USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Reading > Town of Reading Massachusetts annual report 1948 > Part 13
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It is not easy to carry on efficiently under such conditions, but the Trustees are satisfied that the Library staff has completed another year of excellent service to the people of Reading. May we, in view of past service and future plans, especially commend Miss Grace Abbott, the librarian, who manages an excellent daily routine in the running of the Library and also gives unfaltering leadership to develop a loyal and co-operative staff. We know that those who regularly use the Library will join the Trustees in this word of praise.
THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES
William S. Tonks, Chairman
C. Nelson Bishop Katherine C. Pierce
Eve E. Henderson, Secretary Sydney M. Hodson Neil C. Henderson
172
REPORT OF LIBRARIAN
Salaries, Appropriation - $7800.00 transfer $125.00 - $7925.00.
Librarian
$ 2,320.98
Assistants
4,573.19
Janitor
1,030.09
$ 7,924.26
Maintenance, Appropriation - $4425.00-transfer $160.48 - $4585.48
Telephone
$ 54.55
Fuel, light, water, sewer
767.99
Printing and supplies
137.07
Books and periodicals
2,073.95
Binding
194.52
Maintenance and repairs
1,233.50
Miscellaneous
107.51
$ 4,569.09
Balance unexpended and returned to revenue
On salaries
$
.74
On maintenance
16.39
Receipts
Fines collected
$ 908.19
Fees from out-of-town borrowers
21.00
$ 929.19
LIBRARIAN'S REPORT ON CIRCULATION FOR 1948
Volumes in Library, Dec. 31, 1947
27,772
Volumes bought
Adult fiction
249
Adult non-fiction
218
Juvenile fiction
213
Juvenile non-fiction
79
292
Reference
3
Gifts
69
831
831
28,603
173
Withdrawn during year
413 28,190
Circulation
Fiction
48,161
Non-fiction
15,144
Periodicals
6,790
70,095
Juvenile
Fiction
20,289
Non-fiction
15,144
Periodicals
516
Schools
4,594
28,473
Total circulation in 1948
98,568
To tal circulation in 1947
96,012
Gain in 1948
2,556
NEW borrowers registered
Adult
418
Juvenile
247
Total new borrowers
665
No. days Library open
289
Average daily circulation
Adult
242.54
Juvenile
98.86
Borrowed from other libraries
32
Loaned to other libraries
26
MEMORIAL BOOKS have been presented to the Library during the year by relatives and friends of late Reading citizens in memory of:
John Arthur Rich Start 'em sailing
Harrison Bowers
Forty Years of Hunting
Joseph Cummings Roses of the World in Color
Charles A. Parks
Our Flowering World
Mrs. Arthur Libby
Goodhousekeeping Needlecraft
174
Mrs. Susan Tuttle The Berkshires
Donald Tuttle, Jr. Books on Radio and Mathematics
Aram Dagdigian The Reach of the Mind Report to Protestants
Arthur Peterson
American Birds in Color Readers Encyclopedia History of European Civilization
John Bunten Wild Life the World Over
Mrs. Royal Jacques Perennials Preferred
Mrs. Wendall Davis Handbook of Old Pottery Marks
Gooch Sargent
Days Without Time
Lester Riley
Home Crafts Handbook Creative Lithography Art of Color and Design
Pursuit of the Horizon Landscape Painting
Richard Austin Maritime History of Maine
Mrs. George Clough Fair Harvard (Photographs by Chamberlain)
Frederick L. Springford The Inverted Mountains Canyons of the West
From Reading Woman's Club, Book Group Across the Wide Missouri First Flowers of Our Wilderness
Also several books from the Reading Health Committee
175
REPORT OF THE MOTH SUPERINTENDENT
To the Honorable Board of Selectmen:
Gentlemen,
I submit my report as Moth Superintendent for the year 1948.
The Gypsy Moth situation has greatly improved in the past year. The regular yearly check on Gypsy Moth nest, shows a very marked decrease in the number of egg clusters throughout the town.
New legislation during the past year now places the control work for the Elm Leaf Beetle, Fall Web Worm, Japanese Beetle and a number or other pests under the Moth Department. This increased spraying on town property, will make it impossible for us to spray private property more than three times, during the season.
