USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Reading > Town of Reading Massachusetts annual report 1940 > Part 18
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Horse-drawn plows were used only on private ways during this storm, augmented by shovelers. The snow was so heavy that "winging- out" of the wooden plows was difficult, requiring much shoveling.
Tractor sidewalk plows were used to open sidewalks on main arteries, accompanied by crews of shovelers opening driveways and foot paths.
Freezing weather February 22-23, caused icy conditions on sections of streets and sidewalks, requiring sanding. For the most part, how- ever; the roadways were bare of ice and snow.
This proved to be the last snow storm of the 1939-1940 season, the next storm occurring on November 26-27, 1940, which was the first storm of the 1940-1941 season.
Snow started falling at 11:30 P. M. Tuesday, November 26, 1940. Temperature 24°, Wind North-East, light to moderate.
Snow did not accumulate appreciably until 1:00 A. M., when 11/2 inches had fallen. Precipitation increased rapidly from 1:00 A. M. on, and at 2:00 A. M. the ploughing crews were called out, to rig and op- erate the truck and tractor plow units.
The first truck plow started out at 3:30 A. M., the other units start- ing as fast as they could be rigged; the last truck unit starting at 5:30 A. M. By 6:00 A. M. approximately nine inches of snow had fallen, and still continuing. All main roads had been opened by 7:00 A. M., although the plowing strength of the Department was weakened by the absence of three plow units undergoing repairs.
These three missing units were not available during the early hours of snow removal, although two of them were returned during the storm, and put in operation. Because of the absent truck plow units, the available trucks were each assigned to a portion of the absentees' routes, and, while slowing up the ploughing somewhat, all routes were com- pleted and widened by noon on Wednesday.
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The three hired truck plow units were called out at 1:00 A. M. Wednesday, but as none of the trucks were rigged for plowing, includ- ing push frames or hangers, they did not start operating until 7:00 A. M., and Department plow units were obliged to fill in on these three routes also.
Sidewalk plow units were late in starting. The Cletrac sidewalk tractor was ready to plow at 5:30 A. M., and plowed sidewalks adja- cent to the Square, Haven Street, and the railroad station. The Cater- pillar sidewalk tractor was under repair, and did not start until noon Wednesday. Horse-drawn sidewalk plows had not been delivered to the various horse owners, and were in storage at the garage. These plows were speedily assembled, loaded on a truck, and delivered; the last of these nine plows were placed at 10:00 A. M. Wednesday, and started over their respective routes.
Snow stopped falling near noon Wednesday, with an accumulation of approximately 11 inches of semi-wet, semi-granular snow, of sticky texture. Because of the Thanksgiving shopping rush, work was started at 9:30 A. M. on snow removal from the Square, with a crew of 35 extra men and 10 hired trucks. The Square was cleaned of snow at noon Wednesday, to the satisfaction of shoppers and tradesmen. Snow re- moval work continued until midnight Wednesday at which time all of the regularly serviced locations, i.e. Post Office Square, Haven Street, Main Street, all churches, etc., had been cleared of snow. A crew of 18 extra men and 6 Department trucks worked from 7:30 A. M. to 12:00 noon on Thanksgiving Day removing snow from several locations. Snow removal work from gasoline stations, intersections, and Pleasant Street continued on Friday and Saturday, and was completed Saturday after- noon.
The temperature, in the 20's during the storm, dropped rapidly on Thanksgiving evening to near zero on Friday morning. This freezing required sanding of icy streets continually until Friday night, when ris- ing temperatures softened the ice.
Saturday, November 30, the temperature continued rising, and the combined effects of traffic and sun bared streets and sidewalk surfaces.
No major breakdowns of equipment occurred during the storm, and all units operated efficiently. The only difficulty encountered was the lack of labor available for snow shoveling, very few extra men report- ing for work at any time during the storm period. This no doubt was due to the increased amount of private and/or defense program re- employment, as a number of the men usually available were missing.
The last storm in 1940 occurred on December 4 and 5.
