USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Reading > Town of Reading Massachusetts annual report 1942 > Part 23
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The Overlook received a general cleanup, and the large fieldstone fireplace as well as the small individual fireplaces were repaired. Two wood frame latrines were erected in secluded spots Northerly from the Overlook, and winding gravel pathways were constructed to them through the woodland. These latrines were built not only for the use of the Day Camp enrollees but also for the use of picnickers and other play- ground habitues.
The Day Camp was held as scheduled, and was much enjoyed by the Girl Scout campers. While swimming facilities were lacking, the wading pool offered a welcome substitute; and tennis, softball and base- ball diamonds ; swings, seesaws and sand-boxes were readily accessible. Also, the convenient location of the camp enabled parents to observe its operation, to their evident enjoyment.
Playground supervisors conducted a diverse program of activities at the Playground, and were in scheduled constant attendance at the wading pool, which was operated from early in June until late in Sep- tember. A bicycle rodeo was held, which attracted an attendance of over two hundred children.
Hockey rinks and skating areas were maintained, although night hockey was eliminated in the latter part of 1942 because of dim-out restrictions, as also was night tennis playing. All skating areas were well filled with surface water during the winter months. Snow was cleared from specified skating areas whenever necessary, and the ice surface sprayed to improve skating conditions.
Washington Street Park
Spring maintenance work was accomplished at the Ball Park as early as weather conditions permitted, and the baseball diamond pre- pared for Spring practice. The bleachers were again transferred from the Junior High School athletic field to the Ball Park, and necessary repairs accomplished.
The ball field was maintained in excellent condition throughout the playing season, frequent rainfall during the Summer months contribut- ing to a good grass growth.
Playground equipment for the smaller children, among whom this Park is popular, was erected and maintained, playground supervisors being in attendance during the months of July and August. The wad- ing pool and tennis courts received their usual care and were used con- stantly in season.
Park Department
291
On July 4th, the Annual July Fourth Field Day sponsored by the Board of Public Works attracted a throng of over three hundred youthful athletes, and was viewed by many adult spectators. Contests were held in three specified age brackets for both boys and girls, with first and second place prizes awarded in each event. A total of 44 merchandise prizes were awarded. For the past several years, this Field Day has been Reading's only public observance of Independence Day, and is eagerly anticipated each year by the children. A representative of the Board of Public Works and the paid playground supervisors or- ganize and manage the Field Day each year.
Reading Common
The four grassed plots comprising Reading Common received the usual attention during the year, and presented a pleasing appearance. Grass was kept mowed and raked, walks edged and smoothed, shrubs trimmed and shrub beds edged. Early in the Spring, grassed areas were loamed as needed, fertilized and bare spots seeded.
Elm and Leach Park
Routine maintenance work was accomplished on these park areas, no major improvements being required.
Sturges Public Ice Skating and Winter Sports Center
This winter sports center, privately owned but leased annually to the Town by a public spirited citizen, continues to be the most popular ice skating area in Reading. Located in an open meadow at the low end of a wooded valley, fronting on Walnut Street, and plentifully sup- plied with water from a small brook and surface water runoff from surrounding hills, the skating area is protected from prevailing winter winds and furnishes ample skating area for many skaters.
Snow was cleared from the ice after each snow storm, and a water spray applied to the hockey rink ice whenever necessary. Dim- out restrictions eliminated night hockey games the latter part of 1942.
Successive snow storms and cold weather resulted in good skiing and coasting conditions on the several slopes surrounding the skating area.
Intersection Grass Plots
All intersection grass plots or traffic islands were landscaped and maintained during the year, and repairs made to stone curbing as re- quired.
Park Department
292
.A start was made on landscaping the large intersection triangle at the intersection of Forest Glen Road and Pearl Street. This area con- tains several large granite boulders and a number of small trees and bushes which cause a traffic hazard by obstructing the view of motor- ists. It is hoped to complete this project in 1943.
War Memorial
The grassed area, flag-stone walk and shrub beds surrounding the War Memorial received the usual necessary attention during the year.
