USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Reading > Town of Reading Massachusetts annual report 1931 > Part 14
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
In 1897 a dwelling house was constructed adjacent to the pump- ing station and was occupied at once by Mr. Strout. In 1889 a lime house containing an apparatus for automatically feeding lime into the water aerator was constructed, thus doing away with hand feeding of lime. In 1910, after an intensive research and numerous experiments carried on by Mr. R. L. Weston, a new water filtration system was installed consisting of three rectangular concrete tanks to hold the filtering material, an electric power pump, and an air compressor and rotary pump for the purpose of cleaning the filter tanks, this machinery being powered by electricity.
In 1914 it was deemed advisable to run the water main on South Main St. to the Stoneham line, making it possible, in event of emer- gency, to connect with the Stoneham system. Since there has been no.
162
increase in the supply of water since the installation of the water works system, and the consumption had increased more than 100,000 gallons per day, it was felt at this time that an additional supply should be acquired. To this end Mr. R. L. Weston was again engaged by the Town, with the result that a well 267 feet deep, and eight inches in diameter was drilled near the pumping station in 1915. This water flowed freely from the pipe at the rate of 800 gallons per day, analyses proving it very desirable, soft water, with very little iron. A deep well pump was installed and the water pumped directly into the clear water well, greatly improving the quality of the water supply. In 1917 five more deep wells were drilled, four of which proved satisfactory.
In 1923 it was stated by the State Board of Health that the water which was being used from the Ipswich River was not suitable for consumption, and a new source of supply should be found as soon as practicable. At this time about 60 per cent of the supply of water consumed was taken from the filter gallery, the other 40 per cent being taken from the deep or Artesian wells.
Mr. F. A. Barbour, Consulting Engineer of Boston, was employed by the Town to make investigation for an additional water supply. After making a thorough survey of all possible sources he recommended the Metropolitan System as the only solution, at a rate to the Town of $108 per million gallons consumed. Also in 1927 the Town of Wilming- ton offered a rate of $100 per million gallons, but as it was estimated that the interest on our pipe investment would cost $30 per million gallons more, these offers were not accepted, and in 1929 an important addition to the pumping station was made with the installation of a machine for adding chlorine to the water. This chlorinator elimi- nates all danger of pollution.
In 1930 the firm of Metcalf & Eddy were engaged to drive test wells in Bare Meadow and Hundred Acre Meadows as a possible source of supply. The wells driven in Bare Meadow proved unsatis- factory, the stratum and texture of sub-grades making the wells driven useless, and after driving nine wells in this area no further attempts were made to acquire a source of water supply from this section. As our annual report for 1930 contained the full details of this firm's ex- plorations further discourse on the subject is superfluous.
Driving operations were begun in Hundred Acre Meadow begin- ning at the Wilmington line. A series of sixteen wells were driven at widely separated points throughout the meadow. The wells proved that this territory was well suited for the development of a ground water supply, although it was felt that before this area was further de- veloped more definite information should be obtained by a continuous pumping test. Such a test was started June 10, and continued until August 1, 1931. During this test, analysis of the water was made and
163
found to contain no iron. The results of the test proved very satisfac- tory.
On October 31, 1930 the firm of Weston & Sampson, consulting engineers of Boston, Mass. were employed by the Board of Public Works to make a careful study of conditions in Hundred Acre Meadow relative to a future water supply from this area, and to report in detail and cost of creating a building, furnishing equipment, driving and con- necting wells, ctc. As these details were also contained in our 1930 Town report, further explanation is unnecessary at this time. After receivng from the engneers and the State Board of Health favorable reports as to the quality and generous supply of water from this area, the Board of Public Works accepted these reports and had an article inserted in the Town warrant of March 2, 1931 to raise and appropri- ate the sum of $50,000 for the development of the water supply.
