USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Reading > Town of Reading Massachusetts annual report 1937 > Part 16
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An allotment of funds from the State and County for maintenance work on streets previously constructed under Chapter 90 was expended on sections of Lowell, Salem and Haverhill Streets. On Lowell Street, from Middlesex Avenue to Grove Street, Tarvia was applied to the road surface, covered with 3/8" stone and honed.
On Salem Street, gutters were cut out where ragged edges existed, filled with K. P. mix and rolled. On Haverhill Street, Tarvia Retread B was applied to the surface, and certain sections were honed.
Under Chapter 464 of the General Laws, funds were allotted the Town from a State bond issue for road work, to be used for either construction or maintenance at the Town's discretion, with the approval of the Massachusetts State Department of Public Works. By means of this allotment, Pleasant Street, from Main Street to Middle Street, was reconstructed with a penetration macadam surface; and on Parker Street, from Pleasant Street to beyond the fire station, in the location of the old street car rails, a strip twelve feet wide was reconstructed with a penetration macadam surface.
Pleasant and Parker Streets are heavily traveled roads, and were in bad repair.
The residue of the Chapter 464 allotment was used for maintenance work on several streets of secondary importance. On several of these, where the street surface was of macadam penetration, sections of the
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surface which had failed and raveled were cut out, broken stone laid, penetrated with asphalt and rolled. On oil treated gravel streets the surfaces were treated with a road oil, and either honed or scarified and rolled as conditions required.
For several years prior to 1937 little money had been appropriated for maintenance of highways. As a result, the streets of the Town were in a bad condition. The increased appropriations for road maintenance made it possible for the Department to do much work in 1937. The re- sults are apparent. Many streets formerly in poor condition are now in good condition. Good streets are a necessity in any Town. Much work, however, remains to be done. Funds should be made available each year so that new work can be done continuously and so that regu- lar routine maintenance can be accomplished all over Town. In this way only can the streets be kept in good repair.
A regular program of replacement and addition of equipment has been put in effect. It should be rigidly followed. With new equipment being constantly added and old equipment constantly replaced the De- partment will be able to function efficiently and economically.
Chapter 83 Construction
The following listed streets were accepted as Public Ways under the provisions of Chapter 83, Section 26, General Laws, which statute authorizes the assessment of betterments for road construction, at an- nual and special Town Meetings.
Annual Town Meeting-March 8 and 15, 1937
Puritan Road-Lowell St. northerly to John Carver Rd. 657.79 feet
Priscilla Road-Puritan Rd. easterly to dead end 586.64 feet
Waverly Road-Ridge Rd. northerly to Hillside Rd. 200.00 feet
Laneton Way-Longview Rd. northerly to dead end 200.12 feet
Special Town Meeting-November 15, 1937
Sylvan Road-Oak Ridge Rd. to Pine Ridge Rd. 200.00 feet
Oak Ridge Road-Oak St. southerly to dead end 851.77 feet
Pine Ridge Road-Oak St. southerly to Sylvan Rd. 711.68 feet
The total length of streets accepted as Public Ways in 1937 is 3,453.09 feet, or .654 miles.
The construction of Priscilla, Puritan and Waverly Roads and Lane- ton Way has been completed, and were constructed of tar surfaced gravel, with gravel sidewalks topped with stone dust. On Puritan Road it was necessary to install drain pipe and secure an easement through private property to properly drain the roadway. A gasoline shovel was
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hired to excavate these four roadways, and the roads were constructed by department and extra employees. Twenty-eight dwelling houses are located on these roadways. Sylvan, Oak Ridge and Pine Ridge Roads, located in a new development called "Colonial Village", were accepted as Public Ways too late in the fall for 1937 construction, and will be constructed in 1938.
One other road, Fairmount Road, running from Hopkins Street northerly 533.96 feet to North Street, on which are located seven dwell- ing houses of modern design and construction, was presented by the Board for acceptance at the March Town Meeting, under the betterment act, whereby the owners of property abutting Fairmount Road would pay 100% of the cost of constructing the road. The Town Meeting re- fused to accept the report of the Board on the Layout of the road, thereby setting a precedent, no road ever having been refused accept- ance since the Betterment Act was inaugurated by the Town in 1931. The property owners who petitioned the Board to lay out Fairmount Road as a public town way, upon refusal of the Town Meeting to accept it as such, petitioned the County Commissioners, under Section 27, Chapter 82, General Laws, to lay out Fairmount Road as a Public Way. The County Commissioners have vested in them the power to construct the road and direct the Town to pay the expenses and charges incurred in so doing. The County Commissioners held a hearing on the matter. Interested parties were present. The County Commissioners have not acted on the matter as yet. It is felt, however, that since nobody ap- peared at the hearing in opposition to the acceptance, the County Com- missioners will, in all probability, order the Town to accept the road as a Public Way.