General Recommendations
Vandalism continues to be prevalent on the various parks and playgrounds. This is especially true on Birch Meadow. Many of the improvements made by the Department are immediately subject to at- tack and severe damage by unknown persons. The housed latrines built at Birch Meadow during 1942 have been badly damaged several times. The type of damage done, in most instances, clearly proves that it was not done by young children but by older persons who should have respect for property and who must know that their actions result in an unnecessary expense to the Town. The Department would like, at this time, to beg the assistance of the citizens to the end that these vandals may be apprehended and punished. In this way only can their unwarranted actions be ended.
The constant moving of the bleachers between Washington Street Park and the Junior High School causes much damage to them and necessitates, each year, extensive repairs. Provisions should be made for the erection of bleachers at the Junior High School to obviate the necessity of moving the bleachers back and forth each year.
Because of existing conditions, no major park and playground im- provements are planned for 1943.
Transportation restrictions will probably result in an increased use of playgrounds in 1943. The Department will make every possible ef- fort to keep the parks and playgrounds in usable condition. It should be remembered, however, that restriction placed on critical materials by the War Production Board will definitely be a handicap in main- taining the parks and playgrounds.
Park Department
293
SEWER DEPARTMENT
To the Board of Public Works :
Gentlemen :
The following is the yearly report of the Sewer Department: Construction and Maintenance Account Appropriation .... $ 12.000.00 Expended :
Pay Roll
$ 4,638.87
Interest on Bonds
1,750.00
Insurance
519.60
Misc. Tools and Supplies
1,239.16
Road Machinery Account
726.40
Total Expended
$ 8,874.03
Balance Unexpended
$ 3,125.97
House Connection Account
Appropriation
$ 1,800.00
Expended :
Pay Roll
$ 1.309.79
Pipe, Fittings, etc.
325.25
Total Expended $ 1.635.04
Balance Unexpended
$ 164.96
Main Trunk Sewer Extensions
Main trunk sewer construction was limited to one short extension on Harrison Street, from Orange Street Northerly 85.0 feet, to permit connection of a newly constructed dwelling house with the sanitary sewer. Owing to the shallow depth at which the sewer extension was laid, a 12" cast iron pipe was utilized. A new manhole was constructed at the terminus of the extension.
Sewer Department
294
Sewer Maintenance
Main trunk sewer lines operated efficiently during the year, with one trunk line stoppage caused by roots of trees growing through a defective pipe joint. This stoppage occurred on Prescott Street be- tween Sunnyside Avenue and Pratt Street. The trouble was quickly located and remedied.
During January, February and March the yearly cleaning and flushing of main trunk sewers was accomplished by Department em- ployees and the Department's trailer-mounted sewer cleaning equip- ment.
Manhole covers were inspected and repaired, and new cushion gas- kets applied to worn and loose frames and covers. One manhole frame on John Street was broken by a Public Works Department truck snow plow, and a new frame and cover was installed.
Sewer House Connections
Nineteen new sewer house connections were completd in 1942, hav- ing a total length of 888.20 feet, at an average cost to the individual property owner of $24.72 per connection. Twelve of these sewer con- nections were made to existing dwelling houses on streets in which trunk sewers were already available, six were made to newly erected dwelling houses on streets in which trunk sewers were already avail- able, and one was made to a newly erected dwelling house on Harrison Street which required the extension of the main trunk sewer. Thirteen of the sewer house connections were installed under the Sewer Better- ment Act which requires no initial deposit and permits payments to be extended over a period of years, and six were installed after cash, in the amount of the estimated cost, had been deposited with the De- partment.
As of January 1, 1943, there are 968 possible sewer house connec- tions on existing sewered streets, of which number 682 or 70 percent, are now connected.
The annual notification citing the provisions of Chapter 280, Gen- eral Laws, Acts of 1937, which became effective July 15, 1938, being an Act requiring property owners to connect their estates with the com- mon sewer within a specified time period, was made to all owners of estates situated on sewered streets. The statute requires that proper- ties abutting streets in which a common sewer is available or is con- structed in the future must be connected thereto within a period of ten years, after, either the acceptance date of the Act by the Town (July 15, 1938) or the construction date of a sewer at a later time.
