USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Reading > Town of Reading Massachusetts annual report 1919 > Part 7
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Aid, sundry persons
1,631.00
4,817.36
Due from The Commonwealth
1,614.20
1,934.65
4,817.36
1,899.87
120
PUBLIC LIBRARY
Appropriation
3,000.00
TRANSFERRED
From Excess and Deficiency Account 96.23
3,096.23
EXPENDED
Salaries :
Miss Bertha L. Brown, Librarian
500.00
Miss Grace Abbott
97.28
Miss Claire Haag
19.33
1,085.86
Charles Stinchfield, janitor
469.25
Bertha L. Brown, expenses
9.62
Directory and periodicals
225.17
Express
4.19
Fuel
227.54
Furniture
40.00
Lighting
90.33
Installing lights
82.50
Service connections
96.23
Printing
60.75
Water rates
6.69
Repairs
97.35
Supplies
22.26
2,819.21
Transferred to Excess and Deficiency
Account
142.64
2,961.85
Balance to 1920
134.38
UNPAID BILLS
P. N. Sweetser, fuel
134.38
NEW PUBLIC LIBRARY BUILDING
Balance from 1918
854.92
Balance to 1920 854.92
Books
770.72
121
RECREATION AND CELEBRATIONS MEMORIAL DAY
250.00
Appropriation
EXPENDED
Reading Brass Band
75.00
Lunches
11.85
Flowers
145.37
232.22
Transferred to Excess and Deficiency
Account
17.78
250.00
RENT OF PLAY GROUND
Appropriation
342.00
EXPENDED
Mrs. Kirk Sweetser
342.00
SOLDIERS' AND SAILORS' WELCOME
Appropriation
RECEIVED
Sale of cigars
TRANSFERRED
From Excess and Deficiency Account
800.00
EXPENDED
Advertising and printing
101.50
Badges
315.10
Cards
1.00
Music
327.50
Address
80.00
Policing
30.00
Decorations
300.50
Rent of hall
17.00
Collation
280.25
Cigars
36.60
Taxi service
10.00
Artists' entertainment
200.00
. .
1,699.45
Transferred to Excess and Deficiency Account
107.75
1,000.00
7.20
1,807.20
1,807.20
122
CARE OF COMMON AND PARKS
Appropriation
550.00
EXPENDED
Labor
211.21
Lawn mower
19.85
Repairs to band stand
31.40
Supplies
7.03
Christmas tree
. .
334.49
Balance to 1920
215.51
MEMORIAL PARK
Balance from 1918
34.55
Appropriation
1,000.00
RECEIVED
From Miss Pierce and Temple heirs
800.00
From sundry sources
90.00
1,924.55
EXPENDED
Labor and sand
67.60
Labor, care of Park
591.90
Supplies
55.97
Lumber
176.57
Gate
49.00
Tablet
230.00
Express and freight
21.01
Printing
3.00
Materials
69.70
Plumbing old barn
300.00
New equipment
279.13
1,843.88
Balance to 1920
80.67
CEMETERIES LAUREL HILL CEMETERY
Appropriation
1,500.00
RECEIVED
From Trust Fund for perpetual care
907.50
TRANSFERRED
From sale of lots and graves
4,200.00
6,607.50
.
65.00
123
EXPENDED
Pay roll
2,507.30
P. Caproni, contract
2,493.20
E. P. Bancroft, teams
263.04
E. C. Hanscom, teams
361.48
Henry Carroll, labor
57.88
A. W. Danforth, Secy, salary and expenses
108.25
Loam
71.50
Fertilizer
69.00
Repairs
17.75
Signs
24.65
Lawn mower
20.50
Flowers and shrubs
348.65
Carving letters
55.73
Express
1.63
Survey
117.55
Lumber
35.70
Supplies
18.15
6,571.96
Transfer to sales of lots and graves
35.54
6,607.50
SOLDIERS' RELIEF
Appropriation
900.00
TRANSFERRED
From Excess and Deficiency Account
108.00
EXPENDED
Aid, sundry persons
1,008.00
BURIAL OF SOLDIERS
Balance from 1918
40.00
TRANSFERRED
To Excess and Deficiency Account .
