USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Reading > Town of Reading Massachusetts annual report 1934 > Part 17
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On Gardner Road many complaints were made of bad tasting, odorous water, due to the fact that no circulation of water was pos- sible. A petition was also received from the residents of Gardner Road and Ide Street for a fire hydrant. Both of these conditions were satisfactorily remedied by the installation of a six inch main on Pleasant Street, from Eaton Street to Gardner Road, and a fire hy- drant, which was placed on Gardner Road near the corner of Pleasant Street.
Three six inch water main extensions were made under the pro- visions of the 4% Guarantee; on Pilgrim Road, California Road, and Pinevale Avenue. New building construction on these three roads necessitated the extension of the mains. On Pilgrim Road, where two new houses were constructed, a hydrant was installed for fire protection. The Town is guaranteed, by the owners of property served by these mains, a revenue of 4% payable semi-annually, of the original cost of construction of said mains.
Breaks in main pipes were limited to breaks in the 11/4 inch mains on Howard Street Extension and Intervale Terrace. The pipe in How- ard Street Extension has been eaten away in several places by acids in the soil, and should be replaced by a six inch cast iron pipe. On Inter- vale Terrace, electrolysis caused a large hole to develop in a 11/4 inch main.
On many of the outlying streets of the town, a condition exists where it is impossible to obtain circulation of the water in the dis- tributing mains. These are called "dead ends", and are caused by either being laid in dead end streets or by having no means of con- nection with another main. These "dead ends" have been the cause of much complaint by the house holders supplied from them, as this "dead water" is stale, often rusty and odorous.
To remedy this defect, a blow-off has been placed on each dead-
198
end from which complaints have been received, and a systematic process of flushing has been carried out, which greatly improves the quality of water supplied to residents on these dead-ends. On Wilson Street, where many complaints were made, it was found necessary to install blow-offs at both the end and the center of the street before the con- dition was remedied.
The Bear Hill Standpipe, which was built in 1930, was drained and cleaned early in November, the work being done by regular employees of the Water Department. No interruption of the water supply to consumers was caused, as, during the period of draining and cleaning, the town was supplied by the Auburn Street Standpipe. Hydrants in the vicinity of Bear Hill were opened and flushed to clean the mains, before again filling the Bear Hill Standpipe. As the Auburn Street Standpipe was cleaned in December, 1933, both standpipes are now in good condition.
During the year a systematic flushing of hydrants in outlying sections of town and on dead end mains has been carried on, in an effort to insure the water mains being kept in their present clean con- dition.
The regular annual inspection of fire hydrants proved them to be in excellent repair. Several drips were dug, in order that the hydrants might drain more readily when used, and a new 2 1-2" hose nipple replaced on one hydrant. Four hydrants were struck by auto- mobiles and broken, located as follows : Kingston Street, in front of No. 13; Main Street, near No. 430; Van Norden Road, corner Harold Avenue; and Main Street, north of No. 306. In the first two instances, the town has been reimbursed for the damage done by the owners of cars involved; the last two named, struck by "hit-and-run" drivers, identity unknown, remain unpaid. All hydrants have been given a sec- ond coat of red and aluminum paint, which greatly improves their visibility.
Twenty-one new house service taps were made during the year, totaling 2,076.40 feet, or an average length of 98.87 feet per service. A six-inch main was laid from Temple Street, in front of No. 25, into the playing field of the Walter S. Parker Junior High School, and from this main 190.6 feet of 2" cast iron service pipe was laid along the southerly edge of the field, to supply three outlets with water. A meter box was constructed at the end of the six inch main and a meter installed. An E. R. A. project supplied labor for this job, supervised by regular Water Department employees. Cellar shut-offs were in- stalled on 84 old services and on 47 services it was necessary to re- pair pipes at the cellar walls.
