in miles, .. . ..
.133
168
CITY DOCUMENT .- NO. 33.
č
.
.
1,335
6,170
5,948
3,724
8,330
5.157
37
26
1875.
...
.
C
..
330
29
.282
2,255
1
169
REPORT OF THE WATER COMMISSIONER.
SERVICE PIPE LAID TO NOVEMBER 30, 1878.
LAID FOR CITY.
LAID FOR INDIVIDUALS.
No.
In Feet.
In Miles.
In Feet.
In Miles.
Prior to 1865
3,800.
.719
129
1865
5,979.83
1.132
3,538.67
.672
207
1866
8,592.39
1.627
7,930.95
1.502
284
186
11,231.46
2.127
12,938.01
2.45
388
1868
13,237.24
2.507
11,343.59
2.148
504
186
17,958.14
3.401
12,855.87
2.435
673
1870
11,403.95
2.160
11,562.01
2.19
581
1871.
10,089.36
1.911
9,149.6
1.733
504
1872
7,444.75
1.41
6,811
1.29
357
1873.
6,004.91
1.137
7,241
1.371
315
1374.
4,773.83
.904
6,009.5
1.138
231
1875
4,171.25
.79
5,568.75
1.055
215
1876
2,368.
.448
2,345.17
.444
104
1877
2,976.33
.564
3,679.67
.697
147
1878
3,207.33
.607
3,354.66
.635
151
113,238.77
21.444
104,328.45
19.76
4,790
City Engineer's Report
TO
WATER COMMITTEE.
To the Joint Standing Committee on Water :-
GENTLEMEN :- In accordance with the requirements of Sec- tion 11, Chapter 68 of the City Ordinances, I would respect- fully submit the following report.
There has been an abundance of water for all purposes during the past year. At no time, during the year, have we had less than 100 days supply in the Lynde Brook Reservoir.
On December 1st, 1877, the water was 11.67 feet below the roll-way, giving 298,926,131 gallons in the reservoir, an amount equal to 100 days supply. From that date until April 14th of the present year, the supply steadily increased, the water being on that date 0.77 feet above the rollway, and running over the six inch flash board 0.27 feet.
Water first commenced to run over the rollway on March 19th. On March 21st you voted to have a 6-inch flash board put on the rollway, in order to store as much water as possible.
On March 23d, I received the following note from Mayor Pratt.
CHARLES A. ALLEN, ESQ.,
CITY ENGINEER :
Is it safe for the City to put a 6-inch flash board upon the dam at Lynde brook ?
Respectfully,
CHAS. B. PRATT, Mayor.
171
REPORT OF CITY ENGINEER.
On the same day I sent the following reply to his Honor.
HON. CHARLES B. PRATT, Mayor :
Dear Sir :- Your note of to-day, asking me whether I con- sider it safe to put on a 6-inch flash board at the dam, is at hand. In reply I would say that I consider it perfectly safe, if the water is not allowed to flow over the board more than 8 or 10 inches. There would be no objection to allowing a greater flow over the board, if it were not for the danger of washing the top of the dam in case of high winds.
Very Respectfully yours,
C. A. ALLEN,
City Engineer.
After you had ordered on the flash board, the mill owners below, objected to having them put on.
An arrangement was made however, by which a flash board 6 inches high was kept on the rollway as long as the water was of sufficient height to render it worth while for storage pur- poses.
The water remained above the level of the rollway until May 24th, from which time it steadily fell until November 17th, when the water was 94% feet below the level of the rollway, giving a supply of 352,971,711 gallons, or sufficient to last 118 days. The rainfall through the year has been remarkably even and has undoubtedly been more beneficial to us than the same amount of rainfall coming as it ordinarily does, in the Spring and Fall months of the year. Some of our heaviest rain storms occurring in June, July and August, when they were most needed.
It is evident from the way in which the supply of water in the reservoir is affected by a few weeks without rain, that should we have a season of dry weather the supply would not be sufficient for our wants. I would therefore recommend
172
CITY DOCUMENT .-- NO. 33.
that some action be taken the coming Winter, by which we can obtain the right to take land and construct works for an additional supply whenever it may become necessary so to do.