Construction of New Water Supply
Early in March 1931, the construction of a twelve inch water main was begun from the corner of Grove and Franklin Streets, up Grove St. to the new pumping station. A total length of 4,143.9 feet of 12" pipe was laid, and four hydrants set. From a point on Grove Street at the intersection of a private lane leading through the prop- erties of Meadow Brook Golf Club and S. H. Carroll, the pipe was laid through a stretch of woodland, later a gravel roadway was built by the Highway Department following the line of the pipe to the station ; all work being done by Town labor. The Pumping Station is located at the westerly end of a gravel knoll near the edge of the meadow and quite central with respect to the well field.
The contract for the building of the station was awarded to A. P. Rounds, contractor of Stoneham, Mass., and for the sum of seven thousand five hundred fifty-three and 73-100 ($7,553.73) dol- lars. Owing to the location of the structure and the wet spring, great difficulty was encountered by the builder from the start. The floor of the station is at elevation 87 or five feet below the ground water level. This depth is made neessary, as in a driven well water supply system, the lowering of the pumps is essential to reduce the suction lift. The building itself is 35 x 26 feet inside dimensions. The lower walls and floor are of water-tight concrete, with one sump well pro- vided in the floor; the concrete wall being 7.5 feet below finished grade. The walls are of red brick, the roof is of slate, making a fire- proof building which is essential owing to the isolation of the station.
The Turbine Equipment Company of New England was award- ed the contract for the complete installation of the pumping equip- ment for the sum of seven thousand, eight hundred ninety-eight ($7,898.00) dollars.
164
R. W. Totten, Reading, Mass., was awarded the heating con- tract consisting of one 1-716 Richardson and Boynton hot water sec- tional boiler and Williams Automatic oil burner for the sum of eight hundred thirty-five and 22-100 ($835.22) dollars.
Clapp and Leach, Inc., Reading, Mass., was awarded the con- tract for the electric wiring and fixtures for the sum of two hundred and eight ($208.00) dollars.
S. B. Hamilton was awarded the contract to drive twenty-five additional wells also to make all connections to the suction main in- cluding the ten wells previously driven. Each individual well was con- nected to the cast iron suction mains leading to the pumping station by means of a special "2 1-2" Wye branch, gate valve, lead goose neck and wrought iron piping.
A special meeting of the Board held August 10, 1931 for the purpose of laying cast iron suction mains, only two bids were re- ceived. The lowest bid was for $5,400. At my suggestion to the Board, made because of the unemployment situation, that this work could be handled entirely by town labor, with very little expense in regards to extra equipment and at a cost a great deal lower than bids received, the Board voted that the work be accomplished in this manner.
The suction main from the pumping station to the well field is 16" in diameter, 110' in length. Placed on the end of this line is a cross 16" x 16" x 12" where the two branch lines connect. Line A runs in a south westerly direction and consists of the following: 300' 'of 12", 320' of 10", 275' of 8", sixteen wells being connected. Line B running in a north easterly direction consists of the following : 270' of 12," 320' of 10" and 300' of 8," seventeen wells being connected. These suction mains allow a total capacity without excessive friction of at least two million gallons in twenty-four hours.
The character of the underlying soil in this area which was composed of fine sand and water made the construction of the suc- tion lines a very difficult undertaking. Owing to the depth of the trench and the water level being only 6 inches below the surface of the ground, pumps were in constant operation day and night un- til this project was completed, and the entire cost was under 60 per cent of the lowest bid received.
With a good water supply in this vicinity, additional driven wells can be provided from time to time as necessary to meet the increased consumption.
The Town is very fortunate in being able to secure this valu- able area for its future water supply.
The following gives the pumping heads at various rates of pumping with the present distribution piping and with a new 12"" main from Franklin St. to the center of the Town.
New Pumping Station in Hundred Acre Meadow.
---------
----------
----
-----
165
The static pumping head assumes a full stand-pipe and the ground water at the wells lowered 12 ft. At the present time the average level of the water in the standpipe is about 9 ft. below the top and the level of the ground water has been lowered but little.
These heads are also based on the friction obtained in the new 12" force main from the pumping station to Franklin St. Fric- tions will increase with corrosion until in 20 years the pumping heads will be several feet greater.
