USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Reading > Town of Reading Massachusetts annual report 1926 > Part 8
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The other matter is the disposal of the water collected by our storm water drainage system. As the system is extended from year to year, the water collected is more rapidly brought to the main inlets into Lake Quannapowitt. The level of the lake is so high that the water from the inflowing brooks does not go into the lake, but overflows its banks, creating a menace to health and property. Until some action is taken whereby the level of the lake will be lowered, we will not receive full benefit from our extensive drainage system.
We hope that the citizens will study this report that they may realize what the Board of Public Works is doing and what they hope to accomplish. We also give the assurance that all helpful criticism will be welcomed.
Respectfully submitted,
JOHN W. OWEN, Chairman FRANK C. CARTER MILES C. HIGGINS, Secretary SAMUEL HOBBS
SUPERINTENDENT'S REPORT
To the Board of Public Works:
Gentlemen :- As required by Section 4, Chapter 118, of an Act au- thorizing the Town of Reading to establish a Board of Public Works, I respectfully submit for your consideration the sixth annual report of the Department of Public Works (Water, Highway, Sewer and Park), in- cluding a financial report of each department, and a chronicle of the principal work performed with recommendations for the coming year.
100
WATER DEPARTMENT
Maintenance Account Receipts :
Cash Balance 1926
$ 2,725.57
Meter Rates
37,900.18
Hydrant Rental
7,035.00
Service Pipe Construction
3,618.46
Miscellaneous Receipts
969.08
Total
$ 52,248.29
Expenditures :
1. Office Expense :
Pay Roll $ 936.00
Supplies, Printing, Insur-
ance, etc.
1,175.42
Total
$ 2,111.42
2. Pumping Station Costs:
Pay Roll $ 4,313.99
Coal
2,922.60
General Repairs
1,006.19
Supplies and Miscellaneous. . Total
290.57
$ 8,533.35
3. Filter Costs:
Pay Roll $ 2,337.82
Electric Power 302.12
Supplies, Repairs, and Mis-
cellaneous
1,153.33
Total
$ 3,793.27
4. Maintenance of Meters:
Pay Roll
$ 1,299.86
Supplies and Repairs 404.64
Total
$ 1,704.50
5. Maintenance of Service Pipes :
Pay Roll
$ 540.56
Tools and Supplies 202.55
Total
$ 743.11
6. Maintenance of Main Pipes :
Pay Roll
$ 367.84
Miscellaneous Supplies 178.85
Total
$ 546.69
7. Bonds:
Maturing bonds paid from
receipts
$ 9,000.00
101
8.
Bond Interest paid from receipts
$ 2,822.50
9. Air Compressor Maintenance :
Electric Power $ 2,313.22
Repairs
24.01
$ 2,337.23
Pay Roll
$
349.76
10. Automobile Truck Mainten- ance .
$
604.79
11. Shop Maintenance:
Repairs and Miscellaneous Supplies 130.23
$
479.99
12. Main Pipe Construction :
Pay Roll
$ 3,000.77
Pipe
1,945.82
Labor-Contractor, Forest St. East
1,006.82
Fittings and Miscellaneous
Supplies
2,369.55
$ 8,322.96
13. Service Pipe Construction :
Pay Roll
$ 2,919.81
Pipe, Tools and Miscellan- eous Supplies
3,828.25
- $ 6,748.06
14. Meter Construction :
Meters
$ 1,389.57
Supplies
63.84
- $ 1,453.41
15. Hydrants :
Pay Roll
$ 777.62
Repairs and Miscellaneous
Supplies
143.15
Fittings
430.89
$ 1,351.66
Grand Total Expenditures $50,552.94
Balance Cash on Hand
$ 1,695.35
Construction Account :
Voted in March Town Meeting, 1925:
Construction of Libby Ave. Water Main
$ 6,000.00
Construction of Forest St. Water Main
14,000.00
102
Premium and accured interest on
bonds
132.89
$20,132.89
Expenditures of the above Appropriations :
Libby Ave. Water Main, 1925 .... $ 4,804.57
Forest St. Water Main, 1925 . . .
