USA > Massachusetts > Worcester County > Worcester > Town annual reports of the several departments for the fiscal year ending December 31, 1880 > Part 9
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The COMMISSION have possessed neither hot-bed nor cold frame. What bulbs or cuttings the Chairman could preserve in his own cellar, or multiply, in the little conservatory attached to his own home; have been so kept and propagated with the seedlings which he was always glad to start. Every Aquilegia in ELM PARK, during the past two years, was thus originated. Of course, there need be no other limit to the quantity of plants in the Public Garden, of Boston, than what can be de- rived from the Hot or Cold Houses and the force employed in them and always within call .* Bulbs are cheap enough, when there are no strings to the purse; and a brilliant temporary dis- play, whether of the Tulip, or Gladiolus, is much more a mat- ter of dollars and cents than a test of proficiency in Floricul- ture. This COMMISSION, being in hearty accord with the recent Floral Renaissance, have striven chiefly to collect and establish
*The average number of men employed upon the "Common and Public Grounds," of Boston, for ten (10) months ending January 20, 1880, was Five Hundred and Forty-Five (545) !! upon the Public Grounds of Worcester, Five !
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CITY DOCUMENT .- NO. 35.
a full and thrifty growth of the newer flowering Shrubs that have been found suited to our climate ; and a display, as com- plete as possible, of those herbaceous biennials, or perennials, which constituted the charms of our older Gardens; and which, in their manifold varieties ; cross-bred or sports; will combine to impart such glowing attractions in this present year of our Lord. Aquilegia, and Dianthus ; Lilium and Peonia; Delphin- ium and Phlox; precede or follow in showy succession : while Lilac, and Deutsia; Weigela, and Rhododendron ; Althea, and Azalea; develop with a grand magnificence that immeasurably surpasses all their floriage. The COMMISSION will continue in the path marked out hitherto; not forgetting that tastes differ and fashions change; and that the merely cunning trick of carpet bedding would doubtless find favor with some, although the barbarous practice is rapidly declining. But, Beauty itself is of, and for, all time; and they can never go far amiss, who love it for its own fair sake. Nevertheless, it is as true now, as of yore,-in floriculture as in war ;- " Let not him that girdeth on his harness boast himself as he that putteth it off!" Those who put in honest work, with sincere aims, whether in Boston or Worcester, will, in all likelihood, achieve most and best. After so much accomplishment, the querulous carping of grumblers and criticasters must needs merit and receive slight attention.
The entire appropriation for the Public Grounds and Shade- Trees, during the last Seven (7) years; within which period has been achieved all that has been done upon Elm Park; were as follows :-
A. D., 1874, $5,000: A. D., 1876, $3,000: A. D., 1878, $4,000 : A. D., 1880, $5,000 : A. D., 1875, $4,000: A. D., 1877, $3,000 : A. D., 1879, $5,000 :
" And brought forth fruit-some an hundred fold."
It is with inexpressible satisfaction that the COMMISSION have noticed the rapid spread of the gospel heretofore expounded in these Reports. Part of the seed fell by the wayside, and lost its vitality under harsh exposure. But other some was sown by Sir Arthur Helps: and being incorporated in Hudson's
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PUBLIC GROUNDS.
Reader, it may be hoped, ordinary luck attending it, that it will take root and flourish in our High School. How true is it, in this as in so many other cases that it was "builded wiser than they knew !" There may have been good reasons for rejecting the stone: nevertheless, had there been a serious flaw in it, it would never have become the " head of the corner." Now, let the whole body of Tax Payers profit by the instruction com- mended to our advanced youth !
"It must not be supposed that works of Art are the only, or the chief, public improvements needed in any country. Where- ever men congregate, the elements become scarce. The sup- ply of Air, Light, and Water, is then a matter of the highest public importance; and the magnificent utilitarianism of the Romans should precede the nice sense of beauty of the Greeks. Or rather, the former should be worked out in the latter.
"In fine, the substantial improvement, and even the embel- lishment, of towns, is a work which both the central and local governing bodies in a country should keep a steady hand upon. It especially concerns them. What are they there for, but to do that which individuals cannot do. It concerns them, too, as it tells upon the health, morals, education, and refined pleasures of the people they govern. In doing it, they should avoid pedantry, parsimony, and favoritism; and their mode of action should be large, considerate, and farseeing. Large; inasmuch as they must not easily be contented with the second-best in any of their projects. Considerate; inasmuch as they have to think what their people need most, not what will make most show. And therefore they should be contented, for instance, at their work going on under ground, for a time, or in by-ways, if needful; the best charity in public works, as in private, being often that which courts least notice. Lastly, -their works should be with foresight; recollecting that cities grow up about us, like young people, before we are aware of it."
