Town of Reading Massachusetts annual report 1922, Part 5

Author: Reading (Mass.)
Publication date: 1922
Publisher: The Town
Number of Pages: 332


USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Reading > Town of Reading Massachusetts annual report 1922 > Part 5


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General Maintenance and Construction.


No extension of mains was made during the year. Four new hy- drants are now on hand ready to be installed as soon as the special castings arrive for such work. They will be placed at the following locations: Ash Street 100' from the R. R. south, Grove Street south of Spruce Rd., Union Street near Middle and Sanborn St., between Haven and Woburn.


The other hydrants have been gone over and repaired during the year. On account of the age of many of our meters a large number have been taken out, cleaned, repaired and replaced. The same holds true as to the house services where the pipe goes through the founda- tion wall, and it was found necessary to replace some (93) ninety-three, services at this point. Thirty-six new services have been constructed, during the past year which shows an increase of ten over last year.


An experiment was made this last year in determining the pressure on the 6" line which connects the systems of Wakefield and Reading, at the junction of Wakefield St., and Bay State Rd.


68


Before the gate was opened between the two towns, gauges were put on the hydrants of both towns and the pressure read.


Figuring the difference of elevation of hydrants the pressure on either side of the gate was the same. The gate was then opened and reading taken, the gauges showing no changes.


It was then agreed that the Town of Wakefield should feed the Town of Reading for twenty-four hours, to determine whether the six inch connection was sufficiently large to supply Reading for domestic purposes. Approximately twenty-four hours afterwards the elevation in the Reading stand-pipe was constantly dropping, and that of Wake- field constantly rising, signifying that this town could not rely on the connection to supply it with water in case of an emergency or a break- down.


The number of new meters which the department will need in 1923, will depend on building operations. It is my belief that an ex- penditure of approximately $650.00, will not more than cover the me- ters needed as soon as dwellings are ready for them.


The Stand pipe, inside, should be cleaned and in order to do this an extension of the six inch main on Bancroft Ave. is necessary with a blow-off line running from it.


A six inch main should be laid in Forest Street between No. Main and Pearl St., and wherever it is deemed necessary all new hydrants in- stalled should be gated. A relocation of water gates should be made this year. In many instances location points have been moved and it is often times difficult to find same: moreover, in the past, in cases where the Highway Dept. has reconstructed the road surface, the gates have of necessity been buried. It has not been the custom in past years to open and shut the gates each year. This should be done to prevent the gates from sticking. Lastly, it is recommended that the exterior of the Water Works shop should be painted at odd intervals during the year. As to future extension of Mains the Superintendent would suggest that building conditions govern this item.


HARRY B. COLLINS, Supt.


4


69


HIGHWAY DEPARTMENT


To the Board of Public Works:


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


Appropriations and Balances.


1. Voted in March Town Meeting for highway maintenance $50,000.00


2. Removal of snow and ice 1,500.00


3. Cleaning drainage ditches 1,000.00


4. Survey and plans for Special Drainage System 3,500.00


5. Balance to be spent on sidewalk No. Main St. 175.06


6. Balance to be spent on Forest Street 464.93


7. Balance to be spent on South Street 1,074.58


Total


$57,714.57


Expenditures and Balances of the Above Appropriations.


1. Appropriation for Highway Maintenance 1922


$ 50,000.00


1. General


$ 1,970.17


2. Maintenance 3,926.76


3. Construction 2,254.10


4. Drains 577.77


5. Gutters


1,054.11


6. Catch basins


374.36


7. Sanding


.733.22


8. Patching


134.18


9. Mixing K. P.


162.17


10. Sand Pit


124.27


11. Gravel Pit


141.75


12. Hauling gravel


93.13


13. Washouts


62.01


14. Burning Leaves


113.98


15. Repairs to equipment


916.03


16. Shop


308.24


17. Sickness


45.04


18. Holiday


1,048.94


19. Miscellaneous


308.03


Total


$ 14,348.25


70


Bills.