Snow storm started Wednesday, December 4, 1940, at 7:30 P. M. Temperature 19°, Wind North West, light to moderate-Barometer 30.2 inches and steady.
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By midnight 2 inches of snow had fallen, and still accumulating slowly. By 7:00 A. M. Thursday 3 inches of snow had fallen and pre- cipitation slight.
Plows were not called out during the night, although sanding was necessary up to midnight and also in the early morning.
At 8:00 A. M. Thursday snow again started to fall, with slight but steady accumulation. Plows were sent out at noon-time and quickly covered their routes. Hired plow units were not employed in this storm, Department equipment taking over their routes. Business area was not plowed. All plow units were in by 6:00 P. M., although sanding con- tinued until late at night. Sidewalk plow units, both horse-drawn and tractor, also covered their routes in scheduled time. The snow was light and readily handled. Lack of frost caused some damage to dirt sidewalks.
The Square was plowed early Friday morning, December 6, and rising temperatures obviated any necessity of snow removal. The con- tinued mild weather had removed all ice and snow from street surfaces by December 31, 1940, and the ground was bare, with very little frost.
No major break down of rolling equipment occurred during the year. All plow units were carefully inspected after each storm and put. in readiness for the next plowing period.
Snow fences were erected in season and dismantled, repaired and stored during the summer months. Wooden horse-drawn sidewalk plows were gone over thoroughly, broken or weakened parts renewed and/or strengthened, and several new plows were constructed by De- partment craftsmen in the garage repair shop, at a lesser cost than by purchasing new plows.
The plowing strength of the Department now comprises the fol- lowing plow-mounted equipment : Three 5-ton Sterling trucks, one 5- ton Walters truck, one crane truck, one air compressor truck. and two 11/2-ton dump body trucks, three 11/2-ton hired trucks, two sidewalk tractors, and nine horse-drawn sidewalk plows.
General Highway Maintenance
Particularly severe and extended cold weather, together with lack of snow covering, caused frost, during January and the first two weeks of February, to enter the ground to depths of over four feet, depending on texture of sub-soil. This frost was very slow to thaw, and on March 11 the ground was still frozen to a depth of two feet. Heavy and con- tinuous rain-fall during the latter part of March, April and May drew
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this frost from the ground, causing street surfaces to break rather badly in certain "springy" sections. For the most part, however, street sur- faces came through the hard winter in fair condition.
Spring roadway applications of road oil, delayed by cold, rainy weather, was begun on June 4, and continued daily, weather permitting, until early in August. The Adams Road Hone was used to shape up, crown, and slope sections or entire lengths of fifteen streets, and on nine other streets it was necessary to scarify, grade, and roll rough and un - even street surfaces. Streets honed by the Road Hone in previous years are retaining the proper crown and slope necessary for efficiently drained and maintained roadways. A new mechanical unit was added to the road construction equipment of the Department in 1940-an Adams powered road grader. This unit is equipped with scarifier picks and a grading blade; replaces the old system of a tractor-drawn hand operated road machine, and, in some instances, does the work of the road roller in relation to scarifying. The grader was used successfully on maintenance work. During the year, a total of 123,856 gallons of road oil was applied to street surfaces during roadway maintenance operations.
Gravel patching was necessary as a temporary repair measure on & number of streets in the wet season, to fill frost boils, sunken trenches, etc. When dry weather prevailed, these patches were replaced with a more permanent cold patch mix. K.P. patching was carried on exten- sively throughout the year, with gravel, sand and pea stone used as a base for the patching mixture. A total of 4,980 gallons of cold patch liquid was used in the work, and ten tons of prepared commercial ready mixed patching material.
During the Fall and Winter months, brush was cut from the road- sides on many outlying streets to increase visibility and eliminate traffic hazards.
