USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Reading > Town of Reading Massachusetts annual report 1914 > Part 8
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182
Percy N. Sweetser, coal and team-
ing . $444 54
E. J. Roundy, house repairs 215 12
A. B. Day, painting 28 25
L. M. Bancroft, boiler insurance . 99 00
Prentiss & Viall, workingman's compensation 47 09
Braman, Dow & Co.
50
American Fire Cement Co. . 12 95
Somerville Foundry, castings 30 53
Eastern Clay Goods Co., fire brick
16 00
Town of North Reading, taxes 2 10
Henry J. Carroll, labor
17 80
Chas. M. Cullinane, teaming
53 38
N. E. Coal & Coke Co.
187 61
Car fares
40
American Express
35
Balance .
3,847 06
$4,050 12 $4,050 12
MAINTENANCE OF FILTERS
Paid pay roll .
. . $1,124 88
Reading Municipal Light Board, power 309 10
W. B. Fonda, lime
270 00
Francis Bros.
1 50
Braman, Dow & Co.
79
Eagle Oil & Supply Co.
27 13
Water Works Equipment Co.
25 30
Economy Lubricating Co.
1 96
Boston & Maine R. R., freight
99 11
Harrison Bros. & Co. 490 79
F. W. Hunt & Co.
2 75
Jos. Breck & Sons, Inc.
2 50
Cummings Express 20 50
The J. M. Carpenter Tap & Die Co. 2 98
183
Percy N. Sweetser, teaming
$23 02
Builders' Iron Foundry
3 19
L. M. Ham Co.
1 52
Underwood Machine Co.
2 95
Norwood Engineering Co.
56 27
Patterns
50
American Express
63
$2,467 37
MAINTENANCE OF METERS
Paid pay roll .
$816 25
Hersey Mfg. Co.
22 76
Cummings Express
1 55
G. H. Atkinson Co.
40
Union Water Meter Co.
2 81
American Express
2 45
Thompson Meter Co.
12 50
Boston & Maine R. R. .
1 09
National Meter Co.
126 51
$986 32
MAINTENANCE OF SERVICE PIPES
Paid pay roll .
$95 25
G. F. McDonald
1 50
H. Mueller Mfg. Co.
8 75
Car fares
2 25
$107 75
MAINTENANCE OF MAIN PIPE
Received labor and fittings
$14 95
Paid pay roll
$68 88
Chapman Valve Mfg. Co.
14 37
G. F. McDonald
3 00
Boston & Maine R. R.
1 18
Balance
72 48
$87 43
$87 43
184
PAINTING STAND PIPE
Paid Municipal Light Board
$15 00
M. A. Reissle
109 50
Eagle Oil & Supply Co.
2 09
American Bitumastic Enamels Co. 1,215 50
$1,342 09
INTEREST
Received interest on deposits
$70 71
Hydrant rent
5,730 00
Water for drinking fountains
300 00
Water for street sprinkling .
300 00
From receipts for water
359 29
Paid interest on bonds .
. $6,760 00
$6,760 00 $6,760 00
SERVICE PIPES
Received for pipes laid .
$1,291 91
Paid pay roll .
. $1,988 50
G. F. McDonald .
216 75
E. M. Dart Mfg. Co.
41 40
Tenney, Morse & Co.
74 58
Geo. E. Gilchrist & Co.
68 13
Builders Iron Foundry .
9 90
T. C. Fife
8 90
Cummings Express
8 80
Francis Bros.
30 70
Braman, Dow & Co., pipe
607 75
Lead Lined Iron Pipe Co., pipe
445 16
Harold L. Bond Co., tools
7 57
Walworth Mfg. Co.
88 64
Chapman Valve Mfg. Co.
30 11
Grip Coupling Co.
28 96
Boston & Maine R. R. .
17 28
Sumner & Gerald
15 27
F. O. Dewey Co.
9 00
185
Prentiss & Viall
$218 52
American Powder Mills
16 81
H. Mueller Mfg. Co.
98 56
Eagle Oil & Supply Co.
5 35
O. O. Ordway
44 35
Wendell Bancroft & Co.
3 20
Chadwick-Boston Lead Co.