6,956.42
$11,760.99
Forest St. Water Main, 1926:
Expenditures :
Pay Roll, Inspector $ 577.30
Expended under Contract 6,648.70
Miscellaneous
339.98
Total
$ 7,565.98
Total Expenditures
$19,326.97
Unexpended Balance
805.92
Cost of plant : Dec. 31, 1925
Expended 1926 :
Mainteance Acct. Main Exten-
sions
$ 8,322.96
Forest Street Water Main 7,565.98
Service Pipe Construction 6,748.06
Meters
1,453.41
$ 24,090.41
Cost of Plant, Dec. 31, 1926 .. $473,933.23
The interest for the year 1926 on serial bonds. amounted $2,822.50 as follows:
May 1, 1926, $20,000 bonds for six months at 4% $400.00
(Pd. $2,000)
June 1, 1926, $36,000 bonds for six months at 4% 720.00
(Pd. $6,000)
June 1, 1926, $17,000 bonds for six months at 41/2% 382.50
(Pd. $1,000)
Nov. 1, 1926, $18,000 bonds for six months at 4% 360.00
Dec. 1, 1926, $30,000 bonds for six months at 4% 600.00
Dec. 1, 1926, $16,000 bonds for six months at 41/2% 360.00
There were $8,000 in bonds at 4% and a $1,000 bond at 41/2% paid in 1926.
$20,132.89 $449,842.82
103
The interest for the year 1927 on serial bonds amounts to $2,457.50 as follows:
May 1, 1927, $18,000 bonds for six months at 4% $360.00
(Due $2,000)
June 1, 1927, $30,000 bonds for six months at 4% 600.00
(Due $6,000)
June 1, 1927, $16,000 bonds for six months at 41/2%
360.00
(Due $1,000)
Nov. 1, 1927, $16,000 bonds for six months at 4% 320.00
Dec. 1, 1927, $24,000 bonds for six months at 4% 480.00
Dec. 1, 1927, $15,000 bonds for six months at 41/2% 337.50
There are $8,000 in bonds at 4% and a $1,000 bond at 41/2% payable in 1927.
The Superintendent recommends that $7,315.00 be raised and ap- propriated for hydrant rental; that $100.00 be raised and appropriated for water for drinking fountains.
REGISTRATION REPORT
Amount of bills (metered water) rendered in 1926
$38,056.21
Amount collected and paid Treasurer
$37,900.18
Amount uncollected
35.90
Amounted abated
120.13
$38,056.21
$38,056.21
Amount of bills (metered water) of previous years uncollected
.00
Amount collected and paid Treasurer
.00
Amount uncollected
.00
Amount abated
.00
.00
.00
Amount of Service Pipe Construction bills
rendered in 1926
$ 3,643.70
Amount of bills of previous years uncollected.
239.12
$ 3,882.82
Amount collected and paid Treasurer
$ 3,618.46
Amount uncollected
264.36
$ 3,882.82
104
Amount of Service Pipe Maintenance bills ren-
dered in 1926
$
624.52
Amount of bills of previous years uncollected . .
7.93
$ 632.45
Amount collected and paid Treasurer
$ 578.71
Amount uncollected 53.74
$
632.45
KIND AND SIZES OF METERS IN USE January 1, 1927
MAKE
SIZES
§ in.
& in.
1 in.
1} in.
1} in. 2in.
13 in.
Total
1
Nash
1084
15
10
1
3
2
1115
2
Empire.
262
1
2
1
2
268
3
Hersey
241
4
13
7
2
267
4 Neptune
126
5
Gamon
119
2
..
121
6
Crown.
76
1
2
2
7
. .
88
7
Lambert
51
2
53
8
Union
39
2
1
..
42
9
Worthington
25
1
. .
26
10
Pittsburg
13
13
11
Thompson
6
1
7
12
Columbia
3
3
13
Federal
2
2
14
Keystone·
1
7
8
Total .
2048
21
34
8
13
13
2
2139
YEARLY RECORD OF PUMPING SERVICE From Jan. 1, 1926, to Jan. 1, 1927
MONTH
No. Days
Hrs.
Min.
