USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Reading > Town of Reading Massachusetts annual report 1934 > Part 19
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Two tennis courts, started by a C. W. A. project in the latter part of 1933, were completed through an E. R. A. project early in the spring. A Tarvia B surface was laid and the courts enclosed with a fence, the courts being in continuous use throughout the season.
The horseshoe courts were renewed and kept in good condition, and the children's sand boxes repaired.
During the Fourth of July celebration, Washington Street Ball Park was used as the location for the carnival, which was visited by hun- dreds of celebrators. After the carnival was over, the ball field was repaired, holes and ruts filled, and papers and other debris removed.
The baseball diamond was laid out and kept mowed for High School and other baseball games. The junior boy's baseball league organized. by the E. R. A. playground supervisors used the field during the entire season, and instructors were employed at the field to teach them the rudiments of the game.
In November an E. R. A. project commenced stripping the sod and loam from the field preparatory to grading and resurfacing it. The sod removed was used in Birch Meadow Playground and on the tree lawn on Lowell Street abutting the Municipal Building. Work has.
224
temporarily ceased during the winter months, to be resumed in the spring of 1935, when the entire field will be graded, loamed, and seeded by E. R. A. workers. Negotiations are being made to secure a new location for a baseball field during the period of reconstruction of the present ball park.
Leach Park
General maintenance work in Leach Park was carried on during the past year. Shrubs and trees were trimmed, grass mowed, sidewalks graded and repaired, and two cement and wood park benches replaced, the work being done by Welfare Dept. and Soldier's Relief employees.
Reading Common
The Common received its usual care, grass was mowed, trees an 1 shrubs trimmed, shrub beds edged, and sidewalks raked and smoothed.
An E. R. A. project in the late fall removed the sod and old sub . grade from the tree lawn on the westerly side of Lowell street, from Woburn street to past the Municipal Building; and the triangular plot opposite the Municipal Building, bounded by the Lowell street en- trance to Laurel Hill Cemetery, Lowell street, and the cemetery wall.
Several trees were removed, curbing set back, and a cement apron laid across the tree lawn at the Lowell street entrance to the Municipal Building, the excavated area was then graded with fine loam and syt- ded.
REPORT OF THE PLAYGROUND COMMITTEE
On July 5, 1934, the Reading Playgrounds were officially opened with a flag raising and salute at Memorial Park, followed by talks by Mrs. Ralph Smith and Mrs. Donald Smith. Then followed the usual distribution of five hundred Hoodsies to the children.
This year the playground work formed part of the E. R. A. pro- ject of Reading. Money for equipment was furnished by the town. The salaries of the playground workers was financed by the government. The grounds were open six days of the week, two groups being in charge, one of which worked on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday, ant the other on Thursday, Friday and Saturday.
The work was most capably carried on under the direction of Gladys Burns and Evelie Irving, Supervisors, with assistance from the following helpers: Herman L. Creiger, Margaret Richards, George Richer, Catherine Gordon, Robert Channonhouse, Henry Murphy, Jr., Mary Riley, John Sidelinger Eleanore Burhoe, Lawrence Zwicker, Dor- is Comey, Louise Briggs, Carl Hoyt, Jr., William Brown and Lawrence White.
There was much enthusiasm in all fields of athletics. A nine hole golf course was laid out and instruction was given under Lawrence Zwicker. Special emphasis was laid on tennis and there was also great interest in baseball, croquet, paddle tennis and hop-scotch. The barn
225
was kept busy with its checker fans, as well as those interested in jig saw puzzles, ping pong, ring toss, singing games, paper cutting and other hand work, story hour and the construction and furnishing of a doll house.
During the week of July 20th there was a very successful track meet, a checker tournament, and matched games in tennis with other towns.
Miss Greenwood of the Massachusetts Safety Council and Miss Murphy, head of the public playgrounds of Boston, gave talks to the supervisors and assistants at the home of Mrs. Donald Smith. A Junior Patrol was organized for the purpose of the promotion of safety as a result of the evening's talk.