Rate of
Static pump- ing head
Pipe Friction (feet)
Present Total Pumping Head piping (feet) New 12" main (fect)
200
227
6
233
230
300
"
13
240
234
400
23
250
237
500
36
263
241
600
52
279
245
700
"
70
297
250
800
91
318
260
900
114
341
271
1000
,,
139
366
282
1100
170
397
293
New Pumping Station
The new station which takes its supply from driven tube wells is quite unique in its design and operation. The water is pumped by means of motor driven centrifugal pumps, an unusual feature, as most of the older driven well stations use costly slow speed plunger pumps in view of the quantity of air usually drawn from driven wells with the water.
The equipment includes a sand chamber 6 ft. in diameter x 10 ft. high, the top section of which is divided off to form a vacuum tank. Two motor driven Nash vacuum pumps are automatically controlled by vacuum switches and through a series of air traps, or valves, remove all the air from the entering water and maintain a constant water level in the sand chamber so that this water flows into the pumps and keeps the main pumps primed at all times.
The pumps consist of one 75 HP two-stage De Laval centrifugal pump with direct connected electric motor, and one 125 HP De Laval pump with direct connected motor. Each of these is designed to pump for the present 525 G. P. M., although they will pump considerably more than this contract amount, if desired.
The driving motors and the pumps are large enough so that at some later date by an inexpensive change to the pump runners, or impellers, the smaller pump can deliver 700 G. P. M. and the larger pump 1,050 G. P. M. against the full pumping head.
Pumping
(G. P. M.)
(feet)
166
The switchboard was built by the Sundh Electric Company and is of the full automatic type, the two main pumps and the vacuum pumps starting and stopping automatically, depending upon the level 'in the standpipe and the degree of vacuum in the vacuum tank.
The entire installation : pumps, motors, sand chamber, piping, wiring, etc., was done by the Turbine Equipment Company of New England.
HIGHWAY DEPARTMENT
To the Board of Public Works :
Gentlemen :
The following is the yearly report of the Highway Department. Appropriation and Balances.
Voted in March Town Meeting, 1931:
1. Highway Maintenance and Construction $ 44,000.00
4,000.00
3. Removal of Snow and Ice 3,000.00
4. Maintenance of Storm Drains
5. Sidewalk Construction
8,000.00
6. Development of Storm Water Drainage
14,000.00
7. Care of Dumps
600.00
8. Shackford Rd. Construction under Better- ment Act 400.00
9. Arthur D. Gordon Taking, Reading Sq. .. 380.00
$79,380.00
Unexpended Balances from Previous Appropriations :
10. 1930 Storm Water Drainage $ 156.19
11. Survey and Plans for Special Drainage .. . 312.51
468.70
Chapter 90-State & County Appro. for
Salem St. construction 8,000.00
Transferred to Snow & Ice Acct. from
Reserve Fund Aug. 1931 700.00
Total 1931 Appropriations and Balances Fwd. from 1930 $ 88,548.70
Expenditures and Balances of the above Appropriations :
1. Appro. for Maint. & Const. $44,000.00
Transferred from Shackford Rd. Acct. 318.24
Misc. Credit 2.16
Total
$44,320.40
2. Chapter 90-Salem St. Construction 5,000.00
167
Expended :
Pay Roll
$16,542.75
General Repairs
1,947.43
New Equipment
7,245.00
Road Material
10,192.21
Tools, Misc. Supplies, etc.
8,392.91
Total
$44,320.30
Balance Unexpended
$ .10
2. Chapter 90-Salem Street Construction Received from State and County
$ 4,000.00
8,000.00
Total
$ 12,000.00
Expended :
Pay Roll
$ 4,932.52
Road Material & Supplies
7,067.48
Total
12,000.00
Balance Unexpended
$ .00
3. Removal of Snow and Ice Transferred from Reserve Fund
$ 5,000.00
700.00
Total
$ 5,700.00
Expended :
Pay Roll
$ 4,159.25
Sidewalk Plowing
919.88
Repairs, Equipment & Supplies Total
5,699.93
Balance Unexpended
$ .07
4. Maintenance of Storm Drains
$ 3,000.00
Expended :
Pay Roll
$ 2,972.50
Bills
18.73
Total
2,991.23
Balance Unexpended $ 8.77
620.80
168
5. Sidewalk Construction
$ 8,000.00
Expended :
Pay . Roll
$ 4,534.95
Equipment
872.20
Supplies & Misc.
