USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Reading > Town of Reading Massachusetts annual report 1938 > Part 15
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3"
114"
11/2"
1374
Six-inch mains were laid under the 4% guarantee on Haverhill, Hunt, Lewis, Salem, Belmont, and Hartshorn Streets, Pine Ridge and John Carver Roads, and Granger Avenue. Ten newly constructed houses were serviced by these mains, and two houses that had formerly been using private wells for a water supply were serviced by the other two. On Main Street, South of Franklin Street, it was necessary to lay a 11/4 inch main in the Westerly sidewalk to avoid excavating the State Highway, to supply water to a new residence. This 11/4 inch main was tapped on a six-inch stub laid to the sideline of Main Street in 1931, for possible future use.
Prior to the Chapter 90 construction of Lowell Street, four six-inch taps were made at intersecting streets-Intervale Terrace, Harvard Street, Bond Street and Hartshorn Street Extension, and six-inch pipe laid to the street line of Lowell Street, for possible future use. One of these mains has already been used, at Hartshorn Street Extension, to supply two newly erected houses with water. Also, prior to the Chap- ter 90 construction of Woburn Street, a six-inch tap was made at the intersection of Bancroft Avenue and a connection made with a 11/4 inch pipe previously installed.
The old six-inch main which formerly supplied the Alton Rubber Mfg. Co. plant on Lowell Street (situated in the tract of land now known as Puritan Park) was disconnected from the eight-inch main on Lowell Street, as it is not now used .
A W. P. A. storm drain project on Haven Street necessitated the moving of several feet of six-inch main, which was accomplished by by- passing with 45% bends.
Four breaks in main water pipes occurred during 1938. Early in January, a break occurred in the six-inch main on Van Norden Road opposite Harold Avenue. The main cracked around the top of the pipe, beginning at a 11/4 inch corporation cock put in some years ago for Harold Avenue main. To effect repairs, a 6 inch by 2 inch repair sleeve was placed around the broken sector, a 2 inch by 11/4 inch re- ducing bushing installed, and the 11/4 inch corporation inserted in the bushing. On John Street, near the Boston Stove Foundry, a section of eight-inch main split. This was repaired by removing the split section and installing a new length of pipe and a split sleeve.
On Lowell Street, East of Winthrop Avenue, a joint blew out in an eight-inch main ; as did a joint in a six-inch main on Haverhill Street near Granger Avenue.
All applications for main water pipe extensions to private proper- ties on new developments received in 1938 have been completed, al- though several prospective extensions are in evidence for 1939.
Water Department
196
Service Pipe Construction and Maintenance
Service pipe construction to houses totaled 52 new services and two services replaced at the request of the owners. New services totaled 2921.2 feet in length, with an average length of 54.10 feet per service. There are now 40.24 miles of service pipe in use in Reading, from 3/4 inch to 6 inch sizes, and a total of 2694 service taps in use.
On Lowell Street, prior to Chapter 90 construction, twelve services were installed and run to the gutter line at vacant lots, for possible future use, and on Woburn Street, one service was installed for a simi- lar purpose. Although the policy of installing water services to vacant lots preliminary to the construction of a permanent-surfaced roadway may seem at first an unnecessary expenditure, it has proved a wise in- vestment due to the preservation of the newly constructed roadways. Many services thus installed are used each year. All services on both Woburn and Lowell Streets in the locus of 1938 Chapter 90 construc- tion that had been installed for a long period of years were excavated, the service pipe carefully inspected, and where necessary, replaced with new pipe.
It was necessary to repair twelve service pipes in the street in vari- ous locations, due to leaks, and seven of these services were renewed from main to stop. During the course of this work, eleven defective sidewalk shut-offs were replaced.
A section of Lowell Street, between Winthrop Avenue and Puritan Road, was serviced by both a 11/4 inch and an eight-inch main. Nine house services were connected to the 11/4 inch main, and, as this main was no longer efficient or necessary, these nine services were cut over to the eight-inch main and the 11/4 inch main abandoned.