On August 15th there was a track meet at Memorial Park. Matches in golf, tennis, paddle tennis, ping pong, ring toss, croquet and check- ers were held. There were also contests in high jumps, broad jumps, 100 yd. dash, 50 yd. dash, wheelbarrow race and marathon race.
Exhibition Day came on August 20th, at which time the handwork was displayed and the public was invited to watch the games.
There was a safety film on August 25th at the Reading Theatre. All children were admitted for a penny and the Massachusetts Safety Council sent out the film. The house was packed to bursting capacity.
Pack up day came on Tuesday, August 28th, when the playgrounds officially closed. On Monday, August 27th the awards and citizenship cups were presented to the winners.
There were two silver cups this year for good citizenship, one for the most deserving child under the age of twelve, and one for the child over twelve. The former was donated by the Woman's Club of Read- nig and was awarded to Francis Thornton. The latter was given by Mrs. Laura Gordon and was presented to June Doran.
At this time Chief of Police Cullinane presented certificates of merit to six of the best patrol leaders. These were Albert Wright, John Thibidau, Francis Gillis, Francis Thornton, Russell Galvin and Ralph Foster.
The winners in all tournaments and contests were awarded their cups with their names and the name of tournament inscribed by Mrs. Donald S. Smith. These winners were:
Junior Golf John Creiger
. Senior Golf James O'Donohue
Tennis Singles James O'Donohue
Senior Doubles .. James O'Donohue and Tom Cullinane Junior Tennis Singles Carl Wood
Junior Tennis Doubles .. Carl Wood and Francis Gillis
Senior Singles Margaret Cummings
Paddle Tennis Marion Gray
Arts and Crafts Eileen Peters
226
Other prizes in recognition of their handicraft work were presented to Charles Nickerson and Marion Gray.
A fine spirit of co-operation was shown by all who were connected with making the work a success. Particular mention should be made of Mr. Birnie and his Board of Public Works, as well as the E. R. A. employees, the Reading Theatre, the Reading Police Department, the Reading Woman's Club, the Massachusetts Safety Council, the Play- ground workers and the young citizens of tomorrow.
Respectfully submitted,
THEODORA R. SMITH
(Mrs. D. S. Smith)
Chairman of Playground Committee of Reading Woman's Club.
SEWER DEPARTMENT
To the Board of Public Works,
Gentlemen :
The following is the yearly report of the Sewer Department :
Construction and Maintenance :
Appropriation
$ 10,500.00
Expended :
Construction
$ 610.27
Maintenance
,
8,235.86
Total
$ 8,846.13
Balance
$ 1,653.87
House Connection Account :
Appropriation
$ 1,000.00
Transfer to Chapin Ave. Acct.
328.90
$ 671.10
Expended :
377.07
Balance
$ 294.03
To the Board of Public Works,
Gentlemen :
Two main trunk sewer extensions have been made during 1934, and were installed through an E. R. A. project. On Middlesex Avenue 311.9 feet of 8" trunk sewer was laid from Kingston Street easterly to Lowell Street and two manholes constructed. Provisions were made by standard Y connections to allow 6 houses to enter the main sewer, only one of which has been connected to date.
227
Provision was also made for the connection of a proposed trunk sewer which will run from Bancroft Avenue and Lowell Street and en- ter a drop-in manhole placed 86.9 feet Westerly from the manhole at the intersection of Lowell and Linden Streets.
On Linden Street 125.0 feet of 6" trunk sewer was laid from the new manhole at Lowell and Linden Streets southerly, to opposite the Reading Home for Aged Women, which has been connected to the sewerage system.
The trunk sewer on Lowell Street, between the Municipal Build- ing and the Christian Science Church, became clogged and was exca- vated to clear the obstruction. It was found to contain gravel and rocks, presumably left in when the sewer main was originally laid. Several lengths of pipe were removed and replaced, and the main flushed. Flushing of main trunk sewers was periodically carried on as needed, in slow flowing streets, such as Wenda, Woburn, Minot, Wilson, Salem, Prescott, Sanborn, Green and Haven Streets, and Cen- ter and Warren Avenues. A new sewer manhole cover was installed on Prescott Street to replace an old noisy cover.
