USA > Massachusetts > Worcester County > Worcester > Town annual reports of the several departments for the fiscal year ending December 31, 1884 > Part 9
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154
CITY DOCUMENT .- No. 39.
reservoir is of very great importance to our system of water sup- ply. Being in such close proximity to the city, it is becoming each year more difficult to keep free from pollution without con- stant supervision.
PIPE LINES.
The 12" cement lined pipe from Lynde Brook to Hunt Reser- voir is showing increasing signs of weakness ; several leaks have appeared, but none of a serious character. It is quite likely, how- ever, this line will do service for a good number of years to come. Several leaks have occurred on the 16" cement lined main from Hunt Reservoir to Chandler street, through Leicester and Main streets, two of these being very serions breaks and one doing a large amount of damage. A portion of this line is in very bad condition and so situated that a break must do a great deal of damage, and I would recommend the laying of a 16" cast iron main from Chandler to Jackson, or Lagrange streets. This is the section likely to do the most damage in case of breaks, and is subjected to the greatest pressure. A 16" gate has been placed on this line at Beaver street and obviates the necessity of shutting off so long a line as previously in making repairs or street connections, there having been no gate from Hammond street to Webster square, a distance of one mile.
The 16" cement lined main from Bell Pond through Elliott and Thomas streets to Main has given no trouble and is appar- ently in good condition.
The New Supply main from Holden throngh Chandler street has been completed by laying a 20" pipe in Main street from Chandler to Front street, where it connects with the 16" pipe in Main and the 12" in Front, and giving a first-class cast iron main through these streets to Lincoln and Washington squares.
This change was made through a portion of the business part of Main street. The old 16" pipe was in very bad condition and in case of a break would, from its location, have almost certainly done much damage, and the successful completion of this line relieves the Department of one source of anxiety. The water takers along the line were supplied through temporary connec-
155
REPORT OF WATER COMMISSIONER.
tions and with very little inconvenience to them or interruption to their supply. All the side street connections were taken up past the line of Main street. The old hydrants, with their con- nectious taken out and new ones with larger connections and capable of delivering double the quantity of water substituted, thus insuring much better fire protection than formerly.
A gate was set on the 16" cement pipe at Chandler street, and none too soon, as a serious break occurred soon after near Her- mon street, and but for this gate would have necessitated the shutting off of both the Leicester and Holden supplies. One 20" gate was set at Chandler and one at Front street, thus putting the whole line under perfect control. Each of these are provided with by-pass gates, as are all the main gates on this line. A 12" main was laid in Madison from Main to Southbridge street, completing the New Supply main. The cost of the work on Main street was $8,954.26 and on Madison street $1,445.74. The entire line from the Distributing Reservoir in Holden to the City Hall is in the best of condition. No leaks or other defects have ever appeared since it was laid except a small leak at a gate on Main street, and your Committee may feel assured that they have one main line, and that the most important, that is as good as the best in material and workmanship and in grade and align- ment. The total length of the main line to Front street is 23,676 feet, or four and a half miles very nearly.
On the High Service line from the Lynde Brook Reservoir there have been quite a number of leaks, three of them being serious breaks. One occurred Feb. 19 on the 20" main, a short distance beyond New Worcester, where a pipe was split its entire length. April 11, on Normal street, the 16" main was badly broken by a blast in grading around the Normal School. At this place there are several hundred feet of pipe not in the location of the streets, these having been changed since the pipe was laid. By the grading of Normal street a portion of this pipe is exposed. This should be relaid in a proper position, and will be quite expensive, as there is considerable ledge to excavate. The alignment would be much improved, as there are now three abrupt turns ; one of these would be taken out and the other two
156
CITY DOCUMENT .- No. 39.
would be easy curves. October 30 a break occurred on Ward street, the 16" main being split open. Fortunately none of these breaks did any damage to private property. The other leaks re- ported were on lead joints and of no great importance. Several of the gates on this line have been used so much, and the strain on them has been so severe, it will be necessary soon to replace them with new gates or relieve them with by-pass pipes and gates. With the water on one side, the pressure on the face of a 16" gate is fifteen and a half and on a 20" gate nearly twenty- four and a half tons. It requires five or six men to close one of them. The pressure valves between the high and low service at corner of Cambridge and Southbridge streets and at Elliott street are shut off and have not been in use during the year.