5 67
American Express
1 58
Car fares
2 20
Flags
50
Balance
$2,802 23
$4,094 14
$4,094 14
MAIN PIPE
Received for pipe .
$58 15
Paid pay roll
$733 01
Chadwick-Boston Lead Co.
74 08
· Chapman Valve Mfg. Co.
82 58
Cummings Express
50
Fred A. Houdlette & Son Co.,pipe
420 83
Boston & Maine R. R., freight
5 13
Prentiss & Viall
15 00
E. C. Hanscom, teaming
17 14
G. F. McDonald
43 50
Water Works Equipment Co.
25 30
Walworth Mfg. Co.
10 51
Builders Iron Foundry .
14 87
Harold L. Bond Co.
10 88
Priest, Page & Co.
4 27
Norwood Engineering Co.
3 00
O. O. Ordway
16 65
Car fares
2 10
Malden & Melrose Gas Light Co., ledge work
250 00
Balance .
$1,671 20
.
$1,729 35 $1,729 35
186
METERS
Paid Hersey Mfg. Co. $120 00
National Meter Co.
313 60
Neptune Meter Co.
202 00
Pay roll
5 50
Cummings Express
4 35
Boston & Maine R. R. .
40
H. Mueller Mfg. Co.
18 23
$664 08
FILTERS
Paid E. C. Hanscom, teaming
$13 00
Pay roll
72 75
Chapman Valve Mfg. Co.
6 33
Norwood Engineering Co.
687 00
Braman, Dow & Co.
14 60
Boston & Maine R. R. .
25
$793 93
SUMMARY OF RECEIPTS AND EXPENDITURES
Cash balance from 1913
$1,375 23
Office rent and sundries .
112 80
House rent and sundries
203 06
Interest on deposits
70 71
Service pipes
1,291 91
Meter rates
19,042 75
Hydrant rent
5,730 00
Water for drinking fountains
300 00
Water for street sprinkling
300 00
Main pipe maintenance
14 95
Main pipe
58 15
Paid Maintenance
. $2,404 67
Pumping Station maintenance
.
4,050 12
Filter maintenance
2,467 37 .
Meter maintenance
986 32
Service pipe maintenance
107 75
Main pipe maintenance
87 43
.
187
Main pipe
· $1,729 35
Service pipes
4,094 14
Meters
664 08
Interest
6,760 00
Bonds
3,000 00
Painting stand pipe
1,342 09
Filters
793 93
Cash on hand
12 31
$28,499 56 $28,499 56
COST OF PLANT
Reported last year
$348,450 75
Main pipe
1,671 20
Service pipe
2,802 23
Meters
664 08
Filters
793 93
$354,382 19
The Board recommends that $5,790 be raised and appro- priated for hydrant rental, that $300 be raised and appro- priated for water for drinking fountains, and that $300 be raised and appropriated for water for street sprinkling.
The interest payable the current year amounts to $6,440 as follows :
$157,000 bonds for twelve months . $6,280 00
8,000 bonds for six months 160 00
$6,440 00
In accordance with our recommendations of last year, in regard to connecting water mains on South Main St. with the Stoneham water mains, we will say that the connection has been made so that in case of an emergency the water can be turned on at the Stoneham line.
188
The Board would recommend the employment of an engineer to advise with the Water Board in regard to a set- tling basin, and also the increasing of the water supply. The present settling tank is of wood and in the near future will have to be replaced. After experimenting for several years we are satisfied that to obtain the best results there should be a larger settling basin.
Since the installation of the water works system there has not been any increase in the supply of water, while the consumption of water has increased in the last fifteen years 100,000 gallons per day. Therefore it can be readily seen that we should increase our supply.
The Board has caused an article to be inserted in the warrant to this effect.
HENRY R. JOHNSON EDGAR N. HUNT HARVEY A. BANCROFT Water Commissioners.
REPORT OF WATER REGISTRAR
Amount of bills rendered in 1914
$19,213 01
Amount collected and paid Treasurer $18,443 64
Amount uncollected .
757 20
Amount abated .
12 17
$19,213 01 $19,213 01
Amount of bills of previous years un- collected
1,200 57
Amount of bills recharged
12 44
Amount collected and paid Treasurer
599 11
Amount uncollected .
