USA > Massachusetts > Worcester County > Worcester > Town annual reports of the several departments for the fiscal year ending December 31, 1882 > Part 21
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$17,181 04
Salary and clerical labor,
2,238 67
Engineering,
345 82
Meters and brass work,
10,717 20
Hydrants and valves,
3,446 79
Castings,
1,284 12
Pipes and fittings,
4,047 67
Cast iron pipes,
35,589 45
Lead pipe and lead,
1,858 46
Blacksmithing,
389 68
Hardware and tools,
176 87
Freight and express,
2,686 74
Lumber,
297 05
Paving,
281 87
Printing,
20 25
Coal,
36 56
Powder and fuse,
111 95
Packing,
93 29
Land at Bell Pond,
1,500 00
Miscellaneous, as per Auditor's books,
428 46
Balance unexpended,
918 72
$83,650 66
Bills for materials and labor have been rendered to the Treasurer to the amount of $26,110.91. Uncollected November 30, $3,747.79.
The appraised value of stock and tools on hand November 30, as per inventory, is $32,843.71.
Early in the year petitions for extension of mains were pre- sented, the granting of which required a large expenditure from the appropriation for construction, so that nothing has been done towards relaying any of the streets with cast iron pipes, or mak- ing any of the changes frequently mentioned in former reports.
Main pipe has been laid in all streets where ordered by the City Council, except in Canterbury and Litchfield streets, as the required guarantee was not given by the petitioners.
A temporary pipe has been laid for Litchfield street, the expense charged to the parties.
A main has been laid through Grove and West Boylston streets to Northville and hydrants connected.
In Lovell street two thousand nine hundred and ten feet of eight-inch pipe was laid.
320
CITY DOCUMENT .- No. 37.
A sixteen-inch pipe, connected with the high service at Wash- ington Square, has been laid through Front to Main street, and a twelve-inch in Main street from Front street to the southerly side of Park street and hydrants set.
By vote of the Committee, the use of water from this line is limited to elevators and for fires.
High service has also been laid through Belmont street from. the corner of Eastern Avenue to the State Lunatic Hospital, the State paying the expense from Bell Pond to the Hospital. A connection has been made from this pipe to Bell Pond, so this reservoir can be filled from Leicester when necessary.
The number of feet of new pipe laid is eighteen thousand four hundred and sixty-nine, the number of feet laid for the Hospital three thousand eight hundred and ninety-seven, making number of feet extension of mains this year twenty-two thousand three hundred and sixty-six.
The change in grade and location of Summer street made it necessary to change the pipe.
An eight-inch pipe was laid from Lincoln Square to Washing- ton Square, in place of the four and six-inch formerly in use. By order of the City Council, five thousand dollars of the expense was charged to the account of Street Construction.
The twelve-inch cement pipe in Front street was broken when the sewer was laid, two hundred and twenty-one feet of twelve- inch cast iron pipe has been laid to replace it.
The number of feet of pipe re-laid is three thousand eight hundred and eighty-seven.
The number of miles of pipe now laid is eighty-five.
In Table B will be found the name of street and length of pipe laid this year.
The number of new services laid is three hundred and seventy- seven. Number of feet of service pipe laid is nineteen thousand five hundred and ninety ; seven thousand eight hundred and fifty-eight feet at the expense of the city, and eleven thousand six hundred and thirty-two feet at the expense of individuals.
Table C shows the number of miles of service pipe and num- ber laid each year.
321
REPORT OF WATER COMMISSIONER.
There has been laid for temporary use, beyond the street mains, six thousand and seven feet of pipe of one and two-inch diameter, the labor being charged to parties supplied.
There have been one hundred and eighty-one services cleared out, most of the trouble being at the connection with the main pipe.
The number of new meters set is four hundred and seventy- six.
The number of new hydrants set is thirty-one, located as follows :
Canterbury street, east of Gardner street.
Channing street, corner Mt. Vernon street.
Claremont street, corner Silver street.
Front street, corner Main street.
Front street, corner Salem square.