STREET MAINS.
All the orders passed by the City Council for the laying of street mains have been executed except Lincoln street and Sut- ton lane. The former was an order to replace the 6" cement pipe by an 8" cast iron from Lincoln Square to Forest Avenue. The season proved so busy, and as no trouble . was experienced from breaks, it was thought best to defer the execution of the order till another year. (Sutton lane has been laid since Dec. 1.) The laying of the 12" mian in Front street from near Trum- bull to Hibernia streets and the abandoning of the same size cement pipe was, perhaps, the most difficult of execution of any work done during the year, owing to the many obstructions, en- countered and the treacherous nature of the soil. The proximity of the sewer trench and gas main, the crossing of catch basin, drain, gas and elevator pipes occasioned the laying of the pipe an unusual depth much of the distance. The business and traffic of the street was incommoded very little. The old pipe was under the Worcester Street Railroad in the centre of the street, the track having been moved when the street was widened. The old pipe was not taken up, but openings made through for the extension of service pipes. All street connections were relaid past the lines of the street and new hydrants of double the capac- ity put in place of the old flush hydrants. The change on Prov-
157
REPORT OF WATER COMMISSIONER.
idence street was occasioned by the great number of breaks occurring on that line and the resulting damages. The change in Bloomingdale road east of Grafton street was owing to the small size of the old pipe, the Worcester Steel Works alone re- quiring at times more water than it would furnish.
This insufficient supply caused the attaching of the section east of the Steel Works and north of Grafton street to the High Ser- vice, bringing a pressure of 110 to 140 pounds on the cement lined pipe and causing many breaks. Since the change was made this district has again been attached to the low service, and there have been no complaints of short supply and no leaks have oc- curred. About half of the pipe removed was cast iron laid from the Bell Pond Aqueduct in 1858. This has been cleaned and nearly all used on repairs and on some street and hydrant con- nections. The 6" cement pipe on Eastern Avenue from Farwell to Belmont street has been abandoned, and the street, hydrant and service pipes connected to the 12" high service main. This was under high service pressure, and it was thought best not to maintain two lines of pipes at that elevation and continue the risk of breaks occurring on the line. The most important ex- tension of street mains has been the laying of an 8" pipe to Bloomingdale and Lake View. The supply was taken from Shrewsbury street, and laid in Putnam lane, Bloomingdale road, through land of F. A. Harrington, B. & A. R. R. location and land of H. H. Bigelow to Lake View. Releases and rights of way were given by the above parties for the laying and main- tenance of the pipe. In Lake View the pipes were laid in por- tions of Locust, Coburn and Alvarado Avenues and Anna street ; 8,712 feet of 8" and 1,610 feet of 6" pipe were laid, and ten gates and sixteen hydrants set. The annual appropriation being insuf- ficient, the expense was met by a special appropriation of $17,- 500.00. As was expected, considerable rock was encountered. The work was completed, however, for $15,886.67, leaving an unexpended balance of $1,613.33. This line will no doubt con- tribute very largely to the development of this section of the city, but it will probably be a long time before the regular water rates will pay the guaranteed interest on the cost. It may not
158
CITY DOCUMENT .- No. 39.
be amiss in this connection to state that while the guarantee of six per cent. may seem to some petitioners a high rate, it must be borne in mind that the Department must maintain and keep the works in order, is to considerable additional expense for service pipes, and as the water rates are applied towards the payment of the interest on the cost, the Department practically receives no revenue from the water supplied. Taking these facts into consideration, certainly the rate cannot be called excessive.
