USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Newton > Town of Newton annual report 1875-1877 > Part 26
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Much information about street lines and grades has been obtained at the City Engineer's office, where every facility has been cour- teously afforded us for getting all that its plans and records contain.
Table showing the diameters and lengths of main pipes laid prior to October, 1877.
After the name of a street the word street is omitted. The word avenue is abbreviated to ave.
STREETS.
20-in.
16-in.
12-in.
8-in.
6-in.
4-in.
Totals in feet.
Adams
2,565
2,565
Allston
299
299
Arlington
689
689
Ash .
2,443
2,443
Auburn
3,826
1,646
621
6,093
Auburndale ave.
1,125
1,125
Avon place
307
307
Bacon
128
128
Baldwin
2
429
431
Bartlett's court.
See
Hunnewell park.
Beacon
5,242
5,412
10,654
Bellevue
1,665
1,665
Belmont
530
530
Bowditch
286
286
Bowdoin
318
318
Bowers
....
...
......
. .... 699
727
1,426
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
. ..
...
....
...
..
..
. .
...
.
58
Table showing the diameters and lengths, etc. -- Continued.
STREETS.
20-in.
16-in.
12-in.
8-in.
6-in ..
4-in.
Totals in feet.
Boyd
964
Boylston .
1,621
410
294
2,325
Bridge.
1,851
1,851
Brooks ave.
605
95
700
Cabot
748
748
Carleton
849
849
Cedar
1,574
1,574
Central ave.
1,128
1,128
Central
670
3,283
3,953
Centre .
965
7,343
16,481
Centre, Methodist-ch. ct.
224
224
Charles
6
1,157
312
1,475
Chase
924
924
Cherry
1,240
1,240
Chestnut
3
8,974
8,977
Church
1,525
1,731
3,256
Columbus
602
602
Court
1,037
1,037
Crafts
310
2,317
2,627
Crescent
1,332
1,332
Cross (Ward 1)
430
430
Cross (West Newton) ..
885
885
Crystal
571
571
Cypress and Parker
1,620
1,620
Davis
2
490
492
Eldredge
8
769
777
Eliot
1,685
1,401
3,086
Elm
1,577
1,577
Elmwood
943
943
Emerson .
581
581
Erie ave.
1,363
1,363
Everett
469
469
Evergreen ave.
632
344
976
Fern
144
144
Forest ave.
536
536
Forest, Highlands
35
616
651
Forest. See Moreland.
Fountain
324
324
Franklin
1,388
1,388
Glen ave.
775
775
Grafton
959
959
Grove
289
3,481
993
4,763
Hamilton
4,177
262
396
4,835
Hancock
and
R.R.
1
112
12
1,975
2,099
crossing
Hartford
456
456
Harvard
1,248
1,248
Hawthorn ave.
. ..
......
.....
683
683
.
.
·
. .
.
...
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
..
434
434
Elgin
.
.
.
·
.
.
..
296
296
Hammond
.
.
.
.
.
. .
8,173
964
59
Table showing the diameters, lengths, etc. - Continued.
STREETS.
20-in.
16-in.
12-in.
8-in.
6-in.
4-in.
Totals in feet.
Henshaw and Hen- shaw court.
3
431
285
716
High
1,982
1,982
Highland ave.
2,424
2,424
Highland
2,367
2,367
Hillside ave
1,527
1,527
Homer
1,474
1,474
Hovey
508
508
Howard
301
301
Hunnewell park, at
1,062
1,062
Hunnewell park, at
428
428
Hunter
324
324
Hyde
45
45
Islington
709
709
Jefferson and Maple
....
1,108
1,108
Kenrick park. See Park.
Knowles .
40
189
229
Lake ave.
860
860
Lexington
1,165
87
2,043
Lincoln
2,142
2,142
Linden
599
599
Linwood ave.
321
321
Lowell
711
1,607
2,318
Malverr
477
477
Maple park
355
355
Maple. See Jefferson.
1,913
1,913
Melrose
624
624
Methodist-ch. court.