2,592.85
Total $ 8,000.00
Balance Unexpended
$ .00
6. Development of Storm Water Drainage $ 14.000.00
Balance Forward from 1930 . .
156.19
Total
$ 14,156.19
Expended :
Pay Roll
$ 6,168.36
Supplies
6,981.39
Total
13,149.75
Balance Unexpended
1,006.44
7. Care of Dumps
$ 600.00
Expended :
Pay Roll
$ 593.14
Total
593.14
Balance Unexpended
$ 6.86
8. Shackford Rd. Const. under Betterment Act
$ 400.00
Transferred to Highway Dept ...
318.24
Balance
$ 81.76
Expended :
Payroll
$ 223.66
Tarvia
176.34
Total
$ 400.00
Transferred to Highway Dept.
318.24
$ 81.76
Total
$ 81.76
Balance Unexpended
$ .00
169
9. Arthur D. Gordon Taking Reading Sq. $ 380.00 Expended :
Taking
$ 374.06
Total
374.06
Balance Unexpended $ 5.94
10. (See No. 6.)
11. Survey and Plans for Special Drainage- 1930 Balance Forward
$ 312.51
Expended :
Pay Roll
$ 205.01
Bills
35.00
Total
$ 240.01
Balance Unexpended
$ 72.50
Totals
Items
Appro. $44,320.40
Expend. $44,320.30
$ 10
2.
4,000.00
4,000.00
.00
3.
5,700.00
5,699.93
.07
4.
3,000.00
2,991.23
8.77
5.
8,000.00
8,000.00
.00
6. & 10.
14,156.19
13,149.75
1,006.44
1,006.44
7.
600.00
593.14
6.86
8.
81.76
81.76
.00
9.
380.00
374.06
5.94
11.
312.51
240.01
72.50
72.50
HIGHWAY DEPARTMENT
The work performed by the Highway Department this year con- sists of the following :
Snow and Ice, Maintenance, Construction, Drainage, Sidewalk and General work.
Snow and Ice. Our equipment this year was the best we have ever had. In the month of February when we had our heaviest snow storm there was not one machine put out of commission with the storm. They did fine work and within a few hours after the storm was over all streets and sidewalks were open to travel. Sidewalk snow plowing is a problem in itself. It is very hard to know when to call the men to duty because it costs about $150 every time the plows are called. After the plows have finished people walk in the streets instead of the sidewalks and this will continue until some other method has
Balances
Bal. Forward
1.
170
been discovered to remove snow from the sidewalks.
Maintenance
We continued the policy adopted by the Board of Public Works in 1930 by doing all work with town labor. By the carrying out of this program in all our departments we have saved money that would have gone to contractors. We have given employment to a large number of men, and much of the material used by the Board of Public Works was purchased locally. There have been at times 101 men on the Board of Public Works payroll per week.
The Spring of 1931 found our highways in very good condition. The general maintenance work was started as soon as the frost left the ground and was carried on through the summer. The work consisted of scarifying and grading where necessary, treating with Tarvia B or Liquid C Asphalt as' conditions permitted and covering with pea stone or screened sand. Pea stone was used in an endeavor to obtain a bet- ter wearing surface. The final results proved, however, that the sand we were able to get from our sand pit on Grove st. has a better wearing surface and could be purchased at a lower cost.
Materials used on maintenance work were 40,090 gallons Tarvia B covering an area of 151,000 square yards of street surface, 10,000 gallons Liquid C Asphalt covering an area of 52,000 square yards, mak- ing a total of 203,000 square yards.
For the general upkeep of our streets we have had to use 6,209 gallons of K. P requiring 411 tons of pea stone.
Special Town Meeting held December, 1930.