The appropriation for remodeling the Moth Department Garage, en- abled us to install three new overhead doors, concrete the floor, sheet- rock the walls and ceiling, rebuild the chimney, install electricity, paint both the inside and the outside of the building.
I take this opportunity to thank all those who have assisted me in the past year.
MAURICE H. DONEGAN
Moth Superintendent
176
FIFTY-FOURTH ANNUAL REPORT
OF THE
MUNICIPAL LIGHT BOARD
for the year ended
December 31, 1948
MUNICIPAL LIGHT BOARD
Joseph H. Reed, Chairman Louis Ellenwood, Secretary Alfred H. Dolben
Term Expires 1950 Term Expires 1949 Term Expires 1951
Manager Clarence L. Thomas
Office 25 Haven St., Reading, Mass.
MANAGER'S REPORT
To the Municipal Light Board:
Gentlemen:
In this annual report in addition to a review of operations, other matters have been included, such as is believed will interest the Town's citizens and its Light Department customers.
Nineteen forty-eight was a year of all time highs in which our customers' use of electricity continued its strong upward trend. A series of new high loads occurred during the last quarter when both momentary and daily outputs exceeded liberal forecasts made earlier in the year.
The operating record however established many other unusual all- time highs, some of which adversely affected the overall results. Infor- mation concerning the results is explained in the following sectionalized text under appropriate headings for your convenient reference.
HIGHLIGHTS OF THE YEAR
HIGHEST MOMENTARY DEMAND: 7000 KILOWATTS. For those who may not know what a kilowatt is it may be helpful to explain that the highest momentary load which occurred on December 27th just be- fore 6:00 P. M. was equal to the current of electricity that 7000 up-to-date electric irons, each rated at 1000 watts, would draw if all were plugged on at the same moment. The 21% increase over last year's peak load was four times greater than the average annual load addition over the past 25 years.
178
ENERGY PURCHASED: 20,515,349 Kilowatt-hours. Up 8.75% over the current purchased the previous year. Average unit cost was 1.429c. The fuel adjustment charge, included in the stated unit cost, increased 37% last year, and 230% over the pre-war figure.
ENERGY ABSORBED IN PROCESS OF DISTRIBUTION=8.0%; favorably less percentage-wise than last year. Larger copper and ca- pacitors installed a year ago helped to reduce unaccounted losses.
CUSTOMERS: 8270. We added 380 new connections many of them from newly constructed line extensions.
PLANT EXPANSION: $128,594.92. Additions to plant last year cost an amount 52% more than the year's net income, and nearly four times more than the average annual addition to plant during the last twenty- five years. In the three calendar years since the end of the war in August 1945, close to one third of a million dollars has been spent on plant as the result of our customers' demand for electricity. From the list that follows one can learn the amounts expended on the various elements of the department's plant in 1948.
Transformer Station & Sub-Station Outside Equipment $ 2,284.88
Transformer Station & Sub-station Inside Equipment 41,747.60
Poles, Fixtures & Overhead Conductors 44,600.61
Underground Conduits
1,895.61
Underground Conductors
20,849.31
Consumers Meters
5,558.79
Consumers Meter-Installations
2,147.72
Line Transformers
8,363.92
Line Transformer Installations
252.50
Street Lighting Equipment 893.98
Total Additions $128,594.92
An approximately equal amount, or probably more will be spent this year to provide important additions.
ENERGY SOLD: 18,774,600 Kilowatt-hours. Almost ten years ago nearly the same net operating income was realized from a sales volume of half the energy sold last year.
OPERATING EXPENSES: $538,151.17. The ratio of total expenses, including fixed and other charges, to operating revenues increased from 88.6% in the preceding year to 91.3% in 1948. More was spent because of the larger volume of business, and also because of higher prices and wages.
179
NET OPERATING INCOME: $62,993.06. Earnings from the sales of electricity (excluding income from the sale of merchandise, etc.) was 20% less than the $79,161.54 obtained in the previous year.
