USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Newton > Town of Newton annual report 1877-1878 > Part 17
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GEO. L. WHITNEY, Superintendent.
REPORT
OF THE
WATER COMMITTEE,
FOR YEAR ENDING DECEMBER 31, 1878.
JANUARY 20, 1879.
Last Spring, in assuming the duties of their office, the Water Committee found themselves rather pecu- liarly situated from the fact that very nearly everything was new to them, quite unlike committees in other branches of the municipal work that have members holding over from the previous year, and well in the harness prepared at once to proceed understandingly with their work. Considerable time necessarily was consumed in acquainting ourselves with the machin- ery and business of the Water Department, but by the ever ready hand and willing heart of the retiring Board of Commissioners to whom we are indebted for valuable aid and explanations, we were enabled to grasp the situation more readily and completely than we otherwise would have done, for it must be remembered that unlike other branches of the city work the water works are principally under ground,
4
26
attended with an average pressure of about sixty pounds to the square inch, and more or less likely to become leaky in the joints, &c., &c.
Although the experience of the closing year has demonstrated that the works can be managed toler- ably well by a committee of the City Council, it is equally well demonstrated that a mixed commission consisting of one permanent commissioner in addition to the Joint Standing Committee of the City Council, would be on the whole better than the present arrangement. This opinion is verified by the testi- mony of water boards in neighboring cities where such mixed commissions have been established.
The schedule of Water Rates was found practi- cally to be very incomplete and susceptible of wrong interpretations and double meanings, which have been a source of numerous misunderstandings between the Department and the water takers. The Commit- tee recommended the passage of an order requesting the Ordinance Committee to report a schedule of rates in a new draft, thus hoping to relieve future committees and registrars of some of the difficulties the present water board have had to contend with.
About two miles of street mains have been laid the past season, together with the requisite number of gates and hydrants.
Improvements at the filtering basin and reservoir on Waban Hill have been made as well as works of
27
minor importance, a detailed account of which may be found in the Superintendent's Report.
"Dead ends" are a source of considerable annoy- ance and should be connected wherever it is practical to do so. The water becomes stale and noxious and needs to be blown off frequently to give life to it. The committee adopted the rule of blowing off at least once in a month during the warm season; but in some localities this was found to be insufficient and it had to be done oftener. Although it is impos- sible to dispense with all the "dead ends," there are quite a number of cases where they can be connected by laying a few hundred feet of pipe for the pur- pose. Several have been connected during the year and a few have been made. But it has been the aim of the committee to avoid them so far as possible.
Quite a number of tests have been made during the season with following results.
First we find the water pressure varies from 6 to 10 pounds to the square inch, according to the draught made upon it, and that is very seldom steady at any one point of pressure.
The pressure at Steamer House, Ward 7, . 90 lbs.
66 66 " Supply Yard, Newtonville,
85 to 90 66
.. " City Hall, West Newton, .
66
6. . . " Engine House, Auburndale,
85 80
. 6
6. 66 6 6 .6 Lower Falls,
78
..
66
66 66 Newton Centre, . 52 66
.. 6. " Pumping Station, 65 to 77 .. ..
" Sill of O. Pettee's Residence, Ward 5, 24 66
28
A few measurements have been taken to ascer- tain more accurately the water flow in a given time from lawn sprinklers and hose of § inch orifice as pro- vided to schedule, with results as follows:
At pumping station a tank holding a hundred gal- lons was filled with water from a 2 inch orifice in six minutes; equal to one thousand gallons per hour.
Upon connecting a meter and allowing the water to pass through it, the time required to fill the tank was 73 minutes, giving 800 gallons per hour. With a f inch orifice and meter, the tank was filled in 5} minutes, equal to 1,043 gallons per hour.
At supply yard, Newtonville, the same tank was filled from a & inch orifice in four minutes and twenty seconds, equal to 1,388 gallons per hour.
With meter attached the time required to fill tank at Newtonville was five minutes twenty seconds, equal to 1,125 gallons per hour.
