USA > Massachusetts > Worcester County > Worcester > Town annual reports of the several departments for the fiscal year ending December 31, 1884 > Part 7
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125
REPORT OF CITY ENGINEER.
and shoot, also of cast iron, so arranged as to discharge the sew- age into the tunnel a short distance below the shaft and in the same direction as the current.
In Crystal street the drainage will be conducted to a shaft about 750 feet south of Main street by means of 12" pipe sew- ers. The arrangement for discharging the sewage into the tun- nel will be exactly the same as that described above for Maywood street, with the exception that the iron pipe will be 10" in diam- eter instead of 18" in diameter. While the main sewer will un- doubtedly be finished as far as Park Avenue within the next six months, it will be of very little use unless extended northerly in Park Avenue far enough to insure its receiving the drainage from the lateral sewers of the district. I therefore recommend that provision be made for its immediate extension to Tufts street, a distance of 3,100 feet. At this point the main sewer divides, one branch running through Park Avenue to Elm street, the other and principal one through Tufts and Mason streets to Pleasant street. The following are the prin- cipal reasons that influenced the Joint Standing Committee on Sewers in selecting the Crystal and Maywood streets route for the main sewer as recommended by me : Three routes were con- sidered, all of them starting from the junction of Maywood street and Park avenue and ending at the junction of Cambridge and South Crystal streets. The first route was through Park Avenue, Mill street, Webster square, Cambridge street to the Sutton road, Sutton road and Fremont street to Cambridge street. There were several serious objections to this route ; first, the distance is fully 3,000 feet further than by the route selected, and as the total fall in each case would be the same, the grade would necessarily be much flatter, necessitating, with the additional territory that would be drained, the construction of a sewer at least eight feet in diameter. This would make it necessary to fill Mill street between the bridge over Tatnuck brook and Leicester street, Leicester street, Webster square and a portion of Cambridge and Webster streets, as with the grades that would have to be followed, the top of the sewer would be level with or above the grade of the streets mentioned above.
126
CITY DOCUMENT .- No. 39.
This would create a large amount of damage, as most of the buildings in that portion of New Worcester would have to be raised from two to four feet. An additional objection would be the crossing of Beaver and Tatnuck brooks, which would have to be done five times. As the grade, if followed, would bring the top of the sewer above the bed of the stream, thereby setting the water back upon the wheels of the manufactories, it would be necessary at each crossing to construct an inverted syphon. These would be very objectionable, as with the sluggish current and slight grade of the sewer they would be constantly filling up, making them a source of great annoyance and expense. The estimated cost of constructing the sewer by this route is $220,000. The second route considered commenced at the junction of Park Avenue and Maywood street, followed Park Avenue until the side-hill was reached that borders the northerly side of Beaver Brook. Thence following the side-hill and crossing Main street, and entering Cambridge street near Sutton road, thence following said road and Fremont street to Cambridge street. The objec- tions to this route are, first, for a greater portion of its distance the sewer would have to be constructed in private land, which would render it very expensive by reason of the amount of dam- age created. Another objection is that the sewer running paral- lel to Beaver Brook for a considerable portion of its length, the grade being below the bed of the stream, large quantities of water would have to be pumped, adding very materially to the cost 'of construction.
The estimated cost of the sewer by this route is $200,000. The third route considered was the Maywood and Crystal streets route, or the one that has been followed. I believed at the time the selection was made, and still believe, that this is the best route to follow, it being the most direct and least expensive. It was estimated to cost $140,000, and present indications are that the actual cost will not vary much from this amount.
The main sewer for the Pine Meadow or eastern district has been completed in Shrewsbury street as far east as Musquego street. This sewer should be constructed to Putnam lane, and in said lane to the Boston and Albany Railroad. These two sewers will inter-
127
REPORT OF CITY ENGINEER.
cept all the brooks running into the meadow and will make the problem of the drainage of the meadow a comparatively easy one. The estimated cost of constructing these sewers is $12,500. A new invert has been constructed in the Mill Brook sewer be- tween Green street and the Boston and Albany Railroad. This invert was built of cement concrete, the same general plan being followed as in the construction of the big sewer in Millbury street from Cambridge street to Quinsigamond Village. It is believed that, with the increased grade and the smooth surface over which the water will have to flow, that the current will have sufficient force to keep the sewer clean. This has been the case in the Millbury street sewer, mentioned above, which has been in use five years and has not cost a dollar for cleaning.
