USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Reading > Town of Reading Massachusetts annual report 1933 > Part 6
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
As is the custom, every hydrant in town was inspected and, if any defects were found, put in first-class mechanical condition. Only three hydrants were broken by automobiles during the year, a number far below the average, and this is thought to be due in part to the im- proved visibility, caused by the new red and white color of the hy- drants. The broken hydrants were located as follows: Lowell St., near Barrows Rd., Walnut St., corner Hopkins St., and Forest St., corner Colburn Road. In the first two named, the Town has received payment from the owners of cars involved; the one on Forest St., apparently struck by a "hit-and-run" driver, remains unpaid.
Nine new hydrants were set in 1933, viz: one on Main St., East side, south of Nelson Ave .; one on South St., North side, west of no. 123; one on Haverhill St., East side, north of Rivers Rd .; one on
72
Haverhill St., West side, south of Validos; one on Wakefield St., North side, opposite Jones'; one on Winthrop Ave., East side, corner Hartshorn St .; one on Winthrop Ave., East side, corner Tower Rd .; one on Brook St., North side, corner Summer Ave .; and one on Third St., East side, corner of North St. There are now 273 hydrants, public and private, in use in Reading.
Due to the widening of Haverhill St., the hydrant in front of No. 386 Haverhill St. was moved back 6 ft .; and the hydrant on Summer Ave. in front of No. 412 was removed and a new gated hydrant set in its place, tapped from the new twelve inch main, to insure better pres- sure.
Thirty new house service taps were made during the year totaling 2,500.9 ft., or an average length of 83.36 ft. per service. A six inch service was laid in Chapin Ave. to the Reading Chronicle Office for a sprinkler system. Cellar shut-offs to the number of 55 were installed on old services, and on 42 services it, was necessary to repair the pipes at the cellar walls.
Forty new meters were added ,during the year, and 309 meters were removed from service, repaired, cleaned, tested, and set back. During the record breaking cold wave from December 27 to January 1, 58 meters were frozen and had to be removed and repaired. Dur- ing this cold wave three crews of repair men were kept busy thawing out frozen pipes, shutting off water, removing frozen meters, etc. In all, 96 telphones calls were received during the three coldest days. As itwas physically impossible to get to each house as the call was re- ceived, they were taken in turn, with preference given to those that were leaking badly.
The Auburn St. Standpipe, which had not been cleaned since 1927, was cleaned 'early in December. In order that consumers would not be inconvenienced by having the water shut off while the cleaning was in progress, the following system was evolved: The Bear Hill Standpipe' was filled and shut off from the mains, and held in reserve. The entire Town was then fed during the day by the Auburn St. Standpipe, with the pumps running at short intervals, and at 10 'p. m. the Auburn St. Standpipe was cut off and the Bear Hill Standpipe cut in to the system. Hydrants on Auburn St. and Chestnut Rd. were then opened and the standpipe drained, carefully cleaned and washed out. The gates were then opened and the standpipe was filled, no in- convenience having been caused the consumers by the work mentioned.
Two nights later eighteen hydrants in outlying sections of the town and on dead ends were opened and left running for 2 1-2 hours, in order that the entire system should get a thorough flushing out. That this cleaning and flushing was highly successful is proven by the fact that .no complaints of bad water have been received since this work was accomplished.
73
Hundred Acre Meadow Pumping Station has operated during the year in a highly satisfactory manner. A total pumping of 171,847,300 gallons was recorded by the Venturi Meter, being an increase of 10,- 237,800 gallons over 1932. A table included in this report shows the yearly pumpage for the last ten years, with a comparison of the cost of pumping per million gallons, figured on total maintenance of the Department plus interest on bonds.
