USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Reading > Town of Reading Massachusetts annual report 1931 > Part 13
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 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24
147
The reduction of sewer rentals, as published in the Reading Chronicle, became effective July 1, 1931. This change of prices has so far proven very successful as a greater number of connections have been made as a result. The reduction was investigated by the consulting engineers, Weston & Sampson, who not only studied our local conditions but also included similar systems comparable to the Town of Reading, throughout the State.
The tennis court built at Birch Meadow in 1930 was so well patronized the Board deemed it advisable to build an additional court there. They also installed two courts at Memorial Park to care for the children in that section of the Town, and these courts when completed with nets, back stops, etc., will prove a substantial feature to this playground.
A portion of the Common and a large area of the Ballfield was plowed, harrowed and reseeded. Portable bleachers were in- stalled at the Ballfield to replace the wooden stands that collapsed last year.
Hearings have been granted to the N. E. Tel. & Tel. Co. of Mass., and Municipal Light Dept. upon petitions filed for the location, removal and relocation of poles, the construction of conduits and manholes.
The Board has granted permits to the M. & M. Gas Light Co. to install, construct and maintain gas mains in the public ways of the Town where public convenience required.
Conferences have been held with the Planning Board and the Finance Committee relative to Reading Square reconstruction pro- gram, and with the Special Birch Meadow Committee of which Mr. H. Raymond Johnson is Chairman.
One of the greatest problems encountered this year was the unemployment situation. This condition has called for considerable thought and effort, as many of the applicants were not fitted for the type of work we could provide. However, very little dissatis- faction has been apparent as the Board did not officially receive any complaints. We wish to commend our Superintendent for his successful methods in handling this situation.
The Board has given careful study and consideration to all matters coming before it for action, and has endeavored to promote the best interests and welfare of the Town. Criticisms of a construc- tive nature designed to improve our working conditions are invited and will receive from us our heartiest co operation.
MARTIN B. HARTSHORN, Chairman FRANK M. MERRILL, Secretary HAROLD W. PUTNAM Wm. T. FAIRCLOUGH ROBERT E. FOWLE
Board of Public Works
148
SUPERINTENDENT'S REPORT
To the Board of Public Works :
Gentlemen :
As required by Section 4, Chapter 118, of an Act authorizing the Town of Reading to establish a Board of Public Works, I re- spectfully submit for your consideration the eleventh annual report of the Department of Public Works (Water, Highway, Sewer and Park) including a financial report of each department, and a chron- icle of the principal work performed with reommendations for the coming year.
WATER DEPARTMENT
Maintenance Account :
Receipts :
Cash Balance 1930
$ 1,290.26
Meter Rates
47,540.24
Service Pipe Maint.
339.03
Service Pipe Const.
1,550.59
Hydrant Rental & Repairs
8,095.23
Drinking Fountains
106.00
Misc. Receipts
420.95
Total
$ 59,342.30
Expenditures :
1. Office Maintenance :
Pay Roll
$ 1,007.00
Supplies, Printing, Insurance etc. 2,588.94
Total
$ 3,595.94
2. Pumping Station Costs :
Pay Roll
$ 4,836.15
General Repairs
374.90
Electric Power & Light
2,970.88
Supplies & Misc.
2,909.63
Total
$ 11,091.56
3. Filter Costs :
Pay Roll
$ 2,358.50
Supplies, Misc. 1,256.61
Total $ 3,615.11
149
4. Maintenance of Meters :
Pay Roll
$
1,814.19
Supplies
326.59
Total
$ 2,140.78
5. Maintenance of Service Pipes :
Pay Roll
$ 2,131.57
Supplies & Tools
231.66
Total
$ 2,363.23
6. Maintenance of Main Pipes :
Pay Roll
$ 2,526.22
Supplies, Tools & Misc. 251.19
Total $ 2,777.41
7. Maturing Bonds paid from Receipts :
$ 8,000.00
Total
$ 8,000.00
8. Bond Interest paid from Receipts : $ 3,792.50
Total
$ 3,792.50
9. Automobile & Truck Maintenance : Repairs & Supplies $ 1,248.03
Total
$ 1,248.03
10. Shop Maintenance :
Pay Roll $
91.50
Repairs & Supplies
Total $ 91.50
11. Main Pipe Construction :
Pay Roll $ 2,998.84
Fittings and Misc. Supplies 3,589.43
Total
$ 6,588.27
12. Service Pipe Construction :
Pay Roll
$
1,246.16
Pipe, Tools and Misc. Supplies 2,276.18
Total $ 3,522.34
150
13.