Surveys have been made the past year for the Hope Cemetery Commissioners, the Commissioners of the Jaques Fund and the Commission on Shade Trees and Public Grounds. A topograph- ical survey is now in progress at Lake Park, and when completed plans will be prepared to be used by the Commission in the lay- out of drives, paths and other improvements necessary to develop the Park. The work of this department has been gradually on the increase during the past few years, necessitating from time to time an increase in the number of assistants employed.
Respectfully submitted.
CHARLES A. ALLEN,
City Engineer.
REPORT
OF THE
JOINT STANDING COMMITTEE ON SEWERS.
In conformity with Chapter 40, Section 4, of the laws and ordinances of the city, the Joint Standing Committee on Sewers would respectfully present to the City Council its annual report for the year ending November 30th, together with that of the Superintendent of Sewers, as submitted to the Committee.
The extent and unusual variety of the work which has occupied the department during the year surpasses that of any previous year in the history of the city, but any attempt at a detailed ac- count on the part of your Committee is rendered unnecessary by the exhaustive report of the Superintendent, a perusal of which will prove both interesting and instructive ; and so much of the same as refers to the amount and cost of work accomplished and the property on hand, your Committee desire to adopt as their own.
As shown by this report, much of the work performed is of a nature to require extension before its benefits can be realized, and to this end the completion of this class of work should be at- tempted, at the earliest possible day.
In Shrewsbury street the extension of the sewer to Putnam lane is imperative if the complete drainage of the swamp is to be accomplished, and no one acquainted with the locality can for a moment doubt that as a sanitary measure alone it is most urgent.
130
CITY DOCUMENT .- No. 39.
A long step in the direction of relief for the swamp on South- bridge street was taken when the Kansas street sewer was com- pleted, but here also the contributions to the swamp must be cut off before this long-standing nuisance can be abated ; to accom- plish this the sewer in Southbridge street should be extended at least to Southgate street in order to intercept the three brooks flowing into the swamp, and if it could be still further extended in Southgate street to a point which would relieve the low land lying between Gardner and Grand streets it would nip in the bud a nuisance that threatens to speedily rival its neighbor on South- bridge street.
The Crystal street sewer (so called) is progressing to the entire satisfaction of your Committee, and is attracting much favorable attention from abroad ; it is confidently expected that its com- pletion to Park Avenue, the point indicated in the order of con- struction, will be accomplished by July.
But what has been said of the pressing necessity of Shrewsbury and Southbridge streets applies with even greater force to the needs of the entire West side which this sewer is to supply.
The patience of this portion of our city has been sorely tried, and " patience would cease to be a virtue " if their deliverance were longer delayed.
We are of the opinion that an attempt should be made to cover the entire distance from Maywood street through Park Avenue, Tufts and Mason streets to the sewer in Pleasant street the pres- ent year, thereby relieving Lincoln brook and making the con- struction of the lateral sewers for this district possible in 1886.
The rapid growth of our city and its geographical position as well, has rendered it necessary to expend large sums of money in sewer construction, but the enviable reputation of the city for health and cleanliness sufficiently justifies the expenditure, and if that record is to be maintained, the work recommended by your Committee must not be longer deferred.
It is not for ourselves alone, but for posterity that we are building, and upon them should fall a reasonable portion of the debt thus incurred, and we therefore recommend the funding of such sums as shall be necessary for the completion of the work
131
REPORT OF COMMITTEE ON SEWERS.
outlined. But however the Council may see fit to treat the financial aspect of this question, we trust the unanimous recom- mendations of your Committee, as to the work itself, may receive prompt and favorable consideration.
Respectfully submitted.
ANDREW ATHY, CALEB COLVIN, E. O. PARKER, W. F. DEARBORN, JOHN B. O'LEARY, WM. J. ESTEY.
Joint Standing Committee on Sewers.
Worcester, December 31, 1884.
REPORT
OF THE
SUPERINTENDENT OF SEWERS.
To the Joint Standing Committee on Sewers:
The Superintendent of Sewers respectfully submits a report of the doings of the Sewer Department during the financial year of 1884.