Hartshorn Street, accepted under the Betterment Act in 1936, from the acceptance of 1900 to Bancroft Avenue, was completed, gravel side- walks built and stone bounds set.
Colburn Road, accepted under the Betterment Act in 1935, and partially constructed by E. R. A. and W. P. A. projects, was com- pleted by the Department in 1937.
Alterations and Relocations
One relocation was voted at the March Town Meeting, at the Northwesterly intersection of Kingston and Mt. Vernon Streets. At this point, Kingston Street is narrowed by a protruding ledge and earth bank, with a square corner. The corner has been rounded, and a start made on removing the ledge and earth, but has not been completed because of stress of other work.
The southeasterly intersection of Bancroft Avenue and Lowell Street, relocated in 1936, has been completed. Ledge and earth was ex-
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cavated, the relocated area graded and tarred, and a field stone re- taining wall constructed along the radius of alteration. A stone-dust topped gravel sidewalk was built at the retaining wall.
At the southeasterly intersection of Main and Washington Streets, also relocated in 1936, the corner was rounded, excavated and surfaced with macadam. Granite radius curbing was installed on the radius of relocation.
Chapter 90 Construction
The following sums were appropriated at the March Town Meet- ing under Chapter 90, Section 34, General Laws, for the purpose of improving and constructing portions of Woburn and Lowell Streets : for Woburn Street, $4,000.00; for Lowell Street, $4,000.00. The State and County granted the sums of $9,600.00 for each street, making a grand total for each street of $13,600.00.
Woburn Street was constructed from the end of the 1936 construc- tion at Pratt Street to the Boston & Maine Railroad crossing, totaling 1,601 feet in length and comprising 5,337 square yards of pavement. Preliminary to the construction of the roadway, drainage was installed, catch basins and manholes rebuilt and raised to grade, granite edge- stones and inlets reset, and water and sewer connections inspected and renewed where necessary. A storm drain was installed on Lincoln Street from Woburn Street to near Prescott Street to carry off surface drainage from Woburn Street. A gasoline shovel was employed in excavation work, and gravel fill taken from the Town pit. All pre- liminary and broken stone penetration foundation work was accom- plished by department and extra employees. The top surface, of Class I Bituminous Concrete, was furnished and laid by a private contractor. This type of surface is now being used extensively in thickly settled neighborhoods to deaden traffic sounds, as it presents a closely fabri- cated smooth finished surface.
Lowell Street was constructed from the end of the 1936 construction near Bradford (Private) Road to a point near No. 354 Lowell Street, 1691.5 feet in length and totaling 5,638 square yards. Drainage was in- stalled preliminary to construction, and the culvert north of Grove Street was relaid with larger pipe. Excavation was done with a gaso- line shovel, and gravel for filling hauled from the Town pit. A Peno- lithic penetration surface was constructed, all construction work being done by Department employees and extra employees. Due to delay in receiving the State and County allotments, Lowell Street was not started until the latter part of September, and the cold weather in No- vember and December retarded the work somewhat. Work was com- pleted late in December.
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Sidewalk Construction
Granolithic Sidewalks
Granolithic sidewalks totaling 1,582.27 square yards on a total frontage of 2,579.47 feet were constructed in 1937, abuting 35 different properties, at an average total cost of $1.65 per square yard, and an average cost to owners of $.83 per square yard. Thirty-four of these' installations were made under the Betterment Act, the abutting property owners paying back to the Town one-half the cost of construction. The square yards of granolithic sidewalks constructed in 1937 was almost double that of the preceding year.
Included in this construction was the granolithic sidewalk installed on Main Street, west side, from Washington Street to Post Office Square. The old sidewalk was of gravel construction, in deplorable and dangerous condition, and is one of the heaviest traveled sidewalks in town.
Several applications are on hand for installation of granolithic side- walks, received in 1937 but not installed because of lack of funds. These applications will be given priority in 1938 construction.
The following table illustrates granolithic sidewalk installations in 1937.