Tuesday morning Sept. 3d, at 9 o'clock, we made an experiment at pumping station, showing the effect by opening a hydrant for fire purposes. The water gauge on sill cock in front of building indicated 672 lbs. pressure, with variation from 65 to 70 lbs. Upon opening the hydrant about fifty feet west of the building, the pressure dropped to 57 lbs., and after the hose with 14 inch orifice was filled, the pres- sure was again restored to its former register of 67₺ lbs. Upon closing the hydrant the pressure sud-
29
denly went to 85 lbs., but very soon dropped to its original point again.
After taking off the nozzle and playing through open hose the pressure was reduced to 55 lbs. on the start, and rapidly fluctuated between 55 as a mini- mum and 85 as a maximum pressure, during the time the hydrant was open.
Upon closing the hydrant the commotion of the water in the "main" carried the pressure to 95 lbs., and from that point downward to 53 lbs., and with con- tinued fluctuations between these two points, gradually diminishing in area from three to four min- utes, when it was finally restored to its original point at 672 lbs. These experiments and others of a sim- ilar nature in other localities, together with the sen- sitiveness of the pumping engine to changes of pressure convinced the committee that for the better protection of the machinery from accident in conse- quence of opening hydrants or gates, a gong con- nected with the fire alarm should be placed in the building to give timely warning to the engineer that hydrants were about to be opened, so that he could regulate his power accordingly.
By vote of the City Council the gong has been put up and connected with fire alarm.
WATER HAMMER.
The direct cause of the water hammer convulsions in the service pipes seems to be the most difficult to
30
understand or account for; they seem to occur more frequently on the higher levels. Several instances have been reported from Auburndale and Upper Falls and a single case or two at Newtonville. We have been considerably annoyed with them at my house, (O. Pettee's, Ward 5) many of them of suffi- cient magnitude to cause a rumbling report loud enough to be distinctly heard from cellar to attic. I am provided with pipes and fixtures of the same strength and weight used in the lower sections of the city where the pressure varies from 80 to 100 pounds to the inch, while we have a steady pressure of only 24 pounds, yet the convulsions or hammer in one in- stance was of so great and sudden force that a good, sound pipe was ruptured at the sink, at once delug- ing the kitchen with water; fortunately I was in the house at the time and immediately turned off the water in the cellar.
If further observation of the occurrence and local- ity of the water hammer disturbances should confirm the theory that they are almost exclusively confined to the higher levels and branch pipes from the main lines, the cause may be attributed partly to air in the pipes and partly to the main pipes taking the lead in the flow of water from the draught on the lower lev- els and weakening the pressure in the branches and smaller pipes and causing almost innumerable air cells to collect on the weaker points of pressure and
31
then when the recoil of the water sends it back against the air, convulsion must necessarily take place just in proportion to the amount of pressure displaced. If the street mains were of greater diam- eter the rapidity in the flow of water would be proportionately less, and thus in a measure remove the liability of the recurrence of these disturbances.
These facts and other disturbing elements likely to occur from time to time have convinced the commit- tee that it is very desirable to have some one in each of the thickly settled places provided with the nec- essary apparatus and authorized to turn off the water in case of accident or breakage in the service.
The pumping engines have been thoroughly re- packed in the joints; substituting sheet copper in place of the rubber packing in all principal joints including the heavy steam chests and domes, and the valves readjusted and properly set, which makes a decided improvement in the working of the machin- ery and giving a better duty in pumping.
The whole amount of water pumped for twelve months ending Dec. 31, 1878, was about 116,000,000 gallons. The amount of coal consumed in same time, 325,000 pounds. Number of hours of running time, 664. The greatest amount of water pumped in one month was in July, amounting to about 15,500,000 gallons. The least amount in April, being a little more than 3,000,000 gallons. The greatest amount
32
of water used in twenty-four hours was on July 4th, when about 728,000 gallons were drawn from the res- ervoir. The average daily consumption for all pur- poses for the year, was about 318,000 gallons.
All of which is respectfully submitted,
OTIS PETTEE, Chairman. E. W. WOOD. J. WESLEY KIMBALL. N. MOSMAN. GEO. E. PIKE.