The Lynde Brook Reservoir dam has been visited by me regularly during the past year, and everything has been found in a most satisfactory condition.
The rollway has been repaired by building a cement wall on the west side, in place of the old slope wall, and thoroughly grouting the paving with cement mortar.
The condition of the supply in the Lynde Brook Reservoir for each day in the year, ending Dec. 1st, 1878, is given in the accompanying table.
Thanking the Committee, and the officers of the Water De- partment, for their uniform courtesy, I herewith most respect- fully submit this report.
C. A. ALLEN,
WORCESTER, Dec. 1st, 1878.
City Engineer.
TABLE - Showing the Daily Condition of Lynde Brook Reservoir Supply for the year ending December 1, 1878, and the Rainfall during that period.
1877. DECEMBER.
1878. JANUARY.
FEBRUARY.
MARCH.
APRIL.
MAY.
JUNE.
JULY.
AUGUST.
SEPTEMBER.
OCTOBER.
NOVEMBER.
{ Date.
Water.
Water.
Water.
Water.
Water.
Water.
Water.
Water.
Water.
Water.
Water.
Water.
Rain- fall.
1
11' 8"
9'
6' 11}"
21'
+
8"
+ 0'
0'
1
3'
6"
4' 43ª
.04
6' 91"
8'
11/
2
11'
9'
.02
6' 113"
.88 + 0'
71"
+ 0'
.01
0'
44
1'
3'
·07
4'
.14
6' 10%
8'
4
3
72
9'
6' 111"
3'
.02 + 0'
+ 0'
0'
4
1'
3'
4'
63"
7'
8'
4
11'
9'
75
2'
8"
+ 0'
62
+ 0'
=
.23
0'
1'
3'
.27
4'
.14
7'
8'
6
10'
9' 113"
7'
0.5
2'
31#
+ 0'
71
.27
+ 0'
1'
3'
4'
7'
33/
8'
7
10'
03"
7'
11
13
.03
++ 0'
+ 0'
1'
3'
61"
.78
4'
91"
.04
.05
8'
Capacity of Reservoir, 663,330,000 gallons.
8
9'
10'
11
1' 103"
+ 0'
+ 0'
61ª
1.43
1' 101"
2'
1.13
4'
11"
7
8ª
10
.01 Stored Nov. 30, 1878,
459,550,390
10
09
10'
41#
1.27
6'
1'
61ª
+ 0'
+ 0'
11
.11
1'
103"
.11
5'
8
9'
Deficiency,
203.779,610
11
9'
10'
=
41.0
.03
1'
431
+ 0'
+ 0'
.01
72
.19
.03
.18
5'
11#
7'
91#
9'
1
12
9'
4
9'
6'
1'
1.25 + 0'
.81
53#
.02
71
.13
2'
.06
5'
.41
1.25
9'
13.
.14
13
.03
9'
1'
.05
+ 0' 102
.03
91
.14
2
1
3'
5
27
7'
9'
27
14
9'
9'
1.15
6'
0'
+ 0'
9X
+ 0'
51
0
9
25"
3'
5'
.10
7'
9
9'
15
9'
9'
6'
41'
+ 0'
.01
0'
3'
75"
5'
4"
7' 101
410
16
9'
9'
6'
+ 0'
83 1
0
91
3'
73
.71
5'
7'
11
9'
51
17
9'
9'
9'
3
9'
6'
4
0
.99 + 0'
+ 0'
1'
2'
3'
5
8'
.07
9'
4.
2.40
19
.02
9'
01
6'
+ 0'
8
+
2
1'
3'
00
8'
2
.04
8'
91
9'
8' 11%
6'
42
+
711
.03
.01
1'
3'
00
5'
8'
31
8
63."
