USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Reading > Town of Reading Massachusetts annual report 1956 > Part 15
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The final result of the aerator coke and filter sand replacement has been a marked increase in iron removal efficiency of the Deferrization Plant.
Well Field
Because of the extremely severe weather conditions experienced in December 1955 and January through April 1956, much damage was caused at the well field. Flood rains in January, followed by low temperatures and heavy snowfall, resulted in complete inundation of the well field and constant rise and fall of the ice and snow cover. Sev- eral tubular well pipes, suction main connections, and well leads were broken off or ruptured, and it was necessary to test, examine and repair each tubular well in the collection system. This was done early in the Spring when the meadows in the well field drained. Following this, each tubular well was cleaned, pumped, and put back in service.
Reference is made to the various statistical tables appended hereto for additional data regarding the Water Division.
167
STATISTICS FOR YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 1956
READING WATER DEPARTMENT
Reading, Middlesex County, Massachusetts
General Statistics
Population 1955 State Census - 16,440.
Date of Construction of Pumping Stations - 1931, 1953.
By whom owned: Town of Reading.
Source of supply: artesian wells, gravel-packed wells.
Mode of supply: pumping.
Pumping Statistics
Builders of pumping machinery: DeLaval Steam Turbine Co., A. D. Miller, Inc.
Pumps at Hundred Acres Stations
Pumping Station No. 1
(A) - Pumping unit No. 1 - Electric two-stage 5/4 DeLaval 75 H.P., 1750 R.P.M., 3-phase, 60-cycle, 440-volt. 900 G.P.M.
(B) - Pumping unit No. 2 - Electric two-stage 8/6 DeLaval 125 H.P., 1750 R.P.M., 3-phase, 60-cycle, 440-volt. 1200 G.P.M.
Auxiliary Station No. 2
Pumping unit - Cook Rotation Electric 50 H.P., 1800 R.P.M., 3-phase, 60-cycle, 440-volt. 850 G.P.M.
Emergency drive - 4-cyclinder Twin Disc Continental gasoline engine.
Auxiliary Station No. 3
Pumping unit - Cook Rotation Electric 20 H.P., 1800 R.P.M., 3-phase, 60-cycle, 440-volt. 550 G.P.M.
Emergency drive - 4-cyclinder Twin Disc Continental gasoline engine.
K.W.H. electric power used for year - 604,800.
Total Pumpage (Ventrui, Builders' Flo-watch meters - 430,214,900 gals.
Average number of gallons per K.W.H. - 711.33.
Average static head against which pumps worked - 228.
Average dynamic head against which pumps worked - 258.
Cost of pumping (per million gallons) power only - $24.31.
Cost of pumping (per million gallons) based on total pumping sta- tion expenses - $27.93.
Cost of filtration (per million gallons) based on cost of plant opera- tion - $9.76.
Cost of water supply (per million gallons pumped) figured on cost of maintenance, plus interest on bonds - $242.85.
168
Kinds and sizes of pipes: Cast Iron, Galvanized Iron, Lead-Line 214" to 12".
Main Extensions 1956 - 6" 4061.10 Ft. 8" 10618.56 Ft. 12" 2652.00 Ft.
Total 17331.66 Ft.
Total Length of Pipe now in use - 70,450 miles.
No. of Hydrants added during year - 24.
No. of Hydrants Public and Private now in use - 449.
No. stop gates added during year - 73.
No. stop gates now in use - 1119.
No. stop gates smaller than 4" - 170.
No. of Blow-offs added during year - 3.
No. of Blow-offs now in use - 33.
Range of water pressure - 45 to 90 pounds.
STATISTICS RELATING TO SUCTION MAINS AND WELLS - 1956
Kind of Pipe - Cast Iron.
Size of Pipe - 8", 10", 12", 16".
Total Length Pipe in use - 8" - 4608.00 Ft., 10" - 882.00 Ft. 12" -- 1820.00 Ft., 16" - 116.00 Ft. Total - 7426.00 Ft.
Gates on suction and force mains now in use - 8" - 4. 10" - 1. 12" - 12. 16" - 1. Total - 18.
