USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Newton > Town of Newton annual report 1890 > Part 27
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WEST NEWTON, January 1st, 1891.
To the Newton Water Board :
GENTLEMEN .- In accordance with your instructions, the surveys for land taken in the Town of Needham and the City of Newton, for the protection of and from which to obtain an additional water supply, were completed, plans made and recorded.
664.64 acres of land were taken in the Town of Needham and 91.21 acres in the City of Newton.
Surveys and topographical plans were also made of the land on Waban Hill taken or purchased for reservoir purposes. There was taken from the heirs of Henry Tucker and William Lawrence 1 1-2 acres, and purchased from Mr. F. W. Sargent 422,605 square feet.
Detail plans and specifications for extending and im- proving the water supply, as set forth in report made to the City Council in December, 1889, were prepared and proposals received.
The plan determined upon for obtaining the additional water supply was by means of a wooden flume four feet square, inside measure, and placed in the ground between elevation 81 and 85 above city base and about six feet below the normal level of the water in the river.
16
REPORT OF WATER BOARD.
The flume was extended from the up stream end of the old filter basin to Kendrick street, a distance of about 2,220 feet, and 30 feet to 300 feet from and parallel to the river within the above limits.
The general elevation of the ground along the lines of the conduit ranges from 93 to 97 feet above the city base.
Underlying the surface of the ground was first a layer of loam or muck from one to four feet deep, a layer of gravel four to fifteen feet deep, variable in quality from fine sandy or coarse loose gravel, to hard pan and in places almost pure clay.
Underlying the gravel was a layer of quick sand from ten to eighty or more feet in thickness, containing a consid- erable percentage of clay. Enclosed in the layer of quick sand were pockets of gravel or coarse sand, sometimes of considerable areas and thickness, and underlying it there was generally found a layer of coarse sand or gravel, running into a hard pan immediately above the bed rock or boulder. In the layers of hard pan were veins of coarse gravel.
The strata, veins or pockets of coarse sand or gravel furnished a free passage for water, with which the various materials spoken of was surcharged.
The frames of the conduit were made of spruce planks with uprights four inches thick and six inches deep, and the caps and sills four inches thick and eight inches deep, framed and securely fastened together with 8x1 inch oak trenails.
They were placed three feet apart on centres and cov- ered with hemlock planks four inches thick, laid close, but with space enough between each to allow for the infiltration of water.
A large portion of the conduit was laid in several feet of quicksand, and, in order to insure against its infiltration into the conduit, the trench was excavated about one foot below the bottom of the conduit, and the space filled with fine screened gravel, not above one half inch in greatest
17
ENGINEER'S REPORT.
dimension. The trench was excavated five feet wider than the outside of the conduit.
The space next the conduit one foot in width was filled with screened gravel from one-half to one and a half inches in greatest dimension, and the outside space one and one- half feet wide was filled with gravel from one-eighth to one- half inch. Where there was a great depth of quick sand, a thick layer of gravel less than one-eigth inch in greatest dimension was used.
In order to obtain the water from the pockets of gravel in the quick sand, and from the strata of gravel below it, tube wells were driven and connected into the conduit.
It was found that the water was under a pressure about equal to the resistance it would meet with in passing through the compact strata of quicksand, and there is a constant flow of water from them.
The plan for improving the water supply was to extend the wooden flume or conduit, through the old filter basin, and fill it in with gravel, and build a covered masonry reservoir in which to store the surplus water pumped.
By these means the water is not exposed to the light until drawn for use, hence will not undergo a change in quality.
In accordance with the instruction of the Water Board to take charge of the work at the filter basin and conduit, proposals were received for furnishing various classes of materials to be used and contracts placed.
A contract was made with Mr. Charles H. Hale of Newton for furnishing labor and tools for the trench work and for grading, and with S. A. Piper of Newton to take charge of the carpenter work.
Mr. William P. Morse, assistant in this office, was made Resident Engineer and Mr. James E. Cahill Superintendent, and work was begun on May 14th, 1890.
The site of the conduit and for a distance of about 30 2
18
REPORT OF WATER BOARD.
feet each side, was cleared of wood, brush and loam, and a temporary roadway constructed on the westerly side to gain access to the work by teams.
Temporary buildings were constructed as follows :
A carpenter shop, fitted up with a vertical steam boiler and engine, operating a main shaft and necessary counter- shafts and fittings, 1 swing cutting-off saw, 1 splitting saw and 1 power borer.