.14
9'
8'
.44
6'
+ 0'
+ 0'
2'
.09
1'
.58
3'
.14
5' 101"
8
41
8
51
1.82
23
9'
31.ª
7' 10"
5'
.04 + 0' 4
+ 0'
+ 0'
1
0'
101"
06
3'
6'
8'
614
1.85
7'
.08
24
9'
9'
4
7'
4'
+ 0'
+ 0'
1.16
.12
0'
3
0'
.47
6'
8'
7'
.03
26
9'
7'
.55
4'
434
+ 0'
5.
+ 0' 111
10
3'
3ª
3' 118"
8'
6'
11"
27
9'
43ª
7'
43/
4'
+ 0'
.04
+ 0'
.72
0'
11
0'
3'
.29
0"
25
8'
210
6' 11"
1.37
28
9'
55"
.32
+ 0'
.48
+ 0'
.97
0
21
.14
1'
3'
4'
6'
8'
.15
6'
5"
.06
29
9'
61"
7'
+ 0'
+ 0'
63#
3'
4'
6'
8'
41"
.43
5' 10ª"
31
9'
63."
01"
.16
+ 0'
77"
0'
4
.31
3'
51"
4'
38
8'
.01
Totals. 1.26
4.91
3.35
3.89
6.11
1.36
4.30
2.77
3.88
1.20
4.16
6.05
1'
9"
+ 0'
+ 0'
83 #
1' 11"
.42
3'
41ª
4' 113"
7'
8'
111
9'
10'
31ª
6' 112"
.36
.31
0
=
43
314 33
33
34
6'
.22
83
+ 0'
0'
11"
.06
61"
3'
.06
5'
53"
8'
03
9'
9'
31"
20
31
21 22
9'
314
8'
.03
6'
2.17 + 0'
1'
1.81
2'
10%
3'
9"
.02
5' 111
8'
5
8'
=
13#
7
.13
.51
+ 0'
0'
.09
3' 11"
6'
13
00
6'
41
4,
6'
1"
21"
7!"
5' 111"
30
9'
7'
+ 0'
+ 0'
1.57
0'
.31
1'
3'
53
4'
6'
8.
8'
BOOK
23 #
111#
.28
3"
41 1
14
4'
14547
'04 + 0'
=
+ 0'
=
2' 11
1014
3'
25
7' 10"
4'
113#
+ 0'
4
+ 0'
0'
41"
0 00
+ 0'
31
611
00
=
87
00 #2010
=
3'
100
2'
3'
4'
71"
.08
7'
8'
6
5
11'
1.12
7'
*2'
5"
+ 0'
+ 0'
Rain- fall.
Rain- fail.
Rain- fall.
Rain- fall.
Rain- fall.
Rain- fall.
REMARKS.
Rain- fall.
Rain- fall.
Rain- fall.
Rain- fall.
Rain- fall.
33#
91ª
23
Rainfall for the year ending December 1, 1878, 43 24-100 inches.
11'
51"
9' 103
7'
4%
3#
9'
.13
=
₹
4"
4
.01
.02
+ 0'
0010
=
64
18
.01
0'
+ 0'
+ 0'
.05
2'
4'
=
4
41"
53 11
$0000
1'
11
1%
1.28
13
77
73
7' 101ª
=
49
=
+ 0'
0'
51
53/
9'
4
37
.07
51.
OH
The Elevation of Water shows the distance of the surface below the Rollway in feet and inches, except where the plus (+) sign is used, which indicates the height of water above the Rollway. The Rainfall is in inches and decimals of an inch.
3 /1
O"
11m
9' 101"
6' 113ª
1'
73#
53"
4
4'
43
REPORT
OF THE
WATER REGISTRAR.
To the Joint Standing Committee on Water :-
GENTLEMEN :- I respectfully present the following report for the year ending November 30th, 1878.
There were one hundred and fifty-four (154) applications for water received during the past year, of which number all but three were granted and the service pipes laid.