Five new house sewer connections were made in 1934 totaling 271.5 feet. Previous to Chapter 90 construction of Main Street, four sewer house connections were run to the curb line at vacant lots in anticipa- tion of future development. Several services previously run from main to curb were lengthened to the street line, so as to clear the edge of the concrete roadway. A number of house connections became clogged by roots, etc., and in each instance were promptly cleared by the Sewer Department employees. Sewer connections run through old cesspools were the cause of several stoppages and should be abolish- ed where practicable.
The entrance charge for entering the common sewer has been reduced by the Board of Public Works, by making no charge to the applicant for work done in the street, and charging from the street line to the cellar wall, on private property. It is anticipated that be- cause of this reduction more house connections will be made.
The C. W. A. project for repairing leaks in the main trunk sewer between the Boston and Maine R. R. tracks and John Street, which started in 1933, was carried on during the early months of 1934, and many leaks were stopped in the section worked on. Records of pump- ing at the Reading Sewerage Pumping Station show that the amount of ground water entering the trunk sewer has decreased appreciably. I would recommend that another project be started to carry on this work, the cost of which is negligible to the town compared to the bene- fits derived therefrom.
I also recommend that a complete sewer cleaning outfit be pur- chased, to more efficiently clean and flush the sewer mains.
228
STREETS
Streets
Possible Con- nections
Completed Con- nections
Per Cent No Con- Con- nected
struction Started
Connected to Street Line
Partially Installed to House
Revenue Charges 1934
Arlington
12
3
25
5
3
1
$ 25.18
Ash .
17
9
53
7
. .
1
133.89
Bancroft
22
12
55
10
124.23
Berkeley
27
16
59
11
188.65
Brook .
2
1
50
1
8.37
Center
10
7
70
3
81.13
Chute .
28.70
Copeland
7
7
100
162.41
Dudley
10
4
40
6
50.88
Eaton .
2
2
100
12.00
Elliott
8
4
50
4
39.70
Fremont
4
4
100
64.62
Fulton
1
1
100
10.97
Gardner.
7
4
57
3
36.87
Gould .
3
3
100
49.47
Green.
53
35
66
10
3
5
439.03
Harnden .
8
7
89
114.61
Haven
45
29
64
7
7
2
548.13
High .
14
5
36
7
2
42.21
Hillcrest
10
8
80
1
1
94.95
Howard .
18
15
83
2
1
217.96
Ide .
2
1
1
9.10
John
16
9
56
7
81.83
King
5
5
100
Kingston
15
11
73
4
3
66.05
Linden
11
7
69
3
79.02
Lowell
4
3
75
1
Main .
50
39
78
9
2
1,084.45
Maple
2
1
50
Middle
2
1
50
1
9.10
Middlesex
24
14
58
6
2
202.23
Minot
12
8
67
2
2
88.09
Mt. Vernon.
23
8
35
15
90.27
Park Ave.
7
6
86
50.39
Parker .
7
6
86
1
52.40
Perkins .
7
7
100
138.64
Pine Ave.
1
1
100
6.00
Pleasant
28
14
50
14
160.35
Pratt.
4
3
75
1
34.30
Prescott
52
40
77
1
8
3
457.37
Prospect
17
8
47
8
1
134.18
Salem
20
11
55
1
8
. .
Sanborn
15
9
60
4
2
321.11
Scotland
1
1
100
6.00
Smith.
12
12
100
135.61
Summer
18
8
44
9
1
115.10
Sweetser
5
1
20
3
1
8.87
Temple
32
28
17
6
382.80
Union .
5
3
60
1
1
41.60
Village
22
13
59
8
1
157.91
Warren .
17
14
82
2
1
165.77
Washington
28
14
48
11
3
. .
41.07
Wilson .
10
8
80
2
49.74
Woburn
81
43
53
7
27
4
542.08
Totals
856
527
67
185
107
37
7,841.48
.