The Laureate of England indulged, long ago, in a "Dream of Fair Women." Hard-headed Yankee publishers have lately clothed that dream in fitting illusion ; and placed it, in an edition de luxe, before the disciples of Calvin and Edwards. The suc-
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CITY DOCUMENT .- NO. 35.
cess of the venture might well be predestined; for there are weak spots in the Thirty-Nine Articles, and diamonds in the desert. The writer has dreamed dreams of municipal improve- ment, whereof many are realized; and more are likely to be; notwithstanding he was denounced, by men who cumber the earth, as a reckless spendthrift. Let him, in addition to his former fancies, see once more, in visions, the future Worcester ! Future-in the sense that inexorable necessity will compel ; immediate or more remote, as pinching parsimony or stolid unthrift may retard its progress. At his age-reverting to the beginning, and being able to recall the intervals of enforced stagnation ; until now he witnesses a general revival and activity to which counting-room, and easy chair, seem attentive only as it affects themselves individually ; it is hard to withhold the utterance of indignant comment upon that ignorance, or selfishness, which would cripple or mislead. On all sides-the hammer and trowel; constantly a centrifugal motion from the heart of the town to its suburbs. The collective man, alone ;- the legal citizen, registered upon the voting list and represented at the City Hall; is all that admits ineptitude; cannot take the tide at its flood; and, stamping his foot upon the hole in the earth wherein his talent lies buried, congratulates himself, poor fool ! that so much is secure! But meanwhile, in an age of struggle for precedence, he has lost the race !
Yet the possible city of the future is beheld, not "through a hole in the wall," but with merely human prescience, in this valley of the Upper Blackstone; at the foot of the same symmet- rical hills; but how changed ! That AVENUE, so long hoped for, at last completed, fulfills every promise of its projectors, even the most sanguine. And, furnishing a ready way for traffic or transit, it reminds those who are in the constant enjoy- ment of its facilities, how much they owe to the prophets who never saw the promised land but in moments of rapt inspira- tion. Encompassing the whole territory, its scope suffices for the most ambitious expansion ; nor yet, in direction, or radius, fails to meet, or even anticipate, all possible wants of generations to come. Along, over, and across it, are borne the throngs that
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PUBLIC GROUNDS.
would fain reach the Lake, in season for the first race in the pending Regatta. For, by that time, the Causeway has been pierced with the series of Inverted Arches, so often advocated in these Reports; and the Athletes of the whole Republic are eager to test sinew and skill over a course, whose fame has grown world-wide, and wherefrom chicanery and fraud are sternly and rigidly excluded. The Lake-sides are crowned with the homes of a happy population, to whom the aspect of Nature, in her brightest loveliness, is a common and continual enjoy- ment. As by the Lakes in Central New York, the slopes are covered with vineyards; persistence having developed varieties sure to perfect their fruit, in similar exposures; and the keen aptness of our people not suffering the lesson to be lost. The Peach-of yore so prolific in all the lacustrine towns, again affords the harvest for which Grafton and Shrewsbury, scarcely knowing why, were always noted. Access was rendered easy ; and man entered in and possessed the land, before surrendered to the huckleberry and white birch. The valley hitherward may be darkened by the smoke of a hundred furnaces; but, over by the Lake, the sun shall lighten up a landscape dotted with the picturesque dwellings of a community that first found out, and thereafter profited by the knowledge, that it is not all of life to live. That there are amenities and pleasures to be experienced, while life is fleeting; which, like the silver lining to the cloud will, if welcomed, irradiate the darkest gloom.
And the Seer notes, also, that in such, not remote, future, the Law of Eminent Domain has received a new and enlightened application. Whereby large and pure streams of water are no longer suffered to run to waste over mill-wheels, but are stored up and retained for the myriad domestic uses of the great com- munities that have hived along their course. The superior necessity dominates the less. The factory must avail itself of the more modern power of steam. For the aggregated inhabi- tants, the people, cannot consent to be fleeced, in a perennial tribute, for every drop of an indispensable element that shall, can, or ever may, fall from propitious skies. Some rights or titles are concessions-vested indeed, and properly enough mat-
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CITY DOCUMENT .- NO. 35.
ters of bargain and sale: being also contingent upon bank- ruptcy. Other some are imprescriptible; a portion of the popular prerogative, or sovereignty ; and therefore, if ever alien- ated, lapsed, or derogated from, liable to be resumed at will. And, of these latter, is the title to the waters of the Blackstone; which, finding their sources in the pellucid fountains that flow from Asnebumskit, at an elevation commensurate with our necessities, descend a gentle but continuous declivity, to mingle with the village excrement and wool-yelk held in solution by Kettle Brook.