The year has been one of unusual activity. More varied and difficult work has been accomplished ; more men have been em- ployed, and consequently more money expended for labor and material, than has been the case in any previous year.
The work has been manifold in its character, requiring in some cases large expenditure for equipment, and in all most care- ful management.
Notwithstanding the great depth of some of the work, the large amount of machinery, and high explosives used, no acci- dent of a serious nature has occurred to mar the general good fortune of the department.
Labor has been plenty, and the work has been done within reasonable estimates. There has been a noticeable infrequency of sudden showers, which in most seasons are a source of great
133
REPORT OF SUPERINTENDENT OF SEWERS.
annoyance and expense. The following is a schedule of the new work built during the year.
STREET.
LOCATION.
SIZE.
LENGTH.
MAN- HOLES.
COST.
Barclay,
Ætna to Union Ave.,
16" oval
551
3
$908 64
Boylston ct.,
Patterson St. northerly,
12/
237
2
305 30
Canterbury,
Crystal St. westerly,
12"
40
1
65 00
Cambridge,
Chelsea,
48''x72"
2,412
5
43,456 00
Crystal,
Cambridge St. northerly,
48"x72"
782
3
19,550 00
Forest Ave.,
Lincoln St. east,
12/
40
1
52 00
Hacker,
Cambridge St. north,
12/
24
1
121 15
Har'ngton Av. Lincoln St. easterly,
12/
348
1
288 36
Hill,
Shrewsbury to E. Central,
15"
306
3
436 15
Jaques Ave.,
Extension westerly,
12/
98.0
1
156 75
Kansas,
Cambridge St. north,
24''x36"
720.0
4
2,200 00
Lincoln,
Harrington ave. north,
12'
400
5
1,803 31
Lamartine,
Lodi to Meade,
12'
40.45
3
607 75
Millbrook to Washington,
12/
272.5
2
335 85
Mulberry,
Fulton to E. Central,
16''x24"
876.6
6
1,972 84
E. Central, northerly,
12/
490.3
3
623 69
Maywood, Plum,
E. Worcester to Shrewsbury,
48''x72"
591.0
3
5,910 00
Shrewsbury,
Plum to Musquego,
60"
1,096.0
6
18,470 00
Southbridge,
North to Salem,
18" oval
212.0
1
800 59
Washburn,
Cambridge St. to Southbridge,
51"
935
4
7,012 00
Southbridge,
Washburn St. north,
51"
306
2
2,245 00
Windsor,
Catharine St. north,
15/
294
12/
530
5
1,101 00
54"x78
507.0
1
10,140 00
Park Ave. east,
48''x72"
261.0
55/
390.0
The largest sewer chargeable to the account of sewer construc. tion is that in Washburn and Southbridge streets, 51" round. The sewer was well and rapidly built, with no especial difficulty except water, which required a six-inch pump for its removal. This sewer is intended for the outlet for the drainage of South- bridge street as far North as the P. & W. R. R. bridge, and that section of the city South of Ripley and East of Main street to Gates street. This area is nearly covered with dwellings, and is at present entirely without means of drainage.
In May last a 24" x 36" sewer was built in Kansas street to drain the marsh between the P. & W. R. R. and Southbridge street, and has to a great extent accomplished its design. No serious difficulty was experienced in building this sewer, although such was anticipated. A long line of ditch was opened through the swamp to the old pond, which was at once drawn off, mak- ing what was lately an impassable morass, quite solid ground.
10
15/
197
134
CITY DOCUMENT .- No. 39.
And when the sewer shall be extended in Southbridge street, thus cutting off the brooks flowing into the swamp, this entire area will become available land.
The sewer in Lincoln street, though small, was an expensive one, its entire length being in ledge. Small sewers were also built in Barclay street, Boylston court, Lamartine, Hill, Mul- berry, Southbridge streets, Harrington Avenue and Windsor street.
At the beginning of the year the larger part of the work con- templated under the " order of October 8th, 1883," was incom- plete. Much of this work was of such magnitude that it was necessary to wait until summer before it could be undertaken.
