USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Reading > Town of Reading Massachusetts annual report 1941 > Part 16
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1,574.30
2,558.90
Wenda
300.00
471.40
333.10
804.50
Woburn.
732.80
2,999.25
917.40
4,649.45
Totals
181.80 2,979.76 37, 975.34 4, 132. 84 8, 824. 21 2, 870. 60 487. 80 1, 809. 20 3, 758. 10 63, 019. 65
Sewer Department
196
300.00
Wilson.
507.30
LENGTH OF UNDERDRAINS IN STREETS
Streets
5 Inch
6 Inch
8 Inch
10 Inch
Total Length
Total Length Sewers and Underdrains
Arlington.
399.80
Ash. . .
237.00
258.80
495.80
1,577.50
Bancroft.
456.00
456.00
1,712.10
Brook. .
847.60
847.60
1,695.20
Center.
620.60
620.60
1,241.20
Chute
120.00
Copeland
500.00
Dudley
374.50
Eaton .
880.00
527.70
1,407.70
2,815.40
Echo .
159.00
159.00
333.40
Elm . .
383.28
456.50
456.50
913.00
Gardner.
836.90
974.10
1,811.00
4,525.20
Harnden
559.30
Harrison .
454.50
Haven . .
588.20
588.20
2,341.00
High . .
487.70
736.10
1,223.80
3,297.95
Hillcrest
450.40
450.40
1,221.20
Howard.
1,410.00
1,410.00
2,820.00
Interceptors
2,937.00
2,937.00
5,874.00
John . . .
748.10
748.10
1,872.20
King .
175.00
175.00
690.00
Kingston .
609.30
110.00
719.30
1,438.60
Lincoln
290.40
444.90
735.30
1,595.60
Main . .
1,246.10
234.90
2,436.50
4,873.00
Maple
189.20
189.20
378.40 313.60
Middlesex
254.00
254.00
1,677.40
Minot.
972.65
437.00
1,409.65
2,819.30
Mt. Vernon
230.30
230.30
1,218.82
Orange.
396.21
396.21
792.42
Park .
507.30
322.70
830.00
1,660.00
Parker
855.55
855.55
1,711.10
Perkins
400.00
Pine. .
226.00
226.00
452.00
Pleasant
374.00
469.80
843.80
3,184.56
Pratt.
252.20
303.30
555.50
1,111.10
Prescott.
1,070.60
2,091.80
3,162.40
6,601.80
Prospect
886.00
886.00
2,146.00
Salem
543.00
132.50
675.50
1,812.90
Sanborn.
200.00
200.00
916.30
School .
688.25
Smith .
475.00
Summer
1,229.40
Sunnyside
222.00
222.00
486.00
Sweetser
175.00
509.30
Temple
40.00
40.00
2,031.04
Union .
303.60
Village
825.00
825.00
2,328.40
Warren
715.00
724.00
246.80
1,163.20
2,134.00
4,692.90
Wenda.
300.00
Wilson .
804.50
804.50
1,609.00
Woburn .
1,196.00
917.40
2,113.40
6,708.30
Total Lengths
10,164.43
18,869.76
6,224.50
1,656.90
36,915.59
99,383.62
Elliott .
396.00
383.28
766.56
Fremont
475.00
Green. .
1,111.50
1,111.50
2,223.00
Linden
Lowell.
813.10
Middle
427.00
Pearl .
175.00
715.00
1,430.00
Washington
197
Sewer Department
1,051.52
Berkeley
955.50
REPORT OF THE EXECUTIVE OFFICE OF THE BOARD OF PUBLIC WORKS
To the Board of Public Works :
Gentlemen :
The following is the yearly report of the executive office :
Appropriation
$ 6,335.00
Expended :
Salaries $ 5,417.69
Supplies and Miscellaneous 917.22
Total Expended 6,334.91
Balance Unexpended
$ .00
The following table shows the expenditures made this past year in the major departments, the payroll of each, and the entire expenditures of the Department of Public Works.