. .
. .
·
. .
. .
. .
. .
93.87
Lincoln
7
4
57
. .
·
1 91:22 2
. .
.
. .
. .
. .
. .
173.91
School .
10
5
50
5
64.52
.
.
159.29
Wenda .
4
4
100
. .
229
.
. .
. .
1
. .
97.85
. .
1
57.32
9.33
.
1
50
LENGTH OF MAIN SEWERS IN STREETS
Streets
6 inch
8 inch
10 inch
12 inch
15 inch
18 inch 20 inch
24 inch
Total
Arlington. .
399.80
399.80
Ash. .
822.90
258.80
1,081.70
Bancroft
1,015.00
1,015.00
Berkeley
1,256.10
1,256.10
Brook.
847.60
847.60
Center
620.60
620.60
Copeland
500.00
500.00
Dudley.
374.50
374.50
Eaton.
907.70
907.70
Elliott
396.00
396.00
Fremont.
456.50
456.50
Gardner Rd.
475.00
475.00
Green.
175.20
1,717.40
821.60
1 2,714.20
Harnden
559.30
559.30
Haven .
1,752.80
1,752.80
High.
1,338.05
736.10
2,074.15
Hillcrest.
770.80
770.80
Howard .
300.00
1,110.00
1,410.00
Interceptors
205.00
2732.00
2,937.00
John. .
266.00
178.50
1,014.10
King.
340.00
175.00
515.00
Kingston
719.30
719.30
Lincoln.
573.40
538.10
1,111.50
Linden.
125.00
735.30
860.30
Lowell
813.10
813.10
Main .
1,246.10
234.90
2,436.50
Maple.
189.20
189.20
Middle.
313.60
313.60
Middlesex .
1,423.40
1,423.40
Minot. .
1,409.65
1,409.65
Mt. Vernon
698.52
160.00
858.52
Park. .
507.30
830.00
Parker
427.00
427.00
Perkins.
400.00
400.00
Pine.
226.00
226.00
Pleasant.
1,496.80
469.80
1,966.60
Pratt
555.50
555.50
Prescott.
2,265.30
1,174.10
3,439.40
Prospect.
1,260.00
1,260.00
Salem.
1,004.90
132.50
1,137.40
Sanborn.
716.30
716.30
School
688.25
688.25
Smith Ave.
475.00
475.00
Summer.
1,229.40
1,229.40
Sweetser.
334.30
334.30
Temple.
896.76
432.89
661.39
1,991.04
Union. .
303.60
303.60
Village.
1,015.60
487.80
1,503.40
Warren.
715.00
715.00
Washington
424.90
246.80
312.90
1,574.30
2,558.90
Wenda ..
300.00
300.00
Wilson .
471.40
333.10
804.50
Woburn.
732.80
2,915.70
917.40
4,565.90
Tot. Lengths 2,869.76]
36,906. 72 3,773.44 6,164.79 2,870.60 487.80
1,809.20 3,758.10
58,640.41
569.60
955.50
322.70
230
FEDERAL EMERGENCY RELIEF ADMINISTRATION List of all Projects Supervised by Board of Public Works . April 1, to December 31, 1934
1. Trunk Line Sewer Repairs-Repairing leaks Sewer Trunk 'Line.
2. Repairing Water Meters-Taking out; repairing, cleaning, testing and replacing water meters.
3. Storm Water Drains-On John, Village, and Green sts. 1350 ft. West st. from Woburn st. to culvert at West and Willow sts. 3775 ft.
4. Clerical-To keep additional records in the Bbard of Public Works office, occasioned by additional work caused by the Civil Works Administration.
5. Painting-To finish painting Engineer's house on Mill . st. To , paint trimming on old Pumping Station.
6. Storm Water Drain-18" P. C. pipe from a catch basin at the S. W. corner of Village and Green sts. to a proposed catch: basin at the S. E. corner of John and Green sts.
7. Gravel Roadway-18' wide and 450' long on County Road, begin- ning at the accepted end of Howard st. ending at a distance of 450 feet.