10.00
50.00
RECEIVED
From Commonwealth of Mass. 50.00
1,008.00
124
HIGHWAYS, BRIDGES AND SIDEWALKS HIGHWAY MAINTENANCE
Appropriation
$ 20,000.00
RECEIVED
Sale of transit
$ 58.00
Town of Wakefield
320.00
Sundry parties
91.00
469.00
TRANSFERRED
From Scarifier Account
24.00
From Hose 2 Equipments, cement
17.50
From Union-St. School, material
163.50
From Woburn St., truck
60.00
From Summer Ave., truck
140.00
From High St., truck and roller
210.00
From Salem St., truck
540.00
From oiling truck ($120),
tarvia ($540)
660.00
From Town Buildings, teaming
20.40
From Forest St., labor
24.92
$
22,329.32
Balance from 1918 $ 355.50
TRANSFERRED
John-St. School, labor
71.22
EXPENDED
E. H. Crowe, Superintendent .
1,525.03
Pay roll
6,926.10
8,451.13
Truck auto car
3,000.00
Ford car
314.58
Gravel pit
800.00
Tar kettle
300.00
Concrete mixer
676.20
Tools
1,092.81
Tires for truck
574.41
Cement
310.50
West St. surface water
366.13
Asphalt
594.00
Rock
397.40
Building wall
140.00
Freight and express
115.96
Tarvia
1,026.32
125
· Oil
82.61
Sidewalk repairs
219.86
Auto supplies, repairs and storage
914.33
Teaming
73.60
Fuel
191.89
Insurance
837.40
Incidentals
183.02
Telephone
31.14
Supplies
746.45
Repairs
465.86
$
22,329.32
UNPAID BILLS
Burgess & Allen, insurance
642.45
SUMMER AVENUE
Appropriation
$
1,000.00
TRANSFERRED
To Highway Dept., truck $ 140.00
EXPENDED
Pay roll
110.24
Oil
290.50
Fuel
35.28
576.02
Balance to 1920
423.98
SALEM STREET MACADAM
Appropriation
5,000.00
TRANSFERRED
To Highway Dept., use of truck $ 540.00
EXPENDED
Pay roll
994.52
Stone
276.46
Fuel
34.31
Teaming
71.44
Tarvia
1,096.90
Tar
770.00
Repairs, tools
12.75
3,796.38
Balance to 1920
1,203.62
126
NORTH MAIN STREET SIDEWALK
Appropriation
500.00 ·
Pay roll
105.00
Balance to 1920 395.00
WEST STREET SURFACE WATER $ 500.00
Balance from 1918
EXPENDED
A. Michelini & Sons
500.00
DRINKING FOUNTAINS
Appropriation
100.00
EXPENDED
Reading Water Works
100.00
HIGH STREET
Balance from 1918
394.09
EXPENDED
Transferred to Highway Dept .:
Truck, $80; roller, $60; labor, $70
210.00
Balance to 1920 184.09
WEST STREET RESURFACING
Appropriation
Balance to 1920 700.00
STREET LIGHTING
Appropriation
14,450.00
EXPENDED
Municipal Light Board
14,450,00
WOBURN STREET, FROM R. R. CROSSING
Appropriation
500.00
TRANSFERRED
To Highway Dept., truck
...
$
60.00
EXPENDED
Pay roll
29.24
Fuel
14.11
103.35
Balance to 1920 396.65
700.00
EXPENDED
127
SCARIFIER AND TAR KETTLE
Appropriation
EXPENDED
Scarifier
926.00
Kettle
.