Note : Highway includes all other departmental accounts not speci- fically mentioned below, such as Chapter 90, Betterments, Drainage, Snow and Ice, etc.
B. P. W. Water Highway
Sewer
Park Totals
Pay Roll
Bills
$5,417.69 $23,358.91 $ 69,738.15 $ 7,243.26 $2,811.90 $108,569.91 917.22 51,085.19 70,745.44 5,160.53 2,188.10 130,096.48
Totals $6,334.91 $74,444.10 $140,483.59 $12,403.79 $5,000.00 $238,666.39
In closing this report, the Superintendent wishes to express his appreciation to the members of the Board for their many helpful sug- gestions and kindnesses extended to him during the year, and to assure all those in any way associated with him in carrying on the work of the Department of his gratitude for their interest and co-operation, and to acknowledge the assistance, co-operation and helpful suggestions which he has received from the other department heads of the town.
PHILIP WELCH, Superintendent.
198
SPECIAL DRAINAGE COMMITTEE
To the Citizens of the Town of Reading, the Special Drainage Committee for the Lake Quannapowitt Drainage Area submits its sec- ond annual report :
The Special Drainage Committee as a whole has held ten general meetings during the year. Various sub-committees of the Drainage Committee have been appointed from time to time to consult with State, Federal and Town authorities on matters pertaining to the Quan- napowitt Drain System. All have given generously of their time and effort and have achieved excellent results.
It is with pleasure that the Drainage Committee at this time is enabled to make a report of progress in actual construction work of the drainage system, with a resume of results achieved in 1941.
Early in February, 1941, approval was given by Federal authorities for the construction of the drainage system by means of a W. P. A. project, with a substantial financial saving to the Town in the cost of construction.
As the original drainage act, Chapter 458, Acts of 1939, contained a provision that the Town should pay into the State Treasury the sum of $125,000.00 for construction purposes, permission was requested of the Town at a Special Town Meeting held December 2, 1940 for authority to petition the State Legislature to amend Chapter 458, Acts of 1939 to eliminate this provision, and substitute in its place the pro- vision that the Town pay into the State Treasury a sum estimated by the State Department of Public Works to be sufficient to cover the cost to the Town for the construction of the drainage system. This requested authority was given, the State Legislature so petitioned, and the following amendment made :
CHAPTER 62, ACTS OF 1941
AN ACT FURTHER PROVIDING FOR THE PAYMENT OF THE ESTIMATED COST FOR THE DRAINAGE OF THE LOW LANDS ADJACENT TO LAKE QUANNAPOWITT IN THE TOWN OF READING.
Be it enacted, etc., as follows :
Section 1. Chapter four hundred and fifty-eight of the acts of nineteen hundred and thirty-nine is hereby amended by striking out
199
section four and inserting in place thereof the following :- Section 4. The total cost of the work authorized by this act shall not exceed one hundred and twenty-five thousand dollars. The town of Reading shall pay into the state treasury the initial sum of ten thousand dollars, which sum shall constitute a fund for the improvements hereinbefore authorized, and be used, without further appropriation by the general court, in part for the necessary engineering service, surveys and the design of the proposed drainage system, but no construction work under authority of this act shall be commenced until the department shall have held a public hearing, duly advertised, and until there shall have been paid into the state treasury by said town such further sum, which shall be added to said fund, as shall be estimated by the depart- ment to be sufficient to cover that part of the cost of such construction to be paid from funds other than those that may be allotted by the federal government for such project; and thereafter there shall be paid into the state treasury by said town from time to time such further sum or sums, which shall be added to said fund, as may be determined by the department to be necessary for such project. Any surplus of said fund remaining after the completion of the work authorized by this act shall be refunded by the state treasurer to said town. Such fund may be expended, without further appropriation by the general court, in co-operation with the federal government in unemployment relief and other projects as may be determined by the department.
