USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Reading > Town of Reading Massachusetts annual report 1944 > Part 16
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Several outside meter boxes, of wood construction, were removed during the year, and, where possible, meters were set in house cellars. In several instances brick meter boxes were installed to replace wooden boxes. All meter boxes received regular winter insulation prior to cold weather.
As of January 1, 1945, there are in use in the water distribution sys- tem 3293 water meters, in sizes ranging from 5/8" to 8".
Fire Hydrants
No new fire hydrants were installed on the water distribution sys- tem in 1944. Five hydrants were broken during the year by being acci- dentally hit by automobiles and trucks, but small water loss was experi- enced during any of the breaks. One defective hydrant was replaced with a new Cory hydrant.
The annual inspection of fire hydrants was made, and some necessary minor repairs were made. All hydrants used by the Fire Department in 1944 were found to be in good working order.
Driven Well System
No new suction mains or driven tubular wells were added to the water collection system in 1944, due to the shortage of manpower and materials. The existing wells, however, received more particular atten- tion than usual. During the month of May, a near-record drouth and unseasonably hot weather was experienced, with a total rainfall for the month of but .83 inches, and, although the daily pumpage of water on several occasions exceeded one million gallons per day, the ground water level remained at a safe elevation.
208
NORTH
READING
rogEST
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II
WILMINGTON
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Geographic Center
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MAP B
LAKE
LOCATION OF HIGH SCHOOLS LOCATION OF ELEM. SCHOOLS Approximations only, without regard to availability SCHOOLS TO BE ABANDONED
WAKEFIELD
QUANNAPOWITT
1
MAP NUMBER ONE TOWN OF READING MIDDLESEX COUNTY
SYMBOLS
MASSACHUSETTS SHOWING STREET LINES.LOTS AND BUILDINGS
PREPARED BY THE PLANNING BOARD
SCALE
STONEHAM
LYNNFIELD
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WOBURN
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1
ZONING MAP OF READII
2
Q
V
E
READING
NOR
NORTH
w
S
p
E - 59 11 - 282 NH - 37
WILMINGTON 0 Z
E - 270
·H . 599 NH - 48
E - 325
H - 888
NH - 111-
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E - 138 H - 385
ITH - 66
......
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ELD
1
F
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K
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WOBURN
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In July, and again in October, each well in the entire system was spudded, cleaned, and pumped clear, and examined for any defects such as air leaks, presence of fine sand or organic matter, etc. In connection with this work, samples of water were taken from each well before and after cleaning operations were done, and analyses made of each sample by the pumping station engineers in the laboratory to determine the iron content of each. Thus it was possible to determine which if any of the wells contained excessive amounts of iron.
To determine where the best quality water in the well field is lo- cated, eight test wells were driven in selected locations in Hundred Acre Meadow, records being made of the various stratas encountered during driving operations, also an analysis of water obtained from each well. These are test wells only, and are not connected to the supply system.
As of January 1, 1945 there are 104 driven 21/2" tubular wells in the collection system, of which 100 are in active use. Two wells on Line "B" and two wells on Line "F" are out of service, two being sand bound and two needing repairs, which cannot be accomplished until the water low- ers in the well field. Heavy Fall rains have caused ground water to com- pletely cover the surface of the well field.
Filtration Plant
The filtration plant operated efficiently and economically during the year. A total of 245,429,500 gallons of raw water direct from the driven wells, averaging 670,217 gallons per day, was aerated and filtered. Tables included in this report show the results obtained by aeration and filtra- tion.
.
Sand Filter No. 1 was scraped twice and raked twice, and Sand Filter No. 2 was scraped three times and raked twice during the year. This is done to break up and to remove iron deposit films on sand filter surfaces. The ejector box was used five times during the year to wash and clean filter sand. Vertical feed pipes to the contact aerators were wire brushed and cleaned, and the spray holes in the pipe caps reamed out.
