USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Wilmington > Town of Wilmington Annual Report 1927-1928 > Part 15
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Respectfully submitted, PLANNING BOARD, A. Chandler Manning, Chairman; George W. Newcomb, August G. Macleod.
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REPORT OF THE WATER COMMISSIONERS
In making this report to the Citizens, the Water Commissioners are dividing the report into two sections, first, Construction, and the second, Operation of the System.
Construction
On December 29, 1927, a Town Meeting was held and it was voted to appropriate the sum of three hundred fifty thousand dollars ($350,000.00) for the construction of a Water System and authorize the Town Treasurer with the approval of the Selectmen, to borrow this money and to issue bonds therefor, over a period of thirty years. This vote authorized the Commissioners to proceed with the construction of the Water Department.
Engineering
In 1925, the Town appointed a Water Committee to locate a Town Water Supply. The Committee at that time went to the Department of Public Health and interviewed the engineers of that department and asked them if they could recommend an engineer who was a good man on wells. The engineers recom- mended Mr. Hervey A. Hanscom of the Hydraulic Development Company. This was the same man who back in 1910 made a test for a previous Committee. Mr. Hanscom, therefore, after being interviewed by the Committee was engaged to put in our test wells. A report on these wells was submitted in a previous report.
Between the time that the test was made on the wells and the appropriation by the Town for construction work, Mr. Hanscom had done a good deal of preliminary work and the Commissioners had secured his advice on a great many occasions. For all this preliminary work and advice he made no charge. The first act of the Commissioners, therefore, when the money was appro- priated, was to engage Mr. Hanscom as engineer of the project.
Mr. Hanscom's services were engaged at a cost of 6 per cent on the contracts. We did not go into competitive bidding on the engineering as we felt that this man had devoted a great deal of his time gratuitously to the Town and was familiar with the pro- posals and that he was in a better position to give service to the Town than other engineering concerns who would have to start in and make a complete study of the same.
The Commissioners felt it would be the desire of the Towns- people after appropriating the money, to have the system installed with the least possible delay. The Commissioners wish to state at this point, that they feel the Town was very fortunate in se- curing the services of Mr. Hanscom and that his work justified the confidence that the Commissioners placed in him.
Location of Pipe Lines
Of course, it was impossible for the Town to distribute water at the first installation to all parts of the Town. It was a problem
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therefore, as to where this distribution should be made so that it would result in the greatest benefit to the citizens.
The Commissioners called to their aid in this problem the Board of Fire Underwriters and the engineers of the Department of Public Health both of whom made a survey of the Town and their recom- mendations were fairly closely followed by the engineer and the Water Commissioners.
Some recommendations which they made, the Commissioners were unable to carry out because funds at their disposal did not warrant the additional expenditures. For example, the Under- writers and Commissioners themselves, would have liked to com- plete a line across Glen Road connecting the lines at the two ends. It was desirable to make these connections from an engi- neering standpoint as it would bring the water from another source in the congested district of Silver Lake thus insuring a supply if any break occurred in the present line.
The Commissioners found, however, that their funds would not permit them to complete this connection. There were similar instances where the Commissioners would like to have laid lines but of course could not incur expense beyond the amount of the appropriation.
In the construction of the plant, the furnishings, supplies, and the labor were divided into different contracts and on all con- tracts competitive bids were secured. In all cases the contracts were awarded to the lowest bidders. In each case the bidder had. to file a satisfactory bond with the Commissioners insuring the Town of satisfactory completion of contracts. All specifications and contracts were examined and approved by our attorney.
Railroad Siding
The Town is very fortunate in having the source of its water supply next to a railroad line because a railroad siding is a very valuable asset. Most of the equipment used by a Water Depart- ment has to come by rail and having a side track of our own means a great saving in hauling and handling.
The first construction work started by the Board of Commis- sioners was the building of a side track in January 1928. This work was done by Town teams and the Selectmen were asked to furnish us with people who were in need of work and these people were employed to do the labor. Owing to the fact that it was an open winter, we were able to do the entire grading on this side track within a short while. The work was completed when the railroad installed the track.
