USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Reading > Town of Reading Massachusetts annual report 1908 > Part 10
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GENTLEMEN :- Now that the work of re-construction in con- nection with the changes at the Electric Light Plant is practically completed, it would be of interest to briefly review the work that has been done and to compare the present station equipment, both from the standpoint of generating capacity and flexibility of opera- tion, with the station as it stood at the time the work was begun and prior to our report, to the special committee, of April 18, 1907. Also to state what has been accomplished in the way of carrying out the recommendations embodied in this report.
To summarize briefly, the original plant consisted of a boiler room equipment of two horizontal return tubular boilers connected in battery, these having a total rated capacity of 293.21 horse- power; also the usual equipment of pumps, feedwater heaters, pip- ing, etc .; an engine room equipment of two Corliss type releasing gear engines, one of 100 rated horsepower and one of 250 rated horsepower, both engines operating direct belted to a trunk line of shafting from which all the generating units in the station were driven. Also two alternating current generators, each of 75 K. V. A. capacity which, with their exciter generators were direct belted to the line shaft. From these two generators was supplied the entire power service and incandescent lighting service of the Town.
The engine room also contained four direct current series arc generators, operating direct belted from the line shaft. From these generators was supplied the current for the operation of the 138 direct current enclosed arc lamps installed in the Town, these lamps having been but recently installed, and having taken the place of the older type open lamps which were provided with the original plant.
The engine room also contained a switchboard of four panels, through which the four arc circuits and the two incandescent cir- cuits were controlled, the distributing system for the incandescent
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lighting service, and also the power service, consisting of two single- phase circuits, with the necessary equipment of transformers, each circuit supplying the lighting service to practically one-half of the Town.
The capacity of the original plant, together with its distribut- ing system, was amply sufficient at the time of installation, to pro- vide for the business then at hand, and also to provide for an increase of load, covering a number of years. However, additional and more modern apparatus was made necessary by the rapidly increasing business, and by the need of spare apparatus in the engine room for use in case of breakdown, and by the advantage offered from the use of more efficient and up-to-date equipment. The station equip- ment, as we found it, had carried the entire lighting and power service of the Town, for a number of years, and although at times loaded to more than its full capacity, had given no serious trouble or inconvenience from interrupted service.
The condition of the machinery at the station reflects credit on those having the equipment in charge ; the alternating current generators, as well as the two engines, were retained in the station as part of the new plant, and up to their capacity will continue to give good service. The entire street light system, however, includ- ing both station equipment and lamps, was replaced by more modern apparatus, thus permitting greater flexibility of operation at the station, and greatly lessening the danger of interrupted service for the lighting of the streets.
In the new station equipment, one additional boiler has been installed in the boiler room, and connected in battery with the two boilers of the original plant, thus making available a three-boiler equipment with a rated capacity of 439.82 horsepower. An addi- tional feed water heater has been installed, and both the exhaust piping and the steam piping has been so arranged that one unit may be kept in service should accident or repairs necessitate a shut down.
In the engine room there has been installed a new engine of the single valve type, compound, non-condensing, with cylinders connected in tandem. This engine is of 300 rated horsepower, and
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is direct connected to an alternating current generator of 200 K. V. A. capacity. In case of emergency this unit may be operated at from 25 to 50 per cent. overload for a short time without injury.
A section of the line shaft was removed, and an alternating current generator of 200 K. V. A. capacity was direct belted to the larger Corliss engine. This engine was overhauled and repaired and the speed was raised slightly, thus increasing its available power, as was shown by the tests made at the station, on this unit, on Sept. 28, 1908. .
The section of the line shaft driving the two smaller genera- tors was left intact, and this section of the shaft with the two gen- erators is now operated by the smaller Corliss engine. The unit is thus available for service during the day, or from midnight to morn- ing, or at other periods of light load, or this unit can be operated separately on power service, or can be operated wholly on the arc service, thus leaving the two larger generators for use on the incan- descent load. The removal of the direct current arc system and the installation of alternating current lamps and apparatus has greatly increased the flexibility of operation at the station, as it per- mits the street lighting system to be operated from any one of the three units in the station.