When the acquisition of NEWTON HILL was first recommended by this COMMISSION, A. D., 1871, the following argument was advanced :
"If the entire, or even a major part, of the water supply of the City is to be derived from Leicester, that Hill must be inval- uable in the immediate future, as the site for a Reservoir which shall hold a temporary store against emergencies, and also aid in equalizing the pressure throughout that broad arc in which the western suburbs are comprised, and in the chord subtending which it is the most salient feature."
With how much greater force does this reasoning apply, now that it becomes so plainly evident that the future ample supply of pure water must be sought, where it was always to be found, between Holden and Paxton, at the fountains of the Blackstone, on the north eastern slopes of Asnebumskit. Gravitation deliv- ers that water, sparkling from its untainted sources, upon the top of NEWTON HILL-six hundred and seventy-two and twenty- nine one-hundredths (6722%) feet above tide water; or five and seventy-nine one-hundredths (57%) feet above high water at Bell Pond. The Reservoir, so often predicted, has been con- sructed upon the summit of that Hill. Massive enough to en- dure pressure and sufficiently large for its special needs. Mains ex- tend from it through PARK AVENUE, North and South, while east- ward, conducting pipes radiate throughout every street, perfect- ing the circulation and imparting a sense of actual security from fire, hitherto a stranger. The Seer of to-day does not repeat himself, although reaffirming every prediction of old. Adown
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PUBLIC GROUNDS.
that eminence, thus crowned with a distributing Reservoir, will flow steady streams adequate whether for ornament or use ; convenient for the Jets in the PARK; or ready, upon the instant, to suppress an incipient conflagration.
'This COMMISSION has indulged in no visions to mislead the unwary. Its suggestions have ever been the fruit of the most mature deliberation. Proposing only improvements of a mate- rial and substantial character, it has justified its action by explaining their close connection with the appearance of the Worcester of the future.'
Those remarks, expressed in their Annual Report, A. D., 1874, are reiterated all the more confidently, that Time has tested their truth.
The present generation has been largely true to its opportu- nities. So far as this COMMISSION has felt free to make suggestions, it has found them adopted and carried out with singular frequency. It cherishes abiding faith that, as it is now, so shall it be, ever. And, in such conviction; that Worcester will neither falter nor recede, as long as the heart is borne so proudly upon her escutcheon, as her civic emblem; the head may well acquiesce and rest content.
All which is respectfully submitted by
EDWARD WINSLOW LINCOLN, Chairman.
WORCESTER, MASS., Jan. 24, A. D., 1881.
REPORT
OF THE
JOINT STANDING COMMITTEE
ON WATER.
To the Council of the City of Worcester.
In conformity with an Ordinance of the City, the Joint Stand- ing Committee on Water submit their Report, with those of the Water Commissioner, Water Registrar, and City Engineer for the year ending November 30th, 1880.
WATER SUPPLY.
The supply of water the past year has been ample and of excellent quality, and in consideration of the unusual drought the past season, a state of things not enjoyed by many towns and cities in New England; and our city is fortunate in not being forced to resort to other than our regular sources. The constant increase in the number of water takers, and the demands which are continually arising for the consumption of water, warns us that the time is not far distant when a greater supply will be needed. An order was passed by the City: Council authorizing their committee to investigate and report
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CITY DOCUMENT .- NO. 35.
upon an additional water supply, and you were invited to accompany them to the various sources from which such supply might be obtained. The visit was made November 12th, and was fruitful in many respects, and better information as to the character and extent of the different water sources was derived than otherwise would have been obtained. In compliance with the order, the Committee will submit a report to the Council as early as practicable.
THE RESERVOIRS.
The condition of Lynde Brook and Hunt Reservoirs is satis- factory, and great improvements have been made at the former by removing accumulations of various natures, burning over the ground and grubbing around the shores. The channel lately completed below the road under the direction of the Commis- sioner, will prove a benefit in several ways, and is more pleasing to the eye than the irregular brook of former days.
Bell Pond Reservoir needs attention, and should more vege- table matter be removed, the quality of the water would be better than at present. The Lunatic Hospital derives a sole supply from this source, and the objectionable state of the water for a short period this season was a serious inconvenience. A temporary line of pipe was laid on the surface of the ground, through which water was furnished from the high service in sub- stitution, but owing to the pressure being too powerful for the plumbing in the Hospital, was used but little.