A pipe or machine shop, adjoining carpenter shop, and supplying with power, from the latter's main shaft, the pipe cutting and drilling machine.
An engineer's office.
A blacksmith shop complete.
A horse shed with storage shed attached.
A temporary line of 2 1-2 inch galvanized iron water pipe was connected with the main water pipe, and was run from the pumping station grounds across the river, and parallel with the line of the proposed work to Kendrick street. This pipe was used as a main to supply water for the steam boilers charging the pumps, and for use in driving wells.
A line of pipe wells were driven on each side of the conduit line, 4 1-2 feet out from centre line, and about 33 1-2 feet apart on a side.
These were of galvanized wrought iron pipes, 2 1-2 inches in diameter connected with screw couplings.
The bottom section of each well consisted of a coupling on the lower end of a perforated pipe.
The perforations were 1-4 inch in diameter reamed out to 3-8 inch outside, set equidistant apart around the circum- ference of the pipe, in number about 85 holes to the running foot; and varying in length from 6 inches to 3 feet, accord- ing to the thickness of the water bearing strata into which they were to be driven.
As the supply of water to the city had to be maintained when the consumption was the greatest, the first section of
19
ENGINEER'S REPORT.
wells for a distance of 500 feet along the line of the conduit were ganged together at the surface of the ground by a line of 6 inch wrought iron screw pipe laid on each bank of the trench, and connecting wells by branches, flanges and short pipes, and connecting by eight and ten inch pipes a pumping plant capable of raising 1,000,000 gallons per day.
A temporary dam was constructed on the north side of the old dam in the middle of the filter gallery and a line of 20-inch cast iron water main was laid from the section of the filter basin north of the dam, a distance of 1,092 feet to pumping plant for driven wells, leaving a branch for a 10 inch centrifugal pump.
The main was laid on the surface of the ground to a grade with joints caulked with jute packing dipped in cement.
A 10-inch centrifugal pump was fitted up at the south end of old basin, and so arranged as to pump either into the river or into the supply of the city by connection with the 20-inch main. The latter arrangement being used only at night when the water was clear or when the needs of the city demanded it.
A 10x14x16 Knowles pump was set up and connected with 32 wells ganged together, and connections made to discharge into the 20 inch mains.
This pump served a three fold purpose : 1st, furnishing the city with clear water; 2d, lowering the ground water in the ditch, preventing in a measure the inflow of the quick sand ; 3d, the development of the wells connected, the continuous pumping clearing out all fine sand, and increasing the flow by the enlarged cavity or water storage area around the lower section of the wells.
The trench for conduit was excavated 12 feet wide and on an average 15 feet deep. The dimensions of the bracing, sheathing, etc., was as follows :
20
REPORT OF WATER BOARD.
Sheathing 2x8 to 12 inches, 16 inches, spruce.
Rangers, 6x6 inches, 18 to 24 feet, spruce.
Braces, 6x6 inches, spruce.
The sheathing was driven by hand, the rangers were put in 4 feet apart, and braces set 8 to 10 feet apart.
Manholes were placed in the line of the conduit about 260 feet apart and at all angles. They were of the same width as the conduit and 8 feet in the clear in length. Double frames were put in the conduit at each end and four hard pine frames forming grooves, for two sets of 4 inch stop planks were put in the center of manholes and set at right angles to the conduit line.
Cast iron stop plank grooves 7 feet long were set on the frames and imbedded in the walls of the manholes which are 12 inches thick and composed of cement concrete, having 1 part American cement, 2 parts sand and 5 parts stone, brought up from the bottom of the trench to within two feet of the finished grade. The walls of the upper two feet are brick, upon which is fitted a cast iron frame and cover.
In order to provide space so that the water in the conduit can be pumped out, the bottom of the manholes are constructed from 8 to 14 inches below the level of the conduit.
While it was not intended to construct any portion of the conduit in the old filter basin until the Summer of 1891, as the work progressed, it was found that the portion between the dam and new conduit could be constructed at much less expense while the pumps were set up, and it was decided to go on with the work ; 732 feet were laid in the old filter basin.
A description of the rigging used for driving the well tubes may be of interest. The hand driving rig consisted of a tripod having legs about 20 feet long, made out of pieces of 1 1-2 inch wrought iron pipe, joined together with a bar at the top.
21
ENGINEER S REPORT.
The bottom ends had a shoe, consisting of a broad cap. To the bar at the top was attached an iron well wheel, over which a rope was passed and used to raise a cast iron ham- mer weighing about 115 pounds.