The direct connected unit, and the generator driven by the larger Corliss engine are arranged to operate either singly or in parallel, on either the main or auxiliary buss circuits of the switch- board. These units are automatically regulated by the voltage regu- lator, and this regulator is designed for and wired to control a third unit of like capacity, should increasing business necessitate its installation in the future.
The two smaller generators are arranged to operate either singly or in parallel on either the main or auxiliary buss circuits of the board. These generators are compound wound, and are not con- trolled by the regulator. Should necessity demand, however, they can be made to operate satisfactorily in parallel with the two larger units, thus making the full station capacity available on the circuits.
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The normal generating capacity of the station is as follows :-
Direct connected unit 200 K. V. A. Belted unit 200
Smaller Corliss engine unit
80 66
Thus giving a total capacity of
480 66
To this could be added in case of emergency, the overload capacity of the direct connected unit, of 50 K. V. A., with an addi- tional 20 K. V. A. from the smaller Corliss engine unit, thus giving a total station capacity in generators a value of 550 K. V. A.
Overload capacity cannot be obtained from the larger belted unit under the present conditions, as the limiting factor of this unit is the transmitting power of the driving belt, which, under test, showed a value of approximately 200 K. V.A.
To supply steam to meet the above demand would drag the boilers to a certain extent, but this is not more than the boilers are capable of supplying for a short time with forced firing. These figures, however, should not be considered as available station capacity, to a value of which new business could be obtained, as one unit should at all times be considered as a spare, should increasing business call for a greater demand than the normal capacity of two of the units (viz., 280 K. V. A.) increased boiler power, and the installation of a third unit of 200 K. V. A. should be considered.
The new system for the lighting of the streets consists of 138 alternating current, 6.6 ampere, enclosed, series arc lamps, installed in four circuits, each circuit being controlled through a transformer and reactance coil regulator in the station. The transformers and regulators provide for two circuits of 50 lamps each and two circuits of 35 lamps each, or a total of 170 lamps, thus giving a reserve station capacity of 32 lamps over and above the number installed. All switches, etc., controlling the arc circuits, are mounted on four separate panels, which are a part of the main switchboard. The flexibility of the system is such that any of the four circuits may be operated from either of the three generator units at will, or from either phase of the system, and thus, to a certain extent, may be made to assist in maintaining an equal balance of load. All current
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supplied the street lighting system is measured through meters at the rear of the switchboard.
A switchboard consisting of thirteen panels of blue Italian marble had been installed, at a location directly in front of that formerly occupied by the old switchboard. The panels are arranged to control the following service :
Four panels, each controlling one of the four generators.
Four panels, each controlling one of the four arc circuits.
Two panels, each controlling two exciter generators.
One panel carrying arc transposing switch, and also, regulators. One panel for the control of separate power circuits.
An additional panel has been installed, separate from the main switchboard, on which the automatic circuit breakers controlling the lighting circuits are installed.
The panels of the switchboard are provided with both main and auxiliary buss bars, with instruments, double throw switches, etc., permitting the maximum of flexibility in the operation of the station.
Generator rheostats, regulator transformers, etc., are installed in the basement of the building, and are operated from the switch- board by means of chains, sprockets, etc. The panels controlling the arc circuits have been installed at one end of the switchboard, with the panels controlling the feeder circuits at the opposite end, thereby permitting the future addition of feeder panels for either the arc or incandescent service, without disturbing the body of the switchboard or wiring. The panels controlling the generators and exciters are located in the center of the switchboard. These panels, however, are arranged to control generators of larger capacity than the two smaller machines now in the station. When in the future machines of larger capacity are installed, they will without question be installed in the place of one or both of the present small ma- chines. It will thus not be necessary to make any change, or go to expense in regard to the switchboard when such machines are con- sidered.
All primary wiring on the switchboard has been done with
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2300-volt insulated copper, mounted on and secured to porcelain, this porcelain in turn being mounted on an angle iron and channel iron framework. The main connecting wires are carried in the basement, while the connections to the circuits are carried on a framework directly above the switchboard.