One new suction line was completed in 1933 and one partly com- pleted. The completed line, Line E, consists of 343 ft. of 8" Cast Iron Suction Main, and nine 2 1-2" driven wells, of an average depth of 36 ft. Previous to 1933, the wells were driven by a contractor. In 1933, however, it was felt that all money spent for labor should be paid to Reading citizens, and that the wells could be driven by the Water Department. This was done and excellent results were ob- tained. As the department had no well driving rig, it was necessary to make one. A chassis with wide iron wheels was procured and a LeRoi gas engine mounted on it. A niggerhead was then attached to the engine, a driving hammer procured, and a tripod made of pipe. The wells were then driven and all proved to be free flowing, yielding 50 gallons per minute per well, and of excellent quality. Not only were the wells in every respect as good in workmanship as those previously installed, but a substantial saving made in cost per well, be- sides giving work to men from the Welfare Department.
The cost per well, including cost of suction main, was found to be $141.37, as against a former charge, when put in under contract of approximately $300.00 per well.
Line F was next started and 11 wells driven. The trench for the suction main had been nearly completed when the record-breaking rainfall of September, of 9.97 inches, put a stop to operations in Hun- dred Acre Meadow by completely flooding the meadow and filling the suction main ditch to overflowing. The wells on Line F average 35.9 feet in depth and are apparently in one of the best fields of water yet tapped.
The old Pumping Station on Mill Street has been held in readi- ness for possible emergencies through the year, but has pumped no water into the distributing system.
I submit at this time the following recommendations for 1934:
Installation of a twelve inch water main on Ash Street from pre- sent twelve inch on Brook Street to new twelve inch main on Main Street at Railroad Crossing, as mentioned earlier in this report.
Construction of a six inch main on Pearl Street from Franklin Street 850 ft. southerly, to eliminate two dead ends, and for added fire protection by installation of a hydrant. Many complaints have been received from residents of this section.
74
Construction of a six inch main on Summer Avenue from Wood- bine St. to Willow St. to eliminate a dead end, and to aid in the dis- tributing system.
Construction of a six inch main from Salem St. over Wilson St. to Ide St., up Ide St. to the corner of Gardner Road. A petition is on file from residents of this locality for a 'hydrant at the intersection of Ide St .- and Gardner Road., and, as this entire district is supplied with only 1 1-4 inch mains, it is necessary to install the six inch main as recommended, before a hydrant can be set.
A new truck should be purchased for the Water Department and the present Water Department truck turned over to the Sewer Department. The present Sewer Department truck was purchased in 1928, and requires constant repairs to keep it in operation. The top has had to be removed and the cab is very insecure.
In some sections of Reading, house services have been in for over forty years, and in the event of leaks in said services, which oc- cur frequently, difficulty is often encountered in locating the breaks. With this in mind, I would recommend the purchase of an electric leak locater, which is an instrument designed to accurately find a break in water pipes, manufactured by the Globe Earphone Co., a local firm.
WATER DEPARTMENT 1933 MAIN WATER PIPE EXTENSION
Streets
16 inch
12 inch
10 inch
8 inch
6 inch
1 1/4 inch
Total
Grove St. .
3,666.6
3666.6
Nelson Ave.
384.0
384.0
Main St ..
140.0
140.0
South St.
1,285.1
1285.1
Haverhill St ..
2,076.5
2076.5
Winthrop Ave.
65.0
65.0
Chestnut Rd.
85.0
85.0
Hunt St ..
101.0
101.0
Winthrop Ave.
703.4
703.4
Chapin Ave.
122.2
122.2
Longview Rd.
360.0
360.0
Irving Rd ..
170.0
170.0
Brook St ..
600.0
600.0
Summer Ave ..
1050.0
1050.0
Third St.
1158.0
1158.0
Suction Line "E"
343.0
343.0
Totals
6474.60
343.0
4752.20
740.0
12,309.8
75
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.
