USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Newton > Town of Newton annual report 1875-1877 > Part 22
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It seems proper on this occasion to make an acknowledgment that is due from this, and all other public libraries in this country, to the American Library Association and " The Library Journal," for the valuable aid which they have given, through the discussions and decisions of their conferences and publications on several matters affecting the economi- cal and efficient management of these institutions. Although this association is of recent origin, yet it has already accomplished important changes in library methods, and is fast bringing their numerous details to a uniform standard that will surely result in a reduced expenditure of time and money in their maintenance.
A recent tour of inspection of some forty of the principal libraries of a public and corporate character in England and France, has convinced me that the Americans are certainly well abreast, if not in ad-
26
vance of the rest of the world, in all matters pertaining to the skillful arrangement and efficient management of public libraries.
Our various methods and appliances have received generous commendation from our English friends, and our Library Association has served as a model for similar organizations abroad.
The increased attention that is everywhere being paid to the more effective developement of the public library as a new educational factor, shows how wide spread is the faith, in its great ultimate usefulness, and that by a wise attention to its needs it will event ually truly become the "University of the People."
The Librarian and her assistants certainly deserve kindly mention for the conscientious discharge of their several duties during the past year. The per- formance of ordinary routine work may be reasonably expected without exciting remark, but there are nu- merous instances when more than the regulation time has been given through an earnest desire to meet the demands of special occasions. The experience of being burnt out brought with it arduous require- ments, that were cheerfully and successfully met.
The change made last spring in the office of Janitor, has proved to be very beneficial to the interests of the Library.
Respectfully submitted,
FREDERICK JACKSON,
Superintendent.
27
APPENDIX A.
DEC. 31. RECEIPTS.
1877.
1876.
Municipal appropriation,
$6,000 00
$3,500 00
Fines,
226 58
348 45
Sale of catalogues,
48 24
77 59
Payments for missing or damaged books,
50
6 60
Deposits from non-residents, .
10 00
-
Sundries,
36 77
38 00
$6,322 09
$3,970 64
Cash on hand at last report, .
1,337 61
3,349 70*
Total receipts,
$7,659 70
$7,320 34
* As no report was made for the year ending Dec. 31, 1875, this balance is given for the first time.
28
APPENDIX B.
DEC. 31. EXPENDITURES.
1877.
1876.
Book Account.
Books, .
$1,378 90
$893 98
Pamphlets,
1 98
-
Periodicals,
365 84
335 93
Binding, .
233 97
139 81
Building Account.
Repairs and additions, .
211 10
497 87
Furniture and fixtures, .
41 04
78 96
Fuel,
170 80
223 95
Lights,
513 75
456 50
Salary Account.
Administration,
1,900 00
1,850 02
Extra service,
580 58
464 83
Supply Account.
Printing catalogues,
33 60
177 00
Blanks and stationery,
177 88
268 18
Postage, .
37 42
ยท 22 47
Paper covers, .
50 62
41 28
Pamphlet cases and binders, .
5 50
-
Sundries (including advertising), .
353 39
251 87
Agency account,
304 35
280 08
Total expenditure, .
$6,360 72
$5,982 73
Balance with City Treasurer,
$1,291 02
-
at the Library, .
7 96
-
Total balance on hand,
$1,298 98
$1,337 61
$7,659 70
$7,320 34
29
APPENDIX C.
CIRCULATION.
1877.
1876.
Number of days the Library was open, .
256
305
of holidays the Library was open,
5
8
of other week days the Library was closed, of volumes delivered for home use,
68,023
81,705
Average daily use, .
265
268
Largest daily use, February 23,
576
504
Smallest daily use, May 29,
5
22
Number of books lost and not paid for, .
10
15
of books worn out and withdrawn,
65
69
of notices to delinquents,
1,040
1,586
of volumes covered,*
12,279
12,816
of volumes bound,
298
of names registered during the year, .
682
1,201
Total names registered during the year, .
6,837
6,155
52
-
-
* Volumes covered and bound do not include first bindings of editions in paper, or first covers of new books.
30
APPENDIX D.
ACCESSIONS.
1877.
1876.
Increase by purchase, .
869
684
by gift, . by binding pamphlets,
111
125
10
by binding periodicals, .
82
-
Number of missing volumes restored since last report,
-
-
Total accessions for the year,
1,072
809
Number of volumes missing or withdrawn since last report,
75
84
Actual increase,
997
725
Number of volumes in the Library as last reported,
11,939
11,214
Total number of volumes in the Library,
12,936
11,939
Increase of pamphlets by purchase,
5
by gift,
23
-
Accessions for the year,
28
Number of pamphlets as last reported,
64
-
-
Number of pamphlets bound since last report,
31
Number of pamphlets on hand,
61
64
Number of newspapers subscribed for,
of newspapers given,
9
-
-
1
-
Total number received, .