Cast Iron Pipe
Due to the fact that our engineer had done a great deal of preliminary work, we were able to send out our specifications for cast iron pipe within a week after the Town Meeting and called for sealed bids to be opened at the Water Commissioners' Office on January 13th. We had bids from four Companies and the lowest bidder was the Warren Foundry and Pipe Company, the price being $39.10 per ton.
The special castings were awarded to the Builders' Iron Foundry of Providence, R. I., who was the lowest bidder. The contracts
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were awarded on this date and on February 14th the first carload of cast iron pipe arrived at our side track.
It is customary on jobs of this kind for the contractor who lays the pipe to do the unloading and distributing the pipe to the job. The contract for our pipe however, was awarded and the pipe arrived before the contracts for pipe laying were awarded. We found that contractors generally allow about $1.50 a ton for handling the pipe.
The Commissioners were of the opinion that this work could be handled locally and employment given to Townspeople. It meant, however, securing somebody who had equipment to handle the un- loading of the pipe and we found that Mr. Herbert C. Barrows had trucks and wagons and was equipped to handle this work. Mr. Barrows was engaged therefore, on a day basis and a crew of men were engaged to handle the pipe. This pipe is all inspected when it leaves the factory. Before being unloaded from the cars it has to be inspected again.
All broken or damaged pipe was charged back to the Railroad. We received in all 2,665 tons of pipe. The entire cost of unload- ing and distributing these pipes was $3,901.27, or practically $1.50 per ton. This 2,665 tons of pipe was unloaded without injuring any workmen, and was distributed along the streets in such a manner that no Contractor was kept waiting for any pipe. The total demurrage was only $6.00 which is unusual on a job of this kind. In the handling of this pipe the breakage was less than a half dozen pieces.
The Commissioners wish to take this opportunity to compliment Mr. Barrows and the men who handled the pipes for the very efficient manner in which they carried out this work.
Land
The Commissioners believed it was to the Town's advantage to secure enough land to properly insure the water shed around our wells. The State Board of Public Health was consulted and it was decided that we should take three plots of land totalling ap- proximately 113 acres on the estate of Mrs. Maria B. Hathaway. There were also water rights in connection with Martin's Brook which we felt the Town should control.
On March 14th, the Commissioners voted to take this land by right of eminent domain. The price of this land was in dispute for quite a while,-the Commissioners feeling that the price asked for by the Hathaway Estate for damage was more than the land was worth. After considerable time and upon the advice of our attorney and the State Board of Public Health, the Commissioners awarded damages of $14,000.00 on the land and $4,000.00 on the water and flowage rights.
The land for the standpipe which we decided to locate on Kelly's Hill was owned by several people. It was part of the develop- ment of the Surburban Land Company known as Fairview Park.
We had this land surveyed and condemned enough lots and roadways to give proper room for the standpipe and the laying of pipes to the same. It was necessary to run our main through private land and an easement was obtained from the owners of this property which gives the Town the permanent right of way for the water main. The damage awards for the taking of the land were accepted in all cases with the exception of one parcel
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of land, the damages of which, amount to $150.00. The total amount for land for standpipe was $2,942.00.
Standpipe Foundation
The site for the standpipe foundation was cleared of brush and wood and specifications were sent out for the building of a stand- pipe foundation. These bids were opened on February 24, 1928 and the contract was awarded to the lowest bidder, Pitman & Brown, at a price of $3,982.00, with rock excavation at $16.00 per yard and extra concrete for fills, $11.00 per yard.
Standpipe
Specifications were sent out for a steel standpipe 125 ft. high and 30 ft. in diameter. The capacity of this standpipe is 660,000 gallons of water. The standpipe is of course, larger than the Town needs at the present time but in view of the possibility of other communities purchasing water from Wilmington, we felt it advisable to erect a standpipe of considerable size so that it would be unnecessary to build again for many years. Bids were received and opened on February 10, 1928 and the contract was awarded to the Chicago Bridge and Iron Works for $17,225.00.
Valves and Hydrants
Specifications were sent out for valves and hydrants and bids were opened. It was found that the Michigan Valve and Foundry Company were the low bidders. It was voted to award them the contract,-110 hydrants at $49.50 each and the contract for valves $3,964.25.