Sewer Department
295
Sewer House Connection Maintenance
Stoppage occurred on eighteen separate sewer house connections during the year, and were immediately cleared by service crews. Three of these stoppages were caused by the attempted disposal of insoluble objects in the sanitary sewer, the others were caused by tree roots en- tering the pipe through defective joints. One sewer connection, after becoming plugged, was frozen during the record December cold wave, necessitating its excavation and relaying with new pipe.
Several house connections, which had repeatedly become clogged by roots of trees, were excavated and relaid with root-proof joints. Other house connections were rodded and flushed to prevent stoppages. One broken service was repaired with new vitreous clay pipe, and one service was relocated and lowered on application of the property owner.
General Recommendations
Due to prevailing conditions, it is not expected that any sewer ex- tensions will be made in 1943.
The attention of the citizens of Reading is directed to the remarks in the body of this report relative to Chapter 280 of the Acts of 1937. By July of 1943 one half of the period allowed for connecting estates to the common sewer will have elapsed. Many home owners have not, as yet, complied with the provisions of this Act which requires that es- tates abutting a street in which a common sewer was available on July 15, 1938, must connect their estates with the common sewer before July 15, 1948. Only five years remain for many property owners to comply with this provision of the Act.
Sewer Department
296
READING SEWERAGE SYSTEM
Tables Showing
Streets Containing Sewers
Length of Sewer Connections
Main Sewers in Streets
Underdrains in Streets
STREETS
Streets
Possible Con- nections
Completed Per Cent No Con- Con- nections Con- nected
struction Started
Connected to Street Line
Partially installed to House
Revenue Charged 1942
Arlington
12
7
58
2
2
1
44.13
Ash
17
10
59
6
1
129.49
Bancroft.
27
16
59
11
140 16
Berkeley
27
18
66
9
189.19
Brook
9
5
56
2
2
36.50
Center
10
9
90
1
93.18
Chute.
2
1
50
1
6.00
Copeland
8
8
100
193.06
Dud'ey
10
7
70
3
100.36
Eaton
12
6
50
6
34.77
Echo
1
3
75
1
71.85
Elliott
8
1
50
1
51.07
Elm.
4
2
50
2
13.82
Fremont
1
1
100
.
1
1
100
.
8
7
87
1
60.49
Gilmore
1
50
1
39.34
Gould .
3
3
100
37.30
Green .
53
42
79
5
1
5
555.14
Harnden
9
8
89
1
106.02
Harrison
9
7
78
2
34.76
Haven
46
31
67
7
6
697.98
Hillcrest
10
112.65
Howard.
18
17
94
1
194.16
Ide.
2
1
50
1
20.01
John
19
15
79
1
439.55
King.
6
6
100
108.27
Kingston
15
15
100
113.07
Lincoln
5
71
85.46
Linden
11
7
69
3
1
126.63
Lowell
4
1
100
48.48
Main .
54
14
82
2
1,119.62
Maple
2
1
50
7.82
Middle
3
2
60
1
11.50
Middlesex
24
16
66
6
2
258.72
Minot .
12
8
67
2
2
89.60
Mt. Vernon
23
16
70
7
182.93
Orange
3
1
33
2
2.53
Parker
7
7
100
81.74
Park
7
6
86
1
60.53
Pearl .
16
2
12
14
75.79
Perkins
7
7
100
124.78
Pine. ..
1
1
100
6.00
Pleasant
37
20
54
15
2
290.85
Pratt.
1
3
75
1
37.73
Prescott
53
46
87
1
5
545.10
Prospect
18
9
50
8
1
129.21
Salem .
22
14
64
1
7
262.14
Sanborn
15
11
73
2
2
304.65
School .
10
8
2
76.21
Scotland
1
1
100
.
Smith
15
15
100
.00
1
133.65
Sunnyside
1
1
100
Sweetser
5
2
40
2
1
21.16
Temple
33
15
45
12
6
317.63
Union .
