Town of Reading Massachusetts annual report 1927, Part 17

Author: Reading (Mass.)
Publication date: 1927
Publisher: The Town
Number of Pages: 318


USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Reading > Town of Reading Massachusetts annual report 1927 > Part 17


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Woburn St., East


1585 Highest Peak 3.00 to 5.30 o'clock P. M. 201


Haven St., East 1419 Highest Peak 7.30 to 8.00 o'clock P. M. 80


Lowell St., Southeast


1203 Highest Peak 7.00 to 7.30 o'clock P. M. 109


14,022


TRAFFIC COUNT IN READING SQUARE


Sunday, June 26th, 1927 (Rained all day) 8 A. M. to 8 P. M.


So. Main St., North 4170 Highest Peak 3.00 to 3.30 o'clock P. M. 363


No. Main St., South


3633 Highest Peak 5.00 to 5.30 o'clock P. M. 301


Salem St., South 2810 Highest Peak 4.30 to 5.00 o'clock P. M. 204


Woburn St., East 1421 Highest Peak 7.00 to 7.30 o'clock P. M. 133


Haven St., East 452 Highest Peak 7.00 to 7.30 o'clock P. M. 33


Lowell St., Southeast 1751 Highest Peak 6.00 to 6.30 o'clock P. M. 160


14,237


14,022


28,259 Total Two Days


Going North Satur-


day and Sunday 8294


Going South Satur-


day and Sunday 7118


1176 More going North


Totals :


Main Street


15,412


Salem Street


5,016


Woburn Street 3,006


Lowell Street 2,954


Haven Street


1,871


28,259


263


June 25th, 1927


June 26th, 1927


3.30 5.30 8.00


3.30 5.30 8.00


So. Main St.


235 239


274


So. Main St.


363


195


182


Salem St.


147 108 135


Salem St.


203


199


129


No. Main St.


432


145 140


No. Main St.


186


301


246


Woburn St.


115


201


80


Woburn St.


81


99


20


Haven St.


37


10


80


Haven St.


71


142


74


Lowell St.


53


35


105


Lowell St.


16


23


33


1019 738 944


1250 959 684


There is an interesting comparison with the city of Quincy, a city of about 50,000 population, ten miles south of Boston, at Hancock Street, just north of Washington Street, where they took their traffic count Au- gust 1st, 1927, from 8.00 A. M. to 6.00 P. M., in which their count is 15,355.


PARKS


We recommend the appointment of a Park Commission. It seems a sad commentary that Memorial Park, donated by public-spirited citizens of the town and the town citizens voluntarily giving their services one day of two successive years to its development, should now be allowed to lapse into desuetude. If three citizens can afford to give it to the town it would seem as if all the citizens of the town could afford to properly develop it. We believe that a Commission could give the Park more thought and time, and that this should be taken in hand and its layout and development completed either by a small annual appropriation by the town or by community work with all the different civic bodies of the town co-operating.


Indications are that the town will grow very rapidly in the next few years and unless park locations are secured now it will be too late.


TOWN FORESTS


What citizen today with a boy or girl is not giving thought to where his or her child may commune with nature? The forests are practically gone, a few second growths here and there, a scrubby patch now and than. What an anomalous situation, with towns nearer to Boston having either town forests or being a part of the Metropolitan Park System, with acres of forest lands.


Unless serious thought is given to this problem in the near future our opportunity will be lost. We believe the town should make a survey and see what forests can be purchased. Also see if we have some public- spirited citizens who will donate to the town a tract or two of land suitable for re-forestration. The State would contribute the "Settings" free and perhaps our school children, under the leadership of our teachers, could start a yearly forest planting.


.


264


BIRCH MEADOW AND TOWN DUMP


We recommend to the citizens of the town that a committee be ap- pointed and authorized to investigate and report on the possibilities of Birch Meadow with the idea of purchasing, purchase to include a strip of woodland adjoining on each side and developing same. In a few years all land around this meadow will be entirely developed and built up with homes. Today the meadow is useless and nearly valueless. It, however, has wonderful possibilities. We believe the time has come when ashes should be collected by the town and a town dump established here, and under proper supervision Birch Meadow re-claimed; have a park developed and with some drainage in the central section a small pond made creating a beauty spot and recreation area convenient to nearly every part of the town.


This development would greatly increase realty values of nearby properties and add to their desirability for home sites.