Bills for water were rendered to the City Treasurer for col- lection, as follows :
For Metered Water, 5,327
" Annual Rates, 3,787
amounting to $54,342 82
66 29,319 11
Total, 9,114
$83,661 93
The water was shut off from the premises of sixty takers on account of over-due, unpaid bills for water and labor furnished, and immediately turned on in cases of settlement. The num- ber of places from which water remains shut off is four.
Abatements amounting to $9,354.29 were made, owing to change of bills from rate to meter, on account of vacant tene- ments, for correction of assessments and for transfer, and in accordance with orders of the Committee.
174
CITY DOCUMENT .- NO. 33.
The quantity of metered water consumed during the last twelve months, ending September 30th, inclusive of waste and leakage was as follows:
From October, 1877, to April, 1878, 141,021,664 gallons. April, 1878, to October, 1878, 108,032,344
Total, 249,054,008 66
METERS.
During the year, five hundred and forty (540) meters have been placed upon the works, and the total number in use at the present time is twenty-nine hundred and sixty-three (2,963), the sizes and kinds of which are given below :
SIZES.
KINDS.
5-8
3-4
1 in.
14 in.
2 in
3 in.
4 in.
6 in.
8 in.
Union (Piston)
1493
299
58
9
21
1
1
Union ( Rotary)
465
14
6
3
12
1
1
1
Desper
521
34
2
Gem.
14
1
1
3
Worthington.
2
The Department deem the use of meters absolutely essential as a protection against waste of water. As heretofore, leakages and deliberate wastes have been disclosed which otherwise would have assumed formidable proportions. In this respect alone, meters prove valuable auxiliaries to the department.
REVENUE.
The amount of revenue actually received the past year from the sale of water was $73,673.17. Bills have been paid more promptly than the financial state of the times indicated, although the more familiar the water takers become with the rules and workings of the department, the more readily do they respond to the demands of the treasurer for payment of bills.
175
REPORT OF THE WATER REGISTRAR.
REMARKS.
The quality of the water, during a certain period, was of a nature not conducive to happiness among the takers, and the absurd rumors in circulation, as to the cause of the trouble, did not decrease the feeling. The Committee and officers explained as best they could, the state of things, and no knowledge of any serious results arising from the use of the water was received.
Respectfully submitted,
J. STEWART BROWN,
WORCESTER, December 20th, 1878.
Registrar.
REPORT
OF THE
CITY ENGINEER.
To the Honorable the City Council :
GENTLEMEN :- The following report of the transactions of the Department of Civil Engineering for the year ending November 30, 1878, is respectfully submitted, to wit :
HIGHWAYS AND SIDEWALKS.
The following tables show the location of streets and side- walks decreed, constructed, and made public; also those streets on which street and sidewalk grades have been established.
STREETS AND GRADES DECREED.
NAME OF STREET.
FROM
To
REMARKS.
· Austin,
Merrick,
Mason,
Grade.
Castle,
Main,
Alden,
v Fruit,
William,
John,
Goulding,
Highland,
Dix,
Hollywood,
Kingsbury, .
May,
Jackson,
Main,
N. & W. R. R.
Grade.
vKingsbury,
Woodland,
Hollywood,
v Millbury,
Cambridge,
Vernon,
Grade.
Millbury,
..
§ Point 312 feet North of Ballard Stone house. Southbridge,
Vernon,
Location and Grade.
v Quinsigam'd Ave.
Cambridge,
Laid out.
REPORT OF CITY ENGINEER.
177
STREETS CONSTRUCTED.
STREET.
FROM
To
Date of Order.
Width in feet.
Length in feet.
REMARKS.
Foster, Atchison
Norwich,
Summer.
April 22, June 24,
40.
398.00 Thr'h G. T. Atchison I'nd.
Total length,
2,244.76
SIDEWALKS DECREED.
STREETS.
FROM
To
Length. REMARKS.
Austin ..
Merrick
Mason
2,560.00 Both sides
Benefit.
Main.
Beacon
783.00
§ W. side, ¿ reloca'n
Canal
Front
Southerly
465.80
Both sides
Castle.
