Town of Reading Massachusetts annual report 1921, Part 5

Author: Reading (Mass.)
Publication date: 1921
Publisher: The Town
Number of Pages: 286


USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Reading > Town of Reading Massachusetts annual report 1921 > Part 5


Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).


Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15


12. Total cost of supplying water, per million gallons, figured on total maintenance, plus interest on bonds.


Statistics Relating to Distribution System Mains.


1. Kind of Pipe: Cast iron.


2. Sizes: From 6 inches to 12 inch.


3. Extended : 0 feet during year.


4. Discontinued : 0 feet during the year.


5. Total now in use: 33.39 miles.


6. Cost of repairs per mile : $1.06.


7. Number of leaks per milė: 0.


8. Length of pipe less than 4 inches in diameter: 0 miles.


9. Number of hydrants added during year (public and private) : 0.


Number of hydrants (public and private) now in use: 202.


10.


11. Number of stop gates added during the year: 0.


12. Number of stop gates now in use: 310.


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.


Services.


16. Kind of pipe: Cast Iron, Galvanized Iron, Lead and Cement Lined.


17. Sizes: 34 to 6 inches.


18. Extended: 1,508.92 feet.


19. Discontinued: 00 feet.


66


20. Total now in use: 27.24 miles.


21. Number of service taps added during year: 26.


22. Number now in use: 1,817.


23. Average length of service, 1921: 58.03 feet.


24. Average cost of service for the year:


25. Number of meters added: 4.


23. Number now in use: 1,785.


27. Percentage of services metered: 98.


28. Percentage of receipts from metered water: (R) divided by (C).


29. Number of motors and elevators added: 0.


30. Number now in use: 0.


Principal Work Performed.


No extension of mains were made during the year.


All hydrants have been examined and put in order.


One hydrant has been replaced on Haverhill Street, West Side, south of house of Wm. Taylor; and one hydrant was broken, hit by a truck, at the junction of Pearl and Franklin Streets.


Two hundred and twenty-six meters have been tested, cleaned, re- .paired and replaced.


Twenty-five new house services have been constructed during the year.


Nineteen leaks in service pipes have been repaired, seven of which have been on Washington St., caused by electrolysis.


The interior of the pumping station has been painted where it was necessary.


The paint and the supplies for painting the exterior of the pumping station and house are on hand and same will be painted next year.


The south side of the store house and the well house roofs have been shingled.


The standpipe has been painted, the last previous painting having been done eight years ago.


Recommendations.


That the exterior of the Water Works Shop be painted next year.


That a six-inch wooden main be laid in Washington St., from Vil- lage to a point within three hundred (300) feet from So. Main St., to eliminate electrolysis.


That a hydrant be installed at the junction of Elliott and Wash- ington Streets.


That a six-inch main be laid on Weston Rd., junction of Hanscom Ave., to connect with main on Bancroft Ave.


67


That an eight-inch main be laid on Lowell St., from junction of High St. to Bancroft Ave., as a more direct auxiliary supply for the stand pipe.


That a six-inch main be laid on Forest St., between No. Main and Pearl Sts.


That a light Ford Truck be bought for general maintenance work, keeping the heavy truck which is now on its fourth year for auxiliary work.


That a door be cut and framed up to allow coal to be dumped into the bins at the pumping station.


That the boiler fronts at the pumping station be repaired.


That one hundred fifty dollars ($150) be appropriated for laboratory work at the pumping station.


That one hundred and twenty-five dollars ($125) be appropriated for repairs and necessary tools at the pumping station.


The Superintendent wishes to express his gratitude for the ever helpful assistance and untiring patience that Mr. Bancroft has given him in carrying on his work.


HARRY B. COLLINS, Superintendent and Registrar.


68


HIGHWAY DEPARTMENT


.


To the Board of Public Works:


Gentlemen :- The following is the yearly report of the Highway Dept:


Appropriations and Balances.


1. Voted in March Town Meeting for Highway Maintenance $18,000.00


2. Voted in June Town Meeting for Highway Maintenance and Construction


30,000.00


3. Removal of Snow and Ice


2,000.00


4. Cleaning drainage ditches 2,500.00


5. South St., ordered by County Commissioners 1,500.00


6. Balance to be spent on Hill Crest Road 1,371.80


7. Balance to be spent on Salem St.


1,203.62


8. Balance to be spent on Prospect St.


500.00


9. Balance to be spent on Forest St. 464.93


10. Balance to be spent on Woburn St. 396.65


11. Balance to be spent on Sidewalk, Main St. 232.81


12. Balance to be spent on Summer Ave. 423.98


Total


$58,593.79


Expenditures and Balances of the above appropriations.