See Centre.
Moreland
230
230
Mt. Vernon
1,315
1,315
Murray
252
252
Needham
3,964
3,964
Newtonville ave.
4,588
4,588
Nonantum place
356
356
Nonantum .
1,229
1,229
No. Bend. See Carleton,
No. School. See School. Oak
1,489
1,180
2,669
Otis place
297
297
Otis ..
2,744
2,744
Park and Kenrick park.
3,561
381
3,942
Parker. See Cypress.
967
967
Paul
.
4 .
....
.. .. . .
713
713
..
.. . .
Jewett
1,153
1,153
.
.. ..
.
·
.
...
. .
Parsons
.. . .
Henry Claflin's .. ..
Dr. Bartlett's .
Lander. See Margin.
Margin and Lander
60
Table showing the diameters, lengths, etc. - Continued.
STREETS.
20-in.
16-in.
12-in.
8-in.
6-in.
4-in.
Totals in feet.
Peabody
112
112
Pearl pl. See Carleton.
Pearl
2,557
2,557
Pelham
3
933
936
Pembroke
6
636
642
Perkins
747
747
Pleasant
754
980
1,734
Prescott
824
824
Prospect
333
333
Putnam
1,082
1,082
Railroad crossing. Hancock.
See
Richardson
1,212
1,212
River
2,778
2,778
Rogers
58
58
Rowe.
1,870
1,870
Russell court ..
287
875
School and North School
773
202
972
Seminary ave
240
480
720
Shaw
721
721
South
1,557
1,557
Spring.
389
284
673
Station
2,191
2,191
St. James
425
425
Sumner
1,596
1,596
Temple
1,591
1,591
Tremont
721
721
Vernon
1,874
1,874
Vista ave.
962
962
Waban and Waban park Wales .
736
1,600
2,336
Walker
494
494
Walnut court
283
283
Walnut park
1,312
236
1,548
Walnut
3,447
1,392
761
5,600
Waltham
667
3,587
4,254
Ward
and Reservoir
grounds
4,650
1,334
5,984
Warren ave.
211
211
Warren.
1,014
1,014
Washington park
555
1,944
2,499
Washington pl.
546
406
952
Washington
19,262
7,012
1,307
340
27,921
Watertown
1,144
2,543
3,687
Waverly ave.
4,235
1,275
Webster park
573
333
906
Webster . .
2,146
...
2,146
Willow pl.
See Maple
park.
Willow
...
· ..
...
403
... 403
.
. .
.
.
.
.
. .
·
.
.
.
.
.
. ..
.
288
.
.
.
.
..
.
...
5,510
288
61
Table showing the diameters, lengths, etc. - Continued.
STREETS.
24-in.
20-in.
16-in.
12-in.
8-in.
6-in.
4-in.
Totals in feet.
Winchester
(South
of
1,225
1,225
Boylston) ..
Winchester
(East Walnut
of
686
686
Winthrop
852
852
Walcott
and
1,760
1,760
Walcott p'k
Woodland ave.
3,698
Woodward
1,155
3,698 750
1,905
Totals
18,012
2,457
58,881
53,137
116,164
22,551
271,202
At Reservoir ..
. .
32
32
At Pumping Sta.
Force Mains
98
51
149
Conduit Pipe
631
631
Totals
761
18,012
2,457
58,932
53.137
116,164
22,551
272,014
.
.
The above statement does not include the 6-inch hydrant con- nections, the lengths of capped branches, 4-inch service-pipes for the Mason and Williams School-houses, nor any of the pipe inside of the engine-house.
SERVICE-PIPES.
No entirely satisfactory material for service-pipes has yet been found.
Lead is costly, especially when made in the great thicknesses required by the Newton pressure.
As a general rule, good waters contain more air, and attack lead more strongly, than those which are contaminated by organic matter. The river waters in this vicinity, by standing in lead pipes over night or longer, take up enough of the metal to become more or less unwholesome. By wasting all water which has been standing in this way the danger might be avoided ; but practically much of this water would be used through carelessness.