THE DEPARTMENT.
The affairs of the Department have been managed satisfacto- rily, and for details we refer to the reports of the Commissioner and Registrar. The introduction of water to Quinsigamond, the extension of pipes on Lincoln and Shrewsbury Streets, and also on Messenger's Hill, were operations which drew largely from the Appropriation for Construction, but will eventually
167
REPORT OF WATER COMMITTEE.
prove a great benefit to the city as well as an addition to the revenue.
The amount appropriated for Sinking Funds from the re- ceipts for water rates the past year, was $43,371.62.
Joint Standing Committee on Water.
F. H. KELLEY, M. A. LAPHAM, CHAS. G. REED, O. P. SHATTUCK, ANDREW ATHY, THOMAS TALBOT.
REPORT
OF THE
WATER COMMISSIONER.
To the Joint Standing Committee on Water.
I respectfully present the annual report of the Commissioner for the year ending November 30, 1880.
The clearing of the reservoir and land surrounding it, has been continued as in previous years so far as could be done with the help employed.
The rain fall at the reservoir as recorded is thirty-nine and nine-tenths (39.9) inches.
BELL POND
has not been used in the city, but has supplied the Lunatic Hospital as formerly. In September the color, odor and taste of the water was so offensive that the Trustees requested some measures be taken to give them a different supply until a change: should occur in the water. A temporary connection was made by laying pipe on the easterly side of the reservoir, connecting with the sixteen-inch pipe from Eastern Avenue and the twelve- inch in Belmont street, to furnish water from the high service. This pressure proved too severe for the plumbing in the Hospi- tal, and the sixteen-inch cement pipe required so much repairing that this pressure was not used but about one day, when their sup- ply was again taken from Bell Pond, except for drinking pur-
169
REPORT OF THE WATER COMMISSIONER.
poses. This experiment shows that to use the pipe from Bell Pond to Eastern avenue for more pressure than that of Bell Pond it will require extensive repairs the entire length or be re- placed by a new line of pipe.
The appropriation for Construction was Revenue from materials sold and labor, 12,671 56
$27,000 00
$39,671 56
EXPENDED.
For extension of street mains, $24,378 45
relaying Cambridge street,
325 42
" service pipe, 2,948 26
" salary of Commissioner, 1,500 00
" clerical help, 462 00
" pipe, hydrants, gates, etc., as per Auditor's report, 10,011 22 Balance unexpended, 46 21
$39,671 56
The amount of pipe laid for the extension of mains is thirteen thousand, seven hundred, twenty-five and twenty-five one hun- dredths (13,725.25) feet, or two and six-tenths (2.6) miles.
Amount of pipe relaid, six hundred sixty-two (662) feet, viz ; In Cambridge street one hundred seventy-nine (179) feet, of sixteen inch, across Mill Brook. In Spruce street, four hundred eighty-three (483) feet of four inch cast iron, in place of cement lined pipe, on account of change in grade of street.
The following table gives the location and amount of pipe laid and number of gates and hydrants set.
LOCATION.
COST.
Cambridge St.
Cushing
from Lincoln to Paine St.
6
334
1
$534.74
Dryden
"' Edgeworth to Hemans St.
G
548
1
1
613.26
Hemans
4
435
2
314.13
Lincoln
to Burncoat St.
8
1812
3
2,826.45
Millbury
from Cambridge St. to Quinsigamond.
10
4510
4
8
11,598.37
in Quinsigamond.
6
1268
4
2,078 96
Paine 66
from Cushing St., south.
6
346
1
425.92
Putnam Ct.
from Shrewsbury St.
0 C
286
1
1
409.37
Seymour St.
" Ward to Millbury St.
4
426
2
475.66
Shrewsbury "
" Lyon St. to Putnam Ct.
10
1388
3
3,835.26
Southgate «
" School-house, west.
6
614
1
1
683.60
Whittier
" Edgeworth to Hemans St.
6
531
1
1
582.73
Used in setting Hydrants.
C
70.5
4
111.75
13,725.25
22
15
$24,378.45
PIPE RELAID.
Cambridge St.
across Mill Brook.
16
179
$325.42
Spruce
from Green to Washington St.
4
483
428.82
662
$754.24
PIPE. Size.
Length.
No. of Hydrants.
No. of Gates.
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CITY DOCUMENT .- NO. 35.
12
1045
1
171
REPORT OF THE WATER COMMISSIONER.