Front street, corner Warren street.
Grove street, north of Wire Mill.
Grove street, corner North street.
Grove street, corner Park avenue.
Grove street, near J. E. Wakefield's.
Grove street, near L. R. Hudson's.
Hamilton street, corner Plantation street.
Hollywood street, between Decatur and Barbour streets.
Lovell street, near Perry Thayer's.
Lovell street, north of Lyon driveway.
Lovell street, near James Wilmouth's.
Lovell street, corner O. B. Hadwen's.
Main street, corner Park street.
May street, west of Park avenue.
Maywood street, corner Florence street.
Montague street, corner Leicester street.
Oberlin street, corner Hollywood street.
Southgate street, between Gardner and Grand streets.
Wade street, corner Millbury street.
Wade street, corner Ward street.
West Boylston street, corner Grove street.
West Boylston street, corner Millbrook street.
West Boylston street, near E. R. Morse's.
West Boylston street, front of house of Joseph Stone.
West Boylston street, front of house of G. W. Mann.
Woodland street, corner Claremont street.
All of the·hydrants have been examined as usual. Sixteen
322
CITY DOCUMENT .- No. 37.
have been changed, seventy-one old boxes have been replaced with new.
Eighty-three gate and forty-one stop boxes have been replaced.
The number of leaks repaired was one hundred and five. On cement-lined pipe fifty-seven, on cast iron pipe eighteen, on ser- vice pipe twenty-seven, hydrants one, gates two.
Respectfully submitted, FRANK E. HALL,
Water Commissioner.
WORCESTER, December 18, 1882.
325
TABLE B. LENGTH AND SIZE OF PIPE LAID AND NUMBER OF GATES AND HYDRANTS PUT IN DURING THE YEAR.
STREET.
WHERE FROM.
PIPE. Size. Lgth in ft.
No. of Hydnts.
No. of Gates.
COST.
Belmont Street,
From Eastern Avenue to Bell Pond Gate House.
12
2103.
2
$5,831 46
Canterbury Street,
1
Channing Street,
1
Claremont Street,
16
2262.
3
7
9,940 87
Grove Street,
West Boylston Street west.
4
998.
2
7,909 71
Grove Street,
6
482.
1
Grove Street,
Wire Mill to West Boylston Street.
4036.
3
2
Hamilton Street,
Penn Avenue to Barclay Street.
4
317.
1
349 50
Hollywood Street,
Lovell Street,
Coes Square to O. B. Hadwen's.
8
2910.
4
1
4,252 13
Main Street,
Front st. to So. side of J. G. Clark's block.
12
489.
1
2
1.862 19
May Street,
Park Avenue westerly.
8
449.
1
1
732 06
Maywood Street,
Florence Street westerly.
4
292.
1
226 75
Millbrook Street,
West Boylston Street east.
4
211.
1
166 63
Montague Street,
Leicester Street.
6
684.
1
1
877 05
Oberlin Street,
1
Southgate Street,
Stebbins Street to Snyder Court.
4
367.
1
354 78
Wade Street,
66 Ward to Millbury Street.
4
420.
2
458 67
West Boylston Street,
4
998.
3
2,557 54
West Boylston Street,
6
1451.
2
Woodland Street,
10
1722.
Wor. Lunatic Hospital.
Belmont Street from Bell Pond to Meter House. From Belmont Street to Buildings.
8
2175.
22,366.
31
20
$35,519 34
PIPE RE-LAID.
From Washington Square to Hibernia Street.
12
221. 3666.
1
11
2
691 54 7,946 78
3887.
12
2
8,638 32
REPORT OF WATER COMMISSIONER.
Front Street, Summer Street,
Lincoln Square to Washington Square.
8
1
Front Street,
Washington Square to Main Street.
1
Harrison Street,
1
-
1
Thenius Street,
Grove Street to G. W. Mann's.
I
326
CITY DOCUMENT .- No. 37.
TABLE C.
SERVICE PIPE LAID TO NOVEMBER 30, 1882.
LAID FOR CITY.