Due to breaks, it was necessary to repair 79 house services, 32 of which were excavated at the cellar walls and sections of pipe replaced ; and 47 new cellar shut-offs were installed. This work was done at the owners' request and expense.
Meter Maintenance
During the year, 397 water meters of various sizes were removed from houses and tested. Of these it was necessary to repair 235 meters for various reasons, eight meters were replaced with new meters, and five meters were found beyond repair and junked. There are 109 meters in the meter room taken from services where water has been shut off from unoccupied houses. New meters have been set on 31 new water services. Eighteen meters were frozen during the cold weather.
Water Department
197
The annual inspection of meter boxes resulted in replacing five old wooden structures with new brick meter boxes, one obsolete pipe meter box was removed and filled, and one old brick box repaired. Where necessary, meter boxes were felted to prevent possible freezing. While meter boxes are eliminated when possible, unheated cellars in many locations prohibit installation of meters due to possibility of freezing.
Fire Hydrants
Five new fire hydrants were added to the water system, three on new water main extensions, namely Curtis, Harrison and Lewis Streets ; and two on Woburn Street, preliminary to Chapter 90 construction of the roadway, one at the Reading Public Library, the other at the South- east corner or Woburn and High Streets.
Three hydrants were broken by' automobiles in the following loca- tions : Main Street, West Side, opposite Cross Street; Lee Street, West Side, front of No. 22; and Haverhill Street, West Side, corner Granger Avenue. They were all quickly repaired with but small loss of water. The hydrant on Main Street was broken by a "Hit-and-Run" driver ; the owners of the other two vehicles striking hydrants reported their respective accidents.
Five hydrants were moved distances varying from 15.0 to 40.0 feet each, to permit freer access to abutting driveways, from in front of residences, and to eliminate traffic hazards. Two hydrants were raised to comply with changed sidewalk grades, and three old hydrants replaced with new hydrants.
The annual inspection of fire hydrants was made in November, and repairs made where necessary. Each individual hydrant was opened, checked for defective valve, drip, etc., greased and packed. Four hy- drants were gated, one required a new valve screw shaft, and one drip was dug.
There are now a total of 307 fire hydrants, public and private, in the water system.
Well System
The near-record rainfall of 1938 and the resulting all-season flooded condition of the Ipswich River and Hundred Acre Meadow prevented the installation of a proposed new suction main and well line. The well-field was inundated until late in the Fall to a depth of several inches, and well driving equipment could not be taken out on the meadows.
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It was possible, however, to inspect the wells. Each well was un- capped, spudded and pumped. Certain wells that showed excessive sand, poor flowage, or other defects were cut off from the suction mains for further attention in 1939. On Suction Line A., Wells No. 9 and No. 10 were and are cut off ; Line B., Well No. 25; Line F., Well No. 4. and Line G., Well No. 5; making a total of five wells not in use. There are 80 tubular 21/2 inch driven wells in use as of December 31, 1938. The five wells cut off will be driven to a coarser gravel strata, cleared and re-connected when conditions permit.
It is planned to extend the well system with a new suction main and driven wells in 1939.
Filtration Plant
The Iron Removal Plant operated efficiently and effectively, a total of 213,853,400 gallons of filtered, aerated water being delivered to the mains averaging 585,900 gallons per day for the year. The iron content of the raw water was much greater than that of 1937, and it is assumed that this was caused by the high water in the Ipswich River and con- sequent flooding of the well-field area, carrying into the wells more water having the characteristics of surface water and less having that of true ground water. It is a proven fact that the introduction of this surface water with its vegetable-organic matter will delay the oxidiza- tion of the iron, which is evidently occurring at our well-field. A par- tial remedy for this condition is the addition of more wells to the well system to reduce the draft upon the well area and to lessen the ten- dency for the surface water to take a short cut to the wells without having its organic matter oxidized by passage through the soil.
Tables in this report show a comprehensive comparison of analyses of raw water and filtered water at the Iron Removal Plant.