The contract for valve boxes was awarded to George A. Cald- well, $1,180.00, he being the low bidder.
Pumps and Machinery
Estimates were sent out for pumps and engines and bids were duly received. In awarding contracts for pumps and engines, the price was secondary. The matter to be considered was the type of engines and pumps. After a great deal of study and investi- gation, the Commissioners decided on Bessemer Engines and Platt Pumps. The contract was awarded to the Hayes Pump and Machinery Company for $18,741.00.
Cement Lined Pipe
The matter of the best type of pipe to use for services and for 2 inch lines where it was felt there was ample to give service, the Committee finally decided that cement lined pipe would be the most serviceable pipe to be used and the contract for 2 inch pipe was awarded to the Cement Lined Pipe Company of Lynn, @ 31.6 cents per ft. This steel pipe was all given a coating of asphalt paint in our yards before the pipe was laid.
Wells and Suction Pipe
The Commissioners decided that with an experienced foreman they could use Town labor in driving our wells and laying the line of suction pipe. The work was to be in charge of our engi- neer. Thus work was successfully carried out and our own men drove the wells and completed the suction lines during the Sum- mer and Fall.
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We have 42 driven wells and suction pipe ranging from 4 to 16 inch delivering the water from the wells to the Pumping Sta- tion. Fifteen of the wells which were used as test wells were tied into the system so that the money spent for the test wells was an investment and not an expense.
Trenching and Pipe Laying
This work was divided into two sections known as "A" and "B." Section A covered the north and east section of the Town and Section B covered the south and west section.
Bids were received separately for each section. The bids for this work were opened on March 2nd and it was found that the low bidder on Section A was A. Cefalo, and the contract for Section A for trenching and laying pipe was awarded to him.
Section B-the lowest bidder was the General Contracting Com- pany and the contract was accordingly awarded to them. The price of pipe laying varies according to size of the pipe. Both the bidders gave the same price on rock,-the charges being $8.00 per cubic yard. The trenching of pipes was successfully carried out but the rock encountered was far beyond our estimate. The cost of rock excavation was $17,360.96.
Another obstacle encountered in the laying of pipe was the re- quirement of the State Highway Department that we hand tamp any trenches along the State Highway.
The Board of Selectmen in conjunction with one of the State employees also required us to hand tamp the trenches along Salem Street and also part of Lowell Street. This requirement was in opposition to the wishes of the Water Commissioners and as we found out was not a requirement of the State in any way. The Board felt that the Selectmen were making an unnecessary re- quirement which was against the best interests of the Town and costing the Taxpayers money. The total cost of hand tamping to the Town was $2,996.12.
The trenching we felt was carried on very successfully and with as little inconvenience as possible to the abutters. We take this occasion to thank the Townspeople for the cooperative man- ner in which they accepted the inconveniences caused when trenches were opened in front of their property. The Board were exceedingly gratified by the few complaints which were received.
Railroad Crossings
It was necessary in laying the pipes to cross railroads at eight different points. The Commissioners feared that this was going to entail a considerable cost. Our engineer and one of the Com- missioners visited Mr. William Cummings who was engineer in charge of Maintenance of Way at that time, and convinced him hat these crossings could be made without the necessity of shor- ing up the tracks at a very great cost. But the use of a simple device which was explained, and the plans of which were held by our engineer, the eight railroad crossings were made at a cost of $475.81.
Storage Tanks
The fuel to be used in our engines was fuel oil and it was necessary therefore, to provide storage facilities for this oil. Bids were received for a 12,000 gallon tank and contract was awarded
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to the Oil Man's Supply Company, $681.05. The contract for the foundation of this oil tank was awarded to Frankini Bros. at $954.19.
Several smaller charges covering grading, pumping, etc., were not included in this contract which show in the total cost.
Pumping Station
Plans for the Pumping Station were given very serious consider- ation by the Commissioners as they felt such an important thing as a water supply should be housed in a building that would provide proper protection and cleanliness which would safeguard the purity of the water.
Our engineer after getting a general idea from the Commis- sioners had plans drawn by an architect. These plans were care- fully studied by the Board and some changes were made. Specifi- cations were then submitted and bids were called for on May 5, 1928. The low bidder was Frankini Bros. of Medford, and the contract was awarded to them. The entire cost of building, fully equipped was $18,493.14. About 40 per cent of the cost covers the pump and engine foundations and which do not show to the casual visitor.