Gallons Pumped
Total Head
Pounds Coal
Gals. to Lbs Coal
Rain- fall
January
31
271
00
9,216,789
219
55,809
165
2.53
February
28
237
45
8,111,566
219
51,566
155
4.41
March
31
269
00
9,234,892
219
53,010
174
2.83
April
30
263
30
9,137,545
219
49,942
183
2.24
May
31
295
30
9,992,491
219
52,825
189
2.19
June.
30
332
30
10,027,160
219
54,931
192
1.80
July
31
410
00
12,141,117
219
59,668
203
2.08
August
31
338
30
10,027,160
219
52,717
190
3.30
September
30
316
15
9,904,086
219
51,064
194
1.32
October
31
321
30
10,101,882
219
51,714
195
3,95
November.
30
288
00
8.,941,940
219
47,035
190
3.89
December
31
295
30
9,123,092
219
50,901
1 79
3.08
Totals
365
3629
00
116,,481,568
219
631,182
185
33.62
126
...
. .
105
TABLE SHOWIN THE AMOUNT OF RAIN AND MELTED SNOW For Year Ending Dec. 31, 1926
Day of Month
January
February
March
April
May
June
July
August
September
October
November
December
Day of Month
1 ....
.32
.23
.09
,17
T
.09
.08
.2
3 .. . .
.21
.37
.18
.11
.3
4 .. . .
14
.68
T
.16
T
T
.77
.5
6 . . . .
.. .
.10
.05
.15
.05
.08
.16
.6
7 ....
.87
.25
,13
1.31
.09
.01
.7
8. . . .
.08
T
.53
.24
.01
.02
. 8
9. ..
.41
.24
T
.05
1.05
.02
.9
10 ....
.28
.01
.16
.10
11 ....
.06
.41
.05
12
13 ... .
.01
.21
.01
.41
13
14 . . . .
1.02
.60
.04
.02
14
15 .. ..
.01
.11
.53
.80
.05
.21
. 16
17 ...
T
.01
T
.27
.17
.77
.35
.03
.28
.12
1.58
.18
19 ....
.16
.30
.83
20
21 .. . .
.07
.02
.01
.21
22
.02
.12
.03
.15
T
22
23. . . .
.02
.21
.01
T
.76
.02
23
24 ....
.02
.76
.11
.06
.03
1.55
.06
.24
25 .. . .
.93
.12
.01
T
.18
.05
.29
.26
.03
.20
.02
.41
.01
T
.27
28 .. . .
T
.13
T
T
1.42
.28
29 .. . .
.02
T
.40
.30
31 ....
.31
.72
.08
Total
2.53
4.41
2.83
2.24
2.19
1.80
2.08
3.30
1.32
3.95
3.89
3.08
Total
Total to
to
Date
2.53
6.94
9.77
12.01
14.20
16.00
18.08
21.38
22.70
26.65
30.54
33.62
Date
.1
2 .. . .
.21
.4
5 .. . .
.20
..
.01
16 .. . .
1.29
.12
T
.08
.15
18 ...
...
.01
20 ....
..
.32
.40
.02
.48
27 ....
.01
.63
.03
29
30 .. . .
.3
,16
.. 31
..
.25
26 .. ..
T
19
.57
.01
.11
12 .. . .
.14
T
Total
COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS-STATE DEPT. OF HEALTH . Water Analysis-(Parts in 100,000)
APPEARANCE
Residue on
Evaporation
Free Total
Chlorine
Ni-
Ni- trates trites
Hardness
Iron
Remarks
185174
9-23-25 Slight
Considerable
.62
12.60
.0280
.0082
2.24
.0050
.0000
2.9
3.80
Filter Gallery
186385 11-17-25 Slight
Considerable
.38
17.00
.0156
.0090
1.80
.0090
.0001
3.5
2.50
Filter Gallery
185175
9-23-25 None
Very slight
.23
15.50
.0002
0064
2.02
.0030
.0000
9.7
0.08
Filter Weir
186386 11-17-25 Very slight
Very slight
21
18.60
0006
.0086
1.94
.0100
.0000
9.6
0.37
Filter Weir
185176
9-23-25 Very slight
Very slight
.27
18.10
.0000
.0034
1.64
.0020
.0000
8.0
0.60
Tap
186387 11-17-25 Very slight
Very slight .20
19.30
.0002
.0080
1.62
.0070
.0000
8.9
0.23 Tap
No.