1. Highway Maintenance Construction $ 25,000.00
2. Chapter 90-Haverhill Street 8,000.00
3. Removal of Snow and Ice 3,500.00
4. Maintenance of Storm Drains 2,000.00
5. Sidewalk Construction 2,000.00
6. Development of Storm Wtr. Drainage 4,000.00
7. Care of Dumps 500.00
$ 45,000.00
Unexpended Balances from Previous Appro- priations :
8. 1932 Storm Water Drainage $ 131.47
9. Survey and Plans for Spec. Drainage . 72.50
10. Const. of Fair Road 713.89
$ 917.86
Received from State and County-Chapter 90 Transfer to Snow and Ice Account 653.36
$ 16,000.00
Total 1933 Appropriations and Bal. Forward from 1932 $ 62,571.22
EXPENDITURES AND BALANCES OF THE ABOVE APROPRIATIONS
1. Appro. for Maint and Const.
$ 25,000.00
Transfer for Const. of Weston Road $ 337.02
Transfer for Const. of Chestnut Road 1,130.48
Total Transfer
1,467.50
Balance Appro.
$ 23,532.50
Expended
23,434.87
Balance
$ 97.63
(1A) Const. of Weston Road Drainage under
Betterment Act
Transfer from Highway Department
$ 337.02
Expended
337.02
Balance .00
76
(1B) Construct. of Chestnut Road under Bet- terment Act
Transfer from Highway Department Expended
$ 1,130.48
961.37
Balance
$ 169.11
2. Chapter 90-Haverhill St.
$ 8,000.00
Received from State and County
16,000.00
Total
$ 24,000.00
Expended :
Pay Roll
$ 11,800.49
Drainage Supplies
2,716.06
Equipment Rental
2,040.25
Hauling Gravel
1,143.57
Misc. Supplies and Tools
4,873.32
Total
$ 22,573.69
Balance Unexpended
$ 1,426.31
Removal of Snow and Ice
$ 3,500.00
Transfer
653.36
Total
$ 4,153.36
Expended
4,153.36
Balance
.00
4. Maintenance of Storm Drains Expended
1,949.91
Balance
$ 50.09
5. Sidewalk Construction Expended
$ 2,000.00
1,869.76
Balance
$ 130.24
6. Development of Storm Water Drainage
$ 4,000.00
8. Balance Forward from 1932
131.47
Total
$ 4,131.47
Expended
3,527.78
Balance
$ 603.69
7. Care of Dumps
$ 500.00
Expended
. 496.53
Balance
$ 3.47
77
$ 2,000.00
3.
8. (See No 6.)
9. Survey and Plans for Special Drainage :
1932 Balance Forward
$ 72.50
Expended
24.01
Balance
48.49
10. Const. of Fair Road under the Betterment Act
1932 Balance Forward
$ 713.89
Expended
377.05
Balance
$ 336.84
Totals
Items
Forward
1
$
Appro. 25,000.00
$
Expend. 24,733.26 22,573.69
$
Balances 266.74 1,426.31
$ 1,426.31
3
4,153.36
4,153.36
.00
4
2,000.00
1,949.91
50.09
5
2,000.00
1,869.76
130.24
6 and 8
4,131.47
3,527.78
603.69
603.69
7
500.00
496.53
3.47
9
72.50
24.01
48.49
48.49
10
713.89
377.05
336.84
HIGHWAY DEPARTMENT
The usual routine work has been carried on by the Highway De- partment during 1933, and a brief description of the various tasks in- volved follows :
Snow and Ice Removal: A complete overhauling of all snow plow- ing equipment was accomplished in the early fall. New runners, shafts, and other worn or weakened parts were replaced and all snow plows put in first class condition. Some changes were made in the routes and each driver supplied with a map of his route. The personnel of the Highway Department were on call at all times during snow storms and handled every snowfall in a very efficient manner. Sand was applied liberally and promptly on streets and sidewalks when icy con- ditions warranted.
A plow was purchased and attached to the air-compressor truck, a 1 1-2 ton Ford. By so doing a valuable addition was made to our snow removal equipment.
Due to the large gravel construction job on Haverhill Street, which kept all. of the Highway trucks busy until late in December, the sand which is generally stored in sand bins at the Highway Barn for winter use on streets and sidewalks was not put in. This resulted in a
78
2
24,000.00
serious shortage of screened sand, which was overcome by the ac- ceptance of a C. W. A. Project, which employed 28 men in stripping the gravel pit on Grove Street and screening a large quantity of fine sand. It has been necessary several times during the winter for all Highway and Sewer Department trucks to be called upon to sand streets and sidewalks.