LAID FOR INDIVIDUALS.
No.
Feet.
Miles.
Feet.
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
1867
11,231.46
2.127
12,938.01
2.45
388
1868
13,237.24
2.507
11,343.59
2.148
504
1869
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
1874
4,773.83
.904
6,209.5
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
1879
3,790.08
.718
4,355.33
.824
181
1880
5,237.5
.972
6,132.91
1.161
229
1881
6,394.33
1.211
7,872.66
1.49
331
1882
7,858.
1.488
11,632.17
2.203
377
136,518.68
25.853
134,521.52
25.438
5.908
TABLE D.
LENGTH' AND SIZE OF PIPE LAID AND NUMBER OF GATES AND HYDRANTS PUT IN TO NOVEMBER 30, 1882.
2 inch.
3 inch.
4 inch.
5 inch.
6 inch.
8 inch.
10 inch.
12 inch.
16 inch. 18 inch. 20 inch. 24 in Miles. Gates. Hyd'ts
Prior to 1864
19,697
2,822
12,674
5,159
1864
4,197
3,744
63
7,166
13,309
1,980
1,056
5.968
12
152
1865
144 982
10,211
1,624
11,266
2,915
273
5.165
42
36
1867
2,564
3,487. 1,540.5
8,964
2,197
8,402
1,474
1,374
5.39
57
56
1869
5,129.6
2,312.25
20,428.53
10,642.53
4,102.97
1,004.16
2,725
8.796
109
45
1870
1,469
365.5
14,745
9,335
3,791.5
5.626
64
29
1871
340
345
19,110
10,052
5,690
627
6.849
80
39
1872
421
226
4,420.25
7,307
2,032
2,656
8,916
13,801
7.534
42
9
1873
5,736.75
9,714
5,691
2,845
11,554
6.731
46
35
1874
3,058.91
6,170
5,948
3,724
8,330
5.157
37
26
1875
562
2,257.25
1,150
3,534
1.421
49
28
1877
349.5
919
1,086.5
3,016
1,029
56
1.222
21
18
1878
211
326
666
2,222
3,197
1.254
11
9
1879
311.25
1,173.25
3,337.25
597
1.026
9
11
1880
972.75
3,997.5
1,812
5,898
1,045.75
2.6
15
22
1881
334
3,927
5,161.5
99
1,711
2.13
28
25
1882
3,603
2,617
13,236
1,722
2,813
2,262
4.82
22
43
Total, Pipe taken up
14,100.65 409
8,276.25 38
146,135.76 10,400.
2,822 1,335
102,020.78 6,915
77,836.47 1,221
14,837.16 1,899
38,077.75 1,168
55,478 330
1,980
15,186
700
90.29 4.49
798 29
702
Total in feet, Miles,
13,691.65 2.59
8,238.25 1.56
135,735.76 25.707
1,487 .282
95,105.78 18.01
76,615.47 14.359
12,938.16 2.435
36,909.75 6.99
55,148 10.44
1,980 .375
15,186 2.876
700 .133 85.80
769
690
.
1.284
23
19
1876
1,122.25
140.75
4,819
700
5.248
49
65
1866
8,946
6,259
5,769
3,455
886
2,255
1868
2,194.8
14,585.57
3,206
1,850.5
4.427
47
35
7.642
35
12
-
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, 1882.
Three hundred and sixty-four applications for water were re- ceived during the year, and three hundred and seventy-seven service pipes were laid, including twenty-three applied for, but not granted, last year. Ten applications remain to be acted upon next season.
I rendered to the City Treasurer for collection the following bills for water :
For Metered Water 8,805 . amounting to $82,914 23 Annual Rates 2,150 66 16,923 76
Total, 10,955
$99,837 99
The amount of revenue received from water rates for the financial year was $92,007.61, and the amount of uncollected bills in hands of the City Treasurer December 1st, 1882, is $13,106.75.
The amount appropriated to the Sinking Funds from water rates was $47,638.31.