Appropriation for Highway Maintenance & Construction 1921 $48,000.00


Maintenance Pay Roll $14,284.37


Maintenance Bills 26,433.14


Board of Public Works pay-roll . .


3,124.08


Board of Public Works pay-roll . 2,134.08


Board of Public Works Bills 446.58 1921 Total 43,298.17


1922 Balance 4,701.83


Appropriation for the removal of snow and ice


2,000.00


Payroll 1,152.33


Total 1,152.33


Balance


847.67


2,500.00


Appropriation for cleaning drainage ditches. West St. Culvert and ditching John Williams 604.60


69


F. A. Barbour


38.69


Pay Roll


96.94 Total 740.23


Balance


1,759.77


South St. ordered by County Commissioners


1,500.00


Pay Roll


425.42


Total 425.42


Balance


1,074.58


Balance to be spent on Forest St.


464.93


Pay Roll and bills


000.00 Total


000.00


Balance


464.93


Balance to be spent on Sidewalk N. Main St.


232.81


Pay Roll


57.75 Total


57.75


Balance


175.06


The above accounts for Summer Ave., Prospect St., Hill Crest Rd., Woburn St., and Salem St., have been charged off with the work that was done on them this last year.


Amount of unpaid bills December 31st, 1921: (None).


The salary of the Superintendent, and Office Expenses of the Board of Public Works were paid out of the $30,000, appropriation voted upon at the Town Meeting June 6th, 1921.


Principal Work Performed.


To chronicle the work performed during the past year, in the order of events, of the Highway Department, would give an interrupted ac- count of the different classes of work done, so the Superintendent takes the liberty of compiling the different classes of work, stating as nearly as possible those features which may be of interest.


1. Oiling. About 41,400 gallons of 45% asphalt oil was applied to the streets for the purpose of laying dust, and it covered an area of 147,755 sq. yds. at a cost of $3,587.37 applied. The department laid this oil to cover 31/2 yds. per gallon at a cost of about 21/2 cents a square yard. On account of the late date at which this oil was applied upon the streets, the road surfaces were exceedingly dry and it was found necessary to lay a heavier application than is the usual custom to cover a certain area. The above oil under right conditions can be applied so as to cover 4 sq. yds. to a gallon, thus either reducing the cost of the area, or for the same amount, covering a much larger territory. To give a clearer idea of the amount of road surface covered with the quan- tity of oil which we used this year, one might say that it would cover a street 14 miles long and 18 feet wide.


70


The following list of streets were covered :


Summer Ave., Washington St., Pleasant St., Union St., John St., Vil- lage St., Parker St., Pearl St., Ash St., Green St., Haven St., Middle St., Fulton St., Highland St., Federal St., Locust St., Bancroft Ave., School St., Dudley St., Deering St., Grand St., Howard St., Harriman St., Mt. Vernon St., Kingston St., Fremont St., Prescott St., Walnut St., Oak St., Hill Crest Rd., Temple St., Orange St., Belmont St., Pierce St., Spring St., Grove St., Pratt St., Berkeley St., King St., Vine St., Wood- ward Ave., Mineral St., Manning St., Eaton St., Wilson St., Bay State Rd., Charles St., No. Main St., Harnden St., Woburn St., Lincoln St.


TARVIA. Approximately 35,720 gallons of Tarvia "B" has been ap- plied to the street during the past year. In almost every case where such has been applied, the surface of the road was scarified, shaped, and rolled, in order to obtain in the streets a standard crown whereby the surface water would easily run off. To give the exact cost for the com- position of the existing road surface, where same is to be applied, varies so much, that it is difficult to obtain even a fair average estimate.


Two examples may be cited, extremes, it is true, but nevertheless actual cases here in town. First, Bay State Road, distance 2,000 feet, scarifying, shaping and rolling, two hours. Second, Haven Street, dis- tance 300 feet, scarified, shaped and rolled, eight hours. By actual data now on hand in the office of the Board of Public Works, to scarify, shape and roll, and also apply tarvia on a 26' wide roadway costs, per mile, from $625. to $700., depending entirely upon the material in the streets. Any top dressing to a road surface, other than permanent con- struction, serves the purpose of a rain coat to that surface, and the amount and character of the dressing should be governed by the amount of travel that the road surface gets. With the present existing condi- tions of motor travel, the Superintendent recommends in the future, as far as possible the application of some heavier material than light oil, the only substance used by the Town prior to 1921. In its place he would suggest the use of Tarvia or other material of the same quality of substance.