Wells on various line - Line A - 6, Line B - 18, - Line C - 11. Line D - 12, Line E - 16, Line F - 20, Line G - 8, Line H - 13, Line I -9, Line J -9, Line K -8. Total - 131.
Gravel-packed wells at auxiliary pumping stations - 2.
STATISTICS RELATING TO SERVICES - 1956
Kinds of Pipe - Cast Iron, Cement Lined, Galvanized Iron, Copper Tub- ing.
Sizes - 3/4" to 6".
Services extended in 1956 - 12,481.50 feet.
No. of New Service Pipe Connections made in 1956 - 205.
No. of Services now in use - 4406.
Average length of services installed in 1956 - 60.88 feet. No. of new water meters tested in 1956 - 162.
No. of old meters, cleaned, repaired and tested 1956 - 468. No. of water meters junked - 10.
No. of water meters now in use - 4806.
169
1
YEARLY RECORD OF HUNDRED ACRES PUMPING STATIONS January 1, 1956 thru December 31, 1956
Month
No. Days
Pumped Hrs. Mins.
(Venturi Meters) Gallons Pumped Station 1 Stations 2 & 3 Pumpage
Power Gals. per
K.W.H,
K.W.H.
Rainfall
Avg. Daily Gals. Pumped
January
31
587
15
28,438,300
2,093,200
30,531,500
45,100
676.97
7.80
984,887
February
29
557
30
27,181,700
1,563,000
28,744,700
40,900
702.80
4.59
991,197
March
31
617
45
30,076,100
1,988,000
32,064,100
43,800
732.06
6.27
1,034,326
April
30
615
15
30,025,900
2,139,600
32,165,500
38,600
833.30
4.13
1,072,183
May
31
576
30
27,694,900
4,043,200
31,738,100
38,300
828.67
1.33
1,023,810
June
30
623
00
25,940,400
15,719,700
41,660,100
63,700
654.00
1.57
1,388,670
July
31
665
15
30,230,000
15,934,400
46,164,400
64,300
717.95
1.93
1,489,174
August
31
691
30
29,241,400
20,698,700
49,940,100
79,400
628.97
1.35
1,610,971
September
30
561
30
25,743,100
8,292,800
34,035,900
45,100
754,68
3.29
1,134,530
October
31
584
45
27,143,700
8,136,700
35,280,400
48,400
728.93
3.06
1,138,077
November
30
553
30
26,358,700
8,079,600
34,438,300
46,800
735.86
4.09
1,147,943
December
31
506
30
24,815,500
8,636,300
33,451,800
50,400
663.73
4.73
1,079,090
Totals
7,140
15
332,889,700
97,325,200
430,214,900
604,800
711.33
44.14
1,175,451
HUNDRED ACRES PUMPING STATION
COMPARATIVE TOTAL PUMPAGE OF WATER - FOR PAST 10 YEARS
Year
Total Pumpage (Gallons)
Increase or Decrease
Average Daily Pumpage
Increase or Decrease
1947
268,036,800
9,210,000 (I )
727,413
18,298 (I )
1948
288,389,200
20,352,400 (I )
787,948
60,535 (I )
1949
324,296,900
35,907,700 (I)
888,466
100,518 (I )
1950
328,962,800
4,665,900 (I)
901,265
12,799 (I )
1951
324,343,400
4,619,400 (D)
888,584
12,681 (D)
1952
352,404,400
28,061,000 (I )
962,854
74,270 (I )
1953
405,580,000
53,175,600 (I )
1,111,178
148,324 (I )
1954
374,804,000
30,776,000 (D)
1,026,860
84,318 (D)
1955
412.582.400
37,778.400 (I )
1,130,363
103,503 (I )
1956
430,214,900
17,632,500 (I )
1,175,451
45,088 (I)
171
WATER MAIN EXTENSIONS - 1956
Street
Location
8"
12"
Total
Hyds. Gates
Arcadia Ave.
West St., Westerly to Arnold
615.00 1735.00
2350.00
4
12
Arnold Ave.