64
-
-
-
-
of magazines subscribed for, of magazines given,
20
-
-
92
34
31
APPENDIX E.
CLASSIFICATION, GROWTH, SIZE, AND USE.
Vols. added
during the
year.
Total num-
ber of vol-
umes.
Vols. issued
during the
year.
Per cent. of
circula- tion.
Literature.
Prose, fiction, and juvenile reading,
191
3,738
48,831
71.78
Essays, poetry, and drama,
94
1,552
5,629
8.27
Literary periodicals,
214
900
1,295
1.91
Foreign literature, .
33
437
268
.39
History.
Geography and travels,
90
1,154
4,723
6.95
Biography,
43
1,114
2,503
3.68
History,
60
1,152
2,053
3.02
Arts and Sciences.
Natural science and industrial arts,
108
881
2,231
3.28
Political and social science,
10
705
150
.22
Theology,
44
592
340
.50
Reference library,
185
711
-
-
Accessions for the year, .
1,072
-
-
-
Number of volumes in the Library,
12,936
-
-
Circulation for the year, .
.
68,023
-
NOL
NEWTON,
LIBRARY,
MASS.
REPORT
OF THE
Board of ater
ommissioners
OF
NEWTON, MASS.,
TO THE
CITY COUNCIL.
NOVEMBER 1st, 1877.
BOSTON : PRESS OF ROCKWELL & CHURCHILL, No. 39 ARCH STREET. 1877.
-
CITY OF NEWTON.
Ordered, -
SECTION 1. That there be elected by the City Council three citizens of Newton to serve as Water Commissioners, whose term of service shall be three years from the date of their confirmation, unless removed for sufficient cause.
SECT. 2. It shall be their duty to contract in behalf of the city for the construction of a system of Water Works substantially in accordance with the report of Messrs. Pulsifer, Parker, and Bishop, Water Commissioners, to the City Council, and they are hereby authorized and empowered to make all contracts and do such other acts as may be necessary and lawful for the thorough construction of such system of Water Works.
SECT. 3. The amount of money which the said Commissioners are authorized to expend, or cause to be expended, including all salaries which may be paid to them or to their successors prior to the completion of the Works, is hereby expressly limited to Eight Hundred and Fifty Thousand Dollars ($850,000).
SECT. 4. They shall be sworn to the faithful performance of their duties, and shall be paid at the rate of Fifteen Hundred Dollars each per annum.
SECT. 5. The expenditures which the said Water Commissioners may cause to be made, shall be made in accordance with the ordinances of the city regulating expenditures, the Commissioners being held as the proper certifying officials for all claims or accounts against the city on account of the construction of Water Works.
The said Commissioners shall exercise the power and authority given to them by this order in such manner as the City Council may from time to time direct, and said Commissioners shall be subject to such ordinances, rules, and regulations, as the City Council may from time to time establish in accordance with the
4
provisions of chapter 344, of the Acts of 1872, entitled " An Act to supply the City of Newton with Water."
Passed in concurrence June 2d, 1875.
A true copy. Attest :
(Signed,) JULIUS L. CLARKE, City Clerk.
Pursuant to the foregoing order, on the 7th day of June, 1875, Royal M. Pulsifer, Francis J. Parker, and Robert R. Bishop were unanimously elected Water Commissioners by concurrent vote of the City Council.
(Signed,) EDWIN O. CHILDS, City Clerk.
CITY HALL, NEWTON, April 28, 1876.
.
REPORT
OF THE
WATER COMMISSIONERS.
To the City Council of the City of Newton: -
The undersigned, who, under your order of June 2, 1875, were chosen to serve as Commissioners for the construction of a system of Water Works, have now the honor to report that the duty assigned to them has been accomplished within the time limited, and within the amount appropriated by you for that purpose.
The want of a copious supply of wholesome water, so collected and distributed as to furnish to the in- habitants an abundance for domestic and municipal uses, has long been felt in Newton, and year by year, with the increase of population, and the frequent re- currence of seasons of drought, the want has grown more pressing and the need more evident.
While the villages were small, and while the land was occupied chiefly for agricultural purposes, the natural supply was ample in quantity and excellent in quality. One half of the town border was on a constant stream, from which, or from springs, ponds, rivulets, or brooks, a supply was everywhere at hand
6
for the wants of men and animals, and severe drought was almost unknown.