1. Oil and gasoline $ 1,238.97


2. 45% Asphalt Oil 2,492.53


3. . 65% Asphalt Oil


198.00


4. Bermudez Asphalt


420.00


5. Tarvia A.


833.70


6. Tarvia B


3,553.88


7. Tarvia X 4,656.60


8. Crushed Stone 4,699.71


978.15


10. Drainage


168.79


11. Sidewalks


1,469.31


12. Auto maintenance 4,746.15


13. New steam roller and maintenance


4,915.04


14. Small tools and equipment


910.03


15. General repairs


128.68


16. Supplies 437.93


17. Telephone


61.82


18. Freight and Express 105.85


19. Coal


421.00


20. Municipal Light Dept. 90.49


21. Printing 26.39


22. Miscellaneous 208.32


47,109.60


Total


$ 32,761.34


Balance


$


2,890.40


2. Appropriation for the removal of Snow & Ice. Expended :


1,500.00


1. Pay Roll $ 885.27


2. Cost of snow plowing 520.50


3. Repairs to snow plows 94.23


1,500.00


Total $ 1,500.00


Balance


00.00


3. Appropriation for cleaning Drainage Ditches Expended :


$ 1,000.00


1. Pay Roll


$ 670.96


2. Bills


311.54


982.50


Total $ 982.50


Balance.


$ 17.50


4


1


2


9. Hauling Stone


71


4. Appropriation for Survey and Plans for Special Drainage.


$ 3,500.00 Expended : 1. F. A. Barbour $ 1,000.00


Total


$ 1,000.00


Balance


$ 2,500.00


5. Balance to be spent on sidewalk No. Main St. Expended :


$ 175.06


1. Pay roll and bills 00.00


Total


00.00


00.00


Balance


$ 175.06


6. Balance to be spent on Forest Street


Expended :


1. Pay Roll $ 157.39


2. Bills


157.39


Total


$ 157.39


Balance


$ 307.54


7. Balance to be spent on South Street


$ 1,074.58


Expended :


1. Pay Roll $ 536.50


2. Bills


536.50


Total


$ 536.50


Balance


$ 538.08


As may be seen, each of the above accounts carries a balance at the end of the year. $672.75 will be paid to the Town for sidewalk work done this year since half the cost of construction is to be paid by the abutters.


The principal work performed by the Highway Department this last year, may be divided into three sections, namely: Maintenance, Construction and Drainage, with sub-divisions of the same. With this in view the Superintendent will give as nearly as possible an idea of the work performed which may be of interest.


Maintenance.


Before the snow and ice were gone the equipment was thoroughly over-hauled and put in order. In over-hauling the steam roller, which the town had owned for the past seventeen years, it was deemed wise


$ 464.93


72


to buy a new one since the general wear was such, that it was doubtful whether it would last through the program which the Board of Public Works had laid out. A new fifteen ton Buffalo Pitts roller was bought with a scarifier attachment on the rear. Although this one item con- sumed one tenth of the entire appropriation, the Highway Department has with it been able to accomplish more and to cover the program laid out by the Board more satisfactorily and with better results.


As soon as the weather permitted all catch basins were cleaned and a general inspection of existing drains made, and then followed the general policing of the roads not laid down with Tarvia B or other heavier material last year. The outlying streets were taken first and then those which the Board had planned to be oiled with a light dust layer. On account of the prevailing cold weather it was impracticable to apply any top dressing to the road surfaces until April 17th. Up to this date all the outlying streets and those which were to be oiled had been resurfaced. As soon as the weather did permit and between the rain storms, which were excessive, especially in the month of June, top dressing was applied to the extent of some 40,000 gallons of 45% as- phalt oil used for dust preventative on the less travelled streets and 27,000 gallons of Tarvia B on streets more traveled than those where the oil had been applied. The above application covered an approximate area of 258,000 square yards at a little under 4 yards to the gallon on an average. To give a clearer idea of the amount of road surface cov- ered with the quantity of Tarvia and oil which we used, one might say that it would cover a street 24.43 miles long and 18 feet wide.


The widening of the curve on West street, a little beyond the junc- tion of Summer Ave., was a necessary improvement. On account of the reconstruction of the Lowell Street Bridge a detour by this section of West Street was necessary and with the present motor travel the pre- vious condition was dangerous.