Much labor has been available from the unemployed on the lists of the Board of Public Welfare, and this labor has been utilized ex- tensively on maintenance work. During rush periods they have in some instances been used as truck and tractor operato.s, supervisors, etc., relieving regular employees for other work. Others, w':o are mech- anics, have repaired and rebuilt our equipment.
The Spring of 1933 found our highways in fair condition. Gen- eral maintenance work was started as early as weather conditions pemitted, and carried on throughout the year. Wherever it was necessary, the roadways were scarified, graded, rolled, and treated with Tarvia B. Washington Street, from Main to Village Streets was in poor condition due to the laying of a six inch water main by the Water Department, and the dangerous condition of the car tracks. The car tracks were removed, graded with gravel, and the roadway scarified and treated with Tarvia B.
Middlesex Avenue, from Lowell Street to High Street, was in very poor repair, many complaints having been received from resi- dents of that section. The car rails and ties. were removed, the top coating of the roadway in the immediate vicinity of the rail-bed scraped away, and the resulting excavation filled with gravel and rolled. The salvaged top coat of stone was then put back on top, rolled and treated with Tarvia B. The result was excellent, and attained at a low cost.
The car tracks and ties on John St., from Wakefield Line to Vil- lage Street, on Village Street from John to Haven, on Haven Street from Village to Parker, and on Parker Street from Haven to Pleasant Street were removed, the surface graded with gravel, rolled, and treated with Tarvia B. On Lowell Street, from Grove Street to the Wilmington Line, and at the intersection of Washington, Minot and Lincoln Streets, the car rails were removed and graded with gravel. Tarvia B will be applied when conditions permit.
Tarvia B, to the extent of 39,856 gallons, was used for street main- tenance work, covering an area of 159,424 square yards of highway surface. For the general upkeep of our streets we have used 3,975 gallons of Tarvia K. P. and 72.55 tons of Pea Stone. As a whole, I consider our highways to be in very fair repair, considering that most of them are only of gravel construction treated with Tarvia B.
At the Annual Town Meeting, March 13, 1933, the following pri- vate ways were accepted as Public Ways: Intervale Terrace, from I.owell St. 588.39 feet Easterly; Weston Road, accepted under Bet-
79
terment Act, from Longfellow Rd. 324 feet Easterly; Chestnut Road, formerly Park Street, accepted under Betterment Act, from Auburn Street 732.63 feet Northerly.
Work on Weston Road, authorized under General Laws, Chapter 83, Section 26, consisted mainly of the installation of 259 feet of 15" Plain Concrete Pipe, 28 feet of 18" R. E. Pipe, and three Catch Basins. Weston Road had been put in excellent shape and sealed with Tarvia B by the Homestead Realty Trust, real estate developers of this section, but lack of drains had caused deep gullies to be washed in the roadway. An easement was obtained from the owner of land lying between the end of Weston Road and Chestnut Road, and a 15" drain installed. After the drain was installed in Weston Road, the gutters and road were graded with gravel and sealed with Tarvia B. Assessments to abutters were .76 per foot frontage.
Chestnut Road, also accepted under the Betterment Act, pre- sented an excavating and grading problem, and required installation of a short stretch of storm water drain. The excavation was made by a steam shovel rather than hand labor, in the interests of keeping frontage assessments low. The drain, 150 feet of 15" Plain Concrete Pipe and 30 feet of 12" Plain Concrete Pipe with two Catch Basins, was connected with the easement drain previously mentioned. The roadway was then leveled and graded with gravel, rolled, and treated with Tarvia B. The frontage assessment on Chestnut Road was .51 per foot.
Intervale Terrace, already brought to the Board of Survey grades by the petitioners for acceptance, was smoothed with the road ma- chine and graded with gravel before being treated with Tarvia B.