The partial ramp installed in front of the filter plant in 1943 to per- mit removal of coke was completed during the year. This ramp was seeded early in the fall and a good grass crop secured. A temporary wooden flight of stairs was built to permit access to the filter plant, which will be replaced with concrete steps in 1945.
Standpipes
No major repair or maintenance work was necessary on either standpipe during the year.
Water Department
209
PUMPING STATIONS
Hundred Acre Pumping Station
This pumping station operated daily during the year, averaging 12.76 hours of operation per day, and delivered 245,429,500 gallons of raw well water to the Iron Removal or filtration plant and filtered water to the distribution mains, averaging 670,217 gallons per day, at a cost of pump- ing figured on total pumping station expenses of $30.53 per million gal- lons pumped. The greatest amount pumped in any one day was on Thursday, June 8, 1944, with a total pumpage of 1,109,400 gallons ; in any on'e week, from May 31 to June 8, 1944 inclusive, with a total pumpage of 6,875,200 gallons. The 75 H.P. high lift pump was in daily operation for a total of 4670.75 hours during the year, and the 125 H.P. high lift pump in operation during monthly test runs only of 2.50 hours.
No major repairs were necessary on the pumping equipment during the year, and motors, pumps and other equipment were maintained at a high degree of efficiency. Five interruptions of electric power supply occurred during the year, caused by high winds short circuiting electric power lines and failures at the power plant. Not including the Septem- ber 14-15, 1944 hurricane, the shortest interruption of power supply was of 45 minutes duration, and the longest 2 hours and 45 minutes. During the hurricane, electric power was lost from 9:30 p.m. Thursday, Septem- ber 14 to 10:15 A.M. Friday, September 15. Both standpipes were within four feet of full when the power failure occurred, which was caused by falling limbs breaking the power cable on Lowell Street at Hartshorn Street. No danger of water shortage occurred during the hurricane, and emergency pumping measures had been planned in the event of a pro- longed power loss such as was experienced in the September 21-22, 1938 hurricane.
Safety precautions due to the war emergency have been maintained at Hundred Acre Pumping Station, and Strout Avenue and the road to the Town Forest, which passes through the Pumping Station premises, remain closed to the public, as a necessary war-time measure for pro- tection of the pumping station and water supply area.
Mill Street Pumping Station
Mill Street Pumping Station was not actively operated during the year, but was held in readiness to be put in operation at short notice as an emergency or auxiliary source of water supply. During cold weather, one boiler was kept fired and the steam driven pumps were operated for testing purposes, but did not pump water into the distribu- tion mains. The annual inspection of boilers and pumping equipment was made by the State Department of Public Safety and the insurance company and approval certificates were issued by them.
Maintenance work on the grounds and buildings was accomplished, and equipment was stored in the lime shed and boiler room to relieve congestion at the Municipal Garage.
Water Department
210
HIGHWAY DEPARTMENT
Gentlemen :
The following is the yearly report of the Highway Department : Appropriations voted in March Town Meeting :
1. Highway Maintenance and Construction $ 42,000.00
2. Removal of Snow and Ice 9,000.00
3. Maintenance of Storm Drains 4,185.00
4. Sidewalk Construction and Maintenance 4,250.00
5. Development of Storm Water Drains 5,000.00
6. Care of Dumps 1,650.00
7. Mineral Street Bridge 1,800.00
8. Victory Gardens 1,015.00
9. Salvage Collection 735.00