524 69
Amount abated .
89 21
$1,213 01
$1,213 01
Amount of service pipe bills rendered in 1914 . .
1,337 79
Amount of service pipe bills rendered in previous years
514 12
Amount collected and paid Treasurer Amount uncollected .
1,291 91
536 00
Amount charged off .
24 00
$1,851 91
$1,851 91
LEWIS M. BANCROFT, Registrar.
189
SUPERINTENDENT'S REPORT
READING WATER COMMISSIONERS :
Gentlemen-The twenty-fifth annual report of the Superintendent is submitted for the year ended Dec. 31, 1914.
The extension of mains has been 1341 feet of six inch pipe as follows: Dudley street 206 feet; Main street 700 feet : Prescott street 200 feet ; Woodward avenue 235 feet. One hydrant set on 'Dudley street and one on Woodward avenue.
We have had but one leak in the main pipe during the year, a cracked pipe on South street.
All hydrants have been inspected and put in repair.
SERVICE PIPES
Sixty services have been put in during the year and two discontinued, making 1623 in the system.
Two service leaks have been repaired, one on Ash street and one on Washington street, both being from cracked pipe.
PUMPING STATION
The pumps and boilers will need some repairs. The house has been shingled, and now should be painted on the outside.
Some action should be taken at once to increase our supply of water.
190
191
KINDS AND SIZES OF METERS IN USE
No.
NAME
2 in.
1} in.
1} in.
1 in.
3 in.
& in.
82
Crown.
4
1
2
75
949
Nash
5
8
5
931
199
Empire
1
1
197
1
Gem
1
39
Lambert
2
37
12
Thompson
1
1
10
6
Worthington
6
155
Hersey
1
7
8
139
27
Neptune ..
27
8
Union
3
1
1
3
5
King
5
19
Columbia
19
1
Niagara
8
1
1512
11
13
8
21
8
1451
YEARLY RECORD OF PUMPING SERVICE
FROM JAN. 1. 1914, TO JAN. 1, 1915
MONTH
No. Days
Hrs.
Min.
Gallons Pumped
Total Head
Pounds Coal
Rain- fall
January
31
261
30
6,857,741
219
48,653
3.34
February
28
241
30
6.715,172
47,401
3.65
March
31
228
. .
6,855,933
41,516
4.09
April ..
30
223
30
6,027,772
37,127
6.32
May
31
271
45
7.145,499
41,335
2.76
June.
30
340
9,152,123
47,455
1.44
July
31
266
. .
6,926,143
38,828
2.34
August
31
246
45
6,374,320
36,074
2.78
September
30
294
45
8,446,928
41,946
.23
October .
31
271
45
7,931,925
41,093
1.51
November.
30
227
45
6,675,156
38,975
2.92
December
31
223
45
6,797,719
42,935
3.69
365
3,097
85,906,431
219
503,338
35.07
1
9
Keystone.
SIZES
192
TABLE SHOWING CONSUMPTION IN GALLONS FOR VARIOUS PURPOSES, 1914
Domestic use, manufacturing and trade pur-
poses, metered 52,191,000
Domestic use, unmetered (estimated) 6,700,000
Drinking fountains (estimated) 3,000,000
Street sprinkling (estimated)
8,000,000
Total accounted for
69,891,000
Amount unaccounted for
16,015,431
Total pumped
85,906,431
Percentage of water pumped accounted for .81
Percentage of water pumped unaccounted for .19
Percentage of water pumped metered
.60
COST OF MAINTENANCE AND REVENUE
Amount
Cost per 1000 gallons pumped
Interest on bonds
. $6,760 00
.079
Management and repairs
.
4,928 26
.057
Pumping Station maintenance
.
4,050 12
.047
Filter maintenance
.
2,467 37
.029
Received per 1000 gallons pumped
Receipts from water takers
. $19,042 75
.21
Total receipts
.
. 27,124 33
.46
.
193
TABLE SHOWING AMOUNT OF RAIN AND MELTED SNOW FOR YEAR ENDING DEO. 31, 1914
Day of Month
January
February
March
April
May
June
July
August
September
October
November
December
Day of Month
1 . ..