To some extent, the gravel bank on Mishawam Road, Woburn, has been used to build up on different streets the old road surfaces which were very badly worn out, and present indication shows that the bank is good for five years to come.


Construction.


After most of the streets were taken care of in the above mentioned work the Department then turned their attention to semi-permanent construction, which was carried out on the following named streets: Woburn Street from the Railroad crossing to Summer Ave., South Main Street from Washington Street to the junction of Ash on both sides of the car tracks, and on the east side to Pleasant, High Street from Mid- dlesex Ave. to Lowell Street, a short section on Mineral and Vine Streets which act as approaches to High St., Middlesex Ave. from Lowell to High Street, and Main St. between the tracks through the Common. The total area covered was approximately 21,500 square yards at an


73


average cost of .84 per square yard. 6040 gallons of Tarvia A was used, 33,970 gallons of Tarvia X and 1,000 gallons of Bermudez Road Asphalt, and 4,209 tons of crushed stone hauled mostly by the department trucks from Winchester. The department this last year has done twice as much permanent work as it did in 1921 as may be seen by reference to last year's report, page 71.


A table at the end of this report will give the total amount spent on each street this past year, itemizing the account into different kinds of work and if further construction costs are desired they may be ob- tained at the office of the Board of Public Works on request.


Other work was performed, of less importance, such as: hauling coal and ashes to and from the Pumping Station and Municipal Build- ings, the repairs of the Highway Dept.'s equipment by the force, using the steam roller for drilling purposes, etc., in all instances costs having been kept and on hand for those who desire the same.


Drainage.


The study for the development of a surface water drainage system for the Town is approximately 80 per cent completed, and this coming year the office will have on hand a definite plan whereby in the fu- ture, construction on drainage work will be directed towards an ulti- mate aim. In the years past no consideration was apparently given in the construction of any particular drains towards the future develop- ment of an entire system, and in many cases it has been exceedingly difficult to cope with the present water shed condition, where drains have been constructed of improper design or gradient.


The work accomplished is as follows: All surveys except those in the meadows, which are impossibe to obtain until the ground is entirely frozen, are completed, and the calculation and design also. Some thirty plans drawn to a scale of 1"=100' are practically finished which show all present drains, culverts, ditches, and such other local data as is of interest. They also show the size, elevation and gradient of the pro- posed future drains for each street. Other plans will be made to show profiles and sections of the main channels, typical designs of catch basins and inlets and sections of the larger conduits.


In taking care of the general ditching the following work has been accomplished this year:


On account of the frequent sliding of the steep side walls of the open ditch which runs between Willow Street and West Street the banks were regraded and channel pipe was laid along the bottom.


Early in the spring the old stone culvert which runs under Willow Street, near the junction of West, caved in and a new 30" expanded metal culvert was set to replace it. When this work was done the grade was lowered over a foot, thus improving the property lying above. The same kind of work was necessary on Ash Street near the junction of


74


Brook and at this point a 30" culvert of expanded metal replaced the old stone one. On account of the ever pressing work of the Highway Department, Mr. John Muse was given this latter work to attend to as- sisted by two Water Dept. men.


The drain on Harriman Ave. was entirely relaid and with it two catch basins were constructed to catch the surface water from the streets. The old drain was a 4" hexagonal land tile pipe and in places entirely filled with roots and silt. It was replaced with a 12" vitrified pipe with bell joints.


Other drains and culverts about the town have been repaired and cleaned and the appropriation for this purpose another year should be double the amount the department had this year to carry on the neces- sary work.


Equipment.


The rolling equipment of the department is in very good shape, con- sidering the duty that it has undergone. Besides buying a new steam roller, during the latter part of the year a new autocar chassis was bought to replace the old one of the same design and model, retain- ing, however, the old dump body.


The present equipment is as follows:


1 15 ton Buffalo Pitts roller.


2 2 ton Autocar trucks.


1 1 ton Ford truck.


1 Sidewalk and park roller.


1 Street broom.


2 Road machines.


1 1 1-2 ton Ford del. truck.