Considerable extensions of street mains have been made during the year. There are several petitions before you now; some of them will undoubtedly be answered early the coming season. For better supply and fire protection there should be an 8" pipe laid from Providence to Houghton street in Union Avenue. There are in this section more than two miles of streets supplied through a four-inch cement pipe in Harrison street, which is under heavy pressure from the High Service and very liable to breaks. This line would connect with quite a number of cross streets that are now dead ends, and would ensure a good circula- tion and much better fire protection. I would recommend the laying of this pipe the coming year.
There should be a 12" main in Cambridge street from Chelsea to Crystal, and eventually as the street is graded and built upon, through Crystal to Main street. The takers on Cambridge street are attached to the High Service main. The pressure is so great, this practice should be discontinued, and those now con- nected should be attached to the low service as soon as the pipe is laid. All the cross street mains are now dead ends and this would bring them into circulation. When completed, this will be a very important feeder, supplying the whole South Worcester District, and eventually would be extended to Millbury street. I recommend that a commencement be made on this line the coming year by laying a pipe from Chelsea to Camp street. Of the cement lined pipe needing attention, perhaps the most im- portant after Main street, already mentioned, is Union and Church streets from Central to Front. This is a 10" pipe and is in very bad condition. Three serious breaks have occurred during the past year, two doing considerable damage to private
159
REPORT OF WATER COMMISSIONER.
property, the third breaking in the sewer and running for a number of hours before it could be located. It is a very impor- tant feeder, supplying and giving fire protection to some of the largest and most important shops and manufactories in the city, and in case of a break liable to throw hundreds of men out of employment during repairs. A gate has been set at Foster street on Union, to shorten the line shut-off in case of repairs or connections. I should earnestly recommend the laying of a 12" pipe in these streets the coming year.
A portion of the pipe in Austin street is in very bad condition and gives much trouble by the flooding of cellars and damage to private property. A new pipe from Main to Oxford street is much needed. These are some of the most pressing wants of the Department for the securing of a surer and more efficient supply in the several streets and districts named. The East Worcester District, Bloomingdale and Lake View are supplied by the 8" cement pipe in Shrewsbury street from Washington Square to Cross street. It is too small for the district supplied, and is in very bad condition, a number of breaks having occurred during the past year, shutting off the entire district during repairs. I should recommend a 12" pipe be laid when this change is made.
HYDRANTS.
There have been sixty-three new hydrants set during the year. Twenty of these were changes and three are private. Sixteen flush and five box post hydrants have been taken out. The num- ber added to the works has been forty-three.
The total number connected with the works is now 761. All the new ones used are of the Chapman pattern and are giving good satisfaction. Two post hydrants have been broken by teams running against them. There have been thirty-four hydrant boxes renewed during the year. A new list giving kind and location of hydrants is being prepared. The care and mainten- ance of the hydrant service is a work of much importance and considerable expense, for which the Department receives no credit financially. Our service is excellent, the pressure being much
160
CITY DOCUMENT .- No. 39.
better than formerly and all are in perfect working order so far as known. One was found recently with the valve screw broken by some one that had no authority to use, and certainly no skill in the manipulation of hydrants. This is the only one that has been found that would have been useless in case of fire.
Location of new and changed hydrants are given in the fol- lowing table :
Alvarado Avenue, east side, opposite J. Lee's house.
Alvarado Avenue, east side, opposite J. J. Coburn's house. Alvarado Avenue, east side, opposite Mrs. Tourtellotte's house. Anna street, north side, northwest corner Alvarado Avenue. Anna street, north side, northwest corner Coburn Avenue. Bloomingdale road, north side, northeast corner Putnam court. Bloomingdale road, north side, northeast corner Hillside Avenue. Bloomingdale road, south side, junction Plantation street.
Bloomingdale road, north side, opposite Harrington court. Bloomingdale road, north side, opposite J. Howes'.