Granolithic Sidewalk Construction by Streets
Street
Number Lots
Feet Frontage
Square Yards
Bancroft Avenue
1
100.00
54.66
Gardner Road
1
72.70
42.79
Glen Road
1 ~
70.00
39.33
Grand Street
4
310.05
154.03
Highland Street
1
190.04
95.02
King Street
1
91.85
47.31
Kingston Street
6
408.50
242.26
Main Street
10
663.45
496.04
Middlesex Avenue
1
76.67
42.24
Virginia Road
1
70.00
36.91
West Street
6
361.59
233.16
Winthrop Avenue
1
100.00
54.84
Woburn Street
1
64.62
43.68
Totals
35
2,579.47
1,582.27
Persons who are contemplating granolithic sdiewalks abutting their properties are urged to present their applications at once. The Town has comparatively little permanent sidewalk in place. Special effort should be made to increase the amount as good sidewalks are a neces-
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sity. Combined efforts of the Town Government and property owners would soon result in miles of good sidewalks of a permanent character.
Stone Dust Sidewalks
Stone dust top coating of gravel sidewalks was carried on extensive- ly during the year, both as repairs to old gravel sidewalks and new construction. A total of 126.8 tons of stone dust was used to surface 7,180 square yards of sidewalk surface on a frontage of 13,127 feet.
Gravel Sidewalks
Gravel sidewalks were constructed abutting newly constructed dwelling houses, in locations where granite curbing was installed, and on all betterment street acceptances, and several old gravel sidewalks were regraded.
A total of 3,573 square yards were constructed on a frontage of 6,159 lineal feet.
Bound Stones
Bound Stones were set as required by law to define street lines, as illustrated in the following table :
Street
Location Set
Number Set
Hartshorn Street-Bancroft Ave. to Accept. of Mar. 1900
19
Sunnyside Avenue-Prescott St. to Fairview Ave.
9
Fairview Avenue-Sunnyside Ave. to Pratt St.
5
Totals
33
At the intersection of Grove and Forest Streets, one bound was reset.
A number of reinforced concrete bounds of standard dimensions have been made, and are being used in place of granite bounds.
Granite Curbing
A new high was attained in 1937 for granite curbing installation. A total of 2,153.50 feet of straight curbing, 119.46 feet of radius curbing, and 43 driveway returns were set abutting 32 different properties, 31 of the installations being made under the Betterment Act. The following table defines curbing installation by streets in 1937:
Granite Curbing Installed by Streets
Street
Number Ft. Curbing Installed Total Length
Lots
Straight
Radius
Returns
Feet
Bancroft Avenue
1
39.05
2
39.05
Deering Street
1
76.00
76.00
Grand Street
4
271.75
2.56
6
284.31
Highland Street
1
150.00
2
150.00
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Street
Number Ft. Curbing Installed Total Length Lots Straight Radius Returns Feet
King Street
1
92.20
92.20
Kingston Street
5
259.80
10
259.80
Main Street
10
468.35
59.80
8
528.15
Pennsylvania Avenue
1
78.80
1
78.80
Prospect Street
2
134.20
47.10
4
181.30
Temple Street
1
50.85
2
50.85
Woburn Street
5
532.50
8
532.50
Totals
32
2,153.50
119.46
43
2,272.96
On West Street, abutting No. 196, 45 feet of straight curbing and 2 driveway returns were reset, owing to a change of grade. On Woburn Street, in locus of 1937 Chapter 90 construction, 585.7 feet of straight curbing and 56.1 feet of radius curbing were reset to grade and line. On Salem Street near John Street 25.0 feet of straight curbing was reset.
Persons contemplating granite curbing in front of their properties are urged to file applications for same immediately. Granite curbing is not only an asset to the Town as a whole but is a distinct asset to the abutting property. It is hoped that the installation of curbing will continue to increase as it has the past year.
Storm Water Drainage
Storm water drainage installation was advanced 5,070.40 feet during the year. These drains were installed entirely by departmental and ex- tra employees. Woburn Street and Lowell Street Chapter 90 construc- tion necessitated the major portion of drain installation; the remainder was installed to remedy bad drainage conditions in various locations.
A drain was laid through private property from Hopkins Street at the settling basins installed in 1936 to a State Highway drain on Main Street at Hobart's Garage. The wash from Hopkins Street formerly overflowed on private property and caused considerable embarrassment to owners of five properties. The new drain relieves this former bad condition and relieves the Town of a dangerous physical and legal situation.
On Grove Street, a parallel condition existed. A drain was laid on private property and will be connected in the Spring of 1938 with a drain to be installed on Grove Street. Easements were secured from the owners of the property through which these drains are laid.