Section 2. This act shall take effect upon its passage. Approved March 7, 1941.
After conferring with the State Department of Public Works, it was agreed that a deposit of $45,000.00 be made to the State Treasury to cover construction costs, together with the sum of $8,000.00 to be set up in Town W. P. A. project funds, also for construction purposes. These amounts together totaled 45.1 per cent of the estimated con- struction costs, with Federal funds in the amount of $63,581.00, set up in the approved W. P. A. project, totaling 54.9 per cent.
A report was made and submitted to the Finance Committee rec- ommending that this form of financing construction costs of the drain- age system be accepted, and, after receiving the approval of the Fi- nance Committee, an article was placed in the Annual Town Warrant at the Annual Town Meeting held March 10, 1941 requesting appro- priation of these funds for construction of the drainage system.
At this Town Meeting, by means of a large-scale map on the plat- form at Security Hall and small-scale reproductions thereof distributed to the voters, the drainage system was explained in some detail and various questions answered regarding construction details and probable
200
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CROSS HATCHED AREA WITHIN HEAVY BROKEN LINE SHOWS SECTION OF READING WHICH DRAINS INTO LAKE QUANNAPOWITT. HEAVY SOLID LINES SHOW LOCATION OF PROPOSED COLLECTION DITCHES AND MAIN DIVERSION DITCH.
LIGHT SOLID LINES SHOW LOCATION OF EXISTING DITCHES. UNDERGROUND PIPE DRAINS NOT SHOWN
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benefits to be derived from the drain system. The map contained in this report is a reproduction of the above mentioned map.
The requested appropriations were so voted, and in due time a $45,000.00 Bond issue was raised, and the sum of $8,000.00 transferred from Town W. P. A. material appropriations to the Drainage Con- struction funds.
A sub-committee was then appointed to confer with State Depart- ment of Public Works officials regarding land takings for the drainage right-of-way, and to ascertain how soon actual construction work could be started after the necessary legal requirements pertaining thereto were completed. At the request of the State Department, the Special Drainage Committee appointed a representative of the Com- mittee to interview land owners affected by the drain taking and secure voluntary easements from them or to submit to the Committee for ap- proval any agreements suggested to him.
Actual construction work on the drainage system started August 13, 1941, with excavation of Main Street, Wakefield for installation of a cement box culvert and the removal of shoals in the existing cul- vert where the Saugus River passes under Vernon Street at the Wake- field-Lynnfield Town Line.
Because of necessary legal requirements, actual land takings on the drainage right-of-way were not consummated until October 31, 1941, on which date Orders of Takings were legally recorded on that section of the drain system from Vernon Street, Wakefield, and Main Street, Lynnfield, to Main Street, Wakefield. W. P. A. laborers were then assigned to remove trees from the easement area and otherwise clear obstructions from the right-of-way, in preparation for ditch excava- tion, and on Friday. November 22, 1941 the Bay City gasoline powered crane was moved to the drain easement locus adjacent to the Lynn- field-Wakefield Town Line, and started excavation of the drain ditch by means of a drag-line bucket. By utilizing wood-beam support mats, this unit has experienced no difficulty in traversing the meadow and swamp land prevalent in this area, and up to January 1, 1942, had excavated 2700 lineal feet of drain ditch, from Vernon Street, Wake- field to within 1200 feet of Main Street, Wakefield. Culverts at Main Street, Wakefield and John Street, Reading have been completed, with the exception of the Westerly wing or head-wall on the Main Street culvert.
A shortage of W. P. A. labor apparently existed in Reading dur- ing the latter months of 1941, as only a small force of laborers were
201
assigned to this project, which was originally set up for an average force of 95 laborers, 23 intermediate, and 21 skilled workers, and 4 supervisors. It is anticipated that a suitable number of W. P. A. per- sonnel will be assigned to this project from other nearby towns hav- ing an excess of labor but lacking suitable W. P. A. projects. As Federal funds are being used to employ these men, and if Reading's W. P. A. manpower is insufficient for the project, this importing of out-of-town labor may be necessary for completion of the project as outlined and set up by Federal authorities.