Bradley street, north side, northwest corner Washington street.
Bradley street, north side, northwest corner Gold street court. Burncoat street, west side, opposite C. J. Green's.
Camp street, west side, northwest corner Crompton street.
Camp street, west side, near Cemetery fence.
Canterbury street, west side, opposite School-house.
Canterbury street, west side, opposite Patrick Rogers'.
Clifton street, west side, opposite Number 4. Coburn Avenue, east side, opposite E. Holmes'.
Coburn Avenue, east side, opposite Engelbrekstrom's.
Crompton street, north side, northeast corner Woodward street.
Foster street, south side, southwest corner Hibernia street.
Front street, in front of No. 240.
Front street, northwest corner Bridge street.
Front street, in front of No. 180.
Front street, in front of No. 150.
Front street, in front of No. 124.
Locust Avenue, east side, front of J. C. Coburn's.
Locust Avenue, east side, northeast corner Anna street.
Madison street, north side, opposite Beacon street.
Main street, northwest corner Old South Church.
Main street, northeast corner Park street.
Main street, in front of No. 519.
Main street, northeast corner Allen court.
Main street, northeast corner Burnside court.
Main street, northeast corner Myrtle street.
Millbrook street, north side, opposite Wilder's.
Orchard street, west side, southwest corner Bismark street.
161
REPORT OF WATER COMMISSIONER.
Plantation street, west side, front of J. W. Wetherell's.
Plantation street, west side, front of J. A. Bancroft's.
Plantation street, west side, northwest corner Fairview avenue.
Pleasant street (Tatnuck), north side, front of Old Tavern.
Pleasant street (Tatnuck), north side, opposite Kendall's.
Providence street, in front of No. 4.
Providence street, southeast corner Swedish Church.
Providence street, northwest corner Ledge street.
Providence street, northwest corner Harrison street.
Putnam court, southeast side, at angle south side B. & A. R. R.
Ripley street, north side, northwest corner Beacon street.
Richland street, south side, front of No. 32.
Union Avenue, north side, between Ward and Vernon streets.
Vernon street, west side, opposite G. L. Robbins'.
Vernon street, west side, opposite W. F. Pond's driveway.
Vernon street, west side, opposite No. 111.
Vernon street, west side, south side J. S. Perry's south driveway.
Woodland street, east side, 300 feet north of May street.
PRIVATE HYDRANTS.
Pakachoag Mill. In yard. Rawson's Factory, Northville. In yard.
Worcester Steel Co. In yard.
GATES.
There have been 59 new gates set ranging in size from 4" to 20". A new list of gates connected with the works, and the locations, carefully corrected, will be made as soon as possible. The total number of main gates on pipe lines and street mains is 850. There have been 71 boxes renewed, mostly by cast iron.
A table is given showing the number of feet of each size of pipe laid. The hydrants and gates set, and the feet of pipe taken up or abandoned. Also a table giving the total length of each size of pipe, the gates and hydrants set each year.
It will be seen that the past season has been a busy one in the laying of street mains, more miles of pipe have been laid than any year since 1873, except 1883, when the new pipe line from Tatnuck Brook was laid. The pipe, 822 tons, and special castings, 44 tons, have been from the Warren Foundry and Machine Co., and have been of good quality and obtained at a very reasonable price. Also 43 tons of castings for gate and stop boxes, sleeves, plugs, &c., have been obtained
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CITY DOCUMENT .- No. 39.
of Heald & Britton of this city. Considerable pains has been taken to obtain a correct list of the cement pipe at the com- mencement of the year. The result is shown in the following table :
CEMENT LINED MAIN PIPE IN USE, NOVEMBER 30, 1884.
2 !!
3//
4//
6/1
8 !!
107
12/
16//
18//
20/
Total.