NET INCOME TRANSFERRED TO PROFIT AND LOSS: $80,038.24. The $16,645.11 net profit from the sale of merchandise and $1,878.25 in- come from minor miscellaneous non-operating income are included in the net income transferred to profit and loss. The latter account is shown separately near the end of this report. The net increase in the profit and loss account is $14,505.34 as compared to $47,184.43 in the preceding year.
CASH BALANCE: $27,875.49. This amount has been brought forward into funds reserved for construction purposes. At the end of the preced- ing year nearly 250% more or $95,709.71 was available for new con- struction.
AMOUNT PAID TO THE TOWN TREASURY: $54,000. This transfer of cash was accomplished by unusual deferments of bills due for pay- ment. In addition to the above cash payment, the town realizes a sav- ing of approximately $25,000 on electricity supplied at lower costs than what is charged in many other places, for street lighting and for other municipal purposes.
DEPRECIATION: $40,377.56. Since 1935, 3% of the total cost of plant at the beginning of the year exclusive of land, has been charged to op- erations for depreciation in accordance with Chapter 164, Section 57 of the General Laws of Massachusetts. The flexibility of this law pro- vides for a lower or higher percentage than specified, as may be ap- proved by the Department of Public Utilities.
Present financing requirements may make it necessary to apply for the 4% depreciation rate we charged prior to 1935.
RATES: Average revenue per Kilowatt hour 3.141c, a decline of 1% less than 1947. Higher costs with the continuation of payment of the large sums that have been asked for as "in lieu of" tax payments into the town treasury can only lead to upward revision of our traditionally low rates. "In lieu of tax" payments have been nearly double the amount that would be asked of a private corporation or industry. The difference between an equitable amount and the sum being paid is virtually a dividend. That sum, and the large saving on the Town's bill for Municipal purposes other than street lighting, and on our present favorable low rate to customers cannot all be maintained under pre- vailing high cost conditions.
To finance new construction direly needed at the power station, at a special meeting held last September, the Town voted to authorize its Treasurer to borrow $100,000, an amount exceeding any previous author-
180
ization for electric-plant expansion. Other large sums will be required during the next few years to handle the overwhelming electrical tasks our customers want done. As matters stand now either the payment of future plant expansion will be financed on borrowed funds or out of earnings obtained from higher rates.
Miscellaneous Statistics: Customers, Energy Sales, Revenues
A few facts follow showing the number of customers by classes, and the revenues resulting from their use of electricity.
No. of Kilowatt
Cust-
Hours
omers
Sold
Income
Residential
7540
12,207,228
$423,994.39
Commercial Service
629
3,117,956
90,282.01
Power - Wholesale
8
1,839,090
27,798.89
Municipal Service
43
616,641
4,150.85
Municipal Service - Primary
5
69,100
8,147.71
To other Utilities for Resale
25
51,181
1,591.42
Private Street Lights
17
96
245.08
Public Street Lights
3
302,776
33,450.57
Total
8270
18,204,068
$589,584.08
Residential use increased nearly 19% during the year as indicated by the average customer's monthly consumption of 137.5 Kilowatt hours.
The average revenue per residential Kilowatt hour sold was 3.47c a decrease of 214 % from that paid the year before.
POWER STATION
CONSTRUCTION COMPLETED: An extension of the gallery, main and transfer buses, and three new feeder bays each complete with three 48KVA step-type voltage regulators, circuit breakers, a feeder and main bus disconnect switch, and various appurtenances including new switchboard control panels, were put into service for the outside towns late in October. Other new ebony asbestos panels were added for use in the near future. Lally columns to reinforce the floor under the gallery extension were erected in the basement.
Additional voltmeters were installed on the instrument panels to obtain more complete operating data.
Disconnect switches were installed in the power transformer pri-
181
mary cabinets and 350 MCM conductors replaced smaller copper from each disconnect switch to the reactors. At the same time current trans- formers of larger ratings mounted last year were put into service and then tested with their associated relays.
New 1500 MCM conductors and larger terminal connectors were in- stalled in the power transformer secondary breaker trucks. To make this possible the 4000 volt current transformers were re-located in the basement.
A new motor-generator set was added for charging the control storage battery.