Date of Collec- tion
Turbidity
Sediment
Color
AMMONIA
NITROGEN AS
107
SUMMARY OF STATISTICS For Year Ending December 31, 1926
Reading Water Department Reading, Middlesex County, Massachusetts
General Statistics
Population by census of 1925: 8796.
Date of construction: 1890 and 1891.
By whom owned: Town of Reading.
Sources of supply : Filter gallery and artesian wells.
Mode of supply: (whether gravity or pumping) : Pumping.
Pumping Statistics
Builders of Pumping Machinery: Sullivan Mch. Co., Geo. F. Blake Mfg. Co., and Platt Iron Works.
Description of fuel used :
Kind: Coal.
Brand of coal: New River and all rail Penn.
Average price of coal per net ton delivered: $9.42. Coal consumed for the year: 631,182 lbs.
Total pumpage for year: 116,481,568 gallons with allowance for slip. Average static head against which pumps work: 219.
Average dynamic head against which pumps work: 240. Number of gallons pumped per pound of equivalent coal: 185. Gallons pumped x 8.34 (1bs.) x 100 x dynamic head (240). Duty equals :
Total fuel consumed
Equals 36,938,554.41 including heating.
Cost of pumping, figured on Pumping Station expenses, including filtration, viz: $12,128.26.
Cost per million gallons pumped : $104.12.
Cost per million gallons raised one foot (dynamic) : . 43.
DISPOSITION OF BALANCE-Carried to New Account Net cost of works Dec. 31, 1926 $473,908.48 Bonded debt Dec. 31, 1926 $ 64,000.00
Total cost of supplying water per million gallons figured on total main- tenance plus interest on bonds: $212.90.
108
Statistics Relating to Distributing Mains
Kind of Pipe: Galvin. iron and Cast iron
Sizes: From 11/4 inches to 12 inches
Extended: 5972.33 feet during year of six-inch pipe
Total now in use: 36.23 miles 6" pipe
Cost of repair per mile: $15.08
Number of hydrants (public and private) now in use: 223
Number of stop gates added during the year: 36
Number of stop gates now in use: 361
Number of stop gates smaller than 4 inch: None
Number of blow-offs: 13
Range of pressure on mains : 45 lbs. to 90 lbs.
Services :
Kind of pipe: Cast iron, galvanized iron, lead and cement lined
Sizes: 34 inch to 6 inches
Extended: 1926: 7225.10 feet
Discontinued 1926: 100 feet
Total now in use: 32.07 miles
Number of service taps added during the year: 95
Number now in use: 2219 Average length of service installed 1926: 76.05 feet
Average cost of service installed 1926: $70.77 Meters :
Number of meters purchased : 95 Number of meters discarded : 34
Number now in use: 2139
Percentage of services metered : .95
Number of motors and elevators added: None
Number now in use: None
General
The distribution pipe lines have been extended on 24 different streets in town, the sum total length of extension being 11,940.03 feet.
Ninety-five new services have been constructed during the year with a total length of 7225.10 feet and an average of 76.05 feet.
Hydrants have been installed at the following new locations: Longview Road, off Prospect St.
Forest St., north side, west corner Wells Rd.
Forest St., north side, east corner Van Norden Rd. Forest St., north side, west of Stoney Brook. Forest St., north side, east corner Colburn Rd.
Forest St., north side, at Hurlburt Rd.
Forest St., north side, west corner Martin Rd.
Forest St., north side, east of Grove St.
109
Recommendations
1. That the stand-pipe be cleaned and painted.
2. The 114" distribution mains should be relaid with 6" on Beach St., between Green St. and Lakeview Ave., and on School and Dudley Sts. They have now become overloaded and cannot render proper service.
3. The laying of a 6" main in Elliott St., between Green and Wash- ington Sts., also in Washington St. from Main to Village, will enable the Department to tie in the present dead ends.