5
3
60
1
1
37.10
Village.
22
64
7
1
171.58
Warren
17
15
88
1
1
153.81
Washington
39
29
74
9
1
318.39
Wenda
4
4
100
35.78
Wilson .
11
9
82
2
58.00
Woburn .
85
56
66
3
22
4
794.06
Totals
968
682
70
169
80
37
9,945.29
High
17
8
47
7
127.57
90
1
: : :
Sewer Department
298
146.08
Summer
18
9
50
2
55.77
Fulton
15.40
Gardner
2
.
1
8.97
1
.
LENGTH OF SEWER CONNECTIONS RUN TO EITHER CURB, HOUSES, OR CONNECTED
Streets
Curb
Houses
Connected
Total Length
Arlington
42.00
46.00
335.50
423.50
Ash .
429.10
429.10
Bancroft.
771.40
771.40
Berkeley
1,018.70
1,018.70
Brook .
85.50
252.60
338.10
Center
19.00
371.50
390.50
Chute
66.50
66.50
Copeland
506.00
506.00
Dudley
441.00
441.00
Eaton .
354.40
354.40
Echo
157.00
157.00
Elliott
217.00
217.00
Elm .
84.30
84.30
Fremont
209.00
209.00
Fulton
44.00
44.00
Gardner
312.00
312.00
Gilmore.
42.50
42.50
Gould
236.50
236.50
Green .
36.00
173.00
1,828.91
2,037.91
Harnden .
32.00
257.80
289.80
Harrison
286.40
286.40
Haven .
186.00
79.00
1,340.80
1,605.80
High
22.00
285.90
307.90
Hillcrest
570.00
570.00
Howard
25.00
1,094.50
1,119.50
Ide.
56.50
56.50
John
37.00
582.10
619.10
Kingston
70.00
253.00
323.00
Linden
41.00
339.70
380.70
Lowell
287.00
287.00
Main .
338.50
99.00
2,234.75
2,672.25
Maple .
18.00
40.00
58.00
Middle
80.50
80.50
Middlesex
138.00
1,081.20
1,219.20
Minot
42.00
77.00
331.00
450.00
Mt. Vernon
805.50
805.50
Orange
47.40
47.40
Park
208.00
245.00
Parker
302.50
302.50
Pearl
379.80
379.80
Perkins
434.80
434.80
Pine .
46.00
46.00
Pleasant
28.00
1,031.30
1,059.30
Pratt.
116.00
191.00
3,012.30
3,319.30
Prospect
203.29
888.31
1,091.60
Sanborn
98.00
699 90
797.90
School .
416.40
416.40
Scotland .
60.00
60.00
Summer
94.00
692.20
786.20
Smith
602.30
602.30
Sunnyside
52.50
52.50
Sweetser
85.00
173.00
Temple
257.00
173.00
910.80
1,340.80
Union
66.00
177.00
243.00
Village.
34.00
658.50
692.50
Warren
19.40
68.00
599.60
687.00
Washington
50.00
22.00
1,417.80
1,489.80
Wenda .
202.50
202.50
Wilson
43.00
380.90
423.90
Woburn
352.80
222.50
3,408.60
3,983.90
Totals.
1,899.99
1,869.00
36,352.87
40,121.86
King
369.10
369.10
636.00
636.00
Lincoln
242.00
242.00
Prescott
786.80
786.80
Salem
43.00
45.00
299
Sewer Department
37.00
LENGTH OF MAIN SEWERS IN STREETS
Streets
5 "
6ยช
00
10"
12"
15"
18"
20"
24"
Totals
Arlington
399.80
399.80
Ash
822.90
258.80
1,081.70
Bancroft .
1,366.79
1,366.79
Berkeley
1,256.10
1,256.10
Brook
847.60
847.60
Center.
620.60
620.60
Chute ..
120.00
120.00
Copeland
500.00
500.00
Dudley
374.50
374.50
Eaton
1,407.70
Echo
95.40
174.40
Elliott
396.00
396.00
Elm
383.28
383.28
Fremont
456.50
456.50
Gardner
475.00
475.00
Gilmore
181.80
181.80
Green.