50.00
TRANSFERRED
To Highway Dept. for labor .. . 24.00
1,000.00
Balance to 1920
250.00
1,000.00
SNOW AND ICE
Appropriation
2,000.00
EXPENDED
Pay roll
446.90
Sand
124.37
Snow plows
240.00
Steel for repairing plows
167.93
Repairs
3.15
982.35
Transferred to Excess and Deficiency
Account
1,017.65
2,000.00
DUST LAYING
Appropriation
3,500.00
Transferred for use of truck and
tarvia
660.00
Transferred to Excess and Deficiency Account
26.93
686.93
EXPENDED
Pay roll
580.45
Oil
1,710.22
Freight and demurrage
. 522.40
3,500.00
CONCRETE SIDEWALK REPAIRS
Appropriation
1,000.00
EXPENDED
T. A. Mulroney, contract
1,000.00
750.00
128
PROSPECT STREET
Balance from 1918 500.00
Balance to 1920
500.00
FOREST STREET
Balance from 1918
524.35
TRANSFERRED
To Highway Dept., for labor . . 24.92
EXPENDED
Pay roll
34.50
59.42
Balance to 1920 464.93
EDUCATION ' SCHOOL DEPARTMENT MAINTENANCE
Appropriation, general account .... 72,500.00
RECEIVED
From sundry sources
217.33
$ 72,717.33
EXPENDED
Teachers' and Supt.'s salaries
47,609.71
Janitors' salaries
4,359.75
Attendance Officer's salary
350.00
Medical inspection
100.00
Total salaries
52,419.46
Transportation, street railways
1,070.00
Automobile
764.75
Tuition and truants
43.85
Books
2,259.64
Supplies for pupils
2,877.83
Apparatus for teaching
630.01
General Expenses:
Printing, etc.
60.54
Office supplies
217.06
Telephones
325.28
Graduation, miscellaneous
311.44
Fuel
6,575.53
Building Maintenance:
Gas and lighting
495.92
129
Water
371.15
Trucking, etc.
475.07
Janitors' supplies
487.95
Repairs :
Buildings
2,398.70
Furniture
631.35
Grounds
297.90
72,713.43
Balance transferred to Excess and
Deficiency Account 3.90
General Account total
$ 72,717.33
TUITION TO INDUSTRIAL SCHOOLS
Appropriation, Special Account . .
$ 350.00
EXPENDED
Tuitions paid
80.25
Balance transferred to Excess and
Deficiency Account
269.75
350.00
AGRICULTURAL DEPARTMENT Appropriation, Agricultural Account
4,499.89
EXPENDED
Teachers' salaries
3,229.87
Janitors' salaries, light, fuel, repairs
602.50
Books and supplies
653.31
4,485.68
Transferred to Excess and Deficiency
Account
14.21
4,499.89
SMITH-HUGHES FUND
Balance from 1918
156.39
Received from Federal Government
230.13
EXPENDED
Teachers' salaries
230.13
Supplies
70.00
Transferred to Agricultural Acct.
86.39
386.52
386.52
130
MUNICIPAL INDUSTRIES
MUNICIPAL LIGHT DEPARTMENT AND WATER DEPARTMENT (For details see respective reports)
MUNICIPAL INDEBTEDNESS MATURING IN 1919
Appropriation
$ 26,300.00
Amount paid by Mun. Light Dept.
14,800.00
Amount paid by Water Dept. .
3,200.00
RECEIVED
From Mun. Light Dept.
11,000.00
$ 55,300.00
EXPENDED
Balance due from Mun. Light Dept. $ 11,000.00
Municipal Light loans
14,800.00
High School Building
4,000.00
Grouard Estate
1,000.00
Water loans
14,000.00
Current Expense bonds
1,200.00
Library Building
1,000.00
H. & L. and Comb. Truck
1,500.00
Richardson Estate
500.00
School Extension
1,000.00
Brown Estate
500.00
Sewer Construction
1,000.00
Town Office Building
2,000.00
Grading loan
1,300.00
Public Library and Town Office
Building Furnishings
500.00
$ 55,300.00
INTEREST ACCOUNT
Appropriation
18,800.00
Balance from 1918 $ 3,986.62
EXPENDED
Interest on Temporary Loans
7,658.06
Interest on Sewer Loans
4,200.00
Interest on School Loans
1,539.00
Interest on General Loans
3,076.50
Interest on Cemetery Perpet'l Care
142.32
20,602.50
Balance to 1920
1,802.50
$ 20,602.50
.
131
SCHEDULE OF REAL ESTATE AND PERSONAL PROPERTY OWNED BY TOWN OF READING, DECEMBER 31, 1919 SCHOOLS,
Buildings and land $ 214,000.00 Personal 15,000.00
$
229,000.00
PARKS
Common
10,000.00
Band Stand
500.00
Mayall Park
. 500.00
Washington Park
. .
