USA > Massachusetts > Worcester County > Worcester > Town annual reports of the several departments for the fiscal year ending December 31, 1883 > Part 12
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The filling was proceeded with more rapidly after September 13th, and finished, as directed by your sub-committee, on Novem- ber 10th.
The embankment was carried two feet higher than the old dam, and is 29.5 feet high. The slope as finished is 2 horizontal to 1 vertical. The lower slope was left mainly as before, although all roots, briers, and stones, were carefully removed, and some material filled on to bring the embankment to a good line and slope. The lower slope is about 1} horizontal to 1 ver- tical. The old embankment was 12 feet, and the new is about 25 feet wide on top. The season was too far advanced to permit of grassing over any portion of the work, which should be done in the spring. The upper face of the embankment is covered by a layer of large ledge and field stone, two feet or more in thick- ness, carefully laid, and is a very thorough piece of work. This was finished November 9th. From the gate house the centre line of the dam bears S. 62ยบ 10' W.
In the early part of the season your committee decided to
197
REPORT. OF COMMITTEE ON WATER.
locate the rollway in the hillside at the easterly end of the dam. It runs beside of and parallel with the pipe trench. Owing to the press of other portions of the work, excavations were not commenced on the rollway until October 5th. From about the 10th of October the work was carried forward more rapidly, and finished November 27th. The crest, or overfall stone, were set November 8th. The length of the rollway on the centre line is 321.5 feet, and its width 30 feet inside the walls. All the stone- work in the rollway is laid in cement and done in a most thorough manner. The upper end of the paving is on the line of the up-stream side of the gate house; from that point to the overfall stone, 45.5 feet, the paving is 2.25 feet deep. The retaining walls are 9.5 feet high, and 5 feet thick, the top level with top of the embankment, and 5.0 feet above the overfall stone. A portion of that next the gate house is 16 feet high, to gain a good footing in the natural bank. The easterly wall of the gate house forms a part of the westerly wall of the rollway.
The foundation of the overfall stone extends down 7 feet in very hard compact clay. The easterly end abuts against a clean solid ledge, connects with the wall across the pipe trench, extending into the dam on the westerly end, is built 10 feet into the bank on the easterly side of the rollway. The length of this wall is 87.5 feet. The over-fall stone projects six inches above the paving on either side, and is two feet thick, and two and one-half feet in depth. Southerly from the overfall stone for 46 feet the paving is 4.5 feet thick.
The side walls extend one foot below the paving, and are about 11 feet high, and 4.5 to 5 feet thick. The next 50 feet of paving runs to 2.5 feet, and the side walls 3 to 3.5 feet thick, and 6 to 8 feet high. The remainder of the paving is from 2 to 2.5 feet, and the side walls 3 to 3.5 feet thick, and 6 to 8 feet high, and 3 feet above the paving on the sides. The paving, in cross-section is laid on a curve, the centre sagging 2 feet lower than the sides. The grade of the main portion of the paving is seven feet per hundred.
At the lower end, a cut-off wall extends 2 feet below the bot- tom of the paving, and connects at the westerly end with the
198
CITY DOCUMENT .- No. 38.
cut-off wall at the outlet of the pipe line. The end of the pav- ing is on a line with the end of the pipes, and in the centre is 4.65 feet above the bottom of the same. The total fall in the rollway is 17.37 feet. A closely laid pavement was laid 23 feet farther, and the side walls extended the same distance, to protect the outlet of the pipes. In excavating for the rollway, all loam and objectionable material was removed, and the walls and paving laid on a hard, firm foundation. Many nests of rocks and large boulders were met and removed, as far as necessary, and were utilized in the building of the masonry. No solid ledge was en- countered except as mentioned above. The excavation for the most part was shallow, usually four to six feet, but opposite the dam and gate house, much deeper, the greatest being nearly 23 feet. In the construction of the rollway, the project of raising the dam 11 or 12 feet was kept in view, and all parts that would be affected were built sufficiently heavy and substantial, so that they might be built upon without any reconstruction. The old rollway at the westerly end of the dam was taken out and the space carefully refilled.