175.20
1,717.40
821.60
2,714.20
Harnden.
559.30
559.30
Harrison
539.50
539.50
Haven.
1,752.80
1,752.80
High
1,338.05
736.10
2,074.15
Hillcrest
770.80
770.80
Howard
300.00
1,110.00
1,410.00
Interceptors
205.00
2,937.00
John
110.00
266.00
178.50
1,124.10
King
340.00
175.00
515.00
Kingston
719.30
719.30
Lincoln
573.40
538.10
1,111.50
Linden.
125.00
735.30
860.30
Lowell
813.10
813.10
Main.
1,246.10
955.50
234.90
2,436.50
Maple.
189.20
189.20
Middle
313.60
313.60
Middlesex
1,423.40
1,423.40
Minot
1,409.65
1,409.65
Mt. Vernon
828.52
160.00
988.52
Orange
396.21
396.21
Park
507.30
322.70
830.00
Parker
427.00
427.00
Pearl
855.55
855.55
Perkins
400.00
400.00
Pine.
226.00
226.00
Pleasant
843.96
2,340.76
Pratt.
555.50
Prescott
2,265.30
1,174.10
3,439.40
Prospect
1,260.00
1,260.00
Salem
1,004.90
132.50
1,137.40
Sanborn
716.30
716.30
School
688.25
688.25
Smith
475.00
475.00
Summer
1,229.40
1.229.40
Sunnyside
264.00
264.00
Sweetser
334.30
334.30
Temple .
896.76
432.89
661.39
1,991,04
Union .
303.60
303.60
Village.
1,015.60
487.80
1,503.40
Warren
715.00
715.00
Washington
424.90
246.80
312.90
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, 909.21 2, 870. 60 487.80 1, 809.20 3, 758.10 63, 104.65
Sewer Department
300
300.00
Wilson.
1,496.80 555.50
569.60
2,732.00
500.00 79.00
907.70
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.
1,336.79
Berkeley
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
880.00
527.70
1,407.70
2,815.40
Echo .
159.00
159.00
333.40
Elliott
383.28
766.56
Fremont.
456.50
456.50
913.00
Gardner
836.90
974.10
1,811.00
4,525.20
Harrison .
539.50
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
Lowell .
813.10
Main .
1,246.10
234.90
2,436.50
4,873.00
Maple
189.20
189.20
378.40 313.60
Middle
254.00
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
226.00
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
486.00
Sweetser
175.00
509.30
Temple
40.00
40.00
2,031.04
Union .
825.00
825.00
2,328.40
Warren .
715.00
724.00
246.80
1,163.00
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
99,783.99
. . .
303.60
Village.
715.00
1,430.00
Washington
175.00
222.00
226.00
452.00
Pleasant
374.00
254.00
1,677.40
Minot.
972.65
1,111.50
1,111.50
2,223.00
Elm .
383.28
475.00
Green.
559.30
Eaton
396.00
Harnden .
Linden.
Middlesex
427.00
Pearl
400.00
Pine. .
301
Sewer Department
955.50
374.50
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
$ 6,625.00 ... pended :
Salaries
$ 5,977.95
Supplies and Miscellaneous 646.09
Total Expended
$ 6,624.04
Balance Unexpended
$ .96
The following table shows the expenditures made this past year in the major departments, the payroll of each, and the entire expendi- tures of the Department of Public Works :
Note : Highway includes all other departmental accounts not specifi- cally mentioned below, such as Chapter 90, Betterments, Drainage, Snow and Ice, etc.