Prior to 1871 two or three private aqueducts had been constructed, of limited domestic supply, but none of any considerable capacity.1
In April of that year the town resolved "that a committee of three be appointed by the Moderator, to investigate the best method of supplying the town with water, and to report at a subsequent town meeting."
The committee, consisting of Messrs. J. D. Towle, George H. Jones, and L. G. Pratt, reported at a town meeting held November 13, 1871, in favor of taking water from Charles river, and in accordance with the recommendation contained in the report, the same gentlemen were appointed a committee to apply to the Legislature for an act giving the town full power to carry the report into effect.
The result of this action was the enactment by the Legislature of chapter 344 of the Laws of 1872, au- thorizing the town of Newton to take " from Charles river at any convenient point on the same within said town sufficient water for the use of said town and inhabitants, not exceeding one and a half million gallons daily, for the extinguishinent of fires, domestic and other purposes." This act was accepted by vote of the town May 27, 1872.
There was, quite naturally, much difference of
1 The Newton Aqueduct Company was organized October 29, 1849, in the interest of the City of Boston, for supply of five parties, and as compensation for springs drawn off in the neighborhood of the first tunnel on the Cochituate Water Works.
7
opinion as to the expediency of engaging in a work of so great magnitude. The town occupied an extent of territory large in proportion to its population; the need of a water supply was not equally urgent in all the villages; the town expenses had increased with great rapidity, and many people who were willing to incur the expense estimated for the introduction of water feared that the result might be one too com- mon in public affairs, where the estimates were but a portion of the cost. Added to all this there was some difference of opinion as to the source from which water should be supplied. The Act of 1872, chap. 177, gave to Newton a possible opportunity to share in the supply which passed through its territory on the way to the reservoirs of Boston; and some persons believed that the ponds and streams within the town limits might be used to better advantage than the water of Charles river.
To meet the views of the latter class an order was passed in the City Council February 3, 1874, instruct- ing the Mayor "to petition the Legislature for au- thority to the City of Newton to take water from Hammond's pond, Wiswall's pond, Bullough's pond, and Cold Spring brook, all in Newton, for fire and other purposes; " and this petition meeting with the assent of the 'General Court, the act, chapter 125 of the Laws of 1874, authorized the City of Newton to take and hold the water of the ponds and brook above mentioned " and the waters which flow into the same, together with any water-rights connected therewith." This act was accepted by vote of the City Council October 20, 1875.
1
8
In order to obtain an expression of the popular opinion concerning the introduction of water, the citizens were called upon, in 1874, to vote yes or no on the question, " Shall the City of Newton be sup- plied with water for fire and domestic purposes, at an expense not exceeding six hundred thousand dollars, in accordance with the special Act of the Legislature of 1872, chapter 344, authorizing the same?" The vote was taken by ballot December 1, 1874, and resulted in yeas, 928, nays 443,- a very decisive expression of opinion, and one which appears to have forwarded progress towards definite results.
So soon thereafter as December 9, 1874, the City Council adopted an order "that His Honor the Mayor nominate for confirmation by the City Coun- cil three suitable persons, citizens of Newton, who shall be called Water Commissioners. They shall be charged with the duty of examining the various sources from which Newton may be supplied with water for fire and domestic purposes, and of reporting to the City Council, with as little delay as possible, the best method of obtaining such supply and the cost of the same."
The Commissioners, the same as those composing the present Board, were promptly appointed and con- firmed, and in May, 1875, made their report to the City Council, recommending as a source " a well at a point on Charles river above Pettee's works at the Upper Falls;" advising the use of a reservoir for distribution, and estimating the cost at not over $850,000.
The order constituting the present Board of Water
-
9
Commissioners was passed June 2, 1875, and on the 7th of the same month the Commissioners were chosen by the City Council. Their first formal meeting was held on the 16th of June, at which the Board was organized by the choice of Royal M. Pulsifer, as chair- man, and Moses Clark, Jr., as clerk. Stated meetings were appointed to be held at their office, which was established at Cole's Block, in Ward One. At this meeting also arrangements were made for the prep- aration of forms for proposals, contracts, and speci- fications. On the 25th Edward Sawyer, C. E., was appointed Chief Engineer for the construction of the works. July 12, 1875, it was voted to purchase the reservoir site on Waban Hill. On the 16th advertise- ments were ordered for proposals for furnishing cast- iron pipes and special castings; for laying cast-iron pipes and work connected therewith; and also, for the purpose of ascertaining the comparative cost of wrought-iron and cement pipes, proposals were invited for furnishing and laying the latter.
