USA > Massachusetts > Worcester County > Worcester > Town annual reports of the several departments for the fiscal year ending December 31, 1883 > Part 11
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A change in the grade of Southbridge and Lafayette streets last year necessited a change of pipe in this locality.
The pipe in Chandler street was of too small diameter to be used in connection with the new line from Tatnuck Brook.
A careful investigation will no doubt convince all of the wisdom of the Water Committee of 1864 who, after extended investiga- tion, decided upon this kind of pipe, in that time of fluctuation in prices, especially when the difference in price between this and cast iron, revenue from the sale of water, protection from fire, and the many indirect advantages that follow the introduction of water are considered.
The number of hydrants set this year is twenty-eight, located as follows :-
Ætna street, corner Providence street.
Ascension street, corner Bloomingdale street.
Baker street, corner Wayne street.
Cambridge street, opposite Cambridge street place.
Camp street, between Southgate and Cambridge streets.
Chandler street, between King and Queen streets.
Chandler street, corner Bellevue street.
180
CITY DOCUMENT .- No, 38.
Chandler street, corner June street.
Chandler street, corner May street.
Chandler street, corner Mill street.
Chandler street, corner Pleasant street.
Colton street, corner Washburn street.
Douglas street, corner Douglas court.
Douglas street, corner Cambridge street.
Endicott street, between Ward and Vernon streets.
Grand street, corner Douglas street.
Grand street, corner Grand street court.
Hacker street, corner Hacker court. Hacker street, corner Cambridge street. Hanover street, between Kendall and Belmont streets.
Illinois street, corner Grand street.
Illinois street, corner Gates street.
June street, corner May street. Mason street, corner Parker street.
Mitchell street, at west end of street west of Wire Mill.
Musquego street, corner Albany street.
Pattison street, corner Batchelder street.
Prospect street, opposite Normal street.
Gates set during the year, twenty-six.
Table C shows the number of service pipes, with the amount of pipe in feet and miles. Number of service pipes put in, four hundred and fifty-nine. Number feet of service pipe laid, 21,552. Pipe laid for temporary mains, 8,023 feet, the expense being charged to the parties supplied.
Meters set during the year, five hundred and nine; making five thousand one hundred and ninety-seven now in use.
Bills have been rendered to the Treasurer, for labor and mate- rials, $21,593.85.
The value of stock and tools on hand November 30, as per inventory, is $40,194.80.
Number of leaks repaired, one hundred and forty-seven. On cement pipe ninety-seven, on cast iron pipe twenty-four, on service pipe twenty-four, on hydrant and stop one each. Thirteen hydrant boxes, seventy-three gate boxes and seventy stop boxes have been replaced. One hundred and eighty-five service pipes have been cleaned out.
Respectfully submitted. FRANK E. HALL, Water Commissioner.
WORCESTER, December 20, 1883.
TABLE B.
LENGTH AND SIZE OF PIPE LAID AND NUMBER OF GATES AND HYDRANTS PUT IN DURING THE YEAR.
STREET.
LOCATION.
PIPE. Size. Lgth. in ft. Hyd'nts.
No. of Gates.
13
From Providence Street.
6
16.
1
1
Albany Street,
Musquego Street east.
6
83.
Ascension Street,
Norfolk Street to B. & A. R. R.
4
311.
1
2
150.
1
Baker Street,
Southgate Street to Cambridge Street.
6
900.
1
2
Cambridge Street,
Main Street to Park Avenue.
20
4346.
2
4
Chandler Street,
Park Avenue to Mill Street.
24
10714.
3
4
1
Colton Street,
Southbridge Street to Washburn Street.
6
497.
1
1
Crescent Street,
Extension northerly.
6
302.
Douglas Street,
Grand Street to Cambridge Street.
6
873.
2
1
East Worcester Street,
Shrewsbury Street to Henry Street.
6
· 926.
Endicott Street,
Ward Street to Vernon Street.
6
970.
1
2
Grand Street,
Southgate Street to Grand Street Place.
6
691.
2
1
Hacker Street,
Southgate Street to Cambridge Street.
6
718.
2
2
Hanover Street,
Kendall Street to Belmont Street.
6
628.
1
1
Hudson Street,
Pleasant Street to Townsend Street.
6
700.
Illinois Street,
Grand Street to Gates Street.
6
527.
2
6
758.
1
1
8
50.
Lafayette Street,
Southbridge Street.
12
159.
Mason Street,
Parker Street, northerly
6
284.
1
Mitchell Street,
Pitt Street westerly.
4
441.
1
1
Mower Street,
66 Pleasant Street to Olean Street.
30
892.