The change in direction of the rollway, at the end of the damn, is made by a curve with a radius of 37.8 feet on the centre line.
During most of the season from 65 to 80 men were employed, and from 16 to 24 horses.
In the early part of October, transportation was furnished all laborers who chose to ride, and the force largely increased. The men at the boarding house remained there from choice almost without exception. During a part of October and November, the number of men of all classes employed was 250, and 37 horses. In the construction of the rollway, one steam and two hand derricks were used, and 30 stone masons and 100 men were employed. The length of the dam, including the rollway, is 671 feet.
The net expenditures for the construction of the storage reservoir have been as follows :
Embankment, clearing and grading,
S24,705 22
Rollway,
9,666 00
Spiling wall, &c.,
4,020 96
Gate-house,
5,554 86
REPORT OF COMMITTEE ON WATER.
199 Pipe and open trench,
Pipes, gates, and masonry around same,
6,782 78
5,182 80
Engineering and superintendence,
1,133 42
Total cost,
$57,046 04
DISTRIBUTING RESERVOIR.
The Distributing Reservoir is located on land taken from the farm of Charles T. and Sarah E. Foster, and is situated partly in Worcester and partly in Holden.
Work was begun on May 24th; the trees and brush were cleared away, a temporary channel for the stream excavated around the north-easterly side of the location of the basin, and excavation begun on the same about June 1st.
As the work progressed a ledge was developed on the westerly side of the basin, and extended some distance toward the centre. This somewhat curtailed the area and depth, as it was not thought advisable to excavate any large amount of rock. The material excavated was mostly clay, with quite a large amount of stone toward the southerly end of the basin. Very little water was encountered in the excavation, and it was readily disposed of by one hand pump. A spiling wall was built on the south-easterly side across the original channel of the brook, and extending on both sides of the rollway. This wall is 190 feet long, mostly 12 feet in height, and 3.5 feet thick. It is in the centre and extends to within three feet of the top of the embankment. The south- westerly end of the wall is 26 feet south-westerly of the rollway. The rollway is 30 feet in width, side walls of cut stone with rock face, 3.5 feet thick, and the level of the crest of the over- fall stone five feet below the top of the embankment. On the lower side of the overfall stone, the pavement is four feet thick to foot of the outer slope of the embankment, terminating in a cut-off wall six feet deep. The foundations of the side walls to the rollway, are seven feet below the overfall stone. All the masonry was carefully laid, and embedded in good firm materials. The basin is pear shaped with the gate house at the small end. The gate house is at the south-westerly end of the basin.
The foundation is embedded in rock to a depth of from two to four feet.
14
200
CITY DOCUMENT .- No. 38.
The upper face is built of cut stone, and the remainder of rub- ble. There is an opening through this upper wall 3 feet in width, and 12 feet from the top down. There are grooves cut in the sides of this opening, of the same size and with the same arrangements for stop plank and screens as at the storage reser- voir. The inside, 8x10 feet, is smoothly cemented.
The walls are four feet thick at the bottom, and three feet at the top, and surmounted by a brick building containing the gate hoisting apparatus, which was put in complete here and at the Storage Reservoir on November 23d.
The gate house stands in the embankment, retaining walls being built from the upper face to the foot of the inside slope.
There are also wings or cut-off walls 6.5 feet and 9.5 feet long, running into the bank on either side, and extending from the ledge to three feet below the top of the dam.
The 30-inch supply pipe to the city terminates in this gate chamber. It is laid on a foundation of masonry for about 75 feet below the gate house. The depth of water that can be drawn through this pipe is seven feet.