At the request of the Planning Board the names of two streets whose names might be confused with those of other streets, were changed. Park Street was changed to Chestnut Road, and Fair Road to Torre Street. Other streets whose names conflict in pronunciation will be changed from time to time as necessary. Before the name of a Public Way can be changed, notice must be given in the Reading Chronicle that it is the intent of the Board of Public Works so to do, and a public hearing held. If no objections are raised, the Board is then authorized to change the name of the street in question.
At the Annual Town Meeting held March 13, under Article 21, the sum of $8,000.00 was raised and appropriated for the purpose of repairing, improving, and constructing Haverhill Street, from Bay State Road to the North Reading Line, under Section 34, Chapter 90, General Laws, with the State and County each contributing a like amount, at a total cost estimated by the State Department of Public Works of $24,000.00. Haverhill Street construction was recommended
80
by the Finance Committee as a means of relieving the Welfare De- partment, as the work was done mainly with Welfare labor, super- vised by regular employees of the Highway Department. This supposi- tion proved correct, as no outside help was employed with the ex- ception of trucks, a tractor, steam shovel, and roller.
Laborers on Haverhill St. were paid forty cents per hour, twenty- four hours per week, during the greater part of the construction period. Later on it was necessary to cut the rate per hour to thirty cents.
As the roadway was widened as well as straightened and relocated in certain places, many feet of stonewall had to be moved back and rebuilt. Drainage, to the extent of 3,159 feet of drain pipe of various sizes, sixteen catch basins and eight man-holes were installed .
It was the intention of the Board of Public Works to do all work on Haverhill Street by hand labor. But on account of the State Dept. of Public Works being so late in completing their budget and our time for construction being limited, we had to employ the following ma- chinery.
Steam shovels were employed in roadway earth excavation, and several trucks, owned locally, of the 2 cubic yard capacity type, were engaged to supplement the Highway Dept. trucks in hauling gravel filling. It was also necessay to hire a gasoline roller and a' tractor. A steam shovel and a gasoline loader were employed in the pits loading trucks.
At the point where Dead River goes under Haverhill St. a rein- forced concrete culvert six feet wide, four feet high, thirty-nine and nine-tenths feet long with head walls nineteen and four-tenths feet long was constructed.
After being carefully graded with gravel and rolled to a hard gravel finish, a priming coat and a seal coat of Tarvia B were ap- plied, resulting in a hard, smooth surface. In later years a more permanent type of construction can be built on this surface.
As early in the Spring as weather conditions permitted, Grano- lithic Sidewalk construction was carried on. Several applications for granolithic sidewalks which were received too late in 1932 for in- stallation were taken care of, as well as several new applications. The new metal forms purchased in 1932 were used for the first time and found to be a great improvement over the old method of using wood timbers. A total of 632.53 sq. yards of granolithic sidewalks were laid, upon application by fourteen owners of abutting property, eleven being installed under the provisions of the Betterment Act and three as cash propositions. The following table shows the location, frontage, etc. of 1933 granolithic sidewalk construction :
81
Granolithic Sidewalk Construction By Streets-1933
Street
Frontage
Sq. Yards
Grand Street
130.00
81.07
Green Street
145.00
82.00
John Street
80.80
37.78
Middlesex Avenue
200.60
126.88
Pearl Street
440.00
251.22
Ridge Road
100.00
53.58
Totals
1096.40
632.53
Stone Dust
Stone dust to the amount of 68.45 tons was used to cover 1668 sq. yards of sidewalk surface.
Tarvia B Sidewalks
Tarvia B sidewalk construction was somewhat curtailed due to lack of funds, 795 gallons being used to cover 1080 sq. yds. of sidewalk surface.
Gravel Sidewalks
Welfare labor was used during the early Spring by the building of gravel sidewalks in places where no sidewalks existed, a total length of 5,634 feet being built, comprising 3,298.5 sq. yds. Eventually these gravel : ider. alks will be treated with Tarvia B.