The W. P. A. personnel assigned to this project totaled 24 at the start in August, 38 in September, and 40 in December, these men being classified in various rating of laborers, intermediate, skilled, and super- visory. At the time of printing this report, February 12, 1942, there are an average number of 135 W. P. A. employees at work on this project, of which 85 have been assigned from Melrose and North. Reading.
One change in location was made in the drainage right-of-way from the original proposed layout, from Salem Street westerly. This relocation was made because of existing physical obstructions in the: original layout, and was approved by the Drainage Committee.
On December 15, 1941 the State Department was requested to complete taking proceedings on that section of the drain right-of-way from Main Street, Wakefield to Track (Private) Road West in Read- ing. This taking had not been recorded on January 1, 1942 but final recording is anticipated shortly, as soon as final approval of the taking is given by the State Department and the Attorney General of the Commonwealth.
Construction of the drainage system is continuing through the win- ter months, and frozen ground is not seriously impeding excavation as the presence of ground water tends to keep frost from penetrating: the ground to any great extent. The open winter, with lack of any snow up to January 1, 1942 and the unusually dry Summer, Fall and early Winter months have resulted in excellent working conditions in the drain location.
Laboratory tests made by the State Department of Public Works testing laboratory of bottom material excavated from the bottom chan- nel of the drain ditch on Main Street, Wakefield early in September showed the material to be 3 per cent clay, 67 per cent silt, and 30 per cent fine sand, and was designated as Public Roads Classification
202
A-4, satisfactory for use as bottom material in the drainage channel. The section of channel completed is functioning satisfactorily, carry- ing off surface water from the area served, and is holding its shape well.
With the coming of mild weather in the Spring of 1942 the Com- mittee has reason to believe that rapid progress will be made in further extension of the drainage system to its ultimate completion, and, from results already apparent in the sector completed, are convinced that this drainage system, based on sound engineering principles, will elimi- nate the existing deplorable drainage conditions in the Lake Quanna- powitt Drainage Area.
In closing this report, the Committee wishes to express its appre- ciation of the excellent co-operation received through the year from the State Department of Public Works, the Reading Board of Public Works, and other Boards and officials with whom it has conferred.
WENDELL P. DAVIS, Chairman HAROLD W. PUTNAM, Secretary CARL W. GOODRIDGE WILLIAM A. CONNELLY PHILIP WHITE SAMUEL H. DAVIS
ARTHUR W. COOLIDGE
EDWARD A. BROPHY
HERBERT W. HUNT
FRED LAIDLAW GEORGE ZANNI
Reading Drainage Committee.
203
FORTY-SEVENTH ANNUAL REPORT
of the
ELECTRIC LIGHT COMMISSIONERS
For the Year Ended
December 31, 1941
OFFICERS OF ELECTRIC AND POWER DEPARTMENT
Commissioners
HENRY R. JOHNSON, Chairman Term expires 1944
LOUIS ELLENWOOD, Secretary Term expires 1943
HERBERT G. EVANS
Term expires 1942
Manager ARTHUR G. SIAS
Office 25 Haven St., Reading, Mass.
MANAGER'S REPORT
To the Municipal Light Board :
Gentlemen :
I submit herewith my report of the operation of the Municipal Light Plant for the year ending December 31, 1941.
The maximum load indicated by the instruments on the switch- board at the power station was 3975 K. W. and occurred on December 26th. This is an increase of 350 K. W. over the maximum load in 1940 and is 9.66 per cent.
The maximum daily station output in kilowatt hours was 47,860 which was approximately 12.37 per cent greater than the previous year.
The average annual power factor was 82.7 per cent.
We purchased 12,185,008 kilowatt hours during the year, an increase of 820,008 over the previous year, or about 7.22 per cent.