8. Storm Water Drain-15" pipe from a catch basin at intersection of Fremont and West st. in a southerly direction to catch, basin located at intersection of West and Woburn st.
9. Widening, Straighten, etc .- To widen, straighten, slope banks, re- move ledge, eliminate traffic hazards on South st., Walnut ;st., Pearl st., and Charles st.
10. Survey-Survey of accepted and unaccepted streets.
11. Cement Blocks-To construct cement blocks to be used for Muni- cipal Buildings.
12. Charles St .- Cut back banks on North and South sides of Charles St.
13. 6" Water Main-From corner of Franklin and Pearl sts. 1010 ft. southerly on Pearl st., connecting into 11/4" main.
14. Van Norden Road-24' gravel highway on Van Norden Road.
15. Birchi Meadow Playground-Build a fieldstone fireplace for picnic parties at the Birch Meadow Playground.
16. Erecting Garage-To erect a one-story brick garage for the Board of Public Works at 100-Acre Meadow off Grove st.
17. Painting-Complete painting New Water Pumping Station.
18. Storm Water Drain-15" Plain Concrete Pipe storm water. drain from a catch basin located at the S. E. corner of Green and John sts. a distance of 360 ft. in a northerly direction on John st. con- necting into a catch basin at the end of present drainage system on John st.
231
19. 'Tennis Courts-Grade, surface and construct two tennis courts at Washington street playground and one court at Birch Meadow playground, including the painting of playing lines, construction of wooden fence with chicken wire around the 3 courts.
20. Blacksmith.
21. Memorial Park-Rip-rap part of brook running through Memorial Park Playground.
22. Birch Meadow.
23. Supervisors and Instructors-Playground supervisors and instruc- tors for various playgrounds in Reading.
24. 6" Water Main-From Temple st. to Athletic Feld at Junior High School.
25. Main Trunk Sewer-From intersection of Kingston st. and Middle- sex ave. to Lowell st., thence southerly on Linden st.
26. Grove Street-To relocate and alterate Grove st. from Forest st.
27. Tree Lawns-Constructing tree lawns in front of Town Buildings and to sod an area of 2700 sq. ft. at entrance of Laurel Hill Ceme- tery on Lowell st.
23. Washington Street Playground-Rough grade Washington Street Playground, removing sod and preparing the playground for seed- ing in the spring.
29. Storm Water Drain-John st. from an open culvert approximately 600 ft. including 2 catch basins.
30. Hockey Rink-Construct a wooden hockey rink.
31. Storm Water Drain-Highland st. and Locust st.
Exepnditures From Appropriations of the Various Departments Under the Board of Public Works for C. W. A. and E. R. A. Projects Jan. 1, 1934 to Dec. 31, 1934 Highway Department
Value of
Equipment Materials Other Costs
Forest St. 158, 3902
$ 1,275.00
$ 220.00
Grove St. 2900
581.12
130.00
98.33
Gravel Pit 3903
80.00
20.00
Hopkins St. 4537
170.00
53.70
Walnut St. 4538
75.00
32.00
Charles St. 4692
205.92
South St. 4694
70.00
Old Automobiles
135.00
Charles St. B1-3, 6165-5
587.00
432.44
189.04
County Rd. B1-18
44.00
48.37
13.17
Charles St. B1-20
51.50
17.81
Van Norden Rd .B1-23
169.00
22.99
84.47
Grove St, B1-43
716.27
8.00
178.48
232
Value of Equipment Materials Other Costs
Wakefield St. 2849
500.00
20.00
34.23
Painting Street Signs 2013
30.00
72.40
Destroying Automobiles B20-47
64.00
23.51
$ 4,753.81
$ 954.20
$ 745.41
Water Department
Brook St. 595, 4446
$ 432.00
$ 4,796.07
$ 1,026.48
Rep. Water Meters B10-6, 6165-2 .