Referring to the distributing system, a circuit of No. 4 and No. 6 wire has been carried from the center of distribution on the heaviest loaded circuit, back to the station, and has been connected in with the existing line copper, thereby decreasing the drop in voltage due to the lack of copper in this line.
Positive primary cutouts have been installed on all the arc lamps, thereby greatly decreasing the danger of accident when the linemen are called out on night repair work.
During the past year the work of transposing transformers, replacing defective poles, additions to primary and secondary copper, etc., has been steadily carried on by the Manager and his assistants, with the view to eventually bringing the line to a state of high efficiency.
In our report we strongly recommended that the board should appoint an active Manager for the plant, and institute a campaign for new business. This has been done, and we feel that the results obtained have fully justified the step.
The work of reconstruction has taken much longer than we had estimated, but conditions have been such that it has been impos- sible to close the work sooner. This has necessarily handicapped the work of the Manager to a certain extent and prevented results that may be expected during the coming year. We feel confident however, that the results both from the standpoint of the reduction of the operating expenses, and the increased business obtained, will be far in excess of that estimated in our report of April 18, 1907.
During the changes the service has not been seriously crippled, and in this connection we have to thank the Manager and his assistants for their hearty co-operation and assistance.
We are Yours very truly,
R. D. KIMBALL CO., Engineers. BOSTON, MASS., Feb. 1, 1909.
PUBLIC LIBRARY
Appropriation . $800 00 Proceeds of Dog Tax, 1907 . 685 22
EXPENSES
Rent :
Odd Fellows' Building Association
$600 00
Salaries :
Bertha L. Brown, librarian . $300 00
Clover Granger, assistant 6 38
Grace I. Abbott, assistant 26 50
C. H. Stinchfield, janitor
38 00
370 88
Books :
Old Corner Book Store, Inc. $272 68
Houghton, Mifflin & Co. 16 62
C. E. Lauriat Co. . · 53 70
H. G. Wadlin, cash expended 3 55
346 55
Periodicals :
A. W. Danforth, subscriptions · $67 75
H. W. Wilson Co., subscriptions
6 00
73 75
Sundries :
Municipal Light Board, electric lighting . 48 79
W. E. & J. F. Twombly, printing . 43 25
Library Bureau, supplies 2 00
94 04
$1,485 22 $1,485 22
214
FINE ACCOUNT
Amount on hand Jan. 1, 1908 ·
$141 31
Received from fines, sale of catalogues, cards, etc.
58 23
$199 54
Paid expressage .
$6 30
Paste and small supplies
7 08
Cleaning
10 00
Minor repairs
8 30
Repairing sign
5 00
Bookbinding
64 87
101 55
Balance $97 99
The following volumes have been given to the library :
FROM WHENCE RECEIVED NO. OF VOLUMES
United States Document Department .
4
Commonwealth of Massachusetts, reports
30
Other sources
10
44
Number of volumes in library Jan. 1, 1908
11,071
Number added during year . 330
11,401
Number worn out and not replaced
47
Total number in library Dec. 31, 1908
11,354
Circulation, year ending Dec. 31, 1908 .
18,741
Largest single month, March
2,046
Smallest single month, September .
1,274
The circulation of the library has been increased during the year to the extent of 846 volumes, or nearly five per cent. It is pleasing to record this increase, but the circulation is still below what it might be, and below what should be expected in a town as large as Reading, wherein a fairly well selected collection of good books is freely available to anyone who resides in the town.
215
During the last few years many improvements have been intro- duced, all in the direction of making the library more useful to our citizens. All new books are placed on open shelves where they can be examined. A card catalogue of new books is maintained. Any person who wishes to look at the books in the alcove cases may do so, and select such volumes as are desired. An especial effort has been made to interest the children. Other improvements in the ser- vice are contemplated, and it is hoped that gradually our people may gain a deeper interest in the library and use it more freely.