10. Post War Planning
11. Construction of West Hill Circle Balance Forward from 1943 834.06
3,000.00
12. Construction of Wescroft Road Balance Forward from 1943 1,850.90
13. Construction of Springvale Road Balance Forward from 1943 162.24
14. Construction of Harvard Street
Balance Forward from 1943 341.20
15. Construction of Lewis Street Balance Forward from 1943 189.77
16. Development Committee Balance Forward from 1943 500.00
17. Received from State and County for Chapter 90 Maint. 2,000.00
18. Road Machinery Fund Transfer from Road Machinery Account
13,500.00
19. Credited to Road Machinery Fund from Gasoline Refunds 179.13
20. Credited to Highway Department from Salvage Account 170.28
21. Voted at Special Town Meeting Nov. 27, 1944 Snow and Ice Removal 1,500.00
Grand Total $ 93,862.58
Expenditures and Balances of the above Appropriations :
Item
1. Highway Maintenance and Construction $ 42,000.00
20. Credit from Salvage Account 170.28
Total $ 42,170.28
Highway Department
211
Expended :
Pay Roll
$ 24,274.88
Road Material
6,462.67
Chapter 90 Maintenance 1,000.00
Supplies and Tools
2,409.64
Road Machinery Account
7,199.31
Miscellaneous
806.29
Total Expended
$ 42,152.79
Balance Unexpended $ 17.49
2. Removal of Snow and Ice $ 9,000.00
21. Removal of Snow and Ice 1,500.00
$ 10,500.00
Expended :
Pay Roll $ 5,817.21
Plowing and Hauling 669.02
Repairs and Supplies
2,750.94
Road Machinery Account
1,064.24
Miscellaneous
169.27
Total Expended
$ 10,470.68
Balance Unexpended
$ 29.32
3. Maintenance of Storm Drains
Expended :
Pay Roll $ 3,439.16
703.07
Total Expended $ 4,142.23
Balance Unexpended
$ 42.77
4. Sidewalk Construction and Maintenance
Expended : Pay Roll $ 3,111.14
Supplies and Misc.
1,129.91
Total Expended $ 4,241.05
Balance Unexpended $ 8.95
Highway Department
212
$ 4,185.00
Supplies and Misc.
$ 4,250.00
5. Development of Storm Water Drains $ 5,000.00
Expended :
Pay Roll $ 2,227.43
Supplies, Pipe and Misc.
2,363.05
Road Machinery Acct.
409.52
Total Expended
$ 5,000.00
6. Care of Dumps
$ 1,650.00
Expended : Pay Roll $ 1,642.81
Total Expended
$ 1,642.81
Balance Unexpended
$ 7.19
7. Mineral Street Bridge
$ 1,800.00
Expended :
Pay Roll $ 404.65
Supplies for Repairs
801.11
Road Machinery Account
121.72
Transfer to Snow and Ice
400.00
Total Expended
$ 1,727.48
Balance Unexpended
$ 72.52
8. Victory Gardens Account
Expended :
Pay Roll $ 383.64
4.72
Road Machinery Acct.
299.00
Transfer to Snow and Ice
300.00
Total Expended $ 987.36
Balance Unexpended
$ 27.64
9. Salvage Collection
$ 735.00
Expended : Pay Roll $ 735.00
10. Post War Planning
$ 3,000.00
Expended :
Pay Roll
$ 205.74
Engineering
269.00
Total Expended $ 474.74
Balance Unexpended
$ 2,525.26
213
Highway Department
$ 1,015.00
Miscellaneous
11. Construction of West Hill Circle Balance Forward from 1943 $ 834.05 No Expenditures in 1944
12. Construction of Wescroft Road Balance Forward from 1943 $ 1,850.90
No Expenditures in 1944
13. Construction of Springvale Road Balance Forward from 1943 No Expenditures in 1944
$ 102.2+
14. Construction of Harvard Street Balance Forward from 1943 $ 341.20 No Expenditures in 1944
15. Construction of Lewis Street Balance Forward from 1943 $ 189.77
No Expenditures in 1944
16. Development Committee Balance Forward from 1943 $ 500.00
Expended : Printing $ 242.85 $ 242.85
Total Expended
Total Unexpended $ 257.15
17. Chapter 90 Maintenance :
Received from State and County
$
2,000.00
Received from Highway Department 1,000.00
$ 3,000.00
Expended :
Pay Roll $ 1,572.94
Road Material
787.31
Road Machinery Account
639.75
Total Expended $ 3,000.00
18. Road Machinery Fund
Transfer from Road Machinery Account $ 13,500.00
19. Gasoline Refunds
179.13
$ 13,679.13
Expended :
Repairs, gas and oil $ 6,715.00
New Equipment
5,177.71
Total Expended $ 11,892.71
Balance Unexpended $ 1,786.42
Highway Department