Standpipes
Auburn Street Standpipe, the exterior of which was stripped and painted in 1937, received further attention in 1938.
On April 16, 1938, the standpipe was drained, cut off from the water system, and water department employees cleared and flushed the accumulated silt and settlings from the bottom interior of the tank. The J. H. Treddinick Co. of Boston then removed the graphite paint from the entire interior of the standpipe, and applied two coats of asphalt paint. After the paint had set, a solution of chlorinated lime was introduced into the bottom of the standpipe, the inlet gate opened slightly, and the standpipe filled ten feet with water and let stand over-
Water Department
199
night. This was done as a safety measure to destroy any bacteria or germs left in the pipe by the workmen or their equipment. The stand- pipe was then allowed to fill and was turned back into the system.
During the period of painting Auburn Street Standpipe, Bare Hill Standpipe supplied storage facilities for daily consumption, and Hun- dred Acre Pumping Station was operated in two shifts, ending at 2:00 A. M., daily.
Bare Hill Standpipe functioned perfectly during the year, and re- quired no repairs. Periodic inspections were made of each standpipe through the year.
It is expected that the Bare Hill Standpipe will be cleaned and painted during 1939.
Pumping Stations
The September hurricane plainly disclosed the vulnerable point in the water distribution system; namely, the lack of an auxiliary source of power for emergency pumping purposes. Serious consideration is being given to the problem of supplying an emergency auxiliary source of power for this station.
The power line failed Wednesday, September 21, 1938, at 4:15 P. M., when the hurricane blew down trees, limbs, and poles, carrying the power line with it in several sections. The standpipes were lacking ten feet of full capacity when the pumps stopped, which would nor- mally be ample for forty-eight hours consumption.
Thursday afternoon, September 22, approximately twenty-four hours after the power line failed, the water in the standpipes had fallen ten feet, with no prospect of immediate renewal of electric power. While ample water still remained in the standpipes for another twenty-four hours, with normal use, the danger of serious fires from bare and broken wires with the resulting need of water in large quantities caused some concern. Therefore, arrangements were made with Superintend- ent Morrison A. Merrill of the Wakefield Water Department to open the gate connecting the Wakefield and Reading water systems on Haverhill Street near Bay State Road at the Town Line, and take water from the Wakefield supply mains. This was accomplished and the gate opened at 3:45 P. M., September 22, and Wakefield pumped water into Reading's mains until 8:35 P. M., Friday, September 23.
Water Department
200
At 7:30 P. M., Friday, September 23, the Municipal Light Depart- ment line crews, which had been working continuously and under great difficulties to clear and repair the power line, succeeded in restoring power to the Pumping Station. At that time, about 45 feet of water remained in the standpipes. The station began operating immediately, but at 9:10 P. M., power was again cut off. Crews were dispatched to trace out the trouble on the power line, and eventually found a fallen branch on the line on Strout Avenue. At 10:25 P. M., power was again restored, and the station operated continuously until 1:00 A. M., Sunday, September 25, when the standpipes had again been filled.
At no time during the shut-down of the station did a water- shortage threaten. Besides the connection with Wakefield on Haver- hill Street, arrangements were also made to open the emergency con- nection between Reading and Stoneham on South Main Street. This, however, proved unnecessary. Reading also has a connection with Wo- burn on West Street.
Mill Street Pumping Station was prepared for use in event of an emergency, the boilers were fired and the pumps turned over, but no water was pumped by it into the supply mains.
The regular maintenance work was accomplished during the year at both stations, and, except during the hurricane period, when power was cut off, Hundred Acre Station operated efficiently during the year.
This department is indebted to the Wakefield Water Department for their assistance during the days following the hurricane. We wish to take this occasion to extend to them our sincere thanks. We would also thank the Stoneham Water Department for their willingness to assist even though it was not necessary to call on them.