Tin-lined lead pipes, well put together, are safe, convenient, and durable, but they cost about 75 per cent. more than unlined lead- pipes.
Cast iron can be well protected from rust by tar coating, but it is
..
...
62
impracticable to make it into pipes either long enough or light enough to be satisfactory for services. It is also inconvenient on account of its inflexibility, and the making of good joints with it is rather costly.
Wrought-iron pipe is very cheap, strong, and light ; it is made in convenient lengths, is sufficiently flexible, and can be easily joined. Its liability to rust is its only weak point. Attempts have been made to overcome this by various protective coatings ; such as paints ; thin films of zinc put on by the process commonly called galvanizing ; hydraulic cement; enamels made with caoutchouc, mineral oxides, etc., baked on ; tin linings ; preparations of coal tar, etc. The enamels, cement, and coal-tar coatings, all give more or less unpleasant taste to the water, for the first few months of use. Most of the coatings above mentioned have been extensively used and are more or less strongly recommended.
Under these circumstances it seemed desirable to make prolonged tests of various pipes and coatings. Samples of pipes, generally about 50 feet in length, were procured from different dealers, joined in the ordinary way, and delivered for trial to Mr. J. M. Merrick, the well-known chemist. As there would not be time enough for this after the completion of the filtering basin, Charles-river water was used, as coming from the same territory and probably the near- est representative of the future Newton supply. The pipes were thoroughly rinsed out, filled with the water and allowed to stand for several days. after which the waters were drawn out and tested for ascertaining how much of the various metals had been taken up. This process was repeated several times, at intervals varying from 3 to 14 days. These repetitions were for finding whether the action increased or diminished.
The general result with lead pipe was that the water took up about 216 grain of lead per gallon per day, - an amount according to many authorities below the limit of danger. Action at this slow rate would not be likely to weaken the pipe to any appreciable extent in 50 years.
With the American Tube Co.'s brass pipe the action was very slight, not enough to injure the water to any considerable ex- tent, nor to threaten the durability of the pipe. The results indi- cate that this pipe may safely be used for cold water ; no trials were made with hot water.
63
At every trial with the " galvanized " iron pipe, the action was rapid, - utterly spoiling the water, and indicating that the whole of the zinc coating would be removed in a year or two.
Tin-lined lead pipe was not tried, partly because there was no doubt of its fitness, and partly because its high cost would be likely to prevent its general adoption.
Of the iron pipes tried, that coated with coal-tar preparation gave the best results. 50 feet of this pipe, ¿- inch in diameter, with 9 joints, and holding a little more than half a gallon of water, was filled and emptied 16 times in 63 days. On the average, this pipe took more than 3} days to give up to the water one grain of foreign matters, chiefly oxide of iron, with some silica, etc. The rate of action varied somewhat from time to time, diminishing slowly on the whole. These results, together with the fact that pipes of this kind had been extensively used elsewhere for several years with but trifling complaint from rusting, led to its adoption for the Newton service-pipes, and a contract was made with Gillis, Morison & Co. for supplying it. It was believed that considerable improvement could be made in the coating process, and arrange- ments were made with the Boston Machine Co. to prepare suitable apparatus, and do the work. To insure an intimate connection of the coating, the pipes are immersed vertically, and remain for a long time in the boiling tar. The temperature is maintained and controlled by steam from the boilers. With this apparatus, and tar kept at the proper consistency, coatings are produced which are neither too thick nor too thin, too brittle nor too soft.
Each service-pipe begins with a stopcock or " tap " screwed hori- zontally into the side of the street main. These stopcocks are put in with Jones' tapping machine, without shutting the water out of the main.
The tarred iron pipe begins about 18 inches from the stopcock, the interval being filled with about 2 feet of lead pipe. If the main pipe moves in any direction, - as not infrequently happens in consequence of deep excavations near it, - the lead connection will yield by straightening, without breaking.