In the centre of the hammer was inserted an oak plug about two inches in diameter. To the oak plug a steel guide rod 4 feet long and 7-8 inch diameter was attached. On the top of the well tube was screwed a heavy steel drive cap, with a hole in the top large enough to receive the guide rod. Three men constituted a well driving gang, two to operate the weight and one lead man to keep the pipe screwed up and watch the progress of the driving.
For driving the deep wells a heavier rigging to be operated by steam power was purchased from the American Well Works of Aurora, Ill., with which we were able to do fairly effective work.
By a more compact arrangement of the derrick more effective work can be done and I believe the rigging can be used with economy on light work where a considerable amount is to be done.
As it was, after charging to the work performed 25 per cent. of the cost of the rigging for depreciation in value, the cost per foot for the deep well work was but a little more than the cost of the shallow wells driven by hand.
Along the line of the new conduit there was driven 127 completed wells.
No of wells driven by hand power, 98
No. of wells driven by steam power, 29
No. of feet of well driven by hand power, 5,204
No. of feet of wells driven by steam power, 2,664 Maximum length of wells driven by hand power, 114 ft.
Maximum length of wells driven by steam power, 130 ft.
Minimum length of wells driven by hand power, 28 ft.
Minimum length of wells driven by steam power, 65 ft.
22
REPORT OF WATER BOARD.
Average length of wells driven by hand power, 53.1 ft. Average length of wells driven by steam power, 91.86 ft. Cost per foot of wells driven by hand power, $0.83
Cost per foot of driven wells by steam power, in- cluding 25 per cent. of cost of rigging for depreciation in value, .8€
Elevation of top of wells above city base, 95.00 Elevation of bottom of deepest well below city base, 35.00 Elevation of bottom of shortest well above city base, 67.00
Average elevation of bottom of wells, 3.14
Along the line of the conduit laid in the old filter basin there was driven by hand power 47 completed wells.
Maximum length of wells driven by hand power, . 49 ft.
Minimum length of wells driven by steam power, 21 1-2 ft. No. of feet of wells driven by hand power, 1,628
Average length of wells driven by hand power, . 34.64 ft
Cost per foot of wells driven by hand power, $0.59
Elevation of top of wells above city base, 93.00
Elevation of bottom of deepest well above city base, 44.00
Elevation of bottom of shortest well above city base, 71.50
The city base, as related to elevation or grades, is tide marsh level in Boston Harbor.
The accompanying schedule shows a comparison of the cost of the filtering conduit as actually done, with cost as per prices in bids received from contractors April 18th, and 25th, with actual quantities.
Canvass of Bids for Filtering Conduit and Driven Wells received by the Water Board April 18 & 25, 1890.
Bids received April 25, 1890.
Bids Received April 18, 1890.
ITEMS.
Quantities.
MOULTON, O'MAHONEY & TRUMBULL, of Lawrence.
E. F. BRIGHAM & Co., of Cambridge.
C. P. HORTON, of Boston.
E. F. BRIGHAM & Co., of Cambridge.
C. P. HORTON,
of Boston.
a
Loam Excavation placed, .
900 c. y.
$ 38
$342 00
$ 60
$540 00
$ 25
$225 00
$ 1 00
$900 00
$ 25
$225 00
aa
Loam from spoil bank placed,
7,290 c. y.
30
2,160 00
75
5,400 00
30
2,160 00
1 50
10,800 00
30
2,160 00
b
Selected material placed,
4,000 c. y.
1 25
5,000 00
1 00
4,000 00
75
3,000 00
75
3,000 00
75
3,000 00
bb
Selected material obtained outside,
550 c. y.
1 50
825 00
1 50
825 00
1 00
550 00
1 50
825 00
1 00
550 00
c
Rock Excavation, .
50 c. y.
2 50
125 00
6 00
300 00
8 00
400 00
5 00
254 00
8 00
400 00
d
Wooden Conduit,
2,220 l. ft.
25 80
57,276 00
31 00
68,820 00
18 50
41,070 00
34 00
75,480 00
18 50
41,070 00
e
Manholes, brick or concrete, .
8
165 00
1,320 00
125 00
1,000 00
75 00
600 00
125 00
1,000 00
75
600 00
4 f
Driven Wells and connections, . .
7,800 l. ft.
4 00
31,200 00
2 75
21,450 00
1 00
7,800 00
2 50
19,500 00
1 15
8,970 00
g
212 in. Chapman Valves with gate- , boxes and connections, ..