Musquego Street,
Shrewsbury Street to Albany Street.
6
408.
1
1
Norwich Street,
Foster Street to Mechanic Street.
4
358.
2
183
REPORT OF WATER COMMISSIONER.
Camp Street,
Mill Street to Pleasant Street.
30
800.
1
66
66
June Street,
Chandler Street to May Street.
No. of
Ætna Street,
6
14.
I
184
TABLE B .- CONTINUED.
STREET.
LOCATION.
PIPE. Size. Lgth. in ft. Hyd'nts.
No. of
No. of Gates.
Olean Street,
From Mower Street and through lot to lower reservoir. Park Avenue to Mason Street.
30
5368.
2
Parker Street,
Boylston Court to Arlington Street.
6
480.
1
Piedmont Street,
66 Main Street to Austin Street.
8
1932.
Prospect Street,
Eastern Avenue to Normal Street.
6
443.
1
1
Providence Street,
Union Avenue to Winthrop Street.
6
1106.
Southbridge Street,
66 Lafayette Street south.
12
368.
CEMENT-LINED PIPE TAKEN OUT. From Main Street to Abbott Street.
37,845.
28
29
Chandler Street, 66 66
Shrewsbury Street to Henry Street.
Hudson Street,
66 Pleasant Street to Townsend Street.
4
700.
Lafayette Street,
Southbridge Street.
10
159.
Hanover Street,
Kendall Street.
3
243.
Piedmont Street,
Main Street to Austin Street.
6
1932.
Providence Street,
Harrison Street to Winthrop Street.
6
2193.
Southbridge Street,
Lafayette south.
12
368.
11,161.
4.
2968.
8
1672.
6
926.
East Worcester Street,
CITY DOCUMENT -No. 38.
6
632.
Pattison Street,
185
REPORT OF WATER COMMISSIONER.
/
TABLE C.
SERVICE PIPE LAID TO NOVEMBER 30, 1883.
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
6,009.5
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
1879
3,790.08
.718
4,355.33
.824
181
1880
5,237.5
.992
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
1883
9,237.10
1.749
12,315.10
2.332
459
145,755.78
27.602
146,636.62 '
27.770
6,367
TABLE D. LENGTH AND SIZE OF PIPE LAID AND NUMBER OF GATES AND HYDRANTS PUT IN TO NOVEMBER 30, 1883.
2 inch.
3 inch.
4 inch.
5 inch.
6 inch.
8 inch.
10 inch.
12 inch.
16 inch. 18 inch. 20 inch. |24 in. 30 in.
Miles.
Gates.
H'd's
Prior to 1883
13,691.65 150
8,238.25
135,735.76 1,110
1,487
95,105.78 11,957
76,615.47 12,938.16 36,909.75 1,982
527
Total, Pipe taken up
13,841.65
8,238.25 243
136,845.76 3,668
107,061.78 5,051
78,597.47 1,672
12,938.16 159
37,436.75
55,148
1,980
19,532 11,414 7,060
92.97
798
718
368
2.11
Total in feet, Miles,
13,841.65 2.62
7,995.25 1.51
133,177.76 25.22
.282
102,010.78 19.32
76,925.47 14.57
12,779.16 2.42
37,068.75 7.02
10.45
.375
3.69
2.16
1.34
90.86
798
718
15,186 4,346 10,714 7,060
700
85.80
769
690
1883
7.17
29
28
1,487
1,487
55,148
1,980
19,532 11,414 7,060
55,148
1,980
REPORT
OF THE
WATER REGISTRAR.
To the Joint Standing Committee on Water :
GENTLEMEN :- The following report is respectfully submitted for the year ending November 30th, 1883 :
Four hundred and sixty (460) applications for water were received during the year, and four hundred and fifty-nine (459) service pipes were laid, including ten (10) applied for but not granted last season. Eleven (11) applications remain to be acted upon next year.
Bills for water have been rendered to the City Treasurer for collection, as follows :
For Metered Water . 9,792 . amounting to $89,410 25 Annual Rates 1,985 16,014 46
Total, 11,777 $105,424 71
The amount of revenue received from water rates for the financial year was $100,635.85.
The amount of uncollected bills in the hands of the City Treasurer, December 1st, 1883, was $12,199.06.
The amount appropriated from Water Rates to Sinking Funds was $47,058.41.
The water was shut off from the premises of eight takers on account of non-payment of bills, and in cases of settlement im- mediately turned on.
188
CITY DOCUMENT .- No. 38.
During the year the sum of $5,696.55 has been deducted from the amount charged for water rates and metered water, owing to the adjustment of bills of water takers, votes of the Committee and for other causes. Of this amount the sum of $1,941.11 is for metered water bills now in litigation.