Chapter 90 Maintenance
Lowell Street and Haverhill Street were surfaced-treated through Chapter 90 Maintenance allotments. Lowell Street, from High Street to Middlesex Avenue, received applications of asphalt, was pea stone covered, and rolled, resulting in a hard finished semi-permanent surface. Sections of Haverhill Street were sealed, sand covered and honed; and road-shoulders cut out and widened with the power grader. Brush was also cut on the roadsides. Stone penetration patching and seal was also accomplished on Charles, Chute, Haven Streets and Copeland Avenue.
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Chapter 83 Construction
The following listed streets were accepted as public town ways under the provisions of Chapter 83, Section 26, General Laws, which statute authorizes the assessment of betterments for road construction, at the Annual and a Special Town Meeting.
STREETS ACCEPTED AS PUBLIC WAYS
Annual Town Meeting-March 4, 1940
Name of Street
Location-Boundaries
Length feet
Status
Eaton Street
Green St. southerly to Lake- view Avenue
759.40
Bett.
John Carver Road
Priscilla Road northerly to Hartshorn Street
908.12
Bett.
Pinevale Avenue
Accept. of Mar. 16, 1931 to Dead End.
261.35
Bett.
Vista Avenue
Accept. of Mar. 21, 1932 to
Sunnyside Avenue
287.60
Bett.
Special Town Meeting-May 1, 1940
Lewis Street
West St. westerly to Dead End
561.41
Bett.
.
₹ Total
2,777.88
These streets have all been constructed, entirely with Department labor and equipment. In each location, the street was excavated with the Erie steam shovel, the shovel then moved to the gravel pit, gravel barrow loaded in trucks and hauled to streets, graded with Adams road grader, rolled, penetrated and sealed with road oil. Stone-dust topped gravel sidewalks were constructed on each street, and tree lawns loamed and seeded. .
Eaton Street was excavated, gravel filled, and surfaced by Depart- mental workmen, and a W.P.A. project secured to complete the fine grading, build sidewalks, and general clean-up.
Alterations and Relocations
No new relocations or alterations were voted at Town Meetings in 1940. However, two relocations voted in 1939 received attention in 1940.
One of these, the Southwesterly corner of Woburn Street and Copeland Avenue, has been completed. The old corner, which was
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formerly square, was rounded on a twenty-foot radius and granite radius curbing installed. A tree lawn and gravel sidewalk completed the relo- cation.
On West Street, northwesterly of Longwood Road, a start has been made on relocating the southwesterly side line for a distance of 324.92 feet, in the locus of an acute, dangerous angle in West Street. The Erie shovel was used to excavate a high, protruding earth bank and grade a slope. The ledge, which was responsible for the angle orig- inally, has all been cleared of earth cover, and considerable drilling and blasting has been accomplished to remove same. This work will be continued in 1941.
Granolithic Sidewalks
A total of 2,973.37 square yards of granolithic sidewalk, on a total frontage of 4,765.77 lineal feet, abutting 46 different properties, was con- structed by the department in 1940. These totals include 1911.73 square yards of sidewalks on a frontage of 4044.31 feet abutting 42 separate properties installed on application of individual property owners under the terms of the Betterment Act, whereby the owner pays to the Town one-half the cost of installation of the sidewalk. These sidewalks varied in width from 4.5 feet to 8.5 feet. On Pearl Street alone, twelve prop- erties comprising 1,253.59 lineal feet of frontage were responsible for 625.63 square yards of granolithic sidewalk construction.
Granolithic sidewalks were also constructed abutting town owned property on the Lowell Street and Salem Street side of the North - West common, the crosswalk across the same common, and abutting Laurel Hill Cemetery on Lowell Street. A W.P.A. granolithic sidewalk project resulted in the construction of 1109.2 square yards of granoltihic sidewalks abutting 1303.53 lineal feet of frontage on Sanborn, Woburn and Linden Streets in the locus of W.P.A. Municipal Light Department underground conduit installations. This work was supervised and assisted by Department employees and equipment.
In several locations, sections of granolithic sidewalks in need of repair were removed and new concrete laid. Tree roots, frost heaves, and other causes necessitated these repairs. In one instance, it was necessary to rebuild two sidewalk slabs, a driveway apron and a step- ping block.