Each service-pipe also has a stopcock at the sidewalk, with a small box coming to the surface through which the stopcock can be reached with a suitable wrench. This furnishes an easy means
64
of turning the water off or on, without breaking up the street to reach the cock at the main. It also facilitates the detection of leaks and improper use of water. At night, when the streets are still and the legitimate use of water is inconsiderable, flow of water through a stopcock or leak near it can be heard by applying the ear to an iron rod standing on the stopcock. This process has been of great value in reducing waste in many places.
The first service-pipes were laid in October, 1876. Some of them have recently been examined and found in good condition. As was expected, a little rusting had occurred at joints and places accident- ally exposed, but with these slight exceptions the surface seemed to be perfectly protected by the coating.
GENERAL REMARKS.
Comparatively few accidents occurred in the prosecution of the work, and only one which resulted fatally. On Aug. 27, 1877, a derrick (in use by the contractors for the extension of the filtering basin) fell, instantly killing John Courtney, of Worcester, a laborer employed by the contractors. He had the reputation of being a good, faithful workman. The derrick was not heavily loaded, but one of the guys proved unexpectedly weak.
Three or four other men were severely injured at different times, but it is believed that they all fully recovered and resumed work within about two months.
The following list gives the names of assistant engineers and rodmen employed on the Works for terms of one month or longer : -
Principal Assistant in charge of office. - Frederick Brooks.
Principal Assistants. - C. F. Allen, F. Schoff, J. F. Clarke, 2d, R. E. Williams, G. C. Hall, Rufus Cook.
Junior Assistants. - E. A. Buss, Geo. F. Knoblauch, W. F. Goodrich, E. B. Baker. C. E. Alger, J. S. Emerson, F. D. Cook.
Rodmen. - T. P. Parsons, W. E. Richards, Wm. H. Snow, E. A. W. Hammatt, H. W. B. Phinney, D. W. Hyde, F. N. Hoyt, J. C. Whitney, C. W. Sanders.
ANNUAL REPORT
OF THE
CHIEF ENGINEER
OF THE
FIRE DEPARTMENT,
FOR THE YEAR ENDING
DECEMBER 31, 1877.
Y AND
UNIOM
BE
19
FOUNDED1
CITY 18
IN
N
M.
N
RAT
A
BOSTON: AMIDON & WASHBURN, PRINTERS, 221 WASHINGTON STREET,
1878.
REPORT.
CITY OF NEWTON, FIRE DEPARTMENT, CHIEF ENGINEER'S OFFICE, CITY HALL, January 1, 1878.
TO THE HONORABLE MAYOR, AND CITY COUNCIL OF NEWTON: -
Gentlemen: As required by the ordinance of the City, herewith is submitted the Annual Report of the Chief Engineer of the Fire Department, for the year ending December 31, 1877.
The report consists of a statement of the Organiz- ation; Apparatus and Condition of the Department; List of Fires; Amount of Loss and Insurance, as near as could be ascertained; Fire Alarm Telegraph, Boxes and Hydrants.
4
ORGANIZATION.
The Organization for the past year was as follows: Chief Engineer, who is also Superintendent of Fire Alarm Telegraph and Hydrants.
One Assistant Engineer.
One Clerk.
Three Steam Fire Engine Companies with Hose Car-
riages and Tender Wagons, fifteen men each, 45 One Hook and Ladder Company, 14
Three Hose Companies, six men each, 18
One Volunteer Hand Engine Company, 50
Total officers and men, 130
I would here recommend that the permanent men be employed during good behavior, instead of being elected every year. Also, that they be entitled to two weeks vacation per year.
APPARATUS.
The apparatus consists of three Steamers with Hose Carriage and Tender Wagon to each, in Wards 3, 6 and 7.
One Hook and Ladder Truck in Ward 2, Newton- ville.
One Horse Hose Carriage in Ward 2, Newtonville.
One
66 66 4, Auburndale.
One 66 66 66 4, Lower Falls.
One Hand Engine, 66 5, Upper Falls.
One Horse Hose Carriage for Upper Falls.