B.P.W. Water Highway
Sewer Park
Totals
Pay Roll $5,977.95 $21,011.31 $53,429.03 $ 5,948.66 $4,957.93 $ 91,324.88
Bills 646.09 31,533.48 42,499.03
4,560.41 1,037.92 80,276.93
Totals $6,624.04 $52,544.79 $95,928.06 $10,509.07 $5,995.85 $171,601.81
In closing this report, the Superintendent wishes to express his ap- preciation to the members of the Board for their many helpful suggs- tions 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
302
SPECIAL DRAINAGE COMMITTEE
To the Citizens of the Town of Reading, the Special Drainage Com- mittee for the Lake Quannapowitt Drainage Area submits its third an- nual report :
Five general meetings have been held by the Drainage Committee as a whole, during the year, and the various sub-committees have held numerous other meetings and given generously of their time and effort in the solution of practical and technical problems relative to the drain construction. At various times, as required by special conditions, other committee members have been appointed to confer with State Depart- ment of Public Works and Federal Works Progress Administration officials.
Federal Works Progress Administration personnel assigned to the drainage project as laborers, carpenters, masons, timekeepers and su- pervisors have fluctuated monthly, from a high in February 1942 of 135 to a low in December 1942 of 15. During January, February, March and part of April, W. P. A. personnel from Reading, Melrose and North Reading was assigned to the project. For the remainder of the year through November an average of 30 Reading W. P. A. enrollees were assigned, dropping to 15 in December. As of January 1943, W. P. A. personnel totals 14, including two carpenters from Burlington, one timekeeper from North Reading and one supervisor from Watertown.
At the time of printing this report, (February 10, 1943), it is not entirely known what effect the liquidation of Works Progress Admin- istration will have on the Quannapowitt Drainage Project. Although originally scheduled for liquidation on June 30, 1943, later advices seem to indicate an advancement of this date to March 1, 1943. The Com- mittee has made and will continue to make every effort to complete the construction of the drain ditch as directed by the citizens of Read- ing. To this end conferences are now being held with the State De- partment of Public Works, and Federal and State W. P. A. officials.
The Committee herewith submits a report of progress in the actual construction of the drain ditch during 1943 :
During January and February the large crew of W. P. A. work- men were employed in hand-excavating the drain ditch from Main Street, Wakefield Easterly, building a gravel roadway on the North- easterly side of the drain ditch, and hand trimming the section of the ditch excavated in 1942 by the Bay City drag line unit. Work also con- tinued on the construction of the Westerly wing or head wall of the Main Street Wakefield culvert.
303
Early in January, the Bay City drag line unit was moved to Ver- non Street, Wakefield, and excavated a short section of ditch not pre- viously worked on, and which also resulted in a complete relocation or change of course of a section of the Saugus River.
After this section was completed, the drag line unit worked up the previously excavated drain ditch, removing shoals, trimming and slop- ing ditch banks, etc. Late in February this unit had worked up to near Main Street, Wakefield, and started new ditch excavation. Frost had accumulated by this time to some depth, and the drag line bucket encountered difficulty in operation. The Erie steam shovel of the Read- ing Public Works Department was moved in on the ditch location, to remove frozen ground ahead of the drag line unit, but after some ex- perimental digging it was deemed advisable to discontinue machine- type excavation until after the ground had thawed.
By mid-March, thawing conditions enabled the Erie steam shovel to move in on the ditch location between Main Street, Wakefield, and Pratt (Private) Street, Reading, and strip loam from the ditch right- of-way ahead of the Bay City drag line unit. The drag line unit, which had excavated the ditch to Main Street, Wakefield, was moved across Main Street and started excavation anew, but after excavating a short length of ditch, construction problems caused a cessation of excavation.
No more excavation was accomplished pending a delayed decision of State Public Works authorities as to construction procedure until May 11. At this time a clam-shell attachment was rigged on the Bay City shovel unit, and the rig was again moved to near Vernon Street and worked up the ditch removing surplus material from the ditch bot- tom and slopes. Still rigged with the clam-shell bucket, this unit has, to the date of this report, excavated the drain ditch to a point approx- imately 300 feet Westerly of Salem Street, Reading, and has also ex- cavated culvert locations on Pratt Street and Salem Street.
Permission for detours having been secured from the State Depart- ment of Public Works and the Selectmen of the towns of Reading and Wakefield, both Pratt Street and Salem Street culverts were excavated for their entire length in one operation. Pratt Street culvert has been completed, and Salem Street culvert is expected to be completed by March 1, 1943.
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