The following streets are those on which the above-mentioned work has been done:


Hopkins St., Summer Ave., Copeland Ave., Perkins Ave., Berkeley St., Prospect St., Fremont St., Woburn St., Pratt St., Washington St., Arlington St., Lincoln St., Minot St., High St., Grove St., Lowell St., Chute St., Bancroft Ave., Linden St., Sanborn St., Salem St.


Permanent Construction. After most of the streets were taken care of as mentioned above, the Highway Department turned their attention towards permanent construction, which was carried out on the following named streets :- Woburn, Prospect, Hill Crest Road, Haven, Main and Salem St. The average cost of this kind of construction was about $1.11


71


per sa. yard. Two thousand tons of crushed stone was used and 10,800 sq. yds. of surface were covered.


In the work on Woburn St. it was found necessary to construct a surface water drain to take care of the water running in from Berkeley and Prospect Streets and Copeland and Perkins Avenues. 566 feet of 12" vitrified pipe and 235 feet of 8" were laid. Thirten new catch basins were constructed and one old one discarded. Also the car tracks were taken up from Summer Ave. to West St. to give a comprehensive idea of the cost of permanent construction, an itemized account of Woburn St. and Hill Crest Road is hereby submitted :-


Woburn Street


Labor 1815 hours


$1,146.54


725.3 tons of No. 1 Stone @ $1.50


1,087.95


189.9 tons of No. 4 Stone @ $1.95 370.31


2.9 tons of No. 5 Stone @ 60c


1.74


Coal for Steam Roller


82.69


17,860 gallons of 96% texico


2,768.30


Trucking stone


652.93


Locating side line of Street


10.00


$6,120.46


Sq. yards constructed 5,207.5 making cost per sq. yds. of $1.17. .


Trucks spent 352 hours on job.


Road machine 148 hours on jeb.


Steam roller 232 hours on job.


Tractor 148 hours on job.


Hill Crest Road


Labor 831 hours @ $4.00


$ 496.64


Stone 223.7 tons No. 1 @ $1.50


335.55


Stone 16.8 tons No. 2 @ $1.50 25.20


Stone 94.9 tons No. 4 @ $1.95


185.06


Stone 50.05 tons No. 5 @ 60c


30.30


Trucking Stone


92.03


3,606 gallons Texico


522.82


$1,687.60


Sq. yards constructed 1,590, making cost per sq. yd. of $1.06.


Trucks spent 153 hours on job.


Steam rollers 80 hours on job.


Tractor 68 hours on job.


Road machine 68 hours on job.


The cost of the other streets varied within the two extremes shown above, and said costs may be obtained at the Office of the Board of Pub- lic Works on request.


72


The above mentioned work does not of course comprise the actual work done by the Department for the year. To give a detailed account of the remaining and less important work would take many pages, but, in all instances, costs have been kept from July 1, 1921, and are on hand for those who desire the same. As illustrations may be mentioned :- cleaning of catch-basins at least three times a year, filling in here and there where the street surfaces require it, cleaning gutters; patching holes; hauling ashes from schools and municipal buildings, transporting materials for other Departments, etc.


In many cases the Highway Department has been able to save money for the other Departments and it has always been with a spirit of co- operation toward the other departments that its men have worked.


DRAINS. Due to the fact that the open ditches, which drain the surface water in and about the town have not had very much attention during the last three years, 75% of them have grown up with weeds, which hold and retain the water which would otherwise drain off. Un- less some definite action is taken next year to thoroughly clean them out, the town very soon will be in a deplorable condition. On account of the high level of the water of Lake Quannapowitt the main drains in the lower part of the Town are under water, this water backing up along Willow Rd., opposite the car barns and west of Eaton St. This con- dition is very unsanitary and prevents proper action in keeping our main drains open and free from general marsh or swamp growth. As yet the Town has been able to do little work in this direction except to reconstruct the culvert on West St., junction of Summer Ave. It was discovered that the old culvert had fallen in at places, which held back much surface water on the low lands. A new 24" gal. iron culvert embedded in concrete was constructed. It seemed wise while the men were there to improve the ditch leading from the culvert which was done. The work was done by Mr. Williams, contractor, who constructed what sewers the Town installed this year. Many times it was necessary to employ the men of the Water Dept. in cleaning drains.