The average cost of the current purchased was 1.20482 cents per kilowatt hour, which is about 5 per cent higher than the previous year, due to increased demand charges and fuel costs.
There was an increase of 715,338 in the number of kilowatt hours sold, the total sales being 11,016,852 or approximately 7 per cent more than in 1940. The kilowatt hour loss in distribution amounted to 8.77 per cent which is slightly higher than the previous year.
Kilowatt hours sold for residence service amounted to 6,308,844, an increase of 427,837 or a little more than 7 per cent. The sales for com- mercial service were 1,666,126 kilowatt hours, an increase of 122,852 or
206
about 8 per cent, and sales for power were 1,724,810 kilowatt hours, an increase of 138,660 or 8.74 per cent. The kilowatt hours sold per resi- dence meter increased from 1014 in 1940 to 1040 in 1941.
The revenue from sales of electrical energy amounted to $377,725.15, an increase of $20,134.03 over the previous year. Sales to residence customers increased $16,085.75, to commercial customers $3,041.78 and to power customers $1,484.29, while sales to other companies, and for street lighting and municipal buildings were $477.79 less than in the previous year.
The operating expenses for the year were $305,431.60, an increase of $29,530.37, of which the increased cost of current purchased amount- ing to $16,948.92 and transmission and distribution expense increases of $8,128.09 account for the greater part of the increase.
The income balance to Profit and Loss was $59,844.00 and the net increase in Profit and Loss Surplus was $6,844.00 after payment of notes and bonds amounting to $19,000.00 and payment to the Town Treasurer of $35,000.00 for the relief of taxation.
An amount of $36,130.78 for depreciation equal to three per cent of the cost of the plant as of December 31, 1940, and which is included in the operating expenses, has been charged off the several plant accounts.
Current Assets at the close of the year amounted to $166,202.76, an increase of $48,578.88 and Current liabilities were $68,793.22, an increase of $28,296.15, showing a net increase in Current assets over Current liabilities of $20,282.73.
The cost of additions to plant during the year amounted to $61,310.32 of which $22,104.93 was paid from the proceeds of loans authorized by special votes and the balance from the earnings of the plant through the Construction and Depreciation Funds.
POWER STATION
The office, main generating and switchboard room, and a portion of the basement have been cleaned and painted. The switchboard lighting has been improved by the installation of fluorescent lamps.
Two of the old 171/2 K. W. street light regulators have been removed and regulators of 30 K. W. capacity substituted to provide for increased load.
The oil circuit breakers, relays, and switchborad instruments have been tested and necessary repairs made.
Additional lighting circuits have been installed and existing circuits rearranged to improve the general lighting of the building.
207
The old boiler feed pump has been replaced with a new one.
An inspection of the railroad trestle was made by engineers of the Boston and Maine Railroad and extensive repairs were ordered, both on the portion of the trestle on our property and also on the portion belonging to Mr. Sweetser.
The repairs to our part of the trestle cost $542.64 and to Mr. Sweet- ser's part $1,122.90.
Under the terms of the original deed of the property to the Town, one-half of the expense of maintaining that part of the trestle between the railroad right-of-way and the electric light property is to be borne by the Town. This makes our total expense for trestle repairs $1,104.09.
The boiler blow-off pit at the north side of the station has been repaired and a reinforced concrete cover has been constructed.
Minor repairs have been made to the building and equipment.
As a defense measure a protective crib filled with sand has been constructed around the high tension transformers at the south side of the power station at a cost of $664.42 and the necessary provisions have been made to operate the station under blackout conditions.
The maximum rated capacity of either of the two high tension transformers at the power station is 3750 K. V. A. while our peak load in December reached 4140 K. V. A. and in all probability will show an increase during the next winter.
It is necessary to have both transformers in operation during the peak load period and if trouble should develop in one of them, it is doubtful if the remaining one will carry the excess load with safety. I recommend that two new transformers of 6667 K. V. A. capacity each, be purchased and those now in use be disposed of.
