Town of Reading Massachusetts annual report 1943, Part 7

Author: Reading (Mass.)
Publication date: 1943
Publisher: The Town
Number of Pages: 276


USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Reading > Town of Reading Massachusetts annual report 1943 > Part 7


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2.72


1.71


4.00


1.58


3.09


4.07


0.86


3.56


1.10


2.66


32.70


1909


4.17


5.33


3.57


3.95


1.97


2.14


3.59


2.75


3.74


1.23


4.06


3.60


40.10


1910


4.54


3.14


1.58


2.32


1.19


4.36


1.98


2.61


2.45


1.48


4.30


1.92


31.87


1911.


2.25


2.94


3.12


1.89


0.67


3.43


4.79


3.80


2.94


2.91


4.14


3.57


36.45


1912.


2.68


2.42


5.04


4.05


5.73


0.29


6.44


2.02


3.02


1.45


3.10


4.80


41.04


1913


2.48


2.64


4.51


3.76


3.45


0.93


1.68


3.48


3.66


7.56


2.13


3.24


39.52


1914


3.34


3.65


4.09


6.32


2.76


1.44


2.34


2.78


0.23


1.51


2.92


3.69


35.07


1915


5.52


3.54


0.00


2.72


1.68


4.60


8.76


6.66


0.70


2.80


2.93


5.47


45.38


1916.


1.22


5.37


3.37


5.14


4.59


5.86


3.13


2.30


3.11


1.01


1.94


2.01


39.05


1917.


2.92


2.41


4.18


2.90


4.00


4.78


1.19


3.70


1.46


5.75


1.39


2.65


37.33


1918.


3.08


3.02


2.02


4.10


0.85


3.04


2.99


2.81


8.37


1.02


2.24


2.48


36.02


1919.


3.61


4.01


2.46


5.44


0.88


3.22


3.83


5.65


2.63


6.20


1.53


42.70


1920.


2.75


6.46


4.21


5.75


3.27


5.24


1.94


2.02


4.27


1.16


4.67


4.82


46.56


1921.


3.43


2.43


5.48


1.86


4.02


9.79


1.96


1.74


1.57


6.50


2.28


43.15


1922.


2.72


4.27


1.37


5.08


11.27


4.88


3.29


3.68


2.73


1.06


3.12


45.24


1923.


6.95


1.67


2.60


5.17


1.56


2.79


1.98


3.17


0.82


3.63


4.13


4.83


39.30


1924


3.77


2.55


1.71


4.25


2.53


2.70


4.80


7.95


0.05


2.56


1.52


37.49


1925


4.28


2.14


7.66


2.95


2.05


5.62


3.13


2.37


2.16


4.66


3.94


5.53


46.49


1926


2.53


4.41


2.83


2.24


2.19


1.80


3.30


1.32


3.95


3.89


3.08


33.62


1927


2.32


1.30


1.43


2.19


2.27


3.04


5.28


2.68


4.10


4.18


4.77


36.74


2.17


3.37


1.45


5.13


2.77


6.63


3.65


3.84


4.18


'2.96


2.28


2.57


41.00


1929


3.14


3.76


3.49


6.81


3.50


1.21


1.19


4.53


2.41


2.49


2.87


3.63


39.03


1930.


2.48


2.05


3.29


1.90


3.38


2.19


4.07


2.77


0.79


4.45


3.68


2.20


33.25


1931


3.27


2.72


4.94


3.07


3.53


6.47


3.76


4.11


1.97


2.43


1.26


3.72


41.25


1932


3.92


1.90


4.83


2.01


1.17


1.81


2.04


5.09


7.24


7.26


5.25


1.29


43.81


1933


2.27


3.45


7.22


6.51


2.70


1.27


1.47


4.41


9.97


3.50


0.96


3.47


47.21


1934


3.17


3.29


5.13


3.09


2.52


4.00


1.25


1.73


6.43


3.89


2.03


2.70


39.23


1935


6.13


3.23


1.06


4.72


1.44


6.21


2.67


1.98


4.03


0.58


4.36


0.90


37.31


1937


4.50


1.80


3.21


4.61


3.13


3.45


0.97


3.91


3.04


4.48


5.18


4.89


43.17


1938


4.08


2.07


2.11


3.12


3.51


7.18


11.42


2.19


8.33


2.93


1.86


2.85


51.65


1939


2.08


3.48


4.00


4.47


2.02


2.77


0.73


3.13


2.45


4.66


0.77


2.92


33.48


1940.