105.00
429.21
45.45
Pearl St. Water Main B9-22
204.00
886.75
83.79
Junior High Water Main
34.00
284.25
22.26
$ 811.00
$ 6,396.28
$ 1,177.98
Highway and Water Department
Cement Blocks B3-21
$ 35.00
$ 282.59
$ 8.52
Blacksmith H-27
123.38
$ 35.00
$ 405.97
$ 8.52
Storm Water Drains
John and Village Sts. 621, 4445
$ 50.00
$ 1,664.25
$ 187.97
Minot St. 2895
142.72
Open Ditches
390.80
West St. B7-8, 6165-8
624.00
4,963.02
58.24
Green St. B7-17
31.00
266.82
15.58
West St. B7-19
242.50
1,168.08
58.81
Green and John Sts. B7-28
45.00
333.96
14.61
Highland and Locust St. B7-61
124.45
238.04
44.86
John St. Drain B7-55
86.25
277.62
46.14
$ 1,203.20
$ 9,445.31
$ 426.21
Value of
Equipment Materials Other Costs
Sewer Department
John St. 159, 4444 (Constr.)
$ 320.00
$ 267.25
$ 201.01
Rep. Leaks B8-5, 6165-3 (Maint.) .
45.00
24.78
12.89
Mdlsx. Ave. (Maint. & Const.)
200.68
216.26
283.67
$ 565.68
$ 508.29
$ 497.57
Board of Public Works
Street Survey 2009, 6165-7
$ 75.00
Street Survey B20-1
62.50
43.96
Street Numbering 160
9.85
Clerical 2903 F4-16
19.50
$ 137.50
$ 73.31
233
Park Department
Tennis Courts 161
$ 140.50
$ 30.00
Fireplace B11-25
7.00
16.33
1.77
Tennis Courts B11-29
149.00
337.47
44.51
Mem. Park Brook B15-30
96.60
7.62
Birch Meadow B11-31B
2,467.37
973.44
311.36
Playground Supervision E4-32
220.34
Tree Lawns B15-44
143.36
217.50
Washngtn. St. Playgrounds B11-45
214.13
6.04
49.11
Mem. Park Rec. Bldg. B12-64
102.86
Hockey Rink B11-60
170.09
34.47
$ 3,217.96 $
2,074.07
$ 448.84
Summary
Department
Equipment Materials Other Costs
Highway Dept.
$ 4,753.81
$ 954.20
$ 745.41
Water Dept.
811.00
6,395.28
1,177.98
Highway and Water Dept.
35.00
405.97
8.52
Storm Water Drains
1,203.20
9,445.31
426.21
Sewer Dept.
565.68
508.29
497.57
Board of Public Works
137.50
73.31
Park Department
3,217.96
2,074.07
448.84
Totals
$ 10,724.15
$ 19,857.43
$ 3,304.53
Grand totals
$ 33,886.11
Explanation
1. Equipment :
Equipment used on C. W. A. and E. R. A. Projects, includes Trucks, Tractors, Road Roller, Tar Kettles, Gasoline and Hand Suction Pumps, Air Compressor, etc., also on the Street Survey Project, a Transit.
N. R. A. Code prices were charged for rental for this equipment against the projects upon which they were used but the actual monetary cost to the various departments is estimated at approximately one-third of the amounts set forth above for equipment.
2. Materials :
Materials used were for Roads (Tarvia, Gravel, etc.) Water and Sewer Construction supplies, (Pipe Fittings, etc.), Drain Pipe and Catch Basin supplies, Tennis Court, Hockey Rink, and gen- eral park department accessories. All of the amount listed was an ac- tual cash outlay, a large proportion of this amount being taken from Department funds.
3. Other Costs :
The majority of the sums listed under this heading are for wages paid employees of various departments connected with the Board of Public Works for time employed on C. W. A. and E. R. A. projects.
234
This amount was a direct expenditure from the appropriation of each department.