There are on hand several applications for granolithic sidewalk construction, received in 1940 but not installed due to the lack of suffi- cient funds, which will receive priority in 1941 construction.
The following table illustrates granolithic sidewalk construction in 1940:
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Granolithic Sidewalk Construction By Streets
Street
Number Lots
Feet Frontage
Square Yards
Bancroft Avenue
1
55.75
37.24
California Road
2
160.20
93.63
Federal Street
3
215.50
129.57
Glen Road
2
100.00
56.05
Gilmore Avenue
1
185.92
119.75
High Street
1
94.70
66.40
Highland Street
1
111.00
62.19
Hillside Road
1
78.00
52.41
Hopkins Street
1
94.70
53.14
Lee Street
1
70.00
41.60
Linden Street
1
165.00
137.50
Lowell Street
3
948.00
693.33
Main Street
3
272.90
236.24
Mt. Vernon Street
1
82.70
48.56
Orange Street
1
62.60
36.60
Pearl Street
12
1,253.59
625.63
Priscilla Road
3
235.70
136.34
Puritan Road
1
80.00
47.06
Salem Street
1
131.41
101.10
Summer Avenue
1
83.00
42.60
Vine Street
4
155.80
86.31
Wilson Street
1
128.70
70.12
Totals
46
4,765.77
2,973.37
Stone Dust Sidewalks
The vast majority of sidewalks in Reading are of gravel or earth construction. These dirt walks are of course muddy in wet weather, and do not dry readily. To temporarily remedy this unsatisfactory condi- tion, stonedust is applied as a surface treatment each year as funds will permit. In 1940, a total of 271.35 tons of stonedust were applied to
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a total frontage of 10,958.0 lineal feet covering 6,351.0 square yards of gravel or dirt sidewalk surface averaging 5.0 feet in width.
Stonedust was also applied to sidewalks on all street betterment jobs, but are not included in the above totals.
Gravel Sidewalks
Gravel sidewalks were constructed abutting 38 separated locations on a total frontage of 6243.0 lineal feet, covering 4544 square yards. The average length of these installations was 164.0 lineal feet and the average width 6.0 feet. The longest single installation was on Salem Street, East side, from Bay State Road northwesterly 1400.0 feet, where formerly no sidewalk existed and pedestrians were forced to walk on the roadside. As this location is partially on a sharp curve, a dangerous condition existed, particularly for school children walking to and from Pearl Street School.
Several combination gravel berms and sidewalks were also con- structed, to serve the dual purpose of controlling surface water on road- ways and act as sidewalks.
Gravel sidewalks were also built on all five streets accepted under the Betterment Act. Tree lawns on most locations where gravel walks were built were loamed, fertilized and seeded.
Granite Curbing
New granite curbing installation in 1940 totalled 1652.05 lineal feet, of which 733.15 feet was straight curb and 918.90 feet radius or circle curb. Betterment installations were made abutting 12 properties on applications of the owners, and 23 driveway returns set.
Continuing the Boards' policy of gradually abolishing sharp, dan- gerous street corners, during the year a total of 13 sharp-angled street intersections were rounded by the installation of circle curb. Corner curbings prevent vehicular traffic from trespassing on sidewalks and tree lawns, and adds much to the appearance of locations so serviced.
Because of granolithic sidewalk construction, street relocation, grade changes and other causes, it was necessary to reset 615.5 lineal feet of existing straight granite curbing, 18.0 feet of circle curb, and 3 two-foot driveway corners. The longest single stretch reset was on Lowell Street, east side, from Woburn Street to Salem Street, and was occa- sioned by granolithic sidewalk construction. On West Street, west side, abutting No. 66 West Street, it was necessary to set 27 feet of 4" x 16" concrete curbing and one driveway corner, which had become broken by traffic.
The following table illustrates new granite curbing installations by streets in 1940.
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Granite Curbing Installation By Streets
Street
Number Feet Lots Straight
Curbing Radius
Installed Total Returns Length
Bancroft Avenue ...