130
12 00
1,560 00
10 00
1,300 00
7 50
975 00
10 00
1,300 00
5 50
715 00
h
Laying 20 in. iron pipe and removing the same,
2,000 l. ft.
40
800 00
1 50
3,000 00
40
800 00
1 50
300 00
1 00
2,000 00
Total Bid,
$100,60S 00
$106,635 00
$57,580 00
$116,055 00
$50,690 00
NEW CONDUIT .- Table showing cost of Filtering Conduit, as compared with prices in Bids received by Water Board, April, 1890.
ITEMS.
Quantities.
COST OF THE
WORK AS DONE
BY THE CITY.
Moulton, O'Mahoney & Trumbull, of Lawrence.
E. F. Brigham & Co., of Cambridge.
C. P. Horton, of Boston.
E. F Brigham & Co., of Cambridge.
C. P. Horton, of Boston.
a Loam Excavation .
3,150 c. y. $
$1,959 52
$ 38
$1,197 00
$ 60
$1,890 00
$ 25
$ 787 50
$ 1 00
$3,150 00
$ 25
$ 787 50
b Selected material
5,908 c. v.
1 12
6,606 45
1 25
7,385 00
1 00
5,908 00
75
4,431 00
75
4,431 00
75
4.431 00
c |Rock Excavation ·
72 c. y.
96
68 99
2 50
180 00
6 00
432 00
8 00
576 00
5 00
360 00
8 00
576 00
d Conduit (exc. pump.)
2,220 ft.
16 68
37,025 83
25 29
56,121 60
31 00
68,820 00
18 50
41,070 00
34 00
75,480 00
18 50
41,070 00
e
105 38
737 63
165 00
1,155 00
125 00
875 00
75 00
525 00
125 00
875 00
75 00
525 00
Manholes (set. iron) (driven by hand)
7 5,204 ft. 7,868 ft. 2,664 ft. 115
83
4,325 09
1 00
31,472 00
2 75
21,637 00
1 00
7,868 00
2 50
19,670 00
1 15
9,048 20
f Pipe Wells, connect. (driven by steam)
Chapman Valves, etc. g
Laying 20 in. pipe
1,092 ft.
48
548 00
40
436 SO
1 50
1,638 00
40
436 80
1 50
1,638 00
1 00
1,092 00
Total of Contract
$54,428 97
$99,327 40 512 05
$102,350 00 512 05
$56,556 80
$106,754 00
$58,162 20
Iron Work furnished by City .
512 05
512 05
512 05
.
512 05
Engineering and Office Expenses
2,746 38
2,746 38
2,746 38
2,746 38
27,46 38
2,746 38
TOTAL COST of New Conduit
$57,687 40
$102,585 83
$105,508 33
$59,815 23
$110,012 43
$61,420 63
86
2,281 46 966 00
12 00
1,380 00
10 00
1,150 00
7 50
862 50
10 00
1,150 00
5 50
632 50
8 40
Estimated cost of the work as per prices in Bids received by the Water Board.
Bids received April 25, 1890.
Bids received April 18, 1890.
OLD BASIN .- Table showing cost of Conduit in Old Basin, as compared with prices in Bids received by the Water Board.
ITEMS.
Quantities.
COST OF WORK
AS DONE BY
THE CITY.
Moulton ('Mahoncy & Trumbull, of Lawrence.
E. F. Brigham & Co., of Cambridge.
C. P. Horton, of Boston.
E. F. Brigham & Co., of Cambridge.
C. P. Horton, of Boston.
a
Loam Excavation . .
None.
b
Selected Material . .
1,538 c. y.
$ 1 09
$1,717 97
$ 1 25
$1,922 50
$ 1 00
$1,538 00
$ 75
$1,153 50
$ 75
$1 153 50
$ 75
$1,153 50
C
Rock Excavation . .
None.
d
Conduit (exc. pumping)
732 ft.
7 52
5,507 48
25 28
18,504 96
31 00
22,692 00
18 50
13,542 00
34 00
24,888 00
18 50
13,542 00
Manholes (set. iron) . e
3
105 61
316 84
165 00
495 00
125 00
375 00
75 00
225 00
125 00
375 00
75 00
225 00
f
Pipe Wells (by hand)
1,628 ft.
59
956 73
4 00
6,512 00 564 00
2 75
4,477 00
1 00
1,628 00
2 50
4,070 00
1 15
1,872 20
g
Chapman Valves, etc.