Meter Construction :
Meters
$ 973.92
Supplies
34.44
Total
$
1,008.36
14. Hydrants and Drinking Fountains :
Pay Roll
$
633.54
New Hydrants 730.74
Fittings and Supplies
45.50
Total $ 1,409.78
Grand Total Expenditures
$ 51,244.81
Balance Dec. 31, 1931 .
$ 8,097.49
Standpipe Account
Balance Forward from 1930
$ 5,375.50
Expended 1931 :
Pay Roll
$ 49.94
Bal. on Contracts and Misc. Sup.
5,324.83
Total
$ 5,374.77
Balance Unexpended $ .73
New Water Supply :
Bond Issue
$ 34,000.00
16,000.00
Total
$ 50,000.00
Credit
43.45
$50,043.45
Expended :
Pay Roll
$ $9,085.40
Contractors 11,987.10
Engineer
4,500.00
Plumbing Equipment 7,898.00
Heating, Plumbing, Wiring
1,043.22
Pipe, Supplies, Misc.
11,293.35
Total Expenditures
45,807.07
Balance Unexpended
$ 4,236.38
Cost of Plan, Dec. 31, 1930
$551,139.46
151
Expended 1931 :
Main Extension, Maintenance Acct. .. $ 6,588.27
Meters
1,008.36
New Water Supply
45,807.07
Bal. Standpipe Acct.
5,374.77
Total
$ 58,778.47
Total Cost of Plant, Dec. 31, 1931
$ 609,917.93
Registration Report
Amt. of bills (metered water) rendered in 1931
$ 43,605.99
Amount collected and paid Treasurer
$ 47,361.44
Amount uncollected
848.34
Amount abated
396.21
$ 48,605.99
$ 43,605.99
Amount of bills (metered water) of previous years uncollected
$ 210.65
Amount collected and paid Treasurer
$ 178.80
Amount uncollected
.00
Amount abated
31.85
$ 210.65
$ 210.65
Amount of Service Pipe Construction bills rend- . ered in 1931
$ 1,506.57
Amount of bills of previous years uncollected. .
368.92
Amount collected and paid Treasurer
$ 1,550.59
Amount uncollected
289.13
Amount abated
35.77
$ 1,875.49
$ 1,875.49
Amount of Service Pipe Maintenance bills rend- ered in 1931
$ 373.36
Amount of bills of previous years uncollected
8.36
Amount collected and Paid Treasurer
$ 339.03
Amount uncollected
42.69
Amount abated
.00
$ 381.72
$ 381.72
152
Amount of Main Pipe Maintenance Bills rend- ered in 1931
Amount of bills of previous years uncollected
Amount collected and paid Treasurer
$ 38.86
Amount uncollected
00.00
Amount abated
00.00
$ 38.86
$ 38.86
Amount of Meter Maintenance bills rendered in 1931
$ 33.88
Amount collected and paid Treasurer
$ 31.66
Amount uncollected
2.22
Amount abated
.00
$ 33.88
$ 33.88
Amount of Hydrant Maint. bills denreded in 1931
$ 80.23
Amount collected and paid Treasurer
$ 80.23
Amount uncollected
.00
Amounted abated
.00
$ 80.23
$ 80.23
RAINFALL
The average rainfall for Massachusetts as deduced by the State Department of Health from long continued observation in various parts of the State is 44.54 inches.
As may be seen by a table in this report showing the amount of rainfall for the years 1900 to 1931 inclusive, the average rainfall at the Reading Pumping Station is 40.31 inches. The rainfall this past year was a deficiency of 3.29 inches compared with the State observation and an excess of 0.94 inches from our Pumping Station observations.
There was an excess of rainfall in the months of March, May, June, July, August and December of 6.40 inches, and a deficiency in the .. other months of 5.46 inches, compared each month with an average rain- fall between the years 1900-1931 inclusive.