1 Cletrac Tractor.


1 Trailer.


Snow plows.


Maintenance tools, picks, shovels, etc.


Sidewalk Work.


In accordance with an understanding which was expressed at the March Town Meeting the Board of Public Works advertised in the Reading Chronicle that the Highway Department would construct side- walks during the latter part of the year, half the cost of the construc- tion to be paid by the abutters. Twenty four applications were re- ceived, but the Highway work being behind the schedule, it was decided to let the Sidewalk Construction out by contract. The work was given to C. L. Hoffman, he being the lowest bidder. Fifteen hundred and fifty-five square yards were laid in different sections about the town and


-


75


doubtless more work would have been done, except for the cold weather which set in, bringing operations to a close.


A similar program for road dragging, oiling, applying Tarvia and permanent construction of highways should be carefully laid out for the coming year.


We have now in town several different styles of guide posts. About five per cent of these are in good condition and 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.


HARRY B. COLLINS, Superintendent.


TABLE SHOWING AMOUNT EXPENDED ON STREETS FROM


JANUARY IST, 1922, UNTIL DECEMBER 31, 1922


Construction


Maintenance


Oiling


Snow and Ice


Gutters


Catch Basins


Patching


Drains


Washouts


Sewer


Repairs


Lanterns


Sidewalks


Lowell St.


Bridge


TOTAL


Arlington


$ 2.25


$ .57


$ 8.75 77.79


$ 2.85


3.38


1.25


Auburn


15.66


15.66


Avon


4.63


21.25


5.74


31.62


Bancroft


2.31


50.31


52.62


Bay State Rd.


4.40


65.94


70.34


Beacon


Beech


Belmont


31.25


31.25


Berkeley


281.42


.57


10.73


292.72


Boyce


Brook


Centre


17.66


101.06


5.26


123.98


Chute


95.23


1.13


8.55


104.91


Cross


1.25


Curtis


12.50


Dudley


13.06


1.06


3.75


17.87


Eaton


24.97


92.13


117.10


Echo


Elliott


4.16


24.78


2.21


18.42


12.22


61.79


Elm


Fairview


3.47


31.25


12.94


47.66


Ash


153.87


$154.87


1.66


$ 11.57 395.67


Charles


Copeland


1.25


Deering


12.50


Federal Forest Franklin Fremont Fulton Gould Grand


66.50 151.96 12.00


5.44 6.57


4.00


10.25


2.13


15.57


65.45 2.31


Grant


Green


16.00 1025.07


82.00


32.00


10.56


140.56 1028.95


Hancock


Hanscom


4.49


Harnden


117.16


3.18


281.04


Harrison


3.48


3.48 6.50


Hartshorn


6.50


1.13


14.91


2.31


Haverhill


24.43


2.63


2.50


13.10


16.45


8.13


Highland Rd.


261.64


32.56


1.75


2.50


111.35


Hopkins


51.64


116.82


11.03


179.49


Howard


144.52


.57


20.76


11.59


177.44


John


191.70


69.38


1.25


30.81


17.23


3.75


314.12


King


1.13


1.13


Kingston


21.88


2.29


24.17


Lake


Lewis


Lincoln


294.38


11.13


6.00


311.51


Linden


14.48


1.13


225.28


4.31


245.20


Locust


8.67


2.66


11.33


Lowell


9.82


1.13


10.83


5.84


27.62


Main St. No.


655.90


655.90


Main St. So.


3775.27|


13.32


8.52


23.13


11.14


120.58| 19.98


9.28


3981.22


Grove


1.13


2.75


4.49 120.34 285.22


Harriman


4.18


Haven


92.30


110.65 30.51 3341.40


High


3289.70


8.89


Highland St.


294.20


Hill Crest


104.43


1.13


1.54


6.08


-


19.13


10.48


96.11 157.40 18.57


4.00 37.50


2.31


TABLE SHOWING AMOUNT EXPENDED ON STREETS FROM


JANUARY 1ST, 1922, UNTIL DECEMBER 31, 1922


Construction


Maintenance


Oiling


Snow and Ice


Gutters


Catch Basins


Patching


Drains


Washouts


Sewer


Repairs


Lanterns


Sidewalks


Lowell St.