Street Signs Installed
Street signs were installed where necessary to replace broken signs, streets which had been accepted as Public Ways during the year, and on the two streets whose names were changed. Sixteen metal signs and three wood signs were used. A C. W. A. project put two expert sign painters to work repainting and lettering street signs, and many signs have thus been renewed.
Stone Bounds
Stone Bounds have been set to establish the street lines, as re- quired by law, on Grove Street, near the Meadow Brook Golf Club, defining the relocation of 1932, four bounds being set; and on Torre Street, formerly Fair Road, and accepted under the Betterment Act in 1932, where five bounds were set.
Curbing Installed
No curbing was installed under the Betterment Act in 1933, no applications having been received. Forty-one (41.0) feet of radius curbing were set, and 79.6 feet of old curbing reset.
82
Storm Water Drainage
Improved Storm Water Drainage to the extent of 5421 feet was added to the drainage system in 1933, the work being done by Welfare labor under supervision of regular employees of the Highway De- partment. Haverhill Street construction accounted for much of the drainage installed, and two C. W. A. projects were accepted which caused drains to be installed in Village Street, from Washington Street to the culvert on John St., and on Minot Street, from Main Street 175 feet Northwesterly. As these C. W. A. drains were not completed until January, 1934, they are not included in the following drainage table :
STORM WATER DRAINAGE
Location
42 in.
30 in.
24 in.
20 in.
18 in.
15 in.
12 in.
Totals
Catch Basins
Man- holes
Summer Ave.
100
28
128
2
1
Howard St ..
52
1,121
107
1,280
7
1
Howard St. Ext.
63
63
·
Weston Rd. .
28
354
382
3
Lewis Easement
131
22
30
2
Grove St.
12
14
26
Lowell St.
9
9
Willow St ..
24
24
.
Pearl St.
9
9
Green St ..
6
6
Birch Meadow
150
1
Haverhill St.
40
. . 102
183
181
2,653
3,159
16
8
Totals.
40
102
219
24
511
1,614
2,911
5,421
30
11
·
. .
. .
24
.
Middlesex Ave ..
24
131
.
Chestnut Rd.
8
150
Open Ditches
Cleaning, widening, and deepening of Open Ditches was started early in the Summer and carried on throughout the year . The open ditch in Memorial Park was again cleaned, and a short stretch rip- rapped. Other ditches worked on were: Salem St. to Eaton St., John St. to Washington and Bolton Sts., Salem St. towards the old Fair Grounds, from Gravel Pit on the Chinese Farm to Birch Meadow Playground, Pinevale Road to Main St., Mineral St. to Woburn St., and Howard St. across West St. A C. W. A. project, employing 46 men and 2 supervisors, was used to thoroughly widen and deepen the ditch running from near John St. to Prescott St., and the ditch
83
from the Chinese farm to Birch Meadow. This C. W. A. work was carried on all Winter, and much hardship was endured by the work- men, who are doing a fine job.
Labor supplied by the Welfare Department was used exclusively in open Ditch Work, with the exception of the two C. W. A. projects previously mentioned, supervised by Highway Department employ- ees. A table is included in this report showing the amount of money expended by the Board of Public Welfare to relieve unemployment under the jurisdiction of the Board of Public Works, with a list of the work accomplished.
Amount of Work Done By Men Paid By Welfare Dept. and Soldier's Relief Under The Direction Of The Board Of Public Works Jan. 1 to Dec. 31, 1933
Month
Welfare Dept.
Soldier's Relief
Total
January
$
2,819.55
$ 562.20
$ 3,381.75
February
3,093.75
556.20
3,649.95
March
4,183.05
538.20
4,721.25
April
3,127.80
420.80
3,548.60
May
2,989.05
464.60
3,453.65
June
3,737.25
673.00
4,410.25
July
2,682.00
554.40
3,236.40
August
1,920.75
346.60
2,267.35
September
1,939.50
458.60
2,398.10
October
2,421.90
425.20
2,847.10
November
2,982.75
574.80
3,557.55
December
2,447.10
140.80
2,587.90
Totals
$ 34,344.45
$ 5,715.40
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.