A 16-inch waste-pipe runs from the channel of the brook be- low the rollway, through the gate chamber to the basin, which it effectually drains. The bottom and inside slopes of the basin are paved with field cobbles 10 to 12 inches in depth to within 2 feet of the top of the bank. The slopes of the embankment are 1} horizontal to 1 vertical, and it is 15 feet in width on top. After the completion of the basin, it was decided by your committee to enlarge and make permanent the temporary channel around the basin. This was done, an acre of land being bought of Oliver K. Cook, to be used as an outlet, and also to have control of the channel from the waste pipe, a sufficient distance. The slope of this channel next the basin is paved. The bottom width is 15 feet. At the head of this channel a bulkhead is built, with side retaining walls and foundations, all laid in cement mortar, and four openings, each 4.5 feet long and 4 feet high. The channel or inlet to the basin has the same arrangement, and by the use of stop plank, the stream can be controlled at will and made to pass down either or both channels. This may be of
201
REPORT OF COMMITTEE ON WATER.
great use in time of heavy rains, or if the water is roily from any cause.
Each channel is spanned by a neat wooden bridge. The bulk- head in the inlet channel is 185 feet from the basin. This chan- nel is 20 feet wide at the bulkhead and 30 feet at the basin, with retaining walls on each side from four to five feet high.
The basin was partially paved ready for the reception of water, had there been any, on October 6th. The embankment was fully completed and all grading in connection with the basin finished November 10th. The waste trench and bulkhead were com- pleted December 1st.
The number of men employed has generally been about 40, but during a part of October and November the number was increased to 75 or 80.
The net expenditures for the construction of the Distributing Reservoir have been as follows :-
Earth excavation, grading, trench, &c.,
$14,561 22
Masonry,
2,838 42
Pipe and gates, and excavations for same,
1,954 56
Gate house,
1,777 44
Paving basin, laying of,
748 67
Bulkheads and foot bridges,
544 59
Engineering and superintendence,
375 74
Total cost,
$22,800 64
There was at the close of work on the dam and reservoir, tools and materials on hand to the amount of $2,424.00, most of which have been turned over to the Water Department.
The pipe used was furnished by A. H. McNeal of Burlington, N. J. The gates and gate opening apparatus by the Boston Machine Co., and all were laid under the direction of the Water Commissioner, to whom the undersigned is under obligation for cordial co-operation and assistance. The erection of the build- ings, superstructure of the gate houses, flume, bulkheads, foot bridges and all other wood work has been done by J. C. French in a very satisfactory manner. The cut stone were furnished by Webb & Batchelder, and the paving of the Distributing Reser- voir was done by C. O. Richardson. The excavations, embank-
202
CITY DOCUMENT .- No. 38.
ments, masonry, and all other work, has been done by day labor. All materials have been of the best quality, and the work done in the most thorough and substantial manner, and as economically as was consistent with good work.
The season has been remarkably good for the prosecution of the work, the streams and springs being unusually low, and very little time lost on account of bad weather. Plans and pro- files of the pipe line have been made, and such lines and grades given during the season as the occasion required.
Accurate measurements of the capacity of the Storage Reser- voir have not been made. In former reports it has been estimated at 450,000,000 of gallons.
No calculation of the amount the Distributing Reservoir will hold above the overfall stone in the gate house, has been made, but it is believed to be not far from 2,500,000 gallons.
Stone monuments have been set on the pipe line, from where it leaves the highway to the Distributing Reservoir, also around the latter, and along the line of the stream from the Distributing to the Storage Reservoir.
Surveys are now being made of the land taken around the Storage Reservoir, but are not yet completed.
Practically all the water that has come into the Storage Re- servoir, has been allowed to accumulate till on December 7th, there was a depth of 6.3 feet ; since that time the water has been let into the Distributing Reservoir daily, and used through the main supply pipe.
The depth of water now in the reservoir is 6.00 feet. The water was first turned into the Distributing Reservoir October 13th.
Table of elevations on reservoir dams connected with the Worcester Water Works.