199
During the latter part of December, 1933, many water meters were frozen, due to the record cold wave, and these, together with many others frozen by extremely low temperatures of January, February, and March, 1934, were repaired by means of a C. W. A. project, em- ploying seven men, supervised by the regular meter repair man. After the frozen meters had been repaired, it was decided to remove active meters which had been in service for many years and clean and repair them. Many of the meters so treated had been in constant use for over 30 years, and several, after 37 years of constant service, were still op- erating in an efficient manner. Except in special instances, no meters were removed that could not show 20 or more years of continuous service. These meters were removed, taken apart, cleaned, new parts installed to replace worn or broken ones, and carefully tested. Each meter was also painted before replacing.
There were, in all, approximately 278 water meters repaired under this project, at an average cost per meter of $1.63 for parts.
An examination of all box meters has been made, and wood and felt covers fitted in the meter boxes as insulation against the frost. Three brick meter boxes have been built to take the place of three old wooden boxes which were in danger of collapse, one at No. 138 Ash Street, one at No. 216 Lowell Street and one on Haven Street at the Rockport Fish Market.
Because of the dry, hot summer, an all-time pumping record was made by the Hundred Acre Meadow Pumping Station in 1934. A total pumpage of 221,260,400 gallons was recorded by the Venturi Meter, be- ing an increase of 49,413,100 gallons over 1933, the previous high. A new rate controller has been added to the switchboard apparatus this year, which regulates the shuttnig down of the pumps and eliminates to a great degree the surge in the mains when the pump stops.
Suction Line F, which was started in 1933 and left unfinished when the heavy rainfall of September, 1933, flooded the meadows, was completed in 1934, and comprises 637 feet of 8" cast iron suction main, and thirteen 2 1-2 " driven wells of an average depth of 35.9 feet. This work was accomplished by the regular employees of the Water .Department together with Welfare laborers.
·The wells on Lines A, B, C, D, and E have been cleaned and were found to be in first class condition. The wells and suction mains have been installed as follows :
Line A-Installed, 1931-16 Wells
Line B-Installed 1931-17 Wells
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Line C-Installed 1932-11 Wells Line D-Installed 1932-12 Wells Line E-Installed 1933- 9 Wells Line F-Installed 33-34-13 Wells
Lines A and B were found to be in first class condition with the exception of Wells No. 10 and No. 11. No. 10 well was found to contain 20 feet, and No. 11 well 12 feet, of fine sand. As these wells will have to be driven deeper to reach a coarser water bearing strata, they were left cut off from the suction main for future attention.
All of the remaining wells were found to contain a considerable amount of rust, and required from one to four hours of steady pumping on each well before they were properly cleaned. Below each well on Lines A and B (with the exceptions of Nos. 10 and 11) was found a sump hole a foot or more in depth. I have consulted several able engineers for an explanation of this condition and in their opinions excessive pumping of these two lines, previous to the installation of additional wells, was the cause.
I would recommend that all wells be cleaned out every three months, until such time as they remain in a clean condition. This cleaning is carried out as follows : Each well is cut off from the suc- tion main by means of its gate valve, the cap is removed from the well, and a diaphragm pump threaded on the well. The well is then pumped clear by hand. If the well is not freeflowing the pump is removed from the well and a 3-4" galvanized iron pipe, with a well washing point attached to the end is lowered into the well, and water pressure applied from the Town system. After a thorough washing, the pump is again attached and the well pumped until clear water is obtained. A crew of three men are required for this work at an approximate cost of $4.62 per well.
The Mill Street Pumping Station has been held in readiness for possible emergencies through the year, but has pumped no water into the distributing system.
A two-car brick garage, 22' x 22' in dimension, was constructed at Hundred Acre Meadow pumping station, an E. R. A. project sup- plying the labor. This garage is constructed of the same grade brick as the pumping station, and matches it in design, presenting a very attractive appearance. It is valued both as a store house for well driv- ing equipment, fittings, etc., as well as providing a shelter for the engineer's car.
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WATER DEPARTMENT 1934 Main Water Pipe Extension 16" 12"
Main st.
1251
Pearl St.
1014
1014
Pleasant St.
221
221
Pilgrim Rd.
284
284
Jr. High School
163
163
Howard St. Ext.
35
35
Scotland Rd.