Bridge


TOTAL


Manning


7.42|


18.75


26.17


Maple


61.78


6.65


Middlesex


5164.78


2.92


27.43


68.43 5195.13


Mill


.57


Mineral


449.27


10.38


.57| 1.06


468.80


Minot


263.20


2.73


1.12


8.09 13.87


280.92


Morgan


Mt. Vernon


Oak


55.89


113.06 110.13


17.33


186.28


Orange


16.99


17.29


3.48


147.89


Ordway


Parker


2.94


8.75


11.69


Park


33.04


63.38


16.23


112.65


Percy


93.82


1.13


6.38


101.33


Pierce


1.16


32.81


33.97


Pine


Pleasant


216.17


92.56


.57


69.16


380.46


Pratt


23.30


42.38


.57|


13.43


79.68


Prescott


225.35


84.57


3.25


16.97


379.67


Prospect


32.32


2.26


.88


5.00


40.46


Ridge


Salem


418.42


39.65


5.63


18.07


7.501


489.27


Pearl


Perkins


2.00 49.53


Middle


Sanborn


50.34


1.13


169.75


4.43


225.65 2.31 88.31


School Scotland Shackford


2.31


82.99


5.32


Short


South


508.03


Spring


17.78


34.37


3.48


1.06


Reading Square


391.41


1.68


22.37


415.46


Summer


331.96


276.53


4.01


97.17


7.54


4.62


724.10


Sweetser


123.87


23.44


3.06


1.78


152.15


Thorndike


68.24


5.00


73.24


Vale


3.50


69.38


Vine


423.71


46.86


470.57


Wakefield


5.16


12.88


2.31


Washington


63.33


151.25


.57


46.68


261.83


Waverly


West


158.28


203.31


1.13


362.72


Willow


33.60


139.00


4.88


162.06


339.54


Wilson


6.52


21.25


Winter


10.13


25.00


35.13


Woburn


1173.63


311.00


1.59


137.92


20.19


8.10


2.29


1654.72


Woodbine


Woodward


173.79


22.09


7.00


$14,450.15 $7611.99|$2429.59 |$44.42 |$1264.13|$100.49|$106.60| $578.78|$49.58 } $132.07|$19.98 $43.11| $5.84


202.88 $26,836.73


Union


72.88


Village


Walnut


18.04


Warren


2.31


Temple


2.25


508.03 56.69


HARRY B. COLLINS, Superintendent.


27.77


80


SEWER DEPARTMENT.


To the Board of Public Works:


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


Construction and Maintenance.


Balance brought forward


$ 3,012.02


Receipts to date


21,089.45


Total


$ 24,101.47


Expended :


Construction Pay Roll


$ 507.98


Construction Bills


424.64


Total ..


$ 932.62


Maintenance Pay Roll


$ 107.88


Maintenance Bills


9,727.69


Total


$ 9,835.57


Total Pay Rolls


$ 615.86


Total Bills


10,152.33


Total


$ 10,768.19


$ 10,768.19


Balance


$ 13,333.28


House Connection Account.


Balance brought forward


$ 216.30


Cash receipts to date


6,626.19


Total


$ 6,842.49


Expended :


Pay Roll


$ 2,576.73


Bills


2,442.85


Money refunded


901.28


Total


$ 5,920.86


5,920.86


Balance


$ 921.63


81


Principal Work Performed.


At the beginning of the year the Sewer Department was repairing that part of the main sewer on South Main St., south of Washington St. which had been crushed, doubtless at the time when that portion of the street had been resurfaced. On account of the weather being ex- ceedingly cold and since the underdrain at that point is working un- der a head pressure the progress of the work was slow. It was neces- sary to install during that period of time a centrefugal pump to keep the surface water below the level of construction which practically took the entire underdrain water west of South Main St. Four old pipes were removed and new ones were replaced, set in concrete to insure added strength and tightness to the system. The pump was kept go- ing after the completion of the work to prevent the cement from wash- ing out of the concrete and new dry backfilling was used as the entire excavation had frozen.