2.22


4.34


3.68


4.65


3.52


2.41


2.58


0.80


4.59


1.05


6.67


2.73


39.24


1941


3.16


1.88


2.51


1.87


2.24


2.09


3.66


3.05


0.58


2.13


2.38


4.08


29.63


1942.


4.25


2.98


7.20


2.02


3.34


3.19


5.08


1.82


2.18


2.99


4.72


5.61


45.38


1943


3.09


1.03


3.57


2.60


5.54


2.09


4.79


1.35


0.67


5.84


4.45


1.02


36.04


Average.


3.41


3.20


3.78


3.89


2.98


3.53


3.39


3.23


3.64


2.99


3.23


3.45


40.72


1936


6.60


3.09


7.23


3.01


2.05


2.73


1.75


4.49


4.15


1.59


1.37


8.24


46.30


2.08


1928


3.24


2.09


1.77


3.18


3.10


SUMMARY OF STATISTICS


For Year Ending December 31, 1943 Reading Water Department Reading, Middlesex County, Massachusetts


General Statistics


Population by census of 1940: 10,861


Date of Construction : 1890, Mill Street; 1931, Grove Street.


By whom owned: Town of Reading.


Sources of Supply : Filter Gallery and Artesian Wells.


Mode of Supply: (whether gravity or pumping) : Pumping.


Pumping Statistics


Builders of Pumping Machinery: Sullivan Machine Co., George F. Blake Mfg. Co., Platt Iron Works, DeLaval Steam Turbine Co.


Electric Pumps at Grove Street Station


Description of Pumps :


(A) Pumping Unit No. 1 -:- 2-stage 5/4 DeLaval, 75 H.P. 1750 R.P.M. 3 phase 60 cycle, 440 volts, 650 G.P.M.


(B) Pumping Unit No. 2:2-stage 8/6 DeLaval, 125 H. P. 1750 G.P.M. 3 phase 60 cycle, 440 volts, 1000 G.P.M.


K. W. H. used for year: 292400


Power Cost for year: $5142.56.


Total Pumpage by Venturi Meter : 229,498,200 gallons.


Cost of Pumping per Million Gallons, power only: $22.40.


Average number gallons pumped per K.W.H .: 784.88.


Cost of pumping figured on Total Pumping Station No. 2 expenses, per million gallons pumped : $30.89


Cost of Filtration, per Million Gallons, figured on Filtration Plant Expenses : $16.99.


Total Cost of Supplying Water per Million Gallons, figured on Total Maintenance, plus interest on bonds : $142.41.


Total Cost of Supplying Water, per Million Gallons, figured on Total Maintenance, plus interest on Bonds, plus cost of safety precau- tions : $160.06.


Average Static Head against which pumps work: 227


Average Dynamic Head against which pumps work: 258


Water Department


84


Statistics Relating to Distribution Mains


Kind of Pipe: Cast Iron, Galvanized Iron.


Sizes 11/4 inches to 12 inches.


Extended: No main water pipe extensions installed in 1943.


Total in use at present : 52.63 Miles (6" to 12").


Cost of Maintenance per mile : $40.19.


Number of Hydrants added during year: None. Number of Hydrants in use (Public & Private) : 329.


Number of Stop Gates added during year : None.


Number of Stop Gates now in use: 851.


Number of Stop Gates smaller than 4": 152.


Number of Blow Offs added during year : None.


Number of Blow Offs now in use: 29.


Range of Pressure on Water Mains: 45-90 1bs.


Statistics Relating to Suction Mains


Kind of Pipe : Cast Iron.