35
35
California Rd.
160
160
Pinevale Ave.
286
286
Suction Line "F"
637
637
1251
637
2198
4086
COMPARATIVE TOTAL PUMPAGE DURING THE PAST TEN YEARS-1925 to 1934 INCLUSIVE
Year
Annual
Pumpage
(Gallons)
Increase
or
Decrease
(Gallons)
Average
Daily
Pumpage
(Gallons)
Increase or
Decrease
(Gallons)
Cost per Million
Gallons Pumped
Figured on Total
Mlaint. and
Int. on Bonds
Estimated
Population
1925
120,112,169
458,314 Inc.
329,074
1,256 Inc. $176.02 7424
1926
116,481,568
3,630,601 Dec.
319,127
9,947
Dec. 212.90 8796
1927
119,057,792
2,576,224
Inc.
326,185
7,058
Inc.
212.37
8796
1928
131,714,708
12,656,916
Inc.
359,876
33,691
Inc.
237.31
8796
1929
139,983,143
8,268,435
Inc.
383,515
23,639
Inc.
213.75
8796
1930
147,186,973
7,203,830
Inc.
403,257
19,742
Inc.
494.92
9747
1931
144,923,924
2,263,049
Dec.
397,051
6,206
Dec.
211.95
9747
1932
161,609,500
16,685,576
Inc.
441,423
44,372
Inc.
120.73 9747
1933
171,847,300
10,237,800
Inc. 470,389
28,966
Inc.
113.22
9747
1934
221,260,400
49,413,100
Inc.
606,192
135,803
Inc.
115.05 10,932
10" 8"
6"
11/4" Total 1251
202
YEARLY RECORD OF HUNDRED ACRE MEADOW PUMPING STATION
January 1, 1934, to January 1, 1935
Month
No. Days
No. Hours
No. Minutes
Gallons Pumped
Venturi Meter
Total Head
Power
K. W. H.
Gallons per
K. W. H.
Rain Fall
Fuel Oil
Daily Av.
Gal's Pumped
January
31
369
00
15,124,950
227
19,125
790.47
3.17
332
487,901
February
28
390
00
15,921,250
227
20,250
786.23
3.29
350
568,616
March
31
427
00
17,632,500
227
22,600
780.19
5.13
250
568,790
April
30
375
30
15,447,350
227
19,575
789.13
3.09
150
514,911
May
31
449
15
18,227,750
227
23,425
778.13
2.52
175
587,992
June
30
462
00
18,381,000
227
23,975
766.67
4.00
612,700
July
31
619
30
24,217,400
227
30,475
794.66
1.25
781,205
August
31
520
45
21,764,200
227
26,650
816.66
1.73
702,071
September
30
409
45
20,041,600
227
22,650
884.84
6.43
668,053
October
31
347
45
18,243,800
227
19,585
931.54
3.89
200
588,509
November
30
390
15
17,959,900
227
21,150
849.17
2.03
300
619,307
December
31
500
45
18,298,700
227
24,975
732.68
2.70
260
590,281
Totals
365
5261
30
221,260,400
227
274,435
806.24
39.23
2017
606,192
·
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 and Construction
$ 30,000.00
2. Chapter 90-Main Street 6,000.00
3. Chapter 90-West Street 5,000.00
4. Removal of Snow and Ice 6,500.00
500.00
6. Sidewalk Construction
2,000.00
7. Develop. of Storm Water Drainage
2,603.69
8. Construction of Third Street 315.48
9. Construction of Cedar Street 103.53
140.40
10. Construction of Ellis Avenue
11. Construction of County Road 1,428.75
12. Construction of Van Norden Road 2,675.00
$ 57,266.85
Unexpended Balances from Previous Appropriations :
13. Construction of Haverhill St. $ 1,426.31
14. 1933 Storm Water Drainage 603.69
$ 2,030.00
Received from State and County
Chapter 90-Main Street
$ 12,000.00
Received from State and County
Chapter 90-West Street 10,000.00
Transfer to Snow and Ice Account 22.63
Total 1934 Appro. and Bal. Fwd. from 1933 $ 81,319.48
Expenditures and Balances of the Above Appropriations :
1. Appro. for Maint. and Const. Expended 29,998.93
$ 30,000.00
Balance
$ 1.07
2. Chapter 90-M'ain Street
$ 6,000.00
Received from State and County
12,000.00
Expended
17,716.90
Balance
$ 283.10
204
$ 18,000.00
5. Maintenance of Storm Drains
3. Chapter 90-West Street
Received from State and County
$ 5,000.00 10,000.00
$ 15,000.00
Expended
14,777.71
Balance
$ 222.29
4. Removal of Snow and Ice
$ 6,500.00
Transfer
22.63
6,522.63
Expended
6,522.63
Balance
$ .00
5. Maintenance of Storm Drains
$ 500.00
Expended
499.96
Balance
$ .04
6. Sidewalk Construction
$ 2,000.00
Transfer from Ellis Avenue Acct.