Our financial resources are limited. With the money allowed us it is impossible to buy all the good books that come from the press, but, since rigid selection is forced upon us, the trustees en- deavor to select representative works in each department of litera- ture, and thus provide something interesting and profitable for all.
We mention here a few only of the important additions in different classes :
In Travel, there are The Umbrian Cities of Italy, The Andes and the Amazon, Newfoundland, America's Insular Possessions, Secrets of The Vatican (a good account of this important building, its art treasures, etc. ), Germany, described by great writers, Under the Syrian Sun, A Spring Fortnight in France, The Italian Lakes, Howells' Roman Holidays, Mrs. Wharton's Motor Flight Through France, and Maud Howe's Sun and Shadow in Spain, etc.
In History : Among Old New England Inns, A Short History of the American Navy, A Sea-Dog of Devon, National Develop- ment, The American Constitution (an exposition rather than a history, by Stimson), English Voyages of Discovery, The Arts and Crafts of the Middle Ages, The Letters of Mrs. James G. Blaine.
In Biography : The Story of David Livingston, Stephen A. Douglas, John Sherman, Abraham Lincoln (the boy and the man; popular account by Morgan), Alice Freeman Palmer, Thomas Bailey Aldrich, Richard Mansfield, etc.
There are books giving a popular treatment of scientific sub- jects, for example : Electricity for Everybody, The Art of Living in Good Health, several books on natural history, the study of plants
216
and trees, etc., and among books intended especially for young readers, Harpers' Electricity Book for Boys, The Boys' Book of Locomotives, and The Boys' Book of Steamships.
Especially, there are many good books for juvenile readers,- interesting stories, standard fairy tales, tales of adventure, and others : among them, The Story of Frederick the Great for Boys and Girls, Roy and Ray in Canada, The Elm Tree Fairy Book, and A Little Girl in Old Salem.
The accessions also include a representation of the best fiction that has been published during the year.
The titles of all new books have been printed in The Reading Chronicle, with the library numbers attached, except those added at the end of the year, and these will be similarly published in due season. The librarian will always aid readers in making a selection of books, and, upon request, will point out upon the shelves books added in recent years, which it would be interesting and profitable to read, but which would otherwise escape the notice of card holders.
Are you interested in any special subject ? Would you like to have a wider knowledge of the world's progress and history, or become acquainted with at least a few of the great writers; or familiar with some of the great poems, or novels, or essays that have been preserved as classics among the great number of books that have been printed ? Or would you like to know something of the great changes that have occurred in scientific thought during the last ten years? Or something about the growth of our great industries, - like the steel industry, for example ? Or perhaps something of the literature of your own trade or profession ? The Public Library contains something for you among these sub- jects. It is established and maintained to help you. If you want something that it can furnish, ask for it. The librarian is there to help you if she can. If you ask her something she cannot immedi- ately answer, she will, if given an opportunity, find an answer for you. If you want a book that is not now in the library, it will be bought for your use if possible, if you will leave its title,-or perhaps a better one substituted for it; except, of course, that we cannot,
217
with our limited means, buy extensively merely temporary books of fiction, or expensive books that would not be of general interest or value.
There are periodicals regularly received and open for use on the reading tables. Perhaps these would interest you. Some of them may be taken out for home reading. We will get more, if the demand warrants, and we are not prevented by lack of money. Three or four hundred dollars is not a very great sum, but there may be more money available sometime. Let us help you form the library habit. You may want to look into an Encyclopædia occasionally. We have one; also other books of reference.
Besides the regular work devolving upon her, the librarian has during the year begun a new registration of card holders. This was required because many years had elapsed since the former registra- tion was initiated, and it had become difficult to preserve a proper alphabetical arrangement, especially as the names were entered in a book. The new register is kept upon cards, as in all modern libraries, and by its use the work of recording the books lent from the library is much simplified. By the use of a registration number it becomes unnecessary to write the names and addresses of the borrowers on the charging slips, as heretofore.