1864
1,424
4,412
53
5,335 14,549
1,980
1,056
28,809
1865
144
8,444
4,761
6,023 1,650
2,300
23,322
1866
1,107
9,744
2,073
9,387
1,869
24,180
1867
2,889 4,444
5,000
2,819
8,280
1,000
843
25,275
1868
2,544
1,499
12,193
754
1,850
18,840
1869
4,765
1,714
20,355
8,854
3,737
830
2,430
42,685
1870
1,312
290
12,714
7,262
2,810
627
32,387
1872
396
226
3,559
7,335
1,950
2,000
15,466
1873
6,309
8,246
4,407
18,962
1874
1,756
4,133
1,073
6,962
1875
1,010
1,150
2,160
1877
392
392
1880
1,388
1,388
Taken up in 1884,
13,272 8,485 98,288 61,782 43,582 6,445 10,765 19,561 1,980 1,056 265,216
546
2,159
1,005
1,556
5,266
Total ft. miles
13,272 8,485 2.51 1.61
18.51
59,623 11.29
43,582 6,445 8.25 1.22
9,760 1.85
3.41
.38
.20 49,233
HIGH SERVICE MAIN PIPE.
2 in.
4 in.
6 in.
8 in.
10 in.
12 in.
16 in.
20 in.
Feet.
Miles.
Main Line,
2,845
20,470
13,801 37,116
7.03
Iron Pipe,
334
4,595
6,617 6,908
6,292
2,592
2,262
29.600
5.60
Cement Pipe,
710
3,039
10,325
14,074
2.66
24,388
1871
115
312 16,790 10,123
4,420
18,005
1,980 1,056 259,950
97,742
TABLE B.
LENGTH AND SIZE OF PIPE LAID AND NUMBER OF GATES AND HYDRANTS SET DURING THE YEAR ENDING NOVEMBER 30, 1884.
STREET.
LOCATION.
PIPE. Size. Lgth. in ft. Hyd'nts.
No. of
No. of Gates.
Alvarado Avenue,
Locust to Coburn Avenue.
8
611.
2
1
Anna Street,
Mulberry Street west.
4
139.
1
High Service.
Asylum Street, Bloomingdale Road,
Grafton Street east.
8
1016.
1
4
33.
Grafton Street east.
6
609.
1
2
High Service.
8
1600.
3
Washington Street to Gold Street Court.
6
422.
2
1
Bradley Street,
At Pakachoag Mills.
6
630.
1
1
Burncoat Street,
Cambridge Street to St. John's Cemetery.
6
924.
2
2
Camp Street,
Grand Street south.
8
1287.
2
1
Canterbury Street,
Between May and Oberlin Streets.
6
1114.
1
Coburn Avenue,
Anna Street south.
6
625.
1
1
8
3051.
2
2
Eastern Avenue,
From Summer Street to Bridge Street.
8
490.
1
2
Foster Street,
Trumbull Street to Hibernia Street.
12
1005.
5
9
Front Street,
Vernon Street to Fox Street.
4
556.
2
Ingalls Street,
Piedmont Street east.
8
442.
2
1
Locust Avenue,
Main Street to Southbridge Street.
12
502.
1
2
Madison Street,
Chandler Street to Front Street.
20
1556.
6
16
Main Street,
4
707.
1
Millbrook Street,
End of pipe east to Chas. Wilder's.
6
425.
1
1
Orchard Street,
Bloomingdale Road to B. & A. R. R.
6
1780.
3
1
Plantation Street.
Pleasant Street,
Chandler Street east-Tatnuck.
12
1515.
2
1
8
1653.
3
From Anna Street north.
REPORT OF WATER COMMISSIONER.
163
1
Clifton Street,
From Anna Street north.
8
178.
2
Crompton Street,
Chelsea Street to Woodward Street.
E. Bloomingdale R'd,
Plantation Street to Locust Avenue .- Lake View. At Farwell Street.
1
1
Jaques Avenue,
Wor. and Shrewsbury R. R. to Anna Street.