Munroe, Westerly
884.00
884.00
1 3
Baker Rd.
Dead End, Easterly
347.00
347.00
Cape Cod Ave.
Dead End, Northerly to Lowell St.
377.00
377.00
1
Dana Rd.
Dead End, Westerly
642.50
642.50
2
2
Edgemont Ave.
West St., Northerly to Arcadia
1550.00
1550.00
3
7
Garrett Rd.
Shelby Rd. to Munroe Ave.
384.00
384.00
1
2
Grant St.
Summer Ave., Easterly
396.70
396.70
1
2
Harvard St.
Dead End, Easterly
320.00
320.00
Haverhill St.
Timberneck, Northerly
741.50
741.50
1 3
Henzie St.
Grove St., Easterly
591.60
591.60
1
2
Intervale Terr.
Dead End, Easterly to John Carver
375.30
375.30
1
3
John St.
Easterly to New Dump
210.00
210.00
1
2
John St. Court
John St., Easterly
289.60
289.60
1
Kieran Rd.
William Rd., Northerly
942.06
942.06
2
5
Laurel Lane
Mark Ave., Southwesterly
480.00
480.00
1
Lee St.
Dead End, Northerly
32.00
32.00
Linnea Lane
Dead End, Northerly
112.00
112.00
1
Main St.
Cross to Putnam Rd.
32.00
32.00
Marla Lane
Forest St., Northerly
323.00
323.00
1
2
Martin Rd.
Forest St., Northerly
780.00
780.00
1
2
Munroe Ave.
Arcadia, Southerly to Dead End
917.00
917.00
1
5
Pine Ridge Rd.
Tying in two Dead Ends
364.30
364.30
2
Prospect St.
Dead End, Northerly
71.00
71.00
Putnam Rd.
Main St., Easterly
461.60
461.60
2
3
Reading Terr.
Putnam Rd., Northerly
22.20
389.00
411.20
2
Shelby Rd.
Arcadia Ave. to Garrett Rd.
710.00
710.00
4
Stewart Rd.
Edgemont Ave. to Shelby
667.00
667.00
1
3
Tanglewood Cir.
Laurel Lane Southerly
127.20
127.20
1
William Rd.
Franklin St., Westerly
671.60
671.60
Totals
4061.10 10618.56 2652.00 17331.66
24 73
1
Jacob Way
Englund Rd. to Addison-Wesley
607.50
607.50
Granger Ave.
Dead End, Westerly
163.00
163.00
1
Length of Pipe 6"
RAINFALL AT HUNDRED ACRES PUMPING STATION 1956
Month
Normal Rainfall
1956 Rainfall
Excess or Deficiency 1956
January
3.51
7.80
4.29 (E)
February
3.18
4.59
1.41 (E)
March
3.76
6.27
2.51 (E)
April
3.72
4.13
0.41 (E)
May
3.22
1.33
1.89 (D)
June
3.33
1.57
1.76 (D)
July
3.19
1.93
1.26 (D)
August
3.44
1.35
2.09 (D)
September
3.54
3.29
0.25 (D)
October
3.01
3.06
0.05 (E)
November
3.65
4.09
0.44 (E)
December
3.49
4.73
1.24 (E)
Totals
41.04
44.14
3.10 (E)
TABLE SHOWING DAILY AMOUNTS OF RAIN AND MELTED SNOW HUNDRED ACRES 1956
Day of Month
Jan. Feb. Mar. Apr.
May
June
July
Aug. Sept.
Oct.
Nov. Dec.
1
.20
:50
.07
.11
.13
.41
...
. ..
.15
.13
.11
3
.22
.05
. ..
...
...
. ..
. .
. ..
.. .
...
5
...
. .
.
. .
. .
.04
.05
.58
1.10
. ..
.
7
.31
.28
1.40
1.16
T
.30
H
...
. .
...
.45
10
.78
T
. .
...
. .
.02
...
...
.
.02
.38
12
.50
T
...
'T
.11
.32
.16
...
. .
...
.04
14
.29
...
.66
.01
.55
.18
...
. .
...
.31
16
.03
...