The building is planned so that present pumping equipment can be doubled without any building alterations.
The Commissioners feel that the Town has every reason to feel proud of this Pumping Station. It is a beautiful building, well built, well located, and at a cost that is not excessive.
Financing
The Commissioners also wish to take this opportunity to com- ment the splendid work which was done by the Town Treasurer, Mr. Frank L. Eames, in connection with the sale of the water bonds. The Treasurer opened negotiations immediately after the Town Meeting and invited bids on the bonds. He struck the money market at a very advantageous time and the bonds were sold with an interest rate of 3 1-2 per cent for the first fifteen years and 4 per cent for the last fifteen years. The bonds also were sold at a premium which covered all the cost of handling and printing, and leaves a balance of $9,167.25 toward payment of first bond.
The Treasurer placed this money in certificates of deposit which paid 3 per cent instead of 1 per cent, the rate on general deposits, and which earned almost $2100.00.
General
The other expenses consisted of smaller items and can be ac- counted for in such items as Insurance, Legal Expense, etc., and is shown on the tabulated cost.
Probably very few water systems have been installed with more dispatch than the installation of our water system. It would be of interest to the Townspeople to note the following chronicle of activities:
March 14, 1927. Town voted to accept Chapter 276, Acts of 1926 and elect Water Commissioners.
December 30, 1927. The Town authorized the raising of the money by the sale of bonds.
January 16, 1928. Arrangements made for the sale of the bonds.
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The first fifteen years carrying 3 1/2 per cent interest, the last thirteen years carrying 4 per cent interest, an average of 3 3-4 per cent. Money was placed on certificates of deposit which earned an interest of two thousand sixty-five dollars and fifty-six cents ($2,065.56).
January, 1928. Grade for side track and Pumping Station was completed. Brush and wood was cleared off the Standpipe lo- catión on Kelly's Hill.
February 14, 1928. First carload of castiron pipe arrived.
March 30, 1928. Started pouring of cement for standpipe founda- tion.
April 2, 1928. Started laying pipes at North Wilmington Station.
May 14, 1928. Started excavations for Pumping Station.
June 29, 1928. Engines arrived.
July 24, 1928. Pumps arrived.
August 22, 1928. Last ring riveted in place on standpipe.
August 23, 1928. Grouted standpipe.
August 24, 1928. Started Pump No. 1.
August 25, 1928. Final conections made with the Standpipe. August 27, 1928. Started pumping water into the pipes.
September 1, 1928. Standpipe filled for the first time. Pipe laying
completed. 21.18 miles of pipe were laid, sizes 14 inches, 12 inches, 10 inches, 8 inches, 6 inches and 2 inches.
Time elapsed starting with the laying of pipes until the water was pumped into the mains was four months and twenty- two days. Five months lacking one day, the entire system was filled.
2650 tons of pipe were received and unloaded and the entire demurrage charge was $6.00.
In laying the pipe, we went across eight railroad crossings and across twenty-one brooks and encountered 21,170.12 yds. of rock at a cost of $17,360.96. The Standpipe is 30 ft. in diameter by 125 ft. high. It reaches an elevation of 301 ft. It has a capacity of 660,000 gallons.
During the construction there were no serious accidents, no trouble with any of the contractors and no lawsuits.
December 5, 1928. Superintendent reported hej had made his 100th connection. Connections were started the 1st of No- vember.
The entire system was installed without any fatal accidents. There were one or two minor injuries but nothing of a serious nature. All pipes were laid and trenches opened and filled with- out any damage claims being brought against the Town or against the Contractors. We believe that there were one or two slight accidents which were promptly adjusted by the Contractors.
In awarding contracts and in purchasing materials, the Com- missioners had in mind to purchase material which would give the best service to the Town and it is our belief that our contracts were let and purchases made in a very advantageous manner and the Town of Wilmington h'as secured a great deal of value for its money. From the appropriation of $350,000 the Jand has been purchased, pumping station has been built and equipped, stand- pipe has been erected, 21.6 miles of pipe ranging in size from 2 to 14 inches has been laid, with 117 hydrants, and the plant is completed and in operation.