On the 19th the site for the pumping-station was decided upon. On the 23d bids for furnishing water gates were opened, and the contract was awarded to the Boston Machine Co. for its solid disc gates. On the 28th bids for furnishing and laying street mains, etc., were opened.
August 2, 1875, all the bids for furnishing water pipes were rejected. It was decided to use cast-iron pipes coated with coal tar, and the contract for lay- ing pipes was awarded to Freel & McNamee, of Brooklyn, N. Y. On the 4th the bids for furnishing post hydrants were opened, the contract for which
10
was awarded to the Boston Machine Co. On the same day a contract for cast-iron pipes was con- cluded with the Warren Foundry and Machine Co. of Phillipsburg, N. J., on terms somewhat more favorable than were contained in either of the pro- posals.
On the 6th S. R. Eccleston was appointed to inspect the manufacture of pipes, and he went on duty on the 12th. On the 6th, too, the contract for special castings was awarded to Davis & Farnum, of Waltham.
August 13 a contract was signed with Devlin, Long & Moore, of New York city, for laying the street mains, Freel & McNamee having repudiated their proposal.
. September 22, 1875, a contract was awarded to Higgins & Brother, of Newton, for building a pipe shed at Newtonville. On the 24th bids for furnishing the pumping-engine and boilers were opened, and on the same day W. H. Mahanna was appointed Chief Inspector of pipe-laying, etc.
October 9, 1875, it was voted to contract with H. R. Worthington, of New York, for two pumping- engines and for three boilers. On the 15th directions were given for test borings on the Needham side of Charles river, near Upper Falls. On the 25th work on the pump well was commenced, not by contract, but under the immediate direction of the Engineer.
October 28 the first pipe was laid in Washington street, near Woodland avenue. On the 29th the bids for the construction of the Waban Hill Reservoir were opened, and the contract was subsequently awarded to J. B. Dacey & Co., of Boston.
11
Early in December the contractors on pipe-laying were allowed to cease work for the season.
From this chronological statement it will be seen that when the first six months of the term of the Com- missioners expired the work was well under way. At the close of the year the debated matters had for the most part been decided, and the most important of the contracts had been concluded. Indeed, the only un- decided matter of consequence was the location of the filter basin, and on the 7th of January, 1876, the Com- missioners voted to request the City Council to ask of the Legislature authority to take land in the town of Needham, for the Water Works. In compliance with your petition, chapter 54 of the Laws of 1876 was enacted, by which the City of Newton is authorized "to take and hold, by purchase or otherwise, any lands within the town of Needham, not more than one thou- sand yards distant from Charles river, and lying between Kenrick's bridge, so called, and the new bridge near Newton Upper Falls, and to convey water from the same to and into said city."
March 6, 1876, the Commissioners accepted the design prepared by Charles Edward Parker, Esq., of Newton, architect, for the exterior of the engine, boiler and coal house, the interior arrangement having been fixed by the Engineer. Tenders for its con- struction were opened April 21, and the contract was awarded, May 5, to J. W. Coburn & Co., of Boston.
It having been decided to construct the filter basin on the Needham bank, and to connect it with the pump well by a 24-inch pipe sunk in the bed of Charles river, proposals were invited for doing the
12
work. These were opened June 7, 1876, and the contract was awarded to J. J. Newman, of Provi- dence, R. I.
The work of laying pipes, etc., was resumed by the contractors April 3, 1876. For a time, although hin- dered by a strike originating on the line of the Bos- ton conduit, satisfactory progress was made; but, owing to dissensions between the parties to the con- tract and consequent pecuniary weakness, the work soon slackened; and about the middle of May the greater part of the laborers, having received no pay for the previous month, left the work.
Our best exertions were used to obtain harmonious and efficient action on the part of the contractors; but these proved unavailing, and at last it became necessary to exercise the right reserved by us under the con- tract to order the contractors to cease work.
On the 15th of June the work was resumed by the Commissioners, and from that time was continued without the intervention of any contract or contractors, the persons previously acting as inspectors acting, under the direction of the Chief Engineer, as super- intendents of the work.
July 18 the schedule of water-rates was adopted by the City Council.
July 31 orders were given to discontinue the man- ufacture of pipes at the foundry. August 11 it was voted to contract with Gillis, Morison & Co., for tar- coated wrought-iron service-pipes, and, September 27, to accept the proposal of J. W. Coburn & Co. for building the gate-house at Waban Hill Reservoir.