The Mill Street Pumping Station did not pump at all in 1938, al- though during the winter months it was kept heated to prevent freez- ing. It is recommended that a survey be made of the possibilities of any further use of this station as an emergency supply, or if this does not prove feasible, to abandon it entirely.
Recommendations :
Continue yearly extensions of the well-field.
Development of an auxiliary source of power supply for emergency use at the Grove Street Pumping Station.
Continue to eliminate dead end mains where possible.
Make a study of the possible future use of the Mill Street Pump- ing Station as an emergency unit.
Water Department
201
HIGHWAY DEPARTMENT
Gentlemen :
The following is the yearly report of the Highway Department : Appropriations Voted in March Town Meeting :
1. Highway Maintenance and Construction $ 44,500.00
2. Removal of Snow and Ice 11,450.00
3. Maintenance of Storm Drains 2,000.00
4. Sidewalk Construction 5,020.00
5. Development of Storm Water Drainage 6,400.00
6. Care of Dumps 1,200.00
7. Construction of Granger Avenue 798.40
8. Construction of High Street 1,500.00
9. Chapter 90 Construction-Woburn Street . . . 4,500.00
10. Chapter 90 Construction-Lowell Street 4,500.00
11. Appropriation for Special Labor 13,000.00
Appro riations Voted at Special Town Meeting May 23, 1938:
12. Construction of Waverly Road 968.29
13. Construction of Lawrence Road 1,985.00
Unexpended Balances from Previous Appropriations :
14. Construction of Oak Ridge Road. $ 112.75
15. Construction of Pine Ridge Road 67.00
16. Construction of Sylvan Road 44.50
17. Construction of Municipal Garage 4,130.18
4,354.43
18. Received from State and County for Chapter 90 Main- tenance 2,000.00
19. Received from State and County for Chapter 90 Con- struction-Woburn Street 13,500.00
20. Received from State and County for Chapter 90 Con- struction-Lowell Street 13,500.00
21. Transfer to Highway Dept. for Payment of 1937 bills .. 3.43
22. Transfer to Highway Dept. from Reserve. 375.00
23. Transfer to Snow and Ice for Payment of 1937 bills ... 14.75
24. Transfer to Snow and Ice from Reserve 1,681.53
25. Transfer to Sidewalk Account from Reserve 1,525.00
26. Received from Chapter 500 12,750.00
Grand Total $147,525.83
Expenditures and Balances of the above Appropriations : Item.
1. Highway Dept .- Appro. for Maint. and Const. . .. $ 44,500.00
18. Received from State and County for Chap. 90 Maint ... 2,000.00
Highway Department
202
21. Transfer for payment of 1937 bills
22. Transfer from Reserve 375.00
Total
$ 46,878.43
Expended :
$ 18,162.43
General Repairs
2,399.52
Road Material
14,389.39
Misc. Supplies and Tools
11,682.47
Transfer to Road Mch. Account.