Sizes of Pipe : 16", 12", 10", 8".


Total Number of Feet in use: 116 feet of 16", 1270 feet of 12", 882 feet of 10", 3146 feet of 8". Total 5414 Feet.


Gates in use on Suction Mains : 1-16", 4-12", 1-10", 3-8", 102-21/2" Gates.


Wells in Use: Line A-7 Wells Line B-17 Wells Line C-11 Wells. Line D-12 Wells Line E-15 Wells Line F-20 Wells. Line G-8 Wells Line H-13 Wells Total 102 Wells.


Statistics Relating to Services


Services : Kinds of Pipe: Cast Iron, Galvanized Iron, Lead Lined, Cement Lined, and Copper Tubing.


Sizes : 3/4 inch to 6 inch.


Extended: 240.70 feet.


Total in Use: 43.75 miles.


Number of active service taps added during year : 3.


Number of service taps in use: 2740.


Average length of services installed in 1943: 80.23 feet.


Average cost of water services to owner in 1943: $81.21.


Number of water meters tested: 319.


Number of water meters repaired : 218.


Number of water meters added: 17.


Number of water meters junked: 3.


Number of water meters now in use: 3291.


Water Department


85


IRON REMOVAL PLANT Chemical and Microscopic Character of Raw Water-1943 (Unfiltered-Direct from Tubular Wells) (Parts per Million) Parts per Million, except as noted


Carbon Dioxide


Dissolved Oxygen


Month


No. of Test Days


Iron


Oxygen Consumed


Ave.


Max.


P.P.M.


% Sat.


Manganese


P.H. Value


January .


2


[1.90


[39.0


144.0


10.38


16.1


March .


1


2,50


48.5


1.35


11.3


0.32


6.2


May .


1


2.00


46.0


June .


·


....


....


..


..


....


July .


1


2.80


46.0


0.95


8.4


0.32


6.1


September


1


2.60


43.0


0.60


5.6


0.34


6.2


November


1


2.40


45.0


142.0


[1.10


20.41


16.2


Total.


10


...


. .


Average .


·


2.40


44.8


48.5


1.00


8.6


0.35


6.1


Chemical and Microscopic Character of Water Delivered to Mains-1943 (Filtered Water as Delivered from Iron Removal Plant) (Parts per Million) Parts per Million, except as noted


Carbon Dioxide


Dissolved Oxygen


Month


No. of Test Days


Iron


Oxygen Consumed


Ave.


Max.


P.P.M.


% Sat.


Manganese


P.H. Value


January . ..


2


10.48


15.0


1.005


7.1


March .


1


0.40


5.0


10.1


89.7


. 006


7.2


May.


1


0.47


8.0


.007


7.1


June .


.


...


.. .


July .


August .


1


0.37


5.5


10.9


98.4


004


7.0


September


1


0.40


5.0


11.9


105.8


.006


7.2


October . .


1


0.40


5.0


.006


7.1


December


2


0.65


15.5


[10.8


90.6


1.020


17.1


Total


10


. . ..


. . .


...


. . ..


..


Average


.


0.50


4.8


8.0


10.9


96.1


. 007


7.1


1


2.40


47.0


0.36


6.1


December


2


12.40


10.36


6.0


12.40


147.5


. ...


$0.36


6.0


February


12.60


April .


. .


0.30


6.0


...


August


0.32


6.0


October .


1.006


17.2


February .


10.60


14.0


April .


. 004


7.1


November


1


0.40


1.010


17.0


10.80


5.3


YEARLY RECORD OF HUNDRED ACRE PUMPING STATION January 1, 1943 to December 31, 1943


Month


No. Days


No. Hrs.


No. Min.


Gallons Pumped Venturi Meter


Total Head


Power K.W.H.


Gallons Per K.W.H.


Rain- fall


Fuel Oil


Daily Average Gallons Pumped


January.


31


322


17,161,200


227


21,500


798.19


3.09


181


553,587


February.


28


296


15


15,738,400


227


19,900


790.87


1.03


426


562,086


March.