MAINTENANCE: Periodic relay and indicating instrument checks were made by the Boston Edison laboratory test men.
Feeder oil circuit breakers were serviced after operations result- ing from outside troubles.
Feeder voltage regulators have been kept clean, greased, oiled and repaired when necessary.
Many improvements accomplished since the completion of the gal- lery work has resulted in an orderly and tidy appearance particularly in the basement.
NEW CONSTRUCTION FOR THIS YEAR: The fifteen feeder oil-cir- cuit breakers presently in use on the original gallery will be replaced with urgently needed ones having several times greater interrupting capacity.
The two 15,000 volt power transformer switches will be rebuilt to have an interrupting capacity nearly twice their present rating.
Voltage regulators on feeders supplying Reading will be re-con- nected to carry higher loadings. Indicating instruments on these circuits will have newly calibrated scales.
Installation of a 350 MCM, 15 KV cable from the Stoneham-Reading Town Line via Main St., Avon St., and Ash St., terminating in our pow- er station will be accomplished jointly with the Boston Edison Co., to provide a third supply line from their Woburn station.
We will also install two metal clad 15,000 volt cubicles containing 600 ampere oil circuit breakers with interrupting capacities of 250,000 KVA each. One cubicle will function as a tie switch to the high tension bus, the other as a switch for a third power transformer to be installed in the near future. These cubicles will connect with one to be installed by the Boston Edison Co., to control the new supply line mentioned above. The new cubicles will also be interconnected with the two pres- ent supply line cubicles through an overhead enclosed busway.
To finance the foregoing new projects the Town, at a special meet- ing held September 27th, 1948, authorized a $100,000 bond issue.
182
DISTRIBUTION
CONSTRUCTION COMPLETED: Projects completed last year pro- vided timely capacity. Larger copper was installed on the Wilmington Center main line between Perry's Corner and Shawsheen Avenue.
Three new underground cable 4000 volt 4 wire mains were installed underground preparatory to re-division of load areas in North Reading, Reading Highlands and a portion of the West Side.
A larger transformer was provided for the Wescroft section and an emergency tie arrangement for use in case of trouble.
Larger copper was run on the Lynnfield Center feeder along Charles Street.
Many smaller projects required the addition of 151 new poles, 34 transformers, 251,899 ft. of wire and 380 new services; of the new poles added 83 were set by the Telephone Company.
At various locations 180 KVA of pole type capacitors were installed.
MAINTENANCE: Average service voltage levels were maintained well above threshold values throughout peak load periods. 202 trans- formers have been tested on the systematic schedule started a year ago.
Line clearance from tree hazards required an expenditure of $11,567.09 for trimming in North Reading, Wilmington and Lynnfield Center, including the State Highways.
Of the 347 pole renewals 39 were replaced by the Telephone Com- pany.
In changing 66 transformers we added 2071/2KVA of capacity, mostly as the outcome of indications obtained from the systematic test program.
With sorrow we note the passing of Converse G. Parker, one of our linemen who was involved in an accident while at work in Lynnfield Center on June 25th.
James Keefe, also a lineman, suffered injuries from contact with a live wire, that compelled his retirement.
NEW CONSTRUCTION FOR THIS YEAR: The work of increasing copper sizes in main portions of most feeders supplying Reading will start this year to allow of a greater overall utilization of circuit capacity.
Emergency ties will be arranged for the underground transformers at High corner Green Sts., and at Woburn corner Sanborn Sts.
Improvement of standby facilities and more transformer capacity is planned for the Reading Square underground area.
A new joint pole line ownership agreement with the Telephone Company is being prepared. This will provide for improved stand-
183
ards of construction, and a division of the territory for pole mainten- ance purposes.
Another main conductor will be extended from West corner Woburn St., in Wilmington to allow of a load transfer from the Wilmington Cen- ter to the North Wilmington feeder.
Portions of the Reading West Side, north of Woburn St., will be transferred to one of the new underground mains on High St.