17
7 97
374 59
12 00
10 00
470 00
7 50
352 50
10 00
470 00
5 50
258 50
h
Laying 20 in. pipe
None.
Total of Contract .
$8,873 61
$27,998 00
$29,552 00
$16,901 00
$30,956 50
$17.051 20
Iron Work, to be furnished
219 45
219 45
219 45
219 45
219 45
219 45
Engineering and Office expenses .
250 00
250 00
250 00
250 00
250 00
250 00
Total Cost of Conduit in Old Basin
$9,343 06
$28,467 45
$30,021 45
$17,370 45
$31,425 95
$17,520 65
ESTIMATED COST OF THE WORK, AS PER PRICES IN BIDS RECEIVED BY THE WATER BOARD.
Bids received April 25, 1890.
Bids received April 18, 1890.
Table showing cost of whole Filtering Conduit compared with prices in Bids received by the Water Board.
ITEMS.
Quantities.
COST OF THE
WORK AS DONE
BY THE CITY.
ESTIMATED COST OF THE WORK AS PER PRICES IN BIDS RECEIVED BY THE WATER BOARD.
Bids received April 25, 1890.
Bids received April 18, 1890.
Moulton, O'Mahoney & Trumbull, of Lawrence.
E. F. Brigham & Co., of Cambridge.
C. P. Horton, of Boston.
E. F. Brigham & Co., of Cambridge.
C. P. Horton,
of Boston.
a
Loam Excavation .
3,150 c. y. $
62
$1,959 52
$ 38
$1,197 00
$ 60
$1,890 00
$ 25
$787 50
$ 1 00
$3,150 00
$ 25
$787 50
b
¡Selected Material .
7,446 c. y.
1 15
8,324 42
1 25
9,307 50
1 00
7,446 00
75
5,584 50
75
5,584 50
15
5,584 50
c
Rock Excavation .
72 c. y .
96
68 99
2 50
180 00
6 00
432 00
8 00
576 00
5 00
360 00
8 00
576 00
d
Conduit (exc. pump.)
2,952 ft.
14 41
42,533 31
25 28
74,626 56
31 00
91,512 00
18 50
54,612 00
34 00
100,368 00
18 50
54,612 00
e
Manholes (set. iron) (driven by hand)
105 45
1,054 47
165 00
1,650 00
125 00
1,250 00
75 00
750 00
125 00
1,250 00
75 00
750 00
f
Pipe Wells, connect. (driven by steam)
86
2,281 46 1,340 59
1,944 00
10 00
1,620 00
7 50
1,215 00
10 00
1,620 00
5 50
891 00
h
Laying 20 in. pipe .
1,092 ft.
48
458 00
436 80
1 50
1,638 00
40
5,436 80
1 50
1,638 00
1 00
1,092 00
Total of Contract
$63,302 58
$127,325 86
$131,902 00
$73,457 80
$137,710 50
$75,213 40
Iron Work to be furnished by City
731 50
731 50
731 50
731 50
731 50
731 50
Engineering and office expenses
2,996 38
2,996 38
2,996 38
2,996 38
2,996 38
2,996 38
TOTAL COST of the Work .
$67,030 46
$130,053 74
$135,629 88
$77,185 68
$141,438 38
$78,941 28
1 00
9,496 00
2 50
23,740 00
1 15
10,920 40
g
Chapman Valves, etc.
10 6,832 ft. 9,496 ft. 2,664 ft. 162
5,281 82
4 00
37,984 00
2 75
26,114 00
8 28
12 00 40
27
ENGINEER'S REPORT.
New Pumping Engine and Boilers.
On June 6th, 1890, a contract for a High Duty Pumping Engine and two boilers was signed with The Blake Manufacturing Company of Boston.
The pumping engine is to have a capacity of five million gallons of water per 24 hours delivered at the New Reservoir on Waban Hill with a speed not over 250 ft. per minute for the plunger.
To be a direet acting fly wheel, cross compound engine steam cylinder 20x24 inches, with plungers 13 1-2 inches in diameter, stroke 40 inch, Corliss type of valve gear, with independent eccentrie on the low pressure inlet and exhaust valves. Automatie governor on the high pressure inlet valve gear only.
The contract price for the pumping engine set up com- plete is $17,431.
The two boilers to be of the Belpaire locomotive fire box type, each one 84 inches in diameter, 30 ft. long, and capa- ble of furnishing sufficient steam at 150 pounds pressure to operate the engine at its fullest capacity.