31


330


45


17,580,900


227


.22,300


788.38


3.57


185


567,126


April . .


30


327


30


17,407,600


227


21,900


794.86


2.60


124


580,253


May.


31


344


30


18,384,900


227


23,300


789.05


5.54


593,061


June.


30


407


45


21,648,000


227


27,200


795.88


2.09


721,600


July .


31


491


45


26,097,100


227


33,400


781.35


4.79


841,842


August. .


31


406


30


21,529,000


227


27,500


782.87


1.35


100


694,484


September


30


376


45


19,950,600


227


25,900


770.29


.67


665,020


October .


31


357


30


18,542,600


227


24,300


763.07


5.84


598,148


November.


30


314


45


16,794,100


227


21,500


781.12


4.45


559,803


December .


31


353


18,663,800


227


23,700


787.50


1.02


390


602,058


Totals. .


365


4,329


229,498,200


227


292,400


784.88


36.04


1,406


628,762


KIND AND SIZES OF METERS IN USE JANUARY 1, 1944


Make


5% !!


3/ 11


1"


11%"


4"


Totals


Nash . .


1,566


14


14


1


5


3


·


1,603


Hersey


534


11


24


6


9


7


1


1


1


594


Empire.


257


1


2


1


2


263


Gamon .


182


184


Pittsburg.


152


13


. .


2


167


Trident .


239


2


241


Crown.


68


2


2


3


8


83


Lambert


49


45


35


36


Keystone.


1


8


9


Federal


8


8


Thompson


2


1


Columbia


1


Gem. .


Totals .


3,139


43


48


17


19


20


3


1


1


3,291


COMPARATIVE TOTAL PUMPAGE DURING PAST TEN YEARS 1934 to 1943 Inclusive


Year


Annual Pumpage (Gallons)


Increase or Decrease (Gallons)


Average Daily Pumpage (Gallons)


Increase or Decrease (Gallons)


Cost per Million Gallons Pumped Figured on Total Maint. and Int. ton Bonds


Esti- mated Pop- lation


1934


221,260,400


49,413,100 Inc.


606,192


135,803 Inc.


115.05


9,767


1935


248,075,400


26,815,000 Inc.


679,658


73,466 Inc.


90.61


10,703


1936


249,110,100


1,034,700 Inc.


680,629


971 Inc.


100.70


10,703


1937


212,484,400


36,625,700 Dec.


582,149


98,480 Dec.


129.81


10,703


1938


213,853,40G


1,369,000 Inc.


585,900


3,751 Inc.


122.24


10,703


1939


245,937,000


32,083,600 Inc.


673,800


87,900 Inc.


106.93


10,703


1940


245,786,000


151,000 Dec.


671,546


2,254 Dec.


99.06


10,861


1941


245,332,500


453,500 Dec.


672,143


597 Inc.


115.87


10,861


1942


224,146,800


21,185,700 Dec.


613,965


58,178 Dec.


134.07


10,861


1943


229,498,200


15,351,400 Inc.


628,762


14,797 Inc.


142.41


10,861


1


1


47


Worthington.


1


2


1


. .


1


1


Water Department


88


.


.


2


.


2


51


Union .


MAIN PIPE CONSTRUCTION


No main water pipe extensions were made to the water distribution system during 1943, due to Federal government restrictions on new home construction to conserve vital materials. As Reading contains few important war industries, the housing developments necessary in neigh- boring communities were not needed in Reading.


As of January 1, 1944, the Reading water distribution system com- prises 52.63 miles of water mains in sizes 6" to 12", besides other mains of small sizes.


Main Pipe Maintenance


One distribution main break occurred during the year, on Hampshire Road, and was due to a blown joint in a six-inch water main. Some minor repairs were also made to the six-inch main crossing Death Bridge on Lowell Street. This main is enclosed in an insulated metal sheathing, which was re-packed and painted after repairs had been effected.