The water was shut off from the premises of five takers, on account of non-payment of bills, and immediately turned on upon settlement of same. Abatements amounting to $2,250.85 were made owing to the adjustment of bills .from rate to meter assessment, for correction of bills, and in accordance with orders of the committee.
329
REPORT OF WATER REGISTRAR.
The quantity of measured water furnished during the twelve months ending September 30th, 1892, inclusive of waste and leakage, was as follows :
From October, 1881, to April, 1882, 193,423,794 gallons.
April, 1882, to October, 1882, 227,752,100 66
Total,
421,175,894 66
METERS.
During the year four hundred and seventy-six (476) meters have been placed upon the works, and the total number in use at the present time is four thousand seven hundred and nine (4709), the sizes and kinds of which are given below :
SIZES.
KINDS.
1 in.
1¿ in.
2 in.
3 in.
4 in.
6 in.
8 in.
Union, Piston,
1,487
296
62
6
15
1
·
.
Union, Rotary,
1,761
73
33
19
56
12
3
1
1
Desper,
824
34
2
Gem,
11
3
Worthington, Crown,
.3
1
·
.
1
1
3
.
The results which have been derived from the meter system have been alluded to in former reports, and the large number of meters upon our works serve as an argument favorable to the sale of metered water. In many cities there is a fixed minimum rate which secures a revenue sufficient to properly conduct the department. Objections were raised to the adoption of such a measure in this city not long since by members of the Council, on the ground that its application would, make water more expensive to the poorer class of the inhabitants. The records of water departments prove this a fallacy, and should an annual minimum rate of five dollars be assessed each water taker, the tax could not consistently be deemed oppressive. When the benefits which are received by the taker are duly considered, or,
330
CITY DOCUMENT .- No. 37.
in other words, when the value of an article delivered is greater than the price asked for it suggests, no heavy burden is laid upon the citizen when assessed five dollars for the yearly use of water. The fact that a certain per cent. of water passes through a meter without registration (the quantity greater as the meter is worn in service), the necessity for inspectors to obtain monthly read- ings, the numerous details of work rendered by the city in main- taining each service pipe, ought at least, in a commercial aspect, return an annual sum of five dollars, which would not be a fair equivalent. The tax payer would receive a benefit, for certainly he would be paying a nominal price for a luxury, the revenue would be increased, and a larger amount appropriated to the sinking fund toward the reduction of the city debt. The appli- cation of meters is opposed in many cities by the statement that thereby the amount of revenue is decreased while the main- tenance account is increased. The water department is the only self-sustaining branch of our city government, which condition results from the revenues received from railroad corporations and large consumers, rather than from rates assessed solely for domestic consumption.
SUPPLY US. WASTE.
The demand for water increases correspondingly with the growth of the city, and during the past year water mains have been laid in localities which will eventually render a paying revenue. The constant additions to the list of takers draws heavily upon our resources, and the action taken by your com- mittee regarding an additional supply of water will be appre- ciated by the Worcester of the future, if not by the present community. The value of a good supply of good water to a city cannot be over-estimated, and the fact that several towns in the State have arranged systems of water works, proves them to be valuable acquisitions.
The quantity of water required for actual use and the quantity wasted is difficult to determine. The following, quoted from " Humber's Water Supply," is pertinent on this subject: "This question of the quantity of water which is, and the quantity
331
REPORT OF WATER REGISTRAR.
which ought to be consumed for domestic purposes, is too gener- ally regarded in its commercial aspect ; inasmuch as the virtue of a water supply is mostly measured by the smallness of the con- sumption. The principle is correct so long as the efforts for reduced consumption are directed solely against waste; but is wrong if it operates against the more extended use of water. Notwithstanding the apparent large quantities of water now brought into our cities and towns, twice the quantity at present consumed would not be too much for the legitimate uses of a people paying rightful attention to their bodies. Waste ought to be curtailed, but it is a far higher duty to encourage the use of water than to increase the dividends of water companies."
REMARKS.