500.00
11,500.00
TOWN BUILDINGS
Central Fire Station
21,400.00
Grouard Estate
10,700.00
Police (personal)
311.50
New Town Office Building
50,000.00
New Library Building
20,000.00
102,411.50
FIRE DEPARTMENT
Fire Houses
6,600.00
Personal
20,905.00
27,505.00
LIBRARIES
Personal
3,500.00
WATER DEPARTMENT
Buildings and land
52,100.00
Machinery and tools
50,000.00
102,100.00
HIGHWAYS
Tool house
500.00
Personal
13,375.00
13,875.00
POOR DEPARTMENT
Town Home
9,500.00
Personal (Town Home)
2,589.60
12,089.60
132
LAND
Land off Grove St., near golf links
200.00
Land west of John Street
50.00
Land west of John Street
50.00
Land Ash Street, near railroad .. 1,200.00
1,500.00
CEMETERY
Land (estimated)
25,000.00
Tool house
100.00
Personal
200.00
25,300.00
MUNICIPAL LIGHT DEPARTMENT
Building and land
22,976.81
Personal
286,338.16
309,314.97
Total value of real and personal
property , Dec. 31, 1919 .
$ 838,096.07
EXEMPTED PROPERTY
The following is a schedule of property used for religious and other purposes and by law exempt from taxation, as reported by the Assessors, December 31, 1919:
Baptist Society
$ 26,000.00
Congregational Society
86,350.00
Old South M. E. Church
43,000.00
Christian Union Society
26,500.00
St. Agnes' Roman Catholic Church
48,600.00
Home for Aged Women
5,800.00
Quannapowitt Agricultural Ass'n
13,800.00
Fathers' and Mothers' Club
3,850.00
U. S. Gov't P. O. Dept., land
6,500.00
$ 260,400.00
133
REPORT OF CEMETERY TRUSTEES
Reading, Mass., January 21, 1920.
TO THE HONORABLE BOARD OF SELECTMEN AND CITIZENS OF READING:
The Trustees of the Cemetery submit the following report :-
A large amount of labor has been done this year in preparing new lots. Two large knolls have been cut down to the proper level for the purpose, which will provide nearly one hundred good lots.
This was very much needed, as we had really got to the point where only two or three were available. There is much more work to be done in that line the coming season.
We are much troubled by the children playing, coasting, etc., in the Cemetery, and now request the parents to help us by showing them it is not the proper place for it.
The increased number of lots, paths and avenues to care for and the increase of wages demanded make it necessary to ask for a larger appropriation for the general care. It cannot properly be done for less than two thousand dollars ($2,000), and that amount we ask for.
The Town Accountant's Report contains our Financial Report.
Very respectfully,
A. W. DANFORTH, Superintendent, For the Trustees.
-
134
REPORT OF INSPECTOR OF PLUMBING
TO THE HONORABLE BOARD OF HEALTH:
GENTLEMEN-The work of this department for the year ending Dec. 31, 1919, was as follows:
Permits granted 63
Number of fixtures installed 256
Bath tubs installed 42
Closets 63
Lavatories
49
Sinks
46
Showers
2
Urinals
1
This is a large increase over last year.
Respectfully submitted,
DAVID TAGGART, Inspector of Plumbing.
135
REPORT OF BOARD OF HEALTH
We are pleased to report that during the past year we have had the smallest number of contagious diseases that have been reported for many years. The total number reported for the year 1918 was 992; for the year 1919, 40-a difference of 952 cases.
The following are the cases reported for 1919:
1919
1918
Chicken Pox
8
28
Diphtheria
3
7
Influenza
5
891
Measles
0
8
Victory Measles
0
22
Pneumonia
11
8
Scarlet Fever
7
5
Typhoid Fever
1
4
Tuberculosis
5
11
8
Whooping Cough
0
. .
-
40
992
Seventy-five (75) licenses were issued to keep swine.
This year (1920) no swine will be allowed to be kept within one- half (1-2) mile of the Municipal Building.
Every person desiring to keep swine must obtain a permit by April 30, 1920.
We are endeavoring to regulate the collection of garbage in the town by an article in the Town by-laws.
The deaths for the past year will be found in the Town Clerk's report.
Respectfully submitted,
E. M. HALLIGAN, M.D., Chairman,
L. W. ALLEN, Secretary, C. H. PLAYDON,
Board of Health.