The following table shows all storm water drains installed, by streets in 1937 :
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STORM WATER DRAINAGE Size and Length of Pipe Installed
24"
18"
15"
12"
8''
6"
CMC BHI
Totals
Lowell Street
477.0
1403.6
4 7
12
1880.6
Woburn Street
596.0
43.0
6.0
12 4
11
645.0
Lincoln Street
305.0
3
2
3 305.0
Hopkins Street
838.0
2
1
838.0
Pleasant Street
24.0
24.0
Longwood Road
560.65
2
2
2
560.65
Hartshorn Street
8.0
20.0
28.0
Puritan Road
200.8
3
200.8
Fairview Avenue
1
Pearl Street
12.0
12.0
85.0
109.0
Hillcrest Road
22.0
1
22.0
High Street
13.0
2
13.0
Mineral and Summer
1
Grove Street
200.0
200.0
Brook Street
12.0
12.0
West Street
216.35
2 3
2
216.35
Ash Street
16.0
16.0
TOTALS
12.0
240.35
562.0 4174.05
76.0
6.0 34 19 30 5,070.40
A W. P. A. project has been approved for the installation of sev- eral storm water drains. This project started December 27, 1937, and will continue during the winter months, employing all the laboring per- sonnel of the Reading W. P. A. The first drains installed will be on Green Street, between Elliott and Village Streets, and on Elliott Street from Green to Washington Streets.
Several bad drainage conditions exist in various locations. These should be corrected. Good drainage is the first requisite of good roads. It is impossible to keep the road surface in good condition where poor drainage conditions exist. Poor drainage is also a constant irritation to nearby owners and to the traveling public. It is also poor advertising for the Town. Funds should and must be made available to eliminate these conditions.
Much time and thought has been given to the question of draining the area of the Town adjacent to Lake Quannapowitt. With proper drainage much land in this area would become valuable and raise the valuation of the Town. This problem will of necessity have to be solved and it should be kept in mind and preparations made when pos- sible to finance the necessary work.
Maintenance of Storm Drains
Several open ditches were cleaned and lowered during the year, to relieve drainage conditions.
The open ditch from Main Street to Haverhill Street was cleared and excavated for a distance of approximately 800 feet. Other locations where open ditches were cleared are Summer Avenue, West Street,
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1
Franklin Street
Memorial Park, Willow Street, Brook Street, Fairview Avenue, South and Walnut Streets.
Several culverts and street drains that had become clogged were either rodded or flushed with water pressure from hydrants. A head- wall of stone mortar was constructed at a culvert on Bond Street. The machine recently purchased for cleaning sewers may also be used for cleaning storm drains.
Several open ditches in residential areas are a distinct health men- ace. They are breeding places for disease. It is imperative that a pro- gram of piping in these ditches be rigidly followed and this menace to health removed. People living near these ditches are certainly justified in demanding that these ditches be piped.
Open ditches have been, in the past few years, neglected with the result that they are in poor condition with a resultant poor flow of drainage. This also constitutes a health menace. Also there is the pos- sibility of damage to nearby properties from floods. Funds should be made available yearly so that these ditches may be kept clean.
General
The Highway Department is now located in its new quarters in the newly constructed Public Works Garage on John Street, south of the Boston Stove Foundry. All Department rolling equipment and sup- plies are housed in the garage, and the old barn at the corner of John and Union Streets is now being used only as a sand shed and for K. P. mixing.
The problems of the Highway Department are many and varied. To accomplish much in a short period would require great expenditures of money. Due to other unusual requirements on Town Funds it is, at present, impossible to expend large sums on public works. This does not mean, however, that everything of a public works nature should be dropped and forgotten in the stress of the unusual expenses. It is the firm conviction of this Department that a great deal can be accomplished by judiciously following a set program over a period of years. Such a program was prepared by this Department and published in the 1936 report. So far as funds were available in 1937 this program has been followed. It is hoped that the Department will be financially able to continue this program in the future. It is really surprising what can be accomplished in a relatively short time by following a definite program for public improvements. It is felt that such a course should be followed even in good times when Town finances warrant larger ex- penditures. So many things need to be done that the only sensible and feasible manner of handling the problem as a whole is to do something each year. It is then after a passage of years that the whole total done shows many needed improvements have been accomplished without any
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undue increase in expenditures in any one year, and which, is most import- ant, without having added to the funded indebtedness of the Town. Many Towns and Cities are now carrying terrific burdens of funded indebted- ness simply because no set program was initiated and followed. Instead large bond issues were raised at the moment for many improvements which were undoubtedly excellent. However the time has now come when these bond issues must be retired. This financial burden plus the unusual expenditures necessitated by the present employment conditions have resulted in high tax rates and serious curtailment of governmental services. All this could have been avoided by instituting a set program and having the patience to adhere strictly to it. The public improve- ments could have been constructed over a period of years which would have obviated the necessity of paying large amounts of interest on borrowed money.