55.29
Transfer from Cedar Street Acct.
16.32
Expended
2,070.57
Balance
$ 1.04
7. Development of Storm Water Drainage .
$ 2,603.69
14. Balance Forward from 1933
603.69
$ 3,207.38
Expended
3,202.83
Balance
$ 4.55
8. Construction of Third Street
$ 315.48
Expended
276.48
Balance
$ 39.00
(Note: Balance transferred to Chapin Ave.)
·
205
$ 2,071.61
10. Construction of Ellis Avenue
$ 140.40
Expended
85.11
Balance
(Note: Balance transferred to Sidewalk Acct.) $ 55.29
11. Construction of County Road
$ 1,428.75
Expen'ded
1,357.46
Balance
$ 71.29
12. Construction of Van Norden Road Expended
2,032.40
Balance
$ 592.60
(Note: Balance transferred as follows :)
To Chapin Ave. Acct. $192.60
To Sidewalk Acct. 400.00
592.60
13. Construction of Haverhill Street. Chap. 90 1933 Balance Forward
$ 1,426.31
Expended
1,426.31
Balance
$ .00
14. (See No. 7)
15. Construction of Chapin Avenue
Transferred from Van Norden Road
$ 192.60
Third Street
39.00
Board of Public Works ..
300.00
" House Connection Acct. ..
328.90
Totals
$ 860.50
Expended
19.47
Balance
$ 841.03
9. Construction of Cedar Street Expended
$ 103.53
87.21
Balance
$ 16.32
(Note : Balance transferred to Sidewalk Acct.)
206
$ 2,675.00
TOTALS
Item
Appro.
Expend. $28,998.93
Balance
$ 1.07
2
18,000.00
17,716.90
283.10
3
15,000.00
14,777.71
222.29
4
6,522.63
6,522.63
.00
5
500.00
499.96
.04
6
2,071.61
2,070.57
1.04
7 and 14
3,207.38
3,202.83
4.55
8
315.48
276.48
39.00
transfer
9
103.53
87.21
16.32
transfer
10
140.40
85.11
55.29
transfer 71.29
11
1,428.75
1,357.46
71.29
12
2,675.00
2,082.40
592.60
transfer
13
1,426.31
1,426.31
.00
14 (See No. 7)
15 (transfers)
860.50
19.47
841.03
841.03
HIGHWAY DEPARTMENT
The regular routine work of the Highway Department has been accomplished during the past year, and through use of C. W. A., E. R. A., and Welfare Department labor, much extra work has been done. Streets in outlying sections of the Town have been widened, straight- ened, and otherwise improved. Storm Water Drainage has been sub- stantially increased, as well as other special projects hereinafter list- ed. It is the intent of this report to describe, briefly the work done.
Snow and Ice Removal
The severe snow storm of February 20, 1934, taxed to the utmost degree the snow-plowing equipment of the Board of Public Works. At that time, the equipment consisted of two large truck plows, in good repair, one old four cylinder Auto-Car truck, in poor condition, two small truck plows, and the Cletrac tractor outfit which was in very poor condition.