GRAVEL PIT. The Board was fortunate in being able to purchase the gravel bank on Mishawam Road in Woburn. By having same it will enable the department, to build up the road surfaces, with new material, which has been needed very much during past years.


EQUIPMENT. The equipment of the department is in very good shape, due entirely to the personal care of the individuals operating the same under the direction of the Superintendent of Streets, Mr. Crowe. By buying a one ton Ford Truck this year, it was made possible to do general policing of streets, at the same time, carrying on general main- tenance and construction work. The Tractor in another year will have paid for itself. It has certainly added to the efficiency of the Depart- ment. The large roller which was obtained ostensibly for sidewalk construction has been put to very little use as yet. Where it has been applied it has worked most satisfactorily.


1


73


The Department is in need of some new and additional maintenance tools, and for the coming year the work of the department will be im- proved by laying out at the opening of the season a carefully prepared programme for road draging, oiling, applying tarvia and permanent construction of Highways, bearing in mind that all under-ground struc- tures should be completed before permanent work is started, and the development of a drainage system, must also be considered and plans for the same prepared.


We have now in Town several different styles of guide posts. About five percent of these are in good condition and the others are at least readable. A standard post set in concrete at all street intersections ought to be erected with proper signs placed thereon, whenever such an expenditure seems warranted, in view of other pressing needs.


The Town at some time should have a Town Yard, in which to keep the equipment of the different departments. This yard should be cen- trally located and inclosed with a substantial wire fence.


TABLE SHOWING AMOUNT EXPENDED ON STREETS FROM JULY 1, 1921, TILL DECEMBER 31, 1921


Construction


Maintenance


Snow & Ice


Oiling


Gutters


Patching


Catch


Basins


Sidewalks


Drains


Street


Cleaning


Sewer


Repairs


Arlington


$98.59


1


|$195.20


$9.24| 12.26


$3.00


$6.25


Auburn


11.98


24.24


Avon


Bancroft


84.43


136.40


220.83


Beacon


11.98


11.98


Beech


Belmont


52.28


52.28


Berkeley


144.03


29.38


173.41


Воусе


Brook


Centre


Charles


149.70


149.70


Chute


108.16


4.56


4.94


117.66


Copeland


113.87


113.87


Cross


4.50


4.50


Curtis


Deering


2.00


78.10


21.33


101.43


Dudley


65.07


Eaton


13.50


25.21


38.71


Echo


Elliott


Elm


Fairview


Federal


4.50


50.60


55.10


Forest


48.80


9.56


6.71


$98.59 213.69


Ash


Franklin Fremont Fulton Gould Grand Grant Green


6.00


1.71


86.23


9.20 4.00


25.25


15,87


8.50


97.40


34.15


18.62


162.87


Grove


37.94


118.69


Hancock


Hanscom


2.00


12.40


21.55


Harriman


23.80


5.25


29.05


Harrison


25.75


Hartshorn


Haven


$712.65


92.70


19.60


2.00


30.63


857.58


Haverhill


6.13


High


7.95


3.00


17.67


28.62


Highland Rd.


Highland St.


85.70


Hill Crest Rd.


1693.50


89.05


33.32


122.69


69.40


8.00


Hopkins


69.88


39.79


109.67


Howard


19.66


128.50


20.49


168.65


John


142.78


140.60


47.62


3.56


72.99


407.55


King


31.31


24.30


26.46


4.18


1.00


87.25


Kingston


43.70


43.70


Lake


Lewis


Lincoln


59.01


54.90


11.08


5.19


130.18


Linden


307.60


392.34


Locust


23.49


68.70


4.00


4.12


100.31


Lowell


55.53


23.50


6.03


2.12


87.18


Main St. No.


4.00


13.00


4.00 14.00


20.00


11.18


81.29


8.63


199.36


339.46


Manning


21.40


Maple


387.04


465.79


Main St. So.