Main
Alden
710.30
66
66
Fruit .
William.
John
786.00
66
Grafton . ..
Court south of Earle's Card } Factory,
( S. E. line, es'te l of M. Sullivan
1,455.00
Hollywood .
Kingsbury
May
1,285.26
66
Kingsbury .
Woodland.
Hollywood
611.34
May .
N. E. side, Woodland .. S. W. side, Main.
Mason
2,501.10
v Orange
Park
Myrtle.
771.90
West side
Southbridge
E. side from point 94.' North of B. & A. R. R. bridge. West side, Hermon.
Cambridge
9,096.60
Both sides
vVernon . . .
Union Ave
Winthrop
1,050.00
66
Total length, 22,076.30
60.
1,846.76 Partly constructed.
Shrewsbury,
Plantation,
12
178
CITY DOCUMENT .- NO. 33.
SIDEWALKS CONSTRUCTED.
STREET.
FROM
To
Side of St.
Length.
REMARKS.
Benefit.
W. line of G. C. Bigelow's Est ..
Beacon,
West,
404.8
Canal
Front .
Cherry,
West,
200.8
Castle
§ Main ( Piedmont Court
Valley, Alden,
S. W. I N. E. North,
S
§ 204.8 186.5
Central
48.9
Front of Rich- ardson Mowing Machine Co.'s.
Cherry
Canal
Westerly,
South,
54.8
Crown ..
Austin
Northerly,
East. West,
222.5
E. Worc'ter
Shrewsbury
Easterly,
South,
120.7
Grafton
( Ct. S. of Earle's { Card factory. - ...
Southeas'ly,
No'the'st,
731.7
Grafton
So'theast,
51.5
Curb set previ- viously, front of Geo. W. Gill's.
Hanover
Belmont,
Kendall,
East,
607.2
Orange
Park
Southerly,
West,
465.0
Oread
( N. W. line of C. ) H. Fitch's S
Southerly,
Northea't,
197.7
Southbridge
East,
370.0 Under R.R. bridge.
Union
Market
Southerly,
West,
367.3
Union
Exchange
Northerly,
West,
75.2
Vernon
Pattison.
Southerly,
|East,
328.4
Total length,
4,741.1
The construction of the Island Sewer rendered it necessary that a change should be made in the grade of Millbury street from Cambridge to Vernon streets. The County Commis- sioners were petitioned to make this change, and, after granting a hearing to all parties interested, issued a decree establishing the grade as asked for by the city, which is as follows, to wit :
Commencing at Cambridge street at grade, the street gradu- ally ascends on a grade of about 33 feet per mile to a point 2,650 feet from Cambridge street; thence it descends by a curved grade, any portion of which is not over 30 feet per mile, to Vernon street.
103.3
179
REPORT OF CITY ENGINEER.
Under a subsequent decree of the County Commissioners the location of Millbury street was changed from a point nearly opposite J. S. Ballard's stone house to Vernon street. This straightens the street between the points named.
An arrangement was made with Mr. Ballard, by which the land abandoned in making the change of location was exchanged for land taken, without cost to the city. The result of these changes will be an almost level road from Main street to the Town of Millbury.
A decree making the Foster Street Extension public, was passed by the City Government, August 1, 1877. This decree located the street so as to pass under the viaduct at Mechanic street, instead of going straight, as originally contemplated. The Order for the construction of the street was passed April 22, 1878, and work was commenced.
The work has progressed steadily through the season, and the street is now nearly completed with the exception of the Viaduct bridge, which has to be widened about 18 feet.
Before commencing work on the bridge, the Legislature should be asked to change that portion of the act that relates to the bridge, so that the present structure can be used in making the crossing. This can be done by placing columns in the gut- ters of the street and having the ends of the bridge rest upon them. Iron girders could then be used to connect the bridge with the abutments. This would save several thousand dollars to the city, as a bridge to span the entire width of the street would be much more expensive than the plan proposed.
An arrangement should also be made with the railroad companies owning the viaduct, by which they should proceed to construct this portion of the street early in the coming season.