The elevation of the Reading Pumping Station is approximately eighty feet above the sea level. The greatest rainfall in any one month was in June, with a fall of 6.47 inches; in any one day, Tuesday, June 9, with a fall of 2.60 inches.
$ 38.86 00.00
153
RAINFALL AT PUMPING STATION, 1931
Normal
Rainfall
(Inches)
Rainfall
in 1931
(Inches)
Excess or
Deficiency in 1931
(Inches)
Month
January
3.27
3.27
0.00
February
3.40
2.72
-0.68
March
3.56
4.94
+1.38
April
4.04
3.07
-0.97
May
3.04
3.53
+0.49
June
3.22
6.47
+3.25
July
3.46
3.76
+0.30
August
3.36
4.11
+0.75
September
3.37
1.97
-1.40
October
2.85
2.43
-0.42
November
3.25
1.26
-1.99
December
3.49
3.72
+0.23
Totals
40.31
41.25
+0.94
YEARLY RECORD OF PUMPING STATION FROM JANUARY 1, 1931, TO JANUARY 1, 1932
Month
No. Days
Hrs.
Min.
Gallons Pumped
Total Head
Pounds Coal
Gals. to Lbs. Coal
Rainfall
January
31
371
45
10,856,574
218
59,418
183
3.27
February
28
336
30
9,859,442
218
55,741
177
2.72
March
31
365
30
11,049,731
213
60,459
183
4.94
April.
30
378
30
12,076,093
218
59,873
202
3.07
May
31
438
45
13,988,214
218
71.127
195
3.53
June
30
430
30
13,732,514
218
70,289
195
6.47
July
31
487
30
14,266,548
218
69,928
204
3.76
August
31
502
30
14,497,866
218
69,862
208
4.11
September
30
476
45
14,631,870
218
69.456
211
1.97
October .
31
462
15
14,000,302
218
69,630
201
2.45
November
30
380
30
11,718,712
218
57,937
202
1.26
December
12
67
20
4,246,058
218
17,723
239
3.72
TOTALS.
346
4696
20
144,923,924
218
731,443
198
41.25
The New Pumping Station at Hundred Acre Meadow began pumping into the town distribution system December 7, 1931. From December 7, until December 31, inclusive, 8,581,600 gallons of water were pumped.
After forty years of continuous service commencing February 22, 1891, the old pumping station on Mill St. was stopped Sunday, De- cember 13, 1931. This station will not be dismantled but will be held ready as an emergency unit to relay the new station should occasion arise.
1.54
TABLE SHOWING THE AMOUNT OF RAIN AND MELTED SNOW FOR YEAR ENDING DECEMBER 31, 1931
Day of
Month
January
February
March
April
May
June
July
August
September
October
November
December
1
.04
. 41
.01
T
.06
.33
3
. 16
.22
T
T
. 24
.08
.03
.98
5
1.05
H
.02
H
.10
.24
8
.25
2.16
.85
. 46
.03
9
.55
.02
T
.40
. 65
. 40
.04
.50
12
.75
T
.23
T
1.08
13
.12
.34
.25
.14
14
. 10
. 42
.80
.01
. 45
.28
15
. 09
.90
.07
.14
1.12
.43
.68
16
03
T
.77
T
. 66
.02
17
.42
T
T
.05
.06
. 01
19
.39
.09
.03
20
T
. 03
.03
04
21
.02
22
. 02
. 04
.16
.02
.05
.53
25
.60
.06
. 07
.46
.15
.03
T
T
28
.07
.19
.02
29
T
.10
T
. 49
30
.51
.04
.01
.37
31
.01
TOTALS.
3.27
2.72
4.94
3.07
3.53
6.47
3.76
4.11
1.97
2.43
1.26
3.72
TOTAL TO DATE
3.27
. .
24
H
T
.01
.13
.01
26
.05
1.43
. 03
1.51
T
HHC
.61
23
.08
.08
.15
T
T
.52
10
11
T
. 02
.01
. 07
T
.18
6
.01
7
.04
.83
.26
1.41
T
T
. 02
2.60
27
18
. 76
.94
.06
H
.34
.01
.50
4
.51
. 04
2
T
.06
. . .