57.75


5.00


21.40


7.71 120.68 4.00 15.87 140.05


144.25 80.75


Harnden


7.15


17.25


8.50


6.13


85.70 2015.96


84.74


TABLE SHOWING AMOUNT EXPENDED ON STREETS FROM JULY 1, 1921, TILL DECEMBER 31, 1921


Construction


Maintenance


Snow & Ice


Oiling


Gutters


Patching


Catch


Basins


Sidewalks


Drains


Street


Cleaning


Sewer


Repairs


Middle


14.90


3.56


Middlesex


239.57


10.04


Mill


Mineral


6.65


35.85


36.24


2.00


8.94


89.68


Minot


4.00


4.00


Morgan


3.91


26.00


8.37


38.28


Oak


6.00


161.71


10.75


178.46


Orange


Ordway


42.50


42.50


Park


Pearl


111.50


10.00


16.00


137.50


Percy


108.00


Perkins


108.00


48.88


48.88


Pine


13.32


75.10


88.42


Pleasant


123.90


11.56


135.46


Pratt


100.51


45.48


1.00


146.99


Prescott


180.69


112.20


84.43


36.35


13.24


426.91


Prospect


1001.08


4.62


1005.70


Ridge


Salem


579.55


23.71


25.88


1.06


13.69


163.88


Sanborn


138.33


36.10


30.00


66.10


School


Scotland


25.94


8.64


34.58


Mt. Vernon


204.25


13.66


217.91


Parker


Pierce


630.20


11.86


18.46 249.61


Shackford


Short South


369.81


37.06


Spring


42.08


Reading Square


66.26 1731.97


5.00


11.13 8.28 37.11


48.24 24.94


13.34


10.75


Sweetser


197.50


3.22


2.00


202.72


Thorndike


27.70


7.12


34.82


Vale


81.80


Vine


2.85


129.35


Wakefield


64.50


57.00


121.50


Warren


4.56


4.56


Washington


137.47


136.85


24.45


298.77


Waverly


295.80


144.51


440.31


Willow


7.63


2.07


9.70


Wilson


21.40


20.89


42.29


Winter


53.55


Winthrop


6382.87


3.80


49.60


33.94


25.94


98.93 2681.10


9276.18


Woodbine


Woodward


15.10


15.10


Total


|9545.87|6189.44| 10.00|3737.07| 893.61| 232.42| 376.72| 470.68|2836.22|


16.81| 199.36| $24,508.20


406.87 53.21 144.59 1926.61


16.81


Summer


108.50


Temple


Union


Village


81.80 126.50


Walnut


West


53.55


Woburn


78


Table of Miscellaneous Expenditures of the Highway Dept.


Miscellaneous:


Miscellaneous


$ 34.76


Sanding


61.91


Sharpening Axes


6.67


Transporting Tractor


4.00


Filling Shed with Sand


45.50


Sand Pit


2.00


Steam Roller


106.75


Burning Leaves


134.70


Tar Patching (Mixing)


96.75


Tractor Repairs


18.50


Cab for Tractor


52.47


Stone Crusher


23.90


Lime to Pumping Station


6.75


Coal to Pumping Station


50.48


Cleaning Catch Basins


41.64


Cleaning Drains


72.03


Leaves and Gutters


11.40


Gravel Pit


44.63


Cleaning up Shop


3.00


Cleaning Brush from Streets


366.15


Gutters Snow & Ice


60.68


Cleaning Lanterns


6.27


Snow Ploughs :


Moving


10.00


Repairs


90.39


Painting


18.87


Ashes:


Schools


50.94


Offices


14.92


Auto Truck Repairs:


No. 1


25,21


No. 2


20.83


No. 3


4.36


Repairs :


Tools


19.15


Sand Barrels


4.00


Highway Department Bills for Year Ending Dec. 31st, 1921


Municipal Light Board


$ 272.08


Good Roads Mch. Co.


71.40


Buffalo St. Roller Co.


62.13


Standard Oil Co.


1,098.13


American R. Exp.


13.88


79


N. E. Paint Oil Co.


7.50


Francis Bros.


87.52


F. Wallace


2.27


Cummings Express


10.17


Reading Garage


12.35


Autocar S. S. Co.


344.39


N. E. T. &T. Co.


55.39


Reading Tire Shop


133.05


Hodson Bros.


10.75


P. N. Sweetser


1,501.09


Barrett Co.


5,001.62


S. R. Stembridge


533.47


Treat Hardware Corp.


96.93


F. O. Dewey Co.


8.00


Curry Bros. Oil Co.


19.02


L. N. Dickinson & Son


8.00


Dana F. Perkins


34.75


B. & M. R. R.


3.77


Geo. W. Reihnardt


49.35


Bates Motor S. Co.


1,387.85


Waldo Bros. & Bond


23.35


O. O. Ordway


5.00


W. Bancroft & Co.


36.78


Gen. Cr. Stone Co.


2,023.09


Kenney's Service Station


312.28


N. E. Road Machinery Co.


33.00


Emma S. Knowles


19.20


Eastern Mass. Street Railway Co.


14.40


E. H. Chapin


2.50


Lumsden & VanStone


792.58


Texas Company


3,261.30


T. C. Fife


1.32


Alden Spears Sons Co.