The quantity of measured water furnished during the twelve months ending September 30th, 1883, inclusive of water used for street watering, waste, and leakage, was as follows :
From October, 1882, to April, 1883, . . 209,243,539 gallons.
April, 1883, to October, 1883, . 227,671,468
Total,
436,915,007
METERS.
During the year five hundred and nine (509) meters have been placed upon the works, and the total number in use at the pres- ent time is five thousand one hundred and ninety-seven (5,197), 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 .
1,479
297
61
8
Union, Rotary .
2,169
110
40
24
14 68
13
3
1
1
Desper
849
34
2
Crown
4
.
.
1
Gem
10
1
1
3
Worthington
3
Nearly every application for a service the past season was accompanied by an order for a meter, a fact which certainly intimates that inducements are offered the consumer in the rates for measured water. Water furnished for less than one cent a barrel can be safely classed in the list of cheap luxuries, and so long as the water taker directs his efforts for the prevention of wilful waste or careless use of water the payment of the tax imposed ought to be cheerfully made. The rates now established in this city are lower than those assessed in thirty cities and
1
189
REPORT OF WATER REGISTRAR.
towns from which returns are received. I have heretofore advocated the propriety of having a minimum rate, and still maintain the justice of establishing such a standard in our city, in support of which allow me to offer a few reasons. The time devoted in procuring the monthly registration of meters, the transfer of the same to proper books and the rendition and collection of bills to the amount of fifty cents, entails as much expense upon the city as would a tax of fifty dollars. When a minimum sum is charged such as does not exceed the cost of maintaining a cistern or pump for a family, or when a rate is assessed a dwelling having sinks, water closets, bath tubs, etc., is less than expense incurred before city water was introduced, the charge cannot consistently be deemed exorbitant. When the high price of meters prevented a universal demand for them, many water takers dissatisfied with rates by fixture schedule, expressed a willingness to pay ten dollars annually, asserting that benefits received from city water warranted such an assessment. Subsequently, however, attaching a meter and learning that their bills were much less than anticipated, their opinions as to the worth of water faded away, and satisfaction is evidently obtained in ascertaining how small a quantity of water will float them along. Many instances occur where families are stinted in the use of water by avaricious and parsimonious landlords, and false economy often prevents a quantity of water being used which is actually sufficient for sanitary needs. Many more arguments could be advanced in favor of the adoption of a minimum rate which would command attention.
WATER SUPPLY.
The absolute necessity for an ample supply of water for our city was never more clearly demonstrated than it has been during the past season. In all sections of the city wells failed to furnish a quantity sufficient for domestic use, and the number of applicants for city water exceeded any for ten years. The value of an abundant supply of water cannot be over-estimated when protection of property from fire, the sanitary benefits which our citizens desire, and the purity of the water obtained is duly
190
CITY DOCUMENT .- No. 38.
considered. The new additional supply for which you as a Committee have spared no pains in effecting a speedy utilization will prove a priceless treasure to our city. The consummation of an enterprise which has been agitated for so many years reflects great credit upon your management of the undertaking and cannot fail to result in a blessing to the community.
REMARKS.
The daily routine of busines in the water department embraces details which increase in number annually and are as varied as the changes in a kaleidoscope. To thoroughly satisfy the hundreds of water takers that visit the office with demands which they think reasonable, would require what the officials consider a sacrifice of the interests of their employers. Many persons appear unwilling to grant the same rights to the city which they would not hesitate to allow an individual under similar circumstances.
The fact that a large bill is incurred by reason of waste of water owing to defective fixtures, or caused by careless or wilful tenants, does not warrant a request that the city should suffer a loss. The city furnishes a commodity at a certain price in the same manner as a merchant furnishes his goods.
The pecuniary value of water is being speedily recognized, and the old theory that " water is as free as air" is pleasant to dwell upon, but when a bomb from the columns of General Expense explodes in the camp of the tax payers, the effect produced is the realization of the intrinsic value of a water supply.
Respectfully submitted.
J. STEWART BROWN,
Water Registrar.
WORCESTER, December 17, 1883.
REPORT OF THE ENGINEER
IN CHARGE OF CONSTRUCTION OF
DAM AND RESERVOIR ON TATNUCK BROOK
TO THE COMMITTEE ON WATER.
-
To the Joint Standing Committee on Water :
GENTLEMEN .- In the absence of the City Engineer, the under- signed would beg leave to submit the following report of work done under his direction in procuring a supply of pure water from Tatnuck Brook.