T
. 02
. 24
27
.68 .73
.70
5.99 10. 93.14.00.17.53 24.00 27.76 31.87 33.84 36.27 37.53 41. 25
155
AMOUNT OF RAINFALL FOR YEARS 1900 TO 1931
Year
January
February
March
April
May
June
July
August
September
October
November
December
Total
1900
5.32
8.69
5.03
2.15
4.60
3.13
1.90
3.17
4.15
3.31
5.05
2.44
48.94
1901
1.33
1.08
5.88
9.59
7.21
1.74
4.65
2.66
3.59
2.76
3.06
8.10
51.65
1902
1.80
6.11
4.69
6.22
1.69
1.98
3.02
3.75
4.01
4.91
3.69
1.33
2.59
44.44
1904
4.42
2.21
2.21
9.90
3.56
2.56
1.88
4.26
5.16
2.02
1.80
2.25
42.23
1905
5.44
1.47
2.92
2.59
1.39
6.11
1.19
5.88
3.58 3.09|
3.59
1.98
4.79
6.44
1.68
2.34
8.76
3.13
1.19
2.99
3.22
1.94
9.79
4.88
1.98
2.70
3.13
2.08
3.04
3.65
3.84
4.18
2.96
2.28
2.57
41.00
1929
3.14
3.76
3.49
6.81
3.50
1.21
1.19
4.53
2.41
2.49
2.87
3.63
39.03
1930
2.48
2.05
3.29
1.90
3.38
2.19
4.07
2.77
0.79
4.45
3.68
2.20
33.25
1931
3.27
2.72
4.94'
3.07
3.53
6.47
3.76
4.11
1.97
2.43
1.26
3.72
41.25
Average .
3.27
3.38
3.73
4.11
3.17
3.52
3.46
3.39
3.33
2.84
3.19
3.50
40.31
SUMMARY OF STATISTICS For Year Ending December 31, 1931
Reading Water Department Reading, Massachusetts, Middlesex County
General Statistics
Population by census of 1930: 9747.
Date of construction : 1890, 1891, and 1931.
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.
1903
3.84
3.16
6.38
4.95
0.48
8.91
3.40
3.42
3.30
7.87
1.20
2.38
3.31
3.08
42.41
1907
3.97
2.10
2.40
3.21
2.89
3.80
1.58
2.14 4.36
3.43
0.29
0.93
1.44 4.60
5.86
4.78
3.04
0.88
5.24
4.02
1.27
2.79
2.53
5.62
1.80
2.27
6.63
1928
2.17
3.37
1.45|
5.13
2.77
2.19
2.68
4.10
4.18
4.77
33.74
1927
2.32
3.18
1.30
4.25
2.95
2.24
2.19
1.32
3.95
3.89
3.08
33.62
1926
2.53
4.41
2.83
5.75
5.48
1.37
5.17
4.13
4.83
39.30
1924
3.77
2.55
7.95
0.05
2.56
1.52
37.49
1925
4.28
2,14
4.66
3.94
5.53
46.49
1911
2.25
2.94
3.12
1.89
4.05
3.76
6.32
2.72
5.47
45.38
1916
1.22
5.37
3.37
5.14
2.90
4.00
0.85
2.81
8.37
1.02
2.24
2.48
36.02
1919
3.24
3.61
4,01
2.46
5,44
3.83
5.65
4.27
1.74
1.57
6.50
2.28
43.15
1922
1.77
2.72
2.73
1.06
3.12
45.24
1923
6.95
1.67
0.82
3.63
2.93
1.94
2.91
39.95
1917
2.92
2.41
5.75
1.39
2.65
37.33
1918
3.08
3.02
6.46
1.16
4.67
4.82
46.56
1921
2.09
3.43
2.43
1.86
1.96
3.29
3.17
4.80
2,37
2.63
6.20
1.53
42.70
1908
3.07
4.28
2.72
1.71
3.57
3.95
1.97
1.19
0.67
5.73
3.45
2.76
2.78
6.66
2.30
3.70
1.46
7.56
2.13
3.24
39.52
1914
3,34
3.65
1.51
2.92
3.69
35.07
1915
5.52
3,54
0.00
2.32
4.30
1.92 3.57
36.45
1912
2.68
2.42
5.04
1.45
3.10
4.80
41.04
1913
2.48
2.64
4.51
2.84
5.14
2.63
1.36
7.90
3.36
6.83
3.60
2.66
44.97 32.70 40.10
1909
4.17
5.33
4.06
3.60
31.87
3.80
2.02
3.48
3.66
0.23
0.70 3.11
3.56
1.23
1.48 2.91
4.14
2.22
3.72
39.42
1906
2.60
2.53
6.48
4.18
1.33
4.07
2.75
2.61
2.45
2.94
3.02
3.74
1910
4.54
3.14
1.58
4.09
2.02
4.10
1920
2.75
4.21
3.27
5.08
1.56
3.10 2.05
2.16
3.30
5.28
3.68
2.80
1.01
4.18
4.27 2.60
1.71 7.66
1.43
1.68
4.59
4.00
0.86
1.10
5.60
0.99
44.77
2.29
2.02
156
Description of fuel used : Kind : Coal.