CONTROL OF LAND DEVELOPMENT


We recommend that the Board of Survey consult with the Planning Board before approving any development plans; that by-laws be passed by the town that no new streets be accepted by the town unless laid out and meeting with the approval of the Town Boards of Survey and Public Works; that drainage must be established and properly executed and approved by the above named board; that streets should have at least four inches of gravel topping and properly surfaced; that water mains be extended only to streets meeting these conditions and water mains installed on any new streets be installed at the developer's expense and town re-pay for same only on a percentage of their earnings as a basis; that sidewalks shall be curbed, and the initial installation of elec- tric lights shall be made only where streets are laid out to meet above provisions and are acceptable to the town, and then only at expense of developer to be repaid for by town on percentage of earning basis.


TREMENDOUS FIXED CHARGES AND UNFAIR BURDEN ON TAX PAYERS


Year after year at our town meetings we have listened to appeals and petitions for street work, water extensions, fire protection, and elec- tric lights, and school transportation and accommodations, particularly from some land developer's "Get rich development scheme." For a nominal sum he has purchased a tract of land, usually scrub land, or low land of necessity, owing to its cheapness in price. He pays down on purchase price just as little as possible, rarely $500, gives a mort- gage back with release clauses, and proceeds as follows:


Makes a plan of streets and general lay out that always looks better on paper than the real lay-out. Cuts a swath through brush or growth and sometimes ploughs a furrow on each side to show where street is located. This constitutes 90% of the developments in this town all that


265


has ever been done by the developer. He then starts selling lots (they are usually laid out so small buyer has to take two or three lots), he gets all he thinks he can get down, depending on customer, some $25, usually $5.00 and fifty cents to one dollar a week. The buyer asks about street being made, town water and electric lights installed, and is politely in- formed just as soon as lot buyer builds the town will bring these right up to his front door.


Mr. Developer sells out and goes somewhere else, but Mr. Lot Buyer has built a modest home, many times without a cellar, many times with no lathing or plastering, intending to put these in later as he can afford to do so. He does the most natural thing, he asks the town to put these conveniences in, and after many pleas and a recitation of pitiful con- ditions, the townspeople out of sympathy, but out of step with business principles, appropriate year after year huge sums to perfect the Land De- veloper 's undeveloped scheme.


Mr. Lot Buyer invariably has a number of children to be schooled (a survey in development near Lake Quannapowitt showing from two to seven children per family. The assessable value of many of these homes gives a tax return of from $30 to $75, while the educational cost of each child is in the vicinity of $100 a year.


Just as long as this condition goes on, just so long will fixed charges of the town increase. New growth along this order is an ever-increasing liability. Every taxpayer in town is paying for and furnishing these con- veniences that the Land Developer should have furnished. The Developer does not sell his land any cheaper because the conveniences are not in; he invariably sells at a price as if they were in. He profits at your expense. Land can be developed properly with conveniences and sold at a handsome profit for six, seven and eight cents a foot. Some towns exact the Developer to instal electric lights, water mains and gates wholly at his expense, in no way amortizing the cost.


This unsound practice should be discontinued at once. New growth under sound conditions is an asset, and it is incumbent upon every citizen to encourage same, and also to solicit some business acquaintance, some relative or friend to build in Reading, for new growth under favorable conditions is our only saving factor in holding our tax rate at its present level, with several major undertakings awaiting appropriations, unless perchance the unsound practice of financing, as in the case of the Junior High School, should be discontinued.


SIDEWALKS


We recommend the discontinuance of the laying of tar concrete walks. Every sidewalk of this class of construction becomes a fixed charge for the town. They are obsolete and uneconomic. They are not impervious to water or frost; constantly become uneven, out of aligment, crack, break up and become unsafe, and need periodic repairing. We recommend the laying of only granolithic sidewalks in the future and assessing side-


256


walk betterments over a period of ten years and spending the amount of money now appropriated for sidewalk purposes in this way, giving proper consideration also to constructing granolithic sidewalks for individual petitioners as far as possible when said petitioner agrees to pay half the cost in the usual method for such cases.


DEPOT


The Depot is not only a disgrace to the town but to the Boston & Maine Railroad also. No other city or town of its size on Western Division of the Boston & Maine Railroad from Boston to Portland has to endure such a condition. With the railroad spending millions for all kinds of improvements, and making this the main line division to all points east, it gives no thought as to what the reflection of this depot is upon the town. It gives little thought to its care, or proper accommodation of patrons using it daily. It is a menace, a hazard, unsanitary and non- accommodating. A new depot with sufficient cover protection of ample size to accommodate its daily commuters should be provided. Granolithic walks should replace tar concrete and plank walks and granite edgestone curbs replace second-hand rotten timbers. Ample and sanitary toilet facilities with proper heating, necessarily guarded for safety, are needed.