221.50
Total Expended
46,855.31
Balance Unexpended
23.12
2. Removal of Snow and Ice
$ 11,450.00
23. Transfer to Snow and Ice-Payment of 1937 bills 14.75
24. Transfer to Snow and Ice from Reserve 1,681.53
Total
$ 13,146.28
Expended :
$ 8,465.12
Plowing and Hauling Snow
1,678.96
Repairs and Supplies
3,846.30
Total Expended
13,990.38
Minus Balance
$ 844.10
3. Maintenance of Storm Drains
$ 2,000.00
Expended :
Pay Roll $ 1,975.89
Miscellaneous Supplies
24.11
Total Expended $ 2,000.00
4. Sidewalk Construction
$ 5,020.00
25. Transfer from Reserve
1,525.00
$ 6,545.00
Expended :
Pay Roll
$ 4,541.79
Supplies for Construction
2,003.21
Total Expended
$ 6,545.00 .00
203
Highway Department
3.43
Pay Roll
Pay Roll
.00
5. Development of Storm Water Drainage $ 6,400.00
Expended : Pay Roll Pipe and Miscellaneous Supplies
$
3,631.53
2,768.14
Total Expended Balance Unexpended .33
$ 6,399.67
6. Care of Dumps $ 1,200.00
Expended : Pay Roll $ 1,078.79
Shrubbery
119.70
Total Expended $ 1,198.49
Balance Unexpended $ 1.51
7. Construction of Granger Avenue $ 798.40
Expended :
Supplies $ 10.65
Total Expended 10.65
Balance Unexpended
$ 787.75
8. Construction of High Street
$ 1,500.00
Expended :
Pay Roll $ 59.70
Road Material
1,440.30
Total Expended 1,500.00
9. Chapter 90 Construction-Woburn Street
$ 4,500.00
19. Received from State and County
13,500.00
$ 18,000.00
Expended :
Pay Roll $ 3,899.48
12,824.05
Total Expended 16,723.53
Balance Unexpended
$ 1,276.47
10. Chapter 90 Construction-Lowell Street. $ 4,500.00
20. Received from State and County 13,500.00
$ 18,000.00
Highway Department
204
Supplies and Miscellaneous
.00
Expended : Pay Roll
$
4,489.59
Supplies and Miscellaneous
5,660.21
Total Expended $ 10,149.80
Balance Unexpended
$ 7,850.20
11. Appropriation for Special Labor Expended Labor $ 13,000.00
13,000.00
12. Construction of Waverly Road. $ 968.29
Expended :
Pay Roll $ 302.53
Supplies
284.76
Total Expended 587.29
Balance Unexpended
$ 381.00
Expended :
Pay Roll $ 1,225.71
Supplies and Miscellaneous
759.27
Total Expended $ 1,984.98
Balance Unexpended
14. Construction of Oak Ridge Road-1937 Bal. Fwd.
$ 112.75
Expended :
Pay Roll $ 45.83
Supplies
66.92
Total Expended $ 112.75
15. Construction of Pine Ridge Road-1937 Bal. Fwd .. $ 67.00
Expended :
Pay Roll $ 64.21
Supplies
2.79
Total Expended 67.00
.00
Highway Department
205
$ 13,000.00
.00
13. Construction of Lawrence Road
$ 1,985.00
$ .02
.00
16. Construction of Sylvan Road-1937 Bal. Fwd ..
$
44.50
Expended : Pay Roll $ 8.90
Supplies
35.60
Total Expended
44.50
.00
17. Construction of Municipal Garage-1937 Bal. Fwd ... $ 4,130.18 Expended : Contracts $ 4,130.18
4,130.18
26. Chapter 500
$ 12,750.00
Expended :
$ 188.90
Supplies
272.37
Total Expended
$ 461.27
Balance Unexpended
$ 12,288.73
TOTALS
Bal. Fwd. to 1939
1-18-21-22
$46,878.43
Expended $46,855.31 13,990.38
$
23.12
2-23-24
13,146.28
-844.10
3
2,000.00
2,000.00
.00
4-25
6,545.00
6,545.00
.00
5
6,400.00
6,399.67
.33
1,200.00
1,198.49
1.51
7
798.40
10.65
787.75
$ 787.75
S
1.500.00
1,500.00
.00
9-19
13,000.00
16,723.53
1,276.47
1,276.47
10-20
18,000.00
10,149.80
7,850.20
7,850.20
11
13,000.00
13,000.00
.00
12
968.29
587.29
381.00
381.00
13
1,985.00
1,984.98
.02
14
112.75
112.75
.00
15
67.00
67.00
.00
16
44.50
44.50
.00
17
4,130.18
4,130.18
.00
20
12,750.00
461.27
12,288.73
12,283.73
Highway Department
206
Items
Appro. and Transfers
Balance
.00
Pay Roll
Work accomplished by the Highway Department in 1938 exceeded that of former years. Maintenance work on streets and sidewalks ac- counted for much of the year's program, and construction of new streets was also increased.