The plows were called out at 12:45 A. M. on Tuesday, February 20. At this time about two inches of snow had fallen, but by 1:45 A. M. it was snowing heavily. Practically the entire Town was plowed once, but by 6 A. M. fifteen inches of snow had fallen, with a wind of gale force drifting it to depths of three and four feet. As the temperature was around 32 degrees, the snow was very heavy.
By noon on Tuesday the entire snow plowing outfit was concen- trated on the main streets in an effort to keep them open, and side streets left as they were. We were sadly in need of a heavy tractor to open drifted streets, as the small truck plows were unable to plow
207
Bal. Fwd.
1
$30,000.00
the heavy, drifted snow, and even the larger truck plows required crews of men to shovel out drifts. A truck plow was hired from the Cum- mings Express Co. to aid the Highway Department's regular equip- ment.
Complaints of unplowed streets began to come in around 3 A. M. and we continually received telephone calls until late Wednesday night, when they dropped off in number, although the calls continued to come in for several days.
The plows were kept going continuously, and on Tuesday night, when the storm was over, we started to gain on the snow. However, with the high wind, streets that had been plowed earlier were found to be drifted full. Tuesday night and Wednesday the equipment was in operation, and by Wednesday night the personnel of the Highway Department were badly in need of rest, having been working continu- ally since 12:45 Tuesday morning. Wednesday night fresh drivers were obtained and work progressed throughout the night.
Also, at 2 A. M. on Thursday the State tractor was obtained, and the outlying streets, i. e .: Grove, Franklin, Haverhill, Charles, Wake- field, and Pearl were broken out. The State tractor was returned at noon on Thursday, and work continued on outlying streets with the large Town trucks and a crew of shovelers. At three A. M. on Friday the trucks were put up. Rain had started some time earlier, turning to snow, which added an inch and one half to the previous fall.
At 7:00 A.M. the plows were again called out and kept in opera- tion until 3:00 A. M. the following morning, removing as much as pos- sible of the slush resulting from the previously mentioned rainfall, and widening narrow streets. Crews of men were also employed in open- ing catch basins and water-ways to care for the surface water.
Friday afternoon the temperature dropped rapidly, causing the slush and snow to freeze and hampering the plows. By morning of Saturday the conditions were such that plowing was stopped, the en- tire Town having been plowed, and work on snow removal from the Square and Haven Street commenced.
Four privately owned trucks were hired for snow removal work, and as many men employed loading snow as would work.
The work continued over Sunday, and by Sunday night the Square and part of Haven Street were cleared of snow. On Sunday also all public schools were plowed out by the air compressor plow and a crew of men. This plow was used as a call truck over the weekend.
On Sunday evening, February 25, the second storm arrived. The temperature was low, as a result of which the snow was light and feathery, and was accompanied by a wind of gale force. The plows were called out at 11:00 P. M. and found the plowing much easier than that of the preceding storm, due to the lightness of the snow. Caution
208
had to be exercised, however, due to the frozen snow and ice, not to set the plow blades too deep, because of the danger of damaging the equipment.
Plowing continued all day Monday and Monday night, and on Tues- day, at 1 A. M., the five ton tractor belonging to the State Department of Public Works was again procured and opened up several badly drifted streets. It was also used to widen streets, pushing back the piled-up snow in an efficient manner.
On Tuesday morning work on removing snow from the Square and Haven Street was continued, seven privately owned trucks being hired to haul the snow away, thus permitting the Highway Department equip- ment to carry on the work of plowing. .
While some few complaints were received from citizens during the second storm, the total number was negligent as compared to the first storm. During the entire storm period special attention was given to emergency calls for sickness, residents in need of fuel, and other like cases. Several streets were opened during the height of the storm to accommodate ambulances, doctors, and deliveries of fuel.
During the entire storm everything that could be done to keep the roads open was done, but from the start we were hopelessly handi- capped by lack of equipment. "Our Mead-Morrison tractor, which had formerly been of tremendous assistance, was obsolete and useless. At this time I wish to strongly recommend the purchase of a four ton tractor and a large truck, complete with plows. Our present snow plowing equipment is inadequate to cope with a storm of major pro- portions, and I feel that in order to clear our streets in an efficient manner, the new equipment is very necessary.