11.80
11.80
Federal Street
2
99.50
4
99.50
Hanscom Avenue
1
58.90
44.20
2 103.10
High Street
89.20
89.20
Highland Street
83.70
83.70
Hillside Road
1
35.30
48.00
2
83.30
John Carver Road ..
274.00
274.09
John Street
53.00
53.00
Lee Street
1 54.00
2
54.00
Lewis Street
88.40
88.40
Longview Road
1
73.00
2
73.00
Mt. Vernon Street
1
66.50
2
66.50
Pearl Street
26.40
26.40
Priscilla Road
3
191.45
6
191.45
Puritan Road
1
61.50
2 61.50
Salem Street
95.40
95.40
Temple Street
1
43.00
1 43.00
Tower Road
1
50.00
50.00
Vine Street
8.50
8.50
Vista Avenue
46.00
46.00
Woburn Street
50.30
50.30
Totals
13
733.15
918.90
23
1,652.05
Bound Stones
Bound points were set as required by law to define street lines, as shown in the following table :
Bound Stones Set
Street and Location
Number Set
Reason Set
Hancock St.
10
None previously set
Charles St.
40 County Comm. Relocation
Tower Rd. and Hanscom Ave.
2 Radius Curbing Installation
Lowell St. near No. 39
1 Grano. s/w const .- Reset
Union and John Sts.
2 Radius Curb. Installation
Woburn St. and Copeland Ave.
2
Radius Curb. Installation
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Bound Stones Set
Street and Location
Number Set
Reason Set
Elm and Eaton Sts.
1
Hit by snow plow-replaced
Pearl St. near No. 16
1 Grano. s/w constr.
Pearl St. near No. 21
1 Grano. s/w constr.
Pearl St. near No. 64
1 Grano. s/w constr.
Bancroft Ave. and Locust St.
1 Radius Curb. Installation
Highland and Federal Sts.
1 Radius Curb. Installation
'Longview Rd. near No. 41
1 Raised for curb. constr.
Lewis St. and West St.
4 1940 Acceptance
Lewis St. at End
1 1940 Acceptance
Gilmore Ave. and Woburn St.
2
Radius Curb. Installation
John Carver Rd.
19
1940 Acceptance
Hopkins St. and Fairmount Rd.
1 Grano. s/w construction
Main and Haven Sts. S. E. Corner
1 Grano. s/w construction
Main St .- angle So. of Haven St.
1 Grano. s/w construction
Eaton St.
8 1940 Acceptance
West St. No. of Longwood Rd.
2
1940 Relocation
High and Green Sts.
2
Radius Curbing Installation
Total
105 Bounds
The greatest number of bounds set on any one street was on Charles Street, relocated by the County Commissioners for its entire length, which required 40 bounds. Bounds were set on all 1940 street acceptances and relocations; others were set because of granolithic sidewalk and/or granite curbing construction, two were raised to meet new grades, and one was set to replace a broken bound.
These bounds were all carefully checked for accuracy by the en- gineering department, when set.
Storm Water Drainage
Storm water drainage installation in 1940 comprised 2668.74 feet of drain pipe varying in sizes from 6" to 30" diameter, and included the construction of 23 catch basins and 15 man-holes.
The following table illustrates the streets, length and size of drain pipes laid, also catch basins and man-holes.
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Size and Length of Pipe Installed
Street
30°
24"
18"
12"
10"
8"
6"
5"
4"
C. B.
M. H.
Totals
Harrison
42.1
2
42.1
Orange. ..
40.5
2
40.5
John St. Gar.
142.2
2
142.2
Hancock ..
10
531.5
2
531.5
Knollwood.
35.0
35.0
Howard.
40.0
12.0
1
52.0
Salem .
6.0
6.0
Prescott
329.64
3.5
1
4
333.14
Cross.
7.5
2
7.5
Hanscom.
1
Washington
1
Highland and Auburn.
1
Franklin . .
812.4
4
812.4
Woburn and Copeland.
1
South.
45.0
45.0
Charles
1
Hillside
1
Temple and
Woburn.