A hearing should be demanded of the railroad officials, a time set preferably around 9 A. M., and every citizen should attend this hearing and voice his sentiments; then if no action is taken, an appeal made to the Public Utility Commission, and finally if necessary the building condemned. Just as long as our citizens tolerate this abominable con- dition, just so long will its imposition remain with us.


GRADE CROSSINGS


We favor and recommend to the town that a committee consisting of a competent engineer, a member each of Safety Council, Board of Select- men, Board of Public Works, Planning Board, and Commission on Needs of Reading for next ten years, meet with Boston & Maine Railroad rep- resentatives for the purpose of formulating plans for under pass at depot along lines suggested by Safety Council, fence between railroad tracks from Washington Street to Woburn Street and from Woburn Street to Mineral Street. There are several complications such as cross- ings, switches, rights of way, etc., that need careful consideration aside from cost; children's lives are daily jeopardized in going and coming to school, as well as commuters' lives. This committee should also study the feasibility of discontinuing Washington Street crossing and also consult with State Highway Commission and railroad officials for either an under pass or an over pass at Main Street crossing. With increase of express train service and additional freight trains, jeopardy of lives is becoming greater.


Respectfully submitted, W. FRANKLIN BURNHAM, Chairman. HARRIETTE P. LEUCHTMAN, Secretary HAROLD W. PUTNAM HARRY C. BARR WINTHROP D. PARKER


Thirty-third Annual Report


OF THE


ELECTRIC LIGHT COMMISSIONERS


For the Year Ended December 31


1927


268


OFFICERS OF ELECTRIC LIGHT AND POWER DEPARTMENT


Commissioners


HENRY R. JOHNSON, Chairman


Term Expires 1929


HERBERT G. EVANS, Secretary Term Expires 1930


HARRY P. BAKER Term Expires 1928


Manager ARTHUR G. SIAS


Office MUNICIPAL BUILDING


MANAGER'S REPORT


To the Municipal Light Board:


Gentlemen :- I respectfully submit herewith my report of the operations of the Municipal Light Plant for the year ending December 31, 1927.


Electric Operating Revenues


Metered Sales to Private Consumers :


Lighting


$120,265.78


Power


38,334.35


Cooking & Heating 23,793.22


Residence Combination 5,702.97


$188,096.32


Flat Rate Sales to Private Consumers :


Private Street Light 623.29


269


Municipal Revenues :


Street Lighting-Reading $ 13,500.00


Street Lighting-Lynnfield Centre 1,844.44


Street Lighting-North Reading 3,920.06


Street Lighting-Wilmington


8,251.55


Municipal Lighting-Reading


2,585.75


Municipal Power-Reading


2,373.58


Power Sold to Wakefield


54.35


Power Sold to Lowell Elec. Lt. Corp. ... 64.02


Power Sold to Lawrence Gas & Elec. Co.


30.36


$ 32,624.11


Total Revenue from Sales of Electric Energy Rent from Property Used in Operation :


$221,343.72


Rental of Pole Lines 442.30


Total Electric Operating Revenues ...


$221,786.02


OPERATING EXPENSES-ELECTRIC Production


Operation :


Superintendence and Labor $ 2,980.80


Boiler Fuel


4,902.67


Water for Steam


142.08


Lubricants


33.00


Station Supplies and Expenses


2,217.23


$ 10,275.78


Maintenance :


Maintenance of Station Structures $ 5,827.05


Maintenance of Boiler Plant Equipment 252.39


Maintenance of Turbo Generator Units ..


1,095.45


Maintenance of Electric Generating Equip.


50.44


Maintenance of Accessory Electric Equip.


164.22


Maint. of Misc. Power Plant Equip.