STORAGE RESERVOIR, TATNUCK BROOK.
Rollway,
740.88
Overfall in gate house,
723.88
Bottom of 30-inch pipes, 720.78
Top of dam. 745.88
REPORT OF COMMITTEE ON WATER.
203
DISTRIBUTING RESERVOIR, TATNUCK BROOK.
Rollway,
658.00
Overfall in gate house,
651.00
Bottom of 30-inch supply pipe,
649.45
Bottom of 16-inch waste pipe,
648.75
Top of dam,
663.00
Rollway, Lynde Brook Reservoir,
828.67
Top of dam, Lynde Brook Reservoir,
832.67
Bottom of pipe, Lynde Brook Reservoir,
791.27
Bell Pond, surface of water,
666.50
Hunt Reservoir, surface of Water,
658.00
Main street, at City Hall,
481.00
Respectfully submitted.
LUCIAN A. TAYLOR, Engineer in charge.
WORCESTER, December 17, 1883.
REPORT
OF THE
JOINT STANDING COMMITTEE ON SEWERS.
WORCESTER, Dec. 1st, 1883.
To the Honorable City Council of the City of Worcester :-
IN obedience to Sec. 7, Chap. 40 of the Laws and Ordinances of the City, the Joint Standing Committee on Sewers present their Annual Report, together with the Report of the Superin- tendent of Sewers.
The condition of the Sewers of the City, and a detailed state- ment of the expenses incurred during the financial year of 1883, are recounted in the Report of the Superintendent, and your Committee desire to adopt so much of said Report, as their own.
Your Committee, realizing the urgent necessity for the com- pletion of the Cambridge street Sewer, which is the grand outlet for the large territory West of Main street and South-west of Piedmont street, have directed that the work be continued in favorable weather through the winter, and we urge upon the Council the importance of pushing this work to completion at the earliest possible day. The consideration of the petition now before the Council for a sewer in Washburn and Southbridge streets, demands, and should receive, early attention. The thickly-settled district South of Ripley street, and East of Main, to Crystal street, would be drained by this sewer, and it could be immediately utilized.
The orders passed this year for the extension of the Pine Meadow Sewer, and the reconstruction of the invert of Mill
206
CITY DOCUMENT .- No. 38.
Brook, should be carried into effect early in the season, and when completed will go far to provide for the immediate necessity of these sections. Until the work mentioned is com- pleted, very little can be done in the way of lateral sewers, as the districts provided with main sewers are practically com- pleted. The work thus outlined indicates a busy season for the department, and we would bespeak the generous support of the Council in the execution of work so important to the sanitary condition of our rapidly growing City. In closing our Report we desire to commend the Superintendent of Sewers for the faithful and efficient discharge of his duties, and to express our belief, that the City has received an ample return for the moneys expended in the Department of Sewers.
S. E. HILDRETH, ANDREW ATHY, LORING COES, E. O. PARKER, W. F. DEARBORN, F. W. BLACKER, JOHN B. O'LEARY,
Joint Standing Committee on Sewers.
REPORT 1
OF THE
SUPERINTENDENT OF SEWERS.
WORCESTER, Dec. 1st, 1883.
To the Joint Standing Committee on Sewers :-
The Superintendent of Sewers has the honor to present the following Report of the doings of the Sewer Department during the financial year of 1883.
The Department of Maintenance has been carried on for a reasonable cost, and the Sewers and their appendages are in the very best condition for service.
Three hundred and sixty-two permits to enter drains to Com- mon Sewers have been issued during the year. Your attention is called to the ventilation of the Public Sewers. There is at present no systematic ventilation. The subject is one of grave importance. The use of perforated Manhole Covers is recom- mended on the highest streets, and a tall shaft or chimney for the ventilation of the Main Sewer in the central part of the City.
The season just closed has been exceptionally favorable for Sewerage operations.
The work of construction was begun early in the year, and has continued without interruption to this date.