136
REPORT OF OVERSEERS OF THE POOR
PERSONAL PROPERTY AT THE TOWN HOME DECEMBER 31, 1919
Live Stock
$ 1,059.00
Hay, grain and feed
320.00
Wagons, carts and sleighs
260.00
Fuel
205.00
Provisions and supplies
285.00
Reds, bedding, furniture and utensils
641.20
Farm tools, etc.
356.90
$ 3,127.10
J. EDWARD FROST, Chairman WILLIAM S. KINSLEY, Secretary EDWIN L. HUTCHINSON Overseers of the Poor.
Twenty-fifth Annual Report OF THE
Electric Light Commissioners
For the Year Ending December 31 1919
138
OFFICERS OF THE ELECTRIC LIGHT AND POWER DEPARTMENT
Commissioners
FRANK E. CRAFTS, Chairman
Term expires 1922
GEORGE L. FLINT, Secretary .
Term expires 1921
WILLIAM G. LONG
·
· Term expires 1920
Manager ARTHUR G. SIAS
Office MUNICIPAL BUILDING
139
MANAGER'S REPORT
TO THE MUNICIPAL LIGHT BOARD, READING, MASS.
GENTLEMEN-I respectfully submit herewith my report for the year ending December 31, 1919, which I have arranged in practically the same form as in the past two years:
OPERATING ACCOUNT
CREDITOR
By commercial lighting
$ 59,893.54
Ly commercial power
22,566.67
By municipal lighting .
1,218.68
By municipal power
2,077.11
By cooking and heating
4,197.60
By power to Wakefield
82.54
By power to Lowell Electric Light Corporation
148.40
By street lighting, North Reading .
3,242.09
By street lighting, Wilmington
5,774.93
By street lighting, Lynnfield
1,642.54
By total income $ 100,844.10
DEBTOR
To fuel
$ 27,372.51
To oil and waste
248.16
To water
129.15
To wages at station
13,681.45
To repairs, real estate
37.42
To repairs, steam plant
2,097.94
To repairs, electric plant
·
539.84
To station tools, etc.
900.51
.
To manufacturing cost
$ 45,006.98
140
To distribution wages
$ 2,395.16
To repair lines, lamps & meters, etc.
4,827.01
To incandescent lamps, commercial
265.28
To Street Series lamps renewals
1,334.47
To distribution tools, etc.
208.36
To garage expense
4,833.86
To distribution cost
$ 13,864.14
To general salaries
6,979.58
To Municipal Light Board salaries
225.00
To committee expense
389.55
To office expense
3,178.26
To rent of office and stock room . .
150.00
To insurance
2,504.17
To taxes
447.90
To miscellaneous expenses ·
$ 13,874.46
To total operating expenses ..
$ 72,745.58
Balance to profit and loss .
28,098.52
$ 100,844.10
PROFIT AND LOSS ACCOUNT
CREDITOR
By balance Dec. 31, 1918
$ 51,515.25
By pole rentals
401.55
By interest on bank balances . . 255.85
By balance of Operating Account .
28,098.52
By balance of Jobbing
134.38
By appropriation for street lights . . 14,450.00
By premiums and accrued interest
308.33
By total
$
95,163.88 1
DEBTOR
To transfer to Loans Repay. Acct.
$ 58,400.00
To bonds paid in 1919
10,000.00
To notes paid in 1919
4,800.00
To interest incurred
7,416.21
To depreciation allowed
10,419.76
Bad debts
266.18
By total
$ 91,302.15
Balance as of Dec. 31, 1919 .
3,861.73
$ 95,163.88
141
BALANCE SHEET
ASSETS
Land
$ 2,575.80
Buildings
20,401.01
Steam plant
75,855.26
Electric plant
42,162.36
Lines
116,480.83
Transformers
18,460.55
Meters
20,603.34
Street lights
12,775.82
Inventory of fuel
5,447.53
Inventory of oil and waste
101.74
Inventory of repairs, steam plant ..
288.81
Inventory of station tools, etc.
..
1,031.66
Inventory of repairs of lines
945.05
Inventory of stock
6,885.99
Inventory of repairs, street lights ..
414.26
Inventory of incandescent lamps, commercial
1,382.12
Inventory of distribution tools, etc.
