ley, Esq., with frequent interruptions on account of the weather, and the pressure of current work until May, when Mr. W. F. Learned, from the Chestnut Hill Reservoir corps, with a special party, was assigned to the control of the completion of the surveys, and also to give lines and grades for laying the pipes and keep a record of all pipes laid, gates and hydrants established, and delineate the same on plans prepared for that, purpose. As before stated, Mr. Learned was unavoidably called away to Chestnut Hill Reservoir during a portion of June, August, September and October; and also to make surveys for the proposed South Boston high service; and although the current work in the Dorchester district such as giving lines and grades for laying pipes, keeping the record as before described - has been kept up, the progress of the surveys has been materially retarded. About twenty miles of roadway have been levelled over, and profiles of streets to the number of fifty have been made. This work will be continued the present season until finished. By the kindness of Thos. W. Davis, Esq., City Surveyor, I have been permitted to copy the plans of the streets of Dorchester which have been made under his direction. These plans are drawn to a scale of forty feet to an inch, and have been of great use in the laying out of the work, and the position of the pipes, gates, hydrants and complicated connections can be very clearly delineated upon them. There have been 16 of these sectional plans copied, covering the entire section of Dorchester in which it is proposed to lay the water pipes the coming season. Early in the year I prepared a plan for the general arrangement of the water pipes, gates, hydrants, etc., and made a schedule of the requirements. From this I made out a list of those streets or portions of streets in which the water would probably be taken, and submitted the same with a rough estimate of the cost to a committee of the Water Board. Circulars were distributed over this district with a view to ascertain the probable number of water-takers. The total number of responses was five hundred and six, of which one hundred and seventyfour answer yes, two hundred and six answer no, and one hundred and twenty-six are doubtful. The petitioners in this district were not satisfied to have these returns accepted as a sufficient basis for a refusal on the part of the Board to extend the pipes. By invitation, the premises of the petitioners and the section canvassed as aforesaid were visited by the Board and City Engineer, and the imperative necessity for the water by several manufacturing establishments was made clearly apparent. I was directed to complete with all despatch the plan then in progress showing the location of buildings within certain lines, and to submit an estimate of the most economical method of distributing the water, and the probable income. Accordingly on the 1st of June, I submitted a plan and an estimate. A copy of the latter is herewith submitted as follows, viz: OFFICE OF CITY ENGINEER, CITY HALL. N. J. BRADLEE, Esq., President Cochituate Water Board. Sir:- I present herewith a plan of Dorchester, showing the number and location of buildings on that portion of the low service where there is a probability that the water will be taken; also the location and size of distribution pipes which would be required to supply the district aforesaid. I have included only such streets and portions of streets as would pay six per cent interest upon the cost of a six-inch cast-iron distribution pipe, calling the cost of the same $1.80 per running foot all laid, and reckoning an income from each house of $10 on an average. The total length of 12-inch pipe required as per this plan is 53,270 feet; of 6-inch pipe about 46,000 feet. The population of this district, I have estimated at from 8,000 to 10,000; the present requirements not over 500,000 gallons per day, and the prospective requirements ten years hence, allowing an annual increase of five per cent in the popu lation, at 900,000 gallons. To supply this amount I have provided two 12-inch feeders, one through Stoughton, Pleasant and Savin Hill streets, to Dorchester avenue; the other through Norfolk avenue and Cottage street to Dorchester avenue. These two pipes will be ample for all the requirements for ten years, and probably before that time another line from Grove Hall avenue through Quincy street, will form an additional feeder; so that, in my judgment, no larger main will be required for this section for ten or more years. I submit the following estimates of the cost of laying the aforesaid lengths of pipe. ESTIMATE NO. 1 (CAST-IRON). 