Contraet price for the two boilers all set up in the boiler house, $15,790.
This includes all necessary feed pumps, furniture and fittings.
The city is to put in the foundation for the engines and boilers at its own expense.
The engine and boilers are to be tested separately. The guaranteed duty of the engine is 115,000,000 foot pound. The boilers are to evaporate not less than 11 pounds of water per pound of fuel, exclusive of the effect of a feed water heater.
28
Canvass of Bids for High Duty Pumping Engines and Boilers received by the Water Board April 25, 1890.
NAME OF BIDDER.
One 5 million gallon High Duty Pumping
Engine, or
One 3 million gallon
High Duty Pumping
Two Belpaire Loco-
motive Type Fire-
Two Underfired, Re-
turn Flue Boilers,
set in Brickwork.
Two Complete Com-
bustion, Locomotive
Type Boilers, or
Two Complete Com-
bustion, Regular
Total Amount of
each Bid.
Pumping capacity
Guaranteed.
The Geo. F. Blake Mfg. Co.,
$17,431 00
$14,315 00
$31,746 00
5 million gal.
17,431 00
26,014 00
5
=
5
6.
.6
of Boston, Mass.
17,431 00
$14,250 00 14,250 00
9,215 00
4,814 00
19,064 00
3
66
66
Duty 115 & 112 mill.
14,250 00
7,765 00
22,015 00
66
6.
14,250 00
7,165 00
21,415 00
co co
66
66
Arthur J. L. Loretz, of Brooklyn, N. Y.
21,000 00 20,000 00 18,000 00
15,500 00
7,500 00
Total 2 28,500 00
5 million gal.
Duty 110 & 105.
13,500 00
Total
1 21,000 00 23,000 00
3
Henry R. Worthington of New York. Duty 105.
29,750 00
21,800 00
24,700 00 19,300 00
54,450 00 5 million gal. 41,100 00 3 « 66
$8,583 00
$11,665 00
$10,565 00
27,996 00
66
23,465 00
3
REPORT OF WATER BOARD.
25,500 00
17,431 00
29,096 00
Pattern Boilers.
Engine.
Box Boilers, or
29
ENGINEER'S REPORT.
Covered Reservoir.
The reservoir is substantially a rectangular chamber 125 feet wide by 172 1-4 ft. long, and 15 ft., 6 in. deep, with rubble masonry walls, and an arched brick covering. At the northwest corner is located the gate chamber, which is circu- lar 30 ft. inside diameter and cuts off this corner of the reservoir. The ultimate design is to have this gate-chamber form the center of a four sectioned reservoir, of which the reservoir now building would be the south-east quarter. All the water mains for inlet and outlet are brought to this central chamber, in which are located all the gates for regulating the flow of the water into or out of any one of each of the four sections, and have an ultimate storage capacity of about 10,000,000 gallons. This chamber is built with extra thick walls so as to form the foundation for the high service stand- pipe, recommended in the report of the engineers in Decem- ber, 1889 to be built later, for increasing the efficiency of the fire protection in the upper levels of the city.
The location of the reservoir on the hill top was selected in such a way that all the foundations and the bottom of the reservoir should every where be on solid ground. The bot- tom of the reservoir being about grade 305, it is in all cases inside of the 305 contour of the hill.
The walls of the reservoir are founded on hard pan at grade 302, being 7 feet, 2 inches, to 7 feet, 10 inches thick for a height of four feet, hence narrowing up to a thickness of from 2 feet, 6 inches, to 5 feet, 2 inches on top. The walls on the north and west sides which will eventually form one side of the other sections of the large reservoir, have been built with a double face and a batter of 1 in 12 on each side. The east and south walls have been faced and battered on the inside only, and stepped off on the outside. The circular walls of the gate-chamber have been carried up double faced and plumb on both sides 7 feet, 6 inches thick.
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REPORT OF WATER BOARD.
All these walls are built of Roxbury pudding stone of the local quarries, laid in American cement mortar.
The covering of the reservoir is formed by a series of arches of four inches brickwork covered with four inches of Portland concrete.
These arches are supported on lines of brick piers con- nected by brick lintels, the outer edge bearing on the end walls. The brick piers are 20x20 inches square, set ten feet away, and are started on masonry foundations three feet square, all laid in American cement mortar. The covering arches are laid in Portland cement mortar. All the arches have ten feet span and ten inch rise.
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