The largest and most expensive sewers constructed are the Pine Meadow, so called, and the Cambridge street Sewers. The Pine Meadow 48"x72" brick sewer has been laid in E. Worcester street 900 feet to the W. line of Plum street.
208
CITY DOCUMENT .- No. 38.
The Cambridge street 84" round, 60"x84" and 48"x72" Brick sewer has been laid from the P. & W. R. R. to Chelsea street.
Orders passed the City Council October 8th, 1883, for the continuance of the trunk sewer in Cambridge street from Chelsea street to Crystal street, in Crystal street and Maywood street to Park Avenue, the extension of the Pine Meadow Sewer through Plum and Shrewsbury streets, a distance of 1000 feet, and for the reconstruction of the invert of Mill Brook sewer from Green street to the B. & A. R. R.
In consequence of the lateness of the season when the orders were passed, and the probability of immediate freezing weather, but one of these orders has been commenced :- viz. Cambridge street. The work is in progress at the present time at two points with good results. A ledge of 18 feet has been encountered in a trench of 31 feet depth near Chelsea street. Temporary build- ings have been erected and supplies purchased sufficient for the continuance of the work through the winter.
Two Carson Excavators are employed on the work at a fair rental, and their established reputation as economical labor- saving machines does not suffer by continued use.
The gross amount of work done by the Department for the year is as follows :
Fourteen thousand four hundred and sixty-one feet or 2.73 miles of sewer laid, 97 manholes and 62 catch-basins built. Making the entire system of sewers at present to consist of
45.63 miles of sewers. 1,722 manholes. 994 catch-basins,
Herewith appended is a statement in detail of the work on each sewer and cost of same. A schedule of City property in charge of the Superintendent of Sewers may be seen at the office of the Sewer Department. Estimated value $8,140.05.
209
REPORT OF SUPERINTENDENT OF SEWERS.
SEWERS LAID DURING THE FINANCIAL YEAR OF 1883.
STREET.
LOCATION OF SEWER.
SIZE.
LENGTH.
MAN- HOLES.
COST.
Bradley,
Gold to Washington,
15"
870
7
$1,349 14
Shrewsb'ry, -
E. Worcester to Larkin,
18/
663
5
1,361 55
Lafayette,
Quinsig. ave. to Southbridge,
15/
425
2
508 10
Langdon,
Lafayette to Lamartine,
12/
469
4
476 24
Grosvenor,
Lafayette to Lamartine,
12/
485
4
487 21
Larkin,
E. Worcester to Shrewsbury,
12"
224
2
267 90
Cambridge,
P. & W. R. R. to Washburn,
84//
1,000
3
20,000 00
E. Worcester,
Shrewsbury to Plum,
48"x72/
989
5
15,000 00
Washburn,
Curve from Cambridge,
51"
54
1
540 00
Kansas,
Curve from Cambridge,
24"x36"
55
1
605 00
Endicott,
Ward to Winthrop,
20"x30"
1,258
7
2,586 78
Gold,
Assonet st. Westerly,
12/
65
36 50
Mead,
Lafayette st. Northerly,
12/
295
3
263 90
Home,
Extension Westerly,
57
39 50
Harringt'n av.
Westminster Easterly,
12/
254
1
206 30
Millbury,
New st. Northerly,
16''x24"
635
4
793 47
Arlington,
Jefferson Southerly,
12"
377
4
467 60
Cambridge,
Washburn to Chelsea,
60"x84" 48''x72" 16/
1,100
5
13,156 83
Gold st. ct. and
Bradley to Gold,
952
9
1,081 56
Assonet,
Union ave. to Endicott,
12/
341
3
317 10
Westminster,
Harrington ave. Northerly,
12/
281
2
232 89
Millbury,
Foyle st. Northerly,
12/
545
4
525 90
Ingalls,
Vernon to Fox,
12/
525
5
552 15
Taylor,
Millbury to Ward,
12/
330
2
238 58
Pattison,
Vernon Easterly,
12/
403
2
328 38
Worth,
Millbury to Ward,
12 /
397
3
352 85
Prospect,
Mulberry Easterly,
12/
200
1
247 80
Lincoln,
Lincoln pl. Easterly,
{ 18"x27"
1,151
6
2,772 17
Catharine,
Curve at Lincoln,
12"
32
1
75 00
Harringt'n av. Curve at Lincoln,
12/
29
1
43 50
Respectfully submitted.