The following streets were accepted :
200 ft. on Hanscom Ave. from Hartshorn Street southerly,
165 ft. on Weston Road from Winthrop Ave., easterly,
205 ft. on Henzie St. from Grove, easterly,
200 ft. on Tower Road between Hanscom Ave. and Winthrop Ave.,
240 ft. on Longview Rd. from Palmer Hill, northerly,
308 ft. on Palmer Hill between West St. and Longview Rd.
Because these streets were accepted so late in the fall it was impossible to start work until spring of 1931. At that time these streets were graded, rolled and treated with Tarvia B comprising an area of 32,952 square yards.
March 9, 1931 Town Meeting.
The following streets were accepted :
321 ft. on Wells Road between Forest Glen Road and Irving St., 360 ft. on Pinevale Ave. from end of 1929 acceptance,
Area covered 1,818 square yards.
560 ft. on Shackford Road was accepted and improved under the Betterment Act. These streets were graded with gravel and rolled and treated with Tarvia B. The area covered was 1,493 square yards and cost $.11 per square yard.
171
Special August 10, 1931, Town Meeting.
It was voted to relocate corner of Summer Ave. and West Street This hair pin turn has been a hazard to traffic and there have been a great many accidents. By this relocation it has added 1,676 square feet of area to this traveled way.
The Town also voted on August 10th to relocate the corner of Lowell and High Sts. by having the electric car tracks removed and High Street resurfaced. This has aided travel greatly and allowed for a sidewalk to be used by the school children at this dangerous point.
There are also many dangerous curves on Franklin and Grove Street. The traffic on these streets has increased to the extent that these corners have become dangerous. I estimate that $3,000 would en- able the Highway Department to correct this bad condition, both on Franklin and Grove Street, and I strongly recommend that this work be taken care of as soon as possible.
Construction: The construction on Salem St. started this year at station 24+50 at Winter St. and running westerly to sation 51+ 50 at Harnden St. a distance of 2,700 ft. Width of finished surface was from 24 to 32 ft. This construction called for a gravel sub-base course of No. 1 trap rock rolled to 4" and bound with sand or stone dust, a top course of 2" of No. 1 trap rock penetrated with two gallons of asphalt per quare yard and sealed with 3/4 gallon per square yard and covered with pea stone, a total area of 9,094 square yards. This road should ac- commodate the increasing automobile traffic for many years.
Construction on High St.
Before construction could be started on High Street the elec- tric car tracks had to be removed. This work was done by the Eastern Massachusetts Street Railway Co. There were also three extra large elm trees removed by the tree warden.
A twenty-four foot roadway was built from Middlesex Ave. to Lowell St., a distance of 2,140 ft. The work consisted of scarifying the old roadway and pushing the material over where the old car tracks were, making a first class sub-base top course consisting of No 1 trap rock rolled to four inches, penetrated with two gallons of Texas As- phalt per square yard, and sealed with 34 gallon Bermudez per square yard. Altogether there were 6,038 square yards of hardened surface, at a cost of $.61 per square yard.
A new gravel sidewalk was built on the northerly side of High St. from Woodward Ave to Lowell St.
On May 24 the Eastern Massachusetts Street Railway Company replaced all electric cars operating in Reading with buses and aban- doned their car rails which were not removed. In an endeavor to economically and efficiently cover these tracks and make them safe for travel until money is available to build a more permanent surface, the tracks on John, Village, Washington and Lowell Streets were cov-
172
ered with gravel and treated with Tarvia B. Five hundred and eighty- eight cubic yards of gravel were used for this work and 1,280 gallons of Tarvia B. applied.
On May 15, 1931, a new fifteen ton gasoline driven road roller was purchased from the Buffalo Springfield Roller Co. The old twelve ton roller was accepted as part payment. After eight months of con- tinuous service we find the gasoline driven roller much more economical than the steam driven machine. It is much easier to handle does not re- quire a licensed engineer and is available at all times. Two employees of the Highway Department have been trained as roller men and have done very satisfactory work.