5
During the past year "Cataract " hand engine has been sold for seven hundred dollars; also a small hose jumper at Lower Falls was sold for thirty dollars, and two new one horse hose carriages have been purchased for the Lower Falls and Upper Falls, at a cost of seven hundred dollars each. Steamer No. 2, at West Newton, was found early in the year to be in very bad condition- wholly unfit for use-and was sent to Manchester and put in thorough repair, at the request of the Fire Committee. Steamers No. 1 and 3, were repaired at their own houses by their Engineers. All the apparatus is now in perfect order. I will recommend the purchase of a new hook and ladder truck, to take the place of the one we now have, as the present one is too small to carry a sufficient supply of ladders. The truck is too short to carry ladders of sufficient length to do us much good in case of fires in the large stores, halls and public buildings on the lower side of the City. I would recommend that the truck we now have be placed at Newton Upper Falls, where it can be made useful in reaching with promptness all fires on the south'and east side of the City. I also recommend that the hand engine at the Upper Falls be sold.
HOSE.
There are about 13,000 feet of hose now owned by the City, and distributed among the different
6
companies. About two thousand feet are unfit for general use. We have sold five hundred feet for old junk for $66.00. We have bought 1800 feet of Boyd's Eureka Cotton Hose for two thousand dollars. This is the first trial of any hose except leather that the City has ever made, and we find it to be a very good investment. I think we shall not need any new hose for the coming year; but recommend that all the condemned hose be sold or exchanged for new.
FIRES.
DATE.
Box.
TIME.
PLACE.
Loss.
INSURANCE.
January . . . .
5
.... 15 ....
. .. 12.20 p.m ...
. Public Library . . .
$2,500 ... 500 ...
.$65,000
February ... 10
.... 31 ....
... 2.52 a.m ....
. Enoch Welsh's House ..
700
March .. ..
8
·
4
... .32.
... 1.30 a.m ..
. Daniel McBride's House ..
125
450
.4
8
.... 31 . . ..
...
4. ...
... 9.15 a.m ..
. Chimney burned out.
.. none .. .. . .none ... .
66
23
.... 73 ....
... 3.05 p.m. . .
. Fire in Woods.
.. none ...
.... none ... .
May ..
1
... 12.30
a.m ...
. Dolan's House. .
200
.
.... 21 ....
. .. 11.25 p.m. . .
. Varney's House.
.
1,538 . . . .
2,000
12
· .. 7 ....
9.40 p.m .. .
. Judd's Blacksmith Shop.
500 ...
500
..
14
· .21.
7.25 p.m .. ..
. Fire in Woods. ..
.
.. none ....
. ... none. ...
...
. . .
17
.... 5.
. .. 10.25 p.In . . .
. Warren's House. .
100.
... 1,500
7.55 p.m. . .
. Fire in Woods
.... none ...
. ... nonc .. ..
June .......
10
.... 32. . ...
...
1.50 a.m ...
. .. McCarty's House.
700 .
66
2
... .
.... 24.
a.m ...
. Clothing ,
. . slight ....
.... none ....
8
.... 31 ....
. .. 12.15 a.m ..
. Mike Bryson's House.
800 ... .
· 1,000
. Mayor Speare's House and Barn. .
3,407. . . .
.. 4,000
July .
3
... 2.30 a.m ...
. Pine Farm Barn. .
1,200 ... .
. 300
... 5.50 p.m ..
. John Leach's House.
500 ...
.
.... none ....
66
16 .
... 1.30
a.m ...
. Cate's Barn. .
200 ... .
300
23
.... 21 .. ..
... 3.30 a.m ....
. George F. Work's Barn
350 ...
400
October .... 66
24
.... 73 .... .... 4 ....
...
... 1.55 p.m . . . 8.55 a.m.
.. Blacksmith Shop.
1,000 ...
700
December .. 12
.... 24 ....
... 7.00 p.m ...
.. James Sheriden's House.
00. . .
1,000
December .. 17
.... 7 ....
... 12.20 a.m ....