The approximate cost of the new transformers installed will be $25,000.00 which can be paid from the Depreciation Fund.
DISTRIBUTION LINES
The extension of the underground system on High and Lowell Streets has been continued during the year with W. P. A. labor. 26,909 feet of duct has been laid, 7 manholes constructed, 6 pull holes installed, 10 lamp posts set, 41,056 feet of cable pulled in, and 3 transformers in- stalled. The duct work has not yet been completed owing to lack of W. P. A. funds for labor. An additional appropriation of $3,400.00 has been requested for the expense of labor to complete the work.
A sufficient quantity of cable has been purchased to complete the underground feeder lines in High and Lowell Streets for the Wilming-
208
ton district in order to relieve an overload condition on the present feeders.
It is planned to have this project completed before June 1st.
On account of the restriction imposed by the Office of Production Management upon the use of copper it is doubtful if we will be able to obtain the necessary cable for the local primary feeders and house ser- vice connections on the High and Lowell Streets project until after the war period.
In the Wescroft Park area 6,945 feet of duct and 7,207 feet of cable has been installed to provide service for 12 new houses and 7 street. lights. One manhole and 2 pull holes were constructed also. The amount expended on this project during the year was $3,847.87.
The new housing development off Forest Street in Emerson Acres required the setting of 24 poles and addition of 12,659 feet of wire at a cost of $1,940.60. 36 new houses have been connected in this develop- ment.
The erection of additional houses in the Lynnfield Center area called for the setting of 30 poles and addition of 41,387 feet of wire. 73 new houses were connected and 75 K. V. A. capacity in power factor correc- tion installed. The increase in investment was $5,324.99.
Materials were purchased for floodlighting the ball field at the Birch Meadow Playground but it was decided to defer the installation of the lights for the present.
The number of additional poles set was 147 and the number renew- ed 527. 184,846 feet of overhead wire and 48,263 feet of underground cable has been installed during the year.
We have connected 303 new services, and installed 13 additional transformers with a total capacity of 195 K. V. A.
The number of transformers in service at the end of the year was 528 with a total capacity of 6401 K. V. A.
Tree clearance has been improved in Wilmington by doing the ne- cessary trimming under the supervision of the Tree Warden. Similar work has been started in Reading and is now in progress under the direction of Tree Warden, Maurice Donegan.
STREET LIGHTING
The following additional street lights have been installed during the year :
In Reading: West Street 1, Oak Street 1, Pleasant Street 1, Pil- grim Road 2, Pearl Street 1, also 1 private light on Wood End Lane. In North Reading: Mill Street 2, Riverside Drive 4, Main Street 6. In Wilmington: Bridge Lane 1.
209
Below is a schedule showing the total number of street lights con- nected to our lines December 31st.
Public
Private
Total
Reading
1012
9
1021
North Reading
365
3
368
Wilmington
530
4
534
Lynnfield Center
178
3
181
Totals
2085
19
2104
There were 464,770 kilowatt hours sent out on the Reading street light circuits at a cost per kilowatt hour, as defined by statute, of 3.09 cents, making the total cost $14,386.49. The appropriation for street lighting was $14,000.00.
METER DEPARTMENT
The practice of installing outdoor meters has been continued dur- ing the year, 480 being installed, making the total number of outdoor meters 3,535 or over fifty per cent of the total number of meters in use.
We have purchased during the year 478 meters and removed from service and condemned 90 old type meters.
Meter repairs included the replacement of 430 jewel bearings, 550 pivots, and 383 temperature compensating shunts. A summary of the testing report is shown below :
Request Tests
200
Periodic Tests
506
Laboratory Tests
989
Meter repairs
278
Miscellaneous
330
HOLIDAY LIGHTING
The decorative lighting for the Christmas season was confined to evergreen trees on the common and parks.
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