53,270 feet of 12-inch cast-iron pipe. at $4.00, $213,080 00 110.00, 33,000 00 10,000 00 $338,880 00 ESTIMATE NO. 2 (CEMENT-LINED PIPES). 6 66 53,270 feet of 12-inch wrought-iron and cement, at $2.60, 46,000" $138,502 00 66 300 Lowry hydrants complete. 1.40, at 110.00, 64,400 00 33,000 00 Gates, etc. 10,000 00 $245,902 00 In the foregoing estimates I have reckoned the number of hydrants at the full proportion as established in Roxbury, viz: one to about every three hundred feet. So large a number of hydrants is undoubtedly not required at present; but it may be a question whether it would not be economy to locate and establish them as the pipe is laid. The number of houses, stores, factories, etc., in the district in question, is 1,335, and it is not unreasonable to assume that, in two years, the income from these houses, etc., will amount to $15,000. The income from hydrants will more than cover the interest on their cost. So that, if we call the cost of laying the pipe and establishing the gates, as per estimate No. 1 (reckoning all the pipes as sixinch), $188,686; six per cent will be $11,321 16. If wrought-iron and cement pipe be used, the entire cost of pipes and gates will be $212,902 (not reckoning the twelve-inch as six-inch) and six per cent of this will be $12,774.12; while if the estimate of cost be based on all six-inch, it would amount to $148,978; six per cent of which is $8,938.68.. From all the information I have been able to gather in regard to wrought-iron and cement pipe, I am satisfied that, when properly made and laid, using good materials, and under proper restrictions as to supervision, it is as good, if not better, than cast-iron; and that, under such conditions, the use of this pipe cannot be pronounced an experiment. At all events, if, as in the present case, a saving of nearly $100,000 can be effected, it seems to me that it is worth while to let a Committee of your Board, and the Superintendent of the Eastern Division, investigate the matter and report. Very respectfully yours, (Signed) N. H. CRAFTS, City Engineer. A petition was subsequently presented to the Board of Aldermen by residents of Ward 16, asking for an extension of the water-pipes into that Ward. This was referred to the Committee on Water, June 13th. By request of the committee, I furnished them with all the information and figures which I had previously given the Water Board, and I also presented to said Committee a revised estimate of cost, as follows, viz: OFFICE OF CITY ENGINEER, CITY HALL, WALTER E. HAWES, Esq., Chairman Committee on Water: Sir In the estimate which I submitted to the Cochituate Water Board, dated June 1st, 1870, of the cost of introducing the Cochituate Water to certain sections of Ward 16, I figured the prices of pipe at what was then deemed the current rates. I have recently received actual propositions for doing the work, and beg leave to submit a revised estimate, based upon said propositions, ESTIMATE NO.1 (CAST-IRON). 53,270 feet of 12-inch cast iron pipe, at $2.90, $154,483 00 66 66 1.65, 300 Lowry hydrants complete, at $110.00, Gates, etc. Total, 75,900 00 33,000 00 10,000 00 $273,383 00 6 66 ESTIMATE NO. 2 (CEMENT-LINED PIPE). 53,270 ft. of 12-in. wrought iron and cement pipe, at $2.30 $122,521 00 46,000 “ 300 Lowry hydrants complete, at 66 1.20 $110.00 55,200 00 33,000 00 July 14th, the committee reported in favor of the plan proposed, and recommended the use of the cement-lined pipe; but as the Water Board had full power in the matter, the committee reported an order covering the Engineer's estimate for cast-iron pipe, and recommending a loan of $275,000 00. This order was amended so as to provide in addition to the Engineer's schedule the laying of a twenty-four inch pipe from Hampden street to Upham's corner and a twenty-inch main from Upham's corner to the reservoir in South Boston, the entire expense not to exceed $375,000.00. The amended order was passed; also an order authorizing the Treasurer to borrow the aforesaid amount. The orders were passed, and approved by the Mayor July 19th, 1870. Contracts for the pipe were made as soon as possible, but none were received so that work could begin until the last of September, and since then the delivery has been tardy, and not so much has been accomplished as was anticipated. The amount of work done under the preceding Order is as follows: 2,298 feet of 24-inch pipe in Dorchester |