The supply of water on hand at this date was not anticipated, being larger than the heavy draft caused by the continuous dry weather reasonably insured. The last inspection of the reservoir by the committee occurred August 31st, on which occasion a sub- marine investigation was made by three members, and while being a novelty proved too hazardous to warrant a repetition.
The duties pertaining to this department do not decrease in number or diversity, and it is the aim of the officials to treat water takers with courtesy and impartiality. The thermometer of the daily physical condition of the inmates of the office gen- erally indicates the temperate point, but when three or four dis- satisfied takers accidentally meet in the office, all animated about their large bills (never any excitement in small bills), the temper and rate get separated, and the mercury rises ; but sub- sequently the rainbow appears, the clouds of error float away, and smiles rest upon the faces of those who "always want to pay what is right and no more," for the blessings received through the use of city water.
Respectfully submitted.
J. STEWART BROWN, Registrar.
WORCESTER, December 18th, 1882.
REPORT OF CITY ENGINEER
TO THE
COMMITTEE ON WATER.
To the Joint Standing Committee on Water :
GENTLEMEN .- I herewith submit the following report of the work done by the department of Civil Engineering for the Water department for the year ending December 1st, 1882.
In obedience to an order from you, surveys have been made of the proposed reservoirs upon Tatnuck brook, and careful estimates made of the cost of the necessary dams, raising roads, furnishing and laying pipe, &c.
The estimates have been made as follows. First : An esti- mate of what I will designate as plan " A," which is for repair- ing the present Holden reservoir dam. Second : or plan " B," is for putting in the foundation for and constructing a new dam above the present reservoir dam, carrying it to the height of the old dam and leaving the top of sufficient width to raise 10 feet when an additional capacity shall be needed. By this plan the old dam is to be used as a footing for the new dam. Plan "C" calls for the construction of a new dam above the old one as by plan "B," but carries the work to a point 10 feet higher than the top of the old dam, thereby about doubling the capacity of the reservoir.
The estimates are as follows :
Plan " A."
$24,808 10
64,223 40
112,904 00
" "C,"
333
REPORT OF COMMITTEE ON WATER.
The area of the present reservoir is 94.52 acres. This area would not be increased by the adoption of either plan " A " or " B." If plan "C" is adopted the area will be increased 41.80 acres. The roads at the upper end of the reservoir will also have to be raised.
The elevation of high water in the present reservoir is 739.98, while the elevation of high water in the Hunt reservoir (the head of our present low service) is 658.00. It will be seen therefore that in order to maintain an equal pressure, a dis- tributing reservoir will have to be constructed at the same eleva- tion as the Hunt reservoir. An estimate has been prepared for this and of the cost of a pipe line from the distributing reservoir to Park Avenue, which is as follows :-
Distributing reservoir,
$7,000 00
2,500 tons 30 " and 24" pipe - $45.00, 112,500 00
Trenching and laying, 34,265 00
Gates, Hydrants, &c.,
3,000 00
Land damages, crossing streams, &c.,
1,500 00
Engineering and contingencies,
10,000 00
$168,265 00
As the principal item of cost in the above estimate is the pipe, it may be proper for me to state that iron is $10.00 per ton higher now than it was when I made an estimate of the cost of this work two years ago, making a difference of $25,000.00 in this single item. An estimate has also been made of the cost of constructing a reservoir at the " Seagrave Mill," so called, which is the next privilege below the Holden Reservoir. This reser- voir would cover an area of 78.37 acres and cost $150,550.00. 100 a
The constructing of this reservoir will not be necessary for years to come unless some arrangement is made with the mill owners by which they can have the water in their present pond.
In order to arrive at an idea of the probable cost of the work when completed it will be necessary to add to the cost of the different schemes the cost of the pipe line and distributing reser- voir. It is not necessary for me to give figures as to the capacity of the reservoirs and the probable amount of water that the stream will furnish, in this report, as these matters have
334
CITY DOCUMENT .- No. 37.
been carefully considered in my report to the Water Committee upon the question of an additional water supply.