A new street through G. T. Aitchison's land, in the easterly part of the city, has been constructed according to the decree of the County Commissioners, and a new wooden bridge has been built over the Boston & Albany railroad on James street.
Fifty-one petitions have been referred to the Highway Com- mittee, and forty-seven to the Sidewalk Committee.
180
CITY DOCUMENT .- NO. 33.
SEWERS.
The following table shows the location, size and length of the sewers built under the direction of the Sewer Department from December 1, 1877 to December 1, 1878.
STREET.
LOCATION.
Size.
Length in Feet.
[Manholes
Cost:
REMARKS.
Eastern Ave ...
Laurel to Shelby St .:
12//
304.7
3
$710.39
Waverly St .:
Penn Ave., westerly ..
120
235.5
2
221.82
Barclay St
South'ly across Atna St
18// "
1,028.1
7
1,334.77
Ætna.
Curve at Barclay St.
16//x24 !! 12 !!
29.5
1
47.64
Mot
Barclay St., westerly.
..
12 !!
15 !!
251.0
2
258.65
Clarkson
Curve at Barclay St.
12/1
32.5
1
56.87
Piedmont Ct.
Piedmont to Castle St.
15 !!
223.1
2
303.96
Castle.
Piedmont Ct. to Valley St. 15//
53.4
1
72.75
Shrewsbury
Culvert to E. Central St .. 12//
849.1
4
370.75
Temp'ry Drain.
East Central
Shrewsbury St., westerly.
9 !!
427.8
3
557.75
Rear Q'nsigam'd B'nk Central St., northetly ..
12 !!
189.0
2
133.82
Catherine
Windsor St., westerly.
12 !!
311.4
3
306.33
Park Ave
Westerly to Pleasant St
15 !!
Highland
Harvard to Lancaster St ..
12 !!
263 7
2
296.78
Crown ..
Austin St., Northerly
12/1
340.0
4
346.50
Totals,
5,752.9 41
$6,141.21
..
12 !!
252.5
2
207.64
Harrison
Barclay St., westerly
12 !!
961.6
2
914.79
15" oval
15// oval
In the early part of the season, several petitions were received from parties living on Pleasant and North Newton streets, for the construction of what is known as the Lincoln Brook Sewer. Plans and estimates were prepared, so as to ascertain the most desirable location, and also the cost of constructing the sewer. The route recommended begins at the point where the Pleasant street sewer enters Lincoln Brook; thence runs through Pleas- ant street to Mason street; thence in Mason, Tufts and Newton streets to the point where Lincoln Brook crosses said Newton street. A branch sewer should then be constructed in Pleas- ant street, running from Newton street easterly, and entering the main sewer at Mason street.
181
REPORT OF CITY ENGINEER.
The total cost of this project would be $15,927.15 (estimated) and would require the construction of
2,215 feet.
44" x 66"
Brick.
442
40" x 60"
162
66 18" x 27"
259
16" x 24"
179
12"
Pipe.
21 manholes and 13 catch basins.
Owing to the amount of work the city had on hand, it was not thought advisable to construct the sewer at the time.
The Joint Standing Committee on Sewers, however, recom- mended that a temporary drain be constructed from North New- ton street, near the intersection with Pleasant street, through the meadow land owned by Belcher and Wall, to an old stone drain running under Pleasant street to the land owned by John W. Wetherell. This stone drain was to be taken up and 15 inch pipe put in its place. This drain would relieve the land owners from large quantities of surface water which floods their land after heavy rains.
An order for the construction of said drain was passed by the City Council, September 23, 1878, and it has since been com- pleted.
A temporary drain has also been constructed in East Central and Shrewsbury streets, at the request of the Board of Health, to take away the sink water running in the gutters of said streets ; they having adjudged the same to be a nuisance.
The sewer system in the city comprises 37.26 miles of sewer, 1,448 manholes and 805 catch basins, which are in excellent repair, and have been well taken care of during the past year. There has peen 126 permits to enter the sewers granted during the past year, making a total of 2,277 issued to date.