707.60
Inventory of garage expense
1,181.62
Inventory of jobbing account
5,361.00
Inventory of office expense
1,425.25
Unexpired insurance
607.45
Accounts receivable, electric ...
14,614.20
Accounts receivable, sundries
8,720.23
Cash in construction fund
738.82
Cash in depreciation fund
438.80
Cash in operation fund
217.03
Cash in deposit fund
822.47
Total assets
$ 360.646.60
LIABILITIES
Appropriations for construction $ 30,678.26
Loans repayment account
134,600.00
Bonds outstanding
129,000.00
Notes outstanding
38,300.00
Deposits
822.47
Interest accrued, but not due
1,935.55
Accounts payable, operation
21,448.59
Total liabilities
$ 356,784.87
Surplus
3,861.73
$ 360,646.60
142
RE-CONSTRUCTION FUND DEBTOR
To balance Dec. 31, 1918 $ 14,978.77
To sale of generator
1,300.00
To transfer depreciation fund
1,221.23
To transfer construction fund
1,000.00
To appropriations 1919
18,000.00
$
36,500.00
CREDITOR
By additions land
$ 953.60
By additions buildings
4,571.16
By additions steam plant
12,618.04
By additions electric plant .
15,818.98
By additions lines
1,363.48
By additions transformers . . 1,174.74
$ 36,500.00
CONSTRUCTION FUND DEBTOR
To transfer from Depreciation Fund $ 7,629.51
To Appropriation
5,000.00
$ 12,629.51
CREDITOR
By additions to steam plant $
25.00
By additions to lines
7,448.90
By additions to transformers
462.73
By additions to meters
2,366.75
By additions to street lights 587.31
By transfer to Re-construction Fund 1,000.00
By balance Dec. 31, 1919
738.82
$ 12,629.51
OPERATION FUND DEBTOR
To balance Dec. 31, 1918 $ 2,669.07
To receipts from customers
127,713.10
To appropriation from tax levy
14,450.00
To appropriation for fuel
6,500.00
To interest on bank balance ·
255.85
$
151,588.02
143
CREDITOR $ 119,124.18
By operating expenditures
By transfer to Depreciation Fund . 10,419.76
By bonds retired
10,000.00
By notes retired
4,800.00
By interest paid
7,031.13
By balance Dec. 31, 1919
212.95
.
$
151,588.02
DEPRECIATION FUND
DEBTOR
To balance Dec. 31, 1918
$ 245.70
To transfer from Operation Fund .. 10,419.76
$ 10,665.46
CREDITOR
By transfer to Construction Fund ..
$ 7,992.86
By transfer to Reconstruction Fund
1,224.02
By renewals
1,009.78
By balance Dec. 31, 1919
438.80
$ 10,665.46
COST OF PLANT Cost as of December 31, 1918 ....
$
348,871.08
ADDITIONS
Land
$
341.10
Buildings
2,382.36
Steam plant
14,492.98
Electric plant
11,171.14
Lines
7,662.94
Transformers
1,685.18
Meters
2,370.64
Street lights
.. . 587.31
$ 40,693.65
Total cost December 31, 1919 . .
$ 389,564.73
LYNNFIELD EXTENSION
Total investment to Dec. 31, 1919:
Lines
$ 13,327.05
Incandescent street lights
1,164.68
Meters
1,769.85
Transformers
.
1,547.12
. .
$ 17,808.70
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NORTH READING EXTENSION
Total investment to Dec. 31, 1919:
Electric plant
$ 440.12
Lines
26,159.75
Incandescent street lights
1,787.02
Meters
2,134.14
Transformers
2,741.50
$ 33,262.53
WILMINGTON EXTENSION
Total investment to Dec. 31, 1919 :
Electric plant
$
627.18
Lines
44,128.51
Incandescent street lights
2,649.82
Meters
2,147.35
Transformers
3,315.96
$ 52,868.82
The amount of business done during 1919 was considerably in excess of my estimate at the beginning of the year.
In comparison with 1918 the K. W. H. generated increased 55.9 per cent, the income 29.1 per cent, operating expenses 10.4 per cent, and fixed charges 8. per cent. The net gain for the year was $2,613.83 as compared with a loss of $8,132.65 for the years 1917 and 1918.