On the occasion of the inspection of the Water
13
Works by the City Government, November 13, 1876, the filter basin was in use, the great pumping-engine in operation, the Waban Hill Reservoir one-third full, and the hydrants supplied with water along 48 miles of street mains. At the close of the working season 496 services had been laid for the supply of the citizens.
The winter was one of extraordinary drought, and the blessing of an inexhaustible supply of good water was appreciated not only by those whose dwellings were immediately connected with the mains, but also by many others, who by various expedients were supplied from the fire hydrants with water to fill their exhausted cisterns.
With the opening of the season of 1877 work was resumed on the street mains, under the direction of Mr. F. G. Richardson, who had been previously ap- pointed Superintendent of Pipe-laying; but the recent extensions have been limited to such cases as came within the rule published in your order of March 5, 1877, by which extensions were to be made only in cases where "the probable income will be at least equal to five per cent. per annum upon the outlay required."
The reservoir banks, which had been worn by heavy rains late in the year 1876, have been reinstated and are now fairly grassed. The streets about the reser- voir have been graded and put in order for use, and the reservoir itself has been enclosed with an inex- pensive fence.
Much work has been done in restoring street sur- faces, where it had become necessary by the action of
14
frost and floods, and the streets and grounds about the pumping-station have been graded and soiled.
In June of this year the Engineer, having made trials for ascertaining the capacity of the filter basin, made a special report, estimating the maximum yield from the basin at about 51,000 gallons per hour of contin- uous use, - a yield which could not be regarded as suf- ficient for the probable wants of Newton for more than three years to come, and consequently in case of prolonged drought or of accident to the reservoir the department might be embarrassed or compelled to resort to the river water.
Accordingly plans and specifications were prepared, and bids were invited, received, and opened. None of these being entirely satisfactory, all were rejected, and, after some changes in the details, a contract was executed with J. B. Dacey & Co., under date of July 23, 1877. The work was commenced forthwith, and was completed November 3, 1877.
This is a very brief statement of our doings in the performance of the duty assigned to us.
The report of the Chief Engineer, which is trans- mitted herewith, describes at some length the various works executed under his supervision, and the records and files of the commission will be found to contain all that is necessary to explain the details of the various contracts and constructions, as also plans, maps, drawings, and note-books, valuable to the city, not merely in connection with the Water Works, but. for information as to facts which will be important to the street and sewer departments.
The following statement exhibits in some detail
15
the cost of the Newton Water Works to November 1,18771 :-
COST OF WORKS TO NOVEMBER 1, 1877.
Pumping-Station.
Lands
$4,290 94
Basin, conduit, and well
37,871 48
Buildings and chimney
26,814 76
Engines and boilers
48,402 00
Tools and furniture
854 14
Roads, paths, grading, and fences . 3,349 20
Inspection and engineering
. 5,070 64
$126,653 16
Reservoir.
Lands .
$20,000 00
Basin and walls 53,533 28
Conduit, gate-house, and chamber, 8,341 84
Roads, paths, grading, and fences, 5,628 24
Inspection and engineering
6,487 87
93,991 23
Distribution.
Pipes and castings $316,109 75
Trenching, laying, and backfilling,
117,122 63
Water-gates and setting
12,989 27
Hydrants and setting
16,270 10 .
Pipe-yard expenses
7,947 33
Inspection and engineering
.
16,713 98
487,153 06
Service-Pipes.
Pipes, laying, inspection, and engineering . . $41,522 38
Less received from service
assessments and meters, 12,426 22
29,096 16
1 Includes all bills approved to November 15, 1877.
16
Engineering Department.
Furniture, and office expenses, $497 16
Instruments, tools, and drawing ma- terials
1,509 94
Travel .
697 36
$2,704 46
General Account.
Pay of commissioners and clerks $13,900 15
Furniture, and office expenses 1,939 06
Advertising, printing, books, etc., . 1,549 72
Travel and miscellaneous
570 11
17,959 04
Maintenance to March 1, 1877,
2,084 96
$759,642 07
Amount estimated as required to cover liabilities and accounts not included above $7,600 00
Less amount due and unpaid for service assessments
1,084 85
$6,515 15
TOTAL COST OF WORKS,
$766,157 22
Amount of appropriation, 850,000 00
Unexpended balance, $83,842 78
By this statement it appears that the total cost of the Water Works, including amounts as yet unpaid, is $766,157.22, and that after paying everything $83,842.78 of the appropriation will remain unex- pended. Some portion of this remainder you may choose to pay for the sake of avoiding suits at law on the part of mill-owners; but, on the other hand, there is due to the city, from Devlin, Long & Moore, under their contract, the sum of $12,999.43, for the recovery of which a suit is now in progress.
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