$ 7,389.55


Electric Energy Purchased


$ 49,995.98


Total Production Expenses


$ 67,661.31


Transmission, Distribution and Storage


Operation :


Trans. Station and Sub. Station Supt: and Labor


$ 8,851.16


Trans. Station and Sub. Station Supp. and Expense 7,203.15


Operation of Transmission and Distribu- tion Lines 16,358.19


270


Transmission and Distribution Supplies and Expenses


798.96


Inspecting and Testing Meters


1,363.22


Removing and Resetting Meters 1,422.00


Removing and Resetting Transformers .. 615.84


$ 36,612.52


Maintenance :


Maintenance of Transmission and Distri- bution Lines


$ 6,860.16


Maintenance of Consumers' Meters 132.70


Maintenance of Transformers


601.40


$ 7,594.26


Total Transmission Distribution and Stor- age Expense


$ 44,206.78


Utilization


Operation :


Municipal Street Lamps-Labor $ 1,114.80


Municipal Street Lamps-Supplies and


Expense 2,100.16


$ 3,214.96


Maintenance :


Maintenance of Municipal Street Lamps $ 575.15


Maintenance of Consumers' Installations 2,866.87


$ 3,442.02


Total Utilization Expenses


$ 6,656.98


Commercial


Commercial Salaries


$


8,243.30


Commercial Supplies and Expenses 2,177.35


Total Commercial Expenses $ 10,420.65


New Business


New Business Salaries $ 2,838.72


New Business Supplies and Expenses 23.58


Advertising


1,169.31


Total New Business Expenses $ 4,031.61


General and Miscellaneous


Salary of Manager $ 5,200.00


Salaries of General Office Clerks 3,690.99


General Office Supplies and Expenses 955.75


Law Expense-General


271


Insurance


4,255.66


Accidents and Damages


68,90


Store Expenses


255.66


Transportation Expenses


2,967.34


Inventory Adjustments


2,411.28


Depreciation


24,533.58


Maintenance General Structures 56.80


237.31


Total General and Miscellaneous Expenses


$ 44,633.27


Grand Total Operating Expenses


$177,610.60


Income Statement for the Year


Operating Income :


Operating Revenues


$221,786.02


Operating Expenses


177,610.60


Net Operating Revenue


$ 44,175.42


Uncollectible Operating Revenue


$ 2,261.73


Taxes Assignable to Electric Operations 692.21


2,953.94


Net Operating Income


$ 41,221.48


Non-Operating Income :


Merchandise and Jobbing Revenue $ 1,248.65


Interest Income


23.47


Miscellaneous Non-Operating Income


157.58


Total Non-Operating Income


$ 1,067.60


Gross Income


$ 40,153.88


Deductions from Gross Income :


Interest on Bonds and Notes $ 4,763.62


Total Deductions from Gross Income $ ยท 4,763.62


Income Balance Trans. to Profit and Loss


$ 35,390.26


PROFIT AND LOSS STATEMENT


Credit Balance at Beginning of Fiscal Period


$ 54,720.15


Credit Balance Transferred from Income Acct.


35,390.26


Other Deductions from Surplus (Bonds and Notes Paid) $ 15,800.00


Balance carried forward to Balance Sheet


74,310.41


Total


$ 90,110.41 $ 90,110.41


Miscellaneous General Expense


.1.


272


COMPARATIVE GENERAL BALANCE SHEET ASSETS Investments


Balance at


Balance


Net Change


beginning of year $399,845.37 Plant Investment 8,276.48 General Equipment


year $410,764.36


$ 10,918.99


7,418.82


857.66


$408,121.85 Total Investments


$418,183.18


$ 10,061.33


Current Assets


$ 150.00 Petty Cash Fund Construction Fund


289.09


289.09


1,403.75 Consumers' Deposit Fund


1,575.75


172.00


39,144.46 Accounts Receivable


35,428.65


3,715.81


43,016.41 Materials and Supplies


46,890.14


3,873.73


$ 83,714.62 Total Current Assets


$ 84,433.63


$ 719.01


Prepaid Accounts


$ 1,967.94 Insurance General


$ 638.69


$ 1,329.25


Insurance Liability


599.05


599.05


$ 1,967.94 Total Prepaid Accounts


$ 1,237.74


$ 730.20


$493,804.41 Total Assets


$503,854.55


$ 10,050.14


Liabilities


Balance at


Balance


Net


beginning


close


Change


year $ 30,678.26 Appropriations for Construction


$ 30,678.26


Bonds and Notes Payable


$101,500.00 Bonds


$ 89,000.00 $ 12,500.00


10,200.00 Notes Payable


6,900.00


3,300.00


$111,700.00 Total Bonds and Notes Payable


$ 95,900.00


$.15,800.00


Current Liabilities


$ 23,166.50 Accounts Payable


$ 27,545.26


$ 4,378.76


1,403.75 Consumers' Deposits


1,575.75 $


172.00


23,668.71 Due Town Treasurer (Loan)