4. An air compressor should be added to the equipment of the Water and Sewer Departments. This piece of machinery can often be used by the Highway Department to great advantage in the resurfacing of our streets.
There will be required for 1927 approximately 100 additional meters and 12 new hydrants for replacements.
HIGHWAY DEPARTMENT
To the Board of Public Works:
Gentlemen :- The following is the yearly report of the Highway Department :
Appropriations and Balances :
Voted in March Town Meeting, 1926:
1. Highway Maint. and Const. $56,000.00
2. Removal of Snow and Ice 15,000.00
3. Cleaning Drainage Ditches 3,000.00
4. Construction 1926 Improved Drainage .
13,000.00
5. Main Street Widening 1,000.00
6. Lowell Street Sidewalk 3,000.00
Total
$ 91,000.00
Unexpended Balances from Previous Appropriations :
7. Survey and Plans for Special Drainage ... $1,000.00
8. South Street re-surfacing 96.38
9. Establishment of Building Lines 719.88
10. Construction of John St. Drain, 1925 . .. 771.74
$ 2,588.00
$ 93,588.00
Total Appropriations and balances. .
110
Expenditures and Balances of the Above Appropriations:
1. Highway Maint. and Const. $ 56,000.00
Receipts
1,738.92
Total
$ 57,738.92
Pay Roll
$14,504.82
Purchases: Maintenance
1. General Repairs $ 2,896.01
2. Tools and Misc. Sup. 3,830.81
3. Road Materials :
A. Tarvia B 12,754.27
B. Tarvia X 830.00
C. Tarvia K. P . .. 413.03
D. Crushed Stone ..
1,647.44
4. Sidewalk Construction 2,753.59
5. New Equipment 4,469.14
Total $29,594.29
Construction Account :
Prescott St.
1. Earth Excavation $ 1,935.50
2. Ledge Excavation 35.40
3. Gravel
2,224.00
4. Broken Stone
5,229.00
5. Bituminous Material
2,310.00
6. Scarifying 263.80
7. Dust
106.20
8. Misc. Adv., Sundries, Weigh- er, etc.
199.19
Total for Road Work $12,303.09
Culvert construction under contract 1,336,72
Sub Total
$13,639.81
Grand Total
$ 57,738.92
Balance Unexpended 00.00
2. Appropriation for the Removal of Snow and Ice: $ 15,000.00
Expended :
1. Pay Roll $ 7,125.37 Sidewalk Snow Plowing . . 5,411.03
111
3. Tools, Supplies, Repairs, etc. 4,102.46
Total
$ 16,638.86
Balance overdrawn 1,638.86
3. Appropriation for Cleaning Drain-
age Ditches $ 3,000.00
Expended :
1. Pay Roll $ 2,229.82
2. Supplies 595.50
Total
$ 2,825.32
Balance unexpended ..
$ 174.68
4. Appropriation for 1926 Drain- age
$ 13,000.00
Const. John St. Drain, 1925,
unexpended balance. ..
771.74
Total
$ 13,771.74
Expended :
1. Pay Roll, Engr. and Con- tractor $ 8,633.57
2. Pipe and Fittings 4,191.52
3. Miscellaneous 134.36
Total $ 12,959.45
5
Appropriation for Main Street Widening $ 1,000.00
Expended :
1. Pay Roll $ 381.06
2. Curbing 180.98
3. Resetting Hydrant 90.77
4. Road Material 279.08
5. Misc. Supplies 68.11
Total
$ 1,000.00
€. Appropriation for Lowell St.
$ 3,000.00
Sidewalk
Balance unexpended. ..
$ 812.29
.00
112
Expended :
1. Pay Roll, Contractor and Misc. $ 3,000.00
$ 3,000.00
7. Appropriation for Survey and Plans for Special Drainage
$ 1,000.00
Expended : No Expenditures in 1926.
000.00
Balance unexpended. .
$ 1,000.00
8. Balance to be spent on South St ..
Expended :
1. Pay Roll
$ 16.71
2. Supplies 79.67
Total
$ 96.38
.00
9. Appropriation for Building Lines Expended :
$ 719.88
No Expenditures in 1926 ....