ANNUAL REPORT
OF THE
CHIEF ENGINEER
OF THE
FIRE DEPARTMENT.
FOR THE YEAR ENDING DEC. 31, 1878.
V
AND
LIBE
UNION.
FOUNDED 163
79.A CITY1873
ING
N
M.
N
ATO
PRINTED BY ORDER OF THE CITY COUNCIL.
BOSTON: HENRY WASHBURN, PRINTER, 221 WASHINGTON ST.
1879.
Annual Report of the Chief Engineer
OF THE
FIRE DEPARTMENT.
- To
THE HONORABLE MAYOR, AND CITY COUNCIL OF NEWTON :-
Gentlemen: As required by an ordinance of the City, I herewith submit my second Annual Report, as Chief Engineer of the Fire Department for the year ending December 31, 1878.
G. H. ELLIS.
ORGANIZATION.
The Organization of the Department is as fol- lows :-
One Chief Engineer, (who is also Supt. of Fire Alarm Tel. 1
One assistant Engineer, 1
One Clerk, 1
Three Companies manning Steam Engines, and attendant
Hose and Tender wagons, 15 men each, 45
One Hook and Ladder company, 14
Three Hose companies, six men each, 18
Total Officers and Men, 80
The Auburndale Hose Company disbanded in the Fall. A new company will doubtless be soon
4
enrolled. In the meantime, Hose 2 and Hose 6 will look well to that part of the City.
APPARATUS.
The Apparatus consists of a
Steam Fire Engine, Hose Carriage and Tender Wagon in each of the Wards, 3, 6, and 7.
One Hook and Ladder Truck in Ward 2,
One Horse Hose Carriage, 66 66
Newtonville.
66 and Pung, Ward 4,
Auburndale.
66 66
66 66
66
60
66 66
66 4, Lower Falls. 5, Upper Falls.
The Apparatus is all in good working order. The new Hose Carriage purchased some time ago for the Upper Falls, will now be available, because a suitable house in which to keep it has been provided.
I would still advise the placing of the Hook and Ladder Truck at the Upper Falls, and the procuring of a larger one for the other side of the City.
HOSE.
There is a fair supply of Hose owned by the City, none has been purchased during the year. Of the thirteen thousand feet distributed among the different companies, some three thousand or more is unfit for general use. It will probably be deemed necessary to ask for more the current year.
HOUSES.
An act of simple justice, ample, though tardy, has been done Ward 5, in the erection of a substantial
5
and commodious Engine House. With their new Hose Carriage, and tidy quarters, good work may be expected from the "boys" in Ward 5.
The horse stalls at the Engine house in West Newton still demand attention, but no great outlay is necessary to make the houses of the Department all that is desirable.
FIRES.
DATE.
BOX.
TIME.
PLACE.
LOSS.
INS.
Jan.
1
Still Alarm.
2.15 P.M.
Blacksmith's Shop,
$ 5
66
4
31
1.35 A.M.
Fire in Weston,
13
7.15 P.M.
Watertown,
66
23
7
8.30 P.M.
Mr. Kearn's House,
66
500
$ 975
E. H. Jepson's House,
500
400
Feb. 2
35
8.55 A.M.
Lucas Plaining Mill,
360
1,000
26
9
10.00 P.M.
" Cook Place," Brookline St.
1,400
2,500
Mar.
20
73
8.30 P.M.
Fire in the Woods,
Wheelwright's Shop,
25
500
66
26
9
9.30 P.M.
Edwin Young's House,
1,500
2,000
Apr. . 2
8.00 P.M.
Fire in Watertown,
66
25
5
3.45 P.M.
" Woods,
May
2
12
9.50 P.M.
Mr. Mandell's House,
200
1,500
66
3
4
2.15 P.M.
Mr. Kelley's House,
500
None.
June 16
7
2.25 A.M.
Mr. Doyle's House,
600
600
Newtonville,
66
28
23
11.30 P.M.
Watertown.
July
4
35
7.40 A.M.
Mr. Riley's House, .
75
700
4
Still73 Al.