On Track (Private) Road West, in the Reading-Wakefield Fair Ground area, two lengths of six-inch water main were laid under the newly excavated Quannapowitt Drain ditch to insure an adequate water supply for future possible development in this area, and also to replace a 11/4" main laid in Track (Private) Road. The existing Track Road 11/4" water main was also lowered on either side of the drain ditch to match the grade of Quannapowitt Drain ditch.


On Franklin Street, opposite Dividence Road, the 8" water main was located.and a six-inch tap made into it for a future water main extension on Dividence Road.


Gate valve boxes in various locations have been adjusted to grade and inspected for operational efficiency. During the early months of the year, the yellow identification rings were repainted around each gate box top.


Service Pipe Construction and Maintenance


Three new water service connections were made in 1943, further em- phasizing the curtailment of building construction due to war-time con- struction material restrictions. Two of these services were installed to newly erected dwellings, the third was made to an existing dwelling. These water services totaled 240.70 feet in length, with an average length per individual service of 80.23 feet, at an average cost of service to owners of $81.21. As of January 1, 1944, there are 43.75 miles of ser- vice pipe in use in the water distribution system, totaling 2740 individ- ual service taps, in sizes ranging from 3/4" to 6".


Leaks were discovered and repaired in nine water services, in the street sections. Causes of leaks ranged from pipe failures to lead goose- neck defects. Six services were relaid in whole or in part, to correct low pressure and replace old and worn service pipe. A total of thirty-


Water Department


89


five water services were rodded and flushed to remove sediment from service pipes and improve water pressure in residences.


Nine new curb stops were cut in services to replace defective stops, and three new curb boxes were set. A total of fifty-four water service pipes were repaired at cellar walls, and sixty-one new cellar shut offs, or "Y" valves, were installed, to replace old and defective shut-offs.


Meter Maintenance


A total of 319 active water meters, in sizes ranging from 5/8" to 3", were tested by the meter repair department in 1943. Of this number 218. were dismantled, cleaned and repaired. Three obsolete water meters were junked and replaced with new meters, and new meters were instal- led on several newly occupied houses and for individual apartments. There are as of January 1, 1944, a total of 101 meters in the meter room from services temporarily shut off from unoccupied buildings.


Extremely cold weather during the early months of 1943, coupled with houses inadequately heated through reduction of fuel, resulted in 76 water meters becoming frozen. Some of these meters were badly damaged by householders in attempting to thaw them out. Frost bottoms or breakable bushings on many of the water meters saved them from being irreparably damaged, and all frozen meters were repaired and reset.


The annual inspection of meter boxes was made prior to cold weath- er and the usual protective frost insulation material installed where nec- essary. Three meter boxes were eliminated by moving the meters into cellars of houses.


At Camp Curtis Guild on Haverhill Street, at the junction of Rivers Road, a reinforced concrete combination meter and chlorination vault was installed by the Army Engineers and a 6" compound water meter was set, which now measures all water used in the Camp area. A chlori- nating device was also installed in the vault.


As of January 1, 1944 there are in use in the water distribution sys- tem 3291 water meters, in sizes ranging from 5/8" to 8".


Fire Hydrants


No new fire hydrants were installed by the Water Department dur- ing 1943. At Camp Curtis Guild on Rivers Road near the Administra- tion Building the Army Engineers installed a fire hydrant at the end of a new 6" water main in the Camp area.


All fire hydrants were inspected and found to be in good operating condition, with the exception of one private hydrant, which was re- paired. All hydrants used by the Fire Department in 1943 were found to be in good working order.


Seven fire hydrants were broken during the year by being accident- ally hit by automobiles and trucks. Three of the hydrants broken were repaired without excavating, the others were excavated and repaired.


Water Department


90


On November 19 and 26, engineers employed by the New England Fire Insurance Rating Association, Municipal Protection Department, assisted by departmental employees and Fire Chief Hugh L. Eames, made a series of fire flow tests in fifty-five locations covering the entire water distribution system. Readings were taken and tabulated showing static pressure with hydrants closed, residual pressure on mains with hydrants flowing, and discharge volume obtained. The engineers'report is being compiled at the date of writing this report, and it is expected will soon be received by the Department. Tests made showed that on the whole an adequate supply of water for fire protection purposes is obtained throughout the distribution system, with improvements to the same being possible by means of several new water main installations in the future, of a suitable size, to strengthen comparative weak spots found by these tests in the distribution system.


