USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Reading > Town of Reading Massachusetts annual report 1941 > Part 13
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Water Department
157
duty is carried out by members of the Reading Home Defense Corps, a semi-military organization who are also commissioned as Reading Defense Police. The Department wishes to here convey the apprecia- tion of the Town of Reading to the personnel of the Corps for their cheerful and willing voluntary guard duty at the Pumping Station.
One half of the two-car brick garage at the Station, has been made into a guard room, with heat and lights. Material for sheathing walls and ceiling, and floor boards, was purchased by the Department, and Corps members furnished the labor voluntarily for installation of same. Flcod lights have been installed at strategic locations near pumping station and filter plant, and barriers erected on Strout Avenue and the old Town Forest roadway to exclude visitors from grounds adjacent to the water supply area. A telephone connection has been ordered for the station, but, owing to war conditions, has not as yet been installed.
The guard duty is expected to continue until the war emergency and/or danger of sabotage is past.
Mill Street Pumping Station
This station did not operate during the year, but was maintained in readiness for use in event of an emergency. During the winter months, boilers were kept fired to prevent freezing and the steam pumps turned over occasionally as a test, not, however, pumping any water into the distribution system.
Maintenance work on the buildings and grounds was accomplished, and the boiler and pumping equipment were inspected and approved by the State Department of Safety.
General Recommendations
The Department expects that 1942, in general, will be a much less active year than 1941. Priorities will curtail the activities of the build- ers with a consequent reduction in the work of the Department.
It is expected that constant patrolling will be maintained at the Grove Street Pumping Station and Filter Plant. The bulk of the cost will have to be assumed by the Department.
The Department has endeavored in the past few months to as- semble a stock of materials which will enable the Department to make emergency repairs to the supply system and distribution system quickly and efficiently. It is of course, impossible, in a larger sense, to as- semble a stock of emergency materials for the larger units of the sys- tem such as, the Filter Plant, Pumping Stations and Standpipes.
Wat r Department
158
HIGHWAY DEPARTMENT
Gentlemen :
The following is the yearly report of the Highway Department : Appropriations voted in March Town Meeting :