The sidewalk snow plows were used only to plow out sidewalks in the vicinity of schools, as the sidewalks were too badly drifted to plow. Only those sidewalks on main streets near the center of town were cleared, most of this work having been done by shoveling. Sev- eral streets were opened by horse drawn plows, such as Van Norden Road, Walnut, South, Curtis, Third, etc., and some were later 'widened by the truck plows.
I strongly recommend the purchase of a gasoline motored side- walk plow, of the type manufactured by McCormick-Deering. With a plow of this type, eight horse-drawn plows could be dispensed with, at a substantial saving to the Town. This outfit could also be used to push back snow in gutters.
I wish to state that the entire personnel of the Public Works De- partment deserve credit for the manner in which they responded to
209
the emergency brought about by the storm. Many of the men, par- ticularly the truck, and tractor drivers, worked two nights and three days without sleep during the first storm, and when the second storm arrived, were ready and willing to go through with it again.
I also wish to thank the members of the Board of Public Works for their helpful suggestions and co-operation during the storm.
General Highway Maintenance
The severe winter, with extreme cold weather and late Spring snows, left the highways in only fair condition. General Highway Maintenance work was started the middle of April, and a number of streets were scarified, graded, rolled and treated with Tarvia B. In all, 51,567 gallons of Tarvia B were used to surface roadways.
By means of an E. R. A. Project, a road hone was constructed and tried out on several streets, using Tarvia Re-tread B as a surfacer. This apparatus is so constructed that a series of steel blades, placed diagonally to each other, and held in position by a heavily weighted wooden frame, is dragged by truck or tractor over a highway freshly treated with Retread B. The steel blades cut off the high places in the roadway, and by causing the aggregate so collected to pass from one blade to another, mix it thoroughly. When this mixture finds its 'way past the last blade, a steel leveling bar spreads it evenly over the highway. Woburn Street, from the Square to Chute Street was honed at a cost of .038 per square yard, with excellent results. By honing, a road gradually regain's its original shape, i. e., a convex curve from gutter to gutter, as the hone blades gather the material which has been moved by traffic from the center of the roadway to the shoulders, and place it in its former position. I would recommend the purchase of a heavy steel road honing machine which will be more effective than the light wooden one now in use in shaping up the high- ways. This new steel hone will not only give us better highways but will speed up the work and reduce the cost per square yard over the old method of scarifying. It will also do away, to a certain degree, with the tremendous expense of K P patching our highways.
The car tracks on Lowell Street, from the Square to Middlesex Avenue have been covered with a fine Type D bituminous concrete mixture, at a cost of .37 per square yard. Favorable comment has been made by the townspeople anent this improvement as the rails and cobblestones were rough and uneven, and were the cause of many ac- cidents.
A total of 6,394 gallons of Tarvia K P and 17.10 tons of Pea stone have been used in highway patching the past year. A mixture of Tar-
210
via K P and gravel has also been used for patching, and has proved satisfactory on certain streets. The cost of this gravel mix is of course less than that of the stone mix, and was used extensively on streets that were to be honed. Considering the hard winter and the fact that most of our highways are tar-coated gravel, they are in fairly good repair.
The following private ways were accepted as Public Town Ways at the Annual Town Meeting held March 5, 1934:
Ellis Avenue, from Hillcrest Road 264.67 feet Westerly;
Third Street, from Cedar Street to North (proposed) Street, a distance of 550.00 feet ;
Cedar Street, from Hopkins Street to Third Street, a distance of 181.00 feet. A relocation of Grove Street, from Forest Street to north of Franklin Street, was also accepted, as was a relocation of the in- tersection of High and Lowell Streets. The acceptance of Ellis Ave- nue, Third and Cedar Streets was made under the provisions of Chap- ter 83, General Laws, Section 26, which authorizes the assessment of betterments for road construction.
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