1.36
.42
.74
.03
.02
1
2 .. . .
.25
.30
.01
.27
.04
.08
2
3 .. . .
.02
.23
.16
.17
8
4. . . .
.06
.01
.13
.05
.02
.4
5 .. . .
.05
.64
.43
.02
.67
.01
6
7 .. ..
.16
.01
.41
.51
.. 7
8 ....
.01
65
.45
.8
9. . .
.0
.01
.9
10 ...
.05
.05
.03
.60
.11
12 ....
1.13
.04
.15
12
13 ...
.46
.02
.04
.90
.13
14 ...
.12
1.05
.05
. 14
15.
.15
16 ...
.20
.30
.04
.68
.21
.16
17.
.03
.11
.18
.36
.17
18
.09
.45
.45
.02
.28
1 93
.93
·19
20. ...
.96
.14
.40
.20
.. 20
21 .. . .
.08
.25
52
.64
21
22
.04
.22
23 .. . .
.01
.23
24.
.82
.03
.. 24
25 .. .
.03
.14
.02
.45
.14
.26
27 .. ..
.66
.57
.12
.08
.03
.. 27
28 .. . .
.40
.40
.02
.07
.12
28
29. . . .
.23
.07
.01
.17
.12
.04
.38
.29
30 ....
02
.18
.02
.06
.01
.30
31 . . . .
1.14
.04
.31
3.34
3.65
4.09
6.32
2.76
1.44
2.34
2.78
.23
1.51
2.92
3.69
·18
19 ..
.01
.42
.27
.. 25
26 ....
.04
1.96
.03
.51
1.25
.96
5
6 .. . .
.20
10
11 ..
....
.23
The average rainfall for Massachusetts, as deduced by the State Board of Health from long continued observations in various parts of the State, is 44.78 inches. The rainfall at Reading Pumping Station in 1914 was 35.07 inches, mak- ing a deficiency of 9.71 inches. There was an excess of rainfall in the months of February, March, April and De- cember of 2.96 inches, and a deficiency in the other eight months of 12.67 inches. The most of the excess occurred in April, 2.74 inches ; the greatest deficiency occurred in Sep- tember and October, amounting to 5.58 inches.
COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS - STATE DEPT. OF HEALTH
WATER ANALYSIS - (PARTS IN 100,000)
APPEARANCE
Date of
Collec- tion
Turbidity
Sediment
Color
Free
Albu- mi- noid
Chlorine
Ni- Ni- trates trites
Oxygen
Consumed
Hardness
Iron
1914
114548 Feb. 17 None
None
.16
21.00
.0014 .0200
.0096 .0132
2 60
.0160 .0160
.0012 .0001
.28 .52
95 2.3
.011
Filter Weir Filter Gallery
114549 Feb. 17 Slight iron
Cons. iron
Fil.
.50
14.20
.0144
.0152
1.70
.0020
.0002
.66
2.5 11.0
.012
Filter Gallery Filter Weir
116836 June 15 Decided iron 116837 June 15 None
Cons. iron None
F. Tib. . 90 .46
21.00
.0006
.0112
2.30
.0080
.0000 .0024
.45
13 5
.009
Filter Gallery Filter Weir
118372 Aug. 18 Decided iron 118373 Aug. 18 |None
Heavy iron None
.12 27.50
.0004
.0094
6.20
.0140
.0050
.45 .25
3.5 13.5
.300 .005
Filter Gallery Filter Weir
119810 Oct. 20 Slight
Cons. iron None
.06
45.20
.0012
.0080
13.40
.0280
.0050 .0000
.37 .22
7.6 14.5
.520 .008
Filter Gallery Filter Weir
121261 Dec. 22 Decided iron 121262 Dec. 22 Very slight
Heavy iron None
.02 .12
34.90 32.40
.0058
.0080 .0106
11.00 8.20
.0180 .0040
.0000 .0015
.18
7.8 11.4
.013
Filter Gallery Filter Weir
194
.70
9.30
17.30
.0014
.0094
1.75
.0060
.0013
. 42
.72
2.9
.220
Fil. .38
18.80
.0480
0180
5.40
.0020
.0000
.0000
14.20
.0050
.0384
37.70
Fil.