1. Highway Maintenance and Construction $ 45,375.00
2. Removal of Snow and Ice 12 200.00
3. Maintenance of Storm Drains 3,500.00
4. Sidewalk Construction 10.000.00
5 Development of Storm Water Drainage 8 000.00
6. Care of Dumps 1 200.00
7 Construction of Bond Street
1 300.00
8 Construction of Coolidge Road
1.281.00
9. Construction of County Road
510.00
10. Construction of Pilgrim Road 881.00
11. Construction of Springvale Rd. 2.563.00
12. Construction of Wescroft Road 3 822.00
13. Construction of West Hill Circle 891.00
14. Appropriation for Special Labor 7.000.00
15. Purchase of Equipment 11,000.00
16. Chapter 90 Construction-Charles Street 4 500.00
4,500.00
17. Chapter 90 Construction-Lowell Street Appropriations voted at Special Town Meeting Dec. 1, 1941
18. Development Committee 1,000.00
19. Received from State and County for Chapter 90 Maint. 2.000.00
20. Received from State and County for Chapter 90 Con- struction-Charles Street
11.250.00
21. Received from State and County for Chapter 90 Con- struction-Lowell Street 11,250.00
22. Credited to Highway Dept. for Gas & Misc. Refunds . .
319. 8
23. Credited to Highway Dept. Misc. Transfers 546.27
24. Transfer to Sidewalk Account from Reserve Fund 750.00
25. Const. of Salem and Harnden Streets-1940 Bal. Fwd. 2,175.45
Grand Total $147,819.50
Expenditures and Balances of the above Appropriations : Item
1 Highway Dept .- Appro. for Maint. and Const. . . $ 45,375.00
19. Received from State and County for Chap. 90 Maint. 2,000.00
22. Gasoline and Misc. Refunds 319.58
23. Miscellaneous Transfers 546.27
Total $ 48,240.85
Highway Department
159
Expended :
Pay Roll $ 19,061.24
General Repairs 3,200.91
Road Material 10,984.98
Chap. 90 Maint. 3,000.00
Curbing
1,468.94
Supplies and Tools
8,473.89
Miscellaneous
2,050.89
Total Expended
$ 48,240.85
Balance Unexpended .00
2. Removal of Snow and Ice
$ 12,200.00
Expended :
Pay Roll $ 7,560.62
Plowing and Hauling Snow
1,336.14
Repairs and Supplies
3,303.24
Total Expended $ 12,200.00
Balance Unexpended $ .00
3. Maintenance of Storm Drains $ 3,500.00
Expended :
Pay Roll
$
2,691.92
Supplies
808.08
Total Expended $ 3,500.00
Balance Unexpended $ .00
4. Sidewalk Maintenance and Construction $ 10,000.00
24. Transfers from Reserve 750.00
$ 10,750.00
Expended :
Pay Roll $ 7,559.65
Supplies and Misc. 3,189.97
Total Expended $ 10,749.62
Balance Unexpended $ .38
5. Development of Storm Water Drainage $ 8,000.00
Expended : Pay Roll
$ 4,854.72
Highway Department
160
Pipe and Supplies 3,145.28
Total Expended
$
8,000.00
Balance Unexpended
$ .00
6. Care of Dumps
Expended :
Pay Roll
Miscellaneous
Total Expended
$ 1,200.00
Balance Unexpended
$ .00
7. Construction of Bond Street
Expended :
Pay Roll
$ 593.13
Supplies
338.09
Transfer
9.18
Total Expended
$ 940.40
Balance Unexpended
$ 359.60
8. Construction of Coolidge Road
$ 1,281.00
Expended :
Pay Roll
$ 634.93
Supplies
643.35
Transfer
2.72
Total Expended
$ 1,281.00
Balance Unexpended
$ .00
9. Construction of County Road
$ 510.00
Expended :
Pay Roll
$ 326.01
Supplies
151.71
Transfer
32.28
Total Expended $ 510.00
Balance Unexpended
$ .00
161
Highway Department
$ 1,200.00
$ 1,193.08 6.92
$ 1,300.00
10. Construction of Pilgrim Road $ 881.05
Expended :
Pay Roll $ 648.57
Supplies
214.34
Transfer
18.09
Total Expended $ 881.00
Balance Unexpended
$ .00
11. Construction of Springvale Road
$ 2,568.00
Expended :
Pay Roll
$ 994.36
Supplies
1,110.94
Transfer
6.08
Total Expended $ 2,111.38
Dalance Unexpended
$ 456.62
12. Construction of Wescroft Road $ 3,822.00
Expended :
Pay Roll $ 892.23
Supplies
716.48
Transfer
10.55
Total Expended $ 1,619.26
Balance Unexpended
$ 2,202.74
13. Construction of West Hill Circle $ 891.00
Expended :
Pay Roll $ 1.07
45.50
Supplies
Transfer
10.37
Total Expended $ 56.94
Balance Unexpended $ 834.06
Highway Department 162
14. Appropriation for Special Labor $ 7,000.00 Expended :
Pay Roll $ 6,700.14
Total Expended $ 6,700.14
Balance Unexpended $ 299.86
15. Purchase of Equipment
$ 11,000.00
Expended :
Equipment
$ 11,000.00
Total Expended
$ 11,000.00
Balance Unexpended $ .00
16. Chapter 90 Const. Charles St. $ 4,500.00
20. Received from State and County 11,250.00
$ 15,750.00
Expended :
Pay Roll
$ 7,332.43
Supplies
8,417.57
Total Expended
$ 15,750.00
Balance Unexpended $ .00
17. Chapter 90 Construction Lowell St.
$ - 4,500.00
21. Received from State and County 11,250.00
$ 15,750.00
Expended :