214
Totals
Appro. and
Items
Transfers
Expended
Balance
1-20
$ 42,170.28
$ 42,152.79
$ 17.49
2-21
10,500.00
10,470.68
29.32
3
4,185.00
4,142.23
42.77
4
4,250.00
4,241.05
8.95
5
5,000.00
5,000.00
.00
6
1,650.00
1,642.81
7.19
7
1,800.00
1,727.48
72.52
8
1,015.00
987.36
27.64
9
735.00
735.00
.00
10
3,000.00
474.74
2,525.26
11
834.06
.00
834.06
12
1,850.90
.00
1,850.90
13
162.24
.00
162.24
14
341.20
.00
341.20
15
189.77
.00
189.77
16
500.00
242.85
257.15
17
3,000.00-
3,000.00
.00
18-19
13,679.13
11,892.71
1,786.42
Activities of the Highway Department in 1944 were for the most part confined to maintenance and repair projects, due to the lack of materials, funds, and man-power. During the war years the department has endeavored to maintain highway surfaces and thereby to prevent costly future repair and rebuilding. Because of limited annual appropri- ations highway surfaces, which for a period of years have received proper attention, are of necessity now receiving but a fraction of their former care. Should this condition long continue, highway surfaces will in time deteriorate seriously. Honing and mixed-in-place types of surface treatment, by far the most effective type of semi-permanent roadway maintenance, were reduced to a minimum to permit surface spraying and sand covering methods to be carried out on a maximum of streets.
Granolithic sidewalk construction was accomplished on several streets, applications for this type of work exceeding the funds appro- priated therefore. No granite curbing was installed during the year, as the granite quarrys could not supply it.
War emergency work continued through the year, with Victory Garden plowing and harrowing and paper and tin salvage collections actively engaged in by department equipment and personnel.
Highway Department
215
Shortage of experienced man-power continued through the year. During the summer months a small number of unskilled laborers were available.
A resume of the work accomplished by the Highway Department is outlined in the following more detailed report :
Snow and Ice
Twelve snow storms were recorded in Reading during 1944, three of which were under 1" depth, five of which were under 2" in depth, and four of which were from 4" to 10" in depth and required plowing. The following table includes only the four storms requiring plowing :
Recorded Snowfall-1944
Date
Snowfall (inches)
Temp.
Wind Direction
Force
Remarks
Jan. 6-7
5
24°
N.N.W. Moderate
Wet, heavy snow-
rained prior to
snow
Feb. 11-12
9
29º
N.N.W.
Moderate
Light and Fluffy
Mar. 20-21
10
28°
N.E.
Light to
Moderate
Heavy-followed by rain
Dec. 28
4
22
N.N. W
Light to
Heavy-followed by
Moderate
sleet and rain
Total
28 Inches
No major difficulties were experienced in any of the storms insofar as highway snow plowing was concerned, although three of the storms resulted in extremely heavy-textured snow, one of which was preceded by heavy rain, and two of which were followed by heavy rain. As a result, highways were bared of snow and ice at times during the winter, although minor snow storms and cold weather made necessary almost continual sanding of icy streets and sidewalks. Snow-fall was recorded on four days in January, one day in February, two days in March, two days in November, and four days in December, 1944.
Snow Removal equipment during 1944 included the regular eleven department heavy and light truck plow units and two hired truck plow units, as well as two sidewalk tractors and three hired horse-drawn sidewalk plow units. On December 4, 1944 a new Barber-Greene Snow Loader was delivered, and department employees trained as operators. In the snow storm of December 28 it was used on snow removal work for the first time, and, starting at 1:00 P.M. December 28, in fourteen hours snow had been removed from all regularly serviced locations.