The work of re-numbering the fiction contained in the library, begun last year and mentioned in our last report, is not yet com- pleted, although it progresses as fast as permitted in the time which the librarian can give to it under the pressure of other duties. A better classification and re-cataloging of the entire library would be a great improvement, as some of the departments have outgrown the space originally given to them, and should be rearranged. Upon this point the librarian reports as follows :
" The old fixed method of numbering our books does not admit of as exact classification of those we are adding every year as would be possible under a modern expansive system, and the crowding of the shelves due to the growth of the library renders an exact classi- fication doubly difficult.
218
For instance, the department of American history long ago outgrew its section in the fourth alcove, has nearly filled a section in the sixth alcove, and will soon require more space, which ought to be near the original shelves. All the adjacent shelves are in use however. A subject catalogue is especially needed in a small library, since with a limited number of books it is especially necessary to know every book that the library contains on a given subject. The most useful catalogue for a library the size of ours would be a so-called dictionary card catalogue with author, title (where needed ), and subject entries, all arranged in one alphabet. The re-cataloging of the library would also allow us to discard, or at least separate the old and rarely-used books from the main body of the collection, leaving space much needed in some of the alcoves. With a better arrangement and complete catalogue the usefulness of the library would be much increased."
All of which is endorsed by the Trustees, but requires, to carry it into effect, more money than the Town has yet found it possible .to appropriate. It involves the employment, for a limited time, of an expert cataloguer, and perhaps the enlargement of the shelving- space of the library, or its re-arrangement.
The librarian, Miss Brown, has rendered efficient service during the year ; not limited merely to perfunctory or routine duties. Our acknowledgements are due to her, and are hereby recorded.
Mr. E. P. Guild, whose term of service upon the Board ends with the current year, declines re-election. The term of Mr. H. C. Parker also expires.
We last year asked for an appropriation at least as large as that granted for the support of the library during the year immediately preceding, pointing out that we should be obliged to pay for electric lighting, an expense from which we had previously been relieved. Nevertheless our appropriation was reduced from $900 to $800, - the result being that our total income, including the dog tax receipts, was lowered from $1,566.80 to $1,485.22, and our fixed charges, from which there is no escape if the library is to be operated at all, were raised $48.79, the cost of the electric lighting. This reduction
219
of $100 affected the tax rate only slightly, but to the library, which is all the time operated on a rigid scale of charges, - rent, light, jani- tor's and librarian's services, that cannot be lowered, the reduction of $100 is serious. It means a reduction of approximately 25 per cent. from the amount available for buying books, without which the efficiency of the library cannot be maintained, nor the public fairly served. The demands upon the library constantly increase. It is not a luxury, but, properly considered and administered, part of the educational equipment of the Town, supplementing and aiding the public schools. It only costs a few hundred dollars, and has never seriously burdened the tax rate. Other departments are con- stantly expanding and enlarging their expenditures to meet the public demands made upon them. The value of all the property in Reading is increased by the fact that there is a public library here. It benefits every man's estate whether he himself uses the library or not; and it ought to be maintained in such manner as to enable it to operate efficiently.
We recommend for the ensuing year an appropropriation of $1000, in addition to the proceeds of the dog tax.
Respectfully submitted,
HORACE G. WADLIN, Chairman, CYRUS M. BARROWS, Secretary, J. WOODWARD MANNING, HENRY C. PARKER, MARION F. DAVIES, Trustees.
NOTE : Owing to absence from Town, Mr. Guild was not pres- ent when the above report was adopted by the Trustees.
READING, For the year ending Dec. 31, 1908.
SUMMARY OF ACCOUNTS
APPROPRIA- TION
TOTAL AMOUNT SUNDRY INCLUDING CREDITS APPROPRIATI' N
EXPENDED
UN- EXPENDED
OVER- DRAWN
Salaries of Town Officers.
$3,500 00
$3,500 00
$3,387 35
$112 65
Town Building and Office.
450 00
450 00
449 76
24
Printing . .
700 00
700 00
666 65
33 35
Election Expenses
300 00
300 00
223 29
76 71
Soldiers' Relief
1,000 00
1,000 00
782 21
217 79
Soldiers' Relief Account, Town of North Reading
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