000.00
Balance unexpended . .
$ 719.88
TOTALS
Items
Appropriations
Expenditures
Balance
Balance to 1926
1.
$57,738.92
$57,738.92
$0.00
2.
15,000.00
16,638.86
1,638.86
3.
3,000.00
2,825.32
174.68
4.
13,771.74
12,959.45
812.29
812.29
5.
1,000.00
1,000.00
00.00
6.
3,000.00
3,000.00
00.00
7.
1,000.00
00.00
1,000.00
8.
96.38
96.38
₡0.00
9.
719.88
0.00
719.88
Totals
$95,326.92
$94,258.93
$1,067.99
$812.29
.00
$ 96.38
EDWARD HARRISON CROWE Died February 23, 1926 Fifteen Years Superintendent of Streets
114
Highway Department
For convenience in commenting on the work for the year, it may be divided into five parts, namely: Snow and Ice, Highway Maintenance, Con- struction, Drainage and Sidewalks.
SNOW AND ICE:
The magnitude of this work was such that the original appropriation of $5,000.00 which was placed before the Finance Committee, did not cover even the cost of repairs on our equipment. At the annual town meeting in March, $15,000.00 was asked for by the Board, and even this amount has been overrun, as may be seen in the financial distribution account at the beginning of this Highway report. Besides having the use of our own equipment, consisting of three autocars and two small tractors, a F. W. D. truck was loaned the Dept. by the State Dept. of Public Works, and the Board also hired a five-ton Mack to take charge of a certain section in town.
After large storms the streets were opened up, crosswalks shoveled, catch basins cleared and the snow removed from the Square, Haven St. and in front of the churches.
When the men were not needed on the above work they were occu- pied in the overhauling and painting of the maintenance equipment, the mending of sidewalk snow plows, the bushing out of outlying streets, the cleaning of ditches and culverts, patching of road surfaces, painting of street signs, etc. This work kept the Dept. busy during the first three months of the year.
MAINTENANCE:
As soon as the ice was gone, the gutters and catch basins were cleaned, outlying streets dragged, and as much as possible, mud holes filled with either cinders or gravel. Due to the application of heavy road tar, during previous years, only about fifty percent of the streets had to be scarified to give the proper crown to shed water. This year the Dept. applied some 96,990 gallons of Tarvia "B" and 3,972 gallons of 45% asphalt oil for the maintenance work on dirt roads. It covered an area of approxi- mately 429,000 sq. yds., or 30.4 miles of roadways 24 feet wide. Different sections of our bituminous macadam roadways were also seal coated where the wearing surfaces had worn thin. As a matter of record, 334.20 tons of stone have been used in patching the streets throughout the year.
CONSTRUCTION :
Bituminous macadam surface has been laid at the following locations: Prescott Street, from Lincoln to Summer Avenue; Harnden Street, from Pleasant to Salem St .; and the intersection of Haven and Main Streets west of the Eastern Mass. Co. tracks. The above work on Prescott Street was let out to contract under the State Highway Department's specification and supervision, and the construction work was done by M. McDonough Co. of Swampscott, Mass.
SIDEWALKS:
In accordance with the general custom, the Board of Public Works advertised in The Reading Chronicle that the Highway Dept. would con-
115
struct sidewalks during the latter part of the year, half of the cost to be paid by the abutters. This work was let out to contract and three hundred and twelve square yards were constructed in different sections about town.
Two thousand eighty-eight square yards of sidewalk were resurfaced by the application of a skim coat to the sidewalks already built. The Dept. applied four hundred sixteen tons of stone dust on walks which be- came muddy during wet weather or which were washed badly.
By special articles in the March town meeting, money was appropri- ated for the construction of a permanent walk around the Municipal Build- ing and Public Library. This work was let out on contract and entailed the laying of six hundred fourteen square yards of granolithic walk and the setting of four hundred eighty linear feet of curbstone.
The sidewalk along the east side of Reading Square, from Haven Street north, was set back in line with that which was constructed in 1925. This change added greatly to the width of the main highway, which was previously very much congested during heavy traffic.