1.12
.30
.01
.04
.40
. .
...
..
..
18
...
. .
1.40
. .
..
. . .
. ..
.12
T
...
.30
...
21
.. .
. .
. .
. .
...
.37
.20
.09
.37
...
.23
24
...
.06
.39
...
. ..
T
.08
.04
. .
...
...
25
...
...
. .
.14
.15
.. .
...
...
...
. .
. .
. .
29
.01
. ..
.09
...
...
...
...
.05
:02
. .
...
.02
31
...
...
.03
. ..
.. .
...
. ..
...
...
. . .
...
.08
Totals
7.80
4.59
6.27
4.13
1.33
1.57
1.93
1.35
3.29
3.06
4.09
4.73
Accum.
Totals
7.80
12.39
18.66
22.79
24.12
25.69
27.62
28.97
32.26
35.32
39.41
44.14
. .
...
. .
.82
.. .
17
.49
.96
.08
.. .
.
. .
.. .
.04
. ..
.. .
20
...
. .
. .
. ..
. . .
. .
.45
. .
.73
. .
22
.50
23
.01
.32
:35
.45
.
..
. .
...
. ..
. .
1.40
...
26
...
.10
...
1.13
...
. .
.. .
.01
.01
.69
.26
. ..
...
. ..
.27
...
...
.80
30
.45
...
...
.27
...
. .
...
28
T
.43
...
...
. ..
..
...
...
. .
.21
.04
..
.12
.16
13
.26
...
...
1.21
15
.02
...
.29
.02
.01
...
.10
11
.55
.66
...
.
...
...
. .
:40
.04
4
...
:30
.15
T
...
.60
..
...
...
6
. . .
1.20
.74
.02
T
9
1.58
.07
T
...
...
. .
.09
.19
.14
19
.. .
. .
.
.
...
.56
1.05
. . .
.40
T
27
.35
.01
. .
2.41
.35
.16
.40
2
.
. .
.01
.01
. .
...
...
T
..
...
...
.39
.05
T
T
...
ยท
173
.58
AMOUNTS OF RAINFALL FOR YEARS 1900 THROUGH 1956 HUNDRED ACRES PUMPING STATION
Year
Jan.
Feb.
Mar.
Apr.
May
June
July
Aug.
Sept.
Oct.
Nov.
Dec.
Totals
1900
5.32
8.69
5.03
2.15
4.60
3.13
1.90
3.17
4.15
3.31
5.05
2.44
48.94
1901
1.33
1.08
5.88
9.59
7.21
1.74
4.65
2.66
3.59
2.76
3.06
8.10
51.65
1902
1.80
6.11
4.69
6.22
1.69
1.98
3.02
3.75
4.01
4.91
0.99
5.60
44.77
1903
3.84
3.16
6.38
4.95
0.48
8.91
3.40
3.42
2.29
3.69
1.33
2.59
44.44
1904
4.42
2.21
2.21
9.90
3.56
2.56
1.88
4.26
5.16
2.02
1.80
2.25
42.23
1905
5.44
1.47
2.92
2.59
1.39
6.11
1.19
3.30
7.87
1.20
2.22
3.72
39.42
1906
2.60
2.53
6.48
2.84
5.14
2.63
5.88
4.18
1.36
2.38
3.31
3.08
42.41
1907
3.97
2.10
2.40
3.21
2.89
3.80
3.58
1.33
7.90
3.36
6.83
3.80
44.97
1908
3.07
4.28
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
3.24
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
2.09
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
1.77
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
3.10
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
2.08
3.30
1.32
3.95
3.89
3.08
33.62
1927
2.32
3.18
1.30
1.43
2.19
2.27
3.04
5.28
2.68
4.10
4.18
4.77
36.74
1928
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
3.46
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
1.35
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
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
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
29.65
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
1944
2.63
2.26
4.22
3.84
0.83
5.32
2.56
2.83
7.22
2.65
6.03
3.18
43.57
1945
2.60
4.40
1.79
2.85
4.28
5.90
3.07
3.07
1.19
2.62
7.77
6.41
45.95
1946
3.91
3.06
1.57
2.74
5.26
3.39
1.90
8.64
2.37
0.37
1.02
4.09
38.32
1947
3.10
1.03
3.69
4.91
3.27
2.58
5.83
1.44
3.33
0.44
6.24
3.09
39.91
1948
4.33
2.11
2.84
2.63
5.38
4.63
4.83
1.08
1.00
3.08
5.41
1.41
38.73
1949
3.47
3.28
1.25
4.25
3.37
0.84
1.78
5.05