Of course, the principal reason for the gain in income was due to the increase in the lighting rate in 1918, but operating ex- penses per K. W. H. were materially reduced by having a better grade of fuel, increased power load and more efficient generating apparatus.
The income account shows that the increase in lighting sales was $11,387.83, and in power sales $12,709.16, while heating and cooking sales fell off $1,348.98, due to the loss of business at the Rifle Range. The net increase over last year was $22,748.01.
The increase in power sales was principally due to additional power furnished the Reading Rubber Mfg. Company since April, 1919, although we have materially increased our connected motor load, as will be noted elsewhere in my report.
The smaller amount of fuel used per K. W. H. was due in a large measure to the fact that we have operated the new 600 K. W. turbine most of the time since it was put into service March 30, 1919. On that day we changed our distribution system from two- phase to three-phase, and connected our outside feeder lines to the new switchboard.
145
The decrease in the amount of coal used was immediately ap- parent, and in order to determine the approximate saving in the fuel cost when operating the new turbine, a test was made.
This test showed that the saving in fuel amounted to 21 per cent, which on a basis of an output of 2,000,000 K. W. H., and coal at $8.42 per gross ton, would be $6,550.76.
It is possible to secure approximately the same efficiency from the 500 K. W. turbine by making certain changes in the condensing apparatus, and I will cover this matter more fully in my recom- mendations.
The addition of the new boiler has enabled us to secure an in- crease in steam pressure from 126 to 137 lbs., which also helped to reduce coal consumption. It was thought best to install the new boiler in the addition to the boiler room rather than in the place of No. 1 boiler, as by so doing we were enabled to keep No. 1 boiler in service until the new one was ready.
If we can, during 1920, install a new boiler in place of the old No. 1 boiler which has now been removed, we can secure a fur- ther increase in steam pressure to 150 lbs. by cutting out No. 3 boiler.
With the new condenser and cooling pond we can obtain much better vacuum than with the old one, which reduces the amount of coal used.
The recent additions and improvements at the' generating station have cost a large amount of money, but the growth of the business and the improved operating conditions, I believe fully justify the expenditure.
I am sure that much credit is due Mr. C. W. Whiting for the successful operating results obtained from the new equipment.
Early in the year we contracted for a sufficient quantity of fuel to meet our requirements, as well as those of the School De- partment, and municipal buildings, and the coal contracted for was of good quality. Owing to the strike, however, we were obliged to purchase spot coal from other dealers, and it was not of such good quality, so that our coal cost was somewhat higher than it would have been under normal conditions.
The principal items of operating expense which show an in- crease over 1918 are fuel, labor, repairs of steam plant, garage ex- pense and insurance.
The increase in cost of fuel was on account of increased out- put, but was only about 4 per cent, while the output increased nearly 60 per cent. Labor and insurance was on account of in- crease in wages and salaries. Repairs of steam plant was on ac- count of extraordinary repairs to No. 3 boiler and piping.
146
Garage expense was excessive, being over $1,600.00 more than 1918. This was partly due to excessive repair bills, and I feel that this item of expense can be materially reduced this year, especially if the proposed municipal garage is built and a compe- tent repair man examines the cars when they are brought in, and sees that they are given proper attention before they again go out.
I also believe it will be more economical to exchange the Ford cars every year or, at most, every two years, as if kept in service longer, they are in the repair shop too much of the time.
Of the fixed expenses, interest increased about $530.00 and depreciation about $1,900.00. Bond and note payments were the same as in 1918.
In accordance with instructions from the Board of Gas and Electric Light Commissioners, the Profit and Loss account has been debited and Loans Repayment account credited with $58,400.00, in order that the Loans Repayment account might show the total amount of bonds and notes paid. This, of course, destroys the large surplus in the Profit and Loss account which was shown in the 1918 report.
In accordance with your request, I have endeavored to secure rates covering the purchase of electricity for a term of years. My inquiries were directed to The Lowell Electric Light Corporation, C. H. Tenney & Company, and The Edison Electric Illuminating Co.
The reply from The Lowell Electric Light Corporation indicated that our manufacturing costs were so low that they could not sell us current under their lowest wholesale schedule at as low a figure as we are now generating. They also are not in a position at the present time to supply us with current, but expect to install addi- tional generating capacity during 1920.
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