R. H. CHAMBERLAIN,
Supt. of Sewers.
-
18"
12"
12/7
24"x36"
Vernon and
Winthrop,
18"
18/x27/
12/
12/
Vernon,
18''x15"
ANNUAL REPORT
OF THE
CHIEF ENGINEER
OF THE FIRE DEPARTMENT.
CHIEF ENGINEER'S OFFICE, WORCESTER, January 1.st, 1884.
To his Honor the Mayor, and the Honorable City Council :
GENTLEMEN :- In presenting this Eleventh Annual Report for the consideration of your honorable body, the Board of Engineers endeavor to review the workings of the Department for the year ending January 1st, 1884, and describe its condition at that time. As Chief of the Department the duty devolves upon me to include therein suggestions and recommendations which, it is thought, will promote the efficiency of the Department.
MANUAL FORCE AND DISCIPLINE.
The manual force includes a Chief and four Assistants, 35 members of Steamer Companies, including drivers ; 31 members of Hook and Ladder Companies, including drivers ; 63 members of Hose Companies, including drivers ; and 4 members of the Chemical Engine Company, including driver; a total of 133. Volunteer Hose Companies are maintained at Quinsigamond Village, Coes Square, and Northville, where an active interest is taken, and the organizations are kept in good working order, to the general satisfaction of the respective neighborhoods.
The work of the Department has been such during the past year that it has fully retained the confidence of the public, won the
212
CITY DOCUMENT .- No. 38.
praises of those whose premises have been visited by fire, and earned the commendation of its officers. - Promptness and efficiency have been prominent features of the work of every company. Fires have been numerous ; they naturally must in- crease as the number of buildings increases. To keep the losses proportionately small, the facilities for fighting fires must in- crease as the size of the city increases, and the record of the past shows to what uses the facilities furnished have been put. It is not economy to subject all the material to the greatest strain it can bear until it breaks, necessitating an entire renewal at one time, and the policy of the management of the department has been to renew a portion each year, that the general condition of all the apparatus may at all times be good. Such it is proposed to retain as the policy of the future. Changes in the members of the department should be only for cause, as in the work which the men have to do, as elsewhere, the trained and tried have always proved the most efficient.
FIRES AND INSURANCE.
The record of the year shows 74 Bell Alarms, 118 Still and Telephone Alarms, a total of 192. The losses aggregate $62,558.90, and the property damaged insured for $468,305. It is my belief that the cause of every fire should be carefully investigated, both for the value of the information obtained in preventing repetition from like causes, and as a means of restraint upon those who are willing to see their buildings burned for the sake of getting the insurance, by increasing the chances of detection of the real causes of the fires.
There seems to be no way of preventing the gathering of crowds at fires, but there should be better means for restraining those present than have been adopted ; and I would suggest that the police force be detailed, each man having certain boxes assigned to him, that the prompt arrival of several of them may always be depended upon. The existing fault is not with the officers, but with the system, which I am confident the police authorities, who have ever shown a willingness to co-operate with this department, will be willing to improve if the way of im-
213
FIRE DEPARTMENT.
provement is only suggested by your honorable body. There is also frequent need of more officers for guarding property, as the firemen have work of altogether a different nature to perform. It may also be appropriate under this head to speak of the Com- pany at Quinsigamond, which is guarding more property than the one at Webster Square, and to suggest that, at an early day, the members thereof be added to those already drawing com- pensation for their services.
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