Pay Roll
Supplies
$ 7,484.13 8,265.87
Total Expended
$ 15,750.00
Balance Unexpended $ .00
18. Development Committee No Expenditures 1941
$ 1,000.00
25. Construction of Salem and Harnden Sts.
1940 Balance Forward
$
2,175.65
Transferred to Defense Appro. S. T. M. 12/29/41
Highway Department
163
TOTALS
Items
Appro. and Transfers
Expended
Balance
1-19-22-23
$ 48,240.85
$ 48,240.85
$ .00
2
12,200.00
12,200.00
.00
3
3,500.00
3,500.00
$ .00
4-24
10,750.00
10,749.62
.38
5
8,000.00
8,000.00
.00
6
1,200.00
1,200.00
.00
7
1,300.00
940.40
359.60
8
1,281.00
1,281.00
.00
9
510.00
510.00
.00
10
881.00
881.00
.00
11
2,568.00
2,111.38
456.62
12
3,822.00
1,619.26
2,202.74
13
891.00
56.94
834.06
14
7,000.00
6,700.14
299.86
15
11,000.00
11,000.00
.00
16-20
15,750.00
15,750.00
.00
17-21
15,750.00
15,750.00
.00
18
1,000.00
.00
1,000.00
25
2,175.65 Transferred
.00
HIGHWAY DEPARTMENT
Construction of new highways during 1941 included two Chapter 90 roadways, seven Chapter 83 Betterment construction streets, and four street relocations or alterations, also the W. P. A. Charles Street Farm and Market road project which started December 26, 1940.
Granolithic sidewalks were constructed in many locations, and were for the most part installed on application of the abutting property owners as betterments. Two continuous runs of sidewalks were con- structed upon order of the Board of Public Works, on main-traveled streets, and three separate lots were also ordered constructed to com- plete sidewalk runs on streets otherwise voluntarily applied for. In all instances of granolithic sidewalk betterment construction, owners of abutting lots were required to pay one-half of the cost of construc- tion. In many locations where granolithic sidewalks were constructed, granite curbings were also installed.
Chapter 90 maintenance funds were used for permanent repair op- erations on various main-traveled streets. K. P. and gravel patching was necessary on many streets, due partially to increased roadway ex- cavations for water, sewer, gas, storm drain installations, etc.
Highway Department
164
The major accomplishments of the Highway Department for 1941 of work of a permanently constructive nature, separated into the differ- ent phases of work done, is outlined in the following report.
Snow and Ice
Six snow storms occurred in Reading in 1941 each totaling two or more inches of accumulation, four of which required plowing ; several other slight precipitations, none of which measured over one inch in depth, also occurred. The following table illustrates the re- corded snow-fall during 1941 :
Recorded Snow Storms-1941
Snowfall
Date
Jan. 4-5
Inches Temperature 4" +26°
Wind Direction N.W.
Force Moderate
Remarks Wet but light
Jan. 16
2"
+30°
N.W.
Light
Jan. 24
16"
+24° to +10° N.E.
Moderate
-plowed Turned to Rain -not plowed Light and fine wind increased -plowed Not plowed-
Feb. 2
2"
+24°
W.N.W. Light to
Moderate
Sanded Only Light and fine
Mar. 8
12"
+30°
N.E.
Light to
Moderate
-Plowed
Mar. 11-12
6"
+28° to -2°
N.E.
Moderate to
Heavy & fine Temp. drop.
Total
42"
-Plowed.
Plow units were used for the first snow-storm of the year on Janu- ary 4-5. Snow started falling at 10:30 P. M. Thursday evening, Jan. 2, precipitation light, wind N. W., moderate, temp. +26°, Barometer 29.6 inches and steady.
Precipitation continued light during Friday and Friday night, with occasional flurries and clearing. Early Saturday morning precipita- tion increased, and by mid-morning approximately four inches had fallen.
Truck plow units were sent out at 11:00 A. M. Saturday, Jan. 4, snowfall increasing rapidly. The temperature had climbed to +35°, snow was very wet, but surprisingly light, clinging closely to all objects it touched, but plowing readily.
Highway Department
165
Half-Gale
Continued above freezing temperature caused slush to form on the streets, and the truck plows, after covering their routes once, were again sent out, to plow off slush and widen out streets, as the weather bureau forecasts warned of an expected drop in temperature.