ISLAND SEWER.
A decree locating this sewer in Millbury street from Cam- bridge to Vernon streets, was passed by the City Council, Jan- uary 21, 1878 ; this route being selected after a careful exami- nation of the merits of all the different ones proposed. Before
182
CITY DOCUMENT .- NO. 33.
commencing work, the Joint Standing Committee on Sewers voted to do all the work, with the exception of the rock excava- tion, by the day. On January 26, bids were received for the rock excavation, varying from 60 cents to $5.00 per cubic yard. Mun- dell and Whittaker, of Providence, R. I., were awarded the con- tract, they being the lowest bidders. The contract was signed by them February 13, and work was commenced as soon as the earth could be removed from the surface of the ledge by the city. The excavation of the rock has been progressing at the rate of about 3,000 cubic yards per month, and there now remains about 30,000 cubic yards, which it is expected will be removed early in the coming season. The average depth of rock cutting is 18 feet ; the maximum depth, 40 feet.
Previous to commencing work, an arrangement was made with the land owners abutting on Millbury street, whereby so much of their land as would be required by the city, could be taken and used, for purposes connected with the construction of the sewer, by paying a fair compensation therefor.
On February 5th, a contract was entered into between Brig- ham Converse and the city, for furnishing all stone required in the construction of the sewer, with the exception of what might be taken from the rock excavated on the works. Mr. Converse was the lowest of three bidders, the contract price being $1.20 per ton, delivered on the ground. On April 4th, a contract was entered into between F. O. Norton, of New York City, and the City of Worcester, for furnishing all the cement required during the season of 1878; the price being 843 cents per barrel, delivered at Hudson, New York. An arrangement was made with the Boston and Albany Railroad Company whereby the cement was freighted from Hudson to Worcester for 23 cents per barrel, making a total cost to the city of $1.07% per barrel, delivered in Worcester. A contract was also made with Alzirus Brown to deliver the cement at any point on the works for 5} cents per barrel. Work was com- menced by the city, February 28. A temporary road was con- structed east of Millbury street, to be used by the teams con- nected with the works, after Millbury street should be closed to travel. Two buildings were erected, one to be used as a horse -
183
REPORT OF CITY ENGINEER.
shed, and the other as a blacksmith shop, store house and office. A large force of men was also set at work excavating the earth upon the site of the sewer. This part of the work has been pushed as rapidly as possible during the season, and when work was stopped this Fall, the entire earth excavation had been completed. Care has been taken in depositing the material, so that it might be moved but once, although from the nature of the work, quite a large quantity will have to be handled a second time to complete the back filling.
Three gangs of men have been constantly employed, and at times four have been used.
The price paid for laborers has been $1.25 per day, foremen $2.50 per day, and teams, consisting of two horses, two carts and a man, or two horses, a double cart and a man, $3.50 per day.
Before commencing work on the masonry, a bargain was made with A. B. Lovell, to furnish the sand needed in the con- struction of the sewer, the price paid being 88 cents per cubic yard. But, as large quantities of sand have been found in making the excavation, the amount delivered by Mr. Lovell has been comparatively small. It is estimated that there is sufficient sand on hand at the present time to complete the entire work. Work upon the masonry has progressed satisfactorily during the past year.
That part of the sewer between Cambridge street and the ledge has been completed, also several hundred feet at the mid- dle section, and the entire section between Vernon street and . the ledge; making a total of 2,352 feet finished, with the exception of some back filling on the top to bring the street to grade.
The general inside dimensions of the sewer are 18 feet wide and 13 feet high. The top of the sewer is arched, the bottom an inverted arch of cement concrete, and the side walls are per- pendicular and of stone, as is also the arch. The side walls are 4 feet thick, arch stone 18 inches, and the concrete in no place less than 8 inches. Large quantities of Ledge stone have been used in the side walls and backing, saving a large sum of money to the city. All the masonry, with the exception of the back-
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