Driven Well System


No new suction mains or driven wells were added to the water col- lection system in 1943, and although the total pumpage exceeded that of 1942 and the year's rainfall showed a 4.68 inch deficit, the underground water level as shown by daily readings of the test well remained at a satisfactorily high point.


During July and August, when the meadows in the well-field area were at their dryest, meadow grass was mowed from all well lines, and all wells were spudded, washed with water from the town supply mains, and then pumped clear. Several air leaks were found by testing wells individually, and were excavated and repaired. One well-connection was replaced during the year.


On Suction Line F, a section of suction main was found to have sagged considerably, due to the unstable peat subsoil in which it rested. The suction main was excavated, and it was found that a settling of 1.5 feet had occurred in the center of the sagged area. To remedy this condition, timber piling was driven to an average depth of 18 feet at in- tervals along either side of the suction main, and strong timber cross- pieces attached thereto, on which the suction main was supported after having been raised to grade.


As of January 1, 1944 there are 104 driven wells in the collection system, of which 102 are in active use. One well on Line "B" and one on Line "F" are out of service, both being sand bound. These two wells will eventually be removed and re-driven in different locations.


Filtration Plant


The filtration plant has operated efficiently and economically during the year. A total of 229,498,200 gallons of raw water direct from the driven wells, averaging 628,762 gallons per day, was aerated and fil- tered during the year. Tables included in this report show the results obtained by aeration and filtration.


Water Department


91


·


Upon examination, it was found that the coke in the trickler or con- tact aerators was partially clogged with iron hydrate. This coke had been in constant use since July 21, 1936, and had performed its function of gathering the fine, dispersed particles of iron hydrate from the spray nozzles into aggregates or bunches large enough to be retained by the sand in the sand filters, efficiently for over seven years, which is slightly over the average service time for installations of this nature. Attempts to wash the coke proved unsuccessful, as the saturation of iron hydrate on the coke was found to extend through all the four foot depth of the coke bed.


After experimenting with removing the coke by hand, a gasoline powered crane with a sixty foot boom equipped with a 1/2 cubic yard clam-shell bucket was rented, and the used coke removed. One aerator at a time was cleared, the other aerator being worked longer hours to keep the water in the sand filters at a safe level. New coke was put in the aerators with the crane quite rapidly. Removal of the coke from the coke beds required careful operation, as the coke rests on reinforced concrete slats and is studded with banks of aerator pipe risers. The clam-shell bucket had to be hand-guided between these pipes, and the bottom 6" of coke removed from the concrete slats by hand. Approxi- mately 90 tons of new coke were purchased to refill the coke beds.


After each coke bed was renewed, the new coke was thoroughly sprayed with a disinfecting solution of HTH, the aerator pipes and spray caps cleaned and reamed, and the subsiding basins under the coke filters thoroughly brushed, washed and disinfected. Each coke filter was washed for four hours and the water run off through a waste drain pipe before turning the renewed coke filters back into service. Aerator No. 1 was placed back in service on November 5, and Aerator No. 2, on December 11, 1943.


Sand Filter No. 1 was raked once and scraped three times, and Sand Filter No. 2 was raked four times and scraped three times during the year, to break up and to remove iron deposit films on sand filter sur- faces. The ejector box was used six times during the year to wash filter sand. The vertical feed pipes to the aerator nozzles were brushed and washed during the year, and the spray holes in the pipe caps reamed out.


During the early winter months, the interior walls of the Filtration Plant were scraped clean of old paint, which had been blistered and raised by the dampness of the aerators and subsiding basins, and the walls and floor waterproofed and repainted. Piping and control machin- ery was also cleaned and painted. Exterior walls of the Filtration Plant, which had spalled to some extent, were repaired with a waterproof cement mixture.