Brand of Coal: New River.
Average price of coal per net ton delivered : $6.65.
Percentage of Ash :
Wood, price per cord :
Coal consumed for the year : 731,443 pounds.
Total pumpage for year, with allowance for slip: 144,923,924 gallons Average static head against which pumps work : 218
Average dynamic head against which pumps work : 246.
Number of gallons pumped per pound of equivalent coal: 198.
144,923,924 gals. pumped x 8.34 (1bs.) x 100 dyn. hd. (246)
Duty equals : 731.443 Total fuel consumed
Equals : 40,650,019.19 including heating.
Cost of pumping figured on Pumping Station expenses including filtra- tion, viz : Per million gallons pumped : 101.48.
Per million gallons raised one foot (Dynamic) .41.
DISPOSITION OF BALANCE-Carried to New Account
Net cost of works to date $609,917.93
Bonded debt to date 117,000.00
Cost of supplying water per million gallons figured on total maintenance of Pumping Station and filters : $101.48.
Total cost of supplying water, per million gallons figured on total maintenance plus interest on bonds : $211.95.
Statistics Relating to Distribution Mains
Kind of Pipe : Cast Iron.
Sizes : 4 inches to 12 inches. Extended : 4,143.7' of 12"-2,783' of 6"-110' of 1 1-4."
Total in use at present : 40.35 miles (6" to 12")
Cost of maintenance per mile : $68.83. Number of hydrants in use (public and private) : 260.
Number of stop gates added during the year : 29. Number of stop gates now in use : 608.
Number of stop gates smaller than 4": 131
Number of blow-offs : 15.
Suction Lines 110' of 16" equal 110 ft. Line A 300' of 12"-320' of 10" -275' of 8" equals 895 ft. Line B 270' of 12"-320' of 10"-300' of 8" equals 890 ft. Total: 1895 ft.
157
Gates on Suction Line.
Line A-1-12"-17-2 1-2".
Line B-1-12"-18-2 1-2".
Services :
Kind of pipe : Cast iron, galvanized iron, lead and cement lines and copper tubing.
Sizes : 3-4" to 6".
Extended : 3,466.60 feet.
Total in use : 36.55 miles.
Number of active service taps added during year : 60.00.
Number of service taps in use : 2513.
Average length of services : 1931, 57.78 feet.
Average cost of service to owners, 1931 : 24.45.
Number of meters added: 105.
Number of meters junked: 21.
Number of meters in use : 2681.
WATER BONDS AND INTEREST
There were $8,000.00 in bonds payable in 1931.
The interest on serial bonds for the year 1931 amounted to $3,792.50
There are $16,000.00 in bonds and $4,202.50 interest due in 1932 as follows :
Payable
Interest
Bonds
Water Bonds of Sept. 15, 1927
3/15/32
$220.00
Water Bonds of April 15, 1931
4/15/32
595.00
$4,000.00
Water Bonds of April 15, 1932
4/15/32
280.00
4,000.00
Water Bonds of May 1, 1925
5/ 1/32
160.00
2,000.00
Water Bonds of June 1, 1907
6/ 1/32
100.00
1,000.00
Water Bonds of June 1, 1917
6/ 1/32
247.50
1,000.00
Water Bonds of June 1, 1930
6/ 1/32
640.00
3,000.00
Water Bonds of Sept. 15, 1927
9/15/32
220.00
1,000.00
Water Bonds of April 15, 1931
10/15/32
525.00
Water Bonds of April 15, 1931
10/15/32
210.00
Water Bonds of May 1, 1925
11/ 1/32
120.00
Water Bonds of June 1, 1907
12/ 1/32
80.00
Water Bonds of June 1, 1917
12/ 1/32
225.00
Water Bonds of June 1, 1930
12/ 1/32
580.00
Totals
$4,202.50
$16,000.00
158
KIND AND SIZES OF METERS IN USE JANUARY 1, 1932
.