Woburn Street was completed and a section of Lowell Street con- structed under Chapter 90 appropriations; High Street between Wo- burn and Chute Streets was re-surfaced with Special Labor Account funds, using Welfare recipients for labor purposes, and Oak Ridge, Pine Ridge and Sylvan Roads, Lawrence Road and a portion of Wav- erly Road were constructed under the Betterment Act.
Granolithic sidewalk construction and granite curbing installations were extended substantially, in several localities, under the Betterment Act. On Salem and Pleasant Streets, granolithic sidewalks were con- structed abutting twenty-six adjoining properties.
Storm water drain installation was extended 8,203.7 feet in 1938, to permit proper drainage of streets and private properties. W. P. A. projects were responsible for most of the installations.
The erection of the gravel plant at the new Town Pit aided greatly in supplying sand, gravel and stone for departmental work. The new gravel pit has proven satisfactory and is in constant use. An option has been secured on land adjoining the Town Pit which will insure an adequate supply of gravel for several years.
The September hurricane caused much damage in Reading. The shade trees which lined our streets suffered much damage, in several instances being uprooted and thrown intact across the highways. The leaves had not fallen from the maples, elms, oaks and other deciduous trees, and they presented a surface to the wind which no doubt was responsible for the destruction of many of the trees. The wind, which reached an official velocity of over 100 miles per hour, came in gusts and from several different angles, and caused the trees to be twisted out of the ground in several instances observed. In other instances, trees were uprooted and tipped over. Curbing, hard-surfaced side- walks and streets were torn up by the roots of fallen trees; and sev- eral buildings were badly damaged by falling tree trunks. Storm emergency reconstruction was started the day following the hurricane, and has been completed.
The major accomplishments of the Highway Department for 1933 of work of a permanent constructive nature, separated into the differ- ent phases of work done, is briefly outlined in the following report.
Snow and Ice
There were nine snow storms requiring operation of the snow- plow units in 1938, totaling 54.75 inches of fallen snow. This, of course,
Highway Diprinint
207
does not include the several light precipitations not requiring attention other than sanding.
The first snow-storm in 1938 began at midnight December 31, 1937. Temperature 13 degrees above zero, snow light and dry. Truck street plow units sent out at 5:30 A. M., January 1, and tractor and horse- drawn sidewalk plows at 8:00 A. M. Two minor mechanical break- downs were suffered by two of the street plow units and were quickly repaired. The temperature slowly rose, during the day, and at 6:00 P. M., the falling snow became mixed with rain and sleet. Approxi- mately 81/2 inches of snow fell during this storm.
Snow removal from the Square was started at 7:30 P. M., January 1, and continued until 5:30 P. M., January 2, at which time all regular locations from which snow is ordinarily removed, were cleared. The night of January 1 and 2 was one of the worst weather conditions possible. Rain, sleet, and mist froze immediately upon everything it hit. Roads became very slippery and were sanded through the night.
A new system of time or work cards for extra men employed on snow removal work was inaugurated during this storm. Under this system, each man when hired is furnished a time card bearing his name, address and a number, good for 24 hours on the day dated. His card is punched by a timekeeper on the hour he starts working, and punched again when he finishes work and the card turned in. Time out for meals is also punched on the card. At the end of the period for which the card is made out, it is checked with a control sheet and the timekeeper's time book, and the man's time made out from the card. The card is then placed on file for future reference should any dispute arise over the man's hours of work. The system has served to eliminate errors in timekeeping and has been permanently adopted.
The second storm of the year and which proved to be the heaviest snow-fall, started at 10:15 P. M., Wednesday, January 12. Tempera- ture 22 degrees above zero; moderate wind. Between midnight and 2:00 A. M., January 13, 51/2 inches of snow fell; and by 8:00 A. M., January 13, a total of 131/2 inches had accumulated. No difficulty was experienced in handling this snow, it being light and fluffy. By 11:00 P. M., January 13, snow had been removed from the usual locations.
January 17, a fall of 6 inches was recorded; temperature 24 de- grees above zero, slight wind. Increasing wind velocity caused snow to drift, but snow was handled easily.
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