The work to be done was the repair of a dam for a storage reservoir, the construction of a distributing reservoir and laying of a line of 30, 24 and 20-inch pipe from the distributing reser- voir to Main street.
STORAGE RESERVOIR.
The storage reservoir is situated in the south-westerly part of the Town of Holden, and upwards of five miles north-westerly of the City Hall.
The work consisted of repairing and strengthening a dam for- merly used by the mill owners on the stream, and built in 1865, the construction of a gate-house, a pipe line through the dam and the building of a new rollway. It having been decided by your sub-committee on building dam, to board the workmen on the premises, work was commenced on the necessary buildings on May 7th. A boarding-house was erected for the accommoda- tion of 100 men, and afterwards enlarged to accommodate 130 beside the employés of the house. A barn for 20 horses, a shed, blacksmith shop and cement shed were also built, and work com-
192
CITY DOCUMENT .- No. 38.
menced on the dam May 14th. A temporary dam about 50 feet above the old dam, 6.0 feet high and 242 feet long, was made across the pond by dumping from wheelbarrows. A flume about 80 feet long, 4 feet wide and 3 feet high, carried the water from the pond to a 30-inch pipe already laid through the dam. These were completed about June 1st. This dam and flume were built that the foundations of the embankment and spiling wall might be kept free from water. They answered the purpose admirably, and gave no trouble from leaking. The removal of the old slope paving was commenced at once, and proved to be slow and expensive work. There was a thickness at the foot of the slope of from 10 to 15 feet, of stone, mostly embedded in mud, and very slow and difficult to remove. A large portion of the upper part of the paving was used directly in the spiling wall, and the convenience and ease with which the stone were procured made a considerable saving in the expense of the same.
The spiling wall was located at the foot of and partly in the upper slope of the old dam.
A trench was dug for the foundation, most of the distance from 6.5 feet to 7.5 and 8.0 feet below the level of the mud in the bed of the pond. The depth of mud was usually two or three feet, and the excavation below, through clay, and still lower, a mixture of clay and gravel increasing in hardness and compactness as the depth increased. The foundation throughout the whole length was excellent. The masonry was built against the down stream side of the trench, and wherever sheeting was used it was left in place and the top of the plank cut off as low as practicable. The amount of water percolating into the founda- tion trench was at no time large, and almost wholly from the pond side. One man with a hand pump was able to readily drain the trench at any time. No springs were encountered. At one point the water made its way into the trench quite freely ; this was confined in a chimney which was raised as the filling proceeded.
After being allowed some time to develop itself, it was found to only rise to the height of the water in the pond.
Finally on September 4th, the water was pumped out and the
193
REPORT OF COMMITTEE ON WATER.
chimney filled with pure liquid cement-125 gallons being used ; it was allowed a few days to harden, when the embankment was filled over it.
The length of the spiling wall is 370 feet, its thickness from 4 feet to 5 feet, and its height from 4.5 feet at the ends, to 18 feet at its crossing of the natural channel of the brook. The greater portion is from 15 to 17 feet high. The top of the wall is 11.5 feet below the crest of the over-fall stone in the rollway, and its up stream face 29 feet from the top line of the upper slope of the embankment as finished. The stone were small-sized field cobbles from the old slope paving, all carefully cleaned and laid by hand in cement mortar composed of two parts of sand and one part best hydraulic cement. The faces of the wall were left rough and uneven. With the exception of a gap for the flume, the wall was finished about August 10th, and the gap closed about September 5th.
The pipe line through the dam was located at the extreme east- erly end. It consists of two lines of 30-inch cast iron pipe, laid 12 inches to 14 inches apart, weighing 400 lbs. to the foot in length, and 14 inches in thickness, ending at the upper end in a gate house, and each line controlled by a 30-inch gate. Above the gate house the water flows in an open trench to the pipes. The pipe line runs at right angles to the centre line of the dam from the gate house to the top line of the lower slope, then turns an angle of 50 degrees toward the centre of the dam, and ends near the natural channel of the brook. . The open trench is 240 feet in length, from 11 feet to 19 feet in depth, and runs to deep water in the pond. Excavation on the pipe trench was commenced as soon as possi- ble, the ground cleared of a thick growth of wood, and the work progressed as rapidly as circumstances would permit. The bot- tom width of the trench was from 8 to 9 feet, near the gate house, more, and its depth from 10 to 24 feet. The object of locating the pipes at this point, was to have them pass through a ledge cutting ; this ledge was soon encountered, and was found to extend nearly from end to end of both pipe and open trenches.