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With the exception of one bill amounting to $150.00 for damage award on one section of land which has not been settled because the owner has not appeared before the Board but for which a reserve has been set aside, every bill has been paid and the entire installation kept within the appropriation voted by the Town.
Expenditures
The following is a classified account of the expenditures in connection with the construction and installation of the water system.
Construction Costs
Appropriation
$350,000.00
Expenditures
Land Account
$21,360.30
Pumping Station
18,493.14
Pumps and Machinery
21,054.25
Standpipe
17,247.97
Standpipe Foundation
4,026.00
Wells and Suction Pipe
15,024.93
Cast Iron Pipe
103,269.00
Special Castings
3,432.09
Hydrants, Valves and Boxes
12,861.51
Trenching and Pipe Laying
74,295.91
Hand Tamping
2,996.12
Rock
17,360.96
Railroad Crossings
475.81
Railroad Siding
2,564.68
Storage Tanks
1,839.98
Engineering
18,208.90
Miscellaneous
848.60
Grading
386.00
Insurance
243.60
Unloading and Delivering Pipe
3,901.27
Inspection Service
4,366.46
Cement Lined Pipe
3,802.58
Legal Expense
1,768.54
349,828.60
Balance
$ 171.40
Administration
When our plans were first outlined, the best estimate we had on the completion of the construction work was December 1st. On this basis we requested an appropriation of one thousand dollars ($1000.00) at the Annual Town Meeting in March 1928.
The work progressed ahead of the plans and owing to the fact that no obstacles were encountered the plant was turned over for operation the last of October.
It was necessary therefore, for the Commissioners to build an organization for the operation of the plant, and a system for run- ning the department and installing services.
Due to the fact that the Water Department is an operating de-
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partment which must be accessible to the people for service and payment of bills, it was necessary for the Commissioners to secure quarters where the business of the Department could be con- ducted. Negotions were carried on with the Mechanics Saving Bank with the result that the Department secured quarters in the Bank Building.
The business of the Department is conducted at these quarters and the Board of Commissioners hold their meetings there also. Arrangements were made so that part of the time a clerk was secured to keep the records. This arrangement works out very satisfactorily and without it the Board would have difficulty in operating unless at a greatly increased cost to the Department. Under the system installed, all receipts are deposited in the bank each night and the Department carries no money over night. At the end of each month a draft is given to the Town Treasurer with a statement covering all receipts.
The following is an itemized statement of the Administration expense for the year ending December 31, 1928:
Administration
Appropriated
$1,000.00
Railroad Rent
$24.00
Fuel Oil
448.20
Office Rent
200.00
Electricity
Power
23.74
Light
7.20
Stationery
43.48
Postage
47.96
Telephone
41.23
Miscellaneous
163.43
$999.24
999.24
Balance
$ .76
Bond Interest
$6,531.25
Note 66
432.28
6,963.53
Total Administration
$7,962.76
Operation
The Department is in charge of our Superintendent, Mr. Donald W. Foster, who reports directly to the Board of Commissioners. He is responsible for the entire operation of the Department. An engineer is employed whose duty it is to take care of the pumping and engines and whatever other work that is assigned to him by the Superintendent.
Services
The Board decided that instead of hiring a contractor to install services that we train our own crew to do this work. This plan worked out very satisfactorily and from November 1st to the end of December over one hundred services were installed.
We wish to express our appreciation to those people who filed
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application for water but who were willing to wait until Spring. There were many people who had no water or whose water was condemned, or whose wells or pumps had given out. To these people the Board tried to give preference. No doubt there has been advantage taken by some people but the Board acted in good faith.
As soon as the frost is out the installation will be continued and we hope by next fall to have several hundred connections made.
Due to the fact that we did not anticipate being able to make many connections as we did not expect completion of the plant until December, we had no provision for carrying on this work. For that purpose a special Town Meeting was held in December to transfer funds to cover this work.
Those taking the water are charged with the actual installation cost only. This is a decided contrast to other Cities and Towns where an arbitrary installation charge is made which is very costly.
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