The question is often asked how much water is consumed in the city per day. We have never until this year had the data by which we could answer this question even approximately. A weir has been placed in the brook above the reservoir and an accurate measurement of all the water running into the reservoir for the last six months taken. Several years ago the capacity of the reservoir for every -1% of a foot in depth was calculated, and for some time the amount of water stored in the reservoir each day has been recorded.
From these two measurements I have been able to calculate the amount used per day, and I think with a considerable degree of accuracy. The record shows that the greatest amount of water drawn from the reservoir in any one day was 6,549,614 gallons, while the smallest amount was 1,580,111 gallons. The average amount used per day by months, commencing with July 1st, is as follows :
July, 3,360,553 gallons.
August, 3,973,279 gallons.
September, 3,200,000 66 October, 3,298,722
November, 3,264,418 gallons.
The population of the City is now estimated at 65,000. We are therefore now using at the rate of from 50 to 60 gallons per person, which from the returns that I have received seems to be about the average amount used in the cities of the United States. The reservoirs have been visited by me regularly during the past season and everything has been found in excellent condition.
Respectfully submitted.
CHARLES A. ALLEN,
City Engineer.
WORCESTER, December 1st, 1882.
REPORT
OF THE
JOINT STANDING COMMITTEE ON SEWERS.
To the Honorable City Council :
The Joint Standing Committee on Sewers present herewith the report of the Superintendent of sewers, which, owing to its com- pleteness, the committee desire to adopt as their report, with the following recommendations:
We recommend that the Pine Meadow sewer be extended east from its present terminus, at the junction of Shrewsbury and East Worcester streets, to the brook at the easterly end of East Worcester street; also that the Cambridge street sewer be extended to Washburn street.
The committee find that when the arching of Mill brook from the Boston and Albany railroad and Green street is undertaken it is necessary that the grade should be lowered between the points named. The lowering of the grade would greatly increase the value of the sewer. It would be economy to com- mence the work on Green street, where there is a fall of four and one-half feet ; the lowering at the upper end should be one foot, and this would relieve the sag in the grade between the railroad and Front street.
22
336
CITY DOCUMENT .- No. 37.
Before closing this report we desire to express our great satis- faction at the manner in which the officers of the sewer depart- ment have performed their duties during the past season.
BENJ. WALKER, ANDREW ATHY, E. O. PARKER, JOHN G. BRADY, W. F. DEARBORN, WM. O'CONNELL,
Joint Standing Committee on Sewers.
REPORT
OF THE
SUPERINTENDENT OF SEWERS.
To the Joint Standing Committee on Sewers of the City of Worcester :
The Superintendent of Sewers presents his annual report as required by the City Ordinances.
The work in detail, with the cost of the same, will be found in accompanying tables.
A schedule of city property in charge of the Superintendent, may be seen at the office of the Sewer Department.
The Department of Maintenance has been carried on for somewhat less than in former years, on account of the prolonged drouth through the summer, and the infrequency of sudden showers. The sewers of the city are thoroughly flushed twice during the year, and in exceptional cases oftener. The depart- ment experiences more trouble with obstructed sewers on streets having unpaved gutters than elsewhere.
The various sewers of the city, together with their appendages, are in good condition and repair.
Four hundred and two permits to enter sewers were granted during year.
The work of sewer construction was commenced in December of last year on West street. Work was again closed for the
338
CITY DOCUMENT .- No. 37.
winter until March 6th, since which time work has been prose- cuted without interruption to the close of the year. A large outlay for equipment was necessitated by the working of an unnsually large number of men.
The Carson excavator has been used on Shrewsbury, Prescott and Southbridge street sewers, and has proved itself to be an economical and satisfactory method of trenching, besides being a great public convenience, from the fact that by its use streets in which sewers are being laid can be kept constantly open for travel.
On Shrewsbury street, with trench ten feet in width and twenty-seven feet in depth, the sewer advanced on an aver- age of thirteen feet per day, and this in a soil requiring close sheeting from the top, and also requiring the use of a steam pump day and night, and timber foundations for the sewer. On other streets its use has been equally advantageous.
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