191.3
1
191.3
Federal.
246.2
58.5
6
4
304.7
Main . .
115.4
115.4
Totals
329.64 231.3
402.6 1,019.5 531.5
154.2
23
15
2,668.74
A particularly annoying and dangerous condition on Franklin Street, east of Dividence Road, was corrected by one drain installation. A depression in Franklin Street, walled on either side by stone retain- ing and property walls, became filled after each heavy rain-fall, forming a pool of water reaching from wall to wall and up to 9 inches in depth. A leaching basin cared for light rain-fall, but could not run off any con- siderable amount. To eliminate this condition, a drain easement was taken through private property by right of eminent domain, and a 12 inch drain pipe installed.
The Prescott Street ditch was further piped, from Prescott Street southerly, with 30 inch pipe. In several instances, catch basins have been built in water pockets on street surfaces and piped to nearby storm drains, and in locations where storm drains were not accessible, small leaching basins were constructed.
Several culverts, found clogged or in poor repair during the regular annual inspection, were rebuilt or otherwise repaired. On Howard Street, a culvert was lowered to enable drainage of a low area, an open ditch deepened, and a stone head wall built. In several instances, it was necessary to remove broken sections of storm drain pipes and replace
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1
10.0
Birch Meadow
same with new pipe. A 12 inch drain on Grove Street near Strout Avenue was lowered to permit the laying of a 12 inch water main.
In two instances, drain pipes were installed in gutter drains and. filled in to construct driveway entrances to houses. One owner of a private residence was permitted to connect a cellar drain with a storm water drain, after having complied with Department regulations per- taining thereto.
Maintenance of Storm Drains
Open drain ditches received added attention during the year, and. are now for the most part in good condition. The Town contains sev- eral miles of drain ditches, which must be maintained to prevent flood- ing of low, swampy areas. Clogging by natural causes such as rank- growing swamp vegetation is most common, although in many instances tin cans, automobile tires, and other rubbish, have been carelessly and thoughtlessly thrown in the ditches. This rubbish is ultimately floated into culverts under roadways, often causing hard-packed jams, difficult to remove. Crews of men were employed in ditch and culvert cleaning throughout the late Summer and Fall. Stone rip-rapping was installed in several locations where needed. Sections of the large stone-walled drain ditch at Washington, Main and Bolton Streets was relaid and cement pointed, and Main Street stone box culvert thoroughly cleaned.
A W.P.A. project was started late in December to rip-rap Memorial Park ditch from the dam at the skating pond to Salem Street, and will be completed in 1941.
Dumps
John Street Dump has been efficiently maintained during the year. Gravelled lanes leading to the outskirts of the dumping area have been kept free of glass, cans and other sharp objects which could injure automobile or truck tires, making the dump easily accessible to the public. All rubbish is deposited over the edges of the dump into the swamp, and inflammable material burned. Eleven spruce trees were planted on the John Street frontage to augment those previously planted, and which act as a screen for the dump. Many favorable comments have been made on the neat and tidy appearance of John Street Dump by residents and non-residents.
The Department was saddened by the death of Caretaker Daniel J. O'Keefe, who was critically burned in performance of his duties as caretaker on Saturday afternoon, October 12, 1940, and who passed
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away at the Massachusetts General Hospital on Sunday, October 13, 1940, as a result of the burns. Mr. O'Keefe was a faithful and con- scientious employee, always ready and willing to assist citizens using the public dump. Mr. O'Keefe had been employed as caretaker since October 7, 1936.
Special Labor Account
A special labor appropriation was again made at the annual March Town Meeting, for the employment by and under the Board of Public Works of workers assigned by the Welfare Board on weekly employ- ment lists. The Welfare Board determines the amount of work needed by each separate worker weekly, which varies from 8 to 45 hours, ac- cording to individual budget requirements. Suitable work is then as- signed them, under the supervision of departmental employees. As all of the workers assigned are not physically able to perform heavy manual labor, work in accordance with their capabilities must be alloted.
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