Sidewalk horse-drawn plows were called out at 4 P. M., and, as it was believed the sidewalk tractors would cut up the dirt sidewalks which were free of frost, the tractor routes were divided among adjacent horse-plow routes.
Snow removal work started at 3:30 P. M., Jan. 4, with a small crew of extra laborers and four town-owned trucks. Snow removal work continued through the night and until 5:30 A. M. Sunday, Jan. 5, with an average of 40 shovelers, four town trucks and three hired trucks.
During the night, temperature dropped to +12°, and shoveling be- came quite difficult. However, by 5:30 A. M., all snow had been re- moved from the Square, Haven St., the churches, and all regularly serviced locations.
Sanding was necessary all through the storm, particularly after midnight Saturday.
The snow storm of Thursday, January 16, after leaving an accu- mulation of 2 inches of snow, turned to rain, and the resulting slush, with falling temperatures, made sanding necessary. No plow units were used during this storm.
The next storm, which deposited the greatest accumulation of any one storm during the year, occurred on January 24.
Snow started falling Friday afternoon, January 24, 1941 at 3:30 P. M. Barometer 30.28 inches and steady, Temperature +24°, wind Northeast and moderate, snow very fine and light.
No accumulation of any account was recorded until 6 P. M., when the wind increased in velocity and snow-fall became heavier.
Truck plows were sent over their routes early in the evening, with snow accumulating rapidly and wind reaching half-gale force, with snowdrifts forming in many places. Truck plow units continued opera- ating throughout the night, and all day Saturday, stopping Saturday evening. Snow continued to fall until 6:30 A. M. Saturday, with high North-east wind and falling temperature, which dropped to +10°. Roads were kept open at all times, and traffic was not impeded appreciably by the storm, although a number of cars, parked by their owners on the highways during the night were thoroughly snowed in, and banked with snow by truck plows. These parked cars are a continual annoy- ance to plow-drivers, and the practice of all-night street parking should be stopped.
Snow removal started in the Square at 8:30 A. M., with hired and departmental trucks. This work continued in the regular locations throughout the night, and continued for several days after the storm.
Highway Department
166
The Square, Haven and High Streets, and all churches were cleared before church services began on Sunday morning.
Several private ways, ordinarily opened by horse-drawn sidewalk plow units, were hand-shoveled during Saturday and Sunday, and were all passable to vehicular traffic Sunday night.
Sidewalk tractors operated on their regular routes and on all main arteries starting Friday evening and continuing through Sunday eve- ning, although both tractor units each suffered mechanical break- downs. These breakdowns were, for the most part, of a minor nature, although the Cletrac unit was out of action for several hours due to the necessity of sending to Boston for a new part. Drivers of both tractors, which have neither cab nor windshield, were relieved at three hour intervals during Friday night, as the weather was very severe for unprotected drivers.
The tractors performed in their usual satisfactory manner, and after twice covering their regular routes, were sent over horse-plow routes. During Sunday's sidewalk plowing, shovelers trailed sidewalk plow units to open driveways and walks.
Horse-drawn sidewalk plow units were started at 4 A. M. Satur- day, and, as approximately 16 inches of snow had fallen, with deep drifts in exposed places, two shovelers were assigned to each horse- plow. Heavy horses were able to complete their routes Saturday, but on five routes the lighter horses were unable to finish. Sidewalk plowing stopped at 6 P. M. Saturday, as the horses were on the verge of exhaustion.
Sunday morning, five horse-plow units started to work at 7:00 A. M., and aided by crews of shovelers and tractor units, completed plowing sidewalks and private ways at 6:00 P. M. Sunday. Ridges across pri- vate driveways and walks were shoveled clear of snow on Sunday after the sidewalk plows had passed.
A shortage of laborers for snow work was evident throughout the storm, and handicapped snow removal work especially on Sunday, when very few snow shovelers sought work. Truck plow units operated efficiently and effectively throughout the storm, and with but a few minor breakdowns, although one of the heavy units was laid up twice for a short time for ignition repairs.
Sanding was necessary throughout the storm with low tempera- tures causing slippery conditions.