12.00 M.
Mrs. Mason's Hedge,
66
24
7
1.50 A.M.
25
9
4.30 P.M.
26
5
11.45 P.M.
J. F. Fuller's House,
1,500
1,000
24
15
8.05 P.M.
Still Alarm.
·
6
FIRES-Continued.
DATE,
BOX.
TIME,
PLACE.
LOSS.
INS.
July
5
Still73 Al.
2.45 P.M.
66
6
13
2.30 P.M.
Mrs. J. W. Edmands' House,
$11,500
$26,000
9
15
3.30 P.M.
Mr. Jackson's House,
Slight.
66
18
15
3.25 P.M.
Mr. Henderson's Shop,
66
24
9
1.15 P.M.
Mr. Grant's House,
3,000
3,500
66
26
15
4.45 A.M.
John Capen's House,
300
3,500
Aug. 15
8
8.50 P.M.
Bonfire, .
66
18
73
6.10 A.M.
Mr. Damon's House,
25
66
19
1.50 A.M.
Watertown, .
66
31
24
1.50 A.M.
Barn of Mr. Murphy,
50
Sept. 2
32
5.30 A.M.
Mr. Fiske's Shop,
55
300
66
17
12
4 P.M.
Mr. Billings' Stable,
70
3,000
66
23
7
1.30 A.M.
Mr. Wright's House & Barn, 66 " Ruins," .
800
4,110
66
24
7
10.15 A.M.
66
27
35
7.10 P.M.
House of Mr. Pendergast,
400
550
66
29
7
9.10 P.M.
False Alarm, .
Barn of Mr. Nicholson,
100
66
17
14
10.00 P.M.
Mr. Pingree's Barn,
400
500
Nov. 1
5
10.45 P.M.
Boyden Hall. ,
Slight.
66
4
35
2.30 A.M.
House on Webster Street,
Trifling
66
11
15
10.10 P.M.
Mr. Brackett's Store House, Mr. Sargent's Barn,
200
800
66
. 16
15
2.20 P.M.
Trifling
66
17
4
9.30 A.M.
House of Mr. Haskell,
Dec. 22
62
7.35 P.M.
Fire in the Woods,
66
28
7
3.15 P.M.
Barn on Lexington Street,
66
30
73
4.45 P.M.
Cousen's Block,
Trifling 200
7,000
Total loss,
$24,265
" insurance,
60,435
Oct.
8
15
8.50 P.M.
7
FIRE ALARM TELEGRAPH.
This branch of the Department has required un- usual care and attention during the past year.
The Lightening of last summer played many pranks with wires and magnets, occasioning no small amount of trouble: and the extreme cold of one or two nights in late winter contracted the wires till they snapped, necessitating immediate repairs.
Some thirty-one poles have been re-set because of street widenings. I may say that there still remain many poles to be moved when the street improve- ments shall be completed. Also much of the wire should be replaced by new.
The Telegraph has worked well, and is now in perfect order. The "Indicators" which have been placed in some of the Houses, give great satisfac- tion.
The Superintendent's horse having been pro- nounced hopelessly lame of a foot disease, was sold, and a new one purchased, which is every way satis- factory.
HYDRANTS.
At the beginning of the year there were two hun- dred and seventy-two hydrants. Twelve have been added as follows:
On Alpine Street. 1
" Boylston " 1
" Chapel 2
8
On Concord "
2
" Eldredge "
1
" Lyman 66
1
Otis
1
66 Pettee 66
1
" Pine Grove Ave.,
.
1
Needham Street,
1
Former number,
272
Total,
284
·
In conclusion, I may say that great harmony has existed throughout the Department. I would es- pecially commend the officers and men for their promptness, courage and good discipline.
To His Honor the Mayor and the City Govern- ment, my thanks are due for the careful consider- ation given the needs of the Department. To the Fire Committee for their assistance and encourage- ment at all times; to Assistant Engineer Bixby, for his unvarying, cheerful and ready co-operation; to the Police and Superintendent of Streets, my hearty thanks for favors rendered.
Respectfully submitted,
GEORGE H. ELLIS,
Chief Engineer.
16a 8353
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