. . Blacksmith Shop ..
10 ...
Total Alarms,
.... 29 ....
. . $19,090 ...
..... $88,650
·
.
. .
2.58 a.m ..
. Tim Feeley's.
800 ... .
1,700
66
30
.. 15 & 13 .. .... 5. ..
5.00 a.m ...
. Converse Greenhouse.
300 .. .
.
.73. 52. . 5 ...
.
. .. 11.45 a.m ..
. T. McGau's House.
150 ...
10 ... .... none .... 4,000. . . . 8,000
November . .
2
.. . 8.
. Col. Lee's House ..
66
12
.... 35 ....
8.15 a.m ...
. Reagan's House. .. E. F. Porters.
. .. trifling . ..
. .
28
.... 31 .... .... 7 ....
14
.
500
September .. 7
29
.. . ... .
.... 7. . .
...
5.50
14
... 8.50 p.in ..
7.55 a.m ... ...
. John Sheriden's House.
.
L
.
19
10
600
. Steamer 2 went to Needham.
April .
8
HOUSES.
There have been alterations in some of the houses. Hose Five's house at Auburndale, has been enlarged so as to accommodate two horses, and sleeping apart- ments made to accommodate the men. This house will meet all the demands for that section of the city for years to come. Hose Six house at Lower Falls has been enlarged to accommodate two horses, and sleeping apartments for the men. This house will be all that is required for years to come in that section. Rooms at the Hook and Ladder Truck house have been furnished for the comfort of the men. I will recommend that the stable at Steamer Two's house be put in a better condition. The stalls are unsafe for the horses, and are very inconvenient. There should be new stalls made, and front towards the engine room, so the horses could be got to the engine more promptly and safer. The sleeping rooms should be made at once at Steamer Two's house to accommodate the men. The engine house at the Upper Falls is a disgrace to the City, and should be disposed of. A new house should be built to accommodate the horse hose carriage, which is now stored where it is of no use to the city; and the house should be built large enough to accommodate the hook and ladder truck which I recommended to be sent there from Newtonville. That truck will
9
be very useful for many years placed at this part of the City, and is not fit for the place it is in now. A truck located at the Upper Falls, can reach all the south and east part of the City more promptly and easier, than from the other side of the City. More depends on this apparatus at the beginning of fires that anything else. The other parts of the depart- ment are of not much importance if the truck is not there with the ladders so that the firemen can get at the fire before the buildings are burned down so they can reach the flames with the water.
HYDRANTS.
There were last year two hundred and fifty-seven hydrants. Three have been removed, and eighteen new ones set; many more should be set in thickly settled parts of the city, where there is no water to put out the fires, without a long line of hose from some pond or stream. The hydrants are all in good working order.
FIRE ALARM TELEGRAPH.
This department consists of 22 boxes, 7 gongs and 6 strikers, 200 battery cups, thirty miles of wire, one horse, buggy, wagon, pung and two harnesses. The telegraph has worked perfectly satisfactorily the past year, and is now in perfect order. About thirty poles have been reset. A new gong was placed in
10
the Chief Engineer's house; also a new striker was placed on City Hall, West Newton. A new horse, buggy and harness was bought for the Superinten- dent.
In conclusion, I am happy to say I believe we have in the City of Newton as good a department and as well managed as any in the State.
I thank His Honor the Mayor and the City Government for their attention paid to the require- ments of the department the past year, and to the Fire Committee for the assistance and hearty co-operation at all times. I know they have done all in their power for the best good of the City and the depart- ment.
I tender to my Assistant Engineer, Henry L. Bixby, my sincere thanks for his promptness, effici- ency and kind assistance in the cheerful and faithful discharge of all his duties; and to all the officers and men of the department, for their hearty and cheerful obedience and support at all times. The Police have rendered valuable assistance, and I owe them my sincere thanks. The Superintendent of Streets has been kind and attentive in furnishing of horses to this department.
Respectfully submitted, GEO. H. ELLIS, Chief Engineer.
1600. 8353, 80
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