DRAINAGE:
Work on our storm water drainage system has progressed by first re- placing the old stone culvert on Prescott Street, near the junction of Sunnyside Avenue, with a reinforced concrete culvert. A storm water drain from this culvert was constructed down Prescott Street to the junc- tion of Arlington, prior to resurfacing, with proper catch basins to take care of the water from the street surface. A drain on Lincoln Street was laid from the junction of Washington up Lincoln within 300 feet of Woburn Street to relieve the bad conditions in back of the Reading Depot.
In order to get rid of the water in School Street at the junction of Dudley, a drain was laid up Mt. Vernon Street from the junction of High Street to School, then up School to Dudley. Another short extension was made on Deering Street and Lowell Street to take care of the surface water along Lowell Street. The above described work was let out by contract and was constructed according to the drainage plans laid out by Mr. F. A. Barbour. Other drainage work of minor importance has been carried on to relieve certain sections where conditions were exceptionally bothersome, namely: at the junction of West Street and Summer Avenue, Howard Street, Wakefield Street, Grove Street, etc. The drain on Elliott Street was relaid from Washington Street to beyond Green and extensive repairs made on the temporary drain on Prescott Street west of the new concrete culvert.
GENERAL :
A new Ford Runabout with a truck body replaced the old one which the Dept. had had for the last three years. Repairs to the Highway Barn have been made in order to make room for the housing of our equipment. The basement yard has been further excavated and two sets of double doors have been installed. Covered gravity bins have been installed to
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hold sidewalk sand for winter use and K. P. patching stone and this ma- terial can now be handled much more efficiently.
Sixty-seven new street signs have been erected, also new fencing over culverts. The catch basins have been cleaned three times during the year where necessity demanded it, etc.
RECOMMENDATIONS:
It is recommended that the general program of maintenance pursued during the past few years be continued.
This coming year in order to carry on our maintenance work, the town should procure a new sand pit, and to facilitate its use should pur- chase a loading machine.
The Ford Dump used for K. P. patching work has been in use now for six years, and is in a state where it cannot be economically repaired. This should be replaced by new equipment.
Permanent road work next year should include the stoning of Mineral Street between Summer Avenue and Prospect Street, Middlesex Avenue between High and Vine Streets, and Ellis Avenue between Summer Avenue and Hillcrest Road.
In order to properly drain the athletic field at the new Junior High School the Woburn Street culvert should be constructed to proper grade and size. The ditch connecting this culvert and the Prescott Street culvert should be channelled piped.
The storm drain in Prescott Street from the culvert to Summer Avenue must be lowered and relaid with a pipe of larger capacity.
A small drain should be laid in Woodbine and Hancock Streets to re- lieve bad conditions which now exist in Woodbine Street.
SEWER DEPARTMENT
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To the Board of Public Works:
Gentlemen :- The following is the yearly report of the Sewer Department:
Construction and Maintenance :
Balance Brought Forward. $ 21,596.37
Receipts for 1926. 10,195.40
Total
$ 31,791.77
Construction Account :
Expended :
1. Prescott Street Extension. $ 980.84
2. Right of Way and Damages 1,000.00
Total $ 1,980.84
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Maintenance Account :
1. Metropolitan Charges
$11,829.64
2. Pay Roll 2,302.32
3. Tools, Supplies and Repairs. 1,070.45
Total
$15,202.41
Maintenance and Construction Pay Roll and Bills
$ 17,183.25
Balance
$ 14,608.52
House Connection Account:
Balance brought forward.
$ 1,066.63
Cash Receipts to date
1,962.84
Total
$ 3,029.47
Expended :
1. Pay Roll.
$ 1,043.60
2. Refunds
266.92
3. Pipe Fittings, etc ..
633.17
4. Miscellaneous
116.33
Total
$ 2,060.02
Balance
$ 969.45
Sewer Maintenance and Construction
A short extension of 277 feet to the main sewerage system was made on Prescott Street between Perkins Avenue and West Street to take care of sewer applications received. In this locality of the town the ground water elevation is high and by this construction it will eliminate bad cess- pool conditions in the future. The work was done by contract.
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