With the experience of other Towns to profit by, this department is definitely convinced of the wisdom of following its prepared program. It is hoped that the Town may also be convinced of the wisdom of this. program and make available the funds necessary to follow it.
Rolling Equipment of the Board of Public Works
The following chart will illustrate the rolling equipment of the Highway, Water and Sewer Departments, and the year purchased :
No.
Item Year Purchased
1. 1 .
5 Ton Sterling H. C. 100 MZ Truck 1937
2. 1 -
Model 82 Barber-Greene Loader 1937
3. 1 - Model E-31 Cletrac Tractor 1937
4. 1 Chevrolet Chassis Air Compressor Truck 1937
5. 1 Model 80 "Handy Sandy" Sand Spreader 1937
6. 1 Ford V-8 Pick-Up Truck 1937
7. 1 5 Ton Sterling HC 100 Truck 1936-
8. 1
11/2 Ton Dodge Truck with Custom Built Body 1936
9. 1 -
11/2 Ton Chevrolet Truck 1936
10. 1 Chevrolet Standard Coupe
1936
11. 1
Cletrac Model BG Tractor
1936
12.
1 5
Ton Walters F. M. Four Wheel Drive Truck
1935
13. 1
21/2 Ton Diamond T. Truck
1934
14. 1
Caterpillar Tractor
1934
15.
1
11/2 Ton Chevrolet Truck
1934
16.
1 - 15
Ton Gasoline Driven Road Roller
1931
17.
1
Master 7 Cement Mixer 1931
18.
1
5
Ton Autocar Truck 1930
19.
1
Fordson Tractor 1927
20. 1 Trailer 1923
21. 1 K. P. Mixer 1922
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PARK DEPARTMENT
To the Board of Public Works :
Gentlemen :
$ 3,460.00 Expended :
Memorial Park
Pay Roll, Care of Park $ 417.72
Lights
25.09
Resurface Tennis Court
280.00
Misc. Supplies & Tools
164.69
$ 887.50
Washington St. Park
Pay Roll
$ 465.49
Lights
9.00
Misc. Supplies
96.63
$
571.12
Birch Meadow Playground
Pay Roll
$ 659.15
Lights
183.11
Playground Equipment
107.00
Misc. Supplies
321.32
$
1,270.58
Common
Pay Roll
$ 207.58
Loam & Grass Seed
154.68
Misc. Supplies
100.46
$ 462.72
Leach Park
Pay Roll
$ 94.96
Misc. Supplies
14.75
$ 109.71
Curtis St.Skating Rink
Pay Roll
$ 136.37
Lights
7.50
Supplies
12.16
$
156.03
Total Expended
$ 3,457.66
Balance Unexpended
$ 2.34
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The following is the yearly report of the Park Department: Appropriation
The use of the various Parks and Playgrounds for recreational ac- tivities, by both youthful and adult outdoor sports enthusiasts, continued unabated throughout the entire year. Skating, hockey, tennis, baseball, football, horse-shoe pitching, all had their devotees in season.
Neighborhood baseball clubs were formed, the tennis and horseshoe clubs were active, and in winter months, several hockey clubs were or- ganized.
A brief resume of improvements made at the various Parks, Play- grounds and Commons follows :
Memorial Park
In the early Spring, the horseshoe courts, which were damaged to some extent by the high water in the skating pond, were reconditioned. Boxes were filled with clay and the lights were repaired and put in operation.
The enclosed play yard was put in order, swings hung and repairs made to equipment. A large sand box was built, which proved popular with the smaller children. The W. P. A. Recreational Project was again in charge of supervised play activities and performed their duties in an efficient and satisfactory manner.
Tennis Court No. 2 was resurfaced with asphaltic concrete. Many favorable comments have been made by tennis players regarding the new surface.
All walks, paths and driveways in the park were edged, raked and smoothed in the Spring. Trees and shrubs were trimmed and pruned, and when Laneton Way was constructed, a number of trees and shrubs were obtained and planted in the Park, in the vicinity of the drainage ditch. The Salem Street entrance to the Park was completely renovated, and low spots in the grassed areas were loamed, graded and seeded.
The skating pond was kept flooded during the winter months and while very little skating was possible in the early part of 1937, due to the extremely mild weather, the latter part of the year was cold and skat- ing conditions excellent. Snow was removed when necessary from the skating area. Some minor repairs were made to the dam and gate before the area was flooded.
It is recommended that tennis court No. 1 be resurfaced with asphaltic concrete in 1938.
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