SIZES
MAKE
5/8"
1"
11/"
1 1/2"
2"
3"
4"
TOTALS
Nash .
1184
13
11
1
3
3
Hersey
527
11
24
6
9
6
1
1
1
586
Empire
257
1
2
.
Gamon
183
2
. .
.
.
. .
185
Trident
127
127
Crown
74
2
2
3
9
90
Union
50
1
1
52
Lambert
49
2
51
Worthington
35
53
53
Keystone
1
9
Federal
8
8
Thompson
4
. .
. .
. .
. .
. .
2
TOTALS
2554
27
45
15
16
19
3
1
1
2681
WATER DEPARTMENT
The new State Highway on North Main Street caused the Wa- ter Department much extra work and expense. As this highway can- not be excavated, except in an emergency, for a period of years, a care- ful survey of possible future land developments adjoining this street was made, with the result that thirteen six inch taps were made and six inch pipe installed, totaling 375 feet, were laid to the street line at points where new roads might be built, and five three-quarter inch taps made and three-quarter inch pipe, totaling 102 feet was laid to the street line, as uncompleted house services.
The new road being much wider than the old road, house service boxes which before had been in the sidewalk were now found to come on the edge or in the paved surface of the road, therefore it was necessary to set back these boxes. In all, twenty-eight were set back, averaging four feet each. Many of these services were in- stalled in 1890 and 1891 and are in perfect condition. The twelve inch main was examined carefully and found to show practically no signs of corrosion. Owing to the change of grade many service boxes had to be raised from one to four feet, while in other instances the road- bed was excavated to such a depth that the service pipe itself was bared, necessitating the lowering of the entire service. Five and one-quarter inch services were made at the owners' request to relay their old three- quarter inch services.
The annual inspection of hydrants proved them to be in good mechanical condition, even though in certain localities they had been used much more than the average. Owing to the construction of the new State Highway on North Main st. the hydrants in that section were
5
Columbia
2
. .
1
36
Pittsburg
8
#
. .
1
.
2
262
1215
159
in constant use for a period of eight months. The general hydrant maintenance work has been completed and hydrants raised to meet new street grades on High, Salem, Eaton, and Main Streets. Ten new hydrants have been set, viz; one on Van Norden Rd. north side east of Franklin, one on Grove St. north of Franklin, one north of entrance to Town Forest, one opposite road to new pumping station, one at the new station, one on High south of Lowell, one on north side of Pine- vale Road, one on Smith Ave. between No. 8 and No. 10, one on Pres- cott St. west of No. 97, and one on Mill St. south of Perry's Lane. The hydrant on South Main St. in front of the Municipal Light office was moved to facilitate the widening of South Main St., the one at Pratt, corner of Fairview, was moved across the street to a safer loca- tion, on High, opposite Vine, one was moved back to facilitate the widen- ing of High St., the one at North Main, corner Forest, was moved eighteen feet north to permit the rounding of the street corner. On North Main Street it was necessary to raise, and in some instances move back, eleven hydrants.
Four hydrants have been broken off by motor vehicles at the following places : One at corner of Minot St. and Center Ave., one in front of 18 Green St., one on Main Street, corner Federal, and one on Main St. opposite Charles St. and in each instance the town has been reimbursed by the one who caused the damage.
Sixty-four new house service taps were made during the year totaling three thousand, seven hundred and sixty feet, or an average length of fifty-nine feet per service. To make these connections it was necessary to extend the distribution mains as shown in the table. Several applications for water service have been received and will be installed as soon as conditions will permit.
To prevent the excavation of the new paved roadway on Salem St., five service taps were made and pipes laid to street line for possible future developments. In the new construction on High St. three service taps were made and pipe laid to street line for future possible develop- ments.