02
Fil.
Residue on
Evaporation
AMMONIA
NITROGEN AS
No.
115680 Apr. 22 Decided iron 115681 Apr. 22 None
Cons. iron None
.36
11.70
.0184
.0176
2.30
.0040
2 50
.450
.170
119811 Oct. 20 None
.22
.750
.0700
195
SUMMARY OF STATISTICS FOR THE YEAR ENDING DECEMBER 31, 1914 In form recommended by the New England Water Works Association
READING WATER WORKS READING, MIDDLESEX COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS GENERAL STATISTICS
Population by Census of 1910, 5,818.
Date of construction, 1890 and 1891.
By whom owned, Town of Reading.
Source of supply, filter gallery.
Mode of supply (whether gravity or pumping), pumping.
PUMPING STATISTICS
1. · Builders of pumping machinery, George F. Blake Manu- facturing Co. and Platt Iron Works.
2. Description of fuel used
( a Kind, coal b Brand of coal, New River c Average price of coal per gross ton, delivered, $5.30 d Percentage of ash, e Wood, price per cord, $
3. Coal consumed for the year, 503,338 1bs.
4. [Pounds of wood consumed] divided by three equals equivalent amount of coal lbs.
4a. Amount of other fuel used
5. Total equivalent coal consumed for the year equals (3) plus (4) 1bs.
6. Total pumpage for the year, 85,906,431 gallons, with allowance for slip.
196
7. Average static head against which pumps work, 219.
8. Average dynamic head against which pumps work, 240.
9. Number of gallons pumped per pound of equivalent coal (5), 170.6
10. Duty equals gallons pumped (6) x 8.34 (Ibs.) x 100 x dynamic head (8) Total fuel consumed (5)
equals 34,161,997
Cost of pumping, figured on pumping station expenses, viz., 3847.06
11. Per million gallons pumped, 44.67.
12. Per million gallons raised one foot (dynamic), $0.18.
FINANCIAL STATISTICS
RECEIPTS
Balance brought forward :
(a) From ordinary (main- tenance) receipts · (b) From extraordinary receipts(bonds, etc.)
$1,375 23
Total . From Water Rates :
$1,375 23
EE. Payment of bonds . 3,000 00
Water Works Construction :
A. Fixture rates
B. Meter rates . . $19,042 75
O. Total from consumers 19,042 75 ·
D. For hydrants .
5,730 00
II. Extension of meters 664 08
793 93
F. For street watering . 300 00
J. Total from municipal departments . 6,330 00
L. From bond issue
M. From other sources : Rent, interest, etc. Service pipes .
459 67
1,291 91
Appropriation
N. Total .
$28,499 56
EXPENDITURES
Water Works Maintenance:
AA. Operation (manage- ment and repairs) $11,445 75
$11,445 75
CC. Total maintenance DD. Interest on bonds (OC plus DD) 18,205 75
6,760 00
GG. Extension of mains . 1,729 35
HH. Extension of services 4,094 14
E. For fountains 300 00
JJ. Extension of filters KK. Total construction . MM. Balance . .