On Sunday, Feb. 2, the next storm occurred. Snow started falling at 9:30 A. M., and was light and fluffy, stopping early in the evening with a total fall of approximately 2 inches. Plow units were not used during this storm, although sanding was necessary during the afternoon and evening.
Highway Department
167
No further snow storms occurred in February, and on February 7, a rainfall of 1.55 inches, coupled with rising temperatures, greatly re- duced the accumulated snows of previous storms.
The final snow storms of the year occurred on March 8 and 9, 11 and 12. While these were two separated storms, with clearing weather after the first storm, snow from the first storm was still being cleared when the second storm began.
Snow started falling at 7:00 A. M. Saturday, March 8-Tempera- ture +30°, Wind N. E. light to moderate, Barometric pressure 29.92 inches and falling slowly, snow light and fine.
Only a light accumlation was noted until 10:00 A. M., when the fall increased in intensity with the advent of larger, heavier flakes. By 12:00 noon, approximately 4 inches of snow had fallen, and was still accumulating rapidly. Truck plows were started over their respective routes at 12:45 P. M., and continued plowing until 1:00 A. M. Sunday, March 9.
The snow-fall continued heavy until 9:00 P. M., with increasing North-east winds, when it suddenly abated in intensity and showed signs of clearing. However, this was of short duration, and snow con- tinued to fall through the night Saturday, all day Sunday and into Sunday night, although with slight added accumulation. Approximately 12 inches of snow-fall was recorded during this storm, with deep drifts in exposed locations caused by high, gusty winds.
Snow removal started in the Square at 5:00 P. M. March 8, to ac- comodate the Saturday night shopping trade, and continued until 1:00 A. M., March 9, when snow had been removed from part of the Square and most locations adjacent to churches. Nine privately owned trucks were employed on removing snow, together with Highway De- partment and W. P. A. trucks. This work of removal started again at 8:00 A. M. Sunday, March 9, and continued until midnight of the same day, when snow had been removed from all regularly serviced locations.
The Adams road grader was used to good advantage during this storm. Because of the traffic congestion in the Square Saturday after- noon and evening, no attempt was made to plow the Square, and traffic hard-packed the fallen snow. After the stores closed and traffic had left the Square, the grader cut out the hard-packed snow and with the assistance of truck plows, deposited the snow in windows in the gutters for removal. The grader was also used on Post Office Square, South Main Street and Haven Street.
All roads were kept plowed and accessible for traffic during the storm, and no major breakdowns of truck plowing equipment were experienced.
Highway Department
168
One sidewalk tractor only was available for use on March 8, and it started plowing at 3:00 P. M. Horse-drawn sidewalk plows were started at 3:30 P. M., and covered their own and the disabled tractor's routes. The horse-plows had completed their routes and were in at 9:00 P. M., with instructions to again cover their routes starting at 6:00 A. M., Sunday, March 9, in order that sidewalks would be passable for church goers.
During the night of March 8, the one sidewalk tractor in opera- tion suffered a major mechanical breakdown, and was not again used during this storm. The other tractor sidewalk unit was repaired during the storm, and operated part of Sunday.
Snow removal work continued on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, March 10-11-12, with icy conditions requiring sanding daily.
Snow started falling again at 6:00 P. M. Tuesday, March 11, Tem- perature +28°, Wind N. E. moderate to half-gale, Barometric pressure 30.2 inches and falling rapidly, snow heavy but fine, and being drifted badly by wind.
By 8:00 P. M., snow had accumulated to a depth of 3 inches, and truck and tractor plow units were started on their routes. The wind increased in velocity during the night, and heavy snow-fall was drifted quite badly in spots. The truck plows continued through the night and until late Wednesday morning, keeping the roads cleanly plowed at all times during the storm. Snow stopped falling early Wednesday morn- ing, although occasional flurries continued during the day Wednesday. Approximately 6 inches of snow-fall was recorded.
Snow removal work started in the Square at 7:00 A. M,. and continued until 10:00 P. M., at which time the temperature had dropped to +10° and made shoveling extremely difficult. During the afternoon the Adams grader was again used to remove the packed snow from the Square, Main Street and adjacent locations. No hired trucks were used to haul snow during this storm, as Departmental and W. P. A. trucks were available.