Highway Department
215
Fifteen shovelers were used to clear snow from the edges of sidewalks ahead of the snow loader, and the Cletrac sidewalk tractor was used to clear intersections, push snow from curbs and gutters, and winrow snow from streets. Department trucks, rigged with new high side- boards, and six hired trucks, hauled snow from the snow loader. Low temperatures resulted in freezing the rain-soaked snow, but the snow loader was not hampered by the icy conditions. Many favorable comments were received from interested citizens who watched the loader at work. With the present severe man-power shortage, the snow loader will undoubtedly prove to be one of the most essential units of snow fighting equipment owned by the Town. Without this unit snow removal work, under the present conditions, would be slow, costly, and during excessive snowfalls, would not be feasible.
Regular routine preparations were made for the winter months, such as erecting snow fences to prevent drifting in known exposed locations, distributing and filling sand barrels, stockpiling sand, etc. All snow fighting equipment was overhauled and repaired prior to the snow months. Department trucks are becoming more prone to suffer mechanical break-downs, especially during the gruelling work of snow plowing. Certain of these trucks should be replaced at the first oppor- tunity with new units.
During these snow storms, the Department again had the assistance of several former employees and private citizens, who were assigned to work as truck drivers, tractor drivers, plowmen, timekeepers, mechanics, etc., as their qualifications warranted.
The gratitude of the Department is extended to those men who, though not in any way obligated to do so, voluntarily work long hours at low pay rates under adverse weather conditions to assist in snow fighting operations.
General Highway Maintenance
Roadway maintenance was carried on to the fullest extent possible. Road oils, however, were more easily procured than in former years, as War Production Board restrictions on the use thereof were greatly eased in 1944. As in 1943, the majority of streets surface treated were done only on those sections most in need of repair. Both sand and stone cover material was used to cover 54,667 gallons of road oil. Ex- tremely severe winter weather, with thawing and sub-zero tempera- tures alternating, resulted in badly deteriorated highway surfaces, particularly during a near record thawing period late in January.
Highway Department
217
Roadway patching was carried on extensively in an attempt to save highway surfaces from serious permanent damage, using gravel, patch- ing material mixed at the highway garage, and ready-mixed commercial patching material. A total of 2210 gallons of cold patch liquid was used by the department in mixing cold patch aggregate at the garage, and 36 tons of ready-mixed commercial patching material was used in street patching operations.
Early in April, the regular program of street sweeping, cleaning and removal of accumulated sand and debris from streets and sidewalks was accomplished. Hand labor and the Roto Sweeper were used in this work.
Brush was cut during the Fall and Winter months on outlying streets and at dangerous street intersections. A large section of the area adja- cent to the gravel pit was also stripped of trees and brush.
A new mechanical sand spreader, similar to those already con- structed was built at the garage machine shop and proved of good value. Wooden street signs, constructed, painted and lettered at the highway garage by department employees, were made as required to replace broken or defaced commercial metal signs, now unobtainable because of war-time metal shortages.
The gravel crushing plant was overhauled, repaired and operated, and its product stock-piled for routine use.
Chapter 90 Maintenance
Chapter 90 Maintenance work was accomplished on Main, Woburn, Salem, Lowell, Haverhill, and West Streets with the approval of the State Department of Public Works. Road oils were applied to sections of some of these streets, and sand or stone covered. On Main Street, sections of concrete roadway, which had been damaged and spalled, were patched with Type I mixture. Other maintenance work on these State- Country aid highways included repairing, replacing, and painting dam- aged guard rail posts, cutting out shoulders and gutters, cleaning catch basins and culverts, etc.
Chapter 83 Construction
For the second consecutive year, no streets were accepted as Public Ways, nor were any streets constructed under the provisions of Chapter 83 during 1944. Several streets, accepted in previous years, have yet to be constructed, due to shortage of manpower and materials.
Highway Department
218
Granolithic Sidewalk Construction
The following table illustrates granolithic sidewalk construction in 1944.