4.28
1.93
3.03
1.86
34.39
1950
4.41
3.12
3.67
1.95
1.38
1.38
1.91
4.19
1.56
3.27
6.31
3.53
36.68
1951
3.33
3.79
4.76
1.87
4.74
3.47
4.72
2.11
1.77
5.15
6.84
4.56
47.11
1952
4.64
3.71
3.67
4.45
5.14
1.50
0.93
8.85
1.83
1.32
2.27
4.14
42.44
1953
6.72
2.96
7.57
5.43
4.81
1.09
2.31
0.64
1.46
5.52
5.91
3.81
48.23
1954
2.34
2.53
3.13
3.93
10.97
1.46
2.16
5.88
9.92
1.61
5.27
5.25
54.45
1955
0.63
3.69
4.17
3.18
1.86
3.29
1.17
12.45
2.29
8.95
5.88
1.02
48.58
1956
7.80
4.59
6.27
4.13
1.33
1.57
1.93
1.35
3.29
3.06
4.09
4.73
44.14
Average
.. 3.51
3.18
3.76
3.72
3.22
3.33
3.19
3.44
3.54
3.01
3.65
3.49
41.47
...
...
KINDS AND SIZES OF WATER METERS IN USE JANUARY 1, 1957
Make
5/8"
3 /4 "
1""
11/4"
11/2"
2"
3"
4"
8" Totals
Nash
1470
17
1
4
2
1494
Empire
1029
2
1031
Trident
1040
2
5
3
5
3
1 1059
Hersey
531
11
24
6
8
7
1
1
1 590
Gamon
277
2
279
Pittsburgh
149
13
2
164
Crown
41
2
1
3
9
56
Worthington
30
1
2
2
35
Lambert
43
2
45
Union
34
1
1
1 37
Federal
2
2
Thompson
4
4
Keystone
1
8
9
Gem
1
1
Totals
4651
28
52
17
18
24
10
1
4 1 4806
176
Highway Division
The following major improvements to the highway system in 1956 were as follows:
Arthur B. Lord Drive: Original construction, voted at Special Town Meeting January 30, 1956 as access road to Forest Street School, from Forest Street to Birch Meadow Drive Extension. Work included tree and brush removal, ledge removal, peat removal, drain- age installation, ordinary and gravel borrow, all of which was accomplished by the Highway Division personnel.
Martin Road:
Constructed from Forest Street to dead end under Betterment Act.
Grant Street:
Constructed from Summer Avenue to dead end under Betterment Act.
Pine Ridge Road:
Constructed from South Street to the accepted portion of Pine Ridge Road under Betterment Act.
Margaret Road:
Constructed from Parkman Road North-Westerly 240 feet to dead end under Betterment Act.
Indiana Avenue:
Constructed in its entirety from Southerly of Virginia Road to Northerly of California Road under Betterment Act.
High Street:
Applied Class I Bituminous Concrete Type I-1 surfacing over existing surface from Woburn Street to Vine Street.
Birch Meadow Drive: Applied Class D Bituminous Macadam Surfac- ing Type D-1 over existing oiled-gravel surface from Main Street to Oakland Road.
Chapter 90 Maint .:
Mixed-in-place wearing surface applied to sec- tion of Haverhill Street, and surface-sealed with penolithic key-stone to State specifications.
Heavy frosts during December of 1955, flood rains of January 1956 with resultant rapid defrosting of highways, coupled with record snow- storms of March and April 1956, seriously damaged main road surfaces. These facts, coupled with the street openings for public utility installa- tions made in 1955, made an accelerated roadway maintenance program imperative. The new Elgin mechanical street sweeper purchased early in the season worked constantly to good advantage removing sand from streets, deposited by winter sanding operations, and also prepared streets for surface-seal operations.