9,768.71


13,900.00


$ 48,238.96 Total Current Liabilities


$ 38,889.72 $ 9,349.24


close


$ 250.00


$ 100.00


year


273


Accrued Liabilities


$ 1,267.04 Interest on Bonds and Notes


$ 1,076.16 $ 190.88


$ 1,267.04 Total Accrued Liabilities $ 1,076.16


$ 190.88


Appropriated Surplus


$247,200.00 Loans Repayment


$263,000.00 $ 15,800.00


$247,200.00 Total Appropriated Surplus


$263,000.00


$ 15,800.00


$439,084.26 Total Liabilities


$429,544.14


$ 9,540.12


Profit and Loss


$ 54,720.15 Profit and Loss-Balance


$ 74,310.41


$ 19,590.26


$493,804.41 Total Liabilities and Profit and Loss $503,854.55


$ 10,050.14


PLANT INVESTMENT ACCOUNTS-ELECTRIC


Balance at Additions Depreciation Balance beginning during Other Credits at close of year


year during year of year


Plant Investment


Land.


$ 2,575.80 $


$


$ 2,575.80


Structures


37,437.27


37,437.27


Boiler Plant Equipment


36,816.16


2,945.29


33,870.87


Prime Moves and Auxiliaries 15,129.83


1,210.39


13,919.44


Turbo Generator Units


23,593.83


1,887.51


21,706.32


Electric Plant-Steam


20,812.63


5,152.51


1,665.01


24,300.13


Poles, Fixtures, and Over-


head Conductors


170,701.28


23,007.76


10,242.08


183,466.96


Consumers' Meters


38,048.65


3,096.51


1,521.95


39,623.21


Consumers' Meters Instal'n


5,205.93


574:00


208.24


5,571.69


Line Transformers


34,923.33


2,759.11


1,746.17


35,936.27


Transformer Installation


3,396.96


197.50


169.85


3,424.61


Street Lighting Equipment


10,774.71


665.18


2,937.09


8,502.80


Customers' Premises Equip.


428.99


428.99


Total Plant Investment


$399,845.37 $ 35,452.57 $ 24,533.58 $410,764.36


General Equipment


Office Equipment


$ 2,863.00 $


555.00 $


361.00 $


3,057.00


Stores Equipment


446.33


154.27


36.33


564.27


Transportation Equipment


3,900.00


235.00


1,435.00


2,700.00


Laboratory Equipment


1,067.15


30.40


1,097.55


Total General Equipment


$ 8,276.48 $


974.67 $ 1,823.33 $ 7,418.82


Total Cost of all Property $408,121.85 $ 36,427.24 $ 26,365.91 $418,183.18


274


TOTAL COST OF PLANT


Cost of Land $ 2,575.80 Cost of Structures 44,066.92


$ 46,642.72


Generating Plant-Steam :


! Cost of Boiler Plant Equipment $ 69,355.21


Cost of Prime Moves and Auxiliaries 29,013.38


Cost of Turbo Generator Units 46,870.83


Cost of Electric Plant-Steam 40,550.87


185,790.29


Transmission, Distribution and Storage :


Cost of Poles, Fixtures and Overhead Conductors


$271,681.04


Cost of Consumers' Meters 56,472.68


Cost of Consumers' Meter Installation 7,710.56


Cost of Line Transformers


53,157.01


Cost of Transformers' Installation


5,406.90


394,428.19


Utilization Equipment :


Cost of Street Lighting Equipment .... $ 24,077.73


Cost of Consumers' Premises Equipment 428.99


24,506.72


Total Cost of Electric Plant as shown by the books


$651,367.92


CASH BALANCES AT CLOSE OF YEAR


Petty Cash Loan from Treasurer $ 250.00


Depreciation Fund Account DEBITS


Balance of account at beginning of year :


Amount transferred from income


$ 24,533.58


Total


$ 24,533.58


CREDITS


Amount expended for construction purposes


$ 24,533.58


Balance on hand at close of year


Material and Supplies


Coal


$ 1,926.03


Oil


95.36


Electrical Appliances


12,554.81


Miscellaneous Materials and Supplies


..


32,313.94


Total


$ 46,890.14


. .


275


Construction Fund DEBIT


Transferred from Depreciation Fund


$ 24,533.58


Construction sold during year


1,775.95


Transferred from Operating Fund


11,291.47


$ 37,601.00


CREDIT


Amount expended for Additions and Ext. .. $ 37,311.91


Balance at close of year 289.09


$ 37,601.00


Operation Fund DEBIT


Balance at beginning of year


$ 23,518.71


Received from sale of electricity


206,633.85


Received from Appropriation for Street Lights


13,500.00


Received from Miscellaneous Items


49,537.48


.