7,281 50
12 31
(aa) Ordinary Total balance
N. Total
$28,499 56
DISPOSITION OF BALANCE - CARRIED TO NEW ACCOUNT
O. Net cost of works to date .
$354,382 19
P. Bonded debt at date
165,000 00
Q. Value of Sinking Fund to date.
Q. Average rate of interest, 4 per cent.
199
STATISTICS OF CONSUMPTION OF WATER
1. Estimated total population at date, 6,200.
2. Estimated population on lines of pipe, 6,100.
3. Estimated population supplied, 6,000.
4. Total consumption for the year, 85,906,431.
5. Passed through meters, 52,191,000 gallons.
6. Percentage of consumption metered, .608.
7. Average daily consumption, 235,332.
8. Gallons per day to each inhabitant, 38.
9. Gallons per day to each consumer, 39.2.
10. Gallons per day to each tap, 145.
11. Cost of supplying water, per million gallons, figured on total maintenance (item CC), $133.22.
12. Total cost of supplying water, per million gallons, fig- ured on total maintenance, plus interest on bonds, $211.92.
STATISTICS RELATING TO DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM
MAINS
1. Kind of pipe, cast iron.
2. Sizes, from 6 inch to 12 inch.
3. Extended, 1341 feet during year.
4. Discontinued, 0 feet during year.
5. Total now in use, 32.5731 miles.
6. Cost of repairs per mile, $2.68.
7. Number of leaks per mile, 0.
8. Length of pipes less than 4 inches in diameter, 0 miles.
9. Number of hydrants added during year (public and private), 2.
10. Number of hydrants ( public and private ) now in use, 193.
11. Number of stop gates added during year, 2.
12. Number of stop gates now in use, 294.
13. Number of stop gates smaller than 4 inch, 0.
14. Number of blow-offs, 14.
15. Range of pressure on mains, 45 lbs. to 90 lbs.
200
SERVICES
16. Kind of pipe, cast iron, lead and cement lined.
17. Sizes, 3-4 to 6 inches.
18. Extended, 5721.9 feet.
19 Discontinued, 303.4 feet.
20. Total now in use, 24.4854 miles.
21. Number of service taps added during year, 60.
22. Number now in use, 1623.
23. Average length of service, 1914, 95.3 feet.
24. Average cost of service for the year, $68.23.
25. Number of meters added, 55.
26. Number now in use, 1512.
27. Percentage of services metered, 93.7.
28. Percentage of receipts from metered water (B) divided by (C)
29. Number of motors and elevators added, 0.
30. Number now in use, 0.
LEWIS M. BANCROFT, Superintendent.
Twentieth Annual Report
OF THE
Electric Light Commissioners For the Year Ending December 31 1914
-
OFFICERS OF THE ELECTRIC LIGHT AND POWER DEPARTMENT
Commissioners
CARL M. SPENCER, Chairman
Term expires 1917
GEORGE L. FLINT, Secretary
Term expires 1915
FRANK E. CRAFTS
Term expires 1916
Manager ARTHUR G. SIAS
Office
179 Main Street, Y. M. O. A. Building
203
REPORT OF THE ELECTRIC LIGHT AND POWER DEPARTMENT
The Municipal Light Board of the Town of Reading here- with submit their annual report, together with the report of the Manager with summaries of accounts and statistics. There is also appended the decision of the State Board of Gas and Electric Light Commissioners rendered in answer to an application of this Department for their consent to the rates for power, and for heating and cooking, in force in Reading.
A comparison of this report with that of the previous year will show a marked improvement in the operating results. The Manager's report explains in detail the opera- tions of the Plant and the various factors affecting the fluc- tuations of income and expense. We believe the accounts and statistics will reveal a condition in the affairs of this Department which will be satisfactory to our citizens.
STREET LIGHTING
In the street lighting service all arc lights were removed early in the year and incandescent lamps substituted in their places. A saving in current required and in cost of maintenance has thus been effected, without any noticeable loss in the volume of light.
New street lights have been installed as provided for at the annual town meeting, and improvements have been made in the lighting of many streets. The Board has planned a rearrangement.of the lights on Summer avenue, and on West street from Woburn street to the Woburn line. We would
205
206
also recommend that street lights be installed on the "Wil- low Road"-John St .- from the car barns to the Wakefield line, this being the only portion of the main thoroughfares now unlighted. Residential streets, so far as they are public streets, are nearly all lighted, and further additions to the street lighting service will be mainly for improvement in the distribution of the lighting, except as new streets are added.
We take this opportunity to explain the position of the Board in relation to the frequent requests which are made for lights to be installed on private ways and unaccepted streets. We have consistently refused such requests with- out reference to their merits, and have advised all petition- ers for such lights to ask the Town for them in town meeting.
DECISION OF STATE BOARD-POWER RATES- APPROPRIATIONS
The decision of the State Board of Gas and Electric Light Commissioners, which appears in the following pages, explains quite fully the situation in this plant with reference to power rates, and the general principles upon which such rates are based. The rates as approved by them are now in force. The further comments in the decision relative to lighting rates and costs should be read by all citizens, as it bears upon the amount which the Town should appropriate annually for maintenance of the Plant. A table appearing in this report shows the amounts which have been appropri- ated by the Town for various purposes for each of the last fifteen years. The annual appropriations for all purposes. comprising maintenance, interest, depreciation, payment of bonds and notes, construction and additional street lights, averages over $10,000 for each year during that period.