Granolithic Sidewalk Construction by Streets
Number Lots
Feet Frontage
Square Yards
Grand Street
1
82.20
49.95
Haven Street
1
60.00
36.73
Hampshire Road
2
160.00
90.49
Hillcrest Road
1
91.00
50.56
Linden Street
1
82.55
47.55
Lowell Street
1
50.00
39.43
Prospect Street
1
60.00
43.90
Wescroft Road
1
80.00
47.62
West Street
5
369.20
221.71
Total
14
1,034.95
627.94
Each of the above listed granolithic sidewalks was installed at the owners' request under the provisions of the Betterment Act, the prop- erty owner paying one-half the cost of construction of the sidewalk abutting his property. Several applications are on hand for future con- struction, lack of sufficient funds during 1944 preventing their construc- tion.
Several existing granolithic sidewalks were repaired during the year, and in some instances sectors were removed and replaced. Tree roots, frost heaves and other physical causes were responsible for the damaged sidewalks.
Stonedust Sidewalks
Stonedust was used to temporarily surface 4,512 lineal feet of gravel or earth sidewalks abutting 46 different locations, totaling 2,806 square yards, 60.5 tons of stonedust being used for this purpose. These installa- tions were for the most part done on application of abutting property owners, to temporarily improve sidewalk conditions. Funds for this type of work being limited, an attempt is made each year to accommodate requests in the order received.
Gravel Sidewalks
Gravel sidewalks were installed in several locations, also as a tempo- rary relief from bad sidewalk conditions, and in most instances were topped with stone dust. Tree lawns were loamed and seeded as time and conditions permitted.
Highway Department
219
Granite Curbing
No new granite curbing installations were made in 1944, as granite quarries were not producing curbing for the market. Several applica- tions are on file for installation when curbing is again available.
One short installation of salvaged curbing was made on Deering Street corner of Harriman Avenue, and a curb inlet set at a new catch basin on Vista Avenue.
Storm Water Drainage
Four storm water drain extensions were made in 1944, as illustrated in the following table :
Size and Length of Pipe
Totals
Size and Length of Pipe
Totals
Location
30" 186
18"
12"
10"
C.B.'s M.H.'s pipe only
Cross Street
1
2
186
Deering Street
24
1
24
Temple Street
542
62
3
4
604
Washington St.
480
162
7
4
642
Totals
186
542
542
162
24
12
10
1,456
On Temple Street, the drain partially installed in 1943 was com- pleted, in 1944, running from the angle in Temple Street to Woburn Street. The completion of this drain eliminates the flow of surface water from Temple Street over private property, and accommodates the sur- face water run-off from Temple Street hill.
The Washington Street drain eliminated a particularly annoying condition between Elliott and Village Streets, where a flat gradient and no opportunity for roadside run-off resulted in flooding of the street sur- face after every storm. In relation to this drain, a drain was also laid from the end of Elliott Street to Bolton Street open drain ditch, and a stone retaining wall erected in the ditch at the point of connection.
Off Cross Street, an easement was taken through private property and a sector of open drain ditch piped and covered, to eliminate an an- noying condition to abutting residences. A concrete floor and stone rip- rap wall was constructed at Cross Street box culvert to accommodate the pipe drain.
At Deering Street and Harriman Avenue a short drain was laid to eliminate a bad drain condition in that section of Deering Street.
Highway Department
220
Maintenance of Storm Drains
The routine cleaning, widening and deepening of open drain ditches was accomplished as conditions permitted during the year. It is necessary to maintain these open ditches to permit draining of low swampy areas. The Quannapowitt Drain Ditch System, which is now rough-excavated in its entirety, carries the run-off from many of these ditches and greatly increases the speed of surface water run-off.
Work of a semi-permanent nature was accomplished in several large open drain ditches, such as installing concrete floors and/or rip-rapped walls in sections of ditches subject to erosion, erecting stone head and wing-walls at culverts, etc.
Storm drain pipes were rodded and flushed in several sections where danger of clogging was imminent, and several culverts were also so treated. Catch basins and manholes were cleaned out and repairs made as needed.
The bulldozer was used to level and fill over several recently piped ditches, and in two instances the filled and graded areas were loamed and seeded.
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