As early in the Summer season as weather conditions permitted, a street resurfacing program was started on a planned schedule, and 37,887 gallons of road oil were used to surface-treat approximately 155,321
177
square yards of roadway. On other streets, where the road surface had been deformed by utility excavations and other causes, it was neces- sary to apply mixed-in-place surfacing with road oils and stone cover to restore the properly crowned roadway surface. This work was ac- complished in five locations comprising 6,496 square yards, using 9,926 gallons of road oils.
The sidewalk construction program was substantially advanced during 1956. Cement concrete sidewalks were installed abutting 829.11 lineal feet of property on Lothrop Road during street betterment con- struction, and bituminous concrete sidewalks were installed abutting 3,457.60 lineal feet of property in the block system plan of betterment sidewalk construction. Block system sidewalks were installed under the Betterment Act, with the abuttor and Town sharing equally in the cost of construction, on Woburn Street, Summer Avenue and Oak Street. All block system sidewalks were installed by contract.
No funds were appropriated for granite curbing installation in 1956, and no curbing under the Betterment Act was installed. Several corner curb installations were made to correct dangerous traffic conditions. There are on file a total of 47 curbing applications for future installa- tions when funds are again available.
The following table illustrates Storm Water Drainage Construction in 1956:
Storm Water Drainage Construction - 1956
Street
Length of Pipe No. C/Bs No. M/Hs
Arthur B. Lord Drive
570.6
Ft.
5
2
Birch Meadow Drive
60.0
Essex Street
141.8
1
Forest Street
598.2
2
4
Franklin Street
787.5
4
4
Grove Street
1328.8
10
11
Hartshorn Street
60.2
1
Harvard Street
345.9
2
4
Henzie Street
228.5
2
1
King Street
50.0
1
Martin Road
61.0
2
Meadow Brook Lane
162.5
1
1
Pearl Street
162.9
2
1
Pine Ridge Road
219.9
1
Willow Street
40.0
-
Totals
4816.90 Ft.
62
31
A contract was let for drainage installation on Essex, Franklin, Grove, Hartshorn, Harvard and Pearl Streets; the other drains listed were installed by Highway Division personnel. Several particularly dangerous and aggravating drainage problems were eliminated by these drain installations.
178
In addition to the storm drains listed in the preceding table, the following listed work was accomplished with funds allocated by the State Flood Relief Board to the Town of Reading to permanently repair damage caused by Hurricane "Diane" on August 17-18, 1955:
Work Done Under Flood Relief Funds - 1956
Work Done
Location
Salem Street Near Wakefield Town Line
Build 2 Catch Basins, In- stall 60 ft. of 12" Concrete Drain Pipe, Construct 150 Ft. of Sidewalk and Bitu- minous Concrete Berm. Build 2 headwalls.
Track Road - From Line Road to Quann. Drain
Construct 122 Ft. of 15" Con- crete Drain Pipe, and Build 2 Catch Basins.
John Street - At Culvert Crossing Near Stove Foundry
Construct 2 Catch Basins and Install 60' of Concrete Drain Pipe.
Forest Street - Near Van Norden Road
Raise Roadway Grade, Con- struct Bituminous Concrete Sidewalks South Side, 200 L.F. Increase width of Roadway North Lane.
Intervale Terrace - At Lowell Street
Construct 45 L.F. of 6' x 4'
Reinforced Concrete Box
Culvert. Raise Roadway Grade, Construct 2 Catch Basins, Construct Head- walls and Wing Walls.
Summer Avenue - At Prospect Street
Glenmere Circle - Main Drainage Brook
Rip Rap Existing Brook at Washouts.
Howard Street -County Road to West Street
Apply mixed-in-place road surface.
Construct Drop Manhole at Existing Drain Manhole, Remove and Relay ,at less- er gradient 40 L.F. of 12" Drain Pipe.