The total length of trench is 535 feet, of which more than 400 feet was from 4 to 10 feet in depth in rock ; the greatest depth
194
CITY DOCUMENT .- No. 38.
being at the end of the dam. This rock was very hard to remove, but although hindering the work to some extent, it answered the purpose, and made a most substantial foundation for the pipes, gates and gate house.
A portion of the pipes were laid in the latter part of July, and the remainder, including the gates, was finished August 24th. The westerly line of pipe, 287 feet long, terminates in the gate house-the easterly line, 297 feet long, runs through the up stream wall of the gate house, and is arranged to draw water from the bottom of the pond only ; this pipe will draw within 21 inches of the extreme bottom of the pond.
The upper end of these pipes is 20.1 feet below the crest of the over-fall stone in the rollway, and have a fall of two feet to the outlet.
The lower end of the trench was filled with earth, but 72 feet of the upper portion of the pipes were imbedded in, and sur- rounded by, masonry.
In the bottom and sides of the cutting great care was taken to clear away all loose and seamy chips and stone, the ledge was care- fully cleaned and washed, and all possible care taken to insure a perfect piece of work. The masonry was carried one foot higher than the tops of the pipes. On the line of the top of the lower slope of the dam, there is a main cut-off wall, four feet thick at top, built to within three feet of the top of the dam. At the westerly end, above the ledge, the wall extends 17 feet into the solid bank and dam. Where uncovered, the ledge was smooth.and free from cracks or seams. On the easterly side, the wall extends into, and becomes a part of the rollway. Between this main wall and the gate house, there is another cut-off wall extending to the top of the ledge. Below the main cut-off wall, there are too others, similar to the last described. At the outlet of the pipes there is an end wall, extending 3 feet below the bottom, and 2 feet above the top of the pipes.
This wall connects with the one at the lower end of the roll- way, and effectually cuts off any back wash of the water flowing from the pipes. For a distance of 20 feet from the outlet of the pipes, there is a cement paving 2 feet thick, and from that point
195
REPORT OF COMMITTEE ON WATER.
to the channel of the stream the surface is covered with a loose rip-rap.
The gate house is built of cut stone, backed by rubble masonry, and cemented inside ; it is 10.5x8.0 feet inside, with walls 6 feet thick at the bottom, 5.3 at the top and 25.0 feet high from bot- tom of waste pipe. This is surmounted by a house built of wood, containing the gate hoisting apparatus. On the up stream face there is an opening 3 feet wide, extending down to within 3 feet of the bottom of the pipes. In the sides of this opening are 3x3 and 2x2-inch grooves for the reception of stop plank, and four screens each 5 feet in height; the former of 22-inch oak plank, and the latter of heavy brass wire woven 3 to an inch, soldered to heavy brass frames. But planks and screens are removable and interchangeable. The stone work was finished October 13th.
There are heavy retaining walls on the upper side of the gate house, extending about 40 feet into the pond. The down stream face of the gate house is nearly on the line of the top of the upper slope of the dam.
The earth between the westerly side of the open trench and the dam, was taken away and used in the embankment. The earth on the easterly side was sloped and covered with rip-rap to protect from washing. The trench was completed on August 29th, and the temporary flume removed at once, although the small amount of water in the stream did not pass through for some days, the pond being drawn lower than the bottom of the pipes. Very little water came into the trench, and it was only necessary to occasionally bail the water out of the excavation. The earth bank at the gate house and end of the dam was of a very hard compact clay.
Immediately on the removal of the temporary flume, excava- tions for the removal of the old 30-inch pipe, about 166 feet from the rollway, through the dam, were commenced. This necessitated a cut through the main part of the old dam to the very bottom. This work was completed and pipe removed Sep- tember 13th. A wall built in the same manner as the spiling wall, 4 feet thick, 17.5 feet high, and 26.5 feet long, extending
196
CITY DOCUMENT .- No. 38.
to within 10 feet of the top of the dam, was built across the gap, four feet above the line of the top of the lower slope of the dam ; the embankment was found in good condition, and built of excellent material. Previous to the removal of the flume and old pipe, some filling had been done on the up stream side of the spiling wall. Before the removal of the slope paving, the slope of the old dam was 1} horizontal to 1 vertical. It was even less than that after the removal of the stone and loose earth. On both sides of the main spiling wall, and on the slope of the dam, all objectionable material was removed, and the embankment founded on the best of materials throughout. Efforts to obtain satisfactory material on the pond side of the dam proved fail- ures, and the embankment was mainly filled from pits on the lower side of the dam. This filling proved to be of excellent material. The filling was put in in 6 inch layers, sufficient water being used to compact the whole, thoroughly rolled and carefully rammed near the spiling wall, in the gap, where the old pipe was removed, and wherever the roller could not be used to ad- vantage.
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