The 60" round sewer in Plum and Shrewsbury streets was be- gun early in the season, and with two additions to the original order, has been laid to Musquego street. This sewer in Shrews- bury street across the old Pine Meadow is laid upon timber foundation, and was laid in the most careful manner, to prevent settling or spreading. An additional expense was incurred by the necessity of raising the grade of the street to insure the brick work from frost, and also to secure the arch from injury by the heavy teams. This sewer should be extended to Putnam lane, a distance of one thousand feet, to accomplish the object of its construction.
The reconstruction of the invert to Millbrook sewer from Green street to the B. & A. R. R. was begun about July 1st. This work, simple enough in itself, involved numerous problems of difficulty, and first of all was the disposition of the natural flow of water and the occasional rainfall. When this work was projected it was thought that the water could be cared for in sluiceways built low down, between the walls of the open sewer and under the arches of the numerous bridges, then flow away by gravitation below the fall at Green street, the water to be raised by coffer-dams above the work to sufficient height to enter the sluiceways. Subsequent investigation showed that it would be very unsafe and impracticable to build a dam in the sewer sufficiently high to raise the water to the sluiceways, and that the water must be raised by pumping to a height of fourteen
135
REPORT OF SUPERINTENDENT OF SEWERS.
feet. For this purpose a 15" rotary submerged pump was pur- chased, which was warranted to lift twenty million gallons of water sixteen feet in twenty-four hours. This pump was driven by a forty horse power engine of A. Burlingame's make. The work for engine and pump was continuous every hour of the twenty-four, and well did they perform it. The entire distance of twenty-two hundred feet was worked in three sections or moves of the pump.
In the first near Green street rock was encountered for about four hundred feet, which delayed progress materially. In the second and third, quicksands, on which are built the side walls of the sewer, arched bridges and heavy brick buildings. This was rendered almost unmanageable by increased weight and the thrust of the buildings themselves. Great care was necessary to secure the buildings from injury, which was safely done, not a jar or crack having shown itself.
The excavation averaged about 2} feet in depth. The recon- structed invert is of concrete, one part cement, two parts sand and three parts gravel, mixed as dry as possible and thoroughly rammed in place. This is a very rich, strong concrete, and is the same as that which has stood the test in the Island sewer for the past five years. As the work advanced numerous low dams were built to the height of the invert which were allowed to fill with water to prevent washing away of fresh work. These dams will remain in place during the present winter, to secure the new work from frost and that the concrete may set evenly and well. During the construction the lateral sewers entering were cared for by building an apron of stone work under their outfall. The old field stone paving was used for macadamizing purposes by the Highway department to great advantage. The labor on Mill- brook cost $13,616.35-two thousand eight hundred and thirty barrels of cement and one thousand loads of sand and gravel. The work was most vigorously prosecuted on all days in the week, and often far into the night, and was completed in a most thorough manner October 1st. That it was completed within the estimate is cause for congratulation, for it was a class of work entirely new in the city, and the details had to be met and worked out as they appeared.
136
CITY DOCUMENT .- No. 39.
In the beginning of the year ledge was developed on Cambridge street sewer at Chelsea street, eighteen feet in depth, and ter- minating at the Norwich & Worcester R. R. crossing ; it was a slaty rock with a mixture of quartz, making drilling slow and ex- pensive. A No. 3 Rand drill was procured and later a second of the same pattern. After meeting the ledge a second Carson machine was procured, and work begun west of the Norwich & Worcester R. R. location ; work continued in both places through the winter. The rock was excavated, the railroad tunnelled, and the two sections joined June 1st. No difficulty was experienced in Cambridge street, west of the railroad, except water with some quicksand. The water was cared for by a 6" Andrews pump. Much gravel of the best quality was found and made use of in other work of construction. The material continued the same after entering the Crystal street extension, until the Boston & Albany R. R. was reached. This was safely passed without any delay to traffic. Immediately after passing the Boston & Albany R. R. location, ledge began to develop harder and more extensive than before. It was worked until a depth of thirty feet was reached, twenty feet of which was rock. Test pits were sunk at intervals through Crystal street, which showed a great depth of rock in each. In July, in view of the fact that an unexpected quantity of rock had been encountered, it was recommended that the open trench be abandoned and that tunnelling be substituted. This project was presented and advocated by the Superintendent of Sewers, but it did not meet with favor, and the open cut trench was continued until thirty-eight feet in depth was reached. In August, the progress being necessarily slow, it was determined to try the experiment of tunnelling, and also to still continue the open cut, that the cost of the two methods of excavation might be compared. A Rand duplex air compressor was procured on lease, also three additional Rand drilling machines, four drill columns and a forty horse-power boiler. Work was begun
in the shafts on September 5th, and on the tunnel September
15th, since which time it has progressed as fast as circumstances would admit. It was soon demonstrated that the open cut trench was by far the most expensive, and it was abandoned and a tun-
137
REPORT OF SUPERINTENDENT OF SEWERS.