The most important of the Flood Relief projects was the construc- tion of the Intervale Terrace reinforced concrete box culvert. This 6'x4' culvert replaced a stone box culvert of inadequate dimensions which had long been a "bottleneck" in the Birch Meadow Brook drainage sys- tem. All work under Flood Relief was accomplished by Highway Divi-
179
sion personnel. The State Flood Relief Board has approved the sum of $17,595.02 for work accomplished, at no direct cost to the Town of Reading.
Maintenance of storm drains has been continued during the year, with many open drain brooks, ditches, and channels cleared of debris, deepened and widened to permit the free flow of surface water. The me- chanical catch basin cleaner and crane purchased in September 1955 has been in constant use throughout the year cleaning debris from catch basins, culverts and open drain ditches. The Spring of 1956 found many catch basins completely filled with sand from Winter, street sand- ing operations. As of December 31, 1956, there are nearly 1300 catch basins in the Town's storm drainage system. The Quannapowitt Drain ditch was thoroughly cleaned with a hired drag-line crane from Track Road West to John Street. This is a particularly difficult section, pass- ing as it does through an unstable swamp and requiring the use of timber mats by the crane to safely traverse the swampland.
Snow and Ice
Expenditures for the removal of snow and ice from highways reached an all-time high in 1956, a total of $92,165.22 having been ex- pended for this purpose. The early months of 1956 presented no par- ticular problem, as during the months of January and February, only nine snow storms occurred, totaling twenty-seven inches of snow, and including three plowable storms. Sanding was carried on extensively, as the low temperatures and slow accumulation of snow during six snowstorms became packed by traffic on roadways. During the year, 5,658 tons of sand and 171 tons of salt were used in highway sanding operations. From March 14th to April 8th, 1956, a record breaking series of snow storms occured, resulting in a total precipitation of sixty-four inches of snowfall in twenty-six days being deposited by eleven snow storms. These storms were particularly difficult to plow, as high gale winds caused serious drifting on many streets. Despite the severe strain on personnel and equipment, snow removal operations were at all times under full control ,with snow plowing and snow removal operations fol- lowing each other in rapid succesion with little respite. No major equipment break-downs occurred during the storms. During this series of storms, the services of the Municipal Light Department, Cemetery De- partment and Tree and Moth Department snowplow trucks and operat- ing personnel were voluntarily offered and gratefully accepted for high- way snow-plowing. This act exemplified the fine spirit of co-operation between Departments in the Town of Reading, where, during emer- gencies, inter-departmental aid is always present. The final snowstorm of the 1956 Spring season occurred on April 23rd, 1956. The first plow- able snowstorm of the 1956 Fall and Winter snow period occured on De- cember 9, 1956, with a total precipitation of seven inches, followed by storms of eight inches on December 14th, six inches on December 22nd, and nine inches on December 29th, 1956. In all, during the calen- dar year of 1956, thirty-six snow storms were recorded in the Town of Reading, eleven of which were under 1" depth, seven were two inches or
180
less in depth, six were four inches or less in depth, and twelve of which were 4" to 14" in depth and required highway plowing. A total of 144 inches of snowfall was recorded at Hundred Acres Pumping Station in 1956, computed by accepted methods.
John Street Dump
As anticipated, the dumping area Northerly of the Quannapowitt Drain became filled in the early Fall months, and a newly excavated area Southerly of the Quannapowitt Drain was utilized. This area is more readily maintained than the first area named, the entire dumping area being enclosed on three sides by the excavated peat, sand, and clay, which was so deposited as to form high embankments. A semi- sanitary land-fill operaiton is being accomplished, by daily burning of combustibles, bulldozing of remaining debris into the excavated, water- filled pit, and covering with gravel borrow. To control the buring, an 8" water main was laid from John Street easterly to the dumping area, and a fire hydrant installed. As a further precaution, with the assist- ance of the Reading and Wakefield Fire Departments, the marsh area between the Quannapowitt Drain and the Reading-Wakefield Town Line was burned over, to eliminate any possible fire hazard. Stumps, log and brush are still disposed of in the area Northerly of the Quanna- powitt Drain ditch.
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