$246,152.62


CREDIT


Expenditures for Operating Accounts


$166,245.24


Bonds Paid


12,500.00


Notes Paid


3,300.00


Interest Paid


4,763.62


Amount transferred to Depreciation Fund


24,533.58


Amount transferred to Construction Fund


.


11,291.47


Amount paid on loan of Treasurer


14,000.00


Total Credits


$236,633.91


Balance due Treasurer


9,518.71


$246,152.62


The maximum indicated load at the power station was 1590 kilowatts and occurred on two consecutive days, December 22nd and 23rd. This is an increase of 250 killowatts or 18.65% over last year. The largest daily output was 18,582 kilowatt hours on December 13th, as compared with 16,232 kilowatt hours last year. The maximum indicated load on December 13th was 1420 kilowatts.


A comparison of the kilowat hour records for 1926 and 1927 is shown below. It will be noted that while the kilowatt hours delivered on the switchboard at the plant increased 8.66%, the kilowatt hours sold increased 18.56% and there was a decrease of 85.14% in the kil- owatt hours used at the station, garage and show room.


276


K. W. H. Generated


and purchased


1926


Increase Percent


Generated


3,600,580


1927 406,693 4,396,397


3,193,887 3,576,610


88.7 436.47


Total


4,420,367


4,803,090


382,723


8.66


K. W. H. Sold


For Lighting


1,312,454


1,487,263


180,759


13.77


For Power


909,005


1,116,329


207,324


22.81


For Cooking, Heat-


ing and Refrigeration


768,378


815,392


47,554


6.19


For Residence Service


Combination Rate


163,140


163,140


For Street Lighting


331,493


349,292


17,799


5.37


For Police Spot Lights


5,950


Totals


3,321,330


3,937,906


616,576


18.56


K. W. H. used at Station,


Garage and show Room


366,352


54,439


311,913


85.14


K. W. H. Used for Christ- mas Illumination


2,733


3,810


1,077


39.47


K. W. H. Unaccounted for


729,952


806,935


76,983


10.55


K. W. H. Sold in each town


Reading


2,452,840


2,931,097


478,257


19.5


Lynnfield Center


128,213


143,650


15,437


12.04


North Reading


310,474


333,093


22,619


7.28


Wilmington


429,803


530,066


100,263


23.32


Totals


3,321,330


3,937,906


616,576


18.56


The income from sale of current shows an increase of 9.6% over last year, the income from power sales showing the largest per- centage of increase. The income from each town shows that Reading and Wilmington made the largest gains. A comparison of the income for 1926 and 1927 is shown in the following tables.


Income from Sales of Current


1926


1927


Increase Percent


Lighting


$118,560.56


$123,623.55


$ 5,062.99


4.27


Power


35,445.11


40,707.93


5,262.82


14.84


Cooking and Heating


22,638.70


23,793.22


1,154.52


5.09


Residence Comb. Service


5,702.97


5,702.97


Street Lighting


25,311.66


27,516.05


2,204.39


8.71


Totals


$201,956.03


$221,343.72


$ 19,387.69


9.6


Purchased


819,787


277


Income from Each Town


Reading


$131,065.30 $144,687.81


$ 13,622.51


10.39


Lynnfield Centre


11,055.42


11,543.45


488.03


4.41


North Reading


22,664.61


23,345.92


681.31


3.00


Wilmington


37,170.70


41,766.54


4,595.84


12.36


Totals


$201,956.03


$221,343.72 $ 19,387.69


9.6


The operating expenses show an increase of $5,977.17 or 3.4% over last year. The extensive repairs to the railroad trestle, costing $3,595.77 contributes very largely to the increase. The major part of the repairs are of a permanent nature and while the money expended on that portion of the trestle on Mr. Sweetser's property, one-half the cost of maintaining same being borne by the Town under the terms of the original deed, the Town is relieved of considerable expense for future maintenance.


The average cost per kilowatt hour delivered at the switchboard was 1.41 cents. This includes current purchased, labor, fuel and repairs to station structures and equipment.


The uniform system of accounts for Municipal Lighting Plants, adopted by the State makes it necessary for us to include sub-station labor, supplies and expenses and the annual carrying charge on sub- station equipment and transmission lines in Transmission, Distribution and Storage Expense rather than in Production Expense. In order, however, that a fair comparison may be made with production costs in previous years, I have included the above expenses, with the ex- ception of that part of carrying charge which applies to the transmis- sion line, in the production costs under Table C.




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