nelling drift begun in its place at the south heading, and driven to meet the drift from shaft No. 1. The connection was made Oct. 25th, lines and grades coming together to a nicety, thus dispelling all elements of difficulty involved, and crowning as a success the first union in the tunnel. A second and third shafts have been sunk to grade and drifting commenced from each. Four headings or drifts are run at once, as that is about an easy running capacity of the compressor. The compressor has never failed to furnish suffi- cient pressure (usually seventy-five pounds) for drving the drills, and has lately been purchased. The compressed air which drives the drills also furnishes air for ventilation, thus answering a dou- ble purpose. Each heading advancesfrom two to three feet daily. About twenty-two holes are necessary to satisfactorily blast a heading. The headings are in oval shape, approximately five by eight feet. The holes are drilled nearly horizontally to a depth of three and one-half feet, in four concentric circles, or nearly so. Four holes are drilled a little below the centre of the oval, enter- ing the rock at the corners of a square of 15 inches. The drills are directed so that when the bottom of the holes are reached, the four holes tend toward a common centre. These are blasted first, and are called the key blast, and will remove the rock from the centre of the drift. Each successive blast breaks toward the centre ; four blasts are required to successfully remove the rock. The entire twenty-two holes are first drilled and charged. Then all machinery, etc., is removed from the tunnel to the surface. Then only such holes as are required for a single series are con- nected with copper wire, and that with an electric battery on the surface, and the blast is made. Then another series of holes are connected and blasted in a similar manner. Experience has taught that better results are obtained by making four blasts at a heading than by less than that. If the entire twenty-two holes were exploded at once, each would act against the other and nothing be accomplished. The explosive used is a product of nitro glycerine, called Atlas powder ; two grades are used, A and D, respectively, seventy-five and thirty-five per cent., and is set free by electricity. Test pits and open cut show that rock of sufficient depth for tunnelling extends for over two thousand feet
138
CITY DOCUMENT .- No. 39.
beyond the point now excavated, which at the present rate of progress will require from nine to ten months to complete. Over five hundred feet of tunnel has thus far been excavated at a cost of about sixteen dollars per foot, proving beyond a doubt that tunnelling is entirely feasible and an economical mode of rock excavation, and more than satisfying the expectations of its most earnest advocates.
About September 1st, Maywood street was opened at Park Avenue, and an open cut excavated towards Main street with the Carson excavator. About five hundred and seven feet of sewer has been built, the deepest cutting for which is thirty-six feet. Rock in large quantities has been met, and the open cut will soon be abandoned. A great saving will be made in brick in the tunnel, as it will not be necessary to turn an arch where the rock is hard. A brick invert will be put in to bring the tunnel to true line and grade. There are at present employed on this line of work about one hundred and fifty men and six engines of various kinds, three double and three single. There has been used and in stock on sewer construction the past year 1,717,000 brick and 9,112 barrels of cement. There has been built the past year 13,321 feet of sewer, sixty-six manholes and twenty-five catch-basins, which makes our sewer system to consist of forty- eight miles of sewer, seventeen hundred and eighty-five man- holes, ten hundred and nineteen catch-basins.
The engineering for sewer construction has been directly in charge of Assistant-Engineer Richard Fobes, whose faithfulness and accuracy and untiring energy cannot be too highly com- mended.
Three hundred and thirty-nine permits have been granted to drain layers to enter sewers the past year. This work is in- spected by an Assistant-Engineer. Too much rivalry or compe- tition in this business is not productive of good results, and un- due means are sometimes used to obtain jobs of drain laying from citizens. Much trouble has arisen from imperfect work, and it is recommended that more stringent rules be adopted for drain layers or that the whole business of drain connection be assumed by the City at net cost to the citizen. A schedule of
139
REPORT OF SUPERINTENDENT OF SEWERS.
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