STREET LIGHT DATA
Additional public street lights installed
Reading
8
Lynnfield
1
North Reading
8
Wilmington
20
Additional private street lights installed
2
Total public street lights in all towns
2,265
Total private street lights in all towns
17
Kilowatt hours used for Reading street lights
570,532
Appropriation from 1948 tax levy for street lighting $16,500.00
METER LABORATORY SUMMARY
Test work data
Investigations
221
Laboratory meter tests
723
Tested on service location 127
Repairs
37
Recording voltmeter checks
211
Miscellaneous trouble jobs
157
Meter data
Purchased 463
Installed outdoors
493
Total outdoor installations
4897
Scrapped
124
AUTOMOTIVE EQUIPMENT
The 1941 Studebaker pick-up truck has been replaced with a new Ford pick-up truck which was ordered in 1947.
The following cars and trucks are in bad condition and should be promptly replaced. Their continued use will incur costly repairs and impede operations.
Mileage
1939 Dodge Truck No. 12
150,850
1940 Chevrolet Truck No. 2 130,028
184
1941 Ford Coupe No. 10 88,771
1942 Plymouth Coupe No. 3 89,393
A new 2 ton Ford chassis has been ordered for the new line con- struction body which was ordered in 1947.
We expect this unit to be delivered complete during January.
SUMMARY OF AUTOMOBILE EXPENSE 1948
Gasoline - 13,457 Gals.
$ 2,004.61
Oil - 496 Qts.
94.77
Anti-Freeze - 70 Qts.
41.42
Material
1,837.93
Labor
3,039.25
Insurance
929.39
Depreciation
2,087.20
$ 10,034.57
Miles Travelled
135,073
Cost per mile
.0743
APPLIANCE DEPARTMENT
The Appliance Department has concluded another year of sales effort. The ratio of sales made in relation to the demand for appliances was very good, due to the ability of manufacturers to ship major appli- ances in quantity during 1948.
The sales of appliances showed a net profit of $16,837.53.
Gross receipts from appliance sales were $109,118.13, a decrease of 23% from 1947.
The number of kilowatt hours that will be used annually by the appliances sold in 1948 is estimated to be 532,168 and of this amount 226,800 are due to the sale of 63 water heaters in 1948.
APPRECIATION
The year 1948 in many respects was one of the most active ex- perienced by the Department. Whatever achievements have been re- corded reflect credit to the members of our Municipal Light Board for their competency and devotion to public service, and to the loyal co- operation of our employees who have made possible the successful op- eration of the Town's electric Plant.
In accordance with the provisions of Section 57, Chapter 164 of the General Law, I submit herewith my estimate of the income and ex- penses of the plant for the year ending December 31, 1949.
185
ESTIMATE FOR YEAR 1949
Estimated 1949
INCOME:
From Private Consumers
$631,991.87
From Tax Lexy :-
For Street Lights
17,500.00
For Municipal Buildings
6,044.20
From Miscellaneous Income
1,350.00
Mdse. and Jobbing
10,798.00
TOTAL INCOME
$667,684.07
EXPENSES:
Production
$332,937.56
Distribution
123,844.00
Utilization
15,846.00
Commercial
28,554.00
New Business
250.00
General and Miscellaneous
47,753.50
Depreciation
43,756.75
Bond and Note Payments
7,000.00
Interest on Bonds and Notes
2,360.00
Uncollectible Operating Revenue
1,500.00
Merchandise and Jobbing Expense
Taxes - Outside Towns
10,000.00
Interest on Consumer's Deposits
900.00
TOTAL EXPENSE
$614,701.81
Excess Income over Expenses
$ 52,982.26
K.W.H. Purchased
22,644,900
K.W.H. Sold
20,833,313
K.W.H. for Reading Street Lights
572,355
Expense per K.W.H. Sold
2.95c
Cost of Street Lights
$ 16,884.47
Appropriation for Street Lights
$ 17,500.00
A summary of Income and Expense, Total Cost of Plant together with the Statement of Assets and Liabilities, the Profit and Loss Account, list of bills remaining unpaid at the end of the year, and the auditor's certificate is appended herewith.