There was laid in seventeen different streets four thousand five hundred and one (4,501) feet of one-inch, and three hun- dred and fifty-nine (359) feet of two-inch pipe for temporary mains, the parties supplied paying for the labor.
LOCATION OF NEW HYDRANTS.
Cambridge street, corner Millbury street,
Dryden street, corner Hemans street,
Lincoln
north of Green lane,
corner Lincoln avenue,
near Burncoat street,
Millbury
near Eagle brewery,
at south end of first ledge,
66
at south end of second ledge,
corner Vernon street,
‹‹ corner Taylor street, Quinsigamond.
opposite Stebbins street,
66 opposite March street,
66
corner Greenwood street,
Paine 66 corner Cushing street,
Putnam court, corner Nebraska street,
Seymour street, corner Ward street, 66 £ corner Millbury street,
Shrewsbury street, corner Seward street,
corner Marshall street,
66 corner Putnam court,
Southgate,
west of school house,
Whittier,
corner Hemans street.
All of the hydrants have received the usual care. Nineteen have been taken out and replaced with new. Forty-five (45) hy- drant boxes, fifty-four (54) gate boxes and sixty-three (63) stop boxes have been replaced.
Two hundred and twenty-nine (229) services have been put in. Amount of pipe laid, eleven thousand three hundred and .. seventy and forty-one hundredths (11,370.41) feet, or two and fifteen hundredths (2.15) miles. Five thousand two hundred
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CITY DOCUMENT .- NO. 35.
thirty-seven and five tenths (5,237.5) feet at the expense of the city, and six thousand one hundred and thirty-two and ninety- one hundredths (6,132.91) feet paid for by individuals.
One hundred and fifty-eight (158) services have been cleaned out.
The pump house at New Worcester was partially burned June 25, and would have been entirely destroyed but for the timely discovery of the fire by the watchman at the works of L. Coes & Co., who gave the alarm. The injury to the pumps was slight. The building was repaired at a cost of one hundred and seventy and ninety one-hundredths ($170.90) dollars. Number of meters set, three hundred thirty-three (333) ; whole number now in use, three thousand seven hundred and ninety-one (3791).
Eighty-six leaks have been repaired. On iron pipe eleven, viz .: joints, ten; plug, one. The joints were repaired by redriving the lead, and a new plug was used in place of wood. These leaks were small, and most of them repaired without depriving any one of water. On cement-lined pipe, fifty-two, viz. : joints, fifteen ; rust, thirty-seven. Fifteen new joints were made and in thirty-three cases of rust new cast-iron pipe was used. The cost of repairs upon the cement pipe is largely in excess of that on cast-iron, the extra time required to do the work, the expense of repairing streets, and the damage done to private property, are items of considerable expense, while it often happens that manufacturing and business interests suffer in consequence of the repairs. The frequency and extent of re- pairs upon this pipe increase the longer it is in use, and it may be necessary before long to relay some of the streets with new pipe. On service pipe eighteen : lead connection, twelve ; split, two; thimble coupling, stop, rust and union, one each. The value of stock and tools on hand November 30 is twenty-four thousand one hundred twenty-four and forty-one hundredths dollars.
The four-inch pipe in Summer street from Belmont to Pros- pect street ; in Exchange street from Main to Union; and in Mechanic street from Main to Church street, is badly filled up, so as to seriously affect the pressure at the hydrants in case of
REPORT OF THE WATER COMMISSIONER. 173
fire, and two or more hydrants should be in use at the same time. It would be best to relay these streets with a pipe of larger size; when Exchange street is relaid the pipe should be extended from Union street to Blackstone street. The six-inch pipe in Vine street should be extended from Foundry to Frank- lin street.
The extension of mains to Fairmount or Messenger Hill, and increased consumption of water in the north part of the city, now supplied by the four-inch pipe in Prescott street, reduces the pressure so much that a larger pipe will have to be laid in Prescott street, or the main in Grove street extended about fifteen hundred (1500) feet. At a fire on Grove street last sum- mer only one hydrant could be used.
A new pipe should be laid in Hanover street from Belmont to Glen street this next season.
A part of Piedmont street has been raised, so the water pipe is, in some places, about twelve feet below the grade of the street. The close proximity of the water pipe and sewer might allow a leak to remain a long time without being discovered.
Respectfully submitted,
FRANK E. HALL,
Commissioner. -
WORCESTER, December 20, 1880.
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CITY DOCUMENT .- NO. 35.'
SERVICE PIPE LAID TO NOVEMBER 30, 1880.
LAID FOR CITY.
LAID FOR INDIVIDUALS.
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