Stand Pipes


No major repair or maintenance work was necessary on either standpipe during the year.


Water Department


92


PUMPING STATION


Hundred Acre Pumping Station


This pumping station was operated during the year, averaging 11.86 hours of operation per day, and delivered 229,498,200 gallons of raw well water to the Iron Removal or filtration plant and filtered water to the distribution mains, averaging 628,762 gallons per day, at a cost of pump- ing figured on total pumping station expenses of $30.89 per million gal- lons pumped. The greatest amount pumped in any one day was on Wednesday July 21, 1943 with a total pumpage of 1,296,500 gallons; in any one week, from July 15 to 21, 1943 inclusive, with a total pumpage of 7,559,200 gallons. The 75 H.P. high lift pump was in daily operation for a total of 4,323.75 hours during the year, and the 125 H.P. high lift pump in operation during monthly test runs only of 5.25 hours.


No major repairs were necessary on the pumping equipment dur- ing the year, and motors, pumps and other equipment maintained a high degree of efficiency. Low Lift Pump No. 1 was cleaned and repacked, and the suction settling tank cleaned and flushed. During the winter months, the interior of the pumping station was cleaned and painted, including all piping and machinery by departmental employees. One in- terruption of electric power supply occurred during the year, when a sudden wind storm uprooted a tree and caused a power line break. The power was off for one hour only.


The Reading Auxiliary Police Corps, who had voluntarily carried on guard duty at the Pumping Station since December 11, 1941, ceased their participation in the guard duty at 12:00 midnight Sunday June 20. Paid departmental employees, then took over the guard duty on a twenty- four hour basis, until certain other safety precautions were instituted. Strout Avenue and the road to the Town Forest, which passes through the Pumping Station premises, remain closed to the public, as a neces- sary war-time measure for protection of the pumping station and water supply area.


Mill Street Pumping Station


This pumping station was not actively operated during the year, but was held in readiness to be put in operation at short notice as an emer- gency or auxiliary source of water supply. One boiler was kept fired during the winter months and the steam-driven pumps were operated for testing purposes, but pumped no water into the distribution mains. The boilers and pumping equipment were inspected and approved by the State Department of Public Safety and by the insurance company.


Maintenance work was accomplished on the grounds and buildings, and much equipment was stored in the lime shed to relieve congestion at the Municipal Garage.


Water Department


93


HIGHWAY DEPARTMENT


Gentlemen :


The following is the yearly report of the Highway Department : Appropriations voted in March Town Meeting:


1. Highway Maintenance and Construction $ 40,000.00


2. Removal of Snow and Ice 12,000.00


3. Maintenance of Storm Drains 4,000.00


4. Sidewalk Construction 3,300.00


5. Development of Storm Water Drains 4,200.00


6. Care of Dumps 1,400.00


7. Construction of West Hill Circle


Balance Forward from 1942


834.06


8. Construction of Wescroft Road Balance Forward from 1942 1,850.90


9. Construction of Springvale Road Balance Forward from 1942 162.24


10. Construction of Harvard Street Balance Forward from 1942 341.20


11. Construction of Lewis Street Balance Forward from 1942 189.77


12. Development Committee Balance Forward from 1942 500.00


13. Received from State and County for Chapter 90 Maint. 1,500.00


14. Road Machinery Fund


Balance Forward from 1942 216.73


15. Transfer from Road Machinery Account to Road Ma- chinery Fund 9,850.00


16. Credited to Road Machinery Fund from Gasoline and Miscellaneous Refunds 256.05


17. Credited to Highway Department from Victory Garden Acct. 224.12


Appropriation Voted at Special Town Meeting June 1, 1943 :


Highway Department 94


18. Victory Garden Account 600.00 Appropriation Voted at Special Town Meeting Decem- ber 13, 1943:


19. Snow and Ice Account $ 1,500.00


Grand Total $ 82,925.07


Expenditures and Balances of the above Appropriations :


Item


1. Highway Department Appropriation for Maintenance and Construction




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