Meters
One hundred and five new meters were added in 1931. All were carefully tested by our Meter Department before being placed in service. Two hundred and eighty-three old meters, which had been in service for many years, were taken out, repaired, cleaned and tested. Although there were about fourteen different makes of meters, 98 per cent were found to be in first class condition.
During the year the normal amount of repairs were made on house services such as repairing pipes through cellar walls, new shut offs and clearing service boxes that had become filled up with roots, etc. On North Main Street every gate box, both mains and house serv- ice, have been inspected and put in first class condition.
160
1931 Main Water Pipe Extension
Street
16"
12"
10"
8"
6"
11/4"
Total
California Rd.
178.0
178.0
Grove St.
2899.7
2899.7
High St.
20.0
20.0
Lee St.
118.0
118.0
Lewis St.
190.0
190.0
Main St.
375.0
375.0
Private way to
New P. S. 1244.0
1244.0
Pearl St.
110.0
110.0
Pinevale Ave.
257.0
257.0
Prescott St.
697.5
697.5
Smith Ave.
476.5
476.5
Suction Lines
116.0
116.0
Line "A"
300.0
320.0
275.
895.0
Line "B"
270.0
320.0
300.0
890.0
Van Norden Road
222.0
222.0
Virginia Road
113.0
125.0
238.0
Winthrop Ave.
346.0
346.0
Woodbine St.
88.0
88.0
Totals
116.0
4713.7
640.0
575.0
2993.0
323.0
9360.7
Development of Reading Water Supply
At an adjourned special town meeting held November 9, 1889, for the purpose of electing a board of Water Commissioners to act for the town in securing a source of water supply to be used by the Town for domestic and fire purposes, the following men were chosen : Lewis M. Bancroft, George E. Abbott, and Edward C. Nichols. Prev- ious to the appointment of this Board of Water Commissioners several other committees had been appointed to investigate the matter of water supply, and tests were made in various sections of the town for suit- able water supply.
Several sources of supply had been suggested, such as by ar- rangement with the Town of Woburn connecting with their water mains, by contract with the Wakefield Water Company for a supply from Wakefield Lake, also from Martin's Pond in North Reading, Swan Pond, Sandy Pond, or from wells or springs within the limits of Read- ing, the following localities being considered: Cedar Swamp, Birch Meadow, Bancroft Meadow, One Hundred Acre Meadow, Cummings' Spring, the swamp land bordering Lake Quannapowitt, and the Ips- wich River on Mill St. known locally as Lobbs Pond Mills.
161
As the last named location offered the most satisfactory source of supply (tests having been made in several places) it was determined to drill wells and erect a pumping station on the south banks of the Ipswich River at Mill Street. Mr. M. M. Tidd, C. E. of Boston, Mass., was employed to plan and install the system of water works. Mr. Tidd immediately commenced operation and prepared specifications for cast-iron pipe, pipe laying, gates and hydrants, stand-pipe, pumping station, pumping machinery, filter gallery, and wells. Proposals for the building or supplying of these items were received by the Board of Water Commissioners and contracts awarded after careful con- sideration.
In September, 1890, Mr. Lewis M. Bancroft was elected Superin- tendent of the Water Department, and in January, 1891, Mr. Frank F. Strout was appointed engineer in charge of the pumping station, and continued in that capacity until December 7, 1931. At that time he was put in charge of the new station in One Hundred Acre Meadow.
In 1893 a disagreeable odor was manifested in the water, and it was found on analysis by the State Board of Health to contain a con- siderable amount of iron. To correct these conditions a system of water filtration was installed, a dam which blocked the flow of water in the river removed, and a dike, running parallel with the river, and forming a barrier against the overflow of the river during the flood seasons was built, protecting the filter bed which was installed in the meadow west of the pumping station. The water from this filter, after being pumped to an aerating basin, is delivered through 'a hop- per at one end of the basin, and as it rises meets the descending supply of milk of lime. On receiving the lime it passes into the aerating basin proper, which is so divided by partitions as to cause the water to travel back and forth four times before passing over the final weir and entering the settling basins below. This method proved so satis- factory as to excite favorable comment from the Engineering Maga- zine, which contained an account of this project, in January, 1897.
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.