After the above work was completed the two sewer lines at the junction of John and Village Streets were sand-bagged for the purpose of making an inspection of the interceptor. Other leaks were found, fixed and repaired, making that portion of the system as tight as pos- sible. It might be said that the entire interceptor is below the level of Lake Quannapowitt and the general leakage was exceedingly small under the circumstances.


In order to determine the exact amount of leakage a weir was set at the junction man-hole between the Metropolitan Sewer and Reading Sewer, and after two days' observations it was calculated that the Town sewerage system leaked approximately 300,000 gallons per day. Further inspections showed that the 300,000 gallons leakage could be reduced to approximately 225,000 gallons per day by repairing two conditions which were by no means failures in the system. Namely on Eaton St. where the vitrified and cast iron pipes meet, the latter being used to span the brook which flows under Eaton St. and the underdrain on Howard Street, having become filled with roots, which blocked the flow in the underdrain causing the water to back up through the inspection hole in the line M. H. However, with the leakage at these points stopped, cal- culations show that our leakage was about 30,000 gallons per day per mile for the 7.9 miles of sewers already constructed, of which 3.5 miles - are well below the permanent ground water level.


The leakage is substantially less than the average leakage in sewers in other Municipalities already connected with the Metropolitan system, and less than one half of the allowance made for leakage in the designs of recent extensions of the Metropolitan system: also it will be in line with the original estimate of 500,000 gallons per day for the completed system of the town, in view of the fact that future extensions will gen- erally be on high ground or where free outlets for the underdrains can be obtained.


82


Main Extension.


It was found necessary to make a short extension of the main sewer through the property owned by E. L. Chamberlain, F. F. Smith and N. S. Kendall near the junction of Ash and Woburn Street to take care of the sewerage at the Kendall garage, the store owned by F. F. Smith facing on Woburn Street and also the basement of the estates ·of 10 and 12 Woburn Street. The only available way to drain this ter- ritory was to connect with the main sewer on Ash St., north side of Reading Square.


A taking was necessary in order to construct this section of main to the extent of 642 square feet from E. L. Chamberlain, 1150 square feet from F. F. Smith and 70 square feet from N. S. Kendall, and dur- ing the process of construction the work was carried on in a manner to obstruct the right of way as little as possible.


House Connections.


On completion of the inspection of the system on January 10th, 1922, the Board of Public Works authorized the Superintendent to begin connecting those houses which had their particular laterals run from the main sewer in the street up to and through their foundation wall or cesspool, and work began immediately. This work has been done mostly by employees of the Water Department. In cases where the connection was made through a cesspool before the rules and regula- tions were promulgated, different contractors in Town did a little of such work, all of which, however, was inspected by the Superintendent. After the rules and regulations were promulgated the Sewer Dept. dur- ing the course of the year installed (73) seventy-three house connec- tions. Fifty-nine of the above connections were entirely new work. that is to say running from the Main in the street to and through the foundation wall, and fourteen were made by connecting the lines al- ready laid. Perhaps the most difficult of any of the above connections was that made at the Post Office. Considerable ledge was encountered and underground structures which made it difficult in excavating in or- der to keep the other structures operating.


: The number of houses that are now connected with the Sewerage system is equivalent to about 26% of the total number of connections where the present sewer is available. Fifty-seven other connections have been constructed and may at any time be connected as soon as the property owners so desire, and one hundred and sixteen which have been run either to the curb or to the side-line of the street by the Town previous to the resurfacing of the highways. There still remain 217 connections possible for which no applications have been made by the owners of the property.


The sewer rental charges this year amounted to $522.30 which is about 27% of the total amount, approximately, that the Town would


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83


receive if all houses were connected, taking into consideration that two sets of rental bills go out each year.


The following table will serve to illustrate the amount of work that has been accomplished to date, on various streets, where a main sewer has been constructed. It is also interesting to note that the per cent of completed connections is to the total possible to connect, as the rev- enue which the town received last year is to the total estimated revenue if 100% connected, bearing in mind that two sewer rental bills are is- sued each year, namely in January and July. The estimated revenue is 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.




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