The cutting of corners by street traffic can only be prevented by the construction' of corner curbs. This work also adds greatly to the general appearance of street intersections. This past year corner curbs were installed at the following locations :
Highland and Locust 1
Mineral and High 1
Main and Chapin Ave. 1
Penn. Ave. and Virginia Ave. 4
The following list of street intersections will give an idea where corner curbs will be a benefit and the number needed at each inter- section :
Main and Federal St. 2
High and Dudley St.
2
Bancroft Ave. and Mt. Vernon St. 4
Mineral St. and Summer Ave. 4
Mineral St. and Hancock St. 2
2
Prescott St. and Pratt St.
2
Washington St. and Prescott St.
2
Avon St. and Ash St.
2
Prescott St. and Perkins Ave.
2
Vine St. and Woodward Ave.
1
Prescott St. and Hillcrest Rd.
2
Oak St. and Hillcrest Rd.
4
Howard St. and West St.
2
Hopkins St. and Main St.
4
Hillcrest Rd. and Howard St.
Prescott St. and Arlington St.
1
Elliott St. and Haven St.
2
Grand St. and Middlesex St. 4
765 ft. of straight granite curb stone has been set in front of property at the request of property owners, they paying one-half the cost.
1
Bancroft Ave. and Woburn St.
173
Curbing Installed 1931
Name Location
Feet
Returns
Mabel H. Lewis, 22 Ash St.
40.90
Marion C. Rich, 22 Berkeley St. 66.20
2
Editha Merritt, 1 Dudley St.
54.80
2
Edith L. Ralston, 1-A Dudley St.
45.00
2
Harry H. and Maude Johnson
3 Dudley St.
58.40
2
Lucy W. Horton, 5 Dudley St.
58.70
2
William T. Pollitz, 7 Dudley St.
57.00
2
John O. Leighton, 13 Dudley St.
60.50
Eleanora G. Day, 18 Dudley St.
60.50
Reading Realty Trust, Penn. Ave. 176.00
James P. Carleton, 179 Summer Ave. 65.00
2
Reading Realty Trust Lot No. 10 Virginia Rd.
60.00
2
Lucy C. Danforth 33 Woburn St. 48.60
2
851.60
18
Street
Curbing Reset 1931 Reset Curb-feet New Curb-feet
Returns
Salem
233.0
12.7
Main
189.3
204.1
3
Washington
238.6
Berkeley and Woburn
34.0
Mineral and Vine
141.7
20.2
Mineral and High
62.1
1
Highland and Locust
19.7
Middlesex and Deering
40.0
Ash
52.6
1
Pleasant
71.7
2
Totals
1113.0
269.9
12
Bound Stone
Bound Stones have been set to establish the line of the streets as required by law :
71 on Haverhill St.
2 on Pratt and Vista Ave.
3 on Hancock St. and Glen Rd.
3 on High and Lowell St.
3 on Temple and Woburn St.
5 on Pinevale Ave.
1 Reset on West and Howard St.
13.2
Mineral
174
1931 Sidewalk Construction Granolithic
Street
Length
Width
Sq. Yds.
Berkeley
802.53
4.5
456.07
Deering
284.75
4.5
153.86
High
90.10
5.0
54.83
Highland
81.39
4.5
46.79
Middlesex Ave.
76.50
4.5
41.71
Mineral St.
562.67
4.5
307.91
Main St.
37.35
9.5
41.40
Vine St.
293.73
4.5
152.76
Wenda St.
338.52
4.5
172.55
Woburn St.
272.50
4.5
169.35
Total
2,840.04
5.05
1596.99
Ellis Ave.
43.88
Washington-Ash-Woburn
327.00
Salem St.
310.00
630.33
Stone Dust 770 Tons Stonedust at 24 sq. yds. to ton equal 18,480 sq. yds.
1931 Storm Water Drainage Program advanced as follows:
The Town raised and appropriated through Article 23 at the March Town meeting, $14,000 for the further development of our storm water drainage system. The following table will illustrate the work that has been accomplished :
C.
M.
Size
Lgth.
B.
H.
Hanscom Ave. from Lowell St. Northerly
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.