Respectfully submitted CLARENCE L. THOMAS, Manager
186
CHARLES E. STANWOOD & COMPANY
Accountants and Auditors 150 Congress Street Boston, Massachusetts
January 31, 1949
To the Municipal Light Board Town of Reading
Massachusetts
We have examined the accompanying balance sheet of the Mun- icipal Light Department of the Town of Reading, Massachusetts, as at December 31, 1948 and related statements of income and profit and loss for the year then ended, and reviewed the system of internal control and accounting procedures and, without making a detailed audit of the transactions have examined or tested accounting records of the Department and other supporting evidence, by methods and to the extent we deemed appropriate.
In our opinion said financial statements present fairly the position of the Municipal Light Department as at December 31, 1948 and the results of their operations for the year then ended, in conformity with the "Uniform System of Accounts for Municipal Lighting Plants" as prescribed by the Department of Public Utilities of Massachusetts.
Charles E. Stanwood Company
REPORT OF THE MUNICIPAL LIGHT BOARD
The report of the Manager as submitted by him together with cer- tificate of the auditor is hereby approved by the Municipal Light Board and constitutes its report to the town.
JOSEPH H. REED LOUIS ELLENWOOD ALFRED H. DOLBEN
Municipal Light Board
187
SUMMARY OF INCOME AND EXPENSE for the year ending December 31, 1948
REVENUES:
Residence Service
$423,994.39
Commercial Service
90,282.01
Primary Power - Wholesale
27,798.89
Municipal Service
12,298.56
Sales to Private Companies and Municipal Plants
1,591.42
Street Lighting Service
33,618.81
Miscellaneous Income
18,259.90
Total Revenues
$607,843.98
EXPENSES:
Production Expenses
$293,224.38
Distribution Expenses
97,163.89
Utilization Expenses
13,997.50
Commercial Expenses
27,416.54
New Business Expenses
241.07
General Expenses
40,965.89
Depreciation
40,377.56
Interest on Bonds and Notes
594.79
Taxes
8,690.00
Uncollectible Operating Revenues
595.86
Interest on Consumers' Deposits
536.96
Retirement Pensions
4,001.30
Total Expense
$527,805.74
Excess of Revenues over Expenses
$ 80,038.24
Bonds and Notes Paid
10,000.00
Transfer to Town Treasurer
54,000.00
Net Revenues
$ 16,038.24
TOTAL COST OF PLANT
as of December 31, 1948
Cost of Land-Ash Street
$ 2,575.80
25 Haven Street
7,459.46
Cost of Structures-Ash Street
66,224.79
25 Haven Street
28,093.90
Generator Plant-Steam
188
Transmission, Distribution and Storage:
Cost of Trans. Sta. and Substa. Equip.
208,237.01
Cost of Poles, Fixtures and Overhead Cond. 634,977.74
Cost of Underground Conduits
124,440.78
Cost of Underground Conductors
132,830.80
Cost of Consumers' Meters
87,345.51
Cost of Meter Installations
31,495.39
Cost of Line Transformers
79,708.71
Cost of Line Transformer Installations
6,826.06
Utilization Equipment:
Cost of Street Lighting Equip.
58,377.65
TOTAL COST OF ELECTRIC PLANT
$1,468,593.60
STATEMENT OF ASSETS AND LIABILITIES
as of December 31, 1948
FIXED ASSETS:
Land
$ 10,035.26
Structures
63,066.20
Trans. Sta. and Substa. Equip.
128,412.04
Poles, Fixtures and Overhead Cond.
292,080.08
Underground Conduit
95,357.44
Underground Conductors
93,332.24
Consumers' Meters and Installations
55,783.28
Line Transformers and Installations
48,593.21
Street Lighting Equipment
11,261.69
General Equipment
19,042.69
Total Fixed Assets
$816,964.13
CURRENT ASSETS:
Construction Fund-Special
$ 3,465.32
Construction Fund
17,528.05
Depreciation Fund
6,882.12
Consumers' Deposit Fund
23,648.00
Petty Cash
300.00
Accounts Receivable
64,175.37
Materials and Supplies
89,898.66
Total Current Assets
$205,897.52
PREPAID INSURANCE
$ 962.99
TOTALS
$1,023,824.64
189
LIABILITIES:
Notes Payable
$ 21,000.00
Bonds Payable
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