Remarks
By using the estimated amount taken from Department appropria- tions of one-third the figure stated for Equipment use on Projects, the following is the complete cost to the Board of Public Works Depart- ments for 1934 :
Equipment
$ 3,574.71
Materials
19,857.43
Other Costs
3,304.53
$ 26,746.67
REPORT OF THE EXECUTIVE OFFICE OF THE BOARD OF PUBLIC WORKS
To the Board of Public Works, Gentlemen :
The following is the yearly report of the executive office :
Appropriation
$ 5,500.00 300.00
Transfer to Chapin Avenue account
$ 5,200.00
Expended :
Salaries
$ 4,089.68
Misc. Supplies
1,107.52
Total
$ 5,197.20
Balance Unexpended
$ 2.80
The following table shows the expenditures made this past year in all departments, the payroll of each, and the entire expenditures of the Board of Public Works.
B. P. W. Water Highway
Sewer Park
Totals
Pay Roll $ 4,089.68 $13,826.96 $26,595.99 $
2,176.29 $
364.25 $ 47,053.17
Bills 1,107.52 40,849.99 53,527.98
7,046.91 2,314.93 104,847.33
Totals $ 5,197.20 $54,676.95 $80,123.97 $ 9,223.20 $ 2,679.18 $151,900.50
In closing this report, the Superintendent wishes to thank the mem- bers of the Board for their many helpful suggestions and kindness ex- tended to him during the year, and also to express his appreciation of the co-operation and interest of all those in any way associated with him in carrying on the work of the department, and to acknowledge the helpful suggestions and assistance which he has received from other department heads in the town.
ALEXANDER BIRNIE, Superintendent.
235
FORTIETH ANNUAL REPORT
of the
ELECTRIC LIGHT
COMMISSIONERS
For the Year Ended December 31,
1934
OFFICERS OF ELECTRIC LIGHT AND POWER DEPARTMENT
Commissioners
HENRY R. JOHNSON, Chairman Term expires 1935
HERBERT G. EVANS, Secretary Term expires 1936
LOUIS ELLENWOOD
Term expires 1937
Manager ARTHUR G. SIAS
Office 177 Main St., Reading, Mass.
MANAGER'S REPORT
To the Municipal Light Board :
Gentlemen :
I submit, herewith, my report covering the operation of the Municipal Light Plant for the year ending December 31, 1934.
The maximum load carried during the year was 2500 K. W., an increase of 250 K. W. over the previous year, or 11 per cent.
We purchased 7,516,389 kilowatt hours as compared with 7,213,269 in 1933, an increase of 303,120. The average cost per kilowatt hour pur- chased was 1.121 cents. The kilowatt hours sold increased about 4.2 per cent; the increase in the different classes of service being 6 per cent in Residence Service, 6.3 per cent in Commercial Lighting, 18.5 per cent in Commercial Miscellaneous, 23.7 per cent in Municipal Lighting, 26.6 per cent in Municipal power and 7.1 per cent in Street Lighting. The decrease in kilowatt hours sold for Commercial Power was 15.9 per cent. The kilowatt hours sold per residence meter in- creased from 726 to 758.5.
The income from sales of current was $264,735.32 as compared with $274,696.67, a decrease of $9,961.35, which was due principally to the reduction in the rates for service which went into effect on January 1, 1934, affecting Residence, Commercial and Power customers. The re- duction in the cost of service to these customers, based on the average rates paid in 1933, was as follows: Residence customers, $8,081.25; Commercial customers, $7,648.81; and Power customers, $3,360.69, or a total saving of $19,090.75.
Operating expenses for the year were $236,286.98, an increase of $22,080.36. Production expenses increased $5,876.69, of which $5,188.33 was for additional current purchased, and $728.26 for repairs to the Railroad Trestle. Distribution expenses increased $12,212.78, about
238
$4,800 of which was due to increased payroll on account of additional employes, $4,046 for the installation of lightning protection on trans- formers, and about $1200 for the installation of outdoor meters. Utiliza- tion expense increased $2,240.56. About $1,400 of this increase was on account of re-connecting customers services from overhead to under- ground on Haven, Main and Ash Streets. The increase in General and Miscellaneous Expenses of $1,366.47 is due principally to the increase in the amount charged to Depreciation.
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