REDUCTION IN LIGHTING RATES
Lighting rates were reduced by the Board on January 1st. 1915, and are now as follows :
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LIGHTING RATE
To consumers in the Town of Reading-eleven cents per kilowatt hour. To consumers in the towns of North Read- ing, Wilmington and Lynnfield Centre-fourteen cents per kilowatt hour.
MINIMUM CHARGE
The minimum charge for lighting service will be $9.00 per year, payable 75 cents per month. The account will be reviewed annually and any charge in excess of electricity actually used will be credited, provided $9.00 worth of elec- tricity has been consumed during the year.
DISCOUNT
A discount of ten per cent. will be allowed on all light- ing bills, except MINIMUM BILLS, if payment is received at the office of the Municipal Light Department on or before the fifteenth of the month following date of bill. If the fif- teenth falls on Sunday or a legal holiday, one more day will be allowed.
No discount will be allowed when arrears are due.
In our opinion this reduction was amply justified by the showing of the Plant during 1914. A further reduction, if made at this time, must be balanced by an increase in the amount appropriated by the Town for maintenance. In this connection attention is called to the Manager's estimate of the appropriation required of the Town under present conditions.
The rate for lighting to Town departments has been fixed at 7 1-2 cents per kilowatt hour for the ensuing year. which rate approximates as closely as possible the cost of this service as defined by the statute.
The growing use of the tungsten lamps has reduced lighting bills, and to an important extent has checked the growth of earnings. A nitrogen lamp for street lighting has now been perfected which still further reduces the current
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required for a given quantity of light; in a short time it will undoubtedly be available for the larger sizes of lights used in stores, halls and factories. Following the example of many lighting plants the Department now offers free renewals of the following tungsten or Mazda lamps :
Watts
Candle Power
60
56
Plain or bowl frosted
100
98
Plain or bowl frosted
150
150
Plain or bowl frosted
250
250
Plain or bowl frosted
NORTH READING CONTRACT
We would recommend that the Municipal Light Board be given authority to renew the street lighting contract with the Town of North Reading, which expires on December 1, 1915, for a term not exceeding five years.
CARL M. SPENCER GEORGE L. FLINT
FRANK E. CRAFTS Municipal Light Board.
MANAGER'S REPORT
TO THE MUNICIPAL LIGHT BOARD, READING, MASS. :
Gentlemen-I respectfully submit herewith my report showing the results of the operation of the Electric Light and Power Department for the year ending Dec. 31, 1914.
In comparison with the report for the previous year, it is much more satisfactory to me and I believe will be to all. While the kilowatt hours generated have decreased 5.6 per cent. over last year, and kilowatt hours sold to customers have decreased 3.5 per cent. our gross earnings have in- creased 10.5 per cent. and operating expenses have been less by 13 per cent. than in 1913.
The increase in earnings was not quite as large as I anticipated, and the operating expenses were slightly more than the estimate at the beginning of the year, and while the gain in operating was the largest in the history of the plant, it was not sufficient, with the amount appropriated from the tax levy, to make up the apparent loss for the previous year as defined by the statute.
The principal reason for the decreased output is on ac- count of the substitution of the new type Mazda incandes- cent lamps for the arc lamps on the street lighting circuits, the saving in current on these circuits being 68,153 kilowatt hours for the year, which represents a considerable saving in money without materially decreasing the volume of light.
We have now installed on the streets of Reading 7-32 c. p., 369-60 c. p., 8-100c. p., 78-250 c. p., and 1-350 c. p. Mazda incandescent lamps. The center circuit, which burns all night and every night, has 74-60 c. p., 8-100 c. p., 27-
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250 c. p., and 1-350 c. p. lamps and has burned a total of 3,751 hours during the year; the remaining three circuits have 295-60 c. p., and 51-250 c. p. lamps and have burned a total of 3,146 hours.
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