3,530.34


P. J. Seaman


11.00


C. W. Crafts


62.50


Berger Manufacturing Co.


112.50


Eastern Tractors Co.


1,722.92


Yawman & Erbe Co.


130.09


S. & R. J. Lombard


72.00


A. Michelini


1,304.04


J. W. Perry


5.15


Puritan Iron Works


268.00


Independent Coal Co.


123.72


Russell Bros.


601.72


Charles M. Spofford


30.00


Penn Metal Co.


183.30


So


Fred Smith


2.65


Dept. P. W. St. H. R. M. C.


10.00


Monroe Cal. Mach. Co.


150.00


W. E. & J. F. Twombly


7.00


Jesse W. Morton (Purchase of gravel pit)


755.00


Clapp & Leach


.80


R. D. Clapp


.75


HARRY B. COLLINS, Superintendent.


81


SEWER DEPARTMENT


To the Board of Public Works :-


Gentlemen :- The following is the yearly report for the Sewer Dept .:-


Office Maintenance, Appropriation


$ 200.00


1. Phone $ 26.60


2. Dictation 4.00


3. Printing


33.39


4. Stationery


13.00


5. Office improvements


50.00


6. American Bank Note Co.


28.21


7. Locating house numbers


7.10


8. Locating property ownership


7.75


9. Locating cesspools


20.00


10. Miscellaneous


8.20


Total


198.25


Bal. unexpended 1.75


House Connection Account :


Amount received and deposited


$10,026.88


Expended :


1. F. A. Barbour 480.14


2. John Williams, Labor


5,563.41


3. Returned 2,226.03


4. Cost of material used 1,541.00


Total 9,810.58


Bal. unexpended 216.30


$ 2,500.00


Appropriation for Copeland and Perkins Aves., sewers Expended :


1. John Williams, labor $1,632.40


2. F. A. Barbour 104.48


3. Materials 319.39


4. Advertising


54.00


Total


2,110.27


Bal. unexpended


389.73


82


$ 7,703.04


Construction Account, Appropriations:


1920 Unpaid Bills :


1. B. & M. R. R. $ 336.51


2. Overdraft


262.29


3. P. N. Sweetser 280.03


4. A. Cefalo


2,492.05


5. F. A. Barbour


1,201.15


Total


4,572.02


1921 Construction Bills :


1. Pay Roll


326.18


2. Wendell Bancroft


105.79


3. Fire Department


7.05


4. Tools, pipe and misc.


263.21


5. Waldo Bros. & Bond


22.80


Total


725.03


Grand total


5,297.05


Bal. unexpended 2,405.99


About the latter part of April the Board of Public Works wrote to the Metropolitan Water & Sewerage Division and respectfully asked to be informed as to the date when the town might reasonably expect the completion of the Bear Hill Pumping Station, in order that they might govern their work accordingly during the coming season and be prepared to give the sewage privilege to all who wished it.


The reply received from the Chief Engineer of the Sewerage Di- vision, Mr. F. D. Smith, was to the effect that it was intended to have the Station ready for use on or before October 1, 1921. With this un- derstanding the Board immediately took steps to further the progress of our sewer work, but realized, that there were no funds available for the construction of house connections of property abutting the high- ways where the sewer had been laid. They therefore sent out 506 let- ters stating this fact, with an estimate of the probable cost of each con- nection, and stating that a deposit in advance would be necessary, such deposit to include: a fixed entrance charge established by the Board, the cost of all labor, materials, and any other expense incurred and necessary for the proper construction of said house connections. In a number of instances this circular letter was addressed to those who had already signed a previous application, but as considerable time had elapsed since then, the Board deemed it fitting and proper to ask such people to sign a second application, thus confirming the one they had made several years before.


83


Ninety-two replies were received, this number being equivalent to about 18% of the total of house eligible, and rather discouraging to the


Board, as will be understood by the following statements: The yearly tax which the Town has to bear, for their portion for maintenance of opera- tion based on population, is $4,579.64. The estimated revenue of the 90 connections is about $1,075.40, and if 100% or all houses possible were connected the revenue would approximate $3,924.20. These figures are based on the amount of water used in houses abutting the streets where the sewers are laid, at the rate of 30c per hundred cubic feet.


The following table will serve as an illustration of:


(1) Amount of revenue of 100% connection, (2) Estimated revenue from applications received, (3) Percentage of total revenue from appli- cations received.


Street


Est. Revenue 100% Connected


Est. Rev. of . Appl. Received




Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.