Tractor sidewalk plows operated throughout the night Tuesday and until 2:00 P. M. Wednesday. covering their routes twice, as during the night the sidewalks had become drifted. Horse-d.awn sidewalk plows started out at 5:00 A. M. Wednesday, and covered their routes in normal plowing time. The snow, while heavy, plowed readily.
The temperature, which was -2° Thursday morning, rose during the day and thawing set in. By Friday noontime, the hard-packed snow on roadways liad softened to such an extent as to create hazardous driving conditions. Several plow units were sent out Friday afternoon and Saturday to remove the slush and widen out roadways, with shov- elers to open private driveways filled by the plows.
· Highway Department
169
It was also necessary to send a tractor sidewalk plow unit over all of North and South Main Streets, as the State Highway Depart- ment had pushed back the snow on the state road (Route 28) to such extremes as to completely block and fill Main Street sidewalks. Shov- clers also accompanied this unit to open private walk and driveway- entrances.
Freezing weather necessitated nightly sanding of icy streets and sidewalks during and after these storms, which totaled together 18 inches.
During the period between March 17-20, unseasonably cold weather caused zero and near zero temperatures to prevail, with slight thaw- ing during the day due to lack of sunshine. Rising temperatures after the 20th caused the roadways to become bare, although snow-banks remained on roadsides, which in many instances thawed during the day and froze during the night, necessitating sanding. Culverts and catch basins were cpened to carry off this melting snow water.
No major breakdowns of plowing equipment occurred during any of the year's s: o storms, and each unit was carefully inspected after each storm and necessary repairs made. The plowing strength of the Department now includes the following plow-mounted equipment : Three 5-Ton Sterling trucks, one 5-Ton Walters truck, one crane-mounted 5-ton truck, three 1 1-2 ton dump body trucks, one 2 1-2 ton truck, one. compressor-mounted 1 1-2 ton truck, three 1 1-2 ton hired trucks, two sidewalk tractors, and, during the plowing periods covered by this re- port, nine horse-drawn sidewalk plows. As of January 1, only six horse- drawn sidewalk plows were available, three owners of horses formerly engaged in sidewalk plowing having been unable, for various reasons, to rent their horses for snow plowing.
Routine snow and ice combating preparations, such as the erection of snow fences in strategic locations, placing and filling of sand bar- rels, etc., was accomplished in season; and, during periods when the employees were not busy on outside acti ities, snow-plowing equipment was thoroughly overhauled and repaired. The new wooden horse-drawn plows manufactured by department employees at the garage work shop functioned efficiently and satisfactorily, with no breakage.
GENERAL HIGHWAY MAINTENANCE
Unseasonably cold weather, resulting in zero and near zero tem- peratures late in March, delayed the starting of Spring roadway main- tenance work. On March 21, test pits dug for water pipe installations revealed two feet average of frost in ground. Milder weather and Spring thaws resulted in the usual breaking up of roadway surfaces in certain springy sections and numerous frost boils. Gravel and K. P. patching was carried on extensively during this period and, because
Highway Department
170
of the unusual number of street openings necessary for the installation of water, sewer, gas and other underground utility purposes, K. P. patching was continued extensively throughout the year when weather and climatic conditions so permitted.
Spring sweeping, cleaning and removal of accumulated debris from streets, sidewalks, and gutters started on April 4 with a crew of extra hired employees and Departmental trucks. The Roto Street Sweeper, mounted on the crane truck, also was used in this work. Semi-permanent roadway patching was accomplished early in May, and on May 26 asphaltic spot-fog roadway seal applications were started and continued throughout the early summer months for regular yearly roadway surface treatment. This was followed by regular spray- ed applications of road oil to street surfaces. During the year, a to- tal of 119,512 gallons of road oil was applied to street surfaces during roadway maintenance operations. For roadway patching, a total of 5,468 gallons of cold patch liquid was used by the department in mixing cold patch aggregate at the garage, and 64.75 tons of prepared commercial ready-mixed patching material were purchased.
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