6
300.
1
Brussels Street,
From Lincoln Street north.
Putnam Court to Plantation Street.
Belmont Street to Bismark Street.
164
TABLE B .- CONTINUED.
STREET.
LOCATION.
PIPE. Size. Lgth. in ft. Hyd'nts.
No. of
No. of Gates.
Providence Street,
From Grafton Street to Harrison Street.
8
1502.
4
2
Putnam Court,
Shrewsbury Street to Bloomingdale.
8
1177.
1
2
Richland Street,
end of Pipe west.
6
324.
I
Ripley Street,
Ripley Street Place to Beacon Street.
6
378.
Silver Street,
May Street to Claremont Street.
4
478.
2
Southbridge Street, Thorn Street,
Wall Street east.
6
260.
1
High Service.
At Foster Street.
8
3248.
4
1
High Service.
At Rawson's Factory.
Between May Street and Kingsbury Street.
2
161.
Totals,
30,959.
59
62
PIPE TAKEN UP.
Bloomingdale,
From Grafton Street east.
4
1016.
1
Eastern Avenue,
Farwell Street to Belmont Street.
6
657.
High Service.
Front Street,
Trumbull Street to Hibernia Street.
12
1005.
6
2
Main Street,
Chandler Street to Front Street.
16
1556.
6
5
Providence Street,
Grafton Street to Harrison Street.
6
1502.
4
2
Putnam Court,
66 Shrewsbury Street south.
6
286.
1
Ripley Street,
Ripley Street Place west.
4
62.
Totals,
6,084.
16
11
6
261.
High Service.
Union Avenue,
Between Vernon Street and Ward Street.
1
1
From Union Avenue to J. S. Perry's.
1
1
From Crompton Street southwest.
ยท Union Street, Vernon Street, West Boylston St., Woodland Street, Woodward Street,
College Street south.
CITY DOCUMENT,-No. 39.
165
REPORT OF WATER COMMISSIONER.
TABLE C. SERVICE PIPES LAID TO NOVEMBER 30, 1884.
FOR CITY.
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
1884
9,807.5
1.857
14,897.42
2.821
458
155,563.28
29.459
161,534.04
30.591
6825
SERVICE PIPE.
Eleven applications were received from last year and 462 made during the present year. 458 were laid and fifteen remain to be acted upon. The expense to the city was $5,247.86, or an average of $11.46 each, to individuals $5,798.74, an average of $12.66 each. Some parties have done their own trenching and the cost is unknown. 5,720 feet, or in 34 cases, temporary mains have been laid, 204 services have been drilled out and repaired on cement pipe at the main at an average cost of $1.42. Thirty- three stop boxes have been replaced by iron ones. In twenty-six cases galvanized service pipes have been taken out and cement lined laid. Very few of these now remain of the smaller sizes. During the year twenty elevators have been connected with the
166
CITY DOCUMENT .- No. 39.
works, ten on the high and ten on the low service. Total num- ber connected with the works eighty-eight. Of which thirty- nine are on the high and forty-nine on the low service. Number of freight elevators seventy-five, passenger thirteen.
METERS.
There have been 464 new meters set. Total number on the works 5,638. 499 new and 658 repaired meters have been tested. Meters have been repaired at an average cost of $3.53 each for all sizes.
SIZES.
KINDS.
1 in.
1} in.
2 in.
3 in.
4 in. 6 in. 8 in.
TOTAL.
Union, Piston
1,475
292
57
7
14
1
.
.
1,846
Union, Rotary
2,502
127
50
28
74
16
5
1
1
2,804
Desper
926
36
2
1
1
7
Gem
9
1
1
3
14
Worthington
3
3
4,917
458
110
35
90
17
9
1
1
5,638
CITY METERS.
SIZES.
KINDS.
1 in.
13 in.
2 in.
3